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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (6 Viewers)

The US played their first game of the U17 World Cup and had a very strong first game.they easily handled the Czech Republic 3-0. All three US goals were very nice.Hopefully tomorrow some highlights will be put on YouTube and I can link them.The best US player was Alejandro Guido. The Mexican born player is both physically and playing style very reminiscent of Reyna.
Got through the first half last night and that first goal was awesome. Great shot.
ironically the left back actually looks fairly decent but he is also just a baby as the youngest player on the squad.
He was born in '95? :old:
 
Selling Villa to buy Cesc = major step down
It depends on how long they think they have Xavi for or what their plans are if he gets injured. I think it's a lot easier to replace the role Villa plays than the role Cesc/Xavi plays.
I see what you're saying, but I still think that by the time Xavi is truly over the hill, Cesc will be past his prime anyway. Xavi, despite his age, has to be considered a top 5 midfielder in the world (if not #1), and hasn't really, from what I've seen, shown any signs of slowing down.Villa is a world-class striker who would start for literally any team in the world. Cesc is an above-average player capable of starring for a good team like Arsenal, but I don't think he'd do well at Barcelona. I understand the whole "going home" aspect, but I just don't see him blowing up and being awesome for Barcelona. He barely gets time for the Spanish nats as it is, and he was (IMO, of course) a distant 3rd-best in the midfield behind a somewhat-unheralded Frenchman and a 19-year old.I really hate to say it, but I could see him going the way of Mathieu Flamini - which pains me to say, because Cesc is surely the better player. Yes, Flamini has carved out a nice role at Milan, but no one's confusing him with a superstar. And let's not forget Alex Hleb, who was Arsenal's best player (again, IMO) in his last season at the club and has floundered horribly at Barca. It's just a different world.Just my opinion....I don't mind so much if he does leave, because I think he's replaceable...I'd just hate to see him languishing on the bench and only getting the callup against bad league teams and cup games and being an 80th minute sub in the Champions League.
 
Selling Villa to buy Cesc = major step down
It depends on how long they think they have Xavi for or what their plans are if he gets injured. I think it's a lot easier to replace the role Villa plays than the role Cesc/Xavi plays.
I see what you're saying, but I still think that by the time Xavi is truly over the hill, Cesc will be past his prime anyway. Xavi, despite his age, has to be considered a top 5 midfielder in the world (if not #1), and hasn't really, from what I've seen, shown any signs of slowing down.Villa is a world-class striker who would start for literally any team in the world. Cesc is an above-average player capable of starring for a good team like Arsenal, but I don't think he'd do well at Barcelona. I understand the whole "going home" aspect, but I just don't see him blowing up and being awesome for Barcelona. He barely gets time for the Spanish nats as it is, and he was (IMO, of course) a distant 3rd-best in the midfield behind a somewhat-unheralded Frenchman and a 19-year old.I really hate to say it, but I could see him going the way of Mathieu Flamini - which pains me to say, because Cesc is surely the better player. Yes, Flamini has carved out a nice role at Milan, but no one's confusing him with a superstar. And let's not forget Alex Hleb, who was Arsenal's best player (again, IMO) in his last season at the club and has floundered horribly at Barca. It's just a different world.Just my opinion....I don't mind so much if he does leave, because I think he's replaceable...I'd just hate to see him languishing on the bench and only getting the callup against bad league teams and cup games and being an 80th minute sub in the Champions League.
I think Cesc fits much better with the Spanish style. I mean, if Barca thinks he is more important than Villa who am I to argue? They have half the Spanish team there. I generally find that to be a rather cheesy way to make an argument, but I don't think there are a whole lot of teams so connected to top flight world teams (outside of maybe AC Milan).If they don't pull Sanchez then I don't think the move makes sense, but if they grab Sanchez they instantly have the ability to shift Villa out. I think Pedro is the weaker link, but he is signigicantly younger than Villa.
 
Selling Villa to buy Cesc = major step down
It depends on how long they think they have Xavi for or what their plans are if he gets injured. I think it's a lot easier to replace the role Villa plays than the role Cesc/Xavi plays.
Cesc is no Xavi. You can see it in the small number of minutes that Cesc gets in la furia. Xavi is the dynamo that makes both of his teams into champion sides. It doesn't hurt that he has teammates that understand the tiqui-taca and play off him to perfection.
 
CHICAGO (June 20, 2011) – U.S. Men's National Team forward Jozy Altidore will undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday, June 21, to determine the extent of his injury. Altidore suffered a strained left hamstring in the ninth minute of the USA’s 2-0 victory against Jamaica on June 19 in the quarterfinal of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
 
Argh, I realize I'm a n00b, but I don't know about this. If they signed Sanchez and sold Villa, fine. Villa's a stud, but you get even younger and you have your starting forwards in place for awhile. Sanchez, Krkic, Pedro, and that other guy up front is obviously awesome.

But burning a ton of cash on Cesc when they haven't yet addressed the blue-line, and probably won't have much money to do so if Villa gets sold and Cesc comes on board...I dunno. 45-50mm is a lot to back up two of the best MF's in the world.

 
Argh, I realize I'm a n00b, but I don't know about this. If they signed Sanchez and sold Villa, fine. Villa's a stud, but you get even younger and you have your starting forwards in place for awhile. Sanchez, Krkic, Pedro, and that other guy up front is obviously awesome.But burning a ton of cash on Cesc when they haven't yet addressed the blue-line, and probably won't have much money to do so if Villa gets sold and Cesc comes on board...I dunno. 45-50mm is a lot to back up two of the best MF's in the world.
I'm sure I missed it somewhere but how did you become a soccer nerd and a Barca fan within the past 6 months or so?
 
Argh, I realize I'm a n00b, but I don't know about this. If they signed Sanchez and sold Villa, fine. Villa's a stud, but you get even younger and you have your starting forwards in place for awhile. Sanchez, Krkic, Pedro, and that other guy up front is obviously awesome.But burning a ton of cash on Cesc when they haven't yet addressed the blue-line, and probably won't have much money to do so if Villa gets sold and Cesc comes on board...I dunno. 45-50mm is a lot to back up two of the best MF's in the world.
I think if they sold Villa, they'd not only get Cesc, but also Rossi.
 
Argh, I realize I'm a n00b, but I don't know about this. If they signed Sanchez and sold Villa, fine. Villa's a stud, but you get even younger and you have your starting forwards in place for awhile. Sanchez, Krkic, Pedro, and that other guy up front is obviously awesome.But burning a ton of cash on Cesc when they haven't yet addressed the blue-line, and probably won't have much money to do so if Villa gets sold and Cesc comes on board...I dunno. 45-50mm is a lot to back up two of the best MF's in the world.
I'm sure I missed it somewhere but how did you become a soccer nerd and a Barca fan within the past 6 months or so?
Rooting for the A's and the Warriors is depressing and sad. I needed some light in my life, and I've always liked soccer, I've just never got into it that much other than WCs.
 
Selling Villa to buy Cesc = major step down
It depends on how long they think they have Xavi for or what their plans are if he gets injured. I think it's a lot easier to replace the role Villa plays than the role Cesc/Xavi plays.
Cesc is no Xavi. You can see it in the small number of minutes that Cesc gets in la furia. Xavi is the dynamo that makes both of his teams into champion sides. It doesn't hurt that he has teammates that understand the tiqui-taca and play off him to perfection.
Of course he's not Xavi. Who is? But Xavi is 31. It makes sense that they would start to work in a replacement.
 
Found an interesting factoid/ question on Twitter.

The US starters in the last game did not include one active MLS player. That has not happened often, if at all. Although of the 11 starters, MLS had a hand in developing 7 of them.

 
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The US played their first game of the U17 World Cup and had a very strong first game.they easily handled the Czech Republic 3-0. All three US goals were very nice.Hopefully tomorrow some highlights will be put on YouTube and I can link them.The best US player was Alejandro Guido. The Mexican born player is both physically and playing style very reminiscent of Reyna. ironically the left back actually looks fairly decent but he is also just a baby as the youngest player on the squad.Wilmer Cabrera has put together as extremely cosmopolitan group of young players. As such it is going to be very hard to get attached to this side as most of the better players are going to be attractive to numerous countries.
I just watched this. Was very impressed with the side. They showed creativity and a knack for scoring that is missed on the senior side. I agree that all three goals were impressive
 
The US played their first game of the U17 World Cup and had a very strong first game.they easily handled the Czech Republic 3-0. All three US goals were very nice.Hopefully tomorrow some highlights will be put on YouTube and I can link them.The best US player was Alejandro Guido. The Mexican born player is both physically and playing style very reminiscent of Reyna. ironically the left back actually looks fairly decent but he is also just a baby as the youngest player on the squad.Wilmer Cabrera has put together as extremely cosmopolitan group of young players. As such it is going to be very hard to get attached to this side as most of the better players are going to be attractive to numerous countries.
I just watched this. Was very impressed with the side. They showed creativity and a knack for scoring that is missed on the senior side. I agree that all three goals were impressive
I am looking forward to game 2. I think it is on at the same time as the Us Panama game but from what I can tell ESPNU is not showing the game live but Galavision is. I can't figure out when ESPNU is showing the game. Does anyone know when the ESPNU will be showing game 2?
 
Hell of a debate ongoing at the BigSoccer boards over whether the Jermaine Jones drawn foul and red card was a dive or not.

Someone posted this close-up video with slo-mo, and at the 0:35 mark, it clearly shows contact between Jermaine Taylor's knee and Jones' left ankle.

Vid

Cynical play by Jones? Yes. Did he oversell it like crazy? Perhaps. Was it correctly called a foul? I think so. And since it was preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity, you have to also give a red there. Anyone disagree?

 
Hell of a debate ongoing at the BigSoccer boards over whether the Jermaine Jones drawn foul and red card was a dive or not.

Someone posted this close-up video with slo-mo, and at the 0:35 mark, it clearly shows contact between Jermaine Taylor's knee and Jones' left ankle.

Vid

Cynical play by Jones? Yes. Did he oversell it like crazy? Perhaps. Was it correctly called a foul? I think so. And since it was preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity, you have to also give a red there. Anyone disagree?
It looked like a dive to me full speed live but even before the replay I knew there was contact by the reaction of the Jamaican player. He did not argue for even a second when the whistle blew and the red came out. He knew he made contact. And yes Jones did oversell it.
 
There was contact. It was a dive. The red was deserved.
agree. very, very, very slight contact.but Jones went into that run knowing he wasn't going to outrun the defender- did a great job positioning himself between the last defender and the goal. and when that last touch went straight to Ricketts and he could see/feel the tackle coming in, I fully believe he made the decision to go down (funny how much input you can process as a player in that split second in a game) . Regardless of whether there was that minimal contact, the forethought made it dive. The arched back shot-by-sniper post contact reaction... after taking a step or two post-contact, mind you- that makes it ugh.the Jamaica player knew going into the tackle that he was done- he was the last man and Jones was in on the keeper. the ref knew that the guy was done before the minimal contact. the whole viewing audience knew he was done at the start of the tackle. it would've needed a complete whiff for there not to be a red there. but that doesn't make Jones' actions any less disgusting to me.eta: also almost looks like he left his foot back there a millisecond to see if he could draw contact after knowing the guy went into the tackle.
 
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There was contact. It was a dive. The red was deserved.
Watching the replay I disagree. There was enough contact to justify the foul, but when the contact was made, I don't think it was a clear goal scoring opportunity. Jones' last touch was too far ahead, that he no longer had control of the ball and was unlikely to get another touch even if there was no foul. The likelihood of keeping or maintaining the ball is a factor for the official to consider.
 
Mexico was allowed to replace the 5 suspended players, from Ives

As Mexico prepares for its Gold Cup semifinal game against Honduras, it has reinforcements in tow.Coach Jose Manuel de la Torre has called upon defenders Paul Aguilar (pictured above), Hector Reynoso and Hiram Mier to take the place of their suspended teammates for the remainder of the Gold Cup.Mexico U-22 goalkeeper Luis Mitchel and attacker Marco Fabian, part of the team that Mexico is sending to Copa America, are in Colombia with the U-22s but are on-call should they be needed for the Gold Cup.Aguilar, a right back, is the most experienced of the trio joining the team immediately, as he was on Mexico's roster for last summer's World Cup. Mier and Reynoso, both centerbacks with little to no senior international experience, will provide more depth to a defensive unit that lacked backups at each position after the suspensions.FIFA and CONCACAF gave Mexico the green light to replace Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Edgar Duenas, Sinha and Christian Bermudez after they followed a positive test for banned substance clenbuterol with a negative test a few weeks later.Their cases are still under investigation, but Mexico was permitted to replace them for the remainder of the tournament.
 
'NewlyRetired said:
'AcerFC said:
The US played their first game of the U17 World Cup and had a very strong first game.they easily handled the Czech Republic 3-0. All three US goals were very nice.Hopefully tomorrow some highlights will be put on YouTube and I can link them.The best US player was Alejandro Guido. The Mexican born player is both physically and playing style very reminiscent of Reyna. ironically the left back actually looks fairly decent but he is also just a baby as the youngest player on the squad.Wilmer Cabrera has put together as extremely cosmopolitan group of young players. As such it is going to be very hard to get attached to this side as most of the better players are going to be attractive to numerous countries.
I just watched this. Was very impressed with the side. They showed creativity and a knack for scoring that is missed on the senior side. I agree that all three goals were impressive
I am looking forward to game 2. I think it is on at the same time as the Us Panama game but from what I can tell ESPNU is not showing the game live but Galavision is. I can't figure out when ESPNU is showing the game. Does anyone know when the ESPNU will be showing game 2?
Found the info I was looking for. Looks to be a 24 hour delay on ESPNU for the Wednesday game. I will record on Galavision which is showing game live. US game is at 4:00pm.
 
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Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl)

6/21/11 11:32 AM

USA-Jamaica was 1st official game without a single US starter from MLS since league started in 1996 (138 games, friendlies excluded).

 
The British Olympic Association announced that they have reached and agreement with all 4 home nations to put out a combined Great Britain team in the Olympics.

And right on cue, the Scottish and Welch FA's put out an immediate statement basically saying that the British Olympic Association is full of it.

 
The British Olympic Association announced that they have reached and agreement with all 4 home nations to put out a combined Great Britain team in the Olympics. And right on cue, the Scottish and Welch FA's put out an immediate statement basically saying that the British Olympic Association is full of it.
Welsh
 
I have almost zero interest in the Women's World Cup but this is too funny not to mention :)

Equatorial Guinea, making their debut at the Women's World Cup, have dropped two of their star players - Salimata and Bilguisa Simpore - ahead of the tournament.

The sisters were key players for the Guinean side at the 2010 African Women's Championship in South Africa, but were hit by controversy after they were accused of being men by members of the Ghana side. Salimata was also accused of having played for both Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast before.

Black Queens' captain Florence Okoe said at the time: "It is not as if we are throwing sour grapes, just because we have lost. Rather, this is the fact and it is up to the organisers to do something about this. It is not good for African women's football.''

Ghana team-mate Diana Ankomah added: ''You only need to have physical contact with them to know this, and we can tell from what happened most times during the match."

The allegations have never been proven and CAF have refused to comment on the matter, but question marks remain over the pair's withdrawal from the tournament.
 
Scots and Welsh angered over Team GB 'deal'LONDON - Scotland and Wales reacted with anger and surprise on Tuesday after the British Olympic Association trumpeted a 'historic agreement' to end a 52-year absence and enter British football teams in next year's London Games.The BOA made what it called a 'landmark' announcement a day after Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan stated publicly Scotland's continuing opposition to being involved with any British team.A spokesman for the Welsh FA, who have also been against their players joining a British team, said the BOA statement appeared to be "just a rehashing of old news and bits and pieces" and came 'completely out of the blue"."There is no new agreement signed or any deals reached," Ceri Stennett told Reuters. "The status quo remains the same."The BOA said the men's and women's sides would be selected and managed by the English FA."Consistent with requirements set out in the Olympic Charter, the selection criteria will be entirely non-discriminatory," it added."Players from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other territories which fall under the BOA's remit as an NOC, who meet the approved competitive standard will be eligible for consideration and selection."The BOA said the FA had consulted with the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland associations to develop the selection criteria and timeline."It has been a long, six-year journey to get to this point, with very real considerations from the Home Nations that first had to be recognised, respected and resolved," said BOA chief executive Andy Hunt."We absolutely respect the participation of the Home Nations as individual nations at all other football events," he added."I want to express my appreciation to all four Football Associations for their recognition of just how meaningful it will be for Team GB to compete in football in London 2012."A 'long list' of potential players will be drawn up later this year, with those included asked to confirm their interest and availability to compete. The announcement of both squads will be made next summer.The BOA added that all four nations had received a written assurance from FIFA that participation in the Games would not compromise their ability to enter their own national teams for other FIFA-sanctioned tournaments.The debate over the participation of players from Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland in a British team has simmered since the Games were awarded to London in 2005.The three associations fear they will lose their independent status within FIFA if they allow their players to take part, despite their membership being enshrined in FIFA's statutes.Regan made clear in an interview on the SFA website on Monday that Scotland's position had not changed."We are opposed to taking part in Team GB," he said."We need to protect our identity and have no interest in taking part."I guess Andy [Hunt] is under a great deal of pressure from the London Olympic Games Organising Committee and the IOC to get tickets on sale for the football events," added Regan.The second round of British ticket sales for London 2012 starts on Friday, with 1.7 million of the remaining 2.3 million tickets on offer being for the men's and women's football tournaments.Some of those matches will be held in Cardiff and Glasgow, where sales have reportedly been slow given the likely absence of home-grown players.Britain last competed in the men's tournament in Rome in 1960 and won gold medals in 1900, 1908 and 1912. The women have never before taken part in a Games.
 
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AMSTERDAM — Dutch power PSV Eindhoven are among a flock of European clubs currently scouting New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream, MLSsoccer.com has learned.Though Ream’s agent would not confirm interest from any specific suitors, a source close to PSV informed MLSsoccer.com that the 21-time Dutch champions have been monitoring the center back for more than a year."Tim is attracting interest across Europe," Ream rep Patrick McCabe told MLSsoccer.com. "There's not a league over there that doesn't have teams watching him."The Red Bulls, when contacted by MLSsoccer.com, also declined to confirm any specific approaches for Ream or any other members of the squad.“Teams around the world are following our players and we receive inquiries about them on a regular basis; however, our policy is not to comment on specific transfer rumors,” GM Erik Solér said. “In addition, our focus is on continuing to build our team and not on selling players at this time."While thoughts of a chase for European glory are always tempting for young American players, Ream, 23, is apparently in no hurry to hop the pond."He wants to play in Europe eventually, but that is something we will take a step at a time," stated McCabe. "This is not something that is in the forefront of Tim's mind. He is focused on the Red Bulls and the US national team right now."Ream, currently with the US national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, has started 41 consecutive MLS matches since being drafted in 2010. Last season, he played every regular-season minute and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year.
 
The British Olympic Association announced that they have reached and agreement with all 4 home nations to put out a combined Great Britain team in the Olympics. And right on cue, the Scottish and Welch FA's put out an immediate statement basically saying that the British Olympic Association is full of it.
Welsh
Stotcheta: dammit- Scotch.
 
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Jones did not get credit for the defected goal. Official scoring has it as an own goal.

I tend to disagree with this in general. Any shot that is on net and gets deflected should still be an offensive goal. Own goals should be limited to plays where the ball could never have gone in the net even with an empty goal unless the defender touched it.

 
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Jones did not get credit for the defected goal. Official scoring has it as an own goal. I tend to disagree with this in general. Any shot that is on net and gets deflected should still be an offensive goal. Own goals should be limited to plays where the ball could never have gone in the net even with an empty goal unless the defender touched it.
:goodposting: Totally agree. Shot on frame should count for the shooter. Shot off frame, or crossed in, or anything'd in that takes a deflection and goes in counts as an own goal. Hell- I'm even open to giving the shooter of an off-frame shot the goal.IIRC, offensively players also get credit for the goals off of deflections- ie: I take a shot and it hits my team-mate Z in the butt and goes in. As I understand it, Z gets the goal... although somebody tell me if I'm wrong here. If not, that's something I'd like changed as well.
 
When's the move to beautiful Baltimore, Z?

We spend a bit of time on the MD shore near Ocean City. Lot's of pick-up trucks, fat asses, and Ravens paraphernalia.

 
When's the move to beautiful Baltimore, Z?We spend a bit of time on the MD shore near Ocean City. Lot's of pick-up trucks, fat asses, and Ravens paraphernalia.
We depart the Bay on July 3rd. Will arrive in B'more around the 9th. Although right now we don't have a sublet (long story) so we'll be going to Philly to live short-term with my MIL. Then I have my first job in B'more... get to know the neighborhoods and find permanent digs.I can't wait to go to the shore. I'm sure it's just like the beaches in CA and HI that I'm used to...BTW, if anyone knows a place in Baltimore that I can sublet (furnished) for under $2k/month for 2 months, let me know...
 
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My buddy just started a job in Baltimore. Got a place in Annapolis until he finds something he likes in Baltimore. Not super close, but much nicer.

 
My buddy just started a job in Baltimore. Got a place in Annapolis until he finds something he likes in Baltimore. Not super close, but much nicer.
For some reason I don't mind inner city grit (right now). Hell, I lived in Atlanta and Oakland and found good neighborhoods in-town in which to live. I hope I can do the same in Baltimore...I hate commuting more than gunfire and glass breaking in the middle of the night.
 
Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl)

6/21/11 11:32 AM

USA-Jamaica was 1st official game without a single US starter from MLS since league started in 1996 (138 games, friendlies excluded).
It shows the progress of the US players in conjunction with the MLS attracting more international players
Are you insinuating that the MLS is an inferior league? Sick 'em Andy! :boxing:
Lol, I agree for the most part regarding the starters in the Jamaica game. Only ones I would quibble with are Bedoya (Sweden), Goodson (Denmark), and maybe Sacha (Belgium). All the rest are clearly in leagues of superior quality. And just as importantly for players like Bedoya, Goodson and Sacha, they are with teams that will pay them significantly more than MLS would.

Don't for a second dismiss the money aspect. I would bet my retirement that more than a few of these players would be in MLS if they were paid the same amount of money.

 
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