There is no world cup in 2024 , it is in 2022 in Qatar.
It is a myth that UEFA, or any remotely competent organisation, cannot organise an event in two months. If it goes the distance, baseball's World Series completes its post-season play-offs two or three days before the finals begin.
By the time the round of 16 concluded, UEFA knew the area covered by the quarter-finalists. It ranged from Lisbon in the west to Prague in the east, London in the north to Naples in the south. And at that point, UEFA knew too that the nearest Baku would be to any of the possible finalists was 2,227 miles away.
And then, one day, Pep Guardiola will depart. How do they replace him; indeed, who could replace him? City possess a more sophisticated executive strategy than United, but that doesn't mean there will not be a Guardiola effect.
In 2012, San Francisco Giants played St Louis Cardinals for the National League pennant on Monday, October 22. Having won, the World Series opened with the Giants facing Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, October 24. Yet the Tigers could just as easily have been playing in St Louis that day.
The only argument for holding finals in remote locations concern inclusion. Azerbaijan is part of UEFA too. Why shouldn't it get a little gravy? And that much is true. Yet the final venue should always play sympathetically to the needs of supporters.
This is a final constructed with the least thought, even for the playing participants, given that it has now been revealed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal might not be able to get a visa, due to Armenia's war footing with Azerbaijan.
If Daniel Levy makes good his promises of investment, there really isn't a better club for Pochettino than Tottenham right now - yet frequently his public utterances serve only to challenge that view. What is going on? This seems as strategic as any of his game plans.
Pochettino can hardly complain now, if he has to field more questions about his intentions. He can hardly be surprised if his motives are regarded cynically. A sabbatical? At a time when Manchester United might be regretting their latest managerial appointment? Well, isn't that convenient?
Many years ago, when Sky's coverage of the Premier League was in its infancy, a very famous former England footballer was the studio guest. He was asked what he expected to see from a young winger, a talent on the rise, tipped for international honours. 'Not much, really,' he replied.
There are not enough geniuses in broadcasting that we can afford to lose one. What was interesting about Danny Baker's dismissal, however, is those who leapt to his defence. Everyone who knew him, and had a public platform.
Even if City were to win again next season, they would just be equalling the feats of Huddersfield (1923-26), Arsenal (1932-35), Liverpool (1981-84) and Manchester United (1998-2001 and 2006-09). Only a fourth victory would be unprecedented. As it is, City merely join a list of 11 clubs that have retained the title, on 25 occasions.
One of the advantages of a two-year lead time is the compilation of evaluation reports; detailed analyses of venue logistics, including international transportation. Meaning UEFA knew of Baku's flaws and the unavoidable restrictions on tickets but ignored it.
And it hasn't happened for a while - not since Manchester United in 2008-09 - and never by winning a combined 198 points, so there is a lot of projection. Yet City were never this successful until Guardiola arrived.
If Manchester United, a club with every advantage of size, wealth and privilege can be plunged into a relative wilderness, then City's dominance cannot last, either. Think about it: unless Vincent Kompany scores the greatest goal of his career, they probably don't win this title.
UEFA appoint Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi for Europa... 'I am really proud and I have to thank my team-mates for... Mauricio Pochettino warns Tottenham he will walk away if... Gary Neville has a pint launched at his head outside the...
Manuel Pellegrini won the title in his first season, but went downhill after. Roberto Mancini ended up in a ruinously fractious relationship with the club, and a single title win. The new money ensures the dominance of super powers like Juventus and Bayern Munich is not such a factor in the English game.
The identity of the Europa League quarter-finalists was known on Thursday, March 14. By the following evening, UEFA should have been able to announce the venue for the final. Somewhere reachable; somewhere the fans could enjoy. Not Baku. Nowhere remote, or inhospitable. Nowhere prohibitively expensive.
And no, because of the often enormous distances involved, baseball does not have the tradition of away support that exists in football. Yet there are still a few hardy souls who make the trip - and between two days and two years, there is surely middle ground. It's called March.
San Francisco and St Louis are 2,051 miles apart, and while Detroit to St Louis is 532 miles, San Francisco is 2,393 miles away. And yet it gets done. Travel is organised, tickets are sold, branding is designed - and the whole process is completed in 48 hours.
It is a myth that UEFA, or any remotely competent organisation, cannot organise an event in two months. If it goes the distance, baseball's World Series completes its post-season play-offs two or three days before the finals begin.
By the time the round of 16 concluded, UEFA knew the area covered by the quarter-finalists. It ranged from Lisbon in the west to Prague in the east, London in the north to Naples in the south. And at that point, UEFA knew too that the nearest Baku would be to any of the possible finalists was 2,227 miles away.
And then, one day, Pep Guardiola will depart. How do they replace him; indeed, who could replace him? City possess a more sophisticated executive strategy than United, but that doesn't mean there will not be a Guardiola effect.
In 2012, San Francisco Giants played St Louis Cardinals for the National League pennant on Monday, October 22. Having won, the World Series opened with the Giants facing Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, October 24. Yet the Tigers could just as easily have been playing in St Louis that day.The only argument for holding finals in remote locations concern inclusion. Azerbaijan is part of UEFA too. Why shouldn't it get a little gravy? And that much is true. Yet the final venue should always play sympathetically to the needs of supporters.
This is a final constructed with the least thought, even for the playing participants, given that it has now been revealed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal might not be able to get a visa, due to Armenia's war footing with Azerbaijan.
If Daniel Levy makes good his promises of investment, there really isn't a better club for Pochettino than Tottenham right now - yet frequently his public utterances serve only to challenge that view. What is going on? This seems as strategic as any of his game plans.
Pochettino can hardly complain now, if he has to field more questions about his intentions. He can hardly be surprised if his motives are regarded cynically. A sabbatical? At a time when Manchester United might be regretting their latest managerial appointment? Well, isn't that convenient?
Many years ago, when Sky's coverage of the Premier League was in its infancy, a very famous former England footballer was the studio guest. He was asked what he expected to see from a young winger, a talent on the rise, tipped for international honours. 'Not much, really,' he replied.
There are not enough geniuses in broadcasting that we can afford to lose one. What was interesting about Danny Baker's dismissal, however, is those who leapt to his defence. Everyone who knew him, and had a public platform.
Even if City were to win again next season, they would just be equalling the feats of Huddersfield (1923-26), Arsenal (1932-35), Liverpool (1981-84) and Manchester United (1998-2001 and 2006-09). Only a fourth victory would be unprecedented. As it is, City merely join a list of 11 clubs that have retained the title, on 25 occasions.
One of the advantages of a two-year lead time is the compilation of evaluation reports; detailed analyses of venue logistics, including international transportation. Meaning UEFA knew of Baku's flaws and the unavoidable restrictions on tickets but ignored it.
And it hasn't happened for a while - not since Manchester United in 2008-09 - and never by winning a combined 198 points, so there is a lot of projection. Yet City were never this successful until Guardiola arrived.
If Manchester United, a club with every advantage of size, wealth and privilege can be plunged into a relative wilderness, then City's dominance cannot last, either. Think about it: unless Vincent Kompany scores the greatest goal of his career, they probably don't win this title.
UEFA appoint Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi for Europa... 'I am really proud and I have to thank my team-mates for... Mauricio Pochettino warns Tottenham he will walk away if... Gary Neville has a pint launched at his head outside the...
Manuel Pellegrini won the title in his first season, but went downhill after. Roberto Mancini ended up in a ruinously fractious relationship with the club, and a single title win. The new money ensures the dominance of super powers like Juventus and Bayern Munich is not such a factor in the English game.
The identity of the Europa League quarter-finalists was known on Thursday, March 14. By the following evening, UEFA should have been able to announce the venue for the final. Somewhere reachable; somewhere the fans could enjoy. Not Baku. Nowhere remote, or inhospitable. Nowhere prohibitively expensive.
And no, because of the often enormous distances involved, baseball does not have the tradition of away support that exists in football. Yet there are still a few hardy souls who make the trip - and between two days and two years, there is surely middle ground. It's called March.
San Francisco and St Louis are 2,051 miles apart, and while Detroit to St Louis is 532 miles, San Francisco is 2,393 miles away. And yet it gets done. Travel is organised, tickets are sold, branding is designed - and the whole process is completed in 48 hours.
