***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (3 Viewers)

[The Gator]

What do you mean by "attacking wide roles" for Balotelli? Seems to me he'd fit much better as an out-and-out striker...I'm not sure I've ever seen him on the wing, but I don't recall seeing many Milan games with him playing. Is this a common position for him? He's 6'2+" and a beast in the box. He should be in front of the net....he's got Andy Carroll's size with Torres' ability. He and Sturridge lining up together and running off one another should give every team fits defensively, especially with someone like Sterling stretching the defense. Perhaps I'm a little biased though.

He is a very fluid player, prefect fit

Name: Mario Balotelli

Current Team: Italy

Shirt Number: 45

Positions:

Attacking Midfielder (Left, Right) Forward

He won't be stuck out wide, just like DS15 and Biter weren't.

Order your kit yet?

 

[shader]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.

They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

 

[charvik]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I have gone from loving American Football to not watching it at all. For me, part of the issue is the focus on the individual more so than the team in all reporting. Channels like ESPN has ruined the experience for me, with the extreme focus on non-sports stories, and the players following suit, making it a look-at-me sport. The NBA suffers from the same issues for me.From what I have seen, american media has tried the same approach with football. I saw way too much coverage on Messi and Ronaldo leading up to the world cup and that skewed the view of many new viewers I feel. They felt that since these are the big stars, the teams must be the best... It just doesn't work that way in football...

 

[Steve Tasker]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.

They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I'm not sure it's the penalties, necessarily, but for me, the stoppages in play get more agonizing every year.

I was watching the Bills preseason game this past weekend. Doug Martin caught a screen pass and appeared to score a touchdown, but it was close. Commercial timeout so the play can be reviewed. Come back from commercial - he was down at the 6-inch line. Ok. Teams line up for a play, Doug Martin up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. Extra point. Commercial timeout. Tampa kicks off to the Bills, guy gets tackled. Commercial timeout. It was damn near 10 minutes of nothing. 8 minutes of commercials, a 1-yard dive TD, an extra point, and a kickoff.

That's the #### that loses my attention.

 

[charvik]

11.45 EST on Thursday, CL draw!

Feels good to be back even in pot 3.

Best possible draw for pot 3? Porto, FC Basle and APOEL.

Worst possible draw for pot 3? Real Madrid, PSG and Roma.

 

[roadkill1292]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I have gone from loving American Football to not watching it at all. For me, part of the issue is the focus on the individual more so than the team in all reporting. Channels like ESPN has ruined the experience for me, with the extreme focus on non-sports stories, and the players following suit, making it a look-at-me sport. The NBA suffers from the same issues for me.From what I have seen, american media has tried the same approach with football. I saw way too much coverage on Messi and Ronaldo leading up to the world cup and that skewed the view of many new viewers I feel. They felt that since these are the big stars, the teams must be the best... It just doesn't work that way in football...

I know we've discussed it but I forget who provides the PL feed to NBC. They insist on showing a long looooonnnnggggg shot of a manager or owner or past player in the stands and I'll start yelling at the tv "Hey, the ###### ball's in play and we're missing it!" You really get hooked fast on 45 minutes of straight go time.

 

[The Gator]

11.45 EST on Thursday, CL draw!

Feels good to be back even in pot 3.

Best possible draw for pot 3? Porto, FC Basle and APOEL.

Worst possible draw for pot 3? Real Madrid, PSG and Roma.

I'd take:

Real Madrid

Schalke

Liverpool

Besiktas

 

[Sammy3469]

Check out this analysis site: http://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2014/08/visualized-liverpool-1-3-manchester-city.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

along with this: http://statsbomb.com/2014/08/player-positional-tracker-man-city-v-liverpool-250814/

Tons of fun, for us stats/tactics geeks.

Extract from above link, spot on:

That GIF from Statsbomb also demonstrates just how high each side's fullbacks played, as does Liverpool's average position in the above passing network. All four fullbacks' average position for the match was in the opposition's half. That's to be expected from City at home, but it was dangerous, almost to the point of arrogance, from Liverpool, putting a lot of pressure on the midfielders and center-backs. Especially when one of those fullbacks is a 22-year-old Spaniard making his debut, and the other is Glen Johnson. But that's Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, at least last season's Liverpool. At the defending league champions? No matter. We're going to attack. And, yes, Liverpool paid for it. But at least they had the confidence to go for it. However, I suspect Manquillo will be more defensive-minded when he starts, as will Flanagan in his appearances.

That positional tracker is hypnotizing

What a fantastic tool for coaches to easily explain how a player needs to improve/alter his positioning with out having to watch 90 minutes of film.

Yeah, I haven't seen that one before but I love it! I have probably seen the full game 4 times on that tracker, watching different players... I might have a problem

BTW this gets back to the analytics thing from earlier, but if this site has this from OPTA, there's no way these clubs don't have more sophisticated stuff.

 

[El Floppo]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I have gone from loving American Football to not watching it at all. For me, part of the issue is the focus on the individual more so than the team in all reporting. Channels like ESPN has ruined the experience for me, with the extreme focus on non-sports stories, and the players following suit, making it a look-at-me sport. The NBA suffers from the same issues for me.From what I have seen, american media has tried the same approach with football. I saw way too much coverage on Messi and Ronaldo leading up to the world cup and that skewed the view of many new viewers I feel. They felt that since these are the big stars, the teams must be the best... It just doesn't work that way in football...

I know we've discussed it but I forget who provides the PL feed to NBC. They insist on showing a long looooonnnnggggg shot of a manager or owner or past player in the stands and I'll start yelling at the tv "Hey, the ###### ball's in play and we're missing it!" You really get hooked fast on 45 minutes of straight go time.

yeah... EPL feeds can get a little frustrating. Serie A was always the best, IMO. They even get the timing of when to go from zoom/steady-cam sideline shot back to wide angle midfield shot.

US is getting there- but still can't figure out when or what replays to show. Hint- yellow cards are kinda important, show the damn play that created the card. instead of focusing on player headshots during play stoppages, show a previous play or tactical thing.

btw- I love love love the overhead camera on a wire. really wish more stadiums would accommodate for this.

 

[El Floppo]

Check out this analysis site: http://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2014/08/visualized-liverpool-1-3-manchester-city.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

along with this: http://statsbomb.com/2014/08/player-positional-tracker-man-city-v-liverpool-250814/

Tons of fun, for us stats/tactics geeks.

Extract from above link, spot on:

That GIF from Statsbomb also demonstrates just how high each side's fullbacks played, as does Liverpool's average position in the above passing network. All four fullbacks' average position for the match was in the opposition's half. That's to be expected from City at home, but it was dangerous, almost to the point of arrogance, from Liverpool, putting a lot of pressure on the midfielders and center-backs. Especially when one of those fullbacks is a 22-year-old Spaniard making his debut, and the other is Glen Johnson. But that's Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, at least last season's Liverpool. At the defending league champions? No matter. We're going to attack. And, yes, Liverpool paid for it. But at least they had the confidence to go for it. However, I suspect Manquillo will be more defensive-minded when he starts, as will Flanagan in his appearances.

That positional tracker is hypnotizing

What a fantastic tool for coaches to easily explain how a player needs to improve/alter his positioning with out having to watch 90 minutes of film.

Yeah, I haven't seen that one before but I love it! I have probably seen the full game 4 times on that tracker, watching different players... I might have a problem

BTW this gets back to the analytics thing from earlier, but if this site has this from OPTA, there's no way these clubs don't have more sophisticated stuff.

love this thing. if stats are tied to something that's more fluid and timelapsey, like this- hell yes, I'm in.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Check out this analysis site: http://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2014/08/visualized-liverpool-1-3-manchester-city.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

along with this: http://statsbomb.com/2014/08/player-positional-tracker-man-city-v-liverpool-250814/

Tons of fun, for us stats/tactics geeks.

Extract from above link, spot on:

That GIF from Statsbomb also demonstrates just how high each side's fullbacks played, as does Liverpool's average position in the above passing network. All four fullbacks' average position for the match was in the opposition's half. That's to be expected from City at home, but it was dangerous, almost to the point of arrogance, from Liverpool, putting a lot of pressure on the midfielders and center-backs. Especially when one of those fullbacks is a 22-year-old Spaniard making his debut, and the other is Glen Johnson. But that's Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, at least last season's Liverpool. At the defending league champions? No matter. We're going to attack. And, yes, Liverpool paid for it. But at least they had the confidence to go for it. However, I suspect Manquillo will be more defensive-minded when he starts, as will Flanagan in his appearances.

That positional tracker is hypnotizing

What a fantastic tool for coaches to easily explain how a player needs to improve/alter his positioning with out having to watch 90 minutes of film.

Yeah, I haven't seen that one before but I love it! I have probably seen the full game 4 times on that tracker, watching different players... I might have a problem

BTW this gets back to the analytics thing from earlier, but if this site has this from OPTA, there's no way these clubs don't have more sophisticated stuff.

love this thing. if stats are tied to something that's more fluid and timelapsey, like this- hell yes, I'm in.

This is where it is going.

I would have killed for something like this as a player to analyze something quickly and visually and this has to be a dream for coaches for time savings.

Think of how much editting work would be needed in the video tape days to convey that same message?

 

[roadkill1292]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I have gone from loving American Football to not watching it at all. For me, part of the issue is the focus on the individual more so than the team in all reporting. Channels like ESPN has ruined the experience for me, with the extreme focus on non-sports stories, and the players following suit, making it a look-at-me sport. The NBA suffers from the same issues for me.From what I have seen, american media has tried the same approach with football. I saw way too much coverage on Messi and Ronaldo leading up to the world cup and that skewed the view of many new viewers I feel. They felt that since these are the big stars, the teams must be the best... It just doesn't work that way in football...

I know we've discussed it but I forget who provides the PL feed to NBC. They insist on showing a long looooonnnnggggg shot of a manager or owner or past player in the stands and I'll start yelling at the tv "Hey, the ###### ball's in play and we're missing it!" You really get hooked fast on 45 minutes of straight go time.

yeah... EPL feeds can get a little frustrating. Serie A was always the best, IMO. They even get the timing of when to go from zoom/steady-cam sideline shot back to wide angle midfield shot.

US is getting there- but still can't figure out when or what replays to show. Hint- yellow cards are kinda important, show the damn play that created the card. instead of focusing on player headshots during play stoppages, show a previous play or tactical thing.

btw- I love love love the overhead camera on a wire. really wish more stadiums would accommodate for this.

BEIN seems to spend a lot less time filming on coaches and fans but for some reason my local cable package doesn't show either of the two channels in high def. Is that a universal thing? Makes me crazy because I watch a fair amount of Spanish, French and Italian footy.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I'm not sure it's the penalties, necessarily, but for me, the stoppages in play get more agonizing every year.I was watching the Bills preseason game this past weekend. Doug Martin caught a screen pass and appeared to score a touchdown, but it was close. Commercial timeout so the play can be reviewed. Come back from commercial - he was down at the 6-inch line. Ok. Teams line up for a play, Doug Martin up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. Extra point. Commercial timeout. Tampa kicks off to the Bills, guy gets tackled. Commercial timeout. It was damn near 10 minutes of nothing. 8 minutes of commercials, a 1-yard dive TD, an extra point, and a kickoff.

That's the #### that loses my attention.

I still love the NFL but almost never watch live anymore. If it was not for DVR's I might have stopped caring.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I have gone from loving American Football to not watching it at all. For me, part of the issue is the focus on the individual more so than the team in all reporting. Channels like ESPN has ruined the experience for me, with the extreme focus on non-sports stories, and the players following suit, making it a look-at-me sport. The NBA suffers from the same issues for me.From what I have seen, american media has tried the same approach with football. I saw way too much coverage on Messi and Ronaldo leading up to the world cup and that skewed the view of many new viewers I feel. They felt that since these are the big stars, the teams must be the best... It just doesn't work that way in football...

I know we've discussed it but I forget who provides the PL feed to NBC. They insist on showing a long looooonnnnggggg shot of a manager or owner or past player in the stands and I'll start yelling at the tv "Hey, the ###### ball's in play and we're missing it!" You really get hooked fast on 45 minutes of straight go time.

yeah... EPL feeds can get a little frustrating. Serie A was always the best, IMO. They even get the timing of when to go from zoom/steady-cam sideline shot back to wide angle midfield shot.

US is getting there- but still can't figure out when or what replays to show. Hint- yellow cards are kinda important, show the damn play that created the card. instead of focusing on player headshots during play stoppages, show a previous play or tactical thing.

btw- I love love love the overhead camera on a wire. really wish more stadiums would accommodate for this.

BEIN seems to spend a lot less time filming on coaches and fans but for some reason my local cable package doesn't show either of the two channels in high def. Is that a universal thing? Makes me crazy because I watch a fair amount of Spanish, French and Italian footy.

Unless I am mistaken, beIN does not film any of the leagues they show. They are all feeds.

 

[roadkill1292]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I have gone from loving American Football to not watching it at all. For me, part of the issue is the focus on the individual more so than the team in all reporting. Channels like ESPN has ruined the experience for me, with the extreme focus on non-sports stories, and the players following suit, making it a look-at-me sport. The NBA suffers from the same issues for me.From what I have seen, american media has tried the same approach with football. I saw way too much coverage on Messi and Ronaldo leading up to the world cup and that skewed the view of many new viewers I feel. They felt that since these are the big stars, the teams must be the best... It just doesn't work that way in football...

I know we've discussed it but I forget who provides the PL feed to NBC. They insist on showing a long looooonnnnggggg shot of a manager or owner or past player in the stands and I'll start yelling at the tv "Hey, the ###### ball's in play and we're missing it!" You really get hooked fast on 45 minutes of straight go time.

yeah... EPL feeds can get a little frustrating. Serie A was always the best, IMO. They even get the timing of when to go from zoom/steady-cam sideline shot back to wide angle midfield shot.

US is getting there- but still can't figure out when or what replays to show. Hint- yellow cards are kinda important, show the damn play that created the card. instead of focusing on player headshots during play stoppages, show a previous play or tactical thing.

btw- I love love love the overhead camera on a wire. really wish more stadiums would accommodate for this.

BEIN seems to spend a lot less time filming on coaches and fans but for some reason my local cable package doesn't show either of the two channels in high def. Is that a universal thing? Makes me crazy because I watch a fair amount of Spanish, French and Italian footy.

Unless I am mistaken, beIN does not film any of the leagues they show. They are all feeds.

I should have known that. Well, the feeds are pretty decent or at least would be if I just had them in high def. :[/eurosnob}:

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is awesome. And the best part of this all time 11 is how strong the bench could still be

https://mobile.twitter.com/BrianStraus/status/504309850877489152/photo/1

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Check out this analysis site: http://ohyoubeauty.blogspot.com/2014/08/visualized-liverpool-1-3-manchester-city.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

along with this: http://statsbomb.com/2014/08/player-positional-tracker-man-city-v-liverpool-250814/

Tons of fun, for us stats/tactics geeks.

Extract from above link, spot on:

That GIF from Statsbomb also demonstrates just how high each side's fullbacks played, as does Liverpool's average position in the above passing network. All four fullbacks' average position for the match was in the opposition's half. That's to be expected from City at home, but it was dangerous, almost to the point of arrogance, from Liverpool, putting a lot of pressure on the midfielders and center-backs. Especially when one of those fullbacks is a 22-year-old Spaniard making his debut, and the other is Glen Johnson. But that's Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, at least last season's Liverpool. At the defending league champions? No matter. We're going to attack. And, yes, Liverpool paid for it. But at least they had the confidence to go for it. However, I suspect Manquillo will be more defensive-minded when he starts, as will Flanagan in his appearances.

That positional tracker is hypnotizing

What a fantastic tool for coaches to easily explain how a player needs to improve/alter his positioning with out having to watch 90 minutes of film.

Yeah, I haven't seen that one before but I love it! I have probably seen the full game 4 times on that tracker, watching different players... I might have a problem

BTW this gets back to the analytics thing from earlier, but if this site has this from OPTA, there's no way these clubs don't have more sophisticated stuff.

love this thing. if stats are tied to something that's more fluid and timelapsey, like this- hell yes, I'm in.

This is where it is going.

I would have killed for something like this as a player to analyze something quickly and visually and this has to be a dream for coaches for time savings.

Think of how much editting work would be needed in the video tape days to convey that same message?

Somewhat related to this topic is the NBC Live Extra "Tactical Cam" which debuted yesterday. I've not checked it out yet.

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/21/nbc-sports-live-extra-to-launch-new-tactical-cam-to-enhance-premier-league-coverage/

 

[Sinn Fein]

Well, the first domino fell at Spurs, as captain Dawson is off to Hull. Classy guy, and should do well at Hull.

Replacement to be announced tomorrow.*

Hopefully we can still get Schneiderlin and jay Rodriguez this window.

*the team he is leaving has already announced it

 

[guru_007]

United XI: De Gea, M Keane, Evans, Vermijl, James, Powell, Janko, Anderson, Hernandez, Kagawa, Welbeck

:X :X

 

[GoFishTN]

Well, the first domino fell at Spurs, as captain Dawson is off to Hull. Classy guy, and should do well at Hull.

Replacement to be announced tomorrow.*

Hopefully we can still get Schneiderlin and jay Rodriguez this window.

*the team he is leaving has already announced it

Have to root for Spurs North now.

 

[shader]

Thanks to Gator and Charvik for their detailed responses!

I was watching that game yesterday and thinking about how engrossing a first half game it was. Compare that to the NFL. TV timeouts, replays and penalties. It's no wonder that the Redzone channel and 30 minute replays are gaining so much popularity. It can be painful to watch an NFL game at times.

It's not surprising that the NFL is struggling to catch on in London and Europe. It would be one thing if soccer had an off-season. Then maybe the NFL could catch on. But soccer goes from August to May. The NFL's new rules this preseason show that it clearly doesn't see the point. But as long as the ratings improve, nothing will be done.

Last year I forced myself not to watch fatboyz football. This year I can hardly stand watching it.They keep interrupting it. And they better do something about that or risk losing the next generation for whom it will be background noise at best while they're doing 10 other things on their smart phones.

The one advantage American football has is that fantasy is much better, in my early opinion.

Also, it's ingrained in the culture.

But I do agree that the new generation's attention span is miniscule, and calling MORE penalties, seems completely asinine. But they get around that with channels like the redzone channel, which is all I watch from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.

I'm not sure it's the penalties, necessarily, but for me, the stoppages in play get more agonizing every year.I was watching the Bills preseason game this past weekend. Doug Martin caught a screen pass and appeared to score a touchdown, but it was close. Commercial timeout so the play can be reviewed. Come back from commercial - he was down at the 6-inch line. Ok. Teams line up for a play, Doug Martin up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. Extra point. Commercial timeout. Tampa kicks off to the Bills, guy gets tackled. Commercial timeout. It was damn near 10 minutes of nothing. 8 minutes of commercials, a 1-yard dive TD, an extra point, and a kickoff.

That's the #### that loses my attention.

I still love the NFL but almost never watch live anymore. If it was not for DVR's I might have stopped caring.

Excellent point. Sunday/Monday night games are an automatic DVR. No sense in watching live. Start at halftime and watch the game in 1.5 hours.

 

[El Floppo]

Always liked Dawson- seemed like a guy always getting the most out of what he had to work with. I might even have him on my team this year.

 

[El Floppo]

I was always a soccer first guy... but I stopped watching the NFL a long, long time ago. Playoffs, sure, if there's nothing else on.

 

[shader]

The UEFA games that are on today and tomorrow...Are all of these teams fighting for spots in the group rounds? Is this the final game? For instance, Zenit just won. Are they in group stage now?

 

[shader]

Every time I read about the Champions League or hear players talk about it..they always talk about some song that "gives them chills" or something? Is there a certain song that plays only for UEFA games or something? What's the history with that?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Every time I read about the Champions League or hear players talk about it..they always talk about some song that "gives them chills" or something? Is there a certain song that plays only for UEFA games or something? What's the history with that?

The Champions League anthem. You'll be sick of it soon enough.

EDIT: Here is the song itself.

 

[El Floppo]

:cueTasker:

 

[shader]

Every time I read about the Champions League or hear players talk about it..they always talk about some song that "gives them chills" or something? Is there a certain song that plays only for UEFA games or something? What's the history with that?

The Champions League anthem. You'll be sick of it soon enough.

EDIT: Here is the song itself.

maybe it grows on you

 

[Steve Tasker]

The Chaaaaaaaampioooooonnsssss

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Every time I read about the Champions League or hear players talk about it..they always talk about some song that "gives them chills" or something? Is there a certain song that plays only for UEFA games or something? What's the history with that?

The Champions League anthem. You'll be sick of it soon enough.

EDIT: Here is the song itself.

maybe it grows on you

No.

It grows in you.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

It does not grow on you. Heineken has made sure of that. You'll be begging for that Kid Rock Chevy truck abomination in no time.

 

[El Floppo]

The Chaaaaaaaampioooooonnsssss

goosebumps, every time.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Is this the only day that eephus is a Man U fan?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Is S####horpe/Reading on TV anywhere?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Zenit advanced to CL pool play with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Standard Liege. Modified Liege is in the Europa League this year.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Is S####horpe/Reading on TV anywhere?

Zenit advanced to CL pool play with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Standard Liege. Modified Liege is in the Europa League this year.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The UEFA games that are on today and tomorrow...Are all of these teams fighting for spots in the group rounds? Is this the final game? For instance, Zenit just won. Are they in group stage now?

They already had three qualifying rounds. This is the "Play-off" round, which is two legs, home/away. The first legs were all played last week. 10 winners from the Play-Off rounds all qualify for the Group Stage, joining 22 clubs who have already qualified. This is when it gets good. Drawing for the groups is Thursday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_UEFA_Champions_League_group_stage

fyi:

If Arsenal loses tomorrow vs. Besiktas, it stands to lose £20m+ in CL revenue, but Chelsea, Liverpool, and City will each get an extra ~£3m.

 

[The Gator]

The UEFA games that are on today and tomorrow...Are all of these teams fighting for spots in the group rounds? Is this the final game? For instance, Zenit just won. Are they in group stage now?

They already had three qualifying rounds. This is the "Play-off" round, which is two legs, home/away. The first legs were all played last week. 10 winners from the Play-Off rounds all qualify for the Group Stage, joining 22 clubs who have already qualified. This is when it gets good. Drawing for the groups is Thursday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_UEFA_Champions_League_group_stage

fyi:

If Arsenal loses tomorrow vs. Besiktas, it stands to lose £20m+ in CL revenue, but Chelsea, Liverpool, and City will each get an extra ~£3m.

COME ON YOU BLACK EAGLES

 

[CletiusMaximus]

From one of my go-to FFP gurus, @JakeFCohen (some wages numbers are estimated):

[SIZE=14pt]Angel Di Maria will cost Manchester United £22.3m per year, based on £59.7m fee and 5-year deal at £200k pw.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]PL most expensive players (est 14-15 costs)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]ADM £22.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Torres £18.5m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]RVP £17.4m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Hazard £16.7m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Ozil £16.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Mata £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Costa £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Rooney £15.6m[/SIZE]

 

[SmoovySmoov]

HA!!!

 

[The Gator]

From one of my go-to FFP gurus, @JakeFCohen (some wages numbers are estimated):

[SIZE=14pt]Angel Di Maria will cost Manchester United £22.3m per year, based on £59.7m fee and 5-year deal at £200k pw.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]PL most expensive players (est 14-15 costs)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]ADM £22.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Torres £18.5m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]RVP £17.4m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Hazard £16.7m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Ozil £16.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Mata £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Costa £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Rooney £15.6m[/SIZE]

You're probably the guy to ask...does United have the most expensive squad in the league now?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

From one of my go-to FFP gurus, @JakeFCohen (some wages numbers are estimated):

[SIZE=14pt]Angel Di Maria will cost Manchester United £22.3m per year, based on £59.7m fee and 5-year deal at £200k pw.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]PL most expensive players (est 14-15 costs)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]ADM £22.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Torres £18.5m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]RVP £17.4m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Hazard £16.7m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Ozil £16.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Mata £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Costa £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Rooney £15.6m[/SIZE]

You're probably the guy to ask...does United have the most expensive squad in the league now?

I don't know - its very hard to get current accurate wage info, especially for reserve players. Transfer prices are pretty well-known, but wages are often estimated based on known factors. Published financials for the clubs are usually a year or more in arrears, so much of this is guesswork.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Everton confirmed that Eto'o has signed a two year contract. Lukaku immediately demands a loan.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

From one of my favorite quasi-racist tweeters, Evil Kagawa:

Evil Kagawa ‏@evilkagawa

Gaal say he rest all of best player. Reserves good enough win game.

I say "but Gaal I want play!"

He say "You are playing"

Son of #####!

 

[Eephus]

Is this the only day that eephus is a Man U fan?

Capital one cup today. Can Man U finally get a win?

doubt itsaw that Dons expecting a record crowd tonight, 29000+

United probably going to throw a #### lineup out there (what else could they) and lose 2-1

I know one person who'll be pulling for United today: Germany Jones.

I'm rooting for lightning strikes and sinkholes

 

[The Gator]

From one of my favorite quasi-racist tweeters, Evil Kagawa:

Evil Kagawa ‏@evilkagawa

Gaal say he rest all of best player. Reserves good enough win game.

I say "but Gaal I want play!"

He say "You are playing"

Son of #####!

 

[Eephus]

Everton confirmed that Eto'o has signed a two year contract. Lukaku immediately demands a loan.

To'o years?

 

[Spartans Rule]

fyi:

If Arsenal loses tomorrow vs. Besiktas, it stands to lose £20m+ in CL revenue, but Chelsea, Liverpool, and City will each get an extra ~£3m.

It's crazy how high the stakes are in these games. If Arsenal loses tomorrow, their 2013-14 season was basically a failure. But financially, they'd survive without the £20M. Some of these teams from small countries could probably double the value of their club by winning today.

 

[NewlyRetired]

From one of my go-to FFP gurus, @JakeFCohen (some wages numbers are estimated):

[SIZE=14pt]Angel Di Maria will cost Manchester United £22.3m per year, based on £59.7m fee and 5-year deal at £200k pw.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]PL most expensive players (est 14-15 costs)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]ADM £22.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Torres £18.5m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]RVP £17.4m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Hazard £16.7m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Ozil £16.3m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Mata £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Costa £16m[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]Rooney £15.6m[/SIZE]

You're probably the guy to ask...does United have the most expensive squad in the league now?

I don't know - its very hard to get current accurate wage info, especially for reserve players. Transfer prices are pretty well-known, but wages are often estimated based on known factors. Published financials for the clubs are usually a year or more in arrears, so much of this is guesswork.

Do players have unions in Europe like our sports here? We find out all of the salary info typically through the unions releasing the info in many cases.

 

[Christo]

USMNT Player Google Searches:

Howard, Yedlin & Gonalez

Bradley, Besler & Brooks

Beasley, Dempsey & Diskerud

Bedoya, Guzan & Jones

Beckerman, Green & Altidore

Wondolowski, Zusi & Cameron

Rimando, Johnson & Klinsmann