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

[NewlyRetired]

Some interesting notes on the NBC deal

* NBC owns the Spanish rights which brings a high household penetration network of Telemundo

* GPJ looks correct in his guess of games being on the mother ship as the NBC chairman predicted you could see as many as 20 games on NBC per year, possibly on Saturdays

* NBC hopes to broadcast 200 games per year in the 6 traditional windows (3 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday, 1 on Monday). The rest of the games will be made available "digitally or through some sort of arrangement with MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributors) on some sort of pay television package." Sounds like a FoxSoccer2Go thing.

* Arlo White will be a significant voice for NBC calling the EPL games. NBC intends to acquire more talent to fill out the commentators and support shows

* While not naming the exact networks, NBC intends to use NBCU stations outside of NBC, NBCSN, and Telemundo to show the games.

From what I have read, this sounds very good and better than I expected to be honest. I think NBC is going to do an excellent job with this albeit they will likely have growing pains especially with the studio shows. Great to see them advertise the win on the NFL game tonight at halftime.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

so does FSC go out of business?

Probably gets rebranded into a general sports channel, a possibility that I think NR has raised before. Hope NBC can poach a lot of their soccer guys though, overall they have a pretty good crew.

 

[wazoo11]

so does FSC go out of business?

I would think they would turn it into a regular sports channel.

 

[NewlyRetired]

so does FSC go out of business?

SBJ says they won't but most other media experts think they will simply be rebranded Fox Sports 2 at this time next year and fold their remaining soccer properties into that channel. Others also think Fox will hold off on the rebrand until the MLS contract is settled in 2014.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Hope NBC can poach a lot of their soccer guys though, overall they have a pretty good crew.

No reason not to. None of them are high priced talent and Fox might be ok with them breaking their contracts if some of them extend past this season. If the 2018 WC was closer, this would probably not occur but with so much time until 2018, Fox can rebuild their staff much closer to 2018.

 

[jonessed]

I just saw the Arteta goal. How does that happen? He is standing on the goalline. That was about as obvious an offsides as there is. He's stationary, standing on the goalline when that ball comes in.

That call was just mindboggling.

Edit:

Chelsea also filed a complaint against Clattenburg for racially abusing both Mikel and Mata during the game. That could turn into a really big deal.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Chelsea also filed a complaint against Clattenburg for racially abusing both Mikel and Mata during the game. That could turn into a really big deal.

How does a white ref racially abuse a white player like Mata?What a mess. Is it against the rules to have a week go by with out either corruption or scandal?

 

[Christo]

I just saw the Arteta goal. How does that happen? He is standing on the goalline. That was about as obvious an offsides as there is. He's stationary, standing on the goalline when that ball comes in.

That call was just mindboggling.

Edit:

Chelsea also filed a complaint against Clattenburg for racially abusing both Mikel and Mata during the game. That could turn into a really big deal.

If he did it was a supremely stupid thing to do given he's mic'd up.

 

[Bonzai]

Chelsea also filed a complaint against Clattenburg for racially abusing both Mikel and Mata during the game. That could turn into a really big deal.

How does a white ref racially abuse a white player like Mata?What a mess. Is it against the rules to have a week go by with out either corruption or scandal?

The report says "abusive language". It doesn't say that the abuse was racial. Maybe refs aren't allowed to use profanity or something? I dunno.

 

[jonessed]

Chelsea also filed a complaint against Clattenburg for racially abusing both Mikel and Mata during the game. That could turn into a really big deal.

How does a white ref racially abuse a white player like Mata?What a mess. Is it against the rules to have a week go by with out either corruption or scandal?

The report says "abusive language". It doesn't say that the abuse was racial. Maybe refs aren't allowed to use profanity or something? I dunno.

Apparently he called Mata a Spanish #### and whatever he said towards Mikel was supposedly racist.

 

[Christo]

My link

 

[The Z Machine]

Barca and RM stay 1-2 in La Liga table, still 8 points clear.

WTF are you talking about. I hope that's a typo.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Boyd, Gomez and Dempsey all scored this weekend for their clubs teams. It was Boyd's 6th of the year

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

Wondo scored on a pk to tie the all time MLS single season scoring record at 27 with Roy Lassiter. I believe along with that record, Wondo also holds the MLS record for most goals in two consecutive seasons, and most goals in 3 consecutive seasons. Not bad for a guy who did not become a starter until he was 26.

 

[NewlyRetired]

CCL Quarter Final are now set. These are the matchups

Xelaju(Guat) vs Monterrey

Houston vs Santos

Tigres vs Seattle

Herediano (Costa Rica) vs LA

Home and home in early March. Team listed second above hosts the second game

 

[NewlyRetired]

Final MLS playoff positions are set.

East

1) KC

2) DC

3) NY

4) Chi

5) Hous

Hou @ Chi on Wednesday. Single game knockout at 9:00pm on ESPN2.

Winner of that game plays KC in a home and home

DC and NY square off in a home and home

West

1) SJ

2) RSL

3) Sea

4) LA

5) Van

Van @ LA on Thursday. Single game knockout at 10:30pm on NBCSN

Winner of that game plays SJ in a home and home

RSL and Sea square off in a home and home

 

[NewlyRetired]

MLS regular season attendance again grew this year, even easily beating last years record numbers.

Here is the trend of the last few years for the average attendance numbers for the league

2009: 16,037

2010: 16,675

2011: 17,869

2012: 18,801

I expect there to be little to no growth next year though. It might grow a bit in 2014 once SJ moves out of their tiny stadium and into their new digs.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Barca and RM stay 1-2 in La Liga table, still 8 points clear.

WTF are you talking about. I hope that's a typo.

Well I suppose that's not TECHNICALLY correct...

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Time for a special stuck at work during Frankenstorm waiting for comments from partners who are at home drinking hot cocoa edition of Scooby's best XI game!

Pick your best XI, but you may have no more than 2 players in your XI from any one club or national team. You may select whatever formation you like.

My submission. In a 4-2-3-1. I don't do coding so bear with me.

Lloris

Lahm Hummels Kompany Alba

Arturo Vidal Xabi Alonso

Ronaldo Messi RVP

Falcao

Obviously the tough spots were keeping Real, Barca, and Spain players to just two. Busquets and Neuer were the toughest omissions for me. Busquets loses out becaue I couldn't bring myself to name that %^&*@! Ashley Cole. Neuer lost out because true on form world class defenders are in short supply. Lloris edges out Gigi on the basis of impressing me more in the Euros (yeah, St. Iker is always a tough one to leave out).

 

[Steve Tasker]

Really makes me sad to think that TFC might be the 3rd-best Canadian team this year.

They won't be IMO. They are a much better side than last year and Montreal is likely to struggle.

Update? :(

Toronto FC wraps up worst-ever season with loss to Columbus Crew

Daniel Girard

Sports Reporter

COLUMBUS, OHIO — It was one last indignity in a season filled with them.

Toronto FC closed out the 2012 Major League Soccer campaign in the rain and wind here Sunday, falling 2-1 to the Columbus Crew.

“There’s a bit of relief now that the season is over,” Terry Dunfield said afterwards.

Little wonder. TFC finished the season with a 5-21-8 record, their worst in club history.

The Reds, who finished dead last in the 19-team league, picked up their final win of the 2012 season on July 18, kicking off a club-record stretch of 14 winless matches — 0-10-4.

Sunday’s loss added two other records for futility to the heap of them in 2012.

The club’s five wins this season are one fewer than the total in the expansion year of 2007, when they won six of 30 matches, and 2011, when they did the same in 34 games.

The 23 points is also the Reds’ worst total in their six years of existence.

Earlier in 2012, TFC set an MLS record for consecutive losses to start a season, with nine.

The club also far exceeded its previous worst loss total of 17 and, with 62 goals against, picked the ball out of the back of the net more this season than in any previous year.

“The pain should be there until we start pre-season again,” head coach Paul Mariner said outside the TFC locker room, which no doubt contained a number of players who will not return to the Reds when they start getting ready for the 2013 campaign in January.

It was a year that began with such promise.

Coming off a respectable 3-2-5 record over their final 10 MLS matches of 2011 and advancement for the first time into the knockout stage of CONCACAF Champions League, there was hope head coach Aron Winter could lead the club to the playoffs.

And early returns supported that notion.

The Reds shocked the defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy in CONCACAF Champions League in March to become the first Canadian team to reach the semifinal of the continental club competition. But the euphoria was short-lived.

After starting the season 0-9-0, a dramatic 88th-minute winner by striker Danny Koevermans at home against Philadelphia on May 26 couldn’t save Winter’s job.

Mariner became the seventh head coach in six seasons and the side responded.

TFC was 4-2-4, including a three-game win streak, in the first 10 matches Mariner was on the touch line. Respectability returned though the club never escaped last place.

Despite the abysmal season, Mariner insisted after Sunday’s match that a key is getting injured players back for next season — goalkeeper Stefan Frei and designated players Torsten Frings, Danny Koevermans and Eric Hassli are those at the top of his mind.

“If you look at the quality that we’ve got on the treatment table and you add four or five players to those, then that’s a big overhaul,” Mariner said of a likely busy off-season.

While injuries hurt TFC in 2012, the fact is the club just didn’t have enough players who were good enough to cover for them. The defence, porous since the inaugural season, remained the weak link, with a parade of youngsters continually exposed.

As reported by Cathal Kelly in Sunday’s Star, Mariner was set in July to add veteran Swedish international defender Olof Mellberg to the roster but MLS scuppered a deal.

“Obviously the league have a say on who comes in and who doesn’t,” defender Richard Eckersley said after Sunday’s match. “And they decided against Olof Mellberg coming.

“I thought it was a done deal but we’ve got to move on.”

And, clearly, after the most miserable season yet, a number of players will be gone.

“That’s just the way the cookie crumbles,” defender Adrian Cann said of the impending changes. “If the team’s getting positive results, then a bunch of guys would stick around. Likewise, on the other side of the spectrum, you’re not getting the results then sure enough, that’s just the way the business is, you come and you go.”

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Interestingly, Toronto's "blue print" was apparently largely the brainchild of consultant Jurgen Klinsmann, who told them to run an Ajax 4-3-3, and who recommended Aron Winters as coach and Paul Mariner as GM.

Of course, implementing a system that Ajax trains players in for 7 years before they ever make the first team might not be so easy with a team cobbled together for one season.

 

[Christo]

Interestingly, Toronto's "blue print" was apparently largely the brainchild of consultant Jurgen Klinsmann, who told them to run an Ajax 4-3-3, and who recommended Aron Winters as coach and Paul Mariner as GM.Of course, implementing a system that Ajax trains players in for 7 years before they ever make the first team might not be so easy with a team cobbled together for one season.

That's the formation I played in in HS. It can be done if you have enough speed and all 10 players are comfortable on the ball.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Interestingly, Toronto's "blue print" was apparently largely the brainchild of consultant Jurgen Klinsmann, who told them to run an Ajax 4-3-3, and who recommended Aron Winters as coach and Paul Mariner as GM.Of course, implementing a system that Ajax trains players in for 7 years before they ever make the first team might not be so easy with a team cobbled together for one season.

The team is utterly devoid of any sort of midfielder who can create and have been since the day they started in MLS. . Hassli and Kouvermans are more than good enough strikers. Put a Rosales or Morales or Higuain type player behind them and that team changes dramatically. The organization knows the once solid fan base is all but shattered now. They slashed all ticket prices back to 2007 levels in the hopes the fans will stick around.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Time for a special stuck at work during Frankenstorm waiting for comments from partners who are at home drinking hot cocoa edition of Scooby's best XI game!Pick your best XI, but you may have no more than 2 players in your XI from any one club or national team. You may select whatever formation you like.My submission. In a 4-2-3-1. I don't do coding so bear with me. LlorisLahm Hummels Kompany AlbaArturo Vidal Xabi AlonsoRonaldo Messi RVP FalcaoObviously the tough spots were keeping Real, Barca, and Spain players to just two. Busquets and Neuer were the toughest omissions for me. Busquets loses out becaue I couldn't bring myself to name that %^&*@! Ashley Cole. Neuer lost out because true on form world class defenders are in short supply. Lloris edges out Gigi on the basis of impressing me more in the Euros (yeah, St. Iker is always a tough one to leave out).

I'd go Pirlo > Alonso, which opens up another RM/Spain spot, and allows one to play Casillas, or Ozil.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

 

[NewlyRetired]

There is concern that Eddie Johnson may have torn his hamstring and will miss the playoffs for Seattle. He is taking MRI today.

 

[((Morpheus))]

Neuer

Chiellini Hummels Kompany Bale

Toure Iniesta

RVP Messi Ronaldo

Falcao

Right back was my toughest decision (obviously I took some creative liberties with the positioning throughout). Interesting hypothetical

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I'd go Pirlo > Alonso, which opens up another RM/Spain spot, and allows one to play Casillas, or Ozil.

I prefer Xabi (who I think is the most underappreciated player in the world even considering that DMs are always underappreciated) because he has the same passing range and more bite in the tackle than Pirlo (another personal favorite). Ozil has been erratic in 2012 and AM is probably the deepest position in the world. I think Pepe was probably my hardest cut from Real (again, considering that Vidic has been injured for most of a year and all the other old standbys are fading). It's not as if Kompany and Hummels are really in great from right now. Pepe is playing better than either, but I couldn't leave the sexy red beard out.

 

[Christo]

I'd go Pirlo > Alonso, which opens up another RM/Spain spot, and allows one to play Casillas, or Ozil.

I prefer Xabi (who I think is the most underappreciated player in the world even considering that DMs are always underappreciated) because he has the same passing range and more bite in the tackle than Pirlo (another personal favorite). Ozil has been erratic in 2012 and AM is probably the deepest position in the world. I think Pepe was probably my hardest cut from Real (again, considering that Vidic has been injured for most of a year and all the other old standbys are fading). It's not as if Kompany and Hummels are really in great from right now. Pepe is playing better than either, but I couldn't leave the sexy red beard out.

Liverpool has never recovered from Alonso's departure.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Seeing the FIFA ballond'Or "shortlist" announced today, it occurred to me that Barcelona and Real Madrid combined have swept the first, second and third spots in each of the past two years. I checked the results going back through the beginning including the old "FIFA World Player of the Year" award and found that players from these two clubs have taken 15 firsts, 14 seconds and 11 third place awards out of 21 total years.

 

[El Floppo]

With Frankenstormpocalypse almost here, I finally caught up on the games.

Both of them were pretty great games, minus the ref screw-ups.

I thought the ref for the Mersey-side game lost control early on and allowed a lot of pushing to go on. Feilani was getting manhandled all game. Both sides were awfully loose with their tackles... which can be expected for a derby. Nice to see Suarez not dive much if at all this game... oh except at midfield after his "goal". So frustrating as a neutral... I just love how he plays when he's not doing this bull####. There was a play where he killed himself to save a ball from going out of play, got right back up to retrieve an akward ball on the sideline and then made a fantastic pass/play afterwards... hell- could it have been on his 2nd goal? I don't remember. But yet, what I'll remember most is his display of #######ry in his mock dive at midfield. So then I feel less bad for him and his employers having that goal unjustly called back. I really wonder what Gerard makes off all that nonsense- must be hard for him to have such a great player as a team-mate act like such a dip####.

I don't know what happened at the 30ish minute mark in the first half for Chelsea, but damn that light turned on and they decided to play after being so listless and over-run previously. I would have figured that to have happened after the break with some personnel or tactical changes... but they seemed to do it on their own, which is impressive. As a neutral and as a former MFer, I'm really enjoying watching Chelsea this year. Hazard and Mata were awesome, and OScar always seemed to be just on the verge of something.

That first red was pretty cut and dry. But Torres and Chelsea got ####ed on that call. I have a feeling it will be overturned so he doesn't have to serve a suspension... but too little too late. Even with 9, I thought CHelsea were the better team- Ashley Cole was flat-out killing himself... amazing performance by him. The Chachi goal was pretty bang-bang, so it's hard being to tough on the refs there- but on stop-motion, they clearly missed it... I think he was actually hte last man there.

And if Clattenburg really said anything even remotely racist, he and his Spanky hair-do are done.

 

[El Floppo]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Hated it.

 

[El Floppo]

Interestingly, Toronto's "blue print" was apparently largely the brainchild of consultant Jurgen Klinsmann, who told them to run an Ajax 4-3-3, and who recommended Aron Winters as coach and Paul Mariner as GM.Of course, implementing a system that Ajax trains players in for 7 years before they ever make the first team might not be so easy with a team cobbled together for one season.

That's the formation I played in in HS. It can be done if you have enough speed and all 10 players are comfortable on the ball.

I think that was the formation du jour back then- I played it in HS too (after starting at age 10 with a 2-3-5). If every team is playing the same formation, it makes it much easier to mask all the deficiencies that 1980s era HS players had (no touch, no tactics, but lots of fitness), since guys are just matched up across both sides of the field. My club team played a 4-4-2, which within a year or so became the standard for all teams I saw (in NCal).

 

[El Floppo]

I'd go Pirlo > Alonso, which opens up another RM/Spain spot, and allows one to play Casillas, or Ozil.

I prefer Xabi (who I think is the most underappreciated player in the world even considering that DMs are always underappreciated) because he has the same passing range and more bite in the tackle than Pirlo (another personal favorite). Ozil has been erratic in 2012 and AM is probably the deepest position in the world. I think Pepe was probably my hardest cut from Real (again, considering that Vidic has been injured for most of a year and all the other old standbys are fading). It's not as if Kompany and Hummels are really in great from right now. Pepe is playing better than either, but I couldn't leave the sexy red beard out.

Liverpool has never recovered from Alonso's departure.

It was like a light-switch got turned off the second he left.

 

[Moe.]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

 

[Christo]

Interestingly, Toronto's "blue print" was apparently largely the brainchild of consultant Jurgen Klinsmann, who told them to run an Ajax 4-3-3, and who recommended Aron Winters as coach and Paul Mariner as GM.Of course, implementing a system that Ajax trains players in for 7 years before they ever make the first team might not be so easy with a team cobbled together for one season.

That's the formation I played in in HS. It can be done if you have enough speed and all 10 players are comfortable on the ball.

I think that was the formation du jour back then- I played it in HS too (after starting at age 10 with a 2-3-5). If every team is playing the same formation, it makes it much easier to mask all the deficiencies that 1980s era HS players had (no touch, no tactics, but lots of fitness), since guys are just matched up across both sides of the field. My club team played a 4-4-2, which within a year or so became the standard for all teams I saw (in NCal).

Our competition was a little tougher than yours.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

With Frankenstormpocalypse almost here, I finally caught up on the games.

Both of them were pretty great games, minus the ref screw-ups.

I thought the ref for the Mersey-side game lost control early on and allowed a lot of pushing to go on. Feilani was getting manhandled all game. Both sides were awfully loose with their tackles... which can be expected for a derby. Nice to see Suarez not dive much if at all this game... oh except at midfield after his "goal". So frustrating as a neutral... I just love how he plays when he's not doing this bull####. There was a play where he killed himself to save a ball from going out of play, got right back up to retrieve an akward ball on the sideline and then made a fantastic pass/play afterwards... hell- could it have been on his 2nd goal? I don't remember. But yet, what I'll remember most is his display of #######ry in his mock dive at midfield. So then I feel less bad for him and his employers having that goal unjustly called back. I really wonder what Gerard makes off all that nonsense- must be hard for him to have such a great player as a team-mate act like such a dip####.

I don't know what happened at the 30ish minute mark in the first half for Chelsea, but damn that light turned on and they decided to play after being so listless and over-run previously. I would have figured that to have happened after the break with some personnel or tactical changes... but they seemed to do it on their own, which is impressive. As a neutral and as a former MFer, I'm really enjoying watching Chelsea this year. Hazard and Mata were awesome, and OScar always seemed to be just on the verge of something.

That first red was pretty cut and dry. But Torres and Chelsea got ####ed on that call. I have a feeling it will be overturned so he doesn't have to serve a suspension... but too little too late. Even with 9, I thought CHelsea were the better team- Ashley Cole was flat-out killing himself... amazing performance by him. The Chachi goal was pretty bang-bang, so it's hard being to tough on the refs there- but on stop-motion, they clearly missed it... I think he was actually hte last man there.

And if Clattenburg really said anything even remotely racist, he and his Spanky hair-do are done.

Fans on the Chelsea boards are pissed off today, perhaps understably so. I don't like complaining about referee decisions, particularly when we've given up two well-earned goals in the first 12 minutes to United at home. At that point it's hard to say any result is undeserved. However, as a biased observer, I thought the Chicharito offside call was an easy one. It was not a typically difficult call where a player starts his run from an onside position and there's a close call on whether he was behind the last man when the pass was made. In this case, the striker was maybe even with Cech when the pass was made, but was moving out of the goal from behind the Chelsea keeper. I thought it was inexcusable from the linesman and every bit as big an injustice as the second yellow given to Torres.

 

[Sebowski]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

Before the game Moyes was calling Suarez out as a diver. To celebrate his goal, Suarez ran right the the Everton sideline and did a running dive. One of my favorite FIFA celebrations. I call it the dead man.

 

[Eephus]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

Before the game Moyes was calling Suarez out as a diver. To celebrate his goal, Suarez ran right the the Everton sideline and did a running dive. One of my favorite FIFA celebrations. I call it the dead man.

One of Klinsmann's contributions to the football world

 

[Spartans Rule]

Time for a special stuck at work during Frankenstorm waiting for comments from partners who are at home drinking hot cocoa edition of Scooby's best XI game!Pick your best XI, but you may have no more than 2 players in your XI from any one club or national team. You may select whatever formation you like.

IkerLahm ThiagoSilva Kompany EvraSchweinsteiger Iniesta YayaToureMessi VanPersie Ronaldo

 

[El Floppo]

With Frankenstormpocalypse almost here, I finally caught up on the games.

Both of them were pretty great games, minus the ref screw-ups.

I thought the ref for the Mersey-side game lost control early on and allowed a lot of pushing to go on. Feilani was getting manhandled all game. Both sides were awfully loose with their tackles... which can be expected for a derby. Nice to see Suarez not dive much if at all this game... oh except at midfield after his "goal". So frustrating as a neutral... I just love how he plays when he's not doing this bull####. There was a play where he killed himself to save a ball from going out of play, got right back up to retrieve an akward ball on the sideline and then made a fantastic pass/play afterwards... hell- could it have been on his 2nd goal? I don't remember. But yet, what I'll remember most is his display of #######ry in his mock dive at midfield. So then I feel less bad for him and his employers having that goal unjustly called back. I really wonder what Gerard makes off all that nonsense- must be hard for him to have such a great player as a team-mate act like such a dip####.

I don't know what happened at the 30ish minute mark in the first half for Chelsea, but damn that light turned on and they decided to play after being so listless and over-run previously. I would have figured that to have happened after the break with some personnel or tactical changes... but they seemed to do it on their own, which is impressive. As a neutral and as a former MFer, I'm really enjoying watching Chelsea this year. Hazard and Mata were awesome, and OScar always seemed to be just on the verge of something.

That first red was pretty cut and dry. But Torres and Chelsea got ####ed on that call. I have a feeling it will be overturned so he doesn't have to serve a suspension... but too little too late. Even with 9, I thought CHelsea were the better team- Ashley Cole was flat-out killing himself... amazing performance by him. The Chachi goal was pretty bang-bang, so it's hard being to tough on the refs there- but on stop-motion, they clearly missed it... I think he was actually hte last man there.

And if Clattenburg really said anything even remotely racist, he and his Spanky hair-do are done.

Fans on the Chelsea boards are pissed off today, perhaps understably so. I don't like complaining about referee decisions, particularly when we've given up two well-earned goals in the first 12 minutes to United at home. At that point it's hard to say any result is undeserved. However, as a biased observer, I thought the Chicharito offside call was an easy one. It was not a typically difficult call where a player starts his run from an onside position and there's a close call on whether he was behind the last man when the pass was made. In this case, the striker was maybe even with Cech when the pass was made, but was moving out of the goal from behind the Chelsea keeper. I thought it was inexcusable from the linesman and every bit as big an injustice as the second yellow given to Torres.

I hear you re: him running out of the goal. That said, in replays the split second after the pass is made hes back onsides again, so it isnt necessarily as easy as that. I guess point I'm trying to make is that it was close- definitely off in the stop-motion replay, but close. Suarez was less close, so for me a worse call.

 

[The Gator]

Pick your best XI, but you may have no more than 2 players in your XI from any one club or national team. You may select whatever formation you like.

HartLahm        Kompany      Silva       Cole                    Allen            Yaya Toure        AlonsoMessi                                    Ronaldo                   Falcao

winnar

 

[Moe.]

Pick your best XI, but you may have no more than 2 players in your XI from any one club or national team. You may select whatever formation you like.

HartLahm Kompany Silva Cole Allen ]Yaya Toure AlonsoMessi Ronaldo Falcaowinnar

only for those who can't count.

 

[The Gator]

Pick your best XI, but you may have no more than 2 players in your XI from any one club or national team. You may select whatever formation you like.

HartLahm Chiellini Silva Cole Allen Yaya Toure AlonsoMessi Ronaldo Falcaowinnar

only for those who can't count.

Sum#####. switched him (ya ya) last second and forgot about the other two

 

[guru_007]

Neuer

Bale- Kompany - Vidic - Hummels

Cazorla - Pirlo - CRonaldo

Messi

Cavani - Zibra

(here's mine with only one player per club)

 

[The Gator]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

Before the game Moyes was calling Suarez out as a diver. To celebrate his goal, Suarez ran right the the Everton sideline and did a running dive. One of my favorite FIFA celebrations. I call it the dead man.

My gif

 

[Slapdash]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

Before the game Moyes was calling Suarez out as a diver. To celebrate his goal, Suarez ran right the the Everton sideline and did a running dive. One of my favorite FIFA celebrations. I call it the dead man.

My gif

 

[Slapdash]

Casillas

Hummels - Kompany - Silva

Pirlo - Yaya

Schweinsteiger - Iniesta

Messi - Falcao - Ronaldo

 

[GoFishTN]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

Before the game Moyes was calling Suarez out as a diver. To celebrate his goal, Suarez ran right the the Everton sideline and did a running dive. One of my favorite FIFA celebrations. I call it the dead man.

My gif

Loved it then and love it now.

 

[Eephus]

Even for those that hate him, that Suarez dive in front of Moyes was hilarious.

Can someone unpack this one for me? Haven't seen any highlights or anything.

Before the game Moyes was calling Suarez out as a diver. To celebrate his goal, Suarez ran right the the Everton sideline and did a running dive. One of my favorite FIFA celebrations. I call it the dead man.

My gif

Loved it then and love it now.

I don't like when goal scorers run past their teammates in order to do their pre-scripted celebration schtick

 

[LHUCKS]

Hart over Casillas?

Also, always thought Cole was a bit overrated.