The Soccer Thread

[calgaryballer]

Wolves got Kevin Doyle for 6.5 million pounds. He's one of my favorite players, so I wish him nothing but the best of luck. He's proven he can score in the Prem, so a strike force of him and Ebanks-Blake will be half way decent. Michael Kightly also has Prem talent in him

[wr50l]

Steven Fletcher will likely be joining Burnley for an original £2.8m which could rise to £3.5m

Let's hope he does not become yet another talented young Scottish player who gets stuck in the Championship.

[Senser81]

I come away from the tourney not really knowing much more about US football.

I disagree. For the past few years, it seems like the US has tinkered with every part of their lineup. I think they finally saw who needs to be on the field (it was only a couple years ago when Dempsey was stuck on the bench watching frickin DeMarcus Beasley play). I actually liked their back four. Spector is actually a good player, IMO, and Onyewu has really improved since the last time I saw him play. I like it when they play DeMerit, because he is a tough player. Bocanegra is probably the softest of the backline, but he's pretty skilled for a defender.

I pray that they stick with Howard in goal. The DMF combo of Bradley and Clark seemed to work, and Bradley had some good moments.

Dempsey is probably their best player. I hate Donovan, but I thought he actually displayed leadership by going after every ball and making good passes. Altidore and Davies were their best upfront option. Davies distinguished himself IMO, and Altidore is a 'must-play' guy.

[calgaryballer]

Benzema moving to Real too. At this rate, there is going to be no one left for United to sign

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/01/karim-benzema-lyon-real-madrid

Real has to start selling some of their players to make room. They have like 9 world class forwards now

[calgaryballer]

And Canadian great David Edgar has signed with Burnley on 10,000/week

[Bigpapa42]

Fuck me, I really didn't expect Benzema to move this summer. The awesome part is going to be Madrid not winning anything at all this season.

[calgaryballer]

Fuck me, I really didn't expect Benzema to move this summer. The awesome part is going to be Madrid not winning anything at all this season.

Agreed. They picked the wrong manager for this. You need someone like a Mourinho or a Ferguson who has a dominant personality and the record to back it up. A guy from Villareal, no matter how good he is, is going to get walked all over by guys on 200k/week

[Archer]

Will the Real U.S. Men's Soccer Team Please Stand Up?

USA 2, Spain 0.

In one of the most shocking results we've seen in some time, the U.S. men's soccer team found a way to snap Spain's streaks of 15 straight wins and 35 games without a loss.

This is the same team that was recently embarrassed by Costa Rica in World Cup qualifiers, and was run over by Italy and Brazil in the first two games of this Confederations Cup with minimal effort required of those teams.

So, will the real U.S. men's soccer team please stand up?

You can read the rest of this article HERE

Jeez thanks for posting this a week after the game

[Bigpapa42]

Agreed. They picked the wrong manager for this. You need someone like a Mourinho or a Ferguson who has a dominant personality and the record to back it up. A guy from Villareal, no matter how good he is, is going to get walked all over by guys on 200k/week

Yeah, that's going to be a really tough thing to work with, I think. It could get ugly in that locker room. Raul is a good leader on the pitch, but I've never really seen him as a galvanizing force off it.

[calgaryballer]

Portugal has been shit in the WC qualifiers. They might miss out on the tourney. Frankly, I can't see much wrong with those. Maybe swap Denmark/Portugal? But I can't see much else out of place.

[Boss AZ]

Will the Real U.S. Men's Soccer Team Please Stand Up?

USA 2, Spain 0.

In one of the most shocking results we've seen in some time, the U.S. men's soccer team found a way to snap Spain's streaks of 15 straight wins and 35 games without a loss.

This is the same team that was recently embarrassed by Costa Rica in World Cup qualifiers, and was run over by Italy and Brazil in the first two games of this Confederations Cup with minimal effort required of those teams.

So, will the real U.S. men's soccer team please stand up?

You can read the rest of this article HERE

Still going on about US soccer? Who cares? They barely made it out of the group stage. Beat one good team and made a final in an eight team world cup warm up tourney. Let's all get excited.

Portugal 17th? Russia 6th? Greece 11th? FIFA's rankings continue to confuse and amaze. :dontknow:

FIFA rankings have always been a joke but I'm not even going to try to defend Portugal here. Like Calgary said. They have been shit lately.

[1ke]

Still going on about US soccer? Who cares? They barely made it out of the group stage. Beat one good team and made a final in an eight team world cup warm up tourney. Let's all get excited.

Yes...he is and they deserve the pub that they are getting. they created a real buzz with what they did, however you want to explain it. Its ok to talk about US soccer in more than a manner to what the majority are used to. They have always been a punchline, and for that touney, even tough its not the world cup, they werent this time and people should be talking about them.

FIFA rankings have always been a joke but I'm not even going to try to defend Portugal here. Like Calgary said. They have been shit lately.

Im more hocked at why Italy is still #4. Really why?

[Bigpapa42]

Interesting that Manchester United seems to be going after Michael Owen...

[1ke]

The funny thing is, I read a article saying that Benzema to Utd was a done deal. The next day i see that he signed for Real. I thought to myself they still wont win.

Owen comin to Utd wouldnt be that bad, but I dont know if it really helps them get better. With more support around him, will he be much better, maybe. Owen and Valencia still doesnt make them better than last year. But im pretty sure that Fergie has a couple more up his sleeve.

[Archer]

The funny thing is, I read a article saying that Benzema to Utd was a done deal. The next day i see that he signed for Real. I thought to myself they still wont win.

Owen comin to Utd wouldnt be that bad, but I dont know if it really helps them get better. With more support around him, will he be much better, maybe. Owen and Valencia still doesnt make them better than last year. But im pretty sure that Fergie has a couple more up his sleeve.

Have fun with his ass playing 10 games a season and offering nothing to the team at all.

He might actually score some goals seeing as Man Utd can create him some chances i guess .