The Swamp

brian wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 11:05 pm Jose Bautista (yes, that Jose Bautista) buys the Las Vegas USL team.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:32 pm Funny draws in the FA Cup. 10 EPL sides remain (of the 32 left), and 8 of the 10 are playing another EPL team this round.

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:59 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 10:32 pm Funny draws in the FA Cup. 10 EPL sides remain (of the 32 left), and 8 of the 10 are playing another EPL team this round.

Then there’s Man U, who drew Newport County.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:52 pm Canada Soccer's new General Secretary quits the morning of her start date, can't make this up.

"It's a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it's all adaptation," Laporte told Spanish newspaper Diario AS. "They haven't made it easy for us. In fact, there are many players that are dissatisfied. They do look after us but not enough for my liking. That is to say, in Europe they pay you a good salary, but they take better care of you.

"I speak from my own experience and I don't know what the experience of others is like. For my part, what I have seen is that they try to bring you in, but then there is the day-to-day life and that is different."

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:16 pm Sure is interesting seeing all those players who jumped to the Saudi league now saying "Hmm....maybe I shouldn't done this".

Ex-Man City star Laporte on Saudi move: Many players unhappy

"It's a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it's all adaptation," Laporte told Spanish newspaper Diario AS. "They haven't made it easy for us. In fact, there are many players that are dissatisfied. They do look after us but not enough for my liking. That is to say, in Europe they pay you a good salary, but they take better care of you.

"I speak from my own experience and I don't know what the experience of others is like. For my part, what I have seen is that they try to bring you in, but then there is the day-to-day life and that is different."

But of course, Cristiano is happy.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:24 pm
I see these guy looking to get out and just have to wonder... wtf were they expecting? Sure, the salaries are insane, but you are stuck living in Saudi Arabia, playing in empty stadiums with nobody watching on tv. I'm sure that other than a few washed up stars, they are playing with and against far inferior players. These guys were used to living the celebrity life in big European cities, and now they are in SA. Of course it's going to suck! Not to mention, selling your soul and career out to help a murderous despotic regime achieve legitimacy through sports washing.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:28 am TBH, I really didn't know much about the logistics of the Saudi league until I watched a pretty good YouTube video that went into all that sucks about the place. (And, to be fair, the video wasn't a rant or screed, it was just laying out the fact that the stadiums are mostly empty, the travel sucks and it's hot AF almost all year 'round.)

These guys, at a minimum, have agents... You have to wonder how many of those relationships soured when the commission check got cashed and the player is looking around saying WTF did I get into here?

However, Laporte's Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mané has defended the Saudi Pro League and said his profile hasn't dipped since making the move from Bayern Munich last summer.

"That's what you think because I'm not in Europe," Mané told reporters on Friday when asked if he receives lesser attention playing in Saudi Arabia.

"This is sad for you guys. Because, for you guys, if you don't play in Europe, it doesn't matter. I'm not around as a football player."

"Fortunately, I can say the Saudi league is a very good league, and watched by everybody in the world, so, for me, as long as I'm doing my best and I'm enjoying myself every single minute, that's more important.

"The rest, for me, doesn't matter."

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:16 pm Does it even get coverage in the US? Fubo or somesuch?

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 1:15 pm Long read on the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... urth-round

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 4:09 pm African Cup is wild
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... tune-afcon

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 1:52 pm

Game was bonkers. Iraq took a 2-1 lead but their goal scorer got a 2nd yellow card for taunting! 'gesture of eating with your left hand"

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:37 pm Wrexham at Blackburn on the ESPN+ right now. Maybe a cupset?

degenerasian wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:46 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:37 pm Wrexham at Blackburn on the ESPN+ right now. Maybe a cupset?

gonna be tough, Blackburn's had 3 scoring chances already

high stakes, the winner gets Newcastle at home

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:37 pm Wrexham at Blackburn on the ESPN+ right now. Maybe a cupset?

[+] spoiler

And just went to check and Wrexham are up 1-0 in the 20th minute.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:58 am big game kicking off on the AFC Youtube Channel

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea

Mancini vs Klinsmann