The Soccer Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

The Guardian has a story about the French Football Federation putting racial and ethnic quotas on its national team.

"For the top brass in French football, the issue is settled: there are too many blacks, too many Arabs, and not enough white players in French football," the website said.

 

According to Mediapart, one of the most senior football federation figures wanted to set a cap of 30% on players of certain origins, but insisted at a meeting the quota should be kept quiet. At another meeting, the French national team coach Laurent Blanc allegedly backed changing youth talent selection criteria to favour players with "our culture, our history".

[Guest]

Tottenham gets boned over against Chelsea. The first goal was very close to crossing the line but didn't and the linesman 10-15 yards off the end line when he called it and on the second, it probably should have been offside.

 

With the loss, they're now at risk of not even making the Europa League next year since only the fifth place team is going to go. Man City's all but locked up the fourth CL spot which means no matter what happens in the FA Cup final, Stoke is going to go to the Europa League. Tottenham is only three points up on Liverpool and still has to play at Liverpool and Man City.

[Guest]

Just saw that Barcelona and Real Madrid both lost today. I wonder when the last time that both of those teams lost on the same day regardless of the competition, but especially in La Liga.

[USSoccer]

Just saw that Barcelona and Real Madrid both lost today. I wonder when the last time that both of those teams lost on the same day regardless of the competition, but especially in La Liga.

 

I hope Barca lose every single game from here on out. My hate for them grows like a weed.

[USSoccer]

Jack Wilshire is really good.

[shnsajax]

Jack Wilshire is really good.

 

His progress is the reason I am ready to sell Cesc. Too bad his value has dropped like stock in Enron.

[USSoccer]

Oh pleasepleaseplease let Real Madrid somehow win 3-0

[wvcbxl]

Oh pleasepleaseplease let Real Madrid somehow win 3-0

 

No such luck, the better team goes to the final.

[shnsajax]

Time to focus on the Eredivisie. Ajax and Twente play this Sunday and next Sunday for both the Dutch Cup and then the League Title. Twente lead the league by 1 point. Also with an Ajax loss and PSV win PSV would jump Ajax for a Champions League spot instead of a Europa League spot.

[USSoccer]

Oh pleasepleaseplease let Real Madrid somehow win 3-0

 

No such luck, the better team goes to the final.

 

Good for them. Now we get to watch them roll around in agony and surround the ref at Wembley.

[wolf stansson]

Thomas Rongen = out.

 

 

yesssssss

[shnsajax]

Thomas Rongen = out.

 

 

yesssssss

 

And Tab Ramos is leading the U-20 for two matches in France. I had no idea he might have an interest in development or coaching.

[wolf stansson]

Javi Morales broken ankle on a bad tackle. For those scoring at home, that makes 3 of the 5 or so best midfielders in the league out for the year from horrendous butchering tackles. All 3 from contenders. Weird and unfortunate.

[USSoccer]

Javi Morales broken ankle on a bad tackle. For those scoring at home, that makes 3 of the 5 or so best midfielders in the league out for the year from horrendous butchering tackles. All 3 from contenders. Weird and unfortunate.

 

Someone on BS made the point that due to MLS roster "depth", RSL losing Javi is like Barca losing Xavi, Messi and Iniesta all in the same game.

 

Mondaini needs to get a suspension longer than the Mullan one. This tackle was far, far more cynical. Unless MLS just wants to become the SPL.

[USSoccer]

Soccergasm at the HDC:

 

-Henry in the 4th minute, and has proceeded to goon it up since. He should have a yellow for persistent infringement at least, but he's been protected by the ref.

-Rafa Marquez decided not to mark LD on a corner, who promptly buries it. Marquez has been terrible.

-LD had a breakaway and got lazy with a finish that Tim Ream cleared at/just over the line.

[Guest]

United with a fully deserved 2-1 win over Chelsea and have all but wrapped up the title. In more surprising news, Hernandez actually scored from further than five yards out.

[USSoccer]

United with a fully deserved 2-1 win over Chelsea and have all but wrapped up the title. In more surprising news, Hernandez actually scored from further than five yards out.

 

Dude, Cheech running amok against our defense with Vela and Dos Santos flanking him next month gives me nightmares. Don't hate on him-he's basically Fernando Torres.

[Guest]

United with a fully deserved 2-1 win over Chelsea and have all but wrapped up the title. In more surprising news, Hernandez actually scored from further than five yards out.

 

Dude, Cheech running amok against our defense with Vela and Dos Santos flanking him next month gives me nightmares. Don't hate on him-he's basically Fernando Torres.

 

I agree - it was more of a joke than anything. Even though he scores a ton of cheap goals, he's been really good for them this year and always seems to make the perfect run to be in the right position to score. I'm terrified of that trio up top also tearing us apart for the next 10 years.

[wolf stansson]

It sucks that Hernandez is the best thing since Hugo Sanchez and all, but at least he seems like not a bastard. He's not a dirty player. Then again, strange things happen to dudes when they put on los tricolores.

[Guest]

Fulham is trying their best to get Liverpool into the Europa League. They're down 3-0 at home after only 16 minutes due to crappy defending and poor goalkeeping.

[Exile on Waveland]

Remember when Liverpool had no players and Hodgson was doing as well as possible? Yeah, neither do I.

 

http://twitpic.com/4vmqkz

[USSoccer]

It sucks that Hernandez is the best thing since Hugo Sanchez and all, but at least he seems like not a bastard. He's not a dirty player. Then again, strange things happen to dudes when they put on los tricolores.

 

A lot of the "new" generation of Tricolores aren't like that. The guys like Torrado, Marquez and such are past it. Vela, Dos Santos, Guardado and Ochoa along with Cheech don't strike me as being ridiculous on the pitch like the past players.

[Guest]

Remember when Liverpool had no players and Hodgson was doing as well as possible? Yeah, neither do I.

 

http://twitpic.com/4vmqkz

 

It's a shame that one of Liverpool or Tottenham - likely Tottenham the way both teams have been playing recently - will be left out of Europe next year in favor of Stoke.

 

This only applies if Man City wins the FA Cup and Stoke goes as the FA Cup runner-up. If Stoke wins the FA Cup, I have no problem with them going.

[Exile on Waveland]

Remember when Liverpool had no players and Hodgson was doing as well as possible? Yeah, neither do I.

 

http://twitpic.com/4vmqkz

 

It's a shame that one of Liverpool or Tottenham - likely Tottenham the way both teams have been playing recently - will be left out of Europe next year in favor of Stoke.

 

This only applies if Man City wins the FA Cup and Stoke goes as the FA Cup runner-up. If Stoke wins the FA Cup, I have no problem with them going.

 

Ugh, I hate Stoke. They so don't deserve a Europe spot (unless, of course, like you said they win the FA Cup).

 

Lucky for all soccer fans, Liverpool hosts Tottenham this weekend for a game that likely decides the final Europa spot.

[Guest]

Remember when Liverpool had no players and Hodgson was doing as well as possible? Yeah, neither do I.

 

http://twitpic.com/4vmqkz

 

It's a shame that one of Liverpool or Tottenham - likely Tottenham the way both teams have been playing recently - will be left out of Europe next year in favor of Stoke.

 

This only applies if Man City wins the FA Cup and Stoke goes as the FA Cup runner-up. If Stoke wins the FA Cup, I have no problem with them going.

 

Ugh, I hate Stoke. They so don't deserve a Europe spot (unless, of course, like you said they win the FA Cup).

 

Lucky for all soccer fans, Liverpool hosts Tottenham this weekend for a game that likely decides the final Europa spot.

 

Do you (or anyone else) know if relegated teams can go to the Europa League? Because Birmingham still isn't safe from relegation.

 

If Birmingham stays up or goes regardless of relegation, Arsenal blowing that Carling Cup final will screw over either Liverpool or Arsenal.