Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

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Was that part 1 of the annual PSG bottling it in Europe series? That was a very fun game to watch.

Also, hilarious post-match show on CBS with drunk Jamie Carragher.

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Leverkusen now 5 matches from an unprecedented undefeated treble and perhaps the greatest achievement in the sport's history.

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That time of year we can celebrate both Man City and PSG both out of the Champions League. 🥳 Imagine a Bayern - Dortmund rematch of London... in London.

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Bayern had a good goal robbed on a questionable offside whistle in which it would have leveled it late in stoppage time. More proof the refs are sucking off Real Madrid. 

Yes, it was a major refereeing error but Madrid players backed off the ball after the whistle, which came before De Ligt's shot. You can't call that a "good goal".

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Leverkusen simply refuse to lose. Incredible.

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Atalanta definitely have a good chance. Despite not having as many big names, they are at a similar level as Roma (not just because they're on the same point tally in Serie A), who reached two consecutive European finals. This is a very good level for them.

Of course, Leverkusen would be a contender for winning the Champions League, much less the Europa League, and have the somewhat unusual privilege of being both favorites and having a huge amount of neutral support.

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There's definitely going to be a non-negligible number of hidden Arsenal supporters at Spurs' place on Tuesday. The only question is how many Spurs fans can't stomach going to the match and sell their tickets to an Arsenal supporter.

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To add a bit of spice ahead of Copa America, Jesse Marsch has been appointed Canada national team manager. His official title is, I kid you not, "MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach", LOL. I assume they had to tap Canadian MLS owners to fund his salary given how broke the federation is.

American soccer media (ESPN, Alexi Lalas) are big fans of the appointment. It seems like basically a free hit for him - get back on the horse managing a team with low expectations, manage at a World Cup, and look for the right European job in 2026.

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Credit to Spurs for having a go and playing very well. They shut up all the media nonsense questioning if they wanted to win. Man Sh!tty looked pretty bad most of the game but somehow come away with a win.

Neither West Ham nor Everton have anything to play for anymore so I doubt either will offer any meaningful resistance on Sunday.

[Santander]

On the day, Arsenal pushed Man City only on paper. Man City never looked in doubt, while Arsenal labored to a win thanks to a dubious goal from a terrible error from Young.

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Incredible. Lookman was always a good player, it's good to see him finally valued in a successful team.

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https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cxww834p37vo

Bayern are in advanced talks with... Vincent Kompany to be their next manager. A managerial appointment that I'm sure Bayern hopes will turn out like Xabi Alonso, but one which is more likely to be a stop on a managerial career somewhere in between the ignominious depths of Super Frank and Stevie G and the failing up mediocrity of Roberto Martinez...