soccer soccer soccer

[wolf stansson]

Wes heals like wolverine. Can’t believe anyone thought that he wouldn’t be back for nations league.

[wvcbxl]

For those following German soccer: only one team from the top flight made it to the semi-finals of the cup: Leverkusen (the league leaders). They are joined by two second division teams and one from the third division.

[stitchface]

18 hours ago, wvcbxl said:

For those following German soccer: only one team from the top flight made it to the semi-finals of the cup: Leverkusen (the league leaders). They are joined by two second division teams and one from the third division.

Leverkusen are having quite a season . . . unfortunate they, like Liverpool, are not in the champions league though it could make for a very good europa league matchup

 

[soccer10k]

18 minutes ago, stitchface said:

Leverkusen are having quite a season . . . unfortunate they, like Liverpool, are not in the champions league though it could make for a very good europa league matchup

 

Yep. Especially in Leverkusen’s case since I’m sure they’ll lose some players this summer and maybe the manager too so the team that competes in the UCL next year will likely be a diminished version.

[CubinNY]

I'm trying to get into soccer. What I cannot figure out is if the season ever ends or if it just goes on forever in a different form. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

9 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I'm trying to get into soccer. What I cannot figure out is if the season ever ends or if it just goes on forever in a different form. 

What is fun or "fun" depending on your perspective is that especially if you take any interest in MLS, it really doesn't.  European club soccer generally follows the school year, with breaks to allow for small doses of international play.  International tournaments (mostly) happen in the summer as a result.  In the US, partially due to weather and partially due to the sports landscape and where soccer sits in it, MLS plays roughly overlapping with when baseball games are happening(season starts in Feb/March and runs to Oct/Nov).  So there are like 2 weekends a year there's not some level of high level soccer you can follow.

 

If you want advice, I've found the easiest way is to have a rooting interest you can follow on a weekly basis.  Whether it's picking an Premier League team, or the MLS team that's closest to you(Nashville or Atlanta), I only really was interested in the national team(which plays a handful of times a year) until I forced myself to follow a club team and pull for them through their season.  Helpfully, all the MLS games are free this weekend through Apple TV(normally 1 or 2 are free while the rest require the MLB.tv-esque subscription), so it's maybe worth checking one out that looks interesting.

[CubinNY]

1 minute ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

What is fun or "fun" depending on your perspective is that especially if you take any interest in MLS, it really doesn't.  European club soccer generally follows the school year, with breaks to allow for small doses of international play.  International tournaments (mostly) happen in the summer as a result.  In the US, partially due to weather and partially due to the sports landscape and where soccer sits in it, MLS plays roughly overlapping with when baseball games are happening(season starts in Feb/March and runs to Oct/Nov).  So there are like 2 weekends a year there's not some level of high level soccer you can follow.

 

If you want advice, I've found the easiest way is to have a rooting interest you can follow on a weekly basis.  Whether it's picking an Premier League team, or the MLS team that's closest to you(Nashville or Atlanta), I only really was interested in the national team(which plays a handful of times a year) until I forced myself to follow a club team and pull for them through their season.  Helpfully, all the MLS games are free this weekend through Apple TV(normally 1 or 2 are free while the rest require the MLB.tv-esque subscription), so it's maybe worth checking one out that looks interesting.

thanks. I've been watching the European games on NBC on Saturday mornings lately. 

[squally1313]

A perspective as someone perpetually in the process of trying to be a bigger soccer fan: I know there are some MLS markets with a pretty devoted following, but living in Chicago the Fire seems like a pretty big afterthought. I think the gap in ambience between a Premier League game and something like a Fire game is pretty large and would take away a lot of the appeal (or it least it does to me). Would suggest starting PL and if it really takes hold, then use the MLS to fill in schedule gaps (both in terms of season schedule and just the timing of games on American TV) and to open up the opportunity to see games in person. 

From there, feel like most adults who are also born and raised Cubs fans probably have an aversion to just jumping on a frontrunner right away. The nice thing about the PL is the race at the bottom is, a lot of times, just as fun as the race at the top. Worst case would be picking a team projected to finish like...12th. Find a team near the bottom, preferably with an American or two (Leeds was my choice a couple years ago, which didn't go so well), and go from there. But also, definitely make time for the big Liverpool/Man City/Arsenal games....it's a different level of pretty much everything. 

[mul21]

As much as I hate it, the new MLS franchise in STL has really done an absolutely bang up job in every aspect of starting the franchise and I've become a fan.  The game experience is first class, especially in the supporter's section where the cheapest tickets happen to be ($25 each for season ticket holders, which is the only way to get them other than secondary).  As backwards as everything else here is, the fact that the franchise was awarded to the Enterprise Car rental family very much shows up in how well run everything is from ticket purchases, to communications, to the hospitality staff at the stadium.  It didn't hurt them they had a fantastic inaugural season either.  The experience has definitely made me a fan of an STL sports team and I never thought that would happen.  Kind of feeds into the Fire being an afterthought in Chicago for sure.  

[soccer10k]

19 hours ago, soccer10k said:

Yep. Especially in Leverkusen’s case since I’m sure they’ll lose some players this summer and maybe the manager too so the team that competes in the UCL next year will likely be a diminished version.

And of course they’re down 2-0 at home to Qarabag, giving up the second goal after Qarabag had a player sent off. First leg ended 2-2.

[soccer10k]

3-2 Leverkusen (5-4 aggregate) with two stoppage time goals to win it and advance.

[stitchface]

15 minutes ago, soccer10k said:

3-2 Leverkusen (5-4 aggregate) with two stoppage time goals to win it and advance.

craziness!

[stitchface]

3 hours ago, CubinNY said:

thanks. I've been watching the European games on NBC on Saturday mornings lately. 

this is how I got into the games - they are on at convenient times when I'm having my coffee. Plus just about everything is on demand (except the PL because Peacock?) I love the German games as they are a little more high scoring than the premier league. as an example of the relegation battle, I started cheering for Stuttgart because I have a friend from there - they need the last minute of the last game to avoid relegation two years in a row - this year, they are in the top four!

[Derwood]

I was hoping to catch a couple of Crew games this year, but winning the MLS Cup last year turned into sell outs for every home game

[soccer10k]

4 best teams left in the UCL all got grouped in the same half. 
 

Atletico-Dortmund winner gets PSG-Barcelona. Arsenal-Bayern winner gets Man City-Real.

[stitchface]

1 hour ago, soccer10k said:

4 best teams left in the UCL all got grouped in the same half. 
 

Atletico-Dortmund winner gets PSG-Barcelona. Arsenal-Bayern winner gets Man City-Real.

Hard to see Bayern as one of top four teams.  Honestly, looking at those teams, there is City and then everyone else - only real question is do they have the desire and legs to keep going. Real is probably the biggest threat - watching Vini run at Walker should be entertaining!

[wolf stansson]

Wake up babe new Freddy Adu just dropped.

[stitchface]

3 minutes ago, stitchface said:

Hard to see Bayern as one of top four teams.  Honestly, looking at those teams, there is City and then everyone else - only real question is do they have the desire and legs to keep going. Real is probably the biggest threat - watching Vini run at Walker should be entertaining!

Predictions:

Athletico (because Dortmund is truly terrible)

Barcelona (because PSG will find a way to lose)

Arsenal 

City

 

La Liga versus Premier League. Gotta think the two PL teams are both stronger at this point

[stitchface]

Just now, wolf stansson said:

Wake up babe new Fredy Adu just dropped.

damn 14? what do you think is best path in Europe for an American? I'm feeling like Dortmund isn't it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I would still vote for Germany over England for any prospect that young(or really in general), and honestly Dortmund is still a good option among those.  Good developmental track record, lots of games to be able to break in, proven they'll sell on, and no worries about being stuck playing negative soccer or battling relegation.

[wolf stansson]

I’m a big “anywhere but England” guy.

 

Dortmund produced CP, Gio, Lennard Maloney, and a few other Americans. If I get to pick, I’d probably shoot for PSV or Ajax, but Dortmund develops elite talent, gives them opportunity, and generally won’t get in the way if they want to leave. They’re a great option for him. 

[soccer10k]

1 hour ago, stitchface said:

Hard to see Bayern as one of top four teams.  Honestly, looking at those teams, there is City and then everyone else - only real question is do they have the desire and legs to keep going. Real is probably the biggest threat - watching Vini run at Walker should be entertaining!

Which of those other four would you put above Bayern? Barcelona maybe, though they don’t seem to be quite as good as in years past. Definitely not Dortmund and probably not Atletico. And I never trust PSG either once it comes to the knockout stages.

[wolf stansson]

Check it out boys there’s another one

If your name is Cole Campbell, there’s no question you’re American. That’s just an America ass name.

[stitchface]

2 hours ago, wolf stansson said:

I’m a big “anywhere but England” guy.

 

Dortmund produced CP, Gio, Lennard Maloney, and a few other Americans. If I get to pick, I’d probably shoot for PSV or Ajax, but Dortmund develops elite talent, gives them opportunity, and generally won’t get in the way if they want to leave. They’re a great option for him. 

I guess that depends how you view how Pulisic and Gio developed. I think they are better at hyping players than developing them quite honestly. Could also be a difference between the academies and youth teams and the senior team. Agree on not going to England.

[stitchface]

1 hour ago, soccer10k said:

Which of those other four would you put above Bayern? Barcelona maybe, though they don’t seem to be quite as good as in years past. Definitely not Dortmund and probably not Atletico. And I never trust PSG either once it comes to the knockout stages.

I think bayern, athletico, psg are all one tier. above them arsenal and real madrid and top tier city. dortmund is a step below.. Barca may be closer to dortmund with all their injuries