The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

Brewer's Friend 728
Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
WIll be a real test defensively for United with Rio and Vidic out in the back and Smalling and Wes Brown filling in. I'm hoping that Rooney's return to form continues as it has in the past weeks. I expect an exciting match. Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 United
 
I'm going to say the match will be a 2-2 draw, but Man U wins the table.......... aaaagain.

That's why I like playoffs... there is no "Big 4" (even though now it's more like the Big 2) and once the regular season is over there is an even playing field. I mean, seriously... is anybody else sick of seeing Man U win?
 
Chalk me up for not being sick of United winning... :D

But I do understand why the playoff model is popular, especially here in the States where all of our sports traditionally have them.
 
I think there are pros and cons in both a playoff and a no-playoff format. In a table format the best team always wins, it's not arguable. But, with playoffs all it takes is a team to get hot at the right time to win. That being said, playoffs make for exciting football while having a table format is pretty anti-climatic.

And yes, being a Liverpool fan of course I am sick of Man U winning all the time.
 
BertusBrew said:
I think there are pros and cons in both a playoff and a no-playoff format. In a table format the best team always wins, it's not arguable. But, with playoffs all it takes is a team to get hot at the right time to win. That being said, playoffs make for exciting football while having a table format is pretty anti-climatic.

And yes, being a Liverpool fan of course I am sick of Man U winning all the time.
Click to expand...

Fantastic points! There are definitely to going to be pros and cons of a playoff system depending on the league and personal opinions. I think the single table works well for many leagues but the playoffs seem to fit in well for MLS which isn't trying to model the "Big Boys" exactly. And, as you said, if a mediocre club makes a mad run at the end of the season because they made some big changes for the better... why shouldn't they be rewarded for that?

And the new MLS playoff format will actually reward the Supporter Shield winner (the points-leader at the end of the season.) The format works that the top 3 clubs from each conference go to playoffs, while the following top 4 (regardless of conference) play in wildcard games. The lowest-seed wildcard automatically plays the Supporter Shield winner, thus top-seed vs. lowest-seed... which probably 90% of the time will result in an "automatic" berth to the conference finals for the SS winner.
 
Reno_eNVy_446 said:
That's why I like playoffs... there is no "Big 4" (even though now it's more like the Big 2) and once the regular season is over there is an even playing field. I mean, seriously... is anybody else sick of seeing Man U win?
Click to expand...

If you have a great race, then it's better without playoffs, I think. Anyone remember Braves-Giants 1993, the last great pennant race?

Anyway, I don't know if this is a problem of no playoffs as it is of lack of competitive balance, which is what the NFL does particularly well. It's harder in European soccer because if they tried to create more parity in the EPL, the teams would be crushed in the Champions League. They're competing in different competitions at the same time, something alien to US sports.
 
McGarnigle said:
If you have a great race, then it's better without playoffs, I think. Anyone remember Braves-Giants 1993, the last great pennant race?

Anyway, I don't know if this is a problem of no playoffs as it is of lack of competitive balance, which is what the NFL does particularly well. It's harder in European soccer because if they tried to create more parity in the EPL, the teams would be crushed in the Champions League. They're competing in different competitions at the same time, something alien to US sports.
Click to expand...

Well yes, MLS has a boner for parity. And I can understand that the Champions League is a big deal so the FA says who cares, let them spend as much as they want. But there have been seasons when the winner is decided with a few weeks still to play. All competition is void (except for the desperate push to not get relegated) and ticket sales plummet. Seems like a season cut short to me.

But in response to the bolded statement, MLS clubs are no strangers to the CONCACAF Champions League... it's just that only recently have they put such a big emphasis on winning the tournament. Don't be surprised if you see Real Salt Lake in the 2011 Club World Cup.
 
Very refreshing to see a s#ccer thread that has not been trolled! :D

I've been a Southampton fan (Third tier, English league) since 1969. They used to be pretty decent, but suffered two relegations in the last few years when they nearly went broke. I agree about the promotion relegation thing though, although it can hurt, it really does make a huge difference to every match.
 
Liverpool fan for years. I loved watching yesterday. After Suarez's assist on the first goal, I jumped up and punched the ceiling by accident (curse being 6'4")...

I watched 5 games this weekend since SWMBO was out of town. By far, The two games on FSC yesterday (Liv'pool and ManUre & Spurs v Wolves) were incredible. The first because of the result, and the second because of the game.

I made it to two Philadelphia Union games last year. I'd like to make it to more this year. Although the one I went to was the exhibition against ManU, that was an interesting game.
 
Ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod!!!!!!!!!11!!!!one!!!



Only one week until First Kick!!!! My LA Galaxy go to Seattle to face the Sounders in the first game of the season. Even better for me: it'll be spring break! Gonna get druuuuuuuuuuuuunk :rockin: :mug: :drunk: :D

Actually, two matches will be enjoyed that night. While LAvSEA starts at 6:30pm Pacific Time (ESPN, ESPN3), Real Salt Lake will face Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League at 7pm (concacafchampions.com or Galavision.)

Can't wait!!!
 
Go Chicago Fire!

Like others here, I root for top European clubs too (in my case, Arsenal and Barcelona). But supporting local soccer is the best! Like Gnomey said above, he roots for a mid-tier English team - that can be a lot of fun, even if you know that the EPL or La Liga or Serie A have better talent and quality.

After making the conference championship games the previous two years, the Fire really fell off last year under a new manager. We've got a lot of new players this year and I'm anxious to see how the team develops. As long as we beat the damned New York Red Bull, its a good season :)
 
I made an effort a couple of years ago to get into MLS. I failed in the end because I just couldn't find the time or the right games on the TV schedule.

I decided to root for Chicago Fire because at that time their executive something or other was an ex Southampton Junior player.....Then they fired him, so I lost my very tenuous and fragile link to them before we bonded. :( But yeah, You always have to find a reason to follow a team, no matter how weak a reason. Just supporting the biggest, richest or best team is just not the same.

Edit: on that Subject, there is an American fan of my team on the footy forum I use that is a fan because he is from New Orleans, and the nickname for Southampton is the Saints!! That's how ya do it! Just pick a really tenuous connection! ;)
 
Laughing_Gnome_Invisible said:
I made an effort a couple of years ago to get into MLS. I failed in the end because I just couldn't find the time or the right games on the TV schedule.

I decided to root for Chicago Fire because at that time their executive something or other was an ex Southampton Junior player.....Then they fired him, so I lost my very tenuous and fragile link to them before we bonded. :( But yeah, You always have to find a reason to follow a team, no matter how weak a reason. Just supporting the biggest, richest or best team is just not the same.
Click to expand...

But rooting againstthe biggest, richest is always justified.
 
Pappers_ said:
Which is why the New York Red Bull are hated and despised by all right thinking people. Plus, they are named after a beverage. Not merely sponsored by the beverage, named after them.
Click to expand...

Pappers gets it. It's not a game, it's not a sport, it's a matter of pride, honour and death to anyone or anything that does not fit the plan. It's about beating the other bastards into the ground with a good build up and a beautifully placed ball into the corner of the net.

It's all about the feeling of win coupled with the beauty of skill.

It's not about sponsors.
 
great game between arsenal and barsa, extremely chippy, but it seems like the ref is in way over his head. i was really surprised by fabregas's mistake right in front of his own box...there's two minutes until the half, just clear the damn ball.

Edit- van persie just got sent off on a terrible second yellow. i HATE to see such a good game go down the toilet because of a bush league call. what a shame.
 
Pappers_ said:
MLS 2010 Goal of the Week compilation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJrNKPHN48
Click to expand...

"Juninho..... Juninho! JUNINHOOOOOO!! JUNINHO! He struck that one with no regards for humanity!!"

Effing love it!

But nobody compares to the commentary awesomeness that is Pablo Martinez, the dude who does MLS games on Galavision. He started the "I like that BOON-BOO-REE!" thing for Teal Bunbury. I don't speak a lick of Spanish but damnit if I don't hang off his every word.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fRBFhOr_yXs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
I've been playing a lot of keeper lately so those "save of the weeks" are far more fun to watch. Maybe I can try out some of those moves tonight :)
 
Laughing_Gnome_Invisible said:
It's not about sponsors.
Click to expand...

It's at least as much about sponsors as other sports. As much as Americans are criticized for commercializing everything, Soccer shows the rest of the world isn't shy about it either.

And as much as I dislike Red Bulls as a nickname, I'm not crazy about DC United (note: Man U's nickname isn't United), Fire, Crew, Revolution, Dynamo or Galaxy (again, a misunderstanding that English soccer nicknames are usually singular), and Real Salt Lake (what's royal about Utah?).

San Jose Earthquakes...now that's a good name.
 
StandEight said:
Man it was so depressing seeing Barcelona win today. What a joke of red card that was!
Click to expand...

I didn't see it - someone told me he got the first yellow for dribbling and shooting after being called for offsides, and then the second for arguing the first. Is that right? If so, it seems like it was both a bad call and a horrible play by Van Persie.
 
Pappers_ said:
I didn't see it - someone told me he got the first yellow for dribbling and shooting after being called for offsides, and then the second for arguing the first. Is that right? If so, it seems like it was both a bad call and a horrible play by Van Persie.
Click to expand...

His first yellow came from trying to take a swipe (punching) Danny Alves in the head. Which actually could have been a red card. The second card was for taking a shot on goal after the off side whistle was blown. But honestly it was literally a second after the whistle and theres a 90% chance he didn't even hear it with all the noise going on.

Either way Arsenal was down to 10 men at the 55' or something like that. No shot your beating Barcelona at home with a man down.

Cheers,
Brad
 
StandEight said:
His first yellow came from trying to take a swipe (punching) Danny Alves in the head. Which actually could have been a red card. The second card was for taking a shot on goal after the off side whistle was blown. But honestly it was literally a second after the whistle and theres a 90% chance he didn't even hear it with all the noise going on.

Either way Arsenal was down to 10 men at the 55' or something like that. No shot your beating Barcelona at home with a man down.

Cheers,
Brad
Click to expand...

And they didn't even have to beat Barsa, they just needed to not lose by more than 1, right? Very disappointing for Arsenal fans . . .
 
McGarnigle said:
It's at least as much about sponsors as other sports. As much as Americans are criticized for commercializing everything, Soccer shows the rest of the world isn't shy about it either.
Click to expand...

I agree. What I meant is that it's not about sponsors from the fan's perspective.

My team celebrates their 125th anniversary this year. The team are playing the season in a version of their original colours WITHOUT sponsors names. It was greatly appreciated by the fans, especially as spornsorhip is so dominant these days.. Ironically, it won the club an award from the league as the best sales gimmick. :eek: That was genuinely not their intent. It was a genuine gesture from our new and sadly deceased billionaire owner.
 
Reno_eNVy_446 said:
soundsandsuds: Nice, was really hoping to draw one of you Canucks in ;) How long have you been a Caps fan? And on a side note, BC Place is going to be sick.
Click to expand...


I've been a fan for a long time with stretches where I wasn't keeping track, going to the occasional game and keeping track of their seasons over the last 5 or 6 years. They've been going for a long time now. Can't wait for the new season to start.

http://thesoccerroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/vancouver-whitecaps-nasl-logo.gif

I'm a big fan of the classic jerseys and a bit bummed that, since their entry into the mls, they don't sell them any more.
 
Cool article posted on MLSsoccer.com

Top 5 all-time MLS tifo

And though this article I found the most amazing tifo ever. From South Korea:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QxY9FUyIpso" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That has to be a professional troupe.
 

Similar threads

Reno_eNVy
The World Cup Approacheth
19 20 21
Replies
828
Views
33K
Gremlyn
Gremlyn
U
If nothing else, be a USA soccer fan today...
Replies
20
Views
2K
Laughing_Gnome_Invisible
Laughing_Gnome_Invisible
Yakima 300

Latest posts

Back
Top