The Soccer Thread

[Mark Priors Calves]

I set up a World Cup pick'em group at yahoo.

 

http://wc.fantasysports.yahoo.com/world-cup

 

Group #8178

Password: USA

[Guest]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/magazine/how-jurgen-klinsmann-plans-to-make-us-soccer-better-and-less-american.html?_r=1&referrer=

[wvcbxl]

http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/average-age-of-football-teams-fifa-world-cup-2014/

[ConstableRabbit]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/magazine/how-jurgen-klinsmann-plans-to-make-us-soccer-better-and-less-american.html?_r=1&referrer=

Outstanding.

[ConstableRabbit]

http://online.wsj.com/articles/with-his-eye-on-the-world-cup-soccer-coach-jurgen-klinsmann-overhauls-team-usa-1401899734?tesla=y

[wolf stansson]

USS and other MLS heads: Who is the better prospect, Diego Fagundez or Luis Gil?

 

I rate Fagundez higher than Gil, and I love Gil.

Yo. What about this [expletive]?

 

Diego Fagundez vs Julian Green?

 

 

Honestly, based on what I've seen, I'd take Fagundez. Call me crazy. I'm probably wrong, I just REALLY need to see more of Julian Green not sitting on a bench and not falling to the ground.

[wolf stansson]

Hmm.

No idea the validity of these sources.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/05/tottenham-set-to-launch-5million-bid-for-bayern-munich-starlet-julian-green-4751624/

Tottenham are ready to make a £5million bid for Bayern Munich winger Julian Green, with Mauricio Pochettino hopeful of making him his first signing.

 

Green, 18, is highly-rated by the Bundesliga champions, but despite being selected for the USA team for the World Cup, he is not close to breaking into the Bayern first-team.

 

Pochettino had the winger watched at youth level during his time at Southampton, and after being installed as Spurs’ new boss, he is ready to launch a £5million bid.

 

Pretty sure it's another one of those UK press dangles American name then gets tons of clicks situations.

[USSoccer]

USS and other MLS heads: Who is the better prospect, Diego Fagundez or Luis Gil?

 

I rate Fagundez higher than Gil, and I love Gil.

Yo. What about this [expletive]?

 

Diego Fagundez vs Julian Green?

 

 

Honestly, based on what I've seen, I'd take Fagundez. Call me crazy. I'm probably wrong, I just REALLY need to see more of Julian Green not sitting on a bench and not falling to the ground.

 

Fagundez has actually played professional games. I take Fagundez 100% of the time

 

Green is an absolute cipher. He could be anything, but the odds are a lot higher than he doesn't come anywhere near his purported upside. I think he'll end up with a career like Specs had, or Jovan Kirovski. Those two were at United in the youth ranks (Jovan was actually in the same group as Scholes and Beckham and those guys), and both guys ended up having decent, if journeyman-like careers. If he were truly special, Bayern would have been using him, even if just in the DFB Pokal.

 

Hmm.

No idea the validity of these sources.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/05/tottenham-set-to-launch-5million-bid-for-bayern-munich-starlet-julian-green-4751624/

Tottenham are ready to make a £5million bid for Bayern Munich winger Julian Green, with Mauricio Pochettino hopeful of making him his first signing.

 

Green, 18, is highly-rated by the Bundesliga champions, but despite being selected for the USA team for the World Cup, he is not close to breaking into the Bayern first-team.

 

Pochettino had the winger watched at youth level during his time at Southampton, and after being installed as Spurs’ new boss, he is ready to launch a £5million bid.

 

Pretty sure it's another one of those UK press dangles American name then gets tons of clicks situations.

 

I don't buy it. Some UK hack probably just connected the Green-JK-Spurs dots.

[wolf stansson]

What? You don't think in between preparing for PL clashes vs the likes of Man City and Liverpool Pochettino was taking in some hot German 4th division action, meticulously scouting for u-20 talent?

[USSoccer]

What? You don't think in between preparing for PL clashes vs the likes of Man City and Liverpool Pochettino was taking in some hot German 4th division action, meticulously scouting for u-20 talent?

 

Pochettino probably doesn't even know who Green is.

 

I'm sure Spurs will do their usual think buying 8 guys in the transfer window, but an 18 year old with 3 professional minutes who falls down a lot won't be one of them.

[kujay]

Not meaning to troll anyone here:

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-i-hate-american-soccer-fans-1402012291

 

I do know several people like this.

[ConstableRabbit]

Not meaning to troll anyone here:

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-i-hate-american-soccer-fans-1402012291

 

I do know several people like this.

Ugh yes. I went to the Gold Cup last year and it was awesome, but I was surrounded by a bunch of people like that.

[Guest]

The terminology stuff is annoying, but that's basically the only bad thing mentioned. He's all over the place in that article to where he contradicts himself multiple times, very much a clickbait/troll piece.

[wolf stansson]

A lot of people pointing out that the article is tongue in cheek. The "be less english, be more english" tone is pretty obviously an intentional troll job.

 

That said, I agree with MANY of the points.

[jersey cubs fan]

The terminology stuff is annoying, but that's basically the only bad thing mentioned. He's all over the place in that article to where he contradicts himself multiple times, very much a clickbait/troll piece.

 

There's no such position as outside back! (It is fullback.) The rest of the world doesn't call them PKs! (It is penalties. Just penalties.)

 

He bitches about them using terms like pitch and kit, but then complains about them using terms like PKs because the rest of the world doesn't. He wants them to treat it like they do other American sports, but then complains about the nickname Deuce.

 

 

Although he was spot on with this stuff:

There's the curious obsession with 'tifo'—those enormous banners that are unfurled in stadiums before kickoff. They work at Lazio, Bayern Munich or Boca Juniors. At Real Salt Lake, not so much.

 

There is absolutely a massive amount of affectation and fakery in a good portion American soccer fans. This guy didn't do a good job writing about it though.

[USSoccer]

Good lord I cannot stand reading anything Klinsmann says. He's an idiot.

[wolf stansson]

Good lord I cannot stand reading anything Klinsmann says. He's an idiot.

When a dumb guy tries to play Phil Jackson, he ends up contradicting his own message and sounding like he's talking out of his ass.

[USSoccer]

Good lord I cannot stand reading anything Klinsmann says. He's an idiot.

When a dumb guy tries to play Phil Jackson, he ends up contradicting his own message and sounding like he's talking out of his ass.

 

Not only that, but he's finding out that the leadup to a World Cup is the one time where his propensity to say stupid crap after sentence #2 is going to get scrutinized. He's coming off like a jackass in every interview; between the NYT one, the WSJ one and the one in the Guardian, he gives the impression that this country was some backwater soccer-playing nation like Canada before he got here. Which isn't the case.

[wolf stansson]

I'm a fan of Jurgen because I'm a fan of his results and his recruiting, but whether it's the language barrier combining with his arrogance or whether he's just not as bright as he presents himself, he definitely should stop talking and people like Andy Herzog should definitely stop dismissively defending him because he's "German." Dismissive arrogance and change for change's sake are not admirable qualities.

[wolf stansson]

Too much handsome for two men.

 

http://38.media.tumblr.com/6e4dd47d8ef48581981882df6fbb87d0/tumblr_n6pyb5XXO41r2xls3o1_1280.jpg

[wolf stansson]

The absolute worst thing about Jurgen Klinsmann is how he says something to pump up players like, "Jermaine Jones played a brilliant first half against Turkey." And then acts like people who disagree aren't sophisticated enough soccer observers to have a valid opinion, when in reality I doubt Jurgen even believes it. Motivational techniques don't have to be condescending to fans or disingenuous.

[wolf stansson]

Michael Bradley rules: http://www.espnfc.us/team/united-states/660/blog/post/1862800

[USSoccer]

Marco Reus hurt his knee in the friendly today against Armenia.

[wolf stansson]

I'd like to see Deuce sit it out tomorrow. See ArJo for 90 and keep him healthy.

 

If we get the opportunity to counter vs Portugal as much as Mexico has, Landon will score at least two. Wait. Nm.

[USSoccer]

I'd like to see Deuce sit it out tomorrow. See ArJo for 90 and keep him healthy.

 

If we get the opportunity to counter vs Portugal as much as Mexico has, Landon will score at least two. Wait. Nm.

 

Quite frankly, I want none of our core guys playing more than one half.