The Soccer Thread

[davecubsfan]

LA Galaxy express more interest in Becks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6121030.stm

 

Man U and Chelsea close to getting Adu?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6131062.stm

[USSoccer]

Pretty darn good Cup final going to penalties. 1-1, with both goals coming in the second OT.

[Jon]

Go Houston.

[Jon]

The year of the craptacular PK shootouts continues.

[USSoccer]

New England is snakebit. Demspey should have been your 5th shooter over Heaps. I guess they were saving him for the 6th spot.

 

It was a pretty okay final, actually..I thought it was better than the World Cup final.

[Mark Priors Calves]

This thread's been dying off a bit lately. Here's some latest news.

 

Freddy Adu is on a 2 week trial with Manchester United. It looks like his MLS days are winding down very quickly.

 

In the Premiership, the biggest match of the season is arriving this Sunday. Chelsea-Man U will be battling for 1st place in the table. Currently, United is at the top with 3 points clear of Chelsea. Its already become a 2 team race with Liverpool being very average and Arsenal never really finding a consistant form. The match is at Old Trafford and its on Fox Soccer Channel for those of you that have the channel on your cable/dish.

 

Champions League action restarts with the last two group games for all teams finishing by early December. There's some coverage this week on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is Adu expected to get any playing time?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Is Adu expected to get any playing time?

 

He can't because he doesn't have the work permit to do so. Man U is playing in the Champions League match against Celtic this week and Chelsea Sunday and its extremely unlikely that he'd get any time in those matches even if he had the proper paperwork.

 

He's eligible to hit the transfer market on June 2nd. Middle of the MLS season but just after most Euro clubs conclude their seasons. It'll interesting to see if he plays for DC United and then transfers or just waits until he signs somewhere and then plays in the fall. Regardless, the MLS should make a pretty penny off the bidding war between Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, etc.

[soccer10k]

Thanks for the reminder about the Champions League.

 

For those interested:

 

Manchester United v Celtic on Tuesday, 11:30 AM PT on ESPN 2

 

Nothing on Wednesday.

[USSoccer]

Is Adu expected to get any playing time?

 

He can't because he doesn't have the work permit to do so. Man U is playing in the Champions League match against Celtic this week and Chelsea Sunday and its extremely unlikely that he'd get any time in those matches even if he had the proper paperwork.

 

He's eligible to hit the transfer market on June 2nd. Middle of the MLS season but just after most Euro clubs conclude their seasons. It'll interesting to see if he plays for DC United and then transfers or just waits until he signs somewhere and then plays in the fall. Regardless, the MLS should make a pretty penny off the bidding war between Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, etc.

 

I have doubts about his ability to secure a work permit even in January. Did anyone ever clarify whether or not he's a US international? If he is, he doesn't have the caps needed to get a work permit in England.

[soccer10k]

After Celtic takes a 1-0 lead in the 80th minute, the referee awards Man U a penalty kick on a hand ball off a free kick but Saha was denied by the Celtic goalie in the 89th minute. Wow.

[Mark Priors Calves]

After Celtic takes a 1-0 lead in the 80th minute, the referee awards Man U a penalty kick on a hand ball off a free kick but Saha was denied by the Celtic goalie in the 89th minute. Wow.

 

Celtic's got a really good squad this year. They've practically already clinched the Scottish title.

 

I love Man U losing today. It looks like their Champions League hopes rest on the final group game against Benefica. I'd be great if they didn't advance, Arsenal could miss the cut too.

[circlechange]

Big game earlier today.

 

Manchester United 1 (Saha 29')

Chelsea 1 (Carvalho 69')

 

Man U controlled the first half but Chelsea dominated the second. Fairly well played game by both sides, and very entertaining. Man U retains a 3 point lead in the Premiership.

[soccer10k]

Big game earlier today.

 

Manchester United 1 (Saha 29')

Chelsea 1 (Carvalho 69')

 

Man U controlled the first half but Chelsea dominated the second. Fairly well played game by both sides, and very entertaining. Man U retains a 3 point lead in the Premiership.

 

Thanks for the info. I forgot about this one.

[davecubsfan]

Big game earlier today.

 

Manchester United 1 (Saha 29')

Chelsea 1 (Carvalho 69')

 

Man U controlled the first half but Chelsea dominated the second. Fairly well played game by both sides, and very entertaining. Man U retains a 3 point lead in the Premiership.

 

It was a very exciting game to listen to on Sirius that's for sure.

[Mark Priors Calves]

great matchup yesterday. fantastic passing, defense, and keeping.

[Jon]

ChicagoSports.com[/url]"]CONCACAF announced today that Soldier Field will host the semi-finals and final of the 2007 Gold Cup tournament. The semi-finals will take place June 20 and the final will take place June 24. This will mark the first time Chicago hosts a Gold Cup game (mainly due to the tournament's move from winter to summer).

........................

Hosting first round dates are the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL, the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, and Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA and Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX will also host first round games as well as quarterfinals play.

[USSoccer]

ChicagoSports.com[/url]"]CONCACAF announced today that Soldier Field will host the semi-finals and final of the 2007 Gold Cup tournament. The semi-finals will take place June 20 and the final will take place June 24. This will mark the first time Chicago hosts a Gold Cup game (mainly due to the tournament's move from winter to summer).

........................

Hosting first round dates are the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL, the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, and Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA and Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX will also host first round games as well as quarterfinals play.

 

I'm totally there.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Adu's 2 week stint is over with Manchester United.

 

Here's Man U's coach, Alex Ferguson's take:

 

"Freddy has done all right. He is a good talented young boy but there is nothing we can do about him. What we did was to bring him here to give him an idea of what United was like, so he could see the place and see how comfortable he was with it.

 

"He is a very confident and talented boy but nothing can be done just yet. He will go back to the United States and we will keep a check on him. Then, when he is 18, we will have to assess what we can do next."

 

There's also a snippet from Peter Nowak, Adu's D.C. United Coach saying he should head to Holland to play. If he's going to Holland, I would imagine it would be to Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV.

[USSoccer]

Adu's 2 week stint is over with Manchester United.

 

Here's Man U's coach, Alex Ferguson's take:

 

"Freddy has done all right. He is a good talented young boy but there is nothing we can do about him. What we did was to bring him here to give him an idea of what United was like, so he could see the place and see how comfortable he was with it.

 

"He is a very confident and talented boy but nothing can be done just yet. He will go back to the United States and we will keep a check on him. Then, when he is 18, we will have to assess what we can do next."

 

There's also a snippet from Peter Nowak, Adu's D.C. United Coach saying he should head to Holland to play. If he's going to Holland, I would imagine it would be to Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV.

 

I wouldn't want him in the Dutch league. La Liga or the Premiership, IMO, would be best for his development.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Last games of the group stage of the Champions League today and tomorrow.

 

Barca v. Werder Bremen today at 1:30 on ESPN 2

Roma v. Valencia today at 4:00 on ESPN Classic

 

Man U v. Benfica tomorrow at 1:30 on ESPN 2

Porto v. Arsenal tomorrow at 4:00 ESPN Classic

 

And if you're one of the 3 people that get ESPN Deportes you have a boat load of games.

[soccer10k]

Barcelona has to beat Werder Bremen to advance. Should be an excellent match.

 

Tomorrow Man U has to at least tie Benfica to advance.

 

There are also a lot of options with Group G as well with Arsenal/FC Porto/CSKA Moscow as well.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

FoxSports.com reports that Jurgen Klinsmann will be named the U.S. national team head coach!!

[soccer10k]

FoxSports.com reports that Jurgen Klinsmann will be named the U.S. national team head coach!!

 

It just ran across the ESPN ticker but said it was according to FoxSports also.

[soccer10k]

Ronaldinho with the goal to put Barcelona up 1-0. Free kick from about 20 yards out and he intentionally shot it on the ground. The wall jumped and the ball went under.