The Soccer Thread (Version 9)

Congrats!

 

ON TO ISTANBUL, JUST BARELY

 

The end of the Derby-Reading match was fantastic. One of the best goals I have seen for a while. Also the first chance I had to check out the new ESPN + service, which was pretty decent.

 

Derby came close to promotion last season. If Frank Lampard finishes the job—and Reading could be one of their principal adversaries in the race—it will be a pretty great story.

 

The EPL transfer window is moved up to this Thursday (although you can still sign players on loan through August 31). Should be a flurry the next couple of days.

 

I'm actually starting to think that Liverpool have stacked themselves up enough to win this thing, even though I believe Salah is going to fall off a cliff. They need to give Danny Ings back to Burnley for free to keep the karmic ledgers balanced.

 

Go Watford!

 

For those of you scoring at home, little Burnley now have Nick Pope, Tom Heaton, and Joe Hart under contract. That's three England keepers, good for one Danish or German one.

 

I don't get why Real Madrid wants to break the bank for Courtois -- Navas to me is a great keeper and the money can be splashed elsewhere

 

I think something that's been happening in football lately is a lot of change for change's sake. There's this feeling that if you're not signing new players, you're getting overtaken. Like, people were freaking out about Man City not signing anyone. They are already stacked and earned 100 points last season—just a few months ago! Why should they sign anyone? Why can't the same team do the same thing? Real just won the Champions League yet again. I like Navas as well as I like Courtois. If there's a difference between them, it's marginal. I don't get it, either.

 

So Serie A is on ESPN (mostly ESPN+) and beIN is still out on my Fios. I may need to invest in ESPN+

 

Preseason friendly score of the day ... Bayern Munich 20, FC Rottach-Egern 2.