The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

I hope Spurs finish 17th this year.

 

Why?

[shnsajax]

Bale to Madrid done. Ozil to Arsenal in the works. Kaka to Milan done.

 

If Giroud has found himself in the EPL I will be happy with Ozil. Still need a boss in midfield though behind Cazorla. Bradley comes to mind, might be American homerism but I think he would be a great fit in that role and fits Wenger's style of play.

[USSoccer]

Bale to Madrid done. Ozil to Arsenal in the works. Kaka to Milan done.

 

Ozil would be a great get for Arsenal. Still wish Bradley would find his way there, since Wilshire makes Mark Prior look durable.

 

I hope Spurs finish 17th this year.

 

Why?

 

Their fanbase is full of insufferable jerkasses; I'm still pretty bitter about how they treated our boy last season.

[shnsajax]

Sounds like Ozil to Arsenal is done. Wenger is also looking at Angel Di Maria, and Karim Benzema, Demba Ba and Palermo goalkeeper Emilliano Viviano.

 

Wenger must really be feeling some heat.

[wolf stansson]

Mata to PSG & Ozil to Arsenal...did not see those coming.

[CubInOK]

I really wish those San Iker to Arsenal rumors earlier in the window materialized into something.

[wolf stansson]

For Real Madrid's purposes, Ozil was a better player than Bale. Modric should fill in well as the creator in the middle, but I'm just mystified by the entire Bale saga. Sacrificing Ozil to help finance it is just one more angle I don't get.

[USSoccer]

The Bale thing is more about Real Madrid flexing their nuts and the internal politics/elections than any sound footballing reasons. Otherwise he wouldn't be there; Bale isn't so good as to justify the amount they've paid, them having to unload Ozil, and potentially piss off Soccer Jesus because now he's had to move centrally to accommodate a guy who not only broke his transfer record, but is about 3/4 as good.

 

From my neutral perspective, though, I like it. Ozil at Arsenal should be fun. The fact that Real Madrid offered him to Man U and got declined is...interesting. And a really bad decision; that United midfield kind of sucks.

 

No idea why Jose decided he didn't need Mata at Chelsea. That one is just weird.

[wolf stansson]

I guess I shroud say I know why they do it, I just don't understand why the pissing match they choose to fight in is the one off the field, not on. In the end, the political capital lost by being perceived as not as powerful economically pales in comparison to winning trophies.

[wolf stansson]

Fellani to United being reported in the Belgian press.

[wvcbxl]

Fellani to United being reported in the Belgian press.

 

Confirmed as a last minute deadline move. Risky move for him, imho.

Lukaku from Chelsea to Everton on loan - this one I like a lot more.

[wolf stansson]

Juan Agudelo, possession and winning. The Revs formula this year.

http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/09/04/central-winger-gauging-juan-agudelo-factor-new-england-revolutions-success

Great read on the statistical impact of Agudelo's brilliant hold up play and shot accuracy.

[Guest]

http://deadspin.com/costa-rica-is-trolling-the-[expletive]-out-of-the-usmnt-1252737050

[Guest]

Highly unlikely but:

 

US win + Mexico-Honduras draw + Jamaica win/draw vs. Panama = we officially qualify.

[wolf stansson]

Just a reminder that Mike Bradley got a yellow card 1 year & 3 months ago so if he gets another tomorrow, he'll miss Mexico.

Same for Fab, JJ, Deuce & Zusi. Also don't forget the ref is a yellow card artist from Mexico.

 

Just want to make sure we're all ready to freak out about that narrative in advance.

[Guest]

Massive game for Ireland tomorrow at home against Sweden. Lose or draw and they're pretty much out unless they manage to go to Germany and win.

 

They're tied with Austria (+10) and Sweden (+4) with 11 points but trail on goal differential - Ireland is +2. They all play Germany (Ireland and Austria on the road, Sweden at home) and they all have what should be an easy game (Ireland and Sweden play Kazakhstan while Austria plays the Faroe Islands). Then they have a round robin against each other - Sweden at Ireland, Ireland at Austria and Austria at Sweden. Sweden also has the advantage of likely playing a second-string Germany on the last qualifying date as Germany will likely have locked up the group by then.

 

So this is likely going to come down to who can get points on the road. If they hadn't blown two points in March by giving up a 93rd minute goal to Austria at home, they'd be in much better shape.

[Guest]

@GrantWahl USA: Howard; Orozco, González, Besler; Beasley; Bradley, Jones; Zusi, Donovan, F. Johnson; Dempsey.

 

In more hilarious news:

 

@GrantWahl Interesting: Chepo de la Torre leaves Chicharito, Guardado, Aquino & Maza Rodríguez on the bench (via @AndresCantorGOL)

[USSoccer]

What the hell is wrong with Chepo?

[shnsajax]

What the hell is wrong with Chepo?

 

If he doesn't get 3 after they he shouldn't even make it to Columbus.

 

Looks like the pitch is going to be fairly wet. Might be a reason Jozy is not starting.

Edited September 7, 2013 by shnsajax

[Guest]

This probably makes me a bad person, but I will trade a decisive loss tonight if it would ensure that Honduras and Panama win. I might even trade it for a Honduras 2nd half lead.

[Proven Veteran]

Too bad that the game is on Bein Sport. Would love to watch it...

[USSoccer]

[expletive]. People tweeting Bradley just limped off the field...

[Guest]

And Mexico scored.

 

THIS WASN'T THE DEAL I AGREED TO

[shnsajax]

[expletive]. Bradley hurt.

[wolf stansson]

Blessing in disguise with card trouble?

 

No. [expletive]. This BLOWS.