David

I am a long time soccer fan who grew up in England traveling the country watching Coventry City in the 70's. Now living in the U.S. I am still as passionate about soccer as I was when I was a kid.

June 1, 2020 David

PSG Make First Big Signing Of The Summer

Paris Saint-Germain have finally completed the signing of Mauro Icardi from Inter for a reported €58m making this the biggest transfer in football since the coronavirus outbreak.

“FC Internazionale Milano announces the transfer of Mauro Icardi to Paris Saint-Germain FC: the striker, born in 1993, has permanently moved to the French club,” read a statement.

“The Club thanks the player for the six seasons he spent with us and wishes him the best for his future professional career.”

Icardi had been a huge success at Inter where he had scored 124 goals in 219 starts, but the incredibly short statement from the club reflected just how badly the relationship had deteriorated. Read more... (418 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 David

Real Madrid, La Liga

Real Madrid Transfer News

Real Madrid are set to go without any new signings in the next transfer window, as the Spanish giants face the financial ramifications caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Los Blancos are typically front and centre when it comes to the biggest transfer stories. However, Marca reports that Madrid are unlikely to spend this summer as a result of the huge losses incurred by the Covid-19-inflicted halt in play this season.

According to the report, Madrid’s loss of revenue streams, including matchday sales and broadcast money, have lead to huge losses, and the club is anticipating a loss of around €150m (£135m) next season if games are played behind closed doors. Read more... (444 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 David

La Liga, Barcelona, Real Madrid

La Liga To Resume On June 11

Spain’s La Liga became the third major league this week to announce plans to restart its season. Previously we had heard from the Premier League and Serie A and all eyes turned to Spain where La Liga announced football will resume on June 11 after a three-month pause due to the coronavirus pandemic with the local derby between Sevilla and Real Betis, the government’s department for sport (CSD) said in a statement on Friday.

“At a meeting of the contact group they form alongside the CSD, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) and La Liga have agreed to the format of the final 11 rounds of fixtures of La Liga and the second division,” said the CSD’s statement. Read more... (799 words, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)

May 29, 2020 David

AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Serie A

Serie A Is Back And So Is The Title Race

Hot on the heels of the Premier League decision to resume playing matches next month behind closed doors, it has announced that Serie A would also e resuming its season next month.

Italy’s top flight is to get back underway from June 20, all being well, with the Coppa Italia semifinal second legs and final to be held during the week prior.

It means four of Europe’s top-five leagues are committed to finishing the coronavirus-disrupted campaign, with only Ligue 1 having declared the season over. Read more... (394 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 David

Arsenal, Chelsea, FA Cup, Man City, Man Utd., Tickets

FA Cup Dates Announced

Dates for this season’s remaining FA Cup fixtures have been confirmed with the quarter-finals to take place over the weekend of June 27-28 and the final fixed for August 1.

The announcement of the Premier League’s resumption on June 17 has given English football impetus and now the Football Association has been able to slot in Cup dates.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said the dates are “dependent on all safety measures being met” with venues and kick-off times yet to be confirmed.

“The health and wellbeing of players, staff and supporters remains our priority. Read more... (375 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

15 Comments

May 28, 2020 David

Premier League, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd.

Premier League To Return On June 17

Premier League clubs have agreed to restart the season in just three weeks’ time in what is a huge breakthrough for their Project Restart plans.

The Premier League have desperately been trying to finalize plans to get the season back underway again following its suspension at the beginning of March amid the coronavirus crisis.

June 20 has been lined up as the first round of fixtures following the Premier League’s resumption although Manchester City vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Sheffield United are set to go ahead on Wednesday June 17. Read more... (319 words, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 David

Premier League

Jose Mourinho Confirms No Spurs Transfer Budget

There has been a lot of conjecture about what this summer’s transfer window will look like, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that Spurs will not be splashing the cash this summer.

COVID-19 has devastated the balance sheet of many clubs and Mourinho admits he is prepared for a changed market once new dates are announced with huge sums for players not expected to be the norm. Read more... (343 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 David

Tickets, World Cup

No Mexico Games In US Until 2021

The Mexico national team will not be playing in the United States until fans are allowed back into stadiums, meaning El Tri is unlikely to play in the U.S. this year, according to Mexican federation (FMF) president Yon de Luisa.

Mexico usually plays five friendly games per year in the United States through its contract with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), attracting crowds that are regularly over 50,000.

However, the coronavirus pandemic means the immediate future of international football is up in the air. Read more... (510 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

4 Comments

May 27, 2020 David

Arsenal, Premier League

Arsenal Transfer Rumors

David Luiz is one of the defenders expected to leave Arsenal in the summer. The defender only signed a one-year contract when he joined from London rivals Chelsea in 2019 – not a two-year deal as was widely reported – and Sky Sports say that he’s not been offered an extension.

Mikel Arteta has praised Luiz’s influence on the team since his arrival as manager and wants him to stay.

But Sky claims the 33-year-old is now heading for the exit door, as Arsenal chiefs look to cut costs amid the coronavirus pandemic and the likely lack of Champions League football next season. Read more... (356 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

May 25, 2020May 25, 2020 David

Bundesliga, Rivalries, Tickets

Will Der Klassiker Decide Title Race?

Tomorrow Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund meet in potential title decider. The matchup between first and second place in the Bundesliga is called Der Klassiker or the “German Clasico”.

Since the foundation of the Bundesliga in 1963, they are two of the most successful teams in German football, having won a combined total of 21 of the past 25 Bundesliga titles as of 2019. The two teams also met in the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final.

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick says that the latest Der Klassiker is not a title decider, despite the fact that a win for leaders Bayern at the Allianz Arena would move them seven points clear of Dortmund with six games left. Read more... (763 words, estimated 3:03 mins reading time)