The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

Liverpool handed Chelsea it's first home loss in the Premier League since February 2004 today. Chelsea was unbeaten in 86 straight matches.

[USSoccer]

Deuce gets Fulham their first point in a long while with a great goal in the 87th.

 

Roy Hodgson might be one of the worst football coaches I've ever seen. Clint is in their best IX. I have no, no idea why he isn't a first choice player there. Every match he's been in this season, the opposition has had to account for him and he's created chances.

[USSoccer]

I so want Hull to beat Chelsea this week...I love me some Hull

[reggiemiller rules]

I would be happy if Hull could get a draw against Chelsea this week. That would give Liverpool a chance to put a little room between them and Chelsea.

[circlechange]

I would be happy if Hull could get a draw against Chelsea this week. That would give Liverpool a chance to put a little room between them and Chelsea.

I'll be shocked if Hull do anything against Chelsea on Wednesday. They've certainly had an unexpected start to the season but they haven't exactly played anyone that impressive except for Arsenal. Just looking at the table, the 2nd highest team they've played is West Ham who are currently 10th. Combine that with Chelsea coming off the Liverpool loss and I think Hull will be lucky if it's only 0-3 on Wednesday. That said, go Hull City!

[wolf stansson]

I would be happy if Hull could get a draw against Chelsea this week. That would give Liverpool a chance to put a little room between them and Chelsea.

I'll be shocked if Hull do anything against Chelsea on Wednesday. They've certainly had an unexpected start to the season but they haven't exactly played anyone that impressive except for Arsenal. Just looking at the table, the 2nd highest team they've played is West Ham who are currently 10th. Combine that with Chelsea coming off the Liverpool loss and I think Hull will be lucky if it's only 0-3 on Wednesday. That said, go Hull City!

Hull has no chance. I concur with you score. 0-3 is best case scenario.

[wolf stansson]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=586135&sec=mls&&cc=5901

Galaxy star Donovan eyeing European move

 

By Soccernet staff

 

October 27, 2008

 

 

Los Angeles Galaxy striker Landon Donovan is eyeing a move to the English Premier League or Spain's La Liga in the January transfer window.

 

 

The United States' all-time leading goalscorer played his last game of the season for the Galaxy in a 2-2 home draw with FC Dallas at the Home Depot Center at the weekend, during which he converted a penalty for his 20th goal to win the MLS golden boot for 2008.

 

The 26-year-old who had an unsuccessful stint at Bayer Leverkusen before signing for Los Angeles in 2005, believes his future lies in England or Spain and has already been in contact with Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann about a move to the German Bundesliga.

 

''I'd love to play in the Premiership, I think that would be incredible,'' Donovan said.

 

''I'd love to play in Spain.

 

''Whether that happens I don't know but I think where my qualities are best would be in a team that plays. I'm not going to go and battle John Terry and expect to win but if I can get on a team that plays good soccer I think I could help.''

 

''I watch games every weekend and it's exciting watching those games and I think I could contribute on a lot of teams,'' Donovan added, when asked specifically about English football. ''It would be a much easier fit than most places, for sure.

 

''Obviously, there's a lot of ifs. If the Galaxy is okay with me going, if the League is willing to accept an offer, if an offer comes.

 

''In my situation I can't be super picky but if it's the right offer and makes sense with the right team...there's a lot of ifs.

 

''But from my standpoint I'm ready to take that step and I want to.

 

''Competitively I have that itch and I want to go and I will make that very clear to people.''

 

Donovan said he would approach MLS officials this week to request a move and added that he had told Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena of his wish to join a European club.

 

''I think the League is aware of my situation and I've had brief talks with Bruce about it and let him know, but it's still early.

 

''There can be a lot of fluctuation between now and January 1. Teams that are in trouble might be playing great by then and vice versa. Injuries happen and we'll see where we're at.''

 

Donovan accepted that following his first spell in Germany, he might be a harder sell to top European clubs but said he now had a different mindset and approach to his profession.

 

''I'm ready and I wasn't ready before in any way or capacity. I'm ready and I want to make the most of that. I've only got one career and I want to make sure that I give myself a chance.''

 

Donovan's request to quit MLS comes at the end of a week in which Galaxy captain David Beckham's commitment to the LA cause has been called into question following news of his desire to join AC Milan on loan during the MLS close season.

 

Beckham backed his team-mate's ambition but said he hoped the American would stay at the Galaxy in 2009.

 

''I'd like to see him remain here but he's 26 years old, I've heard the rumours about him going to Europe and if he does, good luck to him.

 

''He's a good player, everybody knows that and he's succeeded here in the US so if he does get the chance to go to Europe and enjoy some success over there it's down to him.

 

''Obviously I hope he stays here because he's valuable to the team.''

[USSoccer]

I would be happy if Hull could get a draw against Chelsea this week. That would give Liverpool a chance to put a little room between them and Chelsea.

I'll be shocked if Hull do anything against Chelsea on Wednesday. They've certainly had an unexpected start to the season but they haven't exactly played anyone that impressive except for Arsenal. Just looking at the table, the 2nd highest team they've played is West Ham who are currently 10th. Combine that with Chelsea coming off the Liverpool loss and I think Hull will be lucky if it's only 0-3 on Wednesday. That said, go Hull City!

Hull has no chance. I concur with you score. 0-3 is best case scenario.

 

I'll go ahead and be the outlier here and say that Hull pulls off a 1-1 draw at home, and then gets pummeled by United this weekend.

[wolf stansson]

Just so all my US MNT posts aren't negative, I want to point something out.

 

Ives Galarcep has a post about the U-20 team's upcoming camp in Madrid for a friendly against Spain. Here is the roster:

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/10/us-under-20-nat.html

GOALKEEPERS (2): Earl Edwards (San Diego, Calif.), Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)

 

DEFENDERS (5): Gale Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Arena (Kenmore, Wash.), Kyle Davies (Southampton FC), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas)

 

MIDFIELDERS (7): Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gregory Garza (Sporting Lisbon), Josh Hernandez (Dallas, Texas), Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Giuseppe Nazzani (Reggio Emilia, Italy)

 

FORWARDS (4): Vincenzo Bernardo (SSC Napoli), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy), Abdusalam Ibrahim (Toronto FC), Jose Torres (Loros de Colima)

 

Look at that roster. Hertha Berlin, Napoli, Sporting Lisbon, Brugge, Southhampton? Have we ever had so many u-20's getting this kind of pedigree and training? As for the MLS guys, Jorge Flores for Chivas is a very nice left winger and Abdusalam Ibrahim for TFC is an absolute monster and only 17. Add in guys like Charles Renken, Carlos Martinez and Stefan Jerome who are getting offers from clubs like Feyenoord, PSV, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester United who aren't even on this roster; not to mention Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore who are both under 20 and playing with Monaco and Villareal and you have some compelling talent coming up through the system.

[shnsajax]

Maradona looks to be set to be the new Argentina coach. This should be interesting and has the potential for disasater.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=586727&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901

[wolf stansson]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[wvcbxl]

Ives Galarcep has a post about the U-20 team's upcoming camp in Madrid for a friendly against Spain. Here is the roster:

... Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge), ...

 

:D :D :D

 

Just wanted to say this makes me very happy; he's been getting very positive comments from the team staff.

[Jon]

With Twellman out, the Fire better not blow this.

[USSoccer]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Are they going to let him do blow on the bench?

 

Seriously, this would be like hiring Michael Jordan to be your GM, only if you were the Tampa Rays. This is going to be epic.

[sethuel1]

I am simply amazed that anyone, anywhere, finds Maradona to be the slightest bit sane.

[shnsajax]

I am simply amazed that anyone, anywhere, finds Maradona to be the slightest bit sane.

 

I was shocked when I read he was only 48. I just thought he was much older than that for some reason.

[wolf stansson]

I would be happy if Hull could get a draw against Chelsea this week. That would give Liverpool a chance to put a little room between them and Chelsea.

I'll be shocked if Hull do anything against Chelsea on Wednesday. They've certainly had an unexpected start to the season but they haven't exactly played anyone that impressive except for Arsenal. Just looking at the table, the 2nd highest team they've played is West Ham who are currently 10th. Combine that with Chelsea coming off the Liverpool loss and I think Hull will be lucky if it's only 0-3 on Wednesday. That said, go Hull City!

Hull has no chance. I concur with you score. 0-3 is best case scenario.

OMG we are awesome.

 

North London Derby was crazy.

 

Let's do a Landon Donovan destination pool.

 

I think he'll go to Villa. Nike team, England, good club and American owner. My sleeper is Roma. No reason, I just think he'd fit in well.

[USSoccer]

I have an odd feeling he ends up in Tottenham.

[Guest]

Tottenham just put in a goal at the start of stoppage time to go up 2-1 on Liverpool at White Hart Lane. Apparently Liverpool dominated the first half, could have had a second goal and the first Tottenham goal was an own goal from Carragher.

 

The first place team losing to the last place team. And Arsenal lost to Stoke today, 2-1.

[reggiemiller rules]

Liverpool dominated pretty much the first 65 minutes, and hit the post at least 2 or 3 times. This is a game that they should have won, but without Torres they don't have anyone who is a constant threat up front to score. They really need to bring in another striker in January if they want a chance at the league, because Keane is just not cutting it.

[shnsajax]

Tottenham just put in a goal at the start of stoppage time to go up 2-1 on Liverpool at White Hart Lane. Apparently Liverpool dominated the first half, could have had a second goal and the first Tottenham goal was an own goal from Carragher.

 

The first place team losing to the last place team. And Arsenal lost to Stoke today, 2-1.

 

I guess Arsenal are playing for the FA Cup and Champions League this year. The two games this week were terrible results.

[wolf stansson]

Jozy got his frist La Liga goal in the 90th minute today.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-62GfQlOis

 

Boom.

[MPC]

jozy might be loaned out at the new year

[wolf stansson]

There must be some chick on the Swedish Football Federation that Sunil wants to bang, because we meet up with them a lot.

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2008/11/usa-and-mexico.html

The U.S. national soccer team will play Sweden on Jan. 24, most likely at the Home Depot Center in Carson and possibly as part of a doubleheader featuring Mexico and another Scandinavian team.

 

Sweden will also play Mexico -- on Jan. 28 in Oakland -- as Coach Lars Lagerback prepares his team for the resumption of World Cup qualifying in March.

 

Neither U.S. Soccer nor Soccer United Marketing have officially announced the matches, but Sweden's two games are listed on its federation website as well as on the FIFA calendar for 2009.

 

The game in Oakland will see Mexico Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson pitted against the country of his birth for the first time since taking charge of "El Tri" in June.

 

The U.S. defeated Sweden, 2-0, in Carson last Jan. 19 on goals by Eddie Robinson and Landon Donovan, although the Swedes were fielding essentially a second-string team and the U.S. also used a lot of fringe players.

 

If U.S. Coach Bob Bradley follows precedent, he will call the American squad together in Carson for a two-week January camp leading up to the Sweden game.

 

In addition to 10 World Cup qualifying matches in 2009, five at home and five on the road, the U.S. will also be taking part in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa (June 14-28) and in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.

 

Bradley is expected to field his strongest team in the Confederations Cup and a second-string side in the Gold Cup.

 

The Confederations Cup, more or less a trial run for the following year's World Cup, also features world champion Italy, European champion Spain, South American champion Brazil, Asian champion Iraq, African champion Egypt, Oceania champion New Zealand and host nation South Africa.

 

-- Grahame L. Jones

[Jon]

See ya, New England.