So keep in mind this is a casual fan's perspective (I only watch World Cup and Euros - I don't watch league play) but it seems to me that the European soccer system is completely broken.

Doesn't it make sense to have a super league? As it stands now, there's never more than four teams in any national league that have any hope of ever winning the championship.

And I realize they are not big enough to be in a super league, but my favourite example is the Scottish League. What's the point in being a fan if you aren't supporting Rangers or Celtic?
- Atomic Wedgie

The Super League doesn't change the domestic leagues. It's to kill the UEFA tournament leagues by cutting the lower end teams who get killed earlier but still get to participate and simply get to the big clubs fighting.

The Super League doesn't change the domestic leagues. It's to kill the UEFA tournament leagues by cutting the lower end teams who get killed earlier but still get to participate and simply get to the big clubs fighting.
- AdamFrench

I thought the domestic leagues are going to kick out the super league teams, no?

Always black tape when I played. Goth hockey ftw!
- mjones242

I tried white tape on the bottom for a while, thinking well if black tape hides the puck from the goalie better, maybe white tape will help me see it better too.

Turned out I just (frank)ing suck at stick handling 😂

OK, the Athletic has an article that explains it.

I'll be back in ten minutes with opinions that are only slightly more informed, but much more emphatic.

I tried white tape on the bottom for a while, thinking well if black tape hides the puck from the goalie better, maybe white tape will help me see it better too.

Turned out I just (frank)ing suck at stick handling 😂
- poopstash

I always felt like I had a little more feel for the puck with white tape on the bottom, but I'm willing to concede that it was 100% the placebo effect.

But hey, the placebo effect is real.

I thought the domestic leagues are going to kick out the super league teams, no?
- Atomic Wedgie

They can try to...and commit suicide...

It's no losing to a zomboni driver but Leafs needed something like this. Without it the season wouldn't be complete.

Edit: I found the spelling mistake but I'm not changing it
- TheMussel

That’s my hockey pool monicker.

Sam Boney

So keep in mind this is a casual fan's perspective (I only watch World Cup and Euros - I don't watch league play) but it seems to me that the European soccer system is completely broken.

Doesn't it make sense to have a super league? As it stands now, there's never more than four teams in any national league that have any hope of ever winning the championship.

And I realize they are not big enough to be in a super league, but my favourite example is the Scottish League. What's the point in being a fan if you aren't supporting Rangers or Celtic?
- Atomic Wedgie

I agree. But, TBH, I think it’s a shot across the bow of FIFA and UEFA who both are corrupt and greedy. The biggest teams want more respect and a bigger portion of the money that’s generated. It’s the team owners who are sick and tired of these money grabbing associations.

This is a good place to start understanding the proposal:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/...ague-announced/index.html

If the high danger chance stats are to be believed, it's beyond ridiculous that the Leafs are getting consistently Vezina'd.

Are the Leafs not getting enough bodies in front of the net? Do opposing teams just dial it up to 11 when they play Toronto because "(frank) the Leafs" is a real thing? Are the high danger chances the opposing team gets on another level of danger?

All of these things?

Or, is this just a case of watching games without any context of how other "top" clubs are playing? e.g. Leafs bias

All I know is that I'm finding it very difficult to enjoy this season as I'm taking these games very, very seriously.
- mjones242

So the Leafs are 5th in points percentage and give or take 1 or 2 less wins than the top4 teams...I think we all watch the leafs religiously compared to the rest of the league. Don't you think its entirely possible that the other top 5 teams lose games like this too? Or are all their 15 losses justified?

I think fans are just too hard on their teams. There is nothing new here.

I just took a peek at TB's last 10. They lost to CBJ...Is that justified? Their own fans were probably frustrated but we don't even have a clue.

I always felt like I had a little more feel for the puck with white tape on the bottom, but I'm willing to concede that it was 100% the placebo effect.

But hey, the placebo effect is real.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think it needs to be a really strong placebo effect to overcome my concrete mittens!

But how will Crystal Palace embarrass my Chelsea now?
- AdamFrench

That a good question for Ted Lasso.

So the Leafs are 5th in points percentage and give or take 1 or 2 less wins than the top4 teams...I think we all watch the leafs religiously compared to the rest of the league. Don't you think its entirely possible that the other top 5 teams lose games like this too? Or are all their 15 losses justified?

I think fans are just too hard on their teams. There is nothing new here.
- Santo_44

Tampa has had a few stinkers but it’s usually when Macklebackup has been in net

I know this because I picked him up for a few waiver wire starts in fantasy only to have him completely poop the bed and twist around like a tornado in the sheets

Tampa has had a few stinkers but it’s usually when Macklebackup has been in net

I know this because I picked him up for a few waiver wire starts in fantasy only to have him completely poop the bed and twist around like a tornado in the sheets
- poopstash

Vaselevsky lost to CBJ a few weeks ago.

Vaselevsky lost to CBJ a few weeks ago.
- Santo_44

Fun fact. Vasi lost to Florida at home the other night. First time he lost at home since the Leafs beat them in the last game they played before lockdown last year.

Fun fact. Vasi lost to Florida at home the other night. First time he lost at home since the Leafs beat them in the last game they played before lockdown last year.
- TheMussel

Damn he's good.

I agree. But, TBH, I think it’s a shot across the bow of FIFA and UEFA who both are corrupt and greedy. The biggest teams want more respect and a bigger portion of the money that’s generated. It’s the team owners who are sick and tired of these money grabbing associations.

This is a good place to start understanding the proposal:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/...ague-announced/index.html
- bloatedmosquito

On the other hand Bloatsie, giving them the lions share of the profits ends up making the other teams less competitive. Does that, in turn, affect league profits?

Damn he's good.
- Scabeh

Not as good as Just Campbell's

So the Leafs are 5th in points percentage and give or take 1 or 2 less wins than the top4 teams...I think we all watch the leafs religiously compared to the rest of the league. Don't you think its entirely possible that the other top 5 teams lose games like this too? Or are all their 15 losses justified?

I think fans are just too hard on their teams. There is nothing new here.

I just took a peek at TB's last 10. They lost to CBJ...Is that justified? Their own fans were probably frustrated but we don't even have a clue.
- Santo_44

We are currently 7th best in the league in goals for per games played.

And 11th best in the league in goals against per games played.

But we are the worst team in the league, and everybody sucks, and I hate Carlton the Bear.

Damn he's good.
- Scabeh

So consistent. Every goalie has bad games, but his truly are the exception.

He is Tampa's MVP. no question.

Tampa has had a few stinkers but it’s usually when Macklebackup has been in net

I know this because I picked him up for a few waiver wire starts in fantasy only to have him completely poop the bed and twist around like a tornado in the sheets
- poopstash

Shouldn't their God like team make up for a bad tender?

Their "complete gritty team" full of warriors.

Fun fact. Vasi lost to Florida at home the other night. First time he lost at home since the Leafs beat them in the last game they played before lockdown last year.
- TheMussel

The loss yesterday was meaningless other than instilling some doubt in leaf fan about their team’s “character” and a moral victory for Canucks and their fans in a horse poop season.

So the Leafs are 5th in points percentage and give or take 1 or 2 less wins than the top4 teams...I think we all watch the leafs religiously compared to the rest of the league. Don't you think its entirely possible that the other top 5 teams lose games like this too? Or are all their 15 losses justified?

I think fans are just too hard on their teams. There is nothing new here.

I just took a peek at TB's last 10. They lost to CBJ...Is that justified? Their own fans were probably frustrated but we don't even have a clue.
- Santo_44

Have any of the other top teams had streaks like the Leafs have had twice this year?

Damn he's good.
- Scabeh

Does he have 11 straight wins to start a season?

On the other hand Bloatsie, giving them the lions share of the profits ends up making the other teams less competitive. Does that, in turn, affect league profits?
- Aetherial

I'm guessing I'm wrong on this, but why the frank wouldn't the big teams create their own league - not a mid-week competition, but an actual league?

It would make jillions of dollars, and it would be much more competitive than the crap that is all across Europe right now.

PSG has won 7 of the last 8 championships.

It's like having a Canadian domestic hockey league with no salary cap, and Toronto is playing teams in Owen Sound and Kenora.

The loss yesterday was meaningless other than instilling some doubt in leaf fan about their team’s “character” and a moral victory for Canucks and their fans in a horse poop season.
- bloatedmosquito

I was just texting with my brother - this shouldn't have come as a huge surprise.

Giant emotional game for the Canucks.

Leafs let their guards down, mentally.

Tuesday will be telling.

And putting all that psychologimacal mumbo-jumbo aside, your goalie was spectacular. No need to look further than that.