Re: tOfficial General Soccer Thread 2013-2014 Season

[CrazySparty]

Except that Portugal is a Top 5-7 team in the world......not to mention they have the best player in the world.

He's hedging his bet.

If USA wins, he can turn around say "You should have beat Portugal. If USA lose, he'll claim "This proves you're just overrated".

It's the British way.

[Cym Jim]

Except that Portugal is a Top 5-7 team in the world.

Bullshit

[MiamiSpartan]

Bullshit

Top 3 in the FIFA rankings.  Top 7 in the ELO rankings.  If you're going to use the USA's ranking, then use Portugal's, as well in order to be consistent, regardless of how flawed the whole ranking system is.

I know, I know, your whole point is that the US is not a Top 10-15 team in the world.  We all know what you're getting at.  BFD, All that matters in terms of a team's place in the world is determined over a couple of weeks every four years.  And even that can sway so much based on the draw, who is in good form, injuries, etc. It makes the whole argument about where teams stand for the other 1450 days pretty stupid.

[Cym Jim]

Top 3 in the FIFA rankings.  Top 7 in the ELO rankings.  If you're going to use the USA's ranking, then use Portugal's, as well in order to be consistent, regardless of how flawed the whole ranking system is.

I know, I know, your whole point is that the US is not a Top 10-15 team in the world.  We all know what you're getting at.  BFD, All that matters in terms of a team's place in the world is determined over a couple of weeks every four years.  And even that can sway so much based on the draw, who is in good form, injuries, etc. It makes the whole argument about where teams stand for the other 1450 days pretty stupid.

 

[tig ol bitties]

someone at my work is doing a confidence pool for every game in the group stage.  What games are gimmies that I should use for my high point games?

[PSUfan28]

someone at my work is doing a confidence pool for every game in the group stage.  What games are gimmies that I should use for my high point games?

I love the Socceroos, but they're taking a very young squad and playing in a really tough group. I expect 0 points.

[CrazySparty]

someone at my work is doing a confidence pool for every game in the group stage.  What games are gimmies that I should use for my high point games?

Argentina over Nigeria
Bosnia over Nigeria

[Cym Jim]

someone at my work is doing a confidence pool for every game in the group stage.  What games are gimmies that I should use for my high point games?

Anyone vs tUSA. But the safest bet in this entire World Cup is that if England make it out of their group (big ask) they will play for a draw with the old folks instead of trying to win  with the kids, and sacrifice one of their own to the British press to make it all feel like a bad dream. Rooney seems like the most likely villain right now - awful season, getting fat, bad hair transplants . . . United don't want him, England don't want him, 3rd World Cup and zero goals, he's the perfect sacrificial lamb. 

But one can dream. Dream of Stirling skipping past Pirlo and firing home. Dream of Stevie G, the man even Man U fans dream of being. Of Barkley, my god that kid can play. Lallana, get him out there! Luke Shaw down the wing, Henderson, come on lad! So much fucking talent! Bring it on!

This might not be the most sensible financial move, but my boy and I are very close to throwing shit to wind and going to Brazil. If we don't go now, we'll have to wait at least 12 years. No way we'd go to Russia or the Qatar, and who knows who gets it next.

[MiamiSpartan]

Anyone vs tUSA. But the safest bet in this entire World Cup is that if England make it out of their group (big ask) they will play for a draw with the old folks instead of trying to win  with the kids, and sacrifice one of their own to the British press to make it all feel like a bad dream. Rooney seems like the most likely villain right now - awful season, getting fat, bad hair transplants . . . United don't want him, England don't want him, 3rd World Cup and zero goals, he's the perfect sacrificial lamb. 

But one can dream. Dream of Stirling skipping past Pirlo and firing home. Dream of Stevie G, the man even Man U fans dream of being. Of Barkley, my god that kid can play. Lallana, get him out there! Luke Shaw down the wing, Henderson, come on lad! So much fucking talent! Bring it on!

This might not be the most sensible financial move, but my boy and I are very close to throwing shit to wind and going to Brazil. If we don't go now, we'll have to wait at least 12 years. No way we'd go to Russia or the Qatar, and who knows who gets it next.

Rooney is too old for the England scapegoat.  You guys (the English fans and English press) usually look for a younger United player to blame for all of your misfortunes.  Maybe Hodgson will put Jones out there to take the 4th or 5th penalty in a shoot out and you can blame him (England's history of shoot out failures gets ignored when you're out for the blood of a young United player--i.e., Beckham 98).  But maybe you'll get lucky and have a foreign United player to blame like Ronaldo in 06?  I look forward to the English press doing their part once again to give United another European Cup in 1-2 years!

Personally, I'm calling for you guys to make a miraculous run to the quarterfinals, where you'll lose to Van Gaal and Holland in the 95th minute, thus ushering in a new era of English whining about "Louis Time".  You've never been able to use United's manager as a scapegoat for England's failures before, so that would really be something to behold!

[Heathens '87]

Back from a trip and thought I'd offer a few thoughts on the US 30-man roster which will need to get down to 23 for the World Cup...

GK - Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

......no surprises, the pecking order is clear, we've a quality #1 and depth.

D - DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

......Ream and Orozco are the notable omissions and we'll need to watch the health of Gonzalez. My guess is this becomes an 8-9 man group and two or three will need to be cut. The biggest issue is that Besler is the only clear starter as the team heads to camp. Chandler gets the call based on club play but needs a strong camp to make the roster. Yedlin is a clear longshot and Brooks is on the bubble. My honest guess is this ends up as a Cameron-Besler-Goodson-Johnson starting line. It's not a strong unit and we'll need to see how they come together in camp. Lots of competition for roles so worth watching who gets playing time in the friendlies.

M - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

......Not a lot of surprises. Young Green needs to show in camp that he'd be ready to contribute on the pitch, Corona is likely on the outside looking in, Davis needs a strong camp and Edu is going to have to force his way onto the roster. Dempsey and Donovan are listed as forwards which is a bit misleading in a 4-5-1. Lots of quality in this group and the US is going as far as Bradley, Donovan and Dempsey can go in terms of creating some offense. If they're stuck defending, we're not getting out of group play.

F - Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

......Good for Wondo in getting the call over Eddie Johnson. Productivity and attitude does matter. That said, I'm not sure he makes the club as Boyd brings a bit more danger from the bench. The question put in front of Klinsmann right off the bat is Altidore. If the midfield can create opportunities, we'll need someone to finish. Jozy has had a bad club season after such a great year in Holland. Johannsson has been playing extremely well. Again, worth watching who gets time. The World Cup is no time to try to play your way into form.

To be blunt, I'm surprised to find the team in mid-May with so many questions and having played so little together as a likely starting unit. The camp and series of friendlies will give a chance to see if there is a team cohesiveness and whether there is a 90+-minute focus. The competition in the group-stage will be at a level where the US needs to play a complete game of intense, focused and mistake-free football. And we need the leaders of this team to take ownership. Since the US became relevant in soccer in 1990, I can't think of a World Cup where I had so little clue about our quality. We'll see. Go Yanks!

[Zapp Brannigan]

How on earth has Sepp Blatter stayed in power for so damn long?  

Predictions on how long it will take for the narrative to progress to a new vote to replace Qatar?  I'm thinking 2016.
Qatar was a mistake - no shit, Sherlock

[MiamiSpartan]

Michel Platini is one gigantic pussy (I know, water is wet, too!).
 
"In Michel Platini’s perfect world football would be a non-contact sport.

The Beautiful Game, as described by Pele, would be a work of art un-desecrated by physical collision.

Supremely gifted players – like himself in his glory years with France – would be free to paint their masterpieces on the canvas of the pitch without fear of pain or injury."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2629378/JEFF-POWELL-Michel-Platini-dislikes-rough-tumble-Premier-League-hes-trying-outlaw-old-fashioned-thunderous-tackles.html#ixzz31tWVONDE

[Gob Bluth]

FA Cup predictions? I'm going with 2-0 to Arsenal.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Arsenal fans receiving these outside of Wembley. I have a feeling the fans will **** it up but might be fun to watch nonetheless.

[Zapp Brannigan]

I'll go with 4-2 Arsenal. I think an early goal will open this one up (I hope).

[Zapp Brannigan]

I'll go with 4-2 Arsenal.  I think an early goal will open this one up (I hope).

Was kind of hoping the early goal would go to Arsenal but at least that will open things up a bit.

[The Lonely Stoner]

Very busy first 20 or so minutes, but things have calmed down now.

[Gob Bluth]

I'm so fucking sick of awful set piece defending.

[Zapp Brannigan]

I'm so fucking sick of awful set piece defending.

Yep. We'll see what these guys are made of in the second half. Ref is gonna let it stay chippy I think.

[Gob Bluth]

Yep.  We'll see what these guys are made of in the second half.  Ref is gonna let it stay chippy I think.

Lee Probert is chugging cock right now. Missed two decent penalty shouts this half. **** him.

[Gob Bluth]

**** YEAH!!!!

[Gob Bluth]

Another missed penalty shout by Probert. Cazorla got trucked and no call. **** you Probert.

[Cym Jim]

Very lucky for Arsenal. Was never a corner.

[Cym Jim]

Another missed penalty shout by Probert. Cazorla got trucked and no call. **** you Probert.

Pussy

[Gob Bluth]

Pussy

Kindly kiss the fattest part of my ass.

[Gob Bluth]

Ramsey from Giroud...wow. Just 10 more minutes.

Jim:       

[Gob Bluth]

Sanogo runs like a newborn deer.

[Cym Jim]

Such a shame if this ends the most comical run of failure in football history. . .

Wow, that wS close!

[Gob Bluth]

Mertesacker, you stupid ****! Lucky Gibbs was back there.

[Gob Bluth]

Such a shame if this ends the most comical run of failure in football history. . .

Liverpool isn't playing today.

[Cym Jim]

Amazing job Wenger! You managed not to lose to a string of Championship sides!

[Zapp Brannigan]

Amazing job Wenger! You managed not to lose to a string of Championship sides!

C'mon man, you could at least mix up your trolling a bit between the two boards. Do I have to cut and paste my response too?

[CrazySparty]

Cym Jim is probably crying in his basement. I still have no idea who what club he supports.

At any rate, COYG!!!

[Zapp Brannigan]

Forgot to say congrats to Atletico Madrid for breaking up the Barca/Real duopoly and winning La Liga.

It doesn't look good for Diego Costa (or perhaps Arda Turan) to be fit for the Champs League final, though.

[Gob Bluth]

Cym Jim is probably crying in his basement. I still have no idea who what club he supports.

At any rate, COYG!!!

I think it's Leeds, or York, or Colorado, or some other piece of shit.

[Cym Jim]

I think it's Leeds, or York, or Colorado, or some other piece of shit.

Do you think Arsenal will dare make a road to victory DVD about this season, and ignore the league campaign where you got humiliated by City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton etc? I suspect they will!




 

[CrazySparty]

Do you think Arsenal will dare make a road to victory DVD about this season, and ignore the league campaign where you got humiliated by City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton etc? I suspect they will!




 

No but I can tell you're still ignoring the question of what team you support other than rooting against Arsenal and Man U.

You must be a miserable fan. Only joy you get is out of someone else's downfall. Pathetic.

[Cym Jim]

No but I can tell you're still ignoring the question of what team you support other than rooting against Arsenal and Man U.

You must be a miserable fan. Only joy you get is out of someone else's downfall. Pathetic.

  You and Miami should go on a date! Enjoy some banter you miserable twat.

[CrazySparty]

  You and Miami should go on a date! Enjoy some banter you miserable twat.

  You still haven't said who you're a fan of

What's the matter Jim? Afraid that "banter" will get thrown right back in your face once you reveal what garbage club you support?

You must be incredibly insecure if you won't even reveal it on an anonymous message board

[CrazySparty]

ESPN E:60 feature on Qatar's World Cup and the pitiful working conditions leading to hundreds of deaths.

Blatter/FIFA, the most corrupt duo in the world, has already conceded it was a mistake to give Qatar World Cup. Really only a matter of time before it's taken away from them. Sooner the better, as the primary goal should be to save lives.

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