Football

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Denzel Dumfries is the greatest name ever. 

[RayCee]

Man City, champions of Europe! 

[tonyXIII]

YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!

Done it! Won it!

 

[EggFace]

On 31/05/2023 at 01:57, Route66 said:

Doesn't seem that long ago that his dad Ryan  was playing in the pack for workington town ,seems like football is really starting to finally take over from rugby league in what has always been one of the sports last strongholds

How depressing

[EggFace]

How Depressing as well.

 

[Red Willow]

20 hours ago, tonyXIII said:

YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!

Done it! Won it!

 

Hubby is a Blue. Glutton for punishment supporting Salford and City over the years.

[bobbruce]

Fair play to them been the best team around for a few years now. I expect them to go on and win at least one more CL in the next couple of years. 

[HawkMan]

MAMA MIA! tre finali tre sconfitte, malato come un pappagallo.

Edited June 11, 2023 by HawkMan

[Gerrumonside ref]

Some interesting transfer attempts by the Saudi clubs this summer now that some of them are being essentially state backed.

Some comparisons being made to the Chinese Super League previous attempts to coax stars out of Europe.

Although the current takers are very much ageing like Ronaldo, it might get more interesting if they can entice the likes of Lukaku and Mahrez.

Guess at what point does the money outweigh the medals i.e. Champions League when it comes to footballers in their prime years?

[HawkMan]

Hope Croatia win Nations League tonight, they deserve a trophy.

Also, well done Sky for this, deserved appointment.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65944086

[RayCee]

Reuben Neves going to Saudi Arabia. An uncommon decision for a 26 year old with plenty of options in Europe. Is this a one off or are the Saudis trying to take their domestic league to a higher level by enticing players still in their prime?

[Gerrumonside ref]

8 hours ago, RayCee said:

Reuben Neves going to Saudi Arabia. An uncommon decision for a 26 year old with plenty of options in Europe. Is this a one off or are the Saudis trying to take their domestic league to a higher level by enticing players still in their prime?

Said the same thing a couple of posts further up the thread, Ray, a few day days ago.

I think what you are seeing is similar to what happened with the Chinese Super League.

[MattSantos]

Aren't Chelsea backed primarily by PE, which is the PIF?

Then we see clubs in Saudi buying up Chelsea's misfits.

The governance (or lack of) will end up killing football.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

5 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Said the same thing a couple of posts further up the thread, Ray, a few day days ago.

I think what you are seeing is similar to what happened with the Chinese Super League.

You seem to get this once a decade or so when a country starts investing fortunes into their league but it never lasts after the players realise how poor quality the football is. We've seen America, India, China, Saudi and probably some others I've forgotten try this approach. 

I think it was Rooney, when he went to the MLS, that said he couldn't enjoy playing in that league because of how easy it was, bearing in mind he was far past his prime at that point and ended up leaving to join Derby which he clearly thought as a more fulfilling prospect. 

Saudi Arabia is just another country in a long line that think throwing money at sport will immediately buy them a good quality and well respected competition. It will last just a few years and then another country will try the same thing. In terms of Saudi Arabia in particular, this could be seen as sportswashing as well. 

Edited June 19, 2023 by The Hallucinating Goose

[HawkMan]

..

 

 

Edited April 18 by HawkMan

[Gerrumonside ref]

England just scrape home.

[RayCee]

47 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

England just scrape home.

7-0 against a half-decent opponent. Plan A clearly worked. The problem Gareth has is he has no Plan B against better opposition when things aren't going so well.   

[Gerrumonside ref]

9 hours ago, RayCee said:

7-0 against a half-decent opponent. Plan A clearly worked. The problem Gareth has is he has no Plan B against better opposition when things aren't going so well.   

To be fair to Southgate he has been quick to innovate with Trent Alexander-Arnold in these two games playing him in a much more advanced role at times than even Klopp has tried for Liverpool.

Add to the mix that Jude Bellingham hasn’t even featured and I actually think England could again be going places ahead of a major tournament.

Probably the most noticeable thing was the determination of the press by England even against pretty rudimentary opposition.

There’s still a worry about Harry Maguire being caught one on one with the likes of Mbappe, but for now there’s something to build upon and be positive about.

[gingerjon]

15 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I think it was Rooney, when he went to the MLS, that said he couldn't enjoy playing in that league because of how easy it was, bearing in mind he was far past his prime at that point and ended up leaving to join Derby which he clearly thought as a more fulfilling prospect. 

Wayne Rooney has been DC United Head Coach since May 2022.

[RayCee]

2 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

To be fair to Southgate he has been quick to innovate with Trent Alexander-Arnold in these two games playing him in a much more advanced role at times than even Klopp has tried for Liverpool.

Add to the mix that Jude Bellingham hasn’t even featured and I actually think England could again be going places ahead of a major tournament.

Probably the most noticeable thing was the determination of the press by England even against pretty rudimentary opposition.

There’s still a worry about Harry Maguire being caught one on one with the likes of Mbappe, but for now there’s something to build upon and be positive about.

He did try things which is good but sticking with something for the duration of a game when a well sorted opponent has got the measure of it isn’t. If England are to win tournaments, it’s an area that needs addressing.

[HawkMan]

From beating the Crocodile Dundee Dingos, Falkirk Falcons and Kilmarnock Kangaroos to managing the Tottenham Ranger Whites. Funny old game.

Harry's not impressed. 

 

Edited June 20, 2023 by HawkMan

[Wolford6]

Turkey's play-acting and diving was a disgrace. Wales kept just appealing to the ref. Thank God for rugby where the issue would have been settled amicably over a few punches.

[JonM]

Sounds like complete chaos at Hampden last night. Aside from the rain delays to the game (and difficulties getting the Georgia team back on the pitch by the sounds of it), there were problems outside. The rain was so strong that many people's printed out tickets were ruined just by showing them to security before they got to the turnstiles, and those with phones struggled to get the phone working enough to display the ticket on the screen.

Edited June 21, 2023 by JonM

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

Sounds like complete chaos at Hampden last night. Aside from the rain delays to the game (and difficulties getting the Georgia team back on the pitch by the sounds of it), there were problems outside. The rain was so strong that many people's printed out tickets were ruined just by showing them to security before they got to the turnstiles, and those with phones struggled to get the phone working enough to display the ticket on the screen.

Presumably there were still some shirtless fans there wondering why everyone was moaning …

[Wolford6]

3 hours ago, JonM said:

Sounds like complete chaos at Hampden last night. Aside from the rain delays to the game (and difficulties getting the Georgia team back on the pitch by the sounds of it), there were problems outside. The rain was so strong that many people's printed out tickets were ruined just by showing them to security before they got to the turnstiles, and those with phones struggled to get the phone working enough to display the ticket on the screen.

It's Scotland; Rules are rules. They should have had to pay twice.