***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[jonessed]

They took the tests a month ago and they don't act on the results until after they played a game? What, are they applying for jobs with FIFA?

El Salvador has lodged a protest. I imagine there will be others. I don't know what the rules are, but I can't imagine they didn't know earlier.

 

[jonessed]

They took the tests a month ago and they don't act on the results until after they played a game? What, are they applying for jobs with FIFA?

ETA: Where did jones' post go?

Someone had already mentioned it.

Oh my. Can they replace these players?

[GOLD CUP] Mexico will be without five players, who have been suspended from its team playing at the Gold Cup after they failed a drug test taken on May 21.

Sinha, Francisco Rodriguez, Edgar Duenas, Christian Bermudez and Guillermo Ochoa are the five players who tested positive for taking the banned substance "Clembuterol".

Rodriguez and Ochoa started in the 5-0 win over El Salvador on Sunday.

Here's my link again that has a bit more detail:LA Times

 

[Mjolnirs]

I'm going to try and follow the Bundesliga more closely next season. ESPN3 has a lot of games available.

Planning to do this as well.

I'm intrigued by the Bundesliga as well, but Germans are scary people.

Welcome!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Barca budget at €45m: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/926957/barcelona-announce-%E2%82%AC45m-transfer-budget?cc=5901

Meet the Haves

I chose to follow Barca a few months ago, specifically because I'm stuck with several have-nots: The A's, the Warriors (I have hope that a move to SF will improve their fortunes), the Niners have been moribund for years.And it. Is. AWESOME. I wish I could've been born a Yankees fan, because it is great.

How can these teams run at such huge debt rates?The one great thing about the Bundesliga is I believe they have MUCH stricter rules on how teams run the business.

That has a huge impact on the competitiveness of the league. The Bundesliga has had seven different clubs finish in the top three over the past three years. 2009 champion Wolfsburg battled relegation this season. I'm going to try and follow the Bundesliga more closely next season. ESPN3 has a lot of games available.

It remains to be seen what effect the UEFA "Financial Fair Play" rules will have when they kick in after next season. If strictly enforced, I don't think many of the big clubs will be in compliance, outside the Bundesliga that is. The Bundesliga financial regulations are already a step ahead of UEFA on that account, and I think Bayern and the other big Germans clubs will benefit if UEFA strictly enforces the new rules when they become effective.

 

[Eephus]

Barca budget at €45m: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/926957/barcelona-announce-%E2%82%AC45m-transfer-budget?cc=5901

Meet the Haves

I chose to follow Barca a few months ago, specifically because I'm stuck with several have-nots: The A's, the Warriors (I have hope that a move to SF will improve their fortunes), the Niners have been moribund for years.And it. Is. AWESOME. I wish I could've been born a Yankees fan, because it is great.

How can these teams run at such huge debt rates?The one great thing about the Bundesliga is I believe they have MUCH stricter rules on how teams run the business.

That has a huge impact on the competitiveness of the league. The Bundesliga has had seven different clubs finish in the top three over the past three years. 2009 champion Wolfsburg battled relegation this season. I'm going to try and follow the Bundesliga more closely next season. ESPN3 has a lot of games available.

It remains to be seen what effect the UEFA "Financial Fair Play" rules will have when they kick in after next season. If strictly enforced, I don't think many of the big clubs will be in compliance, outside the Bundesliga that is. The Bundesliga financial regulations are already a step ahead of UEFA on that account, and I think Bayern and the other big Germans clubs will benefit if UEFA strictly enforces the new rules when they become effective.

The biggest question is whether the new financial rules will be a travesty or a farce

 

[NewlyRetired]

For Paul Scholes testimonial, Man U will be playing........wait for it..............wait for it.................The NY Cosmos

I kid not

Supposedly Cantona and Pele will be putting together a group of players from around the world to play under the Cosmos name.

 

[B Maverick]

For Paul Scholes testimonial, Man U will be playing........wait for it..............wait for it.................The NY CosmosI kid notSupposedly Cantona and Pele will be putting together a group of players from around the world to play under the Cosmos name.

I am so excited for this! I was hoping when i saw the headline that Cantona would put on the United jersey one more time to play in the game, but for now he is coaching the Cosmos vs SAF and United. How much would I LOVE to be at this game at OLD TRAFFORD!

 

[Eephus]

For Paul Scholes testimonial, Man U will be playing........wait for it..............wait for it.................The NY CosmosI kid notSupposedly Cantona and Pele will be putting together a group of players from around the world to play under the Cosmos name.

I am so excited for this! I was hoping when i saw the headline that Cantona would put on the United jersey one more time to play in the game, but for now he is coaching the Cosmos vs SAF and United. How much would I LOVE to be at this game at OLD TRAFFORD!

The Cosmos are an interesting marketing concept.

 

[B Maverick]

Looks like Phil Jones to United has hit a snag over fee.

ESPNsoccernet has learned that Blackburn value Jones far in excess of the £16 million offered by Manchester United to trigger what the champions believe is a release clause.

A Rovers insider told ESPNsoccernet that the player is "the nearest thing to a Tony Adams or John Terry" and that, in the view of Rovers, and their advisers put him in the £25 million category.

***

Meanwhile, Ashley Young, 25, is set to sign for Sir Alex Ferguson's side after he returns from holiday, ending his four-year spell in the Midlands. The Aston Villa winger has long been linked with a move away from the Birmingham outfit and is rumoured to have turned down a new contract at Villa Park.

The fee for the England international is thought to be around £16 million

 

[NewlyRetired]

For Paul Scholes testimonial, Man U will be playing........wait for it..............wait for it.................The NY CosmosI kid notSupposedly Cantona and Pele will be putting together a group of players from around the world to play under the Cosmos name.

I am so excited for this! I was hoping when i saw the headline that Cantona would put on the United jersey one more time to play in the game, but for now he is coaching the Cosmos vs SAF and United. How much would I LOVE to be at this game at OLD TRAFFORD!

The Cosmos are an interesting marketing concept.

Well we know they have no real money behind them (real money meaning a billionaire owner). But we also know they seem to be real from a grass roots aspect. If you look at the U17 World Cup roster, one of the players is from the Cosmos academy. My biggest worry has always been the same. I have no idea how the Cosmos can build in NY when the combined power of the Jets and Giants were not able to get it done.I would not doubt that an out reach like this testimonial is to continue to create brand awareness world wide perhaps in the hopes of landing a Russian sugar daddy some day.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Montreal is announcing it's kit sponsor tomorrow. 9 months from their MLS debut that is very impressive.

 

[Slapdash]

Zaragoza files for bankruptcyAssociated PressZARAGOZA, Spain -- First division Spanish soccer club Zaragoza is filing for protection from creditors under Spanish bankruptcy law.The team said Wednesday that it was in danger of a "cash flow" problem due to a debt of $146.57 million.The club said that its financial difficulties stemmed from its "relegation three seasons ago, and the economic effort made to return to the first division just one season later."The club said it had "been able to stabilize its debt by the end of the 2009-10 season, but it had been impossible to reduce it."Last season, Zaragoza barely escaped the drop again in the final round.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Is there no TV coverage of tonight's USMNT match?

 

[Christo]

Is there no TV coverage of tonight's USMNT match?

FSCCoverage starts at 6:30 CDT

 

[Mjolnirs]

Is there no TV coverage of tonight's USMNT match?

FSCCoverage starts at 6:30 CDT

Found the listing, thanks.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Is there no TV coverage of tonight's USMNT match?

I don't have FSC (yet), I will be brushing up on my Espanol tonight.

 

[El Floppo]

Is there no TV coverage of tonight's USMNT match?

I don't have FSC (yet), I will be brushing up on my Espanol tonight.

I'm not seeing it listed on Univsion, Spanish speaking etc... it's playing, not pre-empted/blacked-out by FSC?Is there an internet feed, just in case?

I'm not at home.

TIA.

 

[El Floppo]

Is there no TV coverage of tonight's USMNT match?

I don't have FSC (yet), I will be brushing up on my Espanol tonight.

I'm not seeing it listed on Univsion, Spanish speaking etc... it's playing, not pre-empted/blacked-out by FSC?Is there an internet feed, just in case?

I'm not at home.

TIA.

never mind- found it

 

[Steve Tasker]

God bless Amurrrrrrica

No letdowns tonight...

 

[El Floppo]

You Johnny-come-latelies sniffing around the Bundesliga get your own teams and stay away from my beloved team from Munich!

It is ironic that I have gotten so far away from the Bundesliga as us old guy like me and Floppo likely had our very first real soccer exposure on TV via the brilliant Soccer Made in Germany show on PBS hosted by Toby Charles.Some good memories herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTchs7zDGI

Toby Charles"That wasn't very far off target".... "It's in the back of the net!" ... 60 minute condensed version of the game of the week, back in the days of Rummenige, Maier, Voller, Maggath (I'm sure I'm butchering the names). yeah- my very first exposure to professional soccer... love, love, loved it.

 

[El Floppo]

I know I'm supposed to....but I really don't hate Mexico. I know we've talked about this in here before. When they play the US, I want the US to win by 10 goals, but I can't sit here watching them play Cuba and actively root against them. They're fun to watch, they have a number of exciting, talented players, and a ridiculous fanbase that I wish the USMNT had. I've found myself increasingly starting to pull for them in "neutral" games - World Cup, international friendlies, and the like.Am I a bad American?

Yes.I like some of their players too, but that team.... #### that team. All they do is ##### and moan when we beat them. They always have excuses and try to take any credit away from us they can. They are dirty as hell too. Remember Chicharito in the Argentina game? #### that little dweeb.

 

[El Floppo]

For Paul Scholes testimonial, Man U will be playing........wait for it..............wait for it.................The NY CosmosI kid notSupposedly Cantona and Pele will be putting together a group of players from around the world to play under the Cosmos name.

 

[El Floppo]

5 minutes in and this already a much tougher opponent, as expected, than Canada.

And there will be dives. Oh yes. There will be dives.

 

[El Floppo]

LD's touch pretty bad through 15

 

[Steve Tasker]

Jones should change his number. I watch him play and can't help but think about Ricardo Clark.

 

[Steve Tasker]

ooooooof

Can't say that goal wasn't deserved....US Has looked like absolute #### so far.

 

[LHUCKS]

starting lineup??

 

[Steve Tasker]

starting lineup??

Exactly the same as the Canada game.

 

[Christo]

ooooooofCan't say that goal wasn't deserved....US Has looked like absolute #### so far.

 

[whoknew]

So Jozy got a yellow there ... why?

 

[El Floppo]

So Jozy got a yellow there ... why?

because Count Dracula is from mexico

 

[El Floppo]

ooooooofCan't say that goal wasn't deserved....US Has looked like absolute #### so far.

I'll say that goal wasn't deserved. But yeah- the US looks like ####.Guys with good touch, can't even trap the ball, let alone pass or cross it (LD and Cherundolo)

 

[El Floppo]

#### me. mother ####er

 

[Steve Tasker]

This game is an abomination. :X

 

[El Floppo]

we are not going to have 55 minutes of Panama falling over and rolling around, with 10 guys behind the ball.

edit- "now" not "not"

... and so it begins.

 

[El Floppo]

phew! the GK is OK!!!!!

 

[Steve Tasker]

Eerily similar start to US/Slovenia...still a lot of game left

 

[El Floppo]

btw... even though Perez made a complete meal of it, clear PK call on Ream... wtf was he doing?

 

[El Floppo]

This is the difference between teams putting pressure on our MFs or not putting pressure on them (Canada)

 

[Christo]

#### me. mother ####er

 

[El Floppo]

Well... at least Jozy looks like he came to play.

 

[Christo]

I want one of them faux Ceylon Sapphire and simulated diamond rings that come in a hinged velveteen box!

 

[El Floppo]

Let's see if the US can pull some WC 2010 2nd half magic here.

 

[El Floppo]

So thinking about how to turn things around here...

I honestly don't see a sub on that bench that improves things. Ideas?

Not a lot of movement or useful runs off th ball going forward. Dempsey and LD pretty much useless so far.

 

[El Floppo]

And Mexico has to be laughing out loud at this performance by the US

 

[boubucarow]

So thinking about how to turn things around here...I honestly don't see a sub on that bench that improves things. Ideas?Not a lot of movement or useful runs off th ball going forward. Dempsey and LD pretty much useless so far.

They just don't have the instant creation of the bench, do they? A Feilhaber or Holden would be nice. Maybe Adu.

 

[El Floppo]

So thinking about how to turn things around here...I honestly don't see a sub on that bench that improves things. Ideas?Not a lot of movement or useful runs off th ball going forward. Dempsey and LD pretty much useless so far.

They just don't have the instant creation of the bench, do they? A Feilhaber or Holden would be nice. Maybe Adu.

I forgot all about Bedoya.But Sascha? oof. I'd rather see Edu swap out Jones

 

[El Floppo]

The US looks disinterested and very tired.

 

[Steve Tasker]

So thinking about how to turn things around here...I honestly don't see a sub on that bench that improves things. Ideas?Not a lot of movement or useful runs off th ball going forward. Dempsey and LD pretty much useless so far.

They just don't have the instant creation of the bench, do they? A Feilhaber or Holden would be nice. Maybe Adu.

Holden was my thought.Worst part about this, though, is that they could conceivably beat Guadeloupe, Canada beats Panama and the US gets matched up against Mexico in the QF....

 

[Steve Tasker]

Bedoya booked for diving in the box, trying to draw a PK. Clearly a dive. Good call.