Euro soccer end of season discussion?

[Fk_Pitt]

Anyone interested? Seems the soccer talk has slowed down significantly here so maybe this thread will get some folks talking? Or maybe not.

I’ll start. Americans in Europe underwhelm. I have no expectations for 2026 World Cup . We had a trump card with Pochettino but now England has Tuchel, and Brazil will have Ancelotti.

Wes is a nice piece at Juvy and a solid starter, but he’s a ham and egg player. Musah is a squad player at Milan and weah is decent but also an ham and egger. There are hundreds of Wes, Yunus and Timmy’s all over Europe. Pulisic had a very good year with almost 30 goal contributions at Milan. He’s solid. But he’s one player. Nice to see Chris Richards win a major trophy today. Who else is worth mentioning?

The Euro Cups are trash. Champions League is a big deal obviously but there are only a handful of real teams playing in it every year. PSG and Inter in the final? I won’t be watching.

Europa League is a steaming pile of trash when the 16th and 17th place Premier League teams are in the Final next week and the winner gets Champions League Football next season? What a disgrace.

The Europa Conference League? Don’t even get me started. Chelsea and Real Betis are in the Final, and had to get through a bunch of USL-1 level teams to get there. Does Johnny still play for Betis?

Barcelona won La Liga? Well at least selling off an arm and a leg as well as their tv rights etc. allowed them to subvert FFP and prevent Real Madrid from winning it. Anytime Real Madrid doesn’t win something, I am all for it. So good on Barcelona.

Harry Kane finally won a trophy? Good for him. Only way that guy would have done it is by playing in Germany or France.

Hoping somehow Man City stumbles in their last two games. Does Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win mean that England loses a Europa League qualification from the number 6 finishing team? Man City is currently 6th but things are tight. They can still finish top 4. Would be nice to see them not qualify for Europe, or play in that farmers cup competition (Eurooa Conference League).

Back to Man U and Tottenham. Both had horrid seasons. Like epically bad. Yet one is going to be playing Champions League football next year thanks to a Europa championship win? What and absolute joke. They are lucky they weren’t relegated that’s how bad they were this year.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Barcelona won La Liga? Well at least selling off an arm and a leg as well as their tv rights etc. allowed them to subvert FFP and prevent Real Madrid from winning it. Anytime Real Madrid doesn’t win something, I am all for it. So good on Barcelona.

The only reason Barca won (OK, other than all the financial cheating they been doing for years) is that the refs, each and every one of them, hate Real with the white hot passion of 100 suns. Just ask them, they'll tell you.

Those two teams are capable of playing some wonderful soccer. And they are so thoroughly despicable.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Hoping somehow Man City stumbles in their last two games. Does Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win mean that England loses a Europa League qualification from the number 6 finishing team? Man City is currently 6th but things are tight. They can still finish top 4. Would be nice to see them not qualify for Europe, or play in that farmers cup competition (Eurooa Conference League).

IIRC, the Europa League teams will be Palace and whomever finishes in 6th, which right now is City. If the season ended right now the team that would get dropped to the Conference League would be Forrest.

Of course those teams are still packed so tightly together that after tomorrow that could very well be different. And after next week could be different again.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

IIRC, the Europa League teams will be Palace and whomever finishes in 6th, which right now is City. If the season ended right now the team that would get dropped to the Conference League would be Forrest.

Of course those teams are still packed so tightly together that after tomorrow that could very well be different. And after next week could be different again.

Yeah this run in is nuts. Exactly as it should be. 2-7 could look entirely different after next week. I only wish it was 1-7. That would be major drama next week and would require multiple tvs for viewing.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Here are how some of the American in Europe have done this year.

Malik Tillman is back from a recently injury. He scored twice today and added an assist. On the season, in league play he has played 25 games, started 21 of them, 11 goals and 2 assists. He also played six Champions League games with three more goals and two assists. So in total, 31 games, 14 goals, 4 assists. Also note, he does not take penalties for them, so all 14 goals were from open play. PSV is in first place in the Eredivisie.

Tillman's teammate Sergino Dest is finally back playing. Six games so far, three starts including today when he had an assist. He has started three games but he still hasn't played a full 90 since he's been back. But it's good to see him playing again.

Paxten Aaronson, Brenden's little brother, also plays in the Eredivisie and has 8 goals and 4 assists in 31 games.

The aforementioned Johnny is playing for Bettis. He's played a total of 44 games so far this year, 4 goals, 1 assist.

When he hasn't been out injured Auston Trusty is a regular starter at center back for Celtic. He even has two goals this season. Cameron Carter-Vickers is Trusty's teammate, he has started 28 of 29 league appearances at center back.

Haji Wright had 12 goals in 27 games for Coventry. They missed out on potential promotion to the Premier League when Sunderland scored in stoppage time of extra time in their game earlier this week.

Josh Sargent ended up with 15 goals and 5 assists in 32 games for Norwich.

Mark McKenzie started 28 of the 29 Ligue 1 games at center back for Toulouse.

Gio Reyna is, in fact, not dead. Although given how little he plays it's easy to see how someone might think that. He really needs to find somewhere that he can play regularly.

 

[pitt90seven]

you got a lot to cover, here. but the basics about USA soccer is that we're still garbage. in fact, we seem to keep getting worse. our best teams were in the 90's and early 2000's, when we had almost zero international talent. until we can beat Panama consistently, I will be impressed.

CP took someone's spot today. I don't know all the rules. and I don't care. f### 'em all. but it would be delicious if our win keeps MC out of Europe.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

you got a lot to cover, here. but the basics about USA soccer is that we're still garbage. in fact, we seem to keep getting worse. our best teams were in the 90's and early 2000's, when we had almost zero international talent. until we can beat Panama consistently, I will be impressed.

CP took someone's spot today. I don't know all the rules. and I don't care. f### 'em all. but it would be delicious if our win keeps MC out of Europe.

It’s amazing. It couldn’t be foggier right now.

2 Arsenal
3 New Castle
4 Chelsea
5Aston Villa
6 Man City
7 Nottingham Forest

2 through 5 earn champions league next year and only 6th will earn Europa League. I always thought that England only got 1 Europa spot and if the FA cup winner is that team, there are no other spots. That’s how Chelsea missed out on this years Europa because Man U won the FA Cup last year and took the spot. But Englands coefficient for success in the euro competitions this year grants them an additional Europa spot this year I guess?

Of all those teams above, every one of them control their own destiny. Win and they are in. It’s that simple. The team most behind the 8 ball is Nottingham Forest. They would have to win today and then next week at home vs Chelsea. All Chelsea would need to do is draw. But as a Chelsea fan, a draw at Forest won’t be easy, especially without a striker which we won’t have.

New Castle vs Arsenal today
City vs Bournemouth on tuesday (closing out this match week).
Chelsea vs Forest next week

Those are the 3 most impactful games. But at this point, every one of them are.

I just want to see City lose to Bournemouth on Tuesday, which isn’t likely. But if they do, they’ll need a win vs @Allan McMurray ‘s Fulham next Sunday at Craven Cottage.

Tuesday night, each teams path will become clearer. But it will still be as foggy as it has been for Championship Sunday for several years.

 

[zookeeper2000]

I haven’t watched as much European soccer as I would have liked this year…but I think the USMNT is a little all over the place with respect to individual form.

I’ve had the World Cup circled for years to see our Golden Generation all put it together while they are still relatively in their primes (but with good international experience).

I really don’t even know who I would guarantee makes the starting 11 - today - outside of Pulisic and Jedi. Probably McKennie. Tyler Adams and Dest if healthy. The rest are all kind of debatable based on form, formation, and injury status.

But I’m also bummed that we haven’t seen them play more together the last few years too because of dumb in-game decisions (Weah & Dest) and bouncing early out of tournaments.

I feel like we are going to hit the World Cup as a bunch of disjointed pieces rather than a well-oiled machine and that’s frustrating.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I haven’t watched as much European soccer as I would have liked this year…but I think the USMNT is a little all over the place with respect to individual form.

I’ve had the World Cup circled for years to see our Golden Generation all put it together while they are still relatively in their primes (but with good international experience).

I really don’t even know who I would guarantee makes the starting 11 - today - outside of Pulisic and Jedi. Probably McKennie. Tyler Adams and Dest if healthy. The rest are all kind of debatable based on form, formation, and injury status.

But I’m also bummed that we haven’t seen them play more together the last few years too because of dumb in-game decisions (Weah & Dest) and bouncing early out of tournaments.

I feel like we are going to hit the World Cup as a bunch of disjointed pieces rather than a well-oiled machine and that’s frustrating.

Good stuff. The way Juvy uses Wes, it shows the guy can play so many positions on the pitch that he should start somewhere.

Tillman is blossoming it appears.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

How about Daryl Dike? That poor guy may never sniff any significant football again. He had his left Achilles rupture in 2023. Then came back in 2024 and immediately ruptured his right Achilles. He just recently started his first game in over two years for West Brom.

 

[Allan McMurray]

I'll be honest, I popped smoke for 24/7 and have rarely been over here.

Touching on a little bit over the posts. Agree so much with @pitt90seven that our golden years were the late 90's early 2's. Lots of grit and toughness. There is just something about this generation that they can't put it together and play as a team. I really do think if they had to qualify for 2026, it would be a struggle, much along the lines of 2018. We have no backline of day in, day out quality and the goaltending is so mediocre. What is Slonina up to? He was supposed to the next superstar, too lazy to use Google.

I still think Bob Bradley was the best coach the National Team ever had.

Would love to see City be out but Europe is set for the PL. Just a matter of who is what tournament. Would love to see City in the Conference League, especially after seeing Pep throw his temper tantrum yesterday.

My advice if I were in Tillman's camp, stay as far away from Manchester United as humanly possible. What a complete dumpster fire along with Spurs. How ironic though, those 2 are playing each other for a Europa trophy.

Fulham was so-so. Alot of very good wins but some wasted opportunities this year to be serious about Europa League. Plus I don't they spent their money well last summer. Emile Smith Rowe and Joachim Anderson, $52million combined have came up well short of what they were bought for. We will see how this summer goes and what they can sell and buy.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

How about Daryl Dike? That poor guy may never sniff any significant football again. He had his left Achilles rupture in 2023. Then came back in 2024 and immediately ruptured his right Achilles. He just recently started his first game in over two years for West Brom.

Dike started their last game of the season. He had made a bunch of substitute appearances before that, but played less than 30 minutes in each of them. So they were obviously babying him. And for good reason. But in the game that he did start he played 61 minutes and had a goal and an assist.

There is clearly some talent there, but he seems like he's going to be one of those guys that injuries never allow him to reach his full potential.

 

[brdst11]

Here are how some of the American in Europe have done this year.

Malik Tillman is back from a recently injury. He scored twice today and added an assist. On the season, in league play he has played 25 games, started 21 of them, 11 goals and 2 assists. He also played six Champions League games with three more goals and two assists. So in total, 31 games, 14 goals, 4 assists. Also note, he does not take penalties for them, so all 14 goals were from open play. PSV is in first place in the Eredivisie.

Tillman's teammate Sergino Dest is finally back playing. Six games so far, three starts including today when he had an assist. He has started three games but he still hasn't played a full 90 since he's been back. But it's good to see him playing again.

Paxten Aaronson, Brenden's little brother, also plays in the Eredivisie and has 8 goals and 4 assists in 31 games.

The aforementioned Johnny is playing for Bettis. He's played a total of 44 games so far this year, 4 goals, 1 assist.

When he hasn't been out injured Auston Trusty is a regular starter at center back for Celtic. He even has two goals this season. Cameron Carter-Vickers is Trusty's teammate, he has started 28 of 29 league appearances at center back.

Haji Wright had 12 goals in 27 games for Coventry. They missed out on potential promotion to the Premier League when Sunderland scored in stoppage time of extra time in their game earlier this week.

Josh Sargent ended up with 15 goals and 5 assists in 32 games for Norwich.

Mark McKenzie started 28 of the 29 Ligue 1 games at center back for Toulouse.

Gio Reyna is, in fact, not dead. Although given how little he plays it's easy to see how someone might think that. He really needs to find somewhere that he can play regularly.

Just weighing in on the Celtic players since follow them. Trusty has been kind of underwhelming despite costing a decent amount for a Scottish team.

Carter-Vickers is the same as ever and may go down as a club legend but unfortunately appears likely he'll never be a regular for the national team.

 

[brdst11]

Tillman scores and PSV wins to complete the big comeback in the league and finish ahead of Ajax. Dest also played 90.

 

[zookeeper2000]

I watched most of the PSV game and Tillman looked very good and calm on the ball. I know it’s the Eredivisie but he seems like a guy you can’t leave out of the USMNT rotation at this point.

Dest looked alright but physically he’s little (more than I remember). I can see why teams get frustrated with him especially if he’s taking risks that don’t pan out. PSV is probably a good spot for him too.

Hopefully Pepi heals up quickly because the initial Folarin Balogun hype seems to have cooled off (and yes, Balogun’s been out with an injury since December too).

I like teams that have several Americans playing regularly (a la Leeds a couple years back). Makes my USMnt fandom easier.

 

[mike412]

Anyone interested? Seems the soccer talk has slowed down significantly here so maybe this thread will get some folks talking? Or maybe not.

I’ll start. Americans in Europe underwhelm. I have no expectations for 2026 World Cup . We had a trump card with Pochettino but now England has Tuchel, and Brazil will have Ancelotti.

Wes is a nice piece at Juvy and a solid starter, but he’s a ham and egg player. Musah is a squad player at Milan and weah is decent but also an ham and egger. There are hundreds of Wes, Yunus and Timmy’s all over Europe. Pulisic had a very good year with almost 30 goal contributions at Milan. He’s solid. But he’s one player. Nice to see Chris Richards win a major trophy today. Who else is worth mentioning?

The Euro Cups are trash. Champions League is a big deal obviously but there are only a handful of real teams playing in it every year. PSG and Inter in the final? I won’t be watching.

Europa League is a steaming pile of trash when the 16th and 17th place Premier League teams are in the Final next week and the winner gets Champions League Football next season? What a disgrace.

The Europa Conference League? Don’t even get me started. Chelsea and Real Betis are in the Final, and had to get through a bunch of USL-1 level teams to get there. Does Johnny still play for Betis?

Barcelona won La Liga? Well at least selling off an arm and a leg as well as their tv rights etc. allowed them to subvert FFP and prevent Real Madrid from winning it. Anytime Real Madrid doesn’t win something, I am all for it. So good on Barcelona.

Harry Kane finally won a trophy? Good for him. Only way that guy would have done it is by playing in Germany or France.

Hoping somehow Man City stumbles in their last two games. Does Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win mean that England loses a Europa League qualification from the number 6 finishing team? Man City is currently 6th but things are tight. They can still finish top 4. Would be nice to see them not qualify for Europe, or play in that farmers cup competition (Eurooa Conference League).

Back to Man U and Tottenham. Both had horrid seasons. Like epically bad. Yet one is going to be playing Champions League football next year thanks to a Europa championship win? What and absolute joke. They are lucky they weren’t relegated that’s how bad they were this year.

I didn’t like the idea of the Europa leader automatically qualifying for Champions League the following year when there were 24 teams in the CL, but now that is expanded to 36, it’s utterly ridiculous that Man U or Tottenham will be in it next year.

I like it when Real Madrid goes without a trophy too. The fact that Barcelona won them and beat them 4 times makes it sweeter for me. With your talk about Barcelona and FFP you would think they bought a boatload of players. They only made one purchase in the transfer market, Danny Olmo, who was injured half the year. Their other signings were Martinez on a free transfer from Atletic and a retired GK who was spending his days on the beach in Malaga. Their significant contributors include 8 players from La Masia, including Yamal. How many players from Chelsea’s academy played significant minutes?

For a Chelsea fan, or a fan of any of the wealthiest Premier League teams, to complain about any other team avoiding FFP is astounding. When Barca or Real Madrid or Atletico is bought by some Arab monarchy who pumps hundreds of millions into it, then maybe you can talk. Right now, all three are owned by supporters. Madrid can spend like crazy because, as much as I despise them, they are run by a brilliant financial guy, Florentino Perez, who probably has made them the most profitable team in the world. Barcelona is trying to dig itself out of the hole its crook of a last president, Bartomeu, drove it into. This year, the only way they can buy any new players is to sell current players of the same value. There was a report in a Madrid paper that La Liga has determined that RM has “room” to spend $456 Million this Summer in the transfer window without selling a player. They are going to need a lot of that to rebuild their defense, although they are off to a good start on that with two new players before the window officially opens.

Meanwhile, Everton played its final match in Goodison Park today. I saw three matches in England in my visits there, and Goodison was my favorite. Craven Cottage is as pleasant a place to watch a match that could possibly exist and the walk through the park to get there is wonderful; Selhurst Park in South London was fun. But, I can’t imagine any other stadium matching the atmosphere in Goodison. I had tears in my eyes watching that match today from here in Spain. I grew up two blocks from Forbes Field and this was as close as I have come to the feelings I had when it was closed.

 

[pitt90seven]

I didn’t like the idea of the Europa leader automatically qualifying for Champions League the following year when there were 24 teams in the CL, but now that is expanded to 36, it’s utterly ridiculous that Man U or Tottenham will be in it next year.

I like it when Real Madrid goes without a trophy too. The fact that Barcelona won them and beat them 4 times makes it sweeter for me. With your talk about Barcelona and FFP you would think they bought a boatload of players. They only made one purchase in the transfer market, Danny Olmo, who was injured half the year. Their other signings were Martinez on a free transfer from Atletic and a retired GK who was spending his days on the beach in Malaga. Their significant contributors include 8 players from La Masia, including Yamal. How many players from Chelsea’s academy played significant minutes?

For a Chelsea fan, or a fan of any of the wealthiest Premier League teams, to complain about any other team avoiding FFP is astounding. When Barca or Real Madrid or Atletico is bought by some Arab monarchy who pumps hundreds of millions into it, then maybe you can talk. Right now, all three are owned by supporters. Madrid can spend like crazy because, as much as I despise them, they are run by a brilliant financial guy, Florentino Perez, who probably has made them the most profitable team in the world. Barcelona is trying to dig itself out of the hole its crook of a last president, Bartomeu, drove it into. This year, the only way they can buy any new players is to sell current players of the same value. There was a report in a Madrid paper that La Liga has determined that RM has “room” to spend $456 Million this Summer in the transfer window without selling a player. They are going to need a lot of that to rebuild their defense, although they are off to a good start on that with two new players before the window officially opens.

Meanwhile, Everton played its final match in Goodison Park today. I saw three matches in England in my visits there, and Goodison was my favorite. Craven Cottage is as pleasant a place to watch a match that could possibly exist and the walk through the park to get there is wonderful; Selhurst Park in South London was fun. But, I can’t imagine any other stadium matching the atmosphere in Goodison. I had tears in my eyes watching that match today from here in Spain. I grew up two blocks from Forbes Field and this was as close as I have come to the feelings I had when it was closed.

first off, why in the world did you choose to go to selhurst? friend in the area, or something? all the londoners say it's such a pain in the ass to get there from central london. still, i can't wait to go, myself.

it's kind of a shame what everton has become. i don't know the reason why they took a step back in the late 80's/early 90's. but were always in the top 10 of the league...at least. now, they're in relegation battles. they seem to have very proper support. even ancelotti didn't move the needle, though. they just can't seem to recruit the right players, among other issues.

 

[mike412]

Yes. I have a friend from graduate school who lives in London and is a Crystal Palace fan. He lives now in the a ritzy condominium right on the south side of the Thames but he grew up in an area near Selhurst. I was mentioning going to a Millwall game against Sunderland and he talked me out of that. That was before they moved stadiums.

 

[pitt90seven]

Yes. I have a friend from graduate school who lives in London and is a Crystal Palace fan. He lives now in the a ritzy condominium right on the south side of the Thames but he grew up in an area near Selhurst. I was mentioning going to a Millwall game against Sunderland and he talked me out of that. That was before they moved stadiums.

I have a colleague in London. he grew up in south London but is a spurs fan due to an uncle. his dad is full-on Millwall but told him, "I'm not taking a kid to those games. go find another club."

 

[mike412]

Now that they share a stadium in East London with other teams, I don’t know how their games are, but the first two times I was in London, my friend was not the only one to tell me not to go there…or anywhere near there on game day.

 

[pitt90seven]

Now that they share a stadium in East London with other teams, I don’t know how their games are, but the first two times I was in London, my friend was not the only one to tell me not to go there…or anywhere near there on game day.

I'm guessing much more tame. London isn't full of hooligans anymore. rich city and all of that.

although the palace fans say Charlton is full of, "pikeys." milwall is regarded as some sort of nuisance. Charlton regarded as barely human. and palace fans are VERY embracing of diversity so that's sort of odd.

 

[Allan McMurray]

The most financially prosperous game this morning at Wembley. Sunderland v. Sheffield United in the EFL Championship Final. The right to become a high odds favorite for relegation next season.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

The most financially prosperous game this morning at Wembley. Sunderland v. Sheffield United in the EFL Championship Final. The right to become a high odds favorite for relegation next season.

Suderland scored deep into stoppage time to come from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

 

[brdst11]

Suderland scored deep into stoppage time to come from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

It was weird seeing Sunderland score and going to celebrate with their fans, who were dressed up to look like their opponents (since both teams are normally red and white with vertical stripes)

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Nervous day for me today.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

If Chelsea doesn’t qualify for Champions League today, or Europa League via a win later this week vs Real Betis, then it could be back to the Conference League next season. What’s interesting about that is Chelsea’s “farm” team, FC Strasbourg won qualification to Conference League yesterday. It would be interesting for the two to have to play each other. Although the phenom center mid and the solid goalkeeper will likely be in Chelsea’s starting lineup next year. Especially if Real Madrid make an offer for Enzo Fernandez that Chelsea can’t refuse. Real Madrid are looking to make their patented galactico signing and Enzo is their wish. Chelsea intends on keeping him but have a ton of depth in the Midfield.

By the way, Xabi Alonso is Madrids new manager. Uh oh. Hand them the champions league trophy already. He will also manage them in the club World Cup next month.

 

[Gunner Panther]

If Chelsea doesn’t qualify for Champions League today, or Europa League via a win later this week vs Real Betis, then it could be back to the Conference League next season. What’s interesting about that is Chelsea’s “farm” team, FC Strasbourg won qualification to Conference League yesterday. It would be interesting for the two to have to play each other. Although the phenom center mid and the solid goalkeeper will likely be in Chelsea’s starting lineup next year. Especially if Real Madrid make an offer for Enzo Fernandez that Chelsea can’t refuse. Real Madrid are looking to make their patented galactico signing and Enzo is their wish. Chelsea intends on keeping him but have a ton of depth in the Midfield.

By the way, Xabi Alonso is Madrids new manager. Uh oh. Hand them the champions league trophy already. He will also manage them in the club World Cup next month.

I suppose UEFA would make Chelsea and Strasbourg jump through the same ownership hoops that they made City and Girona a few years back.

Which would be interesting if Conference League football would be worth it to them.

 

[mike412]

La Liga calculated that Real Madrid has up to $650 Million to spend this transfer period, plus the amount of any players they sell. They are on their way to spending it all, even though they got Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer. There are reports of them contacting almost every good Center Back and Midfielder in Europe, including many who have long-term contracts: Romero, Gabriel and Saliba just to name three. They will have another $70 Million plus to spend if they sell Rodrygo.

Perez really believes in the Galactico star system. He never has tried to develop their academy like Barcelona has done with La Masia. It’s hard to argue with the results. For every trophy less year like this, they have 3 or 4 with trophies.

Their failure to sign any defensive players and a top MF in January killed them this season. They had already lost Carvajal and Militao for the season, Alaba and Mendy also both were injured and Rudiger was off and on injured. Yet, they signed no one. Perez isn’t going to let that happen again.

There is even a report that they made an offer to Espanyol for GK Joan Garcia. They aren’t looking for a GK but they supposedly want to make sure Barcelona doesn’t sign him. They would sign him and then loan him out to an Italian or Premier League team. I don’t believe the report because I don’t think there is any way Espanyol will sell a player to Barcelona.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

La Liga calculated that Real Madrid has up to $650 Million to spend this transfer period, plus the amount of any players they sell. They are on their way to spending it all, even though they got Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer. There are reports of them contacting almost every good Center Back and Midfielder in Europe, including many who have long-term contracts: Romero, Gabriel and Saliba just to name three. They will have another $70 Million plus to spend if they sell Rodrygo.

Perez really believes in the Galactico star system. He never has tried to develop their academy like Barcelona has done with La Masia. It’s hard to argue with the results. For every trophy less year like this, they have 3 or 4 with trophies.

Their failure to sign any defensive players and a top MF in January killed them this season. They had already lost Carvajal and Militao for the season, Alaba and Mendy also both were injured and Rudiger was off and on injured. Yet, they signed no one. Perez isn’t going to let that happen again.

There is even a report that they made an offer to Espanyol for GK Joan Garcia. They aren’t looking for a GK but they supposedly want to make sure Barcelona doesn’t sign him. They would sign him and then loan him out to an Italian or Premier League team. I don’t believe the report because I don’t think there is any way Espanyol will sell a player to Barcelona.

Good stuff Mike.

What Madrid makes from game day vs a club like Chelsea is like several hundred million dollars. It’s night and day…essentially like the delta between the pirates and dodgers. This club I support is landlocked with no ability to develop or expand new grounds.

Romero I would kill for right now btw.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Aston Villa absolutely screwed by the referee.

At Man U. Gee, who saw that coming?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Aston Villa absolutely screwed by the referee.

At Man U. Gee, who saw that coming?

Yeah that was rubbish. No excuse for that. That’s WPIAL level reffing.

 

[mike412]

I’m glad Subderland went up, but they did it so improbably. Scored 1 goal in their last 6 regular season games and lost 5. Still squeaked into playoffs. Won the first playoff match 1-0 on a header in the 89th minute. Losing to Sheffield United, which finished ahead of them by 14 points, and tied it in the 73rd minute. Then won it in the 6th minute of extra time.

The team now is run by Kyril Louis-Dreyfuss, 27, who owns a 41% “controlling” interest. By all reports a much better owner than the last one, who promised to “save” the team when he took control but ended up looting it (he is rich, so no criminal charges against he and his partners and no reimbursement for the $23 Million they stole). He believes in building the team slowly, according to reports, with young players. They were the youngest team in the Championship this season and likely will be the youngest in the PL next season.

All predictions are that the 3 promoted teams all will be relegated next year. That has happened two years in a row. Even Leeds United is not believed to have the financial resources to improve the club enough to stay up. Still, nice IMO that three teams from Northern England were promoted.

I read that Rob McElwenny said that “Sunderland ‘Til I Die” initially inspired him to look for a soccer club to invest in to try to build a team and restore a town. Originally looked at Hartlepool, which like Sunderland was economically depressed after WW II when shipyards started closing. But, it was purchased by another group and attention was turned to Wrexham. Hartlepool United finished mid-table in the National League this year — the league Wrexham was in before back to back to back promotions.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

 

[Fk_Pitt]

How does one player score this many goals?

 

[Gunner Panther]

How does one player score this many goals?

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Guess you'll find out from the N5 next season...

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Guess you'll find out from the N5 next season...

Think he will score more goals than Havertz?
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

He’s one of a few I have on my wish list. I only wish Chelsea didn’t use its hijack card to get Mudryk.

 

[Gunner Panther]

Think he will score more goals than Havertz?
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

He’s one of a few I have on my wish list. I only wish Chelsea didn’t use its hijack card to get Mudryk.

Probably, but he will get his. He has been nothing but a consummate pro at Arsenal. Finishing isn't elite but then few are.

Crazy the crap from Chelsea supporters after scoring the Champions League winning goal, ffs.

 

[Allan McMurray]

Suderland scored deep into stoppage time to come from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

What a wonderful goal that winner was! Couldn't have been anymore perfectly struck, just kissed the inside of the post it looked on the way to back of the net.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Probably, but he will get his. He has been nothing but a consummate pro at Arsenal. Finishing isn't elite but then few are.

Crazy the crap from Chelsea supporters after scoring the Champions League winning goal, ffs.

He was always meh. The supporters always liked him. I realize that he had a different skillset, but I resented him in a way because he was less productive than Pulisic yet Pulisic got a lot of hate while he didn’t. And Havertz was undroppable. I think the supporters still respect him and like him but he’s at the rival now so there’s going to be some hate. Even the wonder boy Mount, who couldn’t do anything wrong gets booed now, yet it was the club who moved on from him more than he moved on from the Club. My Twitter profile is still a pic of Mason, Chilly, Kai and Pulisic. They won us a champions league. Will always be legends in my eyes and they were all around 20/21 at the time.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

He was always meh. The supporters always liked him. I realize that he had a different skillset, but I resented him in a way because he was less productive than Pulisic yet Pulisic got a lot of hate while he didn’t. And Havertz was undroppable. I think the supporters still respect him and like him but he’s at the rival now so there’s going to be some hate. Even the wonder boy Mount, who couldn’t do anything wrong gets booed now, yet it was the club who moved on from him more than he moved on from the Club. My Twitter profile is still a pic of Mason, Chilly, Kai and Pulisic. They won us a champions league. Will always be legends in my eyes and they were all around 20/21 at the time.