General Football Discussion

[Amol]

Koeman's choice makes no sense to me either. If he's looking for a challenge and a hornet's nest - he's going to definitely get that. He's giving up a solid chance of success with the NT for this. I think this decision is more heart than head.

[Amol]

Also feel divided over the potential Suarez move. He has 1 year left on his contract, is on a 24m/year salary and is 33 years old.

The couple things which makes me like this move are -

• him wanting to prove people wrong. He probably knows how all Barca fans have been waiting for him to leave and him wanting to show the world that he still has what it takes.

• he replaces Huntelaar as the 'experienced striker' in 2021

[Ayman]

Also feel divided over the potential Suarez move. He has 1 year left on his contract, is on a 24m/year salary and is 33 years old.

The couple things which makes me like this move are -

• him wanting to prove people wrong. He probably knows how all Barca fans have been waiting for him to leave and him wanting to show the world that he still has what it takes.

• he replaces Huntelaar as the 'experienced striker' in 2021

OK, Suarez is a Champions League winner, yes he still has that killer instinct. But he isn't needed at Ajax, I am praying AC Milan sign him.

[Ayman]

Ronald Koeman has set his sights on signing Wijnaldum from Liverpool, who has stalled on a new contract. I can see this happening. But then he may still want to sign van de Beek? or would that mean Liverpool would want to sign him instead? It's never ending

[Manneken Pis]

Twitter account "Dutch Football@FootballOranje" says:

Ajax has made a €15 million offer for Barcelona forward Luis Suarez. (El Chiringuito)

Edit: Sorry, wrong thread. Will copy it to the right one.

[Manneken Pis]

Odds on next Netherlands boss according to Sky Bet

11/8: Wenger
8/1: Ten Hag, De Boer
10/1: Bosz
11/1: Van Gaal
12/1: Hiddink, Cocu
14/1: Van Bronckhorst, Rijkaard
16/1: Slot, Blanc
18/1: Pochettino
20/1: Van Basten, Klinsmann, Schreuder, Allegri

I assume Wenger rumour (amplified by Simon Kuper) is uninformed betting.
For the rest .... it's painful to see how limited the Dutch managerial pool is. The ex-player old boy network totally dominates. It's particularly striking when you compare it to the meritrocratic crop of young, inovative, exciting German coaches coming through....

[Ayman]

Victor Font who is tipped to win the presidency at Barcelona next year, has stated he will sack Koeman (if he survives that long), regardless of how well he does. Font has stated he will bring back Xavi as manager of the team. Is there going to be a merry go round? Koeman at Barcelona, however long he lasts, the coach for the Netherlands doesn't impress in the Euros, Koeman returns to coach the Netherlands?

[Orange14]

Odds on next Netherlands boss according to Sky Bet

my choice is either Sarina Weigman (though she would have to leave the English women's NT job she just accepted) or Foppe de Haan. Both are able tacticians which is all the current men's NT need.

[Ayman]

Daley Blind has returned but I don't understand, they didn't give a reason for his collapse,they just gave tests and said there is no reason for him not to continue playing, it's very concerning.

[Tom_]

PAOK are leading Benfica 2-0 in the 75th minute. I *think* if Benfica get knocked out, Ajax goes into pot 2 for the CL draw.

[kezme44]

paok knock out benfica 2-1. vertonghen scored an own goal. sucks for benfica who spent a lot of money on new transfers assuming they will make the cl.

and correct, this puts us in pot 2 :)

[Orange14]

PAOK are leading Benfica 2-0 in the 75th minute. I *think* if Benfica get knocked out, Ajax goes into pot 2 for the CL draw.

Ended at 2-1 for PAOK with an own goal from Vertonghen that opened the scoring. Ajax get Pot 2 I'm pretty sure.

[Tom_]

Yep. According to Ajax Showtime this is pot 2, so we have just avoided drawing these teams thanks to PAOK.

Pot 2
FC Barcelona (128.000), Atlético Madrid (127.000), Manchester City (116.000), Manchester United (100.000), Borussia Dortmund (85.000), Shakhtar Donetsk (85.000), Chelsea (83.000), Ajax (69.500).

[Amol]

Great move by Jan!! Once an Ajacied, always an Ajacied. Not only do we get the full Dutch TV money, but we also get into Pot 2. X'mas in September.

Lets go Marc. Time to spend some money on a great #6.

[kezme44]

looks like no more fans in the stadiums if i understand correctly. apparently due to increasing covid numbers in the netherlands and also the backlash from the dumb f-word fans in de kuip two weekends ago. didn't last long this experiment, let's see if there will be any fans allowed the rest of the season.

[Cruijff]

looks like no more fans in the stadiums if i understand correctly. apparently due to increasing covid numbers in the netherlands and also the backlash from the dumb f-word fans in de kuip two weekends ago. didn't last long this experiment, let's see if there will be any fans allowed the rest of the season.

Yeppp.
But unfortunately this will probably not be limited to The Netherlands.

In the Spanish, German and British leagues they are playing without fans and the Germans and the British recently decided to continue the situation with empty stadiums. It looks like the Champions League group phase will also be played without any fans in the stands.

[SPL]

UK Government says no fans in pro football until end of March!

The highest non league in England ,level 7, you can have 600 in .

[kezme44]

CL group draw in a few hours! my wish list is: zenit, AJAX, dynamo, ferencvaros

[kezme44]

we are in group D with liverpool...

[Orange14]

CL group draw in a few hours! my wish list is: zenit, AJAX, dynamo, ferencvaros

Looks like another group of death is building up as we draw Liverpool!

[kezme44]

CL group draw in a few hours! my wish list is: zenit, AJAX, dynamo, ferencvaros

Looks like another group of death is building up as we draw Liverpool!

hey, we'll see klaiber against mane

[kezme44]

atalanta bergamo

[Amol]

Liverpool
Ajax
Atalanta

[Orange14]

Let's add either Lokomotiv Moscow or Marseille to make it officially The Group of Death!!!

[Amol]

Let's add either Lokomotiv Moscow or Marseille to make it officially The Group of Death!!!

Phew - skipped both.