OT: 2021 - 2022 Football / Calcio / Futbol / Fußball Thread

[kytyree]

Yes, the Bundesliga does a much better job, and has from the start. They've gone to the monitor from the beginning and haven't hesitated to review plays.

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by echappist

You are right.

One report says about 1/4 of EFL Championship players won't get vaccinated. This could all go pear shaped very quickly.

F Italia:
"The Italian Ministry of Health confirmed that athletes who refuse a COVID-19 vaccine ‘will not be allowed to play’ again this season, raising questions about how it will impact foreign teams visiting Italy for cup competitions.

A new Government decree was finalised today and comes into effect from January 2, reacting to the latest wave of COVID cases as the Omicron variant takes hold.

That means stadium capacity has been reduced from 75 per cent to 50 per cent, with masks mandatory at all times and only those who are vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID can enter.

The biggest change is that only those with the Super Green Pass – proving vaccination status or recent recovery – can enter the locker rooms, as they are closed spaces.

This means if there are any players who are still unvaccinated, they will not be able to play.

“The anti-vax athletes will not be allowed to play again this season,” Undersecretary for Health Andrea Costa told Radio Punto Nuovo.

“The pandemic is a very dynamic situation and we cannot afford to waste all the sacrifices we have made over the last two years.

“We have made a clear delineation with this decree between those who are vaccinated and those who decide against it. Let us not forget that eight out of 10 intensive care beds are occupied by the unvaccinated.”

There are very few in Serie A who are unvaccinated, as in October 98 per cent of the players had the jab.

However, with the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League coming up, not to mention the World Cup play-offs in March, it is not clear how that will extend to potential opponents who are unvaccinated.

It could still lead to a diplomatic incident, especially as the vaccination rate in other leagues is significantly lower than in Serie A.

[wc1934]

He's back? Only in America:


https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-s...essure-sources

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

He's back? Only in America:


https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-s...essure-sources

I thought your post was on Insigne putting his signature on a contract with Toronto FC.

What a horrible piece of business. $11 mil net/yr for five years...

[martl]

Originally Posted by wc1934

F Italia:
"The Italian Ministry of Health confirmed that athletes who refuse a COVID-19 vaccine ‘will not be allowed to play’ again this season, raising questions about how it will impact foreign teams visiting Italy for cup competitions.

A new Government decree was finalised today and comes into effect from January 2, reacting to the latest wave of COVID cases as the Omicron variant takes hold.

That means stadium capacity has been reduced from 75 per cent to 50 per cent, with masks mandatory at all times and only those who are vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID can enter.

The biggest change is that only those with the Super Green Pass – proving vaccination status or recent recovery – can enter the locker rooms, as they are closed spaces.

This means if there are any players who are still unvaccinated, they will not be able to play.

“The anti-vax athletes will not be allowed to play again this season,” Undersecretary for Health Andrea Costa told Radio Punto Nuovo.

“The pandemic is a very dynamic situation and we cannot afford to waste all the sacrifices we have made over the last two years.

“We have made a clear delineation with this decree between those who are vaccinated and those who decide against it. Let us not forget that eight out of 10 intensive care beds are occupied by the unvaccinated.”

There are very few in Serie A who are unvaccinated, as in October 98 per cent of the players had the jab.

However, with the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League coming up, not to mention the World Cup play-offs in March, it is not clear how that will extend to potential opponents who are unvaccinated.

It could still lead to a diplomatic incident, especially as the vaccination rate in other leagues is significantly lower than in Serie A.

Meanwhile in Germany, FC Bayern have approached the league asking for rescheduling Saturdays match. Bayern Reports 8 players infected with COVID, including keeper Neuer and Leroy Sane. With two other players, Sarr and Choupo-Moting,away on international duty, the club currently only has 10 match fit players.

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by echappist

I thought your post was on Insigne putting his signature on a contract with Toronto FC.

What a horrible piece of business. $11 mil net/yr for five years...

Hey Jim.
Nope - not going to get me started - my blood pressure is already too high

[wc1934]

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (Semifinal) (Super Copa)
Wow - counter by RM is real - hahah

[wc1934]

RM looked impressive winning the Spanish Super Cup.
If they keep playing like this they might give PSG some difficulty (in CL round of 16).

[echappist]

Originally Posted by wc1934

RM looked impressive winning the Spanish Super Cup.
If they keep playing like this they might give PSG some difficulty (in CL round of 16).

Indeed.

Real plays like a team; PSG plays like a bunch of galacticos.

Would still make for a good match.

[BobC]

Watford just sacked Ranieri.

Second manager fired since the start of the season.

Doesn't bode well, especially as Newcastle now has bags of money to spend and Norwich is enjoying a revival. Relegation awaits, I fear.

[echappist]

Condolences. Hope your team stays up, Burnley goes down, and Newcastle goes down.

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by BobC

Watford just sacked Ranieri.

Second manager fired since the start of the season.

Doesn't bode well, especially as Newcastle now has bags of money to spend and Norwich is enjoying a revival. Relegation awaits, I fear.

wow - that didn't take long - what, 14-15 matches.
Now who?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by wc1934

wow - that didn't take long - what, 14-15 matches.
Now who?

13. I kinda expected this as it is the international break -- typically a time when managers get the sack to give their successors more time to figure the team out.

TBF, I expected this. Defensively, Watford is atrocious. Claudio never got them tight & never got a clean sheet over 13 matches. They can score in bunches but that is not even enough. I watched the last two matches (vs Newcastle then vs Norwich) -- the season was right there for the taking. Just not good enough. A tie and an embarrassing loss.

Wouldn't surprise me if Big Sam Allardyce is hired. Probably what they need, though the fans will hate his tactics.

[BobC]

The guy I coach with had the best comment as we were discussing Ranieri's future (we both agreed he would be fired).

He said, "You let Josh Sargent score 2 on you. Josh Sargent. An American. Playing for Norwich. Who hadn't scored all season. Omitted from the USMNT at the moment.
Yeah, you're done."

[echappist]

This from Squires seems appropriate for the moment.

Squad Game, the brutal drama featuring Watford FC