The Soccer Thread

[shnsajax]

I'm assuming Jordan Morris's college career is over, where does he go next?

[wolf stansson]

I'm assuming Jordan Morris's college career is over, where does he go next?

Seattle. They need him, bad.

[Guest]

Some good UCL Round of 16 matchups:

 

Arsenal-Barcelona

Juve-Bayern

PSG-Chelsea

Gent-Wolfsburg

Roma-Real

PSV-Atletico

Benfica-Zenit

Dynamo Kiev-Man City

 

Tottenham's terrible luck in draws this year continued as they drew Fiorentina. This follows getting Arsenal in the League Cup and Leicester in the FA Cup.

[shnsajax]

Arsenal v Barca was predicatable. This will be the 8th and 9th times they have faced in the CL.

[shnsajax]

I'm assuming Jordan Morris's college career is over, where does he go next?

Seattle. They need him, bad.

 

I'm curious to what offers he might get over in Europe? $175,000 is the cap he will get with Seattle right?

[wolf stansson]

I'm assuming Jordan Morris's college career is over, where does he go next?

Seattle. They need him, bad.

 

I'm curious to what offers he might get over in Europe? $175,000 is the cap he will get with Seattle right?

I don't know what the new allocations will mean for him, but as I understand it, that max salary for homegrowns has been raised. I think they can apply TAM to it and pay him a ton more.

 

MLS, man. [expletive] is wild.

[shnsajax]

I'm assuming Jordan Morris's college career is over, where does he go next?

Seattle. They need him, bad.

 

I'm curious to what offers he might get over in Europe? $175,000 is the cap he will get with Seattle right?

I don't know what the new allocations will mean for him, but as I understand it, that max salary for homegrowns has been raised. I think they can apply TAM to it and pay him a ton more.

 

MLS, man. [expletive] is wild.

 

Good to know. I don't even bother trying to figure out who gets paid what in MLS.

[wolf stansson]

Abby Wambach is a great American. She's on Bill Simmons' podcast today and when asked what one thing she'd do to improve US Soccer, she said fire Jurgen.

 

<3 <3 <3 <3

[Guest]

Mourinho out at Chelsea.

[shnsajax]

Mourinho out at Chelsea.

 

It must suck to get paid $30+ million to not go to work.

[biittner77]

Maybe he'd like to take over the USMNT?

[wolf stansson]

We need someone who knows the player pool, not a big name.

 

That said, I'd still be thrilled.

 

There are going to be a lot of elite club jobs open (Madrid, Bayern, United, City) so he'll have better options.

[shnsajax]

I really don't want Pep to go to ManU. Or Chelsea for that matter. Actaully just stay in Germany.

[CubInOK]

Maybe he'd like to take over the USMNT?

If he goes to any national team it will be Portugal.

[shnsajax]

So heading into Christmas Leicester still leads by at least 2 points maybe as many as 4. Crystal Palace is tied on points with Tottenham for a Champions League spot and Watford is only 1 point behind.

[Guest]

So heading into Christmas Leicester still leads by at least 2 points maybe as many as 4. Crystal Palace is tied on points with Tottenham for a Champions League spot and Watford is only 1 point behind.

 

And apparently Watford is dropping 14M pounds on some dude from Roma. This new TV deal is doing some crazy things in the EPL.

 

Heard on the Men in Blazers either this week or last that no team with as many points as Leicester through 15 games (32) has failed to make the top-4 in the EPL. This year is shaping up to be the year for one or two of the teams outside the traditional top-4 to get in. I assume Arsenal and City will be at least good enough to get top-4, which leaves two spots open. In the last decade, the fewest points to make the top-4 is 67. For Chelsea to get to that point total, they'd need 49 points in 21 games, which is a pace for 89 points for a full season. 89 points would win the EPL 4 of the last 6 years and tie for two others. Increase it to 70 points and they'd have to play at a 94 point pace, which would win the EPL each year but 1. Cross them off. ManU is clearly vulnerable since they can't score at all and are now starting to give up goals as well (7 in their last 3).

 

So almost for sure we've got one spot open (Chelsea) and ManU is no sure thing either, though we'll see what they do in the transfer window. And with Pep being out there for next year, this is the time to strike. It's going to be a really fun second half of the season.

[shnsajax]

I'm assuming Leicester will have money to drop on probably 2 defenders. Parity in this league is a great thing. Mahrez and Vardy are a lot of fun to watch.

[Guest]

City with Kompany this year: 8 G, 6-2-0, 20 points, 1 goal allowed, 7 clean sheets

City without Kompany: 9 G, 4-0-5, 12 points, 18 goals allowed, 0 clean sheets

 

I know you can't put that all on him but they're clearly a very different team with him in the lineup.

[shnsajax]

Omar Gonzalez to Pachuca

[wolf stansson]

That's a strange move for them. He must have pushed for it.

[shnsajax]

Gil going to play in Mexico too.

 

Pep to City is picking up. Wonder if Messi would follow. Actually Pep to City for a 3 year €25 million per being reported.

[SpongeWorthy]

Soccer is weird. These massively successful coaches resign or get fired and move on like they were changing a pair of pants.

 

Is there any kind of comparison in American sports of a guy like Mourinho cruising to a league title and getting axed midway through the next season?

[shnsajax]

Saban comes to mind sucking in the NFL and flipping back to college.

[Guest]

Soccer is weird. These massively successful coaches resign or get fired and move on like they were changing a pair of pants.

 

Is there any kind of comparison in American sports of a guy like Mourinho cruising to a league title and getting axed midway through the next season?

 

Yeah, it's pretty crazy over there with managers. In the EPL, only one current guy, Wenger at Arsenal, has managed at least three full seasons. Eddie Howe at Bournemouth is over three years in charge but started midseason in his first year. And those are the only two guys who have been at their teams for over three years. Only 5 current managers out of the 20 have even managed two full seasons (i.e., in their third season in charge).

 

For comparison, 15 of the 30 MLB managers have been at the helm since before the 2013 season (so at least 3 full seasons), 14 NBA managers are at least in their third year in charge (fun fact, Erik Spoelstra is the second longest currently tenured coach in the NBA) and 17 NFL coaches are in at least their third season. So you're looking at roughly half the managers/head coaches in the US make it through three seasons but currently only about 25% in the EPL (assuming none get canned midseason).

 

Can't think of a good comparison off hand for a coach in the US getting fired midseason the year after winning a title.

[Garwilly]

Billy Martin sort of fits.