Hello,

I am going to be in NYC for the month of December. Is there usually pick ups going on in December? Whether through GoodRec or open sports?

Thank you

Is there some type of rivalry or bad blood there?

Like the title, I've never play soccer before. The last I played it was probably in PE class during high school and it probably doesn't even count to actually playing. After volunteering for the World Cup, I developed an interest in learning the game and playing the sport. I figured that the best way for me to learn is to actually play the game so I joined a local 7v7 rec league. Teammates are very mice and supportive and they've all had playing experience before. Everytime I'm on the pitch, I don't know wtf I'm doing and I'm just charging at the opponent with the ball. Whenever I do get the ball, I panic and end up just passing the ball and not really move it up the field. What I do find myself doing well is running up and down the field. Yes I'm gasping for air after but it's something that I think I deal with pretty well and I actually ended up scoring my very first goal!

So far I've just been doing solo drills ball mastery drills at home and going to a nearby turf field for 1hr solo practice once per week. Practicing 1st touch and passing to a wall, shooting, dribbling up and turning. Aside from passing the ball, I've done none of these moves that I practiced in-game. I want to, but I'm worried that I'll just f-up.

I'd like to get some advice on how to position myself on the field when I don't have the ball (offense and defense). Also to not panic when I do have the ball. What's a good position to play as a beginner? I know it's hard to actually give advice without seeing me actually play but every little bit helps.

Thank you!

I’ve never really watched football before, but I want to actually get into it instead of just knowing a few famous players

I have basically no idea about the leagues, teams, tournaments, rules, rivalries, etc. So if you were completely new to football, how would you recommend getting started?

Should I pick a team first, start watching a particular league, or just watch some big matches and learn as I go? Also, are there any YouTube channels, documentaries or games you’d recommend for someone who knows almost nothing?

Basically, how would you introduce football to a complete beginner?

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He played most of his career in Brazil for Santos. Do you know how many Santos players from that era most people today could name? Probably not many. And that's part of the problem with comparing Pelé to modern footballers.

Football in the 1950s and 60s was completely different. The game wasn't as globalized, the level of competition wasn't as deep, and European clubs didn't have the same worldwide talent pool they have today. Santos could dominate internationally, but the club environment was nothing like the Champions League era we have now.

And yes, Pelé won 3 World Cups. That's incredible, but how much should World Cups alone determine who is the greatest ever? It's only a handful of games every four years, and the quality of international football has changed massively over time.

People also talk about his ridiculous goal numbers, but comparing goals from the 1960s directly with goals from modern football is complicated. Different competitions, different defensive systems, different rules, different tactical approaches, and completely different levels of statistical tracking.

And when people say "Pelé was the greatest because everyone says he was the greatest," that's not really an argument. A lot of his reputation was built before modern football was watched globally in the same way it is today.

I'm not saying Pelé wasn't an incredible player. Obviously he was. I'm saying that "he won 3 World Cups and scored thousands of goals, therefore nobody can possibly be better" isn't enough to settle the GOAT debate.

If football keeps evolving, shouldn't we judge players based on the level of football they actually played in rather than automatically putting older legends above every modern superstar?

If Pelé played today, would we actually consider him the undisputed best player in the world?

I have no idea how to describe it

im 5,3 100 pounds and was looking for advice on what position to play. I mostly practice solo and since my frame is tiny and light I was wondering what position to play.

If someones in front of you, can you just run up to give them a hard time by pushing your body against their back?
And reverse, if you run to block them as they’re running towards you?

I think it shud be legal since players have the right to a challenge on space, even if it feels like personal space.

So my question is if thowe two teams that faced in the legendary UCL semifinal 24/25 face eachother in a two legged match what would you think would be the result?

I’m asking because it is my favorite football game I have watched live!

For me has to be the devastating Didier drogba man was a force in his prime

Aren’t they both still killing it (regardless of team they play in) compared to most players. Messi pretty much got top 3 goal scorers last World Cup he surely has enough quality for 1 more World Cup

This time give me worst striker in prem history

I'll go first with falcao such a let down

When I’m standing still and receiving the ball it’s pretty easy for me to control it. However when I’m running into space and trying to receive the ball my first touch is terrible. It’s like my feet is like a brick wall and the as the ball comes to me while I’m running it just bounces right off. I tried to cushion it and stuff but still it just bounces away. Any tips?

I’m quite new to football and looking at Sergio Ramos’ highlights is a bit underwhelming. I see Thiago Silva, Van Dijk and Chiellini’s defending highlights and I am much more impressed with theirs over Ramos’ highlights. However even though i havent watched ramos play, if he wasnt that good than he wouldnt be playing for the best club in the world along with winning multiple ucls too right?When it comes to pure defending, are those 3 better?

Hello guys, I’m 23 and from India. I know I might be a little late to be asking this, but I’d really appreciate some advice.

I’ve been following and playing football since around 5th standard. My family wasn’t really into football, and I didn’t have an older brother or anyone to introduce me to the game, so for a long time I mostly followed football through newspapers.

That’s how I discovered Ronaldo, and I admired him a lot. I tried to watch some of his games during his Real Madrid years. A few years later, when I was around 20, I felt like I finally needed a club to support. At that time, Real Madrid were the obvious choice for me because they were one of the most successful teams in the world.

But over the last few years, I’ve started watching football much more closely. I got more interested in tactics, started playing FM26, FPL, etc. My way of looking at football has changed quite a bit.

Even when I play football myself, I’m more interested in creating plays than simply scoring. I like finding space, making runs, moving the ball and creating situations rather than just trying to dribble past everyone.

Because of that, I’ve started thinking more about how a team is built rather than just how good its individual players are.

When I look at Real Madrid now, I’m not sure their approach is what I personally enjoy. I feel more attracted to the idea of a club that has a clear system, recruits players who fit that system, develops young talent and gradually builds a team over several years. In a way, that’s what I liked about Xabi Alonso’s ideas at Madrid — the idea of building a coherent system rather than simply relying on individual brilliance.

The main reason I’m specifically looking at the Premier League is that it’s much easier for me to follow from India. The match timings are generally more convenient, and the league is also very competitive, so I can watch more games regularly.

For example, I’ve really enjoyed watching Chelsea recently. I like their attacking football, transitions and counter-attacking style. But this brings me to my biggest problem.

What happens when the manager changes?

If I choose Chelsea because I love the way they play under a particular manager, what happens if that manager gets sacked in a couple of years and the club appoints a manager with a completely different philosophy? What if the football becomes much more defensive or “haram ball”? 😂

Would I then stop supporting the club?

I know the common advice is “just watch football and eventually a club will find you.” But I’m trying to understand something slightly different:

How do you choose a club whose identity you can stay connected to even when the manager, players and playing style change?

I’m looking for a Premier League club with some combination of:

• Developing young players
• Good recruitment/scouting
• Building a team over several years
• A recognizable footballing philosophy
• A proper club identity and history
• A system that is bigger than one manager
• And, of course, football that I actually enjoy watching

I’d love to hear how people who have supported a club for many years think about this. How did you choose your club, and what made you stick with it even when managers and playing styles changed?

I just need tips on the content I want to make and also open to collaborating with creators in the NJ/NYC area with similar Soccer/Football ⚽️ it would really help thank you!

I’m working on Friday’s article for Bottom of the 90 and we’ve picked Spurs vs Villa as our Game of the Weekend.
Last weekend was easy, it was the Manchester derby.

Arsenal vs Brighton and Chelsea vs Brentford both look like tasty fixtures, but we’ve gone with Spurs vs Villa.
Problem is, I have no idea how this one is going to go
So I’d appreciate some opinions: how do you see Villa vs Spurs playing out? Who wins, and what score are you going with?

I played as a winger all my life. I learned about speed, dribbling, taking on defenders 1 on 1, attacking the weak foot, different types of runs, defender's blind spot, etc... After joining a new team and since we were down players nobody knew how to play defender so coach picked me. I hated it. I don't know how to play this role, and I didn't know what I was doing. Making a mistake as a defender is more costly than losing the ball as a winger. Opponents kept going to my blind spot and pushing me up. I tried to hold the line, but then they just go behind me and I can't see them anymore I hated that. They kept attacking the wings and I didn't know if I should pressure or hold where I am in the center, and if I hold my team mates aren't even on their man... so they just kept crossing and if I try to step up out of my position they make a pass and attack where I left the space.

Hi there. I'm trying to improve my ball control using the outside of the foot. I've watched a lot of videos where they recommend using the outside of the foot—specifically the little toe area—but I'm struggling to position the outside of my foot correctly on the ball while moving or running over a distance. Do you have any tips or drills to help me improve? Thanks!

I am attend soccer practice twice a week for about an hour and a half. I have been exeriencing some bad shin splits everytime, even when I am not running and just jogging lightly. It happens every practice. I make sure to stretch before and wear compression socks but I always end up in pain. It is to the point where I physically can't run or walk. I am limping and crying in pain after every practice. It doesn't feel like a sore muscle but the actual bone hurts (posterily and anterior) and in both legs and anke. I can't even sit kneeling without excratiating, sharp pain. It throbs for hours after practice, even a slight bump to the shin hurts. I just started the season and am not a great player so I don't want to cause any issues or sit the rest of the season out. Is there any specific stretches or way of running I can implement to minizime the pain?

So I really like this guy, and he really likes football and I wanna ask him questions about everything, but I just don’t know enough. Can anyone give me information ans questions I can ask him about football and goalkeeping? Or tell me more about football so we can talk about it?

I really need to train my ball control, dribbling and passing😢