Everything Soccer

[dublinirish]

Liverpool is short two physical defenders of real quality plus healthy Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, and Can on the field at one time, and Milner giving it another year or more, and the Mad Genius will figure out English football enough to win this thing. He's close already.

Terrible to lose Coutinho early but when Lallana came on, my goodness was the passing (occasionally --- when he was involved) ultra-slick. In the EPL he's one of my favorite players to watch.

they need center backs with pace. they are just getting killed out there on the counter. Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton would be a great buy for them.

 

[Rogue219]

they need center backs with pace. they are just getting killed out there on the counter. Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton would be a great buy for them.

Word is he's going to Chelsea.

Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli is probably just as good and around the same price tag.

 

[Emcee77]

Liverpool is short two physical defenders of real quality plus healthy Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, and Can on the field at one time, and Milner giving it another year or more, and the Mad Genius will figure out English football enough to win this thing. He's close already.

Terrible to lose Coutinho early but when Lallana came on, my goodness was the passing (occasionally --- when he was involved) ultra-slick. In the EPL he's one of my favorite players to watch.

I agree Mike. I think Matip is a good central and Lovern looks destined for backup duty if we can get stout CB.

Lallana is probably the smoothest on the ball in the EPL.

they need center backs with pace. they are just getting killed out there on the counter. Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton would be a great buy for them.

Lallana's feet are so, so good. That little Cruyff-pass in the buildup to the goal was lovely. He is just so fun to watch. Best English player right now? He'd get my vote.

LFC are unbeaten when Matip and Lovren start, right? I think Klopp likes the two of them, but the center backs behind them are just not good enough in space to play for Liverpool. Van Dijk is just what's required. The way he comes out of nowhere to close people down and make tackles sometimes ... such an incredible athlete. And he's not just an athlete ... he has great skill, too. You don't see too many center backs taking free kicks in the attacking third (although there are some others, like David Luiz).

What's causing problems in the efforts to sign Can to a new contract is that he wants to play as a deep-lying midfielder, which is Henderson's position when healthy. While Can is good in that role, he does not have Henderson's excellent long-passing ability (few players do), so I prefer Henderson there. Also, imo, Can's energy and physicality really add something in one of the more advanced midfield roles, so even when Hendo is hurt, as now, I prefer Lucas in the holding role and Can as one of the more advanced midfielders. But either way, the bottom line for me is that it won't be easy for him to get into our best 11, which is generally Migs, Milner, Lovren, Matip, Clyne, Hendo, Lallana, Gini, Coutinho, Firmino and Mane. Can could maybe convince Klopp to select him over Gini from time to time, but generally Gini has been excellent. No doubt Can feels he is good enough to start somewhere so he is looking for assurances from the manager, but I don't know what assurances Klopp can give him.

When LFC have that best 11 on the field, they have been unplayable. This summer, LFC have to add depth so injuries to some of those people won't be so costly.

 

[Rogue219]

Crystal Palace was the time Liverpool lost with Matip and Lovren starting. If Klopp and FSG have ambition to win Leagues and compete for Champions League, Lovren is a squad player.

Henderson has missed a lot of matches due to injury. They need Can, and Can can continue to develop under Klopp as he's so young. Can likely doesn't get assurances at most big clubs.

 

[ACamp1900]

Van Dijk was a joy to watch during his time in Hoops... I know that much.

 

[dublinirish]

Van Dijk was a joy to watch during his time in Hoops... I know that much.

dude's always been a freak athlete, just needed more seasoning.

 

[Emcee77]

Crystal Palace was the time Liverpool lost with Matip and Lovren starting. If Klopp and FSG have ambition to win Leagues and compete for Champions League, Lovren is a squad player.

Henderson has missed a lot of matches due to injury. They need Can, and Can can continue to develop under Klopp as he's so young. Can likely doesn't get assurances at most big clubs.

My point about Can was that he might want to leave under the current circumstances, not that LFC shouldn't try to keep him or don't need him. I hope he stays.

Lovren can't be more than a squad player for a perennial top-4 team? Probably true. I definitely agree that Liverpool need to bring in someone like Van Dijk because Lovren hasn't proven that he is good enough to match Liverpool's ambition, and he's old enough that you have to wonder how much potential for improvement there realistically is. But I'd add that Lovren is a great athlete who can cover a lot of ground quickly, and he is a great tackler. Klopp said this week that that is precisely the kind of center back he is looking for. Further, Lovren has shown some improvement under Klopp. I expect LFC to bring in someone better than Lovren over the summer, but I'm also hopeful that he can continue to improve under Klopp and reach the point of being a good, reliable squad player, rather than an Alberto Moreno-type wild card squad player.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Two comments from the ignorant rookie:

1). I just believe that Liverpool needs another really physical player in their eleven because in almost every match I've watched every set piece has been a nail-biting terror show --- and that also is shown when Liverpool has a corner. If Lovran and Matip really are the answers back there, and if the attacking front is going to be the slick "little guys", then where's the physical bully going to come from? Lucas' position? Clyne's? I've never seen Henderson play. Milner's too valuable to replace for this reason. Not a lot of empty spaces ..... My viewing of Lovran in the rough meathouse area doesn't quite look tough enough and/or "air dominating" enough for my amateur tastes. Thank God the goalie can get up and be physical.

2). On Lucas: he's kind of a "trip" for me to watch. Running around like a wildman all over the place (great work rate), and often being in everybody's hair including Klopp's. (announcers pointed out Klopp yelling at Lucas being too far upfield --- four exchanges later he was right back up in there ... the instincts of an attacker whether the Coach wants him that ambitious or not. Every so often he seems to make a real bonehead play, but if the opponent doesn't capitalize immediately he's right back in their shirts. So ... occasional bonehead or not, I like the guy ... antics sometimes make me nervous, but he's a fired-up pest with some mean in him and some skill. (wish he stop diving though. Ref nailed him for that.)


Oh, and about Can: right after the fabulous goal, he shook off the teammates" congrats and ran right at Klopp, sliding in front of him and into one of those rough smiling Klopp genuine hugs. Didn't look to me like a guy who didn't want to play for the boss, or a boss who didn't think he was a player.

 

[Cackalacky]

Two comments from the ignorant rookie:

1). I just believe that Liverpool needs another really physical player in their eleven because in almost every match I've watched every set piece has been a nail-biting terror show --- and that also is shown when Liverpool has a corner. If Lovran and Matip really are the answers back there, and if the attacking front is going to be the slick "little guys", then where's the physical bully going to come from? Lucas' position? Clyne's? I've never seen Henderson play. Milner's too valuable to replace for this reason. Not a lot of empty spaces ..... My viewing of Lovran in the rough meathouse area doesn't quite look tough enough and/or "air dominating" enough for my amateur tastes. Thank God the goalie can get up and be physical.

2). On Lucas: he's kind of a "trip" for me to watch. Running around like a wildman all over the place (great work rate), and often being in everybody's hair including Klopp's. (announcers pointed out Klopp yelling at Lucas being too far upfield --- four exchanges later he was right back up in there ... the instincts of an attacker whether the Coach wants him that ambitious or not. Every so often he seems to make a real bonehead play, but if the opponent doesn't capitalize immediately he's right back in their shirts. So ... occasional bonehead or not, I like the guy ... antics sometimes make me nervous, but he's a fired-up pest with some mean in him and some skill. (wish he stop diving though. Ref nailed him for that.)

1. I agree Mike. WE need someon physical but it wont come from the RB or LB position, it wont come from Henderson when he is healthy and it wont come from any of our outfield players becasue they are offensively minded and too slight to be much of a defender on set pieces. It almost has to come from the two CBs and if I had my druthers it would be subbinf our Lovren as he does make some very bad mental mistakes. Matip is also great going forward like a David Luiz and I think that is needed in Klopps attach.

2.Its funny you should say that as Lucas was an attacking (box-box) midfielder of the brazillian school at Gremio when he joined Liverpool. But at that time he joined a midfield that included Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonzo and Javier Mascherano... probably the best trio of premier league midfielders in the 2000s. His way on the pitch was a defensive (holding midfielder) and after Xabi and Javier moved on, he filled in by Gerrard but never really let go of the box-box mentality. He does get caught up forward many times leaving the back line open, but he is also capable of playing beautiful balls up front like he did to Can. He is one of favorites and if I had to give a "lunch pail" award to anyone it would be him.

 

[Emcee77]

All good points. Yes, LFC lack a physical presence, and this is one thing that is great about having Can in the side. He provides a bit of that.

Lucas may have some vestigial attacking instincts--it's amazing the way he is racking up assists--but he is such a great tackler and so great at breaking up play. This is another guy, like Can, whom I hope LFC find a way to keep around next season.

And I thought the same thing, OMM ... that knee slide Can did into Klopp's arms sure didn't look like the action of a guy who was unsure if he had a future under that manager. Klopp has joked about how "Can has a problem ... he speaks my language!" which isn't actually a problem at all; it means that Can inevitably gets a bit more face-to-face interaction with the manager than some of the non-German-speaking players get because Klopp isn't limited by the language barrier in the coaching he can offer Can.

 

[Emcee77]

Come on Athletico

 

[Rogue219]

My point about Can was that he might want to leave under the current circumstances, not that LFC shouldn't try to keep him or don't need him. I hope he stays.

Lovren can't be more than a squad player for a perennial top-4 team? Probably true. I definitely agree that Liverpool need to bring in someone like Van Dijk because Lovren hasn't proven that he is good enough to match Liverpool's ambition, and he's old enough that you have to wonder how much potential for improvement there realistically is. But I'd add that Lovren is a great athlete who can cover a lot of ground quickly, and he is a great tackler. Klopp said this week that that is precisely the kind of center back he is looking for. Further, Lovren has shown some improvement under Klopp. I expect LFC to bring in someone better than Lovren over the summer, but I'm also hopeful that he can continue to improve under Klopp and reach the point of being a good, reliable squad player, rather than an Alberto Moreno-type wild card squad player.

Based on Can's recent form, they'll find minutes for him. Should be fine. It works for both parties for him to stay. He had his moments earlier this season too.

What I've seen of Lovren over the past few years can be summed up on one word: inconsistent.

 

[Emcee77]

Based on Can's recent form, they'll find minutes for him. Should be fine. It works for both parties for him to stay. He had his moments earlier this season too.

What I've seen of Lovren over the past few years can be summed up on one word: inconsistent.

Agreed. I'm hoping LFC commit to Can and to Van Dijk, or a like talent.


The ball is bouncing Ronaldo's way today.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Real Madrid are going to be good next season <a href="https://t.co/QbTaL5JnZ9">pic.twitter.com/QbTaL5JnZ9</a></p>— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/MenInBlazers/status/859160480434311172">May 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sigh. Evil always wins.

 

[ACamp1900]

What the all loving hell do they need Kane for??? smh, this 'fair play' stuff is a bunch of BS...

 

[Emcee77]

I think that is just Rog making a dark joke, but as with all good jokes, we all see the grain of truth in it.

Man, he cracks me up:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So much to admire about Ronaldo: his awareness of space, clinicality, and commitment to winning, all equaled only by his self-obsession</p>— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/MenInBlazers/status/859506482714480640">May 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

SO TRUE

 

[ACamp1900]

Hasn't Real been targeting Kane for a number of years anyway???

 

[Old Man Mike]

When EPL stars go to Real or Barcelona (or maybe a few others?) is it mainly a matter of massive dollars which the EPL team won't pay, or is there more to the dynamic? (You guys have been following this stuff so you know these other not-on-the-field dimensions, while it's a mystery to me.)

Related to that: are some teams in the EPL just out-of-sight more wealthy or spend-crazy than others? Is there no payroll limit? Can an insane rich guy just buy anyone he wants?


.... hoping that my naive questions are sort-of welcome to pass the time in this football deadtime. And, believe me, I have no clue about the answers to any of them. (though I think my "eye" for good play is improving --- in a way there are similarities between one "flow" sport (like my old one basketball) and this "new" one; once you've gotten to the holistic sense of play in one, it seems to transfer over to the other despite the ostensible differences. It might do the same for Lacrosse and Hockey, but I haven't watched enough. Football seems different entirely as it doesn't really flow at all --- more one brief detached "episode" after another... or at least the flow becomes more "strategic" over the otherwise disconnected episodes.) Anyway ... enough babbling.

 

[ACamp1900]

EPL is the richest league... but many of the richest teams are elsewhere, Real is prob the biggest offender when it comes to just buying everyone... a few years back, the year they bought Bale and others they spent in one transfer window more than multiple other world power's all time transfer payments combined (If I remember right it was AJAX, Porto, Celtic and someone else, these are are teams that have fallen a bit in the new world market but all are historical powers that have all won Champions League before)... the only teams in England that compare are maybe Chelsea and MC... the way Spain's league has dispersed their money is insane, basically Barca and Real get the majority of everything, after already being two of the richest teams to begin with... I do believe this has finally been fixed as of this year, but the damage has kind of been done. Its easy for them to buy anyone, and also makes them easy to dislike if you're a fan of anyone else. It also makes Athletico's current run easily one of the more impressive in world sports... Other teams, like PSG, Bayern and others either have oil billionaire owners or simply have their nations transfer market on lock...

I hope that helps or makes sense...

 

[Cackalacky]

To add to Acamp's post, the EPL also has fair play rules which limits the number of foreign players allowed and requires a specific number of homegrown players to be on each team. Additionaly Brittain has stringent work permit requirements for foreign players entering into the country to play for any FA team. That really makes transfers tough into the FA. I dont think other countries work permit process is as or nearly that stringent.

But a popular trend is for great young EPL players getting big wages from Real or Barcelona after they have matured in the very tough and physical EPL. The EPL tends to pick up players from lower leagues and see who plays out The EPL is the deepest and most tough league top to bottom IMO.

One thing to keep in mind is that player contracts are basically wage contracts. How much per week is this person going to be paid by the new team. The player must agree to terms for wages and is independent of the contract held by the parent team and the agent fees.

The new team must also negotiate a transfer fee with the parent team unless the players contract is ended and he is a free transfer. Milner was acquired by Liverpool fom Man City as a free transfer which means Liverpool only had to negotiate wages with Milner and agent fees.

When a team announces a transfer fee for a player, that is money paid between the teams for the rights to the player's contract but doesnt include wages negotiated by the new team and the player. So a $100 millon euro transfer fee is simply money paid to the new team to the parent team for the players contract rights. That doesnt include the €300k per week they pay the new star player.

There is much more but you get the idea.

 

[NorthDakota]

When EPL stars go to Real or Barcelona (or maybe a few others?) is it mainly a matter of massive dollars which the EPL team won't pay, or is there more to the dynamic? (You guys have been following this stuff so you know these other not-on-the-field dimensions, while it's a mystery to me.)

Related to that: are some teams in the EPL just out-of-sight more wealthy or spend-crazy than others? Is there no payroll limit? Can an insane rich guy just buy anyone he wants?


.... hoping that my naive questions are sort-of welcome to pass the time in this football deadtime. And, believe me, I have no clue about the answers to any of them. (though I think my "eye" for good play is improving --- in a way there are similarities between one "flow" sport (like my old one basketball) and this "new" one; once you've gotten to the holistic sense of play in one, it seems to transfer over to the other despite the ostensible differences. It might do the same for Lacrosse and Hockey, but I haven't watched enough. Football seems different entirely as it doesn't really flow at all --- more one brief detached "episode" after another... or at least the flow becomes more "strategic" over the otherwise disconnected episodes.) Anyway ... enough babbling.

1. Money, weather/lifestyle, "prestige"

2. England has some requirements regarding the number of English/Homegrown players on the team I believe. (see English player transfer fees, they pay ludicrous amounts for the good English players). Manchester City and Chelsea(**** off, Chelsea FC, you aint got no history!) shows what a super rich guy can accomplish.

3. You ask questions that some don't know the answers to themselves. More than welcome.

4. List of Wealthiest Clubs in the World per Forbes 2016, so it's a year outdated. Doubt Newcastle is still on the list. Even going from 1-10 sees a HUGE disparity in value.

1. Real Madrid 3.65b
2. Barca 3.56b
3. Man U 3.32b
4. FC Bayern 2.68b
5 Arsenal 2.02b
6. Man City 1.92b
7. Chelski 1.66b
8. Liverpool 1.55b
9. Juventus 1.3b
10. Spurs 1.02b
11. Borussia Dortmund 836m
12. AC Milan 825m
13. PSG 814m
14. Schalke 655m
15. Atletico 633m
16. Inter Milan 559m
17. West Ham 542m
18. Roma 508m
19. Napoli 396m
20. Newcastle 383m

EPL is the richest league... but many of the richest teams are elsewhere, Real is prob the biggest offender when it comes to just buying everyone... a few years back, the year they bought Bale and others they spent in one transfer window more than multiple other world power's all time transfer payments combined (If I remember right it was AJAX, Porto, Celtic and someone else, these are are teams that have fallen a bit in the new world market but all are historical powers that have all won Champions League before)... the only teams in England that compare are maybe Chelsea and MC... the way Spain's league has dispersed their money is insane, basically Barca and Real get the majority of everything, after already being two of the richest teams to begin with... I do believe this has finally been fixed as of this year, but the damage has kind of been done. Its easy for them to buy anyone, and also makes them easy to dislike if you're a fan of anyone else. It also makes Athletico's current run easily one of the more impressive in world sports... Other teams, like PSG, Bayern and others either have oil billionaire owners or simply have their nations transfer market on lock...

I hope that helps or makes sense...

The odd thing about the top 4 leagues(England, Spain, Italy, Germany) is they've all had 5 different champions since the turn of the century, and it looks like only England has gotten more competitive in terms of spreading the championships around in the last ten years or so. Having Chelsea and City get their sugar daddy thing going has certainly played a big part in that though.

 

[Rocket89]

When EPL stars go to Real or Barcelona (or maybe a few others?) is it mainly a matter of massive dollars which the EPL team won't pay, or is there more to the dynamic? (You guys have been following this stuff so you know these other not-on-the-field dimensions, while it's a mystery to me.)

Related to that: are some teams in the EPL just out-of-sight more wealthy or spend-crazy than others? Is there no payroll limit? Can an insane rich guy just buy anyone he wants?

To your first paragraph money is a major part of it. However, the movement of the top EPL stars to the other big clubs seems to have dried up recently. I'm trying to think of the last big in-form star to leave and it might be Suarez from Liverpool to Barcelona, so almost 3 full years ago.

I think most people judge the wealth of the EPL clubs best by their wage bills. Over the last decade it's looked like this:

1) City
2) United
3) Chelsea
small drop
4) Arsenal
decent sized drop
5) Liverpool
decent sized drop
6) Tottenham
decent sized drop
7) Everton
8) West Ham

To add some numbers, City's wage bill is £225 million, Arsenal is £200 million, Tottenham at £120 million, and West Ham at £80 million.

Everyone from Spurs and above is within the Top 15 in European wage bill spending.

Roma, AC Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are the other non-EPL teams in the Top 15.

Real Madrid and Barca are always #1 and #2 the former hovering around £245 million while the latter is way ahead at nearly £300 million. Painting with a broad brush here but what makes these teams spend so much isn't always the average player makes a little more (they do) but the top earners are WAY out in front of the rest of the world.

Bale and Ronaldo are combining for over £700,000 per week in wages. That's an entire wage bill for the lower 5-ish EPL teams.

Anyway, I definitely think the EPL is "winning" a lot of the transfers around the world, at least in terms of spending. How they utilize that money is another story!

Alonso, Luiz, Slimani, Mustafi, Perez, Bravo, Pogba, Jesus, Sane, Janssen, Mkhitaryan, Batshuayi, Bailly, Gundogan, and Xhaka.

Those are all the £20+ million transfers into the EPL from other countries since the summer. That's a lot of talent. And not much is leaving.

In fact, situations like Di Maria with a one year horrible stint at Man U and then shipped out on 80 cents to the dollar back out of the EPL seem to be more common (on a smaller scale) than big stars just leaving for more money in Spain or elsewhere.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Very interesting gentlemen --- fog is slowly clearing in this old head. These unbalanced total-worth and wage-total numbers explain a lot to me as to why I enjoy some of this soccer and others not so much. The EPL seems to have more clubs capable of putting up a fair fight on the money front and that translates into better competition usually on the pitch. Whereas in the European leagues it seems more the case of (ex.) how much will Bayern win by? If I didn't enjoy watching Vidal and Robben/Lahm, I'd probably not even watch their games. Same with Messi/Neymar. Even with Ronaldo (and without Bale) I find it hard to watch Real Madrid, as they win every time (sans Barca) and their star seems like a pompous a$$. ... and I usually LIKE watching fabulous talents at work. So, for me, the EPL is typically the better soccer to watch.

 

[Rocket89]

Very interesting gentlemen --- fog is slowly clearing in this old head. These unbalanced total-worth and wage-total numbers explain a lot to me as to why I enjoy some of this soccer and others not so much. The EPL seems to have more clubs capable of putting up a fair fight on the money front and that translates into better competition usually on the pitch. Whereas in the European leagues it seems more the case of (ex.) how much will Bayern win by? If I didn't enjoy watching Vidal and Robben/Lahm, I'd probably not even watch their games. Same with Messi/Neymar. Even with Ronaldo (and without Bale) I find it hard to watch Real Madrid, as they win every time (sans Barca) and their star seems like a pompous a$$. ... and I usually LIKE watching fabulous talents at work. So, for me, the EPL is typically the better soccer to watch.

I'm with you on most of that. There's been a backlash against the EPL recently based off the poor performances in Europe. That part is well deserved.

NBC's coverage of the EPL is so damn good that it makes the league enormously more accessible and fun to watch, even down to the bottom of the table. The other leagues just don't have that.

The other leagues don't have the same passion, either. And that's born out in media coverage across the world. This was the first year of a new 3-year deal for DOMESTIC TV coverage only that will pay the 20 EPL clubs £8 billion through 2018-19. Overseas coverage brings that over £10 billion--imagine what it'll be like in 20 years!??

A league like the Bundesliga may seem cooler but looking at their table right now the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 17th, and 18th teams have virtually no following in the U.S. and I'd bet they've virtually never been mentioned in this entire soccer thread.

You take a team like Mainz, consistently in the Bundesliga for several years in a row, and they have roughly the same global footprint as someone like Nottingham Forest who hasn't been in the EPL for almost 20 years.

I do like dropping in on German or Spanish games once in a while but it's not the same.

 

[ACamp1900]

Different strokes, unless it's a huge matchup I find EPL games to be incredibly boring in comparrison to other leagues... it's def the best covered league tho, no question about that.

 

[Emcee77]

For me there's generally greater depth of talent and athleticism in the less glamorous positions in the EPL. When I watch a mid-table-or-below Bundesliga game, I'm constantly wondering, "Where's the midfield? Where's the defending?" Attacking is way too easy. I prefer EPL because I love how aggressively teams defend, not necessarily tactically all the time, but just on the level of athleticism and physicality.

I realize this may be idiosyncratic. In any sport, I LOVE defense. For example, if I'm watching baseball, I would much rather watch a 0-0 pitcher's duel, where one swing of the bat changes the game, than a slugfest. Low scoring maximizes the drame of every scoring chance. From this perspective, EPL is the best. (Italy is also good, but it's less accessible because of the language barrier and lack of good U.S. coverage, and the financial situation in Italy means that there's not the same depth of talent.)

 

[nlroma1o]

Well it sounds like its official now... we all knew this day was coming... My childhood hero, il Capitano, Francesco Totti, is going to retire at the conclusion of this season. He's the last of an era... man getting old sucks...

 

[dublinirish]

Well it sounds like its official now... we all knew this day was coming... My childhood hero, il Capitano, Francesco Totti, is going to retire at the conclusion of this season. He's the last of an era... man getting old sucks...

yeah he's gonna become a director or something right. the guy probably could still go another year

 

[Emcee77]

What a brilliant goal.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dybala and Dani Alves with the flair, Higuain with the finish. Beautiful team goal from Juventus! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash">#UCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASMJuve?src=hash">#ASMJuve</a> <a href="https://t.co/S4juAWdtQj">https://t.co/S4juAWdtQj</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/859849680745750528">May 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Rogue219]

Diego Costa is going to China?

The bad news is Chelsea is going to get a bunch of money, as if they need it.

The good news is Diego Costa is going to China.

 

[GowerND11]

Diego Costa is going to China?

The bad news is Chelsea is going to get a bunch of money, as if they need it.

The good news is Diego Costa is going to China.

Real catch 22 isn't it?