***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (3 Viewers)

[jonessed]

@Rebeccalowe11 - Kenny Dalglish just said some players won't be in red shirts much longer if they play like that again. Said they were disrespectfulgood

Dalglish didn't do himself any favors by putting out the "park the bus" squad last week.Gerrard played like poop and I have a hard time believing it was because he didn't put in the effort. This team has problems and it goes much deeper than player's attitudes.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Falcao with a nice goal for Z's boys. Apparently I get GolTV these days

 

[The Gator]

@Rebeccalowe11 - Kenny Dalglish just said some players won't be in red shirts much longer if they play like that again. Said they were disrespectfulgood

Dalglish didn't do himself any favors by putting out the "park the bus" squad last week.Gerrard played like poop and I have a hard time believing it was because he didn't put in the effort. This team has problems and it goes much deeper than player's attitudes.

Agreed, but I actually thought he got the lineup correct today. Maxi and Bellamy in I thought was perfect, but #### if Maxi didn't show up. Adam has BEAUTIFUL passes...in between giving the balla way and running into everyone and fouling them. Playing Gerrard that far back kills me. Really need to get another DM asap; Tiote> hey

 

[The Z Machine]

Falcao with the hat trick as my Atleti dominate Real Sociedad (not a tough feat) 4-0. Not too bad a start to 2012 so far.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Strange

Guess retirement didn't take for Santino Quaranta. But this is no ordinary return to the pitch. According The Washington Post's Steven Goff, the former D.C. United midfielder is joining the enormously ambitious new six-team Indian Premier League Soccer league that has attracted names like Fabio Cannavaro, Hernán Crespo, Robert Pires, Robbie Fowler and Jay-Jay Okocha. Even better, one of the coaches is Quaranta's former United teammate Marco Etcheverry

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have absolutely no idea what the lineup is going to be tonight for the US game. I heard Agudelo was hurt in training but I don't know how serious it was.Only thing I can guess is that Parkhurst and Cameron will start in the middle of defense.I am hoping to see both Zusi and CJ Sappong at some point in the next two games. Here is my wild guess based on the roster and Agudelo being available for the gameSome form of a 4-3-3HamidDeLaGarza Cameron Parkhurst PearceBenny Beckerman Evans/ZusiSappong/Bunbury Agudelo Shea

Beckerman and Agudelo are not playing tonight so I will adjust my guess to be-----------Hamid---------DeLaGarza--Parkhurst--Cameron--Pearce------------Jones-----------------Zusi-------Feilhaber-----Wondo----Bunbury-----Shea---- Sappong on as first offensive sub for either Wondo or Bunbury. Clark or Larentowitz on for Zusi if lead to be protected in second half

 

[jonessed]

Strange

Guess retirement didn't take for Santino Quaranta. But this is no ordinary return to the pitch. According The Washington Post's Steven Goff, the former D.C. United midfielder is joining the enormously ambitious new six-team Indian Premier League Soccer league that has attracted names like Fabio Cannavaro, Hernán Crespo, Robert Pires, Robbie Fowler and Jay-Jay Okocha. Even better, one of the coaches is Quaranta's former United teammate Marco Etcheverry

That's a fair number of big names.

 

[TLEF316]

i really hate Cablevision for blocking espn3

 

[Sebowski]

Galavision, huh? Awesome. And same thing on Wednesday? No HD showings for these friendlies? What's going on here? How does Galavision get the rights to these. Does no one else want them? Andy?

 

[Txns8]

I have absolutely no idea what the lineup is going to be tonight for the US game. I heard Agudelo was hurt in training but I don't know how serious it was.Only thing I can guess is that Parkhurst and Cameron will start in the middle of defense.I am hoping to see both Zusi and CJ Sappong at some point in the next two games. Here is my wild guess based on the roster and Agudelo being available for the gameSome form of a 4-3-3HamidDeLaGarza Cameron Parkhurst PearceBenny Beckerman Evans/ZusiSappong/Bunbury Agudelo Shea

Beckerman and Agudelo are not playing tonight so I will adjust my guess to be-----------Hamid---------DeLaGarza--Parkhurst--Cameron--Pearce------------Jones-----------------Zusi-------Feilhaber-----Wondo----Bunbury-----Shea---- Sappong on as first offensive sub for either Wondo or Bunbury. Clark or Larentowitz on for Zusi if lead to be protected in second half

Is the game on TV anywhere?

 

[Txns8]

I have absolutely no idea what the lineup is going to be tonight for the US game. I heard Agudelo was hurt in training but I don't know how serious it was.Only thing I can guess is that Parkhurst and Cameron will start in the middle of defense.I am hoping to see both Zusi and CJ Sappong at some point in the next two games. Here is my wild guess based on the roster and Agudelo being available for the gameSome form of a 4-3-3HamidDeLaGarza Cameron Parkhurst PearceBenny Beckerman Evans/ZusiSappong/Bunbury Agudelo Shea

Beckerman and Agudelo are not playing tonight so I will adjust my guess to be-----------Hamid---------DeLaGarza--Parkhurst--Cameron--Pearce------------Jones-----------------Zusi-------Feilhaber-----Wondo----Bunbury-----Shea---- Sappong on as first offensive sub for either Wondo or Bunbury. Clark or Larentowitz on for Zusi if lead to be protected in second half

Is the game on TV anywhere?

Found it on 404 on DirecTV.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Galavision, huh? Awesome. And same thing on Wednesday? No HD showings for these friendlies? What's going on here? How does Galavision get the rights to these. Does no one else want them? Andy?

Lots of questions, let me try and answer them.1) Wednesdays game is also Galavision and ESPN32) The games will be carried in HD if you get Galavision in HD (I believe DISH Network carries the channel in HD)3) The two January friendlies have been typically shown by FSC. I think Fox's rights to the US games expired at the end of last year after they lost the MLS/SUM contract to NBC. NBC is not yet ready to start showing US games but should be up and running soon and games like this in the future should be covered by NBC Sports Network.4) Galavision continues to hold the rights through 2014 to US games via Univision's contract with MLS/SUM that they signed back in 2006.5) The February friendly against Italy will be on ESPN26) Three groups own the rights to various US games. Univision owns the rights to all games to show in Spanish. ESPN and NBC co-own the English rights. I do not know who has the rights to which games though.Hope that helps

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have absolutely no idea what the lineup is going to be tonight for the US game. I heard Agudelo was hurt in training but I don't know how serious it was.Only thing I can guess is that Parkhurst and Cameron will start in the middle of defense.I am hoping to see both Zusi and CJ Sappong at some point in the next two games. Here is my wild guess based on the roster and Agudelo being available for the gameSome form of a 4-3-3HamidDeLaGarza Cameron Parkhurst PearceBenny Beckerman Evans/ZusiSappong/Bunbury Agudelo Shea

Beckerman and Agudelo are not playing tonight so I will adjust my guess to be-----------Hamid---------DeLaGarza--Parkhurst--Cameron--Pearce------------Jones-----------------Zusi-------Feilhaber-----Wondo----Bunbury-----Shea---- Sappong on as first offensive sub for either Wondo or Bunbury. Clark or Larentowitz on for Zusi if lead to be protected in second half

Is the game on TV anywhere?

Found it on 404 on DirecTV.

Game is on Galavision and ESPN3

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is the starting lineup. I did really well with my guess, just missed one player. Slightly different formation than I expected, although who knows how it will look on the field.

-----------Hamid---------

DeLaGarza--Parkhurst--Cameron--Pearce

-------Larentowitiz---Jones-----------

------Zusi-------Feilhaber-----

----Bunbury-----Shea----

Jones is the captain. Looking forward to both Zusi and Benny on the field together!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Strange

Guess retirement didn't take for Santino Quaranta. But this is no ordinary return to the pitch. According The Washington Post's Steven Goff, the former D.C. United midfielder is joining the enormously ambitious new six-team Indian Premier League Soccer league that has attracted names like Fabio Cannavaro, Hernán Crespo, Robert Pires, Robbie Fowler and Jay-Jay Okocha. Even better, one of the coaches is Quaranta's former United teammate Marco Etcheverry

That's a fair number of big names.

yup, but a player like Okocha has not played a league game at any level or in any league since 2008. He is making a come back at 38 years old after not playing for almost 4 years. That is not a good recipe Maybe he is the reincarnation of Roger Milla Crespo and Fowler are the baby's of that group at 36 (both will turn 37 in a few months). Pires, Cannavaro and Okocha are all 38 years old.

 

[bentley]

Robbie Fowler's a great follow on Twitter. And he may never quit playing soccer.

 

[Sebowski]

Galavision, huh? Awesome. And same thing on Wednesday? No HD showings for these friendlies? What's going on here? How does Galavision get the rights to these. Does no one else want them? Andy?

Lots of questions, let me try and answer them.1) Wednesdays game is also Galavision and ESPN32) The games will be carried in HD if you get Galavision in HD (I believe DISH Network carries the channel in HD)3) The two January friendlies have been typically shown by FSC. I think Fox's rights to the US games expired at the end of last year after they lost the MLS/SUM contract to NBC. NBC is not yet ready to start showing US games but should be up and running soon and games like this in the future should be covered by NBC Sports Network.4) Galavision continues to hold the rights through 2014 to US games via Univision's contract with MLS/SUM that they signed back in 2006.5) The February friendly against Italy will be on ESPN26) Three groups own the rights to various US games. Univision owns the rights to all games to show in Spanish. ESPN and NBC co-own the English rights. I do not know who has the rights to which games though.Hope that helps

Thank you

 

[NewlyRetired]

Robbie Fowler's a great follow on Twitter. And he may never quit playing soccer.

Fowler played in the A league I think? I remember the Revs were looking at signing him but I think he went to Australia instead if memory serves.

 

[El Floppo]

That India super-league was for something like 6 weeks only. Interesting to see a US player go over there.

If I read it right, they are trying to make a biggish splash to jump start a languishing league/national side in a country that has seen TV viewership of the the EPL grow exponentially.

 

[El Floppo]

Yeah andy- Fowler went home to the A-league.

 

[The Z Machine]

My wife says to me, "I hope your team gets an ### kicking."

Trash talk is in full force tonight.

 

[The Z Machine]

La vinotinto is also starting like 9 non regular starters tonight. I'm glad that I didn't pony up the $ to travel to AZ to watch this one.

 

[The Z Machine]

Wifey says, " look, the us is just standing around with their ##### in their hands."

 

[The Z Machine]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

 

[NewlyRetired]

Solid first half by the US.

They are the better side in the first half as they have created a couple of excellent scoring chances while Venezuela looks kind of dead until the last ten minutes

Zusi and DeLeGarza both look a bit nervous

Ref has swallowed his whistle both ways

Benny has great touch and vision even if he can't dominate a game

Parkhurst and Cameron are not under much pressure but have looked smooth

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea.

Isn't Shea like 6'3?

 

[Txns8]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

What are the "keywords" for this? I've seen the waterfountain pic...

 

[The Z Machine]

This game is all Shea, Jones, and Benny. Everyone else has looked mediocre at best.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

What are the "keywords" for this? I've seen the waterfountain pic...

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0826/soc_e_brekshea11_600.jpg

 

[Txns8]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

What are the "keywords" for this? I've seen the waterfountain pic...

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0826/soc_e_brekshea11_600.jpg

Interesting touch with the donkey.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This game is all Shea, Jones, and Benny. Everyone else has looked mediocre at best.

What have Parkhurst and Cameron done to be only mediocre? I can't remember a single mistake by either all half. Granted Venzuela is not pressing them but that's not their fault.

 

[bentley]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

What are the "keywords" for this? I've seen the waterfountain pic...

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0826/soc_e_brekshea11_600.jpg

This one's also pretty bad

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

What are the "keywords" for this? I've seen the waterfountain pic...

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0826/soc_e_brekshea11_600.jpg

Interesting touch with the donkey.

Lalas is not in that picture.

 

[The Z Machine]

This game is all Shea, Jones, and Benny. Everyone else has looked mediocre at best.

What have Parkhurst and Cameron done to be only mediocre? I can't remember a single mistake by either all half. Granted Venzuela is not pressing them but that's not their fault.

Nothing worth noting really. Good positioning and some OK outlet passes. No major screw ups, so that's good. I don't see a lot of "organizing the defense" and heads up play from them tough.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Some half time tweets

Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves)

1/21/12 10:01 PM

Feilhaber looking good, Cameron looks poised and Jones looks ready to hurt somebody. Venezuela not doing much to challenge the USA defense

Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN)

1/21/12 9:57 PM

In 8 games under Jurgen Klinsmann, #USMNT has 6 scoreless 1st halves.

Matthew Doyle (@MLS_Analyst)

1/21/12 9:55 PM

Best part of the first half was Cameron's composure. Feilhaber's creativity was nice as well. Rest of it was uninspiring.

Matthew Doyle (@MLS_Analyst)

1/21/12 9:56 PM

Parkhurst looked good as well, but he always does against teams that don't challenge him physically. That said, much better than Orozco.

Matthew Doyle (@MLS_Analyst)

1/21/12 10:04 PM

Of Venezuela's 7 first-half forays, 4 came off bad passes from Jones. Never mistake activity for accomplishment.

 

[Christo]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea. I then showed my wife the infamous photoshoot. Then I showed her Landycakes infamous "waterfountain" photo. To which she said, "maybe that's why Bianca doesn't want him... he plays for the other team."

What are the "keywords" for this? I've seen the waterfountain pic...

I hadn't. Landycakes

 

[NewlyRetired]

Zusi does not seem comfortable on the wing. First time I have seen him play out wide.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I never hear about Arizona as a possible MLS expansion city. This is a great crowd for an obviously nothing game (b squad of a no name opponent and b squad for the US ).

 

[bentley]

Arizona's a pretty big city.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Arizona's a pretty big city.

You know what I mean.

 

[The Z Machine]

Zusi does not seem comfortable on the wing. First time I have seen him play out wide.

I agree. De la garza also looks poor IMO.

 

[jonessed]

Strange

Guess retirement didn't take for Santino Quaranta. But this is no ordinary return to the pitch. According The Washington Post's Steven Goff, the former D.C. United midfielder is joining the enormously ambitious new six-team Indian Premier League Soccer league that has attracted names like Fabio Cannavaro, Hernán Crespo, Robert Pires, Robbie Fowler and Jay-Jay Okocha. Even better, one of the coaches is Quaranta's former United teammate Marco Etcheverry

That's a fair number of big names.

yup, but a player like Okocha has not played a league game at any level or in any league since 2008. He is making a come back at 38 years old after not playing for almost 4 years. That is not a good recipe Maybe he is the reincarnation of Roger Milla Crespo and Fowler are the baby's of that group at 36 (both will turn 37 in a few months). Pires, Cannavaro and Okocha are all 38 years old.

Pack sand pal. Late 30's is a man's physical prime. I'm pretty sure they've still got it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Zusi does not seem comfortable on the wing. First time I have seen him play out wide.

I agree. De la garza also looks poor IMO.

He mostly plays center back for LA but has played more than enough rb to be comfortable out there.

 

[The Z Machine]

Zusi does not seem comfortable on the wing. First time I have seen him play out wide.

I agree. De la garza also looks poor IMO.

He mostly plays center back for LA but has played more than enough rb to be comfortable out there.

He looks fine on D, but can't cross worth a damn.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This game does not require two defensive midfielders. Should go to a more offensive formation.

 

[The Z Machine]

Wifey's stepmother says, "that little blondie isn't so bad." In reference to Brek Shea.

Isn't Shea like 6'3?

it was a translation of "catirito" which is the diminutive of "blonde" in venezuelan slang.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Jones makes so many poor passes.

 

[The Z Machine]

I agree. He can't be asked to be a creative offensive force. He's suited to being an enforcing presence in the defensive midfield, but claudio reyna he is not. And that ain't syaing much...

 

[NewlyRetired]

Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl)

1/21/12 10:16 PM

Only Premier League players with more goals in all competitions this season than Clint Dempsey (15): Van Persie, Rooney, Agüero.

 

[The Z Machine]

Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl)1/21/12 10:16 PMOnly Premier League players with more goals in all competitions this season than Clint Dempsey (15): Van Persie, Rooney, Agüero.

He doesn't get much love because Fulham isn't very good.