The Soccer Thread

[Iain]

Difference being that the SPL is structurally set up to benefit Celtic and Rangers and perpetuate their success ad infinitum and to support clubs like Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Motherwell by minimising the risk of relegation.

 

In La Liga we are seeing a remarkable job being done by José Mourinho and Real Madrid to respond to an historically good Barcelona side. It's genuine competition, not the artificial nonsense the SPL provides.

[USSoccer]

Yeah, the SPL is a glorified Sunday league full of hacks and has beens. And I'm including the Americans that play there, fwiw.

 

La Liga is far more competitive. Look at the UEFA competitions.

[Guest]

Hey look, Tottenham controls the play for a 10-15 minute stretch and manages to give up a goal against the run of play. How typical.

[Guest]

And now we get fucked over when the ref gives a goal that didn't cross the line. Wonderful.

[USSoccer]

Harry Redknapp doesn't know how to use his squad outside of the first XI

[wolf stansson]

Difference being that the SPL is structurally set up to benefit Celtic and Rangers and perpetuate their success ad infinitum and to support clubs like Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Motherwell by minimising the risk of relegation.

 

In La Liga we are seeing a remarkable job being done by José Mourinho and Real Madrid to respond to an historically good Barcelona side. It's genuine competition, not the artificial nonsense the SPL provides.

Also, the last two champions league spots in La Liga are always changing hands. Which is more than can be said for even England where we can guess 6 of the top 7 every year.

[USSoccer]

Holy crap, Lampard. What a strike.

[Guest]

Welp, looks like I'll be rooting for a stadium collapse in the FA Cup final.

[USSoccer]

Cudicini over Freidel.

 

Harry Redknapp doesn't know how to use his roster.

[Guest]

Cudicini over Freidel.

 

Harry Redknapp doesn't know how to use his roster.

 

That one was baffling. He's played Cudicini in all the FA Cup games, which I get in the early rounds because he rested a bunch of starters also. But Tottenham hasn't played since Monday and they don't play again until Saturday. There's no reason for Friedel to be on the bench.

 

Since you've said it a couple times, what do you think Redknapp has done wrong (besides the GKer)?

[Guest]

On another note, if given the choice when down 2-0 in the 56th minute, would you rather have the goal or the red card and penalty?

 

I think I'd take the red card and PK. Down one goal or tied, I definitely take the goal because it changes the result of the game. But down two with 35 minutes left, I think I'd rather have the red + PK. You figure there's a pretty good shot that you get the goal anyway, plus the other team plays down for 35 minutes.

[USSoccer]

Cudicini over Freidel.

 

Harry Redknapp doesn't know how to use his roster.

 

That one was baffling. He's played Cudicini in all the FA Cup games, which I get in the early rounds because he rested a bunch of starters also. But Tottenham hasn't played since Monday and they don't play again until Saturday. There's no reason for Friedel to be on the bench.

 

Since you've said it a couple times, what do you think Redknapp has done wrong (besides the GKer)?

 

In general, he rides his first XI too hard and doesn't rotate the squad very effectively, which is a gigantic reason they've faded over the past six weeks. Krancjar plays less often than he should; Dos Santos never plays, while Modric exhausts himself and Lennon plays well here and there. Defoe isn't really that good, but he refused to play Pavlyuchenko and ran him out of London. They've still yet to bring in adequate cover for Ledley King. When you look up and down that roster and start to realize who they've loaned out as well, and it adds up to a killer XI until fixture congestion wears them down.

 

Today, you can't say much except that he should have left Van de Vaart in. The midfield collapsed after he left.

[USSoccer]

On another note, if given the choice when down 2-0 in the 56th minute, would you rather have the goal or the red card and penalty?

 

I think I'd take the red card and PK. Down one goal or tied, I definitely take the goal because it changes the result of the game. But down two with 35 minutes left, I think I'd rather have the red + PK. You figure there's a pretty good shot that you get the goal anyway, plus the other team plays down for 35 minutes.

 

Yeah, that was a big play, too, since it would have been Cech coming off, so not only do you get the man advantage for 35+, you also get to face a cold, inferior keeper.

[Guest]

Cudicini over Freidel.

 

Harry Redknapp doesn't know how to use his roster.

 

That one was baffling. He's played Cudicini in all the FA Cup games, which I get in the early rounds because he rested a bunch of starters also. But Tottenham hasn't played since Monday and they don't play again until Saturday. There's no reason for Friedel to be on the bench.

 

Since you've said it a couple times, what do you think Redknapp has done wrong (besides the GKer)?

 

In general, he rides his first XI too hard and doesn't rotate the squad very effectively, which is a gigantic reason they've faded over the past six weeks. Krancjar plays less often than he should; Dos Santos never plays, while Modric exhausts himself and Lennon plays well here and there. Defoe isn't really that good, but he refused to play Pavlyuchenko and ran him out of London. They've still yet to bring in adequate cover for Ledley King. When you look up and down that roster and start to realize who they've loaned out as well, and it adds up to a killer XI until fixture congestion wears them down.

 

Today, you can't say much except that he should have left Van de Vaart in. The midfield collapsed after he left.

 

Fair enough. The only point I'd counter is King. They have Kaboul and Dawson for the middle but they're both hurt right now so they're pretty much stuck with King and Gallas. The rest, I agree. The rest of the starters are always in there when healthy.

[manbearcub]

Difference being that the SPL is structurally set up to benefit Celtic and Rangers and perpetuate their success ad infinitum and to support clubs like Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Motherwell by minimising the risk of relegation.

 

In La Liga we are seeing a remarkable job being done by José Mourinho and Real Madrid to respond to an historically good Barcelona side. It's genuine competition, not the artificial nonsense the SPL provides.

I take it that you are from scotland?

[Guest]

New USMNT kits:

 

Home - http://www.ussoccerstore.com/us00m113112aa.html

 

Away - http://www.ussoccerstore.com/us00m112512aa.html

[jersey cubs fan]

is it candy cane season already?

[bukie]

All the new Nike kits:

 

[Guest]

I really didn't like the home jersey at first glance, but seeing it with the number and the shorts, I think I really like it.

[Guest]

So in the last 10 days, Wigan has beaten Man U, beaten Arsenal and lost to Chelsea in a game they should have won.

[Guest]

Those home jerseys looks like they were inspired by Where's Waldo. All we need is blue socks instead of white to complete the look.

 

Terrible jersey.

 

I'm not a big fan of the road kit either but that one is significantly better than the home.

[Mark Priors Calves]

New USMNT kits:

 

Home - http://www.ussoccerstore.com/us00m113112aa.html

 

Away - http://www.ussoccerstore.com/us00m112512aa.html

Those home ones are ridiculous.

[shnsajax]

The home ones have to have a number to even make them look half way decent. The Dutch one's suck, again they need to have the # in there to make the jersey somewhat look normal. Was hoping for a new orange jersey for my trip to Amsterdam June 1st. Just going to look for one of the old ones now instead.

[wolf stansson]

It's weird that Gus Johnson is doing radio play-by-play for San Jose Earthquakes games. What's that about? Polishing soccer chops for eventual big TV gig so he doesn't go all Dave O'Brien on a World Cup? If so, that's a great move by him. This according to Grant Wahl's twitter.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Champions League semis are on FX for those of us without FSC.