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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 Viewers)

SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!No, I don't know what the rivalry is supposed to mean. I've just seen the good natured ribbing from you Arsenal fans since I announced I started liking the Spurs in my first season of watching.I usually watch matches much later on DVR, so I avoid this thread like the plague, not wanting to be spoiled. I love my college football, but between going to games and always needing to know scores right away in CFB and NFL, I've seen far more soccer this season than football. The reason for this anomaly is what I've kind of laid out already: I can record soccer played before I wake up and while I'm at work, don't feel the need to know the scores as they happen as with CFB and NFL, and I don't have many natural ways to be spoiled while avoiding other sources of being spoiled as much as possible.I've already found myself cheering for Spurs goals similar to when the US scores in non-World Cup games. Hell should be freezing over any second.
:yawn:
 
####### dreadful. Team went to sleep after going up 2-0. I got really pissed after Spurs equalized and fast-forwarded the rest before deleting it off my DVR.

Really an upsetting loss - I know they won't win the title, but this was a must-win game....home to Spurs....cause you know it's gonna be that much tougher @ White Hart Lane.

 
On the plus side, though, this year seems to have a strange parity at the top even without Liverpool/Everton in the mix. I'm not sure why this is the case....I tend to think it's because the close but not quite teams - City, Arsenal, Spurs, Villa - have gotten better rather than United/Chelsea being any worse.

14 games into the season, and 6 teams are within 6 points of first place (with a chance for 7 with Sunderland playing on Monday).

I can't remember a season in recent memory that was this close at the top through this point in the season. I really get the feeling that any team can win any game at this point - there are no free points.

 
On the plus side, though, this year seems to have a strange parity at the top even without Liverpool/Everton in the mix. I'm not sure why this is the case....I tend to think it's because the close but not quite teams - City, Arsenal, Spurs, Villa - have gotten better rather than United/Chelsea being any worse.

14 games into the season, and 6 teams are within 6 points of first place (with a chance for 7 with Sunderland playing on Monday).

I can't remember a season in recent memory that was this close at the top through this point in the season. I really get the feeling that any team can win any game at this point - there are no free points.
I agree that others are getting better. But I don't think Chelsea and ManU are quite as sharp as they've been the past few years.
 
On the plus side, though, this year seems to have a strange parity at the top even without Liverpool/Everton in the mix. I'm not sure why this is the case....I tend to think it's because the close but not quite teams - City, Arsenal, Spurs, Villa - have gotten better rather than United/Chelsea being any worse.

14 games into the season, and 6 teams are within 6 points of first place (with a chance for 7 with Sunderland playing on Monday).

I can't remember a season in recent memory that was this close at the top through this point in the season. I really get the feeling that any team can win any game at this point - there are no free points.
I agree that others are getting better. But I don't think Chelsea and ManU are quite as sharp as they've been the past few years.
I agree. Injury woes have hit Chelsea and United doesnt have the killer mentality they normally have. They are letting too many get away late. With that, its not even Christmas which is usually the time the top teams turn it on (esp United). I would expect some separation into the new year with United, Chelsea and Arsenal going up top. The battle, as it has been for the last few years, will be for the 4th spot and Europe.

 
Big ol' defense of MLS naming conventions here.

I still think Real Salt Lake just sounds goofy :goodposting:

One interesting post in the comments attached to the article above explains an interesting 'dog whistle' component to the name, though:

"If you are not Mormon you might not realize that the 3 four letter word structure of “real salt lake” is a reference to the holy trinity. John Smith named SLC that way for the same reason, and this subtle device is not uncommon in the faith. This reference is not overtly stated by the team, but Mormons get it."

-QG

 
Big ol' defense of MLS naming conventions here.

I still think Real Salt Lake just sounds goofy :)

One interesting post in the comments attached to the article above explains an interesting 'dog whistle' component to the name, though:

"If you are not Mormon you might not realize that the 3 four letter word structure of “real salt lake” is a reference to the holy trinity. John Smith named SLC that way for the same reason, and this subtle device is not uncommon in the faith. This reference is not overtly stated by the team, but Mormons get it."

-QG
:boxing: It's sad that the A-League in Australia has better names than half of the MLS teams.

 
Just discovered Dimitar Berbatov's twitter. Not sure if this is real, but it's :no: .

I retire from international football, can now finally focus on 30,000 piece jigsaw of windsor castle
ok match but couldn't stay for post mach debriefing chimney sweep will be arriving in an hour
Tonight I put on ballroom class for some of the lads, I take out insurance for hargreaves
http://twitter.com/dimi_berbatov

 
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####### dreadful. Team went to sleep after going up 2-0. I got really pissed after Spurs equalized and fast-forwarded the rest before deleting it off my DVR.Really an upsetting loss - I know they won't win the title, but this was a must-win game....home to Spurs....cause you know it's gonna be that much tougher @ White Hart Lane.
Just finished the game :banned: Even on cruise control at the tail end of the 2nd they had chance to go up 3-0. Van Der Vaart Was great. That first assist was awesome. Not sure if Cesc put his hand up or was trying to keep Chamak's hand down.
 
GoFishTN said:
Just discovered Dimitar Berbatov's twitter. Not sure if this is real, but it's :lol: .

I retire from international football, can now finally focus on 30,000 piece jigsaw of windsor castle
ok match but couldn't stay for post mach debriefing chimney sweep will be arriving in an hour
Tonight I put on ballroom class for some of the lads, I take out insurance for hargreaves
http://twitter.com/dimi_berbatov
:lmao: can't be real, but I'm gonna follow him.
 
Always a great scene in Toronto...I love the atmosphere at BMO Field.

Whose idea was it to schedule the MLS Cup final in Toronto, though? The stadium is literally pretty much right on the banks of Lake Ontario...it's gotta be ####### freezing there. Grant Wahl tweeted earlier that it was snowing this morning.

 
Don Garber reveals that MLS is planning on switching to a August - May schedule (with a winter break). Ives Galarcep tweets this very fact. MLS execs then immediately tell the media not to talk about it until halftime of tonight's game, when the announcement will be official (per Grant Wahl's twitter).

 
This is some ugly soccer. Especially so after watching a bunch of EPL this weekend. Hopefully it is just the adrenalin pumping through these guys. They'll settle down once they tire a bit.

 
Conor Casey goes down the box with legitimate penalty claims, but the ref says no. Replays shows the Dallas defender kicking Casey while he's lying on the ground (could've/should've been a red) and then a bit of a clip on his heels mere seconds later.

 
Don Garber reveals that MLS is planning on switching to a August - May schedule (with a winter break). Ives Galarcep tweets this very fact. MLS execs then immediately tell the media not to talk about it until halftime of tonight's game, when the announcement will be official (per Grant Wahl's twitter).
Going head-to-head with the NFL? Are they mad?
 
MLS MVP David Ferreira gives Dallas the lead in the 35th....great low cross from Chavez and Ferreira gets a nice little touch on it in front of the keeper for the opener.

 
Conor Casey with, as Ian Darke puts it, "a goal-scorer's goal". Basically rolling on the ground as he pokes one in to equalize in the 57th.

 
Wow....I just found out that a former student of mine (who I used to kick it around with occasionally on campus, as well) is currently playing in the Conference National - where has has 9 appearances this season - on loan from Cardiff City. He has only 1 appearance for Cardiff though, a League Cup appearance.

Small world....

 
Pretty glad this one looks like it's about to go to OT - it embodies all that's good with the MLS.

Not the prettiest, not the most technical, but a fun end-to-end game. If you can't get into this...I don't know how much you love the game.

Just a really fun game here.

 
Pretty glad this one looks like it's about to go to OT - it embodies all that's good with the MLS.Not the prettiest, not the most technical, but a fun end-to-end game. If you can't get into this...I don't know how much you love the game.Just a really fun game here.
Not sure whether a brawl or goal will come first.As always, I hope it doesn't go to penalties.
 
casey really is a total butcher. any time he is near the ball, you can count on him absolutely mugging anyone in his way.

frankly, i'm surprised defenders don't punch him in the face at least 7 times a year.

 
Very entertaining. Not sure if anybody but MLS diehards are watching at 11:30 EST on a Sunday night, but it was a good advertisement for the league.

 
As a long suffering Rapids follower - that was one heck of a game - and congratulations to Pablo he's suffered a long time around here and always kept his head up and remained positive. It's hard to believe that they won- they are really a rag tag bunch. I thought Drew Moor was man of the match - he's been solid in the back and really had some timely clears and tackles.

If the MLS want's to improve the watchability of this game - they should hire Gus Johnson - would have liked to hear him down the stretch of this one.

 
Brady Marino said:
Steve Tasker said:
Don Garber reveals that MLS is planning on switching to a August - May schedule (with a winter break). Ives Galarcep tweets this very fact. MLS execs then immediately tell the media not to talk about it until halftime of tonight's game, when the announcement will be official (per Grant Wahl's twitter).
Going head-to-head with the NFL? Are they mad?
What exactly did they do tonight but that very thing?They are getting the schedule more in line with the rest of the world and to satisfy FIFA (and not conflict with the World Cup as well). The timing of it is optimum in terms of it being just 10 days before the '22 bid winner is announced.-QG
 
Brady Marino said:
Steve Tasker said:
Don Garber reveals that MLS is planning on switching to a August - May schedule (with a winter break). Ives Galarcep tweets this very fact. MLS execs then immediately tell the media not to talk about it until halftime of tonight's game, when the announcement will be official (per Grant Wahl's twitter).
Going head-to-head with the NFL? Are they mad?
They already do that for like half the schedule.
 
Yeah, I don't get the whole compete with the NFL thing. MLS cup just happened during week 10 of the NFL season. There are so many sports in this country that there is no perfect time to play. But soccer is strong enough that it can survive on any schedule so it's time we get on the rest of the world's calendar. How many teams are left playing on NFL fields anyway? Seattle and NE, yeah?

 
Brady Marino said:
Steve Tasker said:
Don Garber reveals that MLS is planning on switching to a August - May schedule (with a winter break). Ives Galarcep tweets this very fact. MLS execs then immediately tell the media not to talk about it until halftime of tonight's game, when the announcement will be official (per Grant Wahl's twitter).
Going head-to-head with the NFL? Are they mad?
What exactly did they do tonight but that very thing?They are getting the schedule more in line with the rest of the world and to satisfy FIFA (and not conflict with the World Cup as well). The timing of it is optimum in terms of it being just 10 days before the '22 bid winner is announced.

-QG
This is the point - it's all posturing by USSF/MLS towards FIFA to curry favor to win the 2022 WC hosting bid. There's no way they ever actually move to an August-May schedule. They have a good thing going with their current schedule timing for the most part, in terms of relative lack of competition with other sports, schools and youth club teams on break, etc. What I think they will actually work on is eliminating conflicts with FIFA international dates, and you saw a little of that this year when they shut the league down for two weeks during World Cup group stages. But the minute the 2022 WC site is announced, all of this "planning" will go out the window.In other MLS news, expansion draft protection lists will be released today at around 5PM. Teams can protect 11 players, with other rules about the number of international players each team must protect, and the exemption of Generation Adidas and Homegrown/Academy players.

The expansion draft for Portland and Vancouver will take place Wednesday.

 
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Brady Marino said:
Steve Tasker said:
Don Garber reveals that MLS is planning on switching to a August - May schedule (with a winter break). Ives Galarcep tweets this very fact. MLS execs then immediately tell the media not to talk about it until halftime of tonight's game, when the announcement will be official (per Grant Wahl's twitter).
Going head-to-head with the NFL? Are they mad?
What exactly did they do tonight but that very thing?They are getting the schedule more in line with the rest of the world and to satisfy FIFA (and not conflict with the World Cup as well). The timing of it is optimum in terms of it being just 10 days before the '22 bid winner is announced.

-QG
:lmao: With the switch, the beginning of the season rather than the end of the season will conflict with the NFL.
 
"But the minute the 2022 WC site is announced, all of this "planning" will go out the window."

I'm not so sure. Particularly if our bid is chosen. An April championship, particularly mid-April also is a nice window for the league in that the NBA and NHL playoffs are just getting started and March madness ends at the beginning of the month. Mid-April probably affords the best chance for the league to get its championship on in prime time.

-QG

 
This is all my opinion from being a hard core MLS fan since before the league even had a name. It is only an opinion

1) In no way, shape or form will MLS ever play a winter-spring schedule in my life time. Back in the day when the GM's were all easy to talk to, each and every one of them just laughed at the notion of drawing fans to places like NY, NE, Chi etc during the winter. MLS struggles at times to get crowds on pleasant summer nights with relatively little competition. The attendance would drop like an absolute stone for teams in the north especially when competing in most cities with NBA and NHL.

2) If anyone thinks this "announcement" is not related to the fact that Blatter just recently mentioned that MLS needs to get on the world calendar and the fact that the game of politics is going into overdrive concerning the World Cup bid, they need to rethink their stance.

 
This is all my opinion from being a hard core MLS fan since before the league even had a name. It is only an opinion1) In no way, shape or form will MLS ever play a winter-spring schedule in my life time. Back in the day when the GM's were all easy to talk to, each and every one of them just laughed at the notion of drawing fans to places like NY, NE, Chi etc during the winter. MLS struggles at times to get crowds on pleasant summer nights with relatively little competition. The attendance would drop like an absolute stone for teams in the north especially when competing in most cities with NBA and NHL.2) If anyone thinks this "announcement" is not related to the fact that Blatter just recently mentioned that MLS needs to get on the world calendar and the fact that the game of politics is going into overdrive concerning the World Cup bid, they need to rethink their stance.
:blackdot: It's the same thing with FIFA saying that MLS/US Soccer needs to institute promotion/relegation. The league basically says they'll look into it, but everybody knows it's never going to happen.
 
Here's something kinda cool: 1st* person I know to have signed professionally signs with New England

I used to play premier with this guy for the Buffalo-area team, and he played on my travel team for one season. He was far and away the best goalie in the league, and probably the best I've ever played with. He transferred here to finish his college career (some of us were only good enough to play on the club team...). I used to see him around campus every once in awhile - he's always been a nice guy. Good head on his shoulders, very hard worker.

I'm glad to see him make the jump to the Revs. I don't know if he'll really make an impact, but it's cool.

* Other people might have and I just didn't know about it. I know a lot of semi-pro players, and had a guy turn down a live-in role on Lazio's reserve team when we were kids.

Buffalo NY - The New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS) have signed Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth on a 1 year deal with an option for another 4 years. While playing with Buffalo City FC, Shuttleworth lead the team to a 5-1 record, and only let in two goals as the starting goalkeeper.

Buffalo City FC's Head Coach Mike Share had this too say about the departure of the starting keeper: "As a coach I am sad to see Bobby go, I think he has a bright future in the game and he always worked his socks off in training. He has been in great form for us in the first five games and I am sure we will miss him, having said that we have three other very good goalkeepers that will now be fighting for a starting spot. I am pleased for Bobby as he deserves this chance and I am sure he will take this chance with both hands".

Bobby Shuttleworth played two years at the Unversity at Buffalo, after transfering in from Loyala College in Baltimore. In his sophomore season with the Bulls, he picked up the bulk of the work in goal, playing and starting in 12 contests. He finished with a 0.94 goals against average and an 8-2-2 record.

Shuttleworth turned in a save percentage of .800 while recording three consecutive shutouts against Niagara (9/5), Siena (9/7) and Central Connecticut State (9/9) to begin UB's five-match winning streak. He was not scored upon for 338:40 during five matches after allowing a second-half goal against Fairfield (8/31) until the St. Bonaventure match (9/14).

Shuttleworth was named the 2007 Bulls Fall Classic Defensive MVP and earned Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors.

Shuttleworth, a Buffalo native finished with a 20-2-1 record in his senior year at Nichols under head

coach Don Wagner. He also set the school record with 48 career shutouts. Among the accolades he received in high school: won two New York State Private High School Championships and earned

first-team All-Western New York, All-State and All-East region honors.
Per Ives Galarcep on Twitter at 6:45 PM:
Did Revs really protect Bobby Shuttleworth? What am I missing? Are their options really that weak? Hmm, maybe so.
:thumbup:
 

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