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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 Viewers)

Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Anyone know why Liverpool plays Arsenal for the 2nd time before they've played Swansea once?  I thought the season was split into two 19-game halves, once vs each other team in each.
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Pool even screws up their own schedule?  Say it ain’t so...

 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Anyone know why Liverpool plays Arsenal for the 2nd time before they've played Swansea once?  I thought the season was split into two 19-game halves, once vs each other team in each.
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This has been a bit of a controversy all season.

Originally Skysports wanted this fixture moved to Christmas eve but supporters complained about it too much and Skysports changed the schedule again.

This time Sky Sports moved this fixture to a very rare Friday Night match so they moved back the Arsenal game at Crystal Palace and Liverpool’s against Swansea City in the schedule.

 
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This is behind a pay wall but here is the start of the article:

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

League flexes muscles in securing $425M loan

By Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer 

Published December 4, 2017, Page 5

Major League Soccer borrowed $425 million from a consortium of banks led by JP-Morgan and Bank of America, underscoring the quickly changing financial fortunes of the soccer league as it prepares to award lucrative expansion franchises.

==========

Apparently the loan will be used to buy out Providence Equity's SUM share and the remainder will be used in other business areas including the acquisition of players.

 
Dusty-eyes warning!

While other Brazilian clubs suggested that Chapecoense should be immune from relegation this season, team president Ivan Tozzo rejected that idea. Instead, a Chapecoense squad comprised of free agents, returning former players, loanees from other clubs, youth prospects, and two survivors of the plane crash put together their highest finish ever in Brazilian Série A, earning 54 points and eighth place.
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Two vids embedded.  First the stoppage-time goal that put them back into the Copa Lib.  Second, the team celebrating in the club house afterward.

 
so is CRo just having an incredibly bad patch or is this the beginning of the end for him? 

Every week it seems that a new stat comes out showing how historically poor he has been in the league (and not in relation to his normal god like abilities, in relation to the historical bad La Liga player)

 
The Dons draw Spurs in the FA Cup 3rd round.

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
We're going to Wem-ber-ly
Que sera sera

 
Northern Voice said:
They're going for more than double this on Stubhub and there's not likely to be much left by the general on sale Monday. I'm in the ####ty situation where I'd like to go and have no problem paying the face value $$$ but the people who I would bring with me (wife/friend) don't want to pay $100-150/ticket. I still want to go, so I'm tempted to try to buy 2-4 on Monday, if I can manage to get my hands on them and maybe I sell one for profit to offset cost for my wife/friend who are put off by the price. 

Of course, perhaps I could find someone willing to pay the full face value price for the tickets and come to the game with me *cough* @Steve Tasker *cough*
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did you get tickets?  

Toronto FC‏Verified account @torontofc

#MLSCup Sold Out!

 
NewlyRetired said:
did you get tickets?  

Toronto FC‏Verified account @torontofc

#MLSCup Sold Out!
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No, I don't think they made it to public on sale, sold out between season seat holders (who had opportunity to buy extras), MLS allocations and sponsors.

Were going to hope more are released or Stubhub prices drop.

 
Sebowski said:
I was going to say:

What is the most hipster thing I've heard all day, Alex. 

But just looked at the list. That is pretty bad. So I won't. 
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I had not looked - but Serge Aurier is on the list, and he can't beat out Kieran Trippier right now at a mid-table club like Spurs.

 
I thought resolutions were always saved for more important matters like the state vegetable or dinosaur or champion high school lacrosse teams.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I had not looked - but Serge Aurier is on the list, and he can't beat out Kieran Trippier right now at a mid-table club like Spurs.
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I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that it wasn't the discussing the best RBs in the world that sounded hipstery. It was that Kimmich was specified as the Joshua of the Kimmiches (or is it the Kimmchi) and that the clarifying name was "Joshua".

 
Sebowski said:
I was going to say:

What is the most hipster thing I've heard all day, Alex. 

But just looked at the list. That is pretty bad. So I won't. 
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You know me.  I always drink obscure craft beers, listen to unknown indie bands, eati artisanal pickles, and call people by their given name. Hipster ####. 

 
NewlyRetired said:
I have not seen anything official from MLS or Atlanta but this guy that broke the original story about Atlanta signing the young stud a couple of weeks ago, now says the deal is done.

First signing of its kind in MLS history.

https://twitter.com/CLMerlo/status/937832441422794752
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I posted this in the US thread, but this is both a genius signing by Atlanta and shows the perverse incentives of MLS.  As a young DP who is their third, Barco won't count against the salary cap while rostering Carleton would be at least the minimum if not more based on what he's making.  

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
ESPN FC released their Top 100 players today.  Somehow, Joshua Kimmich is not one of the 10 best RBs in the world by their estimation.  
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Transfer value isn't the focus of the piece, but I'd say Sandro would be a Chelsea player today if he could be had for anything close to 30M pounds. If the rumors are to be believed, Juventus wanted 80M last summer. Now he's apparently making noise that he wants out, so perhaps a winter move in in the offing.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
Transfer value isn't the focus of the piece, but I'd say Sandro would be a Chelsea player today if he could be had for anything close to 30M pounds. If the rumors are to be believed, Juventus wanted 80M last summer. Now he's apparently making noise that he wants out, so perhaps a winter move in in the offing.
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Yeah, the transfer values were kind of wack, but I think everyone's still adjusting to the new market.  They report Walker's transfer value at 30 million when the blurb reports that he moved for 54 million.  I've also never heard of "Football Whispers."

 
Sammy3469 said:
I posted this in the US thread, but this is both a genius signing by Atlanta and shows the perverse incentives of MLS.  As a young DP who is their third, Barco won't count against the salary cap while rostering Carleton would be at least the minimum if not more based on what he's making.  
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please check the US thread when you get a chance.  I think there is a chance you are misreading the rules.

 
This is a good re-signing by NYC

========

New York City FC today announced that the club has signed Ronald Matarrita to a contract extension using Targeted Allocation Money. The Costa Rican international will return for a third season with NYCFC after he joined from Alajuelense in January 2016.

 
The IOC just banned Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics.  That should cause even more awkwardness next summer when they host the World Cup...

 
NewlyRetired said:
This is a good re-signing by NYC

========

New York City FC today announced that the club has signed Ronald Matarrita to a contract extension using Targeted Allocation Money. The Costa Rican international will return for a third season with NYCFC after he joined from Alajuelense in January 2016.
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We'll see, paying him TAM means he's going to count the max against the salary cap.  He's good, but wasn't that good.

BTW, you're right the 150K Atlanta gets out of is for paying the league for the DP slot not the salary.  It's still stupid, but not a stupid.

 
Sammy3469 said:
We'll see, paying him TAM means he's going to count the max against the salary cap. He's good, but wasn't that good.
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From all the rumors I have read, teams are expecting a large increase in the TAM budget.  And it is a use it or lose it type of mechanism so I think you are going to see a lot of similar type signings league wide the next couple of years.

 
NewlyRetired said:
From all the rumors I have read, teams are expecting a large increase in the TAM budget.  And it is a use it or lose it type of mechanism so I think you are going to see a lot of similar type signings league wide the next couple of years.
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I guess they could be buying out the other half of his Costa Rican contract as well to flip him to Europe after the WC in which case it's just tidying up the books.  Put it this way, I don't think he's here long term.  He's basically taking Mix's salary cap space, so at least it's getting some use.  

 
El Floppo said:
I forget the details, but IIRC the league was the love-child (or adopted at least) of gov bigwig... and the thought was that if there's a shift in power and he's out, the support for the league would also be out. did I make that up?
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No idea as I don't even understand what you wrote.

 
Sammy3469 said:
To be fair MLS did just take out a $425 million dollar loan to buy out SUM and for player acquisition costs....two days ago.
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  That was not for sum, that was to buy back the equity from Providence Partners.  The fact that they acquired that loan shows their strong financial state IMO.

Every sports league in the US leverages loans like these once they get to a specific positive financial state.  That MLS has reached this level to be approved for a loan this size is a really good sign of their financial health.

 
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El Floppo said:
I forget the details, but IIRC the league was the love-child (or adopted at least) of gov bigwig... and the thought was that if there's a shift in power and he's out, the support for the league would also be out. did I make that up?
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I read that as well.

The lack of government support has caused a bunch of new rules to block the league from killing itself, but some are questioning if it is too late.   

 
From: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20171206/lawmaker-wants-to-use-law-passed-after-browns-move-to-block-crew-from-leaving

Lawmaker wants to use law passed after Browns move to block Crew from leaving

By Jim Siegel 
The Columbus Dispatch 

A Franklin County lawmaker says a state law passed in reaction to Art Modell’s decision to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore could be used to stop the Columbus Crew SC from leaving town.

Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, is asking Attorney General Mike DeWine to take legal action to block the Crew SC’s threatened move to Austin, Texas.

“This is our team, our town. We’re not going to go out without a fight,” Duffey said.

“The fact is, the law is the law, and they’ve got to follow it just like everybody else. They’ve been jerks about everything they’ve done about it. If we want to purchase the team as a town, we’re afforded that right under state law.”

The basis for the action, he said, is a 1996 law that says no owner of a professional sports team in Ohio that uses tax-supported facilities or gets public financial assistance can move out of town unless the owner gives six months advance notice and gives the city or local individuals who reside in the area the opportunity to purchase the team.

“This is the one thing the Browns did for the state of Ohio that we should all praise them for,” Duffey said.

“If people in Columbus don’t want to buy the team, they can move. But if people want to buy the team, they’ve got to sell it” if it’s a reasonable offer.

Duffey says Crew SC qualifies as receiving taxpayer-supported facilities because it is paying a below-market rate to lease state land for parking, the stadium sits on land that is tax exempt, and the state in 2009 provided $5 million for parking upgrades at the Ohio Expo Center, where lots just south of the stadium and are used by Crew SC fans.

“We would not have provided that funding but for the Crew,” Duffey said.

Crew SC owner-operator Anthony Precourt has threatened to move the team to Austin if a Downtown stadium does not materialize. Talks between city officials and Crew SC have not yet produced results.

Columbus officials have made suggestions on stadium locations, including either Berliner Park or the Dodge Park. But Precourt said after a Nov. 15 meeting that no legitimate offer was proposed.

Through a spokeswoman, Mayor Andrew Ginther has said that the city doesn’t want to get in a bidding war with another city, so to move forward, Columbus wants a commitment from the team that it will stay.

Duffey has spoken to the attorney general’s office, but Mike DeWine is not yet saying if he will take action.

“Rep. Duffy has contacted our office, and we have initiated a review of this matter,” said spokesman Dan Tierney.
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:lmao:  at “This is the one thing the Browns did for the state of Ohio that we should all praise them for,” Duffey said.

 
It is strange how much of a struggle Ronaldo has had in La Liga and yet can't stop scoring in Champions League play

OptaJose‏Verified account @OptaJose

6 - Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to ever score in each of the six games of a #UCL group round (nine goals). Infallible.

 
gianmarco said:
No idea as I don't even understand what you wrote.
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Oh stewardess, I speak Floppo.   If I remember correctly, an important Chinese government official used state money to fund the Chinese league to increase the country's international prestige and I assume because he liked the sport.  If he is forced out of the government, the money to prop up the ridiculous spending going on may disappear leaving the league in trouble.

 
NewlyRetired said:
Looks like Cincy and Sacramento are making their final expansion presentations this week to MLS.
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all 4 were today

=======

Each of the four finalists — Detroit, Cincinnati, Nashville and Sacramento — made presentations on Wednesday. Nashville went first, followed by Sacramento, then Detroit. Cincinnati will present last. 

 
Do they still have the rule about not playing your own league in the first round of the CL knockout?  If so, and I’m reading this right, then Chelsea are guaranteed to play PSG, Barca or Besiktas - is that right?

 
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