The Football News Thread 2022/23

[sycophantia]

It's still Division 1 in my mind.......

 

[jd1981]

So FIFA say most fans support a biennial World Cup, Really who’ve they surveyed?
Problem will be in 20 years trying to find countries able or willing to host it.

 

[Alan]

All the Americans I know say EPL. To be fair to them that is easier and quicker than saying Premier League.

Is this a bit like how people get antsy when I call the English FA the, er, English FA?

 

[darlowolf64]

Yes. It is THE FA, there is no other like it (there are, hundreds tbh) but it all stems from the great English FA.



Damn, you've got me calling them that now

 

[Alan]

Yes. It is THE FA, there is no other like it (there are, hundreds tbh) but it all stems from the great English FA.



Damn, you've got me calling them that now

You know what, if you're comfortable with making that admission, I can be comfortable calling them the FA.

 

[jlo]

So FIFA say most fans support a biennial World Cup, Really who’ve they surveyed?
Problem will be in 20 years trying to find countries able or willing to host it.

I think most people would favour it. But at the expense of the Euros, not to end up with a tournament every summer. Plenty of countries would be interested if requirements were slightly scaled back - doesn't have to be a country full of 60,000 seaters.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The Euros was a better tournament than the World Cup when it was 16 teams. Easily.

Concentration of talent innit.

The World Cup tends to have far too many terrible teams that obviously have no chance.

 

[Alan]

The World Cup format is brilliant as is. Don't fuck with a good thing.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Scarcity adds value. Over abundance diminishes value. Every four years is right.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Scarcity adds value. Over abundance diminishes value. Every four years is right.

Agreed, but it's all about the money. FIFA's main source of income, and this will double it.

By using Wenger as the face of this, they are hiding that truth well.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The World Cup format is brilliant as is. Don't fuck with a good thing.

They are messing with it, a ridiculous move to 48 teams and stupid three team groups.

Awful.

Oh and let's not forget it's in fucking Qatar next year. At Christmas.

 

[jd1981]

The cost of hosting means it’s once in a generation for most countries.
With the new format it’ll pretty much end any hope of just 1 nation hosting alone as you probably need 16 stadiums to do it. Not just a case of stadium capacity. Transport, infrastructure, accommodation, security.
FIFA don’t like these stadiums that are enclosed in built up areas.

 

[Lupo]

All is going well at Newcastle!

A source said: ‘The players, as a group, are tight. They have been together a lot of years.

‘They are good professionals and are determined to turn things around, despite issues with the manager. That could end up keeping him in a job.’

Just this week, the squad turned up expecting to train on Tuesday morning, only for Bruce to call a meeting during which he addressed running statistics. However, some players were not impressed when he cited other teams in the bottom half of the table as good examples.

A source said: ‘The lads couldn’t believe it. They were like, “What is he talking about?” It did not go down well with some.’

For balance, some players felt Bruce spoke the truth.

A feisty training session followed — two senior stars were told to calm down by Bruce — and there was a bad-tempered showdown between assistant manager Graeme Jones and striker Dwight Gayle, with captain Jamaal Lascelles forced to step in.

A source said: ‘There was a head-to-head after a disagreement. Jones said, “It’s always about you, Gayley”. Dwight wasn’t having it and said, “It’s been all about you since you’ve been with England”.

‘This can happen between players, but when management are involved it’s never a good sign. There are some p***ed off players.’

Jones was a popular and much-needed addition last season, but some are now wondering why he has not intervened and changed a 3-5-2 system they feel uses too many players out of position.

There was also a heated inquest in the dressing room following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester United, with Bruce telling midfielder Isaac Hayden — playing at centre back — that he should have done more to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo running off him to score his second goal.

A source said: ‘Isaac was like, “He’s the fastest player in the country”. He also made the point he’s not a defender. The lads thought the manager’s comments were unfair.’ On top of that, Sportsmail has been told there is resentment at the lack of structure in the training schedule, much like the concerns raised last season over what some felt were excessive days off, leading to an internal investigation.

Bruce spent four nights in Portugal during the international break and returned last Monday. Sportsmail understands some players reported for training that day expecting a morning session, only to be told Bruce was not arriving back from holiday until the afternoon. The club say this was always the plan.

But a source said: ‘You’ve got players waiting hours at the training ground and some staff didn’t even know what was going on. They also turned up at training the previous Thursday only to be told Bruce had gone on holiday. They just did a gym session. They weren’t impressed.

‘Then on Monday of this week they did not train until tea-time. Players like structure, routine. But they feel like the team’s schedule is designed to suit the manager, not them.’

Some also noted a press report this week that goalkeeper Freddie Woodman would be dropped for Friday’s game.

The players know which journalists are close to Bruce and some suspected this had come from the manager before he had told them, much like they did last season when a report stating Karl Darlow would be dropped caused huge irritation behind the scenes.

 

[darlowolf64]

Christiano Ronaldo is not "the fastest player in the Country" but apart from that...

Hayden is going to have nightmares when Adama jogs past him

 

[Jack Regan]

Christiano Ronaldo is not "the fastest player in the Country" but apart from that...

Hayden is going to have nightmares when Adama jogs past him

He was clocked about the 4th or 5th last weekend apparently, but yes not the fastest.

 

[Alan]

They are messing with it, a ridiculous move to 48 teams and stupid three team groups.

Awful.

Oh and let's not forget it's in fucking Qatar next year. At Christmas.

Is this official? I didn't think it had been set in stone just yet.

 

[Tony Towner]

I know nothing example number 12345. Derby are going into Admin.

 

[AndyWolves]

I know nothing example number 12345. Derby are going into Admin.

What's the penalty for going into administration? Is it 12 points? I guess they still might get done over FFP too

 

[Tredman]

Already going to take a points hit for cheating on the accounting. Get it over and done with in a oner

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

They deserve to go pop