The Soccer Thread

[shnsajax]

So Fifa might now investigate the Besler yellow and CR antics before the US game.

 

Costa Rican Football Federation official Juan Carlos Roman told Al Día that the Ticos could be forced to play their next home World Cup qualifier, against Mexico on Oct. 15, before an empty stadium as punishment.

 

Cool. So we're helping out Mexico now. Okay then.

 

Doubt this would be happening if Mexico hasn't already clinched. A better punishment would be to fine CR the gate and give the money to the US.

[wolf stansson]

So I'm looking for good soccer podcasts. Any suggestions?

The aforementioned men in blazers. I like American Soccer Morning, Best Soccer Show, DuNord Football Podcast and World Football Phone In.

[Guest]

So Fifa might now investigate the Besler yellow and CR antics before the US game.

 

Costa Rican Football Federation official Juan Carlos Roman told Al Día that the Ticos could be forced to play their next home World Cup qualifier, against Mexico on Oct. 15, before an empty stadium as punishment.

 

Cool. So we're helping out Mexico now. Okay then.

 

You're shocked?

[bukie]

So Fifa might now investigate the Besler yellow and CR antics before the US game.

 

Costa Rican Football Federation official Juan Carlos Roman told Al Día that the Ticos could be forced to play their next home World Cup qualifier, against Mexico on Oct. 15, before an empty stadium as punishment.

 

Cool. So we're helping out Mexico now. Okay then.

 

You're shocked?

Mexico is the real victim here.

[Guest]

Jozy screwed out of a goal today.

[shnsajax]

Jozy screwed out of a goal today.

 

Horrible call that was, surprised Dicanio didn't kill someone. Ozil is a great fit at Arsenal, Giroud actually has been playing great too. Suddenly they look very dangerous.

[wolf stansson]

Deuce may not be 100% fit, but that doesn't mean he won't do you dirty.

 

 

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/808540209.gif?1379133591

 

[wolf stansson]

Kicker named John Brooks to their best XI for the second time this season. Look forward to see him deal with Jamaica's athleticism and speed next month.

[Proven Veteran]

Jozy screwed out of a goal today.

 

Horrible call that was, surprised Dicanio didn't kill someone. Ozil is a great fit at Arsenal, Giroud actually has been playing great too. Suddenly they look very dangerous.

Yep, they could have scored 6 goals in that game. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get an Ozil jersey.

[shnsajax]

Never gets old. Field level camera's and just the fans chanting.

 

[bukie]

CAF did their third round draw (they are switching things up and finishing with 2-leg playoffs for 5 spots):

 

 

Ivory Coast - Senegal

Ethiopia – Nigeria

Tunisia – Cameroon

Ghana – Egypt

Burkina Faso – Algeria

[Guest]

Man, tough draw for Bob Bradley.

 

Related: GO EGYPT GO

[bukie]

Ivory Coast and Nigeria should qualify easily. The others could be interesting.

[wolf stansson]

Dan Tan has been arrested according to twitter. This is potentially crisis-averting news.

[wolf stansson]

Victor Manuel Vucetich's first order of business after replacing Chepo is apparently trying to poach Luis Gil.

[shnsajax]

Victor Manuel Vucetich's first order of business after replacing Chepo is apparently trying to poach Luis Gil.

 

I don't see that happening. At least it better not. Might as well bring him up in October anyway.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&id=10985

 

Sciaretta's post on Gil. It won't happen, but if it did....oh boy.

It's so out of left field and unlikely that I'm trying to figure out the subterfuge. Gil's agent wanting a call up? Mexico [expletive] with us? Just taking a stab in the dark? Makes no sense.

[USSoccer]

I don't like that one bit. I rate Gil quite highly.

[wolf stansson]

I could see this being a ploy from Gil's agent to get capped to help at a work visa hearing for a move to England. I know they take caps heavily into their consideration.

 

I'd have no problem with him starting in the remaining qualifiers. He's got no place in the starting 11 right now, but he's exactly the kind of wildcard you want on your world cup bench. Throw him on if you're down late and nothing is working to see if he can pull off some magic.

 

I rate Gil quite highly.

When people who know things compare him to a classic 10 play maker like Sneijder but with Michael Bradley's lungs and intensity, it's hard not to rate him above just about anyone in our entire pool.

 

He's got special talent and I think he's shown a lot of wisdom in his choice to play for Kreis and RSL rather than try to make the bench at Arsenal when he was 16. He's the prototype of what MLS can be when it comes to developing elite, American talent.

 

Speaking of Jason Kreis, his and RSL's GM Garth Lagerway's contracts are both up after this year. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I could see him staying, I could see him in New York, I could see him being Jurgen's American Joachim Lowe to take over after the World Cup and Jurgen moves up to technical director or if the Sounders turf out, I could see him getting the keys to the whole thing in Seattle.

I think he's the Clint Dempsey of American coaches. He'll be one of the first American managers to make it in a big way and he'll do it with swagger and a chip on his shoulder. Bob Bradley will get a big job after this Egypt gig but he'll do it in his Bob Bradley quiet intensity way. Jason Kreis will piss people off while he does it.

[Guest]

FWIW, Klinsmann said this week we're starting our best 11 against Jamaica. You could also imply his words to mean the same for Panama, but one of his main justifications were that the fans that come deserve our best 11, which wouldn't be a reason in Panama. There's also pretty much zero chance anyone with a yellow plays at Panama, so that roster could be quite different too.

 

That said, he's already put Johannsson and Brooks in the 18, but they were newly available. You'd think that if they rated Gil like that they would've at least given him a crack at the Gold Cup roster, no? I guess he could've done that to avoid stripping RSL of both central midfielders and their best defender, though.

[wolf stansson]

You'd think that if they rated Gil like that they would've at least given him a crack at the Gold Cup roster, no?

The Gold Cup started like a week after the U-20 World Cup. He was the centerpiece of that U-20 team so it would have been tough to pull him out and call him into the Gold Cup, especially when you wanted to see other CM's like Holden and Diskerud on a bigger stage.

[Guest]

Wow, was that really right before the Gold Cup? In my mind it was way earlier.

[shnsajax]

Do we even call European based players for Oct? Mikey will be allowed to rest, Jozy and Sunderland need lots of help. JAB and Aron are exceptions since both have played so little for the US and need time with the camp.

[wolf stansson]

@aaronfalk: Luis Gil said he has not personally heard from Mexico. When asked if that would interest him: "Not really."

[wolf stansson]

Jozy out with an injury. Sunderland 0, WBA 3. Time for a real coach.