Hats off to Bayer Leverkusen, champions of the Bundesliga for the first time in their history with 5 games still to play. Bayern will be crying into their Lederhosen and may even end up behind VfB Stuttgart in third The job Xabi Alonso has done at Leverkusen has been nothing short of phenomenal and hats off to him for staying there next year despite Premier League clubs and Bayern sniffing after him.
The Serie A match between Udinese and Roma has been abandoned after Evan Ndicka collapsed on the pitch. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68813346
To be fair Bayern Munich shot themselves in both feet with their purchase of the greatest jinx in modern football history Harold Kane Still never mind he will still have a couple of Golden Boot trophies just like our very own Sir Luther Blisset
Ipswich fans will probably be a bit miffed more of their players haven’t been selected for this team of the year but some in form attackers there.
Saka has had an absolute nightmare this evening. That last corner summed it up perfectly: keeper goes up... Saka puts it on the head of the first defender on the six yard box - doesn't even make the near post.
Forget the Champions League and focus on the Highland League. An excellent 7-0 win away to Strathspey tonight sent Buckie Thistle top of the table on goal difference - their fifth win in ten days, scoring 24 and conceding just 2. All down to the last day on Saturday - three teams chasing the title, Buckie, Fraserburgh and Brechin. Not a lot between the three - any one of them could win it, but my money's on Buckie. I've probably just jinxed them...
So the small clubs outside the league, or in the lower divisions, will get another cut in possible income without replays. Another devaluation of the FA Cup.
And presumably they'll be encouraged to play their ties against big clubs away from home - to maximise their gate receipts and minimise the inconvenience for the elite professionals. Stinks really.
The only good thing about scrapping replays in the cup is that it makes my job on the predictions league easier, other than that it sucks ! The loss of income for smaller clubs simply doesn't enter into their calculations - just that it's too much off a physical strain on the premier elite players to have to visit Tranmere on a tuesday night - apparently more tiring than pre season tours of Singapore !! The logical thing to do to cut down on the number of fixtures would be to cut down on the pointless group phases of the Champions League etc. just get back to a straight knockout event and only amongst champions as it used to be - but they want to make sure that only the elite get through to the last stages of that. The Premier League and Champions League are slowly sucking the life blood out of our game. By way of contrast the semi professional players of some National League South clubs are having to play a schedule of Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday (and mostly holding down other jobs as well), because the league, apparently, has to be finished in April. But then they don't have a Klopp or a Guardiola to kick up a fuss about it.
They will probably try to say the the new TV deal is more money and it will be shared around to compensate.
Early goal from the spot for Liverpool in their quest to overcome a three goal deficit from the first leg. Absolutely ridiculous decision though - the relevant rule needs to torn up and written properly.
