The Soccer Thread

[Bigpapa42]

Despite their current position, I would actually be surprised if Newcastle get relegated. They don't need to pick up a ton of results to get past it.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Boom, 3-0 route of New York Red Fools.

The game went by so fast. I don't think anyone thought they would have done so well to start the season. But, they looked great. Still have some problems on the sides. But, Montero looks like he's gonna be a beast this season.

 

[calgaryballer]

United got the easiest draw IMO. Porto should be a cakewalk, and I have to think that the winner of Arsenal/Villareal is easier than any of the other four teams on the other side of the bracket.

Poor Bayern has to get through Barca and then Liverpool/Chelsea.

Bayern/Barca is the tie of the round though. If Bayern is on form, I think they can match up pretty well with Barca. However, if they play like they have recently against Armenia Bielefield, they could get rolled

 

[Bigpapa42]

The Bayern-Barcelona draw is very interesting. Barcelona have started to show some vulnerabilities in their league form, while Bayern have all season but seem to have rounded into top form in Europe.

As for the Bundesliga, I'm really not sure who I would like to see win most. Hertha would be kinda cool. Hoffenheim would be really cool. Leverkusen or Hamburg would be awesome. Anyone but Bayern... though Bayern winning the Champions League would be amazing.

 

[calgaryballer]

Some crazy scores this morning. United are down a man and a goal at Fulham after Paul Scholes made the most bone headed play ever, basically throwing his hands at the ball on the goalline.

And Chelsea is losing 1-0 to Spurs.

The title race could be a whole lot more interesting after today...

 

[calgaryballer]

I'm watching the Spurs game--great goal by Modric. Super run by Lennon to create it.

Stoked about this Arsenal game coming up at 1:30.

I am too, but for different reasons Come on Newcastle!

 

[Bigpapa42]

I'm getting Setanta Sports for some reason today, so watching the Arsenal-Newcastle match. Nice penalty save by Aluminia, though it was a poor penalty by Martins.

United and Chelsea both lost today, which is awesome. Now Arsenal needs to get a result.

Wow, Taylor drives a forearm into Arshavin's face and doesn't eve get a yellow?

 

[calgaryballer]

I'm getting Setanta Sports for some reason today, so watching the Arsenal-Newcastle match. Nice penalty save by Aluminia, though it was a poor penalty by Martins.

United and Chelsea both lost today, which is awesome. Now Arsenal needs to get a result.

Wow, Taylor drives a forearm into Arshavin's face and doesn't eve get a yellow?

I think its another free preview month for Setanta/Goal etc

 

[Bigpapa42]

Thrilled that Arsenal got the win. Which leaves me a bit conflicted for Liverpool's match tomorrow - I would rather see Liverpool win the title than either United or Chelsea. But I also want to see Arsenal climb back into third spot... Hmm...

 

[calgaryballer]

A crazy weekend of results in a number of leagues.

England obviously saw Liverpool cut United's lead to a mere point (though United still have a game in hand). Their form has been superb of late, and Gerrad has staked his claim as a quality second striker. Can they keep this form up against some of the lesser opposition? It almost seems as if Rafa has learned his lesson that he can play aggresively against lesser teams instead of sinking to their level.

What can United do though? Apparently Berbatov is injured, Ronaldo has been playing like trash, and now Rooney will be suspended. Scholes and Giggs are finally playing their age, Anderson is still mediocre, Carrick has returned to his square ball playing ways and the defence is looking lazy. Can they still win it? Certainly, they are still my favourite. But it is a hell of a lot more interesting.

Ligue 1 also had a big shift this weekend too. Lyon remains one point clear, but PSG fell all the way to sixth on virtue of goal difference. Toulouse(!) is up to fourth after their 4-1 win over PSG, and Lille is into fifth. I'm hoping Marseille can pull it out late, but they have been as wildly inconsistent as Lyon has been. I have a feeling this will end up a two horse race as Bordeaux, Lille, Toulouse and PSG are inconsistent

The Bundesliga has tightened up again after Hertha lost to Stuttgart. They still lead on 49, but there are three squads (Bayern, Wolfsburg and Hamburg) all close behind on 48. I'd love to see a repeat of two years ago when Stuttgart won, but if I had to bet I'd put my money on Bayern outlasting everyone. Wolfsburg has really come on and are undefeated in their last 8, but can they keep it up? Hamburg has talent, but they seem to drop a match whenever they have a chance to take charge of their own destiny. Village side Hoffenheim has dropped to 5th, and is only two points above Stuttgart. They are in danger of falling down to sixth and further away from the Champions League spots.

 

[1ke]

England obviously saw Liverpool cut United's lead to a mere point (though United still have a game in hand). Their form has been superb of late, and Gerrad has staked his claim as a quality second striker. Can they keep this form up against some of the lesser opposition? It almost seems as if Rafa has learned his lesson that he can play aggresively against lesser teams instead of sinking to their level.

What can United do though? Apparently Berbatov is injured, Ronaldo has been playing like trash, and now Rooney will be suspended. Scholes and Giggs are finally playing their age, Anderson is still mediocre, Carrick has returned to his square ball playing ways and the defence is looking lazy. Can they still win it? Certainly, they are still my favourite. But it is a hell of a lot more interesting.

Liveerpool are absolutely on fire right now. As a UTD fan I dont mind seeing Chelsea having play them in CL. As for UTD CB....I couldnt have said it any better myself.

Ronaldo looks like he is already playing with his heart in Madrid. I was never satisfied with the Berba signing because how how he has played. That and he has put Tevez on the bench because of Fergie's favoriteism. Absolutely Anderson is still very mediocore, it looks like he is just there to run around like a nutjob at times.

I will disagree about Carrick though. I think he has been the best midfielder in the area of distribution. And as for the defense, I just think they finally met their match when they went up against El Nino. Torres just torched/schooled/worked/beat down the defense that day.

So do they have problems, hell yea, but they do have a game in hand and only one game left against the big four. Arsenal at home i think. It shall be very interesting.

 

[calgaryballer]

The Damned United came out today in Britain I think. Stars Michael Sheen, and supposed to be very good. The guy at the Guardian said it was a very nuanced film and said it was Sheen's best performance. And considering this is a guy that was awesome in both the Queen and Frost/Nixon, that is surely high praise. I think I might actually try and score a download, because I doubt it will get a release here..

EDIT - and if you don't know, its about the 44 days Brian Clough spent at Leeds. He had been regarded as one of England's best managers, but had always worked with Peter Taylor. This time Peter Taylor didn't come (staying at Bristol or something) and Clough's eccentricites were unchecked and the work that Taylor did for him missing from the equation. Based off a book of the same name

 

[Prodigal Son]

game 2

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake

Sold Out.

So the Sounders have officially filled 60,000 seats through two games.

To think, it took 10 fucking years for a team to finally be given to Seattle.

 

[wr50l]

game 2

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake

Sold Out.

So the Sounders have officially filled 60,000 seats through two games.

To think, it took 10 fucking years for a team to finally be given to Seattle.

The crucial thing is whether they are filling seats when the newness has worn off. Do you think the fans will stick around if the club has a few difficult growth seasons?

 

[calgaryballer]

England with a 4-0 beatdown of Slovakia

 

[calgaryballer]

I'm onto Scotland-Holland

Was hoping Germany Liechenstein would be on, but can't find it

 

[Prodigal Son]

The crucial thing is whether they are filling seats when the newness has worn off. Do you think the fans will stick around if the club has a few difficult growth seasons?

They've got 22,000 guaranteed sold tickets for each game for the rest of the season.

As long as the Sounders stay competitive, they'll keep the seats filled. If they take a nose dive and just blow the season, then there will be an effect on the attendance.

But, the FO is gonna try to avoid having a shitty team, as the season ticket holders vote on his job every few years. Or they can have a vote at any time, as long as 65% of the season ticket holders sign a petition.

 

[wr50l]

I'm onto Scotland-Holland

Was hoping Germany Liechenstein would be on, but can't find it

Lucky you. A bunch of Championship (hmmm) level shite being schooled by some of Europe's most technically gifted players.

So tell me Prodigal Son why does football appeal to Seattle? 22,000 average is higher than every team in the league other than Los Angeles. Quite impressive.

 

[wr50l]

You know what, I am just sick of being a Scotland fan. We scored a goal, a perfectly legitimate goal which would've made it 2-1 and gave us a chance. But the referee must have been watching a game on the other side of Europe because he gave a foul for something which simply did not exist. The replays, no matter how fast or how slow, or from what angle you watch from show absolutely nothing other than the sight of a fucking cunt with a whistle thoroughly voiding the balance of a football match. Moments later the fucking fanny gets a decision right and Holland score from a penalty to make it 3-0.

It seems like Scotland are let down 50% of the time by poor play, and 50% of the time by referees who deserve to have their eyes plucked out, ensuring quite rightfully that they may never officiate a game again.

FML

 

[wr50l]

Could be worse, you could be a Wales fan and have to listen to Craig Bellamy say after your 2-0 loss to Finland, that Finland just isn't that good and that you were the better team.

However Wales have rugby which they tend to be good at and care a lot more about. A sport funnily enough where Scotland also suffer from a mixture of lack of talent and terrible refereeing. Although the mix in rugby is more like 60-40 in favour of the lack of talent.