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

[The Z Machine]

The Bilbao players are distraught. More so than you'd expect for a club side. That's because they are more than a club, they represent a whole region, culture, and people.

 

[Eephus]

Congrats to AM. Well done.Eephus put the old kiss of death on Blackpool. Hoping Birmingham City can pull this one out.eta bah

They still need two more goals

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is the compiled TV information for the upcoming US games from Big Soccer. Hopefully, Arlo White gets the nod for the NBC game.The US WCQing away games are not yet settled. US Soccer is still negotiating with ESPN and Univision. It is complicated.USA upcoming matches:Saturday, May 26th,2012:8:00pm ET USA v Scotland (Int'l Friendly/Ft.Lauderdale, FL).....USA-TV: NBC SportsWednesday, May 30th, 2012:8:00pm ET USA v Brazil (Int'l Friendly/Landover, MD).....USA-TV: ESPN2, espn3.com, UnivisionFriday, June 8th, 2012:7:00pm ET USA v Antigua & Barbuda (WCQ/Tampa, FL).....USA-TV: ESPN, espn3.comTuesday, June 12th, 2012:TBA Guatemala v USA (WCQ).....USA-TV: ESPN2, espn3.com, Univision (all to be confirmed)Friday, September 7th, 2012:TBA Jamaica v USA (WCQ).....USA-TV: TBA Tuesday, September 11th, 2012:8:00pm ET USA v Jamaica (WCQ/Columbus, OH).....USA-TV: ESPN2, espn3.com, Univision

Still issues with the away US games. From Steve Davis

TV rights in limbo for upcoming U.S. World Cup qualifierSteve Davis May 9, 2012, 2:45 PM EDTThe games will soon become very important for Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. national team. No question about it; two World Cup qualifiers are just around the corner.The question is: Will you be able to see them all?In about a month the United States will open World Cup qualifying at home against Antigua & Barbuda. No sweat on watching that one. It’s a home match, which means U.S. Soccer controls the broadcast rights. You can see it on ESPN or Univision (en Español).But four days later on June 12 the United States travels to Guatemala in what promises to be a far tougher assignment, Klinsmann’s first road test in the choppy CONCACAF waters.Whether you’ll see that one … that’s tough to say.As of today, no major U.S. carrier has hold of this one. U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe told me this morning negotiations continue with the rights holder, MediaPro, but is sounds like there’s much to be sorted out.Buethe couldn’t be very specific, which means negotiations are probably sensitive.“U.S. Soccer wants the TV broadcasts to reach the widest audience possible,” Buethe told me. “But ultimately the rights holder has the option of how it wants to distribute the broadcast they’ve purchased. In conjunction with our broadcast partners, we will exhaust all our options during discussions with rights holders to have the game broadcast in the U.S.”With TV rights for CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, host nations are free to distribute broadcast rights at their discretion – and at any price.In this case, the Guatemalan federation sold the English-language and Spanish-language broadcast rights to Spanish TV producer MediaPro. MediaPro is free to negotiate from there, with U.S. Soccer, ESPN, Univision, etc.  (If U.S. Soccer were to purchase the rights it would sell them to a network carrier or split the cost, etc.)Or, as in the case of a 2009 qualifier in Honduras, MediaPro can assign the match to closed circuit TV, leaving U.S. fans scrambling for the nearest soccer friendly bar and such.That’s hardly ideal. For anybody. I mean, closed circuit TV for soccer? Throw in classic Pac-Man and some cold war hysteria and its 1981 all over again.There are important matters of precedent at work here for U.S. Soccer and its broadcast partners. Because the June match against Guatemala is just a start; this trap door will spring again for future road qualifiers – believe it.So before U.S. Soccer, ESPN, Univision or whoever goes buying up rights for one match, they must consider the significant costs of production in foreign lands in addition to, essentially, setting the market price for matches ahead.See? Tricky business, eh? And all you want to do is enjoy some World Cup qualifier action without ponying up $25 to the bouncer at Moe’s Tavern.When will all this be resolved? There’s not a hard answer on that one.“The sooner the better,” Buethe said. “We want to be able to inform our fans what the situation is for a very important game for us. We want to inform them either way, whether it’s going to be on TV or not.”

 

[GoFishTN]

and that's 3 for my boysDiego seals it on another nifty move in the box.

BTW, he's on loan. LOL

He has no interest in going back to Wolfsburg. He'll be sold to someone, if not AM.

 

[jonessed]

This should give you some idea on the finances in Spanish football outside of the top 2. Atlético could afford to buy a 40m€ striker, and they're (barely) in 5th right now. Spurs have never even paid anything close to that, and they're in 4th right now.Although the only reason they could do so is because they sold el Kun for 40m€.

The EPL shares all TV revenue which makes it much more feasible for teams like Newcastle or Spurs to creep up and probably more likely for promoted teams to stay (I don't monitor Seria A or La Liga promotion teams enough to know for sure). Less so now because of teams like Chelsea and City who pretty much have no budgets, but still generally better than Seria A or La Liga.I find it hard enough to support a team like Spurs in the EPL. I can't imagine supporting a team that's not RM or Barca in La Liga. Maybe Valencia, but still, that seems like a lesson in frustration.

 

[Eephus]

The Bilbao players are distraught. More so than you'd expect for a club side. That's because they are more than a club, they represent a whole region, culture, and people.

I wish all that Euskadi tradition could exist without the loud racist element it seems to attract

 

[The Z Machine]

and that's 3 for my boysDiego seals it on another nifty move in the box.

BTW, he's on loan. LOL

He has no interest in going back to Wolfsburg. He'll be sold to someone, if not AM.

I can understand why he'd want to stay. Also, Bilbao has a chance at Europa if they can beat Barça in the Copa del Rey final.

 

[The Z Machine]

This should give you some idea on the finances in Spanish football outside of the top 2. Atlético could afford to buy a 40m€ striker, and they're (barely) in 5th right now. Spurs have never even paid anything close to that, and they're in 4th right now.Although the only reason they could do so is because they sold el Kun for 40m€.

The EPL shares all TV revenue which makes it much more feasible for teams like Newcastle or Spurs to creep up and probably more likely for promoted teams to stay (I don't monitor Seria A or La Liga promotion teams enough to know for sure). Less so now because of teams like Chelsea and City who pretty much have no budgets, but still generally better than Seria A or La Liga.I find it hard enough to support a team like Spurs in the EPL. I can't imagine supporting a team that's not RM or Barca in Serie A. Maybe Valencia, but still, that seems like a lesson in frustration.

I know what you're saying. It's tough to crack that top 2 in today's game. I'm content with a 2nd Europa Cup in 3 years though.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Brian Straus (@BrianStraus)

5/9/12 4:35 PM

This is Atlético Madrid's 19th Europa League game. That's half a La Liga season. And they'll finish 17-1-1 in those 19 games. Unreal.

 

[The Z Machine]

Brian Straus (@BrianStraus)5/9/12 4:35 PMThis is Atlético Madrid's 19th Europa League game. That's half a La Liga season. And they'll finish 17-1-1 in those 19 games. Unreal.

They definitely played well in their European competition. Early on this season, it seemed that Europa play was the only thing carrying this team through.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Is Citeh interested in Falcao? I assume that Balotelli and Adebayor will be sold this summer.

 

[Eephus]

Is Citeh interested in Falcao? I assume that Balotelli and Adebayor will be sold this summer.

You can probably add Tevez and Dzeko to that list as well. They won't get anywhere near fair market value for any of them.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Blackpool is beating Birmingham City in the away leg of their playoff. It's just as well that the Blues lose to save the embarassment of a newly promoted team under the shadow of a transfer embargo. The Brums did have one of the craziest seasons in recent memory with a chairman under indictment for money laundering, a Europa League campaign, a decent FA Cup run and the likelihood of their Manager leaving regardless of promotion or not.

Blackpool wins 3-2 on aggregate.I would love for them to get back to the Premier League. Holloway was hilarious, and my understanding is that they saved almost all of the TV money they were paid last season, so they would have some cash to spend.

Maybe they would take Charlie Adam back.

 

[The Z Machine]

Is Citeh interested in Falcao? I assume that Balotelli and Adebayor will be sold this summer.

I hope not.

 

[The Z Machine]

Is Citeh interested in Falcao? I assume that Balotelli and Adebayor will be sold this summer.

You can probably add Tevez and Dzeko to that list as well. They won't get anywhere near fair market value for any of them.

Maybe Atlético and $iteh can work out a player for player+€ deal. Tevez for my Atleti? I'd rather stick with Falcao.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Is Citeh interested in Falcao? I assume that Balotelli and Adebayor will be sold this summer.

You can probably add Tevez and Dzeko to that list as well. They won't get anywhere near fair market value for any of them.

Maybe Atlético and $iteh can work out a player for player+€ deal. Tevez for my Atleti? I'd rather stick with Falcao.

How much time does he have left on his contract?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Is Citeh interested in Falcao? I assume that Balotelli and Adebayor will be sold this summer.

You can probably add Tevez and Dzeko to that list as well. They won't get anywhere near fair market value for any of them.

Maybe Atlético and $iteh can work out a player for player+€ deal. Tevez for my Atleti? I'd rather stick with Falcao.

How much time does he have left on his contract?

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=305522&view=findpost&p=14366241

 

[NewlyRetired]

I have no idea how he would be as a player today but the first US player that made me say "wow" was Hugo Perez.

He should have been the star of the ill fated 1990 extremely inexperienced WC team in Italy but was left off the squad by Bob Gansler who felt he would not be fit in time due to an injury.

Hugo has just been named the head coach of the US U14 side which includes his nephew who is reported to be fantastic for his age group.

That puts Perez, Ramos and Reyna in a position to directly or indirectly have an affect on the next generation of players.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

and that's 3 for my boysDiego seals it on another nifty move in the box.

BTW, he's on loan. LOL

Congrats to your boys Z. Nice to pick up a bit of silverware for the trophy case.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Totally dead period for the World Rankings. They will get a large change this summer with the Euro's and WCQ all in play.

=================================================================

URICH (AP) -- World champion Spain remained No. 1 in FIFA's monthly rankings, and the United States stayed 29th.

Germany was second, followed by Uruguay, the Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil and England.

There was just one change among the top 30 in the May rankings, with Argentina moving up one spot to ninth and Denmark dropping to 10th.

Only eight international matches were played last month, all exhibitions.

 

[Spartans Rule]

I find it hard enough to support a team like Spurs in the EPL. I can't imagine supporting a team that's not RM or Barca in Serie A. Maybe Valencia, but still, that seems like a lesson in frustration.

I'm thinking of jumping on the Malaga bandwagon. They've got a rich Qatari owner who brought in a bunch of big names this year and is a win away from clinching 4th and a CL spot. If they can launder money well enough to get around financial fair play, they've got the best shot of anyone of taking on the big two.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I find it hard enough to support a team like Spurs in the EPL. I can't imagine supporting a team that's not RM or Barca in Serie A. Maybe Valencia, but still, that seems like a lesson in frustration.

I'm thinking of jumping on the Malaga bandwagon. They've got a rich Qatari owner who brought in a bunch of big names this year and is a win away from clinching 4th and a CL spot. If they can launder money well enough to get around financial fair play, they've got the best shot of anyone of taking on the big two.

Spanish football is pretty football.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Union up 1-0 on Schalke in the 30th min at PPL. Pajoy with a beautiful header off a free kick.

Raul, Jermaine Jones and Huntelaar all started

So far it's clear that the Union belong in next years Champions League

 

[El Floppo]

and that's 3 for my boysDiego seals it on another nifty move in the box.

BTW, he's on loan. LOL

Congrats to your boys Z. Nice to pick up a bit of silverware for the trophy case.

COngrats, Z.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Union up 1-0 on Schalke in the 30th min at PPL. Pajoy with a beautiful header off a free kick.Raul, Jermaine Jones and Huntelaar all startedSo far it's clear that the Union belong in next years Champions League

You at the game?Is there anything to the Raul to Union rumors?30th minute in and Jones must have a yellow right?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Union up 1-0 on Schalke in the 30th min at PPL. Pajoy with a beautiful header off a free kick.Raul, Jermaine Jones and Huntelaar all startedSo far it's clear that the Union belong in next years Champions League

You at the game?Is there anything to the Raul to Union rumors?30th minute in and Jones must have a yellow right?

I am here - not among many though. I'd say only about 7-8k showed up. It was announced pretty late and wasn't a part of a season ticket package. I guess between the midweek game, a not commonly known opponent to casual fans, the ASG later in the summer, and...something else...oh yeah, the Union sucking right now, demand wasn't super high.Schalke equalized late in the first half. Now 1-1 in the 70th min

 

[Steve Tasker]

TFC!!

 

[NewlyRetired]

TFC!!

Crap I forgot this game was on.Not an MLS game but is important for the CCL.Does TFC appear to have a heart beat?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Union up 1-0 on Schalke in the 30th min at PPL. Pajoy with a beautiful header off a free kick.Raul, Jermaine Jones and Huntelaar all startedSo far it's clear that the Union belong in next years Champions League

You at the game?Is there anything to the Raul to Union rumors?30th minute in and Jones must have a yellow right?

I am here - not among many though. I'd say only about 7-8k showed up. It was announced pretty late and wasn't a part of a season ticket package. I guess between the midweek game, a not commonly known opponent to casual fans, the ASG later in the summer, and...something else...oh yeah, the Union sucking right now, demand wasn't super high.Schalke equalized late in the first half. Now 1-1 in the 70th min

 

[Steve Tasker]

TFC!!

Crap I forgot this game was on.Not an MLS game but is important for the CCL.Does TFC appear to have a heart beat?

Up 2-0 at the half and they're down to 10 men. Scored in the 2nd, red card in the 15th or so (straight red) and they were apparently the beneficiaries of shoddy defending on a corner to make it 2-0. Im not watching though, just following on twitter, etc.

 

[Slapdash]

Great performance by Atlético. Bilbao could have definitely won this game. They had a ton of shots and a bunch on goal. It was dicey for a while, but they'll be celebrating in Neptuno tonight.

Yeah. Courtios did very well too. Probably no chance for Atletico to keep him, right?

 

[NewlyRetired]

TFC!!

Crap I forgot this game was on.Not an MLS game but is important for the CCL.Does TFC appear to have a heart beat?

Up 2-0 at the half and they're down to 10 men. Scored in the 2nd, red card in the 15th or so (straight red) and they were apparently the beneficiaries of shoddy defending on a corner to make it 2-0. Im not watching though, just following on twitter, etc.

cool thanks for the update. This is the second leg if I am not mistaken right? Tied 0-0 in first leg?

 

[The Z Machine]

Great performance by Atlético. Bilbao could have definitely won this game. They had a ton of shots and a bunch on goal. It was dicey for a while, but they'll be celebrating in Neptuno tonight.

Yeah. Courtios did very well too. Probably no chance for Atletico to keep him, right?

He's said that he wants to stay in Madrid with Atlético, but I'm sure his price has gone up a bit if Atleti want to purchase him from Chelski. It really wasn't mush of a drop off from De Gea to Curtois.

 

[Steve Tasker]

TFC!!

Crap I forgot this game was on.Not an MLS game but is important for the CCL.

Does TFC appear to have a heart beat?

Up 2-0 at the half and they're down to 10 men. Scored in the 2nd, red card in the 15th or so (straight red) and they were apparently the beneficiaries of shoddy defending on a corner to make it 2-0. Im not watching though, just following on twitter, etc.

cool thanks for the update. This is the second leg if I am not mistaken right? Tied 0-0 in first leg?

Yes, 0-0.Here's a highlight of the second goal....a comedy of errors by the Montreal defense, damn.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Chandler Hoffman with the late winner. 2-1 Union final.

Suck it, Bundesliga

 

[NewlyRetired]

TFC!!

Crap I forgot this game was on.Not an MLS game but is important for the CCL.

Does TFC appear to have a heart beat?

Up 2-0 at the half and they're down to 10 men. Scored in the 2nd, red card in the 15th or so (straight red) and they were apparently the beneficiaries of shoddy defending on a corner to make it 2-0. Im not watching though, just following on twitter, etc.

cool thanks for the update. This is the second leg if I am not mistaken right? Tied 0-0 in first leg?

Yes, 0-0.Here's a highlight of the second goal....a comedy of errors by the Montreal defense, damn.

oh that's just awful.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Chandler Hoffman with the late winner. 2-1 Union final.Suck it, Bundesliga

How did Jones look?

 

[El Floppo]

Chandler Hoffman with the late winner. 2-1 Union final.Suck it, Bundesliga

How did Jones look?

Teutonic.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Looks like the probe is going to look into some Serie A teams. Good lord are the Italian leagues a mess right now. They are just coming out of a match fixing scandal :(

==============================

ROME -- Serie A clubs Atalanta, Novara and Siena were among the 22 Italian teams notified Wednesday that they are being investigated by sports authorities in a massive match-fixing scandal.

The other clubs named by the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) were: AlbinoLeffe, Ancona, Ascoli, Avesa, Cremonese, Empoli, Frosinone, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Monza, Padova, Pescara, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggina, Rimini, Sampdoria and Spezia.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Chandler Hoffman with the late winner. 2-1 Union final.Suck it, Bundesliga

How did Jones look?

Teutonic.

had to look that upwell played!

 

[El Floppo]

Looks like the probe is going to look into some Serie A teams. Good lord are the Italian leagues a mess right now. They are just coming out of a match fixing scandal :( ==============================ROME -- Serie A clubs Atalanta, Novara and Siena were among the 22 Italian teams notified Wednesday that they are being investigated by sports authorities in a massive match-fixing scandal.The other clubs named by the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) were: AlbinoLeffe, Ancona, Ascoli, Avesa, Cremonese, Empoli, Frosinone, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Monza, Padova, Pescara, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggina, Rimini, Sampdoria and Spezia.

well ####.that's a lot of serie B sides that have featured in serie A... Sampdoria in particular.So is the unspoken and recurring issue over there still mafia?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Great performance by Atlético. Bilbao could have definitely won this game. They had a ton of shots and a bunch on goal. It was dicey for a while, but they'll be celebrating in Neptuno tonight.

Yeah. Courtios did very well too. Probably no chance for Atletico to keep him, right?

Cech is almost 30 and it appears neither Turnbull nor Hilario will be able to fill his boots. I think most Chelsea fans see Courtios as the man, but I have no idea what the team thinks. If he loves Madrid, Atletico and the Liga as much as he lets on in public, it may be hard to bring him back to London. There has been some talk that, if he is to eventually succeed Cech at Chelsea, he will want to go on loan for a year or two somewhere in England first.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Looks like the probe is going to look into some Serie A teams. Good lord are the Italian leagues a mess right now. They are just coming out of a match fixing scandal :( ==============================ROME -- Serie A clubs Atalanta, Novara and Siena were among the 22 Italian teams notified Wednesday that they are being investigated by sports authorities in a massive match-fixing scandal.The other clubs named by the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) were: AlbinoLeffe, Ancona, Ascoli, Avesa, Cremonese, Empoli, Frosinone, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Monza, Padova, Pescara, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggina, Rimini, Sampdoria and Spezia.

well ####.that's a lot of serie B sides that have featured in serie A... Sampdoria in particular.So is the unspoken and recurring issue over there still mafia?

Have you read Miracle of Castel di Sangro?http://www.amazon.com/The-Miracle-Castel-Sangro-Passion/dp/0767905997

 

[Eephus]

Chandler Hoffman with the late winner. 2-1 Union final.Suck it, Bundesliga

How did Jones look?

Teutonic.

1944 saw the posts up again for a series of friendly and charity matches which took the Club into 1945 and the start of an extensive programme of refurbishment and refencing. The war years had again taken their toll, but Wimbledon were regrouping and preparing for a fresh assault on the amateur scene. But would they be such a dominant force again?Wimbledon's unique spirit had come through unscathed, despite a first fifty years of trials and tribulations. Nomads early on, they had seen off the threat of almost certain extinction to come bouncing back. And back they came yet again after those six, wasted war years. It was not easy for anyone then, in those immediate post war days and Wimbledon looked to their loyal supporters and former players for the necessary lift. Inadequate fencing around the ground made it impossible to take gate money, so Wimbledon relied on half-time collections instead. And spare clothing ration coupons were called in so a new kit could be purchased.Yet within two seasons after the War they were back in their second Amateur Cup Final, before a 47,000 crowd at Arsenal's Highbury ground, in a match broadcast live on BBC radio.Before that, though, came a year of re­building. Ron Head, a repatriated Prisoner of War, reopened his account for the club in their first Isthmian League game in six years, away at Leytonstone. South African born Head had spent 18 months of the war years in a prison camp after being shot down over enemy territory. But despite his goal, a second-half Westwood hat-trick saw Leytonstone through 3-1 and that signaled the start of a losing run that included a 7-0 whitewash at Sutton United in the FA Cup's preliminary round.Centre forward Head, with the club since 1937 and four other regulars in Smith, Lemmer, Rogerson and Meredith, all mis­sed that match, but it was a stronger Wimbledon side that secured their first point of the season the following Saturday, an Alec ***e hat-trick seeing honours even in a 4-4 thriller at St. Albans. Two more hefty defeats followed, both away, until Wimbledon got the all clear from the Ministry of Labour for matches to resume at Plough Lane.

 

[Eephus]

Looks like the probe is going to look into some Serie A teams. Good lord are the Italian leagues a mess right now. They are just coming out of a match fixing scandal :(

==============================

ROME -- Serie A clubs Atalanta, Novara and Siena were among the 22 Italian teams notified Wednesday that they are being investigated by sports authorities in a massive match-fixing scandal.

The other clubs named by the Italian soccer federation (FIGC) were: AlbinoLeffe, Ancona, Ascoli, Avesa, Cremonese, Empoli, Frosinone, Grosseto, Livorno, Modena, Monza, Padova, Pescara, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggina, Rimini, Sampdoria and Spezia.

well ####.that's a lot of serie B sides that have featured in serie A... Sampdoria in particular.

So is the unspoken and recurring issue over there still mafia?

Have you read Miracle of Castel di Sangro?http://www.amazon.com/The-Miracle-Castel-Sangro-Passion/dp/0767905997

Tim Parks' A Season with Verona covers similar ground

 

[NewlyRetired]

TFC!!

Crap I forgot this game was on.Not an MLS game but is important for the CCL.

Does TFC appear to have a heart beat?

Up 2-0 at the half and they're down to 10 men. Scored in the 2nd, red card in the 15th or so (straight red) and they were apparently the beneficiaries of shoddy defending on a corner to make it 2-0. Im not watching though, just following on twitter, etc.

cool thanks for the update. This is the second leg if I am not mistaken right? Tied 0-0 in first leg?

Yes, 0-0.Here's a highlight of the second goal....a comedy of errors by the Montreal defense, damn.

So it will be Toronto vs Vancouver in the final. Two legged, winner gets into the CCL and will join LA, Houston, RSL, and Seattle as the MLS sides in the competition. The format of the CCL is changing this year.

24 teams qualify, and spread into 8 groups of three. There will be one American or one Mexican team in each pot, meaning no US vs Mexico games in group stage. The 8 winners advance to the quarter finals.

A three team group is pretty cut throat and really no room for errors. One slip up and you could easily not win the group.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Manchester United has blocked Mexico's request for Hernandez to be in the Olympics.

 

[The Z Machine]

Manchester United has blocked Mexico's request for Hernandez to be in the Olympics.

Wow. That's a #### move. Barça threatened that before the last Olympics with Messi as I recall.

 

[Slapdash]

Manchester United has blocked Mexico's request for Hernandez to be in the Olympics.

Wow. That's a #### move. Barça threatened that before the last Olympics with Messi as I recall.

Correct. I think they let him play in the end.

 

[Slapdash]

Great performance by Atlético. Bilbao could have definitely won this game. They had a ton of shots and a bunch on goal. It was dicey for a while, but they'll be celebrating in Neptuno tonight.

Yeah. Courtios did very well too. Probably no chance for Atletico to keep him, right?

Cech is almost 30 and it appears neither Turnbull nor Hilario will be able to fill his boots. I think most Chelsea fans see Courtios as the man, but I have no idea what the team thinks. If he loves Madrid, Atletico and the Liga as much as he lets on in public, it may be hard to bring him back to London. There has been some talk that, if he is to eventually succeed Cech at Chelsea, he will want to go on loan for a year or two somewhere in England first.

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. From what I've seen, his weakness is with the long balls. Similar to De Gea. Not that I watch Atletico with great frequency.