The Soccer Thread

[soccer10k]

I didn't wake up until after 1 today and missed almost all of the Liverpool-Porto game.

 

I'll have to set my alarm for tomorrow's game.

[soccer10k]

Some lame tiebreaking rules in the Women's World Cup. Sweden and South Korea finished tied for second place in Group B with four points but South Korea advances in second place because of a better goal differential (+1 to -1) even though Sweden beat South Korea today 2-1. Lame.

[circlechange]

Liverpool 1-1 FC Porto

Chelsea 1-1 Rosenborg

 

Surprising results, especially Chelsea at home. They had something like 29 shots but couldn't put but a few on goal. They're obviously missing Drogba and Lampard, their two biggest scoring threats by miles.

 

Chelsea's last three games are L, D, D, and they have to go to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on Sunday.

[reggiemiller rules]

Liverpool 1-1 FC Porto

Chelsea 1-1 Rosenborg

 

Surprising results, especially Chelsea at home. They had something like 29 shots but couldn't put but a few on goal. They're obviously missing Drogba and Lampard, their two biggest scoring threats by miles.

 

Chelsea's last three games are L, D, D, and they have to go to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on Sunday.

 

Yeah Liverpool looked bad they were lucky they got out of there with a draw. They really only had one good scoring chance the whole game and they put it away. I am not sure what Pennant was doing the whole game it was like he wanted to get sent off the whole game he was just making dumb tackle after dumb tackle. But all in all Porto is the 2nd best team in their pool so to get a point out of this game on the road when they played so badly isnt that bad.

[soccer10k]

I was just about to come here and say that the Man United-Sporting game has been a bit of a dud because Man U hasn't done much of anything offensively and then they pull out a very good goal from Ronaldo with a stellar buildup.

[sethuel1]

Good start for Roma.

[vj9999]

Looks like Mourinho is done with Chelsea!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7003912.stm

[shnsajax]

Looks like Mourinho is done with Chelsea!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7003912.stm

 

Wow, I don't think any American Sports manager faces the amount of pressure they get over in Europe or even in South America for that matter. I thought he has does a great job.

[sethuel1]

Christ, who are Chelsea gonna poach now?

[Marco4]

I thought Fabio Cappello, but Roman likes good football, not effective football.

[wvcbxl]

<-------- My boys playing in the UEFA cup this evening :D

[MPC]

wow.

 

why not sack him this summer? what has been shown over the past month that hasn't been already know?

[wolf stansson]

what has been shown over the past month that hasn't been already know?

He started slicking his hair back.

[USSoccer]

I'll bet you $20 that Sunil Gulati got a half-stock when he read that.

 

Not that the special one would ever coach the USMNT, but I'd love to hear the conversation where Jose's agent laughs Gulati off the phone.

[brinoch]

I'll bet you $20 that Sunil Gulati got a half-stock when he read that.

 

Not that the special one would ever coach the USMNT, but I'd love to hear the conversation where Jose's agent laughs Gulati off the phone.

 

I'd call him five minutes ago and offer him a ton of money as well complete control of the USMNT. I'd have done the same with Klinsy. But, hey, Gulati is, you know, an awesome Federation head. He rocks. Oh yeah.

 

Speaking of which, how can we get rid of him? I'd like to start a movement to bring in someone who knows something about soccer.

[USSoccer]

I'll bet you $20 that Sunil Gulati got a half-stock when he read that.

 

Not that the special one would ever coach the USMNT, but I'd love to hear the conversation where Jose's agent laughs Gulati off the phone.

 

I'd call him five minutes ago and offer him a ton of money as well complete control of the USMNT. I'd have done the same with Klinsy. But, hey, Gulati is, you know, an awesome Federation head. He rocks. Oh yeah.

 

Speaking of which, how can we get rid of him? I'd like to start a movement to bring in someone who knows something about soccer.

 

I have no idea how USSF works, but if my experiences growing up playing in that system are any indication, I have a feeling that it's a very insulated organization.

 

I'd offer him anything he wants, but I can't imagine he'd coach us. I think Portugal sacks Scolari and he takes that job. Which leaves Big Phil for us.

[Guest]

Sunil Gulati gives Indians in America a very bad name. Jerk.

[MPC]

Chelsea has named Avram Grant as new manager. He's the former coach of the Israeli national team and of course, close friend of Abramovich.

 

Interesting little snippet from The Times

 

Abramovich spent time searching for a replacement as their relationship soured at the end of last season, making a firm offer to Jürgen Klinsmann, but he reluctantly decided to give Mourinho one more season.

[wolf stansson]

 

No way to defend it without giving up a free kick. I do like the dude in the first clip that just kicks him in the chest.

[wvcbxl]

:D :D :D

 

Brann Bergen 0 - 1 Club Brugge

 

Nice away win in Norway.

The Blue Army will be in full voice during the return game at home in two weeks time.

 

http://www.clubbrugge.be/img/nieuws/2312/celta1.jpg

[soccer10k]

wow.

 

why not sack him this summer? what has been shown over the past month that hasn't been already know?

 

I can't believe this. I wouldn't have been surprised if they didn't bring him back for this year but I figured once he returned for this year he would be safe for the whole year.

[Marco4]

:D

 

That was tiring. My first (five-a-side) game for about a month (in goal) and we won 16-0. It was the first clean sheet of the season, which is always nice, even though the opposition weren't wonderful. Had about seven stops to make, and made them all. Got a couple of assists, too.

[wolf stansson]

Everton drew AT HOME to FC Metalist Kharkiv who had two players sent off in the 71' and 80' and Everton also MISSED TWO PK'S thus ruining my FIVE TEAM PARLAY OF UEFA CUP GIMME'S. Tottenham, Villarreal, Bayern and Atletico all held up their end's of the bargain.

 

 

Retards.

[wolf stansson]

He's developing...

U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley scored the first goal and last goal in Heerenveen's 5-3 rout against Henrik Larsson's Helsingborg in UEFA Cup action on Thursday. Bradley, who also scored in Heerenveen's league win last week, netted his second goal in a week in the 20th minute before adding an insurance goal in the 61st minute. Larsson scored twice for Helsingborg

 

Also, a friendly vs South Africa has been scheduled:

 

U.S. to Face 2010 FIFA World Cup Host South Africa on Nov. 17 in Johannesburg in 2007 Edition of Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup

USA to Play Their Third-Ever Match in Africa; 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Draw to Take Place in Durban Eight Days Later

 

CHICAGO (Sept. 20, 2007) — The U.S. Men’s National Team will make their first-ever trip to South Africa when they take on the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts on Nov. 17 in Johannesburg as part of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup. Kick off at Ellis Park Stadium, which will host one World Cup semifinal match in 2010, is set for 4 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET), with the television schedule yet to be determined. Fans can follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

 

The Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup, an annual one-off event typically hosted in South Africa, began in 1994 and has seen South Africa face opponents like Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Nigeria and a host of others.

 

“It is a great honor to be invited to participate in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. “South Africa has always had a talented team, and the match represents an excellent opportunity for our players to travel and play in South Africa.”

 

The United States will make a rare trip to Africa, playing on the continent for just the third time in their long history. Their last visit came eight years to the day before the November match, a 1-2 loss to Morocco on Nov. 17, 1999 in Marrakech. The only other trip to Africa was also against Morocco in 1992, when the U.S. suffered a 3-1 loss in Casablanca. As the 2007 Gold Cup Champions, the U.S. will represent CONCACAF in the 2009 Confederations Cup to be held in South Africa one year prior the World Cup.

 

In the only prior meeting between the two sides, the U.S. beat South Africa, 4-0, on June 3, 2000, in Washington, D.C. Cobi Jones tallied twice that day, with Earnie Stewart and Claudio Reyna rounding out the scoring as Kasey Keller earned the shutout.

 

Under the leadership of Bradley, the United States has posted an impressive 10-5-1 record in 2007. Bradley, who took the reigns in December of 2006, became the first coach in U.S. history to record victories in his first three games with wins against Denmark, Mexico and Ecuador. Leading the charge on the field has been two-time U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year Landon Donovan, who has already amassed nine goals in 12 games played this year. With his strike in the Gold Cup final, the 25-year-old moved into a tie for first place on the USA’s all-time leading goal-scoring chart with 34 goals.

 

Eight days after the Nov. 17 match, South Africa will host the Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The event, held in Durban, will determine the qualifying schedule for 156 countries spanning five confederations. The South American qualifying competition begins Oct. 13 with all ten teams in action.

[circlechange]

Looks like Mourinho is done with Chelsea!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7003912.stm

 

Wow, I don't think any American Sports manager faces the amount of pressure they get over in Europe or even in South America for that matter. I thought he has does a great job.

Maurinho and Abramovich just did not see eye to eye on players. Not winning the Premier League or Champions League last year, along with their recent poor form and drawing at home to Rosenborg... I'm surprised, but not surprised. I could see him taking over the Portugal team, I just hope he doesn't wind up at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson leaves in a few years. He directed boring football at Chelsea. Good and productive, but boring.

 

He was (is) a great interview, though, his post-match quotes were always something to behold.