***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (8 Viewers)

[John Bender]

Worth adding that Juventus were kicked out of Serie A in disgrace as part of a match-fixing scandal 10 years ago and were off the scene for about five years. They've won four straight Italian titles, but their return to the Champions League final this year truly proves they're "back".

lol, what a big FU:

The clubs sent down to Serie B were initially slated to have a difficult road back to the top flight. They would have had to finish in the top two of Serie B to be assured of promotion, but at the same time had to avoid finishing in the bottom four to keep from being relegated to Serie C1. Juventus, for example, was initially docked 30 points—the equivalent of having ten wins nullified. This made it very likely that they would not return to Serie A until 2008 at the earliest. The point penalty, however, was reduced to nine points, giving Juventus a fighting chance at promotion. They won the Serie B championship in 2006–07 season, having clinched a spot in Serie A by May 2007.

 

[Christo]

I'm out of likes for the day, but wanted to thank you too Native

Thanks in advance to anyone else who gives me their Top 5 things to know.

I'm sick this weekend, so having fun reading up while in bed here.

1. Don't pick Chelsea

2. Don't pick Chelsea

3. Don't pick Chelsea

4. Don't pick Chelsea

5. Pick any team but Chelsea

 

[John Bender]

I'm out of likes for the day, but wanted to thank you too Native

Thanks in advance to anyone else who gives me their Top 5 things to know.

I'm sick this weekend, so having fun reading up while in bed here.

1. Don't pick Chelsea

2. Don't pick Chelsea

3. Don't pick Chelsea

4. Don't pick Chelsea

5. Pick any team but Chelsea

ALong with Top 5 "things" would be cool to hear everyone's squad and maybe a sentence or two as to why.

Feel free

 

[Christo]

I'm out of likes for the day, but wanted to thank you too Native

Thanks in advance to anyone else who gives me their Top 5 things to know.

I'm sick this weekend, so having fun reading up while in bed here.

1. Don't pick Chelsea

2. Don't pick Chelsea

3. Don't pick Chelsea

4. Don't pick Chelsea

5. Pick any team but Chelsea

ALong with Top 5 "things" would be cool to hear everyone's squad and maybe a sentence or two as to why.

Feel free

Steve Tasker's signature has a link to everyone's teams.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I'm out of likes for the day, but wanted to thank you too Native

Thanks in advance to anyone else who gives me their Top 5 things to know.

I'm sick this weekend, so having fun reading up while in bed here.

1. Don't pick Chelsea

2. Don't pick Chelsea

3. Don't pick Chelsea

4. Don't pick Chelsea

5. Pick any team but Chelsea

ALong with Top 5 "things" would be cool to hear everyone's squad and maybe a sentence or two as to why.

Feel free

Take your time and watch for a season or two before you pick your club. Would caution against picking a team because of the players -- players will change fast.

When I was choosing smaller clubs weren't really viable, but there's so much access to teams and leagues today you can follow anyone you want really.

I picked Liverpool because they're a huge club, but hadn't won anything in awhile when I was choosing. Plus they were the natural foil to Manchester United, who I really didn't like. Also, they've got a lot of history -- both good and bad.

 

[Christo]

Queen's Park Rangers - The Pride of West London. No matter what division they end up in. I grew up about a mile away. And I hate Chelsea.

I'm jumping on the Watford bandwagon (if there's such a thing) for the EPL next year. Come on you Hornets!

 

[John Bender]

Alright...

I'm going with Flora from Tallinn, Estonia because their city has the hottest women in Europe IMO

 

[John Bender]

I'm out of likes for the day, but wanted to thank you too Native

Thanks in advance to anyone else who gives me their Top 5 things to know.

I'm sick this weekend, so having fun reading up while in bed here.

1. Don't pick Chelsea2. Don't pick Chelsea

3. Don't pick Chelsea

4. Don't pick Chelsea

5. Pick any team but Chelsea

ALong with Top 5 "things" would be cool to hear everyone's squad and maybe a sentence or two as to why.Feel free

Steve Tasker's signature has a link to everyone's teams.

Very cool. Not even sure I'll pick a squad....I've been watching NFL for 32 years and still haven't chosen a squad.

 

[El Floppo]

1. another thing about relegation/promotion... somebody just posted that promotion is worth $120mil for the club (and that might be pounds, not dollars). that means relegation doesn't just mean a big bummer for fans- it also means a loss of a LOT of money. a lot of teams get promoted and bring a bunch of more expensive players into the team to try to help them stay up. if they get sent back down, it often means a major cleaning house of those same players- and then can league to continued struggle in the lower leagues.

B: different people have different views on jumping in- I'd recommend just grabbing a team this summer and seeing how they fit for you. I think it's more interesting for the lay person to have a rooting interesting in a team- and you can and should feel free to jump teams if the fit is wrong for you (or they get relegated). unless you're an old timey soccer nerd like newly or myself who just love watching the sport.

III: Diving. it happens. but keep in mind, that for every dive, there are 10 plays where it just looks like the guy is diving, but is really just "riding" the tackle to avoid having his leg broken. also keep in mind that the game is played with the feet- which means the guy with the ball is going to have one foot on the ball and only one foot to stand on... makes it easier for contact to send the guy down as well. but divers are the worst- even for old timey soccer nerds/apologists.

iii3- simulation. it happens. but keep in mind that getting kicked by a grown man athlete going full speed is going hurt. a lot. aside from paper thin shin pads, they've got nothing, so while many of them cry like babies (and the ones who hold their face after getting bumped in the shoulder should be shot), most of them just grimace and roll a bit after contact. it hurts, and then it hurts less, so they get on with it.

MLS is definitely a step below the big 4. and probably about the level of the bottom tier of the next 4 (who all have fantastic teams at the top). that said, the games can be a lot of fun (as mentioned, the parity helps a lot) and you're a short ride to the best soccer stadium I've ever been in (counting England, Greece ,Germany and Italy) in RedBull arena. Philly, IIRC, is still trying to gain promotion to the league.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Whatever you do, be sure to follow the Champions League next year. It's a very similar format to the World Cup, except it's stretched out over several months and the knockout rounds are home-and-home serieseseses. Big teams, nearly every game counts for something, and you get some flavor outside of the normal England/Spain/Germany/Italy rotation. Like those bat#### Turks!

 

[AAABatteries]

1. You'll Never Walk Alone (YNWA) is worse than AIDS and Ebola combined

2. #1 is no joke - that song is horrible

3. Gator would go gay for Ronaldo

4. Like #### and balls down the throat gay - NTTAWWT

5. That's all I got - enjoy your new obsession - it's worth it

 

[comfortably numb]

Good info.

I've got into soccer more in the past couple years.

Love the promotion/relegation

For example.

I am following the 2nd league in the portugal league.

My dad was from a village near Chaves whose team is in 2nd place (top 2 get promoted)

My dad wasn't a a HUGE soccer fan but just knowing this team can get up to the big boy league makes it so much fun to follow.

Hopefully I can catch a game next time I go to portugal.

I've told my cousin if Chaves gets promoted we will we go out there to catch a game against one of the big teams.

I like to compare euro soccer to college basketball.

you have your power conferences.

Spain, england, italy, Germany, france

mid majors

Portugal, Greece, Netherlands etc..

Champions League would be like playing the NCAA tournament during the regular season.

the europa league cup is like the NIT tournament.

I know not exactly the same but...

 

[Mjolnirs]

I would repeat one of my first questions though - the whole relegation format fascinates me. has there ever been a small club to rise from the 7th or 8th (or lower) level in a league to make it all the way to the top league? Is there a website that will literally just show me what each country calls their equivalent of the EPL?

Do the "seasons" for each countries league run at roughly the same time? From what month to what month do the Leagues run typically? I want to know when the season is starting and finishing (ie NFL starts in Sept and ends in February).

It's not quite a rise from obscurity story, but this is a pretty good one. I started following Bayern in 1997 and was myself attempting to come to some type of understanding of how all of this worked.

I learned this back story later, but Kaiserslautern, a founding member of the Bundesliga (63-64 season) had won their first league title in 90-91. They then fell so badly that they were relegated after the 95-96 season.

As mentioned, I started following Bayern in '97 and they won the league that first year, 96-97. The new season started and this newly promoted team, Kaiserlautern, beat my team and defending champs 1-0 on day one!!! Kaiserslautern never let up and won the league that season. An absolute worst to first story.

...

Regarding "seasons", it should also be noted that most European leagues take some kind of winter break. Some are longer than others. Usually the longer ones are in the countries where winter is a bit harsher. This season the Bundesliga played week 17 the weekend of December 20th, and week 18 was the weekend of January 31st.

 

[bentley]

1. You'll Never Walk Alone (YNWA) is worse than AIDS and Ebola combined

2. #1 is no joke - that song is horrible

3. Gator would go gay for Ronaldo

4. Like #### and balls down the throat gay - NTTAWWT

5. That's all I got - enjoy your new obsession - it's worth it

What this guy meant to say was that You'll Never Walk Alone should stir you to tears of pride every time you hear it. Start about 4 minutes into this.

http://youtu.be/5iLL57puZPM

And that its ok for your three year old to swear when chanting #### Off Chelsea FC but not otherwise.

 

[Slapdash]

1. You'll Never Walk Alone (YNWA) is worse than AIDS and Ebola combined

2. #1 is no joke - that song is horrible

3. Gator would go gay for Ronaldo

4. Like #### and balls down the throat gay - NTTAWWT

5. That's all I got - enjoy your new obsession - it's worth it

What this guy meant to say was that You'll Never Walk Alone should stir you to tears of pride every time you hear it. Start about 4 minutes into this.

http://youtu.be/5iLL57puZPM

And that its ok for your three year old to swear when chanting #### Off Chelsea FC but not otherwise.

Wait, is that a banner of Hugo Chavez?

 

[Slapdash]

#### off Chelsea FC is one of the best songs in soccer though.

 

[The Z Machine]

My team: Atlético de Madrid

Why: I lived for a bit in Madrid and simply put couldn't stomach cheering for Real Madrid. I don't respect teams that buy 90% of their talent, and chop and change their players and managers so quickly. Atlético is your classic underdog team. A club that must get great value out of their players in order to succeed. They have a great manager that is tough as nails, play excellent team defense, and play with a chip on their shoulder. Not the most elegant our beautiful football, but they have a passion for winning and competition. Finally, they are excellent at spotting and developing quality young talent as evidenced by oil-rich Chelsea buying (or trying to but) almost all of Atlético's players.

There are plenty of "easy" teams to watch and enjoy their success, but if you're like me and like to be challenged in their fandom, then a team like Atlético is great.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I would repeat one of my first questions though - the whole relegation format fascinates me. has there ever been a small club to rise from the 7th or 8th (or lower) level in a league to make it all the way to the top league? Is there a website that will literally just show me what each country calls their equivalent of the EPL?

Do the "seasons" for each countries league run at roughly the same time? From what month to what month do the Leagues run typically? I want to know when the season is starting and finishing (ie NFL starts in Sept and ends in February).

It's not quite a rise from obscurity story, but this is a pretty good one. I started following Bayern in 1997 and was myself attempting to come to some type of understanding of how all of this worked.I learned this back story later, but Kaiserslautern, a founding member of the Bundesliga (63-64 season) had won their first league title in 90-91. They then fell so badly that they were relegated after the 95-96 season.

As mentioned, I started following Bayern in '97 and they won the league that first year, 96-97. The new season started and this newly promoted team, Kaiserlautern, beat my team and defending champs 1-0 on day one!!! Kaiserslautern never let up and won the league that season. An absolute worst to first story.

...

Regarding "seasons", it should also be noted that most European leagues take some kind of winter break. Some are longer than others. Usually the longer ones are in the countries where winter is a bit harsher. This season the Bundesliga played week 17 the weekend of December 20th, and week 18 was the weekend of January 31st.

SC Paderborn is a good example from the Bundesliga. They were barely above pub club level in the 80s when I lived nearby and used to walk up to games, maybe at best a regional Oberliga side, now in the Bundesliga. When I lived in Holland I fell in with some Dutch friends who were supporters of the comically named Go Ahead Eagles, a very small club with a tiny stadium in Deventer. They were promoted last season for the first time in about 20 years. GAE started strong in the Ehre Divisie this season only to be relegated.

 

[Native]

In other Bundesliga news, both Hamburg and Stuttgart are in the relegation zone with two games to play. Two of the biggest teams in Germany with nearly a dozen titles between them and both are primed to go down.

 

[Native]

Just checked the schedule in Germany - next week is the last week of the season and Paderborn and Stuttgart play one another. If I'm not mistaken the winner stays in the Bundesliga and loser gets relegated! If they draw they both run the risk of automatic relegation if Hamburg wins.

Much watch tv.

 

[The Z Machine]

Wasn't Dortmund was toying with relegation earlier this year or am I thinking about Hamburg?

 

[The Z Machine]

Suárez not playing against Atleti today.

 

[Native]

Wasn't Dortmund was toying with relegation earlier this year or am I thinking about Hamburg?

They were in the bottom 3 for a while but they've since recovered. If they win next week they can actually sneak into the Europa League.

 

[Native]

Aron Johannsson scores two (including a bicylce kick) and adds an assist as AZ secure a Europa league place. Woot! Thats four goals in his three games. His 35 yard thunderbolt last week was one of the goals of the season.

http://americansoccernow.com/articles/johannsson-goes-crazy-lifts-az-to-europa-league

 

[Slapdash]

Just checked the schedule in Germany - next week is the last week of the season and Paderborn and Stuttgart play one another. If I'm not mistaken the winner stays in the Bundesliga and loser gets relegated! If they draw they both run the risk of automatic relegation if Hamburg wins.

Much watch tv.

That damn clock is probably going to be reset.

 

[Slapdash]

Alves got his shirt tugged in the box and goes down easy. Gets a yellow for diving yet a free kick on the edge of the box. Very odd sequence.

 

[The Z Machine]

And Messi almost nails the free kick.

I thought Godin got the card though?

 

[The Z Machine]

I'm on an airplane and an trying to stream the game over southwest airlines WiFi.

Not going so hot...

 

[The Z Machine]

Valencia are down to Celta at the half. Sevilla down the same to Almeria. No one wants CL football it seems.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Aron Johannsson scores two (including a bicylce kick) and adds an assist as AZ secure a Europa league place. Woot! Thats four goals in his three games. His 35 yard thunderbolt last week was one of the goals of the season.

http://americansoccernow.com/articles/johannsson-goes-crazy-lifts-az-to-europa-league

awesome! We have been tracking his progress in the US thread this year. He has been slowing improving all year but has really hit his stride the last month.

With Jozy popping his hamstring again, who knows how long he might be out making AJo even more important this summer for the US.

 

[The Z Machine]

Gah... Barça up.

 

[NewlyRetired]

https://vine.co/v/eAzllgp3BFB

 

[The Z Machine]

Well, if I understand the rules right in la Liga, Atleti still needs a result at Granada next week to lock down 3rd place. Valencia holds the head to head tiebreaker.

Congrats to Barça on a fine season. They had one short rough patch, but otherwise they have looked nearly unstoppable. Messi might be playing better than he ever has before, and that's saying something. Rakatic's play makes most Barça fans not care about losing Cesc. Neymar impressed me more this year than ever, but I'm a Neymar hater, so I'm going to chalk up his play to the space afforded to him when playing with Messi and Suarez.

Now it's up to Juve and Athletic to prevent a treble.

 

[roadkill1292]

Does anyone have any experience with BEIN Connect and Comcast/Xfinity? I can't get the Connect people to answer my email and I don't see the Xfinity option listed on their website.

 

[Native]

https://vine.co/v/eAzllgp3BFB

What's this from?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

https://vine.co/v/eAzllgp3BFB

What's this from?

Trophy presentation for Australia A League, won by Melbourne.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Does anyone have any experience with BEIN Connect and Comcast/Xfinity? I can't get the Connect people to answer my email and I don't see the Xfinity option listed on their website.

As of a couple of months ago, Comcast had not yet agreed with beIN to support online streaming.

Last I read beIN had signed up 10 providers but were still missing some.

 

[Slapdash]

Way to wrap up the title

 

[CletiusMaximus]

It seems deGea to Madrid is really a thing. Will Iker just retire? If Carlo is still around, maybe he'll use Iker just for cup games?

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Does anyone have any experience with BEIN Connect and Comcast/Xfinity? I can't get the Connect people to answer my email and I don't see the Xfinity option listed on their website.

As of a couple of months ago, Comcast had not yet agreed with beIN to support online streaming. Last I read beIN had signed up 10 providers but were still missing some.

Hopefully comcast adds bein HD with the streaming

 

[El Floppo]

Does anyone have any experience with BEIN Connect and Comcast/Xfinity? I can't get the Connect people to answer my email and I don't see the Xfinity option listed on their website.

As of a couple of months ago, Comcast had not yet agreed with beIN to support online streaming.Last I read beIN had signed up 10 providers but were still missing some.

Hopefully comcast adds bein HD with the streaming

I'm hoping for FS2 in HD too.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Does anyone have any experience with BEIN Connect and Comcast/Xfinity? I can't get the Connect people to answer my email and I don't see the Xfinity option listed on their website.

As of a couple of months ago, Comcast had not yet agreed with beIN to support online streaming.Last I read beIN had signed up 10 providers but were still missing some.

Hopefully comcast adds bein HD with the streaming

I'm hoping for FS2 in HD too.

Another wish for Comcast: I'm just hoping for FS2

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Guadalajara game on hold due to fan rioting...

 

[NewlyRetired]

Kevin Baxter @kbaxter11 · 6m6 minutes ago

#LAFC on Monday will detail plans for a $250-million stadium on Sports Arena site, most expensive privately-financed soccer stadium in U.S.

Kevin Baxter @kbaxter11 · 6m6 minutes ago

The 22,000-seat stadium is the first open-air professional sports venue to be build in the City of L.A. since Dodger Stadium #LAFC

Kevin Baxter @kbaxter11 · 4m4 minutes ago

There is a major drawback though Permitting and construction will take more than two years, delaying #LAFC's MLS debut a full season to 2018

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Here's a link to the fans running into the field

http://popist.com/s/91f4747/

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Here's a link to the fans running into the field

http://popist.com/s/91f4747/

I'm torn between thinking the police handled it pretty well and thinking they should have blasted tear gas into that group down at the gate.

 

[charvik]

I'm out of likes for the day, but wanted to thank you too Native

Thanks in advance to anyone else who gives me their Top 5 things to know.

I'm sick this weekend, so having fun reading up while in bed here.

1. Don't pick Chelsea

2. Don't pick Chelsea

3. Don't pick Chelsea

4. Don't pick Chelsea

5. Pick any team but Chelsea

ALong with Top 5 "things" would be cool to hear everyone's squad and maybe a sentence or two as to why.

Feel free

My team is and will always be Liverpool Football Club. It's the only team in any sport that I am truly a fan of. I watch every game, and have for the last 20+ years, even pre-season, lowly cup games, and if I can sneak in a youth game I will watch that as well.

I wrote this as an intro in the past, and it has been reposted a couple of times since (I added some notes to help explain):

My family has always been huge football supporters, mainly following the local team (I grew up in Sweden, close to Halmstad on the west coast, so the local team was Halmstad BK [Note: League Champions in -76 and -79]), but also watching any football we could find on TV. Every Saturday, the entire family was gathered around to see first division games [Note: English first division, now called English Premier League] broadcast live and during the fall of 1974 I have been told I became obsessed with the team in red [Note: 3-4 yrs old at the time]. I was a goal keeper, so Ray Clemence was a given favourite, but I remember Keegan and Toshack as well. Come Christmas of -74 I wanted some Liverpool gear, and I remember instead getting a baby blue shoulder [Note: Manchester City] bag my grand father fished out of the river. I was inconsolable for days, and it didn't stop until my dad bought me a Liverpool shirt (he was and is a Derby County fan), coincidentally on the boxing day win over the blue mancs (4-1). [Note: The blue Mancs are Manchester City, which plays in a baby blue first kit.]

The love for the club grew from there. The first year we did fall short (yes, to Derby County) but Paisley [Note: Legendary coach for the club] brought me much joy and bragging rights on the playground pitch in those early years, since all the kids had their own favourite team. It was a joyous first decade of support, with plenty of silverware, but I do remember watching Heysel and Hillsborough live on the telly.

[Note: Longer side bar to explain Heysel and Hillsborough]

Heysel Stadium Disaster:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster

The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on 29 May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a collapsing wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Juventus of Italy and Liverpool of England. 39 people—mostly Juventus fans—died and 600 were injured.

Approximately 1 hour before the Juventus-Liverpool final was due to kick off, a large group of Liverpool fans breached a fence separating them from a "neutral area" which contained mostly Juventus fans. The latter ran back on the terraces and away from the threat into a concrete retaining wall. Fans already seated near the wall were crushed; eventually the wall collapsed. Many people climbed over to safety, but many others died or were badly injured. The game was played despite the disaster in order to prevent further violence, with Juventus winning 1-0.

The tragedy resulted in all English football clubs being placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990–91), with Liverpool being excluded for an additional 3 years, later reduced to 1, and fourteen Liverpool fans found guilty of manslaughter and each sentenced to three years' imprisonment. The disaster was later described as "the darkest hour in the history of the UEFA competitions".

English football had a (deserved) reputation for having a lot of hooliganism, and a lot of hooligans traveled to the continent, causing trouble, wearing whatever colours the English team was. This gives some context to:

Hillsborough disaster:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster

The Hillsborough disaster occurred on 15 April 1989 at the 1988–89 FA Cupsemi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield, England.

A crush resulted in the deaths of 96 people and injuries to 766 others. The incident has since been blamed primarily on the police for letting too many people enter the stadium. It remains the worst stadium-related disaster in British history, and one of the world's worst football disasters.

[Note: Hillsborough was originally blamed on Liverpool supporters, and the legal proceedings clearing the names of the innocents who died are still going on today.]

[Note: In 1991 the club was in shambles, coincidentally coinciding with the time in my life I could afford to go see them/was old enough to go]

The rough years started with Souness in 1991, Evans, and I don't remember much joy during those years, even though I think the rough years cemented my commitment to the club. The biggest beef I had was that one of my youth favourites Grobelaar didn't play as much as I wanted.

A lot of suffering over the years, coupled with some highlights too of course in the form of silverware, but no league titles in a long time. Lived through the debacle of Gillett and Hicks [Note: American owners who nearly bankrupted the club, which would have seen them thrown out of football altogether], the losing bid from DIC (we could've been the first (?) club with unlimited oil resources).

I could go on and on...

Yeah, tl;dr, I tend to get pretty wordy when talking about my club.

 

[The Gator]

If I was a newbie to the EPL, i'd pick Southampton

 

[CletiusMaximus]

USWNT elastico + lefty cross to Wambach header

Also, our darling Sydney Leroux had a brace - 5-1 over Mexico

 

[The Gator]

Filthy little move there