The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

I found some old Bill Simmons article where he was looking for an EPL team, and he settled on Tottenham. I like the idea of a team that is consistently not in danger of relegation, but also isn't a team that isn't just buying the best players all the time, so I'm leaning towards them at the moment, but I'm not committed.

I've never been able to be fully sucked into actually considering myself a fan of an EPL team. I'm sure it'll happen when a champions league team has a USMNT dude starting every game. That's definitely my hook.

 

Tottenham is always solid, always entertaining enough but never win anything. They're like the Portland Trailblazers of the EPL. They've got DeAndre Yedlin and Cameron Carter-Vickers on the books, so there is an American angle there. Both of those guys could be starting on their back line for years to come after they break through. I personally think their fans and front office are insufferable and don't really like them. They have a weird sense of entitlement that usually only exists in fan bases of actually great clubs, but they never win enough to justify that entitlement so they're constantly cycling players and coaches in and out and never give a squad or manager a chance to build anything substantial organically.

 

USMNT Roster for upcoming friendlies v Netherlands and Germany:

 

G - Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (León)

 

D - Ventura Alvarado (Club América), John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham)

 

M - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mikkel Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading)

 

F - Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Aron Jóhannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Bobby Wood (Erzgebirge Aue), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

 

Good to see Danny Williams back in one piece. Good to see Agudelo getting his due. As always, a few head scratchers and head shakers from Klinsy. You can cobble a solid starting eleven out of this, but the depth is trash.

[shnsajax]

I really don't want to see Wood take minutes away from the other 3. He wouldn't make a top 10 of all forwards if we had an entire pool to pick from.

[wolf stansson]

I really don't want to see Wood take minutes away from the other 3. He wouldn't make a top 10 of all forwards if we had an entire pool to pick from.

Seriously. I mean, off the top of my head in no particular order:

 

Agudelo

Altidore

Johansson

Boyd

Davies

Dempsey

Morris

Rubin

Wondo

Zardes

Dwyer (is he eligible yet?)

 

 

And then I'm sure a ton of dudes from the u-23 and u-20's who I'd rather see than Bobby Wood. He's a victim of not being in MLS. Maybe if I got to see him more often, I'd be less of a hater.

[shnsajax]

I'll even add Green, Herc Gomez (even at his age), Joel Sonora, and Maki Tall.

[Banedon]

Uefa is plotting to break away from Fifa and host a rival tournament in a bid to force reform and oust Sepp Blatter, it has been reported.

 

Under the plan a European Championship would be held every two years with invites to big football nations in other parts of the world.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11642610/Uefa-plots-to-break-away-from-Fifa-and-host-a-rival-tournament.html

[shnsajax]

Uefa is plotting to break away from Fifa and host a rival tournament in a bid to force reform and oust Sepp Blatter, it has been reported.

 

Under the plan a European Championship would be held every two years with invites to big football nations in other parts of the world.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11642610/Uefa-plots-to-break-away-from-Fifa-and-host-a-rival-tournament.html

 

It has to be done to force Blatter out and eliminate Qatar.

[wolf stansson]

Uefa is plotting to break away from Fifa and host a rival tournament in a bid to force reform and oust Sepp Blatter, it has been reported.

 

Under the plan a European Championship would be held every two years with invites to big football nations in other parts of the world.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fifa/11642610/Uefa-plots-to-break-away-from-Fifa-and-host-a-rival-tournament.html

 

It has to be done to force Blatter out and eliminate Qatar.

Nah. That's a bluff. All they need is corporate sponsors to boycott.

[KaiserCesar]

The U20's are through to the group stage after beating NZ 4-0. I've read that Zealem, Rubin and Hyndman looked really good together.

[shnsajax]

The U20's are through to the group stage after beating NZ 4-0. I've read that Zealem, Rubin and Hyndman looked really good together.

 

It's nice qualifying for the knockouts after 2 games.

[Smack]

The Brewers are doing another friendly at Miller Park on July 14th. This year's teams are Atlas Futbol Club from Mexico and Newcastle United. If anyone is interested in the pre-sale password PM me, it starts at 10am this morning.

[wolf stansson]

The U20's are through to the group stage after beating NZ 4-0. I've read that Zealem, Rubin and Hyndman looked really good together.

All aboard the hype train: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/zelalem-shines-as-u20-mnt-drops-new-zealand_aid36600

Highlights (nsfw language):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqBnvv8LhfA

 

That's some men vs boys stuff.

[wolf stansson]

I think that highlight video got yanked for some editing due to the NZ keeper's [expletive] ME IN THE ASS moment.

 

Some Arsenal fan put a dope mix of every Zelalem touch together. The nutmeg at 4:26 and the assist at 4:48 are the best parts, but he clearly has a next level understanding and presence on the ball. He receives beautifully, passes beautifully and the pairing with Hyndman in the central MF is really impressive.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVX2tP1jWwY&app=desktop

[Guest]

Wow, Blatter is resigning.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wow, Blatter is resigning.

 

Damn

[jersey cubs fan]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

Is this America greatest contribution to soccer?

[jersey cubs fan]

http://screamer.deadspin.com/why-sepp-blatter-will-run-fifa-until-he-dies-1707782112

[Guest]

http://screamer.deadspin.com/why-sepp-blatter-will-run-fifa-until-he-dies-1707782112

 

Peak Haisley.

[Banedon]

So the new congress isn't till between Dec and March, and Blatter stays president till then?

[shnsajax]

Would imagine they would have an emergency session.

[sneakypower]

i figure Qatar is toast, but any chance Russia loses bid too?

[wvcbxl]

Wow, Blatter is resigning.

 

"Laying down his mandate" is the official word :roll:

Not sure how the contractual situation with Quatar (or even Russia) works, tbh.

[Banedon]

Would imagine they would have an emergency session.

 

Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, will handle the transition. Scala said that Blatter will remain on as president until the election is conducted. That election, Scala said, would take place some time between December 2015 and March 2016.

[Banedon]

i figure Qatar is toast, but any chance Russia loses bid too?

 

@Peston

 

My Qatar sources say UK officials dreaming if they think Blatter departure means it's poised to lose 2022 World Cup

[wvcbxl]

Holy [expletive], some Italian official from Federbet just called Canada the "most corrupt soccer competition" in a television interview. :shock: