My Fantasy Scout pick and supersub John Kennedy scores to confirm Flu
in the final - 2-0 (Arias with the first from the spot).

Tchau!
Jesus Petry

Jesus Petry wrote:

> My Fantasy Scout pick and supersub John Kennedy scores to confirm Flu in
> the final - 2-0 (Arias with the first from the spot).

I suppose we are all expecting a Fluminense - Manchester City Final on
Friday?

I'm just hoping Erling Haaland returns from Saudi Arabia unscathed as my
FPL team desperately needs him! Picking Son / Salah as Captain has been a
big let-down for the mighty Blueshirts. So come back safe big fella...

On 2023-12-18 13:07, Blueshirt wrote:
> Jesus Petry wrote:
>
>> My Fantasy Scout pick and supersub John Kennedy scores to confirm Flu in
>> the final - 2-0 (Arias with the first from the spot).
>
> I suppose we are all expecting a Fluminense - Manchester City Final on
> Friday?
>
> I'm just hoping Erling Haaland returns from Saudi Arabia unscathed as my
> FPL team desperately needs him! Picking Son / Salah as Captain has been a
> big let-down for the mighty Blueshirts. So come back safe big fella...

O Ye of little faith! Surely the Blueshirts should be picking a Chelsea
player as captain? Nkunku perhaps (heard he was training again).

MH wrote:

> On 2023-12-18 13:07, Blueshirt wrote:
> >
> > I'm just hoping Erling Haaland returns from Saudi Arabia
> > unscathed as my FPL team desperately needs him! Picking Son /
> > Salah as Captain has been a big let-down for the mighty
> > Blueshirts. So come back safe big fella...
>
> O Ye of little faith! Surely the Blueshirts should be picking a
> Chelsea player as captain? Nkunku perhaps (heard he was training
> again).

Are you mad?! You have to play FPL with your head not your heart!

I did start the season with Jackson up front though, look where that
got me!!!

And technically, Manchester City play in blue shirts so Haaland as
Captain is fine... ;-)

We'll see if Nkunku starts tomorrow night against Newcastle before I
even contemplate bringing him in.

In article <ulq7v9$3la0c$1@dont-email.me>,
Jesus Petry <jesus.petry@gmail.com> wrote:
> My Fantasy Scout pick and supersub John Kennedy scores to confirm Flu
>in the final - 2-0 (Arias with the first from the spot).
>
> Tchau!
> Jesus Petry

go Flu! Stop Mancheating C!
--
Member - Liberal International This is doctor@nk.ca Ici doctor@nk.ca
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ; unsubscribe from Google Groups to be seen
Merry Christmas 2023 and Happy New year 2024 Beware https://mindspring.com

On Monday 18 December 2023 at 21:07:58 UTC+1, Blueshirt wrote:
>
> I'm just hoping Erling Haaland returns from Saudi Arabia unscathed as my
> FPL team desperately needs him! Picking Son / Salah as Captain has been a
> big let-down for the mighty Blueshirts. So come back safe big fella...

As expected, a Norwegian scores for City.

Blueshirt wrote:

> Jesus Petry wrote:
>
> > My Fantasy Scout pick and supersub John Kennedy scores to confirm
> > Flu in the final - 2-0 (Arias with the first from the spot).
>
> I suppose we are all expecting a Fluminense - Manchester City Final
> on Friday?

It was never in doubt, was it?

> I'm just hoping Erling Haaland returns from Saudi Arabia unscathed
> as my FPL team desperately needs him!

A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.

I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)

Blueshirt wrote:

> A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.

> I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)

Rested today too.

FT: Manchester City - Fluminense 4-0

In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the CWC is an important competition...but Felipe Melo playing in the final? That's too much even for me! (glad to see Kyle Walker having some friendly words with him at the end of the match...)

Futbolmetrix wrote:

> Blueshirt wrote:
>
> > A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.
>
> > I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)
>
> Rested today too.

Good. I can bring him back in to my FPL team soon so. He'll be fit
and well rested.

> FT: Manchester City - Fluminense 4-0

I didn't watch it but 4-0 seems like it was a one sided affair.

> In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the
> CWC is an important competition...

Maybe once the CWC is expanded to a proper tournament, 2025 and
onwards...

On 22/12/2023 17:30, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> Blueshirt wrote:
>
>> A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.
>
>> I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)
>
> Rested today too.

I read that he, de Bruyne and Doku were actually withdrawn from the CWC
squad, replaced by three U-23 players with almost zero experience in the
senior squad.

> FT: Manchester City - Fluminense  4-0
>
> In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the CWC is
> an important competition...but Felipe Melo playing in the final?  That's
> too much even for me!  (glad to see Kyle Walker having some friendly
> words with him at the end of the match...)

Glad for that too!

How's this for a damning statistic: in the last 10 editions of the CWC,
South American sides reached the final 6 times, in all of which they
scored an aggregate total of... 1 goal. Palmeiras against Chelsea, and
that was from a penalty kick. Al-Ain matched that in their sole
appearance in 2018, Kashima Antlers (2016) and Al Hilal (2022) actually
did better (even though they lost anyway).

About the game, although Ederson was made to work a couple of times, the
two teams seemed to come from different planets. It was not as bad as
Barcelona vs Santos in 2011, but it wasn't that far from that either...
it looked like, if Man City wanted more goals, they'd just need to push
the throttle a little bit more. The match was theirs on minimal effort.

On a local level I don't mind it at all to see Fluminense being whacked
this way, but again, this result underscores the vast gulf there is
between European club football and the rest of the world's.

I read that, beyond their revamped, 32-team Club World Cup planned for
2025 (and supposed to be held every four years, on the year before the
World Cup), FIFA will also hold a yearly "FIFA Intercontinental Cup",
starting in 2024. I think they read rss: it is basically the same idea
once proposed here (I think by Werner?) that the continental champions
from Conmebol, Concacaf, AFC, CAF and OFC will playoff and the winner
faces the UEFA CL winner on neutral territory. Here's more info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_FIFA_Intercontinental_Cup

Best regards,

Lléo

On 2023-12-22 22:59, Lléo wrote:
> On 22/12/2023 17:30, Futbolmetrix wrote:
>> Blueshirt wrote:
>>
>>> A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.
>>
>>> I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)
>>
>> Rested today too.
>
>
> I read that he, de Bruyne and Doku were actually withdrawn from the CWC
> squad, replaced by three U-23 players with almost zero experience in the
> senior squad.
>
>
>> FT: Manchester City - Fluminense  4-0
>>
>> In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the CWC
>> is an important competition...but Felipe Melo playing in the final?
>> That's too much even for me!  (glad to see Kyle Walker having some
>> friendly words with him at the end of the match...)
>
>
> Glad for that too!
>
> How's this for a damning statistic: in the last 10 editions of the CWC,
> South American sides reached the final 6 times, in all of which they
> scored an aggregate total of... 1 goal. Palmeiras against Chelsea, and
> that was from a penalty kick. Al-Ain matched that in their sole
> appearance in 2018, Kashima Antlers (2016) and Al Hilal (2022) actually
> did better (even though they lost anyway).
>
> About the game, although Ederson was made to work a couple of times, the
> two teams seemed to come from different planets. It was not as bad as
> Barcelona vs Santos in 2011, but it wasn't that far from that either...
> it looked like, if Man City wanted more goals, they'd just need to push
> the throttle a little bit more. The match was theirs on minimal effort.
>
> On a local level I don't mind it at all to see Fluminense being whacked
> this way, but again, this result underscores the vast gulf there is
> between European club football and the rest of the world's.
>
> I read that, beyond their revamped, 32-team Club World Cup planned for
> 2025 (and supposed to be held every four years, on the year before the
> World Cup),

In the Northern hemisphere summer, I gather. First one in the US in
2025. The criteria for qualification from UEFA are a bit bizarre.
Champions from 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. 8 other teams based on a
ranking from the last four years that includes ONLY champions' league
games. No more than 2 clubs from one country unless a third club from
the same country wins in 2024 (i.e Arsenal, since I don't see how else
it could happen). Liverpool can't qualify, and one of Atletico and
Barcelona will also miss out. On the other hand, this scheme is very
generous to the Portugese clubs and I think Porto and Benfica are
already guaranteed a place. PSG and Bayern already qualified.

FIFA will also hold a yearly "FIFA Intercontinental Cup",
> starting in 2024. I think they read rss: it is basically the same idea
> once proposed here (I think by Werner?) that the continental champions
> from Conmebol, Concacaf, AFC, CAF and OFC will playoff and the winner
> faces the UEFA CL winner on neutral territory. Here's more info:
>
This one will be held yearly in December if I read correctly.

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_FIFA_Intercontinental_Cup
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Lléo

MH wrote:

> On 2023-12-22 22:59, Lléo wrote:
>
> > FIFA will also hold a yearly "FIFA Intercontinental Cup",
> > starting in 2024. I think they read rss: it is basically the same
> > idea once proposed here (I think by Werner?) that the
> > continental champions from Conmebol, Concacaf, AFC, CAF and OFC
> > will playoff and the winner faces the UEFA CL winner on neutral
> > territory. Here's more info:
> >
> This one will be held yearly in December if I read correctly.

Yes, the "FIFA Intercontinental Cup" will be played annually, six
teams from six confederations. With the UEFA Champions League winners
going straight to the Final.

The "FIFA World Club Cup" will be played every four years, 32 teams.

Basically FIFA are making sure their get their snouts deeper in to
the 'club football' trough. More competitions = more games = more TV
rights to sell.

On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 5:57:44 AM UTC, Lléo wrote:
> On 22/12/2023 17:30, Futbolmetrix wrote:

> > FT: Manchester City - Fluminense 4-0
> >
> > In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the CWC is
> > an important competition...but Felipe Melo playing in the final? That's
> > too much even for me! (glad to see Kyle Walker having some friendly
> > words with him at the end of the match...)
> Glad for that too!
>
> How's this for a damning statistic: in the last 10 editions of the CWC,
> South American sides reached the final 6 times, in all of which they
> scored an aggregate total of... 1 goal. Palmeiras against Chelsea, and
> that was from a penalty kick. Al-Ain matched that in their sole
> appearance in 2018, Kashima Antlers (2016) and Al Hilal (2022) actually
> did better (even though they lost anyway).
>
> About the game, although Ederson was made to work a couple of times, the
> two teams seemed to come from different planets. It was not as bad as
> Barcelona vs Santos in 2011, but it wasn't that far from that either...
> it looked like, if Man City wanted more goals, they'd just need to push
> the throttle a little bit more. The match was theirs on minimal effort.
>
It's depressing! The financial gulf between the rich 5 (rich 5, not big 5! (although how much longer can I keep saying that for?)) and the rest of the world showed. And it's getting worse! What can we do to make World football more fair and even again?

Is there ever going to be a World Champion club from outside Spain, Italy, England, France and Germany again?

And of course FIFA are only making it worse by including so many teams from Europe from 2025 onwards!

On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 6:57:44 AM UTC+1, Lléo wrote:
> On 22/12/2023 17:30, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> > Blueshirt wrote:
> >
> >> A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.
> >
> >> I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)
> >
> > Rested today too.
> I read that he, de Bruyne and Doku were actually withdrawn from the CWC
> squad, replaced by three U-23 players with almost zero experience in the
> senior squad.
> > FT: Manchester City - Fluminense 4-0
> >
> > In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the CWC is
> > an important competition...but Felipe Melo playing in the final? That's
> > too much even for me! (glad to see Kyle Walker having some friendly
> > words with him at the end of the match...)
> Glad for that too!
>
> How's this for a damning statistic: in the last 10 editions of the CWC,
> South American sides reached the final 6 times, in all of which they
> scored an aggregate total of... 1 goal. Palmeiras against Chelsea, and
> that was from a penalty kick. Al-Ain matched that in their sole
> appearance in 2018, Kashima Antlers (2016) and Al Hilal (2022) actually
> did better (even though they lost anyway).
>
> About the game, although Ederson was made to work a couple of times, the
> two teams seemed to come from different planets. It was not as bad as
> Barcelona vs Santos in 2011, but it wasn't that far from that either...
> it looked like, if Man City wanted more goals, they'd just need to push
> the throttle a little bit more. The match was theirs on minimal effort.
>
> On a local level I don't mind it at all to see Fluminense being whacked
> this way, but again, this result underscores the vast gulf there is
> between European club football and the rest of the world's.
>
> I read that, beyond their revamped, 32-team Club World Cup planned for
> 2025 (and supposed to be held every four years, on the year before the
> World Cup), FIFA will also hold a yearly "FIFA Intercontinental Cup",
> starting in 2024. I think they read rss: it is basically the same idea
> once proposed here (I think by Werner?)

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.soccer/c/T30-lZWNNNQ/m/FslfujPnBQAJ

Where's my money, FIFA???

Ciao,
Werner

> that the continental champions
> from Conmebol, Concacaf, AFC, CAF and OFC will playoff and the winner
> faces the UEFA CL winner on neutral territory. Here's more info:
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_FIFA_Intercontinental_Cup
>

On Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 6:40:51 PM UTC+1, MH wrote:
> On 2023-12-22 22:59, Lléo wrote:
>
> > I read that, beyond their revamped, 32-team Club World Cup planned for
> > 2025 (and supposed to be held every four years, on the year before the
> > World Cup),
>
> In the Northern hemisphere summer, I gather. First one in the US in
> 2025. The criteria for qualification from UEFA are a bit bizarre.
> Champions from 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. 8 other teams based on a
> ranking from the last four years that includes ONLY champions' league
> games. No more than 2 clubs from one country unless a third club from
> the same country wins in 2024 (i.e Arsenal, since I don't see how else
> it could happen). Liverpool can't qualify, and one of Atletico and
> Barcelona will also miss out. On the other hand, this scheme is very
> generous to the Portugese clubs and I think Porto and Benfica are
> already guaranteed a place. PSG and Bayern already qualified.
> FIFA will also hold a yearly "FIFA Intercontinental Cup",

These somewhat artificial rules and restrictions mean that Salzburg would quite surprisingly
sneak in as last European team, unless this year's Champions League is won by either Arsenal,
PSV, or Copenhagen.

Ciao,
Werner

On 23/12/2023 06.59, Lléo wrote:
> On 22/12/2023 17:30, Futbolmetrix wrote:
>> Blueshirt wrote:
>>
>>> A nice rest for Mr Haaland today.
>>
>>> I bet he starts on Friday though! ;-)
>>
>> Rested today too.
>
>
> I read that he, de Bruyne and Doku were actually withdrawn from the CWC
> squad, replaced by three U-23 players with almost zero experience in the
> senior squad.

Players not in SF squad could not be selected for the final, according
to the rules.

>> FT: Manchester City - Fluminense  4-0
>>
>> In general I have a lot of respect for Brazilian clubs, and I the CWC
>> is an important competition...but Felipe Melo playing in the final?
>> That's too much even for me!  (glad to see Kyle Walker having some
>> friendly words with him at the end of the match...)
>
>
> Glad for that too!
>
> How's this for a damning statistic: in the last 10 editions of the CWC,
> South American sides reached the final 6 times, in all of which they
> scored an aggregate total of... 1 goal.

You can make that 11 editions without any changes.