The Soccer Thread

[CubbieBum]

Platini is absolutely not going to let a replay happen.

 

There's no doubt, although the fact that they didn't say "no" right away is odd. Rule V is clear: referee's decisions on the field are not subject to any sort of anything after the fact.

 

 

Do you know the background/details of the 2005 match that was replayed?

 

A PK was awarded improperly; the situations were different in that the ref in the 2005 match just plain didn't know the proper rule and his screwup of interpretation. This one comes down to the ref missing (4) calls on one play.

 

EDIT:

 

However, in the aforementioned instance, the referee was guilty of wrongly applying the rules rather than missing an offence. An indirect free-kick was awarded against Uzbekistan when one of their players encroached on the Bahrain penalty area as the Uzbeks successfully converted a penalty. The correct interpretation would have been to order the penalty to be retaken.

 

That ref was also one of the most incompetent in history; that game was riddled with poor decisions, and Bahrain had some heft within FIFA.

 

The FIA's appeal seemingly relies less on the rule and more on the "Fair Play" aspect; it also helps, imo, that Henry admitted he told the ref and the ref disregarded it.

The only way a replay happens is if public pressure just absolutely overwhelms Blatter and FIFA. Even the French media and other French outlets and organizations are blasting the refs and the outcome, so that helps, but as Wolf mentioned, Platini probably doesn't give an ish.

 

To be fair if the ref called it back Henry would have probably denied telling the ref. I don't think he would admit to being the reason the ref called it back. If Henry were to deny it the ref would be in a bad situation. Although if I was the ref I would rather know I made the right call in the end then stay with one I know to be wrong.

[USSoccer]

Appeal rejected.

[shnsajax]

Henry backs having a replay as the "fairest solution". This is going to get a little more ugly before it goes away with FIFA's decision to alerady deny a replay.

 

I'm surprised at the national coverage this is getting in the US.

[jersey cubs fan]

I used to think FIFA was great. I get more and more convinced every year that they rig some games (not an abundance of games but enough to be noticed).

 

lol

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8370748.stm

 

About 200 European football games are under investigation in a match-fixing inquiry, German prosecutors have said.

 

At least three of the games were in the Champions League and another 12 were in the Uefa Europa League, officials said.

 

Uefa representative Peter Limacher called it the biggest match-fixing scandal ever to hit Europe.

 

On Thursday police carried out about 50 raids in Germany, the UK, Switzerland and Austria, making 17 arrests and seizing cash and property.

[shnsajax]

I would not be the least bit surprised and it will happen again in the future. I could easily see this happening in some of the smaller countries, not to mention this happening in Belguim a couple of years ago. Germany however does come as a surprise to me though. Then again they were awarded the 2006 cup on what was believed to have been a bribe.

[UMFan83]

The backlash for this incident is incredible. I just can't imagine the backlash being this bad if it occured at a US sporting event. And we are a country known for overblowing things.

 

I read an editorial article in the Telegraph that suggested that Henry should be banned from the World Cup for his handball/goal. Are you serious? Henry not only admitted the handball to the ref but also went out in public and suggested a replay would be fair. Can you imagine if Derek Jeter went out of his way to admit to an ump that Jeffery Maier touched that fly ball that was called a home run in the ALCS? And then afterward telling the media they should replay that game? And then having people suggest Jeter should be banned from the World Series for his actions? Should they have replayed Game 6 of the 85 World Series because the ump blew that call at first?

 

It just seems weird to blame Henry for a refs mistake, and even weirder to suggest that they replay a game based on a bad call by an official. I guess I've just learned that bad calls are part of the game and you have to live with them.

[Careless]

Fun times after the Algeria/Egypt game. Ambassador recalled, $600 million fine, etc

[USSoccer]

I've seen three mock draws today. Two of the resulting draws:

 

Portugal

Argentina

Ghana

USA

 

and

 

Spain

Portugal

Chile

USA

 

F that noise. That first group would be an absolute bloodbath.

 

The other was:

 

Spain

Greece

Uruguay

USA

[bukie]

An interesting analysis and discussion comment on the probable seeding process.

 

And oh God, please to that mock draw: South Africa, Serbia, USA, Uruguay

[shnsajax]

An interesting analysis and discussion comment on the probable seeding process.

 

And oh God, please to that mock draw: South Africa, Serbia, USA, Uruguay

 

I would [expletive] my pants for that.

[Guest]

An interesting analysis and discussion comment on the probable seeding process.

 

And oh God, please to that mock draw: South Africa, Serbia, USA, Uruguay

 

I would [expletive] my pants for that.

 

Not to mention that Mexico would be in a group with England and Portugal.

[wvcbxl]

How about:

 

Brazil

The Netherlands

Cameroon

USA

 

8-)

[USSoccer]

How about:

 

Brazil

The Netherlands

Cameroon

USA

 

8-)

 

DO NOT WANT

[USSoccer]

Not that it's realistic, but on BigSoccer someone asked the question, if Davies were training by May would you put him on the final 23 knowing he could only play 15-20 minutes per game.

 

I'd say no, but our strikers blow. That might make me consider it.

 

Again, not really all that realistic.

[CubbieBum]

Not that it's realistic, but on BigSoccer someone asked the question, if Davies were training by May would you put him on the final 23 knowing he could only play 15-20 minutes per game.

 

I'd say no, but our strikers blow. That might make me consider it.

 

Again, not really all that realistic.

 

If he is training I say put him on the 23. It's enough people that having a guy that could possibly become a great end of game sub when we need to score is well worth it. Then again Freddy Adu I would say fits in that role. He can score and be subbed in at the end of the game if we need a goal.

[wolf stansson]

Should they have replayed Game 6 of the 85 World Series because the ump blew that call at first?

Yes.

[USSoccer]

WTF Spurs. 9-1?

 

I reloaded my Soccernet page just to see if that was right.

[Guest]

WTF Spurs. 9-1?

 

I reloaded my Soccernet page just to see if that was right.

 

Plus, it was 1-0 at halftime and Jermain Defoe had five goals in the second half.

[USSoccer]

Looks like the current home USMNT kits are on sale from ussoccerstore.com.

[USSoccer]

Pretty good Cup final right now headed into PKs

 

I really, really think Robbie Findley could slot into the Chuck D role. He's at least as fast, probably slight downgrade technically and not as physically strong as Davies, but I think it's as close to approximating that as we could get, and I don't fancy our offense if we have to slide Deuce up front or play Alti with like Cunningham or Ching or some ish.

 

EDIT:

 

Congrats to RSL-the better side throughout most of the game, really. They had more skill players on and they actually had a midfield. Beckerman played great and Mathis looked like he wasn't fat and drunk. Movsisyan missed a couple golden sitters...would like to see him called into January camp as well, since we need to look at every striker in the country.

 

Hopefully his epic PK fail won't screw Landon up.

[bukie]

Wow, LA loses because Donovan missed a PK. That wasn't what I was expecting.

[Mark Priors Calves]

WTF Spurs. 9-1?

 

I reloaded my Soccernet page just to see if that was right.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/10418152/Wigan-squad-offer-refunds-after-rout

 

Wigan is refunding the cost of tickets for their fans.

[wolf stansson]

Pretty good Cup final right now headed into PKs

 

I really, really think Robbie Findley could slot into the Chuck D role. He's at least as fast, probably slight downgrade technically and not as physically strong as Davies, but I think it's as close to approximating that as we could get, and I don't fancy our offense if we have to slide Deuce up front or play Alti with like Cunningham or Ching or some ish.

 

EDIT:

 

Congrats to RSL-the better side throughout most of the game, really. They had more skill players on and they actually had a midfield. Beckerman played great and Mathis looked like he wasn't fat and drunk. Movsisyan missed a couple golden sitters...would like to see him called into January camp as well, since we need to look at every striker in the country.

 

Hopefully his epic PK fail won't screw Landon up.

I came hoping to get your thoughts on Findley. Couldn't agree more that he's as close to approximating CD. She's as fast, like you said not as technical or strong, but he is a strong guy. He's also taller and more of a threat in the air. He's a huge downgrade in experience and quantifiability on the big stage, but he's better than the garbage we saw in the last two friendlies.

 

I'm not worried about Landon's pk. He manned up and faced the press conference. It'll bum him out, but oh well. I think he'll put on the big boy pants and get past it.

 

Seriously though, Kyle Beckerman is a gd man. That dude ate the entire Galaxy midfield's lunch and he's been doing it all year. I'd really love to see him behind the midfield instead of Ricardo Clark.

[Magnetic Curses]

eh, baggio did the exact same thing in the finals of the world cup. hey, i said something soccerish.

[USSoccer]

I came hoping to get your thoughts on Findley. Couldn't agree more that he's as close to approximating CD. She's as fast, like you said not as technical or strong, but he is a strong guy. He's also taller and more of a threat in the air. He's a huge downgrade in experience and quantifiability on the big stage, but he's better than the garbage we saw in the last two friendlies.

 

I'm not worried about Landon's pk. He manned up and faced the press conference. It'll bum him out, but oh well. I think he'll put on the big boy pants and get past it.

 

Seriously though, Kyle Beckerman is a gd man. That dude ate the entire Galaxy midfield's lunch and he's been doing it all year. I'd really love to see him behind the midfield instead of Ricardo Clark.

 

 

I don't rate Beckerman at the international level. He dominated a bad midfield last night. The Gals were horrid in the center of the pitch. Their enitre game plan was: find beckham/long ball/runlandonrun. No buildup, no combination play. It was like watching the 2008 'Nats bypass the midfield all night. He's too slow and not technical enough even to be the destroyer. If Clark, Edu, Jones, and Benny are all unavailable...sure. I think depending on injuries he has a shot at the 23, but he won't get any burn in SA.

 

Findley, though...I think it's clear that offensively we were much, much better with Chuck D and Jozy up front and LD and CD on the wings than any other combination during the last 4 years. We were able to hit teams consistently on the run of play and Davies' ability to stretch the defense was the key to it all. The pace and fear of it make teams play Jozy honest and created space for Landon to make dangerous runs, and space for Clint to float and find creases from which to be dangerous. You could see him making more technical plays, more of a desire to aggressively take defenders on, etc, towards the end of the year before he got hurt, but to play that "role" pace should be the first factor, and RF has pace. I think he might be faster than Chuck, actually. He's where Davies was going into 2009-physical talent needing to sharpen his technical skills.

 

I think if Bradley has brains and balls, he'll start Findley in Camp Cupcake and the Holland friendly to see if he can plug him in and approximate the affect. We know what we'll look like with Jozy/Ching and Deuce, and I hope he's not dumb enough to pull Landon from the wing and stick him up front. We shouldn't abandon a system once we've finally found it.