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

Who is pulling the strings on these big early moves by Philly in the off season? I thought Stewart was not starting until January?

 
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P.S. I am totally super pissed about Maidana!
I was a bit shocked by that. I guess he was the one real asset that Philly had though.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to judge trades because they won't release the allocation money that was exchanged. The TAM and regular allocation money are VERY important in this league so with out knowing the amount, I can't say off hand if it was a good or bad deal.

I do very much like that Stewart (or whom ever did this) realizes that they can't sit still. I would rather a GM be very active with a poor team than one who was too conservative. It is not like things can get too much worse.

 
P.S. I am totally super pissed about Maidana!
good player... I like Pontius though. but if he's not healthy, that's a losing trade. I've always liked Neagle- but the article implies he's lost his spot this season...wonder why.
Neagle is not going to Philly, he is going to DC.

I think Pontius is nothing more than a body for Philly. The key part of the Philly deal was the money to give them some cap flexibility for future moves.

Neagle played a lot for Seattle last season but this trade to DC could be an indication that Seattle thinks they are going to get Jordan Morris signed which would make Neagle expendable.

 
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I haven't looked at Soccer America since college (I got a pic in it!)- thanks for that link, Andy.

semi-interesting list of FAs in MLS... first year they're using the new rule. a lot of good players on that list- will be interesting to see how it plays out for them.

A total of 26 MLS players are eligible for free agency within the league. This is the first time players may negotiate with other MLS clubs outside of their previous club with certain restrictions on the new contract. Players must be 28 years of age and older with eight years of MLS service and are out of contract or have not had their option exercised.

This list does not include other players -- as an example, Luis Gil andLuis Silva of Real Salt Lake -- who are out of contract and can sign with clubs outside MLS but whose MLS rights are still tied to their current club because they aren't old enough or have enough years of service.

Probably the most attractive names on the list are Jeff Larentowiczof Chicago, Drew Moor of Colorado and Ricardo Clark of Houston though all are 31 or older.

MLS Free Agents:
Chicago Fire
Jon Busch (Option)
Ty Harden (Out of Contract)
Jeff Larentowicz (Option)
Mike Magee (Out of Contract)
Colorado Rapids
Bobby Burling (Out of Contract)
Michael Harrington (Out of Contract)
Nick LaBrocca (Option)
Drew Moor (Option)
James Riley (Option)
FC Dallas
Stephen Keel (Out of Contract
Houston Dynamo
Ricardo Clark (Out of Contract)
Nathan Sturgis (Option)
LA Galaxy
Edson Buddle (Option)
Alan Gordon (Option)
Montreal Impact
Kenny Cooper (Option)
Justin Mapp (Out of Contract)
New York City
Ned Grabavoy (Option)
NY Red Bulls
Kyle Reynish (Option)
Orlando City
Corey Ashe (Option)
Eric Avila (Option)
Philadelphia Union
Brian Carroll (Option)
Conor Casey (Option)
Portland Timbers
Andrew Weber (Option)
Seattle Sounders
Chad Barrett (Option)
Troy Perkins (Option
Sporting KC
Paulo Nagamura (Out of Contract)
 
wow - great team goal by the VW's to take the lead at home.
Wow, live action didn't even do it justice. Two big switches to discombobulate the defense, then Draxler skips right past the midfielder and plays the quick one two to get into the box before squaring for the easy goal. Like a team drill or something.
Luckily, I'm "working from home" today to see this one. Its pretty entertaining. Draxler and Kruse are merciless, having fun embarrassing Schweinie. United just had a goal disallowed on a close offside call. Both Manchester clubs now losing to Germans.

 
Sevilla just scored, so the two teams with nothing to play for in the group are both winning. Will Pelligrini claim he wasn't aware City could win the group today?

 
I started to laugh at ManU then I remembered Newcastle. Can't get past that one.
Well - United were horrible but if the goal is to actually win the CL then getting eliminated this season isn't the end of the world. They were never going to win the competition - no chance. And it has to help their top-4 chances for this year (even if just a little) because I don't see them taking Europa too seriously. Also - it may mean that LvG is gone sooner rather than later which could be good. Sucks they didn't advance but they didn't deserve to go through. The funny thing is that I think LvG panicked somewhat today. I don't think he trusted his team to get a 1-0 win so he set them up to score and not defend. May have been their undoing - they were horrible defensively. And the fact that :fro: continues to play is mind-boggling. Hopefully they don't compound things by panic-buying during the window.

 
Don't they have to take Europa seriously in case they fall out of the top4?
Even if they were the best team (not the case) or one of the best teams (maybe but probably not) it's still unlikely percentage-wise that they would win the title. It seems much more likely to me that they would stay in the top-4 than win the Europa league.

 
Don't they have to take Europa seriously in case they fall out of the top4?
Even if they were the best team (not the case) or one of the best teams (maybe but probably not) it's still unlikely percentage-wise that they would win the title. It seems much more likely to me that they would stay in the top-4 than win the Europa league.
Its a very hard road with Kloppo in there now.

 
How much longer until England loses their 4th CL spot? Just a matter of time at this point right?
The coefficients are a look ahead model.

At the end of this year, the rankings will determine 2017-2018 teams.

England will probably not lose any ranking spots this year, as Italy is too far behind right now in the running average. Italy and England have earned the exact same amount of points so far this season and even if Italy goes on a massive run, I don't see them getting enough separation to affect the running 5 season average this season.

But next year it could be ripe for Italy passing England as Italy will be dropping a very low score from their average.

But even if that does happen next year, it won't affect things until 2018-2019.

 
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How much longer until England loses their 4th CL spot? Just a matter of time at this point right?
The coefficients are a look ahead model.

At the end of this year, the rankings will determine 2017-2018 teams.

England will probably not lose any ranking spots this year, as Italy is too far behind right now in the running average. Italy and England have earned the exact same amount of points so far this season and even if Italy goes on a massive run, I don't see them getting enough separation to affect the running 5 season average this season.

But next year it could be ripe for Italy passing England as Italy will be dropping a very low score from their average.

But even if that does happen next year, it won't affect things until 2018-2019.
Is the Champions league weighted heavier than Europa? For example, if a team like Chelsea or Arsenal drops to Europa and goes on to win, how does that compare to getting knocked out in the next stage of the CL?

 
How much longer until England loses their 4th CL spot? Just a matter of time at this point right?
The coefficients are a look ahead model.

At the end of this year, the rankings will determine 2017-2018 teams.

England will probably not lose any ranking spots this year, as Italy is too far behind right now in the running average. Italy and England have earned the exact same amount of points so far this season and even if Italy goes on a massive run, I don't see them getting enough separation to affect the running 5 season average this season.

But next year it could be ripe for Italy passing England as Italy will be dropping a very low score from their average.

But even if that does happen next year, it won't affect things until 2018-2019.
Is the Champions league weighted heavier than Europa? For example, if a team like Chelsea or Arsenal drops to Europa and goes on to win, how does that compare to getting knocked out in the next stage of the CL?
It's a little complicated. You get four points for participation in the CL group stage. You get 2 points for participation in the EL group stage. Obviously United gets those 4 CL points. Once in the group stage or knockout round of either competition, you get 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. Getting beyond the first knockout round of the CL gives you a big boost. 5 points. The EL has no comparable boost. Participation in each subsequent round (quarters, semis, and finals) earns 1 point a piece in both competitions.

So yes, the EL winner would presumably earn more points just by virtue of earning a lot of 2 point victories. But if Man City, for instance got into the round of 16, it might be close. Particularly if the EL winner came out of the groups as opposed to being one of the 3rd place CL teams (because they'd have 7 points to have to make up).

 
Put in practical terms, Man City has earned 12 coefficient points to date (4 for being in the group stage and 8 pts for 4 wins in the group stage). Man United has earned 10 coefficient points to date (4 for being in the group stage and 6 pts for two wins and two draws).

Let's assume that Man City wins their first knockout tie with an away draw and a home win but are then blitzed by Barca or someone in the round of 16 . They'd earn 8 additional pts. (5 for advancing to the round of 16 and 3 pts for a win and draw). So 20 pts total.

Now let's assume that United win the final of the EL but advance in each knockout round with home wins and away draws and then a win in the final. They'd earn 17 additional points (3 pts each for the first knockout round and the round of 16, 4 pts for the quarters and semis, and 3 pts for the final). So 27 pts total.

 
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Thanks for the explanation. For all the joking about a 4th place trophy, it seems like there is a pretty large financial incentive for the EPL to keep that 4th CL spot (even with the new TV money). I would think teams like United, Liverpool and Spurs might be a little more motivated to take Europa seriously this year but the league is so wide open they may all decide to focus on that.

 
Thanks for the explanation. For all the joking about a 4th place trophy, it seems like there is a pretty large financial incentive for the EPL to keep that 4th CL spot (even with the new TV money). I would think teams like United, Liverpool and Spurs might be a little more motivated to take Europa seriously this year but the league is so wide open they may all decide to focus on that.
Blame Southampton if PL loses a spot. They fawked it all up.

 
Thanks for the explanation. For all the joking about a 4th place trophy, it seems like there is a pretty large financial incentive for the EPL to keep that 4th CL spot (even with the new TV money). I would think teams like United, Liverpool and Spurs might be a little more motivated to take Europa seriously this year but the league is so wide open they may all decide to focus on that.
Blame Southampton if PL loses a spot. They fawked it all up.
Yeah - though to be fair I thought they sent a decent squad to their game, and just lost.

West Ham, on the other hand, tanked their playoff games...

 
Thanks for the explanation. For all the joking about a 4th place trophy, it seems like there is a pretty large financial incentive for the EPL to keep that 4th CL spot (even with the new TV money). I would think teams like United, Liverpool and Spurs might be a little more motivated to take Europa seriously this year but the league is so wide open they may all decide to focus on that.
I really hate the "focus on the league" excuses. Seems like only an EPL thing to say. I don't hear it about the Spanish, Italian, or German clubs. You don't pick and choose which games you want to win at that level. You want to win them all. That should be the bloody focus, you Brits.

 
Thanks for the explanation. For all the joking about a 4th place trophy, it seems like there is a pretty large financial incentive for the EPL to keep that 4th CL spot (even with the new TV money). I would think teams like United, Liverpool and Spurs might be a little more motivated to take Europa seriously this year but the league is so wide open they may all decide to focus on that.
I really hate the "focus on the league" excuses. Seems like only an EPL thing to say. I don't hear it about the Spanish, Italian, or German clubs. You don't pick and choose which games you want to win at that level. You want to win them all. That should be the bloody focus, you Brits.
Spurs have fielded strong teams for every Europa game so far - really only rotating the fullbacks and 1-2 others from the starting squad. So, I think they are taking it seriously.

The funny thing is - the past few years Spurs have heavily rotated the squad, and then done poorly in the league game following a Europa game - fans typically blaming the schedule despite the fact that most players did not play in both games.

This year, with very limited rotation, Spurs are undefeated in league games following Europa matches - so it seems a bit disingenuous to blame Europa schedule for poor performances on the weekend.

And, with the knockout games - really no excuse (other than injury) to not field strong teams - play for the draw on the road, and go for the win at home.

 

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