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

Southampton promptly spending their Pelle money on Bayern Munich backup Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who spent last season on loan at Schalke. I am beyond thrilled getting a player with two randomly placed Js in his name.

 
Glad those summer tourneys are over.  On to real football.

Things I'm excited about this year:

1. Coman and Sanches for Bayern Munich.  That's some serious young talent!

2. Zlatan in the EPL.  Love him or hate him, love ManU or hate them, it will be fun to see him every week.  Great player's always help the league, even if they are close to social security.

3. Klopp w a preseason, a 2nd year, a real GK, a fast winger, and a week to prepare for opponents - It's the red-colored glasses, but I think Liverpool will be a team no one will want to play this year.  

4. Mourinho at ManU:  Gonna be a blast

5. MLS

 
soccer 101 question:  

when announcers say someone is/isn't a "true #9" or "#10".. what the #### do they mean?  is it like baseball where catcher is #2, RF is #9, etc?

is there such a thing as a "true #22", etc?

 
soccer 101 question:  

when announcers say someone is/isn't a "true #9" or "#10".. what the #### do they mean?  is it like baseball where catcher is #2, RF is #9, etc?

is there such a thing as a "true #22", etc?
1 Goalkeeper

2 Right full back

3 Left full back

4 Center half back

5 Center half back

6 Defensive Midfielder

7 Right Winger

8 Central Midfielder

9 Striker

10 Attacking Midfielder

11 Left Winger

 
so then they, generally, wear the uniform number of their position?

or is 9/10 reserved for the best player regardless of position??

 
so then they, generally, wear the uniform number of their position?

or is 9/10 reserved for the best player regardless of position??
International squads have to assign out numbers 1 through 23.   Typically senior players and starters get the lower numbers.

Club teams have a lot more latitude with high numbers.  Serie A is pretty ridiculous in this regard with guys wearing numbers in the 90s.  When Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano played for Inter, Ronaldo took the #9 shirt from him so Zamorano wore #18 but put a small plus sign between the digits because 1+8=9.

 
so then they, generally, wear the uniform number of their position?

or is 9/10 reserved for the best player regardless of position??
It's rare for players to wear the uniform number that matches their position anymore.  That's kind of throwback.

Generally you only hear four "number" positions mentioned much.  And they are used to denote a specific defined role in a team which may or may not even exist anymore.

A "number nine" is a pure striker.  He plays farthest up the pitch.  He's supposed to hold up play and get into the box to finish chances.  In the Euros, your best analogue was probably Olivier Giroud, who plays very much like a traditional #9.  In truth, today's forwards normally are far more mobile and interchanging, but people use a "number nine" as a shorthand for a guy who's primary job is to score goals. 

A "number ten" is an attacking playmaker.  He plays "between the lines" (behind the opponent's midfielders but in front of the opponent's back four) and is the creative fulcrum of the attack.  His job is to play key passes to attacking runners.    Historically, a #10 had a "free role" where he could drift wherever there was space and receive the ball.  Also historically, 10s rarely had many defensive responsibilities.  In today's game, every offensive player is often expected to be able to interchange at times, which makes the "10" less unique.  And most teams won't carry a guy who doesn't contribute on defense anymore.  So the age of classic #10s is over.

A "number six" is a defensive midfielder who "shields" the back four, by playing just in front of him.  Of these four positions, it's the one that is still used most universally today.  With that said, I think it's used a bit more broadly than originally intended.  There are generally two types of deep-lying central midfielders.  The typical anchor man or defensive midfielder who breaks up play and distributes the ball simply is a classic #6 William Carvalho is the guy who might come to mind in that position from the Euros.  But people also tend to call deep-lying playmakers like Toni Kroos sixes, even though he isn't all that defensive.  He just orchestrates the offense from deeper positions.

A classic "number 8" is the so-called "box to box" midfielder.  A midfielder with high workrate and lots of freedom to get forward or back.  Again, it's somewhat of a holdover from a different tactical time when most players had very defined positional roles and 10s and 8s were given more freedom to be the ones to find space.  In the modern game, most other positions have less rigid positional responsibilities, but that's paradoxically given true 10s and 8s more defined positional responsibilities. 

 
It's rare for players to wear the uniform number that matches their position anymore.  That's kind of throwback.

Generally you only hear four "number" positions mentioned much.  And they are used to denote a specific defined role in a team which may or may not even exist anymore.

A "number nine" is a pure striker.  He plays farthest up the pitch.  He's supposed to hold up play and get into the box to finish chances.  In the Euros, your best analogue was probably Olivier Giroud, who plays very much like a traditional #9.  In truth, today's forwards normally are far more mobile and interchanging, but people use a "number nine" as a shorthand for a guy who's primary job is to score goals. 

A "number ten" is an attacking playmaker.  He plays "between the lines" (behind the opponent's midfielders but in front of the opponent's back four) and is the creative fulcrum of the attack.  His job is to play key passes to attacking runners.    Historically, a #10 had a "free role" where he could drift wherever there was space and receive the ball.  Also historically, 10s rarely had many defensive responsibilities.  In today's game, every offensive player is often expected to be able to interchange at times, which makes the "10" less unique.  And most teams won't carry a guy who doesn't contribute on defense anymore.  So the age of classic #10s is over.

A "number six" is a defensive midfielder who "shields" the back four, by playing just in front of him.  Of these four positions, it's the one that is still used most universally today.  With that said, I think it's used a bit more broadly than originally intended.  There are generally two types of deep-lying central midfielders.  The typical anchor man or defensive midfielder who breaks up play and distributes the ball simply is a classic #6 William Carvalho is the guy who might come to mind in that position from the Euros.  But people also tend to call deep-lying playmakers like Toni Kroos sixes, even though he isn't all that defensive.  He just orchestrates the offense from deeper positions.

A classic "number 8" is the so-called "box to box" midfielder.  A midfielder with high workrate and lots of freedom to get forward or back.  Again, it's somewhat of a holdover from a different tactical time when most players had very defined positional roles and 10s and 8s were given more freedom to be the ones to find space.  In the modern game, most other positions have less rigid positional responsibilities, but that's paradoxically given true 10s and 8s more defined positional responsibilities. 
Good write up, scoob. 

The other thing I'd like to add as those postion designations really only apply on offense. Teams are often morphing their formation when the other team has the ball. Particularly if they run a 4-3-3, which quickly becomes a 4-5-1 by pulling those inside forwards back behind the ball.

When Atlético ran a 4-4-2, Gabi was the #6, Saúl the #8, Griezmann an #11 as a secondary striker to Torres #9. They didn't play with a #10 in any way, shape, or form. They had Koke on the right and Carrasco on the left as true wide midfielders, playing the overlap with the outside backs, cutting inside on offense, and pinching narrow on D to force the opponent wide and into a poorer passing position.

Tactical flexibility is the name of the game nowadays. Getting the right shape in each moment, whether it be attacking a weakness, or absorbing attacks with two tight kind of 4 to choke off passing in the middle of the park.

 
I'm in the UK this week for work and had this afternoon free after landing at noon. I decided to take in a self guided tour of The Emirates. It's a nice, modern stadium with good facilities and sight lines (also, kinda soulless too).  The tour was great and I got to go into both the visiting and home team locker rooms, as well as sit in the Director level seats and see Wenger's office (complete with puffy coat).

I took in Bernabéu tour a while back, and this one was much better.

 
I'm in the UK this week for work and had this afternoon free after landing at noon. I decided to take in a self guided tour of The Emirates. It's a nice, modern stadium with good facilities and sight lines (also, kinda soulless too).  The tour was great and I got to go into both the visiting and home team locker rooms, as well as sit in the Director level seats and see Wenger's office (complete with puffy coat).

I took in Bernabéu tour a while back, and this one was much better.
Gator wants to know whether the speedo was also on display.

 
Well now I know what the position numbers mean. Another ten or twelve years and I'll start to have a basic understanding of tactics.

To save face I'll somehow have to work in the rhetorical question of "Did anybody else's favorite Prem team just have two guys go 120 minutes for the winning side in the Euro finals?"

 
It's rare for players to wear the uniform number that matches their position anymore.  That's kind of throwback.

Generally you only hear four "number" positions mentioned much.  And they are used to denote a specific defined role in a team which may or may not even exist anymore.

A "number nine" is a pure striker.  He plays farthest up the pitch.  He's supposed to hold up play and get into the box to finish chances.  In the Euros, your best analogue was probably Olivier Giroud, who plays very much like a traditional #9.  In truth, today's forwards normally are far more mobile and interchanging, but people use a "number nine" as a shorthand for a guy who's primary job is to score goals. 

A "number ten" is an attacking playmaker.  He plays "between the lines" (behind the opponent's midfielders but in front of the opponent's back four) and is the creative fulcrum of the attack.  His job is to play key passes to attacking runners.    Historically, a #10 had a "free role" where he could drift wherever there was space and receive the ball.  Also historically, 10s rarely had many defensive responsibilities.  In today's game, every offensive player is often expected to be able to interchange at times, which makes the "10" less unique.  And most teams won't carry a guy who doesn't contribute on defense anymore.  So the age of classic #10s is over.

A "number six" is a defensive midfielder who "shields" the back four, by playing just in front of him.  Of these four positions, it's the one that is still used most universally today.  With that said, I think it's used a bit more broadly than originally intended.  There are generally two types of deep-lying central midfielders.  The typical anchor man or defensive midfielder who breaks up play and distributes the ball simply is a classic #6 William Carvalho is the guy who might come to mind in that position from the Euros.  But people also tend to call deep-lying playmakers like Toni Kroos sixes, even though he isn't all that defensive.  He just orchestrates the offense from deeper positions.

A classic "number 8" is the so-called "box to box" midfielder.  A midfielder with high workrate and lots of freedom to get forward or back.  Again, it's somewhat of a holdover from a different tactical time when most players had very defined positional roles and 10s and 8s were given more freedom to be the ones to find space.  In the modern game, most other positions have less rigid positional responsibilities, but that's paradoxically given true 10s and 8s more defined positional responsibilities. 
Excellent post... especially because you worked Carvalho in there.  I love that guy.

 
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A "number six" is a defensive midfielder who "shields" the back four, by playing just in front of him.  Of these four positions, it's the one that is still used most universally today.  With that said, I think it's used a bit more broadly than originally intended.  There are generally two types of deep-lying central midfielders.  The typical anchor man or defensive midfielder who breaks up play and distributes the ball simply is a classic #6 William Carvalho is the guy who might come to mind in that position from the Euros.  But people also tend to call deep-lying playmakers like Toni Kroos sixes, even though he isn't all that defensive.  He just orchestrates the offense from deeper positions.
And then you have guys like Javier Mascherano, who will just ####### break your legs.

 
Excellent post... especially because you worked Carvalho in there.  I love that guy.
Interesting player to watch.  He looks big and lumbering like he'll never close on a quicker smaller opponent.  The next thing you know, he's exactly where he's supposed to be.

 
Interesting player to watch.  He looks big and lumbering like he'll never close on a quicker smaller opponent.  The next thing you know, he's exactly where he's supposed to be.
He's regressed a bit imo, or just had is development halted a bit

He passes the ball SO ### #### SLOW that it's maddening to watch. It leads to his teammates getting the ball under pressure waaaay too often. Also, his decision making on passing is meh. He passes to guys who are checking to him regardless if there's a guy on their back or not. 

Sweet 'stache though

 
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He's regressed a bit imo, or just had is development halted a bit

He passes the ball SO ### #### SLOW that it's maddening to watch. It leads to his teammates getting the ball under pressure waaaay too often. Also, his decision making on passing is meh. He passes to guys who are checking to him regardless if there's a guy on their back or not. 

Sweet 'stache though
Sore winner

 
This past weekend marked the 2 year anniversary since the last time Chicago won a game on the road.  They obviously missed the "parity for all" memo :)

 
so there was a flight sale a couple weeks so im off to spain in oct for 2 weeks.

I would like to catch a Barcelona or real madrid game.

if anyone has gone to a game in either stadium , how do I get tickets ?

im going on the assumption that the season tickets holders have got all the seats so they are sold out.

are there ticket scalpers outside the stadium or do I just buy via ticket site when I get to spain

thanks 

 
so there was a flight sale a couple weeks so im off to spain in oct for 2 weeks.

I would like to catch a Barcelona or real madrid game.

if anyone has gone to a game in either stadium , how do I get tickets ?

im going on the assumption that the season tickets holders have got all the seats so they are sold out.

are there ticket scalpers outside the stadium or do I just buy via ticket site when I get to spain

thanks 
I got tickets outside the stadium, for face value, as the game was starting.  I was with a woman that spoke Spanish, so that was helpful.   

This was in Barcelona, by the way.  Vs. Bilbao

 
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I got tickets outside the stadium, for face value, as the game was starting.  I was with a woman that spoke Spanish, so that was helpful.   

This was in Barcelona, by the way.  Vs. Bilbao
You may want to check if this is still allowed under current security procedures.  When we went to PSG this January, I bought resale tickets through a European equivalent of StubHub but we still had to provide names for the tickets which were checked against ID at the gate.

 
You may want to check if this is still allowed under current security procedures.  When we went to PSG this January, I bought resale tickets through a European equivalent of StubHub but we still had to provide names for the tickets which were checked against ID at the gate.
Friggin' French.   :angry:

 
I am getting so old :(

I saw a report yesterday saying that Vancouver signed David Edgar.   That interested me because I always liked him as a player but I thought he had retired.

When I saw his pic it made me realize I was thinking of Edgar Davids instead  :bag:

 
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I don't know if PSG started this in response to Nov 13th.  It may date back to their efforts to drive the ultras out of Parc des Princes.
Understandable... there's a similar directive being enacted in Italy, aimed specifically at the Ultras.  Difficult situation, because it seems to be a dichotomy between extreme pride & passion for one's hometown club, vs. "plastic" corporate sponsorship support, (which does generate more revenue for said club to "progress"), resulting in clashes & controversy over what the right way is forward.  Now we have the "Chinese Conundrum", which further obfuscates  matters.  I obviously have no idea what I'm trying to say, but hopefully..., by now,  you are all well  versed in "Kafkaesque".  Capisce?

eta: I'm on vacation, & got two Bloody Mary's, & etc...under my belt....context!

 
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was there discussion about NYC teaming up with NYCFC, MLS and Adidas to build 50 new soccer fields throughout NYC- targeting underserved areas (and trying to bring soccer into communities that haven't historically been hotbeds). kinda exciting, IMO.

 
was there discussion about NYC teaming up with NYCFC, MLS and Adidas to build 50 new soccer fields throughout NYC- targeting underserved areas (and trying to bring soccer into communities that haven't historically been hotbeds). kinda exciting, IMO.
I read about this last night.  It is very cool.  I think they are going to be "mini fields" probably due to lack of space but it should help serve those areas nicely.

 
I am getting so old :(

I saw a report yesterday saying that Vancouver signed David Edgar.   That interested me because I always liked him as a player but I thought he had retired.

When I saw his pic it made me realize I was thinking of Edgar Davies instead  :bag:
Im so old I was thinking of Edgar Davids! :bag:

 
jfc this is so boring and forever taking

I like to scroll footmob and look at all the friendlies/qualifications going on...saw a team called Odds Ballklubb :lol:  

 
Going to see Crystal Palace v. Cincinnati this weekend to get my footie fix.

But then I am off to Wisconsin for a week, where I am not sure they even have internet

 
Barcelona doubles up on young French defenders, signing Lucas Digne.  I always signed Digne for Barca on Football Manager :nerd: , so I have to give this signing my full endorsement.  It's nice to see Barcelona sign defenders with pace - hopefully they can stay fit, unlike Vermaelen or Mathieu

 
Sinn Fein said:
Going to see Crystal Palace v. Cincinnati this weekend to get my footie fix.

But then I am off to Wisconsin for a week, where I am not sure they even have internet
Funny, we're going to watch CP vs. Philly tonight.  Looking forward to it!

 

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