***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

[Eephus]

The Euro is going to be awesome as always, even if a bit watered down this year due to two weaker host countries taking auto spots. For me, its the best tournament.

Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals of the 2006 WC and lost in a playoff in 2010. They drew against Germany in a 2011 friendly. I think they'll be a tough out at home but group D is pretty strong.Poland qualified for Euro 2008.

 

[Christo]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

 

[The Z Machine]

While Poland and Ukraine might seem to be some of the weaker sides in Euros, I think they'll be competitive due to having the home field. They may not win, but they could do some damage in the Group stages.

 

[Eephus]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

Transfer rumors are still mostly in the monkeys with a typewriter phase

 

[NewlyRetired]

The Euro is going to be awesome as always, even if a bit watered down this year due to two weaker host countries taking auto spots. For me, its the best tournament.

Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals of the 2006 WC and lost in a playoff in 2010. They drew against Germany in a 2011 friendly. I think they'll be a tough out at home but group D is pretty strong.Poland qualified for Euro 2008.

Yeah, it is always hard to get a read on countries when they skip qualification.Ukraine is ranked 54th and Poland is ranked 68th in the World. Although to be fair by missing out on qualification they also missed out on chances to go up in the rankings.

 

[Slapdash]

While Poland and Ukraine might seem to be some of the weaker sides in Euros, I think they'll be competitive due to having the home field. They may not win, but they could do some damage in the Group stages.

There always seems to be an underdog that goes far in the Euro tournaments too.

 

[Slapdash]

A neat visual on the relationship between amount of possesion and amount of shots: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/04/the-relationship-between-possession-and-shots/

I'd like to see possesion vs. goals along with shots vs. goals.

I read an analytics type article a month or two ago that did a break down of possession in terms of winning a game (not specifically scoring goals), and there was almost no correlation between having more possession and winning games (from a very wide sample of games and leagues).If I can find the link I will post it.

That would be interesting. I'd guess it is pretty dependent on the league though.

 

[Eephus]

While Poland and Ukraine might seem to be some of the weaker sides in Euros, I think they'll be competitive due to having the home field. They may not win, but they could do some damage in the Group stages.

There always seems to be an underdog that goes far in the Euro tournaments too.

Ukraine has an almost entirely domestic based team. They're not as monolithic as when the national team was Dinamo Kyiv in different jerseys but that familiarity should help with organization in a short run up to the tournament. Now that I've pimped them, they'll probably go 0-3

 

[The Z Machine]

While Poland and Ukraine might seem to be some of the weaker sides in Euros, I think they'll be competitive due to having the home field. They may not win, but they could do some damage in the Group stages.

There always seems to be an underdog that goes far in the Euro tournaments too.

See Greece beating Portugal in Portugal.

 

[The Gator]

While Poland and Ukraine might seem to be some of the weaker sides in Euros, I think they'll be competitive due to having the home field. They may not win, but they could do some damage in the Group stages.

There always seems to be an underdog that goes far in the Euro tournaments too.

See Greece beating Portugal in Portugal.

:X

 

[Major]

While Poland and Ukraine might seem to be some of the weaker sides in Euros, I think they'll be competitive due to having the home field. They may not win, but they could do some damage in the Group stages.

There always seems to be an underdog that goes far in the Euro tournaments too.

See Greece beating Portugal in Portugal.

:X

start paying your debts instead of making the world suffer through your lackluster/boring defensive play

 

[El Floppo]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

Transfer rumors are still mostly in the monkeys with a typewriter phase

I'll ask again, though- nobody else thinks Chelsea would be a team willing to spend on Deuce? I think they'd be a good fit for him, playing-wise, and they certainly have the pockets deep enough to pay out a relative pittance (for them) for a guy who's consistently scored goals.

 

[The Z Machine]

start paying your debts instead of making the world suffer through your lackluster/boring defensive play

lolCould it be that their 2004 Euro win was fueled by deficit spending improving the ability of the Greeks to travel to support their team?

 

[Sebowski]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

Transfer rumors are still mostly in the monkeys with a typewriter phase

I'll ask again, though- nobody else thinks Chelsea would be a team willing to spend on Deuce? I think they'd be a good fit for him, playing-wise, and they certainly have the pockets deep enough to pay out a relative pittance (for them) for a guy who's consistently scored goals.

I think they would. I hope they don't. He'd be a role player there. I want to keep seeing him get 90mins.ETA: plus, #### Chelsea

 

[The Z Machine]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

Transfer rumors are still mostly in the monkeys with a typewriter phase

I'll ask again, though- nobody else thinks Chelsea would be a team willing to spend on Deuce? I think they'd be a good fit for him, playing-wise, and they certainly have the pockets deep enough to pay out a relative pittance (for them) for a guy who's consistently scored goals.

I think they would. I hope they don't. He'd be a role player there. I want to keep seeing him get 90mins.ETA: plus, #### Chelsea

What he said.

 

[El Floppo]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

Transfer rumors are still mostly in the monkeys with a typewriter phase

I'll ask again, though- nobody else thinks Chelsea would be a team willing to spend on Deuce? I think they'd be a good fit for him, playing-wise, and they certainly have the pockets deep enough to pay out a relative pittance (for them) for a guy who's consistently scored goals.

I think they would. I hope they don't. He'd be a role player there. I want to keep seeing him get 90mins.ETA: plus, #### Chelsea

What he said.

Yeah- I wouldn't feel too good about routing for them, but I would finally be a fan if Dempsey went there.

And I don't know about PT... am I crazy for thinking that he's as good as anybody there right now and would partner really with with either Drogba OR Torres, especially with Ramires and Mireilles running behind him.

I could actually see him playing pretty consistently there- especially if he keeps scoring goals- but also getting the rest that he'll start needing as a 30+/- guy during WCQ.

 

[El Floppo]

In?NYTimes

Chelsea of England will play Paris Saint Germain of France on Sunday July 22 in the first soccer game at the new Yankee Stadium.Chelsea last Saturday defeated Liverpool to win the English F.A. Cup and plays against Bayern Munich on May 19 in final of the UEFA Champions League. P.S.G. is currently tied on points for first place with Montpelier in France’s Ligue 1 with two regular season games to play.The match at Yankee Stadium, which is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern, is an exhibition. The French club is scheduled to play the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer only two days later in Quebec, if the club wins the French title. In addition, as winner of the league title, P.S.G. would then also play in the Trophée des Champions against Lyon (the winner of the French Cup) on July 29 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.Chester Higgins Jr./The New York TimesPelé playing for the Cosmos in Yankee Stadium in 1976.Tickets for the Yankee Stadium match are scheduled to go on sale on May 16.The match between Chelsea and P.S.G. is part of the World Football Challenge, which is taking place throughout North America from July 18 through Aug. 11, with additional matches and participants to be announced.The original Yankee Stadium has long been a popular site for major international and domestic soccer matches. The stadium hosted its first soccer game in June 1931 when Glasgow Celtic played a soccer team called the New York Yankees. Domestically, the New York Skyliners, the Generals and the Cosmos also called the stadium home for a time.In 1968, a young American soccer player (me!) was seated in temporary bleachers in the baseball outfield as Pelé and Santos of Brazil played against Eusebio and Benfica of Portugal as part of a doubleheader with the Generals. The Cosmos played the last soccer game at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 10, 1976 before the club moved to Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands for the 1977 North American Soccer League season.Follow Jack Bell on Twitter.

 

[El Floppo]

Also read somewhere that the STarMetro's new, young GK, Meara, got a call-up for Ireland? More poaching, gadgenammit?!

 

[Christo]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

Fulham for life!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Also read somewhere that the STarMetro's new, young GK, Meara, got a call-up for Ireland? More poaching, gadgenammit?!

Yeah we talked about this when you were gone. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=305522&view=findpost&p=14341851Was called up for an U21 game, he accepted and Red Bull blocked him.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wish I could defragment my brain like a computer. I can't remember anything any more :(

Can someone tell me if it was 2006 or 2010 when the US players union and US Soccer left it late in getting a contract signed that if did not get done would have jeapordized the WC?

 

[Spartans Rule]

In addition, as winner of the league title, P.S.G. would then also play in the Trophée des Champions against Lyon (the winner of the French Cup) on July 29 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

That's kinda cool. The French equivalent of the Community Shield being played here.Supercups rank pretty low on the trophy importance scale, but the fact that there's a trophy at all should make for a better game than a friendly.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

Fulham for life!

Stamford Bridge is in Fulham so no problems there. They did just sign an attacking midfielder in Marko Marin but are probably looking for another. Daniel Sturridge was loved by the last coach but doesn't get much pt under RDM and may be on the way out.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

We don't need no chubby chasers on this here bandwagon, anyways.

 

[Mjolnirs]

ETA: plus, #### Chelsea

What he said.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

ETA: plus, #### Chelsea

What he said.

Ditto.

 

[LHUCKS]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

I think it's nice to root for a second tier EPL team...if Dempsey went to ManU it would take some of the fun out of it.

 

[Eephus]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

I think it's nice to root for a second tier EPL team...if Dempsey went to ManU it would take some of the fun out of it.

You support the badge on the front, not the name on the back

 

[GoFishTN]

Blackburn is relegated and Wigan is safe for another year.

Edit: Aston Villa is realistically safe, so it's QPR or Bolton going down.

 

[The Gator]

Can we see something that's only happened once(i think); all three promoted teams stay up?

 

[GoFishTN]

Very little chance of QPR beating City, but a draw saves them. Bolton plays Stoke away and must win, not an easy task.

So, yeah, probably so.

 

[LHUCKS]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

I think it's nice to root for a second tier EPL team...if Dempsey went to ManU it would take some of the fun out of it.

You support the badge on the front, not the name on the back

meh, when it comes to the European club teams I really follow the American players moreso than particular clubs. If I had to generalize I mostly root for the smaller clubs and root against the bigger clubs(Liverpool, Chelsea, ManU etc.)My primary allegiance is to country. I'd rather watch a US qualifier vs. T&T then I would Chelsea vs. Liverpool(for example)

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Wish I could defragment my brain like a computer. I can't remember anything any more :(Can someone tell me if it was 2006 or 2010 when the US players union and US Soccer left it late in getting a contract signed that if did not get done would have jeapordized the WC?

It was the 06 qualifiers that were in jeopardy until a temporary deal was struck. The deal was finalized before the Finals.

 

[El Floppo]

Yeah- what hisk said, minus the underdog part. For me its:

1- USMNT

(Big gap)

2- Any team w US player

3- ####### Inter

4- ####ty RedStars

5- Any team that plays well and is intersting or exciting to watch.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wish I could defragment my brain like a computer. I can't remember anything any more :(Can someone tell me if it was 2006 or 2010 when the US players union and US Soccer left it late in getting a contract signed that if did not get done would have jeapordized the WC?

It was the 06 qualifiers that were in jeopardy until a temporary deal was struck. The deal was finalized before the Finals.

Bless you. I wonder when the current deal will expire. I am just dreading the day a union problem flushes twenty years of hard work down the drain :(

 

[NewlyRetired]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

I think it's nice to root for a second tier EPL team...if Dempsey went to ManU it would take some of the fun out of it.

You support the badge on the front, not the name on the back

meh, when it comes to the European club teams I really follow the American players moreso than particular clubs. If I had to generalize I mostly root for the smaller clubs and root against the bigger clubs(Liverpool, Chelsea, ManU etc.)My primary allegiance is to country. I'd rather watch a US qualifier vs. T&T then I would Chelsea vs. Liverpool(for example)

I thought you supported other Concacaf countries when you were so upset about the tv deals?http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=305522&view=findpost&p=14357298

 

[Eephus]

Wish I could defragment my brain like a computer. I can't remember anything any more :(Can someone tell me if it was 2006 or 2010 when the US players union and US Soccer left it late in getting a contract signed that if did not get done would have jeapordized the WC?

It was the 06 qualifiers that were in jeopardy until a temporary deal was struck. The deal was finalized before the Finals.

Bless you. I wonder when the current deal will expire. I am just dreading the day a union problem flushes twenty years of hard work down the drain :(

This happens before every Nigerian appearance in a major tournament. It always gets resolved.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Yeah- what hisk said, minus the underdog part. For me its:1- USMNT(Big gap)2- Any team w US player3- ####### Inter4- ####ty RedStars5- Any team that plays well and is intersting or exciting to watch.

I think this speaks to our age more than anything. For old farts like you and me, the US National team was our club team back in the early 90's. As players started to get chances overseas (Harkes, Cal, etc) we naturally started to follow those teams as well. My list is very similar to your with the exception of replacing all of MLS in place of Inter and the Revs in place of Red Bull. Even though I have a local side to support, I think I am programmed to stay loyal to the first team I supported and that is the US Nats.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wish I could defragment my brain like a computer. I can't remember anything any more :(Can someone tell me if it was 2006 or 2010 when the US players union and US Soccer left it late in getting a contract signed that if did not get done would have jeapordized the WC?

It was the 06 qualifiers that were in jeopardy until a temporary deal was struck. The deal was finalized before the Finals.

Bless you. I wonder when the current deal will expire. I am just dreading the day a union problem flushes twenty years of hard work down the drain :(

This happens before every Nigerian appearance in a major tournament. It always gets resolved.

I fear something happening in MLS more than at the national level. The owners have a nice way to hide a ton of revenue in that league under SUM and eventually the players (likely in 2015) are going to want a bigger piece of the pie.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I thought his spot might be in jeopardy with his drop in quality. Hopefully he can find his touch again before the finals.

========================

DUBLIN -- Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane is among 23 players selected for Ireland's roster for the European Championship.

Keane, the Ireland captain, joined the Galaxy last summer and helped Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title.

Keane and Spartak Moscow midfielder Aiden McGeady are the only players on the roster announced Monday who are not with English clubs.

Playing in Group C in Poland, Ireland opens against Croatia on June 10, faces defending champion Spain four days later, then closes the first round against Italy on June 18.

 

[Christo]

Let's all just slow down with the Dempsey stuff.

Fulham for life!

Stamford Bridge is in Fulham so no problems there. They did just sign an attacking midfielder in Marko Marin but are probably looking for another. Daniel Sturridge was loved by the last coach but doesn't get much pt under RDM and may be on the way out.

F'n carpetbaggers.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

The problem I have with following the USMNT is that they play so sporadically, and the games that have any real stakes are even more sporadic.

 

[Christo]

Possible Dempsey - Kuyt swap

Can't wait for Christo to start rooting for Liverpool

not gonna happen

We don't need no chubby chasers on this here bandwagon, anyways.

1-01-0

Looks like your bandwagon lost two wheels.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The problem I have with following the USMNT is that they play so sporadically, and the games that have any real stakes are even more sporadic.

yeah. These 5 US games this summer is like being married for 20 years and then all of sudden going on a honeymoon with another woman

 

[NewlyRetired]

The problem I have with following the USMNT is that they play so sporadically, and the games that have any real stakes are even more sporadic.

yeah. These 5 US games this summer is like being married for 20 years and then all of sudden going on a honeymoon with another woman

As a side note, back in the early 90's the US played a ton of games. Since so much of the pool was not tied to a club team (unimaginable today), Bora simply scheduled as many games as he could so they played a ton more in those days than they do today which made it easier to become a fan even if every game was not available on TV like mostly today.

 

[Eephus]

Yeah- what hisk said, minus the underdog part. For me its:1- USMNT(Big gap)2- Any team w US player3- ####### Inter4- ####ty RedStars5- Any team that plays well and is intersting or exciting to watch.

I think this speaks to our age more than anything. For old farts like you and me, the US National team was our club team back in the early 90's. As players started to get chances overseas (Harkes, Cal, etc) we naturally started to follow those teams as well. My list is very similar to your with the exception of replacing all of MLS in place of Inter and the Revs in place of Red Bull. Even though I have a local side to support, I think I am programmed to stay loyal to the first team I supported and that is the US Nats.

If anything, it speaks to the relative immaturity of the sport in the US and the still small numbers of overseas players. It definitely has its limitations: you really can't support Lichaj and Guzan at Villa as well as Jonathan Spector at Birmingham. I guess I can hope Maurice Edu scores but Rangers lose 3-1.

 

[guru_007]

Serie A starts this weekend and I started typing my preview, but decided against it. I will put my top 6 out:JuveAC MilanInterRomaFiorentinaNapoliOriginally had Udinesse in there too, but they're out. Only the top four really have a chance of winning it this year, league is pretty top heavy. AC Milan is favored, but I think they have quite a few weaknesses. Juve is a team with a lot of flaws, but a lot of talent too. Not sure if it's going to all come together for awhile, but if it does, gonna be hard to stop them.

Shameless plug for hitting the Serie A exacta at the top.Total whiff on Fiorentina, admittedly so...Should have put Udinesse in it's place. They are third and tbh, they are a bigger surprise than Newcastle even in how high they are. DiNatale is simply ridiculous. He has 22 of their 50 goals, the second leading scorer has 5, and he is for the most part their only striker. It's amazing how prolific he's been this year. The Juve title is a bit bittersweet, and DelPiero has been totally phased out of their starting team - although he did chip in with a few large goals coming down the stretch, and will almost undoubtedly not be back next year. Matri's been a bit overhyped, but they have so many options in the attack, just a very well balanced team. Pirlo has been spectacular and I'll still beat the Lichtsteiner has been fabulous drum. They are one game away from an undefeated season, simply fantastic.Off season could be very interesting for a number of teams. Inter is going to need do something, they just aren't working. Been plenty of rumours abound of Pato moving, perhaps others from Milan. Napoli may very well have both Cavani and Lavezzi taken from them from a bigger money team. The Italian economy is really hurting attendance at these games too, which is a shame because this league has morphed into one of the better leagues in Europe (second best imho).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Yeah- what hisk said, minus the underdog part. For me its:1- USMNT(Big gap)2- Any team w US player3- ####### Inter4- ####ty RedStars5- Any team that plays well and is intersting or exciting to watch.

I think this speaks to our age more than anything. For old farts like you and me, the US National team was our club team back in the early 90's. As players started to get chances overseas (Harkes, Cal, etc) we naturally started to follow those teams as well. My list is very similar to your with the exception of replacing all of MLS in place of Inter and the Revs in place of Red Bull. Even though I have a local side to support, I think I am programmed to stay loyal to the first team I supported and that is the US Nats.

If anything, it speaks to the relative immaturity of the sport in the US and the still small numbers of overseas players.

I don't know enough of how many players are overseas for other countries. I feel like we have a good amount of players playing abroad especially considering we have a viable domestic league as well.Even with a 19 team domestic league, at last check I think we have over 100 players placed with teams outside of the country.When you compare that to the early 90's with no domestic league and just a small handful of players overseas, I think that is a pretty remarkable growth in 20 years.http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=players

 

[Steve Tasker]

Yeah- what hisk said, minus the underdog part. For me its:1- USMNT(Big gap)2- Any team w US player3- ####### Inter4- ####ty RedStars5- Any team that plays well and is intersting or exciting to watch.

I think this speaks to our age more than anything. For old farts like you and me, the US National team was our club team back in the early 90's. As players started to get chances overseas (Harkes, Cal, etc) we naturally started to follow those teams as well. My list is very similar to your with the exception of replacing all of MLS in place of Inter and the Revs in place of Red Bull. Even though I have a local side to support, I think I am programmed to stay loyal to the first team I supported and that is the US Nats.

I consider the USMNT easily my favorite soccer team, right on par with the Bills with "overall favorite sports team". I think the big reason for that is because I have a connection to the USMNT that I don't have with any other team. There's never been a true professional team here in town (NPSL teams notwithstanding), I don't have any ties to any teams via my parents/friends, and I didn't really grow up following a specific team. I have no real connection whatsoever to any of my other favorite teams, unless you count the relative geographic connection with Toronto and the fact that I'm partially of Italian descent.As much as I'm a fan of teams like Arsenal (who would rank right behind the Bills/USMNT) and the Italian national team, I'll always feel like a bit of an "outsider" fan. I feel right at home with the other USMNT fans. It's the "purest" feeling of fandom that I have in the soccer realm, if that makes any sense.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Yeah- what hisk said, minus the underdog part. For me its:1- USMNT(Big gap)2- Any team w US player3- ####### Inter4- ####ty RedStars5- Any team that plays well and is intersting or exciting to watch.

I think this speaks to our age more than anything. For old farts like you and me, the US National team was our club team back in the early 90's. As players started to get chances overseas (Harkes, Cal, etc) we naturally started to follow those teams as well. My list is very similar to your with the exception of replacing all of MLS in place of Inter and the Revs in place of Red Bull. Even though I have a local side to support, I think I am programmed to stay loyal to the first team I supported and that is the US Nats.

I consider the USMNT easily my favorite soccer team, right on par with the Bills with "overall favorite sports team". I think the big reason for that is because I have a connection to the USMNT that I don't have with any other team. There's never been a true professional team here in town (NPSL teams notwithstanding), I don't have any ties to any teams via my parents/friends, and I didn't really grow up following a specific team. I have no real connection whatsoever to any of my other favorite teams, unless you count the relative geographic connection with Toronto and the fact that I'm partially of Italian descent.As much as I'm a fan of teams like Arsenal (who would rank right behind the Bills/USMNT) and the Italian national team, I'll always feel like a bit of an "outsider" fan. I feel right at home with the other USMNT fans. It's the "purest" feeling of fandom that I have in the soccer realm, if that makes any sense.

yes this fits in closely to my feelings as well. Even though I now have a local side to support, when I was in my formative years, I latched on to the USMNT because I really had nothing else.Sure it was great fun watching Ac Milan in 1992 on RAI but like you said, at best you feel like a "outsider". I am always impressed by people who seemingly have no real connection to a team and yet can be such strong fans.