Spoiler below …
RM came through with a 3-2 win.
I caught the second half on background. A couple of defensive lapses at this level were costly. Uncharacteristic off game for Edison in goal.
Bellingham speaking some Spanish in the post-game interview was funny.
Probably a good match for the neutral fans. I was doing a TrainerRoad workout, during some of RMs possessions I had a cadence in excess of 115. Next Wednesday’s game should be very interesting.
Wasn’t able to watch the Liverpool/Everton match and probably good I didn’t. Looks like I would have lost my mind.
Still we are 7 points clear. Lots of season left though. Personally ok with the FA bounce out. Clogged fixture schedule already.
Watched ‘Forest vs. Fulham earlier today.
Fulham deserved the 2-1 win. Scoreline could’ve been worse.
Just watched the Everton/CP match. Moyes should have never left.
Yeah, you probably would have lost your mind. To give up the equalizer at the very end, that always hurts.
But like you said up by 7. It’s looking like a 2 horse race, should be fun.
Is there room for another top level professional soccer league in the US?
USL (US Soccer League) is looking to launch Division One, a elite level mens pro league independent from and a competitor to MLS (but not playing games vs. MLS teams)
The USL currently runs two lesser leagues below MLS level. Their idea for Division One would also allow promotions and relegations across three tiers in leagues they run. The criteria…
U.S. Soccer’s pro league standards for men’s leagues require D1 outfits to have at least 12 teams, located across the Eastern, Central and Pacific time zones, with at least 75% of the teams playing in metropolitan markets of at least 1 million people. All league stadiums must be enclosed with a minimum seating capacity of 15,000. The league must also meet several levels of financial viability, including ownership groups that can demonstrate the financial capability to operate a team for five years. A first-division league must also have a broadcast contract, full-time team staff for each club and a full-time league operations staff.
Personally, I think it’s an uphill battle. MLS is diluted in terms of top quality. I don’t see enough high level US talent to pull this off. I do like the promotion/relegation aspects, and that team owners would have greater freedom to financially manage their teams.
A couple of rich dudes buy in and win some hemisphere tournaments…
An MLS Expansion franchise cost is about $500 million.
A Division One franchise is expected to be significantly less, partly because of smaller markets, and thus attractive entry point to investors.
thanks @dah5609, and fyi to anyone else…
Tickets secured (finally). Going to see QPR vs. Sheffield Utd that Saturday. Looking forward to it. 
Things learned about buying tix from the US. Not so easy/smooth as expected…
Ticketmaster, Stubhubs, etc. don’t have tickets for all games, all teams.
A Google search for club tickets can bring up 3rd party sellers (e.g. HelloTickets - which are 3x the cost, no seat selection, additional surcharges, and reviews say they’re a ripoff site. Asking about $200/ticket for what should cost ~$45. Stay away ).
AMEX is not accepted widely. And AMEX concierge service can try to secure tickets through their partners networks, but it’s not the usual concierge service of “Hey AMEX, I want to… and they just set it up.”
Had problems buying tix online directly from the club website. You need to setup an account. Then the CC form asks for start date(?) in addition to the usual card expiration date, number, security code, address, . . . and then rejected my CC number for some reason.
After all the above failed, finally secured tickets via long distance phone call to the club box office.
Very cool, congrats! I’d love to hear a recap of the experience–with pics! Sheffield U is having a very good season. Thanks for sharing your story of getting tickets.
Have a great time!
Glad you managed to get tickets - Loftus Road is a very compact ground, should be a good atmosphere. If you get off at Shepherds Bush tube station you’ve also got the delights of Westfield Shopping Centre to look forward to as well!!
A lot of companies over here don’t accept AMEX, allegedly due to their high processing fees compared to VISA and Mastercard.
Great weekend for Liverpool. A lot of people were surprised Arsenal lost to the Hammers.
I didn’t realize that LFC hasn’t lost on the road since last season, they mentioned that during the game. They’re the only ones that can say that, from what I understood in all the upper divisions.
True.
Looks like it also makes it official that Man City have fallen. Out of first. Out of the Champions League. And off the field, facing that financial investigation. Rough season.
The absence of Haaland has proven how important he is to their success. My four-pound timid Chihuahua has more bite in him than City’ offense without him.
It was another good day for LFC. They won, the Gunners dropped points.
Think the title is Liverpool’s to lose
Can they buy and sell players or does the league “own” them like MLS?
Not sure. Sounds like D1 is trying to not be modeled like MLS so I would think teams would own and mange their players.
Picture from a fun time at today’s game!
Great atmosphere! I’d say Sheffield fans were louder than the home fans and QPR loses at home 2-1. Sheffield likely to get promoted if they keep it up, and were definitely the better team in a competitive game.
Stuff you don’t see on TV is the warmup routine… start easy and by the end of their sequences they’re practically going full gas.
Surprised by lack of flopping too… little to none from these teams.
