The Soccer Thread

[Exile on Waveland]

I don't like Ronaldo (big surprise there), but you never forget he's in a game.

 

Aside from his considerable talent, that's what I think seperates Ronaldo from Messi, Kaka and the other great players. Ronaldo imposes his will on nearly every game he's in. He's so aggressive, and so confident that he's willing to take his game to an opponent.

 

In the game where Man U dismantled Roma, he was the best player on the field by a wide, wide margin. His runs, and Roma's fear of his runs, let directly to about 5 goals.

 

This is what I was trying to get at, you did so more successfully. I believe Messi is getting there, and will eventually. However, I just don't see the same with Kaka -- this is opinion, of course.

[soccer10k]

I haven't watched enough of Messi's games to give an opinion on his skill level. But I've seen Ronaldo enough and, because of he can dribble through defenders (and because he likes to) he's a threat to either score or set up a goal any time he gets the ball in the attacking half of the field. The guy seems to do something amazing every game I watch. Ronaldo and Messi are going to be top 5 in the world for a number of years.

 

That being said, that Messi goal against Mexico was SICK.

[Jon]

The US U-20 will face Austria on Saturday at 1:15 pm central. The quarterfinal matchup will be on ESPNU and Galavision.

[Guest]

Argentina up 3-0 now, Mexico is getting outclassed(a difficult thing to do, I know).

 

Mexico never had class to begin with

 

Stone the crows, that was some goal from Messi. You can use all the superlatives in your world to describe that one.

 

Thanks for the link, that was a great glove.

[soccer10k]

Argentina go up on Mexico following horrible defense and goalkeeping that would be unacceptable in highschool.

 

Finally saw the highlights of this and I have no idea what Sanchez was doing. If you're a goalie and you come out after a ball like that, you have to get the ball. There's no excuses, you have to.

 

Along with the Messi goal, two boneheaded plays led to the first two Argentina goals though both finishes were stellar. Even the PK Argentina earned was a stupid, unnecessary foul that likely came out of frustration.

[sethuel1]

Even the PK Argentina earned was a stupid, unnecessary foul that likely came out of frustration.

 

From Marquez? he doesn't do that sort of thing

 

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/i/020627/m_marquez_rafa_vt.jpg

[brinoch]

Even the PK Argentina earned was a stupid, unnecessary foul that likely came out of frustration.

 

From Marquez? he doesn't do that sort of thing

 

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/i/020627/m_marquez_rafa_vt.jpg

 

Cheap shot Rafa? Never.

[soccer10k]

Even the PK Argentina earned was a stupid, unnecessary foul that likely came out of frustration.

 

From Marquez? he doesn't do that sort of thing

 

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/i/020627/m_marquez_rafa_vt.jpg

 

That was Marquez? Well that figures. I couldn't see who it was on the highlights.

[Jon]

Fire vs. Dynamo (who are coming off a US Open Cup loss to Charleston Battery) on ESPN2 tonight.

 

How long has Tommy Smyth done Thursday night MLS games?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Do the Fire have anyone on their team taller than 5-8?

[MPC]

How long has Tommy Smyth done Thursday night MLS games?

 

I don't know, but I do know he did last week's game.

[Balsa]

So question to you guys.

 

If I had to get one soccer channel, which would be better (counting only content)? GOL TV or Fox Soccer Channel?

 

That Fire game was awful.

[Jon]

Well, they're a pretty bad team.

 

I don't have either channel, but if you have Galavision, I'm pretty sure any US game that is on FSC will also be carried on at least Galavision (at least the upcoming national team games are) or another Spanish station.

[shnsajax]

So question to you guys.

 

If I had to get one soccer channel, which would be better (counting only content)? GOL TV or Fox Soccer Channel?

 

That Fire game was awful.

 

I have not seen much of GOL TV, but I have liked what I have seen including a lot of older games. Fox Soccer Channel shows about 20 different games over the course of two weeks. There is a lot of repetitiveness with Fox, but they have the EPL so that pushes me over the top with them.

[MPC]

So question to you guys.

 

If I had to get one soccer channel, which would be better (counting only content)? GOL TV or Fox Soccer Channel?

 

I have both channels and watch both regularly. From what I remember, you're more a fan of the English game, so I would definitely recommend FSC. Its EPL heavy with the majority of the their saturday/sunday games being from England, they carry FA games, have a Sky Sports News which is a great example of how sports show be covered (ahem...espn.)

 

GOLTV has La Liga, Bundelisa, and South/Central American football. They had Serie A from Italy but FSC is covering it exclusively starting in August.

 

For me if I had to choose, it would definitely be FSC, because I'm a huge Chelsea fan and enjoy coverage of the English game. All depends on your taste in football.

[shnsajax]

So question to you guys.

 

If I had to get one soccer channel, which would be better (counting only content)? GOL TV or Fox Soccer Channel?

 

I have both channels and watch both regularly. From what I remember, you're more a fan of the English game, so I would definitely recommend FSC. Its EPL heavy with the majority of the their saturday/sunday games being from England, they carry FA games, have a Sky Sports News which is a great example of how sports show be covered (ahem...espn.)

 

GOLTV has La Liga, Bundelisa, and South/Central American football. They had Serie A from Italy but FSC is covering it exclusively starting in August.

 

For me if I had to choose, it would definitely be FSC, because I'm a huge Chelsea fan and enjoy coverage of the English game. All depends on your taste in football.

 

I remember a couple of years ago seeing the previews for one of the sky sports digital channel's that would allow you to choose what camara angle you got watch the game in. View highlights while the game was going on. Check Stats. Watch camara's that were dedicated just to certain players, ect.

 

It was an amazing thought at the time. Does anyone know if this is still around, or how its going. Of course being the US won't help to answer these questions.

[Brendan]

So question to you guys. If I had to get one soccer channel, which would be better (counting only content)? GOL TV or Fox Soccer Channel?

 

actually, you should get setanta.

 

but if not, definitely fsc.

[Balsa]

Well I couldn't decide, so I just got both. :D

 

Thanks for the help though guys. I was planning on only suggesting FSC, but it ended up being not that bad to just add both, so I did.

[pitchcs]

If someone could help me it would be great. I was talking about this at work with someone yesterday.

 

Who are considered the 5 best soccer players in the world? I know hardly anything about soccer.

[USSoccer]

If someone could help me it would be great. I was talking about this at work with someone yesterday.

 

Who are considered the 5 best soccer players in the world? I know hardly anything about soccer.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Kaka (AC Milan) are 1-2. There's a big gap after them. After that, you could order 3-5 like this:

 

Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

Ronaldinho (Barcelona)

Leo Messi (Barcelona)

 

All three on the same team.

 

 

There are big gaps in talent between a player like Ronaldinho and a player like Steven Gerrard, who might be top 10, but nowhere near the top 5. You've got great goal scorers like Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, who probably aren't in the top 10. Ditto Robinho. You have defenders like Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeepers like Gianluigi Buffon, who are great at their position but couldn't be considered top 20.

 

If you're only talking about field players, there isn't an American in the top 100, and I'd strain to put one in the top 200. Tim Howard is probably a top 50 keeper.

[USSoccer]

Of course, I'm also forgetting Ariaga, Ariaga II, Bariaga, Aruglia, and Pizzoza.

[Jon]

I especially enjoyed the pass back to center.

[pitchcs]

If someone could help me it would be great. I was talking about this at work with someone yesterday.

 

Who are considered the 5 best soccer players in the world? I know hardly anything about soccer.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Kaka (AC Milan) are 1-2. There's a big gap after them. After that, you could order 3-5 like this:

 

Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

Ronaldinho (Barcelona)

Leo Messi (Barcelona)

 

All three on the same team.

 

 

There are big gaps in talent between a player like Ronaldinho and a player like Steven Gerrard, who might be top 10, but nowhere near the top 5. You've got great goal scorers like Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, who probably aren't in the top 10. Ditto Robinho. You have defenders like Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeepers like Gianluigi Buffon, who are great at their position but couldn't be considered top 20.

 

If you're only talking about field players, there isn't an American in the top 100, and I'd strain to put one in the top 200. Tim Howard is probably a top 50 keeper.

 

 

Wow, I had e-mailed a friend in London asking the same question. He gave me the exact 5 that you did, in no particular order.

[USSoccer]

If someone could help me it would be great. I was talking about this at work with someone yesterday.

 

Who are considered the 5 best soccer players in the world? I know hardly anything about soccer.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Kaka (AC Milan) are 1-2. There's a big gap after them. After that, you could order 3-5 like this:

 

Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

Ronaldinho (Barcelona)

Leo Messi (Barcelona)

 

All three on the same team.

 

 

There are big gaps in talent between a player like Ronaldinho and a player like Steven Gerrard, who might be top 10, but nowhere near the top 5. You've got great goal scorers like Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, who probably aren't in the top 10. Ditto Robinho. You have defenders like Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeepers like Gianluigi Buffon, who are great at their position but couldn't be considered top 20.

 

If you're only talking about field players, there isn't an American in the top 100, and I'd strain to put one in the top 200. Tim Howard is probably a top 50 keeper.

 

 

Wow, I had e-mailed a friend in London asking the same question. He gave me the exact 5 that you did, in no particular order.

 

Yeah, really those 5 are pretty much head and shoulders above anyone else.

[MPC]

david beckham's introductory press conference is going on right now. espn2 has it live.