The Real Football Thread

[Mayomaniac]

Sir Jim's men reduced to a shambles -
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-united-tottenham-premier-league-match-report

Yeah, but the team has been a mess for years even before Ten Hag arrived, the whole club has been run into the ground. Throwing money at random players that they didn't really need in hope that it works instead of smart signings and so on...

Anyway, does anyone understand the mess that is the new CL group stage? Nobody at work got those stupid rules and I think it's gonna be bad ratings wise too.

 

[Rob5091]

Yep, this is from UEFA's website and, well, it's all as clear as mud! I expect though the big teams will be kept seperate and we end up with the usual teams in the knock out phase, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man city, PSG etc.

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsl...champions-league-post-2024-everything-you-ne/

From the 2024/25 season, 36 clubs will participate in the Champions League league phase (former group stage), giving four more sides the opportunity to compete against the best clubs in Europe. Those 36 clubs will participate in a single league competition in which all 36 competing clubs are ranked together.

Under the new format, teams will play eight matches in the new league phase (former group stage). They will no longer play three opponents twice – home and away – but will instead face fixtures against eight different teams, playing half of those matches at home and half of them away. To determine the eight different opponents, the teams will initially be ranked in four seeding pots. Each team will then be drawn to play two opponents from each of these pots, playing one match against a team from each pot at home, and one away.

How will teams reach the Champions League knockout phase and will the format for the knockout phase change?​

The results of each match will decide the overall ranking in the new league, with three points for a win and one for a draw still applying.

The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition. Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access to the UEFA Europa League.

The new format, with all the teams ranked together in a single league, will mean that there is more to play for all the way through to the final night of the league phase.

In the knockout phase, the teams that finish between 9th and 16th will be seeded in the knockout phase play-off draw, meaning they will face a team placed 17th to 24th – with, in principle, the return leg at home. The eight clubs which prevail in the knockout phase play-offs will then progress to the round of 16, where they will each face one of the top-eight finishers, who will be seeded in the round of 16.

To strengthen the synergy between the league and knockout phases, and to provide more sporting incentive during the league phase, the pairings of the knockout phase will also be partly determined by the league phase rankings, with a draw which likewise determines and lays out the route for teams to reach the final.

From the round of 16 onwards, the competition will continue to follow its existing format of knockout rounds leading to the final staged at a neutral venue selected by UEFA.

 

[Rob5091]

Cash for votes again? Nothing new in the dirty world of big football -
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...can-football-investigation-veron-mosengo-omba

The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has been investigated over allegations of dishonest management, fraud and forgery of documents in a case that prosecutors warn could “seriously tarnish Switzerland’s reputation”.

Véron Mosengo-Omba, who is also under investigation by Caf over claims of serious misconduct, has been accused of making a series of suspicious payments to Swiss bank accounts. He has denied the claims, which were revealed on Wednesday by a public disclosure from the Federal Criminal Court (FCC) of Switzerland.


The investigation by the Fribourg public prosecutor’s office was opened in February after a number of suspicious transaction reports to Swiss accounts were sent to the Money Laundering Reporting Office (MROS). Mosengo-Omba is accused of having “repeatedly obtained bonuses” five times higher than the maximum permitted in his employment contract with Caf, with the investigation said to be particularly concerned by several cash withdrawals that would hinder “any possibility of tracing the use of said funds”. The MROS also cited a “bundle of evidence, founding suspicions of acts of disloyal management to the benefit of Mosengo-Omba”.

 

[BullsFan22]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OwLswJwyYqM&pp=ygUVYWZyaWNhbiBoYXJyeSBtYWd1aXJl

 

[Rob5091]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OwLswJwyYqM&pp=ygUVYWZyaWNhbiBoYXJyeSBtYWd1aXJl

Touché!

 

[Rob5091]

So what's up here? Arnault family & Red Bull get into soccer? No longer hat tricks but handbags?!
https://www.reuters.com/sports/socc...y-stakes-paris-fc-reports-lequipe-2024-10-09/

PARIS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Paris FC, the capital's second-tier soccer club, is in the process of being sold off to the Arnault family - whose head Bernard Arnault is the billionaire behind LVMH (LVMH.PA), and to the energy drinks company Red Bull, reported L'Equipe paper.
L'Equipe, citing its own sources, said the Arnault family would buy a stake of between 55-56% in Paris FC while Red Bull would get around 15%. Paris FC's current majority shareholder Pierre Ferracci would keep a stake of around 30%. ... Paris FC, which plays in Stade Charlety in the south of the city, is dwarfed in terms of reputation and fan numbers by Paris Saint Germain (PSG) - the reigning Ligue 1 champions who regularly feature in Europe's top flight Champions League.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

So what's up here? Arnault family & Red Bull get into soccer? No longer hat tricks but handbags?!
https://www.reuters.com/sports/socc...y-stakes-paris-fc-reports-lequipe-2024-10-09/

You mean specifically these two together in one project? Because Red Bull is so deeply invested into "soccer" that they just appointed Klopp head of their global Football activities.

 

[Rob5091]

You mean specifically these two together in one project? Because Red Bull is so deeply invested into "soccer" that they just appointed Klopp head of their global Football activities.

It was the Arnault Family's involvement that raised my eyebrows, but Paris FC are small fry in France, apparently, so Red Bull's 15% I guess is PR/tax planing/long shot hope/ foot into French soccer for them.

The name Paris FC, reminds of the talk about the Paris Cycling Club, that Didier Quillot/B&B Hotels were supposed to be setting up.

 

[gunara]

Indonesia held two Asia's giants, Saudi Arabia and Australia, to draw away and home in the first two World Cup qualifier 3rd round. Just being in the 3rd round with those two plus Japan, and for a national team ranked 133 in the world, the fans should have been ecstatic, but most of us still feel weird. Not because it's too huge a jump in quality, but becausse we hardly know any of the starting eleven😁 Most of them come from the Netherlands, some play in England, one in Serie A, and another in the MLS. They all have Indonesian ancestry, but I doubt any of them ever thought about playing for this country as a child.

Indonesia doesn't even allow dual citizenship, so until ten years ago it didn't even cross our minds, not even about someone like Radja Nainggolan, maybe he was too good but at least he looks Indonesian and have Indonesian name.

I guess such things are more normal for countries with more natural connection to others, but we - geographically separated by sea from almost anyone and never really have close tie to the old colonists - have never been one of them. So it still feel strange. I also think that some of our neighbours - some have larger diaspora pool than Indonesia - will also look to exploit the same strategy.

Now drew away against Bahrain, who beat Australia away. That's after a scandalous officiating - you need to see to believe - from the Omani referee. AFC is a madhouse when it comes to picking officials, especially when the gulf nations are playing.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Now drew away against Bahrain, who beat Australia away. That's after a scandalous officiating - you need to see to believe - from the Omani referee. AFC is a madhouse when it comes to picking officials, especially when the gulf nations are playing.

"Hey AFC, we need that ref!"

 

[gunara]

"Hey AFC, we need that ref!"

If these kind of people can buy two world cups, Manchester City, AFC presidency, N'golo Kante, and turn Lampre into a real-life Avengers, a point in a qualifying match might worth less than their sandals.

 

[Tim Cahill]

 

[Rob5091]

It contributed to an evening that will go down in the pantheon of great Mourinho press conferences.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c5yp88dyqrmo

 

[Rob5091]

Pro soccer player with a lot of ganja -
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93qpn0w745o

A professional footballer has denied involvement in a plot to smuggle £600,000 worth of drugs from Thailand into the UK.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, is alleged to be linked to the discovery of 60kg (9.44st) of cannabis at London Stansted Airport, Essex, on 2 September.

 

[Rob5091]

When the party's been a litle to hearty ...
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cwy1l6dnw9yo

Two referees have been banned from officiating in Uefa matches until June 2025 after a bizarre incident on the morning of a Champions League qualifier between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv.

Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial were replaced as VAR officials before the third qualifying round match in Lublin, Poland on 6 August after reports of "improper behaviour".

Polish media reports alleged the pair had been drinking and were stopped by police with another man in the early hours having moved a road sign, with Frankowski later confirming details of the incident in an interview.

 

[Rob5091]

Soccer fans and drugs .... lots of drugs ...
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/31320721/frank-lampard-photo-labels-drugs/

THREE Lions legend Frank Lampard was left baffled after his photo was used on labels for a £38million stash of deadly “ice meth” seized Down Under.

Messi's been used on some packages too apparently so it's nice to know drug lords have some R&R time inbetween the hard work.

 

[Rob5091]

Adios Ten Hag! Now we'll see what sir Jim & sir Dave can cook up for the once mighty Manchester club -
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvg3rn7vz1no

 

[Rob5091]

Sir Jim got his man ... for a price ...
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...n-amorim-head-coach-start-international-break

Rúben Amorim says he has to “prove something” after agreeing to become Manchester United’s head coach. ... United are paying the €10m (£8.3m) release fee for the 39-year-old and about another €1m to shorten his 30-day notice period.

 

[Rob5091]

Oh dear ... if it was n't bad enough with calling Klopp the c word, now it's sniffing "the devil's dandruff" at the Euros .. drugs and soccer, this year's theme it seems.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/31689845/premier-league-ref-david-coote-snorts-white-powder/

 

[Rob5091]

Talking of drugs and soccer ... Juve ditch Pogba. Off to the US or China I guess.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cpvz7e2xn9vo

Paul Pogba will leave Juventus on 30 November after agreeing a mutual termination of his contract.

The 31-year-old was given a four-year ban in February for a doping offence - but in October that was reduced to 18 months, starting from his initial provisional ban in September 2023.

Sources close to Pogba told BBC Sport he can resume training in January and will be eligible to play again from March.

The France midfielder will now be free to join a new club in the January transfer window.

Sir Jim has got his man so now it gets interesting -
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c5yr245jkq1o

Judgement around Amorim's appointment will be made against United's new structure, from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, through board member Sir Dave Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Berrada has been the driving force behind Amorim's appointment, with Ashworth and Wilcox the executives he will be working with most closely.

Meanwhile United's rivals City have problems on and off the pitch
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8rlm680j0mo

Manchester City have written to the 19 other top-flight clubs expressing their "fundamental concern" over what they claim are "unlawful" amendments that the Premier League has proposed to rules governing commercial deals.

It comes before a key meeting of the clubs next week when they are due to vote on the changes following last month's landmark tribunal ruling after City legally challenged Associated Party Transaction regulations (APTs).

On Friday, in the latest escalation in the dispute, City told their rival clubs the league was "rushing through its consultation process".

 

[Rob5091]

Not a good weekend on the soccer front - City's demise continues unabated on the pitch, Fiorentina's Edoardo Bove ends up in the ICU and 56 people died in Guiena after a controversial refereeing decision sparked violence and a crush.

Liverpool look like the team to beat in England & Europe at the moment.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Following on from a discussion we were having in the Pogacar thread a while back, I stumbled upon this the other day, Wenger writing to the FA trying to get throw-ins banned;

Wenger asked for FA to ban throw-ins in light of Arsenal's dismal record vs Stoke

Arsene Wenger once wrote a letter to the Football Association raising the idea of throw-ins being banned and the grass being cut at the Britannia Stadium in light of Arsenal’s dismal record a…

talksport.com

Stoke City: How Rory Delap's 'undefendable' long throws caused Premier League chaos

As social media buzzes with talk of Barclaysmen, we look back at how Rory Delaps long throws had Premier League sides scrambling for solutions following Stokes promotion under Tony Pulis in 2008; this feature was originally published in May 2020

www.skysports.com

What a tactic, you probably wouldn't see good stuff like that anymore because Shawcross/Fuller etc would get pulled by VAR for causing too much havoc in the box.

Here's Myhill kicking it out for a corner on purpose due to the sheer aura of Delap, I remember at the time the whispers on the streets of him being some kind of master javelin champion in his youth. Peter Crouch said that Delap’s throws were so stressful for Heurelho Gomes that once saw him on the brink of tears. He had a towel stitched into his shirt for a while to wipe the ball when it was raining, but the FA banned it UCI style. His son plays for Ipswich now and is pretty good, no signs yet of the trademark long throw yet though.

 

[Rob5091]

Just when we thought the OneCycling and Soccer Super League was dead and buried, the Euro Super League idea's back from the dead!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14161427/European-Super-League-English-clubs.html

European football risks another identity crisis with roughly 60 clubs reportedly willing to take part in a renewed push to establish a Super League.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are the focal point behind the A22-led project and it is said to have won over several influential English clubs.

The proposal is for a three-tier competition to start in either September 2025 or 2026 and to run midweek alongside domestic divisions, which would surely signal the collapse of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.

 

[Rob5091]

Sir Jim's assesment could well apply too to the cycling team -
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cp9nnp0d9z9o

On the day co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe called Manchester United "mediocre" in an interview with popular club fanzine 'United We Stand', the team unfortunately reinforced the assessment with their on-pitch performance.

 

[Rob5091]

The chaos at Ineos cycling is now at Man Utd footie club ...
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/09/ashworth-departure-ratcliffe-manchester-united
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...e-role-as-manchester-united-sporting-director

Dan Ashworth has left his position as Manchester United’s sporting director after only five months at the club.

Manchester United recruited Ashworth from Newcastle to much fanfare and expense but they have come to a mutual agreement to part ways. Talks were held between Ashworth and the chief executive, Omar Berrada, after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Nottingham Forest, which left United 13th in the Premier League. The co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe signed off on the 53-year-old’s departure.

Then you come to the case of Ashworth and a new term – “hyper-farce”? – is needed for his departure only 159 days after taking up his post.