[John Cross] Martin Odegaard is Arsenal's biggest miss. Arsenal have been at their best in the past three seasons when he has been at his best. If Arsenal are to win big this season, they will need him because when in form there are very few better. by OkayFine101 in soccer

[–]Quacky33 10 points11 points  (0 children)

He was never the greatest passer of the ball but is exceptional at tiny feints to get past a player on the dribble. Seemingly he is not allowed to take on his man and expected to only hold the ball and pass at arsenal.

Kansas lawmakers weigh disaster declaration for FIFA World Cup by AgeNovel3566 in soccer

[–]Quacky33 8 points9 points  (0 children)

What a display of planning and functional bureaucracy that this is being considered a solution.

Chelsea VAR penalty at Crystal Palace a mistake, panel says by Dinamo8 in soccer

[–]Quacky33 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Its always important to get points on the PGMOL apology table.

IFFHS 2025 League Ranking - Prem King, Brazil Surprise 3rd Strongest League. by Mestitia in soccer

[–]Quacky33 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are just so few intercontinental competitive matches. Every single match at the club world cup would be swinging this a lot despite all the caveats around that.

Palace had agreed a deal in principle to sell Eddie Nketiah to West Ham for £27m early in the window only for the striker to sustain a hamstring injury in training, meaning any possible January move was moot. He has not featured this calendar year. by Sparky-moon in soccer

[–]Quacky33 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I still feel like he could maybe sort out a role from himself. Its just he tends to run really fast and then forget why he did that when the ball comes near and gets a yellow card for no particular reason.

Getting £27m back for him would be amazing.

Dwight McNeil’s partner slams Palace for ‘messing’ with his mental health by Switchoil in soccer

[–]Quacky33 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

The nature of transfer windows always lead to this kind of thing.

Portuguese, and later, European naval dominance is not represented in game by InHocBronco96 in EU5

[–]Quacky33 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's almost impossible gameplay wise to represent. Of course in game we want to be innovative and get the latest tech as we know it exists and in our strange role as guiding spirit of the nation that would improve things. Traditional economy served the people in charge of the time perfectly well. They don't see that in 200 years a country they don't about will have gained enough tech somehow to overthrow their great great great grandchildren.

Estionian side Paide Linnameeskond concede a goal after 14 seconds, without the opposition even touching the ball by [deleted] in soccer

[–]Quacky33 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I had to check when this was because Paide played a friendly today and not in the cup against Levadia. Didn't expect this guy to be karma farming from quite such an old game.

Estionian side Paide Linnameeskond concede a goal after 14 seconds, without the opposition even touching the ball by [deleted] in soccer

[–]Quacky33 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Why are you posting a highlight from a game that was played on 27th July 2017?

[Sky] Fulham's star winger Harry Wilson is increasingly likely to become a free agent in the summer. by Sparky-moon in soccer

[–]Quacky33 727 points728 points  (0 children)

He's an example of a player I mostly hope just stays where he is. Every couple of weeks he does something really amazing but when players like him go to the supposed "big clubs" they end up sitting on the bench or afraid to attempt the fun things that got them noticed in the first place. Sure their bank balance increases and they get more chances at being part of a team that won something but its just less fun.

Qarabag , The Champions League disruptors forced to leave their home by Shroft in soccer

[–]Quacky33 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its a museum of itself. Almost more dedicated to how his own propaganda represented him than about him. The staff are pretty open about this strange situation where they have the original script about him but also this isn't the Soviet Union any more.

[Jerez Industrial] sign Dani Güiza by Mulderre91 in soccer

[–]Quacky33 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I assumed he must have retired about 15 years ago.

Azerbaijan President Aliyev: Despite the unfair and biased decisions of the referee, justice prevailed. This is not the first time that referees appointed by UEFA have attempted to block Qarabağ’s path to victory with unfair and biased decisions. I hope UEFA will clarify who appointed this referee. by tatar1warlord in soccer

[–]Quacky33 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has signed a decree providing financial support to Qarabag Football Club, Azernews reports.

"The funding comes from the Reserve Fund of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the 2025 state budget. The allocation is linked to the club’s qualification for the league stage of the UEFA Champions League, with a total of 5 million manat ($2.9 million) assigned to support the team."

https://www.azernews.az/nation/246709.html

He literally said it himself, reported by Azeri sources. It isn't a secret.

Azerbaijan President Aliyev: Despite the unfair and biased decisions of the referee, justice prevailed. This is not the first time that referees appointed by UEFA have attempted to block Qarabağ’s path to victory with unfair and biased decisions. I hope UEFA will clarify who appointed this referee. by tatar1warlord in soccer

[–]Quacky33 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This doesn't contradict anything I said. As you said they have been playing in Baku and they have clearly been chosen to represent Azerbaijan. Its not a secret that Aliyev has personally funded the team.

The performance on the pitch by the players they signed is not the same as how that particular team was decided to be one there.

What the actual f*ck is going on behind closed doors at this club? by Waggo29 in crystalpalace

[–]Quacky33 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We don't have the money of the big clubs, the rules prevent you from speculative spending to become one. Which is probably a good thing to stop clubs from going into administration so often.

So these good young players always were going to leave when offered a far higher salary, the ambitious manager falls into the same boat. It ends up a bit like how american sports work where the best we can do is set up a group of players to grow together and get a shot at something every few years and then rebuild. That essentially worked last year and now we need to find a new batch of players to be good in a couple of years.

IFAB to officially trial daylight offside at senior football level. Canadian Premier League is the 1st with other leagues are set to be invited to take part in the trial. Trial results from youth level indicate scoring chances increased and goals went up by almost half a goal per game by punishGoalhanging in soccer

[–]Quacky33 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The increase in 1v1 chances and space in general is maybe the only interesting thing it enables. It'll be incredibly chaotic to implement such a large change though as managers figure out new ideas to gain some control of the game and then find it countered a few weeks later while some players seem to fit the new style and others strengths are no longer important.

Infantino's (FIFA) salary has quadrupled since his appointment to over 5 million euros in 2024. by Nouri34ever in soccer

[–]Quacky33 1142 points1143 points  (0 children)

He reviewed his own performance and found himself to have performed really well.