The Soccer Thread

[wvcbxl]

Liverpool's future home doesn't look too bad:

 

http://www.newanfield.co.uk/NEWANFIELD%20SOUTHEAST%20VIEW.JPG

[USSoccer]

Seriously, I'm always amused by Dan Califf's "defending", where he goes directly at the player with the ball, and if that player makes the slightest of moves from his current path, Califf falls over him in the most awkward way possible.

 

It's hard to plant and cut when your hair is that greased up; I half expect him to start singing about a car every time I see him.

[Jon]

Bradley scored two more today and apparently Everton is hot after him.

[USSoccer]

Bradley scored two more today and apparently Everton is hot after him.

 

I should be abused for ever implyinh nepostism.

[sethuel1]

Bradley scored two more today and apparently Everton is hot after him.

 

I should be abused for ever implyinh nepostism.

It's ok, I implied it too. Nobody could have predicted this, I don't think.

 

Rovers scouts were at the game today.

[brinoch]

Bradley scored two more today and apparently Everton is hot after him.

 

I should be abused for ever implyinh nepostism.

It's ok, I implied it too. Nobody could have predicted this, I don't think.

 

Rovers scouts were at the game today.

 

Guilty, as well. I thought that Bradley was going to be a mindless destroyer in the middle. Clearly, I was wrong.

[USSoccer]

Bradley scored two more today and apparently Everton is hot after him.

 

I should be abused for ever implyinh nepostism.

It's ok, I implied it too. Nobody could have predicted this, I don't think.

 

Rovers scouts were at the game today.

 

I don't want Bradley in the Prem. I'd prefer he play in Serie A or even the Bundesliga. I don't see how playing for Rovers or Sunderland, in the middle to bottom of the table, playing basically a holding mid again (no EPL coach is going to let him attack as much as he does in the Erdevise) just doesn't do much for his development. His ceiling is changing to the point where he has a real chance of becoming the first real world class field player we've developed since...pretty much ever. The Ballack/Gerrard ceiling is now actually attainable.

 

Even playing for an Everton side that's top 4 right now, to me, isn't enough. If he's going to play at that level, send him to Milan or even Juve (sorry, Seth), where he can go up against really good defenses in a good tactical league and play in CL games.

 

As an aside, if he does continue this run of form, Bradley the Elder has to either change his formation or make some really tough decisions about his starting XI. At what point, then, does the mantra of playing in a good league at a high level begin to apply to Landon Donovan?

 

Our starting XI, right now, probably looks like:

 

Altidore

Donovan

Dempsey

Bradley

Convey

Clark

Gooch

Bocanegra

Pearce

Cherundolo

Howard

 

You're going to have to fit Adu, Edu, Feilhaber, Beasley, Szetela, Zizzo, and whoever else emerges into that mix, just in the midfield alone. That's too crowded for a 4-4-2 bucket with two useless, defensive mids like we played all of 2007 with. I know our central defense sucked in 2007, but we actually have the makings of a decent attack, it we're willing to adjust our tactics a little.

 

I don't want to say we're overloaded with options, but also there's easily a scenario (at least in my mind), that come 2009 when we're in the Hex, that LD will no longer be deserving of a starting spot. Will BB have the stones to actually make that call, if he's still in neutral in MLS? Altidore and Adu will probably start; Rui Costa can't play forever, and Freddy's goals/minute ratio is good. Jozy's going to be in Europe playing somewhere worthwhile by then. Demspey will be in his prime, 3 years in the EPL under his belt (unless he's killed by playing target for Fulham by then). There's Bradley. Feilhaber is in Europe, and the level of play he's getting playing Reserve games for Derby is probably MLS-equivalent. Beasley will be in the SPL, playing in CL games assuming he recovers from the knee injury. Convey actually looks decent half the time for a decent club in Reading. Edu will probably be in the EPL; he's decent. Clark is probably Mastroeni-redux, but still a good option. Who knows how Szetela will develop in Spain, but again, even though he's not playing for Racing, the training enviroment in La Liga dwarfs MLS.

 

That's a bunch of known options who will all be playing at higher (or in Clark's case, equal) levels as Donovan. Injuries and poor form will probably be cancelled out by a couple unknowns (like Dempsey in 2006) emerging as options.

[shnsajax]

Arsenal at Man U in the 5th round of the FA Cup. That should be interesting.

[MPC]

chelsea v. huddersfield town in the 5th round fa cup draw.

me v. marco

 

anyone catch the highlights of liverpool- havant & waterlooville tie from saturday.

reds won 5-2 but they were down 1-0 and 2-1, the class of liverpool overpowered them but it looked like an incredible showing from a non-league side, especially being at anfield.

 

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=D5F9SWSO<-long highlights but havant scores its first goal about 2 minutes in and their supporters go nuts, they show a kid sobbing just because they scored. awesome.

[Guest]

Arsenal at Man U in the 5th round of the FA Cup. That should be interesting.

 

How do they do the draws for the FA Cup - do they not seed any of the teams?

[Guest]

chelsea v. huddersfield town in the 5th round fa cup draw.

me v. marco

 

anyone catch the highlights of liverpool- havant & waterlooville tie from saturday.

reds won 5-2 but they were down 1-0 and 2-1, the class of liverpool overpowered them but it looked like an incredible showing from a non-league side, especially being at anfield.

 

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=D5F9SWSO<-long highlights but havant scores its first goal about 2 minutes in and their supporters go nuts, they show a kid sobbing just because they scored. awesome.

 

Speaking of, where is that wanker?

[shnsajax]

Arsenal at Man U in the 5th round of the FA Cup. That should be interesting.

 

How do they do the draws for the FA Cup - do they not seed any of the teams?

 

I'm pretty sure it is just drawn out of a hat.

[MPC]

chelsea v. huddersfield town in the 5th round fa cup draw.

me v. marco

 

anyone catch the highlights of liverpool- havant & waterlooville tie from saturday.

reds won 5-2 but they were down 1-0 and 2-1, the class of liverpool overpowered them but it looked like an incredible showing from a non-league side, especially being at anfield.

 

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=D5F9SWSO<-long highlights but havant scores its first goal about 2 minutes in and their supporters go nuts, they show a kid sobbing just because they scored. awesome.

 

Speaking of, where is that wanker?

i don't know but i remember him saying that he was going to be travelling out of the country for awhile or at least away from the computer.

[MPC]

Arsenal at Man U in the 5th round of the FA Cup. That should be interesting.

 

How do they do the draws for the FA Cup - do they not seed any of the teams?

here's the 3rd round draw from earlier this year.

 

i've said they should seed it and make it a huge bracket like the ncaa. the people of england have complained about the fa cup losing a lot of its luster, but making it bracketed will add some excitement.

[shnsajax]

Arsenal at Man U in the 5th round of the FA Cup. That should be interesting.

 

How do they do the draws for the FA Cup - do they not seed any of the teams?

here's the 3rd round draw from earlier this year.

 

i've said they should seed it and make it a huge bracket like the ncaa. the people of england have complained about the fa cup losing a lot of its luster, but making it bracketed will add some excitement.

 

I would disagree. For me the FA Cup is about the 2nd and 3rd division teams having a shot of going far. Adding seeding would eliminate a lot of them earlier. I love seeing the small team make far even if they get lucky with the draw.

[circlechange]

Arsenal at Man U in the 5th round of the FA Cup. That should be interesting.

 

How do they do the draws for the FA Cup - do they not seed any of the teams?

here's the 3rd round draw from earlier this year.

 

i've said they should seed it and make it a huge bracket like the ncaa. the people of england have complained about the fa cup losing a lot of its luster, but making it bracketed will add some excitement.

I assume you mean seeding from the 3rd round on? It seems like that would make it even easier for the top of the Premier League teams. I don't live in England so it's hard to say the level of excitement regarding the FA Cup, but it's easily only the 3rd most treasured trophy and I'm not sure bracketing will do much for it. Although, I must admit I love the brackets here in March so who knows?

 

I'm shocked - shocked! - that Manchester United drew a Premier League team. 10 in a row and 15 of the last 17, I think. What are the odds?

[MPC]

if seeding was used, the small clubs would still play the big clubs but it would be earlier in the cup (3rd round instead of 5th). it would increase the number of small-large club match ups, and increasing the chances of giant slaying.

 

let's be honest, small clubs have zero chance to win it now and the have zero chance to win it with a seeded bracket.

[shnsajax]

if seeding was used, the small clubs would still play the big clubs but it would be earlier in the cup (3rd round instead of 5th). it would increase the number of small-large club match ups, and increasing the chances of giant slaying.

 

let's be honest, small clubs have zero chance to win it now and the have zero chance to win it with a seeded bracket.

 

it doesn't matter, plus the small clubs rake in a lot of money by advancing each round. You still see a 2nd division team make the last 8 and every now and then make the last 4. To me the FA Cup is the people's cup that gives the 100+ professional teams a chance. The Premier League already has its own league, why cater the Cup towards them too? The 1st and 2nd division are not given a lot of credit.

[circlechange]

if seeding was used, the small clubs would still play the big clubs but it would be earlier in the cup (3rd round instead of 5th). it would increase the number of small-large club match ups, and increasing the chances of giant slaying.

 

let's be honest, small clubs have zero chance to win it now and the have zero chance to win it with a seeded bracket.

Increase the chances of giant slaying, but increase the chances that there are no small clubs by the "Sweet Sixteen", too. Or, at least fewer than appear now. I agree that they're never going to win the cup, but it's nice when they can make it to the quarters or semis.

 

Also, what shnsajax said about catering to the Premier League.

[wolf stansson]

USSF Podcast with Michael Bradley - http://podcast.ussoccer.com/01-25-08%20-%20Michael%20Bradley%20Checks%20In%20from%20Holland.mp3

 

I haven't listened to it, but it is presumably all about how much of a bad ass he is and how not only does he score goals in a top league for fun, but in his spare times he masters difficult languages and makes love to blindingly hot Dutch girls.

 

Also, Villa are now the leaders for Guzan's services with a 4 million dollar transfer offer. Celtic = champions league, Villa = premiership and an outside shot at Europe. Good things either way.

Edited January 29, 2008 by wolf stansson

[MPC]

my seeding argument is largely based on the decline the fa cup has been experiencing over the past few years. having it bracketed will bring another level of excitement for your average fan (as does the ncaa basketball tourney for non-interested college b-ball fans in america).

 

i agree the prem already dominates so, so much of english football. there was much more giant slaying when the economic situation was more level than it is today. now the only chance lower division or non-league teams have in taking down a prem is because prem teams are fielding weak sides and are disinterested in focusing their attention in areas other than doing well/not getting relegated in the prem.

[shnsajax]

my seeding argument is largely based on the decline the fa cup has been experiencing over the past few years. having it bracketed will bring another level of excitement for your average fan (as does the ncaa basketball tourney for non-interested college b-ball fans in america).

 

i agree the prem already dominates so, so much of english football. there was much more giant slaying when the economic situation was more level than it is today. now the only chance lower division or non-league teams have in taking down a prem is because prem teams are fielding weak sides and are disinterested in focusing their attention in areas other than doing well/not getting relegated in the prem.

 

My question is who is the avg. fan that you are talking about, the Americans? I think if we asked non premier league fans in England they would fully object to this idea. I just don't see the FA Cup declining, and I am not over there to witness it. We are less than two years removed from maybe the greatest FA Cup final in history. It is still the most popular league cup in the world IMO, last year we saw Blackburn and Watford make it to the semi's. To me it looks like we are trying to Americanize something that is really not broken.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w89urxGl3o

MB's double - game recap.

[MPC]

my seeding argument is largely based on the decline the fa cup has been experiencing over the past few years. having it bracketed will bring another level of excitement for your average fan (as does the ncaa basketball tourney for non-interested college b-ball fans in america).

 

i agree the prem already dominates so, so much of english football. there was much more giant slaying when the economic situation was more level than it is today. now the only chance lower division or non-league teams have in taking down a prem is because prem teams are fielding weak sides and are disinterested in focusing their attention in areas other than doing well/not getting relegated in the prem.

 

My question is who is the avg. fan that you are talking about, the Americans? I think if we asked non premier league fans in England they would fully object to this idea. I just don't see the FA Cup declining, and I am not over there to witness it. We are less than two years removed from maybe the greatest FA Cup final in history. It is still the most popular league cup in the world IMO, last year we saw Blackburn and Watford make it to the semi's. To me it looks like we are trying to Americanize something that is really not broken.

i've seen numerous articles and stories on sky about the declining popularity and attendance at fa cup matches. i would think a lot of fans in england are just shocked the cup is declining in popularity. as we've said, the fa cup was once the prized jewel of england, no its an after thought for the prem teams and a ridiculous long shot for any lower division team to win.

 

i really like the fa cup as is, but i wouldn't be surprised to see changes made if its continuing to lose its support from the big clubs the next few years.

[wolf stansson]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/

*Former Crew midfielder Danny Szetela is being loaned by Spain's Racing Santander to Brescia in Italy's Serie B for the rest of the season with an option to buy.

Brescia is 6th in Seria B with a game in hand. They are 7 points out of promotion.