***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 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.

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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