seriously? Snejider is extremely overrated imho - he would be hardpressed to break my top 4 midfielders in ITALY, let alone the world. To me, he benefits greatly by not having to be hard on both sides of the ball, and not having to be relied upon to finish. He's fantastic on set pieces and free kicks, but I don't find him to be that good personally.
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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
- Start date
andy_b
Footballguy
that's cool. Try and sample some of the world cup this summer. It will be hard to ignore since it will be every where.So, I generally mock soccer, but I downloaded () Match of the Day from this past weekend and I liked what I saw. Not sure I'm ready to watch a full game, but I got caught up in the highlights pretty quick.
Mjolnirs
Footballguy
Good story about a British U-18 team stranded stateside due to the ash cloud.
Charlotte observer link
Charlotte observer link
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Portsmouth's UEFA bid failed.
scoobygang
Footballguy
Did Xavi die or something?crazy good. best pure #10 out there right now...
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Not a chance.crazy good. best pure #10 out there right now... only downside- I've seen him slack on D in the last 20 minutes of just about every Inter game I've watched.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Did Xavi die or something?
Xavi... is... yeah. The best. No doubt.
El Floppo
Footballguy
damn. I was really hoping they'd pull it off... over freaking paperwork, right?
I was watching their game last week and the commentator said something I kind of agree with. He believed that while the UEFA spot would have made Pompey more attractive for a buyer getting it would harm the team on the field next year. They are going to have to let quite a few players leave (the commentator estimated they could keep maybe 5 of their starting 11) and they'd be throwing out very inexperienced players to compete in Europe. He thought it would be best for them to keep their focus on getting back to the EPL like Newcastle did.El Floppo said:
El Floppo
Footballguy
Interesting.Still feel bad for them losing the spot over not filing their papers in time (?), rather than giving some young kids a chance to crash out on their own. But I get what the commentator is saying.
El Floppo
Footballguy
lol
Major
Footballguy
I'm probably a bit biased here as I'm a big Ribery fan but that call ticked me off. I'll give it another look but I'm convinced it should've been a yellow at the most. What's done is done. This will probably make them stronger mentally. When he comes back, they'll have a good chance to upset Inter.
El Floppo
Footballguy
I'm a fan of his as well- you'll see when look at the replays... pretty ugly stuff. But really doubt they'll tack on a "giving him the business" second game lock-out. He'll miss the fixture against Lyon (and they won't need him) and be rested for the final.Am I the only one- even as an Inter fan- who hasn't written off Barca?I'm probably a bit biased here as I'm a big Ribery fan but that call ticked me off. I'll give it another look but I'm convinced it should've been a yellow at the most. What's done is done. This will probably make them stronger mentally. When he comes back, they'll have a good chance to upset Inter.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I didn't say it...scoobygang said:Did Xavi die or something?crazy good. best pure #10 out there right now...
El Floppo
Footballguy
Anybody? I mean- all it takes is 2-0 and Barca are through. VERY reasonable at home- Inter's been giving up goals in league.
Written off? No. But I watched them last weekend and came away less than impressed to say the least.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Certainly not....they're Barcelona...
Major
Footballguy
I think they'll make it close but Sneijder will let everyone know why he's "the best pure #10 in the game"
scoobygang
Footballguy
To my mind, Xavi is the best player in the world. Messi is awesome, but Ronaldo comes a lot closer to being able to replicate what he does than anybody comes to Xavi. The guy just slices up the defense with the perfect pass 3 or 4 times a game. All while always making the simple pass. If he's not the best, he's definitely my favorite player.I didn't say it...scoobygang said:Did Xavi die or something?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I don't see how you can't look at the season Messi is having and NOT call him the best player in the world.Messi, CRonaldo, and Xavi all play very different games and have different skillsets. Xavi is by far the most pure (passing) midfielder in the world. Messi is the best "magical" player I've ever seen with probably the best touch in the world. CRonaldo is the best 1-on-many player I've ever seen. He can score from everywhere and anywhere, plus he's got an edge to him that Xavi and Messi don't have.I tend to think that Kaká can rival Sneidjer as the best pure #10. He doesn't fit in with Real though, as they either need an Ibra or a Xavi, but not a Kaká.-ZP.S. Not to Huck this up too much, but I'm writing this from Mexico City. It's an interesting place. HUGE and full of people.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Easy to forget about Kaka with the forgettable year he's had for RM. Given his current form, he's behind Sneidjer by a bunch, who in turn is behind Xavi. I don't think the drop off is as great with those two, although definitely there. Any other true #10s out there worth mentioning? I've been a big Diego fan since his early years in Brasil, but he has been a big disappointment this year. I consider Gerrard a #10-type player, but not quite as much the focal point of his team's offense the way those other guys are. I'm sure I'm just spacing on it- but I'm drawing blanks thinking of anybody in the EPL who plays that kind of role. Lampard? not quite. Sneijder is the missing link for Inter in terms of being able to run and create magic in the MF. Like Xavi, he's able to pick up passes nobody else in the stadium knew were options until he's hit them. Also able to make the easy pass that makes his team-mates better... but I give Xavi a big edge there. Great first touch, great shot, and ability to take over games. I wonder how they would do if they swapped teams. It's hard for me to imagine Xavi playing somewhere else and dominating the way he does for Barca... whether it's the system, Pep, his team-mates... dunno. Just a guess. He'd still be pretty freaking amazing.
El Floppo
Footballguy
A pic
she's got huge boobs, but how about a little less eye makeup? jesus. not exactly smoking hot but certainly someone worth banging. especially considering she was probably 17 at the time.
A better pic
maybe closer to smoking hot in pic 2 here.
she's got huge boobs, but how about a little less eye makeup? jesus. not exactly smoking hot but certainly someone worth banging. especially considering she was probably 17 at the time.
A better pic
maybe closer to smoking hot in pic 2 here.
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Ted Lange as your Bartender
Footballguy
Major
Footballguy
Not a fan of the uniforms but the socks were pretty dope. Want to get a pair of those.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
So, it looks like our season opens next Sunday evening, followed by our first-round cup game the following Wednesday - the extremely long read leading to our monumental upset of several USL and MLS teams in the US Open Cup begins!
LHUCKS
Footballguy
So I dropped some serious coin to go the Boca game tomorrow here in Buenos Aires. I know little to nothing about the league down here or the players but the game is supposed to be a good one. I paid some pretty good coin for mid-level seating.
It'll be interesting to compare the atmosphere to the Real Madrid game I saw in Spain last summer. The hotel concierge said my buddy and I shouldn't go alone and highly recommended we go with the hotel group...must be pretty intense.
It'll be interesting to compare the atmosphere to the Real Madrid game I saw in Spain last summer. The hotel concierge said my buddy and I shouldn't go alone and highly recommended we go with the hotel group...must be pretty intense.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Who are they playing?The Bombonera will be very intense, borderline dangerous (so I hear)....be careful but have fun....
Senor Schmutzig
Footballguy
LHUCKS
Footballguy
oh my...typed that a bit too fast.
El Floppo
Footballguy
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Wow. That was immensely stupid of Jozy.
What an idiot.Just heard an interesting statistic on the ESPN2 broadcast. 300,000 WC tickets have been sold to people outside SA. 120,000 of them have been sold to Americans!
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Good on the ref to send Hutton off too.Terribly stupid for Jozy, although it wasn't really much of a headbutt. If you're going to get suspended, at least knock him the #### out
Makes me wonder if that'll spell the end for his run at Hull. I guess the media was starting to get on him because he wasn't scoring enough...
whitem0nkey
Footballguy
BoulderBob
Footballguy
My guess is 110,000 of the 120,000 tickets sold to USA residents went to greedy friggin scalpers and the ticket agency that employs them, unfortunately...and I don't think that number is a stretch.It's pretty much the norm nowadays. For the Chicago Blackhawks 1st round series, I'd wager 80-90% of the tix were purchased by scalpers and placed on various sites ala stubhub. Not sure if anything can be done/should be done, but due to their computer programs that make it very hard to get tickets the day they are released, it's almost impossible to buy for face value nowadays. Sorry for the rant...it's not like I haven't scalped a ticket or two...What an idiot.Just heard an interesting statistic on the ESPN2 broadcast. 300,000 WC tickets have been sold to people outside SA. 120,000 of them have been sold to Americans! :X
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Sebowski
Footballguy
Wayne Rooney disagreeshttp://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...901&cc=5901To my mind, Xavi is the best player in the world. Messi is awesome, but Ronaldo comes a lot closer to being able to replicate what he does than anybody comes to Xavi. The guy just slices up the defense with the perfect pass 3 or 4 times a game. All while always making the simple pass. If he's not the best, he's definitely my favorite player.I didn't say it...Did Xavi die or something?
crazy good. best pure #10 out there right now...
El Floppo
Footballguy
That's getting recommended all over the place- even by non-soccer fans.
... with all the soccer I've got on here when I'm home, no way I sneak a movie about soccer past my wife (movies are "us" time).
LHUCKS
Footballguy
Just got back from the Boca/San Lorenzo game at the Bombanero. Here are some quick thoughts:
1) By far the loudest, most energetic atmosphere I have ever been apart of. The crowd sang/chanted throughout the entire game. The spirit section for both teams(not sure what they're called), started bouncing and singing well before the game started and didn't stop until well after the game was over.(with the exception of halftime.)
2) The soccer was sloppy as heck and kind of dirty compared to most soccer I watch. MLS clubs are a class above the league IMHO.
3) Went with a big international group. Australian, Danish, Austrian, Mexican, Germans, one guy from Iceland and me. The coolest part was talking soccer on the bus to and from the match. The consensus is that USA is a rising power and they feel it's a matter of time before we care considered one of the elite teams. Everybody is obviously amped about the WC coming up.
4) Palermo, the leading goalscorer for Boca, is a living legend to the Boca fans and he actually scored a goal. The fans know he's past his prime, but they don't care, they love him like he's the second coming...seriously. Kind of like Brett Favre X 1000.
5) I was taken back by the passion for the game...I definitely felt it in other countries like Spain and England, but it was nothing like this. People hug like they just added a new child to the family after each goal.
6) An interesting comment by some of the people sitting next to me from Argentina was that although they realize Messi is great, he is criticized for not playing well for the national team...interestingly I heard the same comment from a Brazilian taxi driver about Kaka when I was in Rio.
7) I asked an 11 year old kid next to me who his favorite player was and he said Messi, his favorite player on Boca was Palermo...he answered in a tone like I was idiot for asking the question, which I got a kick out of.
Just an awesome experience, so glad that I went. One of the highlights of my trip thus far. One of the most incredible sports experiences for me. There is nothing comparable in the US IMHO.
1) By far the loudest, most energetic atmosphere I have ever been apart of. The crowd sang/chanted throughout the entire game. The spirit section for both teams(not sure what they're called), started bouncing and singing well before the game started and didn't stop until well after the game was over.(with the exception of halftime.)
2) The soccer was sloppy as heck and kind of dirty compared to most soccer I watch. MLS clubs are a class above the league IMHO.
3) Went with a big international group. Australian, Danish, Austrian, Mexican, Germans, one guy from Iceland and me. The coolest part was talking soccer on the bus to and from the match. The consensus is that USA is a rising power and they feel it's a matter of time before we care considered one of the elite teams. Everybody is obviously amped about the WC coming up.
4) Palermo, the leading goalscorer for Boca, is a living legend to the Boca fans and he actually scored a goal. The fans know he's past his prime, but they don't care, they love him like he's the second coming...seriously. Kind of like Brett Favre X 1000.
5) I was taken back by the passion for the game...I definitely felt it in other countries like Spain and England, but it was nothing like this. People hug like they just added a new child to the family after each goal.
6) An interesting comment by some of the people sitting next to me from Argentina was that although they realize Messi is great, he is criticized for not playing well for the national team...interestingly I heard the same comment from a Brazilian taxi driver about Kaka when I was in Rio.
7) I asked an 11 year old kid next to me who his favorite player was and he said Messi, his favorite player on Boca was Palermo...he answered in a tone like I was idiot for asking the question, which I got a kick out of.
Just an awesome experience, so glad that I went. One of the highlights of my trip thus far. One of the most incredible sports experiences for me. There is nothing comparable in the US IMHO.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
As a Boca fan, I have to disagree on the "past his prime" sentiment here. He's older and more experienced than most guys on the field, but you make it sound like he's hobbling around, getting lucky to score the occasional goal out there. Since his return to Boca in 2004, he's scored at more than a 0.5 goals/game pace. Even at his age, he's still consistently one of the best players on the field (based on the Boca games we happen to get on TV here).Now if you want to see a guy who's past his prime, just look at Riquelme. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but he's a prime example of a guy who's past his prime (despite being 5 years younger than Palermo). If he were on the pitch, I imagine he would've gotten the same reception as Palermo.
LHUCKS
Footballguy
Actually the Argentinians next to me told me that, and from what I saw it makes sense...guy just looked like he was 36 in terms of quicks and speed. But you are right, he is obviously a heady player and his touch is great...I noticed in the program that he was one of the leading scorers in the league so he obviously has gas left in the tank. He must have been a force when he was younger. IMHO, he had a pretty bad first half but looked much better in the 2nd half.I'm not sure anyone is in their prime at the age of 36.Regarding Riquelma, I thought he was the best player on the field...he looked like he should be playing in Europe to me.
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