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2020-21 News Thread

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I mean ... that would be star USWNT player for star USWNT, so by definition it's fair. Plus, from the Courage's point of view, Horan is one of the few midfielders in NWSL that's pretty much a like for like replacement for Sam Mewis. Honestly, it's the only one for one swap that makes sense.

It will probably end up as allocation money and picks. And Paul Riley has rubbished Goff’s “sources” regarding the trade.
 
I've seen Riley dismiss stuff that has ended up actually happening before, but with the rest of 2020's schedule so weird and fractured, moving within the league right now does seem a bit of a stretch.

BTW ... Mewis made her debut with Man City over the weekend. 1 goal and 2 assists in half a game. Yeah ... that league isn't quite up to the standard of NWSL even if a few of the individual teams are quite good.
 
Lionel Messi has sent a fax to Barcelona demanding his release per language in his last contract. There is a lot out there in English, Spanish and Catalan and I can’t find a definition of the “leave unilaterally” clause is. But it appears that Messi’s 20 year association with FC Barcelona is at an end, one way or the other.
 
I've seen Riley dismiss stuff that has ended up actually happening before, but with the rest of 2020's schedule so weird and fractured, moving within the league right now does seem a bit of a stretch.

BTW ... Mewis made her debut with Man City over the weekend. 1 goal and 2 assists in half a game. Yeah ... that league isn't quite up to the standard of NWSL even if a few of the individual teams are quite good.

England has a strong national team, but they’re not that deep yet and they’re scattered all over England and the rest of Europe.
 
England has a strong national team, but they’re not that deep yet and they’re scattered all over England and the rest of Europe.
There's kind of two tiers in England when it comes to the ladies. There's a group that's competing for Champions League exposure and the group that's competing for sustaining a spot in top flight of the FA Super League ... and those groups have very different budgets. Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated but City are pushing them hard while most of the other clubs have been on a slower, homegrown development curve and they're catching up a little at a time. Those three would fit right in in the NWSL without missing a beat ... everybody else not so much.

Europe is so weird when it comes to the women's game. Some of the wealthier ownership groups have decided to invest heavily, but some haven't ... and it doesn't seem to really follow any pattern. France, Germany and Spain all have a couple of clubs that are serious and that has helped their National teams a great deal, and England is clearly engaged. The Scandinavian countries love women's sports, so they've been all in for a while. Italy is the wild card. Their league is seriously competitive, but still semi-professional. I've said for a long time that if the Italians start to take women's football seriously, then they could get real good, real fast. Same for the South American giants, although the curve would be a bit flatter since everybody other than Brazil would basically be starting from scratch. And the kicker is that ALL of those countries use the US college programs as development grounds to one degree or another. That gives NWSL a nice leg up ... if they can continue to solidify their business model, grow the league and take advantage.
 
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Multiple reports that US international Weston McKennie Is leaving Schalke for Juventus for a €3 million loan fee and €18 million option to buy. Schalke had announced at the end of the Bundesliga season that they were essentially content to be a mid-table club, as they face mounting debt, estimated at €200 million.
 
Yeah, there were lots of reports about Weston being super aggressive looking for a Premiere League deal, but let's be honest ... most of those reports were out of England, and they really only popped up once Pulisic started rocking it for Chelsea. The British press make American media look reasoned and mature.

Juve is a great landing spot and they're going through a bit of a restructure. I just hope McKennie finds a role for them sooner rather than later. He's dynamic in the right role and competent otherwise. Kid can play anywhere in midfield.
 
ESPN+ has picked up broadcast rights to the Scottish Premier League. The contract isn’t final yet so broadcasts aren’t not expected to start until after the international break.
 
Zlatan has signed a 1 year contract extension with AC Milan. He scored 11 goals in 20 matches after signing on a free transfer in the January window.
 
ESPN+ has picked up broadcast rights to the Scottish Premier League. The contract isn’t final yet so broadcasts aren’t not expected to start until after the international break.
Word of warning for anyone interested in checking out the Scottish game ... it's VERY physical. In fact, other than Old Firm games featuring Celtic and Rangers, you're better off watching two lower in the table teams slugging it out in the mud than to watch Celtic or Rangers play one of those same teams. Just be prepared for a brand of football that has a lot in common with rugby
 
Could Gonzalo Higuain be joining former teammate Blaise Matuidi in Miami? supposedly, the sides are close to agreeing on personal terms and Miami has obtained right of first refusal from DC United.

 
Higuain is classic old dude MLS scoring machine material, and by all accounts Juve wants to get younger and cheaper.
 
The BBC reports that Luis Suarez is headed to Juventus, but there are a couple of big ifs. He has to negotiate his release from Barcelona. He also needs to pass a citizenship test to play in Italy. However, his wife holds an Italian passport and that was enough to qualify him to play in Spain.

 
Well, there goes the younger and cheaper thing. Suarez is a year older than Higuain and certainly won't have lower wages. Although, to be fair, he's got more left in the tank ... I think.
 
Messi is not leaving Barcelona this season. La Liga apparently reviewed the contract and determined that a €700 million release clause was in effect for this season. He can leave after the 2020-21 season.
 
Apparently James Rodriguez to Everton is a done deal, pending a successful medical. BIG get for Everton if he can get back in shape and they give him the right role ... the kind he shows up for. Dude hasn't played serious minutes in two full years, but he's "only" 29.
 
Apparently James Rodriguez to Everton is a done deal, pending a successful medical. BIG get for Everton if he can get back in shape and they give him the right role ... the kind he shows up for. Dude hasn't played serious minutes in two full years, but he's "only" 29.

His best year at Real Madrid was playing for Ancelotti, so both sides are hoping for a repeat.
 
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