2021-22 Euro soccer thread

[M2]

Might as well start this one off with a bang. Barcelona and Messi seem to be parting ways - https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2021/08/05/lionel-messi-fc-barcelona-contract-renewal-impossible-with-negotiations-at-point-of-no-return/?sh=6f248ecd62bf.

[BuckeyeRed27]

So City, PSG, United and maybe Chelsea or Juventus have the money to sign him? That’s basically it?

[M2]

I'm guessing if his wife has any say in this he's going to Paris and not Manchester.

[westofyou]

I'm guessing if his wife has any say in this he's going to Paris and not Manchester.

Happy wife, happy life.... plus the food and culture stuff

[MWM]

Happy wife, happy life.... plus the food and culture stuff

Measured against having to be a teammate of Neymar, I'd take no food or culture stuff!

[M2]

Here's why I think he's going to PSG: Nasser Al-Khelaifi is the Chairman and CEO of PSG. He's also the Chairman of the BeIN Media Group, which owns the worldwide rights to France's Ligue 1. Guess whose broadcast values shoot through the roof if Messi goes to PSG? Al-Khelaifi is looking at almost instant ROI if he signs Messi.

There's also the fact that PSG has been building a kill-Europe team, that Messi vacations with various PSG players and that Paris a spectacular place to live. Yet the think the finances work for PSG like no other club in Europe.

[oregonred]

Neymar was noting but gracious to Messi after the Copa America Final. Actually lots of mutual respect with the former FCB teammates.

[IslandRed]

Here's why I think he's going to PSG: Nasser Al-Khelaifi is the Chairman and CEO of PSG. He's also the Chairman of the BeIN Media Group, which owns the worldwide rights to France's Ligue 1. Guess whose broadcast values shoot through the roof if Messi goes to PSG? Al-Khelaifi is looking at almost instant ROI if he signs Messi.

There's also the fact that PSG has been building a kill-Europe team, that Messi vacations with various PSG players and that Paris a spectacular place to live. Yet the think the finances work for PSG like no other club in Europe.

Yep. It would be a huge upset if he signs anywhere else IMO.

However, until he does... one wonders if the timing of Harry Kane's pronouncement that he's not purposely holding out of training has something to do with City suddenly having somewhere else to potentially spend all that money.

[M2]

Get ready for a wreck at Roma this season. Jose Mourinho just saw his first game ejection in a preseason contest and his team collected three red cards.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Arsenal in mid season form welcoming Brentford back to the top flight for the first time in 74 years with 3 points.

I might just sit this year out. I don’t know if I can do it.

[Betterread]

Current European striker merry-go-round and jersey numbers
Lukaku leaves Inter, signs with Chelsea (wears #9 jersey) - at first, Abraham has #9, but read on…
Dzeko leaves Roma, joins Inter(wears #9 jersey) gets to keep it
Tammy Abraham leaves Chelsea, joins Roma (wears #9 jersey) gets to keep it
Christiane Ronaldo (#7) wants away from Juve to PSG
Mbappe (#7) wants away from PSG to go to Real Madrid

Good news - everybody gets to keep their jersey number!

[M2]

Arsenal in mid season form welcoming Brentford back to the top flight for the first time in 74 years with 3 points.

I might just sit this year out. I don’t know if I can do it.

My main concern with Arsenal is they pay the maximum amount for Martin Odegaard.

[BuckeyeRed27]

My main concern with Arsenal is they pay the maximum amount for Martin Odegaard.

I think they are paying 40M and Madrid wanted 65M a couple months ago. That’s not a crazy price and I thought he was really good for Arsenal when he came over.

[M2]

I think they are paying 40M and Madrid wanted 65M a couple months ago. That’s not a crazy price and I thought he was really good for Arsenal when he came over.

I really wanted 50M, but it's hard to make a fortune on the 7th middie on your depth chart. FWIW, Odegaard can be a solid creative player, though I think he's more of a Europa League-level player than a Champions League-level player.

[Betterread]

Who are Arsenal’s most selected MFs now - I know Saka and Xhaka play a lot, but who joins them? Partey? Now Odegaard?

[M2]

Who are Arsenal’s most selected MFs now - I know Saka and Xhaka play a lot, but who joins them? Partey? Now Odegaard?

I would think Partey and Odegaard would be starters, though maybe they're in love with Smith-Rowe or Lokonga. However, I suspect Odegaard is taking the #10 shirt off Smith-Rowe.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Who are Arsenal’s most selected MFs now - I know Saka and Xhaka play a lot, but who joins them? Partey? Now Odegaard?

I think it depends on the formation.

Saka Aubameyang Pepe
Partey Smith Rowe Odegaard

That’s probably the more attacking type formation.

[M2]

I think it depends on the formation.

Saka Aubameyang Pepe
Partey Smith Rowe Odegaard

That’s probably the more attacking type formation.

Can Smith-Rowe play the holding role?

[BuckeyeRed27]

Can Smith-Rowe play the holding role?

It’s probably more Partey playing holding behind those 2 and trying to let them create. The problem is they can’t play that against top teams, they’ll get ripped up. So then they have to play Xhaka.

[M2]

It’s probably more Partey playing holding behind those 2 and trying to let them create. The problem is they can’t play that against top teams, they’ll get ripped up. So then they have to play Xhaka.

How has Arsenal been unable to replace Patrick Vieira since 2005?

[Betterread]

How has Arsenal been unable to replace Patrick Vieira since 2005?

Viera was sui generis with only Ya Ya Touré even close.
Different type of player, but Cesc was pretty effective.

[M2]

Viera was sui generis with only Ya Ya Touré even close.
Different type of player, but Cesc was pretty effective.

Cesc played higher up the pitch. Holding mid has been a gaping hole they've repeated failed to fill.

[BuckeyeRed27]

How has Arsenal been unable to replace Patrick Vieira since 2005?

Diaby when healthy was like 90% of Viera. But he was never healthy so there’s that.

Partey could be that. He has looked awesome when he gets going, but he’s gotten hurt a couple times too so the consistency hasn’t been there yet.

The rest of the attempts are pretty awful. Francis Coquelin was probably the most effective…which is quite a sentence to write.

[Betterread]

Can Smith-Rowe play the holding role?

In the Chelsea match today, Smith-Rowe played attacking midfielder. He worked hard, but didn’t produce much. He’s no Phil Foden.
Lokonga played in front of defense. He was helpless versus Chelsea’s quick passing, but he played well positionally, worked hard, and had a few good long passes that sprang the wingers free.

[MWM]

17632

[M2]

Watching the Spain-Sweden game (Sweden currently leading 2-1). The Swedes are consistently breaking through the Spanish back line and it dawns on me that for the first in just about my entire life, Spain lacks a hard man organizing the central defense. I've taken the Ramos-Puyol-Hierro-Sanchis relay for granted. Garcia and LaPorte are soft as puppy fur and it shows.

[membengal]

That new guy for Manchester United that wears #7 looks like he can play a little…

[M2]

Don't know if I ever seen seen a player more transformed over a summer break than Vinicius. Suddenly he's clinical.

[IslandRed]

Yesterday was the first chance I'd had to watch Liverpool this season, and it didn't take long to go from "wow, that kid's good" to "oh, no." Hope Elliott makes a full recovery.

[Tony Cloninger]

Cesc played higher up the pitch. Holding mid has been a gaping hole they've repeated failed to fill.

I thought Torreira would help there but they tried to make him almost a striker. Then they lost patience and he could not become the 2nd coming of Kane.

[Betterread]

Don't know if I ever seen seen a player more transformed over a summer break than Vinicius. Suddenly he's clinical.
Just curious, but with Benzema scoring a hat-trick of nice goals, you though Vinicius stood out?

[M2]

Just curious, but with Benzema scoring a hat-trick of nice goals, you though Vinicius stood out?

Benz being superlative is nothing new. He's one of the best strikers on the planet. Yet have you seen Vini this season? Suddenly he's got composed finishing. He's gone from the world's most erratic final touch to clinical in two months. That young man had himself a montage.

[MWM]

Benz being superlative is nothing new. He's one of the best strikers on the planet. Yet have you seen Vini this season? Suddenly he's got composed finishing. He's gone from the world's most erratic final touch to clinical in two months. That young man had himself a montage.

Has there ever been a more under-appreciated elite player than Benzema? I don't think the masses even think of him at all when they think of the best players in the world. Every time I watch him I think "I don't think people realize how great this guy is?"

[M2]

Karim Benzema just trapped a ball with his back and set himself up to score a goal.

[M2]

Karim Benzema just trapped a ball with his back and set himself up to score a goal.

Here's a GIF of it. Back trap to his feet, off two defenders and into the net.

https://j.gifs.com/nRO1QY.gif

[Betterread]

Has there ever been a more under-appreciated elite player than Benzema? I don't think the masses even think of him at all when they think of the best players in the world. Every time I watch him I think "I don't think people realize how great this guy is?"
He should get more recognition, but so should other forwards like Jamie Vardy, Duvan Zapata, Romelu Lukkau, who are all at the same level.
He’s just not as good as teammates like Ronaldo or Mbappe on the national team, who are special talents and truly some of the best players in the world.

[M2]

The Brentford vs. Liverpool game is fantastic. Brentford just clawed back to 3-3 in the 83rd minute.

[Betterread]

RM just lost a champions league match 1-2, to Sherrif Tiraspol, the Moldovan Champions. Wild celebrations in Chisinau tonight.

[Tony Cloninger]

RM just lost a champions league match 1-2, to Sherrif Tiraspol, the Moldovan Champions. Wild celebrations in Chisinau tonight.

Carlo is using good MF as FB in these last 2 games. Valverde and Camavinga are the 2.

[M2]

RM just lost a champions league match 1-2, to Sherrif Tiraspol, the Moldovan Champions. Wild celebrations in Chisinau tonight.

Tip of the cap. Those guys will never need to pay for a meal in Tiraspol again.

[IslandRed]

Tip of the cap. Those guys will never need to pay for a meal in Tiraspol again.

I ran across a Twitter thread from a guy who was born around there and eventually emigrated to America. It was hilarious:

https://twitter.com/SlavaMalamud/status/1430939451069509639

The TL;DR version: Sheriff Tiraspol is basically the only real team in Moldova playing in the only real stadium in Moldova, and it exists as a money-laundering business for the mob bosses running a little semi-autonomous breakaway state within Moldova. And this breakaway state came to be because the ethnic Russians within Moldova wanted no part of the rest of the country and have carried on since '91 as if the fall of the Soviet Union never happened.

[M2]

Spain broke Italy's unbeaten streak in the semis of the UEFA Nations League. Real contrast in approach from those two. Roberto Mancini has conducted a master class in managing Italy. His team is put together. Everybody's got a job. They do it. They're more than the sum of their parts. It's like textbook everything you're supposed to do. Italy played most of the game down a man and almost dragged itself back to even after being down 2-0. They even seemed to play better after going down a man. Rarely will you see a better marshaled international side.

Luis Enrique seemingly picks his roster and lineups with a random name generator. He's largely not selecting players from the top teams in La Liga, except for Barcelona, which has been bursting into flames this season. Players come and go on the roster. There's no cohesion. There's no consistency in tactics, except for general ball control. Today Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal figured it out well enough for the team to win. Spain's got an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent, so they can win even with an erratic manager.

[M2]

Oh Belgium. Guess it was a bronze generation.

[Betterread]

Benzema had a skillful turn to get free and put a precise finish in the corner for the first French goal. That turned the match around. lukaku’s offside was pretty close and the penalty on Griezmann was also not obvious. Maybe 2-2 would have been fair.

[M2]

Real interesting situation shaping up in the Spanish league. Real Sociedad is poised to go top of the table again (they started on fire last season too), though Sevilla and both the Madrid teams could tie them up once they're level on games. Real Betis is hot on their heels too. Conspicuous by its absence is Barcelona, which finds itself hanging around the mid-table with some solid sides like Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and Villareal. Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna are also off to hot start (currently 5th and 6th in the league.

It looks like there's going to be a serious fight for those Champions League slots. And I'm thinking Sevilla might be the smart bet to win the league. If Barcelona, which just canned its manager and looks like a combination of predictable offense with porous defense, stumbles for another month or so, it could be looking at a mountain it needs to climb. I suspect Sociedad and Betis are for real (note the pun), or at least real enough to snag 70+ points. Barcelona's going to have to take 2 out of every 3 remaining points on offer just to reach 70.

This is going to be some drama. The upper mid-table in that league has improved and there's a giant that's going to have to work just to keep its accustomed slot (the Madrid giants are too, but they're on much sounder footing at this moment).

[RedTeamGo!]

On the bright side for US fans: Dest is getting a lot of playing time at Barcelona and actually looks like of their better players.

[BuckeyeRed27]

On the bright side for US fans: Dest is getting a lot of playing time at Barcelona and actually looks like of their better players.

He’s missed a couple of brutal sitters the last couple games, but overall he’s been good.

[M2]

Juve, which lost today to Hellas Verona, is also stumbling. It's currently 9th in the league and could be 16 points out of 1st if Napoli and Milan win their games. It's not quite as dire for them and Champions League slots. They're only 4 points out (7 if Roma wins its game in hand) out of 4th, but the league title is probably gone as Inter is up near the leaders too. Could be a rough season for the Old Lady.

[M2]

He’s missed a couple of brutal sitters the last couple games, but overall he’s been good.

To be fair, it shouldn't be a shock that he finishes like a halfback. The problem is Barcelona has turned to a halfback to give them some semblance of a threat up top. Demir and Braithwaite aren't up to the task. Griezman, Trincao and Moriba headed for the exits before the season. I suppose the break-glass-in-case-of-disaster option is Coutinho, but that's not to go well if they try it.

[M2]

Excellent 2nd goal for Atalanta vs. ManU - https://twitter.com/ParcerosUnited/status/1455646604007022603. And it only counted because VAR properly judged Duvan Zapata to be onside. The refs thought he was off.

[M2]

Atalanta beat ManU for 95+ minutes, but Cristiano Ronaldo beat Atalanta for five seconds. So they ended up in a 2-2 tie.

[Betterread]

Spain qualify for WC 2022 with a Morata rebound off an Olmo rocket that Olsen saved but couldn’t hold.
Croatia qualify also, with a Russia own goal on a water logged pitch.
But Portugal does not! Serbia beats Portugal at home to win their group.

[M2]

Portugal and Italy both need to get n the hard way. Both are in the top 10 in FIFA rankings. Should be fascinating to see the matchups. If they go straight by the rankings, the home-and-home eliminator matchups could look something like this:

Portugal-North Macedonia
Italy-Finland
Sweden-Scotland
Wales-Turkey
Poland-Russia

[RedTeamGo!]

Go North Macedonia!

[Betterread]

Portugal and Italy both need to get n the hard way. Both are in the top 10 in FIFA rankings. Should be fascinating to see the matchups. If they go straight by the rankings, the home-and-home eliminator matchups could look something like this:

Portugal-North Macedonia
Italy-Finland
Sweden-Scotland
Wales-Turkey
Poland-Russia

After Tuesday’s matches, UEFA will have 10 out of 13 qualifying countries identified. 12 group runner-up countries will go into a two round, single match playoff format designed to Identify 3 remain qualifying spots. So Portugal, Russia, Italy and Scotland +2 will host the first round match.

[M2]

After Tuesday’s matches, UEFA will have 10 out of 13 qualifying countries identified. 12 group runner-up countries will go into a two round, single match playoff format designed to Identify 3 remain qualifying spots. So Portugal, Russia, Italy and Scotland +2 will host the first round match.

My bad, I had the format wrong. So Austria and the Czech Republic are in the mix thanks to their performance in the UEFA Nations League. I still expect Portugal and Italy to make it through, but those are going to be two very nervy contests.

[M2]

One round to go in the Champions League group stage and the story is Portugal. Sporting just clinched its spot and knocked Dortmund out of the tournament. Porto is still clinging to 2nd in the group of death, one point ahead of Atletico Madrid and Milan. It's got Atleti at home in the final round while Milan host Liverpool, which has already clinched its slot. And the stars are aligning for Benfica despite getting robbed yesterday vs. Barcelona. Benfica is two points back of Barca, but Barca goes to Bayern in the final round (and Bayern has been a nightmare for them in recent years) while Benfica hosts cellar dweller Dynamo Kiev. If Barca doesn't get a win (tie won't be enough), Benfica can book a slot in the final 16.

[RedTeamGo!]

I watched that Sporting Lisbon game. They dominated Dortmund.

[M2]

The final three European slots for the World Cup just went up a level for intensity. The way they organized it is there's three four-team groups, with one team ultimately emerging from each group after winning two single-game playoffs. But I'm burying the lead, Portugal and Italy got drawn into the same group. Portugal's even got a tough opening game as it hosts Turkey (Italy hosts North Macedonia). Should both win, then they will hold a drawn to see who gets to host the winner-take-all game from their group.

Also, Russia (which has a rich history of choking in these types of play-in games) hosts Poland. Winner of that faces the winner of Sweden vs. the Czech Republic. And in the third group we could see Scotland and Wales faceoff with a World Cup on the line. The fervor at that game would be extreme. Mind you, Ukraine and Austria won't be pushovers.

[M2]

Atletico Madrid pulled it's bacon out of the fire with a 3-0 win at Porto (with some glorious playacting involved), so it's through to the round of 16. That was the only spot up for grabs today. Tomorrow we get high drama.

[M2]

Snow delayed the Atalanta-Villareal that will determine the final Champions League knockout round slot. They'll play it tomorrow. Atalanta has to win to go through. Red Bull Salzburg beat Sevilla to become the first Austrian team ever to make the knockouts. French Champion Lille won that group, making this the 1st time since 2007 (and only 2nd time ever) they've made the knockouts.

Yet the big news is Benfica beat Dinamo Kyiv to beat out Barcelona (which lost again to Bayern, this time 3-0). It is a dizzying fall from grace for Barca. They're headed into the Europa League playoffs with Dortmund, Sevilla and Porto.

[M2]

Champions League draw (after they screwed it up on their first attempt):

Madrid-PSG
Bayern-Salzburg
Lille-Chelsea
ManU-Atletico
Many City-Sporting
Liverpool-Inter
Juve-Villareal
Ajax-Benfica


The Madrid/PSG and ManU/Atletico matchups look like the marquee affairs. Liverpool/Inter could be interesting, though Inter has yet to assert it against top sides in its return to the CL. Anyone predicting any upsets? Most entertaining fixture?

[BuckeyeRed27]

Lot of talk the Premier League is going to shut down until mid January

[M2]

Lot of talk the Premier League is going to shut down until mid January

This is going to put a serious wrinkle in my Boxing Day.

[BuckeyeRed27]

This Chelsea Liverpool game has been fantastic.

[Betterread]

Requested feedback from arsenal and premier league fans. Can you give a me quick assessment of Ainsley Maitland-Niles? He is coming to Rome on loan and he looks pretty skilled and pacy. He hasn’t been given many minutes in 2020-2021.
What is his best position?

[M2]

Requested feedback from arsenal and premier league fans. Can you give a me quick assessment of Ainsley Maitland-Niles? He is coming to Rome on loan and he looks pretty skilled and pacy. He hasn’t been given many minutes in 2020-2021.
What is his best position?

Defense is his calling card. Runs hard, has good positional awareness. Got a regular run at Arsenal when Unai Emery was the manager because Emery wanted someone on his squad to do the donkey work. That's likely what Mou sees in him. AMN will grind and he can hold/carry the ball. He's a bit rudimentary on the ball (not a progressive passer), which is why Arteta has buried him.

Could be a wing in Serie A, particularly if Mou is looking for someone to get back on the flank.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Defense is his calling card. Runs hard, has good positional awareness. Got a regular run at Arsenal when Unai Emery was the manager because Emery wanted someone on his squad to do the donkey work. That's likely what Mou sees in him. AMN will grind and he can hold/carry the ball. He's a bit rudimentary on the ball (not a progressive passer), which is why Arteta has buried him.

Could be a wing in Serie A, particularly if Mou is looking for someone to get back on the flank.

Yeah I think that’s a good assessment. He’s a solid player, works hard and most of the time you won’t even know he’s there (good or bad).

[M2]

Got a Clasico on ESPN right now. Vinicius and Benzema just combined for a slick goal.

[oregonred]

Got a Clasico on ESPN right now. Vinicius and Benzema just combined for a slick goal.

Odd to see that played in Saudi Arabia, but La Liga teams are struggling for dollars...

King Salman had some good seats at midfield. Wonder if he found those on Vivid Seats or StubHub...

[BuckeyeRed27]

Odd to see that played in Saudi Arabia, but La Liga teams are struggling for dollars...

King Salman had some good seats at midfield. Wonder if he found those on Vivid Seats or StubHub...

Is that what was happening? I had it muted while I was working and couldn’t figure it out.

[oregonred]

Apparently LA Liga has an 8 year deal through 2028 or 2029 to play the Super Cup in $audi Arabia.

[M2]

Apparently LA Liga has an 8 year deal through 2028 or 2029 to play the Super Cup in $audi Arabia.

Oh yeah, it's a cash cow for them. And that's fine as other leagues have played their Super Cups abroad. Italy and France started doing it in 2009. Spain's main innovation is they moved theirs to the winter break and made it a mini-tournament. High chance of lots of extra Madrid-Barcelona clashes, which means extra $$$.

[Betterread]

On Sunday, Real Madrid dominated BilBao 2-0 to win the Supercopa espana. Modric, Kroos (passing) and Casemiro (defending) dominated midfield and Vinicius and Rodrygo consistently created space and good angles in the box through effective dribbling.
This Madrid side is beautiful to watch but this 11 rarely gets a rest. bale and Hazard barely get any minutes. They are redundant, but still I wonder if there will be a price for the lack of rotation.

[M2]

On Sunday, Real Madrid dominated BilBao 2-0 to win the Supercopa espana. Modric, Kroos (passing) and Casemiro (defending) dominated midfield and Vinicius and Rodrygo consistently created space and good angles in the box through effective dribbling.
This Madrid side is beautiful to watch but this 11 rarely gets a rest. bale and Hazard barely get any minutes. They are redundant, but still I wonder if there will be a price for the lack of rotation.

Could be an issue. Vini and Benz don't get much rest because you really can't replace them. Probably the best strike duo on the planet right now (39 goals between them in all competitions). Vini becoming a legit World XI striker is the most dramatic season-to-season improvement I think I've ever seen in any sport. Asensio and Rodrygo have been effective splitting time on the right. So that's four operable forwards. And Mariano and Jovic have been lively in their limited appearances.

They've got middies who can spell Modric and Kroos (Valverde, Camavinga, Isco, Ceballos). What they lack is a #6 who can spell Casemiro, though I keep hoping they'll give Antonio Blanco some run there. We're going to see some rotation for Thursday's Copa del Rey matchup against Elche because their Brazilians will be away for an international tilt.

Bale's never playing for them again. They didn't even bother taking him to Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa so he could play golf there, which is the greatest snub you now give to Gareth Bale. Hazard got some recent shop window exposure just to establish that he's healthy enough to play. He was terrible and it looks like he'll be back in bubble wrap through the transfer window (where they're surely hoping Newcastle makes an offer).

[M2]

Some doings over in Europe at the moment.

- Barcelona have now crashed out of the Copa del Rey and Supercopa Espana in the past week. It leaves the Europa League as their only semi-realistic hope for a trophy this season. They're in 6th place in the league and they're 17 points out of 1st, which makes just qualifying for next year's Champions League their main (and perhaps sole) mission. The club's entire financial survival (they have a debt of €1.4 billion) might hinge on finishing in the top 4. Complicating matters, Ansu Fati and Pedri limped off the field today after just returning to action.

And then there's a whole poop show going on with Ousmane Dembele. His contract ends after this season and Barca have been trying to get him to stay on a massive pay cut. He's 24 and that's not happening. So now they've declared they won't play him the rest of this season if he doesn't want to be part of their project moving forward. Imagine in any American sport if a team tried this with a pending free agent. It's beyond petulant on the club's part, not to mention illegal (coercing Dembele into a contract he does not wish to sign). Also not the first time Barca has done this. They issued similar threats to youth player Ilaix Moriba last summer, insisting he wouldn't be able to train or play for a year if he didn't sign an extension. And 2018 World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti barely played for the past year as Barca sought to slash his contract (he's 28). They finally chopped his annual wages in exchange for more money in the future (Bobby Bonilla style). And they're already trying to unload summer signing, and team leader in goals by a wide margin, Memphis Depay. They're selecting certain players for extremely shabby treatment and there's a common trait among them that's emerging. I didn't think Barcelona was that kind of club, but it might want to take a long look in the mirror on this.

- Anyway, Liverpool bounced Arsenal from the EFL CUP, but Arsenal have put in an offer for USMNT keeper Matt Turner - https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4574421/arsenal-eye-usmntnew-england-revolution-keeper--matt-turner-sources. Great move if they get him and play him. He's fantastic.

- Dortmund is out of the German Cup and the club is also having a version of extend-or-go with star striker Erling Haaland, though Dortmund probably won't ever bench Haaland. I doubt it resolves in this transfer window, but look for him to move this summer.

[M2]

It's transfer deadline day. Here's some of the latest:

- Man City won the race to sign Argentinian starlet Julian Alvarez.

- Dusan Vlahovic stayed in Serie A, switching from Fiorentina to Juve. Juve has financed the move partially by shipping Rodrigo Betancur and Dejan Kulusevski off to Spurs. Gio Lo Celso is also headed away from Spurs on loan to Villareal.

- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang flew to Barcelona to secure a loan deal with FCB, but it's all fallen apart as he'd like to be paid in money and they don't have any of that. Meanwhile it's starting to look uncertain Barca will be able to find a new home for Ousmane Dembele before the window shuts. Major dysfunction over at that club. Though they have picked up Adama Traore on loan from Wolves.

- Newcastle are well on their way to signing a whole new squad - https://www.transfermarkt.us/newcastle-united/transfers/verein/762. Expect them to land more players before the window shuts.

- Everton hired Frank Lampard to be their new manager (why?) and there are reports (though not yet official confirmation) they've added Dele Alli from Spurs. They've loaned Anwar El Ghazi from Villa and Donny van de Beek from ManU.

- Burnley made a shrewd move in signing striker Wout Weghorst. He should get them some goals as they fight to stay in the Premier League.

- In feel-good news, Christian Eriksen (suffered a heart attack at the Euros) signed with Brentford.

- Valencia has snagged two promising young players, Bryan Gil (Spurs) and Ilaix Moriba (Leipzig), on loan.

- ManU's Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault (https://www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-united-engman_utd/story/4581834/mason-greenwood-allegations-manchester-united-issue-statement).

- Finally, Bild is reporting Madrid have agreed to terms with Kylian Mbappe for a free summer transfer. Expect that go unconfirmed by the parties involved until after Madrid and PSG play their Champions League tie, though this it's been pretty much in the bag for months now.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Aubameyang is in fact going to Barcelona.

[Tony Cloninger]

It’s amazing that you’re able to negotiate with trans while you’re on another team. But RM don’t care anyways. When they want a player they do whatever it takes. And if it’s a smaller club they will bully them to give them what they want.

[M2]

Aubameyang is in fact going to Barcelona.

Seems to be hanging on Dembele transferring to a mystery EPL club. Supposedly Barca have an offer. If Dembele goes, they have Auba money. If not, they don't.

UPDATE: And Dembele has decided he doesn't want to leave on a transfer and will just go as a free agent this summer. Theoretically this smashes up the Auba deal, but maybe Barca's going to pay him with a newly minted cryptocoin.

[M2]

It’s amazing that you’re able to negotiate with trans while you’re on another team. But RM don’t care anyways. When they want a player they do whatever it takes. And if it’s a smaller club they will bully them to give them what they want.

That's got nothing to do with it. All players who are out of contract this summer have been allowed to negotiate with new clubs since 1/1. Mbappe could speak Nagoya Grampus if he wanted. Same holds true for RM players. Gareth Bale can, and should, be talking to whoever is interested in his services next season (if he doesn't retire).

Also, PSG isn't a small club and it could have had €200 million for Mbappe rather than lose him on a free, but this is the adventure they chose.

[M2]

Colorado Rapids defender Auston Trusty will be joining New England Revolution keeper Matt Turner on Arsenal next season. Both will transfer in July.

[M2]

And now it's shaken out that Dembele didn't transfer, but Auba has signed with Barca. I'm guessing some exceptionally creative accounting went on to make that happen, and the end result will be Barca blows into a new sub-sub-sub-basement on its debt.

[Betterread]

According to a survey by BSoccerPro, Neymar is the most fouled player in Europe - 1040 times since 2016.
Lionel Messi is second in the ranking with 839 fouls, followed by Torino's Andrea Belotti and Manchester City's Jack Grealish, who are both at the receiving end of 747 each.
Neymar is often criticized for simulating being fouled. Looks like that criticism may be part of another strategy, to foul him frequently.

[schmidty622]

Abramovich out

[M2]

Abramovich out

And the UCL final moved from Russia to France, and Poland refusing to play Russia in the World Cup qualifiers, and I assume various teams refusing to play Russia clubs in other UEFA competitions.

[Betterread]

Abramovich out

No. Not really. He relinquished “stewardship” like he was managing Chelsea day to day (he hasn’t been).
This is a way to preempt any British sanctions. Make no mistake, Chelsea remains a perfect money laundering enterprise for the current Russian Oligarchy.

[Betterread]

Well now, Abramovich says he is selling his ownership share and will walk away from Chelsea. People are estimating a value of over $3 billion, and it might require a larger group bid, rather than an individual or a few individual owner. We shall see what kind of bids emerge.

[Betterread]

Man city absolutely demolished Man United 4-1. Mancity’s midfield was absolutely briliiant. DeBruyne led the group, but Grealish, Foden, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan and Mahrez were not only ruthlessly efficient, they displayed frequent skill and creativity at a level that is rare to see.
They looked like the class of Europe in this match. Definitely top squad in England. Liverpool has better forwards, but their midfield is a different, inferior level to Man City.

[M2]

OMG! Karim Benzema with the hat trick to undo a 2-0 deficit to PSG. Epic. Luka Modric also may be trickster god. Just putting that out there.

[paintmered]

Quite the situation brewing at Chelsea as the UK government issues sanctions against Roman.

[M2]

Quite the situation brewing at Chelsea as the UK government issues sanctions against Roman.

Currently it's a frozen asset. So he can't operate or sell the club. If that persist through the summer, it's surely going to limit (or outright forbid) them buying anyone in the transfer window. Where it would get real interesting is if the UK government seized the club.

[M2]

Interesting Champions League post-game show from CBS Sports today. It was an all-women panel and they all knew about the players on the non-English teams. Beat the "pack of lads" model they've been using. Micah Richards is the dirt worst.

CL quarterfinalists are Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Villareal. Draw is on Friday.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Italy was just eliminated in World Cup qualifying by North Macedonia. Back to back World Cup misses by Italy…wild.

[M2]

Italy was just eliminated in World Cup qualifying by North Macedonia. Back to back World Cup misses by Italy…wild.

With a Euro victory thrown into the middle. Truly stunning.

[westofyou]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1507109723534987274

[MWM]

Is Karim Benzema any good? Is there anyone on the planet who is a "better" finisher? I'm not sure there is.

[Betterread]

Is Karim Benzema any good? Is there anyone on the planet who is a "better" finisher? I'm not sure there is.
Right now, I cannot think of a better finisher. Two of his three goals were tough headers today v Chelsea.

[RedTeamGo!]

That one header today is one of the best goals I’ve ever seen

[Betterread]

Great Match just ended. Real Madrid 2:Chelsea 3 - second leg of Champions League quarter final. First leg was Chelsea 1: RM 3.
Chelsea was winnig 0-3 then in the 79th minute Modrić broke their hearts with a sublime service for Rodrygo to smash in. Then Benzema scored in extra time, when Rudiger fell down trying to mark him to get the winning 5-4 margin.
Chelsea played so well, but they squandered four close range chances from 85 minutes on (two half-chances for Pulisic, Havertz and jorginho).
Real Mardrid were second best most of the time, but they fought hard and kept their concentration and ground out the result.

[M2]

And Villareal put out Bayern. Good night for the Iberian peninsula.

[MWM]

How does that Marcos goal get disallowed? That one made no sense to me.

[M2]

How does that Marcos goal get disallowed? That one made no sense to me.

Hit his hand, which is what deadened the ball for his shot. The handball rule is absolute on no touches allowed for offensive players.

[MWM]

Hit his hand, which is what deadened the ball for his shot. The handball rule is absolute on no touches allowed for offensive players.

I thought they had changed the rules around handballs, but I just saw that it's only changed for an unintentional handball from another player leading up to the goal, not if it's the person who scored it.

[Betterread]

Man City “earned” a 0:0 draw in Madrid to Athleti, who wasted an unbelievable show of support from their fans. Simeone ‘s tactics were so cautious, so defensive, that the team never even counterattacked until the last 20 minutes of the second leg. They created so few chances, that is why they never scored in two games. And despite such a rotten cynical approach to the game, their fans stood and cheered the whole match.
Looking forward to a ManCity - Real Madrid semifinal.

[M2]

Man City “earned” a 0:0 draw in Madrid to Athleti, who wasted an unbelievable show of support from their fans. Simeone ‘s tactics were so cautious, so defensive, that the team never even counterattacked until the last 20 minutes of the second leg. They created so few chances, that is why they never scored in two games. And despite such a rotten cynical approach to the game, their fans stood and cheered the whole match.
Looking forward to a ManCity - Real Madrid semifinal.

Atleti is shameless about strangling the game. At this point I think the more cynical they play, the more their fans love it.

[M2]

Eintracht Frankfurt fans mobbed the Spotify Camp Nou (I use the official name) today as the team ousted Barcelona from the Europa League. One of the most impressive displays of travelling support I've ever seen. It was a testament to the power of German travel agents.

[MWM]

Not Zach Steffen’s finest hour. He is not good at distributing the ball.

[M2]

Not Zach Steffen’s finest hour. He is not good at distributing the ball.

He used to be excellent at it. Best outlet I've ever seen came off his foot. Three years of rust can change a guy.

[Betterread]

He used to be excellent at it. Best outlet I've ever seen came off his foot. Three years of rust can change a guy.

His distribution was excellent in the USMNT game v Mexico in Azteca. Are you talking about the FA Cup game? Which plays did he mess up?

[MWM]

Lord please not another all EPL final.

[M2]

Madrid and City going to extras thanks to another remontada.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Madrid and City going to extras thanks to another remontada.

This is absolutely fantastic!

[M2]

This is absolutely fantastic!

I'm in full freak out mode. Unreal.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Wow. That’s an all time why we all watch sports game. I can’t believe Madrid pulled that off.

[M2]

Wow. That’s an all time why we all watch sports game. I can’t believe Madrid pulled that off.

Third time they've pulled off a mind-blowing comeback in the knockout rounds. This is shaping up as an all-time season if they finish it off at the end of the month.

[Betterread]

In the 85th minute, after Grealish had just been denied the second of two goal scoring chances, by the outstretched toe of a Courtois boot, I thought the match was over, but Madrid never lost belief. That was awesome. Though I still think Man City was overall the better team.

[M2]

Looks like some fun finals in Europe's secondary cup competitions. Frankfurt vs. Rangers in the Europa League and Feyenoord vs. Roma in the Europa Conference League.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Arsenal can clinch the Champions league and the return of St Totteringhams Day if they win tomorrow and win at White Hart Lane Thursday. I’m not sure I can take all of that at once.

[M2]

Arsenal can clinch the Champions league and the return of St Totteringhams Day if they win tomorrow and win at White Hart Lane Thursday. I’m not sure I can take all of that at once.

Tottentham's 5th place karma is truly incredible.

[Tony Cloninger]

Go Liverpool for the treble.

I have been Liverpool fan since I was not a teenager. In Uruguay there is only 1 club with an English name. It’s called Liverpool. I asked my father about it when I was old enough to watch and read about the game. He explained how English boats would arrive to the port of Montevideo that showed they were from the port of Liverpool. Since there was a handful of English people in the area they helped create the club with the only English name in it. My favorite color was Red. I thought the story was cool. So I became a fan of them and the real club in Liverpool. That pretty much tells you why when I came to this country I became a Reds fan in the NL and Sox fan in AL in the very early 70s.

Only reason we came here was also due to the Right Wing Military situations happening all over SA or starting to happen.

Big Inter fan but looks like AC Milan is winning Italy.

[M2]

Go Liverpool for the treble.

I have been Liverpool fan since I was not a teenager. In Uruguay there is only 1 club with an English name. It’s called Liverpool. I asked my father about it when I was old enough to watch and read about the game. He explained how English boats would arrive to the port of Montevideo that showed they were from the port of Liverpool. Since there was a handful of English people in the area they helped create the club with the only English name in it. My favorite color was Red. I thought the story was cool. So I became a fan of them and the real club in Liverpool. That pretty much tells you why when I came to this country I became a Reds fan in the NL and Sox fan in AL in the very early 70s.

Only reason we came here was also due to the Right Wing Military situations happening all over SA or starting to happen.

Big Inter fan but looks like AC Milan is winning Italy.

If City wins today against Newcastle, it's going to be a major uphill battle for Liverpool to win the league title. Yesterday's draw against Spurs was a real body blow for Liverpool.

Love the story about how you became a Liverpool fan. Yet I'll give neutrals a reason to root against them in the Champions League final (though I'm far from neutral) - https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/plans-in-place-for-potential-lfc-victory-parade/.


As the date of the proposed victory parade falls on the anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster, throughout the morning of the anniversary Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Football Club will pay tribute to the 39 supporters who lost their lives on that day. The Council and the Club are working together on those plans.

If Liverpool truly wants to pay tribute to the victims of the Heysel disaster (and "disaster" is a euphemism), then it should refrain from planning a football parade on the anniversary of a slaughter initiated by Liverpool fans. What the city officials intend to do if they win is nauseating.

[schmidty622]

Oooh do Madrid vs Catalonia next!

[M2]

Oooh do Madrid vs Catalonia next!

Last city to fall to Franco was Madrid. Though if somebody wants to hold Franco (a Galician through and through) against Madrid, go for it. As far as legitimate generic reasons not to like a club, that's an excellent pick.

But the city of Liverpool, out of common decency, should not be holding football celebrations on May 29. This would be like throwing a Hillsborough Stadium party on April 15, or a parade through the Greenwood District of Tulsa on May 30. Suffice to say, some days are reserved for somber remembrance.

[schmidty622]

One club literally has the crown on their crest. Spare us your crocodile tears lol.

Royalty = subjugation.

You can say you root for Real Madrid without trying to shame regular people for potentially celebrating on a given day. A day which you have no connection to or actually care about as an American.

[M2]

One club literally has the crown on their crest. Spare us your crocodile tears lol.

Royalty = subjugation.

You can say you root for Real Madrid without trying to shame regular people for potentially celebrating on a given day. A day which you have no connection to or actually care about as an American.

There's like 40 Spanish clubs with the crown in the crest. It dates back decades before Franco. Though, like I said, no problem with anyone who wants to knock a club for a royal subjugation.

As for Liverpool, that's the day on which their fans committed an atrocity, one within memory of many people. Hell, I remember seeing it on the news when it happened. Don't throw a party on the date where your fans essentially killed dozens of people. Especially don't throw that party and pretend like your "tribute" is anything but self-serving tripe. I don't think that's a hard rule to follow. Wait one day. Can they wait one day?

[schmidty622]

There's like 40 Spanish clubs with the crown in the crest. It dates back decades before Franco. Though, like I said, no problem with anyone who wants to knock a club for a royal subjugation.

As for Liverpool, that's the day on which their fans committed an atrocity, one within memory of many people. Hell, I remember seeing it on the news when it happened. Don't throw a party on the date where your fans essentially killed dozens of people. Especially don't throw that part and pretend like your "tribute" is anything but self-serving tripe. I don't think that's a hard rule to follow. Wait one day. Can they wait one day?

First, they aren't going to win the match. Death, Taxes, and Real Madrid in Champions League Finals.

Second, while there are a ton of 'Real' clubs in Spain one stands above the rest. Sportswashing before it was cool...


Real Madrid were a diplomatic and political tool for the dictator, in more ways than one. Firstly, the club’s success, particularly on the European platform, presented an idea of Spain that was far removed from the general perception of the country that was prevalent on the continent. Franco’s regime, although primarily inward-looking, was hugely concerned with the way it was perceived by the rest of Europe, and Real Madrid were the perfect PR tool, projecting an idea of a wealthy, happy and united Spain that was at odds with the reality.

Third, Yeah I agree in principal it's an OG. However I'm a guy on a Cincinnati Reds forum and not a person in Liverpool. I won't pretend to know how they feel about anything and not gonna shame them for governing their city / sports team as they see fit.

[M2]

First, they aren't going to win the match. Death, Taxes, and Real Madrid in Champions League Finals.

I'm hoping that's the way it breaks. Madrid certainly could obviate the problem. Though they haven't been the favorites in any of their knockout round clashes and I doubt they will be in the final (and I'm pretty happy about the chip they get to place on their shoulder over that).


Second, while there are a ton of 'Real' clubs in Spain one stands above the rest. Sportswashing before it was cool...

Arguably they invented it. International football opened up diplomatic and trade channels for Spain. Also liberalized the country even while Franco was in charge. The 1966 RM Yeh-Yeh team (named after the Beatles, so there's a Liverpool tie in) would have been culturally unthinkable a decade earlier. They'd have been denounced as a corrupting, anti-Spanish influence.


Third, Yeah I agree in principal it's an OG. However I'm a guy on a Cincinnati Reds forum and not a person in Liverpool. I won't pretend to know how they feel about anything and not gonna shame them for governing their city / sports team as they see fit.

I don't think you have to be from anywhere in particular to spot this one as being egregious bad taste. FWIW, if city and club officials had decided all on their own that they'd put the celebration off a day out of respect for Heysel I think that would be a good reason for neutrals to root for them.

[schmidty622]

I don't think you have to been from anywhere in particular to spot this one as being egregious bad taste. FWIW, if city and club officials had decided all on their own that they'd put the celebration off a day out of respect for Heysel I think that would be a good reason for neutrals to root for them.

And they didn't decide all on their own. The match was scheduled when it's scheduled. It's a pretty common thing to welcome a winning team home with a parade. Far more common than it is to not... luckily Real will make your point moot, and you can dance around on Heysel day while no one bats an eye because it's not our tragedy as Americans.

You're just looking for nits to pick when there is no need to pick nits.

[M2]

And they didn't decide all on their own. The match was scheduled when it's scheduled. It's a pretty common thing to welcome a winning team home with a parade. Far more common than it is to not... luckily Real will make your point moot, and you can dance around on Heysel day while no one bats an eye because it's not our tragedy as Americans.

You're just looking for nits to pick when there is no need to pick nits.

It was an atrocity no matter where you're from. That's not a nit.

And UEFA doesn't schedule things based on Liverpool having a date where it's got to tread carefully. That's a Liverpool problem.

[schmidty622]

It was an atrocity no matter where you're from. That's not a nit.

And UEFA doesn't schedule things based on Liverpool having a date where it's got to tread carefully. That's a Liverpool problem.

Geez dude. How were you going to remember the tragedy of Heysel before it came down to Real vs Liverpool? You weren't. You never would have cared. That's pickin nits.

[M2]

Geez dude. How were you going to remember the tragedy of Heysel before it came down to Real vs Liverpool? You weren't. You never would have cared. That's pickin nits.

How hard is it not to hold a parade on the anniversary of the day when your fans killed a whole bunch of people? I'm trying to imagine a lower bar.

[schmidty622]

How hard is it not to hold a parade on the anniversary of the day when your fans killed a whole bunch of people? I'm trying to imagine a lower bar.

A potential parade lol

22 years on Redszone.com. 42,000+ posts and this is the only thread ever where you've mentioned Heysel. Sorry, but I don't believe you actually care and I'll trust the people in the city of Liverpool over whatever you're trying to do here.

[M2]

A potential parade lol

22 years on Redszone.com. 42,000+ posts and this is the only thread ever where you've mentioned Heysel. Sorry, but I don't believe you actually care and I'll trust the people in the city of Liverpool over whatever you're trying to do here.

Pretty sure we've kicked around Heysel before. We've had Euro soccer threads for a long time and Heysel's pretty much the sport's lowest point. In fact, it's one of the most infamous moments in the history of sports. And why would you trust the people of Liverpool if they're doing this? That's the point. They ought to know better.

[schmidty622]

Pretty sure we've kicked around Heysel before. We've had Euro soccer threads for a long time and Heysel's pretty much the sport's lowest point. In fact, it's one of the most infamous moments in the history of sports. And why would you trust the people of Liverpool if they're doing this? That's the point. They ought to know better.

Doing what?? Nothing has happened hahaha

Please don't break your pearl necklace worrying about what people on the other side of the Atlantic MIGHT want to do with their history and their sports teams. You should also know better.

[M2]

Doing what?? Nothing has happened hahaha

Please don't break your pearl necklace worrying about what people on the other side of the Atlantic MIGHT want to do with their history and their sports teams. You should also know better.

I guess the next time I hear about Europeans looking to sanitize their history for their own convenience I'll have to remember that oceans exist. Though I guess we're allowed to care about who wins a soccer game, because THAT matters.

[schmidty622]

I guess the next time I hear about Europeans looking to sanitize their history for their own convenience I'll have to remember that oceans exist. Though I guess we're allowed to care about who wins a soccer game, because THAT matters.

Says the American carrying water for a club aligned with the royalty in Spain...

It's sports ball. Of course it doesn't actually matter. You're allowed to care about whatever you want. I'm allowed to think you're just trying to score some points on a baseball forum for some reason. Pre-emptively shaming folks for maybe celebrating something on a day they understand far better than you or I is weird.

[M2]

Says the American carrying water for a club aligned with the royalty in Spain...

You mean the club I lived down the street from when I became a fan of the sport? I didn't pick 'em out of a hat or because I saw them on TV. I went to the country, got immersed in it, discovered how amazing the support for the club was and was all in. Been a great ride. Sure, could have happened anywhere. For me it happened in Madrid.

And I'd have the same take on what Liverpool's planning to do even if City had won the semi. It's craptacular.

[schmidty622]

You mean the club I lived down the street from when I became a fan of the sport? I didn't pick 'em out of a hat or because I saw them on TV. I went to the country, got immersed in it, discovered how amazing the support for the club was and was all in. Been a great ride. Sure, could have happened anywhere. For me it happened in Madrid.

And I'd have the same take on what Liverpool's planning to do even if City had won the semi. It's craptacular.

Clubs pick us, we don't pick them. I get it and I don't want you to feel like this is any sort of personal attack. Just a difference of opinion on how we as cultural outsiders should hammer each other with banter. My comments on royalty and subjugation are just as unfair IMO because it's not really our history.

Like I said, it's an OG. I doubt it's malicious. That city has had to reconcile both sides of toxic sports culture and I trust them to do the reconciliation because I think people in general are good and work to do the right thing. I just feel like we can say we want to root for a side without wading into the waters of attacking a group of people based on something they are probably still working through, even if their actions were tragic and horrific.

[Tony Cloninger]

Last city to fall to Franco was Madrid. Though if somebody wants to hold Franco (a Galician through and through) against Madrid, go for it. As far as legitimate generic reasons not to like a club, that's an excellent pick.

But the city of Liverpool, out of common decency, should not be holding football celebrations on May 29. This would be like throwing a Hillsborough Stadium party on April 15, or a parade through the Greenwood District of Tulsa on May 30. Suffice to say, some days are reserved for somber remembrance.


Speaking of that. My mother was borin in Spain 1942. She left with parents sometime in the late 40s. There’s some interesting and sometimes shameful family history with both sides of her family in regards to the Fangalist movements during that time. And the amount of volunteers that went to Russia under a Spanish flag on one side and Wermacht uniforms near Leningrad gets swept under the rug or forgotten.

I became an Atletico fan because I couldn’t stand Real and Barca. The reasons you become fans of teams is not always rational before your teen years. Just got tired of hearing Real and Barcelona all day every day.
The book Fear and Loathing in La Liga is a great read.

[westofyou]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/lyon-fralyon/story/4662498/marcelo-dropped-from-lyon-first-team-for-farting-and-laughing-in-dressing-room-sources

[BuckeyeRed27]

Arsenal can clinch the Champions league and the return of St Totteringhams Day if they win tomorrow and win at White Hart Lane Thursday. I’m not sure I can take all of that at once.

Narrator: but the referee had other ideas…

[Betterread]

At halftime of the final day of the 21-22 Premier League, Tottenham hold a two goal lead to keep 4th place and final Champs League spot. Leeds has a lead pulling them out of the relegation zone to 17th. And City are losing at home to Villa, and Liverpool are tied with Wolverhampton.
If these scores stand, City wins the 22 PL on goal diffference.

[M2]

At halftime of the final day of the 21-22 Premier League, Tottenham hold a two goal lead to keep 4th place and final Champs League spot. Leeds has a lead pulling them out of the relegation zone to 17th. And City are losing at home to Villa, and Liverpool are tied with Wolverhampton.
If these scores stand, City wins the 22 PL on goal diffference.

I assume Liverpool will put the hammer down in the 2nd half. City better do the same or it's dropping the title.

Tottenham's now up by 3. So it looks like they actually might not Tottenham it.

[Betterread]

I assume Liverpool will put the hammer down in the 2nd half. City better do the same or it's dropping the title.

Tottenham's now up by 3. So it looks like they actually might not Tottenham it.
Coutinho scored for Villa in 69th min. to put them up 2-0. Villa deserve the lead. They are playing fantastic defense.

[Betterread]

And City scored in 75,77 and 80 to take the lead and the title. Gundogan scored 2x but Zinchenko was the key sub at halftime.

[Tony Cloninger]

How do you allow that? Well it’s Man City. FFP don’t apply to them so they can sign a bench that would be 1st team elsewhere.

[bm1475]

I think massive changes are coming for Villa. Gerrard has been diplomatic about it in the press because he has to finish the season, but this roster isn't what he wants at all. The midfield has been junk all season, the back line isn't nearly what it was last year, and Watkins is a major question mark up front.

[schmidty622]

Much happier that City pulled it out and won outright rather than clinching while Liverpool drew or something. The drama of the day was great but the result was expected.

Next stop losing the Chmapions League final to Madrid.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Wow that was fun.

Leeds survived, but those last 10 minutes had a lot of drama too.

[M2]

I think massive changes are coming for Villa. Gerrard has been diplomatic about it in the press because he has to finish the season, but this roster isn't what he wants at all. The midfield has been junk all season, the back line isn't nearly what it was last year, and Watkins is a major question mark up front.

Did they do anything productive with that Grealish money?

[bm1475]

Did they do anything productive with that Grealish money?

Danny Ings looked washed up, Leon Bailey spent half the year hurt, and Emi Buendia looked like a difference maker at times but for some reason didn’t play that much. I think seeing all that money evaporate went a long way to getting Dean Smith canned. It was weird to begin with because none of the guys they signed really replaced Grealish in any way.

[M2]

Danny Ings looked washed up, Leon Bailey spent half the year hurt, and Emi Buendia looked like a difference maker at times but for some reason didn’t play that much. I think seeing all that money evaporate went a long way to getting Dean Smith canned. It was weird to begin with because none of the guys they signed really replaced Grealish in any way.

Blowing a £100 million windfall is probably the quickest way for a mid-table club to find itself flirting with relegation.

[MWM]

Real players should all sign their game checks over to Courtois.

[schmidty622]

Team of Destiny

[BuckeyeRed27]

Real players should all sign their game checks over to Courtois.

He was unreal. If he had just a normal game Liverpool has at least 2.

[Betterread]

Madrid had about the most difficult set of in-form opponents I can remember for champions league: PSG, Chelsea, Man city and Liverpool.
What an accomplishment. Modric has won 5 champions league tournaments in 10 yrs for Madrid.
Courtois was certainly MOTM. His first half save of Mane’s corner bound bullet, and two second half saves on Salah were amazing.

[M2]

General game thoughts:

- Both defenses played outstanding games. Konaté was a monster and I lost count of the almost-got-there passes in the final third Liverpool picked off. Madrid's defense was phenomenal. Carvajal and Mendy played two of the best games of their lives and Casemiro was everywhere. The plan, and we know this because Ancelotti came out and said it afterward, was to make sure Liverpool never got behind their defense. The idea was to cut down the Reds' shooting angles and trust Courtois to make the saves. Courtois obviously needed to be immense to make it work, but I thought it was similar to the game plan Chelsea deployed in their cup finals against Liverpool.

- Carvajal sprung the first goal. Four Liverpool defenders put him in a box and he somehow found Casemiro, who instantly sprung Valverde down the right, who lashed a perfect cross to Vini, who finished in the open net. It was emblematic of how Madrid plays, and has since Ancelotti first arrived. Other teams have a system they rely on. They play repeated patterns so they know where to find each other. Madrid counts on players to make things happen. If Plan A doesn't work they'll keep cycling through Plan Z.

- I'm never going to get the call that disallowed the first Madrid goal. Fabinho slid in with a clumsy challenge and knocked the ball over to Benzema. The offside rule shouldn't have been applicable. Flip side, had they used VAR to measure whether Vini was onside on his goal I wouldn't bet my life he was. However, perhaps they didn't check as a makeup for erasing the first half goal. Ultimately didn't matter, but I imagine the narrative about the game would be a lot of different if the score was 2-0.

- Liverpool has a reputation for being a high octane offense, but they scored zero goals in three cup finals. Would not be surprised if they go shopping for a #9 this summer.

- schmidty's right on the team of destiny front with Madrid. The young guys stepped this season to join the veteran core, Vini especially. Valverde, Militao, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Asensio and even Dani Ceballos made some major contributions. Basically, the Bale and Hazard contracts were so bad they had to count on development and long-term investments to supplement a legendary old guard. I think there's a lesson there - it's not about the galaticos you bought, but the ones you made along the way.

- I appreciate how Madrid ran through the top of the EPL. They're once again tied in Champions League/European Cup titles at 14. Villareal knocked out ManU too. The England-centric coverage we get tends to act like the EPL is inevitable. It's more than a little overblown. I hope this leads to some less dismissive coverage of other leagues moving forward.

[M2]

Ukraine beat Scotland 3-1 in Glasgow today. They go to Cardiff in four days to play Wales for the final European slot in the World Cup.

[Betterread]

Neymar’s days at PSG might be numbered. He and Messi were extremely underwhelming this past year, and the command a lot of payroll. Problem is (like Bale) only a few teams in the world can afford him. Man United may be one, after offloading the super expensive Pogba, as Ronaldo wants the club to make a major signing in order for him to stay. His agent is the same as Mourinho, so there is talk he could go to Roma. I don’t believe Ronaldo would go to a club not in Champions League.

[MWM]

Do any players actually want to play for Mourinho?

[M2]

Do any players actually want to play for Mourinho?

They shouldn't.

[M2]

Ronaldo should go to Sporting. They're in the CL. He's a legend there. They need an x-factor scorer if they want to make any headway in Europe. Would be a feel-good story.