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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (8 Viewers)

Ditto Slap with the Ajax  :eek: .  Since I discontinued BEIN I'm not seeing much Spanish futbol any more so maybe someone who does can explain the low number for Atletico, too.

 
Ajax v. Real Madrid 

My guess is that 538 is very stats driven - but has a hard time evaluating the relative strength of schedule across the various leagues.

So, in raw numbers:

Madrid - 9-2-5 with +5 GD (24-19)

Ajax - 14-1-1 with a +50 GD  (57-7)

I can see why those  numbers in a spreadsheet would point toward Ajax.  I do think this is closer than it might appear based on recent history.  This should be a good battle between Ajax' youth, and Madrid's experience.  I would not be shocked if Ajax beat them, but it will be tough with the second leg in Madrid.

 
MLS Playoff reform was released today.  Here is the digest version:

* 7 teams from each conference make playoffs

* Top seeded team in each conference gets a bye in the first round

* First round games are seeds: 2 vs 7,  3 vs 6, 4 vs 5 at higher ranked seeds home field

* First round games start AFTER the international break, giving all teams some time to adjust and to sell some tickets.

* the three winners then join the top seeded team, again with the higher seeded team with home field, in the next round

* all playoffs games will be single games.  Home and Home is gone

* Season will end much earlier to avoid the international break.  MLS Cup will happen on November 10, as compared to Dec. 8th this season

* 2019 regular season will be much more compact, due to CBA issues, but starting in 2020, the season is expected to start earlier.

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

I like most of these changes. 

-With only single game playoff rounds, it rewards teams for having a better regular season. 

-Starting after the October international break and ending before the November international break is excellent. 

-I do not like 14 teams in the playoffs, but as the league continues to expand, this may become less of an issue for me.

 
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Pity Martinez was named the player of the year in Argentina for 2018.  He is also continuing to tell everyone he is going to Atlanta even though Atlanta won't confirm.

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

“I made the decision together with my family," Martinez told Radio Continental in an interview. "It was time to take the next step [forward] in my career. I saw the US league in a positive light. They showed me a mountain of things. … It was tough for me to decide. But the European teams were not as eager to sign me, to pay the amount of money River wanted, but this club [Atlanta] did, they trusted in me.”

 
roadkill1292 said:
Mourinho sacked this morning. Carrick will finish the season out.
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BBC says it won't be Carrick:

A United statement said: "A caretaker-manager will be appointed until the end of the season while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.

"The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future."

The club hope to appoint a caretaker-manager before they face Cardiff City on 22 December but it will not be assistant manager Michael Carrick or academy boss Nicky Butt.

 
Obviously the players aren't playing well but it can't be easy when you've got some little Portuguese guy constantly playing stupid head games with the whole team. 

Should have happened 2 months ago, at least

 
El Floppo said:
Will the next guy get Pogba playing to potential? Get the MF humming and allow room to create and/or get forward?
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While Jose was at Chelsea Willian was the MVP and Hazard was looking like he was on his way to Los blancos, wouldn’t suprise me to see Pogba flourish. 

 
Sinn Fein said:
BBC says it won't be Carrick:

A United statement said: "A caretaker-manager will be appointed until the end of the season while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.

"The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future."

The club hope to appoint a caretaker-manager before they face Cardiff City on 22 December but it will not be assistant manager Michael Carrick or academy boss Nicky Butt.
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It's my day to completely mis-comprehend what I'm reading. Perhaps I should go to all the threads where I'm active right now and apologize in advance for today's screw-ups.  :bag:

 
Poch rumors starting already.  I think I speak for the entire PL when I say I hope this doesn’t happen. The last thing any of us want is Pochettino and an unlimited budget in the league. 

 
There is a warm fuzzy feeling in me today at the thought of TSO dismembering the richest team on the planet and then getting fired. I'm gonna miss him whining about United not being able to purchase all the good players in the world any more because there were so many other good teams out there determined to hold onto said good players. That is deeply satisfying on many levels.

 
15 pages and counting at SpursCommunity on the Pochettino thread since this morning...and that does not include many of the same posts in the United thread...

 
Every City fan is in mourning after this firing.  This was an epic meltdown that should not have been extinguished so quickly!

 
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Sinn Fein said:
15 pages and counting at SpursCommunity on the Pochettino thread since this morning...and that does not include many of the same posts in the United thread...
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at this point in history- I don't see how moving to United is anything but a sideways move at best. just a matter of more open purse-strings?

 
El Floppo said:
at this point in history- I don't see how moving to United is anything but a sideways move at best. just a matter of more open purse-strings?
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In theory, I agree.  Spurs, at the moment, are a better team in every sense of the word.

But, if you are a manager who aspires to winning big trophies, I can see the allure of the United position.  In many ways it would be perfect for Poch - he could really build a long-term legacy, without ever once worrying about a budget. 

 
Sinn Fein said:
In theory, I agree.  Spurs, at the moment, are a better team in every sense of the word.

But, if you are a manager who aspires to winning big trophies, I can see the allure of the United position.  In many ways it would be perfect for Poch - he could really build a long-term legacy, without ever once worrying about a budget. 
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I hate you.  

 
Sinn Fein said:
In theory, I agree.  Spurs, at the moment, are a better team in every sense of the word.

But, if you are a manager who aspires to winning big trophies, I can see the allure of the United position.  In many ways it would be perfect for Poch - he could really build a long-term legacy, without ever once worrying about a budget. 
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not including pogba... and there's no reason not to, but whatever... how do spurs and united compare in terms of outlay of money for players?

eta: I kinda assumed they were more even than they might be.

 
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The last thing United need is another manager from a small club that don't win trophies.  Didn't work with Moyes, won't work with Pochettino.  

Mourinho didn't get it done, but that is the type of manager United need.  Doesn't always work with big manager/big club.  Conte and Chelsea didn't work, but at least they cut bait way quicker (to be fair, Mou's won three trophies while at United).  Blanc would be a fine caretaker till season end.  Obviously Zidanne's name will pop up prominently.  

This season has been an epic disaster in league play, LvG style.  

 
Sinn Fein said:
In theory, I agree.  Spurs, at the moment, are a better team in every sense of the word.

But, if you are a manager who aspires to winning big trophies, I can see the allure of the United position.  In many ways it would be perfect for Poch - he could really build a long-term legacy, without ever once worrying about a budget. 
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At United, he’d no longer be able to complain about his budget.  It would be put-up-or-shut-up time for Poch, where “put-up” means winning trophies starting day one. Same at Real Madrid.  Bayern and Barca are probably the only other big clubs where that is the case. The interesting thing is that 3 of those clubs might be in the manager market this summer. 

 
El Floppo said:
at this point in history- I don't see how moving to United is anything but a sideways move at best. just a matter of more open purse-strings?
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I agree. I’m very impressed with Poch this season.  He’s held it together, stopped the exodus from happening, and he’s going to enter a sparkling new facility with a team not too far behind two teams on a record pace.  

And that’s with no transfers.  Remarkable.

Going to this United team would be a definite step down in squad quality.  Although I’m sure that would be remedied in short order.

 
Sinn Fein said:
In theory, I agree.  Spurs, at the moment, are a better team in every sense of the word.

But, if you are a manager who aspires to winning big trophies, I can see the allure of the United position.  In many ways it would be perfect for Poch - he could really build a long-term legacy, without ever once worrying about a budget. 
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SF, what is the prevailing opinion of what the impact of the new stadium will be on Spurs future budget?  At some point they will open the purse strings, correct?  Or is the stadium so costly that it will require 4-5 years of frugality?

 
Jesus Christ himself would get fired from United in a few years time, I have no idea why any coach would want that job at this point. 

 
shader said:
SF, what is the prevailing opinion of what the impact of the new stadium will be on Spurs future budget?  At some point they will open the purse strings, correct?  Or is the stadium so costly that it will require 4-5 years of frugality?
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Its a mixed bag - two things are working against Spurs right now - cost overruns because of the delay (actual construction costs plus the costs of renting Wembley), and the lack of a naming rights deal.   Levy is aiming for the moon with the naming rights deal, but the market is simply not there.

But, the other factor that is hurting Spurs in the transfer market:  they have too many non-HG players on the roster (they have senior players who they cannot register for CL and one player they cannot even register for PL), and can't sell them (at a price Levy wants).  That will change next summer (and maybe even in January).  Vorm has lost his spot as back-up keeper, and is out of contract in the summer.  I could see him leave in January.  Mousa Dembele is also out of contract next summer, and Spurs tried to sell him last summer - but I think Dembele was not ready to leave.  Victor Jannssen wasn't registered for PL or CL - Poch wants him gone, but he suffered an injury last summer and could not be sold - he has no future at Spurs.  Georges Kevin-NKoudou was not registered for CL - and would be moved if Spurs can find a buyer.

We have heard that Spurs will spend money in January.  And, we have heard Spurs will not spend money in January.  :shrug:

Long-term, we are told the money is there.  I think they need to get the naming rights settled, as that will payoff the stadium debt.  But, they also need to sell non-HG players before they can buy. 

 
Thank you Liverpool for ending the long nightmare that is Jose.  I've seen mention of Ole Gunnar and Blanc as possible caretaker managers until the end of the season with a full time manager (Poch, Zidane) selected then. Guess they are following the USMNT model for managerial hiring now. 

In any case, here is what I would like to see:

1) Hire a director of futbol.  Let him hire the full time manager.  Not sure one can be appointed in time to hire a caretaker, but at least get him in to set the direction of the club and pick the manager to lead that. He has 6 months to figure that out.

2) Move Woodward back to the money side full time.  He has been masterful in sponsorships and branding.  He needs to continue there and be out of the futbol side.

3) See how the players respond and determine who will fit with the direction as set by the Director and factor that into the managerial hiring

4) Get Martial and De Gea resigned.

5) Sell Fellaini, Smalling, Jones

6) Determine how to get the best out of Lukaku, Pogba, and Sanchez or sell them and replace.  All three can thrive in the right system.  If United isn't the right one, move on.

7) Sell Fellaini

 
Who hires a caretaker manager with 19 games left and CL knockout rounds ahead?  Would be a really bad decision imo

 
LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018) – The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has signed forward Zlatan Ibrahimović to a new contract that will see the Swedish striker return to LA for the 2019 MLS season as a Designated Player.

 
Had to happen.  Excited about the future.  Hope they really shake things up and change the way they grow the team from here on out. I really have no idea who I want to replace Jose, though.  No one really jumps out.  

 
FIFA winter excitement!

feel like it's usually a team from the americas in the final against europe. exciting for UAE, I guess. 

Al Ain beat South American champions River Plate 5-4 on penalties to reach the Club World Cup final after their last-four clash finished 2-2 after 90 minutes and extra time on Tuesday.

Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa saved the decisive penalty to earn his team a spot in Saturday's final where they will face Spain's Real Madrid or Japan's Kashima Antlers.
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