Men's Soccer (Football) Thread Soccer • Page 662

Tbh, it wouldn’t surprise me if Iraola’s camp let it get out to pressure Bournemouth for a better deal.

Spurs reports coming out and saying Spurs “still want to make it work with Ange”.

 

Oh, absolutely. There's definitely some posturing by Iraola's camp to The Telegraph going on. Even so, it's The Telegraph I've got an issue with here, not Iraola.

 

I’ve been thinking all season about the PL and if it’s getting better quality down the table, or if the top teams have just dropped off and created a little more parity. I know there have been injuries to explain some of it. But in general, am I wrong to say the quality of play this season has been pretty poor across the league?

This is what makes me nervous with someone like Iraola. He’s done well at Bournemouth. But is some of it him overachieving while the usual suspects at the top of the table have taken a step back?

 

I think it was Ryan on the stadio podcast towards the end of 2024 that quipped that the only middle class that is growing in the world is the premier league mid table. I genuinely think that there’s a top 3-4, the 5-10 are honestly close enough that injuries can be the lone separator between the clubs. Imo I think that’s why the bottom 3 the last two years have been pretty dire (this year worse than last year). But I’m a newer fan so I’d default to the rest of yall who have watched for far longer.

 

Mad money

 

Statement: Dougie Freedman - News - Crystal Palace F.C.

Pretty big news for Palace. As far as I'm aware, a lot of the credit for the development of the club in recent years is given to Freedman, and he's been linked to a lot of the recent big Sporting Director roles. Be interesting what happens next for them.

 

I’d say this is fair.

Tbh, I think mid table teams are 100% better than they’ve ever been. They have the money to compete with big clubs across Europe for players now. And at the same time, when outside of 15/16 have we ever had a season where United & Spurs are this poor, where Chelsea are such a basket case, where Man City seemingly go over the edge, and where Arsenal play for half a season with no forwards?

Sort of a perfect storm for an unpredictable season, if only Salah wasn’t having a generational season.

 

“We just miss him”

 

MLS needs to start pausing the season for international breaks. Charlotte will be without 3 starters for the next couple games because of call-ups. We don’t have the depth to handle that, especially when opponents aren’t losing starters.

 

I have no connection to Newcastle or Dan Burn but man, this really got me.

 

Imagine how silly I feel criticizing(?) Burn recently in this thread! At least he's nailed on to go and be a success for England now.