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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)

B Maverick said:

Besides, they have already benefitted from it with the players in, revenues, status. I don't know if vacating will really do anything or be a deterrent. Massive fines, Point Deduction, heck even relegation should be on the table. Heck throw them into administration and all the fun that entails.
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My first plan was to make sure they don't make Champions League 2 years in a row. Relegation assures that and comes with an additional stiff financial penalty.

Juventus was relegated in 2006 and I would be fine if Man City was also relegated.

Plus, the entertainment value of seeing what Haaland is really worth in a open market would be fascinating to see....
 
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NewlyRetired said:
B Maverick said:

Besides, they have already benefitted from it with the players in, revenues, status. I don't know if vacating will really do anything or be a deterrent. Massive fines, Point Deduction, heck even relegation should be on the table. Heck throw them into administration and all the fun that entails.
Click to expand...
My first plan was to make sure they don't make Champions League 2 years in a row. Relegation assures that and comes with an additional stiff financial penalty.

Juventus was relegated in 2006 and I would be fine if Man City was also relegated.

Plus, the entertainment value of seeing what Haaland is really worth on a open market would be fascinating to see....
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:goodposting:
 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
AAABatteries said:
granting titles to 2nd place teams would be dumb
Click to expand...
I get this.

But the argument that the cheating was worth 1 or 2 points a year is pretty easy to make too. And FOUR of their six titles were won by less than 3 points.
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This is correct, but it only holds water if one believes no other team has ever cheated, even once financially.

I don't have that level of faith, especially in this sport.
 
NewlyRetired said:
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
AAABatteries said:
granting titles to 2nd place teams would be dumb
Click to expand...
I get this.

But the argument that the cheating was worth 1 or 2 points a year is pretty easy to make too. And FOUR of their six titles were won by less than 3 points.
Click to expand...
This is correct, but it only holds water if one believes no other team has ever cheated, even once financially.

I don't have that level of faith, especially in this sport.
Click to expand...

I get that no one has any sympathy for this position, but as far as I know Man City has only just been accused. I don't pretend to understand the FA disciplinary process, but as far as I know the club hasn't yet been found to have violated any rules. If they were sponsored by shell companies with no operations or employees as rumored, that's a clear violation of the accounting rules. If the main claims are that they received more than FMV in non-arm's length marketing transactions, there's a ton of grey area there. I've yet to see the details so my pitchfork is still stowed away for the time being.
 
CletiusMaximus said:
NewlyRetired said:
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
AAABatteries said:
granting titles to 2nd place teams would be dumb
Click to expand...
I get this.

But the argument that the cheating was worth 1 or 2 points a year is pretty easy to make too. And FOUR of their six titles were won by less than 3 points.
Click to expand...
This is correct, but it only holds water if one believes no other team has ever cheated, even once financially.

I don't have that level of faith, especially in this sport.
Click to expand...

I get that no one has any sympathy for this position, but as far as I know Man City has only just been accused. I don't pretend to understand the FA disciplinary process, but as far as I know the club hasn't yet been found to have violated any rules. If they were sponsored by shell companies with no operations or employees as rumored, that's a clear violation of the accounting rules. If the main claims are that they received more than FMV in non-arm's length marketing transactions, there's a ton of grey area there. I've yet to see the details so my pitchfork is still stowed away for the time being.
Click to expand...
This is technically correct, but this is a little different than a person being charged with a crime. A person/organization that is charged with a crime is suspected of that crime, then charged, then the investigation happens which determines whether they're guilty or not. That's not what happened here. Man City was suspected of violating rules, the investigation happened, then Man City was charged with the various violations.

They're guilty. The EPL was behind the investigation and found evidence of what happened. They'll be fined/punished for these violations. The only question left is what the penalty will be. Man City and it's mountains of lawyers will have their chance to argue for leniency, but unfortunately for them this can't be taken to a neutral governing body that will then be bought off by Man City like the UEFA violations were. This is all conducted by the EPL due to its bylaws and will stay there. What they are penalized with will ultimately depend on a lot of things, including the opinions of other EPL owners.

Anyone looking for immediate penalties though is probably dreaming. I expect it'll be a year or more before damages are handed out. Maybe even "years".
 
In terms of trajectory and popularity of the sport of soccer in the US, in my lifetime I have lived through 3 separate inflection points

1) In 1975, when Pele signed with the Cosmos

2) In 1994, when the US hosted the WC

3) World Cup 2002

Since 2002, we have been on a slow and steady upwards progression but no real inflection point was realized. Most importantly the sport showed 100% resilience after the wet and bumpy fiasco.

IMO, everything appears to be aligning for a 4th inflection point in 2026 when we host the WC.
 
NewlyRetired said:
In terms of trajectory and popularity of the sport of soccer in the US, in my lifetime I have lived through 3 separate inflection points

1) In 1975, when Pele signed with the Cosmos

2) In 1994, when the US hosted the WC

3) World Cup 2002

Since 2002, we have been on a slow and steady upwards progression but no real inflection point was realized. Most importantly the sport showed 100% resilience after the wet and bumpy fiasco.

IMO, everything appears to be aligning for a 4th inflection point in 2026 when we host the WC.
Click to expand...
4) David Beckham joins the Galaxy in 2007.

May be more of an MLS inflection point, but still raised the interest of the sport in the US.

We shall see what 2026 brings....
 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
NewlyRetired said:
IMO, everything appears to be aligning for a 4th inflection point in 2026 when we host the WC.
Click to expand...
Yep.

Truly believe this one will be completely nuts. The last one you could actually get tix to the lower profile games. I'm guessing every game will be an insanefest this time and it'll dominate a lot of news coverage.
Click to expand...
I am sure it will be. Last time they sold packages of tickets to make sure it sold out. I had 2 tickets to each of the 5 games at the Rose Bowl, behind the goal just above the crossbar height. Balboa's bicycle kick (he didn't score) was right in front of us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5D7shKic5E
Escobar's own goal at the other end.

I am guessing one ticket to one game at Sofi will cost as much as the two packages I had in 94 combined. Even if the US is playing elsewhere.
 
B Maverick said:
NewlyRetired said:
In terms of trajectory and popularity of the sport of soccer in the US, in my lifetime I have lived through 3 separate inflection points

1) In 1975, when Pele signed with the Cosmos

2) In 1994, when the US hosted the WC

3) World Cup 2002

Since 2002, we have been on a slow and steady upwards progression but no real inflection point was realized. Most importantly the sport showed 100% resilience after the wet and bumpy fiasco.

IMO, everything appears to be aligning for a 4th inflection point in 2026 when we host the WC.
Click to expand...
4) David Beckham joins the Galaxy in 2007.

May be more of an MLS inflection point, but still raised the interest of the sport in the US.

We shall see what 2026 brings....
Click to expand...

I had considered Beckham but decided against including him.

There was no inflection point with Beckham. He was still extremely important because he helped continue the upward trajectory but he did not physically change the course of the sport as happened in the other 3 cases (Pele: no sport to speak; WC 1994: realization that money could be made; WC2002: MLS near death and the off the field stuff that changed the course of the league forever)
 
NewlyRetired said:
B Maverick said:
NewlyRetired said:
In terms of trajectory and popularity of the sport of soccer in the US, in my lifetime I have lived through 3 separate inflection points

1) In 1975, when Pele signed with the Cosmos

2) In 1994, when the US hosted the WC

3) World Cup 2002

Since 2002, we have been on a slow and steady upwards progression but no real inflection point was realized. Most importantly the sport showed 100% resilience after the wet and bumpy fiasco.

IMO, everything appears to be aligning for a 4th inflection point in 2026 when we host the WC.
Click to expand...
4) David Beckham joins the Galaxy in 2007.

May be more of an MLS inflection point, but still raised the interest of the sport in the US.

We shall see what 2026 brings....
Click to expand...

I had considered Beckham but decided against including him.

There was no inflection point with Beckham. He was still extremely important because he helped continue the upward trajectory but he did not physically change the course of the sport as happened in the other 3 cases (Pele: no sport to speak; WC 1994: realization that money could be made; WC2002: MLS near death and the off the field stuff that changed the course of the league forever)
Click to expand...
Perhaps, but I think that might minimize his impact. 40% increase in attendance across the league, the extension of the DPs, and a global reach all came from that. Would it be a viable destination for the likes of Robby Keane, Zlatan, Rooney, Chicharito, etc without Becks coming first?

And I would probably list it above the WC 2002 as more significant. But I also do not remember the circumstances of "MLS near death and the off the field stuff that changed the course of the league forever" and how WC2002 changed that.
 
B Maverick said:

But I also do not remember the circumstances of "MLS near death and the off the field stuff that changed the course of the league forever" and how WC2002 changed that.
Click to expand...
TL/DR notes

1) MLS on last breath. Meeting held by the owners to skuttle the league. Almost all owners leave the league and only 3 remain (Kraft, Anschutz, and Hunt)

2) WC 2002 English TV rights were almost worthless. The remaining MLS owners create SUM (Soccer United Marketing) and they purchased the WC TV rights from FIFA for an absolute song

3) MLS had no TV presence and the three owners left understood they were dead with out it. They bartered the WC TV rights to ESPN in exchange for time slots to show MLS games

4) The most unexpected thing ever happened in WC2002, as the ridiculous middle of the night time slots for the WC games (due to Asia hosting) started to break viewing records (for those said time slots).

5) The unexpected ratings success in WC2002 was the key inflection point that led the WC tv rights in America from being near worthless to being worth over a billion dollars 20 years later. The bartering MLS did with the WC rights kept them on TV for 8 years and allowed them to not only solidify the finances but grow into the time when Becks was signed and enjoy the fruits that came with that.

6) The critical Beckham signing never happens without the 2002 stuff since MLS would almost assuredly have folded.

There is a ton more details and time lines but this should give a rough outline
 
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Dinsy Ejotuz said:
B Maverick said:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
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Six inches from being one of the greatest World Cup goals of all time.

I wonder how often he and Reyna (the midfield volley that drifted wide with Kahn out of goal in 2002) think about those shots?
Click to expand...

you will like this article

www.denverpost.com

Marcelo Balboa on World Cup, Colorado soccer and the most famous missed kick in USMNT history

Perhaps the most memorable moment of Marcelo Balboa’s soccer career came on a miss.
www.denverpost.com www.denverpost.com
 
B Maverick said:
NewlyRetired said:
Heads up to any T-Mobile users. They are including the new MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for free if you are a subscriber

Click to expand...
Can I trade that for free S3 of Ted Lasso?
Click to expand...
While you have no interest in MLS, you probably want to pay close attention to how this all works as the rumors are that Apple is going to make a large bid for the EPL, not only in the US but also in England.
 
NewlyRetired said:
B Maverick said:
NewlyRetired said:
Heads up to any T-Mobile users. They are including the new MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for free if you are a subscriber

Click to expand...
Can I trade that for free S3 of Ted Lasso?
Click to expand...
While you have no interest in MLS, you probably want to pay close attention to how this all works as the rumors are that Apple is going to make a large bid for the EPL, not only in the US but also in England.
Click to expand...
I do watch MLS occasionally, just like Ted Lasso more! :banned:

But yeah, the rights to EPL/CL/Europa/FA Cup/etc are always a big deal. I expect if the MLS setup works Apple will make a big play.
 
Just saw this on Reddit so take it somewhat with a grain of salt but it feels like it could be close if not accurate.

Since November 10th, Marcus Rashford has scored 18 goals. In that same time, Chelsea has scored 6.
 
Ahead of the cup final, ETH and Howe exchange some comments.

www.theguardian.com

Ten Hag labels Newcastle ‘annoying’ and gives referee time-wasting warning

Erik ten Hag has labelled Manchester United’s Carabao Cup final opponents Newcastle ‘annoying’, warning his players and Sunday’s officials to be wary of their supposed time-wasting
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

Asked if his “annoying” comment was in reference to time-wasting tactics, Ten Hag said: “For instance. The referees want to play effective time. They have the lowest in the league and they are quite successful with it.

“So, it’s up to us that we get speed in the game but also we are then dependent on the refereeing as well.”
Click to expand...

Howe responded:

“I’ve kept really quiet, but I’ll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that. We have not resorted to that, but I’ll tell you, you can tell him now if you’re watching it, we’re still fighting for this title, and he’s got to go to Wembley and get something, and... and... I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them, love it!…”
Click to expand...


To me the most interesting part of this is the effective time discussion and whether they should continue discussions about a 60 minute effective time clock. I loved how they added all the time wasting and injury time during the WC but maybe they went too far and a 60 minute clock makes most sense. Purist will most likely hate it and tbh, I'm not really fond of the idea myself. But it would eliminate most of the complaining and it may get rid of time wasting completely. Could make the end product even better.
 
well that blows

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

Steven Goff

@SoccerInsider

Due to "safety considerations resulting from inclement weather and forecasted thunderstorms," LA Galaxy vs LAFC at Rose Bowl on Saturday has been postponed to a later date tbd. A record crowd of more than 75,000 was expected.
 
I still have no idea if Apple TV is going to work overall for MLS but as @Sammy3469 astutely pointed out a while back, MLS getting out of the regional sports channels could not have been timed any better.

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


John Ourand

@Ourand_SBJ

BREAKING: Warner Bros Discovery tells teams it wants out of the regional sports network business.
 
NewlyRetired said:
well that blows

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

Steven Goff
@SoccerInsider

Due to "safety considerations resulting from inclement weather and forecasted thunderstorms," LA Galaxy vs LAFC at Rose Bowl on Saturday has been postponed to a later date tbd. A record crowd of more than 75,000 was expected.
Click to expand...
NewlyRetired said:
I still have no idea if Apple TV is going to work overall for MLS but as @Sammy3469 astutely pointed out a while back, MLS getting out of the regional sports channels could not have been timed any better.

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


John Ourand

@Ourand_SBJ

BREAKING: Warner Bros Discovery tells teams it wants out of the regional sports network business.
Click to expand...
The smartest thing MLS ever did was to stay off the debt-ridden pseudo-faux regional sport channel “gravy” train. MLB and the NBA (and to a lesser extent NHL) are going to see revenue declines.
 
@NewlyRetired - I don’t pay a lot of attention to these kind of things but if Almada has a nice season for AUFC (and he’s off to a fantastic start) could he be the highest sold player in MLS history? He’s signed through 2025 currently so they’d be stupid not to sell him most likely.
 
AAABatteries said:
@NewlyRetired - I don’t pay a lot of attention to these kind of things but if Almada has a nice season for AUFC (and he’s off to a fantastic start) could he be the highest sold player in MLS history? He’s signed through 2025 currently so they’d be stupid not to sell him most likely.
Click to expand...
He has all the ingredients to be a big sale (age, position, under contract, Argentine (the WC win will effect all Argies for a while increasing their value etc)).

As always the dance partner will determine the ultimate price. Here is a list of the largest transfer out of MLS

www.transfermarkt.us

Major League Soccer - Transfer records

The transfer record overview shows the highest grossing transfers of the Major League Soccer. It also shows the new club and the transfer fee.
www.transfermarkt.us www.transfermarkt.us

As you can see there is a huge gap between #2 and #1. Almada could land some where in that gap if things all line up well. If he really pops like say Miggy did in MLS and you get one of the big teams interested, he could beat Miggy.
 
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AAABatteries said:
McBokonon said:
Don’t know much about him so reading up now and would welcome insight from @AAABatteries and anyone else, but just going off Atlanta United fans online, my Mags seem to have hired a good one.
Click to expand...


Great move for Eales and NU. Most every AUFC fan will tell you that the success we've had was due to Eales and that the more recent troubles were due to Bocanegra. I think that probably oversells Eales a little and undersells Bocanegra but I generally agree with the sentiment.

I'm nowhere near knowledgeable enough to know how this moves translates but I would expect him to do well, especially given the resources they will probably give him.
Click to expand...
Eales sloshing his beer while leading the Toon Army in song.

I have to head into the office for a bit today, but I’ll be hanging with Toon Army Phoenix first. HWTL!!!
 
Sammy3469 said:
NewlyRetired said:
well that blows

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

Steven Goff
@SoccerInsider

Due to "safety considerations resulting from inclement weather and forecasted thunderstorms," LA Galaxy vs LAFC at Rose Bowl on Saturday has been postponed to a later date tbd. A record crowd of more than 75,000 was expected.
Click to expand...
NewlyRetired said:
I still have no idea if Apple TV is going to work overall for MLS but as @Sammy3469 astutely pointed out a while back, MLS getting out of the regional sports channels could not have been timed any better.

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


John Ourand

@Ourand_SBJ

BREAKING: Warner Bros Discovery tells teams it wants out of the regional sports network business.
Click to expand...
The smartest thing MLS ever did was to stay off the debt-ridden pseudo-faux regional sport channel “gravy” train. MLB and the NBA (and to a lesser extent NHL) are going to see revenue declines.
Click to expand...
Couldn't be happier to see these regional networks go down. It is very annoying for NBA games.
 
El Floppo said:
So I guess Joao's goal will stand as goal of the month for chels
Click to expand...
That stat would extraordinary for a bottom of the table team with a paltry payroll.

When you factor in the amount of money Chelsea has invested in offensive talent, there is no phrase to represent how low a probability this out come was.
 
MLS posted some excellent attendance numbers yesterday.

Even with the postponement of the possible record setter in LA for El Trafico at the Rose Bowl, the league still hit a 30k average, for games in February.
 
NewlyRetired said:
I read a fascinating story about 2030 WC hosts today.

TL/DR notes

* Two groups are expected to bid. Spain/Poland/Ukraine and Argie/Para/Uruguay/Chile

* A multi region bid is being explored between Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia

* Saudi is driving and knows they can't win alone since a second middle eastern WC so soon will never be approved

* By including an African and European team, the idea is to cause some voting confusion in Europe while also giving the large African vote something to back

* Causing some controversy is Saudi's willingness to fund all infrastructure across the three countries in exchange for being the primary host (like the US in 2026 will be)
Click to expand...
You have a link?
 
massraider said:
NewlyRetired said:
I read a fascinating story about 2030 WC hosts today.

TL/DR notes

* Two groups are expected to bid. Spain/Poland/Ukraine and Argie/Para/Uruguay/Chile

* A multi region bid is being explored between Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia

* Saudi is driving and knows they can't win alone since a second middle eastern WC so soon will never be approved

* By including an African and European team, the idea is to cause some voting confusion in Europe while also giving the large African vote something to back

* Causing some controversy is Saudi's willingness to fund all infrastructure across the three countries in exchange for being the primary host (like the US in 2026 will be)
Click to expand...
You have a link?
Click to expand...

I don't remember as I read it on reddit, but I googled and this has some of the same information

www.politico.eu

The secret Saudi plan to buy the World Cup

Crown Prince MBS privately promised to pay for all Greece’s infrastructure, in exchange for Athens signing up to the joint 2030 bid.
www.politico.eu www.politico.eu
 
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