Wednesday Hoddle of Coffee, Soccer News and Notes, September 13, 2017

Well, the Champions League is back. And for the first time ever, we’re competing in it for the second consecutive year. Last season I missed the opening match because of a work trip and so I had to follow the disappointing match on Fotmob in a car as I was driven to the airport. And I found out the final score after I landed. Let’s not repeat that game, huh?

In hindsight, I also kinda wonder if Bosz-era Dortmund won’t actually be a weaker opponent than last year’s Monaco. At the time we thought it was a soft draw and figured Monaco was the third best team in the group after us and Leverkusen. That... turned out to be inaccurate. They won Ligue 1 and then made nearly a half billion euros in transfer fees this summer. Bosz-era Dortmund, meanwhile, have had a slow start, aren’t taking nearly as many high-quality shots as Tuchel’s Dortmund, and are still figuring out life after Ousmane Dembele—plus they are without a few key players.

... I’m totally setting myself up to be irrationally angry today after we lose, aren’t I?

Links

Bundesliga Fanatic took in a third division match in Germany.

You can see Man United’s goals from yesterday at Busby Babe, Blaugranes has Messi’s goals.

Jack Wilshere nearly moved to Trabzonspor this summer where he could have linked up with Wigan Athletic legend Hugo Rodallega.

Goalden Times tells the story of the time Cagliari won the Scudetto.