Soccer Thread 2013-14

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Interestingly, FA cup games used to go to infinite replays, wasn't that uncommon to play 3/4 times before getting the result which really made the scheduling interesting.

I remember that - it was AWESOME

Nothing like two teams playing each other 4-5 times within a 2-3 week period ... and this was back in the day when team squads were far smaller so players used to regularly play 50+ games a season without a sniff of complaint about there being too many games ....

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

That'd be a really bad idea. MLS needs exposure. I think doing a final in December during NBA/NHL/College Football season is a bigger sin than having playoffs.

Besides, why leave revenue on the table in the interest of purity or replace the title with a "cup" that no one cares about and isn't the championship. That won't fly here. Maybe in 100 years when soccer can somehow elevate past baseball or something one of the three major sports in the US.

But Supporters Shield is a fine Presidents Trophy replicant that came from the fans and got adopted by the league.

I'm just saying me personally, not advocating that everyone should have to. It might make me less aggrivated, and lord knows, anything I can do to be less aggrivated is a good idea.

[miami_fan]

Man United defender Rio Ferdinand raises questions over David Moyes' methods - ESPN FC

Good to see that it is not just the "foreign" managers (Capello, AVB) who get the knife from the players when the losses start to build.

[DaddyTorgo]

So I wanted to go home and watch the stream of today's game from home so I could react and all.

But I held off because my partner was supposed to be coming in to the office and we had some stuff we were working on together.

Just got an email from him (5 mins before kickoff) that he's stuck at the dentists and won't be coming in.

Grrr

#firstworldproblems

[DaddyTorgo]

LMAO - hail in Istanbul. Match suspended first, then refs decide to postpone it.

Hilarious.

@Erdogan - Kurdish terrorists used a snow machine to postpone our nation's victory over Italian attackers.

[sovereignstar v2]

Nice to beat Bayern in Munich without Kompany, Yaya Toure, or Sergio Aguero.

[JetsIn06]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Nice to beat Bayern in Munich without Kompany, Yaya Toure, or Sergio Aguero.

Yea. We looked fucking terrible to start the game...I was really worried we were in for a beating. Would have loved to get that 4th goal though.

[SirFozzie]

Stand Back, DT's head to explode in 5...4...3...2..1...

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Stand Back, DT's head to explode in 5...4...3...2..1...

Don't poke the bear. Seriously.

I don't know how I'm managing to contain not fucking exploding at work.

That being said - they have no one to blame but themselves. They can't blame the conditions (which were shit) for dropping easy points earlier in the group. And playing a 3-5-2 when Gala clearly needed a win, in those conditions, was stupid. They didn't deserve to go through.

Big financial hit though, that's the most worrisome.

[DaddyTorgo]

Bit of good news for a change

U.S. Soccer and Jurgen Klinnsman have agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him in his role as head coach of the USMNT through 2018.

[whomario]

Dortmund with a nerve-wrecking game at Marseille, never a dull game

Awesome to see Großkreutz score the winner, imo he´s one of the most amazing stories in all of soccer. Decently talented striker, local kid, gets his training early at Dortmund, stands on the yellow wall as a fan. Does so even after switching clubs after being told that he´s not good enough and playing professionally at another 2nd bundesliga club. Then comes back, is immediately the local hero and ever since then embodies everything that the fans in this region look for.

Guy has literally played every single position for Dortmund. He´s played all midfield spots, strike, wing back, even goal keeper in a game. Runs like crazy, plays super agressive yet smart, has an amazing soccer IQ and nearly allways does the right thing.

You can really apreciate him even more when watching a game in the stadium, he does so many things you never get to see on TV : Closing down players that will get the ball a few seconds later, making that great run that draws the defender with him. All that stuff that´s important but the TV angle doesn´t show you.

[DaddyTorgo]

In addition to an extension, Klinsmann was also given the role of technical director, which will give him more control over youth development as well as the senior side.

WOO

[sovereignstar v2]

We're Manchester City and we score when we want.

[sovereignstar v2]

Very good match for the neutral. Excellent match for a City fan.

City 6, Arsenal 3

[sovereignstar v2]

The invisible man decided not to applaud the away fans. Oops!

@LandOfOzil's post on Vine

[sovereignstar v2]

Referee Mike Jones making a meal in today's Newcastle-Southampton matchup:

[Desnudo]

Even the refs are fakers

[SirFozzie]

I dunno, seemed to be pretty legit at least from shock

edit: Considering he had a bloody nose from the whack, I think some folks owe him an apology.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Referee Mike Jones making a meal in today's Newcastle-Southampton matchup:

Kudo's to the ref actually - he didn't even card the player as he realised the contact was unintentional.

[JetsIn06]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Very good match for the neutral. Excellent match for a City fan.

City 6, Arsenal 3

Big, big, big win, and a hell of a fun game to watch. Have you seen any updates on Aguero's injury? Was nice to see Fernandhino get into the action with two goals, Kompany looked really good to me also.

[Grover]

Liverpool looking fantastic.

Holtby's chance for Spurs has to go wanting now. He should have made it 1-1.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

Very good match for the neutral. Excellent match for a City fan.

City 6, Arsenal 3

Wegner should have realized his tactics were all wrong for this game and made an adjustment to try and choke the midfield and slow the tempo.

I'm very curious to see how they bounce back at the Emirates next week.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

AVB out

[bulletsponge]

no surprise if its true.

[Grover]

This is a massive mistake over the long-term for Spuds.

Curious to see who replaces AVB.

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

no surprise if its true.

It's definitely true I read it on tottenhamhotspur.com

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news...s-boas-161213/

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Kudo's to the ref actually - he didn't even card the player as he realised the contact was unintentional.

I think he just forgot who it was. And who he was. And where he was. And what he was doing there.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Grover

This is a massive mistake over the long-term for Spuds.

Curious to see who replaces AVB.

I'm amazed they sacked him - yes they've had a few bad results, but they also are reshaping the team and that takes time ... if you look at their league position they're not in an awful situation at all.

[Sublime 2]

Originally Posted by Grover

This is a massive mistake over the long-term for Spuds.

Curious to see who replaces AVB.

Agreed, really wish Levy gave him a longer leash.

One name I read was Capello FWIW.

[saldana]

Originally Posted by JetsIn06

Big, big, big win, and a hell of a fun game to watch. Have you seen any updates on Aguero's injury? Was nice to see Fernandhino get into the action with two goals, Kompany looked really good to me also.

some sort of calf injury, looks like it is going to be a month

[SirFozzie]

Fox Sports Nets UEFA Champions, Europa League Renewals | Cable Television News | Broadcast Syndication | Programming | Multichannel.com

Fox retains UEFA Champions League and Europa league through 2017-18.

[Alan T]

Round of 16 Champions League draw:

Manchester City FC (ENG) v FC Barcelona (ESP)
Olympiacos FC (GRE) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
AC Milan (ITA) v Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) v Chelsea FC (ENG)
FC Schalke 04 (GER) v Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Zenit (RUS) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG) v FC Bayern München (GER)

[Marc Vaughan]

Reasonable draw for Chelsea and Man Utd - the rest of the British clubs have very tough matches.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Reasonable draw for Chelsea and Man Utd - the rest of the British clubs have very tough matches.

Both Man City and Arsenal had in their ability the chance to have much easier draws but Arsenal's loss in their final group game and Man City not scoring another in theirs did them in.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Both Man City and Arsenal had in their ability the chance to have much easier draws but Arsenal's loss in their final group game and Man City not scoring another in theirs did them in.

True enough - it could also obviously be argued that if a team can't beat the likes of Bayern or Barcelona they won't ultimately win the competition anyway ...

(I also think any club which has got this far can 'on their day' beat most of the others in the draw ...)

[law90026]

Arsenal vs Bayern will be incredibly tough though they did get a good result last year and the team is also stronger this year. Who knows what could happen, especially if Wenger strengthens in Jan.

[Marc Vaughan]

This could really change the fact of soccer if it goes through - although as I understand it the Spanish style fee payments to break contracts would still be legal, so I expect they'd just proliferate throughout the other leagues ...

FIFA Pro Challenges soccer transfer system

[SirFozzie]

Luiz Suarez, he of the new contract, scores yet another stunning goal to put 'Pool up against Cadiff, whose fans are revolting (insert joke here about how this is no change) about the owner trying to fire the manager.

[Marc Vaughan]

Good match up in Arsenal vs Chelsea today - Referee was atrocious and robbed Arsenal of a penalty (and arguably Chelsea should also have been down to ten men fairly early on) ... but it was a good solid performance by both sides and a draw was probably fair (ignoring the above issues).

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Good match up in Arsenal vs Chelsea today - Referee was atrocious and robbed Arsenal of a penalty (and arguably Chelsea should also have been down to ten men fairly early on) ... but it was a good solid performance by both sides and a draw was probably fair (ignoring the above issues).

Guess it's easy to ignore above issues when it isn't the team you cheer for. Clear cut penalty not called, clear cut red card not called. Another could have been red challenge wasn't even booked as a foul either.

It was a disgusting joke by a ref who shouldn't ever ref another Arsenal match again. Not the first time I've seen this clown take away an Arsenal win and I'm sure it won't be the last. It was a damned disgrace.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Guess it's easy to ignore above issues when it isn't the team you cheer for. Clear cut penalty not called, clear cut red card not called. Another could have been red challenge wasn't even booked as a foul either.

It was a disgusting joke by a ref who shouldn't ever ref another Arsenal match again. Not the first time I've seen this clown take away an Arsenal win and I'm sure it won't be the last. It was a damned disgrace.

Err I did pretty much say all that in my post - but outside of those incidents the match was fairly even imho.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Err I did pretty much say all that in my post - but outside of those incidents the match was fairly even imho.

I know you did, and I don't mean to take it out on you, but this guy has screwed Arsenal consistently. And seeing the words "outside of Arsenal being screwed twice, it was a good match" is just something I can't do.

All the crap Arsenal get for not being able to win the "big" games and to actually have a game won and ripped from you because of a ref who has done this to Arsenal about 10 times now? Just gutting. Just gutting.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I know you did, and I don't mean to take it out on you, but this guy has screwed Arsenal consistently. And seeing the words "outside of Arsenal being screwed twice, it was a good match" is just something I can't do.

All the crap Arsenal get for not being able to win the "big" games and to actually have a game won and ripped from you because of a ref who has done this to Arsenal about 10 times now? Just gutting. Just gutting.

Yea, this clown is an atrocious referee.

Gunners have only won 3 out of 21 games where is has been in charge. Seems a little out of balance.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Yea, this clown is an atrocious referee.

Gunners have only won 3 out of 21 games where is has been in charge. Seems a little out of balance.

Or is it because he gets a high proportion of the big games, and Arsenal haven't been good enough to win the big games for quite a few years now?

In real time the Walcott penalty incident didn't look like a pen, it's only when slowed down it looked worse - yes he was kicked and it was a foul, but the kick shouldn't have made him go down - because he did go to ground made it look like a dive.

The challenge on Arteta just before it though looked terible in real time and on replay, and was a definite red card. (If Mikel had gotten to the ball first, Arteta would likely have left one on Mikel too - both went in with studs up, but the fact that Mikel was late too means it should have been red)

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by AlexB

Or is it because he gets a high proportion of the big games, and Arsenal haven't been good enough to win the big games for quite a few years now?

In real time the Walcott penalty incident didn't look like a pen, it's only when slowed down it looked worse - yes he was kicked and it was a foul, but the kick shouldn't have made him go down - because he did go to ground made it look like a dive.

The challenge on Arteta just before it though looked terible in real time and on replay, and was a definite red card. (If Mikel had gotten to the ball first, Arteta would likely have left one on Mikel too - both went in with studs up, but the fact that Mikel was late too means it should have been red)

No, that looked like a penalty in real time, post time, fake time, space time continuum and any other "time" you want to look at it.

The red was a red and another no doubter. Individually, yeah, tough break, things happen. Both not called? He may as well have held a gun to Arsens head and demanded 2 points.

As for big games, it's really difficult to win a big game when you get screwed on any close call. I can show you 3 penalties this asshat called against Arsenal in "big games" where they weren't even fouls much less penalties.

I know, I sound psychotic, but after I see this crap happen time and time and time again with this clown, I'm over it. There is no doubt in my mind if Arteta would have been late and did what he did, it would have been a straight red no questions asked.

[cartman]

Dempsey is back at Fulham on a two month loan.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by TroyF

No, that looked like a penalty in real time, post time, fake time, space time continuum and any other "time" you want to look at it.

The red was a red and another no doubter. Individually, yeah, tough break, things happen. Both not called? He may as well have held a gun to Arsens head and demanded 2 points.

As for big games, it's really difficult to win a big game when you get screwed on any close call. I can show you 3 penalties this asshat called against Arsenal in "big games" where they weren't even fouls much less penalties.

I know, I sound psychotic, but after I see this crap happen time and time and time again with this clown, I'm over it. There is no doubt in my mind if Arteta would have been late and did what he did, it would have been a straight red no questions asked.

The way the ref was calling the first half, it would have been a foul but no card if Arteta did the same thing - Mikel's tackle was the worst of the half, but if Riley wasn't carrying "let the players play" to the point of absurdity then Arsenal also would have had several bookings. Tomas Rosicky knocked Azpilicueta flying by the touchline, walked away unbooked, then got a yellow in the second half - although the later yellow was for the sort of tackle that should have been a last warning rather than a red if he was already booked.

Hell, on the tackle you're complaining about, both players were going in for the ball and arriving at the same time with their feet at the same height. Mikel caught Arteta rather than the other way round by a tiny fraction of a second. That does make a difference, but not enough to justify a red to Mikel and no card to Arteta. Unfortunately, refs never seem to handle challenges where both players are going in dangerously very well.

[sovereignstar v2]

Mike Dean was the referee fyi.

[Katon]

. . . point. Why does the Premiership have so many dodgy refs named Mike?

[kingfc22]

A very ugly first 68 minutes has turned into a great last 5 minutes. Need to hold on to get three points with all the other contenders winning thus far.