The Soccer Thread

[USSoccer]

So next year's friendlies are: Holland in Amsterdam, Honduras in LA and Northern Ireland in tbd.

 

Honduras and Northern Ireland are head scratchers. I'd prefer a Northern African side like Morocco, an Eastern European side like Croatia or an Englandesque team like Scotland.

 

On the whole though, our fixture list has improved mightily under Bradley.

 

Off the top of my head, he's played Argentina x2, England (away), Spain x2 (away), Mexico x whatever, Brazil, Egypt (away), Italy (away), Switzerland (away), Poland (away), Slovakia (away), Denmark (away) and Sweden x2.

 

 

That's all Gulati. When he took over he made it his #1 priority to improve the level of competition he faced. If we look at the friendlies scheduled, the decision to prioritize 2007 Gold Cup over Copa America and the schedule coming up in 2010, it's been a smashing success.

 

Credit where credit is due to the Oompa Loompa.

[USSoccer]

Rumors abound that Stu Holden is going to end up at Rangers.

 

I don't want him at Rangers. If he gets hurt no one will ever see him again. I think it was Reyna that said the most advanced piece of equipment in their physio room was an electric tea kettle.

The word is that they are looking at a bunch of American players including Holden, Rogers and Landon. It's going around that they are really loving the idea of getting the most for the little money they have and that they believe American players are the best place for them to find talent that can step right with the physicality and effort required to play in the SPL. As far as I'm concerned they are 100% right. You aren't going to get the value for your money in Europe, Africans, South and Central Americans adapt poorly to the weather and brute tackling and as we know here in American soccer, bad weather and bad tackling are abundant.

 

I question if the SPL, Rangers and Celtic aside, is any better than MLS. To me, SPL is Europe for the sake of Europe.

[wolf stansson]

I question if the SPL, Rangers and Celtic aside, is any better than MLS. To me, SPL is Europe for the sake of Europe.

I would agree with that.

[wvcbxl]

Bayern are in trouble in the CL trailing 1-0 after 25' at Juventus (and needing a win to advance)

Entertaining game to watch on TV so far. 8-)

[Guest]

Bayern smashed Juventus 4-1 today in Italy to move on.

 

Man U won in Germany to win the group and Real won their group also with Milan finishing second.

 

Interesting development in Man U's group is that CSKA finished second, three points ahead of Wolfburg, but two of their players tested positive for a banned stimulant after their game against Man U and CSKA could be thrown out of this year's competition and future ones. That would mean Wolfsburg would advance.

[wolf stansson]

Man U won in Germany to win the group

Starting 8 midfielders. Alex Ferguson has the balls of a grizzly bear.

[USSoccer]

Man U won in Germany to win the group

Starting 8 midfielders. Alex Ferguson has the balls of a grizzly bear.

 

Best coach in Europe. Even though he's going to cost me a Deportivo shirt.

 

Owen went for a hat trick in that match. He's got to be the best signing of the year in therms of value per dollar, right?

[wolf stansson]

He's got to be the best signing of the year in therms of value per dollar, right?

Only until this happens: Landon to...

[CubInOK]

He's got to be the best signing of the year in therms of value per dollar, right?

Only until this happens: Landon to...

Everton REALLY needs some help at defense, though.

[USSoccer]

Yeah, Everton would be better off buying Jay Demerit considering how god awful their defense is.

 

Of course, their whole outfield is pretty poor. LD would get playing time there, that's for certain.

[shnsajax]

Sol is looking to sign with ManU. I wasn't aware that he was able to sign yet after his Nottingham debacle.

[wolf stansson]

Sol is looking to sign with ManU. I wasn't aware that he was able to sign yet after his Nottingham debacle.

Well as long as every stiff off the street is making public statements of intent, I'd like to hereby announce my desire to sign with united as well.

[wvcbxl]

Awesome finish to tonight's CL game between Standard Liège and AZ Alkmaar.

In the 95th minute, Liège equalised to earn a place in the Europa League with a header by Bolat, their goalkeeper.

[USSoccer]

Sol is looking to sign with ManU. I wasn't aware that he was able to sign yet after his Nottingham debacle.

Well as long as every stiff off the street is making public statements of intent, I'd like to hereby announce my desire to sign with united as well.

 

No kidding. Sol Campbell is insane. Plus, I think Sir Alex would be better off just keeping his makeshift defense over signing Sol.

[wolf stansson]

Donovan to Everton on loan for 3 months is confirmed according to Ives.

 

This loan nonsense I think sets Landon up to fail, but hopefully he can get it done in the incredibly unfair period of time he has to do it. MLS transfer policies suck.

[shnsajax]

Donovan to Everton on loan for 3 months is confirmed according to Ives.

 

This loan nonsense I think sets Landon up to fail, but hopefully he can get it done in the incredibly unfair period of time he has to do it. MLS transfer policies suck.

 

This

[USSoccer]

Donovan to Everton on loan for 3 months is confirmed according to Ives.

 

This loan nonsense I think sets Landon up to fail, but hopefully he can get it done in the incredibly unfair period of time he has to do it. MLS transfer policies suck.

 

Eh, I think 3 months in the EPL for a team that's going to feature him is more favorable than the crapfest loan at Bayern last term. That is, if they feature him. If he gets like 4 starts its a waste.

 

Also, I don't blame MLS for valuing him the way they do, really. His value to the league makes it imperative they get fair market value for him in any sale/transfer. I also don't really blame European teams, in this market and with LD's track record (not that I think its entirely fair) in Europe, for not paying $12m in transfer fees plus wages for an unproven commodity. A team that would really need him couldn't afford him for longer than a loan, and a big club wouldn't spend on him cause of his Bunde past.

 

Hopefully he goes there, helps Everton avoid the drop, scores a few goals and kicks ass in South Africam and then maybe a bigger club will come calling with an offer to buy.

[CubInOK]

Heh.

[bukie]

Fernando Torres on Spain at the World Cup: "we want to play against the USA again because they beat us in the Confederations Cup"

 

I'd want that likewise, since that would mean the US was in the semis.

[brinoch]

I'd take that.

[USSoccer]

Fernando Torres on Spain at the World Cup: "we want to play against the USA again because they beat us in the Confederations Cup"

 

I'd want that likewise, since that would mean the US was in the semis.

 

I'd walk around with a boner for like 4 weeks if we made the semis

[Mark Priors Calves]

Shame on us for letting this thread slide to the bottom of page 1.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/12/15/us.honduras.ap/index.html

 

US is hosting Honduras in a World Cup tune-up on January 23 in California. Its not an official FIFA date, so it might be the B Team Bombers for the US.

[wolf stansson]

Shame on us for letting this thread slide to the bottom of page 1.

I've been trying to formulate my thoughts on how bad Zombie Beasley is freaking me out. I don't know what's happening, I don't know how to feel about it and I'm not sure why.

http://videos.sapo.pt/fr3bI6TuZHzzz2kGmumk

The only way I can understand what happened in the video in the link is that it must've been a failed cross. No way he was purposely putting it on goal.

 

Dare I let myself think about Beasley on the right, Donovan on the left and Dempsey in the hole? A finally fit and healthy DMB could be a nice wrinkle in certain tactical situations.

 

 

I will say that I'm really happy MLS stepped up and showed Stuart Holden the money. MLS needs players like him and I'd rather watch him do his thing here than be a squad player in Europe or a starter in a middling league like the SPL.

[USSoccer]

Shame on us for letting this thread slide to the bottom of page 1.

I've been trying to formulate my thoughts on how bad Zombie Beasley is freaking me out. I don't know what's happening, I don't know how to feel about it and I'm not sure why.

http://videos.sapo.pt/fr3bI6TuZHzzz2kGmumk

The only way I can understand what happened in the video in the link is that it must've been a failed cross. No way he was purposely putting it on goal.

 

Dare I let myself think about Beasley on the right, Donovan on the left and Dempsey in the hole? A finally fit and healthy DMB could be a nice wrinkle in certain tactical situations.

 

 

I will say that I'm really happy MLS stepped up and showed Stuart Holden the money. MLS needs players like him and I'd rather watch him do his thing here than be a squad player in Europe or a starter in a middling league like the SPL.

 

I sincerely hope Bradley and staff realize that Beasley is doing this in the worst European league, and is still a player with horrid tactical skills and no-longer-blazing pace.

 

I want him nowhere near the 23. I want him nowhere near Africa. Every cycle some washed up vet ends up costing us goals and points. Agoos in 2002, Pope and Reyna in 2006. This will happen if Beasley ends up on the 23. He will start a game, and commit a horrid, horrid error (see Confed Cup v Brasil, failing to trap an effing corner leading to a counter break and goal).

 

Beasley isn't a RM player. He's a LM player. If Bradley moves Donovan from the LM, where he's been completely awesome this cycle, and puts him anywhere else to make room for effing Beasley, he's a tactical [expletive] and he'll ruin the summer for me. If he puts him on the right, Beasley will bitch just like he did in 2006 when Bruce served his ass after the Czech disaster.

 

In this cycle, we've FINALLY found a style that suits us-our attack runs through our technically sounds wing mids and they pinch in. Beasley can't do that. He has no technical skill, no touch-he only has one move, and against good competition (read: not the SPL) his pace is negated.

 

If Bradley drinks the Beasley Kool Aid, it will cost us effectiveness and points in the Cup.

[wolf stansson]

I want him nowhere near the 23. I want him nowhere near Africa. Every cycle some washed up vet ends up costing us goals and points. Agoos in 2002, Pope and Reyna in 2006. This will happen if Beasley ends up on the 23. He will start a game, and commit a horrid, horrid error (see Confed Cup v Brasil, failing to trap an effing corner leading to a counter break and goal).

Don't get me wrong, I hate the idea of Beasley on the pitch in South Africa. I'm just trying to prepare myself because I don't think there's any way he's not back in the squad if he keeps this up. Bradley seems to really love him.

 

Donovan signed a huge, new MLS extension. He's now in the multi-millionaire's contract club. Well deserved, but it's interesting to see how this affects his European future. I think positively. Any future move hinges on this Everton loan and South Africa. I guarantee there is a buyout clause in this new paper like Beckham's. Any potential move could be facilitated by the buying club, Nike, USS or Landon himself contributing to the selling price. It's a perfect setup for Landon. If he shows well in England it's a starting point for salary negotiations after a transfer. He'd command a multi-million wage bill anyway no matter where he went so the salary isn't prohibitive. Well, it is if he wants to go to a relegation battler like Hull or Bari (as rumored after the Confed's Cup) but he's not going for that regardless. If he shows poorly, he comes back to MLS making more money. He's now got a better fall back situation and more negotiation leverage in future transfer talks.