Futbol thread.

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

I am catching up some football podcasts that I missed in the last 2-3 weeks and in one of them they were talking about Netherlands 2. Division (Eerste Divisie / Keuken Kampioen Divisie). It looks like the Dutch are going to test some new rules there in the next season.

The only real source I found was an article on this one on Watson.ch (it's in German) and a blog from the KNVB (in Dutch).

- No throw-ins anymore. Instead the player can pass the ball or start dribbling.
- Free kicks: Dribbling right from the point is allowed now too
- 5 min time sentence for a yellow card
- Substitutions: no limits and whenever a team wants
- 2x 30min instead of 2x45min; clock will be stopped when there is a foul, free kick, etc which means no extra time anymore

No throw ins is a good start but please don't start dribbling
Free kick rule is dumb
Yellow card is an interesting one
Unlimited substitutions is terrible. Just watch an NCAA soccer match and you will see why
Stopping the clock is awful


I hope these get revealed when they test it out for literally 3 games

 

[OJ Simpson]

The only rule change I could maybe get behind is stopping the clock when there's an injury. But no stoppages for subs, throw ins, free kicks, or anything else. Injuries, or "injuries" only. I think everyone can agree that players feigning injuries and wasting time is one of the more pressing matters in football. It's cheating, full stop. They would still do it to try to get someone booked but otherwise they'll think twice before rolling around on the ground for a minute and a half when nobody is getting booked and nobody is buying their bullshit.

All that other shit is stupid.

 

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

Pogba is officially back at Juve and Poch is officially sacked from PSG

 

[Jann_Hörn]

USA drew with El Salvador. Saw part of the match, was a really lame performance by USA. The pitch was really trash though, unacceptable for pro soccer players honestly.

 

[cypocryphy]

USA drew with El Salvador. Saw part of the match, was a really lame performance by USA. The pitch was really trash though, unacceptable for pro soccer players honestly.
View attachment 3391391

Typical away performance in Central America. There was chunks of metal on the pitch because of a concert that happened there days before. I'm just glad there was no serious injuries.

 

[OJ Simpson]

Bissouma to Tottenham 99% complete.

Amazing what Conte has come in and done at Spurs in just under a season huh? But apparently he wasn't good enough for ManUre lmao. It's almost like when you hire a proven winner as a manager he... wins. And when he wins, then better players want to come play for him and help the club win more. Now he's getting backed in the market, and it doesn't look like the winning will stop anytime soon. At the very least they look locked in for CL football as long as Conte is at the helm.

Meanwhile over at the Old Toilet, they're struggling to sign anyone who didn't play for Ajax last season.

 

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

Meanwhile over at the Old Toilet, they're struggling to sign anyone who didn't play for Ajax last season.

They are also struggling to sign anyone who did play for Ajax last season. Gravenberch snubbed United for Bayern

 

[OJ Simpson]

They are also struggling to sign anyone who did play for Ajax last season. Gravenberch snubbed United for Bayern

He must not have had enough United DNA for them to make a push. Not that making a push matters anymore, this isn't the United of the 2000's, no top players want to go there.

 

[Hüftpriester]

Amazing what Conte has come in and done at Spurs in just under a season huh? But apparently he wasn't good enough for ManUre lmao

I remember back when United played Tottenham around the beginning of November. Everyone already knew the Ole sack was inevitable. iirc, there were rumors United were already in talks with Conte. Then United beat Spurs 3-0 and Nuno was immediately sacked and replaced by Conte. You have to wonder how it would've worked out for Conte at United though, with some of those players.

 

[Mystified & Ancient]

Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany appointed Burnley boss.

 

[Chad Holdenford]

And now let me bitch about my team.
Good God, São Paulo keeps driving me to drink! Yesterday they lost to a wobbly Botafogo side that literally lost five in a row prior to the match. And they also lost to some of the worst teams in the championship already, such as Fortaleza and RB Bragantino. My liver is not going to hold on come this Monday when they face Palmeiras. Current Libertadores champion, and easy and by far the best Brazilian team at the moment. It would be impressive if they lose by less than three goals.

In Brazil, we call "mothers" those teams that give out easy points against bottom-of-the-barrel teams, and my São Paulo is definitely one loving and caring mother.

 

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

Sadio Mane to Bayern Confirmed

Deal is $33.5 mil with $6.3 mil for individual add ons and $3.15 mil for team add on bonus. I think this was a bump up of $6 mil at least from Bayern's initial offer

 

[Stoneheart]

The only thing helping me cope with Italy getting blown out by Germany is the fact that England are getting destroyed at home by based Hungary

Germany has a much better team, they only needed to change the coach and the machine start running again.

 

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

Germany has a much better team, they only needed to change the coach and the machine start running again.

They don't look as strong as 2014 but I don't see a clear cut favor this year so it could be another chance this year

 

[Stoneheart]

They don't look as strong as 2014 but I don't see a clear cut favor this year so it could be another chance this year

they have some problems still, but they have one thing all other top teams dont have and thats a good coach.

 

[LetterlandMafia]

Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany appointed Burnley boss.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=h8WcEEATuwM

Oh joy, time for more media soyfacing over another black manager.

In all seriousness, seems like he didn’t do too bad a job at Anderlecht so could be a good move for him. I worry about Burnley’s state with their current ownership though.

 

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

they have some problems still, but they have one thing all other top teams dont have and thats a good coach.

Honestly, I still think France are the best team right now if they get their shit together. But they won't so the world cup is wide open

England have run out of luck
Germany have some issues but its Germany so this could all just magically click come tournament time
Spain have young talent thats a few years off from being super stars. They still need to replace some of the old guard though
Portugal have some solid attacking talent but they can't click together for some reason
Belgium are passed their prime and need to stop being ranked so fucking high in the FIFA rankings
Holland are actually pretty solid. That back line can be really fucking good and that can help in knock out stages
Croatia might have a resurgence but I feel like their stars are too old at this point to make a deep run. But deadly early on in the tournament for sure
Don't really think any other European teams can do anything outside of playing spoilers

South American teams have 3 really dangerous ones
Argentina is probably the best team right now. They have a good coach, Messi seems to care about winning, and they have a formation that works for their team. No where near as disastrous as they were from post WC 2014 through 2018.
Brazil are still deadly in attack despite not being great. I think another quarter finals appearance this year
Uruguay have some solid youngsters coming through mixed with the old guard. Probably not doing too much but should be a darkhorse shout

Africa only have one real threat imo and thats Senegal. They also have an easy group to get out of so could be deadly

Asia
The 2 good teams in Asia are once again put into absolutely shitty groups. I don't expect South Korea or Japan to get out of their groups but those are the only 2 I really trust. Iran could shock some people and Australia shouldn't be underestimated but I don't even see them as darkhorses based on the draw

Concacaf
Mexico will probably reach the round of 16, lose, and blame it on something completely irrelevant. Just have to beat out Poland for second in the group
USA hopefully can do something. It would be nice to see this team make it to the round of 16 with an overrated England, a dimmering flame in Wales, and an unknown Iran team. Don't expect them to get further than the round of 16 but getting there would be nice after not qualifying in 2018
Canada is a legit darkhorse contender if Davies is back to full fitness by the time the tournament starts. While most of the team is based out of MLS, there are some talented players in Turkey, Germany, England, and a few others that you wouldn't expect. Given that their group is Morocco, Croatia, and Belgium, it is a good chance they either collapse or knock off Croatia or Belgium which would be fun to see

 

[Stoneheart]

Honestly, I still think France are the best team right now if they get their shit together. But they won't so the world cup is wide open

they are top3 when it comes to playerskills. but they are not a team and the germany we saw this week would break them real fast.

England have run out of luck

their organisation is a joke and they need more than luck to win.

Germany have some issues but its Germany so this could all just magically click come tournament time

they struggled against the dutch, the english and the italians but didnt lose and the trend is clearly going up.
england and hungary are the 2 games left before the cup, if they win both they are the team to bet on.
also well Neuer can get them into the final alone, just like kahn did in 2002.

Spain have young talent thats a few years off from being super stars. They still need to replace some of the old guard though

they lost so much brainpower with the generation change and i dotn see any of their talent taking charge.

Portugal have some solid attacking talent but they can't click together for some reason

they also lack the talent. they have 12 good player, thats real rough for a cup.

Belgium are passed their prime and need to stop being ranked so fucking high in the FIFA rankings

their playstyle is much to physical for a cup, also yeah their golden generation is aging out of prime fast.

Holland are actually pretty solid. That back line can be really fucking good and that can help in knock out stages

the pesky dutch can always go far, but i dont see them winning it.

Croatia might have a resurgence but I feel like their stars are too old at this point to make a deep run. But deadly early on in the tournament for sure

they play well less brutal than the belgians, but yeah they will run out of juice.

Don't really think any other European teams can do anything outside of playing spoilers

denmark and the swiss could pull off a greece 2004 if they are lucky and have the right idea about how to play.

Argentina is probably the best team right now. They have a good coach, Messi seems to care about winning, and they have a formation that works for their team. No where near as disastrous as they were from post WC 2014 through 2018.
Brazil are still deadly in attack despite not being great. I think another quarter finals appearance this year
Uruguay have some solid youngsters coming through mixed with the old guard. Probably not doing too much but should be a darkhorse shout

Messi has problems when playing against other top teams and brazil never fixed their moral problem.

Concacaf
Mexico will probably reach the round of 16, lose, and blame it on something completely irrelevant. Just have to beat out Poland for second in the group
USA hopefully can do something. It would be nice to see this team make it to the round of 16 with an overrated England, a dimmering flame in Wales, and an unknown Iran team. Don't expect them to get further than the round of 16 but getting there would be nice after not qualifying in 2018
Canada is a legit darkhorse contender if Davies is back to full fitness by the time the tournament starts. While most of the team is based out of MLS, there are some talented players in Turkey, Germany, England, and a few others that you wouldn't expect. Given that their group is Morocco, Croatia, and Belgium, it is a good chance they either collapse or knock off Croatia or Belgium which would be fun to see

those arent contenders.

 

[DSP's Tax Lawyer]

they are top3 when it comes to playerskills. but they are not a team and the germany we saw this week would break them real fast.

They aren't a team right now. All it takes is a few months for them to get their shit together and its over for everyone else

their organisation is a joke and they need more than luck to win.

Hopefully its run out

they struggled against the dutch, the english and the italians but didnt lose and the trend is clearly going up.
england and hungary are the 2 games left before the cup, if they win both they are the team to bet on.
also well Neuer can get them into the final alone, just like kahn did in 2002.

Its not a good look. Honestly, there isn't a clear cut favorite to win right now so being above average might make them favorites

they lost so much brainpower with the generation change and i dotn see any of their talent taking charge.

They did well in the Euros with the talent so its not like they don't have it. Its just, they are a few years off before that talent hits its prime. Plus there are still spots that need to be rotated out

they also lack the talent. they have 12 good player, thats real rough for a cup.

12 might be generous. But the talent they have don't work well together as a team. Some of the talent requires a different set of skills to be built around them and it doesn't work well put together

their playstyle is much to physical for a cup, also yeah their golden generation is aging out of prime fast.

Their golden generation was too old for the last Euro's. I think 2018 was their last chance to do anything

the pesky dutch can always go far, but i dont see them winning it.

I don't see anyone winning it right now so that is as good a chance for the Dutch as anyone. I just see their attacking problem being their downfall. Or if Van Dijk gets hurt

they play well less brutal than the belgians, but yeah they will run out of juice.

Another case of a small country with their golden generation way past its prime but nobody to replace them with

denmark and the swiss could pull off a greece 2004 if they are lucky and have the right idea about how to play.

Doubtful. The smaller European teams have just as much chance as other non contenders tbh

Messi has problems when playing against other top teams and brazil never fixed their moral problem.

Messi wasn't the issue in 2014. Di Maria being out in the final and Higuin being shit cost them the world cup. Messi has shifted to more of a playmaking role instead of a finisher and he is just as deadly from there. Especially if they let him roam free to pick up the ball and start the attack.

Brazil have an issue with so many decent to good attacking players to select from but no out and out amazing attackers that stand out above the rest. Their defense and midfield also looks pretty suspect

those arent contenders.

There are a few darkhorses in there and if you want to win money, you gotta pay attention to them

 

[Stoneheart]

They aren't a team right now. All it takes is a few months for them to get their shit together and its over for everyone else

it takes the right player characters too, and france hasnt produced those in 2 decades.

Its not a good look. Honestly, there isn't a clear cut favorite to win right now so being above average might make them favorites

not losing to 3 rivals is not bad, and they steamrolled italy this week.

They did well in the Euros with the talent so its not like they don't have it. Its just, they are a few years off before that talent hits its prime. Plus there are still spots that need to be rotated out

the last euros were a shitshow for most teams so that isnt a good indicator.

I don't see anyone winning it right now so that is as good a chance for the Dutch as anyone. I just see their attacking problem being their downfall. Or if Van Dijk gets hurt

they have the quality to win the cup pretty much everytime, but they lack the killer instinct to win it for some reason.

12 might be generous. But the talent they have don't work well together as a team. Some of the talent requires a different set of skills to be built around them and it doesn't work well put together

they are much weaker than the top teams on pretty much every position, dont have a deep bench and arent a good team.

Doubtful. The smaller European teams have just as much chance as other non contenders tbh

it all comes down to tactic for them. they have the players to do it if everything goes right, unlike other non contenders.
greece shouldnt have pulled it off in 2004 either, but they did. i only see this quality in smaller european non contenders because their playerbase comes from european top leagues and alot of them are important players for their team.

There are a few darkhorses in there and if you want to win money, you gotta pay attention to them

the us is always to excpensive in the betting market and all of the teams lack quality. the Us has a world class striker, but the rest of the team is just to weak.