2022/23 Soccer Thread: Finals Week(s)

Prederick wrote:

Another year, another early PSG exit from the Champions League.

I do think there is something to be said for teams with no competition in their home league suffering due to their lack of competitive game time. Obviously at a different level from psg but the old firm don’t develop as clubs at least partially because pumping 7 past St Mirren does not prepare you or test your tactics for an away leg in Munich.

bbk1980 wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Another year, another early PSG exit from the Champions League.

I do think there is something to be said for teams with no competition in their home league suffering due to their lack of competitive game time. Obviously at a different level from psg but the old firm don’t develop as clubs at least partially because pumping 7 past St Mirren does not prepare you or test your tactics for an away leg in Munich.

Yeah, 'cos being in a competitive league has really helped Manchester City

Sorbicol wrote:
bbk1980 wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Another year, another early PSG exit from the Champions League.

I do think there is something to be said for teams with no competition in their home league suffering due to their lack of competitive game time. Obviously at a different level from psg but the old firm don’t develop as clubs at least partially because pumping 7 past St Mirren does not prepare you or test your tactics for an away leg in Munich.

Yeah, 'cos being in a competitive league has really helped Manchester City

The no one can compete with English £££ is kinda stale also.

Spurs lost to AC Milan. Spurs are sitting 4th in England and lost to *checks* the 5th Italian team which some people think means they are essentially in the championship.

The Deloitte football money league stats put Spurs at almost 2* the revenue figure of AC Milan yet Spurs couldn't score over 2 legs.

Money matters but the sample sizes are essentially our life times to really feel it.

PSG has failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 5 of the last 7 seasons. They've gone beyond the QFs twice in 12 years.

One day, their ownership will comprehend that running a football team isn't FUT.

They're trying to unload Neymar, so maybe they've already got the message. They're trying to renew with Messi, though, so maybe they haven't (with all due respect to one of the all time greats).

Bad game for Spurs. Business as usual then.

Sounds like Neymar’s unloading himself at the moment, now injured and out for the rest of the season. Even PSG’s manager has said ‘we’re a better balanced side without him’ - I’d imagine he won’t be there next season. Possible Chelsea signing?

I find it odd I want to feel a little sorry for Spurs when they pretty much bring it all on themselves.

Sorbicol wrote:
bbk1980 wrote:
Prederick wrote:

Another year, another early PSG exit from the Champions League.

I do think there is something to be said for teams with no competition in their home league suffering due to their lack of competitive game time. Obviously at a different level from psg but the old firm don’t develop as clubs at least partially because pumping 7 past St Mirren does not prepare you or test your tactics for an away leg in Munich.

Yeah, 'cos being in a competitive league has really helped Manchester City

Very true but I do think it is one factor in the very messy problem of how to win the Champions League, it probably is a secondary problem to many others though.

A goal for Wout Weghorst! Good for him.

Meanwhile, here in the states, NBC Sports is doing some really interesting stuff on their YT page:

Pep Guardiola holds talks with Kyle Walker over alleged flashing amid police investigation

Well, that can't be good.

In tangentially related football news Gary Lineker has been suspended from presenting Match of the Day after responding to a Tweet from the British Home Secretary on their plans for immigrants reaching the UK via boats across the English Channel.

Unfortunately the BBC rather made out this this was done with Gary's agreement. It wasn't, so now Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have refused to appear in solidarity with Lineker. I suspect more pundits will follow.

This is currently front page news in the UK as it makes a nice change from all the rather depressing headlines of the last, well, 12 years of Government to be honest.

Prederick wrote:
Pep Guardiola holds talks with Kyle Walker over alleged flashing amid police investigation

Well, that can't be good.

Come on Pred you missed the tap in.

Asked about the matter before second-placed City's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Guardiola said: "It is a private issue. We solve it internally with him. This is not the place to talk about private situations."

I'll see myself out.

Chelsea sacked manager Thomas Tuchel 'for mysterious off-the-field reasons', email from his ex-wife claims - as he seeks injunction to stop her publishing it

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@MC_of_A wrote:

sourcing your football story to "email from his ex-wife" and sitting back knowing you have killed it by any objective standard

this article -- honestly a spectacular piece of work -- does not reveal what the reasons for Tuchel's sacking allegedly were but does detail at some length the shopping and dining options in the neighborhood where Tuchel's new girlfriend has a pied a terre

The BBC have announced that Saturdays Match of the Day will feature no presenters or pundits but will purely involve match highlights.

But will they still play the music?

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The highlights tomorrow will make for interesting watching.

BBC presenters are all walking out this morning. Football Focus and Final Score now look like they won't be on air. The PFA have also confirmed that no one will be asking any of the players to be interviewed for MotD pre or post game.

This is turning into a total Clusterf*ck for the BBC now, it's going to be very interesting how it all plays out.

Edit: All football related shows on the BBC today are off air and been replaced with non-sports programs. Even the radio coverage is off air.

Good 24 hours for the BBC, no football as they bend the knee to the Tories, one of their leading presenters passes off Bojo's dad putting his wife in hosptial as a "one off" and the decide to not show one episode of David Attenborough's new show because it might upset the Tories (it deals with the impact of climate change and man has had on wild life on the British isles) .

Mixolyde wrote:

:eyes:

slazev wrote:

Chances are Liverpool will lose the next game against the team at the end of the table.

8-0 loss to Bournemouth next week. Calling it now.

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I guess no one really wants that 4th place, eh?

I mean, Spurs did win, at least.

Here's hoping they'll lose their next game, not because I hate Spurs but because the race for 4th turning into a fail-off is much funnier.

Nope, don't want that, but I have no doubt Spurs will stumble again. This is the way.

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The pain!

Arsenal had their Weetabix for breakfast today. Three up at half time and it should have been a few more.

Frankly, Arsenal should send Todd Boehly a thank-you note. Instead of splurging on the thus-far underwhelming Mudryk, they saved money and got a fantastic Trossard instead.

Prederick wrote:

Frankly, Arsenal should send Todd Boehly a thank-you note. Instead of splurging on the thus-far underwhelming Mudryk, they saved money and got a fantastic Trossard instead.

And they sold us Jorginho. Stepped in as cover for Partey +

Also Jesus is now back.

Arteta also made it pretty clear what's important when the line up vs Sporting mid week.

The BBC and Gary Lineker haven’t exactly resolved their differences, but they appear to have found a workable solution for the time being. Quite how independent the independent review is though remains to be seen.

There was match commentary back on Saturday afternoon and yesterday it should be noted - quite a few of the BBC staff commentators clearly sympathised with Lineker but also felt they should be providing commentary, so went ahead.

One lone voice in the wilderness pointed out that match of the day without commentary is pointless for visually impaired people.

Without dragging us too far into D&D, I saw the clips from GBNews' "Alternative MotD" and Good Christ.

Talk about the "soft bigotry of low expectations."