***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

[El Floppo]

Rafa will be fired.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

 

[Eephus]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

everybody is eventually

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Can he coach?

 

[Major]

Not sure what is in the water up there but I hope they keep drinking itFrom Soccer America

[MLS 2013] Contemplating Portland Timbers' season tickets for 2013? You’re too late. They’re gone. Already.The MLS team announced Tuesday it has sold out an increased allotment of season tickets for the 2013 season, which had been capped at 15,250. In 2012, the number of season tickets available at JELD-WEN Field was capped at 14,750, and once again, demand has far outstripped supply.An increase in season tickets of 500 seats went quickly as fans renewed at a rate of 96 percent, leaving about 6,500 fans on the season-ticket waiting list. JELD-WEN Field (capacity: 20,438) has been sold out for each of the Timbers’ 34 home matches in the first two MLS seasons.A lottery was held to determine which season-ticket holders who wanted additional seats would be offered the opportunity, and the rest of the increased allotment went to patrons on the waiting list.

Nice. Portland is dying for more sport and the hipsters are definitely on board. Same reason I thought Austin should have a team instead of Houston.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Can he coach?

Might be worth giving him a shot.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Can he coach?

Might be worth giving him a shot.

HULKCOACH!!I like it

 

[Major]

Here is an interesting ratings nugget to digestYou could take the single most watched game of the year from the EPL, MLS, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga, add them all together and they would struggle to beat the MFL Final which drew 2.9 million fans this weekend.I think one of the most interesting aspects of the new EPL TV deal will be to see how the Hispanic audience takes to the EPL. MLS has had marginal success in converting that massive fan base over to their product. It will be fun to see if the EPL can crack it.

FYI, I think ESPN Deportes shows EPL games during the weekend.

Fox Sports Deportes does as well I believe, but both those stations have such a low household penetration they don't make a dent in the market.Next year EPL will be on Telemundo which obviously dwarfs the little cable niche Spanish channels and should open up the EPL to a much wider Hispanic audience.

As long as Chicharito continues to shine, this is a good move.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Goal-line technology being used in Sanfrecce/Auckland tomororow (?).

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Chelsea just signed another Brazilian teenager yesterday - Wallace from Fluminense - so seem to be moving in that direction (Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Piazon). The problem with Hulk is that he's already played for 2 UEFA teams this season, and can't play for a third European club under UEFA rules until the 2013/14 season, even domestic league games and cups. I don't think he'll be moving in January.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Chelsea just signed another Brazilian teenager yesterday - Wallace from Fluminense - so seem to be moving in that direction (Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Piazon). The problem with Hulk is that he's already played for 2 UEFA teams this season, and can't play for a third European club under UEFA rules until the 2013/14 season, even domestic league games and cups. I don't think he'll be moving in January.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrSy9r0-lMg

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Chelsea just signed another Brazilian teenager yesterday - Wallace from Fluminense - so seem to be moving in that direction (Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Piazon). The problem with Hulk is that he's already played for 2 UEFA teams this season, and can't play for a third European club under UEFA rules until the 2013/14 season, even domestic league games and cups. I don't think he'll be moving in January.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrSy9r0-lMg

Breaking Bad is better.

 

[jonessed]

Here is an interesting ratings nugget to digestYou could take the single most watched game of the year from the EPL, MLS, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga, add them all together and they would struggle to beat the MFL Final which drew 2.9 million fans this weekend.I think one of the most interesting aspects of the new EPL TV deal will be to see how the Hispanic audience takes to the EPL. MLS has had marginal success in converting that massive fan base over to their product. It will be fun to see if the EPL can crack it.

FYI, I think ESPN Deportes shows EPL games during the weekend.

Fox Sports Deportes does as well I believe, but both those stations have such a low household penetration they don't make a dent in the market.Next year EPL will be on Telemundo which obviously dwarfs the little cable niche Spanish channels and should open up the EPL to a much wider Hispanic audience.

As long as Chicharito continues to shine, this is a good move.

He doesn't get much playtime anymore with RVP around and he splits subs with Welbeck. I think it goes beyond just Chicarito.

 

[jonessed]

If Juve lose and Chelsea lose will Rafa be fired?

I still haven't figured out why RDM was fired.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Hulk already wants out of Zenit. He seems bound to end up with Chelsea eventually.

Chelsea just signed another Brazilian teenager yesterday - Wallace from Fluminense - so seem to be moving in that direction (Luiz, Oscar, Ramires, Piazon). The problem with Hulk is that he's already played for 2 UEFA teams this season, and can't play for a third European club under UEFA rules until the 2013/14 season, even domestic league games and cups. I don't think he'll be moving in January.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrSy9r0-lMg

I'm not sure Stringer Bell isn't on the top 5 of Roman's potential manager's list. Somewhere between Gus Poyet and Gianfranco Zola."John Obi Mikel, is you taking notes on a criminal ******* conspiracy?"

 

[GoFishTN]

If Juve lose and Chelsea lose will Rafa be fired?

I still haven't figured out why RDM was fired.

RA didn't want to keep him to begin with, but he had no choice after they won the CL.

 

[jonessed]

If Juve lose and Chelsea lose will Rafa be fired?

I still haven't figured out why RDM was fired.

RA didn't want to keep him to begin with, but he had no choice after they won the CL.

In all seriousness, I get the impression that RA is just waiting to fire every manager. I just think he likes to fire people.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Alexi Lalas taking questions on Twitter today has been surprisingly entertaining. "What are you getting Ballack for Christmas?" "A sense of irony. And Old Spice."

 

[Good Posting Judge]

You have like a 20% chance of making a PK against Peter Cech.

 

[Sebowski]

Two PK saves in 5mins in the Chelsea game! One for each side.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Another PK. Awesome.

 

[jonessed]

The referee in the Chelsea game sucks.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I love Luiz's long run-up shtick. 1-0, Chelski.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Halftime at the Donbass, zero shots on goal.

 

[guru_007]

Two PK saves in 5mins in the Chelsea game! One for each side.

yeah, awesome when I have a massive o3.5 goals bet in this one. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Sebowski]

Two PK saves in 5mins in the Chelsea game! One for each side.

yeah, awesome when I have a massive o3.5 goals bet in this one. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

They might double that today.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I think it is reasonably possible that Rafa is fired today if Chelsea draw or lose.

 

[guru_007]

Cluj just scored a cracker

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Two PK saves in 5mins in the Chelsea game! One for each side.

yeah, awesome when I have a massive o3.5 goals bet in this one. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Good bet. I loved the 0-0 in Ukraine at -105 but closed my account a few weeks ago when SB lowered their odds on NFL teasers.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Juve 1-0

Chelsea, wait.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Nice to have Leo Messi as a 58' sub, just to shake things up a bit.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Nice to have Leo Messi as a 58' sub, just to shake things up a bit.

Oof - stretchered off.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Looks like Celtic are through to the knockouts.

 

[Native]

Juve 1-0Chelsea, wait.

Is Chelsea out with a Juve win?

 

[jonessed]

Juve 1-0Chelsea, wait.

Is Chelsea out with a Juve win?

Or tie.

 

[Native]

Juve 1-0Chelsea, wait.

Is Chelsea out with a Juve win?

Or tie.

Thats what I thought but I looked at the standings and it shows that Chelsea and DOnestk would both be on 10 pts with Chelsea having a bigger Goal Differential. What am I missing? Is tiebreaker based on head to head?

 

[Native]

Juve 1-0Chelsea, wait.

Is Chelsea out with a Juve win?

Or tie.

Thats what I thought but I looked at the standings and it shows that Chelsea and DOnestk would both be on 10 pts with Chelsea having a bigger Goal Differential. What am I missing? Is tiebreaker based on head to head?

Nevermind, was looking at the non-updated table

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Juve 1-0Chelsea, wait.

Is Chelsea out with a Juve win?

Or tie.

Thats what I thought but I looked at the standings and it shows that Chelsea and DOnestk would both be on 10 pts with Chelsea having a bigger Goal Differential. What am I missing? Is tiebreaker based on head to head?

Yep. - - its off to the Europa League for the Chels.

 

[The Gator]

Messi hurt??

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Juve 1-0Chelsea, wait.

Is Chelsea out with a Juve win?

Or tie.

Thats what I thought but I looked at the standings and it shows that Chelsea and DOnestk would both be on 10 pts with Chelsea having a bigger Goal Differential. What am I missing? Is tiebreaker based on head to head?

Nevermind, was looking at the non-updated table

Shakhtar earned it, no doubt about that.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Nice to have Leo Messi as a 58' sub, just to shake things up a bit.

Oof - stretchered off.

Did Der Bomber order the Code Red?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Nice to have Leo Messi as a 58' sub, just to shake things up a bit.

Oof - stretchered off.

Did Der Bomber order the Code Red?

Tito is feeling a bit of heat right now.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Advancing

Spain 4 for 4

England 2 for 4

Germany 3 for 3 (all 3 were group winners too)

Portugal 1 for 3

Italy 2 for 2

France 1 for 2

Ukraine 1 for 2

Scotland 1 for 1

Turkey 1 for 1

I believe 2 Americans are left. Jones at Schalke and Gooch at Malaga

 

[NewlyRetired]

Two of the rumored teams Becks might sign with include Celtic and PSG.

Would he be allowed to play in the knockout rounds of the UCL if it comes to pass?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Two of the rumored teams Becks might sign with include Celtic and PSG.Would he be allowed to play in the knockout rounds of the UCL if it comes to pass?

I'm trying to remember my Football Manager, but I do think I get asked to re-register after the group stage. It's rarely an issue because even if I make a big January transfer, he's often cup tied.I don't get the PSG link at all. Marco Veratti might be their second best player this season. You generally don't bring in like for like reinforcements that are 17 years older than your starter. But global brand, blah blah blah.

 

[Christo]

Two of the rumored teams Becks might sign with include Celtic and PSG.Would he be allowed to play in the knockout rounds of the UCL if it comes to pass?

I'm trying to remember my Football Manager, but I do think I get asked to re-register after the group stage. It's rarely an issue because even if I make a big January transfer, he's often cup tied.I don't get the PSG link at all. Marco Veratti might be their second best player this season. You generally don't bring in like for like reinforcements that are 17 years older than your starter. But global brand, blah blah blah.

If it's Celtic, Becks and Snoop Lion could travel together.

 

[Soulfly3]

Two of the rumored teams Becks might sign with include Celtic and PSG.Would he be allowed to play in the knockout rounds of the UCL if it comes to pass?

So long as said player has not played in that season's Champions League he is eligible when teams 're-register' their squads in January. They can be part of a team in the CL, but the second they step on they pitch, they are DQ'd from playing w another squad that season.

 

[Soulfly3]

Two of the rumored teams Becks might sign with include Celtic and PSG.Would he be allowed to play in the knockout rounds of the UCL if it comes to pass?

I'm trying to remember my Football Manager, but I do think I get asked to re-register after the group stage. It's rarely an issue because even if I make a big January transfer, he's often cup tied.I don't get the PSG link at all. Marco Veratti might be their second best player this season. You generally don't bring in like for like reinforcements that are 17 years older than your starter. But global brand, blah blah blah.

Nice to see some Verratti love finally...The kid is light years ahead of the curve in the position of deep lying playmaker. He's considered the new Pirlo in Italy, but he plays a much more physical game... And calling anyone Pirlo is poppycock. Filling the boots of a living legend is nothing to scoff at, but Verratti looks like he will be a very good player.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Messi startingplaying tomorrow. I hate this.

GREAT JOB, BARCA!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Garber met with local officials in Queens last night about the new stadium. Sounds like it went fairly well. I will bold the important points in case you just want to skim

NEW YORK — We've heard MLS officials present the proposed stadium plan for a second expansion team in NYC to press gatherings and on media conference calls.

But for the first time on Tuesday night, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and league president Mark Abbott showcased the project to more than 500 locals at a townhall meeting held at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Park, just a stone's throw away from the proposed construction site. They also took some hand-written questions from those in attendance.

"I am a Queens guy," Garber told the crowd, which included a vociferous representation of the Borough Boys supporters club. "Like many of you, my family, my parents, my grandparents came to this country and they moved to Queens. This is where I spent the majority of my childhood … I know when my grandparents first came here they probably could never have dreamed that a kid from Queens could be sitting here today talking to all of you about fulfilling our dream, our dream of having this great game having a home right here in New York City."

The Commissioner proceeded to give the crowd an outline of the 100-percent privately financed stadium plan: the timeline, the 2,100 jobs it would create, the $60 million in annual economic activity and the promise of community service.

In addition, there was a detail about the stadium's capacity that was likely new to some following the story.

"We’re looking to build a 25,000-seat stadium," Garber said. "Sometime in the next 30 years, because we believe that this will be a popular team, we are looking for the right to expand it to 35,000 seats. We will not take any more land. We will not have to raise any roofs and we will not have to build it any higher."

The impact to the park itself was also a major topic, with MLS reiterating its plan to relocate the park space acre-for-acre — a "commitment by contract" — and renovate the popular soccer fields that are in desperate need of a facelift.

"[Local players] complain, 'Why don’t they fix the fields?'" said Luis Montoya, president of the Big Apple Soccer leagues, which play on the fields. "It's simple. [The park] doesn’t have money to do it. Now this problem is over."

Montoya was one of a number of representatives from various local organizations, who attended to show their support. They ranged from union chiefs (union workers gave the loudest cheer during Garber's address), Chamber of Commerce representatives and even the head of the Queens Hispanic Pastors Association. Queens high school championship teams also made the trek.

Local elected officials addressed the audience and expressed their interest in learning more about the final terms of the financial deal with New York City and the specifics of the replacement park land.

But many of those same officials still voiced their support for a stadium plan that would not only change the face of soccer in New York City. But it could also change the face of the league, according to Garber.

"Our goal is to be one of the top soccer leagues in the entire world by 2022. This team and this stadium will help us achieve that," Garber said. "You can’t be a dominant soccer league without having a dominant team in the largest and most important city in the world."