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

[El Floppo]

I guess it's an agree to disagree thing. If the Niners were to say that Montana etc and all the superbowls weren't part of the new Niners, it would mean nothing to me. Unless they moved the team to LA or something.

no question about it. This type of thing means significantly more to some people than to others.I have no idea why the courts/FA in Scotland decided to strip all the history but allow the colors and team name to live on.

Either leave it all intact and let them start over at the bottom, or retire every part of Rangers FC for ever.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Red Bulls just traded Dane Richards to Vancouver along with allocation money for Sebastian LeToux.I can't figure this one out.

To be more clear, I can't figure this out from the NY side of things.It appears to be a slam dunk for Vancouver.Vancouver has a young stud striker in Darren Maddocks who is lighting the league up since he came back from injury in his rookie season. (side note, I am not looking forward to the US playing against him for Jamaica) which made LeToux expendable and they needed a wing player. Getting allocation money back makes the trade even better.I am going to be interested to see how NY lines up tomorrow with LeToux, Henry (assuming he is healthy) and Cooper.

More I think about this, more I'm about this trade for the BullStars.Couldn't they get some free lunch or something and get rid of Marquez?

Backe and whom ever is in the front office seems to love making moves, whether they make a ton of sense or not.Vancouver now has some likely decent allocation money from this trade and from the trade with Philly that they may free up enough space to get another player in.

 

[Eephus]

I guess it's an agree to disagree thing. If the Niners were to say that Montana etc and all the superbowls weren't part of the new Niners, it would mean nothing to me. Unless they moved the team to LA or something.

no question about it. This type of thing means significantly more to some people than to others.I have no idea why the courts/FA in Scotland decided to strip all the history but allow the colors and team name to live on.

Either leave it all intact and let them start over at the bottom, or retire every part of Rangers FC for ever.

There's a precedent of sorts in English football with Accrington Stanley. They folded in 1966 and were reformed a couple of years later as a new club bearing the old name. They've managed to get higher up the pyramid than their namesakes and are now mid-table scrappers in League Two. ASFC obviously isn't Rangers. Rangers supporters will provide the only continuity and hopefully someday they'll get back to where they were. Soccer, Scotland and Glasgow need that to happen. But officially they're a dead parrot.

 

[The Z Machine]

I think the new team should petition to join the English League football system. Way more $$ in reaching the EPL than the SPL. I think they could be a mid-table team there pretty easily.

 

[Eephus]

I think the new team should petition to join the English League football system. Way more $$ in reaching the EPL than the SPL. I think they could be a mid-table team there pretty easily.

They'd have to start so far down the pyramid that it would take them a decade or more to approach the top

 

[Christo]

I think the new team should petition to join the English League football system. Way more $$ in reaching the EPL than the SPL. I think they could be a mid-table team there pretty easily.

They'd have to start so far down the pyramid that it would take them a decade or more to approach the top

There's also the issue of whether Rangers would have the same cache as a member of the English leagues as it does in the Scottish leagues and whether that would hurt its movement upwards.

 

[Eephus]

I think the new team should petition to join the English League football system. Way more $$ in reaching the EPL than the SPL. I think they could be a mid-table team there pretty easily.

They'd have to start so far down the pyramid that it would take them a decade or more to approach the top

There's also the issue of whether Rangers would have the same cache as a member of the English leagues as it does in the Scottish leagues and whether that would hurt its movement upwards.

There would be tremendous pressure on the English FA to reject the application. It could spell the beginning of the end of the home nations having separate representation in UEFA and FIFA competition. I realize there are Welsh teams playing in England but they've been doing so for over a century.

 

[NewlyRetired]

SJ anally raped a very good Salt Lake side to the tune of 5-0. Wondo magic on display again with 3 goals and an assist.

Wondo is up to 17 goals this season and leads the league. Player (Cooper) in second has only 11.

 

[NewlyRetired]

LA seems to have found the form most expected they would have started the season with. They have won 4 of their last 6 and are pasting Portland 5-2 right now.

The big names all look great. Beckham in particular has been excellent tonight and good to see Landon running well.

 

[ffldrew]

LA seems to have found the form most expected they would have started the season with. They have won 4 of their last 6 and are pasting Portland 5-2 right now. The big names all look great. Beckham in particular has been excellent tonight and good to see Landon running well.

Portland d is a sieve - how do you let a 80 yr old Robbie Keane come untouched/marked down the center for 2 goals

 

[NewlyRetired]

LA seems to have found the form most expected they would have started the season with. They have won 4 of their last 6 and are pasting Portland 5-2 right now. The big names all look great. Beckham in particular has been excellent tonight and good to see Landon running well.

Portland d is a sieve - how do you let a 80 yr old Robbie Keane come untouched/marked down the center for 2 goals

Not hard to see why Spencer was fired. This team is a mess. Keane is not as old as he looks. He turned 32 last week. He has never been a fluid looking guy though even when he was in his 20's. . He does run like he is 80

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

LA seems to have found the form most expected they would have started the season with. They have won 4 of their last 6 and are pasting Portland 5-2 right now. The big names all look great. Beckham in particular has been excellent tonight and good to see Landon running well.

Beckham's first goal may be a GOTY candidate. Beautiful strike from 35 yards out

 

[NewlyRetired]

LA seems to have found the form most expected they would have started the season with. They have won 4 of their last 6 and are pasting Portland 5-2 right now. The big names all look great. Beckham in particular has been excellent tonight and good to see Landon running well.

Beckham's first goal may be a GOTY candidate. Beautiful strike from 35 yards out

Keane's reaction was awesome. Stares at Becks and says "That will do"

 

[NewlyRetired]

Saw this stat on another web site that I want to expand upon. File this under "late bloomer".

Chris Wondoloski has been in MLS since 2005.

From 2005 to 2009, he scored a grand total of 7 goals in 5 seasons as a striker.

Here is is goal scoring record since then

2010: 18 goals

2011: 16 goals

2012: 17 goals (in just 18 games played, He still has, max, 14 more games to play)

He is the first player in MLS history to score 16 or more goals in three straight seasons.

Great perseverance after backing up Ching for so many years.

 

[Steve Tasker]

You know how bad the USMNT is? Their captain plays in the 4th tier league in Scotland.

 

[NewlyRetired]

You know how bad the USMNT is? Their captain plays in the 4th tier league in Scotland.

but just wait until they reorg, then he will be playing in the mighty SPL2......

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wahl's source says Bradley to Roma is finally complete.

Strauss tweeted a pic of Bradley arriving at Roma's training ground.

Now I just need a place to watch Serie A on

 

[NewlyRetired]

When MLS was struggling in the early 2000's, owners stepped up to help other teams (which was relatively straight forward with the single entity concept).

However, even in a league as big as the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich helped get Dortmund out of bankruptcy back in 2003 via a loan. Bayern felt they would be better served if their rival remained alive rather than go under. Bayern also gave some financial help to 1860 Munich, as well as St Pauli.

This made me wonder if Celtic thought about doing anything similar for Rangers. My guess is that maybe they did but that the amount of money needed to bail out Rangers was enormous.

 

[LHUCKS]

If anybody has a link to the Beckham goal...TIA

 

[NewlyRetired]

Reminder that NY vs Seattle is on ESPN today at 4:00pm eastern

 

[Sebowski]

If anybody has a link to the Beckham goal...TIA

From playFree Kick

 

[Steve Tasker]

If anybody has a link to the Beckham goal...TIA

From playFree Kick

He's got a sweet stache going, too.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Didn't take Le Toux long to get on the scoresheet.

 

[azgroover]

Im vacationing in Portland and happened to make it to the game last night. It was my first pro soccer game. What a freaking atmosphere the Timbers fans have. Tickets were tough to come by, so I had to split my family up just so we could get in the gates. Being the gentleman that I am, I put my wife and daughter in the good set of seats while my son and I took the cheap seats and sat with the Timbers army. I was a little peeved on the inside until we took our seats and started singing along with all the die hards. When the Timbers scored early, the place blew up.

I've been to a hoops game at Duke, which is sort of my benchmark for fans that are just as entertaining as the game. I'd have to put the Timbers army right up there in that echelon. Just a blast. I went to bed last night singing "onward Rose City" in my head. Gonna hit the Whitecaps game on Wed. for comparison sake,

 

[LHUCKS]

If anybody has a link to the Beckham goal...TIA

From playFree Kick

Just spectacular.I can't get enough of these.

What a gift.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Im vacationing in Portland and happened to make it to the game last night. It was my first pro soccer game. What a freaking atmosphere the Timbers fans have. Tickets were tough to come by, so I had to split my family up just so we could get in the gates. Being the gentleman that I am, I put my wife and daughter in the good set of seats while my son and I took the cheap seats and sat with the Timbers army. I was a little peeved on the inside until we took our seats and started singing along with all the die hards. When the Timbers scored early, the place blew up.I've been to a hoops game at Duke, which is sort of my benchmark for fans that are just as entertaining as the game. I'd have to put the Timbers army right up there in that echelon. Just a blast. I went to bed last night singing "onward Rose City" in my head. Gonna hit the Whitecaps game on Wed. for comparison sake,

The atmosphere comes across on TV so well, I can't imagine how good it must be in person. And now imagine them having a good team some day to go with those fans So you are seeing LA twice in 4 days? Cool. They are fun to watch. Vancouver is a nice atmosphere but not as good as Portland (and Seattle), at least from what comes across on tv.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Here is the full MLS all star team (note: Olsen can choose whom ever he wants to start from the group against Chelsea)

Voted from the fans

Goalkeeper: Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)

Defenders: Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Aurélien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls)

Midfielders: David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Picked by Olsen: Kyle Beckerman, Ozzie Alonso, Eddie Johnson, Chris Pontius, and Dan Kennedy

Picked by Garber: Ramiro Corrales and Carlos Valdes

I understand the Corrales pick. Ted, what is your guess as to the point of the commish picking Valdes?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Found this tidbit about the EPL TV rights in the US

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

The Invitation-To-Tender (ITT) for U.S. rights to EPL for August 2013-May 2016 will take place in September, after everyone is back from the Olympics and vacation/holiday.

The 1st round of bids should all be in by no later than October 5.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Ted, what is your guess as to the point of the commish picking Valdes?

1. To have a Union player on the roster for the game being held in Philly.2. He deserves it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Ted, what is your guess as to the point of the commish picking Valdes?

1. To have a Union player on the roster for the game being held in Philly.2. He deserves it.

I did not even realize there was not a Philly player on the team. That makes the most sense. Makes me wonder what teams are not represented. Montreal, New England, Columbus, Colorado, Chicago, Portland, Toronto, Houston, and Dallas I think are unrepresented.

 

[El Floppo]

Bradley officially a Roman.

 

[El Floppo]

So I'm seeing PSG v Chelsea this Sunday at Yankee stadium, but I'm pretty sure Ibra won't be signed in time for the game.

Then I'm going to see Milan v RM in a couple weeks... but I'm pretty sure Ibra WILL be signed away from Milan by then.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

RM close to signing Modric. Spurs might get Sahin back.

 

[El Floppo]

Interesting article about Henry in the NYTimes today... here's a bit of it (the bolded touches on what I keep talking about relative to soccer "culture" here in the US):

Henry is similarly blunt when discussing his impact on soccer in the United States. Unlike other international players who have come here, Henry makes no grand statements about imminent transformations in the sport’s popularity. Yes, he would like to help grow the game. And yes, he would like desperately to lead the Red Bulls to their first league title. “Winning is always first with me,” he said. “Always.”

But he remains realistic. Overcoming the popularity of the N.F.L. or Major League Baseball is something that even a transplanted New Yorker like Henry knows is virtually impossible. After all, he plays in a market where one night earlier this season the Red Bulls played a game on the same night that the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Rangers all had games on television, too.

“There were five New York teams on television at the same time — what can you do about that?” Henry said. “How do you compete with 100 years of history in these other sports? In the other sports, people can say, ‘Do you remember that series from years ago? That big hit?’ What can they say about M.L.S.? Do you remember yesterday?”

Still, he seems pleased with the progress. Henry said that the quality of play in M.L.S. was improving immensely and that the increase in soccer-specific stadiums was a critical development. Henry would not reveal how many more years he wanted to play, but he made it clear that he was very content that the final chapter of his career was taking place in New York.

At one point, he was asked if he ever worried that people would view his legacy negatively, focusing on the hand ball against Ireland or the way he bolted Europe for the United States.

Unruffled, Henry sounded like a New Yorker with his response. “Sure, they will remember those things,” he said. “But I think they’ll remember the 300 goals, too, don’t you?”

 

[jonessed]

RM close to signing Modric. Spurs might get Sahin back.

Sahin previously said he wasn't interested. I think there's a pretty good chance it's all cash.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Interesting article about Henry in the NYTimes today... here's a bit of it (the bolded touches on what I keep talking about relative to soccer "culture" here in the US):

Henry is similarly blunt when discussing his impact on soccer in the United States. Unlike other international players who have come here, Henry makes no grand statements about imminent transformations in the sport’s popularity. Yes, he would like to help grow the game. And yes, he would like desperately to lead the Red Bulls to their first league title. “Winning is always first with me,” he said. “Always.”

But he remains realistic. Overcoming the popularity of the N.F.L. or Major League Baseball is something that even a transplanted New Yorker like Henry knows is virtually impossible. After all, he plays in a market where one night earlier this season the Red Bulls played a game on the same night that the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Rangers all had games on television, too.

“There were five New York teams on television at the same time — what can you do about that?” Henry said. “How do you compete with 100 years of history in these other sports? In the other sports, people can say, ‘Do you remember that series from years ago? That big hit?’ What can they say about M.L.S.? Do you remember yesterday?”

Still, he seems pleased with the progress. Henry said that the quality of play in M.L.S. was improving immensely and that the increase in soccer-specific stadiums was a critical development. Henry would not reveal how many more years he wanted to play, but he made it clear that he was very content that the final chapter of his career was taking place in New York.

At one point, he was asked if he ever worried that people would view his legacy negatively, focusing on the hand ball against Ireland or the way he bolted Europe for the United States.

Unruffled, Henry sounded like a New Yorker with his response. “Sure, they will remember those things,” he said. “But I think they’ll remember the 300 goals, too, don’t you?”

He is absolutely right. This is not going to be an overnight process. Bonding with a team sometimes takes generations (father to son stuff).

They are building the blue prints in places like Seattle, Portland, Philly, KC etc. Those stands are loaded with 20-something males.

If/when that enormous demographic starts having kids of their own, I am very hopeful that they will be the first generation (of a significant number), to introduce their kids to the local team they love and have supported by going to games for so many years.

 

[GoFishTN]

RM close to signing Modric. Spurs might get Sahin back.

Sahin previously said he wasn't interested. I think there's a pretty good chance it's all cash.

Rumor now is £30M. With most of that going back out for Moutinho.I guess AVB will never get to work with Modric.

 

[The Z Machine]

Anyone think that someone other than Messi will win the Golden Ball? Casillas have a shot?

 

[El Floppo]

Anyone think that someone other than Messi will win the Golden Ball? Casillas have a shot?

CR.Or they finally give it to Xavi for being badass.

 

[NewlyRetired]

####. I know this is likely a smoke show but I can't but help hope that some semi stooge pulls a thread that can not be covered up.

===========

ZURICH -- FIFA is set to meet Tuesday to appoint a prosecutor who will be urged to investigate possible corruption in the votes to decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA's top anti-corruption adviser, Mark Pieth, tells The Associated Press this is "absolutely fundamental" if soccer's scandal-hit governing body is to be modernized.

Pieth's panel says the ethics officials must have the authority to examine old cases after finding that FIFA "insufficiently investigated" some allegations about World Cup bidding.

Russia won the rights to the 2018 World Cup. Qatar was selected for 2022 ahead of the U.S in a final round of voting.

There have been claims some voters received payments or sought favors from bidders, and several breached rules by joining a pact to back Qatar and the Spain-Portugal bid.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

####. I know this is likely a smoke show but I can't but help hope that some semi stooge pulls a thread that can not be covered up.

===========

ZURICH -- FIFA is set to meet Tuesday to appoint a prosecutor who will be urged to investigate possible corruption in the votes to decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA's top anti-corruption adviser, Mark Pieth, tells The Associated Press this is "absolutely fundamental" if soccer's scandal-hit governing body is to be modernized.

Pieth's panel says the ethics officials must have the authority to examine old cases after finding that FIFA "insufficiently investigated" some allegations about World Cup bidding.

Russia won the rights to the 2018 World Cup. Qatar was selected for 2022 ahead of the U.S in a final round of voting.

There have been claims some voters received payments or sought favors from bidders, and several breached rules by joining a pact to back Qatar and the Spain-Portugal bid.

We all know how this is going to go. No clear evidence of improprieties found, World Cups will go on as planned blah blah blah.

 

[TLEF316]

O/U on heat related deaths in Qatar.....2.5 (either players or fans)

And no booze. oof.

 

[NewlyRetired]

####. I know this is likely a smoke show but I can't but help hope that some semi stooge pulls a thread that can not be covered up.

===========

ZURICH -- FIFA is set to meet Tuesday to appoint a prosecutor who will be urged to investigate possible corruption in the votes to decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA's top anti-corruption adviser, Mark Pieth, tells The Associated Press this is "absolutely fundamental" if soccer's scandal-hit governing body is to be modernized.

Pieth's panel says the ethics officials must have the authority to examine old cases after finding that FIFA "insufficiently investigated" some allegations about World Cup bidding.

Russia won the rights to the 2018 World Cup. Qatar was selected for 2022 ahead of the U.S in a final round of voting.

There have been claims some voters received payments or sought favors from bidders, and several breached rules by joining a pact to back Qatar and the Spain-Portugal bid.

We all know how this is going to go. No clear evidence of improprieties found, World Cups will go on as planned blah blah blah.

Yup. Just a dream still for me.

 

[Texas Football]

####. I know this is likely a smoke show but I can't but help hope that some semi stooge pulls a thread that can not be covered up.

===========

ZURICH -- FIFA is set to meet Tuesday to appoint a prosecutor who will be urged to investigate possible corruption in the votes to decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA's top anti-corruption adviser, Mark Pieth, tells The Associated Press this is "absolutely fundamental" if soccer's scandal-hit governing body is to be modernized.

Pieth's panel says the ethics officials must have the authority to examine old cases after finding that FIFA "insufficiently investigated" some allegations about World Cup bidding.

Russia won the rights to the 2018 World Cup. Qatar was selected for 2022 ahead of the U.S in a final round of voting.

There have been claims some voters received payments or sought favors from bidders, and several breached rules by joining a pact to back Qatar and the Spain-Portugal bid.

We all know how this is going to go. No clear evidence of improprieties found, World Cups will go on as planned blah blah blah.

Yup. Just a dream still for me.

I honestly think the 2022 Cup lands in America.

If it is because of bribery charges, I don't know. I have a feeling the Qatar group promised way more than they can deliver. AC filled stadiums that seat 40k(is that the min. to qualify as a WC stadium) will be near impossible, assuming they aim for 50k+ seating. A shift in Iran and Hormuz will destroy security, too.

Brasil is struggling to meet requirements, and the US is the default host that is ready to go. Brasil will pull it off. Qatar could be unable to do the same.

By 2020 some of the corrupts should be dead, too. The corruption will come out. Their last wishes will be to tell the truth.

Brasil had to change their stadium beer rules, I see no reason why Qatar would not be held to the same standard. Unless they bow to religious beliefs. How many $$ is beer sales at a WC?

 

[Sebowski]

####. I know this is likely a smoke show but I can't but help hope that some semi stooge pulls a thread that can not be covered up.

===========

ZURICH -- FIFA is set to meet Tuesday to appoint a prosecutor who will be urged to investigate possible corruption in the votes to decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA's top anti-corruption adviser, Mark Pieth, tells The Associated Press this is "absolutely fundamental" if soccer's scandal-hit governing body is to be modernized.

Pieth's panel says the ethics officials must have the authority to examine old cases after finding that FIFA "insufficiently investigated" some allegations about World Cup bidding.

Russia won the rights to the 2018 World Cup. Qatar was selected for 2022 ahead of the U.S in a final round of voting.

There have been claims some voters received payments or sought favors from bidders, and several breached rules by joining a pact to back Qatar and the Spain-Portugal bid.

We all know how this is going to go. No clear evidence of improprieties found, World Cups will go on as planned blah blah blah.

Yup. Just a dream still for me.

I honestly think the 2022 Cup lands in America.

If it is because of bribery charges, I don't know. I have a feeling the Qatar group promised way more than they can deliver. AC filled stadiums that seat 40k(is that the min. to qualify as a WC stadium) will be near impossible, assuming they aim for 50k+ seating. A shift in Iran and Hormuz will destroy security, too.

Brasil is struggling to meet requirements, and the US is the default host that is ready to go. Brasil will pull it off. Qatar could be unable to do the same.

By 2020 some of the corrupts should be dead, too. The corruption will come out. Their last wishes will be to tell the truth.

Brasil had to change their stadium beer rules, I see no reason why Qatar would not be held to the same standard. Unless they bow to religious beliefs. How many $$ is beer sales at a WC?

I agree with most of that. I just can't see Qatar pulling it off. I even think that 20yrs of publicity is all Qatar was really shooting for. Then they can get it pulled/pull out and everyone is happy. Whether or not that World Cup lands in America is anyones guess. It would be great, but anything but Qatar would be fine by me.

 

[The Z Machine]

O/U on heat related deaths in Qatar.....2.5 (either players or fans)And no booze. oof.

See my sig.

 

[NewlyRetired]

If it is because of bribery charges, I don't know. I have a feeling the Qatar group promised way more than they can deliver. AC filled stadiums that seat 40k(is that the min. to qualify as a WC stadium) will be near impossible, assuming they aim for 50k+ seating.

The AC filled stadiums idea was dropped after they bought the rights to WC 2022. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2059873/Qatar-World-Cup-Plan-air-conditioned-stadiums-dismissed.html

Qatar’s winning bid to stage the World Cup was partly based on the assurance that it would build high-tech air-conditioned stadia to keep temperatures at manageable levels.But this plan has now been dismissed by the architect tasked with building one of the most important arenas.John Barrow of Populous, the company which is designing the Sports City stadium in the capital Doha, says that air-conditioning on such a scale is ‘notoriously unsustainable.’

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Anyone think that someone other than Messi will win the Golden Ball? Casillas have a shot?

CR.Or they finally give it to Xavi for being badass.

The "short list" of 32 players seems an even bigger joke than usual this year, including the likes of Fernando Torres and Bangor City's Les Davies. At least Davies can likely claim to be one of the best 11 on his own club, even if its a semipro team in the Welsh Premier League. I don't think Nino would make the EPL's top 100 for his performance this past season.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Anyone think that someone other than Messi will win the Golden Ball? Casillas have a shot?

CR7 based on RM > Barca this year

 

[Slapdash]

Anyone think that someone other than Messi will win the Golden Ball? Casillas have a shot?

CR7 based on RM > Barca this year

So far, in 2012, the clubs are exactly even against each other in terms of record and goals. They also each have one trophy.Casillas still makes the most sense to me.