Football (Soccer) Thread

[Zoupa]

Are Arsenal fans really booing Saka? Wtf

[Admiral Yi]

Chelsea 2-0!  woot!

[FunkMonk]

Are Arsenal fans really booing Saka? Wtf

No, they were booing Arteta, the club's mismanagement, and the poor result. Saka is our golden boy and basically untouchable.

[Zoupa]

Are Arsenal fans really booing Saka? Wtf

No, they were booing Arteta, the club's mismanagement, and the poor result. Saka is our golden boy and basically untouchable.

The boos were were very clearly when Saka touched the ball.

[FunkMonk]

Are Arsenal fans really booing Saka? Wtf

No, they were booing Arteta, the club's mismanagement, and the poor result. Saka is our golden boy and basically untouchable.

The boos were were very clearly when Saka touched the ball.

I'll have to watch the replay because I was taking care of baby while watching the game but I'm certain there weren't Arsenal fans booing the one player every Arsenal fan is in love with. Are you sure it wasn't Chelsea fans booing him every time he touched the ball? Arsenal fans at the Emirates have a tendency to be quiet when Arsenal are poor and the visiting fans usually fill the void.

That would make sense because Saka went down in the penality area after getting clipped by a Chelsea defender. Chelsea fans probably thought he was diving, hence the boos.

[Zoupa]

Quite possible, and it mainly happened in the 1st half.

[FunkMonk]

Not unusual for Arsenal fans to boo their own players by the way, just ask Granit Xhaka. He was booed off the pitch at the Emirates and threw the Captain's armband down in disgust and told the fans to fuck off

[Jacob]

I appreciate the updates Zoupa

[The Larch]

I wonder if there'll be a clash between FIFA and the Premier League because of this... 

Premier League clubs will not release players for matches on UK's red list
Clubs 'reluctantly' refuse to release international players
Premier League backs stance in defiance of Fifa

Premier League clubs have united in defiance of Fifa and refused to release players for international duty in countries on the UK's red list.

The escalating row over quarantine restrictions, and the lack of exemptions for players returning from red‑zone countries, led to Premier League clubs "reluctantly but unanimously" deciding to take action at a meeting on Tuesday. The Premier League, which has backed the clubs' stance, has also registered its concern at Fifa's decision to allow Conmebol teams to play three fixtures in the next two international breaks.

On Monday the Egypt FA revealed it had received a letter from Liverpool explaining why Mohamed Salah would not be released for the World Cup qualifier against Angola in Cairo next week. Liverpool have also informed the Brazilian FA that Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino would not be released for their World Cup qualifiers against Chile, Argentina and Peru as they, and Salah, would need to quarantine for 10 days on their return. Manchester City had adopted the same stance with Ederson and Gabriel Jesus.

Nearly 60 players from 19 Premier League clubs were due to travel to 26 red-zone countries in the September international window.

In a statement the Premier League confirmed the decision "follows Fifa's current position not to extend its temporary release exception for players required to quarantine on their return from international duty", adding: "Extensive discussions have taken place with both the FA and the government to find a solution, but due to ongoing public health concerns relating to incoming travellers from red-list countries, no exemption has been granted.

"If required to quarantine on return from red list countries, not only would players' welfare and fitness be significantly impacted but they would also be unavailable to prepare for and play in two Premier League match rounds, a Uefa club competition match-day and the third round of the EFL Cup. This period takes into consideration 10 days of hotel quarantine on return to England but does not include any additional time that would be required for players to regain match fitness."

The Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, said: "Premier League clubs have always supported their players' desires to represent their countries – this is a matter of pride for all concerned. However, clubs have reluctantly but rightly come to the conclusion that it would be entirely unreasonable to release players under these new circumstances. We understand the challenges that exist in the international match calendar and remain open to workable solutions."

Clubs also discussed their "dissatisfaction" with Fifa's decision to extend Conmebol's international window in September and October from nine to 11 days. "This places additional international obligations on players from that region, to the detriment of their availability to represent their clubs," the Premier League statement read. "Fifa was urged to work with all stakeholders to ensure an agreeable conclusion can be reached on the issue."

Edit: Apparently La Liga has stated that it'd support any Spanish club that wishes to do the same as Premier League clubs and refuse to allow international South American players to join their national teams for the next international windows in September and October.

[The Larch]

It's also being reported that Real Madrid has made an official and astronomical offer to PSG for Mbappe, of 160 million € or something like that, and that either it is being ignored or it has been refused.

This might be the culmination of the current summer soap opera of Spanish football (once Messi left Barcelona the press needed a new toy, and Real Madrid's chase of Mbappe it was), as it is being interpreted that the offer is more "performative" than real, and it won't likely be increased, and is meant more as a sign that Real Madrid are "back in business" of chasing the biggest stars after a couple of austerity years of no transfers and as a show of interest to Mbappe as part of their courtship of the player towards next season, when his contract will be over and he can sign on a free transfer, which is more or less being taken for granted, as he's refusing to sign a new contract with PSG.

The whole thing is quite head scratching to me, as it is basically a return to old big team customs that lead them to financial dire straits, but I guess you can't teach an old dog (Florentino Pérez, in this case) any new tricks. It is also being reported that if Real Madrid are going after Mbappe for real this season they could increase the offer to somewhere around 200 million €, as Florentino would be very keen on "stealing" PSG's star player after what Florentino saw as a betrayal for PSG's refusal to join the European Super League. That sounds quite ridiculous and petty to me, which might make it the most truthful of the pieces of info out there.

[FunkMonk]

My mood today:

After talking with a team of medical professionals, I have decided to watch Arsenal today.

https://twitter.com/cantdrawarsenal/status/1430524462617747460?s=19

[Duque de Bragança]

Last leg of the Champions League play-off and for the first time a Moldavian club, Sheriff Tiraspol, made it to the group phase.

As the first casualty of the end of the away goal counting double, in case of a tie, it's A.S Monaco which won 2-1 in ordinary time, which would have qualified them last season, but had to play extra time since they were tied without the away goal rule. 2-2 by the end of extra time.
Of course, Monaco could have killed the game with way more chances than Shaktar Donetsk on this second leg. First leg was the other way around.

That means among other things the UEFA rating of Portugal for clubs (coefficients) is now higher than France. All hail the new 5th top league in Europe! 

https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/#/yr/2022

Pos   Country   17/18   18/19   19/20   20/21   21/22    Pts     Clubs


1    England 20.071   22.642   18.571   24.357   2.285   87.926   7/7

2    Spain 19.714   19.571   18.928   19.500   2.857   80.570   7/7

3    Italy 17.333   12.642   14.928   16.285   2.428   63.616   7/7

4    Germany 9.857   15.214   18.714   15.214   2.428   61.427   7/7

5    Portugal 9.666   10.900   10.300   9.600   3.750   44.216   6/6

6    France 11.500   10.583   11.666   7.916   1.916   43.581   6/6

7    Netherlands 2.900   8.600   9.400   9.200   3.000   33.100   5/5

8    Scotland 4.000   6.750   9.750   8.500   2.200   31.200   4/5

9    Austria 9.750   6.200   5.800   6.700   2.600   31.050   4/5

10    Russia 12.600   7.583   4.666   4.333   1.500   30.682   3/5

QSG notwithstanding.

Still, plenty of time and occasions to screw up later in the group phase with say, Benfica and Sporting, though Sporting has not played the CL for a while. Porto not being seeded (pot 3...) as Benfica, means the drawing of the groups will be as important, if not more, than usual.

PS: spectacular fall for the Russian league, the money injected before the 2018 World Cup is no longer there I guess.

[Jacob]

QSG = Qatar St. Germain?

[Duque de Bragança]

Yep.

[Jacob]