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

that looks great- what's the capacity, and what's the eta?
Capacity will be a shade over 62,000

ETA is an open question.  Originally it was supposed to open in September, delays have slowed the work, so its a little harder to predict.  But, it should be relatively soon - Spurs sent out season ticket packs this week.  Local police have apparently nixed the idea of Chelsea being the first match on 11/24 - so I would guess some time in early December, barring any additional delays.

 
Capacity will be a shade over 62,000

ETA is an open question.  Originally it was supposed to open in September, delays have slowed the work, so its a little harder to predict.  But, it should be relatively soon - Spurs sent out season ticket packs this week.  Local police have apparently nixed the idea of Chelsea being the first match on 11/24 - so I would guess some time in early December, barring any additional delays.
62k- nice size. big, but not cavernous- especially with the steep seating. that place should be a cauldron. well... as much of a cauldron as tepid spurs fans are capable of making it.

 
shader said:
There seems to be a 5% chance that Mourinho is actually still there in January.
I would put it quite a bit higher than that.  He's probably got a massive buy-out, and the Glazers are for-profit owners.  In retrospect, I imagine they deeply regret firing Moyes. The only way I see it happening is if Zidane will take the job.  Not because I think he's a great coach (I have no idea) but because he's probably the only galactico manager available who could enhance the brand by replacing Mourinho.

 
I would put it quite a bit higher than that.  He's probably got a massive buy-out, and the Glazers are for-profit owners.  In retrospect, I imagine they deeply regret firing Moyes. The only way I see it happening is if Zidane will take the job.  Not because I think he's a great coach (I have no idea) but because he's probably the only galactico manager available who could enhance the brand by replacing Mourinho.
I don't know... there is one manager out there who is perfect fit for "for profit owners"... top 4 and cl rd of 16 every year.

 
:shock: :shock: :shock:

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

Current summary of rumors:

Precourt to take his franchise to Austin

Jimmy Haslam (Cleveland Browns owner) to buy "expansion" franchise

Crew players stay in Columbus, and Haslam keeps the records and brand

Potentially no interruption of play in Columbus

12:26ET Edit:

Haslam to be majority owner with unknown minority partner.

Minority partner potentially has land for a new stadium.

Announcement pushed to today due to leaks, Crew/MLS initially planned a later announcement

13:10ET Edit:

Massive Report, The Athletic Columbus, and several Columbus news outlets reporting announcement coming soon

 
This is the #1 reporter on this mess for the past year.  I don't know if this is good or bad

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

Andrew Erickson‏ @AEricksonCD

Source indicated there will be an update soon. Included the line, "Rumors blew us up." Everybody breathe for a minute.

 
:shock: :shock: :shock:

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

Current summary of rumors:

Precourt to take his franchise to Austin

Jimmy Haslam (Cleveland Browns owner) to buy "expansion" franchise

Crew players stay in Columbus, and Haslam keeps the records and brand

Potentially no interruption of play in Columbus

12:26ET Edit:

Haslam to be majority owner with unknown minority partner.

Minority partner potentially has land for a new stadium.

Announcement pushed to today due to leaks, Crew/MLS initially planned a later announcement

13:10ET Edit:

Massive Report, The Athletic Columbus, and several Columbus news outlets reporting announcement coming soon
Awesome news!

 
Awesome news!
looks like 4:15 (eastern?) is the announcement but the deal may not yet be complete.  We might get some indications though since this caught like wild fire and may have forced their hands to say something.

Twellman, who has a near 100% reporting this type of stuff tweeted the deal with Haslam was done and then Twellman deleted said tweet shortly after.

That tells me that these talks are real but that maybe all the paper work is not yet complete.

 
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they keep bumping the announcement.  I assume the lawyers are trying to figure what can be said publicly with out screwing up the deal

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

Lu Ann Stoia‏Verified account @stoiawsyx6

Columbus Partnership’s Alex Fischer says to expect an announcement on the Crew today at 5 p.m.

 
Precourt gives a brief statement.  It is hard to read anything but positive from this  :thumbup:

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

Precourt said, “The Crew is in good hands. It has been a pleasure serving the community of Columbus and I’m happy something could be arranged for all parties.”

 
This is so good if it works out. 

Cincy vs Columbus should be great.   

Columbus vs Austin should be great

no Austin fan needs to feel any guilt for having a franchise stolen from another city.

 
it is an exciting day for me as a neutral.  For those hard core Crew fans there since 1996, this has got to be a near miracle that they may escape the worst punishment in US sports.
:thumbup:

My kudos extend well beyond your recent Crew posts. 

Hell, if not for you, people like me wouldn't be able to understand the workings of MLS and catch the highs and lows of the league.

Once again,  :thanks:

 
Super crazy but goodish day today. Lucked into being near an ITK when things started blowing up. Solid path forward is set for Austin, although it’s going to take a bit longer. Probably won’t worry so much about a game day experience team at our SG organizational meeting on 11/4.
From Precourt's statement, do you think your first year will be in 2020, the year before the stadium is set to be finished or do you think it will be more 2021?  I feel like with today's news and the likelihood that Austin will be an expansion side in all but name, they likely won't be able to start next season.

I noticed Poole is stirring the pot again about the stadium.  She won't let go

https://twitter.com/AEricksonCD/status/1050884802658873345

 
I probably should not  :lmao:  at this but damn this reads funny

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

abrown‏ @angelabrownews

Breaking News: Charleston Battery Owner Eric Bowman turns himself in. He is facing charges for assault and battery stemming from an incident involving a golf cart

 
From Precourt's statement, do you think your first year will be in 2020, the year before the stadium is set to be finished or do you think it will be more 2021?  I feel like with today's news and the likelihood that Austin will be an expansion side in all but name, they likely won't be able to start next season.

I noticed Poole is stirring the pot again about the stadium.  She won't let go

https://twitter.com/AEricksonCD/status/1050884802658873345
From what I believe, a lot of that is dependent on whether there's a temporary stadium location in 2020 that meets MLS' needs (i.e. at the University of Texas). No way 2019 happens.

Pool is the worst, but she's losing 2 of the 4 votes against the stadium, and the replacements for both are virtually guaranteed to be more pro-soccer than the previous officeholder. News also broke Wednesday that the "concerned citizens" group pushing a petition against the stadium deal is almost 100% funded by people associated with Circuit of the Americas, so she loses allies on that front.

 
Another quote from a story on the local ABC station. We ended up getting on all four networks.

“I’m happy for Crew fans. This was something that was really important that. The club’s important to their community we get that we understand that," said Ryan Riggins, director of art and brand at Austin Anthem. We know what it will be like to follow club and be passionate about it and I’m excited that their club gets to stay there and hope nothing but the best for them moving forward." 

 
"If we were to hold a one minute silence for each migrant worker who is estimated to die during the construction of the World Cup plants, the 44 first matches of the championship would have been silent", said Hans-Christian Gabrielen when he opened the LOs International conference

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

1200 have already died and they expect the final number to be close to 4000 when everything is done which is where the numbers in the quote come from.

Not only is this deplorable, it is made worse by hypocrites like me who will still watch the WC in spite of this :(   

 
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62k- nice size. big, but not cavernous- especially with the steep seating. that place should be a cauldron. well... as much of a cauldron as tepid spurs fans are capable of making it.
62k- nice size. big, but not cavernous- especially with the steep seating. that place should be a cauldron. well... as much of a cauldron as tepid spurs fans are capable of making it.
So dumb we have to do it this way.

 
I probably should not  :lmao:  at this but damn this reads funny

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

abrown‏ @angelabrownews

Breaking News: Charleston Battery Owner Eric Bowman turns himself in. He is facing charges for assault and battery stemming from an incident involving a golf cart
:lmao:  

 
:shock: :shock: :shock:

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

Current summary of rumors:

Precourt to take his franchise to Austin

Jimmy Haslam (Cleveland Browns owner) to buy "expansion" franchise

Crew players stay in Columbus, and Haslam keeps the records and brand

Potentially no interruption of play in Columbus

12:26ET Edit:

Haslam to be majority owner with unknown minority partner.

Minority partner potentially has land for a new stadium.

Announcement pushed to today due to leaks, Crew/MLS initially planned a later announcement

13:10ET Edit:

Massive Report, The Athletic Columbus, and several Columbus news outlets reporting announcement coming soon
This is fantastic.  Cincy vs Crew is going to be the best rivalry in the MLS soon

 
"If we were to hold a one minute silence for each migrant worker who is estimated to die during the construction of the World Cup plants, the 44 first matches of the championship would have been silent", said Hans-Christian Gabrielen when he opened the LOs International conference

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

1200 have already died and they expect the final number to be close to 4000 when everything is done which is where the numbers in the quote come from.

Not only is this deplorable, it is made worse by hypocrites like me who will still watch the WC in spite of this :(   
That’s almost unbelievable - I would think even 1 worker death here in the US during building a stadium would cause controversy - how is this possible?

I know the answer is $$$ but it’s just grotesque.

 
AC Milan has signed a Brazilian

According to Hora 1, a Brazilian tv channel, Flamengo have confirmed the transfer of Lucas Paqueta to Milan for €35 million.

Most of this was 4 days ago I've been super busy though

BREAKING: Paqueta is currently undergoing his Milan medical at a clinic in Rio De Janeiro, which is the last step before signing with Milan, according to journalist @cahemota

Paqueta will sign a 5 year contract worth between €1.5 million and €1.7 million per year. [MN]

Lowdown on the Paquetá to Milan transfer from Globo Esporte:

- Transfer fee is €35M+€10M in bonuses related to individual and collective targets
- Milan will pay part of the fee in November & the major part next year 
- Agreements are sealed, only thing missing is Lucas’ signature

Paquetá had his medical for Milan today in Rio de Janeiro and will complete the second part on Thursday morning

Milan have until January to pay Flamengo between €5M and €10M from the Paquetá transfer fee. The remainder of the €35M will be paid in installments, to be completed by 2020 [Globo Esporte]

 
Umberto Gandini will not return to Milan after all. The decision was taken in the last hours after a new conversation between him and new club CEO Ivan Gazidis [Gazzetta dello Sport]

 
This is not quite hell freezing over but it is close.  The Krafts formally broke ground today on their new $35 million training and development site.   When the Krafts are reaching into their own pockets for this kind of infrastructure investment, the finances in the league must be pretty good.

Here are a couple of renderings.  People have noticed the "New England" is missing from the name along with no logo, possibly indicating the long awaited rebranding.

https://twitter.com/pehota/status/1051847457641037825

 
Perhaps we should at least acknowledge in here that the US Women qualified for the 2019 World Cup yesterday with a 6-0 thrashing of Jamaica.  I don't follow that team much at all, but have seen a few opinions indicating it may be the strongest women's team we've ever had.

From Grant Wahl:

Tobin Heath scored on a rebound less than two minutes into the game, and the rout was on from there. The U.S. led 5-0 after just 33 minutes. The U.S. goals came from Heath (two), Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan (two) and Julie Ertz.

...

The quality and execution of the U.S. goals was often outrageous on Sunday. Take your pick. Maybe your favorite was the second goal, when center back Abby Dahlkemper hit a majestic ball that Rapinoe trapped on her chest before hitting a missile into the top corner. Or maybe it was the ball from Lindsey Horan that Heath one-timed home for the fourth. Or maybe it was the brilliant cross from Crystal Dunn, running at speed, that Ertz thundered in with her head for goal No. 3. You get the idea.

It’s not that the Jamaicans were totally inept in this game. They weren’t. But the U.S. playing at its best is untouchable by any team in the world, and the U.S. in the first half on Sunday (before the rains came in the second half) was very close to its best.

 
Perhaps we should at least acknowledge in here that the US Women qualified for the 2019 World Cup yesterday with a 6-0 thrashing of Jamaica.  I don't follow that team much at all, but have seen a few opinions indicating it may be the strongest women's team we've ever had.

From Grant Wahl:
I don't follow it much at all but I did see one outrageous stat from qualifying.

In one of the games the US played, they had more shots (59) than the opponent had completed passes (56).  That almost hurts to think about.

The level of disparity in the women's game makes it very uninteresting to me.  The best teams are so much better than the second tier teams it is like they are not even playing the same sport.

 
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Perhaps we should at least acknowledge in here that the US Women qualified for the 2019 World Cup yesterday with a 6-0 thrashing of Jamaica.  I don't follow that team much at all, but have seen a few opinions indicating it may be the strongest women's team we've ever had.

From Grant Wahl:
The US Women is you just unfair how much talent they have compared to the rest of the world. We get #### on big time for a lot of things but one thing we should be proud of is revolutionizing the sport for women. We are for the most part so far ahead of other countries. There's European clubs with a mens league squads but no women's squad. My AC Milan are working on setting up a Women's squad. For some reason the first season for them was post poned but I think that had to do a lot with the ownership issues. 

 
It’s not that the Jamaicans were totally inept in this game. They weren’t. But the U.S. playing at its best is untouchable by any team in the world , region and the U.S. in the first half on Sunday (before the rains came in the second half) was very close to its best.




1
fixed grant's post.

 
I don't follow it much at all but I did see one outrageous stat from qualifying.

In one of the game the US played, they had more shots (59) than the opponent had completed passes (56).  That almost hurts to think about.

The level of disparity in the women's game makes it very uninteresting to me.  The best teams are so much better than the second tier teams it is like they are not even playing the same sport.
it's part of what makes it fun to watch too... get to watch a team play at a more "pure" level. but yeah, these regional games are not terribly competitive (which makes that loss to Mexico in the last couple years that much more shocking) and certainly far less interesting.

title 9 has definitely helped women's soccer and basketball on the world stage.

 
Perhaps we should at least acknowledge in here that the US Women qualified for the 2019 World Cup yesterday with a 6-0 thrashing of Jamaica.  I don't follow that team much at all, but have seen a few opinions indicating it may be the strongest women's team we've ever had.
Having watched them over the years, and especially lately, they may very well be.  The 99 group was heads and shoulders above everyone else in the world but the pace and finishing of this group is fantastic.  The rest of the world has improved meaning the US needs to be better to repeat. This team is as much fun to watch as the 99 group was.

Their only real issue is at GK, but if you aren't allowing shots...  The biggest changes lately have been Rapinoe learning to play as a part of the team and esp with Alex Morgan and I think moving Ertz to holding mid has improved the team as a whole. 

Up until recently I was not a Rapinoe fan but she has become more of a team player and looks for the runs from Morgan and they are starting to gel.  
Ertz moving up and allowing her to get forward has helped the attack and her coverage in front of the d has solidified that unit as well.  

 
If I am understanding the UEFA Nations League standings correctly, Germany needs a result against France (in France) else they are going to be very close to being relegated to League B for next season.

 
If I am understanding the UEFA Nations League standings correctly, Germany needs a result against France (in France) else they are going to be very close to being relegated to League B for next season.
That would be amazing.

That group is Germany, Netherlands and France right? How in God's name did they end up with that group?

 
That would be amazing.

That group is Germany, Netherlands and France right? How in God's name did they end up with that group?
France was pretty clearly the best team in Pot 2 (with England, Switz and Italy), so that was just bad luck, a group of death draw.  But who could foresee Holland beating Germany 3-0?  I didn't watch the game or read anything about it, so have no idea.  Maybe Germany just doesn't care about this "competition"?  The other 3 teams in Pot 3 were Poland, Iceland and Croatia.  Just based on recent history - the past 3-4 years - drawing Holland from that group doesn't seem too bad.

 
That group is Germany, Netherlands and France right? How in God's name did they end up with that group?
The idea of the nations league is to separate the minnows from the second tier from the top teams.

The seedings of all teams for this season were based after the end of WC qualifying.  

The top 12 ranked teams were assigned to be in League A (organized into 4 groups of 3 teams).  Of the 12 teams at that time, Germany was ranked #1, France was #5, Holland was #12. 

 
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France was pretty clearly the best team in Pot 2 (with England, Switz and Italy), so that was just bad luck, a group of death draw.  But who could foresee Holland beating Germany 3-0?  I didn't watch the game or read anything about it, so have no idea.  Maybe Germany just doesn't care about this "competition"?  The other 3 teams in Pot 3 were Poland, Iceland and Croatia.  Just based on recent history - the past 3-4 years - drawing Holland from that group doesn't seem too bad.
I watched a bunch of the Germany v Holland game... Germany dominated a lot of it, but was wasteful. Netherlands also had a bunch fo great chances and put three of them away. it wasn't a oneway rout by any means- but Germany seems to be stuck in the high-line defensively that worked so well in the WC and got opened up repeatedly.

 

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