The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[hopstupid]

Never have I been so happy for Chelsea winning. Sends my Gunners to the top of the table!

alot of good that was

 

[Grannyknot]

that Liverpool game was brutal.

 

[soccerdad]

Never turn your back on the Liverpudlians

 

[aygov]

I'm beginning to think Wenger is a troll.

A weak United side at home... I'll just leave Podolski on the bench the whole game. It's not like we needed to score or anything.

 

[danielofthedale]

The president of our supporters group was interviewed today by MLS Extra Time Radio and we don't even have an MLS team. So I figure that if they Re going to talk to the president of a supporters in a city with no team then we must be getting a team soon!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The president of our supporters group was interviewed today by MLS Extra Time Radio and we don't even have an MLS team. So I figure that if they Re going to talk to the president of a supporters in a city with no team then we must be getting a team soon!

Yeah, Atlanta has been under consideration for a while now. I'd love to see more MLS representation in the SE and going from zero to (potentially) three in one year would be huge.

 

[Punity]

Another year to watch Seattle toy with me.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[Grannyknot]

This is an embarrassment to the game.

https://vine.co/v/MKJMTUlMiHI

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I started two MLS Fantasy leagues this year, one Classic and one Head-to-Head. With the new rules implemented this year, Fantasy should be really fun.

I propose that if we can get a decent number of people in a league, we should actually play for something. Maybe winner gets a bottle of homebrew from the losers. Or maybe brewing gift cards, etc. Just a thought.

Go to fantasy.mlssoccer.com and make a team. Then choose "Leagues" and choose to join a private league. Then enter the codes below:

HBT Classic: 2212-2232
HBT Head-to-Head: 2212-2233

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Best goal of the preseason (though there were some other really impressive ones. Check them out here)

Claudio Bieler with an unreal volley.

And the season starts in five days! WOOOOOOOO

 

[HoppyDaze]

Ha!

 

[aygov]

Freaking ball boys....

I understand being partisan and all that, but your whole job is to quickly replace a ball that has gone out of play. Not try in your own little way to gain advantage for your team. They should send them all to the Milford School! (Arrested Development reference FYI)

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The season officially starts in three hours!

MATCHDAY, MOFOS!

 

[lgilmore]

enjoyed my Seattle KC match. Seattle's roster revamped, we'll see how the rest of it goes.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Huge day for US Soccer. Julian Green put in for a one time exception transfer to the US. He was cap tied to Germany and made the full commitment to the US. Unless FIFA blocks it for some reason, the US just added an impressively gifted winger. One who may just crack the WC squad despite his youth and not playing with the team much. He is set to train before the game against Mexico. Personally I'd name him to the roster. Imagine the pace and ability to stretch a defense we could have with Shea and Green. Teams wouldn't know what to do with us.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

WOO! Yeah I'm very excited about the prospects of what Green could do for the USMNT. I hope we get to see him in the upcoming friendlies.

 

[BrewKnurd]

Huge day for US Soccer. Julian Green put in for a one time exception transfer to the US. He was cap tied to Germany and made the full commitment to the US. Unless FIFA blocks it for some reason, the US just added an impressively gifted winger. One who may just crack the WC squad despite his youth and not playing with the team much. He is set to train before the game against Mexico. Personally I'd name him to the roster. Imagine the pace and ability to stretch a defense we could have with Shea and Green. Teams wouldn't know what to do with us.

My personal guess is that if Green makes the roster, it's at Shea's expense.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Sad news today on the US soccer front, Cherundolo is calling it a career

My personal guess is that if Green makes the roster, it's at Shea's expense.

Entirely possible, I'd hope Klinsmann would realize that Shea aside from Green would be the only player on the bench who can stretch the field.

Our attacking mid/striker options (which may be at least 10 spots) has locks of Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore, and Zusi. Likely locks of Johannson and Eddie Johnson. If there are 10 spots going to that portion of the roster you have a battle for the final 4 spots. You have Green, Shea, Gomez, Boyd, and Wondo fighting for those last few spots.

What would throw a wrench in Shea's chances are if Klinsmann goes def or cdm heavy and carries say Beckerman, Mix, and Klestjan on the bench or goes with 8+ defenders. Or the other one being if he views Fabian as a mid and he moves into that backup attacking mid group. Pushing him or Zusi to the bench.

 

[BrewKnurd]

So there's 23 spots, and in my estimation, the following are pretty well locks:
Keeper - Howard, Guzan, Rimando
Defenders - Gonzales, Besler, Evans, Beasley, Goodson, Cameron
Midfield - Bradley, Jones, Zusi, Donovan, Dempsey, F Johnson
Forwards - Altidore, Johannson

So that's 17, 6 spots to fill. Gotta assume at least 1 more defender in the bunch. Maybe parkhurst? Klinsi seems to like him and he's versatile. At midfield, you need a backup in central mid, unless you want to count on Cameron to do that, which is an option, but then you'd better add another defender if you're counting on Cameron as fill in at midfield. So I assume cameron is not considered CM backup, and then someone like Beckerman is gonna be there. So we're down to 4 sports to fill with some assortment of:

Bedoya
Mix
Boyd
Gomez
E Johnson
Shea
Green
Corona
Klejstan

I can't, in picking 4 from those 9, say that Shea makes sense if you have Green along. Either of them is likely to be used only as a change of pace guy at the end of the game, and I can't justify carrying two of those guys relative to what you'd leave behind. Just my thoughts. I've given up on kidding myself that i have any idea what Klinsi is going to do.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

That's a great looking selection. Add EJ to that and I could see that being our main 18. I don't see him starting but if Klinsey keeps an eye on him when he's hot, EJ can be an explosive sub.

As far as filling in the rest of the spots:
Bedoya
Mix
Boyd
Corona
Parkhurst

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

My 23 man would be

Starters

GK Howard
LB - Fabian
CBs - Besler Gonzalez
RB - Beasley (can swap him and Johnson)
CDMs - Bradley and Jones
LAM - Landycakes
RAM - Zusi
CF - Dempsey
ST - Altidore

Backup GK - Guzan and Rimando
Buckup DF - Cameron, Goodson, Evans (though he's a big maybe)
Backup CDM - Mix (you can also put Cameron there)
Backup CAM - Shea, Green, Bedoya
Backup ST - Johannson and Eddie Johnson.

That leaves me 1 shy, I'm not sure which way I'd go. I'd probably bring Parkhurst or Chandler (if he's in form, he should be on the team) but I may go with Beckerman but I really don't like him. He's good as a cleanup guy, but he is horrible in possession. Seems like every other touch of him results in a turnover.

Basically your backup CDM is Cameron and Goodson, Evans backs up RB or LB, Mix and Cameron cover the CDMs, Zusi being an emergency cover back there if something catastrophic happens. Bedoya I see being primarily as a replacement for Jones/Bradley when we need more offense. Love his hustle but if we pull Donovan or Zusi, for me I'd want someone with pace who can fly down the wing and create havoc. Johannson and Johnson backup Dempsey and Jozy. Donovan can also rotate in there, Green can probably rotate around in there as well. Bedoya can go in for Jozy or Dempsey if we have a lead and want to go more defensive as well.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Also, I have to say it's incredibly refreshing (and exciting) to see people expect and want so many MLSers on the squad. Every 23 I've seen assembled has at least 6 domestic players.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Also, I have to say it's incredibly refreshing (and exciting) to see people expect and want so many MLSers on the squad. Every 23 I've seen assembled has at least 6 domestic players.

Bradley and Dempsey moving to MLS helps that.

I think Gonzalez and Besler are soon to move out of MLS, after world cup guys who play strong get noticed. Last WC it was Ozil and Khedira who busted out and Real went hunting them. Kagawa was another one who got more notice and moved to Dortmund. I think one of both of them will get some attention and move to the Bundesliga or lower premier league team will buy them up. Also think there's a chance some team may make a move for Zusi but I think he's happy in MLS.

 

[Grannyknot]

All MLS teams have been knocked out of CCL....
What needs to change?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

All MLS teams have been knocked out of CCL....
What needs to change?

I'd like to see more preseason friendlies to get fit. We're going up against mid season fit clubs.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I'd like to see more preseason friendlies to get fit. We're going up against mid season fit clubs.

They could just go and match Europe's schedule, would make many things better.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

They could just go and match Europe's schedule, would make many things better.

I just can't see that happening. There are too many MLS cities that have crap weather in the winter. I feel like we'd have way too many cancelled matches.

Also, I'd rather not have to compete with the NFL. Not that there's any comparison: handegg holds the nations eyes. But the schedule we have now gives the audience professional soccer where there aren't many other options which, IMMHO, can help draw in the casual fan or the anti-MLSer.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

MLS season runs parallel to Baseball and on the bookends of NBA, NHL and NFL. There's like a 2 month period where they don't have NBA, NHL, and NFL.

ANd MLS doesn't compete with those sports. That said, the weather is a concern. But you can adjust the schedule, and snow soccer is fun.

 

[lgilmore]

The MLS season is fine as it is. It's growing domestically and the numbers continue to improve. They don't need to compete for space and time with the NFL and College football. Yes, there is some overlap, but some overlap is still much more favorable than complete overlap.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

The MLS season is fine as it is. It's growing domestically and the numbers continue to improve. They don't need to compete for space and time with the NFL and College football. Yes, there is some overlap, but some overlap is still much more favorable than complete overlap.

MLS season runs from the beginning of march til the end of October, which is the entire MLB season pretty much. If they ran from say October to May you start out fighting MLB and NFL, but by the time the playoffs come around you just have NHL and NBA to fight with. You also are added to the February vacuum of no MLB or NFL.

I can see arguments for both sides, but I think for the international level it's better to replicate the other leagues.