The Soccer Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

thanks for the tips guys. ticketmaster still has us supporters section tickets listed during the search option so i assumed that would be sam's army section, maybe i'm wrong.

 

its not Sam's army, I don't think

 

next to the option was an area to enter a code to purchase tickets and listed above it's "Sam's Army, etc.".

i am proven incorrect.

 

The only Sam's Army/US Supporters seats left are in the 300s, by the way. But I'm not sure that there are any 100 level seats left anywhere.

its not a big deal either way. it requires a password to get the sam's army tickets and i haven't had any luck finding a password that works. the ones that jon posted in this thread must be out of date and i didn't have any luck randomly searching online. ultimately, as long as i'm able to get tickets to the match i'm ok with it.

[USSoccer]

I still haven't made up my mind about going. That makes me a wank, but my daughter loves running and clapping and chanting while watching the games, and she's too little to take to the game.

 

In other news, Man U and Barca both wrapped up their respective leagues. For next term, though, I'd fancy Arsenal heavily. A full season of a non-cup tied Arshavin, development of Bendtner, Walcott, and a non injured Cesc make for a very potent attack. If Wenger sells RVP for a defender (which he should) they could be a very strong side.

[wolf stansson]

I hear they are going to go after Lucio of Bayern/Brazil fame. He'd be a great fit for them. Big, still pretty mobile with some edge.

 

United are more than likely going to have huge turn over this offseason. Tevez is a lock to move, probably Ronaldo too. Hargreaves will be back and it'll interesting to see who they line up to replace those two guys. Ribery is rumored. Sir Alex has been flirting with Benzema for a few years now.

 

Chelsea are going to be in a weird spot with lots of old guys with injury records. If they spend well, hire a good coach (I think Ancelotti is the rumor now) and get health from the key group of Drogba, Lampard and Essien, they'll be in the mix.

 

Honestly if I had to make a pick for next season I'd go with Liverpool.

[wvcbxl]

Local media report that Oguchi Onyewu is certain to move clubs this summer - Standard Liège are reportedly looking at Joao Paulo (on loan at Rapid Bucarest from Porto) to replace him.

No reports yet on Gooch's destination.

[wolf stansson]

Local media report that Oguchi Onyewu is certain to move clubs this summer - Standard Liège are reportedly looking at Joao Paulo (on loan at Rapid Bucarest from Porto) to replace him.

No reports yet on Gooch's destination.

I've heard rumors from clubs in England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. I'm guessing he'll go to England for the money/visibility/chance to redeem himself from the Newcastle loan debacle.

[wolf stansson]

Sweden is mad at Charlie Davies; 5 match ban ensues.

 

Charlie has scored a goal every weekend for however many weeks in a row, a bunch. He's on a hot streak. Then he elbowed some dude in the face and he's out for 5 games. Hope this doesn't hurt his transfer chances to a bigger league.

[wolf stansson]

Cervi finally to Celtic.

 

I bet they got him cheap. Dude has been without a club for a long, long time now.

[circlechange]

United are more than likely going to have huge turn over this offseason. Tevez is a lock to move, probably Ronaldo too. Hargreaves will be back and it'll interesting to see who they line up to replace those two guys. Ribery is rumored. Sir Alex has been flirting with Benzema for a few years now.

 

Chelsea are going to be in a weird spot with lots of old guys with injury records. If they spend well, hire a good coach (I think Ancelotti is the rumor now) and get health from the key group of Drogba, Lampard and Essien, they'll be in the mix.

 

Honestly if I had to make a pick for next season I'd go with Liverpool.

 

It's difficult to really pick next season before the summer transfers. As I United fan I'm admittedly biased, but I really do feel like Liverpool had a bunch of things go their way this year and they still couldn't do it. Next season I don't see them taking 14 points off of the other top 3 teams, for instance.

 

As for United, I'm not so sure that Ronaldo is leaving this summer, or even until Sir Alex leaves. I'd happily take the rumored huge transfer fees for him but 3 PL titles and 2 CL finals in a row? Ronaldo's selfish but he can certainly see that United are in a better position that Real at the moment. I won't be upset if (when) Tevez leaves. I love his energy but he really slows down the attack and certain things just bother me about him. Benzema would be my dream but I do not see that happening. I don't think he wants to go to England.

 

Anyway, we'll see what the summer brings. How about the relegation battle? I'd like to see Newcastle go down a year just for laughs. A Toon friend of mine thinks it'd be good for them, though he mostly thinks that because it might get rid of Mike Ashley.

[Marco4]

I had a bet on Hull going down when they were 6th, so I'm hoping the year's good news story goes pear-shaped.

 

As for Liverpool; I'm not sure about things going right for them - some very big things went wrong. Torres was injured, Gerrard was injured (admittedly, they should have better cover, but that's not the issue here) and Robbie Keane was a flop. Add a more productive attacker - Tevez, they reckon, though I dream of David Villa going to link up with Torres, even though I'm no Liverpool fan - and a bit more versatility in defence, another year on Ryan Babel's experience, and Liverpool are getting better and better.

 

Ronaldo leaving United would leave a massive hole - Giggs and Scholes are coming to the end of the piece, and Berbatov has disappointed. That leaves you with Rooney, really, and the bit part players around him (Macheda, Welbeck etc); all good, but not all brilliant. Its a worst case scenario, but I don't see United running away with it at all.

 

(Cue :blush: when they do)

[wolf stansson]

United are more than likely going to have huge turn over this offseason. Tevez is a lock to move, probably Ronaldo too. Hargreaves will be back and it'll interesting to see who they line up to replace those two guys. Ribery is rumored. Sir Alex has been flirting with Benzema for a few years now.

 

Chelsea are going to be in a weird spot with lots of old guys with injury records. If they spend well, hire a good coach (I think Ancelotti is the rumor now) and get health from the key group of Drogba, Lampard and Essien, they'll be in the mix.

 

Honestly if I had to make a pick for next season I'd go with Liverpool.

 

It's difficult to really pick next season before the summer transfers. As I United fan I'm admittedly biased, but I really do feel like Liverpool had a bunch of things go their way this year and they still couldn't do it. Next season I don't see them taking 14 points off of the other top 3 teams, for instance.

 

As for United, I'm not so sure that Ronaldo is leaving this summer, or even until Sir Alex leaves. I'd happily take the rumored huge transfer fees for him but 3 PL titles and 2 CL finals in a row? Ronaldo's selfish but he can certainly see that United are in a better position that Real at the moment. I won't be upset if (when) Tevez leaves. I love his energy but he really slows down the attack and certain things just bother me about him. Benzema would be my dream but I do not see that happening. I don't think he wants to go to England.

 

Anyway, we'll see what the summer brings. How about the relegation battle? I'd like to see Newcastle go down a year just for laughs. A Toon friend of mine thinks it'd be good for them, though he mostly thinks that because it might get rid of Mike Ashley.

I think the state of New Castle is a shame. If it gets rid of Ashley, good for them, but that parachute is never one anyone should ever want the team to take. That Championship mire can be very hard to come out of. Even taking a chance of missing out on Premier League money for a couple years is bad news.

 

The Sir Alex-Ronaldo relationship is confusing. They've had some obvious problems, yet it works out somehow. At this point I'm just done questioning anything Ferguson does. Ever. The man is a master. As far as I'm concerned he is in the Wooden, Bowman, Auerbach conversation of "best managers that Wolf is aware of in world sport." Hell, he may even top the list. All I know is what he's done in this modern age and what he's built at United is stunning to behold. If anyone can deal with Ronaldo's petulance, it's him.

[wvcbxl]

As our league ended up being a tie for first, we're going to have a two game playoff for the title - first game is tonight.

 

Standard Liège (with Gooch) @ Anderlecht.

 

As a Bruges fan, I'm rooting for Standard. 8-)

[USSoccer]

I doubt Ronaldo is going to go anywhere, but if he does, United are hosed. Ribery isn't in his class, Benzema isn't all that great, and I don't see another winger anywhere who's ready to step in. Giggs and Scholes aren't going to play forever, Hargreaves will be back, but he's not an offensive player. I can't see where they replace his scoring if he goes.

[wolf stansson]

As our league ended up being a tie for first, we're going to have a two game playoff for the title - first game is tonight.

 

Standard Liège (with Gooch) @ Anderlecht.

 

As a Bruges fan, I'm rooting for Standard. 8-)

Draw, with some hijinks: http://www.noshortcorners.com/2009/05/who-do-you-think-you-are-charlton.html

[wvcbxl]

As our league ended up being a tie for first, we're going to have a two game playoff for the title - first game is tonight.

 

Standard Liège (with Gooch) @ Anderlecht.

 

As a Bruges fan, I'm rooting for Standard. 8-)

Draw, with some hijinks: http://www.noshortcorners.com/2009/05/who-do-you-think-you-are-charlton.html

 

Van Damme is a stupid [expletive] - always has been.

All of Sclessin (Standard's home ground) will be all over him on Sunday for his stupid behavior.

I hope Anderlecht gets destroyed in that game.

[USSoccer]

After careful consideration, Gooch to Fulham makes a ton of sense. They are going to make the Europa League/Cup thing next term, and will need central defensive depth and cover if Brede goes down.

 

I'd also really, really, really like Landycakes to consider Villa.

[reggiemiller rules]

Looks like Liverpool has some money to play around with this summer. They had a 22 million dollar offer for Ezequiel Lavezzi turned down by Napoli. I dont know that much about him, but for that much I think i would prefer they go after Silva, Tevez, or David Villa.

[USSoccer]

As it stands, Hull stays up and Toon go down.

 

Also, if Liverpool can avoid blowing a 2 goal lead, Fulham go to Europe.

 

Also, Hoeness at Bayern had a oh-so-telling quote about Donovan

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=649168&sec=europe&cc=5901

 

"The only concrete suggestion Klinsmann had was to sign Landon Donovan and (reserve team coach) Hermann Gerland said he would never even have played him in the reserve team."

Edited May 24, 2009 by USSoccer

[Cynosure]

Go Man U because you're the only team I've heard of besides Liverpool/Chelsea.

[USSoccer]

Hull City stay up, and I can say I think it's 100% deserved and a great thing for that city.

 

Newcastle deserve the drop. That team is a hot stinking mess.

[shnsajax]

Hull City stay up, and I can say I think it's 100% deserved and a great thing for that city.

 

Newcastle deserve the drop. That team is a hot stinking mess.

 

Sad but true.

 

Cool to see Wolfsburg and AZ Alkmaar win it as well.

[Guest]

All four teams that were in the relegation hunt lost today. I know they all had tough games but still. You'd think one of them would be able to manage a draw.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Also, Hoeness at Bayern had a oh-so-telling quote about Donovan

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=649168&sec=europe&cc=5901

 

"The only concrete suggestion Klinsmann had was to sign Landon Donovan and (reserve team coach) Hermann Gerland said he would never even have played him in the reserve team."

 

hoeness has to be full of it. is donovan really not able to crack bayern's reserve squad? he's maybe not world class but come on/

[USSoccer]

Benny F made the WCQ roster. I'm stunned.

[wolf stansson]

Benny F made the WCQ roster. I'm stunned.

If he's back, our center mid depth is crazy deep. Especially going forward with the logical development of Torres, Bradley and Edu. Benny, Sacha and Freddy need to keep stepping their game up.

Also, Hoeness at Bayern had a oh-so-telling quote about Donovan

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=649168&sec=europe&cc=5901

 

"The only concrete suggestion Klinsmann had was to sign Landon Donovan and (reserve team coach) Hermann Gerland said he would never even have played him in the reserve team."

 

hoeness has to be full of it. is donovan really not able to crack bayern's reserve squad? he's maybe not world class but come on/

He is. I watched every televised game while they had Lando and all but a few of their entire season. As someone who has watched dozens and dozens of Landon Donovan games I can say they were using him wrong. If what Gerland meant was he'd never play him in the reserve team as an out and out forward, then I actually agree with him, and that is how Klinsmann was playing him.

 

Landon's problem is that he has no natural position. He's a tweener. It works out fine when he's the most talented guy on the squad because the manager can build around him and let him do what he wants. On a team where he's is just an equal cog in the wheel, he's lost. I think in the long run, developing in the US has hurt him greatly. If he came up in another country, they would have found a role for him early on. Either as a winger or a goal-poaching creative mid. In the US, he always just got stuck where they needed and let him run buck wild doing whatever he wanted simply because he was the most talented player on the pitch. We all know you have to be patient with Landon. He isn't the kind of guy who you can bring off the bench, plug him in where you need him and expect him to be a difference maker. That's the role he needed to play to make it work at Bayern, if he wasn't doomed to failure from the beginning which I believe he was. It was just a bad fit in a bad situation.

 

 

Klinsmann was bad at Bayern. When his style worked, it was brilliant. When it didn't, he couldn't adjust. The great managers adjust. When you can't find a spot for Lukas Podolski, you're doing something wrong.

 

Landon could have worked at Bayern, but not in the role they were asking and certainly not playing like he does in MLS or for the Nats. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on what you think of Donovan's heart) I don't think he can adapt at this point and there is no one outside of the US that is going to want to build it's team around a three-time European flame out. What he lacks is the same thing that Clint Dempsey has in spades. Heart. The heart to, when you aren't getting used how you think you should, grind through it. Clint was MLS Maradona. He was brilliant and easily the most entertaining player in the league. Obviously, the stuff he pulled in MLS wasn't going to fly on a lower table Premiership side that needed to avoid relegation at all costs. Instead of not adapting, he changed. Now he's a great two-way player and a vital part of that squad.

 

Clint doesn't have Landon's tools. He never has, never will, but because of what he does have inside, he has achieved more than Landon. I don't know if that's a case of two different personalities or if it's an indictment on how we develop players in the US. Here's the poster boy for the system who's growth was, I believe, been [expletive] by a system that allowed him to dictate how he wanted to play simply because of his athleticism vs the poster boy for the outlier ignored by the system who had to develop a fire and work ethic to get where he is today.

[Jon]

Any predictions on what to expect from Altidore and his toe? Should he be at full-strength for the two early June qualifiers?

 

I haven't heard any updated ticket numbers for the match at Soldier Field, but they just started advertising the hell out of it on TV and radio.