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

[shader]

I've never really followed much soccer before but got really into the world cup (I think I watched just about every game) and am looking to carry that over to something else. Trouble is, there is just sooooooo much soccer going on I'm having trouble sorting it all out. What's the go-to league here for Americans?

Is it the MLS because this is 'Murica, even though the quality of play is lower? The players that people are always talking about (Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar) are all in La Liga but I never hear anyone here talking about watching La Liga or really caring about any of the teams. It seems like most people I hear talking about soccer are talking about EPL (and aren't they bringing that to TV in the states?) but I looked over the current leading goal scorers for that league and I barely recognize any of the names.

So what's the play here?

I was in the same boat as you earlier this summer. I agree with most of the suggestions here. EPL will get you the best bang for your viewing buck, and if you have the NBC Sports Extra app you can watch ANY game, which is a huge plus. It's made it much easier for me to follow my new team, Swansea City.

MLS is definitely worthy of your attention, particularly if you live close to one of their teams. And while the general level of play is not at an EPL level, it's not like we're talking XFL vs. NFL either. I've seen plenty of really entertaining MLS games, just as I've seen some real stinkers in the EPL.

Personally, I have no interest or time to hunt down anything outside of these two leagues yet. But hey, I was hungry enough for soccer a few weeks ago that I sat through a Liga MX league game in Spanish. Never thought I'd say that six months ago.

Fantastic observation.

The "quality" of skills are higher in the EPL, but that doesn't mean there aren't some fantastically entertaining games to watch in MLS.

And people will talk about tactics in here- but for the most part, unless you're watching live and can see what the other players are doing outside of the frame of the TV camera, it's very difficult to gauge or judge the relative tactics of teams by watching on tv... so even the tactically less skilled teams and leagues are worth watching (the S Amercian supercup- Copa Libertadores, especially can be fun for that reason- wide open games with good footskills and lots of tactical mistakes to create more chances).

MLS is roughly on par with the Championship in England (2nd tier of English football). It's got a handful of players who are still Premier League quality (Keane; Henry; Donovan), and some who of course are below Championship level.

I'm still the new guy, but every time I see a MLS post on this thread, I quickly scan past it. I just don't get the fascination with a league of second-rate players.

Because I can't drive to London this weekend to attend a live match.I know you live in SEC country - your outlook would possibly be different if you had a local team.

Good point. If I had a soccer game to attend, I'm sure my outlook would be different.

For me specifically, out side of the local team affect, I am a huge fan of the US National team and I enjoy seeing the potential players.Don't feel bad about skipping past MLS posts. People skip past EPL, MLS, Bundesliga, international etc posts. The sport is really so big you should have no worries that every facet does not interest you.

Just enjoy what you enjoy, and try not to bash other leagues, especially when you have admittedly little knowledge of them.

My apologies to all.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I was going to make the obvious joke about Jay-Z at the PSG game, but I don't want a stadium ban.

Barca fans feeling like Jay in that elevator right now.

 

[Slapdash]

Sounds like Bravo is winning the starting job today.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Ah, the classic "lump it into Messi in the box" strategy. How do you say "Big Sam" in Catalan?

 

[The Gator]

Sounds like Bravo is winning the starting job today.

Good

That can save me a transfer in the fantasy league <_<

 

[CletiusMaximus]

William on for Sporting, Willian still on the bench for Chelsea.

 

[Jaysus]

William on for Sporting, Willian still on the bench for Chelsea.

Willian on now!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

William on for Sporting, Willian still on the bench for Chelsea.

Willian on now!

Surely they'll trade shirts after.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

APOEL pulling out a draw with Ajax. I love me some feisty Cypriot teams.

 

[Jaysus]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

 

[Kafka]

For all atheists out there....

Francesco Totti's equlizer for Roma is makes him the oldest scorer in the Champions League at 38 years and 3 days: link

.....now where did I put my pants?....

 

[The Gator]

For all atheists out there....

Francesco Totti's equlizer for Roma is makes him the oldest scorer in the Champions League at 38 years and 3 days: link

.....now where did I put my pants?....

totes lege

 

[NewlyRetired]

Alexi hoping for second bite of the GM cherry in LA? . That is a fantastic screen grab.

https://mobile.twitter.com/GrantWahl/status/517062342530449408/photo/1

 

[Kafka]

For all atheists out there....

Francesco Totti's equlizer for Roma is makes him the oldest scorer in the Champions League at 38 years and 3 days: link

.....now where did I put my pants?....

totes lege

Totally.

 

[Sebowski]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same.

EPL=Overrated

 

[Slapdash]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same.

EPL=Overrated

But it's easy to discuss!!1!

 

[Kafka]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same.

EPL=Overrated

"How dare they come in here & salvage a point!"..."My, how City played down to their competition...they got their tactics all wrong...Roma over-achieved"..blahblahblah. ...the Anglocommentators on FS1 were horrified..."how could this happen?" Hilarious.

 

[T Bell]

Alexi hoping for second bite of the GM cherry in LA? . That is a fantastic screen grab.

https://mobile.twitter.com/GrantWahl/status/517062342530449408/photo/1

I'm all for it if he's on TV less.

 

[The Gator]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same. EPL=Overrated

"How dare they come in here & salvage a point!"..."My, how City played down to their competition...they got their tactics all wrong...Roma over-achieved"..blahblahblah. ...the Anglocommentators on FS1 were horrified..."how could this happen?" Hilarious.

Did they really say that? Roma took it to them, they forced City into their mistakes.

Serie A >>>> La Liga also

 

[The Gator]

That first goal from Barcelona...

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same. EPL=Overrated

"How dare they come in here & salvage a point!"..."My, how City played down to their competition...they got their tactics all wrong...Roma over-achieved"..blahblahblah. ...the Anglocommentators on FS1 were horrified..."how could this happen?" Hilarious.

Did they really say that? Roma took it to them, they forced City into their mistakes.

Serie A >>>> La Liga also

I haven't watched it yet, but the reports I've seen all confirm that City was overmatched today. A draw in the CL against a top club like Roma shouldn't surprise anyone, although it seems a bit ironic they managed this at the Etihad with three EPL castoffs in the starting 11 - cole, Maicon and Gervinho - and with a 49 year old striker getting the equalizer.

 

[The Gator]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same.EPL=Overrated

"How dare they come in here & salvage a point!"..."My, how City played down to their competition...they got their tactics all wrong...Roma over-achieved"..blahblahblah. ...the Anglocommentators on FS1 were horrified..."how could this happen?" Hilarious.

Did they really say that? Roma took it to them, they forced City into their mistakes.

Serie A >>>> La Liga also

I haven't watched it yet, but the reports I've seen all confirm that City was overmatched today. A draw in the CL against a top club like Roma shouldn't surprise anyone, although it seems a bit ironic they managed this at the Etihad with three EPL castoffs in the starting 11 - cole, Maicon and Gervinho - and with a 49 year old striker getting the equalizer.

City were outplayed, easily. If Fox really said it like posted, they're way off. Nobody wanted Roma in their group and for this reason.

 

[Christo]

People, Stoke won at The Etihad. Let's not make this out to be more than it is.

 

[NewlyRetired]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11620681

 

[Kafka]

Yikes, City sure could have used a few more points from that game.

Roma thinking the same.EPL=Overrated

"How dare they come in here & salvage a point!"..."My, how City played down to their competition...they got their tactics all wrong...Roma over-achieved"..blahblahblah. ...the Anglocommentators on FS1 were horrified..."how could this happen?" Hilarious.

Did they really say that? Roma took it to them, they forced City into their mistakes.

Serie A >>>> La Liga also

I haven't watched it yet, but the reports I've seen all confirm that City was overmatched today. A draw in the CL against a top club like Roma shouldn't surprise anyone, although it seems a bit ironic they managed this at the Etihad with three EPL castoffs in the starting 11 - cole, Maicon and Gervinho - and with a 49 year old striker getting the equalizer.

City were outplayed, easily. If Fox really said it like posted, they're way off. Nobody wanted Roma in their group and for this reason.

I was paraphrasing, but that was the gist of the coverage...midway through the game they were criticizing MC of not respecting their opponent when earlier they mentioned City was playing down to their level of competition... etc...

 

[El Floppo]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11620681

nice D there, red.

 

[Jaysus]

Awesome!

Bayern Munich pays back fans who rented skyscraper to watch match: link

 

[CletiusMaximus]

CL quiz - name the clubs --> http://www.sporcle.com/games/guilherme_4/ucl-2014-15

27/32

This was such a big hit yesterday, let's do another one today!

Name the players that have played in a FIFA World Cup final & Champions League finalI got 47, but that was during a morning conference call, and I'm claiming a 50 due to missing 3 because I can't spell certain Dutch and French names.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Awesome!

Bayern Munich pays back fans who rented skyscraper to watch match: link

"Naturally this is sensational and we are very pleased."

 

[El Floppo]

Awesome!

Bayern Munich pays back fans who rented skyscraper to watch match: link

very cool.

and btw, I always love watching these games on TV... you get to hear all the chatter that players and coaches are doing.

considering the amount talking/yelling we used to do at collegiate/semi-pro level in front of only hundreds or a couple thousand, I always wonder how the hell they hear eachother in a loud stadium- and have thought maybe they don't need to talk as much. But then you see these games and realize it's non-stop.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is 3rd division in the US soccer pyramid. You can't get more niche in US sports if you tried

=================

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Saturday’s 2014 USL PRO Championship broadcast on CW31 averaged a 1.6 household rating and a 2.4 rating in the key male 18-34 demographic.

Republic FC’s 1.6 rating in homes was better than the 1.5 rating for the Notre Dame versus Syracuse college football game, which experienced a drop in ratings at the start of the Republic FC match. The Baylor versus Iowa State college football game averaged a rating 1.3 and saw the same ratings decline when the Republic FC match began. The Republic FC match also outdrew both college football games in all key demographics.

 

[roadkill1292]

This is 3rd division in the US soccer pyramid. You can't get more niche in US sports if you tried

=================

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Saturday’s 2014 USL PRO Championship broadcast on CW31 averaged a 1.6 household rating and a 2.4 rating in the key male 18-34 demographic.

Republic FC’s 1.6 rating in homes was better than the 1.5 rating for the Notre Dame versus Syracuse college football game, which experienced a drop in ratings at the start of the Republic FC match. The Baylor versus Iowa State college football game averaged a rating 1.3 and saw the same ratings decline when the Republic FC match began. The Republic FC match also outdrew both college football games in all key demographics.

I'd like to understand this completely before I email my American football-loving friends. Is that nationwide or just the Sac market or what?

Yes, I'm that annoying friend that we all seem to have.

 

[El Floppo]

This is 3rd division in the US soccer pyramid. You can't get more niche in US sports if you tried

=================

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Saturday’s 2014 USL PRO Championship broadcast on CW31 averaged a 1.6 household rating and a 2.4 rating in the key male 18-34 demographic.

Republic FC’s 1.6 rating in homes was better than the 1.5 rating for the Notre Dame versus Syracuse college football game, which experienced a drop in ratings at the start of the Republic FC match. The Baylor versus Iowa State college football game averaged a rating 1.3 and saw the same ratings decline when the Republic FC match began. The Republic FC match also outdrew both college football games in all key demographics.

I'd like to understand this completely before I email my American football-loving friends. Is that nationwide or just the Sac market or what?

Yes, I'm that annoying friend that we all seem to have.

I assume it's for whoever gets CW31.

I don't.

 

[Sebowski]

This is 3rd division in the US soccer pyramid. You can't get more niche in US sports if you tried

=================

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Saturday’s 2014 USL PRO Championship broadcast on CW31 averaged a 1.6 household rating and a 2.4 rating in the key male 18-34 demographic.

Republic FC’s 1.6 rating in homes was better than the 1.5 rating for the Notre Dame versus Syracuse college football game, which experienced a drop in ratings at the start of the Republic FC match. The Baylor versus Iowa State college football game averaged a rating 1.3 and saw the same ratings decline when the Republic FC match began. The Republic FC match also outdrew both college football games in all key demographics.

I'd like to understand this completely before I email my American football-loving friends. Is that nationwide or just the Sac market or what?

Yes, I'm that annoying friend that we all seem to have.

Has to be just the Sacramento market.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is 3rd division in the US soccer pyramid. You can't get more niche in US sports if you tried

=================

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Saturday’s 2014 USL PRO Championship broadcast on CW31 averaged a 1.6 household rating and a 2.4 rating in the key male 18-34 demographic.

Republic FC’s 1.6 rating in homes was better than the 1.5 rating for the Notre Dame versus Syracuse college football game, which experienced a drop in ratings at the start of the Republic FC match. The Baylor versus Iowa State college football game averaged a rating 1.3 and saw the same ratings decline when the Republic FC match began. The Republic FC match also outdrew both college football games in all key demographics.

I'd like to understand this completely before I email my American football-loving friends. Is that nationwide or just the Sac market or what?Yes, I'm that annoying friend that we all seem to have.

Has to be just the Sacramento market.

Correct. The USL game was only televised locally, not nationally.

No need to email any football loving friends unless they are futbol loving friends.

This is just another tidbit in the solid market they appear to have unearthed. Of course having a good team helps. If they can get the stadium deal done, they appear to be a no brainer for an MLS slot.

They are outdrawing Orlando, Seattle and Portland compared to when those teams were in USL Pro. That is quite a statement for the market.

 

[Jaysus]

This is 3rd division in the US soccer pyramid. You can't get more niche in US sports if you tried

=================

Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Saturday’s 2014 USL PRO Championship broadcast on CW31 averaged a 1.6 household rating and a 2.4 rating in the key male 18-34 demographic.

Republic FC’s 1.6 rating in homes was better than the 1.5 rating for the Notre Dame versus Syracuse college football game, which experienced a drop in ratings at the start of the Republic FC match. The Baylor versus Iowa State college football game averaged a rating 1.3 and saw the same ratings decline when the Republic FC match began. The Republic FC match also outdrew both college football games in all key demographics.

I'd like to understand this completely before I email my American football-loving friends. Is that nationwide or just the Sac market or what?Yes, I'm that annoying friend that we all seem to have.

Has to be just the Sacramento market.

Correct. The USL game was only televised locally, not nationally.

No need to email any football loving friends unless they are futbol loving friends.

This is just another tidbit in the solid market they appear to have unearthed. Of course having a good team helps. If they can get the stadium deal done, they appear to be a no brainer for an MLS slot.

They are outdrawing Orlando, Seattle and Portland compared to when those teams were in USL Pro. That is quite a statement for the market.

and only locally in Sacramento :(

 

[Brady Marino]

Ludogorets leads Real Madrid 1-0 in Champions Cup play.

Nothing big or anything.

 

[Jaysus]

Ludogorets leads Real Madrid 1-0 in Champions Cup play.

Nothing big or anything.

CR7 missed a PK

 

[Brady Marino]

Ludogorets leads Real Madrid 1-0 in Champions Cup play.

Nothing big or anything.

CR7 missed a PK

But not the second.

 

[Sebowski]

Welbeck with 2 in 8mins! Both nice goal scorers finishes.

ETA and he just missed on a hat trick!

 

[B Maverick]

Who's wearing a Welbeck shirt for Arsenal? 2 goals can't be Danny himself!

and no not bitter for United selling him, wish him luck.

 

[Sebowski]

London is burning!

 

[Jaysus]

Welbeck with 2 in 8mins! Both nice goal scorers finishes.

ETA and he just missed on a hat trick!

1: http://gfycat.com/ConventionalConventionalBaboon

2: http://gfycat.com/SinfulAdeptIslandcanary

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Jesus, what will the Turks do at home?

 

[T Bell]

Oxlade-Chamberlain is so close to being tremendous. Glad he's getting a lot of playing time.

 

[T Bell]

Melo should have been sent off for that two-footed challenge on Alexis. That was ridiculous.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Who's wearing a Welbeck shirt for Arsenal?

I'm still new to this, but I'm led to understand that it's "Dat guy Welbz."

 

[The Gator]

Isn't it odd for both teams to be wearing dark color kits? #REAL/LUD

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Isn't it odd for both teams to be wearing dark color kits? #REAL/LUD

Or Juve to be wearing neon green?

 

[Jaysus]

Jesus, what will the Turks do at home?

Are you referring to this? http://gfycat.com/RightInfiniteCoelacanth