***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)

[GoFishTN]

I'm glad to see 'arry and QPR being fiscally prudent, given their current standing in the table. Queens Park Rangers have triggered the £10 million release clause in Christopher Samba’s Anzhi Makhachkala contract.

Getting relegated isn't fiscally prudent. Harry is desperately trying to buy his way out of the relegation zone - nothing wrong with that.

Portsmouth disagrees.

 

[The Gator]

I'm glad to see 'arry and QPR being fiscally prudent, given their current standing in the table. Queens Park Rangers have triggered the £10 million release clause in Christopher Samba’s Anzhi Makhachkala contract.

Getting relegated isn't fiscally prudent. Harry is desperately trying to buy his way out of the relegation zone - nothing wrong with that.

Especially this time around. There is a massive increase in tv money next season and teams want to stay up/get up badly.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Josh Gatt looks to be a graduate of the Gervinho school of running directly into opposing defenders with the ball.

 

[Steve Tasker]

lol at Shenhua disputing the Drogba transfer and claiming he's still under contract.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Also, Kei Kamara was signed on loan by Norwich til the end of the EPL season, contingent on him being approved for a work permit. That's going to conflict with the start of the MLS season, no?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Also, Kei Kamara was signed on loan by Norwich til the end of the EPL season, contingent on him being approved for a work permit. That's going to conflict with the start of the MLS season, no?

yes that is true I forgot about the loan. That means at best he will not be with KC until the summer transfer window? Not sure how the rules work with loans.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

Platini, the magazine reports, attended a dinner with then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatar's crown prince, and a representative of French club Paris Saint-Germain. This "secret meeting" was held nine days before the World Cup vote. Here are the dots, which you're asked to connect: PSG, Sarkozy's favorite team, was sold to the Qatar Investment Authority, overseen by the crown prince. Platini's son was hired by the Qatar Investment Authority. Al Jazeera, owned by the Qatar royal family, launched a sports network that now owns broadcast rights to the French League and UEFA tournaments.There is some actual evidence to back up France Football's general claims of bribery. An internal email from FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke saying that Qatar "bought the 2022 World Cup". A former employee on the Qatar bid says two African executives, including African Confederation President Issa Hayatou, were bought off in exchange for their votes. Former FIFA media chief Guido Tognoni says bribery was rampant.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Also, DC United reportedly selling Andy Najar to Anderlecht.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

Platini, the magazine reports, attended a dinner with then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatar's crown prince, and a representative of French club Paris Saint-Germain. This "secret meeting" was held nine days before the World Cup vote. Here are the dots, which you're asked to connect: PSG, Sarkozy's favorite team, was sold to the Qatar Investment Authority, overseen by the crown prince. Platini's son was hired by the Qatar Investment Authority. Al Jazeera, owned by the Qatar royal family, launched a sports network that now owns broadcast rights to the French League and UEFA tournaments.There is some actual evidence to back up France Football's general claims of bribery. An internal email from FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke saying that Qatar "bought the 2022 World Cup". A former employee on the Qatar bid says two African executives, including African Confederation President Issa Hayatou, were bought off in exchange for their votes. Former FIFA media chief Guido Tognoni says bribery was rampant.

I, for one, am shocked.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!

Platini, the magazine reports, attended a dinner with then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatar's crown prince, and a representative of French club Paris Saint-Germain. This "secret meeting" was held nine days before the World Cup vote. Here are the dots, which you're asked to connect: PSG, Sarkozy's favorite team, was sold to the Qatar Investment Authority, overseen by the crown prince. Platini's son was hired by the Qatar Investment Authority. Al Jazeera, owned by the Qatar royal family, launched a sports network that now owns broadcast rights to the French League and UEFA tournaments.There is some actual evidence to back up France Football's general claims of bribery. An internal email from FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke saying that Qatar "bought the 2022 World Cup". A former employee on the Qatar bid says two African executives, including African Confederation President Issa Hayatou, were bought off in exchange for their votes. Former FIFA media chief Guido Tognoni says bribery was rampant.

Platini is so dirty in this ordeal. I think he is significantly more dirty than Blatter who appeared to be a bit clueless by what happened.And the worst part about it was that Platini publicly backed the US bid before he was bought.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Barca lucky to be level after 9 minutes. Woof.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

It's a miracle this game is 0-0. The tempo absolutely favors RM.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Messi. Dear God.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Oh good, in a game with so many missed opportunities on either side, here comes Alexis!

 

[SmoovySmoov]

I think I'm a jinx. Had to take a late lunch due to work, and happily tune in to a 2 - 0 Liverpool lead over Arsenal. They immediately give up 2 goals, and have looked like complete ####.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Oops Chelsea.

 

[Moe.]

Was surprised to see this headline over at ESPN: Bayern boss expects football calendar revolution. Maybe the US/MLS is actually ahead of the curve as far as scheduling goes?

PARIS -- A scheduling change away from winter soccer could be coming to Europe, according to Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.Rummenigge, who is also chairman of the 207-member European Club Association that lobbies for the rights of European clubs, told France Football magazine that it makes no sense that European clubs play in midwinter."Everywhere, be it Germany, France or England, summer is the best period of the year. And that is the season we don't play," Rummenigge said in Tuesday's edition. "In deepest winter, when it is very cold and snowing, we play nearly all the time in conditions that are disagreeable for both players and spectators. It is not logical."Rummenigge told France Football that FIFA and UEFA are "seriously thinking" about an overhaul of the soccer calendar so European leagues would open in January and wrap up at the end of autumn.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Was surprised to see this headline over at ESPN: Bayern boss expects football calendar revolution. Maybe the US/MLS is actually ahead of the curve as far as scheduling goes?

PARIS -- A scheduling change away from winter soccer could be coming to Europe, according to Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.Rummenigge, who is also chairman of the 207-member European Club Association that lobbies for the rights of European clubs, told France Football magazine that it makes no sense that European clubs play in midwinter."Everywhere, be it Germany, France or England, summer is the best period of the year. And that is the season we don't play," Rummenigge said in Tuesday's edition. "In deepest winter, when it is very cold and snowing, we play nearly all the time in conditions that are disagreeable for both players and spectators. It is not logical."Rummenigge told France Football that FIFA and UEFA are "seriously thinking" about an overhaul of the soccer calendar so European leagues would open in January and wrap up at the end of autumn.

This would be hilarious if it happened. Two big middle fingers to ol' Seppy

 

[Good Posting Judge]

x 1000

 

[TLEF316]

1000 Pages!!!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Oops Chelsea.

7 points dropped to bottom feeders QPR, Soton and Reading in the past 5 league games. What a gutpunch. Knocked out of the league cup by Swans and a draw at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend. I can't stand even the sight of FSW, have to avert my eyes in disgust whenever he's on camera.

 

[NewlyRetired]

1000 Pages!!!

The thread has some serious history now. I was just looking at one of the first posts and we are talking about some 16 year old kid and trying to figure out if anyone had seen enough of him to determine what type of player he was. That kid was Jozy This thread is almost 6 years old (will be 6 in a few weeks). Good lord I am so old.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Oops Chelsea.

7 points dropped to bottom feeders QPR, Soton and Reading in the past 5 league games. What a gutpunch. Knocked out of the league cup by Swans and a draw at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend. I can't stand even the sight of FSW, have to avert my eyes in disgust whenever he's on camera.

I've spent a week trying to figure out this acronym. Fat Spanish %^&*@!?Seriously, a word rhyming with Tanker is caught by the language filter?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

1000 Pages!!!

The thread has some serious history now. I was just looking at one of the first posts and we are talking about some 16 year old kid and trying to figure out if anyone had seen enough of him to determine what type of player he was. That kid was Jozy This thread is almost 7 years old (will be 7 in a few weeks). Good lord I am so old.

I also enjoyed the Zidane to the Fire rumors.

 

[Sebowski]

;poursoutsomebeerforjpeace:

 

[Ursa M]

Oops Chelsea.

Oops pretty much everyone except United, who did just enough to hold off Saints and stretch out to a 7 point lead with 14 to play. With Spurts, Citeh, Chelski, the #### and Liverpuddle all dropping points, only Everton and United of the top 7 managed a midweek win.

 

[GoFishTN]

Oops Chelsea.

7 points dropped to bottom feeders QPR, Soton and Reading in the past 5 league games. What a gutpunch. Knocked out of the league cup by Swans and a draw at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend. I can't stand even the sight of FSW, have to avert my eyes in disgust whenever he's on camera.

I've spent a week trying to figure out this acronym. Fat Spanish %^&*@!?Seriously, a word rhyming with Tanker is caught by the language filter?

Fat Spanish Waiter.

 

[The Gator]

Oops Chelsea.

7 points dropped to bottom feeders QPR, Soton and Reading in the past 5 league games. What a gutpunch. Knocked out of the league cup by Swans and a draw at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend. I can't stand even the sight of FSW, have to avert my eyes in disgust whenever he's on camera.

I've spent a week trying to figure out this acronym. Fat Spanish %^&*@!?Seriously, a word rhyming with Tanker is caught by the language filter?

Fat Spanish Waiter.

My link

 

[DiStefano]

Oops Chelsea.

7 points dropped to bottom feeders QPR, Soton and Reading in the past 5 league games. What a gutpunch. Knocked out of the league cup by Swans and a draw at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend. I can't stand even the sight of FSW, have to avert my eyes in disgust whenever he's on camera.

I've spent a week trying to figure out this acronym. Fat Spanish %^&*@!?Seriously, a word rhyming with Tanker is caught by the language filter?

Indeed. FF is over, so the mods are very sensitive about their current activities.

 

[Slapdash]

Oops Chelsea.

7 points dropped to bottom feeders QPR, Soton and Reading in the past 5 league games. What a gutpunch. Knocked out of the league cup by Swans and a draw at Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend. I can't stand even the sight of FSW, have to avert my eyes in disgust whenever he's on camera.

I've spent a week trying to figure out this acronym. Fat Spanish %^&*@!?Seriously, a word rhyming with Tanker is caught by the language filter?

Fig Shaped Weiner, IMO

 

[The Z Machine]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

 

[The Z Machine]

First leg of the Atlético / Sevilla copa tilt tomorrow. Falcao is unlikely to play. They are a mediocre team without him, but we'll see.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I believe Jones is coming of suspension and should be available for Schalke this weekend. Have not seen any further updates on Fab or Cher but people appear to be expecting the worst.The president of Honduras has given everyone in the country the day off next Wednesday.

 

[NewlyRetired]

They are cutting this close.......FC Dallas (@FCDallas)1/30/13, 6:31 PMIn response to inquiries received, #FCDallas is working toward a possible transfer of Brek Shea to Stoke City, but deal is not yet final.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

Two more in the next month, I think.Not a terrible result for Barcelona, although it would've been nice to see them take advantage of RM's raggedy back-line. Finishing just wasn't there on either side.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I've been really disappointed with Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla in the past two months.I'd be happy if Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker never put on the Arsenal jersey again. Ever.That's about all I've got to say here.

 

[El Floppo]

Did I just hear the FSC crew say that Villa might be swapping places with Bale (and some cash)?

 

[El Floppo]

It's beating the dead horse, but the thing that still sticks out for me about the US game is how poorly they moved offensively. One run and done- nobody making the second or third run... and often not even the first (lost track of how many times I'd see a guy with the ball in the MF and 5 guys (on screen) practically standing still.One thing about LD's generation- what success they had wasn't because of any incredible skills on the ball, it was because they worked hard and smart to make those runs. I've faulted the 2 touch approach to their attack before, and it's limitations breaking a team down when play either slows down or more touches or possession is required. But when it clicked, as it did in the COnfed Cup (and 02 WC), they proved they were capable of beating anybody in the world. This group- granted, a B/C side- wasn't capable and showed next to no signs of being capable of beating a B/C squad from Canada.So I get GPJ's hyperbole. And even if my experience watching this kind of thing has shown me that the better players are capable of far more, it still is my knee-jerk reaction after watching a performance like this to gnash my teeth, pull my hair out, and want to just give up on it. But then I remember the progress and the better play the "real" team is capable of, and I breath again.

 

[El Floppo]

Oh- so I'm out at lunch in SoHo today (a takeout cafe) and I notice a handful of tall, athletic looking guys in there as well- one of whom is wearing an official looking NY Cosmos jacket. I'm checking my phone when one of them practically tackles me. It's one of my college team-mates, and they are in fact the NY Cosmos brass, whose offices are right around the corner from my new gig. It's funny, because ever since the brand got sold I've been day-dreaming about cold-calling them and begging for any kind of job; so now I can just beg for one from a guy I played with... or at least daydream about begging for one. Met Savarese, and saw some kid that might be their next (second) signing ever. Not huge news, but thought it was cool.

 

[Sebowski]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

So you went 1-1 today. US game sucked. Nothing to really take from it.Classico was a great game. Could have been 5-5. Both teams looked great.

 

[Sebowski]

Oh- so I'm out at lunch in SoHo today (a takeout cafe) and I notice a handful of tall, athletic looking guys in there as well- one of whom is wearing an official looking NY Cosmos jacket. I'm checking my phone when one of them practically tackles me. It's one of my college team-mates, and they are in fact the NY Cosmos brass, whose offices are right around the corner from my new gig. It's funny, because ever since the brand got sold I've been day-dreaming about cold-calling them and begging for any kind of job; so now I can just beg for one from a guy I played with... or at least daydream about begging for one. Met Savarese, and saw some kid that might be their next (second) signing ever. Not huge news, but thought it was cool.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

So you went 1-1 today. US game sucked. Nothing to really take from it.Classico was a great game. Could have been 5-5. Both teams looked great.

Varane is really good. Without him I could easily see that defense falling apart and letting Barca put this thing away.Not a terrible result away, but with RM missing so many players, it was a good chance to take control of the tie more emphatically. And they didn't.

 

[Sebowski]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.

Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

So you went 1-1 today. US game sucked. Nothing to really take from it.

Classico was a great game. Could have been 5-5. Both teams looked great.

Varane is really good. Without him I could easily see that defense falling apart and letting Barca put this thing away.Not a terrible result away, but with RM missing so many players, it was a good chance to take control of the tie more emphatically. And they didn't.

Yeah, #### that guy. Great game by him. They lose if he's on the bench. Happy to get an away gol out of that game.

 

[The Gator]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.

Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

So you went 1-1 today. US game sucked. Nothing to really take from it.

Classico was a great game. Could have been 5-5. Both teams looked great.

Varane is really good. Without him I could easily see that defense falling apart and letting Barca put this thing away.Not a terrible result away, but with RM missing so many players, it was a good chance to take control of the tie more emphatically. And they didn't.

Yeah, #### that guy. Great game by him. They lose if he's on the bench. Happy to get an away gol out of that game.

Bought him in FM11 a few times. Turns into a whinny #####...he'll fit in at RM.

 

[The Gator]

Transfer Deadline Day obligatory 'Arry interviewed through his car window pic

 

[Slapdash]

Glad I missed the US game. Sound abysmal.Also missed the Clásico, but there will be more.

So you went 1-1 today. US game sucked. Nothing to really take from it.Classico was a great game. Could have been 5-5. Both teams looked great.

Varane is really good. Without him I could easily see that defense falling apart and letting Barca put this thing away.Not a terrible result away, but with RM missing so many players, it was a good chance to take control of the tie more emphatically. And they didn't.

I don't know if Real Madrid missing any players outside of Ronaldo means all too much, they're the deepest club in Europe.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Mexico was rather blah last night. Playing with their A- level squad (missing 4 players), they only managed a draw against a B squad level Denmark.

 

[NewlyRetired]

ESPN is reporting that Becks, pending his medical, will end up at PSG.

 

[NewlyRetired]

FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)1/31/13, 9:50 AMDONE DEAL: Brek Shea to Stoke. This is pending a work permit.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I don't know if Real Madrid missing any players outside of Ronaldo means all too much, they're the deepest club in Europe.

I'm not sure any team is really deep at the back, and Real is no exception. Varane is proving to be excellent, but it looks like RM played Essien in the back yesterday (I just looked at Game Cast). Sergio Ramos and Pepe are huge parts of the team.