***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)

[boubucarow]

Spain will miss Messi and CRonaldo.

Mike and Mike?

I assume that was the joke.

I assume he meant that all of the Barcelona and Real Madrid players will miss their best teammates tomorrow.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Vancouver traded their top pick in the allocation draft (ie the spot that was to land them Bocanegra) to Philly.

Philly quickly used it to sign Bakary Soumare.

NE now has the top spot in the allocation draft and need a CB. No idea if they are targeting Boca or someone else.

Ted, what did Philly give up in the deal?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Vancouver traded their top pick in the allocation draft (ie the spot that was to land them Bocanegra) to Philly. Philly quickly used it to sign Bakary Soumary.NE now has the top spot in the allocation draft and need a CB. No idea if they are targeting Boca or someone else. Ted, what did Philly give up in the deal?

Found this"Details on the trade between the Union and Whitecaps were not available at the time of the story, but sources tell SBI that the Union paid Vancouver allocation money to move up."I don't know what this all means for Boca but it sounds like Philly has been courting Soumare for months now and if he is healthy (which I assume he is) he presents much better value than Boca does.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Not sure if there are any Grantland fans here but this could be a very interesting set of articled for US Soccer fans.

I think a bunch of readers in here will enjoy this since it hits on many of the development questions we discuss from time to time.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/30545/the-future-of-u-s-soccer-part-i-the-high-school-debate

In the first of a series of posts on the future of soccer in the United States, Andrew Lewellen looks at the U.S. Soccer Federation's efforts to centralize the development of youth talent. Check back next week for Part II, when Andrew takes a look at a pivotal moment in U.S. soccer history — the 1990 World Cup — and how it changed the trajectory of the sport in the States.

On a hot and hazy June Saturday in Los Angeles, two high-school-aged boys' soccer teams are taking the field for their final regular-season game. One team is playing for the conference title. Sounds pretty basic. All across the country at this moment youth soccer teams are competing — kids in cleats and shin guards dribbling and slide tackling and yelling things like “Good ball!” and “Switch it!” while a team parent organizes a postgame snack of Capri Suns and grocery-store cupcakes.

But this game is different. The two teams are members of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy. The game is being played at the Home Depot Center, and the complex’s 27,000-seat soccer stadium — home to Major League Soccer’s L.A. Galaxy and Chivas USA — towers in the distance. The home team, the one playing for the conference title, is the Galaxy’s under-18 academy side. If they win, they’ll advance to the national playoffs. If they lose, it will be the end of a season that began 10 months ago, in August. For all that time, the boys on both teams have trained four times a week, competed in one game a week, and played for no other team — not even their high schools. And that’s the way U.S. Soccer wants it.

In February, U.S. Soccer announced that it was extending the season for the roughly 3,000 boys playing on teams in its Development Academy from seven to 10 months. The federation divides the academy into three age groups, which they call zones: Zone 1 is ages 6 to 12, Zone 2 covers ages 13 to 18, and Zone 3 is for players over 18. For the teenagers in Zone 2, the Fed’s decision meant those boys could no longer play for their high school teams.

This new initiative is just one of the changes instituted in the academy's short life, which U.S. Soccer formed in 2007 after a task force organized by its president, Sunil Gulati, identified the key changes in training required for American players to be on-par with their international counterparts: more training time, better coaching, an increase in “meaningful” games, and overall greater dedication to the sport. The academy now consists of roughly 80 clubs: private clubs and youth teams from the 17 MLS organizations. Two of the three Canadian MLS clubs, Montreal Impact and Toronto F.C., do not field academy youth teams; Vancouver Whitecaps F.C. does.

“It’s as close to a professional environment as you can get,” said Drew Murphy, a tall, freckled midfielder on the Galaxy’s youth team. “We train every day. We have amazing facilities.”

Murphy’s teammate, Grady Howe, said he enjoys the commitment to the team. “I think guys like me and Drew who are in here every day truly love it. Physically and mentally you’re always going.”

Before that Saturday’s game, Murphy and Howe had spent the week training with the Galaxy’s reserve team. Drew said the experience was “encouraging, because in a couple years … we know that we can be playing at that level.”

The fact that kids like Murphy and Howe can train with professional players is a significant change from the way things were for previous generations of American players. “Light years … we’ve made huge strides,” is how Taylor Twellman, an analyst for ESPN and the 2005 MLS MVP, described the recent progress in U.S. player development.

Ali Curtis, a former Herman Award winner (the soccer equivalent of the Heisman) at Duke University, MLS player, and current director of player relations and competition for MLS, agreed: “What U.S. Soccer is doing is phenomenal … Over the last five years, the way in which players are being developed, it's been very refreshing and I feel fortunate to have been a part of it. Because kids are getting real opportunities that didn’t exist before. Honestly, I wish I was a 17-year-old now.”

When Twellman and Curtis were in high school in the ‘90s, no training option like the academy existed for the vast majority of players. In the ‘90s and early 2000s, an elite high school player would compete for at least four teams a year: a high school team, a club team, a state Olympic Development Program team, and a regional ODP team. The very best players also played on youth national teams. Those multiple commitments meant that players were coached by four or five different coaches and experienced as many different levels of competition and styles of play.

That model is in complete contrast to the youth programs of the world’s best soccer clubs. Take, for example, Barcelona, whose lauded youth program produced more than a half dozen players on the club’s 2011 Champions League–winning team, including Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s best player. The club has an academy for boys roughly ages 8 to 18, called La Masia. It provides education for students, along with some of the best soccer training in the world. The goal of this type of system is to train players in the club’s style, so that they can one day play for the senior team, or, at least, be sold to another club for a profit.

According to Tony Lepore, Development Academy director of scouting and coach of the under-15 national team, the academy aims to create a similar environment: “We’ve increased their training hours with a move to a 10-month season. There’s no longer a need for players to go outside of their club; it’s more of a one-club approach where one club can provide a program that is systematic.”

U.S. Soccer published a page of quotes from U.S. Soccer officials who support the move to a 10-month season, including USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann and U.S. youth technical director (and former national team player) Claudio Reyna. On the site, Klinsmann notes, “If we want our players to someday compete against the best in the world, it is critical for their development that they train and play as much as possible and in the right environment.”

But many involved in the sport in the United States know it will take time to create a training system on par with the best clubs in the world. Kyle Martino, an NBC analyst and the 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year, said, “Everyone wants to talk about the Barcelona youth system. They’ve been doing it for a hundred years. We’re really far off from that … the Najars [Andy Najar, a phenom who played for DC United Academy and won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award as a 17-year-old], the players who’ve come through these academy programs, that’s a big step for us.”

Martino also points out cultural differences that might contribute to the reasons parents in other countries allow their children to dedicate themselves to a single sport at such an early age while Americans are more reluctant: “In so many other countries,” he said, “going to college isn’t an option. They [kids] either play soccer or work in their dads' industry.”

High school soccer, unlike almost every other American sport, has never really been recognized as an important playing-and-training environment. But still, even some former professionals don’t fully support the decision to prevent kids from playing for their school.

“For me,” said Martino, “there’s something so important to playing for your high school … people seeing you play on the weekends and then seeing them in school, the girl you have a crush on sitting up in the stands … That’s really important to being fulfilled. Will that make you a better soccer player? No. That’s the catch-22.”

Alexi Lalas, ESPN analyst and star from the ’94 U.S. World Cup team, described U.S. Soccer’s decision as “unfortunate,” adding, “I think the social tools you develop in [high school] … can not only help aid you in becoming a better person, but also a better soccer player. The experiences can be invaluable, and I worry that, for some kids, they may be dismissed too easily and quickly.”

Divorcing these young players’ athletic pursuits from their academic and social ones may already be having detrimental results for some kids. Eddie Soto, coach of the Galaxy under-18 team and an assistant coach at UCLA, a perennial college soccer power, said he wants all his kids to go to college. But some kids on the team who’ve been recruited by colleges don’t have the grades to get in. When asked why, he said, “We try to protect our players, but we have agents at our practices, we have agents at our games. It’s just a sign of the times … We put such high demands on these players. They’re here four times a week.” He said he’d ideally like the club to provide a tutor and have the kids come early so they could finish their studies before practice.

But Drew Murphy and Grady Howe haven’t put their athletic aspirations ahead of their academic ones yet. Howe, a senior, will attend UCLA this fall, and Murphy, a junior, has already committed to UC Santa Barbara, though he said that his goal over the next year in the academy is “to push myself into the first team, and if I do well enough to where I’m in the position where I’m offered a contract, that’s the way I’m going.”

Of course U.S. Soccer’s goal isn’t to produce the best student-athletes, it’s to produce the best soccer players, players who can one day form a national team good enough to win the World Cup. But will all those players come from the academy?

Twellman doesn’t think so. “My dad [who played professional soccer in the North American Soccer League] always said, ‘If you’re good, they’ll find you.’”

Lalas agrees: “I believe talent will find a way to succeed. Regardless of where you play and your background, you’ll find a way to succeed.” In a few years, “when you find your [American] players at the top level, many will have taken a circuitous route. And that’s part of America.”

Andrew Lewellen (@AndyHLew) is a former college soccer player who writes about the sport at AndysPitch.com.

 

[Native]

Not sure if there are any Grantland fans here but this could be a very interesting set of articled for US Soccer fans

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/30545/the-future-of-u-s-soccer-part-i-the-high-school-debate

In the first of a series of posts on the future of soccer in the United States, Andrew Lewellen looks at the U.S. Soccer Federation's efforts to centralize the development of youth talent. Check back next week for Part II, when Andrew takes a look at a pivotal moment in U.S. soccer history — the 1990 World Cup — and how it changed the trajectory of the sport in the States.

On a hot and hazy June Saturday in Los Angeles, two high-school-aged boys' soccer teams are taking the field for their final regular-season game. One team is playing for the conference title. Sounds pretty basic. All across the country at this moment youth soccer teams are competing — kids in cleats and shin guards dribbling and slide tackling and yelling things like “Good ball!” and “Switch it!” while a team parent organizes a postgame snack of Capri Suns and grocery-store cupcakes.

But this game is different. The two teams are members of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy. The game is being played at the Home Depot Center, and the complex’s 27,000-seat soccer stadium — home to Major League Soccer’s L.A. Galaxy and Chivas USA — towers in the distance. The home team, the one playing for the conference title, is the Galaxy’s under-18 academy side. If they win, they’ll advance to the national playoffs. If they lose, it will be the end of a season that began 10 months ago, in August. For all that time, the boys on both teams have trained four times a week, competed in one game a week, and played for no other team — not even their high schools. And that’s the way U.S. Soccer wants it.

In February, U.S. Soccer announced that it was extending the season for the roughly 3,000 boys playing on teams in its Development Academy from seven to 10 months. The federation divides the academy into three age groups, which they call zones: Zone 1 is ages 6 to 12, Zone 2 covers ages 13 to 18, and Zone 3 is for players over 18. For the teenagers in Zone 2, the Fed’s decision meant those boys could no longer play for their high school teams.

This new initiative is just one of the changes instituted in the academy's short life, which U.S. Soccer formed in 2007 after a task force organized by its president, Sunil Gulati, identified the key changes in training required for American players to be on-par with their international counterparts: more training time, better coaching, an increase in “meaningful” games, and overall greater dedication to the sport. The academy now consists of roughly 80 clubs: private clubs and youth teams from the 17 MLS organizations. Two of the three Canadian MLS clubs, Montreal Impact and Toronto F.C., do not field academy youth teams; Vancouver Whitecaps F.C. does.

“It’s as close to a professional environment as you can get,” said Drew Murphy, a tall, freckled midfielder on the Galaxy’s youth team. “We train every day. We have amazing facilities.”

Murphy’s teammate, Grady Howe, said he enjoys the commitment to the team. “I think guys like me and Drew who are in here every day truly love it. Physically and mentally you’re always going.”

Before that Saturday’s game, Murphy and Howe had spent the week training with the Galaxy’s reserve team. Drew said the experience was “encouraging, because in a couple years … we know that we can be playing at that level.”

The fact that kids like Murphy and Howe can train with professional players is a significant change from the way things were for previous generations of American players. “Light years … we’ve made huge strides,” is how Taylor Twellman, an analyst for ESPN and the 2005 MLS MVP, described the recent progress in U.S. player development.

Ali Curtis, a former Herman Award winner (the soccer equivalent of the Heisman) at Duke University, MLS player, and current director of player relations and competition for MLS, agreed: “What U.S. Soccer is doing is phenomenal … Over the last five years, the way in which players are being developed, it's been very refreshing and I feel fortunate to have been a part of it. Because kids are getting real opportunities that didn’t exist before. Honestly, I wish I was a 17-year-old now.”

When Twellman and Curtis were in high school in the ‘90s, no training option like the academy existed for the vast majority of players. In the ‘90s and early 2000s, an elite high school player would compete for at least four teams a year: a high school team, a club team, a state Olympic Development Program team, and a regional ODP team. The very best players also played on youth national teams. Those multiple commitments meant that players were coached by four or five different coaches and experienced as many different levels of competition and styles of play.

That model is in complete contrast to the youth programs of the world’s best soccer clubs. Take, for example, Barcelona, whose lauded youth program produced more than a half dozen players on the club’s 2011 Champions League–winning team, including Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s best player. The club has an academy for boys roughly ages 8 to 18, called La Masia. It provides education for students, along with some of the best soccer training in the world. The goal of this type of system is to train players in the club’s style, so that they can one day play for the senior team, or, at least, be sold to another club for a profit.

According to Tony Lepore, Development Academy director of scouting and coach of the under-15 national team, the academy aims to create a similar environment: “We’ve increased their training hours with a move to a 10-month season. There’s no longer a need for players to go outside of their club; it’s more of a one-club approach where one club can provide a program that is systematic.”

U.S. Soccer published a page of quotes from U.S. Soccer officials who support the move to a 10-month season, including USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann and U.S. youth technical director (and former national team player) Claudio Reyna. On the site, Klinsmann notes, “If we want our players to someday compete against the best in the world, it is critical for their development that they train and play as much as possible and in the right environment.”

But many involved in the sport in the United States know it will take time to create a training system on par with the best clubs in the world. Kyle Martino, an NBC analyst and the 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year, said, “Everyone wants to talk about the Barcelona youth system. They’ve been doing it for a hundred years. We’re really far off from that … the Najars [Andy Najar, a phenom who played for DC United Academy and won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award as a 17-year-old], the players who’ve come through these academy programs, that’s a big step for us.”

Martino also points out cultural differences that might contribute to the reasons parents in other countries allow their children to dedicate themselves to a single sport at such an early age while Americans are more reluctant: “In so many other countries,” he said, “going to college isn’t an option. They [kids] either play soccer or work in their dads' industry.”

High school soccer, unlike almost every other American sport, has never really been recognized as an important playing-and-training environment. But still, even some former professionals don’t fully support the decision to prevent kids from playing for their school.

“For me,” said Martino, “there’s something so important to playing for your high school … people seeing you play on the weekends and then seeing them in school, the girl you have a crush on sitting up in the stands … That’s really important to being fulfilled. Will that make you a better soccer player? No. That’s the catch-22.”

Alexi Lalas, ESPN analyst and star from the ’94 U.S. World Cup team, described U.S. Soccer’s decision as “unfortunate,” adding, “I think the social tools you develop in [high school] … can not only help aid you in becoming a better person, but also a better soccer player. The experiences can be invaluable, and I worry that, for some kids, they may be dismissed too easily and quickly.”

Divorcing these young players’ athletic pursuits from their academic and social ones may already be having detrimental results for some kids. Eddie Soto, coach of the Galaxy under-18 team and an assistant coach at UCLA, a perennial college soccer power, said he wants all his kids to go to college. But some kids on the team who’ve been recruited by colleges don’t have the grades to get in. When asked why, he said, “We try to protect our players, but we have agents at our practices, we have agents at our games. It’s just a sign of the times … We put such high demands on these players. They’re here four times a week.” He said he’d ideally like the club to provide a tutor and have the kids come early so they could finish their studies before practice.

But Drew Murphy and Grady Howe haven’t put their athletic aspirations ahead of their academic ones yet. Howe, a senior, will attend UCLA this fall, and Murphy, a junior, has already committed to UC Santa Barbara, though he said that his goal over the next year in the academy is “to push myself into the first team, and if I do well enough to where I’m in the position where I’m offered a contract, that’s the way I’m going.”

Of course U.S. Soccer’s goal isn’t to produce the best student-athletes, it’s to produce the best soccer players, players who can one day form a national team good enough to win the World Cup. But will all those players come from the academy?

Twellman doesn’t think so. “My dad [who played professional soccer in the North American Soccer League] always said, ‘If you’re good, they’ll find you.’”

Lalas agrees: “I believe talent will find a way to succeed. Regardless of where you play and your background, you’ll find a way to succeed.” In a few years, “when you find your [American] players at the top level, many will have taken a circuitous route. And that’s part of America.”

Andrew Lewellen (@AndyHLew) is a former college soccer player who writes about the sport at AndysPitch.com.

 

[Major]

Spain will miss Messi and CRonaldo.

Mike and Mike?

I assume that was the joke.

ding ding ding

 

[Major]

Spain will miss Messi and CRonaldo.

Mike and Mike?

I assume that was the joke.

I assume he meant that all of the Barcelona and Real Madrid players will miss their best teammates tomorrow.

ding ding ding ding

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Vancouver traded their top pick in the allocation draft (ie the spot that was to land them Bocanegra) to Philly. Philly quickly used it to sign Bakary Soumary.NE now has the top spot in the allocation draft and need a CB. No idea if they are targeting Boca or someone else. Ted, what did Philly give up in the deal?

Found this"Details on the trade between the Union and Whitecaps were not available at the time of the story, but sources tell SBI that the Union paid Vancouver allocation money to move up."I don't know what this all means for Boca but it sounds like Philly has been courting Soumare for months now and if he is healthy (which I assume he is) he presents much better value than Boca does.

Ives estimated it cost the Union btw $100-$125k of allocation money to get Vancouver's spot. Since that's likely around what the U received from Vancouver for Le Toux, this essentially becomes a Le Toux for Soumare trade. If Soumare is anywhere near the form he was with Chicago, I think I have to make that trade.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Spain will miss Messi and CRonaldo.

Mike and Mike?

I assume that was the joke.

I assume he meant that all of the Barcelona and Real Madrid players will miss their best teammates tomorrow.

ding ding ding ding

I got confused there, as I associate RM pretty heavily with Portugal. And Satan.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Looking more and more like Rangers 2012 will be starting at the bottom of the Scottish pyramid.

Votes are accumulating to deny a plan by which Glasgow Rangers would retain its place in the Scottish Premier League. Aberdeen joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian in publicly announcing their opposition to a restructured Rangers being admitted to the SPL.

 

[Major]

Spain will miss Messi and CRonaldo.

Mike and Mike?

I assume that was the joke.

I assume he meant that all of the Barcelona and Real Madrid players will miss their best teammates tomorrow.

ding ding ding ding

I got confused there, as I associate RM pretty heavily with Portugal. And Satan.

yeah, it has more to do with Barcelona and those Spanish teams of the past that were basically Barca's starting team sans Messi.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Spain will miss Messi and CRonaldo.

Mike and Mike?

I assume that was the joke.

I assume he meant that all of the Barcelona and Real Madrid players will miss their best teammates tomorrow.

ding ding ding ding

I got confused there, as I associate RM pretty heavily with Portugal. And Satan.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Re: the Spain game:1) I think Spain's ability to quickly disrupt the opposition and win possession back after they lose it is underrated. It seems like every time France got the ball, they either lost it back quickly, or they passed quickly upfield, where their attacking players were cut off from support and were quickly outnumbered, and then dispossesed. 2) Malouda seemed completely uninterested on marking Alonso on the first goal. Criminally so. After that point, Spain played smart football. Call it boring or whatever, but France didn't have a shot on net in the second half. They're a team that's comfortable retaining possession than trying to bomb forward for another goal when there's no opportunity there (and possibly leave them open to a counter).3) That said, I'm still not crazy about Fabregas as the striker after seeing a couple games with him in that role. I like Torres coming on as a late sub to try and break a high line and put a game away when Spain has the lead, but I don't know if he's the answer for 90 mins. Unfortunately, I think it's too late for Del Bosque to risk anything new.

The two holding MFs formation is part of what helps Spain kill a lot of these games. When you have Busquets, Xabi, and Xavi all on the field together play is going to be slowed and not as vertical. I would love to see a real 4-3-3 with Torres flanked by Navas and Silva/Pedro, but Del Bosque seems determined to play the defensive minded formation. Hard to argue with the scoreboard.

Spain does gets more width (at least this iteration) with Arbeloa and Alba both coming up quite a bit. Going 4-3-3 would require them to stay at home a bit more.Question: Leave Arbeloa at RB to deal with CR7? Or put Ramos there, and start Martinez? You can make up for Arbeloa's absence by going 4-3-3 and creating more width. You could start Busquets/Xavi/Alonso (with Iniesta up front), or Busquets/Xavi/Iniesta, with Silva and Pedro or Navas on the wing.Or, just start the same old XI, because Del Bosque is Del Bosque.

 

[Slapdash]

Re: the Spain game:1) I think Spain's ability to quickly disrupt the opposition and win possession back after they lose it is underrated. It seems like every time France got the ball, they either lost it back quickly, or they passed quickly upfield, where their attacking players were cut off from support and were quickly outnumbered, and then dispossesed. 2) Malouda seemed completely uninterested on marking Alonso on the first goal. Criminally so. After that point, Spain played smart football. Call it boring or whatever, but France didn't have a shot on net in the second half. They're a team that's comfortable retaining possession than trying to bomb forward for another goal when there's no opportunity there (and possibly leave them open to a counter).3) That said, I'm still not crazy about Fabregas as the striker after seeing a couple games with him in that role. I like Torres coming on as a late sub to try and break a high line and put a game away when Spain has the lead, but I don't know if he's the answer for 90 mins. Unfortunately, I think it's too late for Del Bosque to risk anything new.

The two holding MFs formation is part of what helps Spain kill a lot of these games. When you have Busquets, Xabi, and Xavi all on the field together play is going to be slowed and not as vertical. I would love to see a real 4-3-3 with Torres flanked by Navas and Silva/Pedro, but Del Bosque seems determined to play the defensive minded formation. Hard to argue with the scoreboard.

Spain does gets more width (at least this iteration) with Arbeloa and Alba both coming up quite a bit. Going 4-3-3 would require them to stay at home a bit more.Question: Leave Arbeloa at RB to deal with CR7? Or put Ramos there, and start Martinez? You can make up for Arbeloa's absence by going 4-3-3 and creating more width. You could start Busquets/Xavi/Alonso (with Iniesta up front), or Busquets/Xavi/Iniesta, with Silva and Pedro or Navas on the wing.Or, just start the same old XI, because Del Bosque is Del Bosque.

I think, if this formation makes sense at all, it should be used against a countering team like Portugal. I like the idea of putting Ramos on CR and bringing in Javi. Most importantly they are going to need to get a real striker in there in Torres or Llorente. Adding the pace of Pedro in would help as well. Cesc as a false nine isn't going to cut it this time.

 

[NewlyRetired]

For people who enjoy following the large number of US players playing outside of the country, the following site is by far and away the best and just launched their new web site design last night.

http://www.yanks-abroad.com/

 

[NewlyRetired]

Last year MLS set its all time high for attendance in both average and median.

This year is running at an 8% higher pace for average and a 7% higher pace for median when compared to the same point in the season of last year.

Current average: 18,650

Current median: 18,195

Here is a chart of more details

http://www.bigsoccer.com/community/attachments/2012-week-14-txt.6581/

 

[The Z Machine]

I think, if this formation makes sense at all, it should be used against a countering team like Portugal. I like the idea of putting Ramos on CR and bringing in Javi. Most importantly they are going to need to get a real striker in there in Torres or Llorente. Adding the pace of Pedro in would help as well. Cesc as a false nine isn't going to cut it this time.

I agree, on almost all counts. Ramos may get burned, but the CBs should be able to cover when that happens. I'd put Silva over Navas over Pedro in for wing speed.But realistically, I think we'll see the same game plan that Spain has used to much success: control the ball in the midfield, deny the other team the opportunity to score, and hound them when they do have the ball. Conserve your energy for when you DON'T have the ball, because regaining possession is more important than simply keeping it.

 

[Slapdash]

30 Cristiano Ronaldo has had more shots in his first four games at Euro 2012 than the entire England squad (29) had at the tournament20 Italy had more shots on target in their quarter-final match than England had in total in their four matches in Ukraine88 England conceded more than twice as many shots to France, Sweden, Ukraine and Italy than they had against those teams

Ooof

 

[Ursa M]

Looking more and more like Rangers 2012 will be starting at the bottom of the Scottish pyramid.

Votes are accumulating to deny a plan by which Glasgow Rangers would retain its place in the Scottish Premier League. Aberdeen joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian in publicly announcing their opposition to a restructured Rangers being admitted to the SPL.

That's the right thing to do. I wonder if it's only a matter of time before the Scottish, English and Welsh leagues combine, which could also eliminate those countries as separate international entities? That said, it's the English who will decide that and it's questionable whether they would see sufficient benefits at both league and international level.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Looking more and more like Rangers 2012 will be starting at the bottom of the Scottish pyramid.

Votes are accumulating to deny a plan by which Glasgow Rangers would retain its place in the Scottish Premier League. Aberdeen joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian in publicly announcing their opposition to a restructured Rangers being admitted to the SPL.

That's the right thing to do. I wonder if it's only a matter of time before the Scottish, English and Welsh leagues combine, which could also eliminate those countries as separate international entities? That said, it's the English who will decide that and it's questionable whether they would see sufficient benefits at both league and international level.

If you get a chance, read up on what Scotland, Wales etc FA's think about the combined British team in the Olympics this summer. They absolutely detest it, because they are afraid it is going to lead to those countries losing their separate international status.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ratings continue to be great for the Euro's

"Sunday's Euro 2012 quarterfinal between Italy and England drew the highest rating yet on ESPN: a 2.4 overnight rating. That's an increase of 50 percent from the Spain-Italy game at the same stage four years."

The Euro's even helped the Seattle Portland MLS game to its highest ESPN rating in more than a decade.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I think, if this formation makes sense at all, it should be used against a countering team like Portugal. I like the idea of putting Ramos on CR and bringing in Javi. Most importantly they are going to need to get a real striker in there in Torres or Llorente. Adding the pace of Pedro in would help as well. Cesc as a false nine isn't going to cut it this time.

I agree, on almost all counts. Ramos may get burned, but the CBs should be able to cover when that happens. I'd put Silva over Navas over Pedro in for wing speed.But realistically, I think we'll see the same game plan that Spain has used to much success: control the ball in the midfield, deny the other team the opportunity to score, and hound them when they do have the ball. Conserve your energy for when you DON'T have the ball, because regaining possession is more important than simply keeping it.

That's a given. But I think you can do that with Llorente and Martinez in.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

I was wondering what a midfield pairing of Xavi and Pirlo would look like. Slow as molasses but fantastic ball/body control and sublime passing.

Barcelona could have had something like that had they retained Riquelme, whom you could time with a sun dial but was an outstanding passer. I think Argentina suffered significantly once he opted not to play for the national team.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Before the Portland Seattle game started, the Timbers Army put up the following monsterous banner

http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/league/files/Portland-Tifo.jpg

20,000+ sq ft; 1500+ lbs; 66 riggers on 22 ropes.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Nice piece from Brian Sciaretta on the top 10 players not yet capped by the US. We have talked about a few of these in this thread.

In 2012, many top young American players earned their first cap with the US national team.The best of which were CJ Sapong, Graham Zusi, Joe Corona, and Terrence Boyd.Despite that, there are still many good American players that remain uncapped. Here is a list of the top players who have yet to appear for the US national team. Please note that we are not including dual nationals like Americans like Adam Henley who are not inclined to play for the US at this time.Also, with the list I am focusing on players on where they stand right now. There are solid young players but I am trying not to look into the future. A player like Joe Gyau has a ton of potential but he is still yet to play in a game higher than that German Regionalliga. He'll likely make his pro debut this year, but until he does he is more of a prospect.The list of Americans players who are uncapped is impressive and let's look at the 10 best.10) Nick DeLeon - (midfielder, DC United) - After being drafted in with the 7th overall pick in the 2012 MLS Superdraft, DeLeon is likely to be high in contention for MLS rookie of the year. He plays a wide midfield position and that is clearly something the US national team lacks. He is a likely candidate for the 2013 January camp.9) Sheaonon Williams - (right back, Philadelphia Union) - Ever since joining Philadelphia in 2010, Williams has been a steady presence at right back where he has become one of the best at his position in the league. Playing with the US U-23 team likely prevented his first cap in January but this January will likely see him finally suit up for the first team.8) Zak Whitbread - (out of contract) - Whitbread would likely be on the top of most people's list for uncapped Americans but his injuries have happened with such frequency that his overall reliability is very much in question. To be clear, Whitbread is a talented player who has done well in the English Premier League. If he can stay healthy for a reasonable period of time, he would help the US national team. He is on the list because of his talent but with amount of time he misses every single year, what good is talent?7) Conor O'Brien - (central midfielder, Sonderjyske) - Ever since the Danish Superliga resumed from its winter break in 2012, O'Brien has taken his game to another level where he helped his team stay in contention for the Europa League right until the end of the season. O'Brien earned rave reviews from the Danish media for his technical play and is quietly becoming a nice player.6) Alfredo Morales - (defender/midfielder, Hertha Berlin) - Alfredo Morales has twice been in camp with the US national team since Jurgen Klinsmann was hired but he has yet to find his way into a game. He played for the US U-23 team in a camp in February and did well in defensive midfield but the team clearly missed him in qualifying when Hertha did not release him. He did not see many first team minutes in the Bundesliga last year but this season in the 2.Bundesliga, more pressure will be on him to establish himself.5) Andrew Wooten - (forward, FC Kaiserslautern) - In the 2011/12 season, Andrew Wooten scored at an amazing rate for Kaiserslautern's U23 team and that helped him get invited to US U-23 camps over the winter. By the end of the year, made the first team and managed to score his first Bundesliga goal. He looked impressive in the Bundesliga and clearly belonged. Kaiserslautern, however, were very poor this year and were relegated. In may he signed a professional contract with Kaiserslautern and playing in the 2.Bundesliga will give the 22 year old a chance for regular minutes.4) George John - (central defender, FC Dallas) - John has twice been called into the January US national team camp. Injuries prevented him from playing the first time and a loan to West Ham stopped him the second time. He has twice tried to leave MLS with his transfer to Blackburn falling apart at the last minute and West Ham declining to purchase him after his loan expired in February. John is still one of the best central defenders in MLS and with the US national team defenders aging, he is still on the radar.3) Seb Hines - (central defender, Middlesbrough) - Hines still must file a one-time switch to play for the United States since he represented England in official competitions at the youth level. He has always had a lot of potential but injuries have consistently set him back. In 2012, he returned to Middlesbrough's lineup completely healthy for the first time in years. He played very well and is now on the verge of signing a long-term contract extension with the only club he has ever played for. With Hines back at full strength, Middlesbrough are expected to be in contention for a return to the Premier League. At only 24 years old, he could be a boost to the US backline and he has publically said he would switch to the United States if asked.2) Josh Gatt - (right midfielder, Molde) -Gatt is one of the most exciting young players in the US system because he extremely fast and his speed would give the US national team a legit option out wide. He is still a raw player but playing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he is in a great situation at the best club in Norway.1) Chris Pontius - (forward/midfielder, DC United) - Ever since being drafted by DC United in 2009, Pontius has been one of the best MLS players. He is on Klinsmann's radar and speaks with the US coach from time to time. Last year his future was in jeopardy after he broke his leg but he appears to have made a full recovery. Pontius is a very effective offensive player who can play both at forward and on the flanks. It's tough to imagine him being far away from earning his first cap.Also on the radar: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Will Bruin, Ryan Meara, Joe Gyau, Luis Gil, Andrew Wenger, Kelyn Rowe

 

[NewlyRetired]

Vancouver traded their top pick in the allocation draft (ie the spot that was to land them Bocanegra) to Philly. Philly quickly used it to sign Bakary Soumary.NE now has the top spot in the allocation draft and need a CB. No idea if they are targeting Boca or someone else. Ted, what did Philly give up in the deal?

Found this"Details on the trade between the Union and Whitecaps were not available at the time of the story, but sources tell SBI that the Union paid Vancouver allocation money to move up."I don't know what this all means for Boca but it sounds like Philly has been courting Soumare for months now and if he is healthy (which I assume he is) he presents much better value than Boca does.

Ives estimated it cost the Union btw $100-$125k of allocation money to get Vancouver's spot. Since that's likely around what the U received from Vancouver for Le Toux, this essentially becomes a Le Toux for Soumare trade. If Soumare is anywhere near the form he was with Chicago, I think I have to make that trade.

Looks like it was 100k plus Philly's first round pick. No way to judge this for now because of the pick. If that turns out to be a top 3 pick in the 2013 draft, that is a touch expensive IMO. If Soumare helps Philly to a higher spot in the league, it will be a decent deal.

 

[roadkill1292]

Keep those "trend" articles coming, NewlyRetired. It's fun to think about the ramifications of those kinds of developments.

 

[Major]

Keep those "trend" articles coming, NewlyRetired. It's fun to think about the ramifications of those kinds of developments.

Yep. Good info in here. Love chatting football with knowledgeable folk. This is tough to do in Texas

 

[NewlyRetired]

Keep those "trend" articles coming, NewlyRetired. It's fun to think about the ramifications of those kinds of developments.

great! Glad you like them. Are you referring specifically to the Grantland article about the recent changes in the development scheme of the US youth players?I thought that was excellent and look forward to the rest of the series.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Vancouver traded their top pick in the allocation draft (ie the spot that was to land them Bocanegra) to Philly. Philly quickly used it to sign Bakary Soumary.NE now has the top spot in the allocation draft and need a CB. No idea if they are targeting Boca or someone else. Ted, what did Philly give up in the deal?

Found this"Details on the trade between the Union and Whitecaps were not available at the time of the story, but sources tell SBI that the Union paid Vancouver allocation money to move up."I don't know what this all means for Boca but it sounds like Philly has been courting Soumare for months now and if he is healthy (which I assume he is) he presents much better value than Boca does.

Ives estimated it cost the Union btw $100-$125k of allocation money to get Vancouver's spot. Since that's likely around what the U received from Vancouver for Le Toux, this essentially becomes a Le Toux for Soumare trade. If Soumare is anywhere near the form he was with Chicago, I think I have to make that trade.

Looks like it was 100k plus Philly's first round pick. No way to judge this for now because of the pick. If that turns out to be a top 3 pick in the 2013 draft, that is a touch expensive IMO. If Soumare helps Philly to a higher spot in the league, it will be a decent deal.

A second rounder is coming back from Vancouver as part of this, but yeah, the U needs to move up the standings quick for the price to be a little less steep.

 

[roadkill1292]

Keep those "trend" articles coming, NewlyRetired. It's fun to think about the ramifications of those kinds of developments.

great! Glad you like them. Are you referring specifically to the Grantland article about the recent changes in the development scheme of the US youth players?I thought that was excellent and look forward to the rest of the series.

Yes, I liked that one. I'm not sure if I totally understand how the developmental teams are funded and/or affiliated with the MLS teams but it was cool to see the evolution nonetheless.I was idly thinking earlier today that at some point in the future the next wave of great soccer playersand teams is gonna come from Africa. Governments and economies are ever so slowly stabilizing and that will provide greater opportunities for native players. Meanwhile, European birth rates are declining precipitously, which means a smaller pool of talent.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is all the latest Euro tv data. Things are up across the board on all platforms.

The Euro's even helped MLS get its best viewership number ever on ESPN for a regular season game and its best viewership number ever (only this year) on NBCSN.

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

England vs. Italy Sets UEFA European Football Championship Record for ESPN Deportes; Audience on ESPN Digital Platforms Surges

Last Sunday’s UEFA EURO 2012 quarterfinal match between Italy and England, a 0-0 tie won by Italy 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout, on ESPN was seen by an average of 2.968 million viewers, bigger than any UEFA European Football Championship match in 2012 or 2008, except the 2008 final on ABC (3.760 million for Germany vs. Spain).

The four UEFA EURO 2012 quarterfinal matches (June 21–24) delivered an average of 1.463 million television households and 1.918 million viewers – up 31 percent in both households (1.116 million) and viewers (1.459 million) compared to the quarterfinal round in 2008.

Audiences for UEFA EURO 2012 and 2008 quarterfinals matches:

Date Network Match Households / Viewers (P2+)

Sun, June 24, 2012 ESPN England vs. Italy 2,117,000 / 2,968,000

Sun, June 22, 2008 ESPN Spain vs. Italy 1,387,000 / 1,911,000

Sat, June 21, 2008 ABC Netherlands vs. Russia 1,384,000 / 1,838,000

Sat, June 23, 2012 ESPN2 Spain vs. France 1,301,000 / 1,758,000

Fri, June 22, 2012 ESPN Germany vs. Greece 1,203,000 / 1,446,000

Thu, June 21,2012 ESPN Czech Republic vs. Portugal 1,068,000 / 1,238,000

Thu, June 19, 2008 ESPN Germany vs. Portugal 881,000 / 1,106,000

Fri, June 20, 2008 ESPN Turkey vs. Croatia 798,000 / 962,000

Through 28 matches (group stage and quarterfinals) of the UEFA European Football Championship 2012, ESPN’s live English-language presentation is averaging 889,000 households and 1,144,000 viewers — up 61 percent and 63 percent, respectively, versus the same 28 matches in 2008 (552,000 households and 703,000 viewers).

The top 10 metered markets through the group stage include: New York (1.9), Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (1.8), Providence (1.5), Los Angeles (1.3), Washington, DC (1.3), San Francisco (1.2), Richmond, Va. (1.2), Atlanta (1.2), Austin, Texas (1.2), and San Diego (1.1).

ESPN Deportes:

Last Sunday’s England vs. Italy on ESPN Deportes was viewed by an average of 424,000 Hispanic household, based on an 8.1 Hispanic household coverage rating, making it the most-watched UEFA European Football Championship match on the 24-hour Spanish-language sports network. The telecast beat the network’s previous high – UEFA EURO 2008 final between Germany and Spain with 357,000 Hispanic household impressions.

On ESPN Deportes, the quarterfinals averaged a 5.5 Hispanic household coverage rating with 287,000 Hispanic houshold impressions – up 57 percent and 133 percent from 2008 respectively. (In 2008, ESPN Deportes televised one of the four quarterfinal matches on delay.)

Through the 24 live matches in 2012, ESPN Deportes has delivered an average 3.5 Hispanic household coverage rating with 184,000 Hispanic HH impressions – up 46 percent and 117 percent respectively. UEFA EURO 2012 news and information programming has also delivered strong ratings: Fuera de Juego Euro Edition has aired 42 live telecasts, averaging a 1.3 Hispanic household coverage rating with 68,000 Hispanic household impressions.

ESPN Digital Platforms:

From June 21-24, through four days of EURO 2012 quarterfinals play, ESPNFC.com and ESPNsoccernet.com globally averaged 878,000 daily visitors, 3.1 million page views per day and 10.2 million minutes per day (source: Adobe/Omniture). Compared to ESPNsoccernet.com during the same time period for EURO 2008, the site is up 24 percent, 13 percent and 132 percent, respectively. In total, ESPNFC.com, ESPNsoccernet.com and ESPNdeportes.com generated 13.3 million total page views during the quarterfinals, up 14.6 percent compared to EURO 2008.

Mobile coverage of the EURO 2012 quarterfinals across ESPNFC, ESPNsoccernet and ESPNdeportes mobile Web sites as well as the ESPNsoccernet app for iPhone and Android logged an average of 1.4 million page views per day, up 238 percent compared to EURO 2008.

Through the quarterfinals (June 8-24) across computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox, ESPN3 and WatchESPN has logged an average minute audience of 83,607 per match and a total of 344.7 million live minutes to both English and Spanish language feeds. On computers alone, there were a total of 2.1 million unique viewers. Additionally, fans consumed 300.2 million live minutes on computers, up 688 percent compared to EURO 2008.

The England vs. Italy quarterfinal took the top spot as the new most watched match of the tournament thus far on ESPN3 and WatchESPN, logging 422,000 unique viewers, 27.8 million live minutes and an average minute audience of 147,745.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Keep those "trend" articles coming, NewlyRetired. It's fun to think about the ramifications of those kinds of developments.

great! Glad you like them. Are you referring specifically to the Grantland article about the recent changes in the development scheme of the US youth players?I thought that was excellent and look forward to the rest of the series.

Yes, I liked that one. I'm not sure if I totally understand how the developmental teams are funded and/or affiliated with the MLS teams but it was cool to see the evolution nonetheless.

Here is an short article talking about one MLS (Chicago) team and its academies. http://www.examiner.com/article/chicago-fire-to-fully-fund-academy-u-10-u-18It won't be but one or two more years before every MLS team fully funds academies from U10 to U18. The affiliation is pretty basic. The MLS team picks up the tab, and gets first rights to any players produced from said academy. If we had this in place years ago, we may not have missed out on Giuseppe Rossi. John Harkes was with NY at the time and I remember him saying there was a buzz about some youth player on a team that they were affiliated with but before they could get him signed, his father took him to Italy. Today a player like him should be recognized and locked up at a relatively young age, similar to what New England did with Diego Fagundez.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

USOC quarterfinals tonight.

I will be at PPL to watch the Union hopefully lay the smackdown on the Harrisburg City Islanders, who themselves have already taken out New England and the Red Bulls

Other matches:

Sporting KC vs Dayton Dutch Lions

San Jose Earthquakes vs Seattle Sounders

Chivas USA vs Charlotte Eagles

 

[Ursa M]

Looking more and more like Rangers 2012 will be starting at the bottom of the Scottish pyramid.

Votes are accumulating to deny a plan by which Glasgow Rangers would retain its place in the Scottish Premier League. Aberdeen joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian in publicly announcing their opposition to a restructured Rangers being admitted to the SPL.

That's the right thing to do. I wonder if it's only a matter of time before the Scottish, English and Welsh leagues combine, which could also eliminate those countries as separate international entities? That said, it's the English who will decide that and it's questionable whether they would see sufficient benefits at both league and international level.

If you get a chance, read up on what Scotland, Wales etc FA's think about the combined British team in the Olympics this summer. They absolutely detest it, because they are afraid it is going to lead to those countries losing their separate international status.

No doubt. Smaller leagues than Wales already exist in Europe - the Faroe Islands field an international side and, IIRC, used to have only two teams in their league. Not sure what they have now. The problem for Wales, Scotland and NI is the weird status of "pseudo-countries" within the UK. In some contexts (soccer, rugby, regional parliaments) they exist, in other contexts (UN, Olympics, military) they don't.

Neither Wales nor Scotland would want to amalgamate with England but there's been pressure from outside, most notably Uruguay, to force an all-Britain team for quite a while, most likely to stop the four home countries holding half the seats on the International Board (something FIFA would not mind either).

 

[NewlyRetired]

USOC quarterfinals tonight. I will be at PPL to watch the Union hopefully lay the smackdown on the Harrisburg City Islanders, who themselves have already taken out New England and the Red Bulls Other matches:Sporting KC vs Dayton Dutch LionsSan Jose Earthquakes vs Seattle SoundersChivas USA vs Charlotte Eagles

I will be watching some of these on stream. Good luck to your Union tonight. The Islanders are the very definition of plucky.That NE game you mentioned with them was the epic 3-3 game with all 6 goals coming in extra time

 

[NewlyRetired]

This sounds promising for a soccer stadium in NY. Floppo or anyone else, can you comment on the location?From The Wall Street Journal

After a wide search, Major League Soccer officials have zeroed in on a run-down section of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens as their preferred site for the league's first New York stadium, according to multiple officials briefed on the matter.In recent weeks, top MLS officials have presented a detailed proposal to local politicians, outlining a plan for a 20,000- to 25,000-seat stadium on roughly eight acres near the northern end of the park.The plan, still in its nascent stages, would create a home for a brand-new league team, as yet unnamed. The league believes construction could be completed one to two years after the project receives the necessary approvals, according to officials briefed on the plans.The move is perhaps surprising given that MLS opened the $220 million Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., in 2010.But landing a stadium in New York City—a media capital and an ethnically diverse urban center—would be a significant boost to the league's international stature. Founded in 1993, the professional league comprises 19 teams, 16 in the U.S. and three in Canada.As part of the proposal, MLS would also refurbish public soccer fields on the site and create a cricket field and volleyball courts, according to people familiar with the plans.MLS confirmed that it is in discussions with city and local Queens officials about the Flushing Meadows site. Most of the spot is now dominated by a six-acre concrete pool that is fenced-off and filled with stagnant water."We are thrilled about the prospect of being in Queens and bringing the world's sport to the world's park. We…look forward to working with the community to build a world class soccer facility for all to enjoy," a spokeswoman for the league said.The league has scoped out several sites in the city in recent months, including Willets Point in Queens and Pier 40 in Hudson River Park. The Pier 40 proposal was criticized after the plans became public this spring. Community members were concerned the stadium would overwhelm the popular waterside park and lead to parking and transportation problems.A home in Flushing Meadows Corona Park would put the stadium near other major sports venues, Citi Field and the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center.The soccer stadium would be privately financed, but it would still have to overcome significant hurdles: Because the stadium would be built on city-owned park land, the project would need approval from both the City Council and the state Legislature. To make up for the lost green space, MLS would have to create roughly eight acres of new park land elsewhere in the city.MLS has met with city officials in recent weeks and has made significant progress in its discussions, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Their pitch line: "The world's game should be played in the world's park." The park was the site of the 1939 and 1964 world's fairs.State politicians who have sat down with MLS officials in recent weeks greeted the proposal favorably."This is exactly what this community needs. There's a true natural fan base for Major League Soccer…in the most diverse borough in the entire country," said Assemblyman Francisco Moya, who represents the area that includes the park.Mr. Moya, who grew up playing soccer on the public fields in Flushing Meadows, said he would sponsor a bill in the Assembly, though the die-hard FC Barcelona fan said he wouldn't cheer for the new team.Local politicians also say they support the project because it is expected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs, 300 permanent full-time jobs and 900 part-time jobs.But state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, whose district includes the park and who met with M.L.S. officials Monday, said she wants to ensure the league addresses concerns about creating sufficient parking and solidifying the league's commitment to using union labor."They were hoping for quick approvals, but this something that's a major commitment, and we've got to take a close look at it," Ms. Stavisky said.Write to Laura Kusisto at laura.kusisto@wsj.com

 

[Tremendous Upside]

It'd be a great location IMO (although I am somewhat biased, living within walking distance of it). If it is over by CitiField and Ashe Stadium it is readily accessible via subway and car. Here's the park in general, I wonder where, specifically this 8 acre section would be...I think it's Industry Pond

https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=flushing+meadows+corona+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=flushing+meadows+corona+park&hnear=flushing+meadows+corona+park&cid=0,0,1386313089383820513&ei=CoTqT6C5Lqq36QH1j8HnBQ&ved=0CJMBEPwSMAM

Also, Queens is an incredibly diverse borough (the most diverse in the country, actually) the park is already a huge soccer hotbed, with many Latin and South American and European immigrants playing pickup and league games there in the Spring and Summer. It would also be readily accessible via car and commuter rail from Long ISland, where youth soccer is also huge

 

[NewlyRetired]

It'd be a great location IMO (although I am somewhat biased, living within walking distance of it). If it is over by CitiField and Ashe Stadium it is readily accessible via subway and car. Here's the park in general, I wonder where, specifically this 8 acre section would be (they mentioned northern part f the park, but thats still a bit vaguehttps://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=flushing+meadows+corona+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=flushing+meadows+corona+park&hnear=flushing+meadows+corona+park&cid=0,0,1386313089383820513&ei=CoTqT6C5Lqq36QH1j8HnBQ&ved=0CJMBEPwSMAM

Here is the proposed locationhttp://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-BS827A_NYSOC_G_20120626183906.jpg

 

[Tremendous Upside]

It'd be a great location IMO (although I am somewhat biased, living within walking distance of it). If it is over by CitiField and Ashe Stadium it is readily accessible via subway and car. Here's the park in general, I wonder where, specifically this 8 acre section would be (they mentioned northern part f the park, but thats still a bit vaguehttps://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=flushing+meadows+corona+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=flushing+meadows+corona+park&hnear=flushing+meadows+corona+park&cid=0,0,1386313089383820513&ei=CoTqT6C5Lqq36QH1j8HnBQ&ved=0CJMBEPwSMAM

Here is the proposed locationhttp://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-BS827A_NYSOC_G_20120626183906.jpg

Yeah, that's what I figured...It would be a great site...and a natural for a World Cup location should the US ever get the WC againThe World's Fair hemisphere would be a great backdrop for soccer

 

[NewlyRetired]

It'd be a great location IMO (although I am somewhat biased, living within walking distance of it). If it is over by CitiField and Ashe Stadium it is readily accessible via subway and car. Here's the park in general, I wonder where, specifically this 8 acre section would be (they mentioned northern part f the park, but thats still a bit vaguehttps://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=flushing+meadows+corona+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=flushing+meadows+corona+park&hnear=flushing+meadows+corona+park&cid=0,0,1386313089383820513&ei=CoTqT6C5Lqq36QH1j8HnBQ&ved=0CJMBEPwSMAM

Here is the proposed locationhttp://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-BS827A_NYSOC_G_20120626183906.jpg

Yeah, that's what I figured...It would be a great site...and a natural for a World Cup location should the US ever get the WC againThe World's Fair hemisphere would be a great backdrop for soccer

Thanks for the info!I am not sure this would ever be used for a WC though as it will be way too small as according to the article it is planned for 20-25k. The smallest candidate venue in the recent WC bid was 65k.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

It'd be a great location IMO (although I am somewhat biased, living within walking distance of it). If it is over by CitiField and Ashe Stadium it is readily accessible via subway and car. Here's the park in general, I wonder where, specifically this 8 acre section would be (they mentioned northern part f the park, but thats still a bit vaguehttps://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=flushing+meadows+corona+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=flushing+meadows+corona+park&hnear=flushing+meadows+corona+park&cid=0,0,1386313089383820513&ei=CoTqT6C5Lqq36QH1j8HnBQ&ved=0CJMBEPwSMAM

Here is the proposed locationhttp://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-BS827A_NYSOC_G_20120626183906.jpg

Yeah, that's what I figured...It would be a great site...and a natural for a World Cup location should the US ever get the WC againThe World's Fair hemisphere would be a great backdrop for soccer

Thanks for the info!I am not sure this would ever be used for a WC though as it will be way too small as according to the article it is planned for 20-25k.

Good point, I missed thatBTW, any NYers, the Steve Nash Showdown is tomorrow (Wednesday) at Sarah Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side. I work nearby, and might try to swing by, although by the time I would be able to get there (about 30 mins before kickoff) I doubt I'd have much of a view

 

[NewlyRetired]

It'd be a great location IMO (although I am somewhat biased, living within walking distance of it). If it is over by CitiField and Ashe Stadium it is readily accessible via subway and car. Here's the park in general, I wonder where, specifically this 8 acre section would be (they mentioned northern part f the park, but thats still a bit vaguehttps://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=flushing+meadows+corona+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=flushing+meadows+corona+park&hnear=flushing+meadows+corona+park&cid=0,0,1386313089383820513&ei=CoTqT6C5Lqq36QH1j8HnBQ&ved=0CJMBEPwSMAM

Here is the proposed locationhttp://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-BS827A_NYSOC_G_20120626183906.jpg

Yeah, that's what I figured...It would be a great site...and a natural for a World Cup location should the US ever get the WC againThe World's Fair hemisphere would be a great backdrop for soccer

Thanks for the info!I am not sure this would ever be used for a WC though as it will be way too small as according to the article it is planned for 20-25k.

Good point, I missed thatBTW, any NYers, the Steve Nash Showdown is tomorrow (Wednesday) at Sarah Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side. I work nearby, and might try to swing by, although by the time I would be able to get there (about 30 mins before kickoff) I doubt I'd have much of a view

Looks like some good fun. Reyna, Edu, Henry, Rogers, Jozy, Viera, Rossi, Holden, Kalou amongst others will be there. Holden won't play though. No idea about Rossi

 

[NewlyRetired]

USOC quarterfinals tonight. I will be at PPL to watch the Union hopefully lay the smackdown on the Harrisburg City Islanders, who themselves have already taken out New England and the Red Bulls Other matches:Sporting KC vs Dayton Dutch LionsSan Jose Earthquakes vs Seattle SoundersChivas USA vs Charlotte Eagles

All quarter final games are now completePhilly 5 Harrisburg 2Sporting 3 Dayton 0SJ 0 Seattle 1Chivas 2 Charlotte 1Semis will beSeattle hosting ChivasPhilly hosting KC

 

[kblitz]

Mandžukić to Bayern for 13 mio

Didn´t see this one comming. I thought they wanted Džeko

 

[roadkill1292]

No doubt. Smaller leagues than Wales already exist in Europe - the Faroe Islands field an international side and, IIRC, used to have only two teams in their league. Not sure what they have now.

I am fascinated by sport in smaller nations like this so I looked up the Faroe Islands Football Federation and they have 40 teams with a population of only 50,000. Amazing. Premier League champ BC36 Torshavn just drew Northern Islands' Linfield in the first qualifying round (a home-and-home) of the 2013 Champions League.If I could find those games to watch, I'm silly enough to do it.

 

[The Z Machine]

No doubt. Smaller leagues than Wales already exist in Europe - the Faroe Islands field an international side and, IIRC, used to have only two teams in their league. Not sure what they have now.

I am fascinated by sport in smaller nations like this so I looked up the Faroe Islands Football Federation and they have 40 teams with a population of only 50,000. Amazing. Premier League champ BC36 Torshavn just drew Northern Islands' Linfield in the first qualifying round (a home-and-home) of the 2013 Champions League.If I could find those games to watch, I'm silly enough to do it.

Streaming?

 

[The Z Machine]

Gah. My Atleti just sold off their best young defender (Álvaro Domínguez) to M.Gladbach for 8m€. http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/gladbach-atletico-acuerdan-traspaso-dominguez/20120627dasdasftb_4/Tes

He was in the final group to be cut for EURO2012 by Del Bosque. They must think that Filipe Luís is the future at left back, while Juanfran is solidly at right back and Miranda and Godín hold down the CB slots.

That leaves little quality depth across the back though IMO. With the loss of Diego (back after his loan spell), my boys better sign some new players if they want to challenge for anything this year.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Did the Germany transfer window open earlier than normal? I know MLS opens today but I thought Germany was July 1st?

 

[roadkill1292]

No doubt. Smaller leagues than Wales already exist in Europe - the Faroe Islands field an international side and, IIRC, used to have only two teams in their league. Not sure what they have now.

I am fascinated by sport in smaller nations like this so I looked up the Faroe Islands Football Federation and they have 40 teams with a population of only 50,000. Amazing. Premier League champ BC36 Torshavn just drew Northern Islands' Linfield in the first qualifying round (a home-and-home) of the 2013 Champions League.If I could find those games to watch, I'm silly enough to do it.

Streaming?

Would somebody really stream the matches between the champions of the 49th and 50th ranked associations in Europe? I'll look but I'll be amazed if I find.