Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Sassuolo in the last six weeks:

-After taking the lead, immediately concede to Udinese in a 6 pointer (fair, sneaky tough game)
-Blow a 2-0 lead over already relegated Salernitana, conceding in stoppage time
-Blow a 3-1 lead to Milan at home (I saw this one in person and it was clear all game that Milan would break through and arguably should have won)
-Lose the will to play anymore, get trashed by two mid table clubs

-Somehow defeat the league winners to complete the season sweep (?)

-Score first in Genoa and concede twice including an own goal to drop all three points

That's 9 points dropped across 4 games that could have brought them to safety.

Now they need to win against Cagliari next week to have a prayer of forcing a relegation playout) - since the finale vs Lazio will have European implications for Lazio. Incredible under performance

[Santander]

There's definitely going to be a non-negligible number of hidden Arsenal supporters at Spurs' place on Tuesday. The only question is how many Spurs fans can't stomach going to the match and sell their tickets to an Arsenal supporter.

[JGibson]

Praying for a Sp*rs win or a draw Tuesday so that Arsenal have a chance to win the title. As a Gooner, this feels dirty to type out. It'll be weird rooting for our biggest historical rival just to stop 115 Charges FC. 

[Santander]

To add a bit of spice ahead of Copa America, Jesse Marsch has been appointed Canada national team manager. His official title is, I kid you not, "MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach", LOL. I assume they had to tap Canadian MLS owners to fund his salary given how broke the federation is.

American soccer media (ESPN, Alexi Lalas) are big fans of the appointment. It seems like basically a free hit for him - get back on the horse managing a team with low expectations, manage at a World Cup, and look for the right European job in 2026.

[JGibson]

Sad day. Manchester City beat Tottenham 2-0, need a win on Sunday to win it 4 in a row.
Now, Arsenal need to win against Everton and that Manchester City drop points to West Ham to win the Premier League title Sunday.

[Santander]

Credit to Spurs for having a go and playing very well. They shut up all the media nonsense questioning if they wanted to win. Man Sh!tty looked pretty bad most of the game but somehow come away with a win.

Neither West Ham nor Everton have anything to play for anymore so I doubt either will offer any meaningful resistance on Sunday.

[Pro-Israel, anti-Bibi]

Blood money wins again! No idea why anyone still watches this joke league at this point.

[JGibson]

Leverkusen finish the Bundesliga season unbeaten, as they beat Augsburg 2-1. 2 more games to go for a full season unbeaten record.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Empoli - Udinese battle for 17th was so dull until stoppage time:

A high boot on the very edge of the box granted Empoli the PK they needed to take the lead and overtake Udinese in the classification.

Then in the 96th minute, a clear and blatant foul to hold and tackle the Udinese attacker from the open net went uncalled initially. The game was blown over until VAR overruled that.

In the 104th minute, Udinese finally converted from the spot for the draw. 1-1.

Udinese leads Empoli by a point heading into the final match. Empoli appears headed for relegation though still control their own fate, albeit with a win needed against Roma. They will need help from Frosinone if they only manage to draw.  All eyes on Udinese - Frosinone as Udinese looks to avoid relegation for the first time in 30 years.

This result also officially sends Sassuolo to Serie B.

[JGibson]

Arsenal did their part to push Manchester City  to the title, but they fell short by 2 points. Manchester City beat West Ham 3-1 and Arsenal win 2-1 over Everton, good enough for 115 Charges FC to win 4 straight PL championships.

 We came up short this season, but next season will hopefully be our time to win the Premier League title. The 5 dropped points to Fulham from winning positions, home loss to West Ham, Newcastle away VAR robbery, and losses to Aston Villa doomed us.

[Santander]

On the day, Arsenal pushed Man City only on paper. Man City never looked in doubt, while Arsenal labored to a win thanks to a dubious goal from a terrible error from Young.

[Battista Minola 1616]

Empoli - Udinese battle for 17th was so dull until stoppage time:

A high boot on the very edge of the box granted Empoli the PK they needed to take the lead and overtake Udinese in the classification.

Then in the 96th minute, a clear and blatant foul to hold and tackle the Udinese attacker from the open net went uncalled initially. The game was blown over until VAR overruled that.

In the 104th minute, Udinese finally converted from the spot for the draw. 1-1.

Udinese leads Empoli by a point heading into the final match. Empoli appears headed for relegation though still control their own fate, albeit with a win needed against Roma. They will need help from Frosinone if they only manage to draw.  All eyes on Udinese - Frosinone as Udinese looks to avoid relegation for the first time in 30 years.

This result also officially sends Sassuolo to Serie B.

I can't say that I'm done with this game because it wouldn't be true (at all) but I am so annoyed. 15 minutes of stoppage time!!! That's literally one leg of extra time.

[Battista Minola 1616]

ATALANTA WINS THE EUROPA LEAGUE (3-0 TO BOOT)! This is incredible. Gian Piero Gasperini deserves a place in the greatest football managers ever.

[Santander]

Incredible. Lookman was always a good player, it's good to see him finally valued in a successful team.

[Santander]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cxww834p37vo

Bayern are in advanced talks with... Vincent Kompany to be their next manager. A managerial appointment that I'm sure Bayern hopes will turn out like Xabi Alonso, but one which is more likely to be a stop on a managerial career somewhere in between the ignominious depths of Super Frank and Stevie G and the failing up mediocrity of Roberto Martinez...