Not sure that is what people think they are paying for, and why he gives so much of a shit about it.
Americans want entertainment. These teams their players, and their fans want to win. Of course it won’t be the same “real game.” Different needs.
“Don’t kill them so fast” was the Gladiator’s owner’s advice to The Gladiator, noting the American sports attendants’ wants 2000 years in advance, in fiction.
Or:
–…I’m trying to get them to do a story about you.
– Me? Why me?
–You’re the “Queen of Diamonds.”
That’s what I’m calling you.
–Did you tell them about me?
– I told them how at first, the scout didn’t even want you…
– …but how Dottie wouldn’t come
without her kid sister. They loved it. They really loved it.
A real human-interest story. So will you just try to give them something spectacular out there?
Anything.
– Why, what’s the matter?
– Well, Mae, we’re not doing so well. Harvey and the other owners think they’ve made a mistake. They’re talking about closing you down.
– What?
– What are you talking about?
– They can’t close us down here.
– What kind of a thing is that?
– What’s it mean?
–They’re businessmen. No profit, no product.
UCL Drawing in 30 minutes. ESPN says that since the three EPL teams in Pot 1 cannot play the other three EPL teams in the other pots, the non-EPL teams in Pot 1 have to play two EPL teams. Sucks for them, since the pots are not determined by current team strength but by four years of Euro play. NEW played in Europe only once in the past several years, so is in Pot 4.
ETA: UCL Drawing in 23 minutes from NOW, 9:08 AM PDT
And, it’s out! Ooh, let’s see who plays the Thursday Night game! Let’s see who gets the coveted Sunday Night National Game! Let’s… wait, this is not that.
Quality matches in “League Stage” not seen before last year in the former “Group Stage.”
RM play City and LIV.
PSG play BAY, FCB, NEW, and ARS.
No longer are B teams gonna play every match. 8th place last year had 16 points. 24th place had 11 points and a -4 GD. GD will be important to those worried about ending up on the cusp.
I hope the 9th-24th teams noticed the two extra matches they had to play (though one of these was PSG) and make a concerted effort to be in the top 8.
I subscribed to ESPN+ a few years ago, motivated by international soccer broadcasts. I enjoyed it a lot. It started at $99/year, although I think I got a promo my first year. It was $110/yr last season and they propose to renew it at $120/yr, which I’d still pay for if I could get the same stuff.
However they are shuffling things around and it’s no longer a good deal for me. ESPN+ is no more. They now have ESPN select and premium. Select is $120/yr, but even if you pay the $300/yr for Premium you don’t get the soccer I could watch last season as they are throwing many matches behind the Disney Plus banner/paywall. To get all the same soccer I got last year, you need the Disney/Hulu/ESPN bundle for $30/month with lots of ads or $40/month with some ads. That’s the intro price, as it jumps another $5/month after 12 months. I don’t want all that other crap.
I’m canceling. Maybe I’ll replace it with Peacock Premium at $110/year and watch more Premier League.
Counterpoint: Kane is on BAY #2 in the world, playing against a League with only three other teams in the top 30.
EPL has nine teams in the top 31 (includes TOT). It’s as if Kane retired.
What amount of money is everyone getting for this?
How much more is VIL getting instead of hosting it themselves? I’d like to think that it was a lot, to compensate for their angry fans not attending a match.
Is VIL the Jacksonville of The La Liga? Do they not sell out their stadium (23K capacity)?
I guess this qualifies for this thread, since it affect the club seasons:
So, instead of two two-week breaks in October and November, there will one three-week break spanning October and November. Reduces travel time 50%. More time in home country. Play four (or more) matches in that time. Better for determining how the team plays. Easier to break the old-guard mold with new blood, etc.
I’m for it. Really helps players and club teams and national teams on different hemispheres.
deJong still not happy, but extending his contract:
FCB play in the Copa Del Rey on December 17, fly 4,700 miles to Miami (9 hours), back homes for Holidays, then away at Espanyol (in Barcelona, so no travel), then travel for extra matches against top La Liga Teams in SuperCopa blood money trip.
The world television feed of the game at Real Oviedo against Espanyol cut to the exterior of the stadium for the first 25 seconds of the game, when players paused for the opening 15 seconds in opposition of plans to take a game to the United States.
Courtois, who doesn’t have to fly here and back, also against it:
The important part, which is the major difference between real soccer and American sports leagues:
“Yes, it totally affects the integrity of the competition,” Courtois said in a news conference on Tuesday ahead of Madrid’s Champions League game against Juventus. "It’s easy to talk about the NBA and the NFL [playing overseas]. But in the NBA they have 82 games, playing for a playoff game, and it barely changes anything.
"In the NFL it’s voted on by all the team owners, by everyone. Here in LaLiga, they do whatever they want. It affects the integrity of the competition, and it breaches the players’ agreement. It isn’t right. You have to play home and away. Playing away is very difficult in this league, and Villarreal away is a difficult game. Everyone should play at home and away, barring force majeure."