Soccer Thread 2012-13

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

Dempsey again.

only bad thing id much rather see Guatemala in the hex than jamaica

I'm with Big Fo on this one - even if it lowers our chances (and I don't really think it does), Guatemala losing is a good thing. They are the dirtiest, cheapest team in international soccer.

[SirFozzie]

So.. today's a VERY important day for EPL fans in the US, as it's the deadline for bids for the EPL rights starting in 2013-14. Here's some information about it

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/D...PL-Rights.aspx

So we have the following confirmed bidders:

NBC
ESPN
FOX

Possible Bidders
IMG
Discovery (!)
BeIN Sports

Notes from the article

A) It sounds like ESPN and Fox are in jointly again

B) NBC's bid was weakened by the fact they are going to lose some possible EPL window time due to an upcoming agreement with Formula 1

C) IMG would solely be in the game to sublicense games to networks

D) There's a lot of thought that BeIN Sports will have problems convincing EPL that they will properly feature the league with being stuck on sports tiers, and limited windows available with Serie A/La Liga rights already on hand

E) Discovery's interest is a hail mary to possibly try to increase viewership at some of their knock-off channels, like Velocity. Unknown how really serious they are.

My prediction

Unless BeINSports found a way to promise the EPL the moon and the stars with regards to carriage AND promotion of the EPL.. (oh, and backed up several brinks trucks to it), if ESPN and Fox are in with a joint bid, they have it.

[miami_fan]

No one watching Champions League games?

Dortmund v Real Madrid with two beautiful goals in two minutes.

[Grover]

Holy crap, Ajax!

[Big Fo]

Dortmund

Ajax

[Critch]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Ajax

Saw this posted elsewhere

Ajax team tonight:

Kenneth Vermeer 26, youth product (joined aged 13)
Toby Alderweireld 23, youth product (joined academy aged 15)
Niklas Moisander 26, signed for £3.25m from AZ Alkmaar in 2012 (previously of Ajax reserves)
Daley Blind, son of Ajax legend Danny, 22, youth product (joined age eight)
Christian Poulsen, 32, signed free from Evian in 2012
Christian Eriksen, 20, youth product signed from Odense for 800k aged 16 in 2008
Siem de Jong, 23, youth product (joined academy aged 16)
Tobias Sana, 23 cost £285k from Gothenburg in 2012
Lasse Schöne, 26, signed free from NEC in 2012
Ricardo van Rhijn 21, youth product (joined aged 12)
Ryan Babel, 25, youth product joined aged 12 in 1998. Sold to Liverpool for £11.5m aged 20 in 2007 but re-signed in 2012

So a whole team signed for under £5mil and they made Man City look ordinary.

[Grover]

lol Ryan Babel.

[bhlloy]

really lol Liverpool, considering they would give anything to have him back for the next 6 months

[SirFozzie]

USA will host and compete in a combined Copa America in 2016, celebrating 100 years of CONEMBOL, the South American soccer federation:

Breakdown of teams

10 South American Teams
2 Guaranteed Bids (US/Mexico)
4 at-large North American bids (based on Gold Cup finish)

[Big Fo]

I'm glad it's in an even year so the USA won't send a B-team like they did the last time USA competed in the Copa America (USA prioritzed the 2007 Gold Cup instead).

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

I'm with Big Fo on this one - even if it lowers our chances (and I don't really think it does), Guatemala losing is a good thing. They are the dirtiest, cheapest team in international soccer.

FIFA bans Guatemalan match-fixing trio - ESPNFC

[whomario]

Dortmund struggling in league a bit (loss in the derby to schalke last weekend was a bad one, alneit with injury trouble) but on track in the CL, first the awesome game at City and now this game against Real

also a cool pic :




no, that´s not a ballboy but 16 year old (born june ´96) Alan Halilovic who played in last nights CL match against PSG.

Anybody bought him in FM ?

[whomario]

nice analysis to the Dortmund-Real game : Dortmund 2-1 Real Madrid: Dortmund press as a unit and expose Essien at left-back | Zonal Marking (great website in general)

[SirFozzie]

According to news, the FOX-ESPN joint bid has dropped out of the running for the 2013-16 EPL rights. This leaves the two primary bidders as NBCUniversal and BeIN Sports

Huge blow for Fox Soccer Channel. If I had to guess on impact, Fox Soccer is going to be caught up in the Fox rebranding, and Fox Soccer Plus will air any remaining soccer/rugby they keep

[Big Fo]

If BeIN Sport gets it, I imagine that station would be on most carriers by the time next season begins. But I still might rather have NBC get it so there are more games shown live on more stations (since BeIN Sport would have to find room for Serie A, Lique 1, La Liga, and the EPL there would be some games on tape delay).

Fox has the Champions League through the end of the 2014-5 season but other than that there won't be much left.

[SirFozzie]

Other than the 18-22 world cups

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Huge blow for Fox Soccer Channel. If I had to guess on impact, Fox Soccer is going to be caught up in the Fox rebranding, and Fox Soccer Plus will air any remaining soccer/rugby they keep

Well put it this way I'll be cancelling the channel as soon as they don't carry English matches

[Balldog]

MLS needs to adjust its season so there last weekend of the season is as far away from the NFL and NCAAF as possible. I'd love to watch some matches but not over American football.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Well put it this way I'll be cancelling the channel as soon as they don't carry English matches

they may still have english... rugby that is.. does that count?

[sovereignstar v2]

Another ex-Barca man joins City. This time it's Txiki Berigiristain, who will become the new Director of Football.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Balldog

MLS needs to adjust its season so there last weekend of the season is as far away from the NFL and NCAAF as possible. I'd love to watch some matches but not over American football.

I'm theoretically with you, but i just don't see how it's practical. As a mega-fan of the league, i think they are better off trying to appeal to soccer fans than american sports fans.

I hope one day they'll grow to be big enough that the other leagues will move out of the way on that one evening for the final.

[sovereignstar v2]

Terrible call by the linesman denies Liverpool all 3 pts in their derby. No idea what he was looking at.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Terrible call by the linesman denies Liverpool all 3 pts in their derby. No idea what he was looking at.

I'm guessing at full speed he figured there was no way a guy got to the ball that much faster than the defenders. Nevertheless, a horrible call.

[Critch]

Should have been a foul by Coates at the back post, I guess.

But with that and Arsenal's offside winner yesterday, a couple of linesmen errors.

[sovereignstar v2]

Clattenberg still on United's books I see.

[kingfc22]

Wow. Didn't think that was a dive and even if it was I've seen embellishments that have been a lot worse with no cards.

Chelsea down to 9 now.

[Crapshoot]

Jesus Christ, I hate Man U. That was home cooking of the highest order on Torres red card; awful, awful refreeing for a game Chelsea were the better team in. Absoulte fucking bullshit.

[SirFozzie]

Considering what an happen to people who piss off ultra-wealthy Russian oligarches, if I was Clattenburg, I wouldn't be ordering the soup anytime soon.

[Big Fo]

Huge win.

The second yellow was a bad call. Chicharito was offisde.

I don't really care though. I'll never feel guilty about a ref-aided win at Stamford Bridge, a ground where not only have Man Utd been robbed in multiple games in recent seasons but those decisions directly resulted in Man Utd finishing behind Chelsea in the league.

[kingfc22]

Of course the horrible officiating did help Arsenal to go from 10 pts behind the leader to 7 after this weekend's action.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Huge win.

The second yellow was a bad call. Chicharito was offisde.

I don't really care though. I'll never feel guilty about a ref-aided win at Stamford Bridge, a ground where not only have Man Utd been robbed in multiple games in recent seasons but those decisions directly resulted in Man Utd finishing behind Chelsea in the league.

A Man U fan claiming they were robbed? Seriously, I just assumed paying the refrees is the one thing Fergie does out of his own salary. Beyond horseshit how lucky Man U got.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

A Man U fan claiming they were robbed? Seriously, I just assumed paying the refrees is the one thing Fergie does out of his own salary. Beyond horseshit how lucky Man U got.

I was talking about games that took place 3-4 years ago. This year's trip to Stamford Bridge was a little different.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

A Man U fan claiming they were robbed? Seriously, I just assumed paying the refrees is the one thing Fergie does out of his own salary. Beyond horseshit how lucky Man U got.

I was about to say the same thing. As an Arsenal fan, I watched them win on a horrific call yesterday. . . and I actually do feel bad about it, even if it's the one time in the last three years I feel the Gunners actually got a break from the refs.

BigFo probably doesn't feel bad, because if he did, he'd feel bad about six times a season. ManU was flat out given the game today. Horrible doesn't even describe the calls today.

[Marc Vaughan]

Couldn't understand the Torres red, seemed obvious he was caught - yes he went down, but I felt he was doing it more to avoid clattering the covering defender as he was off balance at that point and probably unable to maneuver ... regardless definitely wasn't worthy of a sending off.

(the winning goal was offside seeing the replay - but it was bloody close and fast ... wouldn't have liked to have to give that call myself )

[SirFozzie]

Chelsea accuse Clattenburg of using a racial slur.. Somehow I doubt it, considering all four officials are miced up with earphones for communication during the game (although it's not recorded), one would think that it would be fairly easily disproved. OF course, (says the cynical Foz), having made this charge towards Clattenburg, obviously he cannot judge Chelsea fairly and thus cannot ref their games.. (yes, I'm saying that I think this was a cynical charge)

[sovereignstar v2]

NBC won the EPL rights in America.

Premier League signs two-year deal with NBC | Mail Online

The article says it's a 2-year deal, but the statement says "seasons 2013/14 - 2015/16" which would be 3 seasons.

[Katon]

I think Clattenburg's already demonstrated that he can't ref Chelsea games - or any kind of game, at least til he visits an optometrist. Though booking strikers for being kicked by Jonny Evans does seem to be standard policy for Premiership matches at Stamford Bridge.

Snark aside, it's hard to say whether the accusation is cynical with no clear idea of what Clattenburg's supposed to have said or who's claiming to have heard it. If the club sincerely believes that he said anything in the rumors I'm currently hearing, they absolutely had to ask for an investigation.

If they don't genuinely believe he said something, yeah, they're massively out of line in claiming otherwise.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

OF course, (says the cynical Foz), having made this charge towards Clattenburg, obviously he cannot judge Chelsea fairly and thus cannot ref their games.. (yes, I'm saying that I think this was a cynical charge)

If they could get Martin Atkinson every week, they'd win the league unbeaten.

One of the things they claim Clattenburg said was he called Torres a "Spanish twat". Edit - Or maybe it was Mata, couple of sources say Mata.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Critch

If they could get Martin Atkinson every week, they'd win the league unbeaten.

One of the things they claim Clattenburg said was he called Torres a "Spanish twat". Edit - Or maybe it was Mata, couple of sources say Mata.

This 'intruige' should be over pretty fast - the referee's are wired up and broadcast to the other officials so verifacation of what was said should be fairly quick .... or not as the case may be.

[bhlloy]

About as much chance as one of the other officials telling the truth as there is of pigs flying... not commenting one way or the other on whether there's any truth to the allegations but it's hardly like the other parties involved are impartial in any way.

As for the actual allegation, if it is "Spanish Twat" that's kind of a grey area... he is Spanish, and he probably was being a twat (although it was a horrendous decision, I can understand why). Obviously it's very unprofessional and will probably get him a slap on the wrist, but it's going to be hard to say that it's derogatory. BBC is reporting that Jon Obi Mikel was also involved, so who knows what Chelsea are actually claiming was said.

[Big Fo]

I enjoyed reading this short piece on yesterday's game:

Originally Posted by Rob Smyth of The Guardian

In recent times, a lot of hot air has been emitted regarding Manchester United's supposed preferential treatment from referees. Some lunatics genuinely believe there is an official conspiracy involving Sir Alex Ferguson, the FA, the CIA and Nasa. Their attitude will not have been changed by events at Stamford Bridge, yet the fuss over Sunday's game is misplaced, a convenient narrative that doesn't stand up to the most basic scrutiny. Fernando Torres should have been sent off long before his dubious second yellow card. Chelsea were not unlucky to be down to nine men; they were lucky not to be down to eight, because Mikel John Obi should have received a second yellow card for fouling Antonio Valencia. Chelsea were the better team at 2-2, but they were about to go 3-2 down when Branislav Ivanovic committed the foul for which he was correctly sent off.

And while Javier Hernández's winner was offside, United would probably have won the game anyway. Hernández's goal does not significantly impact on the balance sheet of refereeing mistakes in matches between United and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Since their previous league win at Stamford Bridge in April 2002 United have suffered a series of shocking decisions, most notably in 2002-03, 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11. Two of those almost cost them the league; a couple of mistakes from Martin Atkinson in 2009-10 probably did cost them the title. They were due a decision at Stamford Bridge. They are due a few more before things can be said to have evened themselves out.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...premier-league

[sovereignstar v2]

I've posted it before and I never get sick of it.




Sir Alex Ferguson reacted to being questioned about the incident by claiming there is a media agenda against Rooney.

“There is nothing in it,” he said.

“You have asked the question because it is Wayne Rooney. The press will raise a campaign to get him hung by Tuesday or electrocuted or something like that. It is unbelievable. Watch the press. It will be interesting to see it.”

Had Rooney been sent off by Mark Clattenburg it would have meant a three-game suspension, which would have meant missing United's Tuesday night’s away game at Chelsea, the visit of Liverpool next weekend and then a possible FA Cup quarter-final with Arsenal.

As Clattenburg saw the incident, there can be no retrospective action by the Football Association.

[Critch]

Your big rivals are visiting your stadium for the first time in a couple of years. They come from a poorer part of town, an area you tell them smells of pigshit. They're in the stand directly above you in the stadium. So what do you do?

Obviously you take a massive inflatable pig wearing their club colors and float it up in front of them.



River Plate v Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires big derby match at the weekend, River Plate back in the top division.

[sovereignstar v2]

NBC buys TV rights for Premier League in U.S. - ESPN FC

NBC to air six live EPL games a week

LONDON -- NBC's networks will televise the English Premier League under a $250 million, three-year deal that begins next season.

They will show every match from the world's most popular soccer league, taking coverage away from Fox and ESPN.

"The Barclays Premier League is the pre-eminent soccer league in the world, and is on the cusp of exponential popularity growth here in the U.S.," NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus said Sunday.

The company picked up Major League Soccer last year and had success with its soccer broadcasts during the London Olympics.

Criticized for using tape delay with the Olympics because of time differences, NBC will not do so with Premier League games, Lazarus said. English-language broadcasts will primarily be on cable channel NBC Sports Network, with Telemundo and mun2 used for Spanish coverage.

NBC's English-language networks will televise six live games a week. One or two of the company's other cable channels will also be used, Lazarus said, but which has not been determined yet as schedules are evaluated. Other games will be streamed live online.

The company has been seeking to expand the audience of NBC Sports Network, which was renamed from Versus after its owner, Comcast, took over NBCUniversal.

"We think we're acquiring a set of assets that has unique affluent male appeal that's very attractive to advertisers and attractive to cable operators," Lazarus said.

And soccer is a potential area for growth with most sports broadcast rights currently under contract, though NBC recently signed a deal with the Formula One auto racing series.

NBC Sports Network's biggest property is the NHL, whose season runs concurrently with English soccer. The EPL will be a good complement to the network's hockey coverage, Lazarus said, adding live soccer games in the morning and afternoon to prime-time NHL broadcasts.

"It's a younger skewing sport than some others out there, like some that are in a championship series right now," Lazarus said, in apparent reference to Major League baseball and its older viewership.

The previous three-year EPL deal with Fox, that saw some matches sublicensed to ESPN, was worth about $80 million. NBC Sports Network is in about twice as many homes in the U.S. as Fox Soccer but about 20 percent fewer than ESPN.

The EPL has sold its TV rights in Britain to BSkyB and BT for 3.018 billion pounds ($4.86 billion) in a record three-year deal from the 2013-14 season.

The EPL said NBC will deliver the "biggest and broadest programming and promotion commitment ever in the United States" for the league.

"The NBC Sports Group has an excellent track record in sports broadcasting," EPL chief executive Richard Scudamore said.

[sovereignstar v2]

That pretty much allays any fears I had about a switch in coverage...

[DaddyTorgo]

Aaargh. I better get my fucking beinsports coverage or I'm going to fucking kill someone.

[Critch]

Wonder what will happen to FSC now. With Speed losing Formula One too, seems like FOX suddenly has two sport channels with nothing worth showing.

Not sure about NBC, but glad BeIn Sports didnt get EPL. Fios wont be adding it any time soon, and I've just signed up for 2 years.

[SirFozzie]

Holy shit, Arsenal with the mega comeback against Reading in the Capital One (read:League) Cup. From down 4-0, to 4-1 at the half,now leading 5-4

[cschex]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Holy shit, Arsenal with the mega comeback against Reading in the Capital One (read:League) Cup. From down 4-0, to 4-1 at the half,now leading 5-4

Final score 7-5 Arsenal

[MIJB#19]

7-5... That sounds like a 1950's score!