Premiere League & World Soccer Thread

[VolsLFC]

I feel they are actually good for the game. It makes teams have to actually have some squad depth, they should force managers to rotate and rest players, showing they actually understand workload management. It also is the best chance for some of the clubs that don’t have a 1 billion dollar wage bill to actually have a chance at winning something.

Oh I agree - good for the game, just maybe not for the fans of the bigger clubs. I wish Klopp would rotate more and play more of the younger guys, but it just isn’t in his DNA to not go with a strong squad for silverware. I also wish the owners would invest more but they seem intent on a lean squad. Unfortunately, rumors that LFC won’t strengthen in January window despite being in the title race and having some glaring holes due to injury.

 

[bleedorange0037]

TAA injury makes me realize why I hate all these cups

Feeling any different about the Cup now that you’ve basically got one hand on it? Not being sarcastic at all, and am genuinely curious.

 

[NorCalVol67]

What are these things called trophies you all speak of.

 

[VolsLFC]

Feeling any different about the Cup now that you’ve basically got one hand on it? Not being sarcastic at all, and am genuinely curious.

Hard to say honestly. I don't want to turn down any silverware, but I would rather win the league than the FA or Carabao Cup.

 

[MAD]

Hard to say honestly. I don't want to turn down any silverware, but I would rather win the league than the FA or Carabao Cup.

What about the league or champions league

 

[bleedorange0037]

This story is crazy to me. Club staff not being paid on time, borrowing money from local businesses to pay players, no heat during the winter at club facilities, and unable to stay overnight in hotels for away games. All this from a club that was a penalty shootout away from the PL just 5-6 years ago. The pyramid can be incredibly cruel if your club is poorly owned.

https://archive.is/2024.01.11-182412/https://theathletic.com/5193548/2024/01/11/reading-dai-yongee-special-report/

 

[VolsLFC]

What about the league or champions league

This is tough. About like making me choose between the Vols and LFC.

 

[Woodrow Call]

RIP Franz Beckenbauer.

He was with the Cosmos when they played in Memphis in the old NASL that I went to, 1980 I believe. I will never forget that game, the Rogues won 1-0, a big upset.

Unfortunately, if memory serves correctly, he was out with an injury.

He was my childhood idol. I had a poster of him in my room and modeled by game after his. I loved the way he so gracefully directed play on the pitch. He and Cryuff were something to see. I was playing in Memphis in those days and pulled for the Rogues, but I was really a Bayern and Cosmos guy.

 

[Woodrow Call]

RIP Franz Beckenbauer.

He was with the Cosmos when they played in Memphis in the old NASL that I went to, 1980 I believe. I will never forget that game, the Rogues won 1-0, a big upset.

Unfortunately, if memory serves correctly, he was out with an injury.

Oh, and you're correct, Beckenbauer did not play. I looked it up on the NYT, and the article said he was sidelined with a right thigh strain. Carlos Alberto was ejected.

 

[NorCalVol67]

Oh, and you're correct, Beckenbauer did not play. I looked it up on the NYT, and the article said he was sidelined with a right thigh strain. Carlos Alberto was ejected.

I still remember the front page of the Commercial Appeal the next day, simply had a photo of the scoreboard.

 

[Nash_Vol97]

Finally I didn’t wake up early to watch Chelsea lose or draw.

4 straight home wins at the Bridge for the first time since 2020. Up to 8th (for now).

 

[C/O]

Finally I didn’t wake up early to watch Chelsea lose or draw.

4 straight home wins at the Bridge for the first time since 2020. Up to 8th (for now).

3 straight league wins in a row for the first time in over a year for Chelsea. Feels wild even typing that. Congrats

 

[NorCalVol67]

Finally I didn’t wake up early to watch Chelsea lose or draw.

4 straight home wins at the Bridge for the first time since 2020. Up to 8th (for now).

It was a wild finish.

 

[Nash_Vol97]

3 straight league wins in a row for the first time in over a year for Chelsea. Feels wild even typing that. Congrats

Too many stats over the past year and a half that haven’t felt real. Nice to get a win, I’ll take any we can get, but still wasn’t all that convincing. First 20 were really good, middle 50 was good but not great, last 20 minutes we were just trying to hang on. Take the wins when we can get them and move on.

 

[NorCalVol67]

They need to stop with this not raising the flag nonsense when offside is obvious.

 

[Nash_Vol97]

Didn’t get to watch it yet, but damn, KDB is back and putting on a show

 

[NorCalVol67]

Didn’t get to watch it yet, but damn, KDB is back and putting on a show

Super sub

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Hearing the Villa fans loud and clear at Goodison

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Everton saved by VAR

 

[VolsLFC]

Didn’t get to watch it yet, but damn, KDB is back and putting on a show

With perfect hair*

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

Unfortunate draw, Everton knew playing hard and gambling the ref wouldn’t card them then drawing Villa into an emotionally charged game was their best chance at a point

 

[Nash_Vol97]

Timo been back in the PL for less than a game and already has more goal involvements than Antony

 

[bleedorange0037]

Everton saved by VAR

Don’t necessarily know that “saved” is the right word. I was at the match so may be missing some context, but why tf did VAR need 5+ minutes to rule this out? He’s miles offside, and the field markings make it blatantly obvious.

 

[bleedorange0037]

So it looks like the PL are fast tracking the next round of annual FFP assessments so that they can dock Everton and Forest points this season before the rules change over the summer. Most Everton thing of all time to get hit with a points deduction twice in three months for something that is reviewed on an annual basis.

I’ll readily concede that the club have been poorly run, but there seems to be no consideration for the fact that there are MASSIVE mitigating circumstances in Everton’s case and unlike like a couple of other teams in blue, we’ve cooperated fully with the investigators, and done everything in our power to get back within the guidelines. Up to and including selling Richarlison at a heavily discounted price.

I’m one of the least conspiracy-minded people in the world, but at some point it really does just start to feel like the league have an agenda against the club and aren’t going to stop until they find a way to relegate us, which there will be no coming back from.

 

[VolsLFC]

So it looks like the PL are fast tracking the next round of annual FFP assessments so that they can dock Everton and Forest points this season before the rules change over the summer. Most Everton thing of all time to get hit with a points deduction twice in three months for something that is reviewed on an annual basis.

I’ll readily concede that the club have been poorly run, but there seems to be no consideration for the fact that there are MASSIVE mitigating circumstances in Everton’s case and unlike like a couple of other teams in blue, we’ve cooperated fully with the investigators, and done everything in our power to get back within the guidelines. Up to and including selling Richarlison at a heavily discounted price.

I’m one of the least conspiracy-minded people in the world, but at some point it really does just start to feel like the league have an agenda against the club and aren’t going to stop until they find a way to relegate us, which there will be no coming back from.

I personally think it is becoming increasingly more noticeable that the powers at be in sports view sports purely as entertainment and could care less whether they are fair or not.