The Soccer Thread

[shnsajax]

I'm glad he is staying. A win in Columbus will be that much sweeter.

[USSoccer]

LOLMexico.

 

Although I still refuse to believe they are as terrible as the last 4 months have made them out to be. I also refuse to believe that they'll end up 4th; I can see a scenario where they beat us in Columbus. Sooner or later they'll have to start stringing some points together...right?

[Guest]

LOLMexico.

 

Although I still refuse to believe they are as terrible as the last 4 months have made them out to be. I also refuse to believe that they'll end up 4th; I can see a scenario where they beat us in Columbus. Sooner or later they'll have to start stringing some points together...right?

 

This first game will be everything. If they get 3 points and their confidence back at home, I bet they'll take Panama at home too and they'll largely be through.

 

But if they drop points at home to Honduras, that puts them +1 on them with @USA, v.PAN, @CR while Honduras has v.PAN, v.CR, @JAM. If those two play to 0-0 or 1-1 in Azteca, would you put your money on Mexico beating out Honduras at that point, even spotting them a point? I don't think I would. And that doesn't even mention Panama, who's likely at 9 points after Jamaica at home, so even if Honduras falters there's still some pressure.

[USSoccer]

LOLMexico.

 

Although I still refuse to believe they are as terrible as the last 4 months have made them out to be. I also refuse to believe that they'll end up 4th; I can see a scenario where they beat us in Columbus. Sooner or later they'll have to start stringing some points together...right?

 

This first game will be everything. If they get 3 points and their confidence back at home, I bet they'll take Panama at home too and they'll largely be through.

 

But if they drop points at home to Honduras, that puts them +1 on them with @USA, v.PAN, @CR while Honduras has v.PAN, v.CR, @JAM. If those two play to 0-0 or 1-1 in Azteca, would you put your money on Mexico beating out Honduras at that point, even spotting them a point? I don't think I would. And that doesn't even mention Panama, who's likely at 9 points after Jamaica at home, so even if Honduras falters there's still some pressure.

 

I agree; that first game is going to be huge. They need to get their confidence back big time; they are not this bad.

 

They need to stop playing games at Azteca. That place is doing them more harm than good at this point.

[wolf stansson]

Mexico does this inexplicably. They lose confidence for whatever reason (the Jamaica draw?), despite having superior talent and having just come off some of the greatest achievements in their program's history and it trickles down from the squad that experienced the confidence loss into the entire program. It's trickle-down suckanomics. Then it just snowballs until they change their coach and everything is fine again.

[shnsajax]

Shea may have hurt his knee today too.

[wolf stansson]

He was having a great game until Kassel butchered him too.

[wolf stansson]

This Gareth Bale transfer saga is mind-blowing. He's really good. He is not 100,000,000 euro + Coentrao good. He's 50,000,000 MAYBE. Not sure what Real Madrid saw last year that I didn't.

 

Spurs should take that deal and laugh their asses off.

[Guest]

This Gareth Bale transfer saga is mind-blowing. He's really good. He is not 100,000,000 euro + Coentrao good. He's 50,000,000 MAYBE. Not sure what Real Madrid saw last year that I didn't.

 

Spurs should take that deal and laugh their asses off.

 

Yeah, at some point it's just too much too refuse.

 

I know they had a season that nine times out of 10 gets them to the Champions League. But they still weren't good enough with Bale. Sell him for the ridiculous amount (and maybe another player in return also) and then splash that cash on a couple forwards and a replacement midfielder to try to become a better team that isn't reliant on one guy scoring wondergoals week after week.

[wolf stansson]

I hope Roma sells De Rossi. Strootman and Mikey have some nice chemistry.

[wolf stansson]

Mike Bradley. 58/59 passes last night. Tough to bench that.

 

Also, Brek Shea - sprained MCL, out 4 weeks max.

[shnsajax]

That's great news on Brek.

[wolf stansson]

Sign a petition to keep the centennial crest going forward.

http://www.change.org/petitions/u-s-soccer-federation-keep-the-centennial-us-soccer-crest-as-the-permanent-crest-for-us-soccer-2?utm_campaign=twitter_link&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

[wolf stansson]

So, the Sounders want Clint Dempsey to play for them, for a lot of money, when he returns to MLS. They're courting him already and it got out. And then MLS twitter melted down into an insane puddle of craziness.

 

Clint Dempsey is not coming to MLS in the next 3 years. Probably more.

[shnsajax]

I read that. It was really hard to even take it seriously.

[USSoccer]

Sign a petition to keep the centennial crest going forward.

http://www.change.org/petitions/u-s-soccer-federation-keep-the-centennial-us-soccer-crest-as-the-permanent-crest-for-us-soccer-2?utm_campaign=twitter_link&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

 

Done and done. I think we've outgrown the clipart crest.

 

Great news on Shea, and it's crazy that anyone at ESPN decided to run with that rumor. Clint still has some hard feelings toward MLS for denying that Charlton bid (which in retrospect was absolute good fortune for all involved).

[wolf stansson]

Iceland's FA president has been throwing hissy fits about Johansson. He's going to be on Soccer Morning tomorrow.

[USSoccer]

Iceland's FA president has been throwing hissy fits about Johansson. He's going to be on Soccer Morning tomorrow.

 

Did you see that press release? It's like da bum wrote it in a fit of rage. I couldn't believe a UEFA FA let that go out.

[Guest]

Iceland's FA president has been throwing hissy fits about Johansson. He's going to be on Soccer Morning tomorrow.

 

Did you see that press release? It's like da bum wrote it in a fit of rage. I couldn't believe a UEFA FA let that go out.

 

I'm sure it's a translation thing, but I love this line:

 

The only thing that has been pointed out to KSÍ from an interested party, is that his income potential, as a USA player, is much greater, both in the form of grants and sponsorship, than if he were an Iceland player.

 

Really paints a great image of the Federation literally saying "What, WHY?" upon hearing the news and having some dude say "must be the money, man" as an answer.

[USSoccer]

Iceland's FA president has been throwing hissy fits about Johansson. He's going to be on Soccer Morning tomorrow.

 

Did you see that press release? It's like da bum wrote it in a fit of rage. I couldn't believe a UEFA FA let that go out.

 

I'm sure it's a translation thing, but I love this line:

 

The only thing that has been pointed out to KSÍ from an interested party, is that his income potential, as a USA player, is much greater, both in the form of grants and sponsorship, than if he were an Iceland player.

 

Really paints a great image of the Federation literally saying "What, WHY?" upon hearing the news and having some dude say "must be the money, man" as an answer.

 

Well...as dumb as it sounds, it might not necessarily be wrong. My memory could be hazy, but in 2012 if a player was called into every camp and got capped, he could have earned an extra $500k in bonuses. I'm guessing his income potential with the USMNT, should he make the WC roster, would dwarf whatever he could get from the Iceland FA. That, and playing in the WC puts him in the shop window for clubs around the world with a good tournament, and C.R.E.A.M might have been one of the factors.

[Guest]

Oh, I'm sure it does play a role, it's very intertwined with wanting to play with and against the best competition possible. What cracked me up was the "mysterious stranger has explained to us that he's actually doing this FOR THE MONEY" phrasing.

[wolf stansson]

In addition to bigger and more appearance bonuses, getting to play in multiple world cups (up to 3) and an easier shot at minutes, there's always that huge, often undeserved MLS contract at the end of your career to consider too.

[USSoccer]

In addition to bigger and more appearance bonuses, getting to play in multiple world cups (up to 3) and an easier shot at minutes, there's always that huge, often undeserved MLS contract at the end of your career to consider too.

 

The Reyna Rule, yes.

[USSoccer]

Oh, I'm sure it does play a role, it's very intertwined with wanting to play with and against the best competition possible. What cracked me up was the "mysterious stranger has explained to us that he's actually doing this FOR THE MONEY" phrasing.

 

Yeah, that is funny. It's got to be a translation thing; I know Iceland isn't the most cosmopolitan place but if it's really the right phrasing, I kind of want to sit in on their meetings. It's like a room full of Zoolanders.

[USSoccer]

Wait, why the F is Clint on a flight to Seattle?