tOfficial General Soccer Thread 2013-2014 Season

[MiamiSpartan]

This board needs this thread over here. Yeah, some of you think soccer sucks. Good for you, don't read the thread then.

Let me start by saying Moyes FUCKING OUT! Sounds like it's happening, but I remain cautiously optimistic until it's certain. What a fucking disaster he's been.

[goodbar]

Kits.

[Cym Jim]

This board needs this thread over here.  Yeah, some of you think soccer sucks.  Good for you, don't read the thread then.  

Let me start by saying Moyes FUCKING OUT!  Sounds like it's happening, but I remain cautiously optimistic until it's certain.  What a fucking disaster he's been.

Loved your comment in the other thread - would be hilarious for Man U to just give Moyes Fallaini and show him the door!

[MiamiSpartan]

This board needs this thread over here.  Yeah, some of you think soccer sucks.  Good for you, don't read the thread then.  

Let me start by saying Moyes FUCKING OUT!  Sounds like it's happening, but I remain cautiously optimistic until it's certain.  What a fucking disaster he's been.

Loved your comment in the other thread - would be hilarious for Man U to just give Moyes Fallaini and show him the door!

I did just see something from an article that claimed that they only have to pay off 1 year of his salary since he missed the CL. Who knows? It's a little disconcerting that nothing official has been said yet.

Been an entertaining day, regardless. The thread on RedCafe is up to 70 pages (2800+ posts....in what, 8 hours, if that?    Watch it all be wrong and he doesn't get fired at all.   

[Cym Jim]

Is there anyone who isn't even a little bit excited about the idea of Liverpool actually winning it this year? Even Man U fans must reluctantly acknowledge that they play exciting football, and are much more deserving than City or Chelsea. The emotion around that team is contagious.

[MiamiSpartan]

Well, whoever finishes with the most points is most deserving. I'm praying they blow it, but it looks like City and Chelsea already blew it too much. Its a disaster, and one more reason to hate Moyes. And yes, he is at fault. Liverpool wouldn't win if Fergie was still at United.

[Cym Jim]

Well, whoever finishes with the most points is most deserving.  I'm praying they blow it, but it looks like City and Chelsea already blew it too much.  Its a disaster, and one more reason to hate Moyes.  And yes, he is at fault.  Liverpool wouldn't win if Fergie was still at United.  

I don't believe it. The passion is too far gone in you guys to care about rivalries. Liverpool deserve it and you know it. You want it! They're Michigan State to your Michigan, but there's a spark of love there that you'll never have for City!

Nice little piece from Louise Taylor in the Guardian: Next Man U Manager

[MiamiSpartan]

Well, whoever finishes with the most points is most deserving.  I'm praying they blow it, but it looks like City and Chelsea already blew it too much.  Its a disaster, and one more reason to hate Moyes.  And yes, he is at fault.  Liverpool wouldn't win if Fergie was still at United.  

I don't believe it. The passion is too far gone in you guys to care about rivalries. Liverpool deserve it and you know it. You want it! They're Michigan State to your Michigan, but there's a spark of love there that you'll never have for City!

Nice little piece from Louise Taylor in the Guardian: Next Man U Manager

I said that whoever has the most points deserves it, so if Liverpool has the most points, yes, they deserve it. I just don't want them to deserve it.

You can't look at United's passion, effort, or anything else this year and think that would have been the same with Ferguson. Moyes lost the dressing room as far back as October, and to some extent during the summer.

I know you're trolling with the Michigan-Michigan State comment, but you think WAY too highly of Michigan. United have actually won things. In fact, Liverpool are more like Michigan in that they haven't won much of anything in 20+ years, but have been clinging to a bygone era (I realize that may change this year).

You're right that I won't ever have a spark of love for City. Not sure if you meant to say United there. But I do know that excitement that Liverpool fans are feeling. It's just been 21 years since we were in that position.

And Alleluia, Moyes out is official!!!! God bless. Sounds like Klopp isn't going to happen. His loyalty and sticking to his word reminds me of Dantonio, which makes me even more envious of him. In the past two years, he's told Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, and now United that he's not interested. Mad fucking props to him. United are inquiring about Pep. Sounds like when United went after Fabregas last year. Van Gaal would appear to be most likely, but after Ed Woodward's dealings in the transfer window last year, I'm not confident that he won't **** this up.

[MiamiSpartan]

Why are you all boners Man U  fans? Seriously? It's like being a Yankees, Cowboys, and Michigan fan rolled into one, but worse. It's great to see Liverpool atop the table.

All? It's only me (and like two others on tRCMB....most on tRCMB are Arsenal fans). Cym Jim is an ABU fan (Anyone But United). He has 19 favorite teams in the Premier League, and rotates them each week depending on who is playing Manchester United.   

As for me, I started liking Manchester United in the 80s, when they were perennially mid-table and Liverpool were the dominant kings of England and Europe. They hadn't won the league in almost 20 years at that point. And as pointed out in my last post to Jim, it's silly when people compare United to Michigan, as that WAY overvalues Michigan. United have actually won and been dominant for two decades. f looking at the B1G, IMSU basketball is a more apt comparison (one long term coach building the team from mediocrity into a dominant force). As a fan, the success has truly been a blessing and one which I never take for granted.

[MiamiSpartan]

BTW, the Cowboys also haven't won anything in nearly 20 years, so that's another bad comparison to Manchester United.

[The Lonely Stoner]

Why are you all boners Man U  fans? Seriously? It's like being a Yankees, Cowboys, and Michigan fan rolled into one, but worse. It's great to see Liverpool atop the table.

This. Any American that has no ties to any team over the pond who decides to support Man U is like all the Asians liking the Yankees or Red Sox. Liverpool hasn't won the league in a couple decades (sound familiar) and they are a very fun team to watch.

[MiamiSpartan]

Why are you all boners Man U  fans? Seriously? It's like being a Yankees, Cowboys, and Michigan fan rolled into one, but worse. It's great to see Liverpool atop the table.

This. Any American that has no ties to any team over the pond who decides to support Man U is like all the Asians liking the Yankees or Red Sox. Liverpool hasn't won the league in a couple decades (sound familiar) and they are a very fun team to watch.

You are clearly talking out of your ass. Maybe if you're under 30 that applies, but for many of us we grew up in an era where Liverpool were the dominant side and United were mid-table. It's foolish to paint people with a broad brush. But yeah, Liverpool are fun to watch with their cannibalistic racist leading the front line, if you're into supporting that sort of thing. Rooney may be an asshole, and I'd give my left nut to have him far away from United, but he hasn't repeatedly made racist comments or repeatedly bitten opponents.

I don't like the United bandwagoners, believe me, but United had 26 years without winning the league prior to our current run over the last 22 years. Not everyone just joined up in the Premier League era.

[Cym Jim]

Man United email hacked:

[Zapp Brannigan]

Hi Guys

Miami - thx for the invite over here. I've been off tRCMB quite a bit lately and wondered where all the traffic went.

Oh, and it only took 38 hours for your PM to show up in my inbox.   

[Heathens '87]

Well, it appears that DaMarcus Beasley may be out through the World Cup given an injury he picked up in club play in Mexico this past weekend. This is significant in that he was a potential starter and a sure member of the 23-man roster for Brazil. The backline for the US remains a work in progress, and while Gonzalez will be on the roster, whether he starts alongside Besler remains to be seen. Goodson is pushing to start. Right back is a battle between Cameron and Brad Evans, and if Beasley is out, Fabian Johnson likely benefits. The question of depth there remains and the solid play this season by Michael Parkhurst should be noted. I've really no idea who starts on the backline in Brazil. Given our draw that strikes me as a significant problem. As always, go Yanks!

[MiamiSpartan]

Hi Guys

Miami - thx for the invite over here.  I've been off tRCMB quite a bit lately and wondered where all the traffic went.

Oh, and it only took 38 hours for your PM to show up in my inbox.   

Only 38 hours? The wonders of 247! Glad you made it. The board's off to a pretty good start in such a short time, so hopefully the soccer thread keeps growing, too.

Good to see Heathens, as well!

[Cym Jim]

Good to see England not go after Januzaj, hopefully the US can learn something from the integrity shown there. As with Julian Green he's clearly been promised a spot on the plane to Brazil. He'd never have got that with England, so good luck to him.

[Heathens '87]

Good to see England not go after Januzaj, hopefully the US can learn something from the integrity shown there. As with Julian Green he's clearly been promised a spot on the plane to Brazil. He'd never have got that with England, so good luck to him.

This reminds me of what we hear from Michigan when a recruit chooses a different program - we didn't really want them. The reality is this - the England FA looked into what they could do to have Januzaj represent England as an international player and Hodgson, the English manager, said so publicly. For his own reasons, despite eligibility to play for a number of teams, Jjanuzaj has chosen to play for the country when he was born - Belgium. Just like (gulp) Julian Green. I'd also add that Belgium doesn't bring a lot of World Cup experience to Brazil, but that's a damn talented side and they could make some real noise this summer......

[MiamiSpartan]

Good to see England not go after Januzaj, hopefully the US can learn something from the integrity shown there. As with Julian Green he's clearly been promised a spot on the plane to Brazil. He'd never have got that with England, so good luck to him.

Of course he'd have never gotten a spot this summer for England.  He hasn't yet met the criteria that some in England were desperately hoping to get him to meet in order to be included in 2018.  But keep spinning it.  Jesus, you sound like a Michigan fan in recruiting.  Oh, England cooled on him  Why don't you just say that England's academic standards are too high?

[Zapp Brannigan]

Real Madrid 1
Bayern 0

Got busy today and totally forgot to watch.

[Cym Jim]

Real Madrid 1
Bayern 0

Got busy today and totally forgot to watch.

It was alright, entertaining in parts. The second legs are going to be intense.

[Zapp Brannigan]

I believe we lost our Everton fans in the transition but I will post a premature  

Of course, nothing can be stress free where the Gunners are concerned, so I expect a loss to Newcastle on Monday.

[Cym Jim]

I believe we lost our Everton fans in the transition but I will post a premature  

Of course, nothing can be stress free where the Gunners are concerned, so I expect a loss to Newcastle on Monday.

It's a shame. Would have been nice for the fourth spot to be taken by a team that plays positive creative football.

[Cym Jim]

This reminds me of what we hear from Michigan when a recruit chooses a different program - we didn't really want them.  The reality is this - the England FA looked into what they could do to have Januzaj represent England as an international player and Hodgson, the English manager, said so publicly.  For his own reasons, despite eligibility to play for a number of teams, Jjanuzaj has chosen to play for the country when he was born - Belgium.  Just like (gulp) Julian Green.  I'd also add that Belgium doesn't bring a lot of World Cup experience to Brazil, but that's a damn talented side and they could make some real noise this summer....... 

Uninformed. The FA looked at him, but decided not to go push hard for him in the interests of maintaining the integrity of the English game. There would have been an uprising if they had. Plus he's not very good.

[MiamiSpartan]

Uninformed. The FA looked at him, but decided not to go push hard for him in the interests of maintaining the integrity of the English game. There would have been an uprising if they had. Plus he's not very good.

Delusional. You are off your rocker if you think England told him no. For one thing, England had no reason to tell him that, and every reason to keep him on the hook. By FIFA rules he couldn't play for England until 2018, but he can play immediately for Belgium. Whether he'll become great is anyone's guess, but he's got loads of potential and even your biased eyes have to see that. So why would England tell a kid now that they don't want him, when they could string him along for 3-4 years and then decide? Your belief breaks down when put up against simple logic.

The bigger question is why would Januzaj want to play for England? Would love to hear your response as to why England are a more attractive option for a non-English player now and in the future?

BTW, why would England just start wanting to maintain the integrity of the English game now, when they have had little interest of doing that over the past decades?

[Cym Jim]

Delusional.  You are off your rocker if you think England told him no.  For one thing, England had no reason to tell him that, and every reason to keep him on the hook.  By FIFA rules he couldn't play for England until 2018, but he can play immediately for Belgium.  Whether he'll become great is anyone's guess, but he's got loads of potential and even your biased eyes have to see that.  So why would England tell a kid now that they don't want him, when they could string him along for 3-4 years and then decide?  Your belief breaks down when put up against simple logic.

The bigger question is why would Januzaj want to play for England?  Would love to hear your response as to why England are a more attractive option for a non-English player now and in the future?

BTW, why would England just start wanting to maintain the integrity of the English game now, when they have had little interest of doing that over the past decades?

It's all very well to have nice ideas on a topic, but when you don't have a clue about how a situation evolved, and nothing to back up your claims, then it all becomes a little silly. England didn't offer Janujaz anything. No promises, no commitments, nothing. They offered him nothing, because he's not that good and not worth jeopordizing the integrity of the team for. Now, if Suarez found he had an English dad and playing for Uruguay had all been a dream, they might think a little longer. But instead, they did nothing to convince Jizzjazz that England wanted him. On the otherhand, Belgium promised him a spot on the plane to Brazil just like Klinsmann did with Greene. That's what you do when you want a player to choose your country over another. Simple. They wanted him, we didn't, they offered him something, we didn't. You can imagine this went down another way all you like, but it's nonsense.

As for your silly rants about England, grow up and learn to respect the game. You embarrass the intelligence of American soccer fans with such silliness.

[The Lonely Stoner]

Chelsea best Liverpool 2-0

[MiamiSpartan]

It's all very well to have nice ideas on a topic, but when you don't have a clue about how a situation evolved, and nothing to back up your claims, then it all becomes a little silly. England didn't offer Janujaz anything. No promises, no commitments, nothing. They offered him nothing, because he's not that good and not worth jeopordizing the integrity of the team for. Now, if Suarez found he had an English dad and playing for Uruguay had all been a dream, they might think a little longer. But instead, they did nothing to convince Jizzjazz that England wanted him. On the otherhand, Belgium promised him a spot on the plane to Brazil  just like Klinsmann did with Greene. That's what you do when you want a player to choose your country over another. Simple. They wanted him, we didn't, they offered him something, we didn't. You can imagine this went down another way all you like, but it's nonsense.

As for your silly rants about England, grow up and learn to respect the game. You embarrass the intelligence of American soccer fans with such silliness.

Dude, England didn't offer him anything because he is not eligible for England and he may never be eligible. Using your Suarez analogy, you might as well say that England turned down Suarez, too. It has zero to do with his skill or the integrity of the English game. If you have anything factual that says that the FA were not interested, please link it, because nothing I've read indicates that at all, unless Jack Wilshire or some journalists have been made head of the FA. The silly part is that you seem to be under the assumption that had England promised him anything (if they were able) that he would go for England. To a worse squad with a worse future than team from the country where he was born and raised.

I'd still like to hear why you think he'd want to play for England over Belgium? Do you think England are a more attractive option for a young player than Belgium? If so, why?

[MiamiSpartan]

Chelsea best Liverpool 2-0

A bit shocking. The hype and pressure seems to have gotten to Liverpool and barring a bigger choke job by City, Liverpool lost the league today.

[Fallenangle]

A bit shocking.  The hype and pressure seems to have gotten to Liverpool and barring a bigger choke job by City, Liverpool lost the league today.

Why didn't Liverpool play for the draw if Chelsea was willing to concede it? They still would have controlled their destiny

[Cym Jim]

Dude, England didn't offer him anything because he is not eligible for England and he may never be eligible.  Using your Suarez analogy, you might as well say that England turned down Suarez, too.  It has zero to do with his skill or the integrity of the English game.  If you have anything factual that says that the FA were not interested, please link it, because nothing I've read indicates that at all, unless Jack Wilshire or some journalists have been made head of the FA.  The silly part is that you seem to be under the assumption that had England promised him anything (if they were able) that he would go for England.  To a worse squad with a worse future than team from the country where he was born and raised.

I'd still like to hear why you think he'd want to play for England over Belgium?  Do you think England are a more attractive option for a young player than Belgium?  If so, why?

Such a bizarre challenge! Surely it would be easier to defend your position with evidence (that the FA went after him) than provide evidence that they didn't. Which they didn't. Because there's no evidence that they did! So silly!

Anyway - Belgium will be mildly interesting in coming years, but you should follow the players and team not the narrative. Outside of Hazard and the keeper, it's been a miserable year for their so called young superstars, as well as some miserable results from the national team. They'll saunter through an easy group at the World Cup then get stuffed by the runner up in Group G (assuming that's not the USA of course!).

[Cym Jim]

A bit shocking.  The hype and pressure seems to have gotten to Liverpool and barring a bigger choke job by City, Liverpool lost the league today.

Losing games to the best teams in the world does not constitute choking. By the way, anyone know who that homeless guy was running down the touchline at Anfield after the second goal?

[MiamiSpartan]

Such a bizarre challenge! Surely it would be easier to defend your position with evidence (that the FA went after him) than provide evidence that they didn't. Which they didn't. Because there's no evidence that they did! So silly!

Anyway - Belgium will be mildly interesting in coming years, but you should follow the players and team not the narrative. Outside of Hazard and the keeper, it's been a miserable year for their so called young superstars, as well as some miserable results from the national team. They'll saunter through an easy group at the World Cup then get stuffed by the runner up in Group G (assuming that's not the USA of course!).

I never said that they went after him. You said that they told him no. I said that they didn't tell him no. You're the one trying to prove that something did happen (England telling him no, as well as the reasons for telling him no). The onus of proof is on you. You're asking me to prove a negative.

Belgium are currently 14:1 odds to win the World Cup. England are 33:1. I guess people who's livelihood are on the line are just following a narrative and not watching the players. Belgium is his own country, which is, at the very least, on par with England. This isn't Rossi choosing between Italy and the US. You still keep living under this assumption than Januzaj wanted to play for England.

[MiamiSpartan]

Losing games to the best teams in the world does not constitute choking. By the way, anyone know who that homeless guy was running down the touchline at Anfield after the second goal?

Not a big choke, but when you're top of the league with 3 games left and you suffer an 0-2 loss at home, when you only need a draw, against a team that is parking the bus in its own defensive third, it is a little bit of a choke.

If your comment is what Liverpool fans are telling themselves, then it just shows they've still got small time thinking. Kind of like putting a statue up of someone who failed managing their rival thanking him for all he's done for for their team.

[Gob Bluth]

All?  It's only me (and like two others on tRCMB....most on tRCMB are Arsenal fans).  Cym Jim is an ABU fan (Anyone But United).  He has 19 favorite teams in the Premier League, and rotates them each week depending on who is playing Manchester United.    

Jim also hates any team that has Jozy Altidore on the books.

[Cym Jim]

Jim also hates any team that has Jozy Altidore on the books.

Not true at all. Would love too see Sunderland escape relegation. I just find him to be a quite hilarious player.

Enjoying the game this afternoon? It's very . . . . French.

[Zapp Brannigan]

More ugly soccer at the Emirates today. I wish Arsenal played the beautiful game like Chelsea.

[Gob Bluth]

Not true at all. Would love too see Sunderland escape relegation. I just find him to be a quite hilarious player.

Enjoying the game this afternoon? It's very . . . . French.

Had some good moments, and then it had some poor officiating. Ozil's goal should not have counted. Giroud was throwing himself to the ground every time a Newcastle player farted. Still, Cazorla looked excellent and Ozil's return to form bodes well for the rest of the season. FA Cup, baby!   

[MiamiSpartan]

More ugly soccer at the Emirates today.  I wish Arsenal played the beautiful game like Chelsea.

David Moyes would agree wholeheartedly with that statement (minus the sarcasm).

In fact, I could probably go ask him, he's been in Miami since getting the ax. Maybe the Glazers make him go pick up his severance check himself? Dude gets fired and then flies 4000 miles to vacation near the people who just fired him.

[Cym Jim]

More ugly soccer at the Emirates today.  I wish Arsenal played the beautiful game like Chelsea.

Yeah, this game will be discussed at length by pundits throughout the world, back pages will be filled with in-depth analysis of Wenger's tactics . . . . or nobody cares. One of the two.

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