***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)

[El Floppo]

Yamal. my lord. it's like watching peak Messi on video game mode with zero fear of successfully going at 2, 3 guys- except he's 17!!!!! couldve had a couple more goals and assists on the night if the bounces went his way. velcro touch, so quick with his change of pace and direction, great vision... just unreal how good he is- at any age.

Some commentator mentioned during a game earlier this year that it is really the ability with both feet that makes him so dangerous at a young age. Most wingers, even Messi, were very dominant with one foot when they were younger. Yamal can beat you with either.

I haven't watched a lot of him. That last match, he was almost exclusively on his left foot, beating guys occasionally going to his right because he and they had overloaded his left. He looked similar to Messi that way, and not a two footer Ronaldo.

 

[McBokonon]

TAA confirmed he’s leaving. Real Madrid bound.

 

[El Floppo]

TAA confirmed he’s leaving. Real Madrid bound.

Wonder who they bring to replace him, or if they stick with the existing understudy?

Theres been an understandable noise around Jedi.

 

[NewlyRetired]

TAA confirmed he’s leaving. Real Madrid bound.

Wonder who they bring to replace him, or if they stick with the existing understudy?

Theres been an understandable noise around Jedi.

TAA and Jedi play opposite sides. I don’t think their interest in Jedi is as a direct replacement for TAA, but maybe I am way off on this.

 

[gianmarco]

TAA confirmed he’s leaving. Real Madrid bound.

Wonder who they bring to replace him, or if they stick with the existing understudy?

Theres been an understandable noise around Jedi.

TAA and Jedi play opposite sides. I don’t think their interest in Jedi is as a direct replacement for TAA, but maybe I am way off on this.

Conor Bradley is the RB that filled in for TAA while he was out. He played really, really well. His current transfermarkt value, for reference, is currently $25M.

He's not the same kind of player as TAA, so I don't know if Liverpool will be looking to find someone else similar, but I think Bradley is more than capable to become the new starter.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

This is unreal to me, as a fan who's seen almost every game in the last 8+ years I'd have never guessed...

The team in the pic here played exactly one game together. And it was the Champions League win.

 

[gianmarco]

This video came up on my feed. Haven't seen his name mentioned here at all so figured I'd post.

The next Messi? -- Mastantuono

 

[NewlyRetired]

https://x.com/tombogert
Tom Bogert

@tombogert

BREAKING: LAFC will play Club America in a one-off playoff for the final Club World Cup place, with the match happening on May 31 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, sources tell
@JacobsBen and it is effectively a $10 million match.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This video came up on my feed. Haven't seen his name mentioned here at all so figured I'd post.

The next Messi? -- Mastantuono

55 first team appearances for River Plate at only 17 years old. wow.

We posted one of his goals recently in one of the soccer threads.

 

[titusbramble]

Playoff weekend down in London. Three days hotel, first class train back (original baller option of taking a plane couldn't quite get worked out). Stuck a few quid on Bristol City +5000 to qualify to cover should things go horribly wrong

 

[bigbottom]

For those who are into stadium stuff:

Coming this summer

 

[NewlyRetired]

Not good

====

Last weekend the Galaxy became the first-ever team in MLS to lose without conceding a shot.

This weekend they tied the record for largest margin of defeat (7-0) while setting the record for a winless streak to start the season (12).

 

[El Floppo]

Not good

Well... That's a matter of perspective, really.

 

[B Maverick]

Should be an interesting final two matches for the EPL and the top 7 places. Or at least 2-7...
6 pts between them and several playing each other.

Arsenal 68 pts - Newcastle, @ Southampton
Newcastle 66 pts - @Arsenal, Everton
City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)
Chelsea 63 pts - United, @ NF
Aston Villa 63 pts - Tottenham, @ United
NF 62 pts - @ West Ham, Chelsea

Villa having to play the 16th and 17th place teams would normally be an advantage. But when those teams are United and Spurs and are playing in the Europa final between the two matches, anything could happen without rhyme or reason.

 

[Desert_Power]

Some crazy stat I saw is that Mbappe's hat-trick against Barcelona was their 4th conceded since 1/25/25. They won three of the matches with the 4th being the Guirassy's hat-trick in the second leg where they advanced on aggregate.

 

[McBokonon]

City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)

For a City team that just drew against Southampton, this is a pretty tough couple of games.

 

[B Maverick]

City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)

For a City team that just drew against Southampton, this is a pretty tough couple of games.

oooo that could be fun:

Anyone up for this final table?
2 Newcastle 72 pts
3 Arsenal 71 pts
4 Aston Villa 69 pts
5 NF 68 pts
6 Chelsea 66 pts
7 City 65 pts

 

[NewlyRetired]

Coach earned his entire salary designing this set piece

https://x.com/nocontextfooty/status/1921993166246339032

 

[NewlyRetired]

Good for Amorim but this is a really bad look, again, for the team.

===============================

https://x.com/ESPNFC
ESPN FC
@ESPNFC

Ruben Amorim has paid for 30 of his Man United backroom staff to take their families to next week's Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, after being told by the club that his coaches, physios and support team would have to pay for their own tickets, sources have told ESPN.

 

[encaitar]

Good for Amiron but this is a really bad look, again, for the team.

===============================

https://x.com/ESPNFC
ESPN FC
@ESPNFC

Ruben Amorim has paid for 30 of his Man United backroom staff to take their families to next week's Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, after being told by the club that his coaches, physios and support team would have to pay for their own tickets, sources have told ESPN.

That's so odd. Man U is making around £7M just for making the final. 30 staff and their families attending is what... £60k? Such a bad look, especially for a rich team.

 

[B Maverick]

Good for Amiron but this is a really bad look, again, for the team.

===============================

https://x.com/ESPNFC
ESPN FC
@ESPNFC

Ruben Amorim has paid for 30 of his Man United backroom staff to take their families to next week's Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, after being told by the club that his coaches, physios and support team would have to pay for their own tickets, sources have told ESPN.

That's so odd. Man U is making around £7M just for making the final. 30 staff and their families attending is what... £60k? Such a bad look, especially for a rich team.

They are pinching pennies since they overspend on players. And after announcing a brand new stadium. It really isn't saving them anything meaningful yet they keep screwing over their staff, fans, families....

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Amazing chart here. Look at that break in 2005/2006 -- anyone know who started that trend?

tl;dr -- players aren't playing more minutes or running further than they used to, but the intensity of the game -- as measure thru passes and sprints -- has risen very dramatically in the last 20 years.

 

[B Maverick]

Amazing chart here. Look at that break in 2005/2006 -- anyone know who started that trend?

tl;dr -- players aren't playing more minutes or running further than they used to, but the intensity of the game -- as measure thru passes and sprints -- has risen very dramatically in the last 20 years.

What does the chart cover as far as team affiliation? Club? Country? All?

 

[titusbramble]

BTW Orient ruined my plan of watching both the Saturday/Sunday playoff finals while having personal investment in both, I may still book for the L1 game but going to try to blag Bournemouth or Soton instead. Or just go on a tour of good London pubs

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Feel like this clip explains a lot.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

What does the chart cover as far as team affiliation? Club? Country? All?

Soccer players.




















(sorry, I forget now)

 

[Desert_Power]

Amazing chart here. Look at that break in 2005/2006 -- anyone know who started that trend?

tl;dr -- players aren't playing more minutes or running further than they used to, but the intensity of the game -- as measure thru passes and sprints -- has risen very dramatically in the last 20 years.

You have a link? Fascinating stats but I haven't had the FT for a few years.

 

[Desert_Power]

I've seen something like this before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO9V_4ilTQc

 

[titusbramble]

Textbook challenge

https://x.com/FBAwayDays/status/1924504087770411251?t=WvLAZLc6gd-RqNIB2A0eDg&s=19

 

[B Maverick]

Should be an interesting final two matches for the EPL and the top 7 places. Or at least 2-7...
6 pts between them and several playing each other.

Arsenal 68 pts - Newcastle, @ Southampton
Newcastle 66 pts - @Arsenal, Everton
City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)
Chelsea 63 pts - United, @ NF
Aston Villa 63 pts - Tottenham, @ United
NF 62 pts - @ West Ham, Chelsea

Villa having to play the 16th and 17th place teams would normally be an advantage. But when those teams are United and Spurs and are playing in the Europa final between the two matches, anything could happen without rhyme or reason.

Ready for the final weekend???

Arsenal 71 pts, +34 - @ Southampton
City 68 pts, +26 - @ Fulham
Newcastle 66 pts, +22 - Everton
Chelsea 66 pts, +20 - @ NF
Aston Villa 66 pts, +9 - @ United
NF 65 pts, +13 - Chelsea

Chelsea v NF looks to be the big matchup. Everyone else should win theirs. Here's hoping Fulham comes to play!

 

[El Floppo]

Should be an interesting final two matches for the EPL and the top 7 places. Or at least 2-7...
6 pts between them and several playing each other.

Arsenal 68 pts - Newcastle, @ Southampton
Newcastle 66 pts - @Arsenal, Everton
City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)
Chelsea 63 pts - United, @ NF
Aston Villa 63 pts - Tottenham, @ United
NF 62 pts - @ West Ham, Chelsea

Villa having to play the 16th and 17th place teams would normally be an advantage. But when those teams are United and Spurs and are playing in the Europa final between the two matches, anything could happen without rhyme or reason.

Ready for the final weekend???

Arsenal 71 pts, +34 - @ Southampton
City 68 pts, +26 - @ Fulham
Newcastle 66 pts, +22 - Everton
Chelsea 66 pts, +20 - @ NF
Aston Villa 66 pts, +9 - @ United
NF 65 pts, +13 - Chelsea

Chelsea v NF looks to be the big matchup. Everyone else should win theirs. Here's hoping Fulham comes to play!

6 teams playing for 3 UCL spots? (Liverpool and Arse already in). and 1 Euro spot? I keep forgetting how many spots are up for grabs. Could two of those teams be completely SOL?

 

[B Maverick]

Should be an interesting final two matches for the EPL and the top 7 places. Or at least 2-7...
6 pts between them and several playing each other.

Arsenal 68 pts - Newcastle, @ Southampton
Newcastle 66 pts - @Arsenal, Everton
City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)
Chelsea 63 pts - United, @ NF
Aston Villa 63 pts - Tottenham, @ United
NF 62 pts - @ West Ham, Chelsea

Villa having to play the 16th and 17th place teams would normally be an advantage. But when those teams are United and Spurs and are playing in the Europa final between the two matches, anything could happen without rhyme or reason.

Ready for the final weekend???

Arsenal 71 pts, +34 - @ Southampton
City 68 pts, +26 - @ Fulham
Newcastle 66 pts, +22 - Everton
Chelsea 66 pts, +20 - @ NF
Aston Villa 66 pts, +9 - @ United
NF 65 pts, +13 - Chelsea

Chelsea v NF looks to be the big matchup. Everyone else should win theirs. Here's hoping Fulham comes to play!

6 teams playing for 3 UCL spots? (Liverpool and Arse already in). and 1 Euro spot? I keep forgetting how many spots are up for grabs. Could two of those teams be completely SOL?

Could be quite a fun weekend with Newcastle winning the league cup and Palace the FA Cup.

If I get this correct:
Top 5 get Champions League
6 and FA Cup winner get Europa
7 and EFL Cup winner get Conference League?

Final positions (including Newcastle's) and Chelsea winning Conference League can change all of this.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Should be an interesting final two matches for the EPL and the top 7 places. Or at least 2-7...
6 pts between them and several playing each other.

Arsenal 68 pts - Newcastle, @ Southampton
Newcastle 66 pts - @Arsenal, Everton
City 65 pts - Bournemouth, @ Fulham (plus FA Cup Final v Palace)
Chelsea 63 pts - United, @ NF
Aston Villa 63 pts - Tottenham, @ United
NF 62 pts - @ West Ham, Chelsea

Villa having to play the 16th and 17th place teams would normally be an advantage. But when those teams are United and Spurs and are playing in the Europa final between the two matches, anything could happen without rhyme or reason.

Ready for the final weekend???

Arsenal 71 pts, +34 - @ Southampton
City 68 pts, +26 - @ Fulham
Newcastle 66 pts, +22 - Everton
Chelsea 66 pts, +20 - @ NF
Aston Villa 66 pts, +9 - @ United
NF 65 pts, +13 - Chelsea

Chelsea v NF looks to be the big matchup. Everyone else should win theirs. Here's hoping Fulham comes to play!

6 teams playing for 3 UCL spots? (Liverpool and Arse already in). and 1 Euro spot? I keep forgetting how many spots are up for grabs. Could two of those teams be completely SOL?

Could be quite a fun weekend with Newcastle winning the league cup and Palace the FA Cup.

If I get this correct:
Top 5 get Champions League
6 and FA Cup winner get Europa
7 and EFL Cup winner get Conference League?

Final positions (including Newcastle's) and Chelsea winning Conference League can change all of this.

For Chelsea it’s win and they’re in the CL. With a draw they will need some help and if they lose It’s most likely they’d have to beat Bettis in the Conference League Final next Wednesday to play in Europa next season. My feeling is that Chelsea might be better served by a season in Europa League regardless.

In any event, the big dilemma for us on Sunday might be deciding which game we put on the second television we set up at the watch party.

 

[El Floppo]

This is what each team needs for UCL football:

MAN CITY (68, +26)
In short: a point seals it
Win: Guaranteed UCL
Draw: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa
Lose: Get UCL unless Newcastle, Chelsea and Villa all win

NEWCASTLE (66, +22)
In short: a win seals it
Win: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa
Draw: Get UCL unless both winner in Forest vs. Chelsea and Villa win
Lose: Only get UCL if Villa lose to Man United

CHELSEA (66, +20)
In short: a win seals it
Win: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa
Draw: Get UCL unless both Newcastle win/draw and Villa win
Lose: Only get UCL if Villa lose to Man United

ASTON VILLA (66, +9)
In short: a draw could do it, but really they must win and hope another result goes their way
Win: Get UCL if one of: Man City lose, Newcastle lose/draw or Chelsea lose/draw
Draw: Get UCL if Newcastle lose/draw or Chelsea lose/draw
Lose: Cannot get UCL

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (65, +12)
In short: must win and hope another result goes their way
Win: Get UCL if one of: Newcastle draw/lose or Aston Villa draw/lose
Draw: Cannot get UCL
Lose: Cannot get UCL


Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED

12. Crystal Palace (FA Cup winners)

As it stands, sixth (Aston Villa) will enter the Europa League by league position, and it will go to one of those teams in the Champions League section.

Sixth are joined by the FA Cup winners, Crystal Palace. (stream a replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.)

If Chelsea win the Conference League -- they are in the final vs. Real Betis on May 28 -- they are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League, but will play in the Champions League if they finish in the top five. Their final position could also influence the allocation of European places.

Newcastle are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League playoff round, as they won the Carabao Cup. But if Newcastle finish in the top six, which is almost certain, to play in the UCL or UEL, the Conference League place goes to seventh.

Eighth can take the Conference League place if Chelsea finish seventh and win the Conference League. It's also possible if Chelsea finish sixth and Newcastle seventh, but this is now highly improbable.

After Tuesday night's results we now know exactly what needs to happen for eighth (and that means 10 Premier League teams) to get into Europe. And it really is possible:

1) Chelsea lose at Nottingham Forest
2) Aston Villa win or draw at Manchester United
3) Chelsea win the Conference League

Brighton & Hove Albion (58, +4) are in command of the place and only Brentford (55, +9) can catch them.

Brighton need at least a point from their game at Spurs on Sunday to secure eighth place. However, if Brighton lose they can get overtaken by Brentford, who are away at Wolves, as the Bees have the better goal difference.

 

[The Z Machine]

Amazing chart here. Look at that break in 2005/2006 -- anyone know who started that trend?

tl;dr -- players aren't playing more minutes or running further than they used to, but the intensity of the game -- as measure thru passes and sprints -- has risen very dramatically in the last 20 years.

Gotta think Barca and the tiki taka + hunt in packs.

 

[El Floppo]

headline on my news feed just now, re ManU v Spurs final yesterday...

"two drunks arm-wrestling over bus fare"

 

[B Maverick]

headline on my news feed just now, re ManU v Spurs final yesterday...

"two drunks arm-wrestling over bus fare"

Pretty much all the headlines like this are probably accurate in their descriptions of the game.


But hey, now United can..... wait for it...... CONCENTRATE ON THE LEAGUE. IN 2025-2026

 

[titusbramble]

It was amazing how Spurs turned the "would you prefer to finish fourth, or 17th and win a trophy" theoretical into reality within just a couple of years

 

[B Maverick]

It was amazing how Spurs turned the "would you prefer to finish fourth, or 17th and win a trophy" theoretical into reality within just a couple of years

At one point I thought it would be funny if United got relegated and won Europa. Guess it could have worked for Spurs as well, to a lesser effect.
A Championship side in the Champions League would be incredibly hilarious.

 

[El Floppo]

It was amazing how Spurs turned the "would you prefer to finish fourth, or 17th and win a trophy" theoretical into reality within just a couple of years

At one point I thought it would be funny if United got relegated and won Europa. Guess it could have worked for Spurs as well, to a lesser effect.
A Championship side in the Champions League would be incredibly hilarious.

Didn't somebody win the FA cup and get relegated in the same season recently? Portsmouth?

 

[B Maverick]

It was amazing how Spurs turned the "would you prefer to finish fourth, or 17th and win a trophy" theoretical into reality within just a couple of years

At one point I thought it would be funny if United got relegated and won Europa. Guess it could have worked for Spurs as well, to a lesser effect.
A Championship side in the Champions League would be incredibly hilarious.

Didn't somebody win the FA cup and get relegated in the same season recently? Portsmouth?

Wigan. I think.

 

[B Maverick]

ASTON VILLA (66, +9)
In short: a draw could do it, but really they must win and hope another result goes their way
Win: Get UCL if one of: Man City lose, Newcastle lose/draw or Chelsea lose/draw
Draw: Get UCL if Newcastle lose/draw or Chelsea lose/draw
Lose: Cannot get UCL

Was thinking about this fixture and how United may play it. Villa is in a must win. I don't believe Rashford can play being on loan, but otherwise we will see their top lineup with a need to go for the it.

In years past I would have expected more kids on the pitch for United, they are usually set where they are going to be in the table and this becomes meaningless. But this year, its at home during their worst season in the EPL, coming off a loss to Spurs in a final, coach that needs some good will.....
We may actually see their top lineup for the majority? Do they need/want the win to end on a better note, esp for their fans?
I do think we will get a moment for Bruno to be subbed and get his cheers. Best player this season. Other than that, I have no idea what we'll get.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Awful lot of smoke building around Wirtz to Liverpool.

Van Dijk and Alisson were big (especially in hindsight), but this feels next-level -- like Torres. I thought at the time the Caicedo thing was just Liverpool running up the price Chelsea had to pay. Never thought they'd actually shell out that kind of cash. But the #s being tossed around for Wirtz would be nearly double what they paid for VvD.

Already replaced TAA, at the moment appear to be in pole position for Kerkez and Wirtz. If those go down, they'd just need to replace Darwin and maybe bring in a depth player who can play RW+. I'd like to see what Chiesa can do if he gets fully fit and stays there, but not sure he's in the plans.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

headline on my news feed just now, re ManU v Spurs final yesterday...

"two drunks arm-wrestling over bus fare"

The Athletic article yesterday had some fun with it:

With this being statistically the ‘worst’ European final of all time, a meeting of the two teams sitting 16th and 17th in the Premier League, directly above the three relegated sides, we all knew this would go one of two ways. It would either be a slapstick classic, with defenders falling over themselves to present goalscoring opportunities to the opposition and a 3-3 thriller would ensue, or it would just be a very, very bad football match.

Sadly, it was the latter.

To borrow a line written about then England captain Billy Wright struggling to cope with the genius of Ferenc Puskas when Hungary walloped the English at Wembley back in 1953, these players resembled firemen running to the wrong fire.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

[Fabrizio Romano] Liverpool are extremely confident on Florian Wirtz deal to be sealed very soon on both club/player sides.

Man City Bayern Munich Liverpool

~126M pounds would be insane.

Thought is that he'd move forward just a bit and be in the Firmino role as a false 9. So maybe they don't sign a #9 at all now.

 

[titusbramble]

Down into that London. 24 hours from now I'll be happy and pissed, or distraught and pissed

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Pissed in London sounds like a pretty good baseline.

 

[TennesseeJed]

This is what each team needs for UCL football:

Now do Spurs...

 

[titusbramble]

Pissed in London sounds like a pretty good baseline.

Not for my credit card balance it isn't

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Just saw the highlights in that one Titus, and... oof. Hope you and your Visa are doing alright.