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

The Z Machine said:
Desert_Power said:
The Z Machine said:
It seems that Real is STILL in negociations for David Villa, rumored to be around 32m€. I don't think they have the capital to pull that one off, but wow what a lineup that would be.
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I am pretty sure that Real has the clout to get any type of capital they ask for.That is an impressive lineup, but how much better is it really than the players they have there currently?In the attack they have:Gonzalo Higuaín Raúl Klass Jan Huntelaar Arjen Robben Wesley SneijderRuud van NistelrooyCertainly no slouches and their offense was not their weak point. Would those three really be 200 million euros better?
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Robben was OK, Sneijder was a disappointment, RVN is getting long in the tooth, and Raúl, other than the fact that I hate him, is ancient and in his death throes of a career. I think that 2 out of Huntelaar, Sneidjder, and Robben are on the outs. The "Dutch Experiment" at Real is fast coming to a close. They'll WANT out, especially if they really do land Villa.They'll keep Higuaín I think, and lord knows that Guti isn't going anywhere.It sure looks like Real reloaded to take on Barça. Should make for an interesting season in la Liga. Ronaldo will get to match up against Puyol at least 2x more, which alone I think will be intriguing.What would Real's starting lineup be if they land Villa?4-4-2?
Code: 
Villa		 RVNVan der Vaart	Diarra	Sneijder  RobbenMarcelo	 Metzelder   Cannavarro   Ramos				Casillas
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Sneijder is good when healthy. Same thing with RVN. When two of your best attacking players are injured and you still put up 83 goals in la Liga it is kind of ridiculous to spend 160 million euros to upgrade your attack, which is my point here.
 
CletiusMaximus said:
guru_007 said:
Native said:
I bet Robben will move to United in return; possible Sneijder as well.
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Robben is always hurt, ugh!I have not heard any word yet on who they will be on the prowl for, but there are a few more holes to be attended to also.Ideally, I wouldn't mind Ribery coming over - but I heard he isn't going anywhere for any type of reasonable transfer. Tevez may not be back, Giggs and Scholes are about at the end of the line, Van der Saar is at the end of the line.Earlier there was talk of Sergio Ramos coming over - that would be a nice back four with Evra/Rio/Vidic/Ramos - not sure if that is in the works any more.I guess we'll see how it plays out. Perhaps Berbatov will now be given the freedom to extend his play (as last year he was used much more in a setup role and asked to get the ball into the attack to Rooney and Ronaldo).
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Bayern's asknig price for Ribery was reported to be 65 mil. euros. The difficulty in replacing Cronaldo is that he is a dynamic winger and an extremely prolific goal-scorer, so very difficult to replace his production with one player. Ribery may come closest to filling that role. A Robben/Schneider duo would be a massive let-down on both roles in my opinion.
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Undoubtedly, you are going to be very hard pressed to replace Ronaldo with one player.And while Ribery may come the closest as to what's available, I do not think United spends that kind of money on him.I really like Robben, and I remember back to his Chelsea days when I thought he was their most potent weapon, when healthy - and that was the issue he was always knicked. I think Robben would be a nice fit, I would prefer to have him over Tevez in fact.To be honest, my exposure to Sneijder has largely been limited to national play in WC/Euro mostly so I can't pass judgment on his fit in United (if he is even in the discussion).
 
All discussions involving Robben and Sneijder include phrases like "when healthy" and "when playing" - of course Robben was great when playing and healthy. That's the problem with him and the reason most Chelsea fans were happy to see him leave. He was wonderful to watch in those very few and far between moments when he was actually playing football. I don't expect ManU to have any interest in Robben.

 
And Cannavaro left Real. He's at Juventus now, I believe.

I would guess Pepe would be starting, but I don't know if his suspension carries over into the new season.

 
Holy ####. I don't know why I thought Ronaldo was staying at United... if they can get Villa too- christ. Villa, Kaka, Ronaldo?

Now we just need a US network to carry La Liga, or at least every Barca v RM game.

 
BTW- CONCACAF news...

Mexico beat T&T at home 2-1... the winning goal happened in the last 15 minutes or so and was an absolute cracker. The crowd at Azteca was not happy, even though Mexico looked to have the game under control most of the night (as they did in their away losses too...). Dos Santos came on late and looked really, really good. Blanco got the start and also looked really good (amazing how much Mexico needed him)

Honduras best ES 1-0 at home... thus starts El Salvador's slide to buh-bye.

 
El Floppo said:
BTW- CONCACAF news...Mexico beat T&T at home 2-1... the winning goal happened in the last 15 minutes or so and was an absolute cracker. The crowd at Azteca was not happy, even though Mexico looked to have the game under control most of the night (as they did in their away losses too...). Dos Santos came on late and looked really, really good. Blanco got the start and also looked really good (amazing how much Mexico needed him)Honduras best ES 1-0 at home... thus starts El Salvador's slide to buh-bye.
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I was really hoping for a draw in one of these games.
 
An interesting article off of soccernet comparing the scoring in the big leagues of Europe:

What's the score with the Bundesliga?

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA REVIEW

What's the score with the Bundesliga?

By Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger

June 3, 2009

Disclaimer: If you have been following these columns for a number of years, you might be bored by what you'll find below. I cannot be held responsible for this inconvenience, because it's time for the traditional end-of-season column which never offers anything new.

Postscript: Then again, the very fact that nothing ever changes with regards to the end-of-season column is, at least from my point of view, quite interesting in itself. So why not stick around for some brainstorming?

I can't remember when it happened, but at some point during the past season, the nice people at Soccernet introduced the 'comments' feature at the foot of the page. It should come in very handy now, because we've yet again reached the moment when I need your help, or at least your suggestions.

In the past seven years, the end-of-season column has always dealt with certain numerical statistics which have raised questions. Some of you actually went to the trouble of sending e-mails with possible answers, but now that it's so easy to leave a comment, I'm hoping for far more theories.

But, just in case you're a newcomer, I should perhaps start at the beginning. Every May or June, I have a peek at the number of goals scored in the big European leagues: the English Premier League, Spain's Primera Division, Italian Serie A, France's Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. And then I translate that into goals scored per game.

The result is always the same. The Bundesliga has the most goals per 90 minutes of football and France is, by and large, always in last place.

For the campaign just past, the figures read as follows:

The habitually stingy French have offered their fans 2.25 goals per game, an even worse showing than last year but not quite as bad as 2005 and 2006. The English are in fourth place with 2.47 goals per game, less than last season but pretty much the same average they racked up in 2006 and 2007.

Serie A comes third with 2.60 goals per game. That's an improvement over the past two seasons but nothing out of the ordinary for the Italians. Spain is in second place, because the past Primera Division campaign produced a pretty good 2.89 goals per game. In fact, the Spanish league hasn't been this generous since 2001 (when the figure was 2.88).

And now, yawn, here's first place. Of course it goes to the Bundesliga, which has won this particular competition in every single season since 1989! This time around, however, the race was a lot closer than usual, though a mark of 2.92 goals per game was eventually enough to hold Spain at bay.

Well, I guess now it's your turn. Because I no longer have any rational explanation for why this exercise in mathematics always leads to the same result. I mean, you should have your ups and down, shouldn't you?

For instance, an argument could be that the past season in Germany had all those high-scoring games involving Hoffenheim or Bremen while Barcelona enjoyed an outstanding season in Spain, with 105 goals scored, and that this explains why those two countries come out on top.

But if the results were down to individual teams or players having particularly productive seasons, the Bundesliga shouldn't lead the pack year in, year out. Nor should the French be dead last with stubborn, almost infuriating regularity.

The same goes for another argument I received by e-mail years ago. This claimed that the Bundesliga is on top because it is weak. This idea was supported by a reference to the Eredivisie.

The Dutch league often beats even the Bundesliga in terms of goals per game, the argument went, because it is so unbalanced and the top teams will often score half a dozen against hapless opposition.

Now, I don't mind people calling the Bundesliga weak, as this is an assessment everyone's free to make and find substantiated by our showing in Europe. But the rest of the theory has too many holes in it to be taken seriously.

First, Germany also beat the other leagues, and decisively so, in 1997, when the national team were the reigning European champions, while a Bundesliga team won the Champions League and another Bundesliga team won the UEFA Cup.

Second, an unbalanced league won't necessarily produce more goals.

Last year, I also received an e-mail from a reader in England who explained the Premier League's goal draught by saying there is such a gulf between the top teams and the also-rans that the less glamorous teams put every limb behind the ball when meeting the top dogs.

Third, there's an ongoing debate over here in Germany about why we don't do too well in Europe and one theory you keep hearing is that we lack three or four sides which dominate domestic competition, as is the case in Spain, Italy and England. In other words, many observers think our league is too balanced for its own good.

So, how can we explain what is certainly a pattern and how can we explain that what meets the eye isn't really what is happening? What I mean by that is we can't rely on the perceived wisdoms or clichés that we all live with.

For instance, if forced to use a cliché, most fans would probably say that English football is offensive and Italian football is defensive. But in the past fourteen years, Italy outscored England nine times (and one year there was a draw). Those goals can't all be dubious penalties awarded to Juventus in stoppage time.

Or what about the opinion, regularly voiced by our national coach, that the German style is slower, more considered than the football played in England and Spain and that we have to change our approach because only fast one-touch football yields goals in the modern game?

If this were true, we'd be facing the bizarre situation that games between two slow sides repeatedly produce more goals than games between two fast sides.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Mr Löw is wrong, I merely scratch my head and wonder. A few years back, for instance, a reader sent in a note that said there were fewer goals in England because the ruthless pace is so taxing that the strikers lack concentration when presented with chances.

Hmm. I chewed that over for a while but found myself unable to swallow it. Firstly, does that mean the French league has the fastest pace in Europe, even more murderous than the Premier League's? Secondly, tired legs and lapses in concentration usually hurt you at the back, not up front.

In the early 1970s, Günter Netzer used to loudly complain about the high-tempo game which coach Hennes Weisweiler demanded of his Gladbach teams, saying: "In the final stages of a game, we are so tired we leave gaps and concede silly goals."

Ah well, be that as it may. I guess what counts is that we can spend the following weeks looking forward to another Bundesliga season with tons of goals.
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Tommy Smyth said he expects Villa to end up at Real soon. I'm a huge Villa fan. That would not make me happy. I am excited to see Kaka and Ronaldo go there to make things interesting for La Liga. The games with Barca are going to be great. But I do not want my boy David Villa at Real.

 
prefontaine said:
Looks like the Nats just picked up a starting midfielder. Who gets squeezed out I wonder?

Jermaine Jones wants to play for USA
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i don't know who this guy is (don't really follow the German league) buts it about time one of these decisions swung our way. On a related note, is there any reason why we haven't seen more young Mexican (or Hispanic in general) American players coming through the pipeline? It seems that with the rapidly increasing Hispanic population, some players would emerge.

 
Sebowski said:
Alright Bundesliga fans, what is the scope on Jermaine Jones?
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he's a defensive mid with a little bit of nasty to his game who can get forward OK. Should be a starter and is probably, from the few times I've seen him, the best field player we have now (which isn't saying much based on our current form). Basically he was brought into Germany's camp for friendly's in 2008, told to work on going forward, did so...yet didn't get called back in by Low presumably over personality issues... seeing as he'll be 28 by the WC, he wanted to go since it would be in the prime of his career and made the switch when FIFA changed the rule.
 
TLEF316 said:
On a related note, is there any reason why we haven't seen more young Mexican (or Hispanic in general) American players coming through the pipeline? It seems that with the rapidly increasing Hispanic population, some players would emerge.
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There's a rumor that Edgar Castillo (a left back who is American born) is considering switching from Mexico to the US. He's on the cusp of the Mexican national team but as of now has only appeared in friendlies. So with the new ruling, he can switch. Apparently we are lobbying him because we obviously are in desperate need of a left fullback.Here's an article about him from about a year ago in the NYT and he even says he would prefer to play for the U.S. Now's his chance!

 
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prefontaine said:
TLEF316 said:
On a related note, is there any reason why we haven't seen more young Mexican (or Hispanic in general) American players coming through the pipeline? It seems that with the rapidly increasing Hispanic population, some players would emerge.
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There's a rumor that Edgar Castillo (a left back who is American born) is considering switching from Mexico to the US. He's on the cusp of the Mexican national team but as of now has only appeared in friendlies. So with the new ruling, he can switch. Apparently we are lobbying him because we obviously are in desperate need of a left fullback.Here's an article about him from about a year ago in the NYT and he even says he would prefer to play for the U.S. Now's his chance!
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that's pretty freaking sad that we missed out on him. Its bad enough that we're so far behind the European and south American teams in terms of talent....but then we let a potential star get away? It's bad enough when its the Serbian kid or the Italian kid. At least they WANTED to play for their European homelands. But this kid grows up in the US, leads his state in scoring 3 years in a row, wants to play for his country and we don't even give him a sniff on an under 18 or under 21 team? Unreal.
 
Confed Cup starts tomorrow! :thumbdown:

Reading up on Spain reminded me of what an embarrassment of riches they have in the midfield. Iniesta and Senna are out with injuries, so their replacements are Fabregas and Xabi Alonso - decent backups, I'd say.

Looking forward to it, though with the Champions League, the NBA Playoffs, the US Qualifying matches, and now the Confed Cup, I may end up needing a divorce lawyer when it's all said and done.

 
The Kansas Comet said:
Confed Cup starts tomorrow! :yes:



Reading up on Spain reminded me of what an embarrassment of riches they have in the midfield. Iniesta and Senna are out with injuries, so their replacements are Fabregas and Xabi Alonso - decent backups, I'd say.

Looking forward to it, though with the Champions League, the NBA Playoffs, the US Qualifying matches, and now the Confed Cup, I may end up needing a divorce lawyer when it's all said and done.
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Spain has an embarrassment of riches all over the pitch right now. They certainly should take the Confederations Cup. Is it going to be broadcast on ESPN?
 
Yeah, ESPN.

Christo posted this link which is pretty good.

USA/Italy on Monday for a rematch of the 2006 cup game. It's a shame that the world's 2 best teams have to beat up on each other so early :unsure:

 
Is Pienaar hurt? I thought he was SA's best player. Hard to not pull for Iraq in this one, at least for me.

 
No Benedict McCarthy either for SA. I'll admit I didn't actually check their lineup before the tournament. I wonder if he's retired from international play.

I'm surprised that ESPN has this game in HD (and hopefully the rest too)....I really wasn't expecting it...starting the game now.

 
Steve Tasker said:
No Benedict McCarthy either for SA. I'll admit I didn't actually check their lineup before the tournament. I wonder if he's retired from international play.I'm surprised that ESPN has this game in HD (and hopefully the rest too)....I really wasn't expecting it...starting the game now.
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I'm pretty sure all games are live and in HD.
 
whoknew said:
Steve Tasker said:
No Benedict McCarthy either for SA. I'll admit I didn't actually check their lineup before the tournament. I wonder if he's retired from international play.I'm surprised that ESPN has this game in HD (and hopefully the rest too)....I really wasn't expecting it...starting the game now.
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I'm pretty sure all games are live and in HD.
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Yeah I'm watching the DVR. I know all the games except 1 are live, I just didn't expect them to be in HD just like the Champions League rounds weren't in HD. :pics: to ESPN on this one.
 
Oof...dull draw 0-0 between South Africa and Iraq. Not the kind of start the South Africans were looking for, I wouldn't think. Can't beat a team that has already been eliminated from Asian qualifying at home in Johannesburg....doesn't bode well for next summer.

Pienaar came on late, I wonder why he didn't play the first 80 minutes....

 
those ####### horns the fans keep blowing are annoying as all hell. the south africa game this morning was un-listenable. It sounded like the stadium was filled with flies.

Spain is just absurdly good.

 
Steve Tasker said:
No Benedict McCarthy either for SA. I'll admit I didn't actually check their lineup before the tournament. I wonder if he's retired from international play.I'm surprised that ESPN has this game in HD (and hopefully the rest too)....I really wasn't expecting it...starting the game now.
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He's on the coach's and the federation's #### list.
 
scoobygang said:
Steve Tasker said:
No Benedict McCarthy either for SA. I'll admit I didn't actually check their lineup before the tournament. I wonder if he's retired from international play.I'm surprised that ESPN has this game in HD (and hopefully the rest too)....I really wasn't expecting it...starting the game now.
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He's on the coach's and the federation's #### list.
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#### list or not, he's a hell of a lot better than any of the non-existent strikers that SA fielded today. I remember him playing internationally as of a year ago, I wonder if he'll get back in the team before the World Cup if South Africa flounder offensively in the next few games.
 
Not looking good for New Zealand. They actually might be the 2nd best in the group too. It's downright terrible that this Confed Cup is so lopsided.

Spain had it easy all night. The Kiwis had no idea how to handle their attacking midfield. There were countless times that I saw Xavi, Torres, Cesc, or Riera make moves in traffic that they couldn't do in la Liga or the EPL, even against mediocre or relegation level opponents. It looked like a training session.

El Niño is good, and that header was nice... Torres elevates so well, but that said, it's not like he was the dominant force in the match. He just happened to make the most out of his position adn possession.

I liked what I saw from Xabi Alonso, who gets so little PT for Spain. He's a good central MF and I think he plays a smart game. I like Senna better in their setup as I think Senna can really cause problems for opposing teams maintaining possession and a fluid attack against Spain. He ranges a bit better than Xabi, but Xabi is no slouch.

Final thought... that Spain team is so young and so good. Many of their best players are under 26, and I think the only 2 that are old enough to think about their career length are Puyol and Iker.

Ok, really final thought on the unis. I don't mind the dark blue offset color, as it's a hell of a lot better than their alternate mustard brown color. But Iker's shorts were a light grey almost blue with light yellow... they looked like JORTS to me. Maybe my TV is wack though.

 
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