Soccer Super Thread
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Igor Tudor spent just 44 days and seven matches in charge at Spurs
(Another Spurs manager to be named imminently .... )
www.bbc.com
(Another Spurs manager to be named imminently .... )
Igor Tudor leaves Tottenham Hotspur - what next for Spurs?
Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange must get the next Tottenham appointment correct or else they could follow Igor Tudor, writes Phil McNulty.
www.bbc.com
Seven games to save Tottenham's season - De Zerbi becomes Spurs boss
Roberto de Zerbi: Italian becomes new Tottenham boss
Roberto de Zerbi is appointed Tottenham's third boss of the season - with a clear objective for the next two months.
www.bbc.com
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Orribile!!!
No joke! Italy misses out … again.
The four-time champions will miss a third straight World Cup after a penalty shootout loss in Bosnia.
Sitting at 12th in FIFA men's rankings, Italy failed to qualify with 10 men after the 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina levelled it 1-1, and took the victory 4-1 in penalties in the European playoffs.
And some of Italy's penalties were Orribile!!!
It will mean the 2006 champions will go at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer’s biggest event.
Aside from the recent run from 2018–2026, the only other World Cup that Italy did not qualify for was in 1958.
Bosnia and Herzegovina break a 12-year drought, having last qualified for the FIFA men's World Cup in 2014.
No joke! Italy misses out … again.
The four-time champions will miss a third straight World Cup after a penalty shootout loss in Bosnia.
Sitting at 12th in FIFA men's rankings, Italy failed to qualify with 10 men after the 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina levelled it 1-1, and took the victory 4-1 in penalties in the European playoffs.
And some of Italy's penalties were Orribile!!!
It will mean the 2006 champions will go at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer’s biggest event.
Aside from the recent run from 2018–2026, the only other World Cup that Italy did not qualify for was in 1958.
Bosnia and Herzegovina break a 12-year drought, having last qualified for the FIFA men's World Cup in 2014.
@TIGERS
@BZN
(from BBC Sport)
Both Middlesbrough and Millwall will enter their game at the Riverside knowing it could be a deciding factor in the automatic promotion race.
Each side is experiencing a slight wobble; Boro have only taken two points from their past three league games (D2 L1), and the Lions are winless in two (D1 L1).
But with Ipswich Town on an undefeated run, in possession of a game in hand and looming menacingly just beneath the automatic promotion line, neither host nor visitor in Friday's lunchtime encounter (12:30 BST) can afford to lose.
In fact, scratch that. They may not be able to afford a draw either... or else their next meeting could be in May's play-offs.
@BZN
(from BBC Sport)
A must-win game for ambitious promotion hunters
Both Middlesbrough and Millwall will enter their game at the Riverside knowing it could be a deciding factor in the automatic promotion race.
Each side is experiencing a slight wobble; Boro have only taken two points from their past three league games (D2 L1), and the Lions are winless in two (D1 L1).
But with Ipswich Town on an undefeated run, in possession of a game in hand and looming menacingly just beneath the automatic promotion line, neither host nor visitor in Friday's lunchtime encounter (12:30 BST) can afford to lose.
In fact, scratch that. They may not be able to afford a draw either... or else their next meeting could be in May's play-offs.
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@TIGERS
(from BBC Sport)
Middlesbrough remain in the driving seat for the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship, but their inability to score goals threatens to undermine their campaign when it matters the most.
For all the control Boro exert in nearly all their matches, too many performances have followed a familiar pattern: loads of possession and attractive football but no cutting edge in front of goal.
Boro create opportunities in bucket loads yet lack that key ingredient – ruthlessness.
Too often, promising moves break down with the final pass, and a lot of fans think they're guilty of overplaying – of trying to execute the perfect goal – too often.
There's no doubt Boro are stuttering – they have gone three games without a win and have only scored one goal in that time.
Home form is a worry too, at exactly the wrong time. Incredibly the last time they won at the Riverside Stadium was against Norwich at the end of January.
There remains easily enough quality in the squad to put a run together, but unless Middlesbrough find a reliable source of goals - whether through David Strelec or Tommy Conway hitting form or by spreading the load across the team - they risk slipping out of the top two.
And rather than celebrating a long-awaited return to the top flight with open topped bus tours and adulation from the Boro supporters they will be having to concentrate their collective minds on the lottery of the play-offs.
(from BBC Sport)
Will misfiring Middlesbrough score enough goals to earn promotion?
Middlesbrough remain in the driving seat for the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship, but their inability to score goals threatens to undermine their campaign when it matters the most.
For all the control Boro exert in nearly all their matches, too many performances have followed a familiar pattern: loads of possession and attractive football but no cutting edge in front of goal.
Boro create opportunities in bucket loads yet lack that key ingredient – ruthlessness.
Too often, promising moves break down with the final pass, and a lot of fans think they're guilty of overplaying – of trying to execute the perfect goal – too often.
There's no doubt Boro are stuttering – they have gone three games without a win and have only scored one goal in that time.
Home form is a worry too, at exactly the wrong time. Incredibly the last time they won at the Riverside Stadium was against Norwich at the end of January.
There remains easily enough quality in the squad to put a run together, but unless Middlesbrough find a reliable source of goals - whether through David Strelec or Tommy Conway hitting form or by spreading the load across the team - they risk slipping out of the top two.
And rather than celebrating a long-awaited return to the top flight with open topped bus tours and adulation from the Boro supporters they will be having to concentrate their collective minds on the lottery of the play-offs.
@BZN
(from BBC Sport)
Eleven minutes into the final game of last season, Millwall were sitting pretty in the top six with a 1-0 lead away at already-promoted Burnley thanks to Mihailo Ivanovic's early goal.
But Josh Brownhill's equaliser just two minutes later set the Clarets on the way to a 3-1 win, which resulted in the Lions finishing eighth in the table and two points off the play-off spots, having started the day just outside the top six on goal difference.
Two seasons before they were even closer, shut out by a single point under Gary Rowett - having come ninth the year prior to that.
This term, under Alex Neil, the chance to go not just one better, but several places more than that, is firmly within their grasp.
Having spent much of the season in the hunt for automatic promotion, Millwall sit fourth on 69 points, two behind second-placed Middlesbrough, with seven games remaining.
Win at Boro in Friday's lunchtime kick-off and they will jump up to second before Ipswich Town play on Monday, although the Tractor Boys would have two games in hand.
After their trip to the Riverside, the run-in looks agreeable for Neil and his side.
Just two sides, Norwich City (10th) and Queens Park Rangers (12th) of the six they will face are currently in the top half, and they welcome both to The Den.
They will close out the season against relegation-battling Leicester City (away) before hosting Oxford United at home on the last day.
Millwall face a big challenge to secure a top-two finish against clubs who have both been there and done it recently, as well as having scored more and conceded less goals this season.
But a place in the top six and chance to get to Wembley has become a genuine expectation rather than hope.
Two seasons ago under Neil Harris, Millwall were outsiders for the play-offs on that day up at Turf Moor, they would love to have it sewn up by the time Oxford visit south east London on 2 May.
(from BBC Sport)
Will Millwall finally get over the line?
Eleven minutes into the final game of last season, Millwall were sitting pretty in the top six with a 1-0 lead away at already-promoted Burnley thanks to Mihailo Ivanovic's early goal.
But Josh Brownhill's equaliser just two minutes later set the Clarets on the way to a 3-1 win, which resulted in the Lions finishing eighth in the table and two points off the play-off spots, having started the day just outside the top six on goal difference.
Two seasons before they were even closer, shut out by a single point under Gary Rowett - having come ninth the year prior to that.
This term, under Alex Neil, the chance to go not just one better, but several places more than that, is firmly within their grasp.
Having spent much of the season in the hunt for automatic promotion, Millwall sit fourth on 69 points, two behind second-placed Middlesbrough, with seven games remaining.
Win at Boro in Friday's lunchtime kick-off and they will jump up to second before Ipswich Town play on Monday, although the Tractor Boys would have two games in hand.
After their trip to the Riverside, the run-in looks agreeable for Neil and his side.
Just two sides, Norwich City (10th) and Queens Park Rangers (12th) of the six they will face are currently in the top half, and they welcome both to The Den.
They will close out the season against relegation-battling Leicester City (away) before hosting Oxford United at home on the last day.
Millwall face a big challenge to secure a top-two finish against clubs who have both been there and done it recently, as well as having scored more and conceded less goals this season.
But a place in the top six and chance to get to Wembley has become a genuine expectation rather than hope.
Two seasons ago under Neil Harris, Millwall were outsiders for the play-offs on that day up at Turf Moor, they would love to have it sewn up by the time Oxford visit south east London on 2 May.
@Dr_Ice
(from BBC Sport)
The final matches of the campaign give QPR head coach Julien Stephan a potential chance to assess whether certain youngsters might be viable options for next season.
Kieran Morgan is definitely one of them. The midfielder, who recently turned 20, has shown flashes of real promise since being signed in 2024 after leaving Tottenham.
Nicolas Madsen and Jonathan Varane being injured, and Sam Field being on loan at Norwich, meant Morgan was recently recalled to the side. He has again done well and will get more game time to assess whether he might be a fixture of the team next season, possibly in the number eight role.
At left-back, Rhys Norrington-Davies has done a steady job on loan from Sheffield United, enabling the club to ease Esquerdinha into Championship football. A run of matches would now give Rangers a chance to see whether the 19-year-old Brazilian looks cut out for more game time next season.
And in attack, academy product Rayan Kolli and Australian youngster Daniel Bennie will both be looking to make an impact. Kolli scored twice in the recent 6-1 thrashing of Portsmouth and continues to impress with his finishing when chances come his way.
Kolli and Bennie being more involved would also allow Stephan to rest Richard Kone, who has led the line while top scorer Rumarn Burrell and January signing Justin Obikwu have been unavailable. Kone has understandably looked tired at times, but Rangers haven't felt able to leave him out.
(from BBC Sport)
Can QPR youngsters stake a claim for next season?
The final matches of the campaign give QPR head coach Julien Stephan a potential chance to assess whether certain youngsters might be viable options for next season.
Kieran Morgan is definitely one of them. The midfielder, who recently turned 20, has shown flashes of real promise since being signed in 2024 after leaving Tottenham.
Nicolas Madsen and Jonathan Varane being injured, and Sam Field being on loan at Norwich, meant Morgan was recently recalled to the side. He has again done well and will get more game time to assess whether he might be a fixture of the team next season, possibly in the number eight role.
At left-back, Rhys Norrington-Davies has done a steady job on loan from Sheffield United, enabling the club to ease Esquerdinha into Championship football. A run of matches would now give Rangers a chance to see whether the 19-year-old Brazilian looks cut out for more game time next season.
And in attack, academy product Rayan Kolli and Australian youngster Daniel Bennie will both be looking to make an impact. Kolli scored twice in the recent 6-1 thrashing of Portsmouth and continues to impress with his finishing when chances come his way.
Kolli and Bennie being more involved would also allow Stephan to rest Richard Kone, who has led the line while top scorer Rumarn Burrell and January signing Justin Obikwu have been unavailable. Kone has understandably looked tired at times, but Rangers haven't felt able to leave him out.
TIGERS
Well-known member
Come on the Mighty BORO!!!
TIGERS
Well-known member
2004 Boro win league cup 2005 wests tigers win the NRL
top that.
top that.
