The Soccer Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

Yea, this might be good news, its hard to say yet, but ESPN's coverage has been top notch. Ultimately, all of the games need to be on networks that are available on most satellite/cable providers.

 

Edit:

 

Though I do like Grant Wahl's idea of having Gus Johnson involved in the broadcasts.

[USSoccer]

This means nothing good for soccer in the US. ESPN went all in in 2010 and the production was fantastic. Their marketing and the weight that their brand carries helped propel viewership.

 

I have real questions about Fox's ability to match it, not to mention what happens to the visibility of MLS on ESPN, and the USMNT as well.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Hopefully ESPN's soccer ratings continue to steadily increase the next three years to ensure their continued investment in non-WC coverage.

[wvcbxl]

Watching the rugby world cup final on French TV (the only other option on my set was Dutch TV) was glorious.

Thrilling game to the very last minute.

[USSoccer]

Wow, United melting down completely. 0-3 to City, at Old Trafford.

[wvcbxl]

Wow, United melting down completely. 0-3 to City, at Old Trafford.

 

1-5 now - bad day at the office for Sir Alec.

[wvcbxl]

And yet another one - this is embarrassing.

 

The City fans are in excellent voice celebrating this 1-6 victory.

[Guest]

ManU allowed 12 goals in 19 home games last year. They allowed half that today.

 

Also, thanks for ruining a close game, Jonny Evans.

[Guest]

Somehow I found myself on the Fire website last night, and I was shocked how reasonable tickets were. I can get Season Tickets to Section 8 for $220. It's too bad there's no easy way to get there from where I live, or I'd consider it.

[wolf stansson]

Man. I wanna live in an MLS city.

[shnsajax]

I'm not overly confidant that Dallas can beat NY at home tomorrow night. I doubt they will even draw a solid crowd with the Rangers having a chance to clinch. Though there are some really good bars around Pizza Hut Park.

[wolf stansson]

In yet another pleasant surprise from Germany, we have a 20 year old afrogermanican striker at Dortmund. Made the 18 last weekend after netting 8 in 10 for their second team.

http://usa10kit.com/2011/10/25/terrence-boyd-on-the-rise-in-dortmund-due-for-a-u-s-call/

[shnsajax]

In yet another pleasant surprise from Germany, we have a 20 year old afrogermanican striker at Dortmund. Made the 18 last weekend after netting 8 in 10 for their second team.

http://usa10kit.com/2011/10/25/terrence-boyd-on-the-rise-in-dortmund-due-for-a-u-s-call/

 

I like this potential new pipeline. Saw that Caleb Porter is taking over the U23 while staying with Akron. I like this move.

[wolf stansson]

Arsenal scouts will be in Dallas tonight watching Ream: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/10/report-arsenal-scouting-ream.html

Not sure why. Seriously, he's really talented, but at 24 with some issues that will be very exposed by the pace of play in the EPL (poor decision making, poor positioning and bad in the air) I'm not clear on why they think he's worth more than 4mil.

[shnsajax]

Arsenal scouting department hasn't exactly been clicking for the past couple of season.

[wolf stansson]

Don't know if I agree with that. They're cheap, but they're scouts find solid values. Szczesny, Vermaelen, Ox-Chamberlain and Gervinho are great buys.

[wvcbxl]

Don't know if I agree with that. They're cheap, but they're scouts find solid values. Szczesny, Vermaelen, Ox-Chamberlain and Gervinho are great buys.

 

Vermaelen was with Ajax and a member of the national team (so not execatly a great find), and he cost them 12 milion euros (so not exactly cheap)

[USSoccer]

Sadly, Ream would fit right in with Arsenal's current defense

[wolf stansson]

Don't know if I agree with that. They're cheap, but they're scouts find solid values. Szczesny, Vermaelen, Ox-Chamberlain and Gervinho are great buys.

 

Vermaelen was with Ajax and a member of the national team (so not execatly a great find), and he cost them 12 milion euros (so not exactly cheap)

He's arguably their best player. He was a good value. I never said he was a diamond in the rough. Neither was Gervinho.

 

 

 

Ream has looked lost a couple times tonight, but they're probably there for Brek Shea anyway.

[USSoccer]

New York sucks. FCD losing this game would set the game of soccer in America back approx 123 years (estimated)

 

Tim Ream is an incompetent defender. He's gotten worked, been caught ballwatching and is just not good at playing defense, tracking runners or playing defense. If we're hellbent on a center back that can build from the back, Geoff Cameron needs some burn.

 

Dallas has no one at all in the center of the field that can create.

[USSoccer]

Somehow I found myself on the Fire website last night, and I was shocked how reasonable tickets were. I can get Season Tickets to Section 8 for $220. It's too bad there's no easy way to get there from where I live, or I'd consider it.

 

There's no easy way to get there from anywhere in Chicagoland.

 

That said, at that price I'm probably going to do that at some point.

[USSoccer]

Apparently Dallas thought it would be bright to run every single attack down the opposite side of their best player. Balls.

[Guest]

Somehow I found myself on the Fire website last night, and I was shocked how reasonable tickets were. I can get Season Tickets to Section 8 for $220. It's too bad there's no easy way to get there from where I live, or I'd consider it.

 

There's no easy way to get there from anywhere in Chicagoland.

 

That said, at that price I'm probably going to do that at some point.

 

Yeah, how did Toyota Park get built with no access from the Metra or the L? Let's fill a 22,000 capacity stadium with parking lots and a single pace bus! Did those people move on to make decisions at the Daily Herald?

[USSoccer]

Somehow I found myself on the Fire website last night, and I was shocked how reasonable tickets were. I can get Season Tickets to Section 8 for $220. It's too bad there's no easy way to get there from where I live, or I'd consider it.

 

There's no easy way to get there from anywhere in Chicagoland.

 

That said, at that price I'm probably going to do that at some point.

 

Yeah, how did Toyota Park get built with no access from the Metra or the L? Let's fill a 22,000 capacity stadium with parking lots and a single pace bus! Did those people move on to make decisions at the Daily Herald?

 

They were actually going to build the stadium near US Cellular where they ended up putting condos instead. It would have been walking distance from the El and a fantastic location overall. The city wouldn't give AEG/Fire the same deal on bonds that Bridgeview offered, ie Bridgeview offered to front pretty much all the money while Chicago wanted to share the burden with the Fire, as at the time MLS was not nearly as stable as it is now. Peter Wilt had no choice but to accept the Bridgeview offer.

 

Then, when Chicago was bidding for the Olympics, Mayor Daley intended on using the federal infrastructure dollaz that he would have received as part of a winning bid to extend the CTA out in a couple places, including Bridgeview. Obviously that never happened, so we're stuck with a really nice stadium that you have to drive down to the bitter end of Harlem Ave to get to. It might as well be on the moon.

[bukie]

I like it, the stadium is about a 10 minute drive for me, and I don't have to deal with the city traffic. :P