Soccer Thread 2015-16

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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

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

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

[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]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Foxes getting big club decisions

[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]

Originally Posted by Critch

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

[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.