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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)

CletiusMaximus said:
Maybe SOL, but it seems equally or more likely we'll all be better off as this inevitable media shift moves forward. I pay $35/mo for Playstation Vue right now, which is much cheaper than what I was paying for cable and I get better soccer coverage than I had. Its only going to get better and cheaper imo as the providers figure out where the markets are and start putting together packages that meet the demand.  That said, $7-$27 for a single Chivas game in Mexico seems ridiculous, and $12/mo. strikes me as pretty steep to only get one team's games.
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The old man in me agrees, but then I look at the NBA's League Pass.  $149 for everything.  $119 for one team and then $7 a game.  So the team and game packages are comparable (why anyone would buy them over the all-in package is beyond me).  And for me the $149 is about the best entertainment value out there, so I can see the potential.  

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Man U hadn't won a league title since 1967 by then.  And Ferguson won a good bit of other silverware (an FA Cup, a league Cup, and a European Cup Winners Cup).  He probably wasn't any more successful than his predecessor, Ron Atkinson (who won 2 FA Cups), at first, but he also never really had Man U in the relegation places the way Atkinson did when he was fired. 

It's a great time for rasenballsport.
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Rumor was SAF's job was saved when he won the FA Cup (3rd season I think?) but it was also a different time in the sport.  I dont think we will see another SAF or Wenger type reign for a variety of reasons.

 
B Maverick said:
Rumor was SAF's job was saved when he won the FA Cup (3rd season I think?) but it was also a different time in the sport.  I dont think we will see another SAF or Wenger type reign for a variety of reasons.
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I think all of that is true.  But its also true that when the Premiere League formed Man U had one less top division English title than Everton and the same number as Aston Villa. 

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
I think all of that is true.  But its also true that when the Premiere League formed Man U had one less top division English title than Everton and the same number as Aston Villa. 
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True, And less CL titles then Nottingham Forest

hard to fire a manger when he wins a title in 13 of 20 seasons.  These days you dont win one or two and either you move on "for a new challenge" or the team moves you on.

 
B Maverick said:
Again, sitting Fro behind Pogba is a major issue for the team and esp Pogba.  PP is not a fit in the 10 or as a 6.  He needs to play between a quick thinking passer (Carrick or Herrera) and a creative playmaker like Mata.  When everyone is moving around Pogba and getting him the ball in space great things can happen.
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Pogba needs a dedicated #6 behind him(pirlo at juve) and a MF partner(vidal at Juve) while having active wings/#10. He can't handle being in space by himself, that's when he tries to do too much.  He was extremely frustrated this game and it showed. 

I like Rashford, but think he might b better played ahead of Zlatan rather than out wide. Zlatan is great at dropping deep and then linking up like he did at PSG. Much, much better option as a F9 or #10 than Pogba. 

 
B Maverick said:
True, And less CL titles then Nottingham Forest

hard to fire a manger when he wins a title in 13 of 20 seasons.  These days you dont win one or two and either you move on "for a new challenge" or the team moves you on.
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I think a lot of things contribute to that.  There really wasn't a global market for managers back in the 80s.  It's not as if Arrigo Sacchi was going to make himself available to come to Liverpool.  Now, guys like Klopp and Pep and Conte are available.  Second, obviously the financial implications of a serious drop in fortune are huge.  I'm not sure that finishing second and finishing 8th were that much different financially in 1990.  Now, it's a massive difference. 

 
The Gator said:
Pogba needs a dedicated #6 behind him(pirlo at juve) and a MF partner(vidal at Juve) while having active wings/#10. He can't handle being in space by himself, that's when he tries to do too much.  He was extremely frustrated this game and it showed. 

I like Rashford, but think he might b better played ahead of Zlatan rather than out wide. Zlatan is great at dropping deep and then linking up like he did at PSG. Much, much better option as a F9 or #10 than Pogba. 
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I listened to the Guardian soccer podcast today and they said essentially the same thing.  Said when Pogba was at his best at Juve, his heat map was box to box but never wide.  Basically he's best playing in a straight line in the center of the pitch from Box to Box but that he gets lost playing out wide at all.  Also he's not a 10 or a 6.

 
The Gator said:
Pogba needs a dedicated #6 behind him(pirlo at juve) and a MF partner(vidal at Juve) while having active wings/#10. He can't handle being in space by himself, that's when he tries to do too much.  He was extremely frustrated this game and it showed. 

I like Rashford, but think he might b better played ahead of Zlatan rather than out wide. Zlatan is great at dropping deep and then linking up like he did at PSG. Much, much better option as a F9 or #10 than Pogba. 
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Rashford should be in the middle.  Martial is better coming off the left.  Hopefully Mkhy is better coming off the right.  United is always at their best when the movement is quick and they can interchange.  Zlatan doesnt fit that as well.  And Fellaini prohibits that.  At some point the question may be asked if Zlatan should sit and Rashford goes up top.

Poke_4_Life said:
I listened to the Guardian soccer podcast today and they said essentially the same thing.  Said when Pogba was at his best at Juve, his heat map was box to box but never wide.  Basically he's best playing in a straight line in the center of the pitch from Box to Box but that he gets lost playing out wide at all.  Also he's not a 10 or a 6.
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Exactly.  Carrick and Mata around Pogba with the speed of Martial, Rashford and hopefully Mkhy or Lingard.  Herrera can slot in for Carrick or Mata at times too.

Heck, the way he's getting forward and serving balls, Valencia may need to return to the wing and get out of defense.  Although he has been solid there overall.

 
Poke_4_Life said:
I listened to the Guardian soccer podcast today and they said essentially the same thing.  Said when Pogba was at his best at Juve, his heat map was box to box but never wide.  Basically he's best playing in a straight line in the center of the pitch from Box to Box but that he gets lost playing out wide at all.  Also he's not a 10 or a 6.
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For his price tag he should be able to play any ####### position on the field exceptionally.

 
Current title odds.  Couldn't be much more wide open:

Code: 
City 		39.4%
Liverpool 	21.4%
Arsenal 	14.1%
Chelsea 	13.1%
Tottenham 	 8.2%
United 		 3.8%
 
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The Gator said:
Pogba needs a dedicated #6 behind him(pirlo at juve) and a MF partner(vidal at Juve) while having active wings/#10. He can't handle being in space by himself, that's when he tries to do too much.  He was extremely frustrated this game and it showed. 

I like Rashford, but think he might b better played ahead of Zlatan rather than out wide. Zlatan is great at dropping deep and then linking up like he did at PSG. Much, much better option as a F9 or #10 than Pogba. 
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whoa... what happened to gator? 

pogbga, rash... all a very :goodposting:  

 
Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Current title odds.  Couldn't be much more wide open:

City 0%
Liverpool 100%
Arsenal 0%
Chelsea 0%
Tottenham 0%
United 0%
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fixed to reflect Shader's odds.

Also, now that basketball is out of this forum, the ffa is officially the soccer forum :towelwave:  

 
This article makes the numbers sound better than they really are, but I guess even improving on tiny numbers is something

============================

2016 MLS TV ratings soar compared to last season

Christopher Harris  October 25, 2016  Leagues: Major League Soccer, TV Ratings

For the 2016 regular season, Major League Soccer averaged 276,689 viewers per game based on ratings research gathered by Sports TV Ratings and World Soccer Talk.

In total, the viewing averages across FOX Sports, ESPN and Univision saw dramatic increases in viewing numbers during the 2016 regular season:

• ESPN’s viewing audience for MLS games increased 25% based on an average of 307,845 viewers per game (combining ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes) compared to 244,970 in 2015,

• FOX Sports’ average viewing audience for MLS grew by 37% to an average of 270,258 viewers per game (combining FOX, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes) compared to 196,545 in 2015,

• Univision’s average viewing audience grew by 1.29% to an average of 247,148 in 2016 (combining Univision, Univision Deportes and UniMas) compared to 2015’s average of 244,000 viewers per game.

MLS definitely benefitted from ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision making a conscious effort to feature MLS games more prominently. FOX Sports aired MLS games on its FOX broadcast network for the first time ever this season. So did Univision. Plus, ESPN featured almost every single MLS game on its flagship network instead of ESPN2 where MLS games were prominently featured in previous years.

 
Christo said:
For his price tag he should be able to play any ####### position on the field exceptionally.
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This is so true.  Most great players seem to play all over the pitch.  If he's only good in one very limited position, how valuable is he?

 
I think that Shader's name should really be Shadee because he is always receiving the shade, not throwing it.

 
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MLS/NASL/USL tidbits

* Here is an item that shows the best/worst of MLS parity.  A massive 12 out of 20 teams make the playoffs.  Neither team in the MLS Cup Final last year (Portland and Columbus) were one of these 12 this season.

* Two Portland players (including Liam Ridgewell) were arrested for DUI's the other night

* Three of the top four drawing teams in the NASL this season are leaving the league.  Minnesota to MLS, and as we found out yesterday, Tampa and Ottawa to USL.  That can't be good for business but the NASL looks like it is trying to push on.   Shame they can't just merge with the USL and be done with it cleanly.

 
I'm rolling the dice again with the Chinese counterfeiters Gogoalshop.com for my son's birthday in December.  I got him what he asked for - the CFC 16-17 away Kante #7 youth kit. Used a discount code to get it for $35, then when I checked out they unexpectedly threw in another shirt for free - a choice from about 30 options including current and retro shirts from big clubs and countries. I went with the Argentina '86 retro since that's the first World Cup I saw and have so many fond memories of that year. I added a #10 for $5 but left off the name, so he can pretend its Messi while I know its Diego, the first player that really made me love the game.  I could get burned, but this company did me right last holiday season so I'm going with them again.

 
MLS playoffs start tonight (single game elimination)

Philly is at Toronto on ESPN2 at 7:30pm eastern

RSL is at LA on Unimas at 10:30pm eastern

 
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It's funny, if you had asked me before the season if I'd be happy with the Union making the playoffs I'd scream YES. But man, they've pulled off the textbook definition of backing in, and for some reason it feels like a letdown season. And with the prospect of no Barnetta or Blake next year, ugh.

 
Autumn Wind said:
It's funny, if you had asked me before the season if I'd be happy with the Union making the playoffs I'd scream YES. But man, they've pulled off the textbook definition of backing in, and for some reason it feels like a letdown season. And with the prospect of no Barnetta or Blake next year, ugh.
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Wait, what's going on with Blake?

Wynalda got into another interminable Twitter beef with a Bedoya supporter a few weeks ago, but Wynalda made a decent point.  The Union haven't been good with Ale. 

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Wait, what's going on with Blake?

Wynalda got into another interminable Twitter beef with a Bedoya supporter a few weeks ago, but Wynalda made a decent point.  The Union haven't been good with Ale. 
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Lots of rumblings that he'll be out the door after the year. It's pretty much inevitable if you think about it. Some European club is going to dangle a huge transfer fee in front of Earnie and he'll have no choice.

 
Autumn Wind said:
Lots of rumblings that he'll be out the door after the year. It's pretty much inevitable if you think about it. Some European club is going to dangle a huge transfer fee in front of Earnie and he'll have no choice.
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Actually I think his contract is up after this season so he can leave on a free if he wants.

 
Patrick Friolet‏ @PFrioletRDS

Confirmé. Didier Drogba ne fera pas le voyage à Washington

===========

This baffles me.  Drogba came to MLS, played hard and well.  Why does he want to go out like this?  Tomorrow may have been his last game ever as the rumor is he will retire.

 
Autumn Wind said:
It's funny, if you had asked me before the season if I'd be happy with the Union making the playoffs I'd scream YES. But man, they've pulled off the textbook definition of backing in, and for some reason it feels like a letdown season. And with the prospect of no Barnetta or Blake next year, ugh.
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:goodposting:

 
NewlyRetired said:
Patrick Friolet‏ @PFrioletRDS

Confirmé. Didier Drogba ne fera pas le voyage à Washington

===========

This baffles me.  Drogba came to MLS, played hard and well.  Why does he want to go out like this?  Tomorrow may have been his last game ever as the rumor is he will retire.
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None of this seems out of character to me.  Drogba scored, but didn't defend.  He "led" in the clubhouse, but that was predicated on him being the star.  Even then they had to accommodate him about the turf and he didn't exactly commit to the Impact in the offseason.  Drogba could be a devastating sub off the bench in the playoffs, but I'm not surprised that his ego won't allow that. 

I've also read some comments that he has an injury, but that sounds like management covering for him...

 
NewlyRetired said:
Actually I think his contract is up after this season so he can leave on a free if he wants.
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I'm not that familiar with MLS contract rules but how did the Union allow this to happen?  Did he not have much market value last year or did they prefer to make one playoff run and lose him for free rather than start over again going in to this season. 

 
Tom Hagen said:
I'm not that familiar with MLS contract rules but how did the Union allow this to happen?  Did he not have much market value last year or did they prefer to make one playoff run and lose him for free rather than start over again going in to this season. 
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This is Philly so asking any question about how they handle keepers is loaded with issues :)

Ignoring that long running joke, this is Blakes first year as the #1.  He only played 6 games last year so he likely had no value on the transfer market.

 
Tom Hagen said:
I'm not that familiar with MLS contract rules but how did the Union allow this to happen?  Did he not have much market value last year or did they prefer to make one playoff run and lose him for free rather than start over again going in to this season. 
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I think he only played 6 games last year.  I always thought it was weird because I remember Yves raving about him as the best college GK prospect in ages coming out of UConn, then Philly drafting him, and then immediately bringing in M'Boli. 

 
It seems like a good organization could have figured out a way to prevent this but Union's gonna Union I guess.

Also, I'm enjoying you guys nonchalantly commenting on a tweet written in French.

 
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