***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)

[NewlyRetired]

Philly vs KC for the US Open Cup title tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm.

Winner gets a ticket to next years CCL.

Go Union! (it is time for that fan base to get some good news).

I'll be there to cheer on the Defending Finalists!

Step 1 (Take 2) towards being the first MLS side to hoist the Club World Cup

(I subconsciously started to type... :lmao... but caught myself)

love the lofty goals. wth not. as a neutral, I just can't ever find myself getting behind KC... but the lovable GK losers in Philly- damn skippy, I can get behind them. I would love for RBs to win this thing someday- gotta say, and it's probably my US sports "playoffs/tourney" mentality, but I prefer this piece of hardware over the Supporters Shield.

If Blake puts on the Superman cape again like he did against the Revs, he is going to finally make a lot of those old GK jokes go away (at least until the off season when they sign 4 more ).

 

[El Floppo]

Good read on the Union's academy:

http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/09/29/24-under-24-philadelphia-union-academy-project-could-transform-north-america

skimmed it. good stuff- like the lip-service they're giving to the academic side of things "critical, creative thinkers" etc. genuinely wonder/interested how the "school" part of it will hold up relative to other schools.

I must've played against that Graham guy who created the program. Wonder if he's the kid that hit a 35 yard rocket in the closing minutes to end my college career in the round of 16 NCAAs.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

BTW Flop, a story came out yesterday that the Union were going to hire Octavio Zambrano as their new Sporting Director.

From a Metro perspective, how should I feel about this?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Philly vs KC for the US Open Cup title tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm.

Winner gets a ticket to next years CCL.

Go Union! (it is time for that fan base to get some good news).

I'll be there to cheer on the Defending Finalists!Step 1 (Take 2) towards being the first MLS side to hoist the Club World Cup

(I subconsciously started to type... :lmao... but caught myself)

love the lofty goals. wth not. as a neutral, I just can't ever find myself getting behind KC... but the lovable GK losers in Philly- damn skippy, I can get behind them. I would love for RBs to win this thing someday- gotta say, and it's probably my US sports "playoffs/tourney" mentality, but I prefer this piece of hardware over the Supporters Shield.

If Blake puts on the Superman cape again like he did against the Revs, he is going to finally make a lot of those old GK jokes go away (at least until the off season when they sign 4 more ).

Yeah...except McCarthy's playing

(But to be fair, he's been pretty awesome in this tournament so he deserves to see it out)

 

[Jaysus]

Philly vs KC for the US Open Cup title tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm.

Winner gets a ticket to next years CCL.

Go Union! (it is time for that fan base to get some good news).

I'll be there to cheer on the Defending Finalists!Step 1 (Take 2) towards being the first MLS side to hoist the Club World Cup

(I subconsciously started to type... :lmao... but caught myself)

love the lofty goals. wth not. as a neutral, I just can't ever find myself getting behind KC... but the lovable GK losers in Philly- damn skippy, I can get behind them. I would love for RBs to win this thing someday- gotta say, and it's probably my US sports "playoffs/tourney" mentality, but I prefer this piece of hardware over the Supporters Shield.

If Blake puts on the Superman cape again like he did against the Revs, he is going to finally make a lot of those old GK jokes go away (at least until the off season when they sign 4 more ).

Yeah...except McCarthy's playing

(But to be fair, he's been pretty awesome in this tournament so he deserves to see it out)

Crap, I missed that announcement. I was kinda hoping they would stick with Blake after this weekend.

DOOP

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Philly vs KC for the US Open Cup title tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm.

Winner gets a ticket to next years CCL.

Go Union! (it is time for that fan base to get some good news).

I'll be there to cheer on the Defending Finalists!Step 1 (Take 2) towards being the first MLS side to hoist the Club World Cup

(I subconsciously started to type... :lmao... but caught myself)

love the lofty goals. wth not. as a neutral, I just can't ever find myself getting behind KC... but the lovable GK losers in Philly- damn skippy, I can get behind them. I would love for RBs to win this thing someday- gotta say, and it's probably my US sports "playoffs/tourney" mentality, but I prefer this piece of hardware over the Supporters Shield.

If Blake puts on the Superman cape again like he did against the Revs, he is going to finally make a lot of those old GK jokes go away (at least until the off season when they sign 4 more ).

Yeah...except McCarthy's playing (But to be fair, he's been pretty awesome in this tournament so he deserves to see it out)

Crap, I missed that announcement. I was kinda hoping they would stick with Blake after this weekend.DOOP

I could certainly be mistaken, and I really hope Blake plays too. I'm just reading the tea leaves and using Union history as my guide.

MacMath kept playing all the USOC games last year even after they brought in Rais (McCarthy has played the whole tournament to this point so far), and McCarthy featured heavily in that hype video they put out. That stuff seems small, but when it comes to the Union, small stuff tends to matter.

 

[Jaysus]

Philly vs KC for the US Open Cup title tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm.

Winner gets a ticket to next years CCL.

Go Union! (it is time for that fan base to get some good news).

I'll be there to cheer on the Defending Finalists!Step 1 (Take 2) towards being the first MLS side to hoist the Club World Cup

(I subconsciously started to type... :lmao... but caught myself)

love the lofty goals. wth not. as a neutral, I just can't ever find myself getting behind KC... but the lovable GK losers in Philly- damn skippy, I can get behind them. I would love for RBs to win this thing someday- gotta say, and it's probably my US sports "playoffs/tourney" mentality, but I prefer this piece of hardware over the Supporters Shield.

If Blake puts on the Superman cape again like he did against the Revs, he is going to finally make a lot of those old GK jokes go away (at least until the off season when they sign 4 more ).

Yeah...except McCarthy's playing (But to be fair, he's been pretty awesome in this tournament so he deserves to see it out)

Crap, I missed that announcement. I was kinda hoping they would stick with Blake after this weekend.DOOP

I could certainly be mistaken, and I really hope Blake plays too. I'm just reading the tea leaves and using Union history as my guide.

MacMath kept playing all the USOC games last year even after they brought in Rais (McCarthy has played the whole tournament to this point so far), and McCarthy featured heavily in that hype video they put out. That stuff seems small, but when it comes to the Union, small stuff tends to matter.

This is the only update I saw:

For many Union fans, the main question before Wednesday’s US Open Cup final is who will start in goal. In a joint press conference on Monday (full transcript at US Soccer) with Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes, as well as Sebastien Le Toux and Matt Besler, Union head coach Jim Curtin said, “It’s a huge decision…It’s a good situation because both of them have played well…There’s a big decision to make there and I’m confident that both of them can get us a win, whichever one I decide. Like I said, we are a team. Everybody plays a role in getting us to the final. The team we put on the field will be our best XI that we have on our team for that day to win a game.”

But you are right, it sure seems like there are plenty of tea leaves there...

ETA: Lots of Blake love in this post: http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2015/09/29/andre-blake-must-start-the-u-s-open-cup-final/

 

[Sebowski]

Was Cech hurt or something? Any particular reason you don't start him if he's not injured? He's a goalie, not a box to box midfielder that needs a rest.

Pretty common to have a cup keeper. Even when it's Ter Stegen...

And Ospina was fantastic in the Copa this summer. Giving him Cahpions League seemed like a fine idea.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Philly vs KC for the US Open Cup title tonight on ESPN2 at 7:00pm.

Winner gets a ticket to next years CCL.

Go Union! (it is time for that fan base to get some good news).

I'll be there to cheer on the Defending Finalists!Step 1 (Take 2) towards being the first MLS side to hoist the Club World Cup

(I subconsciously started to type... :lmao... but caught myself)

love the lofty goals. wth not. as a neutral, I just can't ever find myself getting behind KC... but the lovable GK losers in Philly- damn skippy, I can get behind them. I would love for RBs to win this thing someday- gotta say, and it's probably my US sports "playoffs/tourney" mentality, but I prefer this piece of hardware over the Supporters Shield.

If Blake puts on the Superman cape again like he did against the Revs, he is going to finally make a lot of those old GK jokes go away (at least until the off season when they sign 4 more ).

Yeah...except McCarthy's playing (But to be fair, he's been pretty awesome in this tournament so he deserves to see it out)

Crap, I missed that announcement. I was kinda hoping they would stick with Blake after this weekend.DOOP

I could certainly be mistaken, and I really hope Blake plays too. I'm just reading the tea leaves and using Union history as my guide.

MacMath kept playing all the USOC games last year even after they brought in Rais (McCarthy has played the whole tournament to this point so far), and McCarthy featured heavily in that hype video they put out. That stuff seems small, but when it comes to the Union, small stuff tends to matter.

This is the only update I saw:

For many Union fans, the main question before Wednesday’s US Open Cup final is who will start in goal. In a joint press conference on Monday (full transcript at US Soccer) with Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes, as well as Sebastien Le Toux and Matt Besler, Union head coach Jim Curtin said, “It’s a huge decision…It’s a good situation because both of them have played well…There’s a big decision to make there and I’m confident that both of them can get us a win, whichever one I decide. Like I said, we are a team. Everybody plays a role in getting us to the final. The team we put on the field will be our best XI that we have on our team for that day to win a game.”

But you are right, it sure seems like there are plenty of tea leaves there...

ETA: Lots of Blake love in this post: http://www.phillysoccerpage.net/2015/09/29/andre-blake-must-start-the-u-s-open-cup-final/

I have watched a lot of games this year across this league.

Only one gk had a better performance I saw than what Blake did this weekend and that was the once in a lifetime game Sean Johnson had a month or two ago.

I really think Philly should go with the hot hand here. There is no league worry as they are all but mathematically out of the playoffs so they could always give McCarthy a run out in a league game or 2.

 

[B Maverick]

Manchester United and Chelsea have the ugliest fans in the Premier League, according to a new survey of football followers.

United fans are least attractive to supporters of other clubs, with one in 11 (nine per cent) refusing to date a Red Devil.

But Bournemouth and Southampton supporters are the best looking in the top flight, suggests the research.

Dating service, Match.com, quizzed more than 1,000 fans of top-flight clubs on which rival supporters they'd be prepared to be seen stepping out on a date with.

Bournemouth fans were seen as the league's most attractive, with more than half (58 per cent) of rivals saying they'd be happy to date a Cherries supporter.

QPR, IMO.

Flawed. Of course Bournemouth comes out on top. How often does a survey come out where you get to vote to "pop those Cherries"?

And United has Jenna Jameson and Alex Morgan as supporters!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Mexico Football Federation general secretary Guillermo Cantu confirmed that El Tri sought the services of Jurgen Klopp but were turned down.

 

[El Floppo]

BTW Flop, a story came out yesterday that the Union were going to hire Octavio Zambrano as their new Sporting Director.

From a Metro perspective, how should I feel about this?

goals, goals, goals.

I don't remember too much about him... but I remember the team scoring goals and doing decently.

 

[El Floppo]

Manchester United and Chelsea have the ugliest fans in the Premier League, according to a new survey of football followers.

United fans are least attractive to supporters of other clubs, with one in 11 (nine per cent) refusing to date a Red Devil.

But Bournemouth and Southampton supporters are the best looking in the top flight, suggests the research.

Dating service, Match.com, quizzed more than 1,000 fans of top-flight clubs on which rival supporters they'd be prepared to be seen stepping out on a date with.

Bournemouth fans were seen as the league's most attractive, with more than half (58 per cent) of rivals saying they'd be happy to date a Cherries supporter.

QPR, IMO.

Flawed. Of course Bournemouth comes out on top. How often does a survey come out where you get to vote to "pop those Cherries"?

And United has Jenna Jameson and Alex Morgan as supporters!

have you ever seen Christo?

 

[The Gator]

Manchester United and Chelsea have the ugliest fans in the Premier League, according to a new survey of football followers.

United fans are least attractive to supporters of other clubs, with one in 11 (nine per cent) refusing to date a Red Devil.

But Bournemouth and Southampton supporters are the best looking in the top flight, suggests the research.

Dating service, Match.com, quizzed more than 1,000 fans of top-flight clubs on which rival supporters they'd be prepared to be seen stepping out on a date with.

Bournemouth fans were seen as the league's most attractive, with more than half (58 per cent) of rivals saying they'd be happy to date a Cherries supporter.

QPR, IMO.

Flawed. Of course Bournemouth comes out on top. How often does a survey come out where you get to vote to "pop those Cherries"?

And United has Jenna Jameson and Alex Morgan as supporters!

have you ever seen Christo?

I've seen his bare chest

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Manchester United and Chelsea have the ugliest fans in the Premier League, according to a new survey of football followers.

United fans are least attractive to supporters of other clubs, with one in 11 (nine per cent) refusing to date a Red Devil.

But Bournemouth and Southampton supporters are the best looking in the top flight, suggests the research.

Dating service, Match.com, quizzed more than 1,000 fans of top-flight clubs on which rival supporters they'd be prepared to be seen stepping out on a date with.

Bournemouth fans were seen as the league's most attractive, with more than half (58 per cent) of rivals saying they'd be happy to date a Cherries supporter.

QPR, IMO.

Flawed. Of course Bournemouth comes out on top. How often does a survey come out where you get to vote to "pop those Cherries"?

And United has Jenna Jameson and Alex Morgan as supporters!

have you ever seen Christo?

I've seen his bare chest

was it more Jenna Jameson or Alex Morgan

 

[B Maverick]

Manchester United and Chelsea have the ugliest fans in the Premier League, according to a new survey of football followers.

United fans are least attractive to supporters of other clubs, with one in 11 (nine per cent) refusing to date a Red Devil.

But Bournemouth and Southampton supporters are the best looking in the top flight, suggests the research.

Dating service, Match.com, quizzed more than 1,000 fans of top-flight clubs on which rival supporters they'd be prepared to be seen stepping out on a date with.

Bournemouth fans were seen as the league's most attractive, with more than half (58 per cent) of rivals saying they'd be happy to date a Cherries supporter.

QPR, IMO.

Flawed. Of course Bournemouth comes out on top. How often does a survey come out where you get to vote to "pop those Cherries"?

And United has Jenna Jameson and Alex Morgan as supporters!

have you ever seen Christo?

I've seen his bare chest

was it more Jenna Jameson or Alex Morgan

the answer to this question may influence whether I want to see his chest

 

[NewlyRetired]

The Astana Galatasary 2-2 Champions League draw featured 3 straight own goals in the span of 12 minutes.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

The Brits should all sleep in subway tunnels tonight for old times' sake.

 

[The Gator]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

I keep seeing a few articles on coaches wanting more support from the FA for teams in Europe. What do the non-English FAs do that the English FA doesn't?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Gotta say though, for all the #### we gave Man U about the Pedro saga, Martial is ####### electric.

 

[Jaysus]

David Luiz scores when he wants too: https://streamable.com/efd3

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

I keep seeing a few articles on coaches wanting more support from the FA for teams in Europe. What do the non-English FAs do that the English FA doesn't?

Those quotes normally have to do with scheduling games so that they have more rest going into European games.

 

[The Gator]

CR7 1

Malo 0

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Gotta say though, for all the #### we gave Man U about the Pedro saga, Martial is ####### electric.

Great stuff. Rooney badly scuffed that chance he created.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

I keep seeing a few articles on coaches wanting more support from the FA for teams in Europe. What do the non-English FAs do that the English FA doesn't?

I think that complaint is directed at fixture congestion and flexibility. For example, Porto's last league game last week was moved back to Friday to give them an extra day to prepare for the CL game with Chelsea on Tuesday/yesterday. The FA doesn't move league games to accommodate Euro fixtures.

 

[Jaysus]

CR7 1

Malo 0

https://streamable.com/4gpo

Gotta say though, for all the #### we gave Man U about the Pedro saga, Martial is ####### electric.

It's ashame he oculd not Bugs Bunny himself on this one: https://streamable.com/asd0

 

[NewlyRetired]

Joe Hart standing on his head.

Saved a penalty and two other clear 1-1 shots against the keeper with no defense in sight.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

CR7 1

Malo 0

https://streamable.com/4gpo

Gotta say though, for all the #### we gave Man U about the Pedro saga, Martial is ####### electric.

It's ashame he oculd not Bugs Bunny himself on this one: https://streamable.com/asd0

"C'mon, Wayne. We've all seen your Chicharito impression before."

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

This Wolfsburg defense is making Lewandowski's feat look a little less impressive to me.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Joe Hart standing on his head.

Saved a penalty and two other clear 1-1 shots against the keeper with no defense in sight.

I blame the neon green unis.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

I keep seeing a few articles on coaches wanting more support from the FA for teams in Europe. What do the non-English FAs do that the English FA doesn't?

I think that complaint is directed at fixture congestion and flexibility. For example, Porto's last league game last week was moved back to Friday to give them an extra day to prepare for the CL game with Chelsea on Tuesday/yesterday. The FA doesn't move league games to accommodate Euro fixtures.

Thats not true, though, is it?

League games involving Europa League teams get moved to Sunday to accommodate the Thursday games. I know some would like to see those games pushed to Monday, but they do rearrange the schedule from the original Saturday dates.

 

[The Gator]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

I keep seeing a few articles on coaches wanting more support from the FA for teams in Europe. What do the non-English FAs do that the English FA doesn't?

I think that complaint is directed at fixture congestion and flexibility. For example, Porto's last league game last week was moved back to Friday to give them an extra day to prepare for the CL game with Chelsea on Tuesday/yesterday. The FA doesn't move league games to accommodate Euro fixtures.

Thats not true, though, is it?

Stop it

 

[Sinn Fein]

Nice show of English solidarity by Man U.

I keep seeing a few articles on coaches wanting more support from the FA for teams in Europe. What do the non-English FAs do that the English FA doesn't?

I think that complaint is directed at fixture congestion and flexibility. For example, Porto's last league game last week was moved back to Friday to give them an extra day to prepare for the CL game with Chelsea on Tuesday/yesterday. The FA doesn't move league games to accommodate Euro fixtures.

Thats not true, though, is it?

Stop it

it?

 

[The Gator]

You know what you're doing, don't you?

 

[B Maverick]

Gotta say though, for all the #### we gave Man U about the Pedro saga, Martial is ####### electric.

Great stuff. Rooney badly scuffed that chance he created.

most of us in this thread could have scored that

 

[Jaysus]

Joe Hart penalty save vs Gladbach

Smalling Goal vs Wolfsburg (2-1)

Shakhtar have 6 chances in 20 seconds but can't score

 

[NewlyRetired]

BM with a deserved lead over Man City

 

[B Maverick]

Rooney is very good at killing United's counter attacks.

 

[NewlyRetired]

holy crap.

Man City just scored a goal that was half way back in the net that was not seen as a goal by the refs including the one right next to the goal on the end line. The refs are lucky Man City scored on the direct rebound.

 

[Jaysus]

holy crap.

Man City just scored a goal that was half way back in the net that was not seen as a goal by the refs including the one right next to the goal on the end line. The refs are lucky Man City scored on the direct rebound.

https://streamable.com/zk22

 

[B Maverick]

holy crap.

Man City just scored a goal that was half way back in the net that was not seen as a goal by the refs including the one right next to the goal on the end line. The refs are lucky Man City scored on the direct rebound.

https://streamable.com/zk22

nice own goal to make up for the missed goal

ETA how did the end judge miss that?

 

[Jaysus]

Ibrahimovic goal vs Shakhtar (0-3)

 

[roadkill1292]

This Wolfsburg defense is making Lewandowski's feat look a little less impressive to me.

By all reports, Wolfsburg wastes few precious practice moments on defense.

Watching Wolfsburg makes me inexplicably happy. Look, there's Dante! I wonder if he ever slugged Mueller for making 7-1 jokes? Bas Dost is people. My god, there's Schurrle and Bendtner coming on! What fun!

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Blake in net - thank you Jim Curtin

 

[blend]

holy crap.

Man City just scored a goal that was half way back in the net that was not seen as a goal by the refs including the one right next to the goal on the end line. The refs are lucky Man City scored on the direct rebound.

https://streamable.com/zk22

nice own goal to make up for the missed goal

ETA how did the end judge miss that?

True...

But why does CL not have goal line technology?

 

[El Floppo]

Ibrahimovic goal vs Shakhtar (0-3)

I love zlatan soooo very hard.

 

[NewlyRetired]

DOOP!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

holy crap.

Man City just scored a goal that was half way back in the net that was not seen as a goal by the refs including the one right next to the goal on the end line. The refs are lucky Man City scored on the direct rebound.

https://streamable.com/zk22

Harsh OG for Christensen.

 

[AAABatteries]

Rooney is very good at killing United's counter attacks.

He was horrible today. Lucky to not get Schneiderlin sent off. Not an overly impressive display but 3 pts is 3 pts.