The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[Reno_eNVy]

Anyone ever told you you look like someone?

Tim Howard?

Nah, nah, you know who you look like? The goalkeeper for Everton.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Speaking of Tim Howard, he is taking a 1 year hiatus from US Soccer. Thankfully he's not retiring yet. Hopefully he'll be around for the next World Cup.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Speaking of Tim Howard, he is taking a 1 year hiatus from US Soccer. Thankfully he's not retiring yet. Hopefully he'll be around for the next World Cup.

I'm not going to panic.... I'm not going to panic. He's probably just bogged down and wants to focus on the club side. There are capable backups.Brad Guzan is just as good but Timmy get's the start because he is only that hair-widths better. I'mtotallynotworriedthathewilldecidedtoretireafterthatyear. DO I LOOK LIKE I'M PANICKING?!

 

[Punity]

Tim Howard?

Nah, nah, you know who you look like? The goalkeeper for Everton.

Big son of bitch

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I'm not going to panic.... I'm not going to panic. He's probably just bogged down and wants to focus on the club side. There are capable backups.Brad Guzan is just as good but Timmy get's the start because he is only that hair-widths better. I'mtotallynotworriedthathewilldecidedtoretireafterthatyear. DO I LOOK LIKE I'M PANICKING?!

The bummer is Timmy won't be around for the GOld Cup. Basically he's taking th etime off to spend time with his family. He's been doing this game for a long time so I can dig wanting to take a little bit of a break. I actually take this as potentially a good sign. As he isn't just outright retiring meaning he will stick around as long as he's competitive for 2018.

Guzan should be more than fine as a filler. WIll also be nice to get a look at how Hamid and Johnson handle international competition as they're likely 2018 candidates as well. And maybe even a look at Cody Cropper who made the Ukraine friendly roster. I like Cropper a lot from the bit I've seen of him on the Southampton U-21 team last year. Would probably be a stretch for him in 2018, but I think 2022 he may be the guy. Hamid still doesn't amaze me, Johnson I think is our best bet for the future. But Guzan is still really good right now. He's just no Howard.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Well deserved break for Timmay

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I think it should be stressed that Timmy was given the blessing to do this by Klinsmann. This isn't like Landon's sabbatical. Given Klinsmann's eye to the future I expect him to use a lot of keepers and in a way he probably considers this a blessing as now Guzan gets to be tested under the fire of the Gold Cup.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I think it should be stressed that Timmy was given the blessing to do this by Klinsmann. This isn't like Landon's sabbatical. Given Klinsmann's eye to the future I expect him to use a lot of keepers and in a way he probably considers this a blessing as now Guzan gets to be tested under the fire of the Gold Cup.

Plus I'd like to see more from Rimando (yes he's older but still could have a few more years with the Yanks) as well as continue to work the younger ones like Johnson and Hamid. Both are just loaded with pure talent.

 

[FlyDoctor]

Somehow, I think Klinsmann won't be as negative about Howard's sabbatical than he was about Landy's


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Somehow, I think Klinsmann won't be as negative about Howard's sabbatical than he was about Landy's


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

He wasn't if you saw my post he was given his blessing. Jurgen probably gave his blessing to test out his next crop of keepers.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Soooo Jermaine Jones is going to New England. And for some reason the allocation order means dick for him, even though the policy has been Yanks joining the league have to go through the order. MLS be MLSin'

From the article:

Jones, as a designated player of a certain threshold, was not subject to allocation ranking for dispersal to an MLS team. The Revolution and Fire expressed an interest in Jones, and had the available salary budget and a designated player slot to accommodate him. Following a blind draw between the two clubs, Jones was assigned to the Revolution.

 

[aygov]

Soooo Jermaine Jones is going to New England. And for some reason the allocation order means dick for him, even though the policy has been Yanks joining the league have to go through the order. MLS be MLSin'

From the article:

See this is part of my frustration with MLS.

Apparently the fire lodged initial interest and were working on getting him over. Jones preferred Chicago. MLS get involved and have to run his name through the league. Revolution are interested and tick the requisite boxes. MLS tell Jones they can't guarantee a destination if multiple teams are interested. Jones balks because he wants to go to Chicago. MLS ups the ante and guarantees his salary at either destination provided he drops the demand to go to Chicago. Jones does and Revolution win the draw...

So the Fire wanted Jones and Jones wanted the Fire but because it's MLS he ends up in New England. Can anyone explain this to me?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

See this is part of my frustration with MLS.

Apparently the fire lodged initial interest and were working on getting him over. Jones preferred Chicago. MLS get involved and have to run his name through the league. Revolution are interested and tick the requisite boxes. MLS tell Jones they can't guarantee a destination if multiple teams are interested. Jones balks because he wants to go to Chicago. MLS ups the ante and guarantees his salary at either destination provided he drops the demand to go to Chicago. Jones does and Revolution win the draw...

So the Fire wanted Jones and Jones wanted the Fire but because it's MLS he ends up in New England. Can anyone explain this to me?

MLS be MLSin'

See:
- Donovan to LA (though I'm not complaining about that)
- The sudden shift to Yanks having to go through allocation order
- "Discovery Rights"
- The sudden shift to some Yanks having to go through allocation order
- "If you're going to join the league as an expansion team you must have a comprehensive stadium plan in place.... except you, NYCFC."
- etc.
- etc.
- etc.
- et al


Don't get me wrong, I love the league and sometimes I don't care that they fudge the rules (i.e. as stated above Landy to LA, as well as the DP rule) if it results in a better on-field product.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Wouldn't be an issue if the sport was open to new ideas. Something different might offend the 'true' constituency which they can't seem to separate from. Evolve already. You have the attention, now use it. May not be the best idea ever but ignoring primitive standards for the sake of fanfare is what makes american sports unique and popular/profitable

 

[soccerdad]

The committee on Equity and Balance has determined that if a player on one team gets injured, a player of roughly equal caliber on each of the other teams shall be injured. Tonya Harding will be in charge of this committee and her people will use the official, branded MLS baton to enact "treatment."

 

[aygov]

MLS be MLSin'

See:
- Donovan to LA (though I'm not complaining about that)
- The sudden shift to Yanks having to go through allocation order
- "Discovery Rights"
- The sudden shift to some Yanks having to go through allocation order
- "If you're going to join the league as an expansion team you must have a comprehensive stadium plan in place.... except you, NYCFC."
- etc.
- etc.
- etc.
- et al


Don't get me wrong, I love the league and sometimes I don't care that they fudge the rules (i.e. as stated above Landy to LA, as well as the DP rule) if it results in a better on-field product.

Yea, I like the league to, but involving an envelope draw in determining where a player lands doesn't project the greatest image of MLS. I mean, you already have salary caps and designated player spots in place. Why the need to try to level the transfer playing field further by running weird arbitrary schemes to place new designated players. If a team has the salary space and the DP spot available then that should be enough. If you have 2 teams with the salary and the DP spot available then it should be down to who can offer the player a better deal or who they'd prefer to join.

 

[Grannyknot]

First off, so I don't hurt feelings, I enjoy watching some MLS games.
But I often feel like the policies of MLS are similar to playing soccer with my 3 year old son. Everyone gets a turn to score a goal, and if someone is having trouble scoring a goal, the goalie has to move out of the way.

 

[aygov]

First off, so I don't hurt feelings, I enjoy watching some MLS games.
But I often feel like the policies of MLS are similar to playing soccer with my 3 year old son. Everyone gets a turn to score a goal, and if someone is having trouble scoring a goal, the goalie has to move out of the way.

I think we're seeing policies still in place to protect teams and a league just trying to get on its feet that aren't necessarily needed anymore. The everyone gets a turn thing helps at the beginning to spread the wealth so you don't end up with some power teams while others whither and die on the vine.

 

[kingwood-kid]

Yea, I like the league to, but involving an envelope draw in determining where a player lands doesn't project the greatest image of MLS.

If frozen envelopes are good enough for David Stern and Patrick Ewing, then they're good enough for Jermaine Jones and the MLS. I don't mind leagues trying to achieve parity or dynasties or whatever is good for the league. However, I do believe in the rule of law and in a minimum of rules, so just making things up as you go along offends me. Especially when it's for a soon-to-be 33-year-old holding midfielder.

 

[Grannyknot]

I've just recently acquired Fox Sports 2, so I think I'm going to start following some of the Concacaf champions league.
Last night I watched NYRB vs. FAS. Have to say I was a bit surprised at how empty the stadium was.

Anyway, the CCL looks pretty interesting. I like the method of seeding for the knockout rounds.
It looks like scheduling & travel is a major conflict. Some teams have already played 3 games while another in the group has only played 1.

I love Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014–15_CONCACAF_Champions_League

 

[Reno_eNVy]

First off, so I don't hurt feelings, I enjoy watching some MLS games.
But I often feel like the policies of MLS are similar to playing soccer with my 3 year old son. Everyone gets a turn to score a goal, and if someone is having trouble scoring a goal, the goalie has to move out of the way.

I think we're seeing policies still in place to protect teams and a league just trying to get on its feet that aren't necessarily needed anymore. The everyone gets a turn thing helps at the beginning to spread the wealth so you don't end up with some power teams while others whither and die on the vine.

I think the push for parity is still a necessity. At the very least, until we hit 24 teams and (likely) stay at that number for a while.

But changing USMNT allocation rules isn't a way to do it, IMMHO.

 

[hopstupid]

I think the push for parity is still a necessity. At the very least, until we hit 24 teams and (likely) stay at that number for a while.

But changing USMNT allocation rules isn't a way to do it, IMMHO.

sounds like communism to me comrade

 

[BrewKnurd]

I think the push for parity is still a necessity. At the very least, until we hit 24 teams and (likely) stay at that number for a while.

But changing USMNT allocation rules isn't a way to do it, IMMHO.

Seems like the league should set its salary cap/DP rules/international spots/whatever other roster rules it wants, and then get out of the way. Make everyone play under the same set of rules, but leave it up to the individual owners (or investment operators as I guess they actually are) to do what they want within those rules.

 

[Grannyknot]

Suppose chatting about the UCL draw is off-limits as it would be the epitome of euro snobbery??

 

[hopstupid]

With the strikers arsenal have left now you don't have to worry about being a snob. Go for it!


"Most Arsenal Injury Ever"

http://gfycat.com/SarcasticColossalAcouchi

 

[Grannyknot]

pipe down plastic man.
go bake yaya toure a birthday cake or something.

 

[hopstupid]

Please Arsenal has a midget midfield would take 2-3 of them to equal one yaya, even if he is a drama queen.

Flamini & Arteta are your defensive midfielders.

 

[aygov]

This Chelsea game is mental!

5 goals in 11:15....

 

[soccerdad]

I named my kids: Gris-Gris, Gumbo, and Ya-Ya. That was long before anyone had heard of Toure.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Hey don't forget to check out the final for the NSWL between Seattle and Kansas City.

It's on ESPN2 at 12 PT. It'll give you a chance to get familiar with a lot of players you'll see at the 2015 WWC. And I'm really hoping we get a women's league that sticks.