The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

Steve Nicol, who was Clint's manager when he was desperate for MLS to accept either Everton or Preston NE's offers but didn't get what he wanted, refuses to believe Jol's accusations.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1136037/clint-dempsey-fined-for-refusal-to-play-for-fulham?cc=5901

[USSoccer]

Steve Nicol, who was Clint's manager when he was desperate for MLS to accept either Everton or Preston NE's offers but didn't get what he wanted, refuses to believe Jol's accusations.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1136037/clint-dempsey-fined-for-refusal-to-play-for-fulham?cc=5901

 

Yeah, refusing to play doesn't sound like Clint's MO.

 

This is probably either an issue starting at Fulham's board, or with Jol himself. Like you said, he pulled this crap at Spurs, too.

[manbearcub]

Steve Nicol, who was Clint's manager when he was desperate for MLS to accept either Everton or Preston NE's offers but didn't get what he wanted, refuses to believe Jol's accusations.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1136037/clint-dempsey-fined-for-refusal-to-play-for-fulham?cc=5901

He's definitely not biased or anything.

[wolf stansson]

Steve Nicol, who was Clint's manager when he was desperate for MLS to accept either Everton or Preston NE's offers but didn't get what he wanted, refuses to believe Jol's accusations.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1136037/clint-dempsey-fined-for-refusal-to-play-for-fulham?cc=5901

He's definitely not biased or anything.

I'm sure he'd love to see Clint at his club, but defending his character doesn't help make that happen.

[shnsajax]

The blue Tottenham jerseys are pretty bad ass.

 

Wenger needs help. I know it's hard to judge a new team vs Sunderland who can pack the back with the best of them but this team lacks a lot of creativity in the final 3rd.

[wolf stansson]

Post game, Jol admitted Clint didn't refuse to play. His agent strongly stated they want them to sell him soon so there's no chance of an injury causing the transfer to fall through. Same exact thing he pulled when United were trying to buy Berbatov. Not sure what it accomplishes.

[USSoccer]

I took my daughter to her first MLS game tonight-she'd been to US games, but this was the first Fire game.

 

Aside from the fact she had fun and all, let me tell you something about MLS officials:

 

It's one thing to see them be awful on TV, but you only see what the camera shows you live and on replay. It's entirely different live-a whole new world of bad. Both Fire goals came off completely blown offsides calls, and in both cases the AR was 20 yards behind the play when the diagonal balls were played. I don't know how that happens in a major league, and that's not getting into the inconsistency of the center official.

 

Also, I'd like to someday kick Mayor Daley right in the minerals for brokering the idiotic bond deal with Bridgeview instead of building Toyota Park next to US Cellular. Bridgeview is a disaster to get to if you don't live in Berkeley or Riverside or some other godforsaken place, and it's the single biggest reason I haven't pulled the trigger on season tickets yet

[wvcbxl]

Mirallas to Everton confirmed - that makes another Belgian international on an EPL payroll, :D

[USSoccer]

And yet Belgium will continue to be Netherlands Jr. and underachieve internationally ;)

[wvcbxl]

And yet Belgium will continue to be Netherlands Jr. and underachieve internationally ;)

 

You obviously didn't see the midweek friendly :wink:

[wolf stansson]

Joey doubled again today. Both very handy goals again.

Clips here: http://www.noshortcorners.com/

[shnsajax]

Fun City vs Southampton match so far.

[USSoccer]

Joey doubled again today. Both very handy goals again.

Clips here: http://www.noshortcorners.com/

 

Great start. I liked the patience on the 2nd.

[wolf stansson]

Hey look! Messi is in the box. Should I mark him? Nah. I'll do it later. I'll just hold my line for now.

[shnsajax]

Song to Barca is complete for looks like 19 million. More than I would have spent on him. Wonder if Arsenal is going to pocket the $43 million they have mad the last week.

[wolf stansson]

Last night I dreamed that Dempsey & Altidore were bought by Arsenal and Brek Shea was bought by Liverpool because that's the kind of thing I dream about, I guess.

[shnsajax]

Last night I dreamed that Dempsey & Altidore were bought by Arsenal and Brek Shea was bought by Liverpool because that's the kind of thing I dream about, I guess.

 

Mine recently was Shea and Dempsey to Arsenal. Shea could really thrive at Arsenal. They need creative guys who can attack the goal and not just around the outside of the box. Watching Jozy right now makes me want Shea just to go to Holland for 2 years.

[wolf stansson]

Tim Howard is the realness. The man is on some crrrraazy form right now.

[USSoccer]

Last night I dreamed that Dempsey & Altidore were bought by Arsenal and Brek Shea was bought by Liverpool because that's the kind of thing I dream about, I guess.

 

Oh, if only.

[wolf stansson]

Great interview with Brian Scaretta who covers and knows more than probably anyone re: our youth prospects abroad:

http://theshinguardian.com/2012/08/20/tsg-holds-court-on-yanks-abroad-with-the-hitman-brian-sciaretta-part-i-of-ii/#more-33331

 

Did not know Bayern offered John Anthony Brooks a pro contract last year.

[wolf stansson]

Btw, to revisit last week's mnt v wnt popularity discussion, the friendly with Mexico outdid the women's final by over a million viewers.

[Guest]

Btw, to revisit last week's mnt v wnt popularity discussion, the friendly with Mexico outdid the women's final by over a million viewers.

Haha, I was going to mention that. Just saw Grant Wahl's tweet.

[jersey cubs fan]

Btw, to revisit last week's mnt v wnt popularity discussion, the friendly with Mexico outdid the women's final by over a million viewers.

 

primetime vs weekday, no?

 

even worse, the vast majority of that viewership was almost certainly tuning in for Mexico.

 

Big numbers: Mexico-USA soccer averaged 5.3 million viewers in US (4.5M Univision, 797K ESPN2). USWNT gold-medal game averaged 4.35M.

[Guest]

We should also compare apples to apples, so compare the Mexico friendly to a women's pre-qualifying friendly. I think that count will be something to zero though.

[Guest]

We should also compare apples to apples, so compare the Mexico friendly to a women's pre-qualifying friendly. I think that count will be something to zero though.

 

But Alex Morgan is hot and Brek Shea isn't.