***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[scoobygang]

The draw of Mexico is just amazing.

Univision Wins with Young Men on Wednesday Night as 7.6 Million Tune in to All or Part of Mexico vs. Venezuela

Wednesday night’s coverage of the Mexico vs. Venezuela international friendly reached 7.6 million viewers who watched all or part of Univision’s broadcast. Overall the match averaged 3.5 million viewers and ranked as the No. 2 program on the night only behind FOX’s “American Idol” among young male demos.

Across other key demos the match averaged 1.3 million Adults 18-34 and 2.2 Million Adults 18-49.

wow. I wonder what #3 was on the night in that demo.eta: and Mexico won 3-1, btw... not that we need further evidence of their relative superiority.

It was 1-1 until the 86th minute or something.

 

[The Gator]

Dirk Kuyt is good.

My link

Congrats on 50, DK

 

[Steve Tasker]

To those watching the Newcastle game, keep an eye on Brighton's Jake Forster-Caskey. He may not move this transfer window, but he's poised to potentially become a star in a few years.

Also, you can just see the glimpses from Hatem Ben Arfa. I still think he could've been really special if he never had that injury. I guess he's still young though, who knows...good to see him coming into his own a bit, he's fun to watch.

 

[The Gator]

http://i.minus.com/ijUesU4W4Vbsc.gif

 

[SmoovySmoov]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

 

[Steve Tasker]

Newcastle on the ropes

 

[Christo]

Newcastle on the ropes

Down and out.Great game.

 

[El Floppo]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

 

[bentley]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

#### Evra.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

#### Evra.

He got what he deserved.

 

[El Floppo]

Seriously? One thing not to like the guy, another to boo him because he was racially taunted. Or do you actually believe he just made it up?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Seriously? One thing not to like the guy, another to boo him because he was racially taunted. Or do you actually believe he just made it up?

I think that is exactly what his critics believe.

 

[bentley]

Seriously? One thing not to like the guy, another to boo him because he was racially taunted. Or do you actually believe he just made it up?

I believe that he was talking #### to Suarez in Spanish and then Suarez responded using the word 'negro' aka 'black' in Spanish and the FA overreacted because they're Ferguson's #####es.

 

[TLEF316]

United totally fell apart without Scholes the last 20 minutes. Without Scholes, Nani or Rooney on the pitch, they had nobody to pass the ball into dangerous areas. Giggs is still capable, but didn't show too much.

 

[Sebowski]

Holy Christ. Isn't this the identical format we laid out before in this thread?

Consensus is that the US was robbed of the 2022 World Cup. Well, here comes the next best thing. And it even comes six years earlier!

The president of the Ecuadorean soccer federation, whose brother is on the CONMEBOL executive committee, told Mexican media that the USA is a potential candidate to host the 2016 Copa América in celebration of the South American confederation's 100-year anniversary.

"We are going to have the opening so that it's not held in one of the 10 countries of South America. It could be Mexico and it could be the United States as well," said Luis Chiriboga.

Chiriboga noted that the special edition of the 2016 Copa América would feature 16 teams: 10 from South America and six from CONCACAF. Apparently there would be a qualification process to determine the six CONCACAF nations.

Four groups of four teams with Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the USA in separate groups? Fans will flock.

If US fans thought that was big news, the Ecuadorean chief also mentioned that the US would likely get an inivitation to participate in the 2015 Copa América in Brazil.

"I have no doubt that the obstacles [in CONCACAF] are being overcome," said Chiriboga. "Mexico's invitation has never been in question. Of the two teams we invite, one is Mexico and the other could be the United States or Japan."

Imagine this schedule for the USMNT: 2014 World Cup in Brazil, 2015 Copa América in Brazil and the 2016 Copa América on US soil. Something tells me Jurgen Klinsmann is not the type to decline these kind of invites.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Seriously? One thing not to like the guy, another to boo him because he was racially taunted. Or do you actually believe he just made it up?

I believe that he was talking #### to Suarez in Spanish and then Suarez responded using the word 'negro' aka 'black' in Spanish and the FA overreacted because they're Ferguson's #####es.

I concur.

 

[Sebowski]

Fwiw, every time I watch these teams play each other, RM plays a high, attacking pressure defense- doing their best to pressure the ball before it gets into Xavi/Messi/Iniesta's feet. Seems like most teams that are "good" try to do this vs Barca... but then either run out of steam or get torn apart anyways and are forced to do something else. RM had moments of ok possession, but I've never seen a team so committed to whole-field defense as Barca- I've yet to see a team hold the ball for long against them.

When I've seen Barca beaten, it's usually on quick and direct counters that find the seams between the back 3- especially when one of them has pushed up.

So for me, I'd go with high pressure for the full 90 minutes and counter my ### off with numbers.

Definitely the way to beat Barca is to counter. Mourinho's twist is to counter but still play high pressure. I think, going forward, the insight is that there have to be spells where you pull back a bit and let Barca pass it around. Otherwise, you end up with what seems to happen pretty often at the end of the first half. The Madrid midfield gets fatigued. Messi senses it, comes back deep for the ball and breaks the press himself with one of those 30 yard dribbles. He's done that in at least three Classicos, usually around the 40 minute mark. If Mourinho made a mistake, for me, it's in selecting Higuain to start. I think Madrid needed Benzema's ability to hold the ball a little, and Benzema also just has nearly perfect timing on his runs, which plays havoc with Barca's high line. I think pressing with flair players, like Kaka and Callejon is a good wrinkle as well. Players who can get the ball off their feet when they win in in the Barca zone. Mou picked a good mix because it allowed him to have the luxury of not having Ozil press too much, which isn't in his nature. I think that means that Di Maria has to sit, because he also lacks the workrate and they can't afford the luxury. Another guy who gets no press, but who is essential to pulling this off is Xabi Alonso. Madrid don't have another deep lying player with his passing range, and that's essential to start those quick counters.

I disagree with the bolded though. Higuain was a gamble that very nearly paid off huge. He very easily could have had two goals in the first 20mins.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Is Tim Ream "Cup Tied" in terms of the FA Cup or could he play for Bolton in the next round?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Is Tim Ream "Cup Tied" in terms of the FA Cup or could he play for Bolton in the next round?

Who would he be cup tied to?LD is playing for Everton in the FA Cup

 

[NewlyRetired]

Is Tim Ream "Cup Tied" in terms of the FA Cup or could he play for Bolton in the next round?

Who would he be cup tied to?LD is playing for Everton in the FA Cup

Not sure how the rules work. I wasn't sure if there was a certain round where players were no longer allowed to be added to the roster and eligible for FA Cup play.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Is Tim Ream "Cup Tied" in terms of the FA Cup or could he play for Bolton in the next round?

Who would he be cup tied to?LD is playing for Everton in the FA Cup

Not sure how the rules work. I wasn't sure if there was a certain round where players were no longer allowed to be added to the roster and eligible for FA Cup play.

I think it's just for players who were on another team earlier in the same competition

 

[bentley]

So apparently Liverpool offered a Carroll for Tevez straight swap? Can't believe City didn't go for it.

Also, I'm firmly in the dump Carroll for whatever can be had camp now.

 

[Sebowski]

Is Tim Ream "Cup Tied" in terms of the FA Cup or could he play for Bolton in the next round?

Who would he be cup tied to?LD is playing for Everton in the FA Cup

Not sure how the rules work. I wasn't sure if there was a certain round where players were no longer allowed to be added to the roster and eligible for FA Cup play.

I think it's just for players who were on another team earlier in the same competition

I think so too, but not 100%. Was wondering this last week about Cahill playing for Chelsea in the Champions League.

 

[The Gator]

Also, I'm firmly in the dump Carroll for whatever can be had camp now.

Will be a stud

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Is Tim Ream "Cup Tied" in terms of the FA Cup or could he play for Bolton in the next round?

Who would he be cup tied to?LD is playing for Everton in the FA Cup

Not sure how the rules work. I wasn't sure if there was a certain round where players were no longer allowed to be added to the roster and eligible for FA Cup play.

I think it's just for players who were on another team earlier in the same competition

I think so too, but not 100%. Was wondering this last week about Cahill playing for Chelsea in the Champions League.

Yes he is

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Looks like RM just won La Liga. Bummer.

Sell Villa and buy a bench? Competent guys who can come in and spell the regulars so they're not playing every ####### game?

It's amazing that RM could basically replicate Barca's season last year (Liga/CL, no Copa), and Mou is apparently out the door. He's pretty good against everyone else.

 

[bentley]

Watching that Juve/Udinese game today in the snow was tight. That's probably the first time that I watched a Serie A game without going to sleep or changing the channel.

 

[Sebowski]

That's probably the first time that I watched a Serie A game without going to sleep or changing the channel.

You're doing it wrong.

 

[Slapdash]

Looks like RM just won La Liga. Bummer.Sell Villa and buy a bench? Competent guys who can come in and spell the regulars so they're not playing every ####### game?It's amazing that RM could basically replicate Barca's season last year (Liga/CL, no Copa), and Mou is apparently out the door. He's pretty good against everyone else.

The season is only half over, still a long way to go.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I don't understand this. Is Mexico saying it is CONCACAF which is forcing them to send only a youth team to the Copa?

MEXICO CITY -- Hoping to improve its chance of winning the Copa America, Mexico is asking that it be allowed to field its full national soccer team in the South American championship rather than a youth team.Mexico has played in the Copa America as a guest team with underage players, giving it little chance against the likes of Brazil and Argentina. It lost its three group matches in last year's Copa America, won by Uruguay.Mexico is a member of CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Mexican federation general secretary Decio De Maria said Thursday his group is appealing to CONCACAF to change the rules under which Mexico must play.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

I don't understand this. Is Mexico saying it is CONCACAF which is forcing them to send only a youth team to the Copa?

MEXICO CITY -- Hoping to improve its chance of winning the Copa America, Mexico is asking that it be allowed to field its full national soccer team in the South American championship rather than a youth team.Mexico has played in the Copa America as a guest team with underage players, giving it little chance against the likes of Brazil and Argentina. It lost its three group matches in last year's Copa America, won by Uruguay.Mexico is a member of CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Mexican federation general secretary Decio De Maria said Thursday his group is appealing to CONCACAF to change the rules under which Mexico must play.

That's exactly what's happening. They (CONCACAF, or at least CONCACAF when controlled by Jack Warner) don't want the Gold Cup to take a back seat to Copa America for Mexico, so they threw this restriction on them. They probably don't even want Mexico to play in Copa at all.Either way, It will be interesting to see what direction CONCACAF takes under a new president, which Mexico definitely wants to be from their country this time.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I don't understand this. Is Mexico saying it is CONCACAF which is forcing them to send only a youth team to the Copa?

MEXICO CITY -- Hoping to improve its chance of winning the Copa America, Mexico is asking that it be allowed to field its full national soccer team in the South American championship rather than a youth team.Mexico has played in the Copa America as a guest team with underage players, giving it little chance against the likes of Brazil and Argentina. It lost its three group matches in last year's Copa America, won by Uruguay.Mexico is a member of CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Mexican federation general secretary Decio De Maria said Thursday his group is appealing to CONCACAF to change the rules under which Mexico must play.

That's exactly what's happening. They (CONCACAF, or at least CONCACAF when controlled by Jack Warner) don't want the Gold Cup to take a back seat to Copa America for Mexico, so they threw this restriction on them. They probably don't even want Mexico to play in Copa at all.It will be interesting to see what direction CONCACAF takes under a new president, which Mexico definitely wants to be from their country this time.

Fascinating! I did not realize the federation could have any say over what players a country uses. I understand the federations fear, I just didn't realize they had that power.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

I don't understand this. Is Mexico saying it is CONCACAF which is forcing them to send only a youth team to the Copa?

MEXICO CITY -- Hoping to improve its chance of winning the Copa America, Mexico is asking that it be allowed to field its full national soccer team in the South American championship rather than a youth team.Mexico has played in the Copa America as a guest team with underage players, giving it little chance against the likes of Brazil and Argentina. It lost its three group matches in last year's Copa America, won by Uruguay.Mexico is a member of CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Mexican federation general secretary Decio De Maria said Thursday his group is appealing to CONCACAF to change the rules under which Mexico must play.

That's exactly what's happening. They (CONCACAF, or at least CONCACAF when controlled by Jack Warner) don't want the Gold Cup to take a back seat to Copa America for Mexico, so they threw this restriction on them. They probably don't even want Mexico to play in Copa at all.It will be interesting to see what direction CONCACAF takes under a new president, which Mexico definitely wants to be from their country this time.

Fascinating! I did not realize the federation could have any say over what players a country uses. I understand the federations fear, I just didn't realize they had that power.

The other mitigating factor is that clubs aren't required to release Mexican players for a non-CONCACAF tournament like Copa. Historically that hasn't really been an issue since the bulk of the Mexican NT was playing in the FMF, but that is starting to change with Chicarito, Dos Santos, etc. I doubt Sir Alex would even let Chicarito play in back-to-back intl tournaments.

 

[ffldrew]

Arsenal taking their fans on a hell of a roller coaster ride today

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is a glimpse into the future of how we might some day watch soccer.

Introducing KickTV

http://www.youtube.com/user/kick?feature=watch

 

[Slapdash]

Here is a glimpse into the future of how we might some day watch soccer.Introducing KickTVhttp://www.youtube.com/user/kick?feature=watch

What is this?

 

[El Floppo]

Here is a glimpse into the future of how we might some day watch soccer.Introducing KickTVhttp://www.youtube.com/user/kick?feature=watch

What is this?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is a glimpse into the future of how we might some day watch soccer.Introducing KickTVhttp://www.youtube.com/user/kick?feature=watch

What is this?

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/11/14/Media/YouTube.aspx

With new channels, YouTube edges into rights marketBy Tripp Mickle & John Ourand, Staff WritersPublished November 14, 2011 Two and a half years ago, when International Olympic Committee member Richard Carrión was talking about potential bidders for Olympic rights, he listed the usual suspects: ESPN, Fox and NBC. But he also mentioned what many believed to be a far-fetched possibility: A company like Google could team with an over-the-air broadcaster on a competitive bid.Two years later, it’s clear that Carrión’s comments, though premature, weren’t irrational.YouTube, which is owned by Google, is building a sports operation, and though it’s unlikely the company will become a sixth player in the bidding wars for sports rights any time soon, it is intent on dabbling with online rights.The company announced two weeks ago that it will launch seven sports channels: a soccer channel programmed in part by Major League Soccer, two sports channels programmed by Bleacher Report and SB Nation, an athlete channel called NOC (Network of Champions), and three action sports channels programmed by Wasserman Media Group, NBC’s Alliance of Action Sports (Alli) and Red Bull Media House.Claude Ruibal, who founded World Championship Sports Network and was hired earlier this year as YouTube’s head of sports content, described the effort as an experiment. He said that after years of relying on user-generated content to attract viewers, the company has decided to pay for higher quality content in hopes that people will come to view the programming and stick around to watch user-created videos, or vice versa.Photo by: NEWSCOM “We’re sort of just feeling our way,” Ruibal said. “We’re hoping it will generate a lot of user interest and advertiser interest.”Ruibal said sports and entertainment were the two categories that YouTube focused on when it decided to launch the channels. The company selected soccer and action sports as founding channels because both already attracted a significant number of viewers for user-generated content and original content such as Ken Block’s Gymkhana video series“We thought [the channels] would be additive,” Ruibal said.The presence of YouTube in the sports rights marketplace — even if it’s only bidding on niche sports right now — is being closely monitored by everyone from rights holders to TV networks to video distributors. Because of the deep pockets of its parent company,“The economic model is not such that I think they would go out and write a check for $4.5 billion for the Olympics to put on Google,” Chris Brearton, managing partner, O’Melveny & Myers, said at SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily’s Sports Media and Technology conference in New York last week. “I see them more now as somebody who is involved in archival programming, interstitial programming, maybe being a partner with [an existing broadcast or cable channel] in a bid for something to help monetize it.”That’s a structure that some media executives find attractive. Turner has been working with YouTube on its NBA channel since 2007 and believes the company could be a viable partner to bid on future rights.“We [worked with Google] to understand how it works and to be able to figure out how we work together, so as the rights fees keep going up, we find different ways to monetize them,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports chief operating officer and executive vice president. “We learned it’s not a big business right now. It’s a great place to play. It’s a great place to learn who’s going where and when they are going to play. I don’t think they’re ever going to take the place of what we’re talking about here overall.”When it comes to live rights going forward, Ruibal said Google will be opportunistic. He said it will show mostly underserved sports that have a disjointed, international audience with pockets of fans spread across a number of countries. He pointed to fencing as an example.Last month, the International Fencing Federation streamed its world championships from Italy live on its YouTube channel.YouTube already has begun experimenting with live sports. It partnered with the Indian Premier League, a Twenty20 cricket league, to stream games worldwide earlier this year, and it also streamed Copa America soccer games this summer and offered multiple video streams from the America’s Cup sailing competition.Terms of each of those agreements differed, and it’s unclear if YouTube paid any production costs or rights fees. None were exclusive broadcasts but the total viewership was encouraging.“We had really strong viewership and that said to us, ‘We think there’s an audience here for us,’” Ruibal said.At least initially, Google’s cost structure is low enough that any bid on media rights for a major sports property appears to be a long shot.Each participant in its YouTube channel plan was paid a production fee, reportedly worth $5 million, to deliver original content for its respective channel. YouTube will sell advertising against the channel, and after recouping its production investment, it will split advertising revenue with the content provider. They also jointly own the channel.“It seems that YouTube made a decision that it will program largely non-premium channels,” said David Bank, managing director of global media and Internet research for RBC Capital Markets. “It doesn’t sound like they will be aggressive about getting into the rights business any time soon.”The most immediate upside in launching a YouTube channel under those terms for Wasserman Media Group, Alli and others is the free marketing a channel offers. Each was handed what amounts to a $5 million marketing budget by YouTube to fund the creation of content that they believe can raise recognition of their athletes or brands.“The visibility of YouTube is unparalleled,” said Circe Wallace, Wasserman’s senior vice president, action sports. “We couldn’t put something [on a website] with the same profile as YouTube. The talent we work with understand this is a great marketing opportunity for themselves, their sponsors and their own brands.”Possibly the biggest winner under those terms is MLS. With little or no cost up front, the league will be able to mix its highlights and original programming around its teams and players with highlights and footage of other leagues, teams and players worldwide. The channel can put the league’s teams before a global audience alongside soccer powerhouses like FC Barcelona.In short, the league gets a channel — underwritten in part by YouTube — that has international reach without having to haggle with cable operators over carriage.In fact, international is the biggest upside for everyone participating, and the biggest focus for YouTube.“I look at this globally, not domestically,” Ruibal said. “The U.S. is a key and important market, but for sports it’s just a piece and not even our biggest piece.”Derek Chang, DirecTV executive vice president of content strategy and development, said YouTube’s strategy made sense, especially if it’s able to keep its costs low. That view suggests YouTube, and its parent company, Google, will not be bidding on premium sports rights any time soon.“The hurdles aren’t high to make money on it,” Chang said. “If they can drive more eyeballs to the platform through that and monetize it enough, it’s just a different business model that may be a good enough business model for what they’re trying to do with it.”For Brian Bedol, a cable industry veteran who founded Classic Sports Television in 1995, the YouTube channels feel a lot like the early days of cable. Bedol, who now runs Bedrocket, a new company that programs the Wasserman and soccer sports channels on YouTube, compared the new channels to CNN and MTV 25 years ago.“What you’re seeing is a bit of a tip of the iceberg,” he said. “This is where the young male demographic gets more and more of its entertainment. If you’re in sports, you need to be looking at how you’re delivering sports over the Internet.”

 

[Steve Tasker]

What a game this morning.... :heartattack:

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is a pretty cool little piece from the NY Times on how Tucson NM hopes to use soccer to replace what they lost in baseball

The teams had left for Phoenix and surrounding cities that dangled taxpayer-subsidized stadiums and the prospect of shorter commutes because all 15 clubs that train in Arizona are now nearby. Tucson was also hurt by the loss of a college bowl game, a golf tournament and a Triple-A baseball team, before replacements were found.But the city is bracing for an economic lift — and a small measure of revenge — when six Major League Soccer teams arrive in the coming weeks to train here for the first time. Four of them — the Los Angeles Galaxy, the New England Revolution, the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake — will also compete in the Desert Diamond Cup, a two-week tournament that could draw as many as 50,000 fans and fill some of the void.“We’re excited about soccer because baseball really let us down, let down the community,” said Richard Elías, a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, which owns the facilities where the teams will play. “It’s a big opportunity for us, filling up those restaurants and hotels.”For Mr. Elías and other native Tucsonans, becoming a hub for soccer in Arizona is about more than just money; it is about pride. Tucson suffers from a second-city syndrome found in places like Reno, Nev., and St. Paul. While Tucson is old and rich in history, it has long lived in the shadow of Phoenix, which is almost three times as large and far wealthier. As one businessman observed, “There are dimes in Tucson and dollars in Phoenix.”In some ways, Tucson orbits alone. It leans Democratic in a heavily Republican state. Phoenicians have five professional sports teams to root for; Tucsonans call the University of Arizona Wildcats their home team. Tucson is closer to Mexico, 60 miles to the south, than to Phoenix, 120 miles north.Tucsonans are proud of their long ties to baseball — Mr. Elías and others recall watching Willie Mays, Randy Johnson and other greats — but soccer is perhaps a more natural fit in a city where clubs and schools are brimming with thousands of players. This month, Tucson hosted an annual youth tournament that drew 327 teams from six states, the city’s fourth-largest tourist event.Latinos, who make up about 40 percent of the population, add to the soccer craze. So do the thousands of Mexicans who came last year to see the Red Bulls and Sporting K. C. play an exhibition match that filled Hi Corbett Field even though the event was put together just weeks before. The teams also played F. C. Tucson, a new, home-grown amateur team.“That told us that we have a strong soccer culture here that hasn’t been activated yet,” said Greg Foster, co-founder of F. C. Tucson Events, which organized those games and this year’s spring training as a way to support F. C. Tucson. “It may not replace Major League Baseball, but it may replace it in a different way.”The surprising reception to last year’s exhibition match caught the eye of Major League Soccer, which hopes to create a spring training format similar to baseball’s Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in Arizona and Florida. If Tucson can continue to draw big crowds and improve its stadiums, the league would be willing to send more business its way, said Nelson Rodriguez, an executive vice president of the league.Even though the teams do not start arriving in earnest until next month, restaurants, bus companies and high-end hotels are ready to embrace them and their fans.The loss of the baseball teams “definitely impacted our business as well as Tucson as a community, but the M.L.S. teams are the first positive signs of professional sports coming back,” said Richard A. Brooks, the director of sales at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, where four teams are staying. The hotel, he said, expects to generate twice as much income from soccer as it did from baseball.

 

[Iron_Far]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

United is a mid table team at best w/o Rooney/Nani/Vidic.

 

[Iron_Far]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

#### Evra.

 

[NewlyRetired]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

United is a mid table team at best w/o Rooney/Nani/Vidic.

99.9% of teams would be worse if you removed their top players.

 

[Iron_Far]

So apparently Liverpool offered a Carroll for Tevez straight swap? Can't believe City didn't go for it.Also, I'm firmly in the dump Carroll for whatever can be had camp now.

Suarez is still a proven stud at this point despite the dressing room issues. Carroll is a proven failure.

 

[bentley]

So apparently Liverpool offered a Carroll for Tevez straight swap? Can't believe City didn't go for it.Also, I'm firmly in the dump Carroll for whatever can be had camp now.

Suarez is still a proven stud at this point despite the dressing room issues. Carroll is a proven failure.

Yes. I thought the fact that nobody would trade Tevez for Carroll was obvious enough that no smiley was necessary.

 

[Christo]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

United is a mid table team at best w/o Rooney/Nani/Vidic.

Interesting theory. How good would those 70s Steelers teams have been without Bradshaw, Lynn and Harris? Or the 80s 49ers teams without Montana, Rice and Craig. Or the 90s Cowboys without Aikman, Irvin and Smith?

 

[Iron_Far]

So apparently Liverpool offered a Carroll for Tevez straight swap? Can't believe City didn't go for it.

Also, I'm firmly in the dump Carroll for whatever can be had camp now.

Suarez is still a proven stud at this point despite the dressing room issues. Carroll is a proven failure.

Yes. I thought the fact that nobody would trade Tevez for Carroll was obvious enough that no smiley was necessary.

Alot of love for Carroll still, amongst the Liverpool faithful. Andy Carroll - Warrior

 

[Mjolnirs]

The top 4 in the Bundesliga won this weekend, so still pretty tight.

1 Bayern          13-1-5	46:13	402 Dortmund        12-4-3	43:14	403 Schalke         13-1-5	45:24	404 Mönchengladbach 12-3-4	31:12	39

 

[Iron_Far]

BREAKING NEWS:

Dirk Kuyt offensively abused Patrice Evra today. Ferguson wants match replayed "until United scores".

oof.btw- I thought it incredibly poor class of the Liverpool fans to deride Evra all day. took me most of the first half to realize what it was about- bad, bad form.

but regarding the game, I thought the better team won on the day. Liverpool played with more intensity on attack and looked like they wanted it more- deserved win and good to see Carrol contribute finally. United missed Rooney in a big way.

United is a mid table team at best w/o Rooney/Nani/Vidic.

Interesting theory. How good would those 70s Steelers teams have been without Bradshaw, Lynn and Harris? Or the 80s 49ers teams without Montana, Rice and Craig. Or the 90s Cowboys without Aikman, Irvin and Smith?

Just saying that the likes of Giggs/Scholes and even Valencia can't make up for all that lost talent.

 

[The Gator]

So apparently Liverpool offered a Carroll for Tevez straight swap? Can't believe City didn't go for it.

Also, I'm firmly in the dump Carroll for whatever can be had camp now.

Suarez is still a proven stud at this point despite the dressing room issues. Carroll is a proven failure.

Yes. I thought the fact that nobody would trade Tevez for Carroll was obvious enough that no smiley was necessary.

Alot of love for Carroll still, amongst the Liverpool faithful. Andy Carroll - Warrior

He just turned 23.

Can the guy get some slack? He didn't ask to cost Liverpool 35M, just let the kid play and see if he can improve over time.