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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

massraider said:
theathletic.com

Premier League referees freelancing in the UAE and Saudi? Webb has got himself in a tangle

Referees taking charge of games in countries with links to Premier League clubs is an issue that needs to be reconsidered
theathletic.com theathletic.com

Athletic piece on the Liverpool VAR awesomeness---I mean tragedy. #COYS

These two VAR guys will be banished from the PL for the season, at least. They'll be working in West Gillfordshiretown the rest of the year, no doubt.

The VAR didn't think anyone called offside, so he thought he was confirming it was onside, not offside. Okay, human error, but there is an assistant VAR. What is his job? What was he doing? I haven't seen this question answered. And they both worked a match in Saudi Arabia, and took an 8 hour flight back the day before. I don't think we can stop people from flying the day before a match, that's ridiculous, but can you imagine if Liverpool were playing Man City this past weekend? And the VAR guys who both effed up just flew back from SA? Oy vey.
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It doesn't even have to be a match against Man City, it just has to be a team with a chance to pass Man City in the EPL standings.... oh wait....
 
encaitar said:
It doesn't even have to be a match against Man City, it just has to be a team with a chance to pass Man City in the EPL standings.... oh wait....
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I get that everyone hates Liverpool because reasons. But why this isn't a thing for every club in the pyramid is beyond me.

Buying a World Cup >>>> Buying a Ref or Two
 
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McBokonon said:
The Liverpool VAR audio is somehow worse than I imagined. What a clown car: https://x.com/lfcvids22/status/1709258347625504862?s=46
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Its a gut-punch hearing the replay guy as he realizes the mistake so he asks the VAR a couple times - "its offside, are you happy with that?" and the VAR still doesn't get it, then suddenly "delay delay" but its too late. The Saudi angle is a red herring imo - this happened exactly as reported the day of - a simple but terribly unfair miscommunication that they believed (rightfully I guess) could not be reversed after the ball was put in play. If anything, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

For me its another example of how much better the VAR process used in rugby is, where the on-field ref and VAR have a detailed discussion with each other to confirm exactly what they are looking for and then make a decision together. Its a simple fix imo.
 
CletiusMaximus said:
McBokonon said:
The Liverpool VAR audio is somehow worse than I imagined. What a clown car: https://x.com/lfcvids22/status/1709258347625504862?s=46
Click to expand...

Its a gut-punch hearing the replay guy as he realizes the mistake so he asks the VAR a couple times - "its offside, are you happy with that?" and the VAR still doesn't get it, then suddenly "delay delay" but its too late. The Saudi angle is a red herring imo - this happened exactly as reported the day of - a simple but terribly unfair miscommunication that they believed (rightfully I guess) could not be reversed after the ball was put in play. If anything, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

For me its another example of how much better the VAR process used in rugby is, where the on-field ref and VAR have a detailed discussion with each other to confirm exactly what they are looking for and then make a decision together. Its a simple fix imo.
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Agreed. All it takes is for the VAR ref and the onfield ref to talk for 3 seconds and this never happens.

Ref: "Is it on or off?"

VAR: "It's on. Goal is good."

That's literally all it needs. No idea why this doesn't happen in the EPL.
 
I forgot next year is the new Champions League format, some of which is based on this years results.

Next year, the two best performing countries will receive an extra Champions League spot (meaning some one could get 5 teams in).

Interestingly, England sit in 16th spot right now after the rough early results. This may create the awkward need for fans of a team who hopes to come in 5th in the league to root for a rival in Champions League.

======

Note for those that don't know, the group stage as we know it is gone next season. Instead it will be replaced by a hybrid, kind of klunky looking, 36 team league, where each team plays 4 other teams based on rankings, home and away..
 
It's crazy that I'll be in my mid 50s at the very earliest time when England might finally host one, given that we were already up to 16 years of hurt when I was born, while in that interim period Mexico will have hosted in full twice and had a share in a third
 
Meanwhile in the Championship, Wednesday sack their manager again just one day after Watford jebait the entire internet by tweeting "Club statement: Valerein Ismael" as if they were sacking him, rather than extending his contract
 
Everytime I think Man United are a disaster, I just need look over to Ligue 1 and wtf has happened to Lyon. 8 games in today and they took their first lead of the season (I believe, not 100% certain) and go up 3-1 at ht against near bottom of the table Lorient, only to draw 3-3. 2 points in 8 matches - this makes Chelsea look good.

Bayer Leverkusen probably play the most pleasing game of soccer in the top leagues. Girona is the only other team I can think of that no one is watching but are a joy to see.

And it seems as if the GOAT is calling on the GOAT. Rooney to manage Birmingham City or so I've read,
 
Was going to go to Radcliffe v Macclesfield in the Northern Premier League tonight, but not feeling great so gave it a miss, seems like I chose poorly given Macclesfield were 3-0 up and are currently losing
 
I swear, I remember posting a link on this board to a clip of a 15-year-old Jack Wilshere scoring a banger in a reserve game while Arsene Wenger grinned like the cat that caught the canary. Wilshere may now be the next coach of the Colorado Rapids. Time flies, guys.
 
B Maverick said:
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Haven't seen it official yet, but sounds like Messi has won his 8th Ballon d'Or. 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
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Seriously?

Seems a couple of them should have gone to more deserving candidates.
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8 awards out of 19 years for what most consider the greatest player ever does not seem too egregious to me. Granted this last one rides on the back of the WC win but even still, the guy is still playing at a ridiculous level.
 
McBokonon said:
McBokonon said:
So, Ipswich Town sacked Paul Cook after a pretty disheartening run of form. They’re not completely out of it but they weren’t improving. That said, I think maybe it was unrealistic to think Ipswich Town would just waltz into the Championship but that seems like what supporters were expecting.

Anyway, Frank Lampard is one of the main names being mentioned to take over
Click to expand...
Looks like it will be Kieren McKenna. Do any of the ManU contingent here (or others more knowledgeable than me which is everyone) have any thoughts on this hire?
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Ipswich sit 2nd (early, yes) in their Championship promotion year and just took out Wolves in the League Cup. They might want to lock McKenna in the basement so he doesn’t get poached.
[/QUOTE]

McKenna got manager of the month in the Championship. Stolen from
reddit: “Most points (160) in all top four leagues since he took charge. 2nd most goals of all clubs in that time (147) only Man City have scored more. Last season Ipswich kept the most clean sheets, conceded the fewest goals and scored the most goals in league one.”
 
FA Cup round 1 proper draw, games happening weekend of November 4 (numbers in brackets indicate level the club plays at)

Curzon Ashton (6) v Aveley (6) or Barnet (5)
Alfreton Town (6) v Worthing (6)
Chesterfield (5) v Portsmouth (3)
Bolton Wanderers (3) v Solihull Moors (5)
Exeter City (3) v Wigan Athletic (3)
Leyton Orient (3) v Carlisle United (3)
Kidderminster Harriers (5) v Fleetwood Town (3)
Hereford (6) v Gillingham (4)
Ebbsfleet United (5) or Slough Town (6) v Grimsby Town (4)
Charlton Athletic (3) v Cray Valley (Paper Mills) (8)
Oxford United (3) v Maidenhead United (5)
Newport County (4) v Oldham Athletic (5)
Swindon Town (4) v Aldershot Town (5)
Crewe Alexandra (4) v Derby County (3)
Mansfield Town (4) v Wrexham (4)
Marine (7) v Harrogate Town (4)
Barnsley (3) v Horsham (7)
Port Vale (3) v Burton Albion (3)
Peterborough United (3) v Salford City (4)
Eastleigh (5) v Boreham Wood (5)
Bradford City (4) v Wycombe Wanderers (3)
Billericay Town (7) or Sheppey United (8) v Walsall (4)
Shrewsbury Town (3) v Colchester United (4)
Bristol Rovers (3) v Chelmsford City (6) or Whitby Town (7)
Lincoln City (3) v Morecambe (4)
Sutton United (4) v AFC Fylde (5)
Reading (3) v Milton Keynes Dons (4)
Doncaster Rovers (4) v Accrington Stanley (4)
Chester (6) v York City (5) or Needham Market (7)
Scarborough Athletic (6) or Oxford City (5) v Forest Green Rovers (4)
Notts County (4) v Crawley Town (4)
Stockport County (4) v Worksop Town (7)
Yeovil Town (6) v Gateshead (5)
Stevenage (3) v Tranmere Rovers (4)
Braintree Town (6) or Chesham United (7) v Maidstone United (6)
Bromley (5) v Blackpool (3)
AFC Wimbledon (4) v Cheltenham Town (3)
Cambridge United (3) v Bracknell Town (7)
Northampton Town (3) v Barrow (4)
Ramsgate (8) v Hemel Hempstead (6) or Woking (5)
 
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I am not going to try and explain it because the Euro qualifying process is about as complicated as can be but Ireland find itself in the very unique situation that they will benefit from losing their next game against The Netherlands.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Why Ireland would be better served LOSING to the Netherlands

While Stephen Kenny's side can no longer make it to Germany automatically from Group B - having lost five of their six matches so far - they can still make the play-offs.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk
 
Paging @QuizGuy66, this is a fun one.

@DbAbsur

What I warned about has happened.

In Group B, Ireland to have any chance of playing in the play-offs, must ... lose to The Netherlands (this will create additional playoffs place possible taken by Ireland), while an Ireland win against The Netherlands almost certainly takes away Ireland's chance to advance.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for thinking of me @Dinsy Ejotuz :) - indeed an awesome scenario.

Only other scenario that might have resulted in something similar was when fair play points were used to give a spot in Europe (which I now read is no more since 2016)

Love it.

-QG
 
McBokonon said:
Gundogan to Barcelona

Newcastle seem to be closing in on Sandro Tonali from Milan much to the surprise and anger of all of Italy.
Click to expand...

Well, it’s all still fluid but Tonali has apparently admitted to betting on Milan games while he was a player there. This is all part of a larger Italian betting investigation. Latest speculation is that he could see a year ban but reporting has been all over the place here.
 
McBokonon said:
McBokonon said:
Gundogan to Barcelona

Newcastle seem to be closing in on Sandro Tonali from Milan much to the surprise and anger of all of Italy.
Click to expand...

Well, it’s all still fluid but Tonali has apparently admitted to betting on Milan games while he was a player there. This is all part of a larger Italian betting investigation. Latest speculation is that he could see a year ban but reporting has been all over the place here.
Click to expand...
I've seen speculation that Milan knew about the gambling and that's why they were so willing to sell Tonali, the deal was rather rapid. Would there be repercussions if Milan sold him knowing about the potential gambling issues? If not, it was very smart business.
 
Poke_4_Life said:
McBokonon said:
McBokonon said:
Gundogan to Barcelona

Newcastle seem to be closing in on Sandro Tonali from Milan much to the surprise and anger of all of Italy.
Click to expand...

Well, it’s all still fluid but Tonali has apparently admitted to betting on Milan games while he was a player there. This is all part of a larger Italian betting investigation. Latest speculation is that he could see a year ban but reporting has been all over the place here.
Click to expand...
I've seen speculation that Milan knew about the gambling and that's why they were so willing to sell Tonali, the deal was rather rapid. Would there be repercussions if Milan sold him knowing about the potential gambling issues? If not, it was very smart business.
Click to expand...

I’ve seen the same, mostly from Newcastle accounts - it all sounds a little conspiracy theory-ish to me. No idea if there’s repercussions if it’s true they knew and provable.
 
Nycfc stadium moves into next phase of development... Land use review. https://edc.nyc/press-release/nyced...egins-ulurp-willets-point-phase-2-development

Some of the affordable housing that's part of the greater Willets Point development will start construction by the end of this year- a full year early- already having completed the land use segment of the process.

I didn't see a timeline, but thing are looking very good for this... And hopefully can clear this next stage as quickly as the housing project did.
 
McBokonon said:
Poke_4_Life said:
McBokonon said:
McBokonon said:
Gundogan to Barcelona

Newcastle seem to be closing in on Sandro Tonali from Milan much to the surprise and anger of all of Italy.
Click to expand...

Well, it’s all still fluid but Tonali has apparently admitted to betting on Milan games while he was a player there. This is all part of a larger Italian betting investigation. Latest speculation is that he could see a year ban but reporting has been all over the place here.
Click to expand...
I've seen speculation that Milan knew about the gambling and that's why they were so willing to sell Tonali, the deal was rather rapid. Would there be repercussions if Milan sold him knowing about the potential gambling issues? If not, it was very smart business.
Click to expand...

I’ve seen the same, mostly from Newcastle accounts - it all sounds a little conspiracy theory-ish to me. No idea if there’s repercussions if it’s true they knew and provable.
Click to expand...
Milan's official stance is that they knew nothing about the betting and that the sale happened because Newcastle came in with too good of an offer to refuse.

So far, only Newcastle accounts are claiming Milan had any prior knowledge.

They're still trying to determine if he bet on Milan games he was playing in. Supposedly if he did, the suspension will be more like 3 years rather than 1. Sucks for Newcastle since I think he's a solid player.
 
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