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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (6 Viewers)

Looks like Under 21 Spain sensation Dani Olmo could be headed to AC Milan sooner than Later. Initial reports had this cat being a possible Summer transfer and Maldini and Company only trying to agree to terms with the player and his agent to make the Summer transfer more fluent but according to papers the deal looks like it could be set and done and Olmo could be headed to Milan for medicals in the next couple of hrs. 

BREAKING: According to both Sportske Novosti and milanlive.it, Milan have reached an agreement with Dinamo Zagreb's Dani Olmo on the basis of a fee of 20 million euros to be paid immediately, plus another 5 million in bonuses and an additional 5 million from a future resale. A total of 30 million, the sum initially requested. The prominent Croatian newspaper adds that there is also an agreement between Milan and Olmo on a 5-year-contract with a salary of 2.5 million euros per season. The paper says that the player could even leave Croatia in the next few hours to reach Italy.

Also his coach had this to say

Dinamo Zagreb coach Nenad Bjelica said that Olmo won’t play Dinamo’s friendly against FC Slovacko tomorrow “We all know a transfer is being discussed, though we don’t know where & when he will go. But we don’t want to risk anything from the club’s side.”

 
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Looks like Under 21 Spain sensation Dani Olmo could be headed to AC Milan sooner than Later. Initial reports had this cat being a possible Summer transfer and Maldini and Company only trying to agree to terms with the player and his agent to make the Summer transfer more fluent but according to papers the deal looks like it could be set and done and Olmo could be headed to Milan for medicals in the next couple of hrs. 

BREAKING: According to both Sportske Novosti and milanlive.it, Milan have reached an agreement with Dinamo Zagreb's Dani Olmo on the basis of a fee of 20 million euros to be paid immediately, plus another 5 million in bonuses and an additional 5 million from a future resale. A total of 30 million, the sum initially requested. The prominent Croatian newspaper adds that there is also an agreement between Milan and Olmo on a 5-year-contract with a salary of 2.5 million euros per season. The paper says that the player could even leave Croatia in the next few hours to reach Italy.

Also his coach had this to say

Dinamo Zagreb coach Nenad Bjelica said that Olmo won’t play Dinamo’s friendly against FC Slovacko tomorrow “We all know a transfer is being discussed, though we don’t know where & when he will go. But we don’t want to risk anything from the club’s side.”
to add more on this in the last few hours one of Olmo's agents is playing hardball with what they want for commission. The one agent just apparently came back from holiday and the agencies main boss was not with Dani's entourage either. The papers are still persistent a deal will be done though 

 
UPDATE: Apparently the deal between Milan and Dani Olmo appears to be off! Milan are only prepared to pay €20m for Dani Olmo, claim reports, whereas Dinamo Zagreb and his agents are requesting a much higher sum, so a different club is leading the race. The Rossoneri are certainly interested in the Spain international, but Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio maintains they are by no means leading this race. fact, he states Milan are offering at most €20m, whereas Dinamo Zagreb want €25m plus another €5m in performance-related bonuses. The real problem, and this is also confirmed by Croatian site 24 Sata, is that his agents want €7m in commission, another €3m signing-on fee and a percentage of the player’s future sale. Dani Olmo’s contract with Dinamo Zagreb is due to expire in June 2021, so Milan consider this frankly excessive and are prepared to wait for the end of the season.

 
Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

One of the biggest rivalries in sports goes at it again. United heads to Anfield for the showdown with Liverpool.  Will Liverpool run riot? Will United pull the upset as they did with City & Tottenham? Or will we get another drab draw?  
What's the thinking on how MU/Ole approach this?  Is Rashford really out?

Liverpool have finally had a little breather (one game in 13 days before LFC v MUFC) and seem to be getting healthy again.

 
Looks like Under 21 Spain sensation Dani Olmo could be headed to AC Milan sooner than Later. Initial reports had this cat being a possible Summer transfer and Maldini and Company only trying to agree to terms with the player and his agent to make the Summer transfer more fluent but according to papers the deal looks like it could be set and done and Olmo could be headed to Milan for medicals in the next couple of hrs. 

BREAKING: According to both Sportske Novosti and milanlive.it, Milan have reached an agreement with Dinamo Zagreb's Dani Olmo on the basis of a fee of 20 million euros to be paid immediately, plus another 5 million in bonuses and an additional 5 million from a future resale. A total of 30 million, the sum initially requested. The prominent Croatian newspaper adds that there is also an agreement between Milan and Olmo on a 5-year-contract with a salary of 2.5 million euros per season. The paper says that the player could even leave Croatia in the next few hours to reach Italy.

Also his coach had this to say

Dinamo Zagreb coach Nenad Bjelica said that Olmo won’t play Dinamo’s friendly against FC Slovacko tomorrow “We all know a transfer is being discussed, though we don’t know where & when he will go. But we don’t want to risk anything from the club’s side.”


to add more on this in the last few hours one of Olmo's agents is playing hardball with what they want for commission. The one agent just apparently came back from holiday and the agencies main boss was not with Dani's entourage either. The papers are still persistent a deal will be done though 


UPDATE: Apparently the deal between Milan and Dani Olmo appears to be off! Milan are only prepared to pay €20m for Dani Olmo, claim reports, whereas Dinamo Zagreb and his agents are requesting a much higher sum, so a different club is leading the race. The Rossoneri are certainly interested in the Spain international, but Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio maintains they are by no means leading this race. fact, he states Milan are offering at most €20m, whereas Dinamo Zagreb want €25m plus another €5m in performance-related bonuses. The real problem, and this is also confirmed by Croatian site 24 Sata, is that his agents want €7m in commission, another €3m signing-on fee and a percentage of the player’s future sale. Dani Olmo’s contract with Dinamo Zagreb is due to expire in June 2021, so Milan consider this frankly excessive and are prepared to wait for the end of the season.
Well I'll be a sonuva#####...

 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
What's the thinking on how MU/Ole approach this?  Is Rashford really out?

Liverpool have finally had a little breather (one game in 13 days before LFC v MUFC) and seem to be getting healthy again.
It's going to be another sit back and counter attack with 10 men behind the ball. Ole has shown that in every game against top opposition.

 
Barcelona completed 1002 passes today in their first game under Setien.  Good to see him starting off with a return to these tactics.

Also caught Eibar-Atletico this weekend....Atletico is really struggling to generate offense right now.  22 goals in 20 league games yet they are still tied for 3rd.

 
What's the thinking on how MU/Ole approach this?  Is Rashford really out?

Liverpool have finally had a little breather (one game in 13 days before LFC v MUFC) and seem to be getting healthy again.


It's going to be another sit back and counter attack with 10 men behind the ball. Ole has shown that in every game against top opposition.
This is what I expected.  But I expected a 4-3-3 with Greenwood, Martial and James up top. Seems Ole went even more defensive with a 3-5-2. 

United held better then I thought they would but its clear to everyone not named Woodward that they need a midfield.  BADLY and NOW.  United had chances, but when they fall to Pereira and Fred what do you expect to happen?  Don't get me wrong, Fred had a good game.  But if I'm defending and see Fred looking to shoot, I let him, even if its on my 6 yard box.  Martial had a chance, Pereira had a chance...  take them well and its a different game, Liverpool had some nervy spots.  

United had a glaring hole yesterday.  No one could or would turn and make the crossfield pass.  The one Rooney and Pogba are so good at.  AWB and James were often in acres of space and not one person could play them in.

I do think with McT and Pogba this team is top 4.  Their defense is good, just under siege constantly due to the lack of MF.  Their attackers are good but don't get the service due to the lack of MF.  Once they get that, then depth.

 
Nothing like seeing #SackWoodward trending yesterday on twitter.

The way he negotiates he better open talks for the summer window.  Takes him way to long to sign players.

 
Chicharito to LA Galaxy seems finally a done deal

And Inter Milan trying to sign the rest of the word.  Grabbed Victor Moses, still trying to pry Erickson away from Levy's cold fingers, trying to land Chong from United youth team.

 
CAF groups drawn for WC 2022.  There are ten groups of four with the winners advancing to a home/away knockout to select the five WC finalists.

The group of death is probably Group B with Cameroon and Ivory Coast.  Guinea and Guinea-Bissau were both drawn for Group I to confuse matters.  There are no easy paths to qualification; anything can happen in African football and it usually does.

 
Saw this in a business article talking about The Athletic securing their Series D funding of $50 million

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

Between the lines: Mather says that the team doesn't have any specific sports in mind that it intends to go after this year, but that it will continue to invest heavily in soccer.

"Soccer has far and away been the new thing for us and it is the thing that probably has the highest ceiling of growth, so we will continue to invest there."

Investments in soccer in the UK have begun to attract subscribers all over the globe that care about the English Premier League. "It basically opened up our product to dozens of more countries."

 
The Athletic's soccer coverage is very good.  They usually time the release of their content for the European morning so I have some interesting bedtime reading on the West Coast.

 
NewlyRetired said:
Really big pickup for DC United trading for Julian Gressel from Atlanta for all monopoly cash.
They're saying upwards of 1.1mil?

Big move for him. Didn't DC sign somebody else recently? Good to see them making moves.

The RBs otoh, have done #### all. Linked to a youngish (23) forward for Aberdeen... Cosgrove. Has a couple double digits seasons under his belt. Not very sexy, but I guess better than nothing and young enough to try to build his own brand through good performances hoping to cash in on a step to a bigger league

 
NewlyRetired said:
Really big pickup for DC United trading for Julian Gressel from Atlanta for all monopoly cash.
They're saying upwards of 1.1mil?

Big move for him. Didn't DC sign somebody else recently? Good to see them making moves.

The RBs otoh, have done #### all. Linked to a youngish (23) forward for Aberdeen... Cosgrove. Has a couple double digits seasons under his belt. Not very sexy, but I guess better than nothing and young enough to try to build his own brand through good performances hoping to cash in on a step to a bigger league


Recognizing that Julian Gressel was underpaid and that the team’s fan base wasn’t going to be happy, Atlanta United still traded the midfielder to D.C. United on Tuesday.

Atlanta United Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said the situation with Gressel, the team’s all-time leading assist leader (35 in regular season), had it played out until the end of the season, likely would not have been good for anyone.

So, on Tuesday the team agreed to a trade with D.C. United in a deal that should work out for all parties:

Atlanta United will receive $650,000 in Targeted Allocation Money in 2020 and $100,000 of Targeted Allocation Money in 2021. The total could reach $1.1 million with another $350,000 in Targeted Allocation Money if goals are reached.
Bocanegra said that money will go into a bigger plan and that the team is still shopping, which will make the supporters happy.
Gressel will receive a reported raise of more than $560,000 to an annual salary of at least $700,000 once he signs a four-year contract with D.C. United.
“Ultimately, trying to find a resolution, and we just were not finding a solution,” Bocanegra said. “He’s been a great player. He’s been a fan favorite. That’s not lost on us. It’s something we didn’t take lightly. In this business you have to do what’s best for the club and the player, as well.”

Bocanegra said the club could have let Gressel play during 2020 and then made him a bona fide offer, which would have given the club his rights in MLS in perpetuity. Allowing that to happen may have meant Gressel playing to avoid injury, which wouldn’t be good for the club, and then not receiving an offer to his liking, which wouldn’t be good for the player..

Bocanegra said trading Gressel was something the club began preparing for 12 months ago, which coincides with the first contract offer the club made to Gressel, and they that were prepared for a trade six months ago. Bocanegra said another offer was made to Gressel during the summer. During the winter, the two sides talked, but they couldn’t reach an agreement. Bocanegra declined to go into Atlanta United’s valuation process or why they didn’t think Gressel was worth what D.C. United is going to pay him.

Bocanegra expressed confidence that the team will be able to replace Gressel’s production, saying the club is confident in its roster and has a plan going forward. The team added Brooks Lennon, who can play right fullback or wingback, in a trade with Real Salt Lake in December 2019.

Bocanegra said, and this is something that Gressel also said exclusively to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that MLS rules and it being a salary-cap league hinder a club’s ability to give a player who is outperforming his contract a raise.

“Guys that have come in and are doing well and have earned a bigger contract aren’t getting that bigger contract because of the restrictions,” Gressel said. “Hopefully it will be addressed in new CBA (collective bargaining agreement). Hopefully the league can move to where those guys can get rewarded. I think I deserved it. I can’t be mad at that. That’s just how it is here.”

Gressel said he has no ill-will toward the front office or the club and thanked the supporters for the past three years.

“Atlanta has been great,” Gressel said. “There will never be a bad memory.”

 
Barcelona completed 1002 passes today in their first game under Setien.  Good to see him starting off with a return to these tactics.

Also caught Eibar-Atletico this weekend....Atletico is really struggling to generate offense right now.  22 goals in 20 league games yet they are still tied for 3rd.
Yeah, the team is just pitiful on offense. They have better xG than the goals warrant, but still.

 
"It's like the beginning of my retirement."

Did Chicha really say this?  According to my twitter feed, its no better, and probably even worse, when you see the full video and get the context.

 
Outside of 1 team, the EPL has been a dumpster fire.  The fact that United sit 5th is a testament to how bad 19 teams have been this year.  And #sackwoodward has been trending on twitter.  

We can argue all day about Ole's tactics, lineups and subbing but at the end of the day the talent just isnt there, particularly in the MF.  The defense is constantly under siege and there is no one that can break down a defense (Outside Mata, who cant do it all and not every game as age catches him) when its behind the ball.  Need to get 2 midfielders and another attacker.  NOW.

There is good though: Greenwood, Williams have both shown to be EPL level players.  Fred is improving and could be a Kante type player if they get the talent around him.  At the end of the day, the front 3 can play, the back 4 can play.... they are missing the control in the MF to relieve the pressure on the back and open up the attack.

Oh and your weekly reminder that Jessie Lingard is not the answer.

 
Outside of 1 team, the EPL has been a dumpster fire.  The fact that United sit 5th is a testament to how bad 19 teams have been this year. 
Chelsea played one of the worst games of the season, surrendering a highly improbable draw at home from a winning position, and actually increased the gap to 5th.  It is unbelievable CFC is still in 4th given results over the past couple months, including  losses to Newcastle, Bournemouth, West Ham and Southampton. It seems they drop points unexpectedly every other game, and yet, still top 4.  Reminds me of the last few weeks last season when it seemed none of the 3-6 teams deserved the Champions League.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
"It's like the beginning of my retirement."

Did Chicha really say this?  According to my twitter feed, its no better, and probably even worse, when you see the full video and get the context.
I don’t think it’s that bad. He was talking to his dad, and was talking about the end of his time trying to make it in Europe. Which was a goal he felt they had both put a lot into. And he immediately clarified what he meant when his father pointed out that his career was still very much ongoing. 
 

Bur I don’t think even the worst reading is that bad. 

 
I don’t think it’s that bad. He was talking to his dad, and was talking about the end of his time trying to make it in Europe. Which was a goal he felt they had both put a lot into. And he immediately clarified what he meant when his father pointed out that his career was still very much ongoing. 
 

Bur I don’t think even the worst reading is that bad. 
I have also seen that people who speak Spanish say there is nuance being lost in the direct translation that makes it sound worse than what he was trying to convey.

 
And there is the Zlatan retirement to MLS except that he never retired :)  

And Zlatan destroyed MLS in every interview and no on cared because he was just playing the heel I guess.  Chich is getting way too much grief for making an honest and truthful statement imo in which he was not denigrating the league at all.

 
And there is the Zlatan retirement to MLS except that he never retired :)  

And Zlatan destroyed MLS in every interview and no on cared because he was just playing the heel I guess.  Chich is getting way too much grief for making an honest and truthful statement imo in which he was not denigrating the league at all.
I’m not sure Chicharito is getting grief so much as people are using it to take shots at MLS. 

 
And there is the Zlatan retirement to MLS except that he never retired :)  

And Zlatan destroyed MLS in every interview and no on cared because he was just playing the heel I guess.  Chich is getting way too much grief for making an honest and truthful statement imo in which he was not denigrating the league at all.
If Chich wasn't from the any of the Americas and was, say Spanish or Portuguese and had the same career, would he get the same interest from MLS?  He will sell tickets simply because he's Mexican, and he will come in and CONCACAAF up the MLS. I wonder if I can get the bags of urine concession, sales are about to go through the roof.

/rant

 
If Chich wasn't from the any of the Americas and was, say Spanish or Portuguese and had the same career, would he get the same interest from MLS? .
Of course not. 

LA has an enormous Mexican population as do many other cities in the league.  He commanded the transfer fee and salary due to what he brings off the field more than on, and I think he will be good on the field.

 
Of course not. 

LA has an enormous Mexican population as do many other cities in the league.  He commanded the transfer fee and salary due to what he brings off the field more than on, and I think he will be good on the field.
And that's why comparing his comments to Zlatan's is a false dichotomy.

TBH, I haven't really given Chich coming to MLS much thought before this, but it does make the most sense for him at this stage of his career. There was a time I rooted for him to succeed when he was in England, so I like to think I don't dislike him for anything other than what he's done to the USMNT over his career and it is for that reason alone (plus I still believe he's going to CONCACAAF up MLS, which I don't think is a good thing) that I dread seeing him play in MLS.

 
My only concern with Chachi is that his influence will solidify efrain's commitment to Mex. Otherwise- half of one, six dozen of the other imo.

 
And that's why comparing his comments to Zlatan's is a false dichotomy.

TBH, I haven't really given Chich coming to MLS much thought before this, but it does make the most sense for him at this stage of his career. There was a time I rooted for him to succeed when he was in England, so I like to think I don't dislike him for anything other than what he's done to the USMNT over his career and it is for that reason alone (plus I still believe he's going to CONCACAAF up MLS, which I don't think is a good thing) that I dread seeing him play in MLS.
I don't understand the Concacaf comments.  Vela had arguably the best season of any player in MLS history last year. 

 
My only concern with Chachi is that his influence will solidify efrain's commitment to Mex. Otherwise- half of one, six dozen of the other imo.
IMO, I don't think Efrain needs any help leaning towards Mexico.  There is only one thing that keeps him from Mexico and that is if they decide to not cap him eventually.  And it if gets to the point where he is not even good enough for Mexico to cap, it is likely no great loss.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
Chelsea played one of the worst games of the season, surrendering a highly improbable draw at home from a winning position, and actually increased the gap to 5th.  It is unbelievable CFC is still in 4th given results over the past couple months, including  losses to Newcastle, Bournemouth, West Ham and Southampton. It seems they drop points unexpectedly every other game, and yet, still top 4.  Reminds me of the last few weeks last season when it seemed none of the 3-6 teams deserved the Champions League.
It really is amazing.  When do we get the Lampard Out chants like the Ole out chants?  Losing a 1 goal lead twice to a 10 man and bad Arsenal team?

Hows this for a stat:

Fewest Premier League defeats this season against teams currently in the top half: 
0 - Liverpool
2- Man United
3- Wolves

Most Premier League defeats this season against teams currently in the bottom half: 
7 - Bournmouth
7- Norwich
6- Man United

 
It really is amazing.  When do we get the Lampard Out chants like the Ole out chants?  Losing a 1 goal lead twice to a 10 man and bad Arsenal team?
Lampard's rope is always going to be a little longer than you would expect due to two items

1) club legend

2) Some how the team is still in 4th.  Spurs, United and Arsenal all being so bad so far this year is keeping Chelsea in a Champions League spot which I am not sure they deserve.

 
Lampard's rope is always going to be a little longer than you would expect due to two items

1) club legend

2) Some how the team is still in 4th.  Spurs, United and Arsenal all being so bad so far this year is keeping Chelsea in a Champions League spot which I am not sure they deserve.
3) He's English

I am all for giving him time.  I am not saying Lampard Out either.  Just hilarious listening to the OleOut punditry when Lampard has lost 8 games as Ole has now matched.  Diff is Lampard has 4 draws to Ole's 7

 

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