Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Santander]

My goodness, we flattened Honduras, 3-0.

All we probably need to do is get six points (and maybe even only four depending on how Mexico and Canada do), in the next window against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica.

Of course, we have to go to Estadio Azteca and Estadio Nacional, two venues we usually lose at...

They played a winless cannon fodder team in the winter in Minnesota on an artificial surface... not really too much to get excited about.

[Leohendo9]

heard some funny newcastle comparisons...

winning the lottery while youre in prison
getting a suite upgrade on the titanic
getting a gift certificate to a thrift store

etc etc

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

What an epic and unbelievable collapse by Inter at the derby after making Milan look like they weren't in the same league for 60+ minutes, save for the keeper.

If Napoli get by Venezia tomorrow, that will set up a showdown with the league lead on the line. If they draw or lose, they could still play spoiler to help Milan. Inter of course will have a game in hand even if they relinquish the lead.

[Santander]

Kidderminster almost beat West Ham. Nothing against West Ham but it would've been a seismic upset.

[Mike88]

This evening's Porto vs Sporting ended in chaos:

https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1492267272722919425?cxt=HHwWgsC5ybPLz...

The match ended in 2-2 draw.

[buritobr]

Chelsea is the new world champion

The English team defeated Palmeiras, whose most famous fan is this one https://placar.abril.com.br/placar/palmeiras-sera-bicampeao-mundial-em-2019-diz-bolsonaro/

[Santander]

Remember when Rafa Benitez demanded more money from the Inter board because he won the Club World Cup? 😂

[Mike88]

Chelsea is the new world champion

The English team defeated Palmeiras, whose most famous fan is this one https://placar.abril.com.br/placar/palmeiras-sera-bicampeao-mundial-em-2019-diz-bolsonaro/

Hope that Abel Ferreira isn't reacting to the defeat like this:

[buritobr]

Times changed

The 2 most sucessful Portuguese national teams in World Cups, 1966 and 2006, had Brazilian coaches: Otto Glória and Luís Felipe Scolari.

Now, Brazilian teams are willing to pay very high wages to Portuguese coaches. Flamengo's coach in 2019 was Jorge Jesus. Palmeiras's coach is Abel Ferreira.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

God bless our neighbors in Salerno! Stealing points from Milan, creating the opportunity for all three squads to be separated by a point once again at the weekend's conclusion. (Too much to hope for Sassuolo to steal some points too?)


In foreign news, the store had on the Spurs game. I apologize to bronz for mocking his Harry Kane obsession. That was a glorious free-flowing match with a finish we don't get nearly enough. Too bad I don't have a dog in that title race though nice to see it tightening.

[Santander]

Heartbreak for Sheriff, they played admirably considering their lack of experience playing at this level of European competition.

But Rangers are through, and were handed a fairly kind draw against Red Star.

[NewYorkExpress]

A couple of notes related to the war in Ukraine. Poland and Sweden are refusing to play Russia in World Cup Qualifying playoff matches, and the UEFA Champions League Finals have been moved from Krestovsky Stadium to the Stade de France.

[NewYorkExpress]

Also related to the war in Ukraine, Roman Abromovich has given up day-to-day control of Chelsea, and likely will be forced to sell the club to avoid sanctions.

[NewYorkExpress]

Newcastle United on fire, beat Brentford 2-0 for their fifth win in their past eight games (the only dropped points being draws against West Ham, Watford and Manchester United). They now sit 15th with 25 points, four points away from the drop.

[NewYorkExpress]

Marcelo Bielsa sacked by Leeds United. Former RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch the leading candidate to replace him.

[JGibson]

Roman Abramovich will sell Chelsea.

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1499087484004753408

[Suburbia]

I wonder if an American or British billionaire will buy it? Jerry Jones? Robert Kraft? Mark Cuban?

[NewYorkExpress]

I wonder if an American or British billionaire will buy it? Jerry Jones? Robert Kraft? Mark Cuban?

Jeff Bezos buying Chelsea wouldn't be a bad thing, right?

[Suburbia]

I wonder if an American or British billionaire will buy it? Jerry Jones? Robert Kraft? Mark Cuban?

Jeff Bezos buying Chelsea wouldn't be a bad thing, right?

It would make him more unpopular.

Also, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel plays the "stick to sports, Tortorella-style" game. Says he does not want any questions on Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gn9PFKZm_E

Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich are probably some of the few white coaches/managers globally that can deal with political questions. Other white coaches live in a bubble or are clueless.

[NewYorkExpress]

I wonder if an American or British billionaire will buy it? Jerry Jones? Robert Kraft? Mark Cuban?

Jeff Bezos buying Chelsea wouldn't be a bad thing, right?

It would make him more unpopular.

That depends on whether Bezos throws hundreds of millions of dollars into Chelsea a season.

Hell, any new owner who doesn't do that is going to be unpopular with the fans after the amounts of money Abromovich spent.

[NewYorkExpress]

Manchester Derby tomorrow.

How many goals will Manchester City win by?

[NewYorkExpress]

A Liga MX match between Atlas and Queretaro was suspended in the 63rd minute with Atlas leading 1-0, with after a massive brawl between rival groups of fans broke out.

Saturday's Liga MX match between Queretaro and Atlas was suspended following scenes of violence in the stands that spilled onto the pitch of the Estadio Corregidora.

During the 63rd minute of the match, fans sprinted onto the field to avoid fights that had broken out between supporters of the rival teams. With the score at 1-0 in favor of visitors Atlas, referee Fernando Guerrero stopped the game as more fans began to seek safety on the field.

Guerrero suspended the match initially in hopes order would be restored. However, the violence continued to spread across the upper bowl of the stadium, which hosted World Cup games in 1986. After hundreds of fans continued to flood the field of play, Guerrero halted the game for good.

Pictures and videos shared on social media showed people being beaten, kicked and dragged while others had been left lying on the ground, covered in blood, in what appeared to be the seating area of the stadium in the central city of Queretaro.

.....

Following the suspension of the game, the state of Queretaro's Civil Protection Coordination confirmed that 22 people had been injured, and nine people taken to the hospital --- two of which are in critical condition.

[Santander]

Shambolic PSG led by serial bottler Pochettino concede 3 goals on terrible mistakes... Congrats to Carlo and Benzema.

That pass by Modric threading the needle through half the PSG team was beautiful.

[Alcibiades]

Shambolic PSG led by serial bottler Pochettino concede 3 goals on terrible mistakes... Congrats to Carlo and Benzema.

That pass by Modric threading the needle through half the PSG team was beautiful.

PSG and bottling in the UCL. Name a more iconic duo.

[Santander]

PSG should easily beat any non-Manchester City/Liverpool/Bayern Munich side (and they'd be favorites against Bayern and Liverpool if Kylian Mbappe doesn't leave in this transfer window).

Just reminding everyone... On paper they are the best, but the last decade has shown it's never easy for them in the Champions League.

And let's not kid ourselves, Real Madrid is still very good.