Speaking of tragedy, how about the news of Erik ten Hag sacked by Manchester United?!

This news ran til it milked and it is anticipating that Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge as interim head coach while a permanent successor is recruited.

Thoughts on Rodri winning Ballon d'Or?

Written by F3ynman on 29.10.2024 at 23:11

Thoughts on Rodri winning Ballon d'Or?

Not a fan of Real Madrid, but Vinicius robbed by a huge margin. This guy plays a monumental role in winning Champions League and La Liga title ended up beating to a guy whose role in winning EPL for City was imperceptible.

If you look head-to-head, Rodri usurps Manchester City's fame while Vinicius, undoubtedly, pulls Madrid's frontline on his own. Rodri is surrounded by big players with the smartest manager in the world. They all contribute to his winning. I don't think Ballon is judged on the basis of stats.

Cynic’s comment makes little sense to me. Rodri plays a crucial role for Spain and City, much like Busquets did for Spain and Barca. Busquets deserved the Ballon d’Or as well, but the world’s obsession with goalscorers prevented it.

Real Madrid allegedly learned beforehand that their player wouldn’t be the winner, so they made a collective decision to skip the ceremony entirely. It’s ironic that the top winners in club football are also the most bitter about their losses. If I remember correctly, they also declined to provide a guard of honor to Barcelona a few years ago when Barcelona won La Liga. It’s not surprising that a club without honor wouldn’t have a guard of honor, but it’s still amusing.

I honestly haven't been following Man City too closely, so I don't know Rodri that well. Vini has made great improvements in his goal scoring abilities (I still remember when he was first starting at Real: lots of fancy dribbling and speed but very bad finishing abilities). Now, he's a great goalscorer, but I don't know if he's Ballon d'Or material. But maybe I'm too used to the likes of CR7/Messi.

I'm actually surprised Kroos didn't get it. It would have been his last chance, and he's had a hell of a successful record

Written by Metren on 30.10.2024 at 17:39

but the world’s obsession with goalscorers prevented it.

You don't watch football much, I guess.

Ballon d'Or favor winners only from attackers because they deliver game-changing moments—goals, assists that pulls fans attractions more. Goals are easy to measure and directly impact match outcomes, drawing more attention than the behind-the-scenes work of defenders or holding midfielders. That's why it has solidifies a natural bias toward strikers in Ballon d'Or voting.

The last time defender won the Ballon was in 2006 when Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro lead Italy to victory in the World Cup.

So Swedish season is over and damn Malmö won again and will play in Cl, like AIK, Hammarby in Conference League 2025/2026. Seems Swedish teams has no place at Europa league Only cup winner maybe. Only way Djurgården can do it is winning cup
IFK Göteborg saved their ass from relegation only in last games
Kalmar, Västerås out and IFK Värnamo vs Landskrona BoIS play out. To be honest I dont care
Degerfors IF and Östers came up, to be honest I dont care , sad Helsingborgs IF did not win Superettan , 2 points from qualification game
Gefle IF and Skövde AIK relegated to tier 3
Lunds BK vs Östersunds FK
Stockholm Internazionale vs GIF Sundsvall
I hope Östersund and Sundsvall wins and stays . Lunds is OK, but Internazionale Stockholm wtf
From Ettan Nortra Umeå goes up and sad Piteå be relegated. 3 teams, but I dont care about south zone

Since 2 games in Norway left seems Lilleström be relegated sad

So UEFA nations league is over only play offs and relegation play offs
I am proud of Scotland they manage not to relegated
Hungary and Serbia I hope they loose relegation play offs and be in B group

Group B
Few good fights and equal game level I think , England manage do what they suppose to do
Norway to
Sad that Finland is relegated because Ireland was what they could take and some games against England, Greece they could take at home.
Good that Wales did it I hope Turkey will loose in Promotion games, but not sure what I dont like more Turkey, Hungary or Serbia


Group C
Sweden did what they suppose go to B where they belong 60% or 65%
Romania vs Kosovo I hope UEFA will fine Romania whit 6 games closed arena and 2 years away ban, since Kosovan players did left pitch when Romanian thugs insult Kosovans whit serbian nationalistic and war crime songs.
Its not first time when Romanian WP boys in stadium case troubles , Bulgarians calm down btw

Latvia just well how to put let down a lot 4th in group when Farao islands are higher. Just saying now relegation play offs, but then agai higher ranked teams as Azerbaijan and Lietuva was relegated

Group D
San Marino and Moldova are promted
Latvia can get Giblatar or Malta

UEFA have awarded Romania the win after their match against Kosovo was abandoned in stoppage time.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/20/uefa-punish-kosovo-with-3-0-defeat-for-leaving-field-over-pro-serbia-chants

I understand such deasisosn even I dont like , how to put it. I dont care much about Kosovo, but I dont like when someone are serbian slaves do they dirty work. Not fan of ultras last 15 years or more.

I have not looked at uefa standing atm, but I wonder if EC and WC qualifications will get same equal format as CL has. Same number of games half home, half away, same number of teams qualifying

After banning from the stadium the main ultra group in Barcelona (Boixos Nois) 20 years ago, today, the president has announced that the rest of groups currently in stadium are banned.
Main reason are the last actions from these groups (flares, forbidden banners, and other small incidents), the president says that they will only lift the ban if these groups pay all the fines that the club had to pay as sanctions from UEFA and Spanish league.



Wow nice move, fine ultras and individual trouble makers to pay uefa fines.