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The 2022-2023 Football Thread

laptech said:
Bragging rights goes to United but nothing was really on the line here was it? I suspect when it comes to the new start of the season, Arsenal will be playing a lot different than how they played in this game.
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Sal09 said:
Im more than happy for United to have the bragging rights just glad all our players came off the pitch unharmed.

United players could have seriously injured one or two of our players.
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I think that the real point of these "friendlies" is firstly, the financial function of physically showing the club in places where they normally wouldn't play in front of fans (international fans, whom they increasingly woo), and secondly, to experiment with styles, and new players, and combinations of players and positions, and formations, in a playing (vaguely competitive) environment, but one on which nothing really rides on the outcome.

That, in turn, can be valuable for the manager.
 
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laptech said:
If Mbappe is of the belief that European football is the only football that matters then it shows what a close minded player he is. European football is not the only football in the world and in my opinion it is insulting and belittling to all the other football areas of the world if that is how people think, especially European players.
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European football is the leading group of leagues in the world (at the moment). Obviously things can change, but it’s been that way since we invented the game.
If you want to test yourself against the best, Europe is where you need to be.
 
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Just read on BBC website that Man United's Alex Telles has signed for Saudi club Al-Nassr (fee unknown). I wonder if the countries FA has rules on how many foreign players a club is allowed to have.
 
laptech said:
Just read on BBC website that Man United's Alex Telles has signed for Saudi club Al-Nassr (fee unknown). I wonder if the countries FA has rules on how many foreign players a club is allowed to have.
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Well, even if they have, one suspects that in KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) that such rules may be subject to change at the whim - er wish - or those who rule the country.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Well, even if they have, one suspects that in KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) that such rules may be subject to change at the whim - er wish - or those who rule the country.
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A countries leader or government is not allowed to interfere with the countries FA. It's been a FIFA rule ever since the rules were invented. Not so long ago FIFA banned and African country from all football competitions both international and domestic because the government interfered with the countries FA. I am sure the same fate would be handed to Saudi Arabia if they interfered in the rules of the countries FA
 
laptech said:
A countries leader or government is not allowed to interfere with the countries FA. It's been a FIFA rule ever since the rules were invented. Not so long ago FIFA banned and African country from all football competitions both international and domestic because the government interfered with the countries FA. I am sure the same fate would be handed to Saudi Arabia if they interfered in the rules of the countries FA
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Unfortunately, I doubt it.

This is because I doubt the will, intention or appetite on the part of FIFA to take on sportswashing, oil (or gas) rich states.

The very fact that they permitted the World Cup to take place in Qatar spoke volumes about the state of their moral compass on such matters.

And yes, it is all too easy and far too easy to ban Africa from all football competitions - for, they lack sufficient wealth (and influence) to be able to challenge, protest, or alter such decisions.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Unfortunately, I doubt it.

This is because I doubt the will, intention or appetite on the part of FIFA to take on sportswashing, oil (or gas) rich states.

The very fact that they permitted the World Cup to take place in Qatar spoke volumes about the state of their moral compass on such matters.

And yes, it is all too easy and far too easy to ban Africa from all football competitions - for, they lack sufficient wealth (and influence) to be able to challenge, protest, or alter such decisions.
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Sadly I’m inclined to agree.
Money talks unfortunately.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Unfortunately, I doubt it.

This is because I doubt the will, intention or appetite on the part of FIFA to take on sportswashing, oil (or gas) rich states.

The very fact that they permitted the World Cup to take place in Qatar spoke volumes about the state of their moral compass on such matters.

And yes, it is all too easy and far too easy to ban Africa from all football competitions - for, they lack sufficient wealth (and influence) to be able to challenge, protest, or alter such decisions.
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Not that FIFA has any scruples but I doubt they would even find themselves in a position of having to act or pretend to.
Organizations like the local football association are indistinguishable from the political leadership.
Just like when several clubs recently all found themselves an individual treasure chest for the ongoing hiring spree. Who doubts where the money comes from?
 
FIFA WOMEN. WORLDCUP 2023 have kicked off.

Glad we won 1st game without any trouble. Lot of generational shifts in the Swedish team.
But our stars and the team all looked good. Could have scored some more but a win is a win.

www.fifa.com

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™

The biggest stage, the best players. Experience a tournament that went Beyond Greatness™.
www.fifa.com www.fifa.com
 
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Lioness~ said:
FIFA WOMEN. WORLDCUP 2023 have kicked off.

Glad we won 1st game without any trouble. Lot of generational shifts in the Swedish team.
But our stars and the team all looked good. Could have scored some more but a win is a win.

www.fifa.com

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™

The biggest stage, the best players. Experience a tournament that went Beyond Greatness™.
www.fifa.com www.fifa.com
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USA look to be the favorites so far. England's injuries and retired players showing an impact on the squad.

Japan also one to watch.
 
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daneoni said:
USA look to be the favorites so far. England's injuries and retired players showing an impact on the squad.

Japan also one to watch.
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I don’t expect Sweden to win, but our team is quite good 😌

USA have a few more citizens to pick from than our little sovereign country and than most countries. They are usually the favorites.
We’ve done quite well considering the much smaller population over the years. We are always the underdogs, and comfy with it. And we all have the same amount of players we can use once the game starts, and nothing is won or lost yet, they all have to play for it. That’s the game.

en.m.wikipedia.org

FIFA Women's World Cup - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org
 
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I was quietly disappointed with the Lionesses.
Off the back of their relatively recent successes, I was expecting more from them. Likewise the US women.

NZL shocked everyone, including myself with their positive and aggressive brand of football - they have been awful leading up to this tournament, so I was expecting more of the same.

Great to see attendance records tumbling across both sides of the ditch. NZL recorded 43k spectators (largest ever for a football match in NZ) at the opening game and then again 41k at the US game (both at Eden Park, which is of course the home of NZ rugby).
AU (with a much larger population and a better following for football as a whole) blitzed those numbers and recorded 75k at the Matildas game and then another 44k for England vs Haiti.

The attendances have been great, despite how much FIFA have made it difficult to get tickets for the general non-football-supporting public.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Results & Attendances | Austadiums

List of recent FIFA Women’s World Cup results and scores, including attendance figures.
www.austadiums.com www.austadiums.com
 
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Whilst England women may have the title of being Euro champions, they did it with a squad that is now heavily depleted of much of it's talent due to injuries and retirements. England should put in a good performance in the competition but do they have what it takes to go all the way with a bunch of new players, who knows.

Many clubs show nerves on the first game so will be interesting to see if USA, Germany, Sweden, England, France, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Netherlands and Australia live up to their top 10 FIFA rankings because as we have seen with the men's game, a team's world ranking can mean nothing come competition day.
 
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daneoni said:
Saudi have submitted a bid of €300m for Mbappe
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And, if there is any truth in some of the reports that I have read, it seems that he may only be expected to spend a year in Saudi Arabia before departing to Real Madrid the following season.

PSG are on the horns of an exquisite dilemma; sell now - cash in on this offer now - and make what is an absolute fortune, even for a wealthy club and for someone who is clearly a gifted player - or wait, and watch Mbappe stroll away next summer on a free transfer, and earn absolutely nothing.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
And, if there is any truth in some of the reports that I have read, it seems that he may only be expected to spend a year in Saudi Arabia before departing to Real Madrid the following season.

PSG are on the horns of an exquisite dilemma; sell now - cash in on this offer now - and make what is an absolute fortune, even for a wealthy club and for someone who is clearly a gifted player - or wait, and watch Mbappe stroll away next summer on a free transfer, and earn absolutely nothing.
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I expect that's what will happen with Mbappe: 1 year in Saudi, then off to Real. It's going to be such a farce, him playing in that league, but money talks.

The same is happening with Harry Kane, albeit on a more modest scale. It now looks like Spurs' owner doesn't want Kane to walk on a free, so Daniel Levy will have to find a deal. PSG have to be the favorites for Kane if they lose Mbappe.
 
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Spurs will lose money if they wait for the transfer window in January because buying clubs will not pay £100 million for an aging striker who would only have 6 months left of his contract before he became a free agent.

It's been reported that Spurs have offered Kane a £400,000 a week contract. I believe it is a lot more than what he was already on. Spurs chairman has made it publicly clear he will not sell Kane to a rival PL club so that scuppers any chance of Kane getting the PL record for total number of goals scored. Kane has got some decisions to make, accept the huge weekly pay increase from Spurs, try and force a move to a PL club so he can beat the PL record or go to a European club where he can win lots of trophies.
 
£13m/week Mbappe would be earning btw if he goes. And it would effectively be a loan deal for a year.

Its arguably the most beneficial solution for all parties.

Mbappe earns bank for a season. Then goes to Madrid.

PSG make €300m

Saudi draw eyes to their league by having the best player in the world in it

Everybody is happy.
 
daneoni said:
£13m/week Mbappe would be earning btw if he goes. And it would effectively be a loan deal for a year.

Its arguably the most beneficial solution for all parties.

Mbappe earns bank for a season. Then goes to Madrid.

PSG make €300m

Saudi draw eyes to their league by having the best player in the world in it

Everybody is happy.
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If he goes to the Saudi club he is going to be earning ridiculous wages. He must know that if his desire is to go to Real Madrid, there is no way Madrid is going to pay him stupid wages thus Mbappe will have to take a massive pay cut. Question is how much of a pay cut would he be prepared to take.
 
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Apple fanboy said:
That is sad. He was a legend.
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Such a legend in an England shirt as well

England games is where I mostly remember him from because I liked the shirt the team wore :)

England-1982.jpg
 
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