2022/23 International Club Football Thread

[Locke]

Does anyone think Inter can go up against that? Unless everything runs their way Inter are going to get wiped.

They just made Real Madrid their bitch.

[Beninho]

City should have won it last year too barring that insane comeback, they are just a well “Oiled” machine. Madrid also did not improve their squad enough last summer while City got even better. Inter will need lots of things to go right

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Locke

Does anyone think Inter can go up against that? Unless everything runs their way Inter are going to get wiped.

They just made Real Madrid their bitch.

In a single final? Anything can happen.

I don't think Inter will win, but I'm sure hoping for them. It will be impossible for City not to come in feeling overconfident, but with immense pressure to win. Inter will come in with no pressure and nothing to lose.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

In a single final? Anything can happen.

I don't think Inter will win, but I'm sure hoping for them. It will be impossible for City not to come in feeling overconfident, but with immense pressure to win. Inter will come in with no pressure and nothing to lose.

Oh hey...I'm hoping for them too. My brain just thinks that Inter have the tools.

[Senator Clay Davis]

If Man City show up in the final with the intensity they showed yesterday then it's going to take an all-time great goaltending performance to give Inter a chance. Courtois was the only reason yesterday wasn't 7 or 8-0. I don't even think you can rely on a Pep overthink because he's consistently put out the same lineup as yesterday for quite a while, and they've been utterly dominant with that lineup. But it is a one off, if this were a tie it'd be a massacre because City are demolishing almost everyone at the Etihad, but in one game, where Inter will probably have the crowd advantage and City all of the pressure, who knows? But I would guess Inter will be one of the heaviest betting underdogs in CL final history.

[devo22]

media coverage of this has been, as expected, really frustrating. English media can't stop fawning and throwing out superlatives without even a hint of "yes, but". Nobody seems to care about the 115 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN!!!!!) breaches anymore, because look, it's such great football!

This is why sportswashing always works. Frustrating as hell.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

media coverage of this has been, as expected, really frustrating. English media can't stop fawning and throwing out superlatives without even a hint of "yes, but". Nobody seems to care about the 115 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN!!!!!) breaches anymore, because look, it's such great football!

This is why sportswashing always works. Frustrating as hell.

Argentina wins a Winter World Cup in Dubai on the backs of slavery and now an Abu Dhabi-owned team in Manchester City is in the Champion's League Final.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by devo22

media coverage of this has been, as expected, really frustrating. English media can't stop fawning and throwing out superlatives without even a hint of "yes, but". Nobody seems to care about the 115 (ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN!!!!!) breaches anymore, because look, it's such great football!

This is why sportswashing always works. Frustrating as hell.

Like nik said, welcome to the era of Oil State Clubs.

[devo22]

lol it really looks like Bayern will win zero trophies this season. Canning Nagelsmann for Tuchel sure did wonders for them.

[Beninho]

Another shameful day in La Liga, racist chants being sung at Vinicius as soon as he steps off the bus. Countless videos from stadium showing fans making monkey chants and songs beginning right at kick off. He even points it out to the ref and nothing is done, also somehow gets a red card in the 97th minute after being held in a chokehold for 10 seconds. Consistently disgusting behaviour from football fans in this country. This happens every other game for him, it is like the whole country has a racist vendetta against him.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by devo22

lol it really looks like Bayern will win zero trophies this season. Canning Nagelsmann for Tuchel sure did wonders for them.

I was half expecting Dortmund to choke like they have so many times over the past decade but Augsburg getting an early red card sealed the deal. Good for them, they deserve it and the Bundesliga desperately needed a competitive year that they got this year

[devo22]

after Juventus initially got the 15 points back, the Court of Appeal has now reduced that punishment to 10 points. Obviously still costs them the CL.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1660715846799433730

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Beninho

Another shameful day in La Liga, racist chants being sung at Vinicius as soon as he steps off the bus. Countless videos from stadium showing fans making monkey chants and songs beginning right at kick off. He even points it out to the ref and nothing is done, also somehow gets a red card in the 97th minute after being held in a chokehold for 10 seconds. Consistently disgusting behaviour from football fans in this country. This happens every other game for him, it is like the whole country has a racist vendetta against him.

Some of the details coming out are disgusting. Valencia received a partial stadium ban and their reaction was indignation and launching an appeal! Instead of them issuing a solemn statement supporting Vini. ####ing disgusting what we are seeing in Spanish football.

[devo22]

I mean, you only have to look at Valencia based paper Super Deporte to see the full scope of the problem. They are basically blaming Vinicius for everything and see themselves as victims here. The whole thread is crazy:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1660938615600422914

just disgusting stuff all around.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Some of the details coming out are disgusting. Valencia received a partial stadium ban and their reaction was indignation and launching an appeal! Instead of them issuing a solemn statement supporting Vini. ####ing disgusting what we are seeing in Spanish football.

It is so absurd, no real accountability ever in these situations. Nothing will change because the league does not care unless it effects them financially. How a club can employ black players but not take accountability for their racist fans is beyond me. I can only imagine how helpless a player must feel when chants of “mono” and other racist epithets are thrown your way. In Spain they make excuses saying Vinicius is “provocative” and riles up the fans, the amount of excuses for racism is astounding. That article is so wild to read too. I thought maybe after the Atletico game there would be a little bit of a change but the same exact scenario has unfolded again and unfortunately will continue to happen. Watching the videos of the chants was like looking at a scene from the 1950’s.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Some of the details coming out are disgusting. Valencia received a partial stadium ban and their reaction was indignation and launching an appeal! Instead of them issuing a solemn statement supporting Vini. ####ing disgusting what we are seeing in Spanish football.

Wait until you see Tebas' responses.

The league is an embarrassment.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by nik-

Wait until you see Tebas' responses.

The league is an embarrassment.

I know Canada and the US are not anywhere close to perfect when it comes to racism, but feels like countries like Spain and Italy are several generations behind us. The lack of visible minorities in these countries also plays a role. I do not think it is a select portion of the population. The amount of whitewashing (no pun intended) of this issue seen on their sports talk shows and in media is ridiculous. They are singing another tune now because they know the world is watching, but earlier this season I watched an entire show with 2-3 pundits saying Vinicius invites the racist chants by his style of play. If I was Spanish I would be thoroughly embarrassed with this narrative being spread.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Beninho

I know Canada and the US are not anywhere close to perfect when it comes to racism, but feels like countries like Spain and Italy are several generations behind us. The lack of visible minorities in these countries also plays a role. I do not think it is a select portion of the population. The amount of whitewashing (no pun intended) of this issue seen on their sports talk shows and in media is ridiculous. They are singing another tune now because they know the world is watching, but earlier this season I watched an entire show with 2-3 pundits saying Vinicius invites the racist chants by his style of play. If I was Spanish I would be thoroughly embarrassed with this narrative being spread.

Maybe if Vinicius leaves, and other high profile black players leave, that will send a message to Spanish FA authorities. If you can't attract the highest end talent anymore, maybe they'll finally do something constructive about these incidents.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

I mean, you only have to look at Valencia based paper Super Deporte to see the full scope of the problem. They are basically blaming Vinicius for everything and see themselves as victims here. The whole thread is crazy:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1660938615600422914

just disgusting stuff all around.

Oof...not covering themselves in glory there...

[Senator Clay Davis]

Dortmund meltdown in effect, 2-0 down and missed a penalty already.