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

PFA Players' POY nominees announced:

Van Persie (arsenal)

David Silva (city)

Sergio Aguero (city)

Joe Hart (city)

Scott Parker (tott)

Wayne Rooney (ManU)

PFA Young Players' POY

Aguero

Bale

Oxlade-Chamberain

Sturridge

Walker

Welbeck

 
go on Wigan! Beat Arsenal 2-1, Beat United 1-0, screwed at Chelsea losing 2-1 on two offside goals, beat Stoke 2-0, beat Liverpool 2-1....quite a run to put them 5 points clear of the bottom 3 with 4 to go:
It is a near miraculous run for a bottom of the table type club this late in the year. There is a schedule quirk though that has them playing two more games so far than Bolton who is below them. If Wigan keep even half their form in the last 4 games they should be safe.
 
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PFA Players' POY nominees announced:Van Persie (arsenal)David Silva (city)Sergio Aguero (city)Joe Hart (city)Scott Parker (tott)Wayne Rooney (ManU)
midway thru this seemed a lock for Silva (though I would have gone Parker). Now I can't see how RVP doesn't walk away with it
PFA Young Players' POYAgueroBaleOxlade-ChamberainSturridgeWalkerWelbeck
Crazy that both Aguero and Christian Bale are eligible for this still. Aguero
 
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona dominates the shortlists for the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards, with the Frenchman nominated in five of the 11 categories.

Eric Cantona won four Premier League titles in five enigmatic seasons at Old Trafford

The awards, which mark the 20th anniversary of the inception of the Premier League, are certain to stir plenty of debate and the Best Player category is particularly hotly contested.

Cantona, who won four league titles in five seasons at Old Trafford, goes up against Dennis Bergkamp, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer, Patrick Vieira and Gianfranco Zola in the battle to be named the greatest Premier League player of the past two decades.

The shortlists were drawn up after votes from national newspapers, and the winners will be decided either by a panel or via a public vote on the Premier League's official website and announced on May 15.

Enigmatic Frenchman Cantona is also nominated for best goal, most memorable quote, best goal celebration and best striker while former Newcastle captain Shearer has four nominations and Arsenal pair Bergkamp and Henry have three each.

Southampton icon Matt Le Tissier is the only player with two nominations in the 'Best Goal' category, for spectacular efforts against Newcastle in 1993 and Blacburn in 1994.

Sir Alex Ferguson is undoubtedly favourite to win the Best Manager category, with Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp, David Moyes also nominated.

BEST PLAYER SHORTLIST: Dennis Bergkamp, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer, Patrick Vieira and Gianfranco Zola

BEST MANAGER SHORTLIST: Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp, David Moyes

 
Earlier in the year Portland signed Adolfo Valencia's kid. Today they signed Freddy Rincon's kid.

I think Colombia is running out of players MLS can sign. :)

Only America produces more players for MLS than Colombia does. And when you consider the fact that there are now three Canadians teams in MLS, that is pretty amazing.

 
'wdcrob said:
Weird that there's no German-on-the-goalline-in-the-World Cup exception actually written into the hand ball rules. Is that one of those traditions handed down through time?Yeah. Still bitter.
:rant:
 
'B Maverick said:
'The Gator said:
'B Maverick said:
Obvious dive
:goodposting:
:popcorn: :banned: :boxing:
'Steve Tasker said:
'Sinn Fein said:
And while I realize it is probably harder to discern a dive from a fall due to contact, I'd liberally define dive so as to encourage everyone to keep their feet when they can.
I'm sure this is what you're getting at when you say "when they can", but I would just like to reiterate that there are situations where players are taught to disengage and go to the ground rather than trying to stay on their feet. I know you know this, but I think it bears repeating.It's easy to criticize when watching on TV, but when you're playing the game at full speed, even the slightest touch can send a player toppling over. Further, I think it's damn near impossible in certain situations for a governing body to determine on review whether a player committed a dive or not. If I'm Ashley Young and I'm making a move in the box and the defender inadvertently steps on my foot, I'm probably going to lose my balance and fall down whether I want to or not. There is the issue of a player going down on no contact, but I think you could potentially make the case that nearly any player who engages in contact may be knocked off-balance and not be "diving", as we refer to it.

The idea of going to ground too easily is an issue, no doubt, but that's going to happen with the nature of the game. The risk/reward for going down at the slightest touch in the box heavily favors flopping, assuming the player isn't already on a yellow. I do have a problem with the embellishment. There's no need to lay out like Superman (re: Bonzai's pic) and then writhe around for 2 minutes on the field until the trainers bring out the magic spray.

I agree with the general point that the games should be reviewed by the governing body, but I'd honestly be a little wary of the governing body being a little too liberal with the punishment. Of course, given the FA's track record on this matter so far, I don't think that's a worry....
:goodposting: :goodposting: :goodposting:
:goodposting:
:goodposting: EVen though our new gb whatisname obviously was the first to think of this, I agree that meting out punishment for diving is going to be a tricky, tricky thing- for exactly what Steve says. It's going to have to be a clear-cut no-contact dive that draws punishment- but quite frankly that should. The more Ashley Young slippery- oops, defender leg type of plays are probably too much of a subjective call (although it seems pretty objective and obvious when his foot moves out of running trajectory to hit the defender's planted foot/leg).

I wonder with the embellishment- the EPL isn't as bad for this as the continental leagues- but IMO the phantom contact to face needs to end, and end now. That one should be really easy to look at after the fact. Other rolling around leg-contact plays... a little harder. As we've talked about ad nauseum, a kick to the leg can hurt <like-the-dickens> if only for a few seconds, so I don't begrudge... oh #### it and #### them- I got my ### kicked regularly on the field as an attacking central MF, and I never had to roll around like that- it's clearly learned behaviour aimed at influencing the ref. #### them.

So how about this... you get fouled or go down and don't pop right back up, you don't get to come right back in the game when you're ready; you have to sit in some kind of penalty/injury box for a prescribed amount of time- say, 2 minutes. I know it will punish guys who are actually hurt, but it would also make guys think twice about rolling around like #######s.

And #### Ashley Young.

 
'B Maverick said:
'The Gator said:
'B Maverick said:
Obvious dive
:goodposting:
:popcorn: :banned: :boxing:
'Steve Tasker said:
'Sinn Fein said:
And while I realize it is probably harder to discern a dive from a fall due to contact, I'd liberally define dive so as to encourage everyone to keep their feet when they can.
I'm sure this is what you're getting at when you say "when they can", but I would just like to reiterate that there are situations where players are taught to disengage and go to the ground rather than trying to stay on their feet. I know you know this, but I think it bears repeating.It's easy to criticize when watching on TV, but when you're playing the game at full speed, even the slightest touch can send a player toppling over. Further, I think it's damn near impossible in certain situations for a governing body to determine on review whether a player committed a dive or not. If I'm Ashley Young and I'm making a move in the box and the defender inadvertently steps on my foot, I'm probably going to lose my balance and fall down whether I want to or not. There is the issue of a player going down on no contact, but I think you could potentially make the case that nearly any player who engages in contact may be knocked off-balance and not be "diving", as we refer to it.

The idea of going to ground too easily is an issue, no doubt, but that's going to happen with the nature of the game. The risk/reward for going down at the slightest touch in the box heavily favors flopping, assuming the player isn't already on a yellow. I do have a problem with the embellishment. There's no need to lay out like Superman (re: Bonzai's pic) and then writhe around for 2 minutes on the field until the trainers bring out the magic spray.

I agree with the general point that the games should be reviewed by the governing body, but I'd honestly be a little wary of the governing body being a little too liberal with the punishment. Of course, given the FA's track record on this matter so far, I don't think that's a worry....
:goodposting: :goodposting: :goodposting:
:goodposting:
:goodposting: EVen though our new gb whatisname obviously was the first to think of this, I agree that meting out punishment for diving is going to be a tricky, tricky thing- for exactly what Steve says. It's going to have to be a clear-cut no-contact dive that draws punishment- but quite frankly that should. The more Ashley Young slippery- oops, defender leg type of plays are probably too much of a subjective call (although it seems pretty objective and obvious when his foot moves out of running trajectory to hit the defender's planted foot/leg).

I wonder with the embellishment- the EPL isn't as bad for this as the continental leagues- but IMO the phantom contact to face needs to end, and end now. That one should be really easy to look at after the fact. Other rolling around leg-contact plays... a little harder. As we've talked about ad nauseum, a kick to the leg can hurt <like-the-dickens> if only for a few seconds, so I don't begrudge... oh #### it and #### them- I got my ### kicked regularly on the field as an attacking central MF, and I never had to roll around like that- it's clearly learned behaviour aimed at influencing the ref. #### them.

So how about this... you get fouled or go down and don't pop right back up, you don't get to come right back in the game when you're ready; you have to sit in some kind of penalty/injury box for a prescribed amount of time- say, 2 minutes. I know it will punish guys who are actually hurt, but it would also make guys think twice about rolling around like #######s.

And #### Ashley Young.
There's enough of the blatant stuff that something should be done about it. As for the embellishers, that should be taken care of by the other players. If I clip your heel and you go to the ground, fine. But if I clip your heel and you try to go for the Oscar, I pick you up and tell you next time I'm trying my best to split your shin guard in half. And the next time I get a chance, I do it.
 
New US jerseys. Very different from the norm. Have to go back to the 1994 WC flag uni's for something so different.

http://p.twimg.com/A...EMsCD.jpg:large
:barf:Looks like something from Australian Rules Football.
You have to wonder if the people that think up ugly jersey designs like this have ever played any sports in their life. I still have my '94 WC jersey and this is even uglier.
I generally hate most Nike kits. But I'm pretty happy to see that Slovenia is sticking with the Charlie Brown schtick. That's class.
 
Awesome goal. What a great display of composure to pass that around and tap it in.

I think that's the 4th time I have seen Ribery completely flop this game. Seems kind of pointless as Webb is not buying it.

 
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GOAL! Bayern 2-1 Real (Gomez, at last! 90') Lahm danced past Coentrao down the right and then curled a beautiful cross into the danger zone, whereupon Gomez bundled it over the line from close range.
- Guardian
 
Seems kind of pointless as Webb is not buying it.
Think Howard had a monster of a game. He didn't buy any of the histrionics (and there was a lot). The foul on Gomez in the box was close but I think it was a good, but extremely difficult, non-call. He carded Higuain for something we all probably wish was carded more often. He didn't impact the tie by making a rash sendoff in the end. Honestly, this was a tough match and I came away more impressed with Webb than normal. He makes mistakes - they all do - but you can see why he gets chosen for matches like this one. He's a very strong ref that knows his place in the match.
 
Reading secured promotion to the English Premier League today. Southampton needs to take two points from their last two games to secure the other spot, but West Ham still has a shot if they slip up.

 
I'll happily take 2-1. The away goal worries me, but if Bayern can get one in Madrid then Real would need 3 to win.

One of my favorite things about watching Bayern is that they always play until the final whistle, the goal by Gomez is what comes from that.

One of my least favorite things is Ribery and Robben both go down way too easily.

 
Seems kind of pointless as Webb is not buying it.
Think Howard had a monster of a game. He didn't buy any of the histrionics (and there was a lot). The foul on Gomez in the box was close but I think it was a good, but extremely difficult, non-call. He carded Higuain for something we all probably wish was carded more often. He didn't impact the tie by making a rash sendoff in the end. Honestly, this was a tough match and I came away more impressed with Webb than normal. He makes mistakes - they all do - but you can see why he gets chosen for matches like this one. He's a very strong ref that knows his place in the match.
I think Marcelo deserved a straight red at the end. He was nowhere near the ball. If it's at the beginning of the game, I can see how a ref would be hesitant to possibly decide the tie with a straight red, but Marcelo deserved to go off and miss the return leg.Otherwise, I agree. The no-call late in the box was tough, but correct.
 
Seems kind of pointless as Webb is not buying it.
Think Howard had a monster of a game. He didn't buy any of the histrionics (and there was a lot). The foul on Gomez in the box was close but I think it was a good, but extremely difficult, non-call. He carded Higuain for something we all probably wish was carded more often. He didn't impact the tie by making a rash sendoff in the end. Honestly, this was a tough match and I came away more impressed with Webb than normal. He makes mistakes - they all do - but you can see why he gets chosen for matches like this one. He's a very strong ref that knows his place in the match.
I think Marcelo deserved a straight red at the end. He was nowhere near the ball. If it's at the beginning of the game, I can see how a ref would be hesitant to possibly decide the tie with a straight red, but Marcelo deserved to go off and miss the return leg.Otherwise, I agree. The no-call late in the box was tough, but correct.
When I first saw it my reaction was straight red. But on replay it didn't look as bad as I initially thought. I've seen worse from Marcelo. He's an absolute thug. He and Ramos should start at WWE tag team after their soccer careers are over.
 
Seems kind of pointless as Webb is not buying it.
Think Howard had a monster of a game. He didn't buy any of the histrionics (and there was a lot). The foul on Gomez in the box was close but I think it was a good, but extremely difficult, non-call. He carded Higuain for something we all probably wish was carded more often. He didn't impact the tie by making a rash sendoff in the end. Honestly, this was a tough match and I came away more impressed with Webb than normal. He makes mistakes - they all do - but you can see why he gets chosen for matches like this one. He's a very strong ref that knows his place in the match.
I think Marcelo deserved a straight red at the end. He was nowhere near the ball. If it's at the beginning of the game, I can see how a ref would be hesitant to possibly decide the tie with a straight red, but Marcelo deserved to go off and miss the return leg.Otherwise, I agree. The no-call late in the box was tough, but correct.
When I first saw it my reaction was straight red. But on replay it didn't look as bad as I initially thought. I've seen worse from Marcelo. He's an absolute thug. He and Ramos should start at WWE tag team after their soccer careers are over.
this was pretty much my exact thoughts on it. I think without the initial explosion and rolling around we'd all see that as a yellow. Think he got it right in the end as Marcelo didn't lead with his studs or anything. Was just being a little ####
 
Seems kind of pointless as Webb is not buying it.
Think Howard had a monster of a game. He didn't buy any of the histrionics (and there was a lot). The foul on Gomez in the box was close but I think it was a good, but extremely difficult, non-call. He carded Higuain for something we all probably wish was carded more often. He didn't impact the tie by making a rash sendoff in the end. Honestly, this was a tough match and I came away more impressed with Webb than normal. He makes mistakes - they all do - but you can see why he gets chosen for matches like this one. He's a very strong ref that knows his place in the match.
I think Marcelo deserved a straight red at the end. He was nowhere near the ball. If it's at the beginning of the game, I can see how a ref would be hesitant to possibly decide the tie with a straight red, but Marcelo deserved to go off and miss the return leg.Otherwise, I agree. The no-call late in the box was tough, but correct.
I really don't think so. It looked worse because it was cynical and Muller started rolling around on the ground like he had been shot, but it really wasn't that bad of a tackle, just late.I agree with everybody saying Webb had a good game. He took control without influencing the actual result which isn't easy to do with two big sides like this.
 
EVen though our new gb whatisname obviously was the first to think of this
Not so. The reason I reminded people that I had posted the review suggestion - NOT that I was the first to think of it - was because I was involved in an argument at the time where I was making the point that the Ashley Young penalty against Villa wasn't necessarily a dive since there had definitely been contact, according to both the commentaries I had running (I was at work so not able to watch the game live). So, I was trying to make the point that I'm as against diving as anyone. FWIW, the latest Young affair certainly looks like he made the contact rather than the defender.
 

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