2023-24 Football Season: Managerial Exodus

[The Archregimancy]

Can I just take a moment to say that of all the punishingly stupid decisions taken by FIFA over the last 20 years or so, today's inane decision to award the 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco (which I'm fine with), except for the tournament's opening three matches, which will be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay - because this will be the centenary of the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 - rather takes the biscuit.

Imagine that you're a fan of one of the teams drawn into the opening three matches, and have to travel to Asuncion, Buenos Aires, or Montevideo before flying to Lisbon, Madrid, or Casablanca to watch your team's remaining two matches. For the record, there are no direct flights from Casablanca to South America, and only one direct flight from Asuncion to any of the hosts (indeed, the Asuncion-Madrid flight is the only direct flight from Paraguay to Europe). Nothing against Asuncion, Buenos Aires, or Montevideo - I've been to the first two, and really rather like Asuncion - but this is clearly a brain fart of the first order.

Why not just award the centenary tournament to South America, which has only hosted one tournament since 1978?

[Riocht mor Daraen]

Agree wholeheartedly. Ludicrous idea by FIFA, and in all likelihood meant to pave the way for a Saudi World Cub in 2034.

The host has got to be Uruguay, with Argentina and Paraguay (and Chile?) sharing the financial and infrastructural burden. It's a historic football-mad region with 5 WC trophies and 7 world championships combined. By that time, it'll have been 16 years since the last tournament on South American soil, so only Africa will have waited longer to host one. And it's the centennial anniversary of the first-ever World Cup, Uruguay 1930! But it makes too much sense and not enough money for FIFA.

If Uruguay & co. don't have the means to meet official stadium/hostelry/security/whatever standards, or the votes to triumph over the Iberia + Morocco bid, then fine, fair enough, let them organize a great World Cup and we'll see in 2034. But nooo. Just had to come up with this nonsensical aberration of a proposal instead. What braindead moron thinks it's a good idea to have players debut in the Southern Cone, then fly across the Atlantic for the rest of the games? Stupid.

[Outer Sparta]

Can I just take a moment to say that of all the punishingly stupid decisions taken by FIFA over the last 20 years or so, today's inane decision to award the 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco (which I'm fine with), except for the tournament's opening three matches, which will be played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay - because this will be the centenary of the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 - rather takes the biscuit.

Imagine that you're a fan of one of the teams drawn into the opening three matches, and have to travel to Asuncion, Buenos Aires, or Montevideo before flying to Lisbon, Madrid, or Casablanca to watch your team's remaining two matches. For the record, there are no direct flights from Casablanca to South America, and only one direct flight from Asuncion to any of the hosts (indeed, the Asuncion-Madrid flight is the only direct flight from Paraguay to Europe). Nothing against Asuncion, Buenos Aires, or Montevideo - I've been to the first two, and really rather like Asuncion - but this is clearly a brain fart of the first order.

Why not just award the centenary tournament to South America, which has only hosted one tournament since 1978?

And I thought the now-cancelled Egypt-Greece-Saudi big was ludicrous enough, but nope FIFA decided to one-up that with whatever the hell the 2030 arrangement is. I don't mind multiple nations hosting, but at least make it geographically contingent. Give SA the 2030 one and then Iberia + Morocco can host 2034.

[The Archregimancy]

Agree wholeheartedly. Ludicrous idea by FIFA, and in all likelihood meant to pave the way for a Saudi World Cub in 2034.

For the record, Saudi Arabia has now formally signalled its intent to bid for the 2034 World Cup.

The only thing standing in the way of another winter World Cup debacle in the most repressive state ever to host the tournament is...

Australia - who've been given just 25 days to decide whether or not they want to put in a bid.

[Outer Sparta]

Agree wholeheartedly. Ludicrous idea by FIFA, and in all likelihood meant to pave the way for a Saudi World Cub in 2034.

For the record, Saudi Arabia has now formally signalled its intent to bid for the 2034 World Cup.

The only thing standing in the way of another winter World Cup debacle in the most repressive state ever to host the tournament is...

Australia - who've been given just 25 days to decide whether or not they want to put in a bid.

Saudis bankrolling their own league with big names, it's inevitable they also join in on World Cup action. Guaranteed they get their league players like CR7 to be a brand ambassador.

[The Blaatschapen]

For the record, Saudi Arabia has now formally signalled its intent to bid for the 2034 World Cup.

The only thing standing in the way of another winter World Cup debacle in the most repressive state ever to host the tournament is...

Australia - who've been given just 25 days to decide whether or not they want to put in a bid.

Saudis bankrolling their own league with big names, it's inevitable they also join in on World Cup action. Guaranteed they get their league players like CR7 to be a brand ambassador.

Only because CR1 to 6 had more moral fibre and declined to play there.

[Outer Sparta]

Saudis bankrolling their own league with big names, it's inevitable they also join in on World Cup action. Guaranteed they get their league players like CR7 to be a brand ambassador.

Only because CR1 to 6 had more moral fibre and declined to play there.

There is no CR9 because only Ronaldo Nazario can be the true R9. OG Ronaldo clear of the Portuguese camel.

[Durius]

Saudis bankrolling their own league with big names, it's inevitable they also join in on World Cup action. Guaranteed they get their league players like CR7 to be a brand ambassador.

Only because CR1 to 6 had more moral fibre and declined to play there.

I don't see why moral fibre is relevant for playing. He's an employee like many others, from engineers to scientists, who go to work in Saudi Arabia. Playing there be fine, actively campaigning for the country is another thing.

[Outer Sparta]

Only because CR1 to 6 had more moral fibre and declined to play there.

I don't see why moral fibre is relevant for playing. He's an employee like many others, from engineers to scientists, who go to work in Saudi Arabia. Playing there be fine, actively campaigning for the country is another thing.

That will be guaranteed, there's no way the Saudis do not offer Ronaldo a lucrative contract to become a brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia. If not him, they also got other big names like Benzema, Brozovic, Kante, Mane, Firmino, etc. Salah will eventually end up in Saudi Arabia in his mid-30s.

[Durius]

I don't see why moral fibre is relevant for playing. He's an employee like many others, from engineers to scientists, who go to work in Saudi Arabia. Playing there be fine, actively campaigning for the country is another thing.

That will be guaranteed, there's no way the Saudis do not offer Ronaldo a lucrative contract to become a brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia. If not him, they also got other big names like Benzema, Brozovic, Kante, Mane, Firmino, etc. Salah will eventually end up in Saudi Arabia in his mid-30s.

He's already done that. My point is that if you want to criticize him, do it for that role, not for playing in the Saudi League.

[Kerwa]

International football is one of the ugly sides to the game. Honestly I don’t care who hosts it because it always brings out the worst fans anyway.

[Forsher]

International football is one of the ugly sides to the game. Honestly I don’t care who hosts it because it always brings out the worst fans anyway.

Does it? These Dutch fan stories from the last year have all been for domestic matches and there's been nothing comparable for an international match (not that I recall).

Frankly, I'm amazed the Dutch clubs just haven't been given a blanket ban from participating in European competitions. It's what you do with hooliganism problems, no?

[Outer Sparta]

That will be guaranteed, there's no way the Saudis do not offer Ronaldo a lucrative contract to become a brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia. If not him, they also got other big names like Benzema, Brozovic, Kante, Mane, Firmino, etc. Salah will eventually end up in Saudi Arabia in his mid-30s.

He's already done that. My point is that if you want to criticize him, do it for that role, not for playing in the Saudi League.

I don't mind players going to Saudi Arabia to get one last payday. Hell, if you offered me that sort of cash, I'd take that in a snap. I doubt Ronaldo's starpower would be alone to elevate the league to a global level where everyone will tune in to their games; nonetheless, it is a massive boon to the country.

The only player that has looked way worse going to Saudi is Jordan Henderson. He should have said something generic like "I went to Saudi Arabia to get one last payday and secure generational wealth for my family." Instead, he lied about saying it's not all about the money (it really is) and there was the whole firestorm with his stances on LGBT issues and being "ignored" under Klopp (guy saw Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in training and decided to bolt instead of becoming a squad player). Every other player gladly took the cash and then went on with their lavish lives in Riyadh or Jeddah.

[Militantly Mainline Episcopalians]

He's already done that. My point is that if you want to criticize him, do it for that role, not for playing in the Saudi League.

I don't mind players going to Saudi Arabia to get one last payday. Hell, if you offered me that sort of cash, I'd take that in a snap. I doubt Ronaldo's starpower would be alone to elevate the league to a global level where everyone will tune in to their games; nonetheless, it is a massive boon to the country.

The only player that has looked way worse going to Saudi is Jordan Henderson. He should have said something generic like "I went to Saudi Arabia to get one last payday and secure generational wealth for my family." Instead, he lied about saying it's not all about the money (it really is) and there was the whole firestorm with his stances on LGBT issues and being "ignored" under Klopp (guy saw Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in training and decided to bolt instead of becoming a squad player). Every other player gladly took the cash and then went on with their lavish lives in Riyadh or Jeddah.

Honestly--and as a USian and fan I hate to say it because it's hurt our men's team a lot and as the rest of the world catches up it's hurting our women's program too--this is where I think the traditional US system of talent development, where even the eventual elite athletes learn their sport through scholastic programs at the same schools and universities everyone else goes to rather than being sequestered away in sport-specific academies, has an advantage: they're somewhat more connected to the real world than their non-North American counterparts.

That's not to say they always get great education: we've all heard the stories about social promotions, fudging grades so they don't get benched for being academically ineligible, athletes being directed to content-free majors at the university level, etc. But at least they're there. They' have at least one foot in the same world that everyone else their age is in, and so they seem to have a better grasp to navigate it.

And, again, it's not perfect even at that. There are idiots, there are people who let status and success go to their heads. But comparatively speaking, I don't think there are nearly as many.

It's also probably better for those who aren't good enough to make it to the top levels, or to earn set-for-life money from playing.

[Outer Sparta]

I don't mind players going to Saudi Arabia to get one last payday. Hell, if you offered me that sort of cash, I'd take that in a snap. I doubt Ronaldo's starpower would be alone to elevate the league to a global level where everyone will tune in to their games; nonetheless, it is a massive boon to the country.

The only player that has looked way worse going to Saudi is Jordan Henderson. He should have said something generic like "I went to Saudi Arabia to get one last payday and secure generational wealth for my family." Instead, he lied about saying it's not all about the money (it really is) and there was the whole firestorm with his stances on LGBT issues and being "ignored" under Klopp (guy saw Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in training and decided to bolt instead of becoming a squad player). Every other player gladly took the cash and then went on with their lavish lives in Riyadh or Jeddah.

Honestly--and as a USian and fan I hate to say it because it's hurt our men's team a lot and as the rest of the world catches up it's hurting our women's program too--this is where I think the traditional US system of talent development, where even the eventual elite athletes learn their sport through scholastic programs at the same schools and universities everyone else goes to rather than being sequestered away in sport-specific academies, has an advantage: they're somewhat more connected to the real world than their non-North American counterparts.

That's not to say they always get great education: we've all heard the stories about social promotions, fudging grades so they don't get benched for being academically ineligible, athletes being directed to content-free majors at the university level, etc. But at least they're there. They' have at least one foot in the same world that everyone else their age is in, and so they seem to have a better grasp to navigate it.

And, again, it's not perfect even at that. There are idiots, there are people who let status and success go to their heads. But comparatively speaking, I don't think there are nearly as many.

It's also probably better for those who aren't good enough to make it to the top levels, or to earn set-for-life money from playing.

The MLS should be developing youth via the club academies or send them overseas, which has fueled the rise of the men's team. The women's team need to get back to basics with proper development and coaching.

[Paris Saint-Germain]

https://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/p ... m-xh0c1i11

Four PSG players have been disciplined following homophobic chants made in the Marseille clash: Ousmane Dembele, Layvin Kurzawa, Randal Kolo Muani, and Achraf Hakimi. Ligue 1 has issues dealing with homophobic chants, particularly those made by club ultras. In additional PSG news, they were demolished by the Saudi Newcastle in an oil derby in the CL and Luis Enrique has come under fire for his tactical approach.

[The Blaatschapen]

Sooo... an interesting thing happened.

Ireland will play the Netherlands in the EC qualification. Ireland cannot qualify through this method anymore.

The Netherlands still can (they need to win either the Ireland match or the Gibraltar match to be certain; alternatively, Greece loses against France).

Now, it's for Ireland better that the Netherlands qualifies directly. So that Ireland is slightly more likely to be able to use the Nations League qualification route.

...

So it is for Ireland somewhat beneficial to lose.

Well, if it weren't for the whole Gibraltar - Netherlands match that is.

But it is an oddity, that could easily have been a direct case of "losing is beneficial".

[Outer Sparta]

Sooo... an interesting thing happened.

Ireland will play the Netherlands in the EC qualification. Ireland cannot qualify through this method anymore.

The Netherlands still can (they need to win either the Ireland match or the Gibraltar match to be certain; alternatively, Greece loses against France).

Now, it's for Ireland better that the Netherlands qualifies directly. So that Ireland is slightly more likely to be able to use the Nations League qualification route.

...

So it is for Ireland somewhat beneficial to lose.

Well, if it weren't for the whole Gibraltar - Netherlands match that is.

But it is an oddity, that could easily have been a direct case of "losing is beneficial".

I can never wrap my head around the whole Nations League qualification gimmick. Gimme the good old days where you could split 54 UEFA members into nine equal groups of six teams.

[The Two Jerseys]

Breaking news: Sir Bobby Charlton has passed away.

[Wopruthien]

22k for a League 2 (4th tier) football match is incredible. Just goes to show how much strength and depth is in the English (+ exiles) is in the game

[Outer Sparta]

Ajax are an absolute cesspool at the moment. They are still in the relegation hole after a terrible performance against Utrecht.

[Paris Saint-Germain]

PSG update: After an easy 3-0 win over Strasbourg, Luis Enrique's men are 3rd in Ligue 1 behind Monaco and Nice. They really need to turn winnable games into points, especially considering they already picked up three draws and a loss. The Champions League will pose a huge battle against an in-form Milan side. Meanwhile, the future of Mbappe is still unknown and the Qataris obviously still want to keep him as he's imperative to the team and league's marketability. Real Madrid is his preferred destination but that depends if the Madridistas can or will splurge on him in the summer. The transfer fee is free, but the agent fees will likely be astronomical and he is expected to command around 1 million/week wages or more.

[Outer Sparta]

Some major news in the past days:

- Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has died at age 78. He was a well-known and respected theatre and film producer, an actor and singer, a born-and-bred Scouser, and was part of the Everton board since 1989.
- Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is banned for ten months after an investigation into his sports betting activities. He joins a growing list of footballers busted for betting on games, including Ivan Toney and Harry Toffolo.
- Ajax sacked manager Maurice Steijn after a disappointing 4-3 loss to Utrecht. After a hellish start, the club are still in the relegation zone and took to have no hope to solve their current predicament.
- Nice player Youcef Atal and Mainz player Anwar El Ghazi have been suspended by their clubs for posting comments on the Gaza situation. Moroccan RB Noussair Mazraoui was also disciplined by Bayern for similar posts.

[Eternal Algerstonia]

- Nice player Youcef Atal and Mainz player Anwar El Ghazi have been suspended by their clubs for posting comments on the Gaza situation.

not nice of them

[Paris Saint-Germain]

PSG crushed a woeful Milan side in the CL as Mbappe led the way. The team really need to contemplate their future as they look poised to lose their only superstar. The question is: they won't succeed if they don't sign superstars but if they build a team the proper way, they won't be able to properly compete in the CL.