Okay, to say this has been a little weird year would be an understatement.
It feels like we haven’t left home for the best part of 12 months, sat and watched football as long as possible before it ended and ended up watching football. repeats of past matches or highlights of the same matches we watched earlier.
With everything going on in the world, it’s easy to forget some of the weird and wonderful things we’ve been dealt with over the past 12 months, so we’ve provided you with an overview of all the things you’ve forgotten that occurred in football. in 2020.
There will be things that jog your memory, things that seemed to happen a lifetime ago and even a few that you had absolutely no idea have happened, but your life feels a little better knowing that they did – you are welcome.
BREAKING: Reading FC will start the season with -48 points after the release of this promotional video.
“I can’t say much,” said manager Mark Bowen. “We are in full rights.”pic.twitter.com/HqASdVvwJd
– Alex Miller (@ AlexMiller91) 22 Aug 2020
This one can fall into the last category of things we just discussed, and as we say – you’re welcome.
Social media videos seem to have become the norm these days, whether announcing a signing or revealing the club’s new kit.
Reading decided to take it one step further and release a promotional video for the upcoming season in August, and, well, uh… check it out.
We shouldn’t be laughing considering it’s basically someone’s livelihood, but when your livelihood depends on walking around dressed as a ten foot dinosaur, you’re kind of open to mockery. .
Inexplicably, Arsenal chose to ditch Gunnersaurus earlier this year, the only club mascot everyone knows – aside from the West Brom Boiler.
Mesut Ozil stepped in and offered to fund the old boy’s salary in order to see him again at Emirates Stadium, and quite frankly we still wipe the tears from our eyes. It’s beautiful.
How 2020.
Of course he did, why wouldn’t a Hollywood star randomly decide to buy Wrexham Football Club – it’s 2020, we’d be more surprised if it was not lie down dreaming of the racetrack.
In what sounded like the most ridiculous rumor in football history, Ryan Reynolds made the purchase and is now the proud owner of Wrexham along with fellow actor Rob McElhenney.
Now let’s move on to one of the more random transfer rumors of 2020 that you definitely forgot.
Former Crystal Palace flop Alexander Sorloth was linked with a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid.
The transfer obviously didn’t materialize and he now finds himself at Bundesliga roster RB Leipzig, where he seems to have rediscovered his talent to be pretty useless in front of goal – good boy.
So #LEEFUL was about to be my first time at Elland Road for a Leeds game. Instead, Joe Exotic sits next to a dog. 2020 is weird? #LUFC @TheSquareBall pic.twitter.com/4ykgMf5VAK
– Tom Bellingham (@ TommyWTF1) June 27, 2020
The fan bar in the stadiums as part of the Restart project saw clubs attempting different ways to fill the stands.
Most opted for the standard huge banners on the seats, but some decided to be a bit more inventive and offered supporters the option of purchasing cardboard cutouts themselves to place them in their regular seats.
Obviously, the movement has turned against him, with fans ordering footage of – how do we put that – risk individuals to be placed in the stands of rival clubs. The Tiger King is pretty harmless, but we couldn’t share the others. Go see for yourself.
He still exists?
Yes, the man once nicknamed Raheem Sterling’s replacement – and who was actually considered by some to be the best player in their early years – now finds himself in the league with Derby.
The former Liverpool man has struggled to relaunch his career in the second tier, with only once in the league so far this season.
A special shout out to Colin Kazim-Richards – yes, him – who is also with the Rams who signed this summer. What a strange recruiting team they have.
On our next episode of “he plays for them ?!”.
Argue as much as you want, being the third choice goalie for an elite club is the best job in the world.
Injuries aside, the closest you’ll ever have to making your real work watches from the bench of the Carabao Cup.
After making a total of zero appearances for Manchester City on loan last season, Scott Carson has extended his loan at the club ahead of the start of the 2020/21 season, and is spending his days doing nothing but punching bullets at City’s training complex.
What a life.
Haha, of course they did.
No, he really said it. Former Burnley and Derby Jeff Hendrick has claimed Serie A giants Milan tried to sign him ahead of his move to Newcastle earlier this year.
Imagine a world where he leads the Milan midfielder in their bid to become Italian champion again. That didn’t happen, did it Jeff?
There are a lot of things in modern football that we don’t like, but it also has its advantages.
One of those perks is behind-the-scenes documentaries, which seems to have become the norm in recent years, with Manchester City, Leeds, Juventus, Tottenham and Sunderland all producing some standout viewings.
We’ve been treated to a number of those docs this year, though it’s tough to dominate Sunderland’s second series’ Til I Die – you just can’t beat a little bit of desperation.
However, special mention to Danny Rose for losing his shit with Jose Mourinho. Brave man.
The FA will look into an incident which appears to show Preston’s Darnell Fisher grabbed Callum Paterson’s genitals twice in his win over Sheffield on Wednesday.
– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 22, 2020
There are a number of things that happen on the soccer field that would seem odd in everyday life. However, Preston’s Darnell Fisher took things to the next level when his side faced Sheffield on Wednesday earlier this year.
Defender Preston can be seen, uh, to catch Callum Paterson, and then received a three-game ban.
We’re not going to try to explain what he did – just watch him.
Huh?
Yeah, we kinda thought the same thing. After signing for Sheffield United in January, Jack Rodwell made a Premier League appearance for the first time in three years, becoming a 75th-minute substitute in the 1-1 draw against Burnley in July.
He hasn’t made an appearance in the league since, despite being re-signing with the Blades in August. Shock.
@hackneywickfc left back and one of our oldest players @jamboyfresh nutmegs the legend @kaka in Hackney? All my guys are ballers pic.twitter.com/ks7EB6z5Fz
– Hackney Wick FC (@HackneyWickFC) February 8, 2020
This might be another internet gem that you haven’t found yet, and although it isn’t technically being from the professional football world is more than worthy of mention.
Former Ballon d’Or winner and Brazilian magician Kaka embarked on a kickaround in Hackney – a phrase that in itself is quite remarkable – and even managed to get muzzled in the process.
Despite all the whining about VAR, it’s easy to forget that the game has been improved by technology in recent seasons.
The introduction of Hawk-eye was an undoubted success, with no more guessing whether the ball crossed the line the referee can now get a definitive answer – well, before Sheffield United face Aston Villa.
In the first game after Project Restart, Chris Wilder’s men were deprived of three points after Orjan Nyland clearly carried the ball over the line, but the Hawk-eye tech failed to pick it up. .
Well, it’s hardly anything new, but even Watford has outdone himself this year.
When you appoint a new boss right before the end of the year, you would like to think that he would still be in place 12 months later, or at least that a new man has not been hired for a long time.
Watford named Nigel Pearson in December 2019 – their fourth manager of the year – and they subsequently saw two other men at the head of the club.
The Hornets have now had six different managers over the past two years, and that doesn’t even include interim bosses!
Many had already accepted that Norwich would be relegated at the start of 2020, so little attention was paid to their late-season form.
Incredibly, the Canaries have lost each of their last ten Premier League games, scoring just one goal in the process.
There is giving up and then there is this. Bow your head, Daniel Farke.
