Soccer Thread 2015-16

[SirFozzie]

1000 posts.

And probably that many arguments about Wenger.

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[cartman]

Epic match in the Coppa Italia semi-final in Milan between Juventus and Inter. Juventus won the first leg at home 3-0, and beat them again on Sunday in a Serie A fixture 2-0. Inter scored one in the first half, then got two in the second half with the tying goal on a penalty. Juventus had several great chances in extra time, but the game went to penalties. Juventus won by making all five. Palacio hit one off of the cross bar and down for Inter, but there was no goal line tech to see if there was a goal.

[sovereignstar v2]

What a fricking strange Premier League season. City have been absolutely dire in the league. Pellegrini only has a job because Pep was always going to be coming in next year and now we are paying for it.

We've taken 3 points out of 33 against the Top 8. 3!! This is easily the strongest squad in the league and how Pellegrini has managed such a dismal record is almost amazing. I am going to cry if we start the Pep era playing on Thursdays.

[Butter]

MLS performance in the CONCACAF Champions League is so embarrassing.

[kingfc22]

MLS performance in the CONCACAF Champions League is so embarrassing.

Having the quarter final games played during the MLS preseason doesn't help matters either.

[miami_fan]

Arsenal gets a goal totally against the run of play.

[miami_fan]

Coquelin owes Wenger two weeks wages for that red card.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The Kane goal was just ridiculous.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wow. What a game.

[miami_fan]

Arsenal fans have a legit complaint on that one. It should be 10 vs 10 based on the way this game has been called.

[Toddzilla]

Goodness, I'm spent.

[Sublime 2]

Fun game!

[Critch]

Sucks that the Dortmund v Bayern Munich game isnt on proper tv. The Fox Soccer 2 Go app is unreliable at best.

[SirFozzie]

It's on FX

[Critch]

Good, wasnt listed yesterday. That's the real big game of the day. (Other than Rangers v Dundee in the Scottish Cup, obviously)

[SirFozzie]

Ah, Chelski. Never change. Please.

[kingfc22]

Coquelin owes Wenger two weeks wages for that red card.

Coquelin needs to be way smarter, but so does Wegner. You have a 1 goal lead in the road and you have an over aggressive midfielder on a yellow, who is known for getting carded and you leave him out there knowing Spurs is going to be pressuring most of the 2nd half looking for an equalizer.

[ISiddiqui]

WTF Newcastle. I am remembering my post from the beginning of this season where I was weighing leaving my rooting interest due to horrible mismanagement. I remember the last time they were relegated and it killed my interest in European football for 3-4 years (I was checked out when Newcastle came back to the league and then finished 5th!!).

Though I do remember at the time thinking about throwing my favor to West Ham and while I didn't do so, I'm glad they are doing so well. So maybe for the rest of the season I'll root for West Ham to finish in the Top 4 and... I don't even know what to do with Newcastle... root for them to get relegated because Ashley may be canned? Root for them to stay up because for all the shit, they are still my team? Ugh...

[whomario]

Sucks that the Dortmund v Bayern Munich game isnt on proper tv. The Fox Soccer 2 Go app is unreliable at best.

Hope you got to see it in decent quality still ? Was actually at the game and it was likely the best 0:0 i have ever seen. It was basically the litmus test of the sport. The tactical wrinkles (like Hummels essentially doing the soccer equivalent of forechecking, Bender dropping back as a sweeper) and the responses (Bayern overloading the right side with Müller and Robben) by both teams were stellar, the pace and technical approach under extreme pressure as well.

Hummels was amazing to watch in person, in another era he´d definitely be a Beckenbauer-like figure. Has his blunders, but his combination of tackling, strategic thinking and passing/technical ability is soooo unique.

Mkhitaryan is a Top10 attacking midfielder, period.

Save of the year by Bürki :eek:

Best player for Bayern easily Vidal, perfect box-to-box midfielder. Old man Alonso is a sight to see as well, never seems to move faster than walking speed but is always in the right spot ;)

[kingfc22]

What happened to Palace? They are in a free fall.

[MrBug708]

Injuries and not spending money

[Young Drachma]

I've watched so much soccer this year. A few years ago, I never watched it much at all except World Cup. But in the past year, I've watched a healthy dose of MLS (so long as Timbers are playing, usually...) and followed my LigaMX team's playoff run and pretty much watch every Swansea City game weekly when I remember and I'm home.

What's tripping me out is how I'll watch BPL games that are other teams where I have no rooting interest.

The whole thing is still foreign in the sense that I don't have a strong sense of the players and tendencies and I know way more about hockey than I do soccer, but..it's still pretty cool to finally 'start' to get what people like about it.

I think my biggest thing from a spectator sport perspective is the lack of commercials. I think that's the equalizer that even though games can be slow sometimes, it's at least a free flowing game without a million timeouts. I really like that.

[law90026]

Injuries and not spending money

Plus Pardew is a twat and karma is a bitch.

[MrBug708]

I think the stech of Newcastle might have followed him and he certainly deserved better than those fans

[miami_fan]

That was awesome, Timber fans. Well Done!

[MizzouCowboy]

Portland - Columbus was entertaining and what a finish for Orlando City! Too bad I quit watching about 3 minutes to early.

I really think I'm getting Direct Kick this year. Haven't pulled the trigger but it looks like a bargain price, at least compared to Sunday Ticket.

[sovereignstar v2]

Plus Pardew is a twat and karma is a bitch.

http://i.imgur.com/GjBPJSO.gif

[ISiddiqui]

Portland - Columbus was entertaining

That Higuain bicycle kick goal was quite fantastic, and on opening day as well.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

We got to see the new red card rules in action in the Sporting KC-Seattle match. Certainly didn't hurt KC's chances. Really weird goal wins it for KC. It was like the Seattle goalie fell asleep because the shot came from so far away. Three big points on the road to start the season and all the better without four starters.

[whomario]

https://cdn.streamable.com/video/mp4-mobile/nxba.mp4

play beautiful :)

with the way Spurs value the Europa League, i kinda hope they finish 4th one of the coming seasons and the Serie A overtakes the BPL in the rankings to snag that spot. Was looking forward to watching that game and while the win was nice, i do feel kinda let down. At least i didn´t fly to another country as a Tottenham fan ;) If they played City next weekend and were playing in Russia, ok. But ahead of the Aston Villa match and a 2 hour trip to Germany ? I´d be mad as hell as a Spurs fan about that.

Nice, professional job by Dortmund. Have little doubt they´d have beaten Tottenham anyway. But hey, i am sure no one minded playing the rotation players instead.

There was an iffy moment that could have been a penalty for Tottenham (though it was also a dive by Son), but on the other end Dortmund could have also scored 5 or 6 rather than 3.

[miami_fan]

McClaren out, Rafa Benitez in at St James's Park.

Rafa has worked for some interesting owners/chairmen/presidents in his last few stops.

[ISiddiqui]

It's about freaking time! I mean, really. Though very little room for error.

[Coffee Warlord]

We'll see how long this one lasts.

But really, the time to dump McClaren was many, many, many weeks ago.

[Critch]

Started the season at Real Madrid, ended it at Newcastle United. Thats what you call a fall from grace.

[bhlloy]

Possibly the two most unrealistic fan bases in world football though. So at least that will be familiar

[miami_fan]

McClaren out, Rafa Benitez in at St James's Park.

Rafa has worked for some interesting owners/chairmen/presidents in his last few stops.

Liverpool- Hicks and Gillett
Inter Milan- Massimo Moratti
Chelsea- Roman Abramovich
Napoli- Aurelio De Laurentiis
Real Madrid- Florentino Perez
Newcastle- Mike Ashley

[kingfc22]

Scumbag Costa up to his usual tricks today.

[Young Drachma]

Swansea Bournemouth. Another day, same ol' story for Swans. No way they could get a third straight positive result.

I think they'll be okay, but I am not super jazzed about being a fan of a team in the championship next year and yet...I won't swap teams if it happens.

[Easy Mac]

That was a spectacular strike for Watford

[kingfc22]

What a surprise. Play with some pace and some urgency after 88 minutes and nearly tie it. Play to keep possession for 88 minutes and lose yet another home game.

[sovereignstar v2]

Job done. Now it's inevitable that we draw Bayern on Friday.

[whomario]

What a game between Bayern and Juventus ! Juve with a gutsy performance, a few nice tactical wrinkles and 2 first half goals to go up 2:0 in Munich (first leg was 2:2), Bayern then fighting their way back in with Müller scoring the 91st minute to go to Overtime where the substitutes Thiago and Coman score. Coman is on loan from Juventus, too (with a reasonable option to buy) in what is maybe the single strangest loan i have seen at high level. Basically Juve gave Bayern the chance to hold a 2-year tryout for an insanely talented player and give them option to buy him afterwards ... And now he puts the knive into their CL season (also assisted the Müller goal).

Bayern with 75% posession in the game (Juve was closer on shots, only 26/16 for Bayern)

[whomario]

Dortmund vs Liverpool, yes :) Klopp is coming home

[The Jackal]

That Bayern victory also guaranteed the Prem keeping their 4th champions spot

[kingfc22]

Vardy and Mahrez at it again. What a story.

[MrBug708]

Palace really getting burned by not doing much to improve the squad in the January window. Total free fall mode

[MIJB#19]

That Bayern victory also guaranteed the Prem keeping their 4th champions spotAre you sure about that? It doesn't look like Juventus could have even come close to scoring enough points in the remainder of the season to see Italy catch England.

[AlexB]

Vardy and Mahrez at it again. What a story.

I'm now beginning to believe it might happen. I'm 100% confident we'll be top 4 now, 13 points ahead of 5th if Man Utd and West Ham win their games in hand, so we'll get a Champions League Q spot at least... Which is in itself surreal.

Did not expect it to carry on as long as this, but now beginning to enjoy it. If we get to the point where top 3 is pretty much guaranteed, it'll be like a free roll, CL group stages then guaranteed!

[miami_fan]

Yes, I was genuinely shocked that they actually kept out Mitrović out of the end of that match.

[The Jackal]

Are you sure about that? It doesn't look like Juventus could have even come close to scoring enough points in the remainder of the season to see Italy catch England.

I read it somewhere, but I think combined progress from Juventus in the Champ and Lazio in the Europa could have done it if English clubs also failed to win

[SirFozzie]

Interesting. Pellegrini walks out on the post match interview.

Crazy stat: Since Feb 1 (when Guardiola was announced), Leicester City have 19 points. Man City... has 7.

[flere-imsaho]

It's one thing to announce a new manager when the current one was retiring anyway. It's another thing entirely to do what Man City have done. Even though everyone knew it was coming, clearly it was going to have an impact.

In other news, the Guardian is reporting that Man Utd have signed some sort of pre-contract with Mourinho, which guarantees him some sort of money if they don't sign him full-time in the summer.

[sovereignstar v2]

Hindsight is clearly 20/20. The fact is this ship has been sinking for awhile. The man who is key behind getting pep hasn't done much else. I like de bruyne but there hasn't been much else added to this squad since the first championship. And pellegrini is a fraud that doesn't know how to make adjustments whatsoever.

[sovereignstar v2]

And sirfozzie, there are some way more interesting stats about city.. Like they've lost more at home this season than the previous four seasons combined. Or that Stoke has more points than us since mid September. Or they are 0-3-6 against the top six. Haven't won back to back EPL matches since October. I could keep going on and on and on.

[Young Drachma]

Happy Swans managed three points this weekend. Timbers managed to tie RSL too. Not a bad week for me.

[flere-imsaho]

Hindsight is clearly 20/20. The fact is this ship has been sinking for awhile. The man who is key behind getting pep hasn't done much else. I like de bruyne but there hasn't been much else added to this squad since the first championship.

It is interesting how an organization with a stated goal of having two "world-class" players per position isn't anywhere near that goal, currently. Clearly Guardiola will help with this in that players will want to come work with him, but there's a lot of rebuilding to do.

[MIJB#19]

In other news, the Guardian is reporting that Man Utd have signed some sort of pre-contract with Mourinho, which guarantees him some sort of money if they don't sign him full-time in the summer.Mourinho at Manchester United, that sounds like such a weird mismatch.
Combined with the turnover on the blue side, it would have made a lot more sense had Guardiola gone to the United side of Manchester and Mourinho been linked with City.

[Ryche]

Happy Swans managed three points this weekend. Timbers managed to tie RSL too. Not a bad week for me.

Finally breathing easily for Swansea, going to be a tumultuous offseason though. Hoping they're able to bring Rodgers back.

[AlexB]

Should be a very interesting league next year with Mourinho, Guardiola, Klopp, Conte, and maybe Rafa and Wenger all in the same league, plus young up and coming managers like Pocchetino, Bilic, Koeman and then the wildcard that is Ranieri (only included because he's beating them all this year).

Best collection of managers ever in one league?

[sovereignstar v2]

It's been an interesting EPL season for sure and next year will be good too. I hope Leicester win the title and if city can't make the top 4 then I hope West Ham makes it. Not entirely sure it'd be great for the English coefficient if they ended up not having success in the UCL, but fresh competition is good. I do wonder how Leicester would fare next season with the number of matches. They have had quite a number of breaks with injuries and have been able to field consistent teams. It'll also be interesting to see if their success and the gobs of TV money allow them to keep their players. You know players like kante and mayrhez are going to be in high demand.

City in Europa would feel like much less of a disappointment if the recent club briefings of pep possibly staying 5-6 years are true.

[AlexB]

Would be aganst his MO if he stayed that long, but you never know

[sovereignstar v2]

True, but it's kind of a small sample sized MO, and I think the conditions at the club will be vastly different than they are at Barca and Bayern.

[MIJB#19]

I read it somewhere, but I think combined progress from Juventus in the Champ and Lazio in the Europa could have done it if English clubs also failed to winAh, yes. That makes a lot more sense, if that theory also required Lazio to move on in the Europe League.

[whomario]

US looking to lock up Pulisic next week (could also play for Croatia).

[ISiddiqui]

Rest in Peace Johan Cruyff. One of the greatest and most innovative soccer players ever.

[MIJB#19]

Cruijff was possibly the biggest personality of the Netherlands of the past 50 years, not just a successful soccer player and coach, but also gave a lot to the society. They say that more often about sports personalities, but it's definitely true in his case, he's leaving behind a legacy.

[Easy Mac]

Jesus Fucking Christ US, 6 minutes in?

[miami_fan]

Glad to see all this work with the back line is paying off.

[Easy Mac]

Fire Klinnsmann during the game please

[kingfc22]

Seriously. Can we end this miserable experiment.

[cthomer5000]

I've been beating my Klinsmann is a fraud drum for too long now. It's so clear he needs to go. It's a fucking disgrace.

[ISiddiqui]

Is it possible to fire Klinsmann in the middle of the game? Like get a hook at halftime?

Oh, I see I've been beaten on this... (though not as bad as our defense)

[BishopMVP]

Honest question, at what point does Sunil Gulati start getting questioned? Is he actually even good at his job, or is the USSF pretty corrupt (well, by American standards, so still a beacon of virtue in the international FIFA ranks) ? Next election's only a year away...

[ISiddiqui]

What the fuck formation is this right now?!

[kingfc22]

Do our guys know to kick the ball around the keeper and not DIRECTLY at him?

[rowech]

This is beyond words bad. He has to go after this. There seems to be no actual plan at all.

[ISiddiqui]

The most charitable thing that can be said about Klinsmann is that the players have completely given up on him.

[rowech]

Definitely seems to be a complete lack of caring at all.

[Young Drachma]

Honest question, at what point does Sunil Gulati start getting questioned? Is he actually even good at his job, or is the USSF pretty corrupt (well, by American standards, so still a beacon of virtue in the international FIFA ranks) ? Next election's only a year away...

He's been questioned forever, it's just USSF is a clown show of idiots holding the sport back in this country.

[BishopMVP]

He's been questioned forever, it's just USSF is a clown show of idiots holding the sport back in this country.Yeah, so when do like the American Outlaws realize vaguely hoping for Klinsmann to be replaced isn't the answer and start focusing energy on cleaning up the top of USSF? Look at the press FIFA corruption gets - wouldn't be too hard to find a little dirt to blow out of proportion with that in casual sports fans minds. Once you get enough light shined on USSF people will realize how incestuous it is and there will start being pressure to overhaul the whole system.

You always hire the competent GM/AD first, then trust him to find the good coach. Firing the coach is useless if the GM/AD still sucks.

[MrBug708]

This whole thing is eerily similar to the UCLA AD. Alford is merely the symptom of an ineffectual athletic department

[cthomer5000]

Honest question, at what point does Sunil Gulati start getting questioned? Is he actually even good at his job, or is the USSF pretty corrupt (well, by American standards, so still a beacon of virtue in the international FIFA ranks) ? Next election's only a year away...

The heat won't be turned up on anyone until we are officially eliminated from World Cup qualification. This is sad but true.

If we lose on Tuesday, we will not be mathematically eliminated - but we will be done. It would take a miracle at that point.

[ISiddiqui]

Sunil isn't much better (though the one thing is that USSF is clean, esp compared to other FAs), but Klinsmann was basically given complete control - he's technical director of US Soccer as well as Manager of the USMNT. Yes, that is also on Gulati, but getting rid of Klinsmann would likely be a very big change... At the very least, the new manager would likely use some of our best players more (Feilhaber, Kitchen, etc).

In other bad news yesterday, Tchani played for Cameroon and is now cap tied to them. And there was such hope when Tchani was brought into January USMNT camp.

[miami_fan]

Somebody might have to have a conversation with Wayne Rooney with the way this friendly is going.

[kingfc22]

What a comeback.

[sovereignstar v2]

Somebody might have to have a conversation with Wayne Rooney with the way this friendly is going.

Nope he'll start. Just because.

[cthomer5000]

In other bad news yesterday, Tchani played for Cameroon and is now cap tied to them. And there was such hope when Tchani was brought into January USMNT camp.

Yeah, but I think it might possibly be the right decision for him. It's hard to know. He's been pretty erratic. He was hot shit as a rookie for the Red Bulls, then struggled for a few years, then broke out with Columbus, then was sort of not as good the following year.

It could be risky to debut for the US and then amass like... 5 career caps. It's rough when that sort of stuff happens to guys.

[Marc Vaughan]

Best England performance I've seen in a long time, nice creative attacking style and while we conceeded a little easily if thats the cost of creativity I'll take that any day ..

(German defense wasn't at full strength but were still competent enough and England vs Germany is never a 'true' friendly fixture ..)

[BishopMVP]

I still want JK fired, but after seeing the highlights it's hard to blame coaching for the loss when Bradley botches that header for Guatemala's 2nd goal and both Dempsey and Bedoya miss 2 silver platters each. Hard to win when the best three players aren't making plays.

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[rowech]

I still want JK fired, but after seeing the highlights it's hard to blame coaching for the loss when Bradley botches that header for Guatemala's 2nd goal and both Dempsey and Bedoya miss 2 silver platters each. Hard to win when the best three players aren't making plays.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GceEXmmKx8Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

While I agree with it being on the players somewhat, the rest of the game showed no flow to the team and that's what disturbed me the most.

[flere-imsaho]

Best England performance I've seen in a long time, nice creative attacking style and while we conceeded a little easily if thats the cost of creativity I'll take that any day ..

You can't win anything with kids, Marc. ;)

[Sublime 2]

Best England performance I've seen in a long time, nice creative attacking style and while we conceeded a little easily if thats the cost of creativity I'll take that any day ..

(German defense wasn't at full strength but were still competent enough and England vs Germany is never a 'true' friendly fixture ..)

As a Spurs supporter, fun to see Kane, Dier, Alli, and Rose all starting (and scoring!).

[Ryche]

Deal done for former Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers to return to Swansea City - reports - Wales Online (http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/deal-done-former-liverpool-fc-11100199)

Getting Rodgers back should be a great boost for Swansea

[ISiddiqui]

While I agree with it being on the players somewhat, the rest of the game showed no flow to the team and that's what disturbed me the most.

Yep. I mean the US has so much more talent than Guatemala that you'll have some good chances simply due to the skill of our players, but it was like a pick up game - no flow to the team, just trying to jam it up there and try to have a player make a great play for goal.

[BishopMVP]

While I agree with it being on the players somewhat, the rest of the game showed no flow to the team and that's what disturbed me the most.Why would that part disturb you? That's been happening every game for 3 years. No shit there's no flow when the lineup is changed every game and half the team is playing in unfamiliar positions.

Overall, I do agree with you. And can't stress how much I want JK and Sunil gone... but we're completely giving a pass to the players. Our "best" player went up for a header off a goal kick and whiffed, leading directly to a goal. Our 2nd and 3rd "best" players had 1v1 chances with the keeper and went floppy foot instead of trying to chip/round/read him.

[flere-imsaho]

Pretty sure any of these teams could beat the USMNT right now: You Will Never Be As Good At Anything As Barcelona's 12-Year-Olds Are At Soccer (http://screamer.deadspin.com/you-will-never-be-as-good-at-anything-as-barcelonas-12-1767387083)

Also, regarding the first clip, someone should just sign the Real Madrid keeper right now. Jesus.

[ISiddiqui]

Overall, I do agree with you. And can't stress how much I want JK and Sunil gone... but we're completely giving a pass to the players. Our "best" player went up for a header off a goal kick and whiffed, leading directly to a goal. Our 2nd and 3rd "best" players had 1v1 chances with the keeper and went floppy foot instead of trying to chip/round/read him.

The problem with a lack of flow is that players when in positions to make plays rush them. They feel more pressure because they don't have any confidence they'll be there again... I mean, yes, that's self-defeating, but still the nerves and emotions always come to play.

Also, I'm not sure why people are blaming Bradley for that 2nd goal. Yes, he missed the header... but that is no excuse for our central defenders letting the Guatamala forward race untouched onto that ball. What were they doing?

[flere-imsaho]

Remember earlier in the thread when I defended Klinnsmann? I'm officially off that bandwagon now.

[whomario]

Best England performance I've seen in a long time, nice creative attacking style and while we conceeded a little easily if thats the cost of creativity I'll take that any day ..

(German defense wasn't at full strength but were still competent enough and England vs Germany is never a 'true' friendly fixture ..)

Might come off wrong, but the german team basically stopped caring after the 2:0. I am pissed about it, but it was clearly the typical attitude this team has shown in friendlies for a few years now. Löw bringing on Schürrle and Podolski didn´t help matters, both are not exactly strategic thinkers, to put it mildly.
The first 60 minutes were pretty non-descript by England. Good effort, but very little in terms of cohesiveness.

All 3 goals by England were well done though and hats off to playing hard after going down 0:2. Just saying that one can only hope the people in charge and the players are smarter than the media hyping this up and forgetting the first 60 minutes. (i personally like a lot of your players and hope you do well)

As for the german team: Gomez was really good. The pressure before the 1:0 goes largely unnoticed, but that´s why it´s good to have a real athlete up front who charges after the ball instead of a guy like Götze... That was always Klose´s best quality, maybe the best defensive-striker in the world for a time.
Kroos had a good game, while Müller and Reus had absolute stinkers.
I simply hate Özil, it´s my dearest hope he gets booted off at some point. As brilliant as he can be, he never steps up when things get tough and his body-langauage would get him killed in the lower leagues. Seriously, you just can´t help but want to punch him :)

The defense was of course extremely make-shift, 3 of the 4 won´t see the pitch during the Euro (Tah is really talented and Rüdiger might still "get it", but Hummels, Boateng, Höwedes and Mustafi are all ahead on the depth chart). At least i hope so in the case of Can. He has no business playing Fullback in a 4-defender setup. Maybe if you go 5 at the back, but even then it´s risky.

It´s kinda insane that Germany has probably 15 high class midfield players, 5 CBs, half a dozen GKs (seriously, we could provide starting GKs for half the field at the Euros) but essentially no strikers or Fullbacks of real class. And there´s none coming up as well, no promising youngsters waiting in the wings.

At Fullback, Löw has an irrational hate for Schmelzer (and when he played him, did not adjust his system to him at all), who is at least really good defensively and can sprint up and down 2 games straight if need be. Hope that Durm gets a shot at RB, as well.

[ISiddiqui]

Remember earlier in the thread when I defended Klinnsmann? I'm officially off that bandwagon now.

I have been seeing that quite a bit lately. People who thought Klinsmann was experimenting so much with lineups so that when it counted he would have the right mix, I think, came to the realization that he is just experimenting because he doesn't know what to do - I mean he experimented in a World Cup Qualifier!

If the US loses to Guatemala again (unlikely, but then again, we thought the same thing about last Friday's game), you have to kick Klinsmann to the curb. Bring in someone who has a better tactical grip on the game and hope they can make a few changes that will stabilize the team and get us to squeak into the Hex. Caleb Porter has been my pick for a while, and I think the tactical changes he made last year with Portland (esp moving Nagbe into the center midfield, making him a star last season) indicate why.

[PilotMan]

Steve Nicol was right, Klinsmann has the job as long as the US isn't officially eliminated. Once and if that happens, he'd be gone, but until that moment, it's just not going to happen.

[RainMaker]

It's insane that Jurgen hasn't been fired yet.

[Logan]

From what I can see, the largest TV audience for a US men's game during 2014 was about 23 million.

I wonder what percentage of those people know that there is a chance 2018 might basically be dead after tonight.

[ISiddiqui]

FOX is likely trying to explore ways it can possibly rig the game ;).

[ISiddiqui]

I'm kind of nervous, but a 4-3-3 is a good start. Though Zuzi in the middle 3 rather than Nagbe is some head scratching. And ANOTHER new CB pairing?

Anyway, here is the lineup: Guzan; Yedlin, Birnbaum, Cameron, Castillo; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley (C); Wood, Dempsey, Zardes

[MrBug708]

Basically the moment of truth for the team. I'm assuming Dempsey gets some ricochet goal, Bradley blows out a knee and Klinnsman praises his tactics. Lineup isn't great for tonight, but still in the upper echelon of his lineup choices

[cthomer5000]

It' insane that there is so much riding on this game.

[MrBug708]

Boom!

[MrBug708]

2-0 cushion now

[ISiddiqui]

Let's do this 4-3-3 all the time, ok?

[MrBug708]

This ref is baaad

[murrayyyyy]

So winner of this game is the last in the Olympics? Did I hear that correctly?

[MrBug708]

Yup. Second Leg of playoff qualifer. US can move on with a 0-0 tie or a outright win. A 1-1 ties sends them to playoffs

[MrBug708]

There is a definite air of inferior soccrr play in this game, from the US side of it at least

[ISiddiqui]

Columbia is a better side. We just have to hope we can grind out a result.

[Easy Mac]

Well, no Olympics this year

[ISiddiqui]

Argh... Parker should have been sent off. That's horrible by us.

[murrayyyyy]

what da f...

[Easy Mac]

That Colombian should be glad it's not 1994

[ISiddiqui]

WOW... own goal by Colombia!

[Easy Mac]

Question now is can the US keep control of the game or just give possession back to Colombia

[Easy Mac]

I don't get it. I understand our players are generally technically deficient at all levels, but why are we seemingly the only club or country that refuses to press our opponents as soon as they cross midfield.

Watch when we play anyone. As soon as we cross midfield, it's rare a defender isn't within 2 yards of the ball. But watch our defenses. More often than not, we drop a good 10 yards off and allow them to essentially start running an offense.

[Easy Mac]

See also that goal. So now we have to somehow score two more times

[murrayyyyy]

I was just about to ask what kind of formation are we playing because it's not a 4-4-2 more like a 0-8-2

[MrBug708]

Goodbye Olympics

[Easy Mac]

How does our player get elbowed and get a yellow?

[MrBug708]

Moreno is a POS announcer

[Easy Mac]

He was a POS when he played, I don't know why now would be different.

The US played as pathetically as expected, by the ref has been horrible, and it's despicable that these South American teams play such cynical, flopping soccer at this age when they're very clearly capable of playing a pretty game.

[Easy Mac]

1 shot on goal in 2 games for the U23.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I was just about to ask what kind of formation are we playing because it's not a 4-4-2 more like a 0-8-2

I far from an expert on the subject but I have to think that probably doesn't work too well.

[flere-imsaho]

I far from an expert on the subject but I have to think that probably doesn't work too well.

0-8-2 worked very well for Barcelona under Guardiola, but it was constructed a bit differently. And the talent level was a smidge different. :D

[bob]

Potentially dumb question for those of you that follow this stuff more than me.

Why didn't we have Christian Pulisic playing with the U23 team last night to help out in our Olympic qualification attempt? I get that we wanted to cap tie him, but couldn't we have done that at some other point? Did we really fear him going to play for Croatia?

[ISiddiqui]

Potentially dumb question for those of you that follow this stuff more than me.

Why didn't we have Christian Pulisic playing with the U23 team last night to help out in our Olympic qualification attempt? I get that we wanted to cap tie him, but couldn't we have done that at some other point? Did we really fear him going to play for Croatia?

A couple of potential reasons:

I think we would have if the game against Guatemala wasn't do-or-die. I think Klinsmann called him up to potentially get a late goal.

OR

Dortmund wouldn't allow him to be released for the Olympic Qualifier. They aren't required to release a player for an Olympic Qualifier, but they are for a National Team World Cup Qualification Game.

[ISiddiqui]

A fantastic read on what is wrong with US Youth Soccer Development from Howler Magazine:

What’s Wrong With American Youth Soccer Development - Howler Magazine (http://www.howlermagazine.com/whats-wrong-america-spring-2016/)

Basically the biggest issues involve money (who's going to pay for developing young players - the MLS clubs don't necessarily have enough money for scouting all of the players out there, and the non-MLS scouting clubs have to charge players to play for them to hopefully get noticed by MLS) and the size of the country (a lot of that is tied to money as well because the scouting network of US Soccer is pretty small, comparatively).

[RainMaker]

Seems like the U23 lost their bid at the Olympics when they lost at home to Honduras.

[murrayyyyy]

Women's national team files wage-discrimination action vs. US Soccer Federation (http://espn.go.com/espnw/sports/article/15102506/women-national-team-files-wage-discrimination-action-vs-us-soccer-federation)

Among the numbers cited in the EEOC filing are that the women would earn $99,000 each if they won 20 friendlies, the minimum number they are required to play in a year. But the men would likely earn $263,320 each for the same feat, and would get $100,000 even if they lost all 20 games. Additionally, the women get paid nothing for playing more than 20 games, while the men get between $5,000 and $17,625 for each game played beyond 20.

Also greatly disparate, according to the figures, is the pay for playing in the World Cup. The U.S. women received a team total of $2 million when it won the World Cup last year in Canada. Yet when the U.S. men played in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, the team earned a total of $9 million despite going just 1-2-1 and being knocked out in the round of 16.

So if the wage discrimination is so bad, should the USWNT just go on strike before the Olympics?

[ISiddiqui]

The World Cup figures are based on revenues garnered. So the Men's WC earns a ton more money than the Women's WC. I can't really see the women's viewpoint there.

The other stuff seems to be collectively bargained, which may hurt the women.

Also, if I recall correctly, all the women in the team get a 'salary', while the men are only paid based on appearances. So a male player would get just about nothing if they didn't make it onto the pitch.

[whomario]

I guess the womens view point there is that while FIFA may pay less for the Womens WC, that doesn´t change the fact (i guess) that this is only a small part of the income. Have no idea about the rest, but if TV money and sponsors (which make up the vast majority of the total income, whereas the WC money from FIFA is small change) come in more due to the women than the men, they´d have a point even if their WC earnings are proportional to the Federations WC earnings.

I wasn´t aware players get paid at all for NT games, to be honest (i know there is a small compensation paid to the club) and the US men getting 9 mio sound insane, that´s roughly what the german players got for winning the thing.

[ISiddiqui]

The other thing I've seen is that US Soccer actually pays the women a salary. They are the ones who pay all NWSL salaries, because the league doesn't make any money. I wonder if that will come into play when the question of equal bonuses for national team appearances is discussed.

Of course, US Soccer also insists that it is part of a collective bargained agreement. They can renegotiate later this year.

[ISiddiqui]

Here is a great interview with Julie Foudy on all of the nuances involved here:

Foudy: Federation gets paid more for men - ESPN FC (http://www.espnfc.com/team/united-states/2765/video/2840711)

[AlexB]

I have been twitching, itching, scratching and generally fidgetting ever since Spurs Liverpool finished 1-1. This season is so weird, and while I wouldn't trade it for the world, I'm not sure I'm completely enjoying it to it's max.

Foxes never quit (stressing)

[miami_fan]

Foxes getting big club decisions

[AlexB]

Foxes getting big club decisions

:confused:

[AlexB]

Didn't play particularly well but created 3-4 good chances to one, so probably just edged it - gave the ball away too much but defended brilliantly. Getting closer...

[Critch]

Ronald Koeman was whining about two 100% penalties not being given to Southamptop. Personally I didnt think either should have been given.

[Easy Mac]

Nice to see Miazga get a start for Chelsea yesterday. Looked solid against a side that never threatened.

[rowech]

Ronald Koeman was whining about two 100% penalties not being given to Southamptop. Personally I didnt think either should have been given.

Not sure which ones he was talking about but I thought that a handball should have been given along the goal line.

[AlexB]

That was the only marginally contentious one, but even there his arms weren't in an unnatural position: they were down by his side, and he made no movement towards the ball with his hand.

IMO it would have been wrong to award the pen, but I have seen them given before like that.

[flere-imsaho]

RIP Cesare Maldini: Cesare Maldini obituary | Football | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/05/cesare-maldini-obituary)

[sovereignstar v2]

Game on. At one point it looked like another thrashing of a poorly set-up City defense, but PSG were pretty poor overall and were knackered by the 75th minute. Another match where missing Toure probably helped us. He has moments of sheer brilliance, but is too much of a liability defensively - especially away from home.

PSG will be without Veratti, Pastore, Luiz, and Matuidi for the 2nd leg next Tuesday.

[whomario]

Meanwhile, Real with a pathetic effort while Wolfsburg caught lightning in a bottle.

Tonight Dortmund-Liverpool and i am giddy :)

[flere-imsaho]

OK, I was wrong in the other thread, sovereignstar.

[flere-imsaho]

Sack watch on Zidane, then?

[whomario]

Sack watch on Zidane, then?

I doubt it. I have not seen a ton of game (maybe 4 both before and after the switch) of Real, but he clearly has instilled some improvements tactically and has just beaten Barcelona. He´s likely not a coaching genius yet, but has shown a willingness to do his legwork in terms of learning the game from that side by auditing elsewhere, assistant coaching and coaching the b-team (which he all did not have to, really) and has the big-name bonus (both with his players and ownership).

At the very least, he´ll get an offseason to shape the squad imo.

[Easy Mac]

So Leicester. We're either getting the most improbable title winners in sports history, or the most improbable title collapse in sports history.

[Young Drachma]

So Leicester. We're either getting the most improbable title winners in sports history, or the most improbable title collapse in sports history.

Not really if they lose, they'll be who we thought they were. And besides, if they choke it means a Tottenham title which if not for the Leicester City story would be just as ridiculous because Spurs always find a way to choke away a title in the few chances they've had.

Plus with the win today, they're 10 points clear with a declining few games. They'd basically have to stop showing up for matches at this point. Ties would get them over the finish line, even.

[The Jackal]

Was this game really delayed because United was stuck in traffic? That's pretty amusing.

[whomario]

Was this game really delayed because United was stuck in traffic? That's pretty amusing.

Or maybe the bus driver was merely instructed by Van Gaal to drive extremely defensive.

Leicester still 7 points up, insane !


Bayern all but wrapped up the title with Dortmund only drawing at Schalke, putting Bayern up 7 points. Not that there was ever a chance of Bayern loosing 2 games anyway, but still. Dortmund basically played a complete reserve squad (only Hummels/Sokratis in, the former subbed at the half) in preperation for the Liverpool match.

Kagawa scored one of the more stunningly executed goals i have seen this year, an 18 yard chip with the GK only being like 5 yards of the line:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W-yttXTFN3U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


fine game by Pulisic as well, until he kinda ran out of steam in the 2nd half.

[flere-imsaho]

So Leicester. We're either getting the most improbable title winners in sports history, or the most improbable title collapse in sports history.

Newcastle's implosion under Keegan will still be much, much worse.

Or maybe the bus driver was merely instructed by Van Gaal to drive extremely defensive.

:bowdown:

[The Jackal]

I will say, Fosu-Mensah getting hurt was the turning point in that match in my eyes. Yes, Spurs deserved the win on the balance of play but they just destroyed the left after he had to leave the pitch.

[The Jackal]

Or maybe the bus driver was merely instructed by Van Gaal to drive extremely defensive.

:D

[Easy Mac]

So de Jong again tries ending someone's career. I'm glad he's in the same league as so many USMNT players.

Armchair Analyst: A horror tackle casts a pall over MLS Week 6 | MLSsoccer.com (http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/04/11/armchair-analyst-horror-tackle-casts-pall-over-mls-week-6)

[flere-imsaho]

So de Jong again tries ending someone's career. I'm glad he's in the same league as so many USMNT players.

There's a perverse symmetry with LA announcing the signing of Nigel de Jong the same day Stuart Holden retirees. Hopefully someone can sign him to a one game contact for a game against the Galaxy so he can end de Jong's career.

Get a fucking grip. :rolleyes:

De Jong is widely accepted as one of the most violent players in European football (at least at the top league levels). I don't understand how anyone can take issue with this.

Resolution quicker than I anticipated, tbh.

[flere-imsaho]

Oof: Darlington Nagbe cut down. Nigel de Jong gets yellow? - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpSFHTooTmM)

I suppose if you want to be charitable you could say it was just an incredibly clumsy attempt to get possession, but given his history and the way he follows through on Nagbe's ankle, I'm not willing to be that charitable.

Still not as bad as Bosvelt on Irwin, though.

[ISiddiqui]

It appears that Leicester cheated the Championship's FFP rules:

Leicester City and the strange finances behind their rise to the Premier League pinnacle | Football | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/11/leicester-city-finances-football-league-financial-fair-play-investigation)

Basically in response to rules put in place in the Championship to reduce debt held by clubs, Leicester, which was being sponsored by King Power, decided to use a "third party" to sell sponsorship rights which was won by... King Power! For 10mil pounds more than their original deal. Now, why is this important? Because under the Championship FFP rules, owners paying more than market value to clubs for sponsorships wouldn't be counted in calculating how much debt they had. But if a third party found a sponsor... that was seen as 'market value'.

Though, the Premier League has NO FFP rules, and therefore Leicester appear to escape sanction. And to avoid UEFA Champions League FFP rules, they can merely sell the sponsorship rights for real this time - and as Champions of the league, their fair market value is likely going to be much higher.

Of course, this is more an indictment of FFP, IMO, than Leicester, even though they did break the rules while in the Championship.

[AlexB]

It's an old and ongoing story: it does sound a bit (OK, more than a bit) fishy, but it's not news. Or completed: the Football League haven't ruled one way or the other. A quick search fround this from 18 months ago
http://www.90min.com/posts/1630904-leicester-qpr-and-7-championship-clubs-facing-financial-fair-play-sanctions-for-over-spending

What will likely happen is that if/when we eventually get relegated, and assuming that as would appear to be the case something has happened, there will be some sort of settlement, because nothing matters until then - the EPL is a separate structure to the Football League, and much like QPR last year, it's only when we in effect have to reapply that the Football League have any leverage at all.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, likely the Football League will have to wait for its payout, but I feel that stories like this show how silly the FFP is. If an owner is wealthy and wants to benefit their club, I feel that they should be able to do so. I understand the fear of what happened with Leeds, but in that case, crack down on debt itself - for instance, require the owner to put up the money before they spend it, rather than put the club in debt.

[bhlloy]

Oof: Darlington Nagbe cut down. Nigel de Jong gets yellow? - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpSFHTooTmM)

I suppose if you want to be charitable you could say it was just an incredibly clumsy attempt to get possession, but given his history and the way he follows through on Nagbe's ankle, I'm not willing to be that charitable.

Still not as bad as Bosvelt on Irwin, though.

Any ref who doesn't give a red for that tackle deserves to be immediately struck off. Intent or not, that's a career ender and Nagbe is lucky if he's only out a few months

[sovereignstar v2]

Thank you Jose.

[ISiddiqui]

Sack watch on Zidane, then?

Not anymore at any rate ;). Christiano Ronaldo may have saved his job.

[Alf]

Sack watch on Zidane, then?

Not anymore at any rate ;). Christiano Ronaldo may have saved his job.

Zidane is also a beloved iconic former Real player. He also is very close to Florentino Perez. However, Ronaldo did a good job for Zidane yesterday, that's for sure !

[whomario]

Atletico with the upset ! Suddenly this looks wide open, especially with Bayern "struggling" recently (for their standards at least).

Not sure what games i´m rooting for, maybe City-Atletico and Bayern-Real would be neat.

[flere-imsaho]

OK, I was wrong in the other thread, sovereignstar.

Make that wrongX2.

:eek:

[Alf]

Rooting for Atletico here. They play as a team and have a great great coach.

[MIJB#19]

That Liverpool - Dortmund game...

[cougarfreak]

Liverpool!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ISiddiqui]

MLS talks expansion to 28 (well, within the next 10 years - Sacramento coming much earlier than that, of course) or so.

Garber: Sacramento leads field for MLS expansion to 28 | Soccer By Ives (http://sbisoccer.com/2016/04/garber-sacramento-leads-field-for-mls-expansion-to-28)

Speaking in downtown Sacramento, Garber explained his vision for expansion to a large crowd of Sacramento Republic FC supporters, and even Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. Republic FC could be officially announced as the next expansion team within the next year, according to the Sacramento Bee. Garber also revealed cities in the running for the remaining three spots, including San Diego, Detroit, St. Louis, San Antonio and Austin.

MLS currently has 20 teams, but Atlanta United FC, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United FC and a David Beckham-backed team in Miami are all set to begin play in the coming years.

I think a number of people wanted Sacramento to come in before Miami (Beckham United) because of the issues Miami had with getting stadium rights, so Sacramento being ushered is definitely a good thing.

San Antonio is fairly well placed as well, with the Scorpions (NASL) getting bought by the Spurs and turned into San Antonio FC (USL), and a new planned stadium being revealed.

That leaves: San Diego, Detroit, St. Louis, and Austin in the running for the last two spots. I heard St. Louis a LOT. MLS really wants to make that happen but they don't seem to have an ownership group in place. Austin would create too many Texas teams, IMO - and San Antonio really isn't that far away. If you add Sacramento you'd also have 3 California teams. So maybe Detroit may be a good possibility. Though I wonder why Indianapolis is not in the running... the Indy 11 have a decent ownership group and local support.

[miami_fan]

That was a harsh decision IMO against Vardy. I thought there was enough contact to a simple no call.

[rowech]

That was a harsh decision IMO against Vardy. I thought there was enough contact to a simple no call.

On replays, I would agree. Live speed I would issue a card every time. It looked like a ridiculous dive.

[AlexB]

Not sure. Think a yellow was fair enough tbh. The problem was the first yellow was nowhere near a booking. Dumb of Vardy to go over like that when already booked for me.

[miami_fan]

Absolutely brutal!

[miami_fan]

I was just typing up a post saying the BPL has to figure out what sort of play they want to have in the penalty box. If it is a physical contact sport that hard men play, fine. But you can't have those three calls in the box, and be consistent.

[AlexB]

Individually I don't thnk you can say any of the refs decisions were wrong, but if there was a 50:50 aspect to the call every one went against us today. IMO it was a dive and it was a penalty, but equally Huth should have had a penalty and Payet dived.

And as I type he evens it up with a soft penalty call. Not John Moss's best day.

[miami_fan]

Unbelievable!

[rowech]

Official made a mess of the second half in pretty much every way.

[rowech]

In the end, the result is probably what it should have been.

[kingfc22]

When will Arsenal learn that possession DOES NOT equal wins, but rather goals do.

And now we're going to have to scuffle for a CL spot the rest of the way.

[bhlloy]

At the risk of setting off this particular firestorm once again, when they get a manager who realizes that Giroud might be French and one of his favorites but isn't good enough to get you the goals to win a title, and actually spends some money on someone who can

[MrBug708]

That should keep Palace another season in the PL

[I. J. Reilly]

So if Liverpool win Europa, and City finish fourth but win the Champions League will the third place team be stuck with Europa League next year?

As a Spurs fan you learn to prepare yourself for this type of thing.

[kingfc22]

That should keep Palace another season in the PL

Yea. The win against Norwich last week should have all but sealed it.

[Easy Mac]

Orlando City drew a penalty 14 seconds into their game against New England.

[whomario]

Pulisic scored his first goal today for Dormund. Still bummed from Thursday, so no glowing description ...

[MrBug708]

Yea. The win against Norwich last week should have all but sealed it.

Yup. Wasn't secure but likely. Today probably locks us in. Hopefully we spend money

[bhlloy]

So if Liverpool win Europa, and City finish fourth but win the Champions League will the third place team be stuck with Europa League next year?

As a Spurs fan you learn to prepare yourself for this type of thing.

Don't think so, pretty sure Juve losing early ensured at least 4 spots for the EPL and if Liverpool win the Europa they would get the +1 to make it 5. At least that's what the BBC was saying during the game on Thursday

[AlexB]

Don't think so, pretty sure Juve losing early ensured at least 4 spots for the EPL and if Liverpool win the Europa they would get the +1 to make it 5. At least that's what the BBC was saying during the game on Thursday

Only way fourth doesn't get in the CL is if:

Liverpool win the Europa League
and Man City win the CL
and both finish outside the top 4


As a Leicester fan all the talk of us being guaranteed CL football next year is still a little premature. I think us and Spurs have the same fear of collapse...

[bhlloy]

If Leicester or Spurs finish outside of the top 4 it's pretty much guaranteed that City would be in the top 4 though right? Is it even mathematically possible for it to go another way?

Edit - never mind, I see what you are saying. For example

Spurs
Arsenal
United
Leicester
City - winning the Champions League
Liverpool - winning the Europa League

Would mean Leicester miss out. Possible, but got to be in the order of tens of a percent chance of all that happening. I think you guys are safe.

[Critch]

In the big game of the day, Rangers showed they were back from the depths and ready to dominate Scottish football again by beating Celtic in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. 2-2 final scores with Rangers winning on penalties.

Rangers second goal, goal of the season contender:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/vask" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

Young Barry McKay, deemed not good enough for the Scotland team despite most of the Celtic team being regulars, including the bald carthorse McKay skips past before shooting. Maybe that's why Scotland are the only British Isles team to not qualify for the Euros.

[Easy Mac]

New England ties the game with a PK in the 96th minute on a phantom handball, after Orlando took the lead after the ref missed an obvious handball.

The New England and Orlando managers have to be separated by police after the game.

[MizzouCowboy]

Epic day of reffing today in the world of soccer.

[britrock88]

I was just typing up a post saying the BPL has to figure out what sort of play they want to have in the penalty box. If it is a physical contact sport that hard men play, fine. But you can't have those three calls in the box, and be consistent.

Penalty kick reform is the cure-all! Make common fouls in the penalty box either a DFK with defenders allowed in the box, allowed to make a wall, etc., or move the kick to the top of the circle outside the box. Carded fouls in the box can remain as PKs.

[bhlloy]

And then you just move the controversy to whether a foul was worth a card and give referees a way out of awarding a game changing PK. Sorry, that's making things worse not better IMO

[whomario]

Remember when MLS did it Hockey style ? Good times :) (was just after a tie game though i think)

[Critch]

I'm going to make a bold prediction: Spurs are going to win the league.

[bhlloy]

I think it's a 50/50 shot. Vardy will likely be suspended 2 of the remaining games too

[flere-imsaho]

Leicester have a 5 point lead over Spurs and their remaining games are Swansea (H), Man Utd (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (A).

All very, very winnable, even without Vardy.

Spurs have West Brom (H), Chelsea (A), Southampton (H), Newcastle (A). All also very winnable.

It should be tight, exciting run-in, and on recent form I don't think either are going to falter.

[AlexB]

I wish i was as confident that we are not going to slip up as you are :D

I see four, maybe five points, and that won't be enough

[flere-imsaho]

Let's say 2 points from Swansea & Man Utd because you can't score without Vardy (which is needlessly pessimistic, but there you go) but neither can Swansea or Man Utd. But then 3 points at home vs. Everton because they're not having a great year and won't have much to play for and then 3 points from Chelsea because they'll all already be on holiday and/or trying to get their agents to get them out before Conte arrives.

8 points easy! Which makes it impossible for Spurs to catch you even if they win all 4! :D

[ISiddiqui]

Remember when MLS did it Hockey style ? Good times :) (was just after a tie game though i think)

I always thought that was a better way for PKs. Even though it's tainted with breaking ties, I think moving to that way of PK would be a far better way to do it than to take it from the spot.

[Critch]

Let's say 2 points from Swansea & Man Utd because you can't score without Vardy (which is needlessly pessimistic, but there you go) but neither can Swansea or Man Utd. But then 3 points at home vs. Everton because they're not having a great year and won't have much to play for and then 3 points from Chelsea because they'll all already be on holiday and/or trying to get their agents to get them out before Conte arrives.

8 points easy! Which makes it impossible for Spurs to catch you even if they win all 4! :D

I'm going a win and a draw in the two home games, a draw and a loss in the two away games for a grand total of 5 points. So Spurs can still catch, if they can win at Chelsea.

It's just nice to be at the end of the season with two teams I'd like to see as champions, instead of the usual bunch of evil big teams and billionaire's-toys.

[flere-imsaho]

Apropos of nothing in particular, I'm kind of surprised that Roberto Martinez has struggled so much at Everton.

[Marc Vaughan]

Apropos of nothing in particular, I'm kind of surprised that Roberto Martinez has struggled so much at Everton.

This is something which makes me roll my eyes a little tbh - I've friends who are Everton fans and they're crying for his sack at the moment which fully ignores the fact that:

1. There are a LOT of competitive teams in the Premiership this year (heck even the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Man United aren't guaranteed European football yet).
2. They're actually in a safe mid-table position which is a decent achievement.
3. He's assembled a very decent squad on a relatively modest budget and even in a season where they're under-performing they're safe.
4. They're 4th in the Premiership 'injury table' so hardly having the 'easiest' of seasons in that regard (another testament to the depth of squad he has assembled).

PS - Yes the loss to Liverpool was embarrassing, but its a single result ..

[Marc Vaughan]

Leicester have a 5 point lead over Spurs and their remaining games are Swansea (H), Man Utd (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (A).

All very, very winnable, even without Vardy.

Spurs have West Brom (H), Chelsea (A), Southampton (H), Newcastle (A). All also very winnable.

It should be tight, exciting run-in, and on recent form I don't think either are going to falter.

I see it as:

Leicester:
Swansea (H) - 3pts
Man Utd (A) - 0pts
Everton (H) - 1pt
Chelsea (A) - 3pts

5 point lead + 7 points = 12 points

Sputs:
West Brom (H) - 3pts
Chelsea (A) - 3pts
Southampton (H) - 3pts
Newcastle (A) - 1pt (presuming Newcastle aren't safe at that point)

10 points

So I reckon Leicester to pip it by a very narrow margin - although tbh its utterly up in the air and if Spurs falter at all in the initial part of the run in then I think Leicester have it in the bag, similarly if Leciester don't beat Swansea without Vardy then that will knock their confidence considerably and could cost them the title ...

Regardless of the outcomes its been one of the best seasons I can recall in a LONG time :D

[Easy Mac]

Christian Pulisic scored again for Dortmund.

[MrBug708]

This ref is atrocious in the Palace game

[MrBug708]

Finally some a break with Dann not getting his second. Palace leads 2-1

[Critch]

I'm going to make a bold prediction: Spurs are going to win the league.

I'm going to make a not very bold prediction: My first bold prediction was wrong.

[whomario]

Christian Pulisic scored again for Dortmund.

played really well, too. Misplaces passes and needs to slow down a little, but there´s no denying he has "special" written all over him. Not really shocking that he breaks out (anybody who saw him play in person at youth level was amazed) but sooner than expected. There will be some adjustment next season going the distance of the calendar with the pros and the situation right now is a dream for a young talent (little to no pressure in the games he plays, still paired with top-class players against so-so competition), but hes going to be a hell of a player. Terrific kid as well from all accounts.

Hope Dortmund gives him a looooong term deal as soon as he turns 18.

[whomario]

Can´t believe that a team with Robert Huth, Okazaki and Fuchs is about to win the PL.

Personally i´d be also very happy for Kasper Schmeichel. Always thought he was in a pretty thankless position with his old man´s shadow looking over him and then having to basically grind it out in the lower leagues (i´m gonna count the championship here ;) ) for all these years. Could not always have been easy.

[AlexB]

I'm going to make a not very bold prediction: My first bold prediction was wrong.

If Spurs pick up 3 points tomorrow I wouldn't rule out your first prediction just yet. I think we'll need the 5 points to win it tbh.

[AlexB]

Dola - good day today though: first guaranteed to get straight into the CL group stages, then 4-0 and guaranteed top 2 finish, and Riyadh Mahrez wins Player of the Year.

We've won 4-0 before, the others are all new to me as a Leicester fan :)

Happy to celebrate what we've done, but not what we've still to do.

[flere-imsaho]

I'm totally (and undeservedly, since I'm a Man Utd supporter) on the Leicester bandwagon. Go Leicester! :D

[ISiddiqui]

To be honest, I'm quite on the fence. I like what Leicester has done. Going from nothing to the top is great, but I'm not a huge fan of watching their style of play (defensive, with some cynical fouling, and then over the top counterattacking). I think Tottenham plays far more attractive soccer. Oh well.

[AlexB]

To be honest, I'm quite on the fence. I like what Leicester has done. Going from nothing to the top is great, but I'm not a huge fan of watching their style of play (defensive, with some cynical fouling, and then over the top counterattacking). I think Tottenham plays far more attractive soccer. Oh well.

Spurs are definitely the better footballing side, but we were better to watch before we started tightening up and the opposition started sitting back on us. I agree most of the last 6-7 matches have not been easy watches

[Grover]

To be honest, I'm quite on the fence. I like what Leicester has done. Going from nothing to the top is great, but I'm not a huge fan of watching their style of play (defensive, with some cynical fouling, and then over the top counterattacking). I think Tottenham plays far more attractive soccer. Oh well.

Spurs play attractive football, yes, but they have committed the 5th most fouls in the league. They are very intelligent about how they go about it as well. With their high pressing game, they literally spread the yellow cards around so nobody accrues them too quickly.

Look what happens when teams sit back and Leicester attack them.. Leicester cannot break down a parked bus. They need other teams to attack them to be successful.

[AlexB]

Look what happens when teams sit back and Leicester attack them.. Leicester cannot break down a parked bus. They need other teams to attack them to be successful.

ummmm.....

Norwich were the start of teams parking the bus against us regularly: a couple had done so before (Man U, Bournemouth, Man City all at the KP, all draws), but the wave of teams sitting back started with Norwich.

Since then:
Played 9, Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 0. Points 23, Points per game - just more than 2.5.

If you add in the other three matches referenced above: 26 points from 12 games. Still 2.16 PPG.

Multiply games by 2.16 and see how many points clear this would be over the season - 38 games = 82/83 points. Spurs are currently exactly 2.00 PPG, although I expect them to get another 12 points from their remaining fixtures, but can only get a maximum of 80.

Are we as pleasing to the eye when teams park the bus? No (is anyone?). But we are more successful when teams park the bus according to the results.

[AlexB]

First time now I do believe that we are going to win the thing. Wow.

Oh my God, oh my God - Stewie - YouTube (http://youtu.be/WlT1gM04uHw)

[Grover]

I should have said they struggled a bit more with a parked bus, but even then, I'd still be incorrect ;)

Regardless, I want Leicester to win it at this point. Why? Because I despise Arsenal and Spurs, and even though Jamie Vardy might be pretty intolerable, he's better than the other two. Plus it upsets the apple cart and hierarchy for at least one season. Gives us something new to see in the Champions League and is maybe the greatest underdog story of all time.

[miami_fan]

Hillsborough jury finds fans were unlawfully killed | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3558745/Hillsborough-inquests-jury-deliver-verdict.html)

Not sure what the next step in this saga will be, but I hope that this verdict gives the families a bit of peace.

[Alf]

Juventus just won Serie A in Italy over the weekend. Want an impressive stat ?

They won 24 of their latest 25 Serie A games (with only one draw in the middle of this series).

[Alf]

To be honest, I'm quite on the fence. I like what Leicester has done. Going from nothing to the top is great, but I'm not a huge fan of watching their style of play (defensive, with some cynical fouling, and then over the top counterattacking).

That really looks like Mourinho (the so called "The only one") tactics. Boring.

[flere-imsaho]

Great article here about the importance of the holding midfielder in the modern game: Casemiro: from ‘chubby’ sub to the rock on whom Real Madrid now depend | Sid Lowe | Football | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/26/casemiro-real-madrid-manchester-city-champions-league)

[whomario]

And Casemiro in all honesty isn´t even a great one. He adds sth to that team simply by not being an attacking midfielder, knowing how to make a tackle and by keeping things simple (call it the Coquelin-effect).

But yeah, that role is the most underrated in the sport. If you ever get a chance to see one of the great ones like Busquets in the stadium, the little things they do is insane. On TV you should already be impressed with the touches, passing but what leads to those is the insane amount of forward thinking they do in always being available to their teammates, always knowing where the 3,4 next closest defenders and teammates are (and their momentum) and positioning themselves so that they can move play along immediately or slow it down.

Having played in that role myself, watching guys like Busquets (or Weigl for Dortmund this season) is just awesome. They are the Tim Duncans of Soccer.

EDIT: On Busquets :

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/it-time-acknowledge-sergio-busquets-best-midfielder-world#:H6S5sUjLiu58MA
http://outsideoftheboot.com/2015/08/22/player-analysis-sergio-busquets-athletic-bilbao/

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h00GkvAqxB4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

he can also do things offensively of course:

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is even better in slo-mo. Busquets disguises the pass with his body shape. Gamez is so sure its going to Alves. <a href="https://t.co/hYkwCkXIx9">pic.twitter.com/hYkwCkXIx9</a></p>&mdash; WM Formation (@TheWMformation) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWMformation/status/693781734769324032">January 31, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

little whiner at times, but other than that ... ;)

[AlexB]

That really looks like Mourinho (the so called "The only one") tactics. Boring.

I'd also say we don't cynically foul. Huth and Morgan are physical and do give away free kicks through robust challenges, but we don't hack down people who are clear through, pull shirts to stop people running through, deliberately handball, those two tackle hard but generally fair.

No red cards for professional fouls, not a huge amount of penalties against us: can think of the West Ham one, debatable handball against Spurs in the cup, probably has been more but can't remember any of them.

The last few games have been tight and generally tough to watch: unsurprising really given where we find ourselves. The first 25-30 matches however we were great to watch, and we're most definitely not anti-football, even recently.

Edit to add - we also genuinely the best ball winning midfielder I have ever seen based on this one season in N'golo Kante: brilliant tackler and interceptor, rarely fouls, pretty quick, mobile, good passer. We don't need to cynically foul with him in the team!

Kante more than any other player is the one I fear losing: I don't think Vardy will go, Mahrez does 3-4 class things per game but can be very quiet, Kante and to a slightly lesser extent Drinkwater are the key components to the side for me.

[ISiddiqui]

It's quite interesting how the MLS brings rivals together. The owner of the Detroit Pistons and the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers are joining up to form an investor group to attempt to win an MLS expansion side to downtown Detroit.

MLS expansion: Detroit team bid led by Cavaliers, Pistons owners (http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/04/26/mls-detroit-expansion-team-dan-gilbert-tom-gores-bid)

It seems like an MLS franchise is a hot ticket for would-be owners.

[whomario]

Athletico is truly impressive, what a cohesive team. Plus, Saul channeled his inner Messi on a terrific goal getting past and around 4 Bayern defenders and capping it off with a stepover and a finesse shot into the box.

[Grover]

Sam Allardyce believes Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone would be branded "boring" in the Premier League.

The Sunderland manager watched Simeone's side produce a superb defensive display in their 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

"Seeing Atletico Madrid last night, how they played and how they then defended what they had against a side that is one of the favourites to win the Champions League and is well ahead in the German league," he said.

"Now, everybody can say, 'Well, that's not entertaining', but everybody is eulogising Simeone's tactics now. I wouldn't think they would do that in the Premier League so much. 'He's boring this guy, he defends too much' - that's what he'd get here."

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh Sam, you slay me.

[Grover]

Also, a statement from Dortmund on Mats Hummels.

"The player Mats Hummels informed Borussia Dortmund that he wishes to leave the club in order to join FC Bayern Munich with effect from the 2016/2017 season.

"Against this background the management of Borussia Dortmund has decided that the realization of such a transfer shall depend on the condition that Bayern Munich provides Borussia Dortmund with an extremely valuable offer which reflects the high importance of the player in soccer and other terms for Borussia Dortmund. At present no offer at all has been made by Bayern Munich yet.

"By a way of precaution Borussia Dortmund likes to emphasise that one has not agreed an "exit clause" with the player - also not with any other player of Borussia Dortmund at present - and the player is therefore bound by his employment contract with Borussia Dortmund until June 30, 2017 at latest."

[MrBug708]

If Man United gets a CL spot, does Palace get Europe by default?

[MIJB#19]

If Man United gets a CL spot, does Palace get Europe by default?No, only the cup winners get invited for the Europe League. It has been changed mid 2014, going into effect starting with the 2014/2015 cup runners up not qualifying for the 2015/2016 season. If Manchester United somehow qualifies for the Champions League and also wins he FA Cup, the next highest non-qualified Premier League team will get the Europe League invitation.

[AlexB]

One half down. Man U were very good for 20 minutes, then we got back into it.

On first view thought Simpson might have been sent off and Mahrez didn't deserve the penalty. I was wrong both times on the replays.

Was trying to just watch the match, but half an hour in had to crack open a beer. Too stressful :crazy:

[AlexB]

Take that. Was very worried after 20 minutes, thoughts of 4/5 nil were going through my head. Draw fair result, we had the middle of the game, they had the best of the start and end.

Drinkwater's red was a bit soft, but by the letter of the law it was two yellows, and the second probably was a penalty, but so was the challenge on Mahrez in the first half.

Rooney lucky not to be sent off too given he was on a yellow and pulled back Gray off the ball.

Now come on Chelsea!

[SirFozzie]

Chelsea fans are wondering "Is this the first time that EVERYONE is rooting for us?"

[miami_fan]

Chelsea fans are wondering "Is this the first time that EVERYONE is rooting for us?"

Not me. I'd much rather LC beat the hell out of Everton on Saturday to win the title. Especially if they could put five past them in the first half. I would want to see the crowd exclusively in the second.

[Critch]

Not me either. I'll be cheering for Spurs because it's still Chelsea, and because I want Spurs to go to Newcastle Utd on the last day of the season still needing a win. And then I want them to win and relegate Newcastle.

[HomerSimpson98]

That LC-ManU game was amazing. Both teams really getting after it. Loved it.

[Young Drachma]

Spurs up 2-0 on Chelsea on the road. Tottenham wasn't won at Chelsea in over 20 years. They win and keep their faint hopes of a title alive (a win puts them down 5 points with 2 games to go.)

The drama more interesting this way and sets up Leicester to potentially win the whole thing at home next weekend.

[Young Drachma]

It's quite interesting how the MLS brings rivals together. The owner of the Detroit Pistons and the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers are joining up to form an investor group to attempt to win an MLS expansion side to downtown Detroit.

MLS expansion: Detroit team bid led by Cavaliers, Pistons owners (http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/04/26/mls-detroit-expansion-team-dan-gilbert-tom-gores-bid)

It seems like an MLS franchise is a hot ticket for would-be owners.

Relatively cheap investment, good ROI and player salaries are not even the cost of a NBA reserve outside of a DP. Too bad all this expansion doesn't help the on field product at all.

[ISiddiqui]

I don't think the recent expansion of Orlando and NYCFC has really caused all that many issues relating to the talent on the field, as it appears a lot more foreign players (not DPs necessarily) are entering the league.

And there may not be that great ROI yet - I think most teams in the league (if not all) are still losing money.

[EagleFan]

The shot heard round the Premier League...?