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

[NewlyRetired]

Costa Rica has already named its squad for the US game. I am sure that any of us who saw the NY debacle last week will chuckle to see Roy Miller's name on here.

FWIW I have a buddy who is a big CR fan and he thinks this squad is pretty week. The strength is all up front in Saborio, Ruiz and Campbell but he believes it is unlikely that the coach will start the three against the US. The majority of the team plays in Costa Rica.

Goalkeepers: Keilor Navas (Levante), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense)

Defenders: Juan Diego Madrigal (Santos de Guápiles), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Michael Umaña (Saprissa), Johnny Acosta (Dorados de Sinaloa), Giancarlo González (Valerenga), Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls), Bryan Oviedo (Everton), Christopher Meneses (Alajuelense)

Midfielders: Celso Borges (AIK), Osvaldo Rodríguez (Santos de Guápiles), Cristian Bolaños (Copenhagen), Ariel Rodríguez (Pérez Zeledón), Keylor Soto (Pérez Zeledón), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Michael Barrantes (Aalesund), Diego Calvo (Alajuelense), Bryan Ruiz (Fulham), Mauricio Castillo (Cartagines)

Forwards: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake), Joel Campbell (Real Betis), Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew)

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

It is going to be very difficult for them.

Believe it or not, Milan are only a 58/42 favorite to advance according to the oddsmakers. I think ESPN said their simulations had it more like 67/33 -- but either way Barca are in with a real chance to go through.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Villa starts up front, Cesc on the bench. Xavi's back.

 

[Moe.]

I'm not feeling right, must have ate something bad at lunch. I better head home, wouldn't want to get any of my coworkers sick. So selfless of me.

 

[Harris]

That was...um...fast.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Milan didn't have a controlled touch in the offensive half for the first seven minutes of the game.

On the goal Messi had six guys collapsing on him and he still got the shot off. He's unbelievable.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Milan need to rethink this defensive shell -- they're getting hammered.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

They look 100x more cohesive with Villa instead of Cesc.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Milan lucky it's only 1-0, frankly. They're getting eviscerated.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Multiple tweets today have all but confirmed the location of the next two US WC qualifiers at homeJune 11th vs Panama will be in SeattleJune 18th vs Honduras will be in Salt LakeNote 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.

They putting down grass in Seattle or playing on the plastic?

 

[The Gator]

woof

 

[Sebowski]

Things Ray Hudson might say:

If you give Messi a centimeter he will squeeze the ball through it like a baby through a birth canal.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Barca lucky the breakaway didn't go in. 4-1 final score?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Monster half. And a bit lucky that ball hit the post.

No need to gamble now for Barca.

 

[Slapdash]

I couldn't wait for the DVR on this one, following the live stream.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

The way they ping the ball around, move off the ball, and close down when they lose possession it's like watching a swarm of hornets.

Seems like top flight teams ought to be able to beat the pressure and counter, but it just doesn't happen very often.

Does Milan continue to Chelsea now that they're level?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Multiple tweets today have all but confirmed the location of the next two US WC qualifiers at homeJune 11th vs Panama will be in SeattleJune 18th vs Honduras will be in Salt LakeNote 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.

They putting down grass in Seattle or playing on the plastic?

They haven't said one way or another yet but the Gold Cup will be played on the existing surface in Seattle so it may be that the Qualifer will also be played on the Field Turf. The Seattle field turf is much better than what was there a couple of years ago FWIW, but it certainly is not grass.http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/23/if-usmnt-play-gold-cup-seattle-or-portland-itll-be-turfA couple of years ago Seattle laid down grass for a friendly and it was very loose and was a pretty bad surface to play on.

 

[Slapdash]

Does Milan continue to Chelsea now that they're level?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Things Ray Hudson might say:

"The little genius, as imperious as Caesar crossing the Rubicon."

 

[NewlyRetired]

is Jones suspended (again) for this match against Galatasary? I noticed he is not even on the roster.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

"And there's Chameleon Eyes, he sees more daylight than a Duggar fetus."

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

is Jones suspended (again) for this match against Galatasary? I noticed he is not even on the roster.

Goal and a yellow last leg. The Jones combo pack.

 

[NewlyRetired]

"If you were a footballer, what would your preferred position be?"

"Do you know any footballer (except you) who is neither footed?"

"How do you get to the other side of the road when you don't know how to cross?"

-- Some of the questions posed to Liverpool winger Stewart Downing when the club made him available for a Twitter Q&A. (Daily Mirror)

 

[Spartans Rule]

Wow, Galatasaray is winning. Did not expect that.

 

[Slapdash]

 

[The Z Machine]

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.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Great spell of possession immediately after the goal.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Barca is going to need another goal imo.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Glad to see the negative football beaten like Django.

And Milan should have at least two or three more yellows here. Just plain grabbing and tripping at every turn now.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Barca is going to need another goal imo.

They're certainly looking for it, and with ACM now having to press the issue, they're much more dangerous.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Wow I thought Sanchez was good there. Nice run.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Bonus coverage of Schalke/Galatasaray.

 

[Slapdash]

Wow

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Wow

CL quarterfinals draw is at 7 AM Eastern on Friday.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Galatasaray through!

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Wow

CL quarterfinals draw is at 7 AM Eastern on Friday.

I was not ready for a Champs league quarter finals without Barcelona.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Galatasaray through!

CIM BOM BOM! Not only do they have the crazy fans, they also have a pretty good team. Burak Yilmaz is awesome.

 

[jonessed]

Two awesome games today plus the RM-United match that was also a great game . I love these aggregate match-ups.

 

[Eephus]

Huge 3-1 win for AFC Wimbledon today away at Southend United. The Dons have now won two on the trot and are up the 18th place in League Two, five points clear of the drop.

 

[The Gator]

Didn't like the same super defensive tactics from Milan. when you go into that game knowing you can give up three and still advance; why not come out attacking and try to get that one goal? if it doesn't work, you're in the same boat as lying back and inviting pressure.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Didn't like the same super defensive tactics from Milan. when you go into that game knowing you can give up three and still advance; why not come out attacking and try to get that one goal? if it doesn't work, you're in the same boat as lying back and inviting pressure.

Somehwat agree, although they did get a great chance by popping a long ball over the top of Barca's high pressing defense. If Niang makes that shot like he should've, it's a different game and maybe their tactics don't look as bad.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Galatasaray through!

CIM BOM BOM! Not only do they have the crazy fans, they also have a pretty good team. Burak Yilmaz is awesome.

That #### they do where they mob the airport is just ####### crazy. Not many weak sisters left, there are going to be some more monster quarterfinal matchups.

 

[Sebowski]

Wow

CL quarterfinals draw is at 7 AM Eastern on Friday.

I was not ready for a Champs league quarter finals without Barcelona.

I was not expecting Barca to go through. Right up until Alba's goal I thought Milan was going to hit a heart breaker. Didn't help that the guy next to me at the bar kept saying that Prince was just warming up for his moment. I swear I was going to break my pint glass on his head if his prediction came through. Those were some very stressful 30mins at the end. Barca does not have it in them to sit back and kill time. I was begging them to hold the ball up and/or play it back the last ten minutes. Even in the 90th they have their leftback streaking into the box and a through ball played in for the dagger. No plan B. Only plan Barça. Gotta love it.

 

[Sebowski]

Didn't like the same super defensive tactics from Milan. when you go into that game knowing you can give up three and still advance; why not come out attacking and try to get that one goal? if it doesn't work, you're in the same boat as lying back and inviting pressure.

In defensive of their tactis though, once they knew they needed one and turned on the attacking switch I think it was much more effective than if they came out that way from the get-go Almost like a boxer doing a rope-a-dope and letting his opponent get comfortable and confident only to come out 5 rounds later and start blasting away.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Didn't like the same super defensive tactics from Milan. when you go into that game knowing you can give up three and still advance; why not come out attacking and try to get that one goal? if it doesn't work, you're in the same boat as lying back and inviting pressure.

In defensive of their tactis though, once they knew they needed one and turned on the attacking switch I think it was much more effective than if they came out that way from the get-go Almost like a boxer doing a rope-a-dope and letting his opponent get comfortable and confident only to come out 5 rounds later and start blasting away.

If they had gone forward that much for the full 90, Barcelona might've hung 8 on them. I don't think there was necessarily anything wrong with their game-plan per se, they just didn't execute. Could've been a very different story if that ball doesn't hit the post in the first half.Current odds to win CL, via Will Hill:Barcelona +175Real Madrid +300Bayern +350Dortmund +800Juventus +1200PSG +2000Porto +5000Galatasaray +6600Malaga +12500Arsenal +20000

 

[NewlyRetired]

Seattle takes on Tigres tonight at 10:00pm on Fox Soccer. This will be the second leg, in Seattle, with Tigres up 1-0.

If Seattle wins on aggregate they will be the first MLS side to beat a Liga MX side in the knock out rounds since the CCL first started back in 2008.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Didn't like the same super defensive tactics from Milan. when you go into that game knowing you can give up three and still advance; why not come out attacking and try to get that one goal? if it doesn't work, you're in the same boat as lying back and inviting pressure.

In defensive of their tactis though, once they knew they needed one and turned on the attacking switch I think it was much more effective than if they came out that way from the get-go Almost like a boxer doing a rope-a-dope and letting his opponent get comfortable and confident only to come out 5 rounds later and start blasting away.

If they had gone forward that much for the full 90, Barcelona might've hung 8 on them. I don't think there was necessarily anything wrong with their game-plan per se, they just didn't execute. Could've been a very different story if that ball doesn't hit the post in the first half.Current odds to win CL, via Will Hill:Barcelona +175Real Madrid +300Bayern +350Dortmund +800Juventus +1200PSG +2000Porto +5000Galatasaray +6600Malaga +12500Arsenal +20000

Dortmund looks like the best value there IMO

 

[Spartans Rule]

Dortmund looks like the best value there IMO

Personally I like Juve at +1200.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Wow

CL quarterfinals draw is at 7 AM Eastern on Friday.

I was not ready for a Champs league quarter finals without Barcelona.

I was not expecting Barca to go through. Right up until Alba's goal I thought Milan was going to hit a heart breaker. Didn't help that the guy next to me at the bar kept saying that Prince was just warming up for his moment. I swear I was going to break my pint glass on his head if his prediction came through. Those were some very stressful 30mins at the end. Barca does not have it in them to sit back and kill time. I was begging them to hold the ball up and/or play it back the last ten minutes. Even in the 90th they have their leftback streaking into the box and a through ball played in for the dagger. No plan B. Only plan Barça. Gotta love it.

I couldn't watch the match due to work, but kept tabs on it. I just started laughing when I saw that Alba had scored the clincher. Of course Barcelona would "kill off" the match by sending defenders forward to try and score the clincher. Good to see that Roura played Villa instead of Cesc.Really enjoyed the highlights - Messi's first goal was just unfair. What a quick release and exquisite placement.

So glad they're through. I was a bit in shock after the first leg.

 

[Texas Football]

Dortmund looks like the best value there IMO

Personally I like Juve at +1200.

Zlatan +2000 is tempting.