***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (12 Viewers)

[roadkill1292]

With four rounds left, five clubs within four points of each other battling for the last two Seria A Europa League berths.

C'MON YOU SAINTS! BEAT TORINO INTER GENOA SAMPDORIA!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Edit: Nevermind, that's just for the past year. Italy is still pretty far back from catching up overall.

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Edit: Nevermind, that's just for the past year. Italy is still pretty far back from catching up overall.

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

West Ham would start July 2 in 1st qualifying round - in qualifying and playoffs, teams get 1 point per win, and 0.5 points per draw. If they qualify for the Group stage - they could get up to 8 points.

ETA - Everton are currently 3rd in fair play standings and could conceivably overtake West Ham, should West Ham have disciplinary issues in the next three games. (liverpool are 1st, but will presumably qualify for Europa)

 

[The Gator]

Edit: Nevermind, that's just for the past year. Italy is still pretty far back from catching up overall.

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

West Ham would start July 2 in 1st qualifying round - in qualifying and playoffs, teams get 1 point per win, and 0.5 points per draw. If they qualify for the Group stage - they could get up to 8 points.

ETA - Everton are currently 3rd in fair play standings and could conceivably overtake West Ham, should West Ham have disciplinary issues in the next three games. (liverpool are 1st, but will presumably qualify for Europa)

The Classy Club

 

[Sinn Fein]

Last year's 3 Fair Play entrants:

Tromso: 15th place in Norway - picked up 2.5 coefficient points

Brommapojkarna: 16th place Sweden - picked up 2.5 points

MYPA: 8th place Finland - picked up 2 points

 

[El Floppo]

Last year's 3 Fair Play entrants:

Tromso: 15th place in Norway - picked up 2.5 coefficient points

Brommapojkarna: 16th place Sweden - picked up 2.5 points

MYPA: 8th place Finland - picked up 2 points

this is like giving trophies to the klutzy kids who help out a lot?

 

[The Gator]

Last year's 3 Fair Play entrants:

Tromso: 15th place in Norway - picked up 2.5 coefficient points

Brommapojkarna: 16th place Sweden - picked up 2.5 points

MYPA: 8th place Finland - picked up 2 points

this is like giving trophies to the klutzy kids who help out a lot?

Leave Arsenal out of this

 

[roadkill1292]

Edit: Nevermind, that's just for the past year. Italy is still pretty far back from catching up overall.

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

West Ham would start July 2 in 1st qualifying round - in qualifying and playoffs, teams get 1 point per win, and 0.5 points per draw. If they qualify for the Group stage - they could get up to 8 points.

ETA - Everton are currently 3rd in fair play standings and could conceivably overtake West Ham, should West Ham have disciplinary issues in the next three games. (liverpool are 1st, but will presumably qualify for Europa)

Isn't first round like the fourth placed team in Faroe Islands or something like that? Hammers could have a chance.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

FFP continues to work hard keeping things fair in European football - sanctions announced today for Monaco, Roma, Inter, Sporting, Besiktas, Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Moscow, Rostov, Kardemir Karabilspor, CSKA Sofia.

 

[Jaysus]

In MLS news: the Philadelphia Union goal keeping soap opera continues to entertain....

Ahead of Saturday’s road game in Vancouver, the Philadelphia Union announced on Friday morning the acquisition of goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre on short term loan from NASL side Carolina RailHawks.

The announcement also said, “Rais Mbolhi will not travel to Vancouver.”

With Sylvestre the starter for Saturday’s game, Mbolhi not traveling, and Andre Blake and John McCarthy both unavailable due to injury, the announcement also said MLS pool goalkeeper Trey Mitchell “will join the team in Vancouver to provide cover at the position.”

Who remembers when Rais Mbolhi was sent packing a few weeks ago? Well he showed back up this week and trained with the team for the first time on, what just so happened to be, the same day that both Blake and McCarthy got injured.

True Story: Rais Mbolhi is Algerian for "witch man"

 

[jonessed]

Good work by Sinn there. I had no idea Spurs guys could do math.

Boy, it's gonna get really testy in PL when/if the leeg loses that fourth CL berth.

I think England will be fine as long as #### teams like Hull don't make it into Europa.

That's where they get hammered. The English teams just don't take it that seriously. Maybe that has to change.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Edit: Nevermind, that's just for the past year. Italy is still pretty far back from catching up overall.

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

West Ham would start July 2 in 1st qualifying round - in qualifying and playoffs, teams get 1 point per win, and 0.5 points per draw. If they qualify for the Group stage - they could get up to 8 points.

ETA - Everton are currently 3rd in fair play standings and could conceivably overtake West Ham, should West Ham have disciplinary issues in the next three games. (liverpool are 1st, but will presumably qualify for Europa)

Isn't first round like the fourth placed team in Faroe Islands or something like that? Hammers could have a chance.

Yeah, qualifying through fair play, they'll start at the very bottom and have a chance to rack up some wins against garbage.

 

[The Gator]

Are England and France the only major leagues that play in four competitions a year?

League

League cup/ coupe de la ligue

Fa cup/ coupe de France

Europe

 

[Spartans Rule]

Are England and France the only major leagues that play in four competitions a year?

League

League cup/ coupe de la ligue

Fa cup/ coupe de France

Europe

I'm almost positive no other major European leagues play four.

If you count Brazil as a major league, they have their state championships in addition to league, cup and continental competition.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Boy, it's gonna get really testy in PL when/if the leeg loses that fourth CL berth.

I'm interested to see where the fans will focus their whining if it happens. Some possible arguments:

* English teams need to take Europa more seriously

* The PL schedule needs to be more accommodating to teams in Europe (Mourinho's been on about this for years)

* The UEFA coefficient sucks and needs an overhaul

* UEFA hates England

* This is somehow the English national team's fault

 

[El Floppo]

In MLS news: the Philadelphia Union goal keeping soap opera continues to entertain....

Ahead of Saturday’s road game in Vancouver, the Philadelphia Union announced on Friday morning the acquisition of goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre on short term loan from NASL side Carolina RailHawks.

The announcement also said, “Rais Mbolhi will not travel to Vancouver.”

With Sylvestre the starter for Saturday’s game, Mbolhi not traveling, and Andre Blake and John McCarthy both unavailable due to injury, the announcement also said MLS pool goalkeeper Trey Mitchell “will join the team in Vancouver to provide cover at the position.”

Who remembers when Rais Mbolhi was sent packing a few weeks ago? Well he showed back up this week and trained with the team for the first time on, what just so happened to be, the same day that both Blake and McCarthy got injured.

True Story: Rais Mbolhi is Algerian for "which man"

dunno- which?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Edit: Nevermind, that's just for the past year. Italy is still pretty far back from catching up overall.

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

West Ham would start July 2 in 1st qualifying round - in qualifying and playoffs, teams get 1 point per win, and 0.5 points per draw. If they qualify for the Group stage - they could get up to 8 points.

ETA - Everton are currently 3rd in fair play standings and could conceivably overtake West Ham, should West Ham have disciplinary issues in the next three games. (liverpool are 1st, but will presumably qualify for Europa)

Isn't first round like the fourth placed team in Faroe Islands or something like that? Hammers could have a chance.

Yeah, qualifying through fair play, they'll start at the very bottom and have a chance to rack up some wins against garbage.

I think the points values are cut in half for all 3 Europa Qualifying rounds and the playoff round.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Are England and France the only major leagues that play in four competitions a year?

League

League cup/ coupe de la ligue

Fa cup/ coupe de France

Europe

There are others around the world. Here is a list of secondary cups like the League Cup.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_Cup

 

[The Gator]

Forgot about Portugal

Toto Cup

 

[Norman Paperman]

Italy has to get its awful 10-11 and 11-12 off of its average. They have the edge on England over the last 3 years, so EPL teams need to do some damage in the next two seasons to keep that fourth spot.

The gap will close quite a bit next year.England loses its by far best yearly co-efficient and Italy loses its second worst.

Germany should pass England next season. Then England and Italy will likely battle it out for the last spot in the top 3.

As I calculate it, the next tournament will start with Italy trailing England by roughly three points. Serie A picks up another four points or so when the 2011/12 points drop off. Those are pretty big ramifications for PL's Big Four, no?I'm having a little trouble with the math, though. How are Spain and Italy averaging 18 points this year? Even with the bonus points, which all of them don't get, winning all your group matches only gives a team 12 points. What am I missing?

This is really interesting stuff. Games between Italian and English clubs in the coming year's tourney really have big implications.

Possibly relevant --> England (together with Holland and Ireland) were just awarded an additional Europa League spot for next season through the "Respect Fair Play" ranking system.

Good info, I missed this.

That could work for or against England though right, since it is average points and not total points?

Correct - I don't fully understand how it works, but I think its equally likely to be a negative for England's coefficient ranking. I think the team would have to advance a couple rounds in Euorpa to get any points, so it seems there's a good possibility this could bring the average down.

West Ham would start July 2 in 1st qualifying round - in qualifying and playoffs, teams get 1 point per win, and 0.5 points per draw. If they qualify for the Group stage - they could get up to 8 points.

ETA - Everton are currently 3rd in fair play standings and could conceivably overtake West Ham, should West Ham have disciplinary issues in the next three games. (liverpool are 1st, but will presumably qualify for Europa)

Isn't first round like the fourth placed team in Faroe Islands or something like that? Hammers could have a chance.

Yeah, qualifying through fair play, they'll start at the very bottom and have a chance to rack up some wins against garbage.

I think the points values are cut in half for all 3 Europa Qualifying rounds and the playoff round.

Yes, you would have seen that above, if you did not have Sinn on ignore

 

[roadkill1292]

Wait, there he is! Someone PM me the backstory before he gets away again. Oh, and

HUP FAROE!

Forgot to do that earlier.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Wait, there he is! Someone PM me the backstory before he gets away again. Oh, and

HUP FAROE!

Forgot to do that earlier.

He and I share a common ancestor

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Boy, it's gonna get really testy in PL when/if the leeg loses that fourth CL berth.

I'm interested to see where the fans will focus their whining if it happens. Some possible arguments:

* English teams need to take Europa more seriously

* The PL schedule needs to be more accommodating to teams in Europe (Mourinho's been on about this for years)

* The UEFA coefficient sucks and needs an overhaul

* UEFA hates England

* This is somehow the English national team's fault

There's always some squawking about England having no winter break whenever English teams start dropping out in the knockout rounds.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Boy, it's gonna get really testy in PL when/if the leeg loses that fourth CL berth.

I'm interested to see where the fans will focus their whining if it happens. Some possible arguments:

* English teams need to take Europa more seriously

* The PL schedule needs to be more accommodating to teams in Europe (Mourinho's been on about this for years)

* The UEFA coefficient sucks and needs an overhaul

* UEFA hates England

* This is somehow the English national team's fault

There's always some squawking about England having no winter break whenever English teams start dropping out in the knockout rounds.

That will change for Qatar WC.....

 

[The Gator]

Wait, there he is! Someone PM me the backstory before he gets away again. Oh, and

HUP FAROE!

Forgot to do that earlier.

He and I share a common ancestor

Josef Mengele?

 

[El Floppo]

Wait, there he is! Someone PM me the backstory before he gets away again. Oh, and

HUP FAROE!

Forgot to do that earlier.

He and I share a common ancestor

Josef Mengele?

Josef was a spurs fan... strange, yet interesting.

 

[The Z Machine]

The Spanish RFEF needs to get their #### together. What a #### show.

 

[The Gator]

Pretty good starter drills for new coaches

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Kardemir Karabilspor

Finally! I was wondering when those bastards were going to get brought down to earth.

 

[Native]

FFP continues to work hard keeping things fair in European football - sanctions announced today for Monaco, Roma, Inter, Sporting, Besiktas, Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Moscow, Rostov, Kardemir Karabilspor, CSKA Sofia.

 

[Kafka]

Boy, it's gonna get really testy in PL when/if the leeg loses that fourth CL berth.

I'm interested to see where the fans will focus their whining if it happens. Some possible arguments:

* English teams need to take Europa more seriously

* The PL schedule needs to be more accommodating to teams in Europe (Mourinho's been on about this for years)

* The UEFA coefficient sucks and needs an overhaul

* UEFA hates England

* This is somehow the English national team's fault

You can be sure every angle except self-accountability will be covered...same as when the national team inevitably fails again at the next Euro's. It can NEVER be that they aren't quite good enough, oh goodness me no! The delusional English media/fans never fail to disappoint...

 

[Christo]

Pretty disheartening watching Leicester and Sunderland doing what QPR needed to do.

 

[roadkill1292]

Pretty disheartening watching Leicester and Sunderland doing what QPR needed to do.

I don't think any of us will be surprised if Leicester beats Soton today. It's really interesting watching how teams react to relegation pressure. On the flip side, look at Newcastle. Mike Ashley has been pulling a Bob Irsay of late, contentedly raking in his profits with little regard to performance on the field; let's see how he likes life in the Championship.

 

[Sinn Fein]

It will be fascinating to watch QPR this summer - assuming they are relegated, they are looking at about £50M in fines from the Football League, who have said they will not allow QPR in any of their three leagues if the fine is not paid.

Should be a big summer for the lawyers.

 

[Christo]

It will be fascinating to watch QPR this summer - assuming they are relegated, they are looking at about £50M in fines from the Football League, who have said they will not allow QPR in any of their three leagues if the fine is not paid.

Should be a big summer for the lawyers.

I'm sure there will be a lot of legal wrangling. But £50MM is pocket change to their ownership.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Spurs going with the ever-popular 4 CB defense today

 

[Steve Tasker]

HUP FAROE!

 

[Steve Tasker]

First really nice weekend of the year, 80+ degree temps. Decided on my Dos a Cero t-shirt. Went out to run some errands and ran into two separate guys wearing USMNT jerseys at like 9:30 AM.

Soccer's come a long way in this country, folks.

 

[roadkill1292]

I need a Southampton jersey. Or maybe not the way they're getting hammered today. Personnel note--our third keeper is awful.

 

[Poke_4_Life]

Ugh Spurs.

Is the season over yet?

 

[El Floppo]

it's the Europa relegation race!

I need a Southampton jersey. Or maybe not the way they're getting hammered today. Personnel note--our third keeper is awful.

Ugh Spurs.

Is the season over yet?

 

[QuizGuy66]

:

-QG

 

[GoFishTN]

The fight to avoid the Europa league has begun!

 

[Poke_4_Life]

Hey MP. Dier is not a RB.

I think you have a young kid on the bench that can play RB. Just a thought.

 

[roadkill1292]

Take that, Spurs!

 

[Jaysus]

Burnley, wait!

 

[QuizGuy66]

Basically seeing like 9 straight results, many unlikely, go against what Hull City needed tells me we're cooked.

Hope Brucie stays - best thing we got going. Will pull for him wherever he should manage.

I think fans get their wish: Allam out. That's the good news. The bad is I think he absolutely guts this team before he goes. If The Tigers can tread water in the Championship the next few years I'll be happy. My fear is it'll be worse than how it has gone for Wigan.

And all over an awful marketing idea with some pie-in-the-sky notion of selling milloons if jerseys in Asia. Footballwise it's been a solid ownership. If not for this stupidity they'd have built a statue of him.



UTT

-QH

 

[shader]

Who wants fourth place? Liverpool and ManU don't.

 

[Christo]

Sweet save by De Gea.

 

[Christo]

Who wants fourth place? Liverpool and ManU don't.