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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)

Chelsea is in the rare position of having been so bad as a unit -- and so obviously mismanaged -- that all of the players are escaping individual blame (at least in the transfer market).
 
Chelsea is in the rare position of having been so bad as a unit -- and so obviously mismanaged -- that all of the players are escaping individual blame (at least in the transfer market).
They can all point to the coaching carousel and bloated roster and say they didn't get a run of games or the game plan changed constantly... Never any cohesion.
 
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano
@FabrizioRomano

BREAKING: Manchester United agree £60m package deal for Mason Mount with Chelsea — it’s done, here we go! #MUFCPersonal terms agreed weeks ago and face to face talks between clubs made it clear: the agreement is done.Mount becomes Utd player — they NEVER left the race.

More details: understand Mason Mount will undergo medicals with Man United after the weekend. #MUFCContract will be valid until June 2028, five year deal agreed weeks ago.Fee: £55m fixed plus £5m add ons.

*******
I am not a fan of Mount. But I have faith in ETH so hopefully this works. Would rather have had Caicedo.
He should help take some of the creative stress off of Bruno. He's also a big presser, which will help if ETH runs a high press.

I'm shocked at how much Chelsea is getting for their unwanted players. 60M for Mount with one year left is crazy. 70M for Havertz after 3 subpar seasons is insane. If they find a sucker to take Lukaku(Inter or Saudi) for a reasonable price, then this will be the best clearing out of deadwood I've ever seen from a top squad.
I agree his pressing will be useful. I just don't rate him as a high level player. I know people love him (or did a couple seasons ago) but I saw someone who wasn't much of a step up from Lingard.

Chelsea is doing good work. The Lukaku situation will be interesting since we wants to stay at Inter but they only want a loan. Not sure he takes the Saudi offer.

Mount is a really strange case. He was a wonderful and beloved player, a Chelsea guy since he was a young boy. He and Kova were top players on the club for a few seasons running 2-4 years ago. Both seemed totally disinterested this past season. Mount also seemed to fall out of favor for England. Its a sad situation but also hard to say either will be missed.

I can't really speak to the money, its just all so bizarre to me. Declan Rice €105.00m; James Maddison €46.00m; Mount €60.00m; Enzo €120.00m. Who knows what Caciedo is worth? I understand these are totally different players and there are lots of different factors involved, it just seems very difficult to say any of these clubs overpaid or underpaid because there's no sensible baseline.

It seems to me Arsenal are really interesting right now and probably the club I'm most looking forward to seeing this fall after the pieces have settled into place. Havertz has been poor but there's still a great player in there I think with proper management. It seems like Arsenal are filling holes and addressing needs for a club with high aspirations whereas other big spenders are floundering a bit.

United meanwhile - the DeGea situation was shocking. I can't understand how that happens especially for such a great club servant.
 
Mount is a really strange case. He was a wonderful and beloved player, a Chelsea guy since he was a young boy. He and Kova were top players on the club for a few seasons running 2-4 years ago. Both seemed totally disinterested this past season. Mount also seemed to fall out of favor for England. Its a sad situation but also hard to say either will be missed.

I can't really speak to the money, its just all so bizarre to me. Declan Rice €105.00m; James Maddison €46.00m; Mount €60.00m; Enzo €120.00m. Who knows what Caciedo is worth? I understand these are totally different players and there are lots of different factors involved, it just seems very difficult to say any of these clubs overpaid or underpaid because there's no sensible baseline.

It seems to me Arsenal are really interesting right now and probably the club I'm most looking forward to seeing this fall after the pieces have settled into place. Havertz has been poor but there's still a great player in there I think with proper management. It seems like Arsenal are filling holes and addressing needs for a club with high aspirations whereas other big spenders are floundering a bit.

United meanwhile - the DeGea situation was shocking. I can't understand how that happens especially for such a great club servant.
I thought Mount's performance in the Euros was dreadful and then he sort of drifted out of both teams. He's had some moments of brilliance for sure. Gets a lot of flack for being Lampard's boy, justified or not. Will be interesting to see where he fits in at United. They do need to get younger in MF and if he can take over for Erikson and potentially Bruno and is anywhere near as good, then the money is worth it. Hopefully they get their striker and GK as well. Then will need an heir to Varane and one for Casemiro.

De Gea has been a great keeper for so long and still is a great shot stopper. But he isn't a modern complete keeper and they need to move on to play how ETH wants. Its crazy to watch him give up so many howlers and give away passes while also leading the league in clean sheets. And I think they were 3rd or 4th defensively overall in the EPL.

Arsenal, if they can also bring in Timber as expected seem to be addressing their needs for sure. Upgrade at holding (Rice > Xhaka and Jorginho) and depth at CB. Their biggest fight is going to be mentally getting over bottling the league. On top for basically 30 of the 38 weeks and not winning it. That will be a tough task for anyone.

And costs are out of control. Especially on English players. But there is so much money in football, especially the EPL that it's not surprising. At this point you might as well ignore the fees since you aren't paying them anyway and hope they get good players.
 
Macallister and the RB Leipzig player (who is utterly brilliant but I have never seen or heard of) for ~100MM is looking like kind of a bargain TBH.
 
Pulicic goes to Milan, would he be getting most of the starts?
We have been discussing this in the US thread.

The general feeling is that he will not be a regular starter if he is to be kept at left wing only. Rafael Leao is one of Milan's better players and he holds down that wing spot for them. If they are willing to try Pulisic instead on the right, he could see more time there.

 
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Alright, first pre season game in the book, level 10 Alsager beating level 9 Congleton, much as the players need to warm up to a season, so do the fans in terms of having an actual alarm on a Saturday
 
Alright, first pre season game in the book, level 10 Alsager beating level 9 Congleton, much as the players need to warm up to a season, so do the fans in terms of having an actual alarm on a Saturday
Exactly how many tiers are there?

If I was a lunatic Saudi with oil money who wanted to Road to Glory a team from the lowest league to the EPL, how any tiers we talking about? I though there was like 5.
 
Alright, first pre season game in the book, level 10 Alsager beating level 9 Congleton, much as the players need to warm up to a season, so do the fans in terms of having an actual alarm on a Saturday
Exactly how many tiers are there?

If I was a lunatic Saudi with oil money who wanted to Road to Glory a team from the lowest league to the EPL, how any tiers we talking about? I though there was like 5.

I mean it depends how deep you want to go really. There are the four levels of the Football League, which are fairly well known, then we go into the non league system which is:

Step 1 - National League (1 division of 24)
Step 2 - National League North/South (2 divisions of 24)
Step 3 - Northern Premier League, two divisions of the Southern League and the Isthmian League
Step 4 - 8 leagues constituting division ones of the above
Step 5/6 - Roughly 16 leagues at each level divided geographically across the country

Below that you have lots of minor regional leagues mostly arranged on a county level and you're at more or less the lowest level of Saturday football (so called as there are many, many Sunday leagues which are not part of the pyramid system). How far many of them go down, I don't know
 
Cesc Retires

Went from being one of my least favorite players to one I loved just by wearing a blue shirt for a few years.
He was still playing?

After Chelsea he played at Monaco for a couple years. Last season he played at Como in Serie B. He's going to coach a youth team at Como this season.
I suppose hanging out in Como is probably a lot nicer than these guys going to Saudi Arabia to end their careers.
 
This is still my all time favorite sports ending of any sport. I have watched this a million times, have absolutely no ties to either team and I still get chills. I don't think I will ever see a perfect storm like this again in my life given the importance of the game

 
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Puig on messi, busq and MLS (forgot he came over)

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been told that MLS is a “spectacular” landing spot for them, but Riqui Puig has sounded a scheduling warning.

WHAT HAPPENED? Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and 2010 World Cup winner Busquets have both made the decision this summer to link up with David Beckham co-owned Inter Miami as free agents. The former Barcelona team-mates are heading to the United States following glittering careers in Europe, with new challenges being sought out by all-time greats that have captured just about every major honour. Puig, another ex-Blaugrana star, is already in MLS with the LA Galaxy and is delighted to see two familiar faces joining him in a competition that continues to grow in prestige and popularity.

WHAT THEY SAID: Puig has told AS of two marquee additions in Miami: “I think it is a league with a great future. Now that Leo and Busquets have arrived, I think they can give a lot to this league and the league can give them a lot. I think it’s a spectacular place to learn, or to finish the great careers that they have. I’m very happy for them. I have been able to speak with Busi and he is very happy. What I liked the most is that there is a high level in this league because all the teams can beat anyone and it is a league where there is a lot of competition.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: While happy to talk up the quality on offer in MLS, Puig has warned Messi and Busquets that draining away days in America will take some getting used to. He added: “The thing I dislike is the trips and the time changes. I think that for a player sometimes resting well is very difficult, that’s one of the things that have been difficult for me to adapt to.”
 
Puig on messi, busq and MLS (forgot he came over)

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been told that MLS is a “spectacular” landing spot for them, but Riqui Puig has sounded a scheduling warning.

WHAT HAPPENED? Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and 2010 World Cup winner Busquets have both made the decision this summer to link up with David Beckham co-owned Inter Miami as free agents. The former Barcelona team-mates are heading to the United States following glittering careers in Europe, with new challenges being sought out by all-time greats that have captured just about every major honour. Puig, another ex-Blaugrana star, is already in MLS with the LA Galaxy and is delighted to see two familiar faces joining him in a competition that continues to grow in prestige and popularity.

WHAT THEY SAID: Puig has told AS of two marquee additions in Miami: “I think it is a league with a great future. Now that Leo and Busquets have arrived, I think they can give a lot to this league and the league can give them a lot. I think it’s a spectacular place to learn, or to finish the great careers that they have. I’m very happy for them. I have been able to speak with Busi and he is very happy. What I liked the most is that there is a high level in this league because all the teams can beat anyone and it is a league where there is a lot of competition.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: While happy to talk up the quality on offer in MLS, Puig has warned Messi and Busquets that draining away days in America will take some getting used to. He added: “The thing I dislike is the trips and the time changes. I think that for a player sometimes resting well is very difficult, that’s one of the things that have been difficult for me to adapt to.”
The travel issue is something almost every foreign player mentions. It must be so much harder than what they do in Europe.

I don't know how MLS can ever fix it.
 
The travel issue is something almost every foreign player mentions. It must be so much harder than what they do in Europe.
This hit home for me when there was chatter about Liverpool having to travel ALL THE WAY to... Southampton. And Kiev? It was like they were going to the moon.

Note that New York to LA or Miami to Seattle is almost exactly twice as far as London to Kiev.
 
From SinnFein


“Hey - we’ve got one spot open in a twitter Fantasy PL league - I think the cost is like $35 - can you see if anyone at FBGS - has to be on twitter though - wants in - or if you want in. They do have some rules on staying active, or they kick managers out.”

Don’t recall who was the most into it when we did it so figured I’d post it here.
 
From SinnFein


“Hey - we’ve got one spot open in a twitter Fantasy PL league - I think the cost is like $35 - can you see if anyone at FBGS - has to be on twitter though - wants in - or if you want in. They do have some rules on staying active, or they kick managers out.”

Don’t recall who was the most into it when we did it so figured I’d post it here.

I was a threepeat champ. Don’t act like that doesn’t haunt you every day.
 
Would be fun to see. Interesting to see the picks on the South American side. I know it's a packed team and no idea who to take out(other than I'd have chosen Gylmar at GK), but it's shocking not seeing Di Stefano, fat Ronaldo, or Ronaldinho on their list. Gotta think I'd put my money on a side that sees the 3 of them as bench players.
 
Would be fun to see. Interesting to see the picks on the South American side. I know it's a packed team and no idea who to take out(other than I'd have chosen Gylmar at GK), but it's shocking not seeing Di Stefano, fat Ronaldo, or Ronaldinho on their list. Gotta think I'd put my money on a side that sees the 3 of them as bench players.

The talent imo is better on the South American side but the formation makes no sense. Maradona at the 8 is not going to work.

The 3-4-3 on the Euro side is scary good because of the 3 defenders on the Euro team. That gives them so much flexibility.

I don't know how to categorize De Stefano though. He was one of the first big name dual nats and played for Spain 31 times.
 
Would be fun to see. Interesting to see the picks on the South American side. I know it's a packed team and no idea who to take out(other than I'd have chosen Gylmar at GK), but it's shocking not seeing Di Stefano, fat Ronaldo, or Ronaldinho on their list. Gotta think I'd put my money on a side that sees the 3 of them as bench players.

The talent imo is better on the South American side but the formation makes no sense. Maradona at the 8 is not going to work.

The 3-4-3 on the Euro side is scary good because of the 3 defenders on the Euro team. That gives them so much flexibility.

I don't know how to categorize De Stefano though. He was one of the first big name dual nats and played for Spain 31 times.
True. It could be hard to figure out a formation for the South American side, considering most of their top players were attackers. We're missing names like Romario and Batistuta who should likely be considered as well.

I think you'd be sitting a lot of attacking talent in that South American side or else you try and go for the 5-4 win. Don't know which is a better play.
 

South America. Far greater attacking threat which would overrun the paper-thin central defence/midfield of Europe, chip it over the three #10s that they're playing and it's game over. Swap Müller (really don't need a poacher with Ronaldo/Puskas and Cruijff/Platini/Zidane taking turns to push forward) for any half competent CB or DM and it's a lot more interesting
 
Would be fun to see. Interesting to see the picks on the South American side. I know it's a packed team and no idea who to take out(other than I'd have chosen Gylmar at GK), but it's shocking not seeing Di Stefano, fat Ronaldo, or Ronaldinho on their list. Gotta think I'd put my money on a side that sees the 3 of them as bench players.

The talent imo is better on the South American side but the formation makes no sense. Maradona at the 8 is not going to work.

The 3-4-3 on the Euro side is scary good because of the 3 defenders on the Euro team. That gives them so much flexibility.

I don't know how to categorize De Stefano though. He was one of the first big name dual nats and played for Spain 31 times.
True. It could be hard to figure out a formation for the South American side, considering most of their top players were attackers. We're missing names like Romario and Batistuta who should likely be considered as well.

I think you'd be sitting a lot of attacking talent in that South American side or else you try and go for the 5-4 win. Don't know which is a better play.

The Euro formation doesn't make a ton of sense either. Zidane and Cruyff are going to look like traffic cones when Cafu and Roberto Carlos are bombing forward and overlapping with those wingers.
 
So, 2/3rds through the season, and STL City still defying the odds as an expansion team in their first season.

-- They are still in 1st place in the West and have been for most of the season.
-- They are tied for 2nd in points in MLS (38 points) with Nashville and have a game in hand against them. Only Cincy has more points.
-- Only Columbus (43) has scored more goals than City (40)
-- They have the highest goal differential in all MLS (+16)
-- They are one of 2 teams to beat Cincy (5-1)
-- They've been doing this for a while now without their 2 DPs and best players -- Their starting striker (Klauss) who's been out 2.5 months and Lowen who's been out 1 month.

It's pretty remarkable. They were ranked #1 in watchability due to their style of play. They really are fun to watch. And it's crazy seeing so much City gear all over the city. This is a baseball town, but I see kids and adults wearing City stuff all the time. Games keep selling out. Can't ask for much more at this point. Looking forward to the playoffs....
 
Game from Saturday - took nearly an hour from getting to the ground to getting beers in. For a pre season friendly. At a non league ground (believe there are highlights of the game on YouTube)

This here?
Yes. I knew they were playing for a trophy, but given the reactions after the game from the players, I assumed it was going to be shared in the event of a draw and not go to pens so just left
 
Game from Saturday - took nearly an hour from getting to the ground to getting beers in. For a pre season friendly. At a non league ground (believe there are highlights of the game on YouTube)

This here?
Yes. I knew they were playing for a trophy, but given the reactions after the game from the players, I assumed it was going to be shared in the event of a draw and not go to pens so just left
The commentary for the highlights is very enjoyable.
 

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