Football: A Tale of Two Finals

[polishgenius]

I've been watching some of our pre-season games and while obviously it's hard to read a lot into friendlies, especially ones where most of the first team is yet to return, both Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri have showed the kind of talent that could see them usefully take a squad spot, especially if Rashford is absent till October. Admittedly Amad Diallo will also want in on that action and certainly at least one of those three will need to go on loan, realistically.   

I also really like Shoretire, though I think he's better as a CM/AM than a winger. 

[Consigliere]

 

[mormont]

Not a shock. Don't PSG have about six keepers on the books now? And Areola was maybe fourth choice on that list.

[polishgenius]

That, plus he's got a better shot now at winning the CL.

[Consigliere]

United's preseason game against Preston has been cancelled due to 9 players and staff from United testing positive for covid. The positive tests were from lateral flow tests. The staff and players are in isolation while they await the results from the PCR tests. The game against Everton is still expected to go ahead.

Also confirmed that Rashford will undergo surgery next week and is expected to return some time in October.

Alex Telles picked up an ankle injury in training and will only return in September.

Hopefully Shaw is okay for the start of the season as it was reported that he played through several injuries including broken ribs at the Euros.

 

 

Eta. John Percy reporting that City have made a formal offer of £100m for Grealish. 

 

Eta 2. United issue statement that after further testing yesterday and today there are no positive cases within first team group. Premier league satisfied that covid protocols have been followed and the squad can return to training immediately. 

Edited July 30 by Consigliere

[Consigliere]

Barca, Juve and Real Madrid release statement regarding super league. 

https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/statement-from-barcelona-juventus-and-real-madrid-30-07-21

 

Quote

FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid CF welcome today's Court's decision enforcing, with immediate effect, UEFA's obligation to unwind the actions taken against all European Super League founding clubs, including terminating the disciplinary proceedings against the undersigning three clubs and removing the penalties and restrictions imposed on the remaining nine founding clubs for them to avoid UEFA's disciplinary action.

The Court backs the request made by the promoters of the European Super League, dismisses UEFA's appeal, and confirms its warning to UEFA that failure to comply with its ruling shall result in fines and potential criminal liability. The case will be assessed by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, which shall review UEFA's monopolistic position over European football.

We have the duty to address the very serious issues facing football: UEFA has established itself as the sole regulator, exclusive operator, and unique owner of rights of European football competitions. This monopolistic position, in conflict of interest, is damaging football and its competitive balance. As shown by ample evidence, financial controls are inadequate, and they have been improperly enforced. Clubs participating in European competitions have the right to govern their own competitions.

We are pleased that going forward we will no longer be subject to ongoing UEFA's threats. Our aim is to keep developing the Super League project in a constructive and cooperative manner, always counting on all football stakeholders: fans, players, coaches, clubs, leagues, and national and international associations. We are aware that there are elements of our proposal that should be reviewed and, of course, can be improved through dialogue and consensus. We remain confident in the success of a project that will be always compliant with European Union laws.

 

[Spockydog]

Was this read out the car park of Four Seasons Landscaping, by any chance? 

[Consigliere]

 

[Spockydog]

The fee they were offering was an absolute joke. As a result of our dreadful transfer dealings over the past decade, we are viewed as mugs in the market. 

Quite happy for him to stay. 

Edited July 30 by Spockydog

[A Horse Named Stranger]

The court ruling while legally correct, will have shitty consequences down the line for football as we know it. It will embolden the clubs in their pursuit of their stupid super league. UEFA should just ban the three rebel clubs from their competition. Fuck Barca, Juve, and Real.

 

32 minutes ago, Consigliere said:

 

Right. I thought Xhaka wants to get away from the toxic club culture of Arsenal FTV. So I don't see him signing that extension.

[Heartofice]

Oh shit. This is basically a green light for the super league in one form or another. What a disaster.

[mormont]

I’m no legal expert but I’m fairly sure the 17th Mercantile Court of Madrid don’t have the final word on these matters.

[Heartofice]

5 hours ago, mormont said:

I’m no legal expert but I’m fairly sure the 17th Mercantile Court of Madrid don’t have the final word on these matters.

Ah! phew. Yes that statement didn't make clear that it was some two bit clown court, and I didn't even look it up. I guess that is good news. I'm hopeful the ECJ will come to a different conclusion.

[A Horse Named Stranger]

5 hours ago, mormont said:

I’m no legal expert but I’m fairly sure the 17th Mercantile Court of Madrid don’t have the final word on these matters.

Also not a legal expert. However, while this is merely a lower court (no idea how low in the legal food chain that court actually is),  I wouldn't place much hope on higher courts overturning it.

Tradiotionally politics have turned a blind eye to professional football and left things more or less alone. That allowed some legally questionable practices to stay in place. At least until somebody decides to take things to court. To borrow a phrase form the late Helmut Schmidt, for as long there's no plaintiff, there's no judge. E.g. clubs were allowed to demand a fee for players, who were out of contract. That worked, until John Bosman took things to court. That has fundamentally changed the transfer market and players wages in the mid 90s, and the retrictions for foreigners from other EU countries also came to an end as a result. That should serve as a warning/reminder on things. The anti-trust/competition laws are probably a weak spot for football (and pro sport) in general. So I can very well see that those three bastard clubs could blow things up, if their case eventually reach the ECJ.

[mormont]

3 hours ago, Heartofice said:

Ah! phew. Yes that statement didn't make clear that it was some two bit clown court, and I didn't even look it up. I guess that is good news. I'm hopeful the ECJ will come to a different conclusion.

Not a ‘clown court’, but at the same time a local one, while these are obviously matters that extend beyond its jurisdiction. The final word on this will have to be at a European court, I’d have thought.

Edited July 31 by mormont

[Consigliere]

 

 

[polishgenius]

They really aren't fucking around, they want Europe next season.

[Consigliere]

They are probably losing Grealish though. There are reports that if/when Grealish leaves, Villa will put in a bid for Todd Cantwell.

[Mark Antony]

100 mil for Grealish makes 70 for Sancho look a bargain 

[A Horse Named Stranger]

58 minutes ago, Mark Antony said:

100 mil for Grealish makes 70 for Sancho look a bargain 

Yep, silly money.

However, that saves City the embarassment to re-sign a player from their academy that has made it elsewhere. And for some reason, those stories tend to end up kinda disappointing more often than not.

Pogba (United -> Juve -> United) let's say this is kinda mixed story, not glowing a success story, but also not a total bust. But I don't think in hindsight United would spend that money on Pogba again.

Fabregas (Barca -> Arsenal -> Barca) This was one of the more disappointing home comings

S. Wagner (Bayern -> various clubs -> Hoffenheim -> Bayern) He was signed as a rotation/back up option, but he thought he'd get more game time. And in the left for China.

Hummels (Bayern -> Dortmund -> Bayern) Also rather meh. Like Pogba not total bust, but also not exactly the missing piece for a CL run. And him just moving back to Dortmund with his head in hand was probably also not what Hummels himself had in mind.

G. Pique (Barca -> United -> Barca) is one of the few stories with a happy ending for the club and the player.

Oh almost forgot another story with a happy ending.

M. Reus (Dortmund -> Ahlen -> Gladbach -> Dortmund).  Yes, Reus was judged as too small  for a succesful career at Dortmund, and thus he was more or less kicked out of their academy aged 16.