Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

At least 129 dead following riot in match between Indonesian sides Persebaya Surabaya and Arema Malang.

Panic at an Indonesian soccer match after police fired tear gas to stop brawls left 129 dead, mostly trampled to death, police said Sunday.

Several fights between supporters of the two rival soccer teams were reported inside the Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java province's Malang city after the Indonesian Premier League game ended with Persebaya Surabaya beating Arema Malang 3-2.


The brawls that broke out just after the game ended late night Saturday prompted riot police to fire tear gas, which caused panic among supporters, said East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta.

Hundreds of people ran to an exit gate in an effort to avoid the tear gas. Some suffocated in the chaos and others were trampled, killing 34 almost instantly.

More than 300 were rushed to nearby hospitals to treat injuries but many died on the way and during treatment, Afinta said.

He said the death toll is likely still increasing, since many of about 180 injured victims' conditions were deteriorating.

[NewYorkExpress]

Over in UEFA Champions League Group B, Club Brugge, which already has upset wins  over Bayer Leverkusen and Porto, has a chance to sweep the first three legs in the group as they lead Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the halfway point.

[Lechasseur]

Over in UEFA Champions League Group B, Club Brugge, which already has upset wins  over Bayer Leverkusen and Porto, has a chance to sweep the first three legs in the group as they lead Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the halfway point.

Go Brugge! I'd like to see a Belgian team win their group

[NewYorkExpress]

This weekend gives us the second week in a row with a big derby game, as we have the Der Klassiker Derby between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in Dortmund. That one's probably a must-win for both teams, though Borussia Dortmund, which is in worse form, having lost three of their last four games in all competitions, and facing a possible loss to Sevilla in the Champions League, probably needs this one more.

Saturday also gives us a derby game between AC Milan and Juventus at the San Siro, which, again is a must-win for both teams. Milan needs this to remain the hunt in Serie A, as they are only three points back of the leaders, Napoli and Atalanta entering the weekend, while Juventus needs all three points to have any hope of competing in any European Competition.

Sunday has Arsenal, leading the English Premier League, and fresh off a huge win against Tottenham Hotspur, facing Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, in a massive must-win game for Liverpool, which needs to take all three points if they want to compete in any European Competition, let alone the Champions League. For Arsenal, they can probably afford a draw or loss, depending on how Manchester City does on Saturday against Southampton, but they probably would prefer to win this one. If Liverpool loses, we could see Jurgen Klopp get fired, or resign, especially if England decides to break their longstanding "must have an English coach" mentality and go for him over Gareth Southgate after the World Cup.





 

[NewYorkExpress]

Manchester United came really close to blowing a 3-1 lead against Omonia Nicosia in Europa League Group E action today.

[Lechasseur]

Olympique Lyonnais have appointed 1998 World Cup Winner and former PSG manager Laurent Blanc as manager on a 2-year contract.

I'm looking quite forward to seeing where he takes the club.

In other news, Arsenal have beaten Liverpool 3-2. As an Arsenal supporter, this is quite exciting an promising.

A good day for my two favourite clubs.

[parochial boy]

No-one going to mention Iker Cassillas's "hillarious" "joke" then?

[Lechasseur]

No-one going to mention Iker Cassillas's "hillarious" "joke" then?

Didn't hear about it

[Lechasseur]

No-one going to mention Iker Cassillas's "hillarious" "joke" then?

Just googled it, apparently his account got hacked

[Santander]

Arsenal's kids are maturing, the manager is growing wiser, and now they have an elite man up front... this team could win a title, if not this year, in the next few.

[Lechasseur]

Arsenal's kids are maturing, the manager is growing wiser, and now they have an elite man up front... this team could win a title, if not this year, in the next few.

Agreed, I think it may well be this year, but if not this year then soon

[NewYorkExpress]

Arsenal's kids are maturing, the manager is growing wiser, and now they have an elite man up front... this team could win a title, if not this year, in the next few.

I'd still be shocked if Manchester City doesn't win the Premier League, but Arsenal will be in the race to the final week.

I also wouldn't be shocked if Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool soon-ish (though probably not until after the World Cup, when a bunch of national team jobs open up. He'd be an asset to any country that could afford him.)

[NewYorkExpress]

This weekend has a couple of good games once again.

On Saturday, we have Athletic Club Bilbao playing Athletico Madrid at San Mames, in match that could decide a Champions League place, as Athletic Bilbao comes into this match in third with seventeen points  and Athletico Madrid is fourth with sixteen points, along with fifth-placed Real Betis and sixth-placed Real Sociadad.

Sunday gives us:

The new-look Newcastle United going to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. Newcastle, currently holding down an Europa League spot, and can pass both Manchester United and Chelsea with a win (and a Chelsea loss to Aston Villa) and move into a Champions League spot.

Manchester City traveling to Anfield to take on Liverpool in a must-win match for both teams. Liverpool needs the win to have any shot at any European spot, while Manchester City needs the win to keep pace with Arsenal, which likely will beat Leeds United.

The El Clasico derby between Real Madrid and Barcelona, taking place at Santiago Bernabeu. The clash between the top two sides in La Liga, even at twenty-two points, could be decisive in determining who wins the league.

Udinese heads to the Stadio Olimpico to face Lazio. Both teams are just three points of Serie A leaders Napoli, whom they can catch if they lose to Bologna.

Borussia Dortmund travels to Berlin to face Bundesliga leading Union Berlin. This is Union Berlin's chance to prove that they belong with the biggest names in the Bundesliga, especially after their draw against Bayern Munich on September 3.

The Le Classique Derby between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseilles. For all of PSG's star power, they are only a point ahead of Lorient and three points ahead of Marseilles.

[Santander]

On Saturday, we have Athletic Club Bilbao playing Athletico Madrid at San Mames, in match that could decide a Champions League place, as Athletic Bilbao comes into this match in third with seventeen points  and Athletico Madrid is fourth with sixteen points, along with fifth-placed Real Betis and sixth-placed Real Sociadad.

For the love of God, please stop polluting this thread with your sh**t. The rest of your post is bad enough, but saying a match in October could decide a Champions League place is worthy of a ban if this weren't an off-topic thread the mods don't give a crap about.

[NewYorkExpress]

On Saturday, we have Athletic Club Bilbao playing Athletico Madrid at San Mames, in match that could decide a Champions League place, as Athletic Bilbao comes into this match in third with seventeen points  and Athletico Madrid is fourth with sixteen points, along with fifth-placed Real Betis and sixth-placed Real Sociadad.

For the love of God, please stop polluting this thread with your sh**t. The rest of your post is bad enough, but saying a match in October could decide a Champions League place is worthy of a ban if this weren't an off-topic thread the mods don't give a crap about.

Be thankful I said could and not will. It probably won't, as you are right, it is only October. But it could.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

While the above is clearly incorrect, I hesitate to offer a similar take:

Juventus does indeed have a relatively big October match on Saturday in the Derby della Mole during an otherwise light weekend. They are currently only 29% to finish top seven for any European spot next year (compared to 32% to finish in the bottom half of the table). If they can't win this one (Torino has taken just one match in this derby in the last 27 years), we're really going to see the odds for the latter shoot up - but 10th or 11th placing is downright likely.

3 of the 5 remaining matches in 2022 are supposed to be certain victories, and if they start dropping points there, we'll know if they are really in trouble.

Maybe being out of European competitions (and the World Cup too) will give old legs a rest come springtime though. But this is too enjoyable not to relish.

[NewYorkExpress]

Holy sh**t, what the Hell has happened to Liverpool?

They lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest today, their first loss in any competition since their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on October 9.

Making matters worse, even after defeating Liverpool, Nottingham Forest is still nineteenth in the English Premier League.

Just embarrassing for Jurgen Klopp's side.

[JGibson]

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup group stage is set:

https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1583728038855946240

[NewYorkExpress]

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup group stage is set:

https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1583728038855946240

Very friendly draw for the USA.

Completely avoiding Brazil, Sweden, Germany, England and France in the group stage and likely having to avoid facing any of them until at least the Quarterfinals (unless for some reason the USA doesn't win Group E).

Also getting a very friendly group with the Netherlands (who should easily finish second to the USA, and is the only possible loss/draw), Vietnam (not a threat, China or Japan would have been a tougher matchup), and the winner of a playoff between Cameroon, Thailand and Portugal (which almost certainly will be Portugal. That could mean a loss or draw for the US, but we're a better team than Portugal is).

Groups D, G and F are almost certainly going to be more treacherous for the favorites (Group D being England, Group F being France and Brazil, Group G being Sweden and Italy)

[NewYorkExpress]

Aston Villa just made an amazing hire after sacking Steven Gerrard, bringing in Villareal manager Unai Emery.

Literally the only thing Emery hasn't won is the UEFA Champions League. He's easily one of the best managers in the sport. If Aston Villa is willing to give him time and a healthy budget to work with, they could easily be in at least the top six within three years.

[Santander]

Aston Villa just made an amazing hire after sacking Steven Gerrard, bringing in Villareal manager Unai Emery.

Literally the only thing Emery hasn't won is the UEFA Champions League. He's easily one of the best managers in the sport. If Aston Villa is willing to give him time and a healthy budget to work with, they could easily be in at least the top six within three years.

That is a gross mischaracterization of his CV. He hasn't won anything other than the Europa League except domestic titles at PSG, which basically doesn't count. Now, 4 European trophies with clubs that are not remotely traditional powers, including a ridiculous 3 on the bounce with Sevilla and one with Villareal, who were even more unfancied, is an astonishing track record, but let's not inflate his trophy cabinet. He is an excellent coach and Villa have done well to get him.

[Santander]

Juventus 🤡
Real Madrid 🤡

All we need is Barcelona 🤡 tomorrow to complete the Super League trifecta.

[Santander]

Juventus 🤡
Real Madrid 🤡

All we need is Barcelona 🤡 tomorrow to complete the Super League trifecta.

Barcelona 🤡 confirmed.

[NewYorkExpress]

Graham Potter's return to Brighton went horribly, as Brighton & Hove Albion destroyed Chelsea 4-1, for Brighton's first win under new manager Roberto de Zerbi.

[NewYorkExpress]

Liverpool lost their first Premier League game at An field in thirty matches today, falling to Leeds United 2-1 in a stunner.

Liverpool is now Ninth, five points behind Chelsea and a guaranteed Europa League place.

It looks like they will either have to win the Champions League or win either the FA Cup or Carabao Cup to be playing in Europe at all next season.