The Swamp

The joy shown by Adebayo Akinfenwa yesterday was fantastic.

World Cup schedule released, before anyone has qualified

5 substitute rule can remain in place for another year, if the league wants it

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53421928

Baloney wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:03 am World Cup schedule released, before anyone has qualified

FIFA has another version with the country names already entered in.

Pandemonium In The Championship

As many as 3 teams could face massive points penalties which could get them relegated.

Pruitt wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:00 am Pandemonium In The Championship

As many as 3 teams could face massive points penalties which could get them relegated.

I wouldn't trust the EFL with folding my laundry, let alone making any correct determinations with these issues.

A big IF Derby took the 9 point penalty that Birmingham got then even now they would have 52 points and be safe as the best Luton can do is 51 points.

This short film was in the NyTimes yesterday:

There Is No Lonelier Job in Soccer Than This

That was excellent.

It really was.

Ha ha Forest score an own goal in the 96th minute to miss out on the play-offs

Baloney wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 3:54 pm Ha ha Forest score an own goal in the 96th minute to miss out on the play-offs

Not sure what the 3rd or 4th tiebreaker is, but it looks like they still would have been behind on GD and GF.

Either way it's either one of two West London clubs or two Welsh clubs to go up.

Come on you Cottagers!

You could walk from Craven Cottage to Griffin Park

Baloney wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 4:17 pm You could walk from Craven Cottage to Griffin Park

Yeah, it's real close. Is Griffin Park the one they're in now, or the one they're moving to?

Griffin is the current ground, I worked near there for a while, a tunnel project under the Thames at Kew

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:05 am This short film was in the NyTimes yesterday:

There Is No Lonelier Job in Soccer Than This

It's a very strange thing to do. One of the reasons I stopped playing with the hyper-competitive Over 30 team (that went to Orlando for the national semi-finals) was that you have to really play with a confidence and a zen that is just hard to maintain. And that team wasn't really "my boys" like I'd had with every other team... The manager was a striker that played goalie because the team was so stacked, he wasn't the best option at that point. He got me on board because he wasn't the best option in the net to take them to Nationals and he (and the team) knew it.

But every mistake was amplified, there would be grumbling... They liked me and supported me... But only to a point. I was an outsider.

That tight rope the piece mentions is so real. You have to be sharp as a tack, but at the same time slightly insane (throwing yourself at oncoming attackers is a really dangerous thing to do... I have the concussions, broken ribs and fingers to tell that tale.)

Conversely, one of my favorite things to do is join up with a new group of guys who know nothing about me, play really well, and get their respect and admiration. The soreness the next day is still worth it for that reward. Though... I'm moving into a place where I can just fall back on memories. Last time I played with wlu (noah) I broke one of my damn fingers. Went in to check on a tennis elbow issue and the doc looked at my xray and said "you know you had a fracture..." points "right here." Yeah, I suspected as much.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:33 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:05 am This short film was in the NyTimes yesterday:

There Is No Lonelier Job in Soccer Than This

It's a very strange thing to do. One of the reasons I stopped playing with the hyper-competitive Over 30 team (that went to Orlando for the national semi-finals) was that you have to really play with a confidence and a zen that is just hard to maintain. And that team wasn't really "my boys" like I'd had with every other team... The manager was a striker that played goalie because the team was so stacked, he wasn't the best option at that point. He got me on board because he wasn't the best option in the net to take them to Nationals and he (and the team) knew it.

But every mistake was amplified, there would be grumbling... They liked me and supported me... But only to a point. I was an outsider.

That tight rope the piece mentions is so real. You have to be sharp as a tack, but at the same time slightly insane (throwing yourself at oncoming attackers is a really dangerous thing to do... I have the concussions, broken ribs and fingers to tell that tale.)

Conversely, one of my favorite things to do is join up with a new group of guys who know nothing about me, play really well, and get their respect and admiration. The soreness the next day is still worth it for that reward. Though... I'm moving into a place where I can just fall back on memories. Last time I played with wlu (noah) I broke one of my damn fingers. Went in to check on a tennis elbow issue and the doc looked at my xray and said "you know you had a fracture..." points "right here." Yeah, I suspected as much.

Yeah but a big win and huge appreciation for the squad not relying on me between the pipes.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:33 pm
Conversely, one of my favorite things to do is join up with a new group of guys who know nothing about me, play really well, and get their respect and admiration.

I totally relate to this when I played roller hockey in Hoboken. Super competitive league with a lot of guys who played D1 ice hockey trying to relive their glory. I wasn't fit enough to skate with them, so I resorted to playing goalie. Teams were always missing their goalie, so I was asked to play for other teams all the time. In college I mostly skated because the league wasn't as good and we had an average goalie who sucked on the court. I miss that so much, but I haven't found a convenient league, I'm probably too old, and I don't have my own pads (the league bought 2 sets). My second year, when I gave up on skating, I was stuck on a misfit team of individuals. We won the championship, and they gave us the option of trophies for everyone or one giant trophy for the MVP. The team voted to give me a single trophy, so I had to carry a 4 foot tall trophy on the train back to New York. It's the most obnoxious thing ever, and every 5 years or so I'll put it out on the mantle when we have company coming over to make my wife laugh. I put it on the mantle before we moved in, and the kids freaked out when they saw it.

I can also relate to the broken fingers from playing goal in soccer. No idea how many times I broke fingers, but it was a bunch. My coach was an ER doctor, so he would give me a splint and keep me on the field for a few weeks. Not much you can do for a broken finger other than rest it. Nothing more fun than rushing out to get to a ball before the striker, or time a dive at his feet while he is dribbling.

Jamie Moreno (DC United legend) apparently had a "freak accident" on the golf course in the last day or so. Apparently he had 4+ hour surgery for his eye and facial fractures. Apparently will be out of work for awhile. The one picture was bad.

Hit by a ball?

My grandfather was an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), and I distinctly remember one summer vacation in Highland Park where he had to leave the house to go deal with a golfer that got hit by a shot that messed his eye socket up.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2020 10:37 am Hit by a ball?

My grandfather was an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), and I distinctly remember one summer vacation in Highland Park where he had to leave the house to go deal with a golfer that got hit by a shot that messed his eye socket up.

https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2020/07/ ... e-surgery/

Huh. That byline from Michael Lewis is a callback to bigsoccer days. Guy was prolific and mixed it up on the boards quite regularly.

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:05 am This short film was in the NyTimes yesterday:

There Is No Lonelier Job in Soccer Than This

And Bob Wilson went onto host Champions League on ITV, which in turn gave us this 97 seconds of musical genius

I've watched this like 100 times. I can't get enough.

That's great!

And so is that Bob Wilson song.

Terrible quality video, but I was at this game.

“Won’t get prosecuted” once again turns out to be too ambitious a platform for a soccer exec

1. You can own part of Detroit City FC
2. Iggy is the voice of the campaign
https://theathletic.com/1963172/2020/07 ... ed-article

seems a tad dusty
https://twitter.com/MenInBlazers/status ... 68801?s=20

elflaco2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 9:04 am seems a tad dusty
https://twitter.com/MenInBlazers/status ... 68801?s=20

Think we turn him into a swamper?

Okay so I know this is dated, but I am watching All or Nothing: Manchester City and Episode 8 is fantastic.

-Vincent Kompany is watching a game at his in-laws (Man U v. West Brom that would give Man City the title)
-His father-in-law is a HUGE Manchester United Fan
-His father-in-law says he is supporting England over Belgium in the World Cup, his father-in-law looks at Vincent like he has 3 heads, and Vincent replies, "But you don't know anyone on that team."
- His father-in-law is trying to get Vincent's young son to cheer for united.
- His Grandmother in law is hammering away Coronas
- Man U loses, Vincent gets a Premier League title and his father-in-law is crushed

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:17 pm Okay so I know this is dated, but I am watching All or Nothing: Manchester City and Episode 8 is fantastic.

-Vincent Kompany is watching a game at his in-laws (Man U v. West Brom that would give Man City the title)
-His father-in-law is a HUGE Manchester United Fan
-His father-in-law says he is supporting England over Belgium in the World Cup, his father-in-law looks at Vincent like he has 3 heads, and Vincent replies, "But you don't know anyone on that team."
- His father-in-law is trying to get Vincent's young son to cheer for united.
- His Grandmother in law is hammering away Coronas
- Man U loses, Vincent gets a Premier League title and his father-in-law is crushed

What an arsehole father-in-law.

Canadian Premier League tournament underway in PEI. They're playing at the university field, and they added a virtual stadium for the broadcasts:


8 Team round robin, top 4 move on, then a 1-game final. Winner gets to take on the top Canadian MLS team for the Canadian Championship (Voyageurs Cup) and birth in Concacaf Champions League.

Forge FC (Hamilton) the heavy favourite. Athletico Ottawa (owned by Athletico Madrid) new expansion team. First 3 games have all been 2-2 draws so far.

Minnows draw!

Love that kid!

File this under "Unfortunate Sponsorship Deals"

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:50 am Love that kid!

File this under "Unfortunate Sponsorship Deals"

I hated that cheating fucker with a burning passion since 1977

Baloney wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:19 pm

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:50 am Love that kid!

File this under "Unfortunate Sponsorship Deals"

I hated that cheating fucker with a burning passion since 1977

So not a Leeds fan?

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:51 pm

Baloney wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:19 pm

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:50 am Love that kid!

File this under "Unfortunate Sponsorship Deals"

I hated that cheating fucker with a burning passion since 1977

So not a Leeds fan?

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/the-gr ... 1597947435

Joe Jordan - Scotland v Wales, 1977
“That’s a handball if ever there was one. The referee is perfectly correct,” exclaimed the indignant commentator when Scotland were awarded a penalty in their crucial World Cup qualifier against Wales in 1977. And he was right, except for the fact it was Scottish striker Joe Jordan who had actually handled the ball rather than any of the Welsh defenders. The ensuing spot-kick was converted and Scotland qualified for Argentina ‘78 at Wales’ expense. If the Welsh knew they would have to wait for Gareth Bale to be born and mature into a man before they made it to a major tournament again, they would have been even more incensed than they were at the time.

And he played for Damned Utd, as a Derby follower don't need to add more

If I had known, I would have found another guy with Pooh on his shirt.

I assume you've seen "The Damned United" or read the book...

Pruitt wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:27 pm If I had known, I would have found another guy with Pooh on his shirt.

I assume you've seen "The Damned United" or read the book...

Saw the film haven't read the book