The Soccer Thread

[Bigpapa42]

Bayern have really lacked in quality this year. They probably have the outright quality to dominate the Bundesliga, but I don't know that its going to be so easy as it once was. And they are still missing pieces, even with the players they do have. Mark van Bommell is not Michael Ballack. Michael Rensing is not Oliver Kahn. Bayern's attack isn't really more impressive than the likes of Wolfsburg or Bremen, despite players like Ribery and Klose. And the defense is no longer really elite either. One only has to look at the Barcelona-Bayern Champions League clash to see the difference in quality.

 

[Senser81]

Bayern have really lacked in quality this year. They probably have the outright quality to dominate the Bundesliga, but I don't know that its going to be so easy as it once was. And they are still missing pieces, even with the players they do have. Mark van Bommell is not Michael Ballack. Michael Rensing is not Oliver Kahn. Bayern's attack isn't really more impressive than the likes of Wolfsburg or Bremen, despite players like Ribery and Klose. And the defense is no longer really elite either. One only has to look at the Barcelona-Bayern Champions League clash to see the difference in quality.

I think Bayern's defense has been the culprit. The goalkeeping hasn't been good, and Lahm is the only defensive player of note. Lucio has long been overrated, Christian Lell is average at best, and the fact that Oddo is getting consistent playing time is a joke.

 

[calgaryballer]

Newcastle is continuing to look dire against Pompey.

Pretty soon its going to be

:gtfo:

time from the Premier League

 

[calgaryballer]

The only plus side of getting a point is it puts us level with Boro on points and three back from Hull. We have a better GD than both of them.

That is the only positive. I need Sunderland to start shipping goals soon too. I love derby atmosphere of Newcastle-Sunderland-Middlebrough, but if its us or them, I'll be happy being the only north-east team left in the Prem

 

[calgaryballer]

Some worrying comments after the match

From BBC Radio 5 Live's Steve Stone: "Newcastle probably need to do better than that. The worrying thing for Alan Shearer is that his team really tired with half an hour to go."

Hey guys, your only playing for your Premiership survival, but you can take it easy in training.

And NUFC still haven't won at the fortress that is supposed to be St James in 2009.

Where is BigHouse? I need a fellow NUFC fan around to be depressed with me

 

[calgaryballer]

Newcastle can't go.. I seriously root for them behind my Arsenal.

Also, I didn't realize BRovers got out of relegation territory. Haven't been following them.

Yeah, Fat Sam has got them enough points that they are probably safe. Stupid Fat Fucker. West Brom are done, so it's down to Boro, NUFC, Hull and Sunderland IMO

 

[wr50l]

I'm thinking Newcastle and Hull. I actually started to see Hull as likely relegation candidates after an interview with their manager just after a game with Arsenal I believe. He came out to the media and was so negative about his team. His comments about the financial gap between Hull and Arsenal went past the line of consolation to what I thought was a sign of resignation. And obviously if the manager doesn't believe the team is in the shit. Still, it's amazing what the last two or three weeks do to teams chasing relegation and they could of course find the crucial points although I'm not expecting it.

Newcastle seem to just be clueless and talentless in just about every aspect both on and off the field.

 

[calgaryballer]

Phil Brown went from having everyone's respect at the start of the season, to becoming Sam Allardyce v2. I can't stand the guy now. I hope his shit team gets relegated

 

[calgaryballer]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/apr/28/howard-webb-referee-dropped-championship

Howard Webb will ref the Championship this week. Justifably so.

Barca drew with Chelsea 0-0. I'd of liked to see Barca score, but I think they can score one or two at he Bridge

 

[Bigpapa42]

So I didn't get to watch any of the match today, but Barcelona had more than 70% possession through the match. And didn't create much in the way of chances. All things said, a scoreless draw has to be considered to be in Chelsea's favor with the second leg back in London.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Just got back home from the US Open Cup qualifier up here in Seattle. It was Real Salt Lake vs. the Sounders. Sat with the ultra's, fucking fantastic. The most fun I've had at a soccer game.

 

[wr50l]

:rolleyes1: Ronaldo

On the rare occassion when he bothers to defend deep on the wing ... Gibbs nutmegs him (lol) Ronaldo trips Gibbs, Gibbs gets up and continues down the wing, Ronaldo (still on his arse) looks to the referee arms in the air because he didn't get a freekick.

I don't think I've actually seen Ronaldo be a part of a challenge and not sulk on the floor for a few seconds after it at any point this season.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Disappointing result but not bad for Arsenal. Its definitely still a winnable situation in the second leg.

 

[calgaryballer]

Here is where all the West Ham money will go

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5255837,00.html

Barnsley want to recoup the money of Ian Hume being seriously injured by a very professional foul. Seems like a lot of political clout getting behind it

 

[Boss AZ]

:rolleyes1: Ronaldo

On the rare occassion when he bothers to defend deep on the wing ... Gibbs nutmegs him (lol) Ronaldo trips Gibbs, Gibbs gets up and continues down the wing, Ronaldo (still on his arse) looks to the referee arms in the air because he didn't get a freekick.

I don't think I've actually seen Ronaldo be a part of a challenge and not sulk on the floor for a few seconds after it at any point this season.

I think you're obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

[Senser81]

Disappointing result but not bad for Arsenal. Its definitely still a winnable situation in the second leg.

Yeah, considering how bad Arsenal look, being down 1-0 is probably the best outcome they could have expected. Arsenal never really even got the ball into the penalty box the entire game. Very strange. I thought Almunia played well, but the rest of the team was garbage. Were Adebayor and Nasri even on the pitch?

 

[wr50l]

I think you're obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Obsessed with showing up the arrogant half-hearted cunt yes. Walks about the park thinking he's God and doesn't bother to help his team going backwards, then the one time he incidentally ends up in his own half where he has to do something he gets absolutely embarrassed by a guy I've never even seen play for Arsenal and takes a strop. Made my day!

but the rest of the team was garbage. Were Adebayor and Nasri even on the pitch?

If you'll notice on the corner that resulted in the goal at the back post there were three or four Man U players and no Gunners. Adebayor's only notable contribution to the match was being well out of position!

 

[1ke]

An interesting story I think Coming out of Italy. I hope it all works out.

[/MILAN (AP) - Italy's Serie A clubs plan to break away from the second-tier Serie B and create their own independent top flight, similar to England's Premier League.

All but Lecce of the 20 clubs in Serie A issued a statement on Thursday saying they would be breaking away to set up the "Serie A football league."

"We've made a new first division," Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini told ANSA news agency. "Am I satisfied? No, but it is necessary."

Clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan have long campaigned for greater autonomy and have looked enviously at England's Premier League, which created a financial revolution that made its clubs the richest in the world after it broke away from England's Football League in 1992.

Italian clubs have come in for scathing criticism after only Udinese, in the UEFA Cup, reached the quarterfinals of a European competition this season. In response, clubs have claimed they are unable to compete with the wages offered by English and Spanish sides.

Maurizio Beretta, a former journalist, has been chosen to set up the new league, the statement said.

"The mandate is clear," he told reporters. "To start building a first division. There are various aspects to sort out. The mechanism will be put in place over the next 12 months."

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani told ANSA: "We will start work on this league straight away, because it has to be in operation by July 1, 2010. We have told the president of the Italian federation."

 

[Bigpapa42]

Yeah, considering how bad Arsenal look, being down 1-0 is probably the best outcome they could have expected. Arsenal never really even got the ball into the penalty box the entire game. Very strange. I thought Almunia played well, but the rest of the team was garbage. Were Adebayor and Nasri even on the pitch?

The Arsenal side is just inconsistent. Same problem they've had for a couple of years now. They've shown they can hang with and beat any of the other Big Four, and some of Europe's best. But they can also just turn in stinkers. Is it just youth? I hope so, and I hope they grow out of it. But quickly. Its consistently that has kept them from really being in the title race the past couple of seasons.

 

[1ke]

^^^ I agree, but a major problem may be that the young players just are not patient and take the money and leave to another club. They lose players every summer and then they replace them with very very talented kids. A cycle that cant be healthy.

But totally switching topics. I never thought Arshavin was that little, and he is AMAZING.