Of course everyone talks about Ronaldo, he's 40 years old, playing in a league many consider to be very poor on the skill level and yet here he is still scoring goals at international level where players half his age are struggling to score. If only every player in the world was as committed to the game as he was we would see ten's of thousands of exceptionally gifted players.
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The 2024-2025 Football Thread
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Well, who could've foreseen that multi-club ownership would make problems at one point or another...? </rolling eyes>
www.theguardian.com
Crystal Palace’s Europa League place in doubt after Uefa rejects owners’ blind trust move
Uefa has rejected offers from Palace co-owners John Textor and David Blitzer to put their shares in a blind trust so the club can compete in Europe next season
Funny how it’s not been a problem for other clubs. Is it just because Palace are less fashionable I wonder?Well, who could've foreseen that multi-club ownership would make problems at one point or another...? </rolling eyes>
Crystal Palace’s Europa League place in doubt after Uefa rejects owners’ blind trust move
Uefa has rejected offers from Palace co-owners John Textor and David Blitzer to put their shares in a blind trust so the club can compete in Europe next season
I think it's the first time clubs from the same owners have qualified for the same tournament. And - as the article says - another club, Brøndby, qualified for the Conference league, making it impossible for Crystal Palace to be moved down into that, too...
In other news:
Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou and weigh up move for £10m Thomas Frank
Tottenham have sacked Ange Postecoglou and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause
I thought Man City owners had a few other interests?I think it's the first time clubs from the same owners have qualified for the same tournament. And - as the article says - another club, Brøndby, qualified for the Conference league, making it impossible for Crystal Palace to be moved down into that, too...
In other news:
Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou and weigh up move for £10m Thomas Frank
Tottenham have sacked Ange Postecoglou and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause
As for Spurs I think the manager is just one of their many issues.
Disgusting news from Spurs. I hope Arsenal win the league at White Hart Lane.I think it's the first time clubs from the same owners have qualified for the same tournament. And - as the article says - another club, Brøndby, qualified for the Conference league, making it impossible for Crystal Palace to be moved down into that, too...
In other news:
Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou and weigh up move for £10m Thomas Frank
Tottenham have sacked Ange Postecoglou and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause
Not nice, - not nice at all - (and reminds me a little of the time that Manchester United - with spectacular ingratitude - fired Louis van Gaal a mere day after he had won the FA Cup with/for the team in 2016) but probably inevitable, given Spurs' dismal final position in the Premier League.
Guys like Shearer and Sutton have called this correctly. I hope Levy gets run out of London by the fans.
I dunno. I can understand Levy’s approach. 22 defeats is relegation form. And Spurs are disjointed.
Yes they won a European cup but that was less ability and more luck of the draws and playing Utd in the final
From Levy’s viewpoint there’ll be pressure to spend money but is Ange the man to spend that money on?
It’s similar to ETH after the fluke FA Cup win. They backed him and team got worse. Levy might want to avoid that type of waste
Alternatively he simply wants to manage expectations and keep spending low. So got rid of Ange for a manager more used to slim budgets.
Yes they won a European cup but that was less ability and more luck of the draws and playing Utd in the final
From Levy’s viewpoint there’ll be pressure to spend money but is Ange the man to spend that money on?
It’s similar to ETH after the fluke FA Cup win. They backed him and team got worse. Levy might want to avoid that type of waste
Alternatively he simply wants to manage expectations and keep spending low. So got rid of Ange for a manager more used to slim budgets.
Levy has demonstrated what a fool he is IMO. You have a born winner like Ange who wins everywhere he goes and gives Spurs their high point in 17 years. I'd go further and say that this is worth more than winning the League Cup which is a nothing tournament. They also qualify for the CL and get all that UEFA money that Man Utd desperately need. Ange has more than delivered on his brief.
Bilbao was a glorious blip for Spurs – and that’s why Levy had to sack Postecoglou | Jonathan Wilson
Tottenham chair was not blinded by silverware and decided finishing fourth-bottom of the Premier League was not enough
Friday Norway thrashed Italy 3-0.
I didn't watch the game, but the reports is that even if Italy had the ball the most, they didn't have a single "big chance", as defined by Sofascore.
This, apparently was too much for the Italian FA:
www.theguardian.com
I didn't watch the game, but the reports is that even if Italy had the ball the most, they didn't have a single "big chance", as defined by Sofascore.
This, apparently was too much for the Italian FA:
Luciano Spalletti claims he has been sacked by Italy after Norway humiliation
Luciano Spalletti said he had been sacked from his role as Italy’s coach, but will still take charge of a final game against Moldova
Spurs have always been disjointed in recent years.
And they were fortunate that there were three teams that were far worse than them, notwithstanding their poor form.
Luck of the draw may be one thing, but luck without victories is something different entirely: In other words, you still have to ride your luck, and proceed to head out there and and to actually win those matches on the pitch.
I think that the comparison should be with Louis van Gaal, and not with ETH.
Besides, at this stage, while it is easier to fire one man (the manager) than an entire underwhelming - and dysfunctional - team of eleven underperforming players, I think that Manchester United's problems go far beyond those that can be salvaged or rescued by a single individual, no matter how experienced, how gifted, how inspirational.
He did that also - kept spending far too low - with Mauricio Pochettino, depriving Pochettino of the necessary funds at a time when Spurs were good enough to have seriously challenged for trophies.
Hm.
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Well Portugal have just proved when it works, it works well and by that I mean you do not need to have players in their prime or from teams who are top of their league or close to the top to win international tournaments. They had 41 year old Ronaldo who not only because of his age but also the fact he plays in one of the poorest skilled leagues in the world (according to football critics) and Bruno who has played in the worst season of his club career. Neither player were at their optimum best, especially Bruno and yet they helped Portugal to win the Nation's league.
To some respect Southgate proved this in the Euro's when he played Maguire from United. Maguire performance was absolutely poor for United, the whole team was having a terrible season, which is why they tried to get rid of him and yet in the Euro's he was one of England's outstanding players.
Greece did it when they won the Euro's, a team at the time given no chance of winning the Euros and Leicester City, given no chance of winning the premier league, a team of nobodies, in comes a new manager and low and behold they go and win the league.
So, like I said, when it works, it works well.
To some respect Southgate proved this in the Euro's when he played Maguire from United. Maguire performance was absolutely poor for United, the whole team was having a terrible season, which is why they tried to get rid of him and yet in the Euro's he was one of England's outstanding players.
Greece did it when they won the Euro's, a team at the time given no chance of winning the Euros and Leicester City, given no chance of winning the premier league, a team of nobodies, in comes a new manager and low and behold they go and win the league.
So, like I said, when it works, it works well.
Both dragged down the team. People outside look at the headlines about a goal (a tap in but whatever, a goal is a goal) at 40 but don't watch the other 89 minutes of basically playing with 10 with the predictable play funneled to the same inconsequential guy.
Fernandes at least is just tired or a bit out of form, he still is a prime player to keep using. Bernardo Silva wasn't also great but it's a similar situation as Bruno Fernandes.
It worked yesterday because Nuno Mendes came from PSG at peak form (anyway they can tell him to let Yamal go home now). Vitinha is in a similar situation coming great from PSG. He also moves the entire team, probably irreplaceable. He didn't play in first half with Germany and it showed. Why? Who knows.
It could have been better if João Neves who plays alongside Vitinha in PSG (and is and has always been a midfielder playing and growing up in Benfica) hadn't been placed back as right back (why? once again who knows). Of course in the second half our manager had to put a real right back and we were only one behind.
Rafael Leão also had a good impact in the game, he is one of those players that can absolutely wreck a defense or have a invisible game. Yesterday he was on and while he didn't score he kept the Spanish defense at bay during long periods.
Diogo Costa is probably not well known because he still plays at FC Porto but he is a quite good keeper and also has some ability with PKs. It's not unusual for him to save some in a five series.
Ronaldo will get another personal score or whatever and it's nice to win something but nobody remembers countless Euro and World Cup useless appearances by teams centered around the diva managed by yes men selected to be just that. There was a lot of speculation about replacing Martinez but now that certainly won't happen. Well at least one Spanish was happy yesterday.
Fernandes at least is just tired or a bit out of form, he still is a prime player to keep using. Bernardo Silva wasn't also great but it's a similar situation as Bruno Fernandes.
It worked yesterday because Nuno Mendes came from PSG at peak form (anyway they can tell him to let Yamal go home now). Vitinha is in a similar situation coming great from PSG. He also moves the entire team, probably irreplaceable. He didn't play in first half with Germany and it showed. Why? Who knows.
It could have been better if João Neves who plays alongside Vitinha in PSG (and is and has always been a midfielder playing and growing up in Benfica) hadn't been placed back as right back (why? once again who knows). Of course in the second half our manager had to put a real right back and we were only one behind.
Rafael Leão also had a good impact in the game, he is one of those players that can absolutely wreck a defense or have a invisible game. Yesterday he was on and while he didn't score he kept the Spanish defense at bay during long periods.
Diogo Costa is probably not well known because he still plays at FC Porto but he is a quite good keeper and also has some ability with PKs. It's not unusual for him to save some in a five series.
Ronaldo will get another personal score or whatever and it's nice to win something but nobody remembers countless Euro and World Cup useless appearances by teams centered around the diva managed by yes men selected to be just that. There was a lot of speculation about replacing Martinez but now that certainly won't happen. Well at least one Spanish was happy yesterday.
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I skipped it to be honest. Not really a fan of this fake tournament.
World Cup yes
Euros yes.
Pass on the other national games.
World Cup yes
Euros yes.
Pass on the other national games.
Completely agree.
This is an (egregious) example of further cluttering up (prompted by nothing other than sheer greed) an already full football calendar, one which footballers (granted, yes, they are exceptionally well remunerated) are already succumbing to serious injury in increasing numbers on account of the number of games they are expected to play throughout the season.
Early summer should be a down time, other than for the serious, long-standing, football competitions, such as the Euros, or the World Cup.
While it's true the Nations League is yet another shameless cash grab by UEFA, it at least adds some interest to what would otherwise be boring, meaningless friendlies.
Don't get me started on the Club World Cup. We can all do without it, but some billionaires need to make even more money.
Nuno Mendes was absolutely immense in that final yesterday. An outstanding player on both sides of the ball.
Don't get me started on the Club World Cup. We can all do without it, but some billionaires need to make even more money.
Nuno Mendes was absolutely immense in that final yesterday. An outstanding player on both sides of the ball.
Agree completely about the boring, meaningless friendlies.
However, I see no reason whatsoever - apart from bottomless, shameless, sheer greed - for the existence of the Nations League.
I believe in most countries not all competitions are looked the same way, the League (EPL in England) is above the Cup (FA Cup) and so on.
Well the Nations League is not the same as an Euro and of course the World Cup.
But it is an official competition with a proper organization with legit top tier teams which presented themselves with their best players. The format is interesting as the name suggests.
Well the Nations League is not the same as an Euro and of course the World Cup.
But it is an official competition with a proper organization with legit top tier teams which presented themselves with their best players. The format is interesting as the name suggests.
Time will tell but i think Thomas Frank will get more out of that squad with some additions. Arguably Glassner would've been a smarter appointment but probably not as easy to get.
Ange can leave with his head held high but for me there was an element of luck. The league doesn't lie and he and his team were dreadful. With the caveat of the injuries.
Plus he was stubborn...until the final ironically. Handled the press dreadfully.
For me the sacking was understandable from Levy's POV
The good game of football is going to be ruined for ever. International tournaments I can understand but for club sides, no, never. Apparently FIFA is going to arrange for a half time show at the world club cup, much like what we see done at the American Super Bowl with half time shows.
source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg902e0jd4o
It will be a travesty for the game
source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg902e0jd4o
It will be a travesty for the game
It will go largely unnoticed. Who’s planning to watch? I’m not.The good game of football is going to be ruined for ever. International tournaments I can understand but for club sides, no, never. Apparently FIFA is going to arrange for a half time show at the world club cup, much like what we see done at the American Super Bowl with half time shows.
source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg902e0jd4o
It will be a travesty for the game
It is football and I am a fan of football (a cheap fan of football, will not pay cable or satellite prices to watch it). If it's available for free on television then I will watch it. Went down to my local pub to watch the nations league final, made sure my 1 pint of shandy lasted lol. Not many people were interested in the game though, but it was on and only cost me the price of a pint of shandy (£4.50)