The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

FA Cup third round draw.

 

ManU will play at City.

[shnsajax]

On the bright side being in Amsterdam when they play Germany will be badass. Losing to them won't be.

 

Collective insanity hits the Netherlands whenever they play Germany. Go to Museum Square to watch the game on the big screens.

 

Yep. Already told my fiancé that's where we will be. :-).

[wvcbxl]

On the bright side being in Amsterdam when they play Germany will be badass. Losing to them won't be.

 

Collective insanity hits the Netherlands whenever they play Germany. Go to Museum Square to watch the game on the big screens.

 

Yep. Already told my fiancé that's where we will be. :-).

 

Better prepare her for this:

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS9kHKCzlXJ6QWNeNhycVS1OjTV4ZS7tWqH8dzFMWI3NcI8MeHa5Q

[shnsajax]

Exactly, can't wait to see it in person. Thankfully her parents live on a canal about a 20 minute walk away from there.

[wolf stansson]

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2011-12-05-video-clint-dempseys-goal-vs-liverpool

 

Deuce is so cool.

[USSoccer]

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2011-12-05-video-clint-dempseys-goal-vs-liverpool

 

Deuce is so cool.

 

The clip of him breaking ankles and hitting the bar 5 minutes before the goal was pretty slick, too.

[Guest]

All I want today is a Napoli win.

[shnsajax]

Basel takes an early lead against ManU, this would knock them out. Something else for you to cheer for ;-).

 

edit: Assuming Benfica holds on to win which should not be an issue.

[Guest]

Basel takes an early lead against ManU, this would knock them out. Something else for you to cheer for ;-).

 

edit: Assuming Benfica holds on to win which should not be an issue.

 

If I had to pick one, I want City sent to the Europa League. Also, Benfica's result has no impact on ManU advancing as they've already locked up a spot in the knockout stage (it does affect placement of the two advancing teams, though). If ManU wins or ties, they advance. If they lose, they don't.

 

City up 1-0 on Bayern at half while Napoli is tied with Villareal. Man U down 1-0 at half. These results holding would send City on and relegate ManU to the Europa League.

[Guest]

Napoli leads in Spain!

 

EDIT: And now it's 2-0. City out unless Villareal scores twice.

[Guest]

Basel up 2-0 on ManU now. Looks like both ManU teams are done.

[Guest]

ManU nearly blew a great chance but the ball barely crossed the line. 2-1 Basel now with only 3 minutes of stoppage time remaining.

[Guest]

City and United both out.

 

In other interesting developments, there is Group D. Lyon came into today with 5 points, 2 GS, 6 GA while Ajax was at 8 points with 6 GS, 3 GA. Lyon had to play at Dinamo Zagreb today while Ajax hosted Real Madrid (who sat out all of their regulars). Lyon and Ajax tied both H2H matches 0-0 so the first available tiebreaker was goal difference in group games. That meant Lyon had to blow out Dinamo while Ajax got hammered by Real...which is exactly what happened. Lyon won 7-1 while Ajax lost 3-0 and Lyon advanced.

 

So...

 

Group winners: Bayern Munich, Inter, Benfica, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Apoel Nicosia, Barcelona

Runners up: Napoli, CSKA Moscow, FC Basel, Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit St. Petersburg, AC Milan.

 

Breakdown by country: 3 Italy, 2 Spain, 2 England, 2 Germany, 2 France, 2 Russia, 1 Portugal, 1 Cyprus, 1 Switzerland

[wolf stansson]

Omar Salgado does some lololol stuff to half of the Ajax reserve team: http://theoffsiderules.com/#2428920/VIDEO-Omar-Salgado-runs-past-half-of-Ajax

[Guest]

El Clasico about to start.

 

And it's 1-0 Real less than a minute in.

[wvcbxl]

Fast and furious start to the game - I wonder how long both teams can keep up this pace..

[USSoccer]

-Clint saw a late PK saved that would have tied; Fulham lose to Swansea

 

-Watching Roy Hudson on GolTV call a Barca/Real game is worse than any other color announcer in any sport, ever. It's ruining the game.

 

EDIT: He shrieks more than Ron Santo ever did during games. Jesus.

 

Also, Real are choking.

[wvcbxl]

Also, Real are choking.

 

Seriously - Mourinho may have his work cut out this week to restore morale after that loss.

[Guest]

Tottenham's unbeaten run ended at Stoke today. Tottenham played terrible early and was down 2-0 at half. They got a PK to make it 2-1 and should have had a second. Adebayor also had a second goal incorrectly disallowed due to offside. Then Kaboul picked up a very weak red and was sent off.

 

Oh well. Stoke's a really tough team at home and the unbeaten run was bound to end eventually.

[Exile on Waveland]

Tottenham's unbeaten run ended at Stoke today. Tottenham played terrible early and was down 2-0 at half. They got a PK to make it 2-1 and should have had a second. Adebayor also had a second goal incorrectly disallowed due to offside. Then Kaboul picked up a very weak red and was sent off.

 

Oh well. Stoke's a really tough team at home and the unbeaten run was bound to end eventually.

 

Stoke has become probably the toughest road trip outside of the top-6 teams. Not much shame losing there for Spurs. Liverpool dominated at Stoke early this year (20-1 shots on goal) and still lost 1-0. They did, at least, win a Carling Cup game at Stoke a few weeks later.

[wolf stansson]

-Watching Roy Hudson on GolTV call a Barca/Real game is worse than any other color announcer in any sport, ever. It's ruining the game.

Wrong! He's a delight.

 

 

The Real team is strange. It's like a player goes to Madrid and just decides that their mere presence on the field is enough to win. They don't buy in like Inter bought in for Mourinho. They have no reason to feel this way because Barca is superior in every way.

[wolf stansson]

The first American manager in Europe is not Bruce Arena, it is not Bob Bradley, it is not Jason Kreis. It is...

Greg Berhalter: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2011/12/berhalter-named-hammarby-manager.html

 

Cool situation for him. Gotta love the centerback as manager. Always was a cerebral player. Hammarby giving a rookie a chance like that is pretty unexpected.

[USSoccer]

-Watching Roy Hudson on GolTV call a Barca/Real game is worse than any other color announcer in any sport, ever. It's ruining the game.

Wrong! He's a delight.

 

 

The Real team is strange. It's like a player goes to Madrid and just decides that their mere presence on the field is enough to win. They don't buy in like Inter bought in for Mourinho. They have no reason to feel this way because Barca is superior in every way.

 

I think the whole Real thing is pretty dysfunctional. Deep down, they know Barca owns them, so it doesn't matter if Ronaldo scores 6 against Real Betis or whoever; Barca's going to be 3 goals better than them whenever they play barring something strange.

 

Side note: Houston Dynamo's stadium looks completely awesome. The membrane or whatever on the exterior is cool as hell. Also, Fulham are going to revolt against Martin Jol at some point.

[shnsajax]

David Villa broke the tibia in his left leg in the World Club Cup semi's.

[wolf stansson]

Fulham are going to revolt against Martin Jol at some point.

If Clint makes a move in January, not only is he screwed, but they'll get relegated. He's the only thing they've got going right now.