The Soccer Thread

[USSoccer]

So here are some interesting 2022 coincidences:

 

-The Qatari Foundation is going to be Barca's new shirt sponsor, for the price of $200m. Remember, Spain and Qatar were accused of colluding together with Russia to rig the World Cup this summer and the bid process.

 

-New Aspire Academies (Qatar's gift to international soccer development) were opened in Thailand, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Paraguay, Cameroon and Nigeria have opened. Those six countries all have ExCo representation.

 

-Blatter is now calling for a winter WC in 2022, and for neighboring countries to host matches. Which is nice, except none of that was in their bid. Maybe the former has something to do with the fact that none of their dumbass engineering ideas about how to AC an entire country were ever feasible, and the latter goes right to one of the flaws about a country the size of Rhode Island hosting. If UAE and Bahrain host matches, will they get auto bids into the field? Not to mention the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl will gut the TV contract numbers, and the IOC sure as hell isn't going to help FIFA with anything. Finally, the big 5 leagues will fight tooth and nail over disrupting 2 seasons (winter WC means winter Confed Cup) just to accommodate an idiotic locale.

 

I'm still pretty bitter about this bs.

[brinoch]

You should. That is pretty blatant corruption. The US and England should charge Blatter and his cronies and being filing extradition requests. They won't be, of course, but eff them. It's time to break FIFA. Start picking off some Federations like the US and England and you'll find change happening quickly.

[shnsajax]

You should. That is pretty blatant corruption. The US and England should charge Blatter and his cronies and being filing extradition requests. They won't be, of course, but eff them. It's time to break FIFA. Start picking off some Federations like the US and England and you'll find change happening quickly.

 

He's already backed off the anti-corruption team he was talking about. His election is coming up soon too so now is a good time to start a campaign against him. The problem is he would just be replaced with another crooked bastard. Still I hope the BBC or whoever in England just goes on the attack against him.

[wolf stansson]

Bayern Munich u-20 Captain Fabian Hurzeler interview on SBI: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/01/us-under-20-spotlight-fabian-huerzeler.html

 

USA USA USA USA

 

That accent says it all.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Bayern Munich u-20 Captain Fabian Hurzeler interview on SBI: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/01/us-under-20-spotlight-fabian-huerzeler.html

 

USA USA USA USA

 

That accent says it all.

 

It might be cheesy, but I really do like the fact that the rosters of our teams are so diverse*. Its an interesting melting pot.

 

*by diverse, i don't mean the shady brazilians playing for eastern european sides kind of diversity.

[USSoccer]

Ives isn't good for much these days, but the interview video with Wayne Rooney's little brother John he posted today was classic.

 

Lil' Wayne is unintelligible. Its like Scouse meets Pikey. Fabian speaks better English.

 

ETA: He's actually going to make a decent MLS player.

[wolf stansson]

Ives isn't good for much these days, but the interview video with Wayne Rooney's little brother John he posted today was classic.

 

Lil' Wayne is unintelligible. Its like Scouse meets Pikey. Fabian speaks better English.

 

ETA: He's actually going to make a decent MLS player.

I like what he's doing. He can be a Championship level player constantly in his brother's shadow, or he can come here for a fresh start. More interested in playing soccer than going to clubs and letting girls know he's the much better looking brother of Wayne Rooney.

[wolf stansson]

http://i56.tinypic.com/156e96s.gif

[wvcbxl]

Indeed, Gooch to FC Twente on loan for the rest of the season is official.

It became official one day after Twente got confirmation that defender Nicky Kuiper was out long-term with a knee injury (forcing their hand, imho).

I guess that also ensures Gooch gets a lot of playing time (especially since the coach knows him very well from two seasons together at Liège)

[shnsajax]

Craig Bellamy was arrested on suspicion of assult. Sure its not the 1st time, more sure it won't be the last.

[bukie]

Qatar's World Cup Spending Spree

[shnsajax]

Omar Salgado was drafted #1 today, he looks like he is closer to 27 than 17. Do we need to worry about him choosing Mexico over us?

[wolf stansson]

Omar Salgado was drafted #1 today, he looks like he is closer to 27 than 17. Do we need to worry about him choosing Mexico over us?

Absolutely not. He arranged a switch from Chivas De Guadalajara for the expressed reason that he is not going to be a Mexican International.

[shnsajax]

Omar Salgado was drafted #1 today, he looks like he is closer to 27 than 17. Do we need to worry about him choosing Mexico over us?

Absolutely not. He arranged a switch from Chivas De Guadalajara for the expressed reason that he is not going to be a Mexican International.

 

Good, I want to have a striker with some size at least in the mix of things in the future.

[wolf stansson]

Groan.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news;_ylt=AnzlJ4AC25dV67q.c9TyieYmw7YF?slug=ro-notebook011311

The most coveted defender in the world likely will hold Manchester United and Chelsea ransom this month before finally completing the move that establishes him as one of soccer’s elite international stars.

 

And he is American. Kind of.

 

Such has been the progress of Borussia Dortmund centerback Neven Subotic over the past year that both United and Chelsea have identified him as a vital target. As a result, his transfer value has rocketed up to around $25 million.

[Guest]

Nearly an epic choke from City. They were 4-1 up and held on for a 4-3 win, and Wolves had a couple chances to tie the game in injury time.

[wolf stansson]

This is a perfect fit. Perfect. I hope this goes through. If B Mo sells him, they're certain to be relegated.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Cats-lining-up-bid-for-USA-star-Bradley

U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley could be headed to the English Premier League, a move that would make him the second United States midfielder to move from the German Bundesliga to the Premier League this month.

 

Sunderland is lining up a transfer bid for Bradley, sources with knowledge of the deal told Fox Soccer on Monday. Bradley came off the bench as a 71st-minute substitute in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-0 win against Nuremberg despite having been a regular starter for the club the entire season.

 

Bradley is one of Sunderland's replacement targets for captain Lee Cattermole, who has been battling a back injury and is believed to be a transfer target of Liverpool. Sunderland has also been linked to interest in Uruguayan World Cup midfielder Victor Caceres to fill the same role.

 

Bradley has one and a half years left on his current contract with Moenchengladbach, which could explain the club's desire to sell him while it can still generate a sizeable transfer fee. Bradley joined the German club from Dutch side Heerenveen in the summer of 2008, signing a four-year contract.

 

Bradley, son of U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley, was one of the most impressive American players at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but Moenchengladbach chose not to sell the 23-year-old midfielder despite receiving interest in his services.

 

Bradley's U.S. teammate, Jermaine Jones, recently made the move from Germany to England after joining Blackburn on loan from Schalke 04.

Bradley wouldn't be the first American midfielder to ply his trade at Sunderland. Former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna played for the Black Cats from 2001 to 2003.

Edited January 17, 2011 by wolf stansson

[shnsajax]

I just noticed Barca's scoring differential this season was at +50 in 19 games. They should almost be forced to sell two starters just to make this a little bit more fair. Nevermind their bench is too good too.

[shnsajax]

Eric Cantona is the new director of soccer for the Cosmos.

[TruffleShuffle]

Eric Cantona is the new director of soccer for the Cosmos.

 

i was a Man U fan for a few years just because of him. i loved when he kung fu kicked that racist crystal palace supporter. every sport needs more of that type of fun, stars attacking hateful bigots.

[wolf stansson]

Terry Byrne, Cobi Jones, Contona and Beckham still denies he's going to be part owner?

[wolf stansson]

Below is a link to a pic of Contona at the presser. Linked because it's too high res to post.

http://www.nycosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cantona_Press1.jpg

[reggiemiller rules]

Rumor is John Henry met with the agent for Suarez today. Hopefully they can get a deal done with Ajax cause Liverpool could use him.

[shnsajax]

Rumor is John Henry met with the agent for Suarez today. Hopefully they can get a deal done with Ajax cause Liverpool could use him.

 

Whats the price tag on him? I know its high.

[reggiemiller rules]

Rumor is John Henry met with the agent for Suarez today. Hopefully they can get a deal done with Ajax cause Liverpool could use him.

 

Whats the price tag on him? I know its high.

 

The rumors I have read say anything from 15-25 million.