speeeeeeedie

Blatter and Platini are in the news again; Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini indicted on fraud charges (espn.co.uk) Crooked to the core. This would have been over sooner had Blatter gone to Canada to present the Women's World Cup trophy in 2015. Canada would have arrested him and had him extradited to the USA, where they were ready and waiting for him.

Here you go @El Tombro. I started one last year that didn't make it very far. If anything the environment is worse than it was last year. It's not all bad as people have pointed out, but at what cost? I was listening to a podcast about it all. One of the guests on it was talking about how Facebook's employees can help (of which Frances Haugen was one). Working at Facebook, certainly at HQ in California, is a badge of honour. They are very talented people in their field who also tend to be young, socially aware, and have a higher population immigrant minorities. Could more of them speak out? Another issue that was brought up is that posts that inflame tend to get lots of likes as the echo chambers that read them agree with it. The amount of likes throws off the content moderators, and amplifies the spread. A Qanon devotee isn't going to be fed left wing drivel and report it, and vice versa. I find it all odd, but I am in the minority. I have a friend who spends all day on it, gets all their news from it, and at least once a month comes out with something that doesn't sound true, and once I check I find that it is in fact a load of bull. Zuckerberg had aspirations of running for president in 2020 and went so far as to go on a politician style tour of the US to gauge interest. It didn't last long. He soon found out that he wouldn't get very far.

I'm sure that it has a lot to do with him being mates with Solskjaer. I also reckon that down to his ego that he's more likely to advocate for players to be dropped as can back that up with his record, whereas his only stint as a manager was an absolute disaster on all fronts so if he does call for a sacking he opens himself up to being criticized. I'd give Solskjaer a 10 year contract. He's not a top manager so I'd like to enjoy watching Man U false dawns for years to come. I spoke to a Man U supporting mate of mine. He was of the opinion, as I'm sure many of them are, that the Glazer's aren't bothered about winning, only revenue generation. As long as they make it past the Champs League group stages and perform well enough in cups the money train will keep on rolling. I read today that all signs point to Pogba leaving on a free in the summer. Man U want him to stay, but I don't know why. He has continually underperformed.

I think that a majority of Rovers fans would support it. Weren't Rovers linked with a Qatari takeover at one point? I spoke to a Newcastle supporting mate of mine about it. He's not bothered about the political side of it at all. The Saudi investment fund have fingers in lots of pies including Facebook, Uber, and Twitter. He said that it's too late now to start caring and put the genie back in the bottle. The Premier league is global. With only 20 opportunities to join the club (and then have to deal with a potential relegation), membership is prestigious and hard to come by. The Saudi's are playing catch up. The Emiratis (City) Kuwaitis (PSG), and Qatar (World Cup 2022) all have a leg up on them. Will they be able to get the players? They'll want a new manager too. Bruce is competent yet unspectacular. Conte is free, as is Zidane. I wonder what Man U are thinking?

Dumb luck, and a following. City fell to Emiratis after Thaksin Shinawatra's plan for legitimacy failed. Abramovich bought Chelsea after they finished 4th. Fenway Sports nipped in at Liverpool when Hicks and Gillette were found out. Rovers were lumped with Venkys. Que sera sera. I did find this interesting; Seasons in the Top Flight of English Football by Clubs 1888-89 to 2021-22 - My Football Facts Newcastle have spent 90 years in English football's top flight. The 7th highest. Rovers are 13th.

A generation game perhaps????

I'll guess that the freedom chant is Americans trying to be funny. A new take on the U-S-A one.

I actually like it. It's all part of the event. Poulter just teed off. He was giving the crowd a bit before his drive.

The USA have a much stronger team. They have 8 of the current world top 10; Official World Golf Ranking | PGA TOUR Stats Stricker left out Patrick Reid. He is a very good golfer and has had his moments at prior Ryder Cups. I'm guessing that Stricker thought that Reid + DeChambeau + Koepka was too much but as Reid had had the poorer season he lost out. DeChambeau should be an excellent partner in the foursomes. He'll whack the ball for miles and his partner will play a tidy short game. McIlroy had a few years in the sun but now spends every tournament driving his way to oblivion. I can't see Hatton, Wiesberger, or even old hands Poulter and Westwood being able to overcome the USA's power.

The Ryder Cup is a few days away. It's one of my favourite sporting events. It's always a good watch. The US captain gets to pick 6 of his 12, the European only 3. Here is a good BBC summary; Ryder Cup 2021: Format, schedule, teams and how to follow - BBC Sport I'd have to favour the USA this time out. It's on US soil with very few European fans, and a strong US squad. However, the wild card is cohesion. The European lads tend to really get along, whereas the US have had issues in the past. This time out it's DeChambeau and Koepka. Can they put their differences behind them for the week? Stricker has his work cut out. Harrington has gone with experience. Westwood, Garcia, and Poulter are all at the tail end of their careers, but all know how to win Ryder Cups. Rahm is a talent, but can be wayward. I wonder if he and Garcia will be paired up?

I grew up watching Saint and Greavise on a Saturday lunch time. It was a while before I learned that they were both former footballers. Oh how life was without YouTube and Google. He scored boatloads of goals. Was he a selfish type? Did teams he play on succeed or did he take all the limelight?

I'm late with my annual Champions League thread. We all know that the usual suspects will be there at the end but I do enjoy watching it. Here are the groups; Group A Man City, PSG, RB Leipzig, Bruges Group B Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan Group C Sporting Lisbon, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas Group D Inter, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Sheriff Group E Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv Group F Villarreal, Man United, Atalanta, Young Boys Group G Lille, Seville, Salzburg, Wolfsburg Group H Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit, Malmo

Apparently UEFA banned Hungary from having home fans for 3 games for prior racist chanting. Last night's game was under the direction of FIFA hence the full house. Should the lower body's ruling not be followed by FIFA? As to the game, Hungary weren't good. Certainly not the all action team that caused France fits but England were comfortable winners. Andorra next. England didn't look like a team who were bereft of confidence after a heartbreaking loss last time out. In 18 months time this team will be stronger. Foden, Rashford, and Greenwood, weren't in this squad. Only Henderson, Walker, and Tripper are 30 or over.

I'm surprised that Chappelle made it to Britain. He is a funny one though. Chappelle's Show is brilliant. I can watch his Charlie Murphy (Eddie's brother) skits over and over.

I do agree with you that for the USA to make it big either the MLS needs to start offering big money to players, although that will trigger memories of the old NASL arms race and eventual bankruptcy, or ship as many off to Europe quickly. It's currently the latter. My biggest gripe with the MLS is it's lack of relegation. There are now enough teams to have 2 divisions. However, the commercial aspect and desire to fall in line with other US sports sadly leads me to believe that it will never happen, although the US fan would welcome it. I also support England but living in the USA I do hope that the USA does well as they not only compete against other teams, but their own country too.

No relevance? He played at a US university with Rovers signing him after he played a few seasons n the MLS. He wasn't the finished article by any stretch when he left New Zealand. I'm not defending the American model either. It has massive issues. However, like you, I take issue with calling the USA team "shocking".

@JoeH I'll not derail the transfer thread. Here is latest FIFA ranking list; Men's Ranking (fifa.com) The USA is currently 10. "Shocking" isn't what I'd describe them as. They are on a par with the likes of Sweden, Switzerland, and Denmark. They also beat Mexico twice this summer.

The US team aren't shocking, and neither is the MLS. They aren't Brazil 1970 but they are solid. They are predominantly young, with the majority of the squad now playing in Europe. If they find a goalscorer they will cause teams problems at the next World Cup. One of Rovers best ever players was American. Ryan Nelsen played their for a few years too. The MLS isn't the Premier League but it is a decent standard of football that is getting better. I could opine for days on talent development of for sports in the USA. Up to u18 the USA's footballers are on par with anyone else in the world. It's after that where it needs fixing.

I have played football in a lot of places, but nowhere had harsher conditions than Blacksnape. It was never sunny, mostly raining, and always windy. When Klopp was early on in his Anfield tenure he commented that he understood why England struggled to play good football because it was always windy. It took him a while to get used to it.

I stand corrected. 28 league appearances plus 5 as sub per Wikipedia. I thought he didn't start as many games as he did.

That's him. I don't know where I got Barnes from. Red head. I remember him being the best player on the pitch against Liverpool. Mowbray wouldn't play him.

Was it Harrison Barnes who needed to learn to play midfield from Richie Smallwood? The same Barnes who held his own against the big boys in a poor Fulham side.

For those that weren't around; World Cup Mexico 86 Top 20 Goals BBC - YouTube Belanov has one in starting at 3.50.

Paul Robinson's Rovers career ended partly because he was awful at stopping shots from distance. He let loads in from far out. Playing it across the box has become so much easier due to the rule change allowing a goal kick not having to leave the box before being touched by another player. It opens the area up, making the pitch bigger thus making it easier for defenders to do it. It's also much harder for attackers to intercept it. Back in my day - especially at kids level - it was a comedy show at times. Anyway, we might as well talk about this as Rovers aren't signing anybody any time soon. The Premier League starts on August 14th. Only when those teams get their matchday squads organised will Mowbray get offered a loan or two of players who aren't needed.

It's something I've seen too. The heady days of Mexico '86 may never return. Klopp's Liverpool won't shoot from 18+ yards out. I think that it was one reason why they struggled last season. It was like watching handball. They'd pass it around the box without any penetration. Someone having a long shot now and again would have forced defenders to think. I have a few friends who coach at the university level over here. I was talking to one a few months ago and he was telling me about a course he was on. One segment was on shooting, and how to get players to prioritise "A" shots over "B" and "C" shots. Apparently they refer to the opportunity to score. "C" shots have the lowest chance of going in. The game is indeed changing. I was always told; if you don't shoot you won't score.