Futbol Talk

[JWags85]

Jay Berhalter stepping down.

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2020/02/06/us-soccer-usmnt-uswnt-jay-berhalter-carlos-cordeiro/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

1 Berhalter down, 1 to go

[The Sultan]

The final four of the Copa del Rey. Two teams who have never won it (Grenada and Mirandes, the latter of which is a second tier side.) And two teams who haven't won it since the 80s (Bilbao and Sociedad).

Real, Barcelona and Valencia, who won it last year, all lost this week.

That's kind of cool.

[MUDPT]

Louis Bennett signed with Madison last week.

[Its DJOver]

Louis Bennett signed with Madison last week.

Actually good friends with Louis. Been on loan in Madison for a while now.  Getting the minutes he didn't in Memphis.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

City banned from Europe for 2 seasons due to FFP violations.  Can appeal to court of arbitration, but big if upheld.

PSG and Juve next?

[Its DJOver]

Tough situation for UEFA; while there's zero doubt in my mind that City has falsified it's financial records, there also zero doubt in my mind that nearly every (if not all) big European clubs have done the same thing (albeit not to as severe of a degree), and I really don't think this ban will do anything to scare them off from continuing to do that.  I think it'll likely get reduced, but in the end, won't really change the way that these clubs operate.  UEFA can't ban everybody, because they need the big name clubs in their competitions.

[The Sultan]

Reading that the Premier League will likely dock them points too based on innaccurate financial information on the PL licensing application.  However the PL could, but very likely would NOT, kick them out of the league.  And according to the Football League's rules, any club that is evicted from the PL for those reasons, would have to start in League Two.  The fourth level of the English football system.

Which would be hilarious.  But won't happen.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

"You wont play on Thursdays any more because you're sh!te."

FOYG. 

[MUDPT]

"You wont play on Thursdays any more because you're sh!te."

FOYG. 

Arsenal are a lot like MU for me now. Used to plan my weekends around games. Now, just total apathy, like watching the last 5 minutes last night.

[MUDPT]

Arteta has COVID-19. I'd expect EPL to go away for awhile.

[CreightonWarrior]

Arteta has COVID-19. I'd expect EPL to go away for awhile.

Announced within minutes of EPL announcing they were going to play.

[The Sultan]

Now they won't play. Euro 2020 postponed to 2021. Champions League and Europa League to be postponed and played in the summer pending FIFA approval.

[Pakuni]

Carlos Cordeiro just resigned.

[jesmu84]

Carlos Cordeiro just resigned.

As well he should

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Carlos Cordeiro just resigned.

F*ucker should be forced to stand in goal while each member of the WNT gets to take PKs on him.

[CreightonWarrior]

So within like an hour of EPL saying they were going to play this weekend a manager is tested positive and a Chelsea player is tested positive. What a bunch of buffoons.

[jesmu84]

https://twitter.com/cboehm/status/1238452788256034818?s=19

[The Sultan]

https://twitter.com/cboehm/status/1238452788256034818?s=19

And the Bundesliga changed course a few hours later.  They postponed as well.

[Its DJOver]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-fifa/story/4083004/us-prosecutors-allege-bribesillegal-payments-in-22-world-cup-vote

Not exactly surprising, still don't see much changing anytime soon.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Spurs/Levy are not backing down from their decision to lay off their non playing staff on to the UK government 80% pay scheme.   Though Levy has offered to cover the extra 20% if they work at his estate.

Today, Mourinho and Ndombele met up for a practice session in a public park.  Jose in full Spurple gear.  Sess and Sanchez stopped by too after they were out for a run together.

This Amazon documentary is going to be bananas.

[jesmu84]

Spurs/Levy are not backing down from their decision to lay off their non playing staff on to the UK government 80% pay scheme.   Though Levy has offered to cover the extra 20% if they work at his estate.

Today, Mourinho and Ndombele met up for a practice session in a public park.  Jose in full Spurple gear.  Sess and Sanchez stopped by too after they were out for a run together.

This Amazon documentary is going to be bananas.

Great minds, ZFB...

The Amazon-made Tottenham documentary for this past season is going to be absolutely drama-filled.

[jesmu84]

Saudi Arabian royalty finalized purchase of Newcastle United.

Man City 2.0 coming.

[JWags85]

Saudi Arabian royalty finalized purchase of Newcastle United.

Man City 2.0 coming.

The craziest part of the story, besides how much money the Saudi Soverign Wealth fund has, is that the Reuben brothers are also involved.  They are the second wealthiest family in the UK on their own, and them buying a team would set up Man City 2.0 on their own.  But kicking in with the Crown Prince means this is going to be obscene.  Restructing this squad is going to look like a kid playing FIFA with the rules turned off.

Also, LOL funny reading comments from Steve Bruce that suggest anything other than him getting punted back to the Midlands.  Allegri or Poch seem most likely, but bringing Rafa back would make me chuckle.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Saudi Arabian royalty finalized purchase of Newcastle United.

Man City 2.0 coming.

FFP should prevent another man city, but will probably depend on the bribes offered to the court of appeal for sport and if city gets its European ban overturned.

I dont see Poch taking on this project.  Think he'll go outside the prem.

[Its DJOver]

I could very easily see Bruce keeping the job for a while.  Covid is going to keep all transfers relatively subdued this summer, so don't expect some 200+ mil window, and comparing this to City, they kept Mark Hughes for a few years after their takeover.  Don't see Poch going anywhere but back to Spain, and Allegri supposedly knows very little English, which I would imagine would be a deal breaker.  If they do move on from Bruce, I could see them going after someone like Slaven Bilic, Premier League experience, and doing a very solid job getting West Brom all but assuredly promoted this year.