Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Alcibiades]

Not sure I’ve ever seen a more incredible winning Champions League run than this. As Santander mentioned, huge respect to Ancelotti but also this finally cements Benzema, Modrić, Kroos, Casemiro as being universally recognised as amongst the very finest players of their generation (the former especially, who for many years was criminally underrated as he played in the shadow of Ronaldo).

[DavidB.]

So annoyed by people claiming Real Madrid were "lucky". You don't eliminate PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City (probably the most difficult path to the final imaginable, and often with amazing comebacks) - and then win the CL vs. Liverpool with sheer luck. That's actually world class quality.

[JGibson]

Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League for the first time in 23 seasons, as they beat Huddersfield 1-nil to clinch the final promotion ticket to the PL.

[Santander]

So annoyed by people claiming Real Madrid were "lucky". You don't eliminate PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City (probably the most difficult path to the final imaginable, and often with amazing comebacks) - and then win the CL vs. Liverpool with sheer luck. That's actually world class quality.

You could more credibly claim Liverpool are the lucky team, winning 2 trophies despite not scoring in 3 finals and not having to play Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

[NewYorkExpress]

Rather nasty behavior by Saint Eitenne fans after their promotion/relegation playoff against AJ Auxerre.

Angry fans invaded the field as Saint-Etienne, one of the most storied football teams in France, were relegated from the Ligue 1 on Sunday after losing 5-4 on penalty kicks to AJ Auxerre in their promotion-relegation playoff.

The second-leg game was 1-1 after 90 minutes with no goals added in extra time at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. That left the aggregate score at 2-2 after the sides also drew 1-1 in the first leg.


Saint-Etienne fans invaded the field immediately after the last penalty kick with flares being set off. Players from both teams rushed into the locker room as scores of angry fans ran across the pitch and lit flares.

L'Equipe newspaper said the supporters were then dispersed by police. No injuries were immediately reported.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

After 40 seasons at Serie B, Monza will join Serie A for the first time as the winner of the promotion playoff, becoming the 67th club to have that honor. I'm none too happy about it, but there were a decent number of revelers here over the weekend.

The most historic clubs without a Serie A appearance are now:

• Taranto (32 seasons without Serie A promotion)
• Cosenza (24th season upcoming)
• Sambenedettese (21 seasons) (lol)
• Arezzo (16 seasons) (lol)
• Cittadella (16th season upcoming)

It doesn't feel like any of these squads are particularly close to breaking the barrier (and Sudtirol will get a crack before a few of them), so Monza may mark the end of the recent run on debutees after Frosinone, Crotone, Benevento and Spezia over the past 6 years

Crotone famously went from 17th to 2nd in Serie B, of course. Perhaps that will be a shining example for cross-regional rival Cosenza. Serie B will be loaded next season, so it would be a monumental effort.

[Santander]

The Netherlands upset Belgium 4-1 behind two goals from Memphis Depay

What have we come to?... I'm sorry, but it is never possible for the Netherlands, arguably one of the top 5 countries in football, to be underdogs to Belgium.

[Zinneke]

Anyone for cycling?

[Santander]

England lose! 🤡

[Alcibiades]

England lose! 🤡

And all the while being taunted by literal kids, lol.

[Santander]

Juventus sign Pogba for compensation, sell him back to Man Utd for a record fee. Then they sign him back again for free. 😂

[parochial boy]

Anyone for cycling?

The Tour belongs to Slovenia these days. A country with a long and pround cycling history going all the way back to 2018.

[NewYorkExpress]

Real Madrid with another fantastic signing, adding Monaco midfielder Aurelien Touchameni for 80 million Euros.

Real Madrid have signed the highly rated France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco on a six-year contract, it has been announced.

The Champions League winners have agreed to pay a transfer fee of around €80 million to sign Tchouameni, 22, after seeing off competition from European rivals to land the player.


ESPN reported that Madrid and Monaco reached an agreement for the deal on Tuesday with the midfielder opting to join the Spanish champions over Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Real Madrid midfield is going to be fantastic for the next decade, with Valverde, Camavinga and Touchameni.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Palermo takes a 2-0 aggregate lead into halftime of the second leg and appears to be set to take the final spot in Serie B! Bari and Palermo storming back from bankruptcy, side-by-side. One more promotion to go. Southern comeback

Serie B will be loaded next season with 7 of the 21 most historic Italian clubs (Genoa, Cagliari, Bari, Palermo, Brescia, Parma and Modena) along with Pisa and Benevento who were extremely close to promotion last season. Venezia coming down gives you 10 contenders very serious about getting to the top flight (though I am skeptical on Parma and Modena's readiness - for now). Can't wait!

[NewYorkExpress]

Liverpool to sign Benefica forward Darwin Nunez for 100 million Euros.

This is a fantastic signing for Liverpool, especially with both Sadio Mane and Mohamad Salah's future at Liverpool in doubt, signing a forward like Nunez is a great move. He'll pair well with Roberto Firmino too.

[Mike88]

Liverpool to sign Benefica forward Darwin Nunez for 100 million Euros.

This is a fantastic signing for Liverpool, especially with both Sadio Mane and Mohamad Salah's future at Liverpool in doubt, signing a forward like Nunez is a great move. He'll pair well with Roberto Firmino too.

Benfica just lost its main player. The team is already on the ropes because of scandals and internal infighting, and next year doesn't sound promissing at all.

[Santander]

Liverpool to sign Benefica forward Darwin Nunez for 100 million Euros.

This is a fantastic signing for Liverpool, especially with both Sadio Mane and Mohamad Salah's future at Liverpool in doubt, signing a forward like Nunez is a great move. He'll pair well with Roberto Firmino too.

Benfica just lost its main player. The team is already on the ropes because of scandals and internal infighting, and next year doesn't sound promissing at all.

If there is one sure thing in football, it's that Benfica and Porto will continue to attract some of the best South American talent. It'd be kinda fun for Braga or someone else to get in the Champions League for a year, but bad for the league coefficient. As for Liverpool, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota... who even needs Mane or Salah?

[NewYorkExpress]

As we are approaching a new transfer window, and thus a new season, the thread has gotten a name change.

Welcome to the 2022/2023 Association Football thread.

World Cup discussion goes on the dedicated thread, with a special thanks to buritobr, for creating said thread.

[Santander]

England lose! 🤡

Somehow I feel empty-quoting this is a bit inadequate today.

[NewYorkExpress]

The United States crushed Grenada 5-0 on Friday and has a similarly easy matchup with El Salvador tonight as part of CONCACAF Nations League action

Before entering CONCACAF Nations League play, the U.S had an easy 3-0 friendly win over Morocco, an an excellent 0-0 draw with Uruguay in another Friendly at the beginning of this month.

[NewYorkExpress]

USA fail to beat El Salavdor, get a 1-1 draw.

I've got mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, El Salvador is a very easy opponent and we should beat them, no questions asked. On the other hand, we've historically struggled to win road games in Central America, so escaping with a draw here might not be a bad result, in actuality.

England lose! 🤡

Somehow I feel empty-quoting this is a bit inadequate today.

Given how much England lost by, and how much weaker a team Hungary is supposed to be compared to them, if it weren't for the fact the World Cup is right around the corner, I think Gareth Southgate would be out of a job today.

[JGibson]

Starting next year, MLS and Apple will have every MLS game available. 


MLS and Apple have agreed to a 10-year deal to stream every MLS game (no blackouts), beginning in 2023 when STL City SC enters the league. Expect far less games on linear TV outlets. 

The Verge:

Apple will offer streams of every Major League Soccer (MLS) match from early 2023 through 2032 in the Apple TV app, the two organizations announced in a major deal revealed Tuesday. While some games may still air on linear TV networks like ESPN and Fox, this gives Apple the global exclusive on an NFL Sunday Ticket-style offering for the league.

To watch the matches, fans will be able to subscribe to a new, currently unnamed MLS streaming service that will be available “exclusively through the Apple TV app,” according to Apple’s press release. A “broad selection” of MLS and Leagues Cup matches will be available to Apple TV Plus subscribers, “with a limited number of matches available for free.” If you’re a full-season ticket holder, you’ll get access to the new streaming service as well. Unlike many sports streaming deals, there will be no local blackouts or restrictions.

[NewYorkExpress]

Mauricio Pochettino sacked by PSG.

The current shortlist is Nice's Christophe Galtier, Sevilla's Julian Lopeteugi, River Plate's Marcelo Gallardo and Sporting's Rueben Amorim.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Host Cities and Stadiums for the 2026 World Cup have been chosen.

In Canada: BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver.

In Mexico: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

In the United States: MetLife Stadium (New York Metro Area), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Metro), A&T&T Stadium (Dallas Metro), Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Metro), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Lumen Field (Seattle), NRG Stadium (Houston), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) and Gillette Stadium (Boston Metro)

[NewYorkExpress]

Arsenal closing in on a 40 million Euro deal for Porto Attacking Midfielder Fabio Vieria