The new footy thread

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Ronaldo scored his 500th goal for Real Madrid last night in the Club World Cup vs. Club America. He's been at the club for 7 years; that's an average of 71 goals a year.

For comparison, only 8 clubs (including his Real Madrid) scored 71 or more goals last season.

If only his Poker Stars commercials were as great as his exploits on the pitch.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

If only his Poker Stars commercials were as great as his exploits on the pitch.

Man, who imagines those things up?

I don't think Cristiano has played a hand of poker in his life.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Chelsea have now won 11 in a row. Don't believe they've lost since switching to a 3-4-3.

On a related note, the games on right now might be the worst selection of Prem matches I've ever seen. This is dull as hell.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Great goal by United. Ibra with his 15th this season, 10th in the Prem.

 

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Yeah, that Ronaldo guy is an okay footballer.

Ronaldo hat trick leads Real Madrid to Club World Cup title - Article - TSN

 

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Merry Christmas from FIFA...

ZURICH (Reuters) - The Football Associations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have been fined for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers last month, world football's governing body said on Monday.

England were fined 45,000 Swiss francs (28,536.88 pounds) for what FIFA described as the "display of a political symbol" on players' shirts and around the stadium during the 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley, plus crowd misconduct.

Scotland were fined 20,000 Swiss francs for displaying the same political symbol as well as crowd problems.

Wales were fined 20,000 Swiss francs and Northern Ireland 15,000 for displaying political symbols in the home games against Serbia and Azerbaijan respectively.

The matches were all played in November around Remembrance Sunday when Britain pays tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the two World Wars.

"It is not our intention to judge or question specific commemorations as we fully respect the significance of such moments in the respective countries, each one of them with its own history and background," Claudio Sulser, head of FIFA's disciplinary committee, said.

"However, keeping in mind that the rules need to be applied in a neutral and fair manner across FIFA’s 211 member associations, the display, among others, of any political or religious symbol is strictly prohibited. In the stadium and on the pitch, there is only room for sport, nothing else.”

Is the poppy a political or religious symbol? I've always thought of it as a way to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that men and women can take to the soccer pitch in order to line the pockets of FIFA fat cats.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Merry Christmas from FIFA...

ZURICH (Reuters) - The Football Associations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have been fined for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers last month, world football's governing body said on Monday.

England were fined 45,000 Swiss francs (28,536.88 pounds) for what FIFA described as the "display of a political symbol" on players' shirts and around the stadium during the 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley, plus crowd misconduct.

Scotland were fined 20,000 Swiss francs for displaying the same political symbol as well as crowd problems.

Wales were fined 20,000 Swiss francs and Northern Ireland 15,000 for displaying political symbols in the home games against Serbia and Azerbaijan respectively.

The matches were all played in November around Remembrance Sunday when Britain pays tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the two World Wars.

"It is not our intention to judge or question specific commemorations as we fully respect the significance of such moments in the respective countries, each one of them with its own history and background," Claudio Sulser, head of FIFA's disciplinary committee, said.

"However, keeping in mind that the rules need to be applied in a neutral and fair manner across FIFA’s 211 member associations, the display, among others, of any political or religious symbol is strictly prohibited. In the stadium and on the pitch, there is only room for sport, nothing else.”

Is the poppy a political or religious symbol? I've always thought of it as a way to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that men and women can take to the soccer pitch in order to line the pockets of FIFA fat cats.

We're on the same side of that, from a very literal perspective. I think it's generally come to symbolize the war dead in general, but the poppy, along with the day, are both have WWI origins.

I could see someone who was on the other side of that conflict - or any since - having a different perspective to that symbol.

To be clear, I'm not saying I agree with that perspective, just that I can see it. To be perfectly honest, as long as that policy by FIFA is applied consistently (I'll plead ignorance, because I don't know if they've fined others), I'm OK with them outlawing everything across the board.

 

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I miss this guy...

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The CAS sets a precedent and overturns Real's two-window transfer ban. They will now only be banned from making purchases in the January window.

Also looks like that could open the door for James Rodriguez to leave, which is good because while I understand why he's been benched he's simply way too good to not be playing regular football. If he does leave in January, I could see either United or Liverpool getting a real boost from a player like him (although it looks like United are just gonna buy all of Benfica's defenders instead).

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

This is what teams should've been doing with Stamkos:

https://whatahowler.com/a-brief-his...lex-morgan-on-twitter-c2bf3fd88567#.p8koouq1e

Well, whatever Aulas did it worked:


/Maybe he should start tweeting Neymar, Sanches and Aubameyang?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Looks confirmed that United have bought Victor Lindelof from Benfica for 50 million euros.

Not bad business getting 50 mil for a guy they paid 60 grand for a few years ago and has made a grand total of 28 league starts.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

There's also a lot of chatter that United are also trying for Griezmann. I can't see Atletico selling him in January but you never know.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

No money for guessing who's got this in their living room lol:

 

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No money for guessing who's got this in their living room lol:

jstew?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

jstew?

Framed, next to the photo of Marco and Jose crying into each others shoulders of course.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I might just get that instagram post from Marco framed and hang it on my wall lol

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Huge for Spurs. He's way too good for them.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

A fine addition to the Mo Pochettino signing album, too.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

caps dp rumo(u)rs

Scott Scott Arfield might just be MLS bound with one Western Conference team looking to address their need at central midfield with the Canadian international.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are interested in obtaining Scott Arfield, a league source tells Metro. Scott Arfield, currently with English Premier League Burnley, is a 28-year old box-to-box midfielder who has recently become a regular with Canada’s national side.

He would certainly be an interesting counterpart to Matias Laba, the Whitecaps steady midfielder and Designated Player. Scott Arfield would be able to play that box-to-box role alongside Laba as finding a complement for the Argentine has been a priority for the Whitecaps this offseason.

The source said that the Whitecaps and Burnley have had some discussions about Scott Arf making the move to MLS. Whitecaps head coach Carl Robbinson, a former Welsh international who guided Vancouver to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2015, has reportedly been spotted in the United Kingdom over the past week.

But the Whitecaps appear to not be limiting their search for a central midfielder to overseas.

Another league source tells Metro that former Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Juninho, currently in Mexico with top-side Tijuana, is another potential target of the Canadian side. So too is Luis Gil, a 23-year old American midfielder who transferred to Mexico last year. Gil is a former Real Salt Lake midfielder who has a bevy of experience with the United States at the youth international level as well as two caps with the senior team