The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

When was the last time the primarily MLS-based roster was better than the Euro-based roster? 2002?

[USSoccer]

Yeah, that roster beats the [expletive] out of a Euro best XI of ours.

 

I also like how Gil and Yedlin are getting the Michael Bradley 2006 treatment and coming along for these games.

[shnsajax]

Yeah, that roster beats the [expletive] out of a Euro best XI of ours.

 

I also like how Gil and Yedlin are getting the Michael Bradley 2006 treatment and coming along for these game.

 

Happy about this. Hope Green gets more minutes than EJ.

[wolf stansson]

If he and Jurgen are telling the truth about no world cup guarantee, I think we'll see a lot of him. Not a lot of time for an audition otherwise and I guarantee Bayern released him because Jurgen promised it would be worth the trip halfway across the world. I've made that Phoenix-Chicago-Munich trip. It's no joke.

[shnsajax]

What the hell Platini. I guess there is some sort of traction for this if all 54 countries voted for it, but still seems to be missing the point of the purpose of a Friendly. My main concern is this going to take away opportunities for us to schedule freindlies with European countries?

 

The 54 member countries of European football’s governing body unanimously adopted a four-point resolution to create the competition, which is to feed into qualifying playoffs for the 2020 European Championship, and could later be incorporated into qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

 

UEFA president Michel Platini told the congress in Kazakhstan that it is “a very important decision for the future of football at the level of national teams.”

 

UEFA said the main motivation for the change was “sporting integrity” and a desire to improve the quality of international football, amid a general feeling that the current standard of international friendlies is insufficient.

 

The precise format of the new competition is yet to be finalised, but UEFA outlined its intentions on its official website: “The concept is for the 54 national teams to be divided into four large divisions according to coefficient rankings.

 

“Prior to UEFA Euro 2020, each division will be sub-divided into four pools of three or four teams, so each team plays four to six matches between September and November 2018. The final-four competition, involving the four pool group-winners of group A, will start in 2019, whereas playoffs for the UEFA Euro will then take place in March 2020.

 

“National teams will thus either be competing to become UEFA Nations League champions, or be fighting for promotion and to avoid relegation in their groups, as well as to qualify for Euro playoffs.”

[Guest]

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

 

I've had the same thought about Hazard/Spurs. If Bayern had just taken care of business in the CL final a couple years ago, Spurs make the CL and maybe he signs with them instead of Chelsea. Then maybe they make the CL this year and they can keep Bale for another year or two also. Oh well.

[wvcbxl]

Chelsea (with Hazard) loses 1-0 at Chrystal Palace after a lackluster performance.

[shnsajax]

City are going to end up walking to the title.

[shnsajax]

Of course when I say this Arsenal tie it up and deserved to win. Podolski was unlucky. Liverpool can take the lead now.

[shnsajax]

Assuming Arsenal are done I want Liverpool to win the league. Figure Gerrard deserves it more than any other player in the EPL that has never won't it.

[Guest]

It's hilarious how bad this Spurs team is, particularly defensively. Vertonghen's quit on the team and will probably be gone, Dawson is terrible, Kaboul is often injured and isn't that good when he's in there, Kyle Naughton is completely useless and Danny Rose is only fast. At least against good teams I know the game will likely be over after 30 minutes so I don't have to waste 90 minutes watching this shitshow.

 

Hopefully ManU passes them so they don't get stuck in the Europa League again but I'm sure they'll find a way to finish sixth anyway.

[wvcbxl]

Assuming Arsenal are done I want Liverpool to win the league.

 

They looked good today - they need Man City to drop points though.

[wolf stansson]

Real Salt Lake dismantled Toronto. Poor Mike Bradley on an island surrounded by Beckerman, Gil & Morales was just not fair. That trio, if healthy, is going to play everyone off the park this year. KC might be able to goon it up against them, but as far as pure possession goes, that team is fantastic.

[shnsajax]

Assuming Arsenal are done I want Liverpool to win the league.

 

They looked good today - they need Man City to drop points though.

 

Well they play at Anfield in 2 weeks. A draw is all Liverpool need to get them level potentially. Though Liverpool have a tougher schedule. Hope it goes down to the last day again. It will never top what happened two seasons ago but one can hope.

[USSoccer]

Real Salt Lake dismantled Toronto. Poor Mike Bradley on an island surrounded by Beckerman, Gil & Morales was just not fair. That trio, if healthy, is going to play everyone off the park this year. KC might be able to goon it up against them, but as far as pure possession goes, that team is fantastic.

 

 

RSL is consistently the most enjoyable team to watch; their midfield just clowns people. If Morales can stay healthy they'll end up in the final again.

[USSoccer]

It's hilarious how bad this Spurs team is, particularly defensively. Vertonghen's quit on the team and will probably be gone, Dawson is terrible, Kaboul is often injured and isn't that good when he's in there, Kyle Naughton is completely useless and Danny Rose is only fast. At least against good teams I know the game will likely be over after 30 minutes so I don't have to waste 90 minutes watching this [expletive].

 

Hopefully ManU passes them so they don't get stuck in the Europa League again but I'm sure they'll find a way to finish sixth anyway.

 

 

It was completely predictable and I called it before the season started.

 

You can't sell your top 3 scorers, bring in like 6 new players to integrate and fire your manager and expect to be a contender. Bale masked a LOT of flaws in that team.

 

Levy's probably more of a problem than what you have on the field, though. The guy needs to pick a path/manager and stick to it.

[Exile on Waveland]

Assuming Arsenal are done I want Liverpool to win the league.

 

They looked good today - they need Man City to drop points though.

 

Technically, they don't. If Liverpool win out, they win the league. But, in all likelihood, that won't happen and City dropping points will be required.

[USSoccer]

Assuming Arsenal are done I want Liverpool to win the league.

 

They looked good today - they need Man City to drop points though.

 

Technically, they don't. If Liverpool win out, they win the league. But, in all likelihood, that won't happen and City dropping points will be required.

 

The City/Liverpool game coming up will probably decide the league.

 

I'd love to see Liverpool win. Out of all 3 contenders, they're by far the most fun to watch.

[CubInOK]

 

I'd love to see Liverpool win. Out of all 3 contenders, they're by far the most fun to watch.

Especially on days when their defense doesn't show up.

[shnsajax]

I never thought Sturridge could be what put them over the top.

[Guest]

It's hilarious how bad this Spurs team is, particularly defensively. Vertonghen's quit on the team and will probably be gone, Dawson is terrible, Kaboul is often injured and isn't that good when he's in there, Kyle Naughton is completely useless and Danny Rose is only fast. At least against good teams I know the game will likely be over after 30 minutes so I don't have to waste 90 minutes watching this [expletive].

 

Hopefully ManU passes them so they don't get stuck in the Europa League again but I'm sure they'll find a way to finish sixth anyway.

 

 

It was completely predictable and I called it before the season started.

 

You can't sell your top 3 scorers, bring in like 6 new players to integrate and fire your manager and expect to be a contender. Bale masked a LOT of flaws in that team.

 

Levy's probably more of a problem than what you have on the field, though. The guy needs to pick a path/manager and stick to it.

 

I think it's more Levy. He was the one who dumped Redknapp and hired AVB, and then fired AVB and brought in Sherwood. He oversaw the offseason spending. Eventually some of this has to come back to him.

 

They're basically all in on Louis van Gaal in the offseason at this point. If that doesn't happen, who knows where this is going. It's pretty clear that Sherwood isn't going to cut it. He makes different stupid decisions than AVB did, but they're still stupid decisions. There's talent on this team and it's completely inexplicable that they've got only 1 draw in eight games against the top-4 with a -25 goal differential.

[Exile on Waveland]

 

I'd love to see Liverpool win. Out of all 3 contenders, they're by far the most fun to watch.

Especially on days when their defense doesn't show up.

 

Which is all too often . . .

[wolf stansson]

Klinsmann shuffled Martin Vasquez out of the senior team coaching staff, promoted Tab Ramos to his top assistant and hired Berti Vogts as an adviser and scout.

 

There's always been a lot of talk about Vasquez's high-level tactical naivety at Bayern, with the US and of course his flame out at Chivas USA as manager. Sounds like this could be a sound decision leading up to scouting world cup opponents.

[Guest]

I thought Vasquez was the tactical specialist between him and Klinsmann?

[wolf stansson]

I thought Vasquez was the tactical specialist between him and Klinsmann?

I just know that he sucked at Chivas (everyone does) and Philip Lahm blasted him during the Klinsmann regime at Bayern.