The Soccer Thread

[UMFan83]

I might buy a Dempsey jersey. Someone quickly explain the rules of soccer to me.

The big guy in the back wearing the different-colored jersey can use his hands, everyone else cannot. Fouls work like fouls in basketball re: contact. Offsides is when an attacking player is closer to goal than any defending players other than the goalie when his teammate passes him the ball.

 

Now on to more important stuff. What is the buzz like in Seattle? Enough to penetrate the non-soccer fan public?

 

I thought people in Seattle treated the Sounders like a Big 4 team already. When I was there in June their logo was everywhere.

[wolf stansson]

I thought people in Seattle treated the Sounders like a Big 4 team already. When I was there in June their logo was everywhere.

That's certainly the case. I'm just curious if it's penetrated the local, non-sports zeitgeist. The classic trope of if your mom or someone who doesn't care about sports wants to talk about it.

[shnsajax]

Based on the game vs Panama the Sounders had passed the Mariners from what I could tell. I would doubt any other MLS teams has the clothing selection Seattle has. Even women have 20 different T-shirts to pick from. I left beyond impressed.

[Tracer Bullet]

I thought people in Seattle treated the Sounders like a Big 4 team already. When I was there in June their logo was everywhere.

That's certainly the case. I'm just curious if it's penetrated the local, non-sports zeitgeist. The classic trope of if your mom or someone who doesn't care about sports wants to talk about it.

 

No. But everyone is a sounders fan. So you've got sounders fans and you've got people who don't know sports exist. It's huge in group A and doesn't register in group B.

 

I'd love to take my son to a game but he wouldn't be able to handle the intensity at least as I understand it. I think it'll only be worse now.

 

I know the very basic rules of soccer but I don't know anything about the league rules, schedules, player contracts etc. Just got a new client that was awarded a NASL team so he's pretty pumped.

[USSoccer]

This presser is by far the most I've ever heard Clint speak.

 

Damn, missed the presser and can't find a video anywhere. Did anyone ask him about JK's reaction?

 

EDIT: Never mind, found it

[Exile on Waveland]

Really hoping Indianapolis' newly formed NASL team, the Indy Eleven, eventually becomes an MLS team. Indianapolis seems similar to some of the markets the MLS has really succeeded in and just drew quite well for the Chelsea-Inter Milan match (approximately 42,000). It is a pretty good sports town and I think an MLS team would pretty quickly surpass the Triple-A Indians as the summer sporting event of choice.

[shnsajax]

Looks like Agudelo to Stoke is being finished.

[wolf stansson]

Stoke is stoked on the US. Hopefully Mark Hughes knows how to use the guys better than Pulis. It's pretty apparent Geoff Cameron is without a role right now.

[shnsajax]

Clint's home debut happens to be against Portland on August 25, has now sold out. 66,800 tickets sold.

[wolf stansson]

Bedoya signed with Nantes in Ligue 1. Nice move for him.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/john-anthony-brooks-chooses-the-united-states

We got him. Nice.

 

He and Shawn Parker were both called to Germany's u-21 Euro Qualifiers. He turned them down and Parker accepted. I don't think Parker was called up to the Bosnia friendly though.

[shnsajax]

http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/john-anthony-brooks-chooses-the-united-states

We got him. Nice.

 

He and Shawn Parker were both called to Germany's u-21 Euro Qualifiers. He turned them down and Parker accepted. I don't think Parker was called up to the Bosnia friendly though.

 

Still have to hang on to him, but its a step in the right direction.

[wolf stansson]

Dempsey not on Bosnia roster.

[dcvalpo]

So, could someone explain to me professional international soccer in a nutshell? I want to get into it, but I have no clue about which leagues matter, how players are sold, etc.

[shnsajax]

Dempsey not on Bosnia roster.

 

Landon?

[shnsajax]

So, could someone explain to me professional international soccer in a nutshell? I want to get into it, but I have no clue about which leagues matter, how players are sold, etc.

 

Don't worry about how players are sold too early. First find a league and try to find a team based on some interests or a player, or channels you have.

 

If you have Bein, the new NBC sports, and Fox Soccer you are in great shape. The EPL is the easiest to get into just based on TV coverage alone. Spain and Germany as well just harder to watch consistently. Start watching Champions League matches right away as well.

 

If you have any local bars that open early Saturday mornings just for games, then give them a try too.

[Guest]

So, could someone explain to me professional international soccer in a nutshell? I want to get into it, but I have no clue about which leagues matter, how players are sold, etc.

 

Someone like wolf can provide more detail or correct me if I'm wrong, but to boil it down as much as possible..

 

There are professional leagues everywhere in Europe, but the best players tend to congregate in the English Premier League(which is by far the most popular), the German Bundesliga, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A.

 

Those leagues play out over the course of a regular season, and the team at the top of the standings wins the league at the end of the year. There are no playoffs.

 

However, the best team(s) from leagues across Europe qualify for the UEFA Champions League with their performance(so for example, last year's results determine this year's Champions League teams). This is a tournament that plays out simultaneously with the regular seasons and has a similar format to the World Cup(group play to narrow down, bracket play until there is a winner). Winning the Champions League is considered the pinnacle for any European club.

 

With regards to player movement, I'm very far from an expert, but it might be easiest to think of it as a nearly pure capitalistic scenario. Because players move often between different leagues in different countries, players are outright bought and sold from different clubs. Player for player deals are far more rare than in US-based sports. Players also can be loaned to different teams. This sometimes serves as a way to enhance player development, as those players can get more PT in lower leagues. Other times it's more strictly a financial decision.

 

 

If you're wanting to get more into International soccer, my suggestion would be to simply watch the English Premier League and the Champions League. Everything will be in English, it's easily accessible(NBC, ESPN, and NBC Sports will be where most of it is broadcast), and it's generally considered about the highest stakes and highest quality of play you can find at the club level.

[shnsajax]

NBC sports has a nice two hour intro to the EPL that I'm watching now. It's basically an intro into the entire league with all 20 teams.

 

If you have ever been to England that might help guide you to a team or city to support. With Clint gone Tottenham is no longer the easy choice for American's. Sunderland has a chance now w Jozy but their style in the past was not that attractive, however they have an offensive minded manager now. Arsenal have always been popular for playing a beautiful style, but are very frustrating in results. ManU is like cheering for the Yankees but they get results. where ManCity is like cheering for the Mets. Swansea is a nice club to jump on, but without the big name players but great to watch. Everton and Liverpool will give you consistency. Liverpool have a rich and at times ugly history, but one of my favorite players of the last 10 years. Chelsea will give you a shot at everything, but are a little tough to want to cheer for c

[wolf stansson]

So, could someone explain to me professional international soccer in a nutshell? I want to get into it, but I have no clue about which leagues matter, how players are sold, etc.

Nutshelling is going to be hard. Soccer is an entire world unto itself.

 

In my experience, just start watching games at the top level. Internationals and Foreign leagues are a good place to start. If you watch an EPL game, a Champions League game or a top level international game and don't come away wanting to learn/watch more, don't bother. If you do, just keep watching and reading and you'll pick it up really fast. The sport is so great that it speaks for itself when you see it played at a high level. If the EPL is where you're interested in getting your start, don't pick a team or force anything phony like that. Just tune into NBC Sports' coverage on Saturdays and Sundays, listen to Men In Blazers podcast in iTunes on Wednesdays from Grantland Sports and if you have Sirius/XM they have Monday and Friday shows during the season. BBC's 5 Live World Football Phone In is a great podcast with serious experts from all over the world if you want to go deep. If the sport speaks to you, it will reveal itself the more you travel down the rabbit hole.

 

My entry into fandom was the US Men's National Team but whatever grabs you is fine.

[UMFan83]

 

My entry into fandom was the US Men's National Team but whatever grabs you is fine.

 

That's where I am at. I've been following the EPL from afar (mostly via Everton as that's the team I randomly picked 5-6 years ago) and generally know whats going on internationally at a high level (major transfers, champions league, sometimes Europa and of course major international tournaments like WC, Confed, Euro). I want to dive in deeper this year, and it seems like its getting easier than ever in the US, so I'm looking forward to that.

[bukie]

Another bonus is that the MLS is vastly improving as a product, with 12-14 solid franchises, and only a small handful that are still being run poorly. It'd be huge if the MLS could garner a better showing in the CONCACAF Champions League and even win it once.

[dcvalpo]

Thanks everyone...all this info is extremely helpful.

[shnsajax]

Ajax and Alkmaar tomorrow. If you can watch that it should be an entertaining game.

[shnsajax]

JAB scores against Eintracht Frankfurt in a 6-1 rout. Julian Green also scored for Bayern II. I think im more excited for 2018 than 2014.

[shnsajax]

AZ wins 3-2. Aron scores on a penalty again. Nice to see he has that job secured. Assuming he keeps that he might have a shot at breaking Jozy's record this year.