Fútbol, Le Foot, Voetbal, ποδόσφαιρο

[arbitro]

https://www.bbc.co.uk

This is a really novel idea from Ajax. Their season ticket holders will be delighted I'd guess.

[blackburnpepper]

Thank God for the Super League implosion, but why didn't they invite clubs like Ajax, PSV, Benfica and Porto?

[roverandout]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57205872

 

More money making scheme by fifa.  The euros is a far higher standard.  Why would European teams agree to this 

[RoverDom]

Just read that, part of the beauty of the world cup is that its a special event that only happens every 4 years. That goes if you make it more frequent. "I wish it could be Christmas every day" no you don't! 

[JacknOry]

7 hours ago, RoverDom said:

Just read that, part of the beauty of the world cup is that its a special event that only happens every 4 years. That goes if you make it more frequent. "I wish it could be Christmas every day" no you don't! 

Spot on.

This would force the Euros to be every two years too. Qualify (Euro), Event (Euro), Qualify (WC), Event (WC). We would have competitive internationals every year. Would start to bore people rather than the other way around IMO.

 

[Stuart]

If anything sums up the sliding doors moment of the last 11 years…

 

[riverholmes]

This compilation of goals by Andre-Pierre Gignac scoring spectacular goals in Mexico is a reminder of what football can be about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzUe5s30olY

Edited May 25, 2021 by riverholmes

[frosty]

Just now, riverholmes said:

This compilation of goals by Andre-Pierre Gignac scoring spectacular goals in Mexico revives my interest in football a little: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzUe5s30olY

Some absolute beauts in there. Thought he might have been older than 35 by now - surprising he went out to Mexico aged just 29, yet Florian Thauvin is about to do the same at 28 (to the same team, Tigres, as well). Both moving on the back of successful spells at Marseille in their peak years, not like they were on the decline or anything. 

[speeeeeeedie]

2 hours ago, frosty said:

Some absolute beauts in there. Thought he might have been older than 35 by now - surprising he went out to Mexico aged just 29, yet Florian Thauvin is about to do the same at 28 (to the same team, Tigres, as well). Both moving on the back of successful spells at Marseille in their peak years, not like they were on the decline or anything. 

There were. He likes the top right. Gignac was linked to all and sundry a few years back. I too was surprised that he went to Mexico, but teams there pay top wages.

Incidentally it's one of the major reasons cited for Mexico's usual bright but ultimate early failure at World Cups. Mexican players don't need to leave their homeland for financial reasons, and they are treated like royalty, so they are happy to stay, win CONCACAF Champions Leagues, all whilst being isolated from the world game.

It is turning though and there are a more going to Europe now. 

They all have a long way to go though to match Hugo Sanchez who starred at Real in the 80's. 

[arbitro]

 

These Americans are relatively new to football but they know how to deal with financial miscreants and rule breakers like Beckhams Inter Miami. If only the authorities in the country who invented the game could be as dynamic.

Edit. It won't let me post a link but they have been fined $2m for breaking salary cap rules. The sporting director has been suspended and their 'managing owner' has been fined $250k with their roster allocation being reduced by $2.2m for two seasons.

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by arbitro

[Stuart]

12 minutes ago, arbitro said:

 

These Americans are relatively new to football but they know how to deal with financial miscreants and rule breakers like Beckhams Inter Miami. If only the authorities in the country who invented the game could be as dynamic.

Edit. It won't let me post a link but they have been fined $2m for breaking salary cap rules. The sporting director has been suspended and their 'managing owner' has been fined $250k with their roster allocation being reduced by $2.2m for two seasons.

 

And that’s for a league that isn’t even competitive and has zero prestige.

Without googling can anyone name last season’s MLS winners?

[Roverthechimp]

Away goals being scrapped in UEFA competitions according to BBC (amongst others) 😥

Could it be linked to certain "big clubs" having been knocked out through this rule in recent seasons... 🤔

[Roverthechimp]

41 minutes ago, Stuart said:

And that’s for a league that isn’t even competitive and has zero prestige.

Without googling can anyone name last season’s MLS winners?

Do they win the league or is there some form of "finals" for top 4/8?? (Genuine question as most US Sports seem to have playoffs)

[den]

My mate’s flown out to Porto this morning. The club are paying for the city fans’ flights.

Very nice gesture.

[Stuart]

4 hours ago, Roverthechimp said:

Do they win the league or is there some form of "finals" for top 4/8?? (Genuine question as most US Sports seem to have playoffs)

The fact that neither of us have a clue speaks volumes! 😆

[speeeeeeedie]

5 hours ago, Roverthechimp said:

Do they win the league or is there some form of "finals" for top 4/8?? (Genuine question as most US Sports seem to have playoffs)

There is a supporters shield for the team that accumulates the most points during the season but you are right in that the MLS champ is crowned after playoffs and a final. I think that there are 14 or 16 teams get in this season. Last year was odd for obvious covid reasons. Columbus won it all last time.

Nobody in America expects the MLS to challenge the Premier League. It has its fans and does well for what it is.

[jodrell]

8 hours ago, arbitro said:

 

These Americans are relatively new to football but they know how to deal with financial miscreants and rule breakers like Beckhams Inter Miami. If only the authorities in the country who invented the game could be as dynamic.

Edit. It won't let me post a link but they have been fined $2m for breaking salary cap rules. The sporting director has been suspended and their 'managing owner' has been fined $250k with their roster allocation being reduced by $2.2m for two seasons.

 

Inter Miami Fined MLS Record $2M for Violating Salary Budget and Roster Regulations

I hope this works

[awhom111]

This was not the MLS news that I expected to see.  I was going to wait until it was fully resolved before posting in the last thread about him, but Derrick Williams is waiting to hear about how many matches his ban will be after getting sent off for a horrific tackle last week on Andy Polo.  Polo will miss the rest of the season (calendar year seasons, so at least until December) and Williams has been hearing from opposing fans and also from Peruvians who would prefer to have all of their players for World Cup Qualifying and Copa America.  I figured that Williams would be on slightly more than Henley was during his failed spell in MLS and seen more as backup than a regular starter, but he was playing as soon as he was healthy and it turns out that he is making quite a bit and it would have been unlikely for him to get similar offers anywhere else.

On 25/05/2021 at 06:01, speeeeeeedie said:

There were. He likes the top right. Gignac was linked to all and sundry a few years back. I too was surprised that he went to Mexico, but teams there pay top wages.

Incidentally it's one of the major reasons cited for Mexico's usual bright but ultimate early failure at World Cups. Mexican players don't need to leave their homeland for financial reasons, and they are treated like royalty, so they are happy to stay, win CONCACAF Champions Leagues, all whilst being isolated from the world game.

It is turning though and there are a more going to Europe now. 

They all have a long way to go though to match Hugo Sanchez who starred at Real in the 80's. 

There has also been the gentleman's agreement between teams that made it very difficult for players to leave their teams unless the teams wanted them to.  Vincent Janssen is the latest player to have moved over in the prime of his career and been reasonable successful.

[Darrenbot]

Bit of a shambles in South America at the moment.Copa America is supposed to start in 2 weeks.Originally it was awarded to Columbia and Argentina as co-hosts but Columbia were stripped as hosts back on 20th of May because of widespread protests against the government there then yesterday Argentina were also stripped because of a covid surge in the country.

Guess what wise thing Conmebol(South American equivalent of UEFA) have done........they've awarded it to Brazil,that'll be the country were protests were staged on Saturday against the President whose done a worse job the Boris at handling the covid crisis,460.000 deaths and 16 million covid cases so far.The mind boggles to why strip Agrentina to give it to a country in worse state.

[roverandout]

3 hours ago, Darrenbot said:

Bit of a shambles in South America at the moment.Copa America is supposed to start in 2 weeks.Originally it was awarded to Columbia and Argentina as co-hosts but Columbia were stripped as hosts back on 20th of May because of widespread protests against the government there then yesterday Argentina were also stripped because of a covid surge in the country.

Guess what wise thing Conmebol(South American equivalent of UEFA) have done........they've awarded it to Brazil,that'll be the country were protests were staged on Saturday against the President whose done a worse job the Boris at handling the covid crisis,460.000 deaths and 16 million covid cases so far.The mind boggles to why strip Agrentina to give it to a country in worse state.

They should just cancel it. At least in Europe we have it under control. Sort of. Good idea spreading the tournament around Europe means that there's plenty of hosts 

[roversfan99]

9 minutes ago, roverandout said:

They should just cancel it. At least in Europe we have it under control. Sort of. Good idea spreading the tournament around Europe means that there's plenty of hosts 

The idea was a silly one really prior to covid (as was even more so making the tournament asymmetrical and 24 teamed)  but it has worked out ok. Are away fans allowed to travel to stadiums, it would seem illogical if they are.

[roverandout]

9 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

The idea was a silly one really prior to covid (as was even more so making the tournament asymmetrical and 24 teamed)  but it has worked out ok. Are away fans allowed to travel to stadiums, it would seem illogical if they are.

Yes 

[roversfan99]

2 hours ago, roverandout said:

Yes 

Seems crazy to allow people from other countries in to be honest.

Interesting to see the squad today. The pathway that we are likely to face looks like chalk and cheese compared to the World Cup. We are looking at tough teams throughout any route past the group stage, including France, Portugal or Germany in the second round in which wed be the underdog.

[roverandout]

2 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Seems crazy to allow people from other countries in to be honest.

Interesting to see the squad today. The pathway that we are likely to face looks like chalk and cheese compared to the World Cup. We are looking at tough teams throughout any route past the group stage, including France, Portugal or Germany in the second round in which wed be the underdog.

Underdog v France. I fancy our chances against Germany and Portugal 

[Hoochie Bloochie Mama]

Arturo Vidal in hospital with Covid according to reports. Lets hope BB is ok.