Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

Despite being without such luminaries like Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna tonight, the United States defeated Jamaica 2-0 behind a two goal breakout performance from FC Dallas's Ricardo Pepe, in his first cap.

Next up, a road trip to Panama on Sunday, in another big match.  Should the United States win, they move up to at least second in the table.

In addition, Panama is currently in fourth, which would be an intercontinental playoff position. Avoiding a loss is very important if the United States wants to avoid that game.

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Really bad loss for the United States today against Panama in Panama City, as Anibal Godoy of Nashville SC scores the lone goal of the game for Panama.

I have to wonder, despite the United States now being tied with Mexico at the top of the table, if this loss will mean the end of the road for Gregg Berhalter as manager.

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Really bad loss for the United States today against Panama in Panama City, as Anibal Godoy of Nashville SC scores the lone goal of the game for Panama.

I have to wonder, despite the United States now being tied with Mexico at the top of the table, if this loss will mean the end of the road for Gregg Berhalter as manager.

You are the king of overreactions.

If you're the United States and you're supposed to be one of the top two sides in CONCACAF, you just can't lose to a side like Panama during World Cup qualifying.

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USA faces Costa Rica tonight. Already without Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna, we might also be without Weston McKennie and Antonee Robinson as well.

On top of that, we're likely going to be facing one of the best goalkeepers available to any CONCACAF side, in PSG's Keylor Navas.

I find it hard to believe we'll even get a point here, but without Pulisic and Reyna, and probably being without McKennie and Robinson, a loss here would be more reasonable than the loss to Panama.

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Meanwhile, on the club level, this weekend's highlights (at least to me) are:

Friday: PSG vs Angers

Saturday: Leicester City vs Manchester United, Monaco vs Olympique Lyonnais, Lazio vs Inter Milan.

Sunday: Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich (should be a huge game. Both teams are atop the Bundesliga at 16 points), Juventus vs Roma, Barcelona vs Valencia (Barcelona's been struggling in the early going, sitting in ninth place with 12 points, and looking up at teams like Rayo Vallecano, Osasuna and Real Sociadad.) and Everton vs West Ham United.

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Once again, I was wrong, as the United States beat Costa Rica, 2-1, but it took an own goal from Alajuelense's Leonel Moreira to win.

Still, six points without most of your best players is pretty good.

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Leicester City destroyed Manchester United 4-2 today.

How long before Ole Solskjaer is sacked?

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Following the takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Newcastle United Manager Steve Bruce has resigned.

Newcastle United will consider Frank Lampard and Paulo Fonseca as the next permanent manager at St. James' Park, sources told ESPN on Wednesday, after the club's new owners confirmed the departure of Steve Bruce by mutual consent.

Bruce, who took charge of his 1,000th competitive game as a manager during Sunday's 3-2 defeat at home to Tottenham, leaves Newcastle after two seasons in charge of his hometown club. During that period, Bruce guided Newcastle to 13th- and 12th-place finishes in the Premier League and runs to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Among the speculated replacements are former Chelsea Manager Frank Lampard and former Shaktar Donestk/Roma manager Paulo Fonseca. I'd probably add to that list West Ham Manager David Moyes too.

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Steve Bruce achieved pretty much all that was asked of him the past few years - Keep Newcastle United in the Premier League on minimal spending. The squad is abject, easily in the bottom 5 in the league in terms of quality.

Nobody can buy anyone until January, so I have no idea what a new Manager would bring. Other than rampant speculation about which players are going to be replaced, which will obviously do further wonders for morale. By which point, nobody will want to sign for them because they will be already doomed to relegation.

Well,right now Newcastle's 19th with 3 points,  but they're only three points behind seventeenth placed Leeds United, and four points behind Southampton and Watford.

If they can get through the end of November with only two losses (the only certain losses I see  are at home against Chelsea, and going on the road against Arsenal), they'll have a tough December ahead (games against Leicester City, Liverpool, both Manchester sides, and Everton). If they can enter January in striking distance of seventeenth, or even in seventeenth, they might be able to make a few purchases in January to stave off relegation.

And even if they are relegated, the Saudis have deep pockets. They'll be back in the Premier League after a one year absence.

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Real embarrassing 6-1 defeat for Roma today against the Norweigian Champions, Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League.

Meanwhile, also in the Europa Conference League, Tottenham Hotspur lost to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhiem.

It's rather obvious big five leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue I) aren't going to take the Europa Conference League seriously when they do qualify, so why bother giving them qualification spots?

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Arsenal dominated Aston Villa 3-1 today.

The Gunners are climbing the table, and now sit in ninth. All that early season panic is a distant memory, but they have a tough stretch ahead, with three of their next five games being at Leicester City, at Liverpool, at Manchester United and at Arsenal, with the other two being home against Watford and home against Newcastle United.

Getting only six points, and possibly only four depending on how the Watford game goes is quite possible for the Gunners.

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We've got two big derby games tomorrow.

The Northwest Derby (Manchester United/Liverpool) and El Clasico (Real Madrid/Barcelona).

[NewYorkExpress]

We've got two big derby games tomorrow.

The Northwest Derby (Manchester United/Liverpool) and El Clasico (Real Madrid/Barcelona).

I think Liverpool and Real respectively win those matches

I agree with you on El Clasico, as Barcelona is a shambles at present, and I'd actually be surprised if they qualified for Europe, but Manchester United might actually win, if things go their way. For one thing, that match is at Old Trafford.

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As if I couldn't be wrong about anything more on this thread....Liverpool destroyed Manchester United today, 5-0 behind a hat trick by Mohammed Salah.

Also, West Ham United is punching way above their weight, as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0, to climb to fourth.

Keep that position (or improve to third), and a Champions League spot awaits.

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We've got an out-of International Window Friendly between Mexico and Ecuador tomorrow in Charlotte.

Both teams are (presumably) playing all-domestic based sides, which gives a sizable advantage to Mexico, as they have good talents like Tijuana's Jonathan Orozco, Guadalajara's Uriel Antuna and Cruz Azul's Roberto Alvarado, all three of whom are significantly better than anyone Ecuador can currently put on the field.

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Manchester City's streak of 4 consecutive Carabao (EFL) Cup trophies comes to a crashing halt, as West Ham beat them on penalties 5-3 as the game score finished nil-nil. There will be a new Carabao Cup trophy winner this season.

Bayern crashed out of the DFB-Pokal 2nd round, as Borussia Mönchengladbach walloped them good 5-nil.

Manchester City is paying the price for not paying full price to sign Harry Kane or Erling Haaland at the moment.

As for Bayern Munich, how on earth do you lose 5-0 to Borussia Monchengladbach?

They were even playing pretty much all of their starters in that match? What on earth went wrong?

In other news, I was wrong about when the Mexico/Ecuador match was, as it was tonight, and the game is in progress, with Ecuador leading 2-1 in the 56th minute.

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Ronald Koeman sacked as manager of Barcelona.

Former Barcelona Legend, and current manager of the Defending Qatari Stars League Champions, Emir of Qatar Cup, and Qatar Cup, Al Sadd SC, Xavi is the frontrunner to replace Koeman.

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Nuno Espirito Santo out at Tottenham Hotspur, former Juventus/Chelsea/Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte in talks to replace him.

I'm not sure a new manager is what is needed at Tottenham. It seems to me like a brand new roster is needed there, and it starts with selling the very unhappy Harry Kane.

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Looking ahead to this weekend, we've got another pair of excellent rivalry games ahead, with the Manchester Derby on Saturday at Old Trafford, and a very important Milan Derby on Sunday.

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Norwich City, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table, has sacked Daniel Farke.

Norwich City have sacked manager Daniel Farke despite the team securing their first win of the season at Brentford earlier on Saturday, the Premier League club said in a statement.

"In continuing to demand the very best for our football club, this decision was not an easy one," said Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber.


"I know how determined Daniel and his staff were to succeed at this level, but we feel that now is the right time for a change to give ourselves the best opportunity of retaining our Premier League status."

Norwich's win meant they remained bottom of the table on goal difference with five points from 11 games.

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Big upcoming International window for the United States, as we have a home game against Mexico in Cincinnati, followed by a road game against Jamaica. We need at least four points from this window (though I wouldn't be too disappointed with losing to Mexico and beating Jamaica.)

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U.S beats Mexico 2-0 behind goals in the final 25 minutes by Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie.

I'm not convinced Gerardo Martino is going to be the manager much longer for Mexico, especially with three losses to the United States this year (Nations League Finals, Gold Cup finals, and now World Cup Qualifying) a an albatross around his neck.

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Disappointing to only get a draw with Jamaica, after beating Mexico last time, but getting points on the road is always nice.

Next up for the United States is a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina next month, which will be tricky, but as the match is during the club season in Europe and outside an international  window, it's not like Miralem Pjanic or Saed Kolsanic will be playing. Of course, we'll be without Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna, but I like our chances on home soil.

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Former Manchester City legend Sergio Agüero, who currently plays for Barcelona, will retire due to heart issues.


https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/I1462094743068893191

I think it's safe to say that Barcelona will not be playing in Europe next year.

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Following a 4-1 loss to Watford, Manchester United is expected to sack Ole Gunnar Soleskjaer any day now.

I'm not sure a coaching change helps Manchester United much. As long as the Glazers own the team, they aren't going to be better than Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea or arguably Leicester City. The best they can do is probably the Europa League, or the Europa Conference League, barring an ownership change.