The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
Zanetti must somehow be related to Maldini - that guy still plays at a high level at his age.
The youtube feed mentioned above has English commentary.anyone know where this ####### game is being televised in English? After watching most of the gold cup in spanish...I'd really like to watch this one in english![]()
Keita is the primary backup for Xavi and Iniesta now with Thiago behind him(probably more of an even split this year). If Cesc comes, it will be hard to see Thiago getting the time to develop. I think the development of Thiago is too important to the club to see him languish on the bench; it is eerie how similar he looks to Xavi when conducting the midfield. I take the extention and high release as a sign that Barcelona is planning to move forward with Thiago as the hier to the midfield engine. I could still see Cesc happening if they unloaded Keita, but I don't know why they would do that. Keita has been very valuable for the club and led the team in appearances last season. I know the talent gap between Cesc and Keita is supposed to be pretty large, but the performance contrast is not enough to justify paying Arsenal's asking price IMO.Ok- Barca fans... the way I see the above, Cesc is competing with just Xavi and Iniesta, since the other guys play different roles in the MF than he does. So I don't see how Thiago re-upping changes anything... correct me please.Thiago extended his contract 2 years and has a buyout of 90 million so he's not going anywhere. That should be the end of the Cesc back to Barca rumors.
With Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets starting and Keita, Mascherano, and Thiago as backups there is no room for Cesc.
on the flip side, my entire college soccer team was better athletes than just about our entire college football team. caveat: we were a top 10 side, and our football team set the then record for consecutive losses (spanning 4 years).but the "best athlete" argument... don't think it holds that much weight, although it does hold a little. look at the top 3 players in the world this year: Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Not exactly guys you'd look at on the street and say "world class athlete". Different sports have different skill sets that allow for different types of athleticism... which is kind of a "duh" statement.There's a guy that plays on our company soccer team that before last year, had never played any sort of competitive soccer. He was however, a D-1 baseball player. In the 1 1/2 years that I have played with him, the touch he has on the ball, his field awareness and nose for the goal is astounding. I'm truly amazed that despite being a great overall athlete, he was able to pick up soccer so quickly. It doesn't hurt that he has some pretty good speed to add to the equation.If we're losing our best athletes to other sports, it then follows that the best soccer players could've excelled in other sports had they been corralled that way at a young age. Some of them probably could, but others -- and I'd even say many -- do not. As was mentioned above, I think there are some athletes who are uniquely gifted at soccer, and not so much at other sports. And certainly there are a lot of guys who can kind of play everything, but America should have enough of the former, along with the resources of being a First World country, to excel globally.
A side-bar of the suburban, middle-class kids playing syndrome... everything is regimented into teams/practice/travel based around a lot of driving and getting to fields. There's just not enough pick-up play (outside of immigrants) around the country. Disclaimer- I'm basing my own real-life view of this based on a cross-country trip taken 20 years ago... I'm hoping against hope that there's more happening these days, but at least in NYC, I'm not seeing it for kids.When I grew up, we used to play all kinds of pickup baseball/football/basketball wherever we could, with however many people on whatever kind of surface or space: street, playground, whatever. That same thing goes on for soccer around the world, but I've yet to see it here for kids and soccer. It's probably a horse-before-the-cart kind of thing, but if we can get kids playing for fun, on their own, we will start generating better players and from more diverse backgrounds (expanding the "best athlete" pool).'El Floppo said:Probably the wrong time for it, but here's some of my thoughts on US soccer.
Hard to tell whether it will ever be more than a niche sport, as the NHL is. One major- MAJOR- difference is that hockey has a long, rich foothold here so that generations of Americans have grown up playing and watching the sport at a very high (world-wide comparative) level. This provides fathers and sons with immediate bonding over playing and watching, and allows for generations old rivalries. The first game my dad and I ever even saw live was MY first game- when I was 10. He was pretty clueless about the sport, even though my full immersion dragged him into to it too. That time (late 70s) was the time that just about every kid around the country started to play... with similar preparation as I had- essentially 2 generations of soccer players since the void. MLS itself isn't even a generation old and needs time- a lot of time- to allow for that kind of following and participation. We're talking at least another generation, so that the kids who are coming up now with soccer as a viable professional sport are old enough to be in positions of power to govern where the money goes (advertsiing/TV/sponsorship/etc).
But then will MLS ever be able to compete with the big three? As somebody else pointed out, 50+ years ago, Football and Basketball weren't even really considered part of that group, so over time we're bound to see shifts. IMO, that shift has already started- when MLS started, it really was just soccer nerds like Andy and myself along with immigrants who grew up generationally with the passion for the sport (c: 1st paragraph). But as this thread has seen, there are a lot of non-soccer guys who have started to develop an interest. IMO, that the interest is directed towards foreign shores doesn't detract- the interest is there, and getting a chance to share games with our kids will perpetuate the interest. Don't underestimate the importance of this, or just how new it is.
The main factor for a shift will always be $$. Teh 'best athlete' argument goes towards cultural identity/history, but it also goes towards pure finance. In my lifetime, soccer has been a suburban, middle-class sport which attracts those kids with the space and means to get on teams that travel. Just about anywhere else, soccer is the sport of the poor, which is seen as a way up and out of poverty (in combination with being the culturally primary sport, c: paragraph 2). I know this isn't a new thought, but the US needs to find a way to get poor kids of all colors playing. The only way that can really happen is if there's money- baseball/football/basketball money- in MLS.
I had thought the money might come when my generation was grandfatherly, so that our sons' sons were professional age. This would allow the people with the money and power to have grown up playing the sport and knowing the sport. I hadn't really thought how important it was to not only play the sport but to also watch the sport played at a high level. Again- IMO- it's another generation or two of the MLS (20-40 years) before that kind of cultural identity sinks in to fully draw the money and interest. Hopefully that's in my lifetime.
Until then, I'll hang onto the hope that the US gets a similar draw in the WC as they had in 2010 and can find a player or two to rise above mediocrity (on a world-wide level) to put them through difficult games.
I hope this makes sense.. let me know if anything needs more development- Ive thought it through but am running out of steam here. I'm sure I'm going to look tomorrow and want to completely revise or majorly flesh this out.
In Phoenix there has been significantly more pickup play, that doesn't include more clubs per capita, more players as a percentage of capita, more parks with dedicated soccer fields.I don't understand why everybody expects us to be Brazil overnight...it'll take time, like almost every other sport.It's progressing rapidly IMHO.A side-bar of the suburban, middle-class kids playing syndrome... everything is regimented into teams/practice/travel based around a lot of driving and getting to fields. There's just not enough pick-up play (outside of immigrants) around the country. Disclaimer- I'm basing my own real-life view of this based on a cross-country trip taken 20 years ago... I'm hoping against hope that there's more happening these days, but at least in NYC, I'm not seeing it for kids.When I grew up, we used to play all kinds of pickup baseball/football/basketball wherever we could, with however many people on whatever kind of surface or space: street, playground, whatever. That same thing goes on for soccer around the world, but I've yet to see it here for kids and soccer. It's probably a horse-before-the-cart kind of thing, but if we can get kids playing for fun, on their own, we will start generating better players and from more diverse backgrounds (expanding the "best athlete" pool).Does anybody know of any initiatives that promote or provide for this? Kind of defeats the purpose/intent if there are programs or initiatives to generate it, but at least it's something...
The pickup games in Phoenix- are these kids, or adults (probably immigrants given the proximity to the border?)? Big distinction in my point above, and I'd be excited to hear you say you were seeing an increase of kids knocking a ball around at parks or in the streets.eta: and I don't think anybody here is expecting the US to be Brazil- we all just want to see the US keep showing clear sings they are progressing. ANd to be honest, there's been a tremendous increase in depth, but the overall quality of the starting 11 hasn't progressed much in the last 10 years.In Phoenix there has been significantly more pickup play, that doesn't include more clubs per capita, more players as a percentage of capita, more parks with dedicated soccer fields.I don't understand why everybody expects us to be Brazil overnight...it'll take time, like almost every other sport.It's progressing rapidly IMHO.A side-bar of the suburban, middle-class kids playing syndrome... everything is regimented into teams/practice/travel based around a lot of driving and getting to fields. There's just not enough pick-up play (outside of immigrants) around the country. Disclaimer- I'm basing my own real-life view of this based on a cross-country trip taken 20 years ago... I'm hoping against hope that there's more happening these days, but at least in NYC, I'm not seeing it for kids.When I grew up, we used to play all kinds of pickup baseball/football/basketball wherever we could, with however many people on whatever kind of surface or space: street, playground, whatever. That same thing goes on for soccer around the world, but I've yet to see it here for kids and soccer. It's probably a horse-before-the-cart kind of thing, but if we can get kids playing for fun, on their own, we will start generating better players and from more diverse backgrounds (expanding the "best athlete" pool).Does anybody know of any initiatives that promote or provide for this? Kind of defeats the purpose/intent if there are programs or initiatives to generate it, but at least it's something...
His haircut is pretty cool, looks like Robinho and Alves are copying him. His play today wasn't good at all, looks like the pressure got to him, lots of mistakes. You saw the explosion but had a lot of small little things he did wrong. Hopefully he will improve through out the tourney.Pato hits the post - Brazil has been on the doorstep in the first 30 minutes but hasn't converted yet. Also interesting was that a dog wandered on to the field.And Neymar needs a new haircut - that roadkill on top of his dome is awful.
I've got to assume that's some kind of Venezuelan something or other.Great result for them... and amazing sliding block with the shoulder on a sure goal.La vino tinto!
well ####.Is the start of an Inter fire-sale?
That would be a pretty sick back line.
I've got to assume that's some kind of Venezuelan something or other.Great result for them... and amazing sliding block with the shoulder on a sure goal.La vino tinto!
Play of the game. Live it looked like it got blocked with the arm, but replays showed it was the shoulder.Doesn't Sergio Ramos already play RB? Seems a bit strange to load up on 2 of the 3 best RBs in the world, especially when the new one isn't so new.That would be a pretty sick back line.
I know I heard earlier that his agent was spreading rumors he was unhappy. Chelsea has been linked to him.Doesn't Sergio Ramos already play RB? Seems a bit strange to load up on 2 of the 3 best RBs in the world, especially when the new one isn't so new.That would be a pretty sick back line.
Brazil looked pretty impotent in the second half. They pressed well in the first half but looked lost for ideas in the second half.Didn't get to watch the game as I'm currently at a dairy queen in elko Nevada on a cross country drive.Vino tinto refers to the traditional team color for Venezuela. It means "red wine". Currently wearing their Jersey too. Let's see if they can make it out of group. Stealing a point from Brazil is a nice achievement.
If they end up playing Bolivia....Didn't get to watch the game as I'm currently at a dairy queen in elko Nevada on a cross country drive.Vino tinto refers to the traditional team color for Venezuela. It means "red wine". Currently wearing their Jersey too. Let's see if they can make it out of group. Stealing a point from Brazil is a nice achievement.

Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez wants to leave the Premier League club for personal reasons, the Argentine said in a statement to media on Monday.Tevez, who joined City from arch-rivals Manchester United in 2009, had said in December he wanted to quit City, before withdrawing his transfer request a few days later."It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club," the striker said in Monday's statement."
I'm surprised it took him this long.Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez wants to leave the Premier League club for personal reasons, the Argentine said in a statement to media on Monday.Tevez, who joined City from arch-rivals Manchester United in 2009, had said in December he wanted to quit City, before withdrawing his transfer request a few days later."It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club," the striker said in Monday's statement."
I've seen both sides of this, I think. I grew up in a predominantly white, middle class suburb. It was a very soccer-heavy town for kids - high school (and younger) football and basketball really weren't big here...everyone played baseball and soccer in the summer, and once you were basically good enough to specialize, you'd pick. We were perennial contenders in local travel leagues, the high school has won some state class A titles, and our premier level team had 6/18 players from my town (for perspective, the town has approx. 20,000 in a 1 million person metropolitan area). I can honestly say that I never played pickup soccer when growing up. Every once in awhile, I'd kick it around with friends...but we'd more often play pickup basketball than we would soccer. As far as I know...my good friend's little brothers are good players growing up in the same town, it hasn't changed.I currently live in a very poor, largely immigrant neighborhood. I live a block from a city park with a beat up soccer field...rocky terrain, poorly lined, goalframes with no nets. There are kids ranging in age from ~8-17 playing pickup out there every day of the week. There's really 3 main immigrant groups in the neighborhood - Puerto Rican (first and foremost), Burmese (with some other southeast Asians), and Somalian (with some other Africans). The kids who play soccer are only the Burmese and the Somalians. I've lived here for a year, and I can honestly say that I've never seen either a white kid or a Puerto Rican kid out there.What this says about the state of soccer in America, I have no idea. I'm honestly considering starting a non-profit organization to help these kids out financially, maybe set-up a club and get some nets, proper field lining, better equipment, etc....because it's clear that these kids really have no guidance but love the game.The pickup games in Phoenix- are these kids, or adults (probably immigrants given the proximity to the border?)? Big distinction in my point above, and I'd be excited to hear you say you were seeing an increase of kids knocking a ball around at parks or in the streets.eta: and I don't think anybody here is expecting the US to be Brazil- we all just want to see the US keep showing clear sings they are progressing. ANd to be honest, there's been a tremendous increase in depth, but the overall quality of the starting 11 hasn't progressed much in the last 10 years.
Awesome stuff Steve.I've seen both sides of this, I think. I grew up in a predominantly white, middle class suburb. It was a very soccer-heavy town for kids - high school (and younger) football and basketball really weren't big here...everyone played baseball and soccer in the summer, and once you were basically good enough to specialize, you'd pick. We were perennial contenders in local travel leagues, the high school has won some state class A titles, and our premier level team had 6/18 players from my town (for perspective, the town has approx. 20,000 in a 1 million person metropolitan area). I can honestly say that I never played pickup soccer when growing up. Every once in awhile, I'd kick it around with friends...but we'd more often play pickup basketball than we would soccer. As far as I know...my good friend's little brothers are good players growing up in the same town, it hasn't changed.I currently live in a very poor, largely immigrant neighborhood. I live a block from a city park with a beat up soccer field...rocky terrain, poorly lined, goalframes with no nets. There are kids ranging in age from ~8-17 playing pickup out there every day of the week. There's really 3 main immigrant groups in the neighborhood - Puerto Rican (first and foremost), Burmese (with some other southeast Asians), and Somalian (with some other Africans). The kids who play soccer are only the Burmese and the Somalians. I've lived here for a year, and I can honestly say that I've never seen either a white kid or a Puerto Rican kid out there.What this says about the state of soccer in America, I have no idea. I'm honestly considering starting a non-profit organization to help these kids out financially, maybe set-up a club and get some nets, proper field lining, better equipment, etc....because it's clear that these kids really have no guidance but love the game.The pickup games in Phoenix- are these kids, or adults (probably immigrants given the proximity to the border?)? Big distinction in my point above, and I'd be excited to hear you say you were seeing an increase of kids knocking a ball around at parks or in the streets.eta: and I don't think anybody here is expecting the US to be Brazil- we all just want to see the US keep showing clear sings they are progressing. ANd to be honest, there's been a tremendous increase in depth, but the overall quality of the starting 11 hasn't progressed much in the last 10 years.
Seconded.Awesome stuff Steve.I've seen both sides of this, I think. I grew up in a predominantly white, middle class suburb. It was a very soccer-heavy town for kids - high school (and younger) football and basketball really weren't big here...everyone played baseball and soccer in the summer, and once you were basically good enough to specialize, you'd pick. We were perennial contenders in local travel leagues, the high school has won some state class A titles, and our premier level team had 6/18 players from my town (for perspective, the town has approx. 20,000 in a 1 million person metropolitan area). I can honestly say that I never played pickup soccer when growing up. Every once in awhile, I'd kick it around with friends...but we'd more often play pickup basketball than we would soccer. As far as I know...my good friend's little brothers are good players growing up in the same town, it hasn't changed.I currently live in a very poor, largely immigrant neighborhood. I live a block from a city park with a beat up soccer field...rocky terrain, poorly lined, goalframes with no nets. There are kids ranging in age from ~8-17 playing pickup out there every day of the week. There's really 3 main immigrant groups in the neighborhood - Puerto Rican (first and foremost), Burmese (with some other southeast Asians), and Somalian (with some other Africans). The kids who play soccer are only the Burmese and the Somalians. I've lived here for a year, and I can honestly say that I've never seen either a white kid or a Puerto Rican kid out there.What this says about the state of soccer in America, I have no idea. I'm honestly considering starting a non-profit organization to help these kids out financially, maybe set-up a club and get some nets, proper field lining, better equipment, etc....because it's clear that these kids really have no guidance but love the game.The pickup games in Phoenix- are these kids, or adults (probably immigrants given the proximity to the border?)? Big distinction in my point above, and I'd be excited to hear you say you were seeing an increase of kids knocking a ball around at parks or in the streets.eta: and I don't think anybody here is expecting the US to be Brazil- we all just want to see the US keep showing clear sings they are progressing. ANd to be honest, there's been a tremendous increase in depth, but the overall quality of the starting 11 hasn't progressed much in the last 10 years.
I've seen both sides of this, I think. I grew up in a predominantly white, middle class suburb. It was a very soccer-heavy town for kids - high school (and younger) football and basketball really weren't big here...everyone played baseball and soccer in the summer, and once you were basically good enough to specialize, you'd pick. We were perennial contenders in local travel leagues, the high school has won some state class A titles, and our premier level team had 6/18 players from my town (for perspective, the town has approx. 20,000 in a 1 million person metropolitan area). I can honestly say that I never played pickup soccer when growing up. Every once in awhile, I'd kick it around with friends...but we'd more often play pickup basketball than we would soccer. As far as I know...my good friend's little brothers are good players growing up in the same town, it hasn't changed.I currently live in a very poor, largely immigrant neighborhood. I live a block from a city park with a beat up soccer field...rocky terrain, poorly lined, goalframes with no nets. There are kids ranging in age from ~8-17 playing pickup out there every day of the week. There's really 3 main immigrant groups in the neighborhood - Puerto Rican (first and foremost), Burmese (with some other southeast Asians), and Somalian (with some other Africans). The kids who play soccer are only the Burmese and the Somalians. I've lived here for a year, and I can honestly say that I've never seen either a white kid or a Puerto Rican kid out there.What this says about the state of soccer in America, I have no idea. I'm honestly considering starting a non-profit organization to help these kids out financially, maybe set-up a club and get some nets, proper field lining, better equipment, etc....because it's clear that these kids really have no guidance but love the game.The pickup games in Phoenix- are these kids, or adults (probably immigrants given the proximity to the border?)? Big distinction in my point above, and I'd be excited to hear you say you were seeing an increase of kids knocking a ball around at parks or in the streets.eta: and I don't think anybody here is expecting the US to be Brazil- we all just want to see the US keep showing clear sings they are progressing. ANd to be honest, there's been a tremendous increase in depth, but the overall quality of the starting 11 hasn't progressed much in the last 10 years.
Not a good start, one on one with the goalie and puts it wide.Time to do some scouting on Alexis Sanchez!
Does anyone care anymore? Every week it's he wants to stay, then he wants to go. Just shutup.Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez wants to leave the Premier League club for personal reasons, the Argentine said in a statement to media on Monday.Tevez, who joined City from arch-rivals Manchester United in 2009, had said in December he wanted to quit City, before withdrawing his transfer request a few days later."It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club," the striker said in Monday's statement."
He's an awesome player who I love watching play. I very much care where he ends up. Arsenal could certainly use him.Does anyone care anymore? Every week it's he wants to stay, then he wants to go. Just shutup.Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez wants to leave the Premier League club for personal reasons, the Argentine said in a statement to media on Monday.Tevez, who joined City from arch-rivals Manchester United in 2009, had said in December he wanted to quit City, before withdrawing his transfer request a few days later."It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club," the striker said in Monday's statement."
I would love the Eto'o/Tevez swap rumored a couple of weeks ago.He's an awesome player who I love watching play. I very much care where he ends up. Arsenal could certainly use him.Does anyone care anymore? Every week it's he wants to stay, then he wants to go. Just shutup.Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez wants to leave the Premier League club for personal reasons, the Argentine said in a statement to media on Monday.Tevez, who joined City from arch-rivals Manchester United in 2009, had said in December he wanted to quit City, before withdrawing his transfer request a few days later."It is with great regret that I have to inform Manchester City of my wish to leave the club," the striker said in Monday's statement."