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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (3 Viewers)

Water covers most of the earth. Gallese covers the rest.

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quite a span of results for MLS teams in CCL last night.

Philly with an acceptable draw on the road.
Orlando with a very good draw on the road.
Austin with one of the worst results in CCL history for an MLS team, losing badly on the road to what should have been the weakest team in the whole tournament.
 
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He just returned after a long injury recovery. What a waste of incredible talent he has been for most of his career

=====

Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano


Paul Pogba has not been called up for Europa League game vs Freiburg due to disciplinary reasons #UEL No new injuries — but Pogba arrived late yesterday evening and he won’t be part of Juventus list.
 
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NewlyRetired said:
quite a span of results for MLS teams in CCL last night.

Philly with an acceptable draw on the road.
Orlando with a very good draw on the road.
Austin with one of the worst results in CCL history for an MLS team, losing badly on the road to what should have been the weakest team in the whole tournament.
Click to expand...

Vancouver romped at home 5-0 and LAFC had a fantastic result in CR winning 3-0.

The 5 MLS teams gave up a combined 3 goals in the first leg, and all three of them were in the forehead smacking Austin game.

I expect we may see at least 3 MLS teams in the quarter finals. LA and Vancouver seem like locks. Philly has a good chance to advance at home in the second leg
 
Seems like he would be a nice fit for most MLS teams

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

Tom Bogert

@tombogert

Sources: St. Louis City SC among clubs interested in signing Brazil int'l Roberto Firmino this summer as a free agent when he leaves Liverpool. Firmino, 31, has 108g/79a in 300+ apps with Liverpool. Before that? He was at Hoffenheim...with STL sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel.

Still very early in the process for Roberto Firmino, who only recently decided he would leave Liverpool this summer when his contract expires. There have been whispers that LAFC are interested in Firmino as well. I imagine a lot of MLS teams would be.
https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1634629227684216832/photo/1
 
NewlyRetired said:
I expect we may see at least 3 MLS teams in the quarter finals. LA and Vancouver seem like locks. Philly has a good chance to advance at home in the second leg
Click to expand...
I bet Austin still has a pretty decent shot too. At least if the other team is as bad as people think they are. Think about how many times MLS teams got a good home result and then got tonked in Mexico in the away leg. The gap is (probably?) bigger here.
 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
NewlyRetired said:
I expect we may see at least 3 MLS teams in the quarter finals. LA and Vancouver seem like locks. Philly has a good chance to advance at home in the second leg
Click to expand...
I bet Austin still has a pretty decent shot too. At least if the other team is as bad as people think they are. Think about how many times MLS teams got a good home result and then got tonked in Mexico in the away leg. The gap is (probably?) bigger here.
Click to expand...

I was also reading there is a slight chance Austin may go through on default. The team they are playing, as of last week, did not have any where near enough players/staff with visa's to enter the US for the away leg. I think the coach said they only had 12 visa's in place between players and staff.
 
NewlyRetired said:
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
NewlyRetired said:
I expect we may see at least 3 MLS teams in the quarter finals. LA and Vancouver seem like locks. Philly has a good chance to advance at home in the second leg
Click to expand...
I bet Austin still has a pretty decent shot too. At least if the other team is as bad as people think they are. Think about how many times MLS teams got a good home result and then got tonked in Mexico in the away leg. The gap is (probably?) bigger here.
Click to expand...

I was also reading there is a slight chance Austin may go through on default. The team they are playing, as of last week, did not have any where near enough players/staff with visa's to enter the US for the away leg. I think the coach said they only had 12 visa's in place between players and staff.
Click to expand...
That's some ******** IMO. There's no way a team should forfeit an international competition for visa reasons.
 
The Z Machine said:
NewlyRetired said:
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
NewlyRetired said:
I expect we may see at least 3 MLS teams in the quarter finals. LA and Vancouver seem like locks. Philly has a good chance to advance at home in the second leg
Click to expand...
I bet Austin still has a pretty decent shot too. At least if the other team is as bad as people think they are. Think about how many times MLS teams got a good home result and then got tonked in Mexico in the away leg. The gap is (probably?) bigger here.
Click to expand...

I was also reading there is a slight chance Austin may go through on default. The team they are playing, as of last week, did not have any where near enough players/staff with visa's to enter the US for the away leg. I think the coach said they only had 12 visa's in place between players and staff.
Click to expand...
That's some ******** IMO. There's no way a team should forfeit an international competition for visa reasons.
Click to expand...
welcome to Concacaf.
 
NewlyRetired said:
rustycolts said:
NewlyRetired said:
Business off the field appears to be doing very well for MLS. On top of the record setting opening day attendance, I just saw this tidbit:

MLS set a new record for weekly sales on http://MLSstore.com during the 2023 @MLS Jersey Launch Week. The record sales marked a 34% increase from the same window in 2022, per @Fanatics
Click to expand...
I just got back into reading this thread. So this might have already been discussed but what do you think of MLS season pass? Did you subscribe? Do you think some of the die hard premier league folks will buy and tune in. I bought it and really enjoying it so far. I'm following St. Louis, Minnesota, Nashville and of course OCSC real close so far. Also like putting the voo doo on Ft.Lauderdale and Atlanta.
Click to expand...

I do not subscribe but I would like to (wife will have a coronary if we get even one more streaming service). I have heard many good things about it so far.

No, I do not think the EPL fans will ever care enough about MLS to subscribe. Same with the Liga MX fans.
Click to expand...
I think with Messi edging closer to MLS, this might change and make me rethink the whole AppleTV deal. I don't like being behind a paywall because I worry it may stunt the growth in the game here, but the money from the rest of the world that could pour into digital subs would be a game changer.

For $100 you can watch 30-40 Messi games, get the replays if the time zone sucks, etc. I would not be surprised to see 5-10m new subscribers just off the Messi factor. If Beckham was the spark that started the fire, Messi to Inter Miami would be pouring rocket fuel on it.
 
NewlyRetired said:
Seems like he would be a nice fit for most MLS teams

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

Tom Bogert
@tombogert

Sources: St. Louis City SC among clubs interested in signing Brazil int'l Roberto Firmino this summer as a free agent when he leaves Liverpool. Firmino, 31, has 108g/79a in 300+ apps with Liverpool. Before that? He was at Hoffenheim...with STL sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel.

Still very early in the process for Roberto Firmino, who only recently decided he would leave Liverpool this summer when his contract expires. There have been whispers that LAFC are interested in Firmino as well. I imagine a lot of MLS teams would be.
https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1634629227684216832/photo/1
Click to expand...
OMG.... That would be so amazing (for me)
 
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NewlyRetired said:
I can not explain how happy this makes me compared to the horrendous format they originally went with.

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

Transfer News Live
@DeadlineDayLive


The FIFA council are set to approve the new format of the 2026 World Cup:
- 48 teams
- 16 host cities
- 12 groups of 4
-Top 2 qualify + 8 best third-placed teams
- Last 32 knock-out round
→ 104 TOTAL GAMES
Click to expand...
Assume the third-place is based on points, then goal differential, goals for, etc.? This could be interesting. Seems like a lot of teams making knockouts tho. Fully 2/3 of the field.
 
Poke_4_Life said:
NewlyRetired said:
I can not explain how happy this makes me compared to the horrendous format they originally went with.

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

Transfer News Live
@DeadlineDayLive


The FIFA council are set to approve the new format of the 2026 World Cup:
- 48 teams
- 16 host cities
- 12 groups of 4
-Top 2 qualify + 8 best third-placed teams
- Last 32 knock-out round
→ 104 TOTAL GAMES
Click to expand...
Assume the third-place is based on points, then goal differential, goals for, etc.? This could be interesting. Seems like a lot of teams making knockouts tho. Fully 2/3 of the field.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is likely how the 3rd place teams will be chosen.

You will almost always have 2/3 advance in a non 16/32 team format. For example, when a tournament is 24 teams, 16 teams advance.

It is a lot of teams in the knock out round, but it is a knock out round that starts with 32 teams, not 16 like usual.
 
Poke_4_Life said:
Assume the third-place is based on points, then goal differential, goals for, etc.? This could be interesting. Seems like a lot of teams making knockouts tho. Fully 2/3 of the field.
Click to expand...
I don't mind this as much if they're going to have a 48 team tournament. There will probably be a surprise or two, but for the most part the 16 teams that get eliminated will be terrible.
 
I do wonder how they will slot the 3rd place teams in the knockout bracket. In a 32 team tournament you can have brackets already established for knockouts. Would they set it in advance and then potentially have rematches in the knockouts? That would be wild.
 
Poke_4_Life said:
I do wonder how they will slot the 3rd place teams in the knockout bracket. In a 32 team tournament you can have brackets already established for knockouts. Would they set it in advance and then potentially have rematches in the knockouts? That would be wild.
Click to expand...

I have not seen how they will do it in 2026, but this is how they handled the 3rd place teams in 1994

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

Sixteen teams advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament: The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the best four third-placed teams. In the round of 16, the four third-placed teams played against four of the group winners from group A-D, with the remaining two group winners from group E and F taking on two of the group runners-up; the remaining four runners-up were paired off against each other. The winners of the eight round of 16 matches were then paired together in the quarter-finals, the winners of which played against each other in the semi-finals.
 
oh this is interesting. Morocco has replaced the Ukraine in the joint Spain/Portugal bid for 2030.

This borrows from the voting block idea Saudi had and almost simultaneously shuts the Saudi bid down.
 
NewlyRetired said:
oh this is interesting. Morocco has replaced the Ukraine in the joint Spain/Portugal bid for 2030.

This borrows from the voting block idea Saudi had and almost simultaneously shuts the Saudi bid down.
Click to expand...
Makes more sense too, since it's closer to Spain/Portugal for travelling issues. I like the idea. Should be a top candidate.
 
encaitar said:
NewlyRetired said:
oh this is interesting. Morocco has replaced the Ukraine in the joint Spain/Portugal bid for 2030.

This borrows from the voting block idea Saudi had and almost simultaneously shuts the Saudi bid down.
Click to expand...
Makes more sense too, since it's closer to Spain/Portugal for travelling issues. I like the idea. Should be a top candidate.
Click to expand...

they are trying to break through what is likely the sentimental favorite since this will be the 100th anniversary of the WC and having it (at least partially) in Uruguay would be pretty cool, which is what the other main bid contains (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile)
 
NewlyRetired said:
encaitar said:
NewlyRetired said:
oh this is interesting. Morocco has replaced the Ukraine in the joint Spain/Portugal bid for 2030.

This borrows from the voting block idea Saudi had and almost simultaneously shuts the Saudi bid down.
Click to expand...
Makes more sense too, since it's closer to Spain/Portugal for travelling issues. I like the idea. Should be a top candidate.
Click to expand...

they are trying to break through what is likely the sentimental favorite since this will be the 100th anniversary of the WC and having it (at least partially) in Uruguay would be pretty cool, which is what the other main bid contains (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile)
Click to expand...
I'd be down with either of these groups. No Saudi pls.
 
hmm, I wonder if this is something they are testing for FIFA or just for MLS? Either way, I like it. Anything that helps speed up subs I want. I hate the 30 second walk to the subs bench to kill time knowing the ref never adds enough to compensate.

==========

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/?f=flair_name:"News"

[Ojeda] BREAKING: MLS announced the new "Timed Substitution Rule" to apply in the MLS NEXT PRO (their reserve league). The rule says that the outgoing player has 10 seconds to leave the field; if not, his team will play without one player for one minute.​

 
NewlyRetired said:
hmm, I wonder if this is something they are testing for FIFA or just for MLS? Either way, I like it. Anything that helps speed up subs I want. I hate the 30 second walk to the subs bench to kill time knowing the ref never adds enough to compensate.

==========

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/?f=flair_name:"News"

[Ojeda] BREAKING: MLS announced the new "Timed Substitution Rule" to apply in the MLS NEXT PRO (their reserve league). The rule says that the outgoing player has 10 seconds to leave the field; if not, his team will play without one player for one minute.​

Click to expand...
i would like to see it a longer time penalty maybe 2-3 minutes.

the 2 rules i would like to see immediately:
a yellow card for anyone running to argue or intimidate the ref for a decision who isnt the captain or actually involved in the call.
get serious about diving, automatic cards during the game (no waving off or just talking to)
 
waiver wire said:
NewlyRetired said:
hmm, I wonder if this is something they are testing for FIFA or just for MLS? Either way, I like it. Anything that helps speed up subs I want. I hate the 30 second walk to the subs bench to kill time knowing the ref never adds enough to compensate.

==========

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/?f=flair_name:"News"

[Ojeda] BREAKING: MLS announced the new "Timed Substitution Rule" to apply in the MLS NEXT PRO (their reserve league). The rule says that the outgoing player has 10 seconds to leave the field; if not, his team will play without one player for one minute.​

Click to expand...
i would like to see it a longer time penalty maybe 2-3 minutes.

the 2 rules i would like to see immediately:
a yellow card for anyone running to argue or intimidate the ref for a decision who isnt the captain or actually involved in the call.
get serious about diving, automatic cards during the game (no waving off or just talking to)
Click to expand...
Didn't the laws change so the player could leave the field via the closest side/end line?

They really need to start enforcing the laws on the books before pushing for new ones. I'm not against any of these, just lets stop letting keepers hold the ball for 30 seconds at a time. Stop them from catching an easy ball with no one around and falling to the ground to waste time. Don't let throwins take 30 seconds and definitely don't let them inch their way up the field for 20 yards....

For this one "a yellow card for anyone running to argue or intimidate the ref for a decision who isn't the captain or actually involved in the call."
I saw a ref calmly take a red card out of his pocket and hold it by his side. The 8 players around him stopped and backed away. It really should be that easy.
I do agree with you, lets get back to captains only, but we also need to hold the refs accountable. Make them answer questions after the game as well.
 
B Maverick said:
Didn't the laws change so the player could leave the field via the closest side/end line?
Click to expand...

yes, but it has been a bit of a failure unfortunately. This is how it almost always plays out for the team that is ahead.

1) sub is listed for player on far side of the field.

2) player on field to be subbed lowers his head and slowly jogs towards the side line.

3) Ref points for him to exit on his side

4) player pretends he does not see and keeps jogging, now at about half way across the field

5) Ref gets sterner, player now recognizes, argues for a a moment and then jogs back where he came from, ending up covering the same distance he would have if he just came to the regular side line and at the same pace.

No effective time is saved and the refs (at least outside of how they performed at the WC) won't add this wasted time on the clock.
 
B Maverick said:


They really need to start enforcing the laws on the books before pushing for new ones. I'm not against any of these, just lets stop letting keepers hold the ball for 30 seconds at a time. Stop them from catching an easy ball with no one around and falling to the ground to waste time. Don't let throwins take 30 seconds and definitely don't let them inch their way up the field for 20 yards....
Click to expand...
I have no explanation for why some rules are never enforced in this sport and the vast majority of fans don't seem to care about it.

For example, we finally saw during the WC what real extra time should look like but once every one just went back to watching the leagues and not caring when a 5 was raised instead of the 12 it should have been for injury time.
 
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I am starting to think Napoli may represent one of the greatest disparities between quality on the field and the Q factor/name recognition of their roster.
 
I would have to check to be sure but this feels like the first time in a long time that Serie A has the most teams in the UCL quarter finals

3 Italian
2 English
1 Spanish
1 Portuguese
1 German
 
NewlyRetired said:
encaitar said:
NewlyRetired said:
oh this is interesting. Morocco has replaced the Ukraine in the joint Spain/Portugal bid for 2030.

This borrows from the voting block idea Saudi had and almost simultaneously shuts the Saudi bid down.
Click to expand...
Makes more sense too, since it's closer to Spain/Portugal for travelling issues. I like the idea. Should be a top candidate.
Click to expand...

they are trying to break through what is likely the sentimental favorite since this will be the 100th anniversary of the WC and having it (at least partially) in Uruguay would be pretty cool, which is what the other main bid contains (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile)
Click to expand...
Yeah, either of these should be awesome WCs
 
rustycolts said:
Could someone explain this away goal thing to me. Seems kind of bogus.
Click to expand...
when the aggregate score is level after two games, the team that scores the most away goals in the winner.

This has been common for decades in soccer although recently some competitions are doing away with the rule and going to extra time if level after two games.
 
NewlyRetired said:
rustycolts said:
Could someone explain this away goal thing to me. Seems kind of bogus.
Click to expand...
when the aggregate score is level after two games, the team that scores the most away goals in the winner.

This has been common for decades in soccer although recently some competitions are doing away with the rule and going to extra time if level after two games.
Click to expand...
I don't know seems like a weird rule to me. Why would a 0-0 draw in Mexico be less important than a 1-1 draw here. But what do I know I'm a soccer newbie. That bicycle kick by Kara in the 90th was a thing of beauty almost had me sporting wood.
 
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