The Soccer Thread

[f16harm]

Sorry sir, but what were you watching. Barca were anything BUT comfy during the two games. In fact, Madrid were the better team easily in game 1, and were equal in game 2. They are exactly where they need to be I think. Some fine tuning, (meaning not allowing 4 goals on 8 shots) and they IMO will win the La Liga.

Also, what has happen to Ronnie/CR7/Pretty Boy/Skinny Ronaldo/Cristiano? At Manchester, he was feared, he could take on any player 1v1 and dominate. There was nobody able to stop him. Now, at Madrid, its like he is a completely different player. Still amazing, but Dani Alves had Ronnie in his pocket all game. The perfect gameplan, they pressured, and countered getting the ball to him as early as possible. Only issue....He couldnt beat Dani Alves, and he was still Madrid's most threatening player Madrid had.

You can make someone as uncomfortable during play as you want to try and get the monkey off your back when playing them, but when you still end up losing it means nothing. Ask a Baltimore Ravens player how they feel about coming so close to beating Pittsburgh.

And, as a keeper for 16yrs, through college ball, I believe Iker Casillas is the most overrated goalkeeper in the world. I've never seen this guy take over a game, or truly shine. He consistently benefits from a great team in front of him at club and national level, and whenever they have a tough day due to the opponent or a bad game it seems he fails to bail them out. IMO, Valdes is a better keeper when looking at the Spanish duo.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Simon Vukčević to Rovers for 3 mil? No one else is interested in this kid?

I wondered the same thing when I saw the deal was rumored. Good player, cheap, and to Rovers? I believe there were some concerns about his personality from a couple incidents, but its not like he had a whole series of meltdowns or something... Could be a huge steal. Or there could be a reason no other clubs were jumping in...

 

[wr50l]

You can make someone as uncomfortable during play as you want to try and get the monkey off your back when playing them, but when you still end up losing it means nothing. Ask a Baltimore Ravens player how they feel about coming so close to beating Pittsburgh.

And, as a keeper for 16yrs, through college ball, I believe Iker Casillas is the most overrated goalkeeper in the world. I've never seen this guy take over a game, or truly shine. He consistently benefits from a great team in front of him at club and national level, and whenever they have a tough day due to the opponent or a bad game it seems he fails to bail them out. IMO, Valdes is a better keeper when looking at the Spanish duo.

Is that Community College sports you played aye?

First paragraph was actually agreeable, you were doing so well at first then ...

 

[Rudi]

Gunna try to catch the Porto game at 315...Hulk is a delight to watch.

 

[f16harm]

Is that Community College sports you played aye?

First paragraph was actually agreeable, you were doing so well at first then ...

That's right, because I'm the only one in the world who thinks this I have to remember though, this is VSN. If you disagree, then you must resort to the typical VSN faggotry response, and then that makes you right.

 

[wr50l]

That's right, because I'm the only one in the world who thinks this I have to remember though, this is VSN. If you disagree, then you must resort to the typical VSN faggotry response, and then that makes you right.

You're not the only one who believes this, there are also Barcelona homers out there. I guess the problem is those of us who have only ever played goalie at the park level with jumpers for goalposts don't fully understand the complexities of Victor Valdes letting a soft shot from a tight angle go through his legs every few weeks.

 

[Rudi]

I turned on the Porto game and within 45 seconds Hulk was taking a PK :yep:

 

[f16harm]

You're not the only one who believes this, there are also Barcelona homers out there. I guess the problem is those of us who have only ever played goalie at the park level with jumpers for goalposts don't fully understand the complexities of Victor Valdes letting a soft shot from a tight angle go through his legs every few weeks.

...and now your going to start analyzing a bad goal.

Let me tell you something Tony DiCicco ...... people hail Dominik Hasek as one of the best goaltenders in NHL history. As a Sabres fan I will say he made some damn good saves and helped us in his years, but on the flip side, he gave up some of the shittiest goals as well that cost us games. It happens. Sitting and pot shotting on a couple goals you see here and there is what fanboys do. It's clear your a Casillas fanboy. That's OK, he's a very good Keeper, I just don't think he deserves the nut swinging that he gets when there is someone in his own country that could do equally as well in his same position as "the Golden Child."

 

[wr50l]

...and now your going to start analyzing a bad goal.

Let me tell you something Tony DiCicco ...... people hail Dominik Hasek as one of the best goaltenders in NHL history. As a Sabres fan I will say he made some damn good saves and helped us in his years, but on the flip side, he gave up some of the shittiest goals as well that cost us games. It happens. Sitting and pot shotting on a couple goals you see here and there is what fanboys do. It's clear your a Casillas fanboy. That's OK, he's a very good Keeper, I just don't think he deserves the nut swinging that he gets when there is someone in his own country that could do equally as well in his same position as "the Golden Child."

The greatest football goalies have never left spectators expectant of a mistake, this is what Valdes does. When Schmeichel made a mistake, wtf? When Buffon made a mistake, wtf? When Casillas makes a mistake, wtf? When Valdes makes a mistake, no surprises. If he wasn't such a clutz you would have a point because they are both highly technical goalkeepers who make similarly awesome reaching, reflexive and one on one saves, but I'll take the one who doesn't make heinous errors. It's like the difference between Petr Cech and Pepe Reina.

I don't know where you get this talk of Casillas being constantly dragged along by a great team because for the years between Hierro's retirement and Cannavaro's short spell on top he was the closest thing they had to a central defender.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

As a former keeper myself, I don't think it's fair to judge other keepers who are world class compared to my high school level experience.

 

[citizenerased]

The greatest football goalies have never left spectators expectant of a mistake, this is what Valdes does. When Schmeichel made a mistake, wtf? When Buffon made a mistake, wtf? When Casillas makes a mistake, wtf? When Valdes makes a mistake, no surprises. If he wasn't such a clutz you would have a point because they are both highly technical goalkeepers who make similarly awesome reaching, reflexive and one on one saves, but I'll take the one who doesn't make heinous errors. It's like the difference between Petr Cech and Pepe Reina.

I don't know where you get this talk of Casillas being constantly dragged along by a great team because for the years between Hierro's retirement and Cannavaro's short spell on top he was the closest thing they had to a central defender.

Somebody show F16Harm the video of the 2002 Champions League final when a 20 year old Iker came off the bench and pretty much single handily saved the game for Real Madrid so we can end this shitty little debate about that mong Valdes being even in the top 3 keepers in Spain.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Valdes might be the best keeper in Catalonia, but not in Spain.

 

[Rudi]

Tempted to wake up and catch this Arsenal/Liverpool game. Got my fantasy lineup set. Picks made, ready for another week of EPL action. Cheers! :bongrip:

 

[NAHSTE]

...and now your going to start analyzing a bad goal.

Let me tell you something Tony DiCicco ...... people hail Dominik Hasek as one of the best goaltenders in NHL history. As a Sabres fan I will say he made some damn good saves and helped us in his years, but on the flip side, he gave up some of the shittiest goals as well that cost us games. It happens. Sitting and pot shotting on a couple goals you see here and there is what fanboys do. It's clear your a Casillas fanboy. That's OK, he's a very good Keeper, I just don't think he deserves the nut swinging that he gets when there is someone in his own country that could do equally as well in his same position as "the Golden Child."

What the fuck? In a discussion about Spanish soccer players, that's the rebuttal? So let me get this straight ... Because Dominek Hasek is one of the best goalies in NHL history, and you are a Buffalo Sabres fan ... your opinion on Valdes is valid?

Am I following your line of reasoning? Or did you not even have one?

 

[Bigpapa42]

All I'm gonna say on the Casillas vs Valdes discussion is that while Casillas has captained the Spanish national team, they have won two major tournaments, had an epic run of success, and become the #1 ranked national team... So while one could argue that Valdes could do well or as well for Spain, its kinda tough to say they could be doing better with him in goal...

 

[Prodigal Son]

All I'm gonna say on the Casillas vs Valdes discussion is that while Casillas has captained the Spanish national team, they have won two major tournaments, had an epic run of success, and become the #1 ranked national team... So while one could argue that Valdes could do well or as well for Spain, its kinda tough to say they could be doing better with him in goal...

Not to mention that if you're argument against Casillas is that, he's only good because of the players around him, you can't use someone like Valdes as a counter point.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

The only real argument worth having between Spanish goalkeepers is Reina/Iker, but even that is pretty worthless.

 

[mgoblue2290]

Jordan Henderson has just been confirmed to play the lead role in the remake of The Invisible Man.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

:smug:

 

[Chrispy]

Arsenal :smh: