2017/18 Soccer Thread

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Yes, it's that time again !

Back by popular demand (well. Clusks at least), a soccer thread devoted to the latest gossip, conspiracy theories and general made-up transfer nonsense.

And, unlike ESPN, we aren't going to inflict Craig Burley or Paul Mariner on you !!

davet010 wrote:

Yes, it's that time again !

Back by popular demand (well. Clusks at least), a soccer thread devoted to the latest gossip, conspiracy theories and general made-up transfer nonsense.

And, unlike ESPN, we aren't going to inflict Craig Burley or Paul Mariner on you !!

Jesus, Paul Mariner got a job at ESPN after his part in the Toronto FC debacle?

Unfortunately, yes.

(Goes off to look up Toronto FC)

Hmm, no more than I'd have expected, although according to Wikipedia he wasn't originally appointed as head coach.

On ESPN he is actually a voice of reason when parked next to Steve Nicol or the stupidity fountain that is Craig Burley.

Hmm....VAR. Deliberate elbow in the face from Jara (Chile), and even with 3 minutes of VAR that's only a yellow card.

Probably be good if the person supposedly 'assisting' the referee was familiar with the laws of the game. Or could see.

And a big congratulations to Rangers, who managed to get eliminated from the Europa League by the team who came 4th in the prestigious Luxembourg Premier Division.

Whose previous record in Europe was P13 W0 D2 L11, Goals For 1(ONE !!) Goals Against 41. And only 4 of those games were in the CL or equivalent, before you start thinking that they've played a lot of games against top opposition.

Anyway, they tripled their tally by beating Rangers 2-0 (2-1 on aggregate). Still, it'll give Rangers an opportunity to concentrate on beating Celtic to the ti...oh lord, I can't even type it for laughing.

Side note to those who think that the FA should invite Scots clubs to join the English league...look, League One already has 24 teams, it doesn't need any more. Celtic are just about Championship class, but the rest are pure dross.

davet010 wrote:

And a big congratulations to Rangers, who managed to get eliminated from the Europa League by the team who came 4th in the prestigious Luxembourg Premier Division.

Whose previous record in Europe was P13 W0 D2 L11, Goals For 1(ONE !!) Goals Against 41. And only 4 of those games were in the CL or equivalent, before you start thinking that they've played a lot of games against top opposition.

Anyway, they tripled their tally by beating Rangers 2-0 (2-1 on aggregate). Still, it'll give Rangers an opportunity to concentrate on beating Celtic to the ti...oh lord, I can't even type it for laughing.

Side note to those who think that the FA should invite Scots clubs to join the English league...look, League One already has 24 teams, it doesn't need any more. Celtic are just about Championship class, but the rest are pure dross.

These embarrassing defeats have been happening for some time, I don't understand why alarm bells haven't been ringing with the Scottish FA to say that the country really has absolutely no focus and is years behind other countries. What little I see of Scottish football is usually via Twitter, with people posting videos making fun of the sub-standard football.

England has its own talent/identity problems, yet Scotland is like that but turbo charged.

Roma, wow. If they had any worries about meeting financial fair play for the season, I guess they're gone now they've made about 50000000 billion from selling the core of their team. It'll be interesting to see who they get in to replace all these players, they've got a young manager who did wonders at Sassuolo, so hopefully he gets a fair shot at it. It's going to be especially hard to replace Salah.

Having watched the Chile-Cameroon, Germany-Cameroon, Germany-Chile, and one other match I've forgotten in the Confederation's Cup I can't say I'm too impressed with the way review works.

In the first two matches I saw it was okay, although the overturned Chile goal in their first match was not clearly offside by any angle that was shown. Germany-Cameroon was a complete farce and I don't understand how the elbow in the final wasn't a red when you have the benefit of review.

Nobody knowing what was going on was fun. The primary video official and the referee should both be mic'd up, with simultaneous translation for television if necessary and the broadcast should be showing what the video official is looking at.

If you're going to do it there also needs to be a strict 60 second time limit and a more limited scope on what the video official can call. The laws of the game probably should also be reworked to take out as much interpretation referee judgement as possible and replace it with strict yes/no rules.

At the end of the day, it's nowhere near as good as it is in rugby (the one sport I've watched where video review works well). It's just as bad as it is in the NHL, CFL, MLB, and the part of NBA replays where they have to stop the game so everyone can look at a small monitor.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2017/jun/22/transfer-window-2017-every-deal-in-europes-top-five-leagues

Easiest way I found to keep up.

And wait what? City paid what for a keeper?

Once the Lacazette deal goes through that will be the largest? Don't mind the price considering things are super pumped up by the tv money. Probably gouge him on wages anyways.

And it means nothing because someone is leaving to help offset this anyways. If it's Sanchez were worse off and if it's Giroud who knows.

Lacazette's a really nice signing for Arsenal. Should have done it two summers ago but better late than never.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if there's discontent when he's less productive next season because it's unlikely he takes 10 penalties again. But he's still been a very good striker from open play so I expect he'll do well enough. Having him start with Giroud as a different kind of option or 30-minute sub is a nice pair of strikers.

Roke wrote:

Lacazette's a really nice signing for Arsenal. Should have done it two summers ago but better late than never.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if there's discontent when he's less productive next season because it's unlikely he takes 10 penalties again. But he's still been a very good striker from open play so I expect he'll do well enough. Having him start with Giroud as a different kind of option or 30-minute sub is a nice pair of strikers.

If Giroud stays.... Problem with Arsenal is I don't trust them to actually just add.

Wouldn't be surprised if Sanchez leaves and last day we add someone like Mahrez in a scramble.

I'm disappointed Lukaku's going to be playing under Mourinho, would have preferred seeing him playing under Conte at Chelsea.

Energy Drink Leipzig threatening to complain about Liverpool tapping up Naby Keita. That would make it twice in one transfer window. I wonder what Liverpool are doing that's so aggressive compared to other teams.

It seems Lukaku to United isn't as done a deal as it originally sounded. While I think he will end up there, I like the idea of a bidding war, as an Everton fan.

Lukaku has been talking about leaving for a while now, it is time for him to go and I wish him all the best. But lets get some players in that want to be at Everton.

I rate Lukaku but at the same time he screams EPL player only.

Theres realistically 4 other clubs that could buy him outside of the EPL and I just don't see those clubs being interested or him being as effective in those leagues.

Funny part also is if he has to go to one of the major EPL clubs *shrug* why not United. At Chelsea I would have nightmares he turns into Drogba 2.0 and goes on to have an 8 year career of destroying Arsenal.

I honestly think United are bidding up against themselves and maybe paying 75 for someone they might be able to have for 50-65. Not that he isn't worth the 75 but who else is actually interested besides maybe Chelsea?

Belgian newspapers are reporting that his agent Raiola wants Lukaku to sign at ManU so he can tap that sweet sweet fee - a fee Chelsea reportedly refuses to include in the deal. Lukaku desperately wants to join Chelsea and has gone against Raiola's advice before (by not signing the new and improved Everton contract). To be continued...

So Ruben Neves, one of the most talked about prospects in European football makes a big move to...Wolves...

You can search for it and find some good reading about their relationship with super agent Jorge Mendes, which is pretty much 100% how this has happened. Football agents are defining football more than ever now, you've really got to question when someone is going to step in to put tighter regulations on it.

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So ManU it is for Lukaku, and suddenly the Red Devils are the best team in the world, have the best supporters and Mourinho is the bestest coach ever. Barf. Oh and he always said he wanted to start winning prizes, I guess the 2010 title at Anderlecht doesn't count.

Meanwhile he got arrested for disturbing the peace in a rented Beverly Hills mansion - after five warnings by the cops to keep the noise down.

Back when he broke through at Anderlecht, even my wife was a huge fan of 'Romelutje'. Flemish public tv broadcasted a documentary on the St Guido Institute in Anderlecht - they renamed it 'Lukaku's School' as he was a senior there. My wife teaches primary school in Anderlecht, and this documentary lifted her spirits as the kids - including Lukaku - showed a good grasp of Dutch (often an issue with her students) and were just awesome young adults in general.

To see that Romelu has become just another spoiled, entitled little soccer brat is disappointing to say the least.

Would it have been any different had he gone to Chelsea ?

Nice to see Everton threatening to undo all their (on paper thus far) good work over the summer by taking on Shrek. A good two years over the hill, as mobile as a blue whale and totally suited to the no 10 role. Unless you are interested in scoring goals. Still, apparently Coleen is happy to be back in Merseyside, presumably chav chic is still in there.

davet010 wrote:

Would it have been any different had he gone to Chelsea ?

No, then he would have meant it. In the same documentary they showed a field trip to London, where they visit Stamford Bridge. At seventeen Lukaku knew where he wanted to play eventually, which is why he signed at Chelsea way too early in his career.

It's not about this move specifically though, just an irrational reaction to innocence drowned in money.

I can't watch the Gold Cup without thinking about American soccer officials spending their embezzled money Trump condos for their cats.

It could be a decent tournament if 1) Hosting was rotated 2)It was limited to only FIFA nations and 3) It as held once every four years instead of every two.

But it was fun seeing Canada actually score, from open play even!, for the first time in forever in the tournament.

Roke wrote:

It could be a decent tournament if 1) Hosting was rotated 2)It was limited to only FIFA nations and 3) It as held once every four years instead of every two.

How does a Canadian get to act too big for this tournament? Get out of the group stage before you complain about the other minnows, sir!

As to your hosting request, we let y'all host two games last time, which is two more wins than y'all got in the previous two iterations of this tournament combined. Good day.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Roke wrote:

It could be a decent tournament if 1) Hosting was rotated 2)It was limited to only FIFA nations and 3) It as held once every four years instead of every two.

How does a Canadian get to act too big for this tournament? Get out of the group stage before you complain about the other minnows, sir!

As to your hosting request, we let y'all host two games last time, which is two more wins than y'all got in the previous two iterations of this tournament combined. Good day.

I don't have a problem playing against full nations like St. Kitts & Nevis or St. Vincent and the Grenadines (and their lovely Philip's Bakery ad) but the Florent Malouda farce was ridiculous. Included in the French Guinea 40-man squad but CONCACAF waits until a few days before the tournament begins to decide he's ineligible and it was still an open question as to whether he'd play in the opening game.

How generous of the CONCACAF and the USSF to let us host 5.9% of a money laundering tournament that accidentally kind of became something, that's nearly as kind as the mediocre 12.5% of a men's World Cup. I think it would be fun for the Gold Cup to be in Canada but Mexico never being a full host once befuddles me.

Roll out some actual grass for the Women's World Cup and we'll talk.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Roll out some actual grass for the Women's World Cup and we'll talk. :razz:

Nation where two-thirds of professional teams play on artificial turf and has a grand total of two stadiums with grass pitches hosts tournament on artificial turf. Shocker.

That said, I will be angry if the men's World Cup games are played on specially laid cow food. But I'll also be unhappy if it gets more than 12.5% of the government funding the WWC got. I guess I'll be angry in general; hosting a portion or the whole of a men's World Cup is a dumb idea even if that's the only way the men's team will qualify in my lifetime. (Ditto Olympics, Pan-Am games, and any subsidy for pro sports stadiums or arenas. The Commonwealth games get a pass if they're done on the cheap, which seems unlikely in this day and age).

Clusks wrote:

So Ruben Neves, one of the most talked about prospects in European football makes a big move to...Wolves...

You can search for it and find some good reading about their relationship with super agent Jorge Mendes, which is pretty much 100% how this has happened. Football agents are defining football more than ever now, you've really got to question when someone is going to step in to put tighter regulations on it.

I can tell you that Porto fans are really, really angry with that, mainly because they expected much more money for his transfer. After keeping Casillas (the most paid player in Portugal) for one more year and their current dire financial situation, Porto really needs the cash.

It seemed like Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton for £30m was going to be all wrapped up but today I read Leicester had a £40m bid rejected and Swansea are holding out for £50m? Silly season indeed.

I was worried when he was linked to Newcastle back in May or June even though it never seemed likely 1) he'd go to a club just promoted and 2) Newcastle would pay even £25m for one player for this summer having just gotten back in the league. Gylfi's been great at set pieces these last couple seasons but his open play production is not good. Maybe some of that's Swansea not being a good side for much of it but that's not the sort of risk I'd want to take on a player in his mid-late 20s.

I nearly posted that last week - at the thought of Dani Alves AND Pepe pitching up at t'Etihad.

On the plus side, I would have enjoyed Pepe kicking Lukaku's head into the Stretford End.

Have been sidetracked with work and family things, but wanted to share a couple of thoughts:

  • First, it's not *really* on-topic here, but I'd like to give a big thanks to davet for the gift of Shadows of Mordor - look forward to trying that out in the hopefully-not-too-distant future
  • In terms of Rooney: I've discussed this at some length with Psych away from the forums - I get the nostalgia, but I've consistently said he'd be a no from me, even on a free transfer. He's well past his best, and his wages would bust any kind of framework we've tried to set up. That said, I understand he's also taking a significant pay cut (and that Man U may be paying some portion of his wages to get him off their books) - I still don't expect him to contribute much on the pitch, but am hoping that he contributes enough on the training ground and in the locker room to provide value. (I do have a hard time being too cross about him rejoining us, seeing the childlike glee on his face at being back)
  • Lukaku is obviously a loss, and with us selling him to a rival, I really would have liked to see that fee closer to 100m. That said, we got more seasons with him that I expected, and I don't begrudge him moving on - even though I would much rather have seen him go to play in Serie A / Ligue Un / La Liga.
  • I love Gylfi (less than Psych does though) - 50m for him is crazy pants though. At 30m, he'd be a small gamble but one I'd be okay with taking. 40m starts to be a pretty hard case for me to make, and I simply can't see any way that he'd be worth 50m.
  • It's also not clear what kind of formation we're going to play with. I think we need another central defender, a good striker, and a left-back (Bainesy is great, but is 32, and I have a hard time thinking that he'll play too many minutes even if he stays fit - we need an understudy). I'd also probably want to get another winger in (ideally someone who can play across the front line, as I think that versatility is going to be key for us).
  • I'd take Giroud as a Lukaku replacement if he's (comparatively) cheap.
  • We have a bunch of players still to offload - I understand prioritizing our inbounds (especially with Europa games starting soon), but will be more comfortable when we've finished clearing out the dead wood.
  • We are going to have a *rough* start to the PL season. In addition to having a huge number of new players to integrate, our first six games are:
    • Everton v Arsenal (home)
    • Everton v Stoke (home)
    • Man City v Everton (away)
    • Chelsea v Everton (away)
    • Everton v Spurs (home)
    • Man Utd v Everton (away)

    I suspect we will be looking up at a large portion of the table by the end of that run.

I do like some of Everton's signings - the keeper is good, and Klaassen looks like a steal. Shrek, however, is like putting lard on a trifle.

I also don't think Lukaku is worth anything like £90m. He disappears from too many games.

I'm hoping that Pep has got some super surprises up his sleeve (and no, Dani Alves will not count). Bonucci and a LB, as well as a NAILS defensive midfielder would be most welcome.

Shaping up to be a good season, though.

Roke, regardless of our recent back and forth, let me be the first to congratulate Canada on drawing with Los Ticos - a very good team, and one of my favorites, especially Bryan Ruiz.

Davies is obviously a phenom, and your keeper made save after save to deny Costa Rica the win.

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