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

Need some fantasy advice from Chelsea homers:

Who picks up the slack in Drogba's absence? Also, what's wrong with Joe Cole? Still recovering from that injury from last year? TIA

 
Just saw Dempsey's goal from earlier today, it was amazing. He's out of his skull right now. Also, Adu is joining Eddie Johnson in Greece. A few days ago he posted on his twitter feed that he was contempating between Hull and Aris. I'm glad he didn't choose Hull (and am somewhat skeptical that they were legitimately interested); Adu in the EPL would be laughable.

Arsenal get their game back tomorrow, should jump Man United and get to second place. I'm not a fan of any particular team but I'm definitely pulling for Arsenal the rest of the way, would love to see them win the league.

 
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Togo footballers shot in ambush

Gunmen have fired on a bus carrying Togo's football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, wounding players and reportedly killing the driver.

The attackers machine-gunned the vehicle in Angola's oil-rich territory of Cabinda, where rebels have been fighting for independence.

The main rebel group, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), said it carried out the attack.

The government called the incident an "act of terrorism".

There are reports of serious injuries.

Togo is due to play its first cup game in Cabinda on Monday.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was on the bus but is unhurt. In a statement, Manchester City said Adebayor had been "shaken by the terrible events" but was "unharmed".

'Act of terror'

At least two players were wounded during the shooting, reports said. Central defender Serge Akakpo was among those hurt and back-up goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was also reportedly injured.

The bus was travelling to Cabinda from the squad's training ground in the Republic of Congo when the shooting happened.

"This was an act of terrorism," Cabinda affairs minister Bento Bembe told Reuters news agency.

Competition officials said they had not known that the Togolose team had decided to drive directly to Cabinda.

They said they had expected the squad first to fly to the Angolan capital, Luanda, and from there to Cabinda.

Shot 'like dogs'

The head of the Togolese football federation told AFP news agency that the driver had died.

Togo striker Thomas Dossevi told France's RMC radio that several players were "in a bad state" after the attack.

CABINDA

# Oil-rich province cut off from the rest of Angola by DR Congo

# Flec rebels fought for region's independence

# Rebels laid down arms in 2006 but some unrest continues

# Angola had dismissed concerns about staging games there

"We were machine-gunned, like dogs," he said. "At the border with Angola - machine-gunned! I don't know why. I thought it was some rebels. We were under the seats of the bus for 20 minutes, trying to get away from the bullets."

The identities of those injured - who also included team staff - have not yet been confirmed.

Organisers said the Africa Cup of Nations would go ahead despite the shooting.

Togo's first game is due to be against Ghana on Monday.

But midfielder Alaixys Romao told RMC the team was likely to pull out of the 16-nation tournament.

"No-one wants to play," he said. "We're not capable of it.

"We're thinking first of all about the health of our injured because there was a lot of blood on the ground."
Click to expand...
obviously terrible newsnot to minimize the victims' plight, but this is also obviously very bad for the ANC and bad for FIFA

Angola is not necessarily South Africa, but it is in southern Africa and not all that far away from the World Cup venues. It will be interesting to see if Togo plays.

 
andy_b said:
when is Landon due to have his first chance to play for Everton? Is it this weekend?
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Quite possibly. Arsenal vs. Everton is one of the only games not canceled. Here's a quote from his manager.
"He has had a month's holiday off the back-end of their season and to put him back in after five days' training is not really the right thing to do, but the needs are at this present time that we might need to do that,'' said the Scot."When you take players from anywhere you just never quite know but he has been really keen."I hope the players see we have tried to bring in a proven international, who can play in several roles for us, who we hope can help us."We won't be able to tell that until he has featured in some of the games.''
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PIK95 said:
A bunch of matches got canceled due to weather I heard including Spurs-Pool. :goodposting:
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I was looking forward to that one. Arsene Wegner thinks everyone's acting like a bunch of wussies.
"Personally I know only the inside of the stadiums - I don't know the surroundings well enough, but I must say it is the price we pay for living in a society where everybody wants 100% security,'' he said."Nobody accepts any risk any more and everybody is always guided by fear."If one of 60,000 people has an accident, you feel very guilty and nobody accepts anymore that the slightest insecurity could exist in our society and that is why the games are postponed when there is no real need for it.''
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CletiusMaximus said:
Togo footballers shot in ambush

Gunmen have fired on a bus carrying Togo's football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, wounding players and reportedly killing the driver.

The attackers machine-gunned the vehicle in Angola's oil-rich territory of Cabinda, where rebels have been fighting for independence.

The main rebel group, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), said it carried out the attack.

The government called the incident an "act of terrorism".

There are reports of serious injuries.

Togo is due to play its first cup game in Cabinda on Monday.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was on the bus but is unhurt. In a statement, Manchester City said Adebayor had been "shaken by the terrible events" but was "unharmed".

'Act of terror'

At least two players were wounded during the shooting, reports said. Central defender Serge Akakpo was among those hurt and back-up goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was also reportedly injured.

The bus was travelling to Cabinda from the squad's training ground in the Republic of Congo when the shooting happened.

"This was an act of terrorism," Cabinda affairs minister Bento Bembe told Reuters news agency.

Competition officials said they had not known that the Togolose team had decided to drive directly to Cabinda.

They said they had expected the squad first to fly to the Angolan capital, Luanda, and from there to Cabinda.

Shot 'like dogs'

The head of the Togolese football federation told AFP news agency that the driver had died.

Togo striker Thomas Dossevi told France's RMC radio that several players were "in a bad state" after the attack.

CABINDA

# Oil-rich province cut off from the rest of Angola by DR Congo

# Flec rebels fought for region's independence

# Rebels laid down arms in 2006 but some unrest continues

# Angola had dismissed concerns about staging games there

"We were machine-gunned, like dogs," he said. "At the border with Angola - machine-gunned! I don't know why. I thought it was some rebels. We were under the seats of the bus for 20 minutes, trying to get away from the bullets."

The identities of those injured - who also included team staff - have not yet been confirmed.

Organisers said the Africa Cup of Nations would go ahead despite the shooting.

Togo's first game is due to be against Ghana on Monday.

But midfielder Alaixys Romao told RMC the team was likely to pull out of the 16-nation tournament.

"No-one wants to play," he said. "We're not capable of it.

"We're thinking first of all about the health of our injured because there was a lot of blood on the ground."
Click to expand...
obviously terrible newsnot to minimize the victims' plight, but this is also obviously very bad for the ANC and bad for FIFA

Angola is not necessarily South Africa, but it is in southern Africa and not all that far away from the World Cup venues. It will be interesting to see if Togo plays.
Click to expand...
That's terrible. That's also why there is no chance I would go to Africa having a young family as I do. It's just too unstable imo. It's too bad because I would love to visit.
 
Good start for Donovan.

Goal! Arsenal 0, Everton 1. Leon Osman (Everton) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Landon Donovan with a cross following a corner.
Click to expand...
 
bentley said:
Good start for Donovan.

Goal! Arsenal 0, Everton 1. Leon Osman (Everton) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Landon Donovan with a cross following a corner.
Click to expand...
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wow! I was just hoping he'd get to dress, let alone play... starting AND contributing so quickly- nice! Helpful that Jo was suspended.
 
PIK95 said:
CletiusMaximus said:
Togo footballers shot in ambush

Gunmen have fired on a bus carrying Togo's football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, wounding players and reportedly killing the driver.

The attackers machine-gunned the vehicle in Angola's oil-rich territory of Cabinda, where rebels have been fighting for independence.

The main rebel group, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), said it carried out the attack.

The government called the incident an "act of terrorism".

There are reports of serious injuries.

Togo is due to play its first cup game in Cabinda on Monday.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was on the bus but is unhurt. In a statement, Manchester City said Adebayor had been "shaken by the terrible events" but was "unharmed".

'Act of terror'

At least two players were wounded during the shooting, reports said. Central defender Serge Akakpo was among those hurt and back-up goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was also reportedly injured.

The bus was travelling to Cabinda from the squad's training ground in the Republic of Congo when the shooting happened.

"This was an act of terrorism," Cabinda affairs minister Bento Bembe told Reuters news agency.

Competition officials said they had not known that the Togolose team had decided to drive directly to Cabinda.

They said they had expected the squad first to fly to the Angolan capital, Luanda, and from there to Cabinda.

Shot 'like dogs'

The head of the Togolese football federation told AFP news agency that the driver had died.

Togo striker Thomas Dossevi told France's RMC radio that several players were "in a bad state" after the attack.

CABINDA

# Oil-rich province cut off from the rest of Angola by DR Congo

# Flec rebels fought for region's independence

# Rebels laid down arms in 2006 but some unrest continues

# Angola had dismissed concerns about staging games there

"We were machine-gunned, like dogs," he said. "At the border with Angola - machine-gunned! I don't know why. I thought it was some rebels. We were under the seats of the bus for 20 minutes, trying to get away from the bullets."

The identities of those injured - who also included team staff - have not yet been confirmed.

Organisers said the Africa Cup of Nations would go ahead despite the shooting.

Togo's first game is due to be against Ghana on Monday.

But midfielder Alaixys Romao told RMC the team was likely to pull out of the 16-nation tournament.

"No-one wants to play," he said. "We're not capable of it.

"We're thinking first of all about the health of our injured because there was a lot of blood on the ground."
Click to expand...
obviously terrible newsnot to minimize the victims' plight, but this is also obviously very bad for the ANC and bad for FIFA

Angola is not necessarily South Africa, but it is in southern Africa and not all that far away from the World Cup venues. It will be interesting to see if Togo plays.
Click to expand...
That's terrible. That's also why there is no chance I would go to Africa having a young family as I do. It's just too unstable imo. It's too bad because I would love to visit.
Click to expand...
From ESPN;Togo have withdrawn from the African Nations Cup in Angola following the machine gun attack on their team bus on Friday, with the death toll now understood to have risen to four.

• Prem bosses want cancellation

• Carter: Attack did irreparable damage

• Paper round: Big shadow over ANC

The team bus was attacked by rebels after crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Angolan enclave of Cabinda ahead of the tournament.

There have been conflicting reports about the identity of those shot, but Togo assistant coach Abalo Amelete and a spokesperson, Stanislas Ocloo, have died along with goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale. The bus driver is also understood to have been killed in the attack.
Click to expand...
 
Horrible news out of Africa. It is so easy to ignore what is going on over there every day. This stuff really makes you think.

Fantastic goal by Dempsey. Thanks for the post Moe.

Just saw the Donovan corner on FSC. Can't believe he got the start. The studio guy said he had a very good half. Howard had no chance on the goals, btw. Both deflections.

2 more goals for Arsenal.

 
Barça hammering Tenerfie right now 4-0. Tenerife were unlucky not to score one or two in the early going, but the Blaugrana picked it up after the first 20 or so minutes. Messi has a hat trick right now and his third was a beautiful chip over the keeper. Not a golazo, but more of just a lovely bit of skill. Iniesta played about 75 minutes - good to see him running around and looking fit.

Piqué missed this one and the defense has looked disorganized with Rafa Márquez in his place, though.

 
According to Grant Wahl's tweets, Angola was beating Mali 4-0 with 10 mins left and Mali scored 4 goals to tie. Must have been pretty amazing.

It looks like Mali scored twice in extra time. Wow.

 
Just got back from my wedding, so I've been out of the mix for a while.

Man that's terrible news out of Africa. Crazy. You'd think that terrorists would at least be soccer fans...

In other news, my Atleti are poised for making another big time comeback from the dead. They put the hurt on Valladolid in Valladolid 4-0 yesterday and are only 7 poiunts away from being back in Europa league. That's easily surmountable for a team with that much talent.

The Kun Aguero saga continues with rumors on both sides. Chelsea is the biggest contender, but Kun is saying all the right things about wanted to stay in Madrid. At this point I wouldn't be surprised either way, but if he goes it'll be for 55m€ I bet.

 
Sinn Fein said:
SmoovySmoov said:
Tough times being a Liverpool fan

:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Stephen Horner wrote to Hicks Jnr to express his concerns over the lack of transfer funds for boss Rafael Benitez. First, Horner was branded an "idiot". Then a second response from Hicks jnr said: "Blow me, ****face. Go to hell. I'm sick of you."
Click to expand...
Tom Hicks Jr quits Liverpool board following row over obscene email

Tom Hicks Jr has bowed to pressure to resign from the Liverpool board following his obscene comments to a supporter in a row over Rafael Benítez's transfer budget, the club announced this morning.

The son of Liverpool co-owner Tom Sr quit as a director of Liverpool and its parent company, Kop Holdings, having caused further problems between the club's American ownership and fan-base with an abusive e-mail exchange to a supporter whom he told to "Blow me #### face".

Liverpool supporters' union Spirit of Shankly insisted that Hicks Jr's position was untenable as a result of the row and, despite issuing an apology to the fan in question, Stephen Horner, the Dallas-based businessman decided to meet those demands.

The controversy comes at an unfortunate time for Hicks Sr and co-owner George Gillett as they attempt to present a united front to attract new investors to Anfield, but the director's departure does not weaken his father's support in the boardroom. The club also announced that Casey Coffman, executive Vice President of Hicks Holdings, is to join the Liverpool board and confirmed that Philip Nash and Ian Ayre, chief financial officer and commercial director respectively, have been promoted to directors.
Click to expand...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/ja...liverpool-email
 
derek245583 said:
Awesome game for Man City today. Tevez with a hat trick and Micah Richards with an awesom goal from a full field run. INTO THE TOP 4!!
Click to expand...
D#, it's early in your career so I'd like to help as it's not too late.You really dont want to be a Manchester City fan. Really. You can thank me later.On Tevez, a great new song starting to get traction for United's new striker Mame Baba Diouff"Our Diouf, Our Diouff, Our Diouff is on fire,We dont need no Tevez let that :youknowwhat: burnburn :youknowwhat: burn"Cant wait for him to score at OT becausea) It would be great to actually score a goal again and b) That would sound cool with 50000 singing it.
 
Fox to launch new Soccer Plus network in MarchThe Associated PressPublished: January 11, 2010NEW YORK - Fox will announce Tuesday that it is launching its second all-soccer network in the United States on March 1.The new network, called Fox Soccer Plus, will televise matches of the European Champions League, England's Premier League, the English Football Association Cup and the Italian Serie A. It will complement Fox Soccer Channel, which began operation in 1997 and changed its name to FSC five years ago.The new network will draw content from Setanta USA, whose sublicenses with Fox are expiring, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because that detail won't be included in the announcement.
Click to expand...
 
Graanted this is a goal.com story quoting a Sun "story", but I can't help to wonder how much damage the Glazers are going to end up doing to ManU after reading stories like this and ManU's current debts:

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could soon be the subject of bids from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to a report from The Sun.Financial figures released yesterday showed that United would have made a loss last year without the £80 million that they received from Real for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.As speculation grows that there is further financial woe ahead at Old Trafford, The Sun claims that selling Rooney might well be the only way for the Red Devils to ease the impending problems.The two Spanish clubs are reported as already considering bids of around £70m for the 24-year-old England regular.
Click to expand...
I also can't figure out how the Spanish sides keep spending like this, but that's a different story.
 
Sammy3469 said:
Graanted this is a goal.com story quoting a Sun "story", but I can't help to wonder how much damage the Glazers are going to end up doing to ManU after reading stories like this and ManU's current debts:

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could soon be the subject of bids from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to a report from The Sun.

Financial figures released yesterday showed that United would have made a loss last year without the £80 million that they received from Real for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

As speculation grows that there is further financial woe ahead at Old Trafford, The Sun claims that selling Rooney might well be the only way for the Red Devils to ease the impending problems.

The two Spanish clubs are reported as already considering bids of around £70m for the 24-year-old England regular.
Click to expand...
I also can't figure out how the Spanish sides keep spending like this, but that's a different story.
Click to expand...
It's hard to believe he's still only 24.
 
Reports of Manchester United financial demise are very premature and without much merit.

To say they would have operated at a loss last year without the 80 million transfer for Ronaldo, are exactly why the transfer was made. Clubs, well most clubs, realize they cannot continue to spend forever without repercussion. Why on earth otherwise would United have even listened to offers for Ronaldo? It's not as if he's ever said he was unhappy at Old Trafford.

Some clubs are in much more dire financial straits than United (umm, Liverpool, Portsmouth immediately come to mind). In a pinch, United has tons of financial pull at it's disposal. Plus, they still do operate at a profit. Keep in mind their sponsorship deal with AIG is about to end, so methinks the coffers will be pretty nicely refilled by a new sponsorship deal.

United's been much more prudent in recent years on the transfer market, plus they have shed a lot of payroll. Giggs and Scholes will be back, but Neville will not. VanderSaar's nearly at the end of the line too (best wishes to his wife). This team is a pretty well run organization - sure they have made some missteps here and there.

No effing way Rooney leaves.

 
guru_007 said:
Reports of Manchester United financial demise are very premature and without much merit.To say they would have operated at a loss last year without the 80 million transfer for Ronaldo, are exactly why the transfer was made. Clubs, well most clubs, realize they cannot continue to spend forever without repercussion. Why on earth otherwise would United have even listened to offers for Ronaldo? It's not as if he's ever said he was unhappy at Old Trafford. Some clubs are in much more dire financial straits than United (umm, Liverpool, Portsmouth immediately come to mind). In a pinch, United has tons of financial pull at it's disposal. Plus, they still do operate at a profit. Keep in mind their sponsorship deal with AIG is about to end, so methinks the coffers will be pretty nicely refilled by a new sponsorship deal.United's been much more prudent in recent years on the transfer market, plus they have shed a lot of payroll. Giggs and Scholes will be back, but Neville will not. VanderSaar's nearly at the end of the line too (best wishes to his wife). This team is a pretty well run organization - sure they have made some missteps here and there.No effing way Rooney leaves.
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I think the Sun story is typical abu mudslinging, but the above is wrong.Ronaldo was absolutely complicit in his transfer, the whole saga went on for over two years. It wasnt Tevez'esq, and I dont think theres too much of a bitter aftertaste but he was campaigning to get to Real the previous summer, and from memory it took some serious intervention from Ferguson to get him to stay. I think most assumed he'd be off the second time around and rumour was it was organised well ahead of time. We got a fair run out of him so no hard feelings (on my part anyway).United's finances are most likely very tricky. When the club was a PLC, it was rock solid financially - owned it's assets and was run in what seemed a fiscally prudent way. Wage structure was very tight, for example , and lack of willingness to break the bank was often the reason quoted for not signing top targets (Ronaldinho, Shearer and Shevchenko being examples that spring to mind). When the Glazers compulsoriy acquired all the shares (and thus were no longer restricted by stock exchange rules), they immediately used the clubs assets to back massive loans (club is over $1 billion in debt as a result). In fact if memory serves they used this to actually borrow the money to buy the club. Servicing these loans is what is causing the club to maybe be in trouble, and the issue is totally the reason there was/is so much vitriol at the Glazers from a large part of the United supporter group. They feel their club was taken away from them without consent and the fear was that exactly this situation would arise. (See Leeds United for an example of what can happen to a big footy club). Having money if needed was never a constraint on SAF, and the fact that so little of the Ronaldo money has been reinvested (signing Michael Owen?????) is an enormous red flag. Especially sitting 2nd on the table and having holes in the squad that could be seemingly filled with a little cash. There's also the Ljiaic (sp?) debacle.Prudent in transfer market? Nani (16-18 mllion pounds) Anderson (about the same) Hargreaves (same) Carrick (same) Valencia (same) Berbatov (30 ish) all recent signings and none of them massively succesful up until now it has to be said.. Up until this year, Ferguson was always able to get what he needed/wanted.It feels like they are treading a very fine line and are having to be careful.I agree that Rooney is unlikely to be going anywhere, unless he wants to. There has been nothing to indicate anything other than he wants to be a United player the rest of his career.
 
prefontaine said:
SofaKings said:
Screw the US bid to host the World Cup. No Detroit or Chicago? Indianapolis as the only midwest city? Ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Chicago doesn't have a big enough stadium. Soldier would be the smallest stadium by like 10k seats. And Detroit not being chosen is a shock?
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You have UM stadium that seats 100k plus along with setting the women's attendance record a year ago at Ford Field with the US v. China. Also Detroit was very well regarded as a venue when they hosted in 94. Indy, Nashville, KC are better than Detroit or Chicago? I don't believe so.
 
SofaKings said:
prefontaine said:
SofaKings said:
Screw the US bid to host the World Cup. No Detroit or Chicago? Indianapolis as the only midwest city? Ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Chicago doesn't have a big enough stadium. Soldier would be the smallest stadium by like 10k seats. And Detroit not being chosen is a shock?
Click to expand...
You have UM stadium that seats 100k plus along with setting the women's attendance record a year ago at Ford Field with the US v. China. Also Detroit was very well regarded as a venue when they hosted in 94. Indy, Nashville, KC are better than Detroit or Chicago? I don't believe so.
Click to expand...
It appears that Ford Field and Michigan Stadium had both requested to be dropped from consideration a few mths back. End of rant.
 
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