El Profesor

I think the two Bayern matches are crucial for ten Hag, considering Bayern's recent past of absolutely crushing opposition in Europe.

Hopefully João Felix can find again his best form. He was so good at Benfica. On Raphinha, I agree. That was actually a weird signing. The numbers could prove it otherwise, but the eye-test says he's not a good fit for a team coached by Xavi. Tje way I see, his passing is a bit erratic for a team like Barça, that puts so much emphasis on ball possession.

Glass Half Full: there are lots of questions around 777 Partners, but there are also some reasons for optimism for evertonians. From what I've seen at Vasco, 777 at least is willing to put significant ammounts of money to strenghten their teams. Their lack of success here in Brazil, so far, is not a fruit of insuficient investiment. Their budget at the start of the season was over 20 million dollars, which is a considerable ammount for brazilian football. They also spent a lot more recently, before the transfer window closed, in order to save Vasco from relegation, including the signings of Dimitri Payet and Gary Medel. The problem seems that they hired the wrong personnel to be put in charge of the club. Probably due to inexperience in how to manage a football club. At least now they have a really good coach in Ramon Diaz and, like I've mentioned earlier, signed better players. One could point that they are learning from their mistakes. Everton fans should expect a significant ammount of reinforcements for Everton in the winter transfer window. IMO part of their lack of success is certainly due to the inexperience but also due to the fact that almost all clubs they bought were in a tough position to begin with. Vasco despite being one the biggest football teams in Brazil had already 4 relegations behind them in the last 2 decades. Lastly, Everton is clearly the most valuable asset from their football portfolio. They have every reason to try to make it work. Milan in a super tight spot when another american group, Elliot, took over and look where they are now.

After the match against Peru, Richarlison told the press he is going to seek psychological help when he returns to England. Hopefully he can get it together. His case reminds me of Harry Maguire, once you become the target of banter in social media, it can be really tough to perform. At the same time, I don't think his lack of performance is only due mental reasons. Everton fans probably know better, but it seems to me that Richarlison's best position is as a winger who works his socks off without the ball and produces a decent ammount of chances. I don't really think he finishes well enough to be a striker.

I thought van Gaal had retired from coaching after the World Cup. Having said that, I think he's a really good option for Germany. He's someone who can build a team and give it cohesion in a short time, and you can definitely count that he will demand german players to give it all. Germany needs a quick fix, to be somewhat competitive in less than a year and that was exactly what he did for Netherlands in last year's World Cup. He took over in 2021 and while his dutch team didn't play brilliant football, it was a really tough team to beat.

Are there any teams in football that consistently make a profit from TV and attendance revenues? Brighton may make some decent money, I guess, but I am not sure it's sustainable to depend so much on player sales. I mean, you are always in need to find replacements and there is always a huge risk in recruiting new players. In contrast to the american major leagues, it seems that football clubs have a really hard time from a financial point of view. I guess that's why 777 can take over a traditional club like Everton in Premier League for 600 million pounds, whereas even a team with a really small fanbase like the Miami Marlins was sold for more than a billion dollars.

Definitely. They own Vasco da Gama here in Brazil. So far, 777 has done a horrible job. The club is in the relegation zone, after their worst season start in history. If I'm not wrong, it could be 777's third relegation, after Genoa Hertha Berlin. A terrible record. Hopefully Everton can find a better ownership.

2019/20 Bayern is one of the strongest teams I've ever seen, so I expected it Flick to do very well with the german NT. He seems completely lost though. Even if it that's not the best generation of players, Germany has a pretty good squad on paper. Funny thing is 06 team was weaker imo and Klinsmann is a worse coach than Hansi Flick. Any chance they ditch Hansi for Nagelsmann?

Not exactly a crush but I would also mention Peter O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia" as one of the most impressive performances, from an aesthetically point of view. I was like 8 when I firsted watched the film and I still find impressive how pretty that guy was. There's something about actors and actresses from the past that I find more appealing. I find them way more charming than their contemporary counterparts. Not sure exactly why. On the other hand though, those guys aged a lot faster, so you have that.

I was like 17 when "Closer" came out and I developed a huge crush on Natalie Portman. Haven't really followed her since then though.

From what I see Bayern fans comment, their most pressing need was a #6. So I find it pretty strange that a club like FCB leaves it to the last days of the transfer window to fill that gap. By the way, isn't Kimmich a world- class #6? What is wrong with him?

But isn't this exactly what Chelsea tried to do when they bought Werner, Pulisic, Havertz? As a dodger fan, I can see what Boehly is trying to do, but doing that in a football team, in my opinion, is a lot harder than in MLB, since there isn't a farm league system, to make sure young players develop and get playing time with less pressure.

How is John Textor viewed among Palace fans? Here in Brazil, Botafogo fans love him. His ownership has made a really positive impact in the club, one must recognize. However, from what I gather, in France OL fans hate his guts.

Al-Ittihad is preparing an offer of 233 million euros for Salah. That would make him the most expensive player in the history of football, surpassing Neymar's transfer. At this point, you have really to consider that the saudis are deliberately trying to destabilize Liverpool. If they really did want the player, they wouldn't wait until the last day of the transfer window to make this offer. I am not sure what is the exactly reason behind it though.

Finally, after a decade, PSG's board realized that they should go after french talent first. They know the language, the culture, the league and how meaningful is PSG's is in Paris metropolitan region. Despite being a young club, PSG has a faithful, passionate fanbase and has been a factor in french football at least since the Canal Plus takeover in the 90s. There are so many talented french players. Signing most players from Italy's Serie A, like they did under Leonardo, never made sense imo.

Not a João Felix topic, but I think that you´ve said about Havertz also suits João Felix perfectly. The idea of João Felix is much more appealing than the reality of it. He may very well become a productive player for a big club, but so far he hasn´t really showed enought to justify the infatuation with him. The whole Simeone is to blame excuse also doesn´t apply, as Atlético have the best attack in La Liga in 2023, if I´m not wrong.

Fred is not rated by most, but at the same time he flies a bit under the radar. He left brazilian football at a really young age and was never a starter for the national team. Players like Alisson and Gabriel Jesus, on the other hand, are the focus of a lot more criticism and controversy.

We don´t claim, Nunes, Chris. He refused a call-up from our NT and instead opted to represent Portugal. This time, we brazilians are innocent.

Yes, I saw the save, It has reignited the Alisson debate. Today, a journalist especialized in european football posted a defence of Alisson on Twitter, and his mentions were a mess. A guy said in answer something like: "Well, Alisson may well be a lion at Liverpool, but with our national team he is a little cat." I am convinced that most brazilian fans would trade him for Emi Martínez in a heartbeat. Still, I like Alisson a lot actually. Our best goalkeeper in a long time. It´s a shame he´s judged by a very small sample-size in this country. Yeah. I think he was overconfident with his feet ability arriving from Roma. I remember a blunder versus Leicester, where he tried to dribble a forward and it lead to a goal. It´s good that he changed this aspect of his game.

Vitor Roque scored a goal today. 19th goal of the year. For a striker who is still only 18 years old, he looks very impressive. Barça has a good one on their hands.

IMO Newcastle's attack is a bit light weight for a Champions League team. They have good players but no difference maker.

I am a big Bruno fan, but he's been sloppy with the ball far too many times. His mistake caused Liverpool's second goal. As a 6, he must take better care of the ball.

I think there's a decent chance Messi plays in the next World Cup. He's still a difference maker at the highest level, in my opinion.

Agree. Even before the red card, Newcastle's midfield had already taken control of the match. Impressive performance. On VVD's red card, couldnt VAR have intervened? IMO that was a shocking decision. Such a shame when a referee completely spoils a good match.

I hate that yellow card for Alexander-Arnold. Some referees think players should act like robots, forbidding them to show any emotions.