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

The Z Machine said:
Bayern is suffering from playing in the Bundesliga IMO. Even more so than RM and Barça, too many games are a cake walk and they haven't faced enough quality opposition to harden their skills. Also, there does seem to be something with the training going on there.

This would be like if Celtic had $2m/wk to spend on wages. They'd romp through the SPL only to have to change everything to play against top European teams in CL play. At least la liga has Atleti, Valencia, Sevilla, and Athletic to keep the big two honest and in form during the season.
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bundesliga is just a tiny hair above SPL.

 
charvik said:
Also, there has been very little discussion in here about the Raheem Sterling saga. He's made quite a mess of himself in the press, and angered a lot of the hard core fans, who feel he is being unreasonable. Rumor/Information is that he rejected a 100k/wk contract extension (he has 2 years left on a 35k/wk contract), and is looking for 150k+/wk. No doubt he's one of the more interesting prospects coming out of England in a while, but I don't think he's worth 150k/wk yet.

I think it will speak tons of the clubs ambitions and short term goals how they handle him in the summer. They could cash in to the tune of 30-50M (in Europe, or higher if within the UK) if things get out of hand.

Personally I'd like to lock him up for another 5 years, base of 100k, with heavy incentives bringing him up to 150-180 if he meets them. :shrug:
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From what I understand, there is no "locking up" of players. Whether Liverpool signs him or not, if he wants out, he's gonna leave. Liverpool basically has four options:

1. Hope they can keep him longterm -- How to do this: Overpay. If they want to keep him from Barcelona/Madrid/Chelsea/ManCity, they have to overpay

2. Sell now, take the 40-50M they may hope they can get, and buy players that are more finished. Basically, move on and hope that you can replace the production with the money you get (probably not hard to replace the production, but you lose bigtime in the "potential" dept)

3. Compromise by signing a fair deal, try to coach him up to superstardom, and sell in 2 years for mega-bucks.

4. Play hardball and get 2 years at a cheap salary out of the deal. This is probably a great negotiating tactic to force Sterling into option 3, which is the likeliest option, imo. If Liverpool sells Sterling this off-season, it's a negative any way you slice it, unless someone massively overpays. At the very least, Liverpool needs to get another season of growth out of him so that they can get a lot more money.

 
'Brough up 1-0 against Norwich...and the live table moves them from 4th to 1st and Norwich from 3rd to 4th

:popcorn:

 
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shader said:
From what I understand, there is no "locking up" of players. Whether Liverpool signs him or not, if he wants out, he's gonna leave. Liverpool basically has four options:
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He can't just force his way out with two years left on his contract. He could pout and refuse to play, forcing his way out, but that would be extremely stupid, highly unlikely, particularly at his age. Remember what happened to StevieG when he threatened to go to London a few years back.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
shader said:
From what I understand, there is no "locking up" of players. Whether Liverpool signs him or not, if he wants out, he's gonna leave. Liverpool basically has four options:
Click to expand...
He can't just force his way out with two years left on his contract. He could pout and refuse to play, forcing his way out, but that would be extremely stupid, highly unlikely, particularly at his age. Remember what happened to StevieG when he threatened to go to London a few years back.
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No I don't remember that, i hated soccer back then. My soccer posts lack any sort of historical reference. I post what makes sense, but I'm probably WAY OFF much of the time.

 
The Z Machine said:
Bayern is suffering from playing in the Bundesliga IMO. Even more so than RM and Barça, too many games are a cake walk and they haven't faced enough quality opposition to harden their skills. Also, there does seem to be something with the training going on there.

This would be like if Celtic had $2m/wk to spend on wages. They'd romp through the SPL only to have to change everything to play against top European teams in CL play. At least la liga has Atleti, Valencia, Sevilla, and Athletic to keep the big two honest and in form during the season.
Click to expand...
Bayern's problem right now is lack of chemistry due to injuries. Just because they plug in good talent doesn't mean the cogs turn as efficiently. Bastian, Ribery, Benatia and Robben are holes that can't really be filled well. Dante is a liability when he plays for Benatia. Bastian brings stability to the midfield. Thiago wasn't good in his return to midfield. I think Muller is better further back where he can feed off of Ribery or Robben drawing pressure.

It's just flat out a different team with those guys.

It's a two sided coin with competition level in each league. BPL losses are blamed on too much competition and now Bayern losses are blamed on a weak Bundesliga. The level of play in La Liga must be the perfect formula? I think it's just having the talent playing with chemistry at the right time.

 
Battles said:
The Z Machine said:
Bayern is suffering from playing in the Bundesliga IMO. Even more so than RM and Barça, too many games are a cake walk and they haven't faced enough quality opposition to harden their skills. Also, there does seem to be something with the training going on there.

This would be like if Celtic had $2m/wk to spend on wages. They'd romp through the SPL only to have to change everything to play against top European teams in CL play. At least la liga has Atleti, Valencia, Sevilla, and Athletic to keep the big two honest and in form during the season.
Click to expand...
Bayern's problem right now is lack of chemistry due to injuries. Just because they plug in good talent doesn't mean the cogs turn as efficiently. Bastian, Ribery, Benatia and Robben are holes that can't really be filled well. Dante is a liability when he plays for Benatia. Bastian brings stability to the midfield. Thiago wasn't good in his return to midfield. I think Muller is better further back where he can feed off of Ribery or Robben drawing pressure.

It's just flat out a different team with those guys.

It's a two sided coin with competition level in each league. BPL losses are blamed on too much competition and now Bayern losses are blamed on a weak Bundesliga. The level of play in La Liga must be the perfect formula? I think it's just having the talent playing with chemistry at the right time.
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You're probably right in that good chemistry can deal with all sorts of issues. Injuries are killer... just look at Arsenal, like every year.

 
The Z Machine said:
Bayern is suffering from playing in the Bundesliga IMO.
Click to expand...
I do think this is a big issue for them, especially the last two seasons.They are playing these high back lines and daring teams to get past them.

For the most part this works in the BL since most teams don't have international level players.

But when you play the higher quality teams in international competitions, they are more likely to have

better players. Look what RM did to them last year in the CL. The speed of Madrid just tore through the back line.

The first two goals this past week can be blamed on lazy passes that would have been OK in the BL, but Porto's players were just faster.

The third goal was the high line getting beat by speed.

Battles said:
Bayern's problem right now is lack of chemistry due to injuries.
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This is a major issue as well. Talent is talent, but you have to work with each other.
 
NBC is playing up this Chelsea/ManU match like its a de facto championship game. I suppose they have to with Chelsea dominating the league, but yikes its kind of annoying.

Of course I am a bitter Man City fan :shrug:

 
derek245583 said:
NBC is playing up this Chelsea/ManU match like its a de facto championship game. I suppose they have to with Chelsea dominating the league, but yikes its kind of annoying.

Of course I am a bitter Man City fan :shrug:
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In any case, it would completely eliminate Man U's slender hopes. In truth even if Chelsea were to lose to Man U and Arsenal, they'd still have to drop at least another point while Arsenal remained perfect, so its already virtually impossible.

 
Let's take a step back here for a second folks.

There is currently soccer (Euro soccer no less) being shown live on two American BROADCAST networks. it really is amazing.

1999 me (who maybe just bought the FA Cup semi on PPV) would laugh in my face while looking for the nearest Delorean

 
Ted Lange as your Bartender said:
Let's take a step back here for a second folks.

There is currently soccer (Euro soccer no less) being shown live on two American BROADCAST networks. it really is amazing.

1999 me (who maybe just bought the FA Cup semi on PPV) would laugh in my face while looking for the nearest Delorean
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It is pretty incredible.

And while both of these games will draw decent size audiences, there is a chance they won't even be the most watched games of the weekend, as the typical Liga MX match could out draw them.

I know it is next to impossible, but if we could ever focus all of the splintered domestic soccer audience on one product, club soccer in the US on TV would easily compete with all the other sports viewership wise (excluding the NFL).

 
Scrappygang is in his Arsenal onesie today, but has continued his pattern of thwarting my Gunners enjoyment by staging a full "change me" meltdown that caused me to miss the goal.

This kid is a Chelsea fan. I can feel it.

 
So, Barça gets 4 points in la Liga against two quality teams and stomped PSG in CL quarters. Not a bad 7 days for them.

Anyone know their odds on a treble? Seems very possible right now with the way they are playing.

 
United dominates the first half (IMO) and then gives up that goal.

Reading GK dominates the FA cup and then gives up that goal.

it's a funny ol' game.

and I totally forgot that Dany Williams was playing- would've been to see a US player in the FA cup final... has that ever happened before?

 
El Floppo said:
United dominates the first half (IMO) and then gives up that goal.

Reading GK dominates the FA cup and then gives up that goal.

it's a funny ol' game.

and I totally forgot that Dany Williams was playing- would've been to see a US player in the FA cup final... has that ever happened before?
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Harkes & Howard x 2

 
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Hazard for POY in the EPL? He's been the standout performer this year for Chelsea as well as the most consistent threat. Huge goal against Manchester United today.

 
Native said:
Hazard for POY in the EPL? He's been the standout performer this year for Chelsea as well as the most consistent threat. Huge goal against Manchester United today.
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I trust you Chelsea guys. Just tell me: tale the entire season into account. There is always a huge recency factor in these awards. Has he been that much better than Costa and Cesc? Seems to be only turing it on now after those two sealed the league the first 3 quarters of the season. You tell me though.

 
Well #### - United deserved something from that game. Agree with TLEF - Falcao was crap and that's saying somehting whne you consider how well United played. It felt like if Carrick had been available and he puts the same side out that maybe things would have been different. But then again, that's Chelsea - and it's what Champions do, win ugly. But I'm very pleased with how United played, especially at The Bridge.

 
Interesting times at Roma; American owner James Pallotta has publicly stood up & taken a stand against certain elements of the Roma hardcore Ultras over controversial banners displayed in their stadium...calling them f****** idiots. This has led to a quite colorful repartee between the two sides, but he has definitely crossed the Rubicon on this issue: Italian clubs vs their respective "ultra" contingents. No other club owners have come out & supported his position, but he hasn't backed down. The "CurvaSud" is closed for today's match, & James didn't appeal the ban, leading to further antagonism. Although torn on this "tradition/passion vs results/pragmatism" dilemma, this is a clear opportunity for Italian football to make strides to emerge from the Dark Ages by curtailing ultras' influence. Another major issue is privately owned stadiums=shared revenue, with only Juve & Sassuolo "owning" their stadiums (with Roma set to open their own in 2017). Dark Ages-Middle Ages-Renaissance...right? On top of all this, Roma have fallen one point below beloved rivals Lazio into third, with THE Derby one month away, & automatic CL group-stage qualification at stake...interesting times indeed.

 
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