comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 14 minutes ago
The 2021 Afcon was postponed to 2022 while for 2023, if it's in the northern hemisphere they move it to January, the winter months...which is what they might do for Morocco

Dates are still to be confirmed for the 2025 tournament though.
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Just have the damn thing in the European summer. Only 7 league systems in the world have their leagues run through the summer vs everybody else. And considering the best African players all play in Europe, just run it in the summer.

I appreciate the heat is a factor, but the games in Dallas, Mexico City etc will likely be 40 plus degrees at the next World Cup anyway.
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Iirc there are many leagues in Africa that run through the European summer. I think there's more than 7.

Also, I don't think the heat is that much of a concern to them.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 15 hours, 10 minutes ago
Propaganda*
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Always do, Gails funbags

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 18 minutes ago
Didn't we just have a WC moved because of weather conditions
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And it fvcked up the next couple of seasons from an injury perspective. Should never happen again.

comment by Winston is my hero (U1282)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 14 minutes ago
The 2021 Afcon was postponed to 2022 while for 2023, if it's in the northern hemisphere they move it to January, the winter months...which is what they might do for Morocco

Dates are still to be confirmed for the 2025 tournament though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just have the damn thing in the European summer. Only 7 league systems in the world have their leagues run through the summer vs everybody else. And considering the best African players all play in Europe, just run it in the summer.

I appreciate the heat is a factor, but the games in Dallas, Mexico City etc will likely be 40 plus degrees at the next World Cup anyway.
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Iirc there are many leagues in Africa that run through the European summer. I think there's more than 7.
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Go find me 8 league systems then.

Fred advocating a one world system...who would've thunk it

comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Winston is my hero (U1282)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 14 minutes ago
The 2021 Afcon was postponed to 2022 while for 2023, if it's in the northern hemisphere they move it to January, the winter months...which is what they might do for Morocco

Dates are still to be confirmed for the 2025 tournament though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just have the damn thing in the European summer. Only 7 league systems in the world have their leagues run through the summer vs everybody else. And considering the best African players all play in Europe, just run it in the summer.

I appreciate the heat is a factor, but the games in Dallas, Mexico City etc will likely be 40 plus degrees at the next World Cup anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Iirc there are many leagues in Africa that run through the European summer. I think there's more than 7.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Go find me 8 league systems then.
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Is a country like Zimbabwe among the 7 you mentioned?

Weren’t Zimbabwe banned from AFCON

Dunno tbh. Can't be permanent though, can it?

Well looks like Fred is spot on from what so can see.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Summer_association_football_leagues

comment by Robbing Hoody - I taught Szoboszlai how to cushion half volleys (U6374)
posted 10 minutes ago
Well looks like Fred is spot on from what so can see.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Summer_association_football_leagues
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Maybe it was just Africa then. Woman’s football is generally played through the summer to avoid clashing with men’s competition I think. Same with US / Canada leagues so they don’t clash with basketball, hockey and their football.

But point stands, vast vast majority play through the European winter.

Henderson out of the England squad says Joyce.

Safegate playing it no so safe, for a change.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 2 minutes ago
Henderson out of the England squad says Joyce.

Safegate playing it no so safe, for a change.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I bet he takes Mainoo

I think Mainoo is a decent talent tbh.

comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 11 seconds ago
I think Mainoo is a decent talent tbh.
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He’s excellent, although I think he struggles with 90 mins atm. There’s an absolute dearth of talent that can play deeper in midfield for England though, so he could well be on the plane, despite probably not deserving it.

I do like a curveball young call up for a competition though, so have no issue with it.

Think i've said it before, Mainoo does look good, but at the same time, United have been absolutely awful with him in the team still, so you have to say he is at least responsible for that somewhat.

He had a good cameo in that last england game, but then a lot of players would look good alongside Bellingham and Rice.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 1 minute ago
Think i've said it before, Mainoo does look good, but at the same time, United have been absolutely awful with him in the team still, so you have to say he is at least responsible for that somewhat.

He had a good cameo in that last england game, but then a lot of players would look good alongside Bellingham and Rice.
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Surely that’s a mitigating factor for Mainoo? He’s been one of the best players in a shocking team this season which should be to his credit as a teenager.

comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 1 minute ago
Think i've said it before, Mainoo does look good, but at the same time, United have been absolutely awful with him in the team still, so you have to say he is at least responsible for that somewhat.

He had a good cameo in that last england game, but then a lot of players would look good alongside Bellingham and Rice.
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Surely that’s a mitigating factor for Mainoo? He’s been one of the best players in a shocking team this season which should be to his credit as a teenager.
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Or he could be a Lucas Leiva…looking great amongst dross

comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jü... (U3979)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 1 minute ago
Think i've said it before, Mainoo does look good, but at the same time, United have been absolutely awful with him in the team still, so you have to say he is at least responsible for that somewhat.

He had a good cameo in that last england game, but then a lot of players would look good alongside Bellingham and Rice.
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Surely that’s a mitigating factor for Mainoo? He’s been one of the best players in a shocking team this season which should be to his credit as a teenager.
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I think in some ways it is the opposite. Everything good Mainoo has done is down to him, everything bad gets blamed on the poor experienced performers in the team. Obviously the potential to improve is incredible at this stage though.

Are there many better 19 year olds in the premier league?

Mainoo passes the eye test pretty comfortable for me and he can play on the half turn. As a Bellingham back up he’d be a decent option to bring on imo. I wouldn’t want him starting though.

Let’s see what the friendlies bring.

Yeah I've said before he looks good and has a ton of potential, but I also struggle to get overly excited about a midfielder playing in a side who lose the midfield battle pretty much every single game they play.

I know he can't do everything himself but you'd expect some upturn in form since he became a starter.

Quansah and Jones in the provisional squad apparently

Yep exactly Xavi, I think only once he's playing alongside better players will we know the hype is real.

Anyway, with Foden player of the season, Rice probably second, Bellingham a Ballon D'Or contender, Kane the best CF in the world, Walker and his pace seemingly ageless, pretty exciting times to be an England fan.

Got a problem at CB and left back I have to admit though, much more so than previous tournaments. Maguire and Stones had very little football lately.

Wonder if Gomez will go. I'd take him for his versatility and he's had a good season overall. But I think I'd start Stones and Branthwaite at CB. Can see why Southgate would stick with Maguire over anyone else though. Branthwaite is pretty much untested at this level.