Soccer Thread 2013-14

[MrBug708]

Actively was too strong

Auditioning is a better word

[MrBug708]

We need some Bacon!

[bulletsponge]

Mexico look lost

[bulletsponge]

YES dos a cero!

[bulletsponge]

im heading over to big soccer to read the mexican forums!

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

We need some Bacon!

[Grover]

I have a serious man crush on Mix.

[MrBug708]

Luis Gil ?@luisitogil21 1m
Oh yeaaaaaaaaa!!! #USA

Jozy Altidore ?@JozyAltidore 2m
Dos a cero #USMNT #USAvMEX

Stuart Holden ?@stuholden 58s
Landon has a real eye for the goal!!! Ledge!!!

[SirFozzie]

That First goal, the Mexico player was basically bearhugging someone near the goalline, didn't matter.

Second goal, DOS A CERO.. it had to be

[MrBug708]

Hope Mexico likes New Zealand.

How many U17 players are going to play in the last two games?

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Hope Mexico likes New Zealand.

How many U17 players are going to play in the last two games?

ummm...... they will need to play a lot better than they have been to get there

[MrBug708]

Not going to cry if we lose to Panama

Jamaica tied it up, the USA moves to the top again

[MrBug708]

Ian Darke with the classy use of the word lynch...lol

[MrBug708]

"We're better than them. There's no doubt about that"

- Andres Guardado

[bulletsponge]

awww tres e cero?

[Grover]

Oh Deuce!

[bulletsponge]

nope, gotta keep that dos a cero record intact

[kingfc22]

Please let Donovan take PK's going forward.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Please let Donovan take PK's going forward.

Yup

[bulletsponge]

panama just tied up honduras. not good for us, but great if you want to see the mexicans squirm

[DaddyTorgo]

Was watching with my dad, so didn't post obviously.

First half was dicey, didn't think they played great TBH, but they held in there.

EJ with the goal really changed the complexion of the match and Diskerud really made that last goal with his gorgeous 2nd touch as he was headed towards the end-line.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Please let Donovan take PK's going forward.

Yeah, seriously

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

panama just tied up honduras. not good for us, but great if you want to see the mexicans squirm

I'm rooting for Panama. We'd basically be qualified regardless, and it'd be great to see Mexico in 5th this late in the hex.

[MrBug708]

We play Panama and Jamaica still. We are in barring pretty much the world ending.

[BishopMVP]

Current table

US 16
CR 15
Honduras 11 (GD 0)
Mexico 8 (GD -2)
Panama 8 (GD -2)
Jamaica 4

Last 2 fixtures

(October 11)
CR @ Honduras
Panama @ Mexico
Jamaica @ US

(October 15)
Mexico @ CR
Honduras @ Jamaica
US @ Panama

[cartman]

Honduras just scored

[cartman]

Panama just tied it up in first minute of stoppage time

[Jon]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

panama just tied up honduras. not good for us, but great if you want to see the mexicans squirm

Only bad if Panama wins.

[Easy Mac]

US 16
CR 15
Honduras 11
Mexico 8
Panama 8
Jamaica 4

Next round is huge for seeding and for keeping Mexico out of the world cup. If we can beat Jamaica and Honduras beat Costa Rica, we can just lay down for Panama and hope Costa Rica takes care of Mexico.

[SirFozzie]

Status entering the final two rounds

USA 16 (Qualified)
Costa Rica 15 (Qualified)
Honduras 11 (0)
--------Automatic Qualifiers---------
Panama 8 (-2)
-------Playoff with New Zealand-----
Mexico 8 (-2)
Jamaica 4 (-6)

Final Two rounds of games (Home team listed first)

October 11th
USA-Jamaica
Honduras-Costa Rica
Mexico-Panama

That's right, basically a winner take all showdown at the Azteca

October 15th
Costa Rica-Mexico
Jamaica-Honduras
Panama-USA

Wouldn't it be great if Mexico had to rely on the USA to take the playoff spot?

[bigdawg2003]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Actively was too strong

Auditioning is a better word

Everton's previous #2 GK Mucha left the team in the summer, so they were always going to bring in another decent keeper in the summer window.

Robles wasn't in Atletico's plans and since Martinez was familiar with him from Wigan, it made a lot of sense.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

He generally has feet made out of cement and more than half the goals scored on him, that I have seen, he doesnt even try for. Timmy is playing for the highlight reel reaction save at this point in his career. His reading of the game is terrible and his complete lack of leadership skills is a a concern given our constant back line shuffling.

I can agree Guzan looks to have slightly better reaction time by now, but can't say I see this complete lack of leadership from Howard back there. Like you said, it's a constantly rotating back line and they've got 3 shutouts in the last 4 WCQ games with Howard (the exception being at CR... where we've never won). Guzan played well in the 2 games in March, and I wouldn't be worried having him replace Howard in case of injury or card accumulation, but I'm gonna have to see more before taking the spot away from arguably our best, most consistent player of the cycle to give to a goalie who only cemented his starting job last year.

[SirFozzie]

So, it looks like for the winner take all game with Panama, Mexico will have a new coach, again:

Victor Manuel Vucetich to be named 3rd manager of Mexican national team of past week, according to ESPN & media reports.

[SirFozzie]

Cape Verde thrown out of African WCQ final round for fielding a suspended player (the game was reclassified as a 3-0 win for the opponent, which meant Tunisia qualified instead of them)

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Cape Verde thrown out of African WCQ final round for fielding a suspended player (the game was reclassified as a 3-0 win for the opponent, which meant Tunisia qualified instead of them)

It gets funkier: the suspended player got suspended for a red card given in a game that had the result nullified as well, as opponent Equatorial Guinea fielded an illegal player on their own.

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

It gets funkier: the suspended player got suspended for a red card given in a game that had the result nullified as well, as opponent Equatorial Guinea fielded an illegal player on their own.

wat

[MrBug708]

Report: FIFA investigating incident between USMNT's Matt Besler, Costa Rica's Joel Campbell | MLSsoccer.com

Pinto followed news that Campbell is set to be investigated with this response: "It worries me and makes me angry, because of the illegal gesture from the US of placing cameras behind the coaching staff. They can't refute that, but we shouldn't have allowed that. It's a camera that confuses the rule.

"It is an agressive and resented act from the US," Pinto continued. "I don't think Mexico is interested in anything like that, with all the problems they have on top"

It gets better though. FIFA is investigating Costa Rica drowning out our anthem or something along that lines.

The possible repercussions?

A Costa Rican official said FIFA could potentially force Los Ticos to play their next home qualifier, against Mexico, in an empty stadium.

[sovereignstar v2]

Wow, first I've seen of the Campbell incident. Arsenal should be proud to have him.

[sovereignstar v2]

Some players just never learn. Cheating against Palace at home, wow.

[rowech]

Arsenal is an absolute mess.

[kingfc22]

Excellent strike by Ramsey. Hopefully that turns the game back around.

[kingfc22]

Ref blew that call. Wow

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Wow, first I've seen of the Campbell incident. Arsenal should be proud to have him.

We aren't. Most Arsenal fans are disgusted by him and don't want to see him in the shirt because of it.


Another garbage penalty awarded against Arsenal today, then the ref screws up and takes away a clean Sunderland goal. Go figure.

[MrBug708]

[rowech]

Great reverse jinx.

[Grover]

Jozy really deserved that goal. His strength against Sagna was fantastic to watch. I still think going to Sunderland may have been the wrong move for him in a World Cup year, but hopefully this team starts to gel.

[whomario]

Özil definitely showed what he brings to the table offensively. As much as he sometimes pisses me off with his lack of effort and lack of "involvement", he´s just amazing on the ball and has that special sense for when and how to pass the ball.

[Marc Vaughan]

I thought the Jozy decision was awful - definitely should have stood.

That being said I thought creativity Arsenal were very very good today, they should have scored double the goals they got - Walcott was especially wasteful today and seemed very casual with his chances.

Defensively however Arsenal remain somewhat dubious at times, especially against set-pieces.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

I thought the Jozy decision was awful - definitely should have stood.

That being said I thought creativity Arsenal were very very good today, they should have scored double the goals they got - Walcott was especially wasteful today and seemed very casual with his chances.

Defensively however Arsenal remain somewhat dubious at times, especially against set-pieces.

Their midfield is so much fun to watch.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by rowech

Their midfield is so much fun to watch.

One of the things I love watching them is their patience, they'll do probing triangle passes a few times (normally they'll setup a triangle if you look) while they attempt to find a run or pull defenders out of positions and then they'll ping a ball through .... lovely to watch.

Defensively on set-pieces they play an incredibly rigid zonal defense, I think that in itself would be ok as a base however they need a disruptive physical player to prevent a mass of players running 'onto' their zonal positions (ie. someone to stand with the most threatening players attempting to break that zonal system and disrupt their running by competing for their position, just standing 'goal side' of that person effectively prevents them from timing their run in etc. .. you don't have to be 'huge' to do this, just aware of the threat).