2020-21 News Thread
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The manager merry-go-round spins.
Zinedine Zidane resigned at Real Madrid. Again. Massimiliano Allegri is among the candidates to replace him, but...
Andrea Pirlo is out at Juventus and will be replaced by Allegri.
Antonio Conte resigned at Inter despite winning their first Scudetto in 11 years. There are financial problems and they may face a big sell off. Conte is also in the mix for Real Madrid
Spurs are in talks with Mauricio Pochettino about a return. He’s still under contract at PSG.
Barcelona are reportedly considering Belgium manager Roberto Martinez of Ronald Koeman is sacked. Martinez also serves as the technical director for the Belgium FA and is under contract until after the World Cup. He hasn’t managed a club since being sacked by Everton in 2016 but the Red Devils’ window may be closing. He’s also a Catalan, but only played 19 matches for his hometown club Balaguer before moving to the UK
Zinedine Zidane resigned at Real Madrid. Again. Massimiliano Allegri is among the candidates to replace him, but...
Andrea Pirlo is out at Juventus and will be replaced by Allegri.
Antonio Conte resigned at Inter despite winning their first Scudetto in 11 years. There are financial problems and they may face a big sell off. Conte is also in the mix for Real Madrid
Spurs are in talks with Mauricio Pochettino about a return. He’s still under contract at PSG.
Barcelona are reportedly considering Belgium manager Roberto Martinez of Ronald Koeman is sacked. Martinez also serves as the technical director for the Belgium FA and is under contract until after the World Cup. He hasn’t managed a club since being sacked by Everton in 2016 but the Red Devils’ window may be closing. He’s also a Catalan, but only played 19 matches for his hometown club Balaguer before moving to the UK
VinatieriDefinesClutch
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Martinez would be insane. Hasn't everyone realized he's a bad manager at this point? He just keeps failing up
I mean ... I don't think he's so much bad as he is "just OK." He's a guy whose personality keeps getting him jobs that his skillset can't fulfill.
File this under “It was too good to be true” and “It was inevitable”. Carlo Ancelotti is leaving Everton to take over at Real Madrid. The Toffees started out like a house on fire but cooled down and finished 10th, tied on points with Leeds but behind on goal difference. They topped the table after match weeks 4-6 and were still in a Europa League spot as recently as match week 28 but only picked up 12 points from the last 10 matches and dropped to 8th until the last match, losing to Man City and dropping them to 10th.
I mean ... I know Everton fans are upset about this, but Anceloti managed to guide them to 10th place this season ... which is on the lower end of where they finish virtually every year, no matter the manager. More hype, bigger name player recruitment ... same old results. Whatever. Go find a solid manager and move on. Stay away from recycling projects this time.
UEFA is abolishing the away goals rule, effective with the 2021-22 season. Teams that are tied in a two legged tie will go to extra time and then to penalty kicks if still tied. It will still be used as a criteria to rank teams within a group if tied on points.
I've got mixed feelings about that. I've always felt like away goals held fairly strong incentive to compete to win or at least draw blood on the road when a lot of sides are tempted to hunker down in a defensive shell. In practice, though, that's less the case than you'd imagine and the rule leads to a lot of curious results.
The US names their Women's team for Tokyo. Vladko certainly ain't messing around with development this summer. He's going hell bent for Gold with a VERY (too?) veteran squad.
Goalies ... Naeher and Franch
Defenders ... Dahlkemper, Sauerbrun, O'Hara, Dunn, Sonnett and Davidson
Midfielders ... Ertz, Levelle, S Mewis, K Mewis and Horan
Forwards ... Morgan, Press, Rapinoe, Heath and Lloyd
Auxiliary ... Lynn Williams, Macario, Krueger and Campbell
There was speculation about Tobin Heath's health but I guess they have cover on the wing with Williams and Macario both capable enough subs. Plus, it's not like Rapinoe/Press is a bad situation. Lloyd is a million years old, but she still produces, and again you have some quality cover if Morgan goes down ... again. She seems back to something close to full fitness though. Sauerbrun is likewise elderly, but playing at a really high level at the moment. Plus, not all the old hands made the list. Orlando Pride's Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger are both staying home. Harris is taking it harder than her partner, FWIW. For my money Rapinoe has lost several steps and the real risk here is if she and Heath are both ineffective. You've really only got cover for one of them (in the form of Press), barring injury when you could draft in Williams or Macario. I assume that Kristie Mewis is on the team to cover a forward midfield role in case either Horan or her sister need to slide back to the 6 if Ertz can't go full speed. People complain when Horan or Sam Mewis are used in a more defensive role, but they're both quite good at it.
Goalies ... Naeher and Franch
Defenders ... Dahlkemper, Sauerbrun, O'Hara, Dunn, Sonnett and Davidson
Midfielders ... Ertz, Levelle, S Mewis, K Mewis and Horan
Forwards ... Morgan, Press, Rapinoe, Heath and Lloyd
Auxiliary ... Lynn Williams, Macario, Krueger and Campbell
There was speculation about Tobin Heath's health but I guess they have cover on the wing with Williams and Macario both capable enough subs. Plus, it's not like Rapinoe/Press is a bad situation. Lloyd is a million years old, but she still produces, and again you have some quality cover if Morgan goes down ... again. She seems back to something close to full fitness though. Sauerbrun is likewise elderly, but playing at a really high level at the moment. Plus, not all the old hands made the list. Orlando Pride's Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger are both staying home. Harris is taking it harder than her partner, FWIW. For my money Rapinoe has lost several steps and the real risk here is if she and Heath are both ineffective. You've really only got cover for one of them (in the form of Press), barring injury when you could draft in Williams or Macario. I assume that Kristie Mewis is on the team to cover a forward midfield role in case either Horan or her sister need to slide back to the 6 if Ertz can't go full speed. People complain when Horan or Sam Mewis are used in a more defensive role, but they're both quite good at it.
Horan has proven herself capable of replacing Ertz at 6, she did it in the World Cup and most of this spring’s matches, she’s the current version of Shannon MacMillen and Lauren Holiday; plug them in anywhere except goal. But I do share your concern about the forward depth. I’m not sure that Lloyd can play 90 anymore, at least against top competition. Morgan is the youngest at 31. If push came to shove, Dunn could move forward with Emily Sonnett capable of playing fullback.
It’s a tight schedule too, they play every 3rd day through the semifinals and then 3 whole days off before the final and bronze medal match. And a pretty tough group, with Sweden and the Matildas. Even the Kiwis have the highest ranking of any team in Pot 4.
It’s a tight schedule too, they play every 3rd day through the semifinals and then 3 whole days off before the final and bronze medal match. And a pretty tough group, with Sweden and the Matildas. Even the Kiwis have the highest ranking of any team in Pot 4.
The issue up front could come in several forms. That's what concerns me. Losing one of the starters in the front 3 is no hot shakes, since Press can cover all three roles and might actually start over Heath anyway ... depending on how Tobin looks in training. Press is playing at a VERY high level right now. Morgan is the flash point. She's looking really good for Orlando lately but she's had trouble staying healthy in tournaments before. Lloyd probably can't go 90, and you need to save Press for a wide role so that leaves you with Williams and Macario backing up the 9. Williams is much better in a 2 striker set, or even as a wing. Macario is really talented but one of the few green players on the team. If Valdko plans to stick with the 4-3-3, things could get real freaking weird, real freaking quick. But I guess that's the nature of the small roster tournament. Every other team is dealing with the same stuff.
We didn't have a thread for it, but Copa America wrapped up in Rio last night with Leo Messi finally winning a big cup for his country ... not that he did much during the game. And he made a complete mess out of his one gift wrapped scoring chance. Whatever ... narrative trumps facts every time. Big congrats to Argentina on the W.
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