(10-23-2018 07:56 AM)NomadofEU Wrote:  Wonder if Simeone will ever be Argentina's national team coach.

Not anytime soon I think...he wants to win something important in Europe...he got close with Atletico but very very few teams can beat Real in the champions league final.

Liverpool move top of the league and I just found out that bellend Rossi has been banned from the forum. What a day.

Pretty exciting season in the EPL, 3-way race with City, Chelskis and LFC.

The Nations' League is kind of growing on me, provides a lot more excitement than the regular all-friendlies int'l soccer fare we get mid-season.

FPL relegation prediction:

17. Southampton
18. Fulham
19. Cardiff
20. Huddersfield

(10-28-2018 09:37 PM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  FPL relegation prediction:

17. Southampton
18. Fulham
19. Cardiff
20. Huddersfield

I'm a Fulham fan and I hope we don't get relegated but man, the beginning to this season has been so tough to watch. Still have the best stadium grounds in the world though. Any Premier League fan should go to a game at Craven Cottage but definitely gotta sit in the Hammersmith End.

Did anyone see this? http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls-liga-mx-merger

A merger of MLS and Liga MX would be amazing, especially if it was structured like other world leagues and there was a relegation and promotion system in place.

(10-28-2018 10:07 PM)pazuk123 Wrote:  I'm a Fulham fan and I hope we don't get relegated but man, the beginning to this season has been so tough to watch. Still have the best stadium grounds in the world though. Any Premier League fan should go to a game at Craven Cottage but definitely gotta sit in the Hammersmith End.

I agree, it's the best stadium in England. Nice area of London. Actually, I've always really liked Fulham and hope they stay up.

28 goals conceded in 10 games is insane though. The goalkeeper situation is odd too. Three different goalkeepers have appeared in the ten games, I can't remember that happening in the premier league

(10-28-2018 10:13 PM)pazuk123 Wrote:  Did anyone see this? http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls-liga-mx-merger

A merger of MLS and Liga MX would be amazing, especially if it was structured like other world leagues and there was a relegation and promotion system in place.

Wouldn't be this a massive logistic pain? Taking in consideration time zone difference, distances, costs of travelling around, language and cultural differences, tv rights agreement etc.

Just sounds more trouble then it's worth.

If MLS really wants to take on European soccer leagues, which I don't see it happening in our lifetime, they really should start to invest on spreading the soccer bug around the states and growing young talents etc. Soocer in the states has to become a serious sport to be able to compete.
Even the big stars that play there right now (Zlatan, Rooney etc.) only do it for the money, no prestige at all to play for LA Galaxy or DC United.

(10-28-2018 11:33 PM)wellrockthecity Wrote:  

(10-28-2018 10:13 PM)pazuk123 Wrote:  Did anyone see this? http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mls-liga-mx-merger

A merger of MLS and Liga MX would be amazing, especially if it was structured like other world leagues and there was a relegation and promotion system in place.

Wouldn't be this a massive logistic pain? Taking in consideration time zone difference, distances, costs of travelling around, language and cultural differences, tv rights agreement etc.

Just sounds more trouble then it's worth.

If MLS really wants to take on European soccer leagues, which I don't see it happening in our lifetime, they really should start to invest on spreading the soccer bug around the states and growing young talents etc. Soocer in the states has to become a serious sport to be able to compete.
Even the big stars that play there right now (Zlatan, Rooney etc.) only do it for the money, no prestige at all to play for LA Galaxy or DC United.

I'm certainly no expert on Liga MX, but I've been to Mexico a few times. I'm pretty sure that almost the entire country is in Central Time Zone (Quintana Roo is Eastern and Cabo is Mountain Time).

I think the farthest flight would be Toronto or Seattle and both to Mexico City are about 5 hours, less than NY to LA. The majority of teams are in and around Mexico City, though there are a couple outliers. Overall, I think there would be no more logistical issues than with the current MLS teams.

There would be no language or cultural differences as there are something like 120 Latino and Hispanic players already in MLS which is probably close to a third of the league. Premier League, La Liga, etc don't have considerable language barriers.

Liga MX in English is on Facebook, I'm sure they'd be able to work out TV rights. Soccer is actually growing in the US. Soccer viewership in the US increased last year - Baseball, Football and Basketball all declined. I actually think merging the leagues (41 total teams) and creating a 1st and a 2nd division with promotion and relegation would be a great way to grow the sport in the US.

Glad I've foud thid thread. I even came to think that "sportsball" was a taboo subject in the forum

I might be a little late to the party, but seeing not a thing has been posted on the subject, I'd like to contribute with a little meme to the thread.



Cheers!

(10-28-2018 11:33 PM)wellrockthecity Wrote:  [quote='pazuk123' pid='1876905' dateline='1540782800']
If MLS really wants to take on European soccer leagues, which I don't see it happening in our lifetime, they really should start to invest on spreading the soccer bug around the states and growing young talents etc. Soocer in the states has to become a serious sport to be able to compete.
Even the big stars that play there right now (Zlatan, Rooney etc.) only do it for the money, no prestige at all to play for LA Galaxy or DC United.

Nice train of thought. This is my grain of sand, for what is worth: I believe they are investing on spreading the soccer bug, but to the wrong crowd. If MLS really wants to take on European soccer leagues, they have to begin by making football a boy's sport. I haven't seen a single dude playing football in an US movie or TV show, but plenty of girls. That's why their female team wins female world cups. Soccer is another casualty of the culture war. Maybe they should even grant soccer players the right to smack their wives around, like that chick Hope Solo used to.

Western Europe is in that swamp too. They just market football to inmigrants, instead of girls. Just look at the last world cup teams from France, Belgium, England... Sport Lisboa & Benfica, former basis of the Portugal National Team, came to play with not a single portuguese in the field. I used to joke that it should be renamed to something like Mercosur Football Club

Not to mention all the bs "institutional" propaganda. Huge "EMBRACE DIVERSITY" banners by CONMEBOL, diplayed in the last Copa América, played in the US. "SAY NO TO RACISM" banners by FIFA, and most recently "EQUAL PLAY" (maybe they mistyped that L) by UEFA.

I follow football as a family tradition. My old man used to be a pro, and an uncle of his even played for Benfica, but all the globalist meddleing is getting really irksome...

Amateur referee suspended 3 weeks for using Rock Paper Scissors to start a game, after forgetting his coin

Only in the UK.






McNamara accepted a charge of "not acting in the best interests of the game" but is understood to be surprised by the subsequent sanction.

The laws of the game state that a coin toss must take place at kick-off to decide in which direction ball will be first kicked.

Yet unlike a whistle, watch and cards, a coin is not listed as a compulsory item of the match official's equipment.

FA women's refereeing manager Joanna Stimpson told The Times earlier this week that McNamara's lack of a coin was "very unprofessional".

She called it a "moment of madness" - a comment Hackett has described as unacceptable.

He said the official was under "time pressure" and that rather than a suspension "should have received a phone call and been given some operational advice".

The FA declined to comment further than its statement issued earlier in the week, which said that McNamara had been suspended for 21 days, and would return to duty on 17 December.










In response to this:

Referees at some grassroots football matches are planning to use the rock, paper, scissors game at kick-off to show support for a suspended official.

They are angry at the decision to ban David McNamara after he used the same method in place of a coin toss.

McNamara accidentally left his coin in the dressing room before the televised WSL match between Manchester City and Reading on 26 October.

A coin toss to decide kick-offs is a requirement under the laws of the game.

One referee told BBC Sport why he would use rock, paper, scissors at the start of a junior match this weekend.

"I will be doing it to show support. It will probably serve as a light-hearted way to introduce myself to both captains," said the Derbyshire-based ref, who asked to remain anonymous.

"Others will do so as well but not admit it publicly for fear of reprimand.








Do you think women would have stepped up to help their female pals? Would a woman even be suspended?

^ I'm more surprised there was no explicit indication in the article the match in question was a women's "football" match. Fuck that whole game.

(10-28-2018 10:07 PM)pazuk123 Wrote:  

(10-28-2018 09:37 PM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  FPL relegation prediction:

17. Southampton
18. Fulham
19. Cardiff
20. Huddersfield

I'm a Fulham fan and I hope we don't get relegated but man, the beginning to this season has been so tough to watch. Still have the best stadium grounds in the world though. Any Premier League fan should go to a game at Craven Cottage but definitely gotta sit in the Hammersmith End.

Love the cottage...went to a game back in 2012 I think it was against Wolves and Fulham trashed them. Bobby Zamora hattrick if I recall correctly.

The park just outside the stadium is a beauty too. definitely my favourite part of London.

Really hope Fulham don't get relegated. Next few home games are very winnable on paper, especially with potential new manager bounce.

(11-16-2018 01:58 PM)AManLikePutin Wrote:  

(10-28-2018 10:07 PM)pazuk123 Wrote:  

(10-28-2018 09:37 PM)LeightonBlackstock Wrote:  FPL relegation prediction:

17. Southampton
18. Fulham
19. Cardiff
20. Huddersfield

I'm a Fulham fan and I hope we don't get relegated but man, the beginning to this season has been so tough to watch. Still have the best stadium grounds in the world though. Any Premier League fan should go to a game at Craven Cottage but definitely gotta sit in the Hammersmith End.

Love the cottage...went to a game back in 2012 I think it was against Wolves and Fulham trashed them. Bobby Zamora hattrick if I recall correctly.

The park just outside the stadium is a beauty too. definitely my favourite part of London.

Really hope Fulham don't get relegated. Next few home games are very winnable on paper, especially with potential new manager bounce.

Awesome, Bobby Zamora! What a mercenary, but that guy was great for us. The 2012 team was one of my favorites.

You're right, that area is awesome. I love ALL of London for the most part, but Earl's Court and west is great. When going to the Cottage, I always walk through Bishop's park, right up against the Thames to get to the grounds. Then The Golden Lion after the game obviously.

Gotta start with winning next week at hoe vs. Southampton, because after that it's Chelsea, Leicester and United. No rest for the weary. Hopefully the Ranieri appointment puts us on pace.

Stayed in to watch this Riverplate-Boca final. Absolutely retarded. I will never understand sports hooligans.

How is CR7 doing with Juventus?

He's doing great. He has 9 goals and 5 assists in 13 games in Serie A. He's very involved in the play and is always dangerous. Frankly his finishing has been a bit off since the start of the season and should have scored many more goals.

He had a slow start since it took him 4 games to score his first goal but he's been scoring consistently ever since.

Juve has already iced away their league, like PSG, but the race is shaping up to be very interesting in Spain, where Seville leads Barca, and more so in Germany where Bayern's grip is gone, they might even miss the CL at this rate.

Who is the favorite right now for CL?

I'm taking Juve over Man City in the finals.

Barca being the stalking horse here.

Modric wins Ballon d'Or, in front of Ronaldo and Griezmann. I can understand that.
(Ronaldo, crybaby as usual, did not bother to show up, nor did he do it at the previous ceremonies where Modric was crowned best European and FIFA player of the year. Sore loser.)

The funniest news is the first female Ballon d'Or, given to the Norway forward Ada Hegerberg. However, the thing that will go down in the legend is this.

French DJ Martin Solveig asks her if she can twerk

Lyon and Norway forward Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or after a year that included Champions League success.

Her moment was overshadowed when French DJ Martin Solveig asked her if she could twerk. Hegerberg said 'no' and turned away, apparently ready to leave the stage, before host David Ginola stepped in.

Luka Modric won the men's award at the ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Cue, all the outraged reactions on Twitter.

(11-25-2018 08:28 PM)Enoch Wrote:  Who is the favorite right now for CL?

I'm taking Juve over Man City in the finals.

Barca being the stalking horse here.

Who are the favorites for the CL right now?

I saw a few matches of the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in UAE. It was hilarious seeing Real Madrid playing some random club teams like Al-Ain and Kashima Antlers.

It won't be Juve or Real Madrid.

(12-25-2018 10:44 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  It won't be Juve or Real Madrid.

Hmmm...who then? Man City, Barca, Man United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich?