2019-2020 Football / Calcio / Futbol / Fußball Thread

[Gsinill]

Interesting how Barcelona's management seems to get away with putting all the blame for their situation on anybody but themselves.
I am absolutely no fan of Suárez, as a matter of fact I think he should have been banned from football a long time ago, but how they treat him and some other players is ridiculous.
Leave alone Koeman's conduct.
If I were a player, I would think twice about joining them unless they fire and replace the whole leadership.

[goonster]

Such a shame about Messi, because now he won't get the sendoff he so richly deserves.

Was thinking today about where he might fit next, but he might just decide he's piled up enough loot, and play out a couple of seasons at Newell's, then spend the rest of his days slurping mate and tending the parilla. Don't really see him becoming a manager or pundit.

Barcelona has become a textbook case of how success and wealth breeds boredom, ennui and complacency. I've been a Barca fan since roughly 1979, and will continue to be one, but, holy cow, they are rotten to the core at the top. Start fresh. They have club culture (both in terms of identity and sporting ideals), great youth system, and a huge fan base. Rebuild from scratch.

Koeman does not strike me as the right guy. He's a link to Cruyff, but not half the man as manager.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by goonster

Such a shame about Messi, because now he won't get the sendoff he so richly deserves.

Was thinking today about where he might fit next, but he might just decide he's piled up enough loot, and play out a couple of seasons at Newell's, then spend the rest of his days slurping mate and tending the parilla. Don't really see him becoming a manager or pundit.

Barcelona has become a textbook case of how success and wealth breeds boredom, ennui and complacency. I've been a Barca fan since roughly 1979, and will continue to be one, but, holy cow, they are rotten to the core at the top. Start fresh. They have club culture (both in terms of identity and sporting ideals), great youth system, and a huge fan base. Rebuild from scratch.

Koeman does not strike me as the right guy. He's a link to Cruyff, but not half the man as manager.

Wait, what? Here I am, thinking you are a Koppite (and now a Kloppite) through and through

Which team were you rooting for during that famous Anfield Night last year?

As for Barça, kinda reminds me of the rot that's eating away Man U. At least there, the issue is evident: Glazers essentially skimming off the top while loading the club with debt. Bit different here.

[goonster]

Originally Posted by echappist

Wait, what?

Barca has been my team in Spain since Hans Krankl won the Pichichi, and I spent the summer of '82 there on a language course.

Then I moved to another continent, and had very limited access to coverage of the professional game, until the flame was relit watching Michael Owen score that goal against Argentina, and buying an ugly, but genuine, white-collared Reebok jersey at a Pennsylvania Marshall's a couple of weeks later. And the Premiership turned out to be the league to watch, with the money drawing the world's best players.

I was rooting for Liverpool in the 2019 semi-final, not even close. But Messi is the greatest ever, not close on that one either.

[martl]

Originally Posted by Gsinill

Interesting how Barcelona's management seems to get away with putting all the blame for their situation on anybody but themselves.
I am absolutely no fan of Suárez, as a matter of fact I think he should have been banned from football a long time ago, but how they treat him and some other players is ridiculous.
Leave alone Koeman's conduct.
If I were a player, I would think twice about joining them unless they fire and replace the whole leadership.

Messi, if reports are to be believed, pretty much runs the team and 50% of the club, players not in his posse are second tier, he dictates who plays and who not (including himself) and he uses his status with the fanbase to dominate how the whole club is run.
Also he nets 50Mio/annually (which he as a player is worth).

Given all that, if i was in a position to get him to my club, i wouldnt touch him with a 10ft pole. As the CL final tourament has shown, no single player is worth more than an intact team.

fun thing is, Messi never was that much of a Diva (CR possibly is one much more so), it just seems to happen with players so iconic.

[wc1934]

Official: McKennie signs for Juventus:

"Weston McKennie has officially completed his move to Juventus, on loan for €4.5m with option to buy for €18m from Schalke 04, becoming the first American in the Bianconeri jersey".

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

Official: McKennie signs for Juventus:

"Weston McKennie has officially completed his move to Juventus, on loan for €4.5m with option to buy for €18m from Schalke 04, becoming the first American in the Bianconeri jersey".

Oh boy. Not sure what to make of this.

He certainly is talented, but I'm not sure if it's justified. Step up from Schalke to Juve is significant. What role will he be playing? And will maestro trequartista give McKennie the time of the day?

That said, I wish him the best and want to see him do well

[echappist]

Anyone watch Women's Champion's League finals?

Not a bad match at all. Reminiscent of the Euro 2017 between England and the Netherlands. Quite a bit of proactive, attacking football. I personally think this was quite a bit better than the shyte Women's World Cup matches that were played last year.

[martl]

Originally Posted by echappist

Oh boy. Not sure what to make of this.

He certainly is talented, but I'm not sure if it's justified. Step up from Schalke to Juve is significant. What role will he be playing? And will maestro trequartista give McKennie the time of the day?

That said, I wish him the best and want to see him do well

Schalke needs money badly thats why they welcomed the deal even though McKennie was one of the key players. Of course Juve is a step up as they have a subscription for the scudetto and are CL contenders, but the level of football played is not sooo much higher than at Schalke, who still is a first league club and was second in germany only three years ago.
The only way for a young player to find out if he's got what it takes is to try it out, no.

[wc1934]

Juventus has reportedly agreed to terms with Luis Suarez. Wonder if Giorgio C was consulted - haha.

[citycyclist247]

Originally Posted by wc1934

Juventus has reportedly agreed to terms with Luis Suarez. Wonder if Giorgio C was consulted - haha.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[echappist]

Originally Posted by martl

Schalke needs money badly thats why they welcomed the deal even though McKennie was one of the key players. Of course Juve is a step up as they have a subscription for the scudetto and are CL contenders, but the level of football played is not sooo much higher than at Schalke, who still is a first league club and was second in germany only three years ago.
The only way for a young player to find out if he's got what it takes is to try it out, no.

For a club that has developed a lot of talent (top of my head, Sane, Ozil, Neuer), Schalke sure seems badly managed financially.

And good point re: your last point. Just that this is a pretty big step up.

Originally Posted by wc1934

Juventus has reportedly agreed to terms with Luis Suarez. Wonder if Giorgio C was consulted - haha.

Oh man, the dismantling begins.

Rakitic is gone, now Suarez...

[martl]

Originally Posted by echappist

For a club that has developed a lot of talent (top of my head, Sane, Ozil, Neuer), Schalke sure seems badly managed financially.
.

Wanna build a CL contender?

Neuer/Nübel/Kehrer/Kolasinac/Matip/Draxler/Özil/Gündogan/Sane/NcKennie

In other news, Thomas Müller, booted from the German national team together with WC heroes Himmels and Boateng only last year, received the ranking "World Class" by football magazine "Kicker" who are notoriously tighta**ed about giving that honor out (in 2019,*no Bundesliga or German player got that) - I wonder how stupid Löw is feeling right now.

[echappist]

Espn could occasionally write a decent article. This one on Gio Reyna

Much of the story, I have known (e.g. passing of his older brother, etc.). What I didn't quite grasp is that he's a 17-year old, all alone in Germany, not old enough to drive. The part about Haaland driving him to places is actually somewhat amusing. Then again, I half remember their fathers used to play on City, though I don't think they actually overlapped.

[wc1934]

Allan to Everton for a reported €25m plus bonuses - reunited Ancelotti.
Pains me to see him go. I cant figure out De Laurentiis - Last year he rejected PSG's €50m offer.