***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (6 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

Sacha, Jones, Parkhurst. These will likely be the only 3. Bedoya's team lost 2-0 in their home leg to Celtic so they need a huge result to advance tomorrow.

Per Grant Wahl, the 3 players in 2012-2013 is the most since 04-05, when Tim Howard (Man United), DMB (PSV), and Robbie Russell (Rosenborg) all qualified for the group stage. Interesting little fact, I guess.

Seriously, you could have given 1000 guesses and I never would have come up with Robbie Russell

 

[Steve Tasker]

Sacha, Jones, Parkhurst. These will likely be the only 3. Bedoya's team lost 2-0 in their home leg to Celtic so they need a huge result to advance tomorrow.

Per Grant Wahl, the 3 players in 2012-2013 is the most since 04-05, when Tim Howard (Man United), DMB (PSV), and Robbie Russell (Rosenborg) all qualified for the group stage. Interesting little fact, I guess.

Seriously, you could have given 1000 guesses and I never would have come up with Robbie Russell

I didn't even know he played in Europe. I know of him because he's in MLS now, but that's about it.

 

[Bonzai]

Sacha, Jones, Parkhurst. These will likely be the only 3. Bedoya's team lost 2-0 in their home leg to Celtic so they need a huge result to advance tomorrow.

Per Grant Wahl, the 3 players in 2012-2013 is the most since 04-05, when Tim Howard (Man United), DMB (PSV), and Robbie Russell (Rosenborg) all qualified for the group stage. Interesting little fact, I guess.

Seriously, you could have given 1000 guesses and I never would have come up with Robbie Russell

Obviously, you're not following closely enough.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Guzan and Lichaj both went 90 today in Villa's 3-0 win over Tranmere. With Castillo's injury, a possible chance has opened for Lichaj to get called for the qualifiers.

Ream went 90 today in Bolton's loss to Crawley Town.

Cameron went 90 in 4-3 loss to Swindon Town

All games were the League Cup second round games.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Sacha, Jones, Parkhurst. These will likely be the only 3. Bedoya's team lost 2-0 in their home leg to Celtic so they need a huge result to advance tomorrow.

Per Grant Wahl, the 3 players in 2012-2013 is the most since 04-05, when Tim Howard (Man United), DMB (PSV), and Robbie Russell (Rosenborg) all qualified for the group stage. Interesting little fact, I guess.

Seriously, you could have given 1000 guesses and I never would have come up with Robbie Russell

I didn't even know he played in Europe. I know of him because he's in MLS now, but that's about it.

Hell, I didn't even know he was American . I knew he was born in Ghana but according to wiki he grew up here and must have picked up his citizenship along the way.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Erin Andrews is on Fox Soccer Report talking about USC football.

Shameless cross promotion?

It was like she'd just dropped by. Martin Tyler just sat there as they talked about CFB, and then they asked her what she knew about soccer, and she said she knew who Ronaldo and Beckham were, and that was about it.

 

[Eephus]

Guzan and Lichaj both went 90 today in Villa's 3-0 win over Tranmere. With Castillo's injury, a possible chance has opened for Lichaj to get called for the qualifiers. Ream went 90 today in Bolton's loss to Crawley Town. Cameron went 90 in 4-3 loss to Swindon TownAll games were the League Cup second round games.

Biggest win ever for Crawley Town. They scored two goals in the last ten minutes to beat Bolton 2-1. Crawley Town was in the Conference two years ago and were in danger of going out of business six years ago.

 

[The Gator]

got some good news bad news for my youth U10 team:

Team is stacked. Three kids showed up to the first practice in Chicharito jerseys.

Our uniforms are light blue. :X

Serious question- best formation? We play with 7 in the field, was going with 2-3-2 with the center mid playing really deep and hanging in front of the back two.

My link

 

[NewlyRetired]

Look who's back: Drogba returns to Chelsea amid Shanghai Shenhua crisis

Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba returned to his old club on Tuesday amid mounting speculation the Ivorian could make a swift return to the Barclays Premier League.

Drogba's visit to Chelsea's Cobham training ground came after it emerged he and former Blues team-mate Nicolas Anelka could be sold by China's Shanghai Shenhua due to an escalating equity stake row among shareholders.

Chairman Zhu Jun, who holds a 28.5 per cent stake, would only pay his share of the club's daily costs if his demands for greater control were not met.

Zhu currently controls the club along with five state-owned enterprises after becoming a shareholder in 2007.

The agreement was that if he invested £15million over two years, his stake would increase to more than 70 per cent.

Local media say Zhu has ploughed more than £60m into the club in the past five-and-a-half years, while the state-owned companies had spent nothing. The transfer of shares stalled in 2009 and again last year.

'It is annoying and has had a bad effect on many of our tasks,' a club official said. 'The biggest problem is that the operation and financing work of the club cannot be carried out normally.

'The equity stakes issue has become the biggest bottleneck for the development of Shenhua.'

If unresolved, Zhu, who has been signing all the cheques, could decide to cough up just 28.5 per cent of the club's expenditure, potentially affecting player salaries.

Colombian Giovanni Moreno missed the match against Shandong Luneng at the weekend amid speculation Shenhua had fallen short on his transfer fee with Argentina's Racing Club.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Huh, I did not realize this factoid.

The US has never won a WCQing game in Jamaica. Only three games ever but still something interesting.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Fabio Coentrao suspended for four games (including the SuperCopa) for calling a referee a "son of a whore" last week.

Vilanova also suspended for two.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

got some good news bad news for my youth U10 team:

Team is stacked. Three kids showed up to the first practice in Chicharito jerseys.

Our uniforms are light blue. :X

Serious question- best formation? We play with 7 in the field, was going with 2-3-2 with the center mid playing really deep and hanging in front of the back two.

My link

When I played 7x7 in a rec league last year (this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw), we normally either played that or 3-2-2. There wasn't much difference between the sweeper and the center mid, though. One thing I'd consider in a youth league is playing only one forward. Both in the rec league I played in and in watching my niece's youth teams, I've noticed that actually creating goals from wide areas is something that young or casual players just don't do very well. Even if someone is good on the wing, it's hard to convert even an excellent cross. 80% of the goals I see are played directly, through the middle.Nobody listened to me, but I always wanted to play one hold up striker and just have runs come behind from midfield.

 

[Slapdash]

Fabio Coentrao suspended for four games (including the SuperCopa) for calling a referee a "son of a whore" last week. Vilanova also suspended for two.

RFEF continues to be a joke.

 

[NewlyRetired]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Lots of movement going through today...

Dembele to Spurs

Cesar to QPR

Walcott gonna be out of arsenal after this year (if not sooner)

I used to think this would bother me. Now, meh. He just hasn't developed as much as I had hoped. He's much more easily replaced than Cesc, Nasri, RVP and Song.

It's no surprise to me that many of Walcott's best moments have come in games where an outclassed Arsenal has had to park the bus against elite European competition. Walcott's pace is of most use to a counter-attacking team. Walcott could very well be an excellent player, but I don't think it will be with Arsenal.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

 

[NewlyRetired]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

ok that way way too complicated a reason to post on a message board

 

[Slapdash]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

 

[roadkill1292]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

 

[NewlyRetired]

One more nail in the coffin

Gol TV will be removed from Direct TV's Sports pack on 9/13. I fear for the Bundesliga fans :(

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

 

[NewlyRetired]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

But you are posting obviously when you have time. Why not just keep Scooby and post with him in the few times you can?

 

[The Gator]

got some good news bad news for my youth U10 team:

Team is stacked. Three kids showed up to the first practice in Chicharito jerseys.

Our uniforms are light blue. :X

Serious question- best formation? We play with 7 in the field, was going with 2-3-2 with the center mid playing really deep and hanging in front of the back two.

My link

When I played 7x7 in a rec league last year (this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw), we normally either played that or 3-2-2. There wasn't much difference between the sweeper and the center mid, though. One thing I'd consider in a youth league is playing only one forward. Both in the rec league I played in and in watching my niece's youth teams, I've noticed that actually creating goals from wide areas is something that young or casual players just don't do very well. Even if someone is good on the wing, it's hard to convert even an excellent cross. 80% of the goals I see are played directly, through the middle.Nobody listened to me, but I always wanted to play one hold up striker and just have runs come behind from midfield.

Thanks

ETA: I;m not playing the ball in from wide, that's just how they're set up. The two Mids work the ball up and use the wide players for give and goes. Been teaching them to keep the ball on the ground and pass into the space behind the D or in front of their teammate.

#barcajr

 

[Slapdash]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

I hear that. I stopped using my Desert Power username with the intent of limiting my posting to the soccer thread and Shark Pool to be appear more productive at work. And here I am 6k posts later....

 

[Slapdash]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

But you are posting obviously when you have time. Why not just keep Scooby and post with him in the few times you can?

Why aren't you still using your other name?

 

[Slapdash]

One more nail in the coffin Gol TV will be removed from Direct TV's Sports pack on 9/13. I fear for the Bundesliga fans :(

WTF!?!?!?!

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

But you are posting obviously when you have time. Why not just keep Scooby and post with him in the few times you can?

Well the aliases are signs of weakness. It's probably a mistake to post now, no matter how dead it is, or how bored I was at home. The other reason is more complicated. Scoobygang was on this board for over a decade. For better or worse, I had a reputation. One that I think I paid too much attention to. I found myself arguing with idiots on issues caring about the argument. Killing the account was a way of trying to avoid that. So now I only post on stuff that I that I don't particularly care that much about. I like soccer, but I'm not passionate about teams. I'd prefer for Arsenal to win, but I don't hate Liverpool, Man U, City, or anyone else. I just want to see a good game. So it's a nice safe subject.

 

[NewlyRetired]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

But you are posting obviously when you have time. Why not just keep Scooby and post with him in the few times you can?

Why aren't you still using your other name?

Because I retired and thought it would be fun to have a new screen name. Nothing more than that. No where near as complicated as what Scooby is trying to explain.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Oh oh, not good :(

Bad news from the Roma house. Michael Bradley is out due to a first/second degree quadriceps strain. At the moment it is not clear how long the U.S. midfielder will be off the field, but the hypothesis would be a one-month stop. Meanwhile Bradley has already begun to undergo sessions of physiotherapy.

Donovan has not played since the Mexico game, Boca playing in the weeds, Dempsey is where he is, and now Bradley may be hurt. These next two WCQ games are not going to be easy :(

 

[Eephus]

(this is Scooby/Wet Dream, btw)

what is with all the different alias's in such a short time period? You in witness protection?

I killed Scooby when I moved jobs. I figured I could get by with Wetdream and post only in this thread from home, but I got a little hooked in the Apple/Samsung thread. I didn't want to do shtick dilution with Wet Dream, so I created this alias because there is no work and nothing to do this week with all the partners I work with gone (I had also missed a few weeks of work due to a medical condition).

Why would you do this?

Because posting on an internet message board isn't compatible with being a productive attorney.

But you are posting obviously when you have time. Why not just keep Scooby and post with him in the few times you can?

Well the aliases are signs of weakness. It's probably a mistake to post now, no matter how dead it is, or how bored I was at home. The other reason is more complicated. Scoobygang was on this board for over a decade. For better or worse, I had a reputation. One that I think I paid too much attention to. I found myself arguing with idiots on issues caring about the argument. Killing the account was a way of trying to avoid that. So now I only post on stuff that I that I don't particularly care that much about. I like soccer, but I'm not passionate about teams. I'd prefer for Arsenal to win, but I don't hate Liverpool, Man U, City, or anyone else. I just want to see a good game. So it's a nice safe subject.

You need to get your alias situation sorted by the time the transfer window closes on Friday.

 

[Sebowski]

I always wondered what happened to Desert Power

 

[NewlyRetired]

Goff just tweeted that it looks like Scheon and Ray Hudson will call the US Jam WCQier on beIN Sport

 

[Desert_Power]

I always wondered what happened to Desert Power

 

[GoFishTN]

Dembele transfer done.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/dembele-deal-agreed-29082012.page

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

You need to get your alias situation sorted by the time the transfer window closes on Friday.

I was posting for Malaga, but it didn't really work out.

 

[The Z Machine]

One more nail in the coffin Gol TV will be removed from Direct TV's Sports pack on 9/13. I fear for the Bundesliga fans :(

Yikes. I wonder if I will still get it with the Spanish pack.

 

[Mjolnirs]

One more nail in the coffin Gol TV will be removed from Direct TV's Sports pack on 9/13. I fear for the Bundesliga fans :(

Just don't take it from my uverse

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Lloris to Spurs looks done. Probably not great news for Brad Friedel.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Javi Martinez inks with Bayern. Good for Bilbao to sticking to their guns, price-wise, I suppose.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Javi Martinez inks with Bayern. Good for Bilbao to sticking to their guns, price-wise, I suppose.

Involving City in a bidding war for your player seems to be a good strategy.

 

[El Floppo]

Sacha, Jones, Parkhurst. These will likely be the only 3. Bedoya's team lost 2-0 in their home leg to Celtic so they need a huge result to advance tomorrow.

Per Grant Wahl, the 3 players in 2012-2013 is the most since 04-05, when Tim Howard (Man United), DMB (PSV), and Robbie Russell (Rosenborg) all qualified for the group stage. Interesting little fact, I guess.

Seriously, you could have given 1000 guesses and I never would have come up with Robbie Russell

Obviously, you're not following closely enough.

 

[El Floppo]

Huh, I did not realize this factoid. The US has never won a WCQing game in Jamaica. Only three games ever but still something interesting.

I don't see that changing next week.Lots of good young speedy players in Jamaica these days- and playing ball out of the country (so the usual lack of professionalism, run out of fitness in the last 15 minutes vs the US thing probably won't factor). And definitely a tougher away venue than T&T or any of the other Carib island nations. But still nowhere near the cauldrons in Central America.

 

[Eephus]

Lloris to Spurs looks done. Probably not great news for Brad Friedel.

...or Carlo Cudicini or Heurelho Gomes. AVB has more keepers than defenders.

 

[NewlyRetired]

One more nail in the coffin Gol TV will be removed from Direct TV's Sports pack on 9/13. I fear for the Bundesliga fans :(

Yikes. I wonder if I will still get it with the Spanish pack.

From everything I have read, Direct TV was very specific in saying it was gone from the Sports Pack only so I think you are safe for now. However it is worth noting that the Direct TV sports pack I think had the largest household penetration for Gol TV of any if the carriers so this can't be good for their business.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Saw on Sky Sports that Modric is starting tonight, although they didn't give the full lineup.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Huh, I did not realize this factoid. The US has never won a WCQing game in Jamaica. Only three games ever but still something interesting.

I don't see that changing next week.Lots of good young speedy players in Jamaica these days- and playing ball out of the country (so the usual lack of professionalism, run out of fitness in the last 15 minutes vs the US thing probably won't factor). And definitely a tougher away venue than T&T or any of the other Carib island nations. But still nowhere near the cauldrons in Central America.

I really want 4 points from these two games. Any less and I will be very nervous. Hopefully the win in Mexico can give them some confidence that they can win with out every big gun available for them since it is looking like the US could be missing some key playersWhat a wonderful chance this would be for Jozy to stand up and say "my turn to carry the team".

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Surprised nobody is jumping on the chance to get Carvalho for a shiny new penny. Maybe he's past his prime, but when Man U is playing Michael Carrick at CB . . .

 

[El Floppo]

Huh, I did not realize this factoid.

The US has never won a WCQing game in Jamaica. Only three games ever but still something interesting.

I don't see that changing next week.Lots of good young speedy players in Jamaica these days- and playing ball out of the country (so the usual lack of professionalism, run out of fitness in the last 15 minutes vs the US thing probably won't factor). And definitely a tougher away venue than T&T or any of the other Carib island nations. But still nowhere near the cauldrons in Central America.

I really want 4 points from these two games. Any less and I will be very nervous. Hopefully the win in Mexico can give them some confidence that they can win with out every big gun available for them since it is looking like the US could be missing some key players

What a wonderful chance this would be for Jozy to stand up and say "my turn to carry the team".

What do you see for the lineup?Howard

Cherundolo, Boca(?), Cameron, Fabian (Castillo?)

LD, Jones, Edu? (Torres?), Shea? (Zusi? Williams? Fabian? DMB?)

Jozy, Dempsey? (Gomez? Boyd?)

A lot of question marks in there. Dempsey and Boca not playing for anybody. No Bradley leaves a huge hole in the middle alongside Jones. Who partners with Jozy?

eta: will JK go 4-4-2 or the mutated 4-3-3 (that looks an awful lot like a 4-4-2 most of the time)?

 

[Mjolnirs]

Martinez ist jetzt ein Bayer

Javier Martinez has completed his transfer from Athletic Bilbao to FC Bayern. The Spain international sealed the deal on Wednesday afternoon by concluding the formalities of cancelling his contract with the Basque club, obtaining clearance for the switch from the Spanish FA (RFEF) and league association (LFP), and signing his new five-year contract, keeping him in Munich until 30 June 2017.

Martinez passed the obligatory pre-transfer medical in the early hours of Wednesday morning at the Munich practice of FCB chief medical officer Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt. He flew to Madrid later in the morning to finalise arrangements with the FA and league body. “I'm very happy and really looking forward to playing for a club with this extraordinary history," the 23-year-old told FCB.tv, “I've had to wait a long time for this, but the waiting is over at last."

 

[The Z Machine]

Javi Martinez inks with Bayern. Good for Bilbao to sticking to their guns, price-wise, I suppose.

Tough to give him and Llorente up in the same year (assuming Llorente is gone...). He was sorely missed against my boys. Their attack was pitiful.