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.
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.
Nigerian visitors to Turkey with valid visas to United Kingdom, United States of America or European Union countries can obtain their visa to Turkey at the Istanbul Airport if they fly the Turkish carrier.
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.
Having said this, Brighton are not the first club to reject a pragmatic manager in the hope the switch to a more open style will bring with it excitement and improved results. Sometimes, however, the excitement is of a rather different kind to that imagined. Ask Stoke.
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.
How could UEFA award such a fixture to a city without first establishing that all players would be able to gain access? That alone should have been a red flag in 2017 - or at least sorted out months ago when it was clear that Arsenal's presence in the final was very possible.
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.
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.
On social media, many of those sitting in judgement made the connection between Baker's south London roots, his love of football and his support for Millwall. It stood to reason that he would harbour horrid prejudices because he was a white, working class, Millwall fan. There's a word for that, you know.
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?
And for what? So UEFA can conjure up some branding and a meaningless slogan. 'Together to Baku,' is the one for this year. Yet who is together to Baku, considering the limitations of the venue? Together in a car, six hours from Tbilisi maybe. Together via Istanbul. Together watching from the sofa because tickets are so scarce.
By the time Europe's richest clubs had finished fashioning financial fair play into a protectionist's charter, Manchester United, it seemed, were golden. Nothing would challenge their elite status. They had neutered the power of new money; they had insured themselves against the day Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.
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.
At the end of what was quite probably the greatest title race in history, as Manchester City lifted the trophy, a dreadful refrain filled the Amex Stadium. 'No time for losers,' sang Freddie Mercury. Really? This, of all seasons? Hasn't anyone at the Premier League been watching their own competition? How incredibly crass.
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. If you have any questions regarding the place and how to use golden visa portugal, you can contact us at our website. Yet City were never this successful until Guardiola arrived.
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.
In the aftermath of an incredible night in Amsterdam, suddenly it was all about Pochettino's intentions again. What if Harry Kane or Christian Eriksen had used such a special moment to cast a shadow of doubt across the club? They would have been accused of self-indulgence, of selfishness, of undermining their team-mates.