Soccer Thread 2009-10

[sovereignstar]

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7936/asdfofy.jpg

Someone else should have started the thread while they had the chance! :p

[SirFozzie]

gee, take more attention from the poor soccer forum why doncha :)

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Is Tevez going to be playing defense? How many strikers does your team need, anyway? I shouldn't talk, Liverpool only has one.

[sovereignstar]

Is Tevez going to be playing defense? How many strikers does your team need, anyway? I shouldn't talk, Liverpool only has one.

They said they wouldn't start most of their selling until they were done buying. I haven't given hope up on getting John Terry and Joleon Lescott seems like he'll be added any day as soon as the fog clears.

[DaddyTorgo]

FORZA JUVE!!!

[SirFozzie]

FORZA JUVE!!!

JUVE VAFFANCULO!

[sovereignstar]

MAMMA MIA TORTELLINI PIZZA ROLL!

[SirFozzie]

heh. DT said "Go Juventus", I said "(Screw) Juventus" and SS says.. well Italish :)

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

It's kind of funny, but with the sign saying "Welcome to Manchester", it begs the question.

Where did Tevez play the last two years?

[bhlloy]

I think that's the point of the sign... probably a jab that City is Manchester's "real team" where as United are made up of plastics from places like Cornwall, South Wales and London. That's certainly how the City fans see it anyway :)

[sovereignstar]

Don't think they are welcoming Tevez. I'm assuming it's your typical 'Welcome to (insert city here)' sign that just happens to be blue and have Tevez in the background. Someone said it is in the the Town Centre.

Edit: Or what bhlloy said. :)

[Big Fo]

Zlatan to Barca, Eto'o going back the other way. They'll probably win another treble with that lineup.

Man Utd have sold Manucho to Valladolid in today's other big transfer. He'll be replaced in the squad by Mame Biram Diouf, a Senegalese striker from Molde FK, the club that produced United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Everton have rejected a £15m Man City bid for Lescott.

I'm disappointed, for some reason I thought the first two Gold Cup quarterfinal matches were on tonight but it's all on the weekend.

[DaddyTorgo]

Zlatan to Barca, Eto'o going back the other way. They'll probably win another treble with that lineup.

Man Utd have sold Manucho to Valladolid in today's other big transfer. He'll be replaced in the squad by Mame Biram Diouf, a Senegalese striker from Molde FK, the club that produced United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Everton have rejected a £15m Man City bid for Lescott.

I'm disappointed, for some reason I thought the first two Gold Cup quarterfinal matches were on tonight but it's all on the weekend.

hmm? zlatan to barca? did that just happen 2day? :(

fucking traitor. he abandoned juve...karma will get him

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Juve were also in Serie B, so I'm not sure you can blame him.

[Big Fo]

Zlatan is awesome, I hope he scores a hattrick in the Bernabeu.

And it sounds like he would have stayed at Inter but they received a really good offer for him. (€40m + Eto'o + Hleb on loan for one season)

[DaddyTorgo]

Juve were also in Serie B, so I'm not sure you can blame him.

for a whole season...whoopie doo.

Buffon stayed. Trezeguet stayed. Del Piero stayed. Nedved stayed.

Traitors left.

[Flasch186]

{shrug}

I didnt know that Tevez was good enough to deserve a big ass billboard.

hmph, maybe thats saying something about City's benchmark.

[Big Fo]

Buffon stayed. Trezeguet stayed. Del Piero stayed. Nedved stayed.

Traitors left.

Buffon should have been playing for a team that could win the CL these past few years, he was too loyal imo.

{shrug}

I didnt know that Tevez was good enough to deserve a big ass billboard.

Tevez is quite good, he just had a down year. He was great in the 2007-8 season in addition to being a three-time South American Footballer of the Year (2003-5).

[DaddyTorgo]

Buffon should have been playing for a team that could win the CL these past few years, he was too loyal imo.



why too loyal? he didn't need to play CL-football to earn a big contract, he didn't need it to hold down his place in the national team, didn't need it to be widely regarded as one of the top 2 keepers in the world.

maybe winning a CL isn't as important to him as staying put?

[Big Fo]

Of course it's his life and he made a lot of money and won the World Cup in that time, maybe he loves the club, loves the house he lives in, I don't know the man. I was just surprised he stuck with them in Serie B and the first Serie A season back because he's so damn good that he could play for any team he wanted and in that situation most world class players would try to get out.

Perhaps "too loyal" wasn't the best phrase but calling Cannavaro, Zambrotta, and Ibrahimovic traitors is a bit much imo.

Anyway now I'm glad he stayed, I want the other Serie A clubs to be strong so someone challenges Inter this year. Of course my first choice to unseat the beast would be Milan now that they've got Oneywu :cool:

[sovereignstar]

{shrug}

I didnt know that Tevez was good enough to deserve a big ass billboard.

hmph, maybe thats saying something about City's benchmark.

Someone doesn't pay much attention to transfer news.

[sovereignstar]

Everton have rejected a £15m Man City bid for Lescott.

1. City bid 15m for Lescott
2. Moyes rejects, say he's not for sale
3. Lescott says he wants out
4. City bid 18m
5. Everton rejects
6. City bid 20m
7. We have a deal

[sovereignstar]

The Daily Mail mentions that there has been speculation that City might set their sights on Nemanja Vidic. Now that would be effing hilarious. :D

[Big Fo]

Well Vidic supposedly turned down moves to Barca and Milan this summer (despite his wife bitching about the Manchester weather) and did just sign a new contract, don't get too giddy now.

[sovereignstar]

It would never happen anyways, at least not anytime soon. Just the thought of having the audacity to even make a bid would be funny. I didn't know he had signed a new contract.

Edit: Heh. His favorite ground is Eastlands. :)

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[sovereignstar]

Adebayor sounds like a done deal:

Adebayor due to arrive at CoMS (the City of Manchester Stadium) late afternoon

Okay, time to lose some weight now.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Assuming Man City start two forwards, what happens to the odd man out? Playing on the wing (would Tevez be happy doing this again)? Someone on the bench?

[sovereignstar]

Robinho---Adebayor/RSC---Tevez

[Big Fo]

Poor Carlitos stuck out on the wing, he is much better through the middle.

Michael Owen scored the winner in his first appearhance for the Red Devils, all the brand new Owen fanboys on other boards are predicting he'll get 25 goals now which I think is ridiculous. A week before he signed people laughed at the notion of signing Owen and lots of fans have done a 180 it seems.

I know that after three straight titles, a CL, and various other cups in the past few years I should give management the benefit of the doubt but this has not been a good transfer window so far, and I don't think they're going to sign anyone else. But the squad is still good enough to win a fourth league title in a row.

[Big Fo]

Tonight's USA lineup vs. Panama:

Perkins; Heaps, Conrad (c), Marshall, Pearce; Holden, Pause, Beckerman, Rogers; Arnaud, Ching

Heaps looked really bad the last time he played, hopefully Panama don't have anyone that good on the left.

[sovereignstar]

Ack, almost forgot about the game tonight!

[Big Fo]

I want to see Honduras - Canada highlights, from what I hear the Canucks got robbed on a bad penalty call in the first half and were unlucky to go out 1-0.

[Big Fo]

Ching hit the post off a nice free kick from Holden. Marshall heads just over shortly after.

Beckerman has had a good tournament.

[DaddyTorgo]

beckerman? really?

when i saw him last weekend he was an absolute turd. overmatched against Hati is not a good thing.

[Big Fo]

Perez gives Panama the lead just before halftime after the US failed to clear after a corner kick. He then took his shirt off but the Mexican referee did not card him, it should have been a second yellow and a sending off.

The US were the better team in the first but didn't create that many good chances.

Jimmy Conrad had to leave after a nasty collision left him looking like a boxer who just got KO'd.

[sovereignstar]

Some are saying that a fan ripped off the player's shirt.

[Big Fo]

Nice goal from Beckerman to tie it up. Now let's not slack off after a good beginning to the half.

Damn Holden was close to making it 2-1 there.

[Big Fo]

The US wound up winning 2-1, Cooper won and then scored a penalty in extra-time.

After the match there was a tense situation where the Panamanian team hounded the ref, following him all over the pitch, one of their players (Binoy the thuggish centerback) was red carded after the whistle which you don't see everyday.

It wasn't the best performance by our B-side but they got the result, setting up a third game with Honduras in two months.

[sovereignstar]

rocket goal

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[sovereignstar]

I want to see Honduras - Canada highlights, from what I hear the Canucks got robbed on a bad penalty call in the first half and were unlucky to go out 1-0.

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[Big Fo]

I caught them on FSC last night after USA - Panama. Although Stalteri does grab the attacker's arm there that isn't called a lot of the time. But Canada blew lots of good scoring chances after that unfortunate call.

Costa Rica are 3-0 on Guadeloupe in the second half in tonight's first quarterfinal.

Awesome goal in the second post up, I love the reaction of the player further forward about 40 seconds in.

[law90026]

Concerned about Wenger's comments about not needing reinforcements.

If Arsenal fail to win anything again this year despite receiving 25 million from Adebayor's sale and Wenger choosing not to spend it ... well, I'm almost certain it's time for him to go.

[SirFozzie]

Looks like ESPN Deportes/360/maybe ESPN 2 will also have the Bundesliga, to go with La Liga.

Also, the US-Mexico game WILL be broadcast in English, but on a network few of us have, Mun2 (an English language network owned by spanish language network Telemundo, aimed at young english speaking Latinos)

Check Your Local Listings for U.S.-Mexico Qualifier - Goal Blog - NYTimes.com (http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/check-your-local-listings-for-us-mexico-qualifier/)


ESPN also recently reached an agreement with GolTV to show games from Spain’s La Liga on its Spanish-language Deportes (and ESPN360.com) and will soon announce a similar deal with GolTV to carry games from the German Bundesliga.

[SirFozzie]

If Arsenal didn't need replacements before they do now, Nasri (one of Arsenal's new signings) may be out till November with a broken leg.

[Cringer]

Looks like ESPN Deportes/360/maybe ESPN 2 will also have the Bundesliga, to go with La Liga.

Also, the US-Mexico game WILL be broadcast in English, but on a network few of us have, Mun2 (an English language network owned by spanish language network Telemundo, aimed at young english speaking Latinos)

Check Your Local Listings for U.S.-Mexico Qualifier - Goal Blog - NYTimes.com (http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/check-your-local-listings-for-us-mexico-qualifier/)


ESPN also recently reached an agreement with GolTV to show games from Spain’s La Liga on its Spanish-language Deportes (and ESPN360.com) and will soon announce a similar deal with GolTV to carry games from the German Bundesliga.

Actually, from what I have heard, mun2 is supposed to be in almost as many homes as FSC, which really isn't many for either, in the 20,000,000s.

I also heard today (somewhere, can't remember) that the spanish broadcast of US v. Mex should have english closed caption, if anyone cares. At this point I am used to watching matches in spanish. I kind of enjoy it as it has helped me pick up a little more spanish actually.

[Mac Howard]

probably a jab that City is Manchester's "real team" where as United are made up of plastics from places like Cornwall, South Wales and London.

But ................................... Tevez is from .................................erm .............................Argentina ;)

[DaddyTorgo]

But ................................... Tevez is from .................................erm .............................Argentina ;)

i have a feeling he means the fans?

[Mac Howard]

i have a feeling he means the fans?

City have fans? :eek:

[law90026]

Yes Nasri out with a fractured leg.

I sometimes wonder if we have a curse!

[Big Fo]

Sven Goran Eriksson has been named Director of Football at League 2 Notts County. That is rather surprising.

Guardian link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county)

[Big Fo]

Serie A club Livorno might be bidding for Landon Donovan. That'd be interesting.

Gazzetta dello Sport link (in Italian) (http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Calciomercato/21-07-2009/cruz-o-lazio-o-napoli-50825724756.shtml)

Pretty big crowd for Chelsea - Inter which just kicked off on ESPN2.

[BishopMVP]

Sven Goran Eriksson has been named Director of Football at League 2 Notts County. That is rather surprising.

Guardian link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county)It's a real life version of FM where you take over the sleeping giant, give them rich owners and try to bring them up. Bit of a sleeping giant there.

[Cringer]

US Open Cup semi final match.....only way to watch it is with 6000 other people crammed onto a pathetic, under powered stream from a team's website. Houston at Seattle, despite Houston having a 'B' squad out there, was very entertaining. 2-1 Seattle win I am sorry to say, in extra time.

Wish fans of Euro and Mexican soccer paid more attention to their teams in their own backyard, maybe the Open Cup games could make it on TV. But hey, it's better to cram a stadium to watch Mexico's 'B' squad or to catch a glimpse of Chelsea then it is to support local teams. (And local teams doesn't mean MLS only, USL gets much worse recognition. We will never have a relegation system in this country, and that is a small part of it)

edit: The ref was crap though. Getting better quality refs would help the US game some, that's for sure.

[miami_fan]

Oguchi Onyewu is making his debut with Milan right now on ESPN2. Unfortunately he lost his man on Club America's goal.

[whomario]

Barca and Inter complete their swap of Eto´o and Ibrahimovic. Barca pays an aditional 45 mio (or 40 or 60, who knows ?) and propably also sends Hleb to Inter on loan.
Wow :eek:

But why the hell does Eto´o leave Barca (he requested being transferred) ? Seriously, his qualities were made for a system like Barca and the soccer played in spain in general. Don´t see him having as much success in Italy ...
Ibrahimovic on the other hand will love playing in Barca and in spain, should suit his qualities pretty well and imo will be a more than adequate replacement, also adding another dimension with his ability to get headers which is the one thing Barca really lacked last year.

And Klaas Jan Huntelaar seems not to go to Stuttgart afterall, too bad ... He´s been stalling over money for a couple weeks (now wanted a buyout from madrid ...) and Stuttgart pulled the plug and is now looking elsewhere to spend their money from the Gomez transfer (30 mio to Bayern) .

Bayern looks like a big question mark right now. New Coach Van Gaal all but shipped Lucio out of town when questioning him publically without so much as speaking a word to him and insisting that he will allways play a right and a left footed guy in center defense (which is stupid imo) ... Now they are left with a guy that isn´t good enough (Van Buyten), a guy that makes like 5 mental errors every game (Demichelis) and 2 19/20 year old youngsters. Heck the 19 year old (Badstuber) might start on opening day without having played a single minute of Bundesliga before ...
He also moved Lahm over to the right side and they also bought a highly influential defensive midfielder in Tymoschenko when their captain (Van Bommel) plays the same position with none of them really able to play anywhere else.
And Toni is basically being in the dog house.

[Big Fo]

Barca and Inter complete their swap of Eto´o and Ibrahimovic. Barca pays an aditional 45 mio (or 40 or 60, who knows ?) and propably also sends Hleb to Inter on loan.
Wow :eek:

But why the hell does Eto´o leave Barca (he requested being transferred) ?
I think it was $$$$ for Eto'o. Also Guardiola has said he wants to make a few changes so the team doesn't get complacent like they did after the 2006 CL win. Although I like the deal for them in a playing sense the amount of money added in is surprising. Maybe Barca had to pay that much for Inter to take Hleb off their hands for a year :lol:

Ibrahimovic on the other hand will love playing in Barca and in spain, should suit his qualities pretty well and imo will be a more than adequate replacement, also adding another dimension with his ability to get headers which is the one thing Barca really lacked last year.

I agree, Barca will be even scarier to face now.

And Klaas Jan Huntelaar seems not to go to Stuttgart afterall, too bad ... He´s been stalling over money for a couple weeks (now wanted a buyout from madrid ...) and Stuttgart pulled the plug and is now looking elsewhere to spend their money from the Gomez transfer (30 mio to Bayern)

I thought KJH was stalling so one of the bigger English or Italian clubs might come in for him. It's a bit of a risk, if nobody else comes in for him he be a benchwarmer in a World Cup year.

edit: read elsewhere that the tax rate differential between Spain and Germany played a part so it's money related as well

[ISiddiqui]

Serie A club Livorno might be bidding for Landon Donovan. That'd be interesting.

Gazzetta dello Sport link (in Italian) (http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Calciomercato/21-07-2009/cruz-o-lazio-o-napoli-50825724756.shtml)

Pretty big crowd for Chelsea - Inter which just kicked off on ESPN2.

I do think that Italy would be a better fit for Donovan than Germany was.

[MrBug708]

They seem pretty set on signing him and it's a team where I would assume he would get the PT as opposed to sittingo n a bench

[Cringer]

In case no one noticed, the USMNT made the Copa Oro finals tonight with a win over Honduras, 2-0 (in front of a pathetic Chicago crowd, until the Mexico fans showed up halfway through the game). And in a weird twist I am left without the Mexico-Costa Rica game as the local Telefutura decided the 85% hispanic population and the half of their viewers IN Mexico don't care to watch it?

[DaddyTorgo]

lol

[PilotMan]

In case no one noticed, the USMNT made the Copa Oro finals tonight with a win over Honduras, 2-0 (in front of a pathetic Chicago crowd, until the Mexico fans showed up halfway through the game). And in a weird twist I am left without the Mexico-Costa Rica game as the local Telefutura decided the 85% hispanic population and the half of their viewers IN Mexico don't care to watch it?


Read the report, and I gotta say, that Bradley has done very well with the "B" squad. Solid result, especially without mainstays of the team.

[MrBug708]

US-Mexico

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

[Big Fo]

It was one of the US team's best performances in the tournament. I want to see Holden play with some of the big guns a few of the remaining World Cup Qualifiers. The second goal was nice with the backheel - cross - volley into the corner combo.

I fell asleep early tonight, looking at the results I should have stayed awake for the end of the second match, goals in the 88th and 90th minute in a 1-1 draw before Mexico won on PKs.

[Cringer]

Read the report, and I gotta say, that Bradley has done very well with the "B" squad. Solid result, especially without mainstays of the team.

He (and this squad) have done very well this Cup. I am not 100% turned around and on his side, but he is giving me some hope along with the Confed Cup finish. I think one thing that will be interesting come WC time (and the match at Azteca even) will be to see who he calls up for the mid-field spots. I think he 'may' have some more options now, and since he was not using a couple of the guys he had before I wait to see what he does.

Also, is Cooper given any kind of chance with the 'A' team? I know some guys think no way, but he has something like 5 goals in 7 caps. I know the level of competition it is against, but we could really use another F I think. I am not saying I want him, but I wouldn't be against it either.

[Big Fo]

He (and this squad) have done very well this Cup. I am not 100% turned around and on his side, but he is giving me some hope along with the Confed Cup finish. I think one thing that will be interesting come WC time (and the match at Azteca even) will be to see who he calls up for the mid-field spots. I think he 'may' have some more options now, and since he was not using a couple of the guys he had before I wait to see what he does.

Bradley, Clark, Jones (provided the paperwork goes through and he doesn't do something terrible in his US debut before the WC), Edu, and Fielhaber are who I would take for the central midfield.

If you meant wingers and trequaristas then Donovan, Dempsey, Holden and I don't know after that. Adu was not impressive in the Gold Cup before he went back to Portugal. I've written off Beasley for now. Maybe Rogers but he's inconsistent against these weaker teams, he probably won't be better against World Cup opposition.

Also, is Cooper given any kind of chance with the 'A' team? I know some guys think no way, but he has something like 5 goals in 7 caps. I know the level of competition it is against, but we could really use another F I think. I am not saying I want him, but I wouldn't be against it either.

Altidore and Davies have to be the starters. I would rather see Cooper out there than Conor Casey. I'm not sure about Arnaud/Ching/Casey for the fourth spot, I don't think any of those three are particularly great. Maybe they'll only bring three strikers like at the Confederations Cup since Donovan and Dempsey can also play up top.

[Cringer]

Well, I was grouping the whole midfield together in my question, so central and wingers both. You make a good point though with placing Holden as a winger. He has played there these last two games (correct me if wrong but I am sure his first two were in the center). I figured that was a "second" test for him since most of his Dynamo play is in a central attacking role.

I forget about Edu, just because he hasn't been around I guess.

As for Cooper, if it comes down to only three strikers then I would hope Ching goes instead of him. I am biased yes, but I clearly prefer Ching over Cooper. I was more talking about Cooper in a fourth spot, which I would kind of like to see....maybe. I don't like Casey much, so I hope he isn't on the 'A' squad much any more.

[DaddyTorgo]

It was one of the US team's best performances in the tournament. I want to see Holden play with some of the big guns a few of the remaining World Cup Qualifiers. The second goal was nice with the backheel - cross - volley into the corner combo.

I fell asleep early tonight, looking at the results I should have stayed awake for the end of the second match, goals in the 88th and 90th minute in a 1-1 draw before Mexico won on PKs.

I said this same thing to my father last night (re: Holden). I think one of the things that has been shown about our midfielders at times is their lack of touch+vision at "game speed" and Holden has certainly showed those things during this tournament (albeit against opposition maybe not quite as stiff as an "A" team). Regardless, I'd like to see him at least get called up and given 30-60 minutes in a couple of the remaining qualifiers.

We all know he played phenomal versus Hati (I know big deal), but I thought against a much better and more tactically-sound Honduras team last night he played equally as well. He's certainly got an "all-out" motor, and as shown by the last goal, his skills are sustained throughout a full game.

Beautiful cross on the second goal to Cooper...he moved to the space so well after laying it off to Beckerman, and then his cross curling just far enough away from the keeper was perfect.

[DaddyTorgo]

Ching will get games - starts even. You guys are crazy if you think he won't. He's fundamentally important to Bob Bradley's system of play as a target striker. And he can absorb a hell of a beating and win free kicks in dangerous positions. As demonstrated by his backheel on the last goal last night he also can display flashes of touch.

I'm not saying he's my favorite player or anything, but I have come to appreciate how fundamentally important a big target-striker to hold up the ball is to Bradley's system, and right now Jozy doesn't have the skills (although he prolly has the size). And lord knows I don't think Cooper does the little things as well as Ching.

[Big Fo]

Ching has a better all-round game but he misses too many chances, I think Cooper is a better goalscorer. Ching is more likely to make the WC squad at this point I bet, and he would be a better choice than Casey.

I might rather see Dempsey play some up front with Holden on the right than our third best striker (whichever one is named) getting a lot of time though, we don't have a ton of depth there.

-------------

hahaha, I just saw Getafe's new shirt:


Normal-
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/23/article-0-05CFD78D000005DC-431_224x205.jpg

For the over the head goal celebration-
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/23/article-0-05CFD791000005DC-138_224x205.jpg

[DaddyTorgo]

Ching has a better all-round game but he misses too many chances, I think Cooper is a better goalscorer. Ching is more likely to make the WC squad at this point I bet, and he would be a better choice than Casey.

I might rather see Dempsey play some up front with Holden on the right than our third best striker (whichever one is named) getting a lot of time though, we don't have a ton of depth there.

-------------

hahaha, I just saw Getafe's new shirt:


Normal-
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/23/article-0-05CFD78D000005DC-431_224x205.jpg

For the over the head goal celebration-
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/23/article-0-05CFD791000005DC-138_224x205.jpg

I agree that Ching is a worse finisher than Cooper, but a better all around player. But I think Cooper's worse all-around game is more harmful than Ching's worse finishing. That is to say, Ching is more valuable within the team concept. Certainly more valuable at the top-level where to some extent we have to have a target-man up top who can hold up the ball when we outlet it after bunkering in against better teams.

I sort of agree that Dempsey up top is intriguing with Holden on the right and Landy on the left. That might be an interesting look to experiment with in some of these WC-qualifiers.

[Cringer]

I sort of agree that Dempsey up top is intriguing with Holden on the right and Landy on the left. That might be an interesting look to experiment with in some of these WC-qualifiers.

After seeing Dempsey crank it up when put into an attacking position, I would love to see this with Jozy as striker.

[Cringer]

It's a little old now but I love this....

Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching was fined $500 by MLS today for the following tweet he made during the Houston/Seattle match last weekend.

Ching's tweet, "Ref in seattle just cheated the dynamo. What a joke. Not even close. Ref is a cheat"

[Easy Mac]

The only people to impress me in this tourney for the US are Holden and Heath Pearce. If we need Boca in a center d position, I think Pearce would be my current choice out left. He seems to make smart runs, but is also able to recover quickly.

Holden has looked great. He did sign with Sunderland out of college, and it was really just a bit of bad luck he didn't get a chance over there. I've been watching him on the Dynamo since he's been there, and he's always impressed.

I'm not really a Ching fan, but he's a completely different player than Cooper. Cooper is far more style and on the ball, while ching is heading and holding up. I'd prefer they have more time to play off each other, as Arnaud has looked lost in the past 2 matches. The problem with Ching is that he's just too slow with his feet. We had a quick exchange in the box late in the second half, but Ching couldn't move his feet fast enough to do anything with the ball.

Robbie Rogers needs to slow down at times, or learn how to think ahead of times. Most of the time he loses the ball because he doesn't think through his move, not because the defender actually cuts him off.

Maybe it was just me, but the US looked asleep for about 65 minutes of the 2nd Honduras game. It was only after Honduras tired that we were really able to get anything going.

[DaddyTorgo]

After seeing Dempsey crank it up when put into an attacking position, I would love to see this with Jozy as striker.

Clint has looked much better when closer to goal, so yes please.

[Desnudo]

It's a real life version of FM where you take over the sleeping giant, give them rich owners and try to bring them up. Bit of a sleeping giant there.

I wonder if this one will happen in time to make into FM 10.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=662804&sec=europe&cc=5901

[whomario]

kind of a similar thing is also happening in Germany with Red Bull taking over a small club (5th division) in/near leipzig in Germany, trying to build a strong club in eastern Germany for once and built on the fanbase that is there. Problem is that there is a multitude of ridiculously violent rivalries in that are and they allready had a training ground trashed and a couple of friendly games cancelled out of fear for the normal soccer fans... Gonna be a rough couple of years until they can escape that and enter the Bundesliga.

It´s also not as easy and you need a long breath, there´s no stars coming into 5th league or welsh minors, you start with young talents from pro teams´ youth squads not good enough to make it there (but way qualified for that new level) that are going to play for a couple hundred Euros a month and possibly a secure place for real life job training or a flatout job, some washed up pros from the region wanting to play a couple more years under good working conditions and you also have to get a few good minor league players from the area to win over the local people.

I mean, the poster child for that development is Hoffenheim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSG_1899_Hoffenheim) in Germany and they needed 17 years from the 8th (i think, changes from county to county) league into the Bundesliga with several halts in between. But they also managed it very responsibly with the chairman not pushing things but having the club grow before making another push with the last one coming in 2006 and then they admittedly moved ahead of schedule by going straight from 3rd to first league with 2 consecutive promotions and then actually leading the league halfway in before suffering too many injuries for the thin roster.
This offseason they also "only" added a veteran DC (Josip Simunic from hertha berlin) and a few talented players in Maicosuel (emerged as on of the top offensive midfielders in Brazil last season) and especially Franco Zuculini who is highly regarded and was on the radar for a few top clubs in England and also Juve. Allready has a cap at 18 and is basically Maradonna´s pet project (not that that is nescessarily a good sign ;) ). Not just because of the origin compared to Masscherano, just a bit more of a passer and less of a tackler while possessing the same feel for the game and incredibly motor.

[whomario]

And my favourite team made a "big" transfer : Borussia Dortmund bougth Lucas Barrios the striker with the most league goals in a first division with 37 in 38 games, even though it was only in Chile (overall 49 goals in 53 games with his club the last 1 1/2 years) . Also was targeted by the Roma clubs AS and Lazio so i´m happy they got him. Video of all 37 league goals : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUWKPnxbUQ&feature=fvw
Hope he pans out, a quality target striker would be just what the doctor ordered after years without one (well, Frei, but he was allways injured ...). Really looks good, good mobility and technique at 1,90 and obviously knows where the goal is located.
Hope to move closer to Dortmund next year for a new job again to see a few games as the stadium (81 k capacity nowaday) is just awesome as well as the fans. I mean, they haven´t finished better than 6th in 6 years now and still had the highest average attendance in Europe last season with 77,500 last season (real 2nd and manU 3rd not far behind) .
There were some magical nights in the mid 90s for me as a kid when they had their big european run with epic matches and culminating in the champions league title :

YouTube - Borussia Dortmund - Juventus Turin ChampionsLeauge 1996/1997 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OuwX1dOpQo)

<object width="425" height="344">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2OuwX1dOpQo&hl=de&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object>

Lars Ricken scoring the decicive goal in the champions league final with his first touch about 10 seconds after being substituted in with a lob from like 25 metres. Most badass important goal ever !

ah, the glory days :)

[path12]

US Open Cup semi final match.....only way to watch it is with 6000 other people crammed onto a pathetic, under powered stream from a team's website. Houston at Seattle, despite Houston having a 'B' squad out there, was very entertaining. 2-1 Seattle win I am sorry to say, in extra time.

:mad: :mad: Them's fightin' words! :D

I'll agree that it sucked to watch on that damn stream though.

[Cringer]

:mad: :mad: Them's fightin' words! :D

I'll agree that it sucked to watch on that damn stream though.

I liked Seattle for most of there first season. Then they defeated the Dynamo 'B' team twice in 10 days in Seattle while the Dynamo spent 7 games in a row on the road and I had the pleasure of reading comments from Seattle fans getting carried away with it, and come August 23rd I hope to see the Dynamo put the Sounders in their place in Houston.

Them be better fightin' words. :D

[Cringer]

hxxp://www.corrieredilivorno.com/index.php/news/articolo/1006-Livorno-made-in-USA

Don't bother reading it unless you read Italian. I am just linking it so you don't think I made it up. According to Livorno, MLS wants 8 million euro for Donovan, and 4-5 for Ricardo Clark, or so I am told.

Donovan ha una quotazione di circa 8 milioni di euro. Troppi per le casse amaranto, ma parte della cifra (per non dire tutta) sarà coperta dagli sponsor.

Una cosa simile accadde quando Ronaldo venne acquistato dall'Inter grazie all'aiuto della Pirelli. Per Clark si parla di 4-5 milioni di euro ma il discorso non cambia.

[sovereignstar]

US-Mexico

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

Finally finished watching both matches and unspoiled at that. USA-Mexico ftw!

[Cringer]

FMF's Apetura started this weekend. Game after game on, as soon as the Dynamo game is over here I look forward to getting into those games again after the summer break.

[Big Fo]

Fergie keeping it real when asked about the new kids on the block <3

On the poster: It's City isn't it? They are a small club, with a small mentality. All they can talk about is Manchester United, that's all they've done and they can't get away from it.

'It is a go at us, that's the one thing it is. They think taking Tevez away from Manchester United is a triumph. It is poor stuff. I thought he would go to City a long time ago.'

On City's title chances: "'City will want to be challenging for the top four, but it won't be easy,' said Sir Alex. 'That top four has been established for quite a while.

You don't expect Liverpool or Chelsea to fade. But the one who has the challenge is Arsene (Wenger). He has a big task at Arsenal because I know he doesn't have the money and how he uses the £25m from selling Adebayor to City will be very interesting. I don't look upon City as my biggest challengers. For all the buying they have done, they still have to pick a team with balance.

'That won't be easy for Mark (Hughes). What's he got, 10 strikers?

So, if he picks a squad to go to Chelsea, he has to leave seven behind, or five at least. He has to deal with that. It will not be easy.'

On Adebayor: "When someone offers you that kind of money, it is a big attraction.

“That is the reason they have gone there. At the last minute, from what I can gather, either Emmanuel Adebayor or his agent phoned us after they had agreed a deal with City and then did the same with Chelsea. He was desperate to get to either Chelsea or us.”

[sovereignstar]

It's now official. ManU is rattled, ie scared.

[sovereignstar]

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2524/2n7kxfm.jpg

[Big Fo]

Fergie so scared of the Europa League challengers :D

Lineups for today's final, no surprises from Bradley:

-------------Ching-----------Arnaud----------------

Rogers--------------------------------------Holden

----------Beckerman---------Pause-----------------

Pearce-----Marshall------Goodson---------Heaps

---------------------Perkins-------------------------

And Mexico:

-------------Miguel-Sabah-------Gio Dos Santos--------------

Alberto Medina----------------------------------Efrain Juarez

-----------Gerardo Torrado-------Jose Castro-----------------

Fausto Pinto--------------------------------------Israel Castro

-------------JC Valenzuela-----------Jonny Magallon-----------

--------------------------Guillermo-Ochoa-----------------------


C'mon boys, make it three Gold Cups in a row!

[DaddyTorgo]

be interesting to see if this US side can get a result against the Mexies

[DaddyTorgo]

BEAT THE MEXIES...BEAT THE MEXIES!!! *calls INS to get a raid setup on Giants stadium*

[DaddyTorgo]

it always annoys me how whenever we play anybody in a major metro area it's essentially an "away" game due to all the immigrants who remain fans of their old country. and by "annoy" i mean "fucking pisses me off"

[Easy Mac]

I wa at the US-Honduras qualifier in Chicago last month. It was probably 90-10 in fan composition in favor of Honduras.

[DaddyTorgo]

I wa at the US-Honduras qualifier in Chicago last month. It was probably 90-10 in fan composition in favor of Honduras.

yes. which is just ridiculous. frankly...i hate it. i think we should play all our home games in like minnesota or somewhere where there's only a tiny amount of foreigners

[Cringer]

I think you guys also underestimate just how many of those fans (mainly the Mexico fans) that are actually born in this country. In Texas anyways.

[DaddyTorgo]

I think you guys also underestimate just how many of those fans (mainly the Mexico fans) that are actually born in this country. In Texas anyways.

i don't underestimate that - but that doesn't make it "okay". my "INS comment" was more a joke, i'm not really concerned about where they were born or their immigration status. and i recognize actually how it can be somewhat of a benefit to play "home" games in front of hostile crowds to toughen you up, but the homer in me wants to see them play home games in front of stadiums full of fans in red/white/blue cheering for them instead of the opponents.

[DaddyTorgo]

weak bookings on the US here - tackle didn't deserve it and it's too loud to hear i'm sure fuuuck...just wide holden!

[Cringer]

i don't underestimate that - but that doesn't make it "okay". my "INS comment" was more a joke, i'm not really concerned about where they were born or their immigration status. and i recognize actually how it can be somewhat of a benefit to play "home" games in front of hostile crowds to toughen you up, but the homer in me wants to see them play home games in front of stadiums full of fans in red/white/blue cheering for them instead of the opponents.

Oh, don't think I meant that made it ok, to me it makes it worse. I hate it a bunch myself, especially when they are classless and throwing beer bottles at Holden when he is trying to take a corner. Also, I live in a place where most people will cheer on the Mexican team over the USA.

[Passacaglia]

Is this match on my TV?

[sovereignstar]

Fox Soccer Channel

[MJ4H]

well that was a gift of a penalty

[DaddyTorgo]

well that was a BS penalty called on the US. Dos Santos ran into Heaps and knocked him over and won the penalty. BS.

[Passacaglia]

Thanks. I guess I do have that, but not in HD. Oh well.

[sovereignstar]

What in the fuck are they doing?

[sovereignstar]

Of course.

[DaddyTorgo]

ballgame.

that second goal was deserved...the first one not so much.

god those were some ugly attempts at trapping them offside

[Easy Mac]

They were pressing far too much after the first goal

[sovereignstar]

Did a fan just run onto the field?

[Easy Mac]

This is embarrasing

[DaddyTorgo]

*cursing and shutting off the game*

i won't be posting in this thread for the next hour or so...lest I say some very insensitive ethnic slurs

[sovereignstar]

*cursing and shutting off the game*

i won't be posting in this thread for the next hour or so...lest I say some very insensitive ethnic slurs

Yeah, your INS comments are embarrassing enough. See if you can't contain yourself.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah, your INS comments are embarrassing enough. See if you can't contain yourself.

i dunno - not that embarrassing IMO. i'm anti illegal-immigrants and would love to see as many as possible deported (and a path to citizenship for the rest). If we want to deport a large # it only makes sense to go where they are (most cost effective) and one could assume that there might be a significant concentration at the game.

[sovereignstar]

Take that shit to some POL thread then.

[Big Fo]

Bah, it's gotten ugly here.

That terrible penalty call changed the game completely but even before then the US wasn't creating much at all.

Mexico should win this, they've actually brought some of their best players.

Gio such a diving little cunt.

[Easy Mac]

So, does it mean anything that for the last 2 major tourney finals, both our A and B teams got throttled in the 2nd half?

[Big Fo]

Fitness is typically considered one of the US team's strengths but they definitely played like shit after that first goal today.

[Cringer]

I don't like the PK call, but supposedly there was a good tug on the jersey that started the fall. I still haven't seen it though. After that Vela ate up the offside trap, and the US has given up since. The all MLS roster just wasn't enough for this Mex team.

[Chief Rum]

I know that the Confed Cup performance, and taking a B team to the Gold Cup final is peobably enough to banish all talk of this, but that said...Bradley? Can't think the US Soccer people are going to be all too thrilled with the team boss after this one.

[Easy Mac]

I don't like the PK call, but supposedly there was a good tug on the jersey that started the fall. I still haven't seen it though. After that Vela ate up the offside trap, and the US has given up since. The all MLS roster just wasn't enough for this Mex team.

There was no tug. Dos Santos clearly dove into Heaps, he even threw him an elbow.

[Cringer]

There was no tug. Dos Santos clearly dove into Heaps, he even threw him an elbow.

Like I said, I never saw it. I know Univision replayed the exact moment it happened 5 minutes after the PK and my wife said she saw what they were talking about. I was not looking at the TV when it happened. Some guys online (not here) are saying there was a shirt tug as well.

Even if that hadn't been called, they clearly would have had one later on, which wasn't given to them probably because they already had the first given to them.

It all sucks in the end though. Hopefully August comes and the 'A' team boys can come out of Azteca with a point at least.

[BishopMVP]

I know that the Confed Cup performance, and taking a B team to the Gold Cup final is peobably enough to banish all talk of this, but that said...Bradley? Can't think the US Soccer people are going to be all too thrilled with the team boss after this one.I'm not happy about it, but it's the B/C team. (FFS, Jay Heaps was starting.) And the next game is at Azteca where we've never won. If we lose by more than 2 goals maybe there'll be some rumbling outside the internets, but I doubt it.

[RainMaker]

Why did he use the B team for this? Isn't the Gold Cup kind of a big deal around here? Doesn't it earn you a spot in the next Confed Cup? I can understand it in the earlier rounds but shouldn't the best team be out there in the Finals?

[Chief Rum]

Why did he use the B team for this? Isn't the Gold Cup kind of a big deal around here? Doesn't it earn you a spot in the next Confed Cup? I can understand it in the earlier rounds but shouldn't the best team be out there in the Finals?

I think there's only one Confed Cup every four years, so this is just for bragging rights. The 2011 Gold Cup winner will go to the 2013 Confed Cup in Brazil.

And, IMO, this wasn't even the American B team. More like a mix of B and C. I don't think the team can change from round to round, except perhaps injury allowances. I know they let players leave (Adu, for instance), but I don't think new players can be brought in unless there's special circumstances involved.

All that said, still a very disappointing match of course.

[RainMaker]

My bad, I thought the Gold Cup was every 4 years.

[BishopMVP]

I don't think the team can change from round to round, except perhaps injury allowances. I know they let players leave (Adu, for instance), but I don't think new players can be brought in unless there's special circumstances involved.They let Adu, Davies, Feilhaber go back and could have recalled them (as they did Parkhurst when Conrad was injured) and CONCACAF also weirdly gave them 7 additional roster spots (guys like Altidore, Donovan, Onyewu were listed on them) for participating in the Confederations Cup they didn't ask for, so we actually had 30 total guys on the roster that could have played. Like you said, it doesn't matter for the next Confed Cup, and it was only worth bragging rights, but it's still worth bragging rights against Mexico in North America. After the World Cup, that's pretty much the most important thing we play for since we'll never play in the Euro Cup and I doubt they'll be inviting us back to the Copa America anytime soon after we sent a similar B/C team down there and got trounced in 2007 (when we focused on the Gold Cup).

EDIT - i guess I would be less annoyed if a major factor in our beating wasn't Jay Heaps. At the other positions, at least you can argue you want to play some players to see who can fit as backups, maybe even surprise and challenge for a starting role. Once you get down to Jay Heaps, you know he sucks and he's never going to get any better. Try a young guy with potential, maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[DaddyTorgo]

5-0??? ZOINKS!!!

Good thing I turned the TV off when it was 3-0

[Cringer]

hxxp://www.corrieredilivorno.com/index.php/news/articolo/1031-Occhi-su-Mandelli

Once again, in Italian....but...

Franceschini andrà così a rinforzare un reparto che necessita di almeno un altro tassello per poter affrontare la serie A senza timori reverenziali: scartato Obodo, rimasto vittima dei suoi tentennamenti Budel, si aspetta l'accordo per il mediano a stelle e strisce Clark. La firma sul contratto è attesa per i prossimi giorni visto che Spinelli ha raggiunto l'accordo con gli Houston Dynamo.

Google translates the last sentence fairly well for me to confirm what I read. Ricardo Clark should sign with Livorno in the next few days. I guess agreement with the Dynamo/MLS has been finalized.

[Cringer]

A different story (maybe just slow and behind a little since they are not the local Livorno paper?)

hxxp://soccer365.com/us_news/story_27709150835.php

S365 Exclusive: Livorno Sweating Clark Offer
2009-07-27 14:59:20

by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Serie A risers Livorno have tabled an official summer transfer bid for Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark and are awaiting a verdict from America, Soccer365 has learned.

Contrary to Italian reports, which claimed the U.S. international would not be able to join the team until Major League Soccer's season ends in November, he would move to Tuscany immediately upon full completion of an agreement.

Under this circumstance, the only way Clark - who is in the final year of his MLS contract - would be allowed to close out the term in Texas would be with a short loan, a caveat which is clearly not in his suitor's plans. Livorno, who will learn their 2009/10 fixture list this week, begin league play near the end of August.

"We made an offer to the MLS to have Clark now," Livorno CEO Roberto Spinelli told Soccer365 on Monday morning. "We are waiting for a reply."

Meanwhile, he says the Dark Reds chase of Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan is essentially on hold, with either the player, his club or MLS unwilling to talk deal for the time being.

"For Donovan, nothing is moving as he has to finish the season in the U.S.," Spinelli stated. "We will work on this after September."

[Cringer]

Some people (like myself) will now be able to get the August 12th USA-Mexico game in English, without paying extra....

We signed a petition, we sent emails, we moaned and complained, all in an effort to get NBC Universal to do something about the availability of the USA-Mexico match on August 12th.

I don't know if they listened, but it's clear they're making an effort to make the match available to a wider audience. While the game will still be broadcast on Telemundo's sister channel mun2, that network will now be available free of charge to DirecTV and Dish Network subscribers on August 12th.

The free preview of the channel will make it available in 56 million households that day, a significant increase over the 31 million homes that currently receive it.

In addition to this free preview news, Telemundo/mun2 also announced that the English-language broadcast team for the qualifier will be Phil Schoen and Marcelo Balboa.

A statement by mun2 Senior Vice Predident and General Manager Alex Pels:

<b>"By offering a live a major sporting event on mun2 free-of-charge to the industry, we hope that all soccer fans and sports enthusiasts will recognize mun2 as uniquely American, game changing, connected and smart - our brand attributes. It is a great opportunity for new viewers to sample our quality programming and to see an historic game produced by Deportes Telemundo, the best sports team in the business."</b>

This is fairly big news, and I'm happy to see that the match will be available to many more English-speaking Americans than before. Telemundo has played this smart, putting their other property (mun2) in front of a larger audience, giving the American soccer fans what they want, and leveraging the interest in the game.

If you're a cable subscriber, call your cable company and demand that they take advantage of this free preview; while DirecTV and Dish Network have signed on, cable companies may not unless pushed to do so by their customers.

Give me your thoughts on this news.

hxxp://www.matchfitusa.com/2009/07/usa-mexico-mun2-news.html

[DaddyTorgo]

my thoughts - i better find somewhere to watch this game or i will have to kill someone

[AlexB]

For one of the very few times in my life, I agree with Mourinho: I think they have somehow pulled off the deal of the century - they have a player who is at least as good as Ibrahimovic, plus £38m and Hleb for a year. Hleb is no world star, but he's a good player, and considering Man City were willing to pay £25m for Eto'o, you could argue Zlatan is valued by Barca at around £65-70m!!!!

Barca would have paid over the odds with just the cash part of the deal, but add two players as well... :jawdrop: :confused:

[cartman]

Wow, Inter did get the best of that deal. I definitely agree that Eto'o is equivalent to Ibrahimovic. But there must be some sort of curse with strikers and Inter. They never seem to want to stick around very long.

[illinifan999]

For one of the very few times in my life, I agree with Mourinho: I think they have somehow pulled off the deal of the century - they have a player who is at least as good as Ibrahimovic, plus £38m and Hleb for a year. Hleb is no world star, but he's a good player, and considering Man City were willing to pay £25m for Eto'o, you could argue Zlatan is valued by Barca at around £65-70m!!!!

Barca would have paid over the odds with just the cash part of the deal, but add two players as well... :jawdrop: :confused:

Barca paid €43.25 million for Ibra and valued the transfer at at €66 million according to their financial vice-president. As an Inter fan, I'm not quite sure what to think. Obviously Ibra has been the main reason Inter has been winning titles in Italy for the last few years, so we'll have to see how Eto'o impacts the Italian game. I'm waiting to see who they buy with that money before I make a conclusion. They DESPERATELY need a creative midfielder/playmaker and I'd personally like to see them try to get Sneijder from Madrid. But from the straight-up look at the deal, I think Barca paid a bit much. Giving up one superstar, that much cash, and another player for one superstar doesn't seem that wise on the surface.

[SirFozzie]

Setanta North America's future is now seemingly assured:

RTÉ Business: BCI gives green light to new Setanta (http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/0728/setanta.html)

Good to see Setanta US will be sticking around.

[Cringer]

Too bad it costs $15/month for that one channel on DirecTV. I would love to have it and FSC, but then FSC would be another $10/month. Sure I get other channels on the FSC package, but they are worthless to me. $25 for two channels is crap. Give me those two only for $10 and I would do it. That won't happen though so I will stick with MLS Direct Kick and everything Telefutura/Telemundo/Univision give me.

[Big Fo]

DC United just missed a great chance to take a 2-1 lead over Firpo in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Man City have agreed a fee with Arsenal for Kolo Toure.

Jose Mourinho wants to succeed SAF at Man Utd, I wouldn't mind that if he promises not to play too defensively.

[sovereignstar]

How many years do you think red nose has left? If City underachieves I could see Mourinho as a serious option to replace Hughes.

[Big Fo]

Last summer SAF said he would retire within three seasons, after this season he said he would continue as long as his health would let him. At one point he was going to retire in 2002. So I don't think even he knows.

[Big Fo]

Fox Soccer Report says Clark will join Livorno in January so Houston will be able to keep him around for the MLS Playoffs and the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League.

[MrBug708]

Sooner would have been better because Livorno might be regulated by then

[Cringer]

Fox Soccer Report says Clark will join Livorno in January so Houston will be able to keep him around for the MLS Playoffs and the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Wow, I am surprised if that is true. Happily surprised as a Dynamo fan though. I would prefer to have Clark and Holden in the middle instead of Holden and Cameron. Cameron is a good versatile player, but he is not Clark and I prefer to have him playing at center back which is what got him onto the All-Star team.

[sovereignstar]

Toure in, Elano out (to Galatasaray). Next up: Joleon Lescott for an absurd amount of money.

It's nice to pay reasonable amounts for players, but it's kind of funny to pretend like it even makes any flipping difference with Sheikh Mansour at the helm.

Here's a good article on some of the other things that are changing within the City infrastructure -- http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/inside-citys-plan-for-domination-1760528.html

[Big Fo]

Xabi Alonso has handed in a transfer request, hopefully he gets his dream move to Real Madrid. Javier Mascherano also wants to leave for Barcelona but I doubt Liverpool will sell both in the same summer, even though that would be nice.

The sale of one or both of those guys will hurt Liverpool's chances of winning the league, without XA (or a really good replacement) they'll finish third imo.

[SirFozzie]

This is a post I just put up at Big Soccer, in the TV Satellite & Radio area about ESPN's impact on the US Soccer world, going forward:
ESPN - The King of the Soccer Jungle in the US?

There's a joke about the lion, the King of the Jungle, and where it sleeps (namely, anywhere it wants to.)

Right now, that royalty in the U.S. Soccer world is ESPN, and it's going to be very interesting to see where it wants to lie down.

John Skipper, executive VP for content for ESPN, is a big soccer fan, and there are signs that interest in soccer overseas has an audience here in the united states is growing (Look at the roaring success of the recent World Football Challenge, where the six games between Chelsea, Club America, AC Milan and Inter Milan drew over 330,000 fans for just six games, an average of 56,000 per game)

THere's two factors that also apply to ESPN's entry into the market. The market has developed sufficiently for the king of the jungle to take interest, with GOL TV, Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports US all attracting enough viewers to be self-sufficient, but there's no true one-and-only in there, no other King of the Jungle that ESPN would have to push out of the way.

That's not to say Fox doesn't lead, but depending how you like your footy flavored, you may want the big names and bright lights (FSC's coverage of the EPL and the Serie A), your futbol to be spicy and cosmopolitan (GOL TV's La Liga, Bundesliga, Brazillian football and regional Central/Southern American leagues), or traditionally British, (Setanta Sports US's EPL/SPL coverage).

So there's no King of this particular jungle, and the time frame is right, with the US fairly certain for qualifying for World Cup 2010, and having the run of a lifetime at the Confederations Cup. Also, the TV rights windows are there.. I'll get more into that in a moment.

Unless you want to be squashed like a pancake, there are only two ways that you can deal with a "King of the Jungle" like ESPN when they move into your neighborhood. You can work with the King, or you can work against the King.

GOL TV is taking the first choice. They have worked with ESPN, sublicensing half the La Liga games to ESPN, and if rumors are to be believed, half the Bundesliga games as well. The problems is, if the king ever wants more then you're willing to give, you're going to find it hard to say no then.

Fox Soccer Channel is taking the second choice. They know how vulnerable they are to ESPN right now. They agressively out bid ESPN for the 2010 and beyond Champions League package. But they still must hold on to the two major contracts they hold. Both the English Premier League and the Serie A contracts expire after this season. If ESPN or a combination of the other players in the market take one of these two contracts, they are hurt. If they lose both rights packages, they'll have the Champions League, MLS, and that's it. That's trouble.

Setanta US is neither fish nor fowl this year. It's obvious to one and all that if they lose the half of the English Premier League they now have in the next contract, they're done as a factor here in the US. So, the question is, does Setanta side with one or both of the two sides in the EPL Bidding War? And if so, what terms do they get? Do they side with ESPN, the $30 Billion-big dog in the US Market, or do they side with fellow traveler Fox Soccer Channel? Or do they wait and come, hat in hand, to whoever wins the EPL contract, and hopes to get whatever they can?

The picture for the next few years is cloudy. ESPN is currently storing their soccer purchases on ESPN Deportes. If they get the English Premier League, it's very likely that there will be an "ESPN Soccer" network, Whether that is ESPN Deportes, converting ESPN Classic, a completely new network, or even purchasing one of the three existing networks in the US and bringing it under the ESPN banner.

If I had to be pressed into making a guess, only knowing what's been out in the public, here's what I consider most likely.


A) ESPN outbids everyone for the EPL contract for 2010-11 to 2012-13. They will sublicense some of their games to either Fox Soccer Channel or Setanta Sports US. They create or convert an existing channel to become ESPN International.

B) FSC does keep a hold of the Serie A rights in the next contract. If they do not keep at least part of the EPL rights, they will be hurt, but the acquisition of the Champions League rights will mitigate a lot of that damage.

C) Setanta Sports US has to hope that ESPN considers them a better partner then Fox Soccer Channel. If Setanta Sports loses out on the EPL rights, they may limp along for a while, buying every international sport they can to try to hold on, but I do not think Setanta Sports US would be viable by the time the 2013-14 contract bidding starts.

D) GolTV keeps growing at a mininum rate, their partnership with ESPN keeping them safe, but have to be careful that they do not lose La Liga to ESPN when those rights expire. It's possible, but not probable,. that they look to grow even further by picking up Serie A rights (either in an agreement with FSC/ESPN, or solo), but I do not consider that particularly likely.

[whomario]

follow-up on the Ibrahimovic/Eto´o transfer : Hleb isn´t part of the deal after all since he just went to his former team Stuttgart on loan for the year which is just a huge win-win situation for both. He gets the undisputed role of midfield leader at a club where he played for 5 year allready from 2000-2005 before going to Arsenal (so while the personel has changed quite a bit since then obviously he´s still going to be familiar with off-the field stuff and the area) and Stuttgart get a potentially world class midfielder for a year.
They are also now after Progrebnjak, would fit in nicely in place of Gomez. Who is damn impressive btw, saw him for Bayern twice against Milan/ManU last 2 days in a torunament. Didn´t score, but he´s an unbelievable athlete for a guy near 6´3, extremely mobile, fast and strong. Prototypical target striker.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Read this morning a rumor that Liverpool had agreed terms with Aquilani contingent on Alonso leaving Anfield. Not a bad replacement.

[Big Fo]

Kenny Cooper has moved from FC Dallas to TSV 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga, no fee was mentioned.

MLS Official Site (http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090731&content_id=6163980&vkey=pr_fcd&fext=.jsp&team=t104)

[DaddyTorgo]

follow-up on the Ibrahimovic/Eto´o transfer : Hleb isn´t part of the deal after all since he just went to his former team Stuttgart on loan for the year which is just a huge win-win situation for both. He gets the undisputed role of midfield leader at a club where he played for 5 year allready from 2000-2005 before going to Arsenal (so while the personel has changed quite a bit since then obviously he´s still going to be familiar with off-the field stuff and the area) and Stuttgart get a potentially world class midfielder for a year.
They are also now after Progrebnjak, would fit in nicely in place of Gomez. Who is damn impressive btw, saw him for Bayern twice against Milan/ManU last 2 days in a torunament. Didn´t score, but he´s an unbelievable athlete for a guy near 6´3, extremely mobile, fast and strong. Prototypical target striker.


Proggy was a fucking beast for me on FM 2009 for a couple years. Anything within 5 yards of his head he'd score.

[SirFozzie]

RIP Sir Bobby Robson at the age of 76. I'm glad Setanta played the testimonial match for his cancer foundation last week.

[miami_fan]

This is a post I just put up at Big Soccer, in the TV Satellite & Radio area about ESPN's impact on the US Soccer world, going forward:
ESPN - The King of the Soccer Jungle in the US?

There's a joke about the lion, the King of the Jungle, and where it sleeps (namely, anywhere it wants to.)

Right now, that royalty in the U.S. Soccer world is ESPN, and it's going to be very interesting to see where it wants to lie down.

John Skipper, executive VP for content for ESPN, is a big soccer fan, and there are signs that interest in soccer overseas has an audience here in the united states is growing (Look at the roaring success of the recent World Football Challenge, where the six games between Chelsea, Club America, AC Milan and Inter Milan drew over 330,000 fans for just six games, an average of 56,000 per game)

THere's two factors that also apply to ESPN's entry into the market. The market has developed sufficiently for the king of the jungle to take interest, with GOL TV, Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports US all attracting enough viewers to be self-sufficient, but there's no true one-and-only in there, no other King of the Jungle that ESPN would have to push out of the way.

That's not to say Fox doesn't lead, but depending how you like your footy flavored, you may want the big names and bright lights (FSC's coverage of the EPL and the Serie A), your futbol to be spicy and cosmopolitan (GOL TV's La Liga, Bundesliga, Brazillian football and regional Central/Southern American leagues), or traditionally British, (Setanta Sports US's EPL/SPL coverage).

So there's no King of this particular jungle, and the time frame is right, with the US fairly certain for qualifying for World Cup 2010, and having the run of a lifetime at the Confederations Cup. Also, the TV rights windows are there.. I'll get more into that in a moment.

Unless you want to be squashed like a pancake, there are only two ways that you can deal with a "King of the Jungle" like ESPN when they move into your neighborhood. You can work with the King, or you can work against the King.

GOL TV is taking the first choice. They have worked with ESPN, sublicensing half the La Liga games to ESPN, and if rumors are to be believed, half the Bundesliga games as well. The problems is, if the king ever wants more then you're willing to give, you're going to find it hard to say no then.

Fox Soccer Channel is taking the second choice. They know how vulnerable they are to ESPN right now. They agressively out bid ESPN for the 2010 and beyond Champions League package. But they still must hold on to the two major contracts they hold. Both the English Premier League and the Serie A contracts expire after this season. If ESPN or a combination of the other players in the market take one of these two contracts, they are hurt. If they lose both rights packages, they'll have the Champions League, MLS, and that's it. That's trouble.

Setanta US is neither fish nor fowl this year. It's obvious to one and all that if they lose the half of the English Premier League they now have in the next contract, they're done as a factor here in the US. So, the question is, does Setanta side with one or both of the two sides in the EPL Bidding War? And if so, what terms do they get? Do they side with ESPN, the $30 Billion-big dog in the US Market, or do they side with fellow traveler Fox Soccer Channel? Or do they wait and come, hat in hand, to whoever wins the EPL contract, and hopes to get whatever they can?

The picture for the next few years is cloudy. ESPN is currently storing their soccer purchases on ESPN Deportes. If they get the English Premier League, it's very likely that there will be an "ESPN Soccer" network, Whether that is ESPN Deportes, converting ESPN Classic, a completely new network, or even purchasing one of the three existing networks in the US and bringing it under the ESPN banner.

If I had to be pressed into making a guess, only knowing what's been out in the public, here's what I consider most likely.


A) ESPN outbids everyone for the EPL contract for 2010-11 to 2012-13. They will sublicense some of their games to either Fox Soccer Channel or Setanta Sports US. They create or convert an existing channel to become ESPN International.

B) FSC does keep a hold of the Serie A rights in the next contract. If they do not keep at least part of the EPL rights, they will be hurt, but the acquisition of the Champions League rights will mitigate a lot of that damage.

C) Setanta Sports US has to hope that ESPN considers them a better partner then Fox Soccer Channel. If Setanta Sports loses out on the EPL rights, they may limp along for a while, buying every international sport they can to try to hold on, but I do not think Setanta Sports US would be viable by the time the 2013-14 contract bidding starts.

D) GolTV keeps growing at a mininum rate, their partnership with ESPN keeping them safe, but have to be careful that they do not lose La Liga to ESPN when those rights expire. It's possible, but not probable,. that they look to grow even further by picking up Serie A rights (either in an agreement with FSC/ESPN, or solo), but I do not consider that particularly likely.

It would be nice if one of the cable companies in my area (Knology or Comcast) carried FSC.

[SirFozzie]

Comcast doesn't carry FSC????

[terpkristin]

I don't believe Comcast carries FSC in their basic/normal package.

I <3 FiOS, never thought I'd get FSC, but I do. :)

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

comcast carries it on their 2nd tier. with hbo and the movies channels and shit

[Big Fo]

I wish Time Warner cable offered GolTV.

[Radii]

Comcast doesn't carry FSC????


The directTV package I have does not provide it either.

[Big Fo]

Just a month or two after Brazilian legend Carlos Alberto accused Manchester United of "raping Brazilian football" the club is now participating in "minor slave trading" according to Ligue 2 club Le Harve, who are upset that Man Utd have lured France U-16 captain Paul Pogba to Old Trafford.

Rape, slave trading, I hope United's scouts keep it up, I want to hear what the next accusation is.

[sovereignstar]

I accuse them of asshattery in general. ;)

[Blade6119]

As a diehard Man U fan, these allegations both hurt and amuse me ;)

Seriously though, from what I can tell the club had a verbal agreement with his parents that when he turned 18 he would sign for Le Harve...so Man U coming in and offering more money/opportunities to the parents isnt illegal in any way im aware of. While the club will certainly feel hard done(getting relegated didnt help im sure), im not sure Man U is really in the wrong in this case.

[Lathum]

Going to the FC Barcelona- Sounders game tomorrow night, really looking forward to it.

[DaddyTorgo]

Going to the FC Barcelona- Sounders game tomorrow night, really looking forward to it.

awesome

[Big Fo]

Real Madrid and Liverpool have agreed on a fee for Xabi Alonso. Great news if you root for an EPL team other than Liverpool.

guardian link (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/04/liverpool-sell-xabi-alonso-real-madrid)

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Since when did Xabi become a world class player?

[Big Fo]

He was really good last season, he would be my pick as the hardest squad member for Liverpool to replace behind Gerrard and Torres. There's a reason he was rumored to leave for £12m last summer and the fee is around £30m this summer.

Even with Aquilani, Poulsen, Defour or whoever else they're looking at I don't think they'll be as good as Alonso.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I think the fee rising reflects his good season, but also reflects the transfer market inflation.

Xabi is good, but I think he's far from irreplaceable. Based on your "replaceable" metric, I would argue that Mascherano, Carragher, or Reina could be just as/more irreplaceable than Xabi. It's a loss, for sure, but I think its weatherable.

[Icy]

Real Madrid overpayed for Xavi, but the main reason besides him being a good player is that he is Spanish, and R.Madrid staff wanted to sign an Spanish top player to make the fans happy. Villa was the first attempt, but as it failed, Xavi became even more necessary, so it forced them to overpay.

[whomario]

Real has a truly rdiculous roster right now though. Basically 22 players that could start on a champions league contender ... And that´s not even counting guys like Huntelaar they want to get rid off .

Goal : Cassillas/Dudek

defense : Pepe, Metzelder, Albiol, Garay, Ramos, Arbeloa, Torres, Marcelo (only Torres not a national team member)

Midfield : Kaka, Alonso, Guti, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Robben, L.Diarra, M. Diarra, Drenthe, Granero

attack : Benzema, Higuain, Negredo, Raul, Ronaldo, Huntelaar, Van Nistelroy


that´s 27. Even if you don´t count the relative youngsters and get rid of Huntelaar and Sneider/Van der vaart this is incredible ...

according to wikipedia they payed 10+ mio Euros for 18 of those players and 20+ for 12.

[path12]

Excited to see Barca tonight. I know we'll get killed but who cares......

[Lathum]

Excited to see Barca tonight. I know we'll get killed but who cares......

yeah, but I plan on getting a good buzz on.

[DaddyTorgo]

hehe

[Big Fo]

Well I thought Altidore had been loaned to Olympiakos some time ago, that must have just been a rumor that my brain registered as a finalized deal or something. According to his twitter page he will be joining Hull City on loan for the upcoming season. It will be easier to follow him there than in the Greek league, so that's cool. Apparently Hull have nobody else good up front so he could get a lot of playing time.

First match is against chelsea subject to a work permit *wink* *wink* lol thanks for the support and love keep it coming.

[bulletsponge]

Cmmon Altidore! if he can have a good year he can get moved to a club that cares about him.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I think Hull probably cares for him a great deal. In a vaguely related story, I saw that Fulham has named a bar near the stadium that they own "McBride's" for his performance in keeping them up.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

If anyone reading this wants to help out in the 20Q thread and finish it off, that would be great. I answered incorrectly already.

[SirFozzie]

Celtic will stay in Europe, scoring an injury time goal to win the second leg 2-0, on aggregate 2-1. It's their first away win in European play in 23 matches, and a loss here would have knocked them out of Europe entirely (starting with the next round, at least some of the losing teams go to the Europa League)

[Big Fo]

Messi looking good in preseason

[BishopMVP]

Messi looking good in preseasonParaphrased from watching 5 min last night with some people who don't watch soccer normally.

"Seattle looks terrible compared to Barcelona. Why is MLS so bad?"

"That's Barcelona my friend. Man U looked that bad against them."

[ISiddiqui]

LOL! Yeah, saying the MLS sucks so bad because Seattle is getting pwned by Barca is funny as Hell.

[Big Fo]

I think Seattle's entire team makes as much as Messi does in two or three months, roughly.

More Euro transfer news:

Papers say Aquilani to Liverpool is a done deal pending a medical, £17-20m.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar goes from Real to Milan for €15m. Milan will not sell Andrea Pirlo to Chelsea.

Hull City have an option to buy Altidore for £6m if they like what they see during his loan spell.

[DaddyTorgo]

I think Seattle's entire team makes as much as Messi does in two or three months, roughly.

More Euro transfer news:

Papers say Aquilani to Liverpool is a done deal pending a medical, £17-20m.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar goes from Real to Milan for €15m. Milan will not sell Andrea Pirlo to Chelsea.

Hull City have an option to buy Altidore for £6m if they like what they see during his loan spell.

two or three months? don't you mean 2-3 weeks?

[BishopMVP]

two or three months? don't you mean 2-3 weeks?Messi "only" makes 150,000 or so/week, I think in Euros. Barca is trying to up that because his buyout is again "only" 120m Euros and they want to increase it to 220m+ for if(when) Man City makes a run at him.

[DaddyTorgo]

Messi "only" makes 150,000 or so/week, I think in Euros. Barca is trying to up that because his buyout is again "only" 120m Euros and they want to increase it to 220m+ for if(when) Man City makes a run at him.

fair enough. i was just guessing and being funny more than anything else.

what is seattle's payroll like? it can't be that big - i know it seems like 3/4 of the Revs guys are making peanuts

[DaddyTorgo]

as of july 08 toronto's payroll (benchmark for an expansion team) was 2.8mil

that's 1.9mil euros

12.6 weeks

so yeah...3 months

[Cringer]

Celtic will stay in Europe, scoring an injury time goal to win the second leg 2-0, on aggregate 2-1. It's their first away win in European play in 23 matches, and a loss here would have knocked them out of Europe entirely (starting with the next round, at least some of the losing teams go to the Europa League)

Reading this I just kept having an image of super relegation. You lost? You are hereby banned from the Continent of Europe. Celtic, you may return to Europe if you can prove yourself with a good season in Africa. Off you go boys.

[BishopMVP]

fair enough. i was just guessing and being funny more than anything else.No worries, I just had the Messi numbers at hand because I saw the astounding news yesterday that they were trying to raise his 120m Euro buyout.

[Sublime 2]

Reading this I just kept having an image of super relegation. You lost? You are hereby banned from the Continent of Europe. Celtic, you may return to Europe if you can prove yourself with a good season in Africa. Off you go boys.

LMAO!

[SirFozzie]

Reading this I just kept having an image of super relegation. You lost? You are hereby banned from the Continent of Europe. Celtic, you may return to Europe if you can prove yourself with a good season in Africa. Off you go boys.

:P

[Ryan S]

Celtic will stay in Europe, scoring an injury time goal to win the second leg 2-0, on aggregate 2-1. It's their first away win in European play in 23 matches, and a loss here would have knocked them out of Europe entirely (starting with the next round, at least some of the losing teams go to the Europa League)

A loss would have kept them in Europe, but they would have faced a difficult game to qualify for the Europa League group stages. Now they are guaranteed to play in either the Champions League or Europa League group stage.

[Cringer]

Remind the North American-centric fan here what the Europa League replaced.....if it did replace something. Was it the EUFA Cup?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

UEFA, but yes.

[Cringer]

oops, I pselled it rwong huh?

[DaddyTorgo]

oops, I pselled it rwong huh?

It's okay - you're from Texas. Nobody expects you to be able to spell. :lol:

[SirFozzie]

ESPN Adds Premier League To Soccer Line Up | EPL Talk (http://www.epltalk.com/espn-adds-premier-league-to-soccer-line-up/9899)

ESPN has acquired the TV rights to two of the weekly Premier League slots on US television for the 2009-2010 season. Beginning on August 15, 2009, each week ESPN will feature the 7:45am ET Saturday game and the 3pm ET Monday game.

[BishopMVP]

So literally starting next weekend they'll be broadcasting in HD on ESPN or ESPN2, not just sticking soccer on Deportes or Classic? Awesome.

[SirFozzie]

Unknown if it will be in HD, but yes, they'll be broadcasting on ESPN 2.

First game, the Saturday 7:45 game, will feature Jozy Altidore and Hull City vs Chelea

[BishopMVP]

(I assume you mean vs. Chelsea) I'd be a lot more excited for that game if the US wasn't playing in Mexico City ~60 hours beforehand and/or if Jozy had actually had more than 1 full practice with his team by then. Still fantastic news. Fingers crossed for the Sky announcers or at least Andy Gray.

[Big Fo]

I wouldn't mind Derek Rae as long as he didn't bring Tommy Smith with him.

[RainMaker]

For those who know a lot about the qualifying for the World Cup. What are the odds that U.S. doesn't qualify? I know they are in 2nd in the final stage but the second leg seems to have some tough road games.

[Ryan S]

(I assume you mean vs. Chelsea)

Chelsea are based in Fulham, so he was close enough. :)

The game is on Sky Sports in the UK, and they don't have any other games on the Saturday, so there is a chance that Andy Gray will be assigned to that match.

[Ryan S]

Just in case anyone has missed it, FOFC Premier League Fantasy Football is starting again shortly - For more info follow the link.

Fantasy Premier League 2009/10 - Front Office Football Central (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=73552)

This weekend I will move the thread to general discussion to try to get a few extra players.

[Big Fo]

For those who know a lot about the qualifying for the World Cup. What are the odds that U.S. doesn't qualify? I know they are in 2nd in the final stage but the second leg seems to have some tough road games.

Even with the expected loss in Mexico next week the US will still have a great ( > 95% imo) chance of qualifying. They should win against El Salvador and Costa Rica at home and probably away to T&T as well. Even another road loss at Honduras won't keep the US out of the top three (top three get an automatic berth, fourth places gets into a playoff against the fifth best team in South America) if they win the games they should.

By my hasty calculations, two wins, two losses, and a draw in the last five will guarantee third place even in a worst-case scenario where CR, MEX, and HON win all their games against ES and TT while beating each other at home and never splitting the points.

Basically it will take a lot of choking and some bad luck for the US not to qualify from here.

[Easy Mac]

Why did one of my fox sports network tell me Houston v. Dallas was on when they were showing tha Bama-Utah Sugar Bowl?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Top 10 worst football kits for 2009-10 | The Sun |Sport|Top 10s (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/top10s/2566559/Top-10-worst-football-kits-for-2009-10.html?offset=0)

Worst kits for this upcoming season. My god, some of these are horrible. Newcastle!!!

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00859/Newcastle_away_-_an_859894a.jpg

[Coffee Warlord]

It's fitting, considering how utterly screwed up Newcastle has been.

[ISiddiqui]

:eek:

I need to support a new team.

[Big Fo]

I don't know what Man Utd were thinking when they went with the V on the new shirts. Those shirts make the sale of Ronaldo only the second worst thing to happen to the club this summer.

[ISiddiqui]

Btw, on that Top 10 link, I don't see what's so bad about Everton's colors. Wow, so it's pink and black. So what? It actually looks pretty decent.

[-apoc-]

I agree the Everton kit looks decent enough to me. Honestly I think the Celtic away one was the worst.

[sovereignstar]

In other news, all of Man City's new kits kick serious ass.

http://www.epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/manchester-city-new-kits.jpg

[Big Fo]

I don't like the third one. The stripe would look bad even if it weren't pink and black.

[AlexB]

Is anybody else playing the Premier Fansy League? Is there a FOFC league?

Fantasy Premier League - a Fantasy Football Game for the Barclays Premier League (http://fantasy.premierleague.com)

[sovereignstar]

I don't like the third one. The stripe would look bad even if it weren't pink and black.

It's red.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7985/n6c0sm.jpg

[ISiddiqui]

Not entirely sure why those Man Citeh kits are all kicking serious ass, but whatev :D.

[ISiddiqui]

Why my club are a bunch of fucking idiots - this is the third kit:

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/84/39/0,,10278~6830468,00.jpg

WTF CAN'T THAT BE OUR ROAD KIT INSTEAD OF BUMBLEBEE YELLOW?!! :mad:

[sovereignstar]

Not entirely sure why those Man Citeh kits are all kicking serious ass, but whatev :D.

Wait til you see them on the field. That crappy quality picture does them no justice. They look remarkable up close IMO...

[Neuqua]

Yeah, the third kit is looking good. Don't know what was being thought with the yellow though.

[AlexB]

Not entirely sure why those Man Citeh kits are all kicking serious ass, but whatev :D.

The third kit has the look/feel of the two greatest kits of all time - Crystal Palace in the 70's and Peru

PS - I notice Palace have gone back to the classic this year: if it wasn't for them having Colin as their manager, I could have found some love...

[Coffee Warlord]

Kit 3 is freakin' awesome. Maybe they'll wear bumblebee yellow once and never break it out again. Maybe.

[whomario]

German Bundesliga started today as the first major league with 1 game, allways (since 2001) the defending champion and another major team opening on Friday.
Wolfsburg with a comfortable win to start their road to defend the title, 2:0 over Stuttgart. Good game by both teams, at the end the stars on Wolfsburg delivered the final punches with last seasons Top scorer Grafite and the best passing midfielder in germany Misimovic scoring.

Those 2 and Dzeko were ridicoulous last year shattering records. Grafite scored 28 goals in 25 games played, Dzeko scored 26 (21 in 16 games after the winter break ...) and Misimovic had 22 direct assists and 7 goals himself.

Grafite is the chap that scored this nice little goal which might have been the best of the year i´ve seen :

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FvXNC_gyA5U&hl=de&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FvXNC_gyA5U&hl=de&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

The crazy thing is all 3 were newcomers in a way. Grafite played in Le Mans before going to Wolfsburg in 2007, Dzeko came for 2,5 mio from slovenia and Misimovic played for relegation candidates Bochum and Nürnberg (who actually were relegated in 2008) before going to Wolfsburg last summer.

Talk about a match made in heaven between those 3. Now also added Obafemi Martins, who didn´t yet play today. Watch out for them in the champions league, they are really fun to watch.

[Ryan S]

Is anybody else playing the Premier Fansy League? Is there a FOFC league?


Yes.

Fantasy Premier League 2009/10 - Front Office Football Central (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=73552)

I have moved the thread to general discussion for the next week or so to try to drum up more interest.

[cartman]

Why my club are a bunch of fucking idiots - this is the third kit:

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/84/39/0,,10278%7E6830468,00.jpg

WTF CAN'T THAT BE OUR ROAD KIT INSTEAD OF BUMBLEBEE YELLOW?!! :mad:

I wonder what happens if they have to play Inter Milan at San Siro in an European competition... :D

[Easy Mac]

Watching Toronto-Real Madrid. Very tough to tell which team spent $300 on players this summer.

[AlexB]

I think it's the team that's 3-0 up after 25 minutes???? ;)

[AlexB]

Where is the accent from of the co-commentator on the NE/LA game on ESPN?

[MIJB#19]

The third kit has the look/feel of the two greatest kits of all time - Crystal Palace in the 70's and Peru

PS - I notice Palace have gone back to the classic this year: if it wasn't for them having Colin as their manager, I could have found some love...Sure, it's kinda Peruvian, but did they really have to pick Manchester United's colors (red and black) for it?

[Icy]

Tragedy yesterday in Spain. Daniel Jarque, defenseman and 1st captain of RCD Español (Spanish 1st division), died from a heart attack at 26 years old. He was the image of the team, as he joined the club's youth team when he was 12 years old and played in the different categories during his whole 14 years soccer career.

He was talking by phone with his wife, who is 8 months pregnant, then he stopped talking. The worried wife phoned other team mates, that were also worried of not seeing him in the evening meal. They went into Jarque's room to found him dead there.

He is the second young player that dies in Spain in the last 2 years from a heart attack, and everybody is asking how could it be possible with the medical checks they are supposed to pass.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/08/08/football.espanyol.captain.death.jarque/index.html?eref=edition

[sovereignstar]

Sure, it's kinda Peruvian, but did they really have to pick Manchester United's colors (red and black) for it?

They've used that red and black stripe before. Primarily in the 70's. Won the League Cup in 76 with it.

Edit: And I found this via wikipedia

According to Peter Stoker, Allison was also responsible for Manchester City's red and black shirts; during his stint as assistant manager he decided the colours would turn them into AC Milan. "It certainly worked for a while," Peter says. "City lifted the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winner's Cup in two seasons while wearing it."

[Big Fo]

Nani such a pimp

Who needs Ronaldo

[Big Fo]

Chelsea take a 2-1 lead after a terrible non-call on Evra leads to a Chelsea counter. At least this one doesn't count for anything.

[sovereignstar]

Is ManU always this terrible in penalties?

[Big Fo]

Chelsea celebrating like they actually won something important :D

Man Utd make penalties when they matter like in the 2008 CL Final (although they did lose to Everton in the FA Cup last year on pens). Maybe today's win erases John Terry's pain from that day.

Nice goal by Rooney in injury time to make it 2-2.

[sovereignstar]

Chelsea celebrating like they actually won something important :D

Yeah, what a bunch of idiots...


YouTube - Manchester United 2008 Community Shield Champions-celebration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKT-IxVkBlM)


edit: wtf is up with embedded youtube vids.. can't get to work

[AlexB]

Chelsea take a 2-1 lead after a terrible non-call on Evra leads to a Chelsea counter. At least this one doesn't count for anything.

Much as I hate Chelsea, there was no problem with the call: the ref played advantage as Rooney had the ball, and there was bugger all wrong with Evra, who is one of the worst divers & feigners of injury in the league.

Serves him right, and losing goals like that will be the only way players will learn not to pretend they are hurt to try and get others booked/the game stopped.

Having said that, Ballack probably did deserve a yellow card for his challenge when the play stopped.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah, what a bunch of idiots...


YouTube - Manchester United 2008 Community Shield Champions-celebration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKT-IxVkBlM)


edit: wtf is up with embedded youtube vids.. can't get to work

idk - i have that problem too with some vids sometimes

[DaddyTorgo]

Tragedy yesterday in Spain. Daniel Jarque, defenseman and 1st captain of RCD Español (Spanish 1st division), died from a heart attack at 26 years old. He was the image of the team, as he joined the club's youth team when he was 12 years old and played in the different categories during his whole 14 years soccer career.

He was talking by phone with his wife, who is 8 months pregnant, then he stopped talking. The worried wife phoned other team mates, that were also worried of not seeing him in the evening meal. They went into Jarque's room to found him dead there.

He is the second young player that dies in Spain in the last 2 years from a heart attack, and everybody is asking how could it be possible with the medical checks they are supposed to pass.

Football: Espanyol captain Jarque dies - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/08/08/football.espanyol.captain.death.jarque/index.html?eref=edition)

god :(

[Big Fo]

Much as I hate Chelsea, there was no problem with the call: the ref played advantage as Rooney had the ball, and there was bugger all wrong with Evra, who is one of the worst divers & feigners of injury in the league.

Serves him right, and losing goals like that will be the only way players will learn not to pretend they are hurt to try and get others booked/the game stopped.

Having said that, Ballack probably did deserve a yellow card for his challenge when the play stopped.

Well Ballack himself said Chelsea may have been fortunate on the non-call.

“I have to be happy the referee didn’t blow. Maybe I blocked him a little bit,” Ballack said.

“If he would have given the foul then OK - but he didn’t. They were unlucky they conceded straight away.

“I kept on playing but when I didn’t have the ball I couldn’t see how injured he was. It is our choice to continue playing so that is it.”

There's probably 100 players in the league that dive more than Evra. He's far from one of the worst in a league that has guys like Drogba and Gerrard (who gets called on it less because the commentators are reluctant to admit it's not just the foreigners who dive).

[AlexB]

Well Ballack himself said Chelsea may have been fortunate on the non-call.

“I have to be happy the referee didn’t blow. Maybe I blocked him a little bit,” Ballack said.

“If he would have given the foul then OK - but he didn’t. They were unlucky they conceded straight away.

“I kept on playing but when I didn’t have the ball I couldn’t see how injured he was. It is our choice to continue playing so that is it.”

There's probably 100 players in the league that dive more than Evra. He's far from one of the worst in a league that has guys like Drogba and Gerrard (who gets called on it less because the commentators are reluctant to admit it's not just the foreigners who dive).

So you're saying there's five players per team who diver more than Evra :rolleyes:

I give you Drogba is worse, but he's worse than everyone! And I agree Gerrard is poor for diving as well (although he doesn't do the rolling around pretending to be injured part).

But on the Man U team now Ronaldo has gone there's only Nani & Anderson who are even remotely close to Evra's antics, and I'm being harsh on Anderson.

I'd Evra isn't quite in the top 10, but nor far off.

And the point was not that it wasn't a foul (it clearly was) but that the ref saw it and played advantage as Rooney had the ball in space, which was perfectly fine. Would have been fine too if he'd have stopped play, but either decision was OK by the rules.

[Big Fo]

All the blogs say Adu is close to joining Danish club Odense on loan. He would be joining up with former Manchester United great Eric Djemba-Djemba. At least it's playing time (hopefully)?

[tyketime]

Can someone tell me what channel the US v Mexico World Cup Qualifier is being carried here in the States tomorrow afternoon. I have ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel, & Setanta and my listings don't show the game being carried live. Can that be right? :confused:

[dacman]

Can someone tell me what channel the US v Mexico World Cup Qualifier is being carried here in the States tomorrow afternoon. I have ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel, & Setanta and my listings don't show the game being carried live. Can that be right? :confused:


Analysis: Telemundo, its mun2 outlet, will broadcast U.S.-Mexico match. (http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2009/men/aug11)

[SirFozzie]

Don't blame anybody for this.. Telemundo, the folks who have the rights to the game, wanted an Arm, a leg, a spleen, and a couple of ESPN's testes to give ESPN the rights

[tyketime]

Analysis: Telemundo, its mun2 outlet, will broadcast U.S.-Mexico match. (http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2009/men/aug11)

Hmmm, it says I need to hit my SAP button to switch to English. Gee, I don't even think my Tivo can automatically do that for me. I may have to resort to audio only, or pull out my notes from Spanish 101 :devil:

[BishopMVP]

Hmmm, it says I need to hit my SAP button to switch to English. Gee, I don't even think my Tivo can automatically do that for me. I may have to resort to audio only, or pull out my notes from Spanish 101 :devil:You should be able to DVR mun2 - it's being offered free for the day to all TB providers in the US. But check early in the day before you go to work to make sure it's working - I've got both Telemundo and mun2 being DVR'd just in case.

[Big Fo]

Anyone else's cable box guide say that Univision is showing "El Gordo y la Flaca" and "Primer Impacto" instead of the game today? Hopefully it's some kind of error.

edit: nevermind - found it on Telefutura, 4pm.

I don't have a good feeling about this one today.

edit 2: Time Warner cable has mun2 for the day but I can't find the damn thing

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I don't have a good feeling about this one today.


Is there any reason why US fans should have a good feeling? I mean, Mexico @ Azteca is penciled in as a loss for me, doesn't matter the other circumstances.

[BishopMVP]

Comcast here it's in the 700's near other foreign channels. Took me a while. I hit guide and scrolled through everything looking for sports at 4pm until I found it.

[Big Fo]

Is there any reason why US fans should have a good feeling? I mean, Mexico @ Azteca is penciled in as a loss for me, doesn't matter the other circumstances.

I mean that they might not just lose, but lose badly.

Time Warner aren't offering mun2 in my area, the person on the phone said it's a regional thing :mad:

Watching it in Spanish on TV still beats a stream from the Internet at least.

[Cringer]

Waiting to hear who makes the starting 11 and the bench. Hopefully Casey is the odd man out with the forwards. Something tells me Stu Holden won't make it either, he got his token training sessions in and maybe he gets a chance with the next qualifiers. Marshall is the other newb, but he plays DC so I see him getting the nod over Holden. Unless Torres gets called up for this and then doesn't even suit up. If that's the case I go back to wondering what the hell Bradley is doing (even though I love Holden since he is a Dynamo).

[Easy Mac]

Supposedly Telemundo has agreed to stream it live on terra.com
Terra - En vivo - Noticias, fotos, videos (http://envivo.terra.com/deportes/live/259-eu/)

[Cringer]

@ussoccer, the USMNT twitter account has been posting all day. The bus ride to the stadium must have been interesting, rock thrown at the bus and lines of people holding up 5-0 signs. Nice time to get our first win there, can't wait for the game.

[Cringer]

Rumor has Casey and Marshall not in uniform, which would make me wromg and Holden is in the 18.

[Cringer]

Starting lineups:

USMNT - 1-Howard; 6-Cherundolo, 5-Onyewu, 15-DeMerit, 3-Bocanegra (capt.); 8-Dempsey , 13-Clark, 12-Bradley, 10-Donovan; 9-Davies, 11-Ching

Mexico - 1-Ochoa, 2-Magallon, 3-Salcido, 5-Osorio, 6-Torrado, 8-I.Castro, 9-Franco, 10-Blanco, 16-Juarez, 18-Guardado, 17-Dos Santos

[DaddyTorgo]

i'm avoiding this thread like the plague till after i get home and can watch the game

[Anguscl]

Supposedly Telemundo has agreed to stream it live on terra.com
Terra - En vivo - Noticias, fotos, videos (http://envivo.terra.com/deportes/live/259-eu/)

Currently watching the England - Holland match, but the US - Mexico game is also being shown through Channel Surfing: Watch Online tv sports news and entertainment for free at channelsurfing (http://www.channelsurfing.net/)