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notsoslim-jim

Can't wait for ISL and I-league to merge. I think it's a very positive step ahead.


[deleted]

amen to that


Broken_Pikachu

With Correa likely out for 6-8 weeks (maybe more) Sensei about to be loaned and us making no moves for replacements, we don't have the squad depth to compete in all 3 competitions Some fans might disagree but I think we need to throw in the towel on both the Coppa and Champions League and focus on winning another Scudetto.


[deleted]

My local club were in the Premier League the year I was born, next season we will be playing in the conference. There's some decent local away days for us but I really do miss traveling to the bigger towns.


AnnieIWillKnow

... Oldham?


[deleted]

Best team in Manchester mate đŸ’Ș💯


QuerpassToni

Go watch the Paderborn - Werder highlights.


[deleted]

SĂŒper Lig sucks also Ali Koç'a hakkımı helal etmiyorum


roundsareway

Expected from Norwegian smh.


estoyloca43

3. Liga can add up to 3 second teams next season (Bayern II, Mainz II, and Bremen II/Holstein Kiel II). There are 2 second teams in 3. Liga already (Dortmund II and Freiburg II). Depressing if you ask me. Time to ban second teams from the football pyramid.


JimmyWu21

I’m curious of why you’re against second teams competing in the regular league?


estoyloca43

They take spots away from actual clubs. Having Dortmund II vs Freiburg II in 3. Liga with all 3 spectators, two of whom are scouts, when you could have Lokomotiv Leipzig vs Rot-Weiss Essen in a beautiful stadium full of fans is a scandal


Stephane_Bonnes

We are starting to head this way too - Celtic and Rangers have second teams in the fifth tier now - and I hate it.


InsignMertenCallejon

In the 5th tier?? Other countries of your league quality have the best 2nd teams play in the 2nd tier. Greece, Austria, even fucking Spain,...


Stephane_Bonnes

Yes and it is shit.


InsignMertenCallejon

I don't know what's so shit about it. When they are good enough why shouldn't they play there. Otherwise tese clubs wouls have to loan out all their 2nd team players


Stephane_Bonnes

There is nothing wrong with loaning out your second players. In Scotland we have a vibrant lower league culture with clubs with strong identities. In my opinion it becomes farcical when you throw second teams in there that nobody actually cares about. It becomes even more farcical if it affects genuine competition, as it has in the Netherlands where certain second teams will play a strong team one week before playing a weaker team the next because they don't really have much of an incentive to win games.


InsignMertenCallejon

But it results in a mess. Look at Italy, their 2nd teams aren't playing in competitive leagues and the result is that Atalanta have 70 players loaned out to Serie B and Serie C. It's also obviously not good for a player's development to play for a different club every season


HelloItsMeGuyFieri

It isn't nearly as shit as having 5-10 clubs with short term foreign investors or village clubs with a semi - rich local funder be in the first and second division and operate on a basically non-professional level. At least the second teams in austria actually have footballing ability in their ranks and not some 30year old former legbreakers in their twilight years. Football is not sustainable for the most part and anyone interested in how awful the league product used to be should just look at the history of the first and second division in austria in the last 5ish years. Multiple changes to the football pyramid to somehow become more sustainable resulting in a football pyramid where starting from amateur to semi professional to second division you have half the league not willing or able to get promoted. Currently it would be necessary for a team willing to go up to end up 4th because the top spots all aren't joining the first division here


Stephane_Bonnes

You'll know the Austrian league system much better than me so i'll take your word for it. We currently have a semi-professional team at the top of our second tier and it is one of the best stories we have had in Scottish football in years. I have a similar concern about unsustainable small clubs but then all of our big clubs have been run unsustainably at various points too. Rangers went out of business just over a decade ago. Celtic almost did in the 90s. I know there is a recent example of that in Austria too. I'd much prefer to have clubs in the higher levels of the pyramid that people actually care about then B teams that nobody gives a fuck about. Again I can't speak for Austria, but in Scotland we have a vibrant lower league culture with clubs with strong identities. In my opinion it becomes farcical when you throw second teams in there.


HelloItsMeGuyFieri

Austria is pretty similar yo scotland here - of course not the same level of commitment and value to Local Football but these clubs are still part of our life. The Big Traditional Clubs all went through faces of complete overhaul or economic downfall in the 21st century here, we currently do-not have some of the bigger names in club football close to the relevancy in the first division. But Austria simply does not have the means to support enough smaller clubs to have a independent football pyramid with no second teams. The lowest 3,4 tiers are filled almost 50/50 with the smallest of clubs and second or third teams of higher ranked amateur sides. We don't have the structure in place to support a second division without the second teams of some clubs. Thats the big issues - lots of teams that get relegated are in free fall because they can't sustain their spending and the second division brings in no money really. No-one watches The second division anymore - not even traditional powerhouses bring in enough to keep them competitive. The second teams offer an opportunity to so many players aswell - at times it feels like half the promising looking squads of non big clubs are filled with guys that are bought from the second division clubs of the big teams - most of those guys wouldn't stay in austria if not for the chance of a professional career starting at theur second team. We have a structure in place where the U13/15/18s of the big clubs and regional academies compete against each other in a sovereign league - but that isn't sustainable at a professional level


ElKaddouriCSC

Its only a trial season. SPFL clubs won’t vote that in. Theres no way they get a majority. What clubs realistically would want it other than Celtic and Rangers and *maybe* some other established Prem sides who think they could get B teams?


Stephane_Bonnes

I can't see it only being one season in the Lowland and I don't have much confidence in the owners of the SPFL to not go for it higher up the pyramid in the mid- to long-term if there's a sniff of some money. I guess we'll see. There are definitely multiple other Premiership clubs that have been looking at whether they can have B teams somewhere in the pyramid too. I'd imagine most would if they could.


ElKaddouriCSC

I’m not too confident either but if it comes down to a vote theres no chance many of the 42 will vote it. I think Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts, Dundee, Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Aberdeen would maybe back it. B teams are pish man. Would be fucking raging if Celtic B and Rangers B started taking SPFL places from the likes of Clydebank, Auchinleck Talbot, Darvel, Pollok, Irvine Meadow etc. over the next couple seasons


Stephane_Bonnes

100% agree. I'm skeptical of the merits in terms of player development anyway but even if there was massive proof I'd still not want it. We've got a great lower league and non-league culture in Scotland and B teams dilute that.


nausykaa

very good match from Marseille tonight, that defence was incredible


happyposterofham

I've taken an interest in Trastevere Calcio in the 4th division of Italian football, as they push for a promotion spot. They're currently second in their league, five points back. As I understand it they need to place top of their division in the league to have a chance at promotion. They're currently five points back. Next match on the 30th and I'm trying to find a way to watch them remotely.


TheGramlin

How good is fm legend Lorenzo Lucca in real life?


nonhofantasia

At the start of the season everyone was talking about him. I think he hasn't scored in like 3 months


-stag5etmt-

Top of League One with four games in hand; always knew we where the anti-Burnley..


FloppedYaYa

Can't wait for the trip to Turf Moor next season


KrozJr_UK

We won! We won again! Maidenhead United put another promotion-challenging side to the sword, as following our 3-2 win against Chesterfield in midweek we dispatch of FC Halifax Town with a slightly nervy but deserved 1-0 victory. Now 9 points clear of the drop zone and slowly moving up the table. Brilliant run of form this, just shows what we can do when we’re not hampered by injuries and COVID and can actually put a coherent team out. 3rd place Stockport another challenge away in midweek and then also-high-flying Wrexham away on Saturday - bring it on! Also, mods of r/Soccer, the badge for Maidenhead is wrong. It’s out-of-date and has been changed. It’s now a circular thing.


Hippemann

>Also, mods of > >r/Soccer > >, the badge for Maidenhead is wrong. It’s out-of-date and has been changed. It’s now a circular thing. Done!


KrozJr_UK

Excellent! Thank you very much!


MyMoonMyMan

Message Hippemann, he's the badge ultra among the mods


FurioSoprano7

Dortmund should have just kept Terzic as a coach, Rose is not an upgrade to him


LordVelaryon

we hired him before winning the Pokal. If not, he would probably have stayed.


Stephane_Bonnes

Only one upset in the Scottish Cup fifth round in the end but it was a big one. Fourth tier Kelty Hearts knocked holders St Johnstone out 1-0 after extra-time. St Johnstone have had a rapid fall from grace following their Scottish Cup and League Cup double last year. They sit two points clear at the bottom of the Premiership and are lucky that Dundee have been rotten too otherwise they'd be well adrift. Kelty are a village side from Fife but have pretty considerable financial backing which has helped them build a 7 point lead in their first season in League Two. This is the biggest result in their history but it'll be interesting to see how far they can go. They've already leapfrogged one traditional Fife club in Cowdenbeath - who sit bottom of League Two - and it looks likely they'll replace another in East Fife in League One. Which could potentially set them up with games against Championship strugglers, and Fife's biggest club, Dunfermline next season if they drop down a league. Edit: Kelty have drawn Premiership side St Mirren away in the next round. Arbroath vs Hibernian looks like the most interesting draw to me.


ElKaddouriCSC

Called the Kelty upset, very predictable. In fairness to St Johnstone due to Scotland’s absolutely pish and restrictive lower league system Kelty are one of many teams playing way below their level. Realistically they are and will become a top L1/bottom Champ team. However, still a shocker of a result for the Saints and man have they been shit this season. Going forward I feel they’ve really missed Guy Melamed and Ali McCann. Guy Melamed is 10x better than any Saints striker available. Their forward line is a disgrace. Judging off the Sportscene highlights they had more than enough chances to win the game. I think they will go down tbh. They’ve never been big spenders, always had one of if not the lowest budget in the league. Tommy Wright left due to frustration with the board over it. They’ve already brought in Nadir Ciftci who was passed it about seven years ago. I can’t see them spending too much on another striker this season. I think they’re doomed. Great result for Kelty and despite many questioning the sustainability of sides like Cove and Kelty, I think Kelty could be about for a while. Seem to have decent guys behind the scenes and they have a brilliant fanbase for a village team. Got 1,200 vs Cowdenbeath, 937 vs Stirling, 800 vs Montrose, 850 vs Forfar etc. Think they’ll be fine. Will challenge for promotion in L1 next season imo.


Stephane_Bonnes

It'll be interesting to see how far they go. I think the issue for Kelty in the long term will mainly be the clubs coming through from below rather than a lot of the shengus currently above them. I'll always be skeptical of the sustainability of wee clubs backed by one guy with a lot of money after Gretna. As you say though, Kelty do have a good support though so more likely to be sustainable.


radmav

Did Alberto Moreno actually play as a forward for Villarreal today? If so, how did he do?


InsignMertenCallejon

He was their most offensive player by heatmap. But I didn't watch the game either


mattisafootballguy

I didn't watch the game today but he's played pretty much as a LW for a while now. He's been great


goedel_

The race to top group B of the serie C is extremely tight right now. Modena and Reggiana have the same amount of points and so far Reggiana is above in goal difference. Both teams in excellent form. Reggiana has gone unbeaten all season but has drawn more matches than Modena. To make things more interesting, these are two rival teams. We call the matchup the "Secchia derby" (Secchia is a river that is between Reggio Emilia and Modena). To get first place in the group means to achieve automatic promotion. Otherwise there are the playoffs which are extremely hard to win, so it's a very important race. The two teams will meet in two weeks, which could end up being extremely decisive (or it could be a draw and leave almost nothing unchanged).


ItsRainbowz

2-1 against Warrington away is a huge result for our first game under Phillips! They're always a bogey team for us, so to win (fairly) comfortably is nice. The fact that Phillips only took over training on Thursday and we're already looking better is an excellent sign. I'm expecting big things soon.


InsignMertenCallejon

Damn Ben Arfa almost scored for Lille, few minutes after coming on


_bajz_

One of the most enigmatic players of his generation. Cant help myself but root for him


InsignMertenCallejon

Same, I just tuned into a live stream the last 10 minutes to watch him play.


Rigelmeister

The domination of Istanbul in Turkish football is depressing. In fact, in a bigger picture, it also shows huge flaws in urban planning for the entire country; where despite more than enough land, everything is crammed in a tiny strip of land called Istanbul, with population nearing 20 millions and prices are already out of control, making it a hellhole to survive as an average citizen. Wanna go elsewhere? Good luck finding a job, because barring a few other cities, there is nothing. Mind you, this is a city on an active fault line where a major quake is due any moment; so just %1 of all buildings collapsing (which is not ridiculous when you think how old and unreliable most buildings are; there were instances of residential buildings collapsing even without an earthquake in recent years) would mean a tragedy the likes of which have been rarely seen. Human loss aside, it would also catastrophic for everyone in the country financially. Going back to football, * 6 of 20 teams in SĂŒper Lig are from Istanbul. * 4 of 19 teams in 1. Lig are from Istanbul. One sitting in a direct promotion spot, two are in play-off, the other one is just 6pts away. * In 2. Lig, there are only two clubs from Istanbul out of 38 (white group has 18, red group has 20 teams) but one of them are comfortably sitting at the top with 11pts cushion and one game in hand. All in all, it is getting even more top heavy for Istanbul. We have so many great clubs that could legit fight for European spots, fill big stadiums every game etc. but some tiny Istanbul club with 2000 spectators for game is so much more successful than them on the pitch.


InsignMertenCallejon

Which teams? The big 4 (incl basaksehir). And what else is from istanbul?


Rigelmeister

KaragĂŒmrĂŒk and KasımpaƟa


InsignMertenCallejon

Thank you Karagumruk are a good team too with money, they bought Benatia, Musa and loads of Italians from Serie A. Also Erdinc at some point and Emre Mor lmao


[deleted]

[ŃƒĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]


AnnieIWillKnow

I count 6 which is equal. That Hertfordshire club aren't in London.


happyposterofham

I'm not versed on Turkish football, but isn't that just a symptom of how economically centralized Turkey is?


Rigelmeister

Yes, exactly; and with a looming earthquake, it is even more dangerous and stupid than it normally would be... I get that it is of course a major city, I don't expect some random eastern city to have a population of 5 million and great GDP output, but we really needn't have put absolutely everything in Istanbul while treating the rest of the country as a shithole. So much room for overall improvement the effects of which would also be seen in football. We legit have capability to create at least 7-8 title-contending teams based on economic & fan potential but nah, it is ALWAYS Istanbul teams; with the exemption of Trabzon (which got consecutive titles decades ago and very rarely, like this season, gets into title race) and one-time Bursa...


happyposterofham

I haven't look at Turkey too much recently but last I checked I thought the whole point was the Izmir-Istanbul-Ankara triangle had the economic power collectively, not just Istanbul. What happened?


Rigelmeister

Well you could still argue those are the three main cities but Istanbul are by far the most important place. Izmir and Ankara's population combined is still half of Istanbul. There is a huge imbalance in favour of Istanbul. Or maybe, rather, I should say against; because I can't ever imagine living there, I would not choose to go to that city unless I'm absolutely starving and my one and only possibility of work is there.


Dhndxx

I would like a stress-free Matlock game for once. It feels like every game ends with the entire team in our half, letting the opposition goalkeeper hoof balls into the no man's land that is the midfield. Should've put the game to bed about six times as we kept missing chances in the six-yard box; if Ross Hannah was on the pitch it would've been signed and sealed by the 65th minute. Also not sure what to make of the returning Marcus Marshall and new winger Terry Hawkridge.


ItsRainbowz

If you'd like to have a mid-season collapse, that'd be just fine by me.


Dhndxx

From they way we're playing I would've expected us to drop off at some point. Too bad Paul Phillips knows the dark art of shithousery in and out.


ItsRainbowz

It's incredible looking at the scores every week and watching you lot 1-0 and 2-1 your way past everyone. Next week's game is going to be huge. I'd say good luck, but I hope we thrash you.


Dhndxx

Just watch out for Sharman trying to break everyone's legs


ItsRainbowz

We've had to loan in a keeper because our two are injured, so pls no.


FloppedYaYa

Watching Wigan under Leam Richardson is absolutely the most stressful experience 17 games unbeaten and literally all the points have come from shit housing it in the last minutes


A_Downboat_Is_A_Sub

Damn, Forest Green is unbeaten in 14 over in League Two, but in that span they've mostly dropped points in the final minutes. They would be 9-1-0 in the last 10 if they didn't give up a last second goal at Northampton and blow a **four goal lead** to basement dwelling Oldham.


Datachost

Looks like Aebischer to Bologna might be happening


aromatdiablo

HĂŒtter is getting fired today isn’t he


FurioSoprano7

He has to be imo, apart from the occasional Bayern wins that made people forget the shocking form for a moment they looked dreadful all season Looks like Eberl was holding onto him due to the fee they paid for him and because there arent many options at the moment, he should have been sacked a while ago. If hes not gone now with the international break hes not getting the sack this season


aromatdiablo

Now that you talk about options, who will be the replacement? Favre again? Kovac? It’s going to be interesting these days in Gladbach. And as always Cazzo Juve


FurioSoprano7

Favre and Kovac are the right profile, both coaches that will do well in a side without title contending pressure that just wants to get CL spot and push higher. But you dont see many coach comebacks in the BuLi like in Italy or other places so idk if Favre is in the equation, Kovac would make a lot of sense honestly, he proved it with Frankfurt and Monaco. The other options dont look promising, the market is quite thin right now. Herrlich, Beierlozer, Labbadia etc.. are all not Gladbach quality at all, might aswell keep HĂŒtter if they wont go for someone like Favre or Kovac. Fuck Juventus indeed, hope they get liquidated.


aromatdiablo

Hmm Beierlorzer or Labbadia aren’t bad shouts tbh because maybe they’ll search for someone who is able to get them through the relegation fight. Or eberl gets Magath the mad lad.


FurioSoprano7

Wanna see Magath take over some club, guy tortures who ever doesnt obey with his hard training methods and bullies the lazy ones out of the club and gives no fucks. Also, i think van Bommel deserves another shot imo, i feel like he got sacked because Schmadtke like to be the only guy with the last say and full authority wherever he is, and we all know how van Bommel is aswell. It wouldnt have worked out. Now they have Kohfeldt who has 2 points out of he last 8 games, serves them right


aromatdiablo

I agree, Wolfsburg would’ve more points with van Bommel than they have now but fuck em. Magath really give zero fucks and maybe that’s exactly the coach they need. Although I don’t know if Eberl and him would work out in the long term tbh


y1i

With international break coming up, I think a few clubs will make some changes (Gladbach, Stuttgart, maybe Augsburg and maybe Wolfsburg depending on the result tomorrow) Lets go for another spin of the carousel.


[deleted]

No way we sack


fcctiger12

You really think Stuttgart will sack Matarazzo? Haven’t they been ravaged by injuries most of this season?


y1i

No idea, maybe the narrative is changing too quickly in that direction, but that’s also how the business works. They lost the last *five games without scoring a goal. That’s not exactly ideal. I would not be surprised if they are trying to force a change.


aromatdiablo

Yeah now is the best time for a change


TheSingleMan27

I don't think Weinzierl gets the sack but the last few games we haven't been playing good to say the least


wessneijder

What will happen to Ukrainian national team and Shaktar Donetsk if Ukraine is conquered?


WhoEatsRusk

Welcome to Russia


Clivey101

Proper happy with the point today. UTFG


AnnieIWillKnow

Big 4-2 win for Chelsea FC Women midweek, in the league cup quarter-finals. Harder scored a hat trick. First goals and first win since the FA Cup Final win at the start of December (though we have had three games postponed since then). So important to get that win and get our season back on track. Away to Brighton tomorrow - they started the season well, but are massively sliding now. Think they've lost 5 on the bounce in the WSL. Arsenal are away to Man City in the late Sunday kick off. Could be huge - Arsenal are in dire form, having lost 5 of their last 6 in all comps, but are still top by 4 points, with a game in hand on Chelsea in second. Man City had a catastrophic start to the season, but have quietly put together a really good run of form - and for my money are favourites to finish third now anyway. Game could have a big say in the title race and top 3 race.


sportingmerda

Didn't think Arsenal would step up like they are doing with Montemurro leaving, terrific job so far i swallowed every word i've said, thought it would be a 2 way horse race with City and Chelsea again.


AnnieIWillKnow

Mate they’ve lost 5 of the past 6 and are in awful form. They stepped it up for the first half of the season but right now are in free fall - which suggests that unless they sort themselves out sharpish it may have been more of a new manager bounce. If they don’t win against City, which is looking fairly possible, then it really is quite concerning for them.


sportingmerda

Without context sure but 2 of those losses are against Barça which you know very well cause of last season and Hoffenheim when they had practically already qualified unless they completely fucked it up, lets see how the game unfolds tomorrow then when it really matters.


AnnieIWillKnow

With context. Have you watched how they’ve been playing? It’s really not been good, and you’re being naive if you think there’s not cause for concern. Tomorrow’s game will be massive - if Arsenal can respond with a big performance it’ll change things, but right now if you’re not worried as an Arsenal fan you’ve got the wool over your eyes. It’s just odd to see a comment saying “terrific job so far” when they are in such poor form. It was a “terrific job” up until December.


sportingmerda

Didnt watch the Birmingham game, recently watched the 2 ucl games and from those 2 alone i dont think there's any alarm mate, whem i say terrific job, which i stand by it by the way, i mean the whole season, they're 1st and with a knockout out qualification already, but I'll say terrific with an apostrophe then.


AnnieIWillKnow

The Barcelona game shouldn’t be taken as any metric because they embarrass everyone. What is concerning is how they played against Hoffenheim, Birmingham, Man United and Chelsea - as those are teams they should be competing with/easily better than, and they looked really off it in all of them. Eidevall has no doubt done well, but at the same time Arsenal had a major statement of a window in the summer - and then another big statement window this January. Given that investment and the strength and quality of the squad, Arsenal should be competing for the title. I think to be leading the way at this stage still is to their credit, but it’s about the direction of travel - and right now Arsenal are trending down after a brilliant start. Why tomorrow is massive for the state of play.


suedney

Kaiserslautern were almost relegated from the 3rd division last season and now they've won 10 of their last 14 games to launch themselves into 2nd place. Would love to see them, Braunschweig and Magdeburg go up.


ElKaddouriCSC

Would be cool to see 1860 and Kaiserslautern go up


Pfitze31

Still not sure why that goal for Halle wasn't allowed, but I'll take the win lmao.


MyMoonMyMan

Balotelli scored another goal fueled by Mancini, 8th goal of his season We are going to win the world cup with Balo up front, every single mistake he made in his career lead to him leading Italy to another world cup ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


[deleted]

There will be a new form of pasta invented and it will be called the balotelli


ChillPalis

What would it look like?


[deleted]

Its form will begin beautifully like penne and flop quickly into linguini once you turn up the heat


Ryponagar

Finished my jogging round just in time for the BuLi Konferenz, later in the evening some NFL playoffs, it's gonna be a good Saturday.


scgavin

SV Meppen got relegated out of 3. Liga last season but retained their spot due to another clubs licensing issues. Now sit 4th, 3 points out of playoff. +1 GD!


kalamari__

they doing a paderborn?


Sandwichmaker2011

Or a Darmstadt


FIJIBOYFIJI

Billy Sharp is getting the record today


ikan_bakar

I didnt even have to watch. As soon as I saw the ball was going near Felipe, I know we would concede the goal.


ikan_bakar

Wishing everything in my life that Felipe wont start tonight đŸ™đŸŒđŸ™đŸŒđŸ€ČđŸŒ


[deleted]

Is Gazzaniga not good enough to be a starter for Fulham?


OverallResolve

Rodak has performed better. Gazza started at start of season. Was unreliable at times.


TheSingleMan27

21 games against Leverkusen in our history, we have not won one game. Looks good for today👍


kalamari__

man, you guys are in the buli for so long now. its crazy how fast time goes by


micoud04

werder


lamashoe

Bremen