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

[Prince Myshkin]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

 

[NewlyRetired]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

I think only thing keeping him from the undisputed title of GOAT is winning a World Cup.

 

[Texas Football]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

There may never be a better player than Messi, but he still needs to perform for Argentina. He is top 5 all-time for sure. Great players similar to him come around every once in awhile. You will see another at some point.Being new to soccer you have missed some great ones. Maradona being mentioned in every argument is completely valid. Cronaldo would be the current best player in just about any other scenario.And just to speak nonsense, look at Suarez on a much worse Liverpool team compared to Messi at Barcelona. If he leads Uruguay to a WC title and any team to a CL title or two... I would say the Prem is a tougher league than La Liga and who is the leading scorer in England? He also leads the #1 in the world at getting people wound up.I wish we could see Messi play in another league and obviously with another team. He would still be a total badass anywhere, but would the crazy goal totals be what they are. Unfortunately it sounds like he play in Spain and then move back to Argentina to finish it off.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Oh my god what a goal. Holy hell.

2-2 on aggregate, Seattle needs one more to get through. Seattle up a man after a dumb red card on Tigres.

 

[Moe.]

Two pretty sweet goals in Seattle. They need one more, 30 mins left. Tigres down to 10.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Two pretty sweet goals in Seattle. They need one more, 30 mins left. Tigres down to 10.

First was a very good goal, second was world class.

 

[Moe.]

Is this Yedlin kid for Seattle an American? He looks really good.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Is this Yedlin kid for Seattle an American? He looks really good.

I needed to find out the same thing because agreed, he looks great out there.Born in Seattle, only 19

 

[NewlyRetired]

Is this Yedlin kid for Seattle an American? He looks really good.

Yes he is. he is only 19, came out of the Seattle Sounders academy. He was the first rookie in 18 seasons to be named to the mls team of the week in his first game.He was one of two young Americans everyone is buzzing about (Andrew Farrell for the Revs is the other who had an awesome first game as well).

 

[NewlyRetired]

Boy it is so hard to watch Zakuani now :( . He was so fast before that horrible injury, now he just looks to have decent speed.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

EJ!!!

 

[NewlyRetired]

EJ!!!!

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

HFS - Eddie Johnson! What an angle!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Friggan awesome game.

Tigres should hang the guy who got the dumb red. They had this all wrapped up.

 

[Moe.]

EJ!!!

YES! Alright fellas, hold on here.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Now can they keep it composed on D for 15 minutes?

 

[Tremendous Upside]

CCL uses away goals as a tiebreaker, right?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Three really good goals from Seattle tonight. Two bombs and EJ's wonderful penetrating drive and tuck home.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Adding Martins to this team in place of the Pillsbury doughboy Ochoa is going to be a nice upgrade.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

CCL uses away goals as a tiebreaker, right?

Yes

 

[NewlyRetired]

CCL uses away goals as a tiebreaker, right?

Yes. Tigres must score to move on.

 

[Moe.]

Here come the cheap shots...

 

[NewlyRetired]

Oh my

 

[Moe.]

I can't handle a Bornstein goal right now. Pleaseno.

 

[NewlyRetired]

They should put a buffet table on the end line. Ochoa would be so much quicker.

 

[Moe.]

:makeswhistlingsound:

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Now that's how you close out a game. Well played, Sounders.

Andy, looks like Seattle invented beating Mexican teams in the CCL

 

[NewlyRetired]

Fun game. If anyone gets the highlights, post them, people on here will enjoy these goals.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Now that's how you close out a game. Well played, Sounders.Andy, looks like Seattle invented beating Mexican teams in the CCL

 

[NewlyRetired]

If LA takes care of business at home tomorrow, there should be 2 MLS teams in the semi finals which would be a first.

While Houston is ahead in their match, I fear they are going to get run off the park in Mexico tomorrow.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Hopefully Seattle can get Obafemi Martins in and settled before the semi finals in early April.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Yedlin Goal (Seattle)

Traore Goal (Seattle)

 

[bentley]

Yedlin Goal (Seattle)

Traore Goal (Seattle)

I knew Traore's name seemed familiar.

Traoré remained a regular at Liverpool, and eventually made the starting line-up as Liverpool qualified for the Champions League Final that season, against AC Milan. He conceded the free kick that led to Paolo Maldini's goal in the opening minute. In the second half his play improved, and "a goalline clearance to deny Shevchenko a likely winner" contributed to his becoming the first Malian to win a Champions League winners medal as Liverpool fought back from 3–0 down to draw 3–3 and beat Milan on penalties.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Does anyone know what happened to El Floppo? I have not seen him post in a long time.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

I think only thing keeping him from the undisputed title of GOAT is winning a World Cup.

I understand that this is the CW, but I just don't believe it to be true. Mascherano makes a dumb foul on somebody in a semifinal and draws a straight red, does that preclude Messi from being the GOAT?I think the best argument against his greatness is that he plays in an amazing attacking system with two of the best midfielders in the world behind him. But, Pele had Brazil and never came to Europe. And Messi plays in the toughest league in the world. It can be argued 'round and 'round.Not to mention that Messi's got a lot of time left.

 

[NewlyRetired]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

I think only thing keeping him from the undisputed title of GOAT is winning a World Cup.

I understand that this is the CW, but I just don't believe it to be true. Mascherano makes a dumb foul on somebody in a semifinal and draws a straight red, does that preclude Messi from being the GOAT?

The key word in my sentence was undisputed. Unfortunately, to answer your question, yes for the majority of people. It is the same logic that keeps Marino from ever entering the top of the top QB's discussion.

I am not saying I agree with it(I don't but I understand the arguement), I am just laying out the strong possibility that history, as written by the worlds soccer media in the future, will never unanimously put him above Pele or Maradona with out being the dominant player on a WC winning team.

Also, no Copa America titles, including losing in the quarter finals at home has hurt his international cv.

In terms of time left, it may just be 2014. He will likely be a part of the 2018 squad, but the chance to be the tournaments dominant player at 31 years old is diminished and the fact that the likelihood of a South American team winning in Europe is pretty low (has not happened since 1958)

Everything is lined up for him to end any discussion next year, playing in Brazil

 

[Spartans Rule]

Dortmund looks like the best value there IMO

Personally I like Juve at +1200.

Zlatan +2000 is tempting.

Still one more match on his suspension. The draw will be critical for them.

 

[The Gator]

Dortmund looks like the best value there IMO

Personally I like Juve at +1200.

this

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Sportsbook isn't too soccer-savvy, I wonder if they pull down their futures odds during the draw.

Interesting comparison between Messi's second today and his goal against Man U in the 2011 CL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiE7PoQj8nc&feature=player_embedded

 

[Good Posting Judge]

BTW, I got on Bayern when they were at +800.

 

[The Gator]

BTW, I got on Bayern when they were at +800.

whoa, pretty pretty pretty good

 

[NewlyRetired]

BTW, I got on Bayern when they were at +800.

I know the likelihood is low with the random draw but as a neutral, I really want to see Barca vs Bayern in the final.

 

[The Gator]

BTW, I got on Bayern when they were at +800.

I know the likelihood is low with the random draw but as a neutral, I really want to see Barca vs Bayern in the final.

Juve - Bayern would be my game to watch. That disciplined Juve defense against Bayern would be fun to watch imo

 

[Sebowski]

BTW, I got on Bayern when they were at +800.

I know the likelihood is low with the random draw but as a neutral, I really want to see Barca vs Bayern in the final.

Juve - Bayern would be my game to watch. That disciplined Juve defense against Bayern would be fun to watch imo

I've seen less of Juve than any other favorite in this thing, and what I have seen has been real hit and miss. I'd love to hear what guru or anyone else who have watched them play a lot thinks about Juve's chances. They haven't exactly been crushing it in league play the last couple months.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Yedlin Goal (Seattle)

Traore Goal (Seattle)

That Traore goal was a screamer. Nice job by Seattle!

 

[The Gator]

BTW, I got on Bayern when they were at +800.

I know the likelihood is low with the random draw but as a neutral, I really want to see Barca vs Bayern in the final.

Juve - Bayern would be my game to watch. That disciplined Juve defense against Bayern would be fun to watch imo

I've seen less of Juve than any other favorite in this thing, and what I have seen has been real hit and miss. I'd love to hear what guru or anyone else who have watched them play a lot thinks about Juve's chances. They haven't exactly been crushing it in league play the last couple months.

Pirlo's beard disagrees with you

 

[Mjolnirs]

Hopefully seeing Barcelona net 4 and Galatasaray with 3 away will remind Jupp and his charges that they still have to show up today.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I just realized that the weak spot of the U20 was the defense and Yedlin somehow did not even make the squad. Hopefully if Yedlin keeps this pace up Tab will pick him for the finals. He could make an enormous difference in that squad.

I am unsure if Andrew Farrell is eligible as I do not know the exact age cut off for the U20 WC.

 

[Slapdash]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

I think only thing keeping him from the undisputed title of GOAT is winning a World Cup.

I understand that this is the CW, but I just don't believe it to be true. Mascherano makes a dumb foul on somebody in a semifinal and draws a straight red, does that preclude Messi from being the GOAT?

The key word in my sentence was undisputed. Unfortunately, to answer your question, yes for the majority of people. It is the same logic that keeps Marino from ever entering the top of the top QB's discussion.

I am not saying I agree with it(I don't but I understand the arguement), I am just laying out the strong possibility that history, as written by the worlds soccer media in the future, will never unanimously put him above Pele or Maradona with out being the dominant player on a WC winning team.

Also, no Copa America titles, including losing in the quarter finals at home has hurt his international cv.

In terms of time left, it may just be 2014. He will likely be a part of the 2018 squad, but the chance to be the tournaments dominant player at 31 years old is diminished and the fact that the likelihood of a South American team winning in Europe is pretty low (has not happened since 1958)

Everything is lined up for him to end any discussion next year, playing in Brazil

I doubt Argentina will ever be talented enough at defense to make a deep push.

 

[NewlyRetired]

i'm relatively new to watching soccer, but it's hard for me to imagine anybody ever being better than Messi. when someone like me who knows very little about the game can watch for 2 minutes and say "hey, that guy is way better than everybody else on the field", you know its special

I think only thing keeping him from the undisputed title of GOAT is winning a World Cup.

I understand that this is the CW, but I just don't believe it to be true. Mascherano makes a dumb foul on somebody in a semifinal and draws a straight red, does that preclude Messi from being the GOAT?

The key word in my sentence was undisputed. Unfortunately, to answer your question, yes for the majority of people. It is the same logic that keeps Marino from ever entering the top of the top QB's discussion.

I am not saying I agree with it(I don't but I understand the arguement), I am just laying out the strong possibility that history, as written by the worlds soccer media in the future, will never unanimously put him above Pele or Maradona with out being the dominant player on a WC winning team.

Also, no Copa America titles, including losing in the quarter finals at home has hurt his international cv.

In terms of time left, it may just be 2014. He will likely be a part of the 2018 squad, but the chance to be the tournaments dominant player at 31 years old is diminished and the fact that the likelihood of a South American team winning in Europe is pretty low (has not happened since 1958)

Everything is lined up for him to end any discussion next year, playing in Brazil

I doubt Argentina will ever be talented enough at defense to make a deep push.

I have seen them play maybe 4 times in qualifying and they have looked very good as a team defensively. They have only given up 7 goals in 9 qualifiers. Even with out Brazil, the South American qualifying group is as deep as I have seen. Paraguay is a decent side, ranked 35th in the World and they are in dead last right now.