The Soccer Thread

[wvcbxl]

Arsenal down 3-0 after 17 minutes at Chelsea and a man down to boot (and the wrong man was sent off)

They sure don't like saturday lunchtime games...

 

Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain are both black so the ref probably couldn't tell them apart.

 

Looks like his assistant pointed out the wrong guy - the ref admitted the mistake as early as half time.

[shnsajax]

I really can't like anyone on Real. As much as Barca complains on every foul Real claims there is no foul even when sandwiching a player between two defenders.

 

Hopefully Athletico can win it and shut them both up.

[Guest]

I really can't like anyone on Real. As much as Barca complains on every foul Real claims there is no foul even when sandwiching a player between two defenders.

 

Hopefully Athletico can win it and shut them both up.

 

I've always liked Xabi Alonso. Seems like the one nice guy on that team. No cheapshotting or blatantly late tackles with the intent to injure. And Bale also. Obviously I like him. And Ronaldo. But the rest, I generally agree with you. Pepe, Marcelo and Sergio Ramos in particular. Can't stand any of those three.

[Guest]

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/03/Clasico-fght-3.gif

[wvcbxl]

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/03/Clasico-fght-3.gif

 

Messi obviously just wants to play soccer ;-)

[jersey cubs fan]

or basketball

[wolf stansson]

Julian Green's switch is filed. He will be eligible vs Mexico.

[Guest]

http://deadspin.com/report-qatars-world-cup-expected-to-take-more-lives-t-1550257688

[shnsajax]

Julian Green's switch is filed. He will be eligible vs Mexico.

 

Quickest processed file ever. Though I guess it could have been made a little before it was announced. Or the filing fee check was made directly out to Blatter.

[Guest]

GO KLINSMANN GO

 

@JeffreyCarlisle Arsenal spokesperson confirms that Gedion Zelalem has declined call up to German U-17 team. #usmnt

 

Club said Zelalem would remain w/team b/c "of important fixtures in the Club’s U21s fixture schedule & to work on his fitness." #usmnt

[shnsajax]

GO KLINSMANN GO

 

@JeffreyCarlisle Arsenal spokesperson confirms that Gedion Zelalem has declined call up to German U-17 team. #usmnt

 

Club said Zelalem would remain w/team b/c "of important fixtures in the Club’s U21s fixture schedule & to work on his fitness." #usmnt

 

I was coming here to post this. Now if we can get his citizenship approved we could be on to something.

[wolf stansson]

Jurgen is the [expletive] man.

[mul21]

GO KLINSMANN GO

 

@JeffreyCarlisle Arsenal spokesperson confirms that Gedion Zelalem has declined call up to German U-17 team. #usmnt

 

Club said Zelalem would remain w/team b/c "of important fixtures in the Club’s U21s fixture schedule & to work on his fitness." #usmnt

 

Do these guys that are being switched/potentially being switched actually have some US background or are we just poaching guys that have some random tie to the US that makes them eligible? Are they guys that have developed in the US, meaning the players being produced here are getting better, or are these guys internationals who haven't played in the US much/at all?

[CubInOK]

GO KLINSMANN GO

 

@JeffreyCarlisle Arsenal spokesperson confirms that Gedion Zelalem has declined call up to German U-17 team. #usmnt

 

Club said Zelalem would remain w/team b/c "of important fixtures in the Club’s U21s fixture schedule & to work on his fitness." #usmnt

 

Do these guys that are being switched/potentially being switched actually have some US background or are we just poaching guys that have some random tie to the US that makes them eligible? Are they guys that have developed in the US, meaning the players being produced here are getting better, or are these guys internationals who haven't played in the US much/at all?

Julian Green was born in Florida to an American father and German mother... I think.

 

Zelalem lived around DC for like 7 years. He actually learned how to play soccer here in the US.

[shnsajax]

GO KLINSMANN GO

 

@JeffreyCarlisle Arsenal spokesperson confirms that Gedion Zelalem has declined call up to German U-17 team. #usmnt

 

Club said Zelalem would remain w/team b/c "of important fixtures in the Club’s U21s fixture schedule & to work on his fitness." #usmnt

 

Do these guys that are being switched/potentially being switched actually have some US background or are we just poaching guys that have some random tie to the US that makes them eligible? Are they guys that have developed in the US, meaning the players being produced here are getting better, or are these guys internationals who haven't played in the US much/at all?

Julian Green was born in Florida to an American father and German mother... I think.

 

Zelalem lived around DC for like 7 years. He actually learned how to play soccer here in the US.

 

I thought it was more than 7 years. He played club in DC and varsity soccer his freshman year in HS then signed with Arsenal.

[Guest]

Yeah, both Green and Zelalem are pretty well in line with the spirit of the rule as well as the letter of the rule. For one that's a little more "sketchy" in that sense, you'd have to point to Johannsson, who was born to Icelandic parents in the US then moved back to Iceland at age 3.

[USSoccer]

Yeah, AJ is an American only by virtue of the fact his family happened to be in Alabama when he was born. When his father's contract ended, they went back to Iceland. He then spent 1 year of high school in FL later, graduating there, before going back to Iceland. So at least he spent some time here culturally.

 

Green was born in Tampa, but similarly hasn't spent a lot of time in the states. He has a parent that's an American citizen, though, so culturally he's got that going for him.

 

Chandler and Johnson both have similar stories, except that they were born in Germany and they have American fathers. Neither has spent any real time stateside.

 

Jones actually has a house here, if I recall correctly.

 

One final example of how the current rule could be applied in a sketchy way would be Brede Hangeland, who happened to be born in Houston to Norwegian citizens working for an oil company and left the country right after he turned 1, and never spent any time living here other than that. He could have, however, chosen to play for the US as he's technically a citizen by birth. One way the current rule hurts potential players would be the case of Diego Fagundez, who came here when he was 3, and has spent his entire life after that living in New England, but because his parents never became permanent citizens, his citizenship process would take 4 years or so. Ditto Nagbe. Both of those guy are more "American" than Johannsson culturally, and less American technically since both Fagundez's parents are Uruguayan. Yet neither guy is eligible at this point to play for the US despite being fully developed here, and having lived here for 15+ years.

 

None of these guys can reasonably be credited to the US development system; they're all products of European youth/cliub development.

 

Preston Zimmerman's idiot xenophobia aside, there's a very good debate somewhere in there as to whether or not the rule as-is should be altered.

[wolf stansson]

It gets into sketchy personal territory. Who can dictate what someone feels is their identity? If it's blood, technically I'm more "German" than any of the half-German players on the team and none of my relatives have been born in Germany since the early 1900's. I would never claim to be German though. There's going to be a cynical, business decision behind some switches like Johannsson. There are some practical switches for players who wouldn't make their home national team like Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams. That said, if they're eligible, who am I to say they don't feel as American as me? They probably don't, but how much does that matter and how can you measure that? I think the system works fine as-is and ultimately we need to develop our own players as well as Germany does if we want to become a world power. Until then, we poach who we can.

 

It's weird when you see someone wearing the us jersey and then hear their heavy accent in an interview, but I can get over weird if they play all out like Jermaine Jones does.

[USSoccer]

It gets into sketchy personal territory. Who can dictate what someone feels is their identity? If it's blood, technically I'm more "German" than any of the half-German players on the team and none of my relatives have been born in Germany since the early 1900's. I would never claim to be German though. There's going to be a cynical, business decision behind some switches like Johannsson. There are some practical switches for players who wouldn't make their home national team like Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams. That said, if they're eligible, who am I to say they don't feel as American as me? They probably don't, but how much does that matter and how can you measure that? I think the system works fine as-is and ultimately we need to develop our own players as well as Germany does if we want to become a world power. Until then, we poach who we can.

 

It's weird when you see someone wearing the us jersey and then hear their heavy accent in an interview, but I can get over weird if they play all out like Jermaine Jones does.

 

No, I agree; it's an non-quantifiable thing. How does anyone know how "American" any of these guys feel? Guys like Johannsson and Chandler seem to have made business decisions (at least Johannsson shows up), but guys like FJ and Jones sure seem all-in.

 

I dunno. It's very weird to think that potentially over half our XI at the start of next cycle could be guys that never really lived here stateside. That would be pretty different.

 

ETA: Perhaps its less FIFA's rule that needs altering, and the citizenship rules for the US that need changing/updating. Not to restrict guys like AJ and FJ and Jones, but to allow for the Fagundez's and Nagbe's to play for us.

[shnsajax]

I'm glad Fifa has made this fairly straight forward. I don't want them making judgement calls on one time switches.

 

Also Dzeko scores in the first minute. I wonder how Moyes money situation changes if they miss all of Europe next season. It might not change at all. But want to see what happens.

[wolf stansson]

It would probably change for the positive. Sponsors would pressure the Glazers to spend heavily. Especially Chevy. They paid too much when they were elite. Let alone during a Liverpool-like spell of mediocrity.

[shnsajax]

I hate Arsenal. Better win the Cup.

[USSoccer]

I hate Arsenal. Better win the Cup.

 

Every year they start bright and then the same guys get hurt and then they fade and it culminates with some sort of spectacular own goal and an elimination in the R16 of CL.

 

I'm certain there's got to be someone there that sees this and says "hmm, gee, maybe we should improve the squad depth and not count on Walcott and Wilshire to stay healthy like they've never been able to do".

 

Also...how the hell is Manchester United trotting out a CM combo of Cleverley and Fellaini? The latter is just not any good. I feel sorry for Cleverley for getting thrown in at a level clearly a couple steps above him.

[shnsajax]

I'm curious to what the point differential is with Hazard between Arsenal and Chelsea since Wenger lost out on that one too.

 

I'm tired of having a bunch a quick 5'7" 150 lb midfielders expected to last in the EPL. Maybe in Spain it would work but not England. I still contend Bradley would have been a great option and the type of personnel they need running the middle. And a cheap young signing that our accountants (Wenger) love.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/usmnt-friendlies/2014/3/26/5550246/usa-vs-mexico-2014-friendly-roster-team

 

The U.S. and Mexico square off on April 2 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Kickoff is set for 11 p.m. ET and it will be televised live on ESPN.

 

Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

 

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

 

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

 

Forwards: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)