Over here US “soccer” is described as restarting with MLS having died with the NASL in the 80s. Was that not the case?
True, but it was created exactly as you described, top-down, instead of from the bottom-up.
Create a league, then choose “winners” to join the league.
We’ve had a US Open Cup for over a hundred years, so we’ve obviously had soccer teams to build leagues from, the right way.
What was missing, I think, was a strong federation. USSF, in various names, has been around for over a hundred years as well, but its wiki page is missing any useful info from 1914 to 1991.
Instead, I’m reading this wiki page right now, so that I learn my one thing for the day:
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Clearly a lot more soccer in the US than we are aware of over here. I think FIFA allows the closed league of MLS as there is no strong federation as you say.
Whereas the ESL would have usurped power from UEFA and sent a very powerful signal to the richer clubs that they could do whatever they want.
TOT currently slated for play-off round of new Europa Conference League, unless the eventual FA Cup winner drops below 7th.
Winner of that tournament gets a Group Stage spot in Europa League.
So hard to predict how the Spurs will do in their remaining EPL games but mathematically they could still finish high enough for a Champions League slot. The Europa League is so second-best!
Yeah, and this new Europa Conference League is third best.
Not many matches left, but if LEI drop points and TOT gain, LEI match on final day might have meaning.
LEI still in title hunt, but must win every match, while MCI lose every match, PLUS make up 24 goals-differential (which should give LEI more goals, and LEI hold the away goals in head-to-head meetings tie-breaker). Oh, and MUN will have to drop 8 points relative to LEI.
MUN-LIV postponed.
Glazers move MUN to Tampa Bay, show how American owners screw fans.
Watching the earlier match, while they split-screened the coverage at Old Trafford. I mean, no people were getting hurt by this protest, but the announcers were getting all up in arms about going into the stadium and onto the pitch. “Oh, now they’ve gone TOO far!” in their British-sounding accents. No, the American owners want risk-free profits for their investments, same as they have in the USA, and the fans aren’t having it. It’s the OWNERS who have gone too far.
Update: now MUN supporters have announced a boycott of major sponsors of MUN:
Thank you ManU fans for lowering the bar as hooligans. Should have been a forfeit.
Arteta knows, but cannot say publicly, why Arsenal is trending downward:
So, it’s the owners.
C’mon, Ole. It can’t be impossible. I mean, SOME team is going to win the title. Just not your team, not this year. You play the same number of EPL games. You got a weekend off last week when MUN fans decided to kick the owners in the nuts. Shit, MCI has played an even longer schedule (one more EFL Cup match one more FA Cup match, harder Champions League knockout competition), got a break during the holidays but still had to make up that match, just like you are now, yet they’re still on the brink of the title.
Stop whining. Should have won more matches earlier this year. SHU won five matches. One was against MUN in January.
I like the fact Brighton stayed up. I really enjoyed their story getting there and if they had a striker of any value, they would be pushing on top half.
I like all 4 teams competing to come up for next year in the 3-6 fight. I would prefer Bournemouth come up, but the others have some good stories. Bournemouth played tough. Barnsley has only played 1 year in top flight and Billy Beane is a part owner. Brentford hasn’t been in the EPL. Swansea did well when they were up for a bit and having a Welsh squad is good. The next 4 clubs in standings were all dogs (Reading, Cardiff, QPR, Middlesbrough).
I want to see Barnsely move up, using their version of MoneySoccerBall. BUT, not disclose their methods! Don’t let Michael Lewis in to publish how it’s done!
Second, The Bees.
The relegation is complete.
The Champion is complete.
12th through 17th are out of Europe.
MUN in UCL.
The rest is still up for grabs
Despite ManU playing no names and laying down vs. Leicester, Arsenal’s win over Chelsea means that 4 Liverpool wins essentially guarantees Champions League
1 down, 3 to go
Just finished watching the match and post-match. Though your math is correct, they kept saying that “both CHE and LEI can get to 70 points.” And that is not correct: EITHER ONE of them can get to 70 points, but not both of them at the same time.
So, still excitement left in the in-betweens.
Well, there is the small chance of ending in a tie with LEI but LEI beats them on GD.
Suppose:
- CHE beats LEI by A;
- LIV win their next two matches by X and Y.
- LEI will have a +20-A GD, while LIV are at +20+X+Y GD.
That puts LIV tied with LEI but above on GD by X+Y+A GD’s.
So, LEI could beat TOT by 1+A+X+Y+LIV’s GD in LIV’s third match to take 4th place.
So, win by at least 5 goals.
Also, it’s possible that they finish tied in GD and Goals scored (requires some high-scoring, low GD wins). In that case, LIV and LEI beat each other during the season (tie-breaker #3), but LIV take 4th by Away goals in their head-to-head meetings.
So, no chance of a play-off.
I wrote “essentially” knowing that a wipeout of Spurs would be a possibility. IF Liverpool win the next 2, I am expecting that X+Y will be > 2. Leicester will go for the Cup and then have to play Chelsea again on quick turnaround. Chelsea will focus more on the EPL game. If on the last week of the season Leicester beats Spurs by 5-0 to move on AND Arsenal moves past Spurs to claim the final Euro League spot, Spurs may suffer generational type slide. While I despise Arsenal and do not care for Everton, especially with Pickford ruining Liverpool’s season with a reckless play, I will laugh if one slips by them. I wish Leeds were able to get there and get a little more talent for Biesla.
If Leeds adds 1-2 players, they are going to be challengers for Euro spots next year if they keep Biesla.
Been disappointed by Spurs before but I think they will get into some European competition.