***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Kick save and a beauty!

 

[Native]

Aside from kicking the ballboy, man, Eden Hazard is probably my favorite player in the world at the moment. A good goal followed by tremendous vision to find Ramires for the second. Such a delight to watch.

Hazard Class Goal

 

[Sebowski]

Aside from kicking the ballboy, man, Eden Hazard is probably my favorite player in the world at the moment. A good goal followed by tremendous vision to find Ramires for the second. Such a delight to watch.

I like him more because he kicked the ball boy

 

[The Gator]

SUCK IT SPURS

 

[Sinn Fein]

Aside from kicking the ballboy, man, Eden Hazard is probably my favorite player in the world at the moment. A good goal followed by tremendous vision to find Ramires for the second. Such a delight to watch.

I like him more because he kicked the ball boy

 

[GoFishTN]

SUCK IT SPURS

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Wright slagging the Chelsea fans is killing me.

I think Fox gave Wrighty the gig to make Gus Johnson sound good by comparison

I think he's been sort of astute, but he's very very raw. We're all just waiting for a Gus / Ray Hudson pairing for the first ever soccer inspired simultaneous orgasm.

I'm sure not many people caught Barcelona/Depor this weekend, but apparently Messi scored a goal where he took the gravitational pull of the moon into account. City draws Man U/Chelski in one semi, Wigan vs. Blackburn/Milwall in the other. So it'll be a David/Goliath final to some degree.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Albeit not a classic "golazo", that Suarez goal today was gorgeous.

 

[bentley]

Albeit not a classic "golazo", that Suarez goal today was gorgeous.

How about "our" Liverpool. Weak ### schedule leading up to the finish. Everything in front of us. I have a feeling that we'll fail completely.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Messi scored a goal where he took the gravitational pull of the moon into account

It's
-- but it's more one of those where you wonder at how easy it Barca makes it look.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Albeit not a classic "golazo", that Suarez goal today was gorgeous.

How about "our" Liverpool. Weak ### schedule leading up to the finish. Everything in front of us. I have a feeling that we'll fail completely.

We've gotta keep the faith.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Messi scored a goal where he took the gravitational pull of the moon into account

It's

I should be clear, it was Mr. Hudson who theorized that Messi took the pull of the moon into account. I thought it was nice, but not his best of the year by any stretch.

 

[honky kong]

SUCK IT SPURS

I guess, but they'll be doing it from on top.

 

[Sebowski]

Messi scored a goal where he took the gravitational pull of the moon into account

It's

Heard him say "Messi's touch is as soft as the moonlight on a hillside". Didn't hear the gravitational pull one.

 

[ffldrew]

Sweet goal by SJ to tie up Red Bulls in last 10 min

ETA - Red Bull hand ball in box - Wondo puts shot right at keeper - but an idiot for the Red Bulls encroached(nd it was by a lot) - so Wondo gets second chance and scores this time - 2-1 SJ

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Sweet goal by SJ to tie up Red Bulls in last 10 minETA - Red Bull hand ball in box - Wondo puts shot right at keeper - but an idiot for the Red Bulls encroached(nd it was by a lot) - so Wondo gets second chance and scores this time - 2-1 SJ

The funniest part was the encroacher was the same guy who committed the hand ball - Roy Miller. Henry might have to give him a code red

 

[T Bell]

My wife is obsessed with Michael Laudrup since seeing the League Cup final. That jawline haunts her dreams.

Well, he is kinda dreamy.

Unbelievably gifted footballer when he played too.

 

[T Bell]

While everything you say Gator is true, I don't think T Bell was talking about how to build MLS. In fact his plan pretty much assures the league would never grow from where it is today.

I don't think that's true. I think that MLS will grow as soccer grows. So that eventually players will have the option to stay and develop (and perhaps more relevantly stay and make the type of money they can make overseas).But I also don't think any player is obligated to go overseas to develop. I don't begrudge Landon staying with the Galaxy. I think he turned out OK. I generally think the quasi-free market will take care of all that. If an American star has the goods to really contribute at a Liverpool or something, then he'll have a significant monetary incentive to do that until the MLS can compete with that.

I disagree with this. I agree more with what Klinsmann is telling the National players. Right now the best in the world play in Europe. Klinsmann wants these guys fighting to be part of the best teams in the world and win the most coveted trophies in the world. For the foreseeable future that is Europe. I think that is the best way to develop. That is way Brazilians are excited about Neymar going to compete with the best in the world instead of keeping him in a lower level domestic league. Bradley is much better today for what he is doing at Roma than where he would be if he was playing in the MLS. On the other hand, I don't think Dempsey is getting better riding the bench at Spurs instead of getting his 90 every game at Fulham.

The MLS won't even be close to the quality of the top four European leagues in less than a couple of generations even under the best of circumstances. It's just not the national sport here like it is there. It's growing and will continue to grow and get stronger, but to think that US players can hone their skills against top talent in the MLS anytime soon is a pipe dream.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Wright slagging the Chelsea fans is killing me.

I think Fox gave Wrighty the gig to make Gus Johnson sound good by comparison

I think he's been sort of astute, but he's very very raw. We're all just waiting for a Gus / Ray Hudson pairing for the first ever soccer inspired simultaneous orgasm.

I think he was a bit emboldened by his prescient call right before the Rooney goal, but otherwise I thought it was like tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber on that broadcast. He was way off the mark ripping Rafa for bringing on Mikel for Lampard, which of course turned out to be a great tactical change.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Aside from kicking the ballboy, man, Eden Hazard is probably my favorite player in the world at the moment. A good goal followed by tremendous vision to find Ramires for the second. Such a delight to watch.

I like him more because he kicked the ball boy

I don't think there's any credible evidence that he actually kicked anyone, but I understand that notion will stick, and will probably stay with him forever. Strangely, despite being a two-time Ligue 1 POY and taking the EPL by storm this season, it seems Hazard is no longer first choice for Belgium in its WC qualifiers. I've been told he "doesn't fit in their system", which seems very odd.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I don't know if anyone else reads Phil Ball's weekly column on La Liga, but I think he's probably my favorite sports writer. Have been meaning to read his book, Morbo, for years, but I've probably got the flavor of it from his columns at this point.

This weeks piece is a visit to Seville to watch Betis v Osassuna.

 

[Moe.]

Aside from kicking the ballboy, man, Eden Hazard is probably my favorite player in the world at the moment. A good goal followed by tremendous vision to find Ramires for the second. Such a delight to watch.

I like him more because he kicked the ball boy

I don't think there's any credible evidence that he actually kicked anyone, but I understand that notion will stick, and will probably stay with him forever. Strangely, despite being a two-time Ligue 1 POY and taking the EPL by storm this season, it seems Hazard is no longer first choice for Belgium in its WC qualifiers. I've been told he "doesn't fit in their system", which seems very odd.

Yeah time to change the system if he doesn't fit it. I know they're pretty stacked but come on.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Albeit not a classic "golazo", that Suarez goal today was gorgeous.

The backflick by Coutinho to start it off was beautiful.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Wright slagging the Chelsea fans is killing me.

I think Fox gave Wrighty the gig to make Gus Johnson sound good by comparison

I think he's been sort of astute, but he's very very raw. We're all just waiting for a Gus / Ray Hudson pairing for the first ever soccer inspired simultaneous orgasm.

I think he was a bit emboldened by his prescient call right before the Rooney goal, but otherwise I thought it was like tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber on that broadcast. He was way off the mark ripping Rafa for bringing on Mikel for Lampard, which of course turned out to be a great tactical change.

I have about as much chance of being unbiased about Wrighty as you do of being unbiased about Lamps, but Wright certainly admitted that the Mikel change worked afterwards by freeing Ramires to get forward (BTW, I continue to find Ramires criminally underrated). Maybe he should have also made a mea culpa. I thought he was right in the first half that Chelsea played into Man U's hands by giving Carrick too much space. I'm an Ashley Cole fan, but I thought Wright's point that Cole's crossing is a weakness in his game was also interesting. He is a guy who always seems to get forward dangerously but often lacks some end product.Wright will never stick in the US because his lower class accent makes him hard to understand. And his criticism of the Chelsea fans went beyond the bounds of professionalism. I think you can say that they've been unfair to Rafa and the team. I don't think you can say "They ain't got no class." Nor should you necessarily express hope that Chelsea and Tottenham slip so that Arsenal can move up. Anyway, a fun game. I feel a little bad for Chelsea, because that play by Mata deserved to be a game winner. It might be the recency effect, but the more I look at the DeGea save, the more convinced I am that I haven't seen a better one.

 

[The Gator]

Wright slagging the Chelsea fans is killing me.

I think Fox gave Wrighty the gig to make Gus Johnson sound good by comparison

I think he's been sort of astute, but he's very very raw. We're all just waiting for a Gus / Ray Hudson pairing for the first ever soccer inspired simultaneous orgasm.

I think he was a bit emboldened by his prescient call right before the Rooney goal, but otherwise I thought it was like tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber on that broadcast. He was way off the mark ripping Rafa for bringing on Mikel for Lampard, which of course turned out to be a great tactical change.

I have about as much chance of being unbiased about Wrighty as you do of being unbiased about Lamps, but Wright certainly admitted that the Mikel change worked afterwards by freeing Ramires to get forward (BTW, I continue to find Ramires criminally underrated). Maybe he should have also made a mea culpa. I thought he was right in the first half that Chelsea played into Man U's hands by giving Carrick too much space. I'm an Ashley Cole fan, but I thought Wright's point that Cole's crossing is a weakness in his game was also interesting. He is a guy who always seems to get forward dangerously but often lacks some end product.Wright will never stick in the US because his lower class accent makes him hard to understand. And his criticism of the Chelsea fans went beyond the bounds of professionalism. I think you can say that they've been unfair to Rafa and the team. I don't think you can say "They ain't got no class." Nor should you necessarily express hope that Chelsea and Tottenham slip so that Arsenal can move up.

Anyway, a fun game. I feel a little bad for Chelsea, because that play by Mata deserved to be a game winner. It might be the recency effect, but the more I look at the DeGea save, the more convinced I am that I haven't seen a better one.

I was really hoping United would move him along before he started doing this more consistently. He's going to be a pita for a long time

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I was really hoping United would move him along before he started doing this more consistently. He's going to be a pita for a long time

Ironically, his next save was a case where he pushed (an admittedly well-hit) shot back into a dangerous area. Wright called it a good save, but I think he might have been culpable if Chelsea could have gotten on the rebound. But I'm a DeGea fan. He very nearly saved the Ramires goal. Just didn't get enough of it.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I was really hoping United would move him along before he started doing this more consistently. He's going to be a pita for a long time

Ironically, his next save was a case where he pushed (an admittedly well-hit) shot back into a dangerous area. Wright called it a good save, but I think he might have been culpable if Chelsea could have gotten on the rebound. But I'm a DeGea fan. He very nearly saved the Ramires goal. Just didn't get enough of it.

I think that's the play where Wright correctly criticized Torres for spectating when he should have been in position for a rebound. I'm probably unfairly prejudiced against him due to the fan comments, which had me muttering vulgarities under my breath as I watched with my son and his buddies.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

I was really hoping United would move him along before he started doing this more consistently. He's going to be a pita for a long time

Ironically, his next save was a case where he pushed (an admittedly well-hit) shot back into a dangerous area. Wright called it a good save, but I think he might have been culpable if Chelsea could have gotten on the rebound. But I'm a DeGea fan. He very nearly saved the Ramires goal. Just didn't get enough of it.

I think that's the play where Wright correctly criticized Torres for spectating when he should have been in position for a rebound. I'm probably unfairly prejudiced against him due to the fan comments, which had me muttering vulgarities under my breath as I watched with my son and his buddies.

Did he call them plastic?

 

[The Gator]

I was really hoping United would move him along before he started doing this more consistently. He's going to be a pita for a long time

Ironically, his next save was a case where he pushed (an admittedly well-hit) shot back into a dangerous area. Wright called it a good save, but I think he might have been culpable if Chelsea could have gotten on the rebound. But I'm a DeGea fan. He very nearly saved the Ramires goal. Just didn't get enough of it.

I think that's the play where Wright correctly criticized Torres for spectating when he should have been in position for a rebound. I'm probably unfairly prejudiced against him due to the fan comments, which had me muttering vulgarities under my breath as I watched with my son and his buddies.

Did he call them plastic?

"Embarrassing" "A joke""Don't deserve a win"were a few iirc

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Here's the Suarez goal

I really really like Coutinho.

 

[The Gator]

Here's the Suarez goal

I really really like Coutinho.

8.5M = SOTW

 

[GoFishTN]

Reading fire McDermott. Too little too late, I'm thinking.

 

[jonessed]

Reading fire McDermott. Too little too late, I'm thinking.

They are as in it as they were ever going to be. Look what happened to Wolves. Hoddle destroyed that team financially and Mick stepped in, rebuilt them on the cheap, took them into the EPL, and kept them there for two seasons (he was fired while they were still fighting for the third). Two seasons later and they are on the border of dropping into League 1. He may not have been the best manager in the world, but he did quite well with the budget and players he had.Maybe Reading will suddenly light the world on fire, but I doubt it. Do they really have a better roster than the likes of Sunderland, Aston Villa, Wigan, Southampton, or QPR? I don't believe so.Spend enough to stay in the EPL, but not so much as to risk financial stability if the team drops. That's an incredibly difficult ask of any manager.

 

[Christo]

QPR! QPR! QPR!

Rob Green in goal!Free kick that lead to goal #2

Mignolet cleaning his studs after giving up No. 2

Corner that didn't lead to a goal

Crowd blocking 3rd goal

Full time!

 

[NewlyRetired]

It was a busy day with rumors and what not concerning US players health(physical and mental) but here we go. In my long time fandom with the US going back to the late 80's, this is the most injuries to important players(not squad players, or starters but arguably some of the best on the team), I think the team has ever had to deal with for one cycle.

* Donovan - Returning to practice on March 25th, obviously out of qualifiers

* Cherundolo - just started to train again after a long period of being injured. Out for qualifiers

* Howard - Two broken bones in back, out for qualifiers

* Castillo - Broken face, out for qualifiers

* Fabian Johnson - Injury looks minor and is already back training after missing just one game. Is expected to play in qualifiers

* Dempsey - Has been out a few games but Klinsmann said today he is expected to be available for the Inter game this week. If so I think he is safe to consider for the qualifiers

On the plus side, Jones did not get hurt this week. Granted he was sitting with yet another suspension (natch )

On the negative side, Boca has not played a second in over a month on a team in the relegation zone in the second division in Spain.

If Bradley goes down before the qualifiers I think I might just say "I give, this may not be our cycle"

Klinsmann did not have much to say about Shea today outside of a random "hope he gets more playing time at Stoke" type of comment when asked what his affect might be on the qualifiers.

On the other hand, he called Joe Benny's play "great" in the recent Copa matches, maybe giving a hint that Carona may get a roster spot.

 

[NewlyRetired]

As has been rumored for weeks now, Obafemi Martins has been transferred to the Sounders for $4 million from La Liga side Levante who did a nice piece of business as they got Martins on a free just last September. He seems to have revived his career at Levante which has been coupled with a call back to the Nigerian National Team for their upcoming World Cup Qualifier.

If Seattle can get past Tigres tomorrow in the CCL Quarterfinals,, then Martins would be available for the CCL Semifinals.

This should return Rosales to the midfield and pair Martins and EJ together up top which should be pretty fun.

 

[Christo]

bentley will appreciate this one

 

[CletiusMaximus]

QPR! QPR! QPR!

Rob Green in goal!Free kick that lead to goal #2

Mignolet cleaning his studs after giving up No. 2

Corner that didn't lead to a goal

Crowd blocking 3rd goal

Full time!

Looks like a great day. You were behind the goal where QPR scored the two second half goals? Looks like your seats were pretty close.

 

[Christo]

QPR! QPR! QPR!

Rob Green in goal!Free kick that lead to goal #2

Mignolet cleaning his studs after giving up No. 2

Corner that didn't lead to a goal

Crowd blocking 3rd goal

Full time!

Looks like a great day. You were behind the goal where QPR scored the two second half goals? Looks like your seats were pretty close.

Yeah, it was great. Third row on the home end so we were right there for the second half goals.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?

*blows out*

3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

 

[CBusAlex]

As has been rumored for weeks now, Obafemi Martins has been transferred to the Sounders for $4 million from La Liga side Levante

Good god that's a lot of money for a non-LA/NY MLS team.

 

[Harris]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?*blows out*3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

3-1, Milan goes through on away goals. With all of the attacking there is no way Barca will keep a clean sheet.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?*blows out*3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

3-1, Milan goes through on away goals. With all of the attacking there is no way Barca will keep a clean sheet.

Sharaawy vs. Alves scares me, but I have to think that Barca's going to maintain a good defensive posture, knowing that an away goal is a death knell. Honestly, I think they should just convert Alves into being a forward. Call a spade a spade. It worked for Bale!

 

[NewlyRetired]

As has been rumored for weeks now, Obafemi Martins has been transferred to the Sounders for $4 million from La Liga side Levante

Good god that's a lot of money for a non-LA/NY MLS team.

It is especially for a league that rarely pays transfer fees. Now granted Seattle is obviously flush in cash so it is good to see them reinvest. If I am not mistaken, this is one of the largest fees an mls has ever paid. I think maybe only Luis Hernandez way back was this much.

 

[Harris]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?

*blows out*

3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

3-1, Milan goes through on away goals. With all of the attacking there is no way Barca will keep a clean sheet.

Sharaawy vs. Alves scares me, but I have to think that Barca's going to maintain a good defensive posture, knowing that an away goal is a death knell.

Honestly, I think they should just convert Alves into being a forward. Call a spade a spade. It worked for Bale!

That's what makes this game so intriguing/exciting......Barca has to attack attack attack while being able to hold shape in the back on any counters. Delicate balance here.I'm going to go eat some bad fish or something so I can go home sick and watch.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?

*blows out*

3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

3-1, Milan goes through on away goals. With all of the attacking there is no way Barca will keep a clean sheet.

Sharaawy vs. Alves scares me, but I have to think that Barca's going to maintain a good defensive posture, knowing that an away goal is a death knell.

Honestly, I think they should just convert Alves into being a forward. Call a spade a spade. It worked for Bale!

That's what makes this game so intriguing/exciting......Barca has to attack attack attack while being able to hold shape in the back on any counters. Delicate balance here.I'm going to go eat some bad fish or something so I can go home sick and watch.

This is definitely an exciting one for a neutral fan, as was the United - Real Madrid second leg last week. The good news for US based soccer fans is that its not very hard to insulate ourselves from knowing the result of a major event like this if one chooses. I usually check scores during the day, but am planning to watch this one ignorant of the result tonight after the kids are put to bed.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Been awhile since I was this psyched for a game not involving the USMNT. Should be plenty of goals and one of the greatest attacking club teams in history has to go all out on the attack.

 

[Slapdash]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?*blows out*3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

3-1, Milan goes through on away goals. With all of the attacking there is no way Barca will keep a clean sheet.

Sharaawy vs. Alves scares me, but I have to think that Barca's going to maintain a good defensive posture, knowing that an away goal is a death knell. Honestly, I think they should just convert Alves into being a forward. Call a spade a spade. It worked for Bale!

Alves isn't really good enough to be a forward. I don't think Barcelona has much of a chance, but they should have Alves and Alba on the bench today.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Multiple tweets today have all but confirmed the location of the next two US WC qualifiers at home

June 11th vs Panama will be in Seattle

June 18th vs Honduras will be in Salt Lake

Note that it is also expected that Rio Tinto will host the US during the Gold Cup as well.

None of this has been officially announced by US Soccer but the leaks seem pretty solid. The Seattle outlet of the American Outlaws tweeted that a big announcement is coming on Saturday which most expect to be the confirmation.

 

[jonessed]

Nervy day. First day of preschool, and ACM/Barca second leg. How am I going to get any work done?

*blows out*

3-0 in extra time. No shootout.

3-1, Milan goes through on away goals. With all of the attacking there is no way Barca will keep a clean sheet.

Sharaawy vs. Alves scares me, but I have to think that Barca's going to maintain a good defensive posture, knowing that an away goal is a death knell. Honestly, I think they should just convert Alves into being a forward. Call a spade a spade. It worked for Bale!

Alves isn't really good enough to be a forward. I don't think Barcelona has much of a chance, but they should have Alves and Alba on the bench today.

It is going to be very difficult for them.