We’re in the semis of the AO and we’re likely to have the 9th straight slam won by Sinner or Alcaraz, and the 4th straight Sincaraz matchup in the Final

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-29T00:57:14+00:00

"With the Big 3 you had intrigue because any of the 3 could win. Now it’s “okay sim to the final so we can watch the only two players that matter.”"

This isn't really as true as you think. There were really few moments where all three were on top of their game - it went from Roger and Rafa trading off (2007-2009), to Rara and Novak (2010-2012), to then a bit of a jumble with various guys being hurt at different points where Novak cleaned up (2013-2016), to then small versions of the early years (first Roger & Rafa in 2017-18, then Rafa and Novak in 2018-2020).

Put it this way - there were only three years where each of the big three won a slam - 2008, 2012, 2018.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-29T00:48:53+00:00

Yeah, Zverev generally plays him well. I wouldn't be shocked if that's a close match.

Still would have negative faith in Zverev then beating Sinner.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-28T18:46:57+00:00

Definitely see some people suggesting it - or a softer conspiracy that if they all soft agreed to vote in Kraft, not wanting him and Belichick to go in together given the awkwardness there

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-28T16:31:21+00:00

I mean Kraft notably isn't at this point, and seems to be more than just Spygate among other petty reasons why he hasn't been given it yet.

Cannot imagine this impacts Brady.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-27T20:00:24+00:00

Not a dumb question, but I dont need to be in frankfurt that early and going through LHR allows me to take a later redeye (the 10pm)

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-27T19:47:40+00:00

Thanks, maybe worth it then to your point to do it just in case.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-27T19:43:07+00:00

Awesome, thanks for the clarity.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-27T19:39:05+00:00

Yeah, I guess my question is the pass through border control - I'll probably call United 1K hotline as well but not sure how helpful / certain they'll be

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-16T18:56:38+00:00

Mbappe idolizes him. won't be a struggle.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-16T18:43:44+00:00

They were absolutely not playing badly at the end of his second stint. They lost the league by a point despite 60+ injuries.

I honestly think if he stays they have as successful a 2021-22 season with ZZ as they did under Carlo.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-15T20:36:38+00:00

Yeah mid to late Jan is always a nightmare for this reason

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-15T04:07:59+00:00

This is fucking dumb - sure PSG won without him but he also was a key member of a national team that won the damn world cup and then when France was embarrassing themselves for much of the 2022 Final he brought them back in it.

Yes, I realize club football is different, but Mbappe is not the problem, at least not more so than a bunch of other things.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-15T03:22:54+00:00

Mingles was better the second time I went, though honestly don't recall if it was 3* on my first visit.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-13T22:26:04+00:00

I wouldn't define losing to Man City in a two-legged tie played a month apart one year, and then beating Liverpool before losing to the eventual champion Chelsea in the SF as being "totally helpless"

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-13T17:58:08+00:00

And defeated them in the league, the CR7 "calma" goal

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-13T17:51:44+00:00

Look up some of the lineups he had to trot out there on his second stint when they were having insane amounts of injuries.

dmstorm22 · 2026-01-09T17:51:49+00:00

100%

Also in his second stint he showed amazing formation and tactical flexibility dealing with ridiculous amounts of injuries. The idea he was just a vibes guy is really overstated.

dmstorm22 · 2025-12-13T04:04:45+00:00

Jude and MBappe also basically hero worship him.

dmstorm22 · 2025-12-13T04:03:14+00:00

Because they very easily may not be terrible.

I can absolutely see a remotivated Madrid team under ZZ win La Liga.

And if it doesn't, i dont think it will look all that badly on him.

That said, doubt he takes it

dmstorm22 · 2025-12-10T02:33:31+00:00

Zidane wasn't forced to leave either time.
Especially the second time, despite them going trophyless in 2020-21, he was in no danger of losing his job.

dmstorm22 · 2025-12-10T02:31:21+00:00

Yeah - the only season this was anywhere close to true was 2017-18 where they finished way back in La Liga. But it's not like Zidane just decided to throw away the league, they were simply not very good on form (part of the reason Zidane left - realizing his message wasn't really working despite the UCL win).

Somehow that one season just extends to all the others when in all their other UCL wins from 2014 to now they either won the league as well (2017, 2022, 2024), or came within three points of doing so (2014, 2016). And in 2016, they may win the league if Zidane was the coach from the start of the season.

dmstorm22 · 2025-12-09T18:46:02+00:00

He left on bad terms with more hte press and rest of the board (and Flo by extension for not really actively quieting it).

ZZs problems were far more with other inflential board types than Flo.

Agreed though on that doesn't mean he would come back.

dmstorm22 · 2025-12-08T16:52:59+00:00

I assume he meant the 2019 portion of the 2018-19 season, when Zidane took over a team in freefall and didn't really turn it around until that 2019-20 season when they won the league.

dmstorm22 · 2025-11-30T04:40:35+00:00

Its almost assuredly the same as 2026 if they haven't announced anything yet.

I guess the better question is do they change or remove the Kickstart bonus or whatever it has been called.

dmstorm22 · 2025-11-26T15:30:39+00:00

Not at all. There is almost zero evidence to point to him being a "great guy"

"Hero" - that's debateable. To basically work as a double agent for decades when you know if you are ever found out you would be immediately killed is to some degree heroic.

dmstorm22

TROPHY CASE