The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[Reno_eNVy]

Yeah apparently you can foul almost every time you get beat, roll around like you've been shot every time you get touched, stand in front of every free kick, complain on every call you don't get, and still only get 2 yellow cards.

Altidore literally scored on a play that should have been continued for advantage(the goalie might have saved it if the whistle hadn't blown), and the Guatemalan player still didn't get a yellow for the foul on dempsey at the top of the box. If you're going to stop that play, you better ****ing book the guy. And to make it worse, Fabian Johnson committed a foul at almost the same spot that led to their goal, and of course he got booked.

Also, to be fair to Jozy, he definitely got brought down in the box on one play. Of course the Guatemalan feed didn't show a replay.

Seriously... officiating was all over the place.

And SWMBO and I were of the opinion that Altidore would have looked fine if not for the beating he suffered.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Wow, about time.

Philadelphia Union sack Peter Nowak after he systematically dismantled a playoff-worthy club over the last few months.

Live press conference:

EDIT: Okay, guess I can't embed the video.

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/live

 

[dwarven_stout]

Wow, about time.

Philadelphia Union sack Peter Nowak after he systematically dismantled a playoff-worthy club over the last few months.

Was he sacked? Or did he trade himself for allocation money and a 12th-round pick?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Was he sacked? Or did he trade himself for allocation money and a 12th-round pick?

ZING!

Ha

 

[dwarven_stout]

You ready? I've got another one:

Tottenham fired 'Arry today (he had a year left on his contract, and they told him not to come back). Tottenham will be shortly headed back to the bottom of the table.

'Arry will be leaving with a 5 million severance check- so after taxes, that's 5 million.

 

[aygov]

You ready? I've got another one:

Tottenham fired 'Arry today (he had a year left on his contract, and they told him not to come back). Tottenham will be shortly headed back to the bottom of the table.

'Arry will be leaving with a 5 million severance check- so after taxes, that's 5 million.

"Mind the SACK!"

Let's all laugh at Spurs...

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

You ready? I've got another one:

Tottenham fired 'Arry today (he had a year left on his contract, and they told him not to come back). Tottenham will be shortly headed back to the bottom of the table.

'Arry will be leaving with a 5 million severance check- so after taxes, that's 5 million.

I see what you did there.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

England 3, Sweden 2

Huge shame for the Swedes. A draw would have been unfair. Both sides deserved to win! That was the best game so far, and both sides played with passion. As a limey, I'm pleased to see England finally play with some heart. I just wish that Sweden had played like that earlier and could go through , they were excellent.

On a personal note, I was glad to see Walcott score and Oxlade Chamberlain make an impact as the other sub. They may be Arsenal players now, but both are from Southampton's academy and we made a bundle on selling them on.

 

[mrgstiffler]

What's everyone watching right now?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Oh man, I missed a lot of action last night!

SWMBO and I were hanging out with my parents all day and then we were at a neighbors drinking homebrews all night. At least I got to watch highlights this morning over coffee and a headache. Man Sporting were out of control! They really know how to work the 4-3-3

But there's more soccer today! Just an hour away from Portugal v Netherlands. That should be a great one. GROUP OF DEATH!!!

And then, of course, there's Chicago hosting a RBNY full of holes due to injury, and the match of the night LA v Portland. Both clubs have been struggling and LA is going to be without Keane, Buddle, Leonardo, and Magee. Things just keep getting better for the "Blue, White, and Gold" =/

 

[dwarven_stout]

But there's more soccer today! Just an hour away from Portugal v Netherlands. That should be a great one. GROUP OF DEATH!!!

/sigh. When Nani isn't the worst diver on a team, you know that there's a problem.

And then, of course, there's Chicago hosting a RBNY full of holes due to injury, and the match of the night LA v Portland. Both clubs have been struggling and LA is going to be without Keane, Buddle, Leonardo, and Magee. Things just keep getting better for the "Blue, White, and Gold" =/

Curious to see if Mwanga starts (I think he'll sub) and how he does with Boyd if he plays. Not sure if two guys up top unused to chasing balls is really the solution for Portland right now.

 

[dwarven_stout]

Reno, congrats on a deserved win marred by truely awful reffing.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Yeah I'd say most refs would call that obstruction.

But I'll take the win.... anything to break the winless streak. I'm just hoping this could be the turning point of their season.

 

[Joker]

Curious to see if Mwanga starts (I think he'll sub) and how he does with Boyd if he plays. Not sure if two guys up top unused to chasing balls is really the solution for Portland right now.

I really wish they would have kept Perlaza, he might not have been scoring but the guy would run his ass off and make attempts.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Yeah I'd say most refs would call that obstruction.

But I'll take the win.... anything to break the winless streak. I'm just hoping this could be the turning point of their season.

The biggest problem with that play is the fact that the goalie was more worried about getting the call than stopping the damn ball. He would have easily stopped that shot if wasn't flopping around trying to draw a call. How embarrasing for that goalie....he should be benched for that crap.

This is why soccer will never be big here. I went out of my way to watch that match; and that's what I was rewarded with. The acting/flopping culture of soccer makes it nearly unwatchable for me. I do watch from time to time, however, because Portland now has a MLS team.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The biggest problem with that play is the fact that the goalie was more worried about getting the call than stopping the damn ball. He would have easily stopped that shot if wasn't flopping around trying to draw a call. How embarrasing for that goalie....he should be benched for that crap.

This is why soccer will never be big here. I went out of my way to watch that match; and that's what I was rewarded with. The acting/flopping culture of soccer makes it nearly unwatchable for me. I do watch from time to time, however, because Portland now has a MLS team.

Yeah he did make a show of it... but it also should have been called. I can understand trying to make a big stink out of preventing a loss.

But seriously, MLS has by far the least amount of flopping/acting in the world, whether compared to national clubs or league clubs. And at the beginning of the season the commissioner "The Don" Garber gave refs a little hint that they should start booking players for simulation more often to try to eliminate it completely. We even had a conversation in this thread about a week ago pertaining to how the American game has always been hard work and rough play without the acting.

And there really is quite little simulation... when it does occur, the majority of the time it will come from an international player from a region famous for diving (i.e. Central/South America, Italy.) Hell, Philadelphia used to have a Guatemalan international named Carlos Ruiz... but his nickname that he got prior to coming to MLS was "El Pescadito" or "The Little Fish" on account of the high volume of flopping.... and his short stature

Give it time. Soon it will be gone or very rare in MLS.... and then they can focus on that bullsh*t "YSA Chant." It drives me nuts... at least in LA we yell "Puto" at the keeper. It's not as offensive if it's in a different language, right?

 

[dwarven_stout]

Joker, I think I remember you talking up Perlaza before. He's never really done much for me- Portland has other guys that can run all over the field while doing a better job staying onside. I'm just not sure that Boyd + Mwanga is the best solution with our midfield the way it is.

He would have easily stopped that shot if wasn't flopping around trying to draw a call.

What game did you watch? Most of the "show" was after the goal.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

WOO!! Tons of mid-week action this week. Be sure to confirm your Fantasy Manager team early since it will lock it early Wednesday afternoon.

LGI: Beckham made the call... England all the way. I guess we'll see how good their chances are in a few hours

 

[aygov]

This is why soccer will never be big here. I went out of my way to watch that match; and that's what I was rewarded with. The acting/flopping culture of soccer makes it nearly unwatchable for me. I do watch from time to time, however, because Portland now has a MLS team.

You obviously aren't a fan of the NBA or the NFL then...

 

[Joker]

In my opinion Perkins made the fatal mistake of not playing until the whistle or the end of the play. Stop the ball and then petition for the interferance, not bounce guy, throw hands in air and complain.

As for Perlaza the reason I like him over Cooper or Boyd is even if it is a bad pass he makes an effort to run it down. Cooper and Boyd turn and look and don't even move toward the ball. If I had to pick favorites on the team Zizzo, Chabala, Nagbe, Futty would be my favorites to watch. Kaliff is amazing when he is on his game that guy has some great ball control.

 

[BrewKnurd]

You obviously aren't a fan of the NBA or the NFL then...

So a while ago I was thinking about the whole NBA thing, and how much people flop to draw a charge, and yet we (by we, i mean the american sports watching population) don't seem to hold that against them as much as soccer players diving.

The one difference I came up with is that flopping in basketball is more of a risk/reward proposition. You flop and get the call, great. You flop and don't get it, you're getting dunked on. Meanwhile, many dives in soccer come in situations where the guy has either lost the ball or is clearly about to.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Cooper and Boyd turn and look and don't even move toward the ball.

That may be due to instruction from their managers. They are both target men and are expected to be at full stamina when the appropriate time comes. If a target man runs down every ball then they will be winded by the time that perfect pass comes and may reduce their percentage of success.

Running their faces off and chasing down 50/50 balls isn't really their job. Leave that to the wingers and middies.

Plus, when you look at the stature of Cooper and Boyd compared to wingers and middie, they seem pretty behemoth.



EDIT:

Cooper -- 6'3", wiiiiide stature
Boyd -- 6'1", built like a line-backer
Perlaza -- 5'10", built like a sprinter

 

[Joker]

Very good point Reno. In watching them it seems to me they are more worried about wrestling with the defender guarding them rather than making space to be available. Although all this probably stems from the fact that I am frustrated about our lack of goals and of course wins.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Very good point Reno. In watching them it seems to me they are more worried about wrestling with the defender guarding them rather than making space to be available.

Indeed they are, especially since they're almost always guarded by the best center back. Their tactics usually involve receiving the ball with their backs to the goal and using their size to power themselves to a shot-worthy position.

Although all this probably stems from the fact that I am frustrated about our lack of goals and of course wins.

 

[Joker]

Thanks bro I needed that.

 

[aygov]

The one difference I came up with is that flopping in basketball is more of a risk/reward proposition. You flop and get the call, great. You flop and don't get it, you're getting dunked on. Meanwhile, many dives in soccer come in situations where the guy has either lost the ball or is clearly about to.

I think it comes down to how much you have to sell it in soccer. What's more noticeable? A guy who goes down and then gets right back up, or a guy who goes down clutching some appendage in agony as if he has been shot? In the NBA you can flop for a foul and get right back up with a wry smile on your face. It seems to be in soccer that if you're not rolling around on the ground it probably wasn't a foul...

 

[BrewKnurd]

I think it comes down to how much you have to sell it in soccer. What's more noticeable? A guy who goes down and then gets right back up, or a guy who goes down clutching some appendage in agony as if he has been shot? In the NBA you can flop for a foul and get right back up with a wry smile on your face. It seems to be in soccer that if you're not rolling around on the ground it probably wasn't a foul...

Well, that's certainly true. The after the fact theatrics in soccer are unparalleled. I was just thinking in terms of the actual dive, but you raise an excellent point.

 

[aygov]

Well, that's certainly true. The after the fact theatrics in soccer are unparalleled. I was just thinking in terms of the actual dive, but you raise an excellent point.

I would agree with the fact that a lot of the time simulation occurs in soccer when you've had the ball taken off you. In the NBA there seems to be a bit more karma in the game for people that fall down too easily. If a striker dives in a game they really aren't leaving a whole in defense or anything like that so you're free to get back up and try again.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Wow I like the rhetoric going on in here.

You should also key in how the different sports determine a foul.

In basketball a slap to the arm during a shot earns free-throws, almost guaranteed points but a small fraction of the overall score.

In soccer, two players can be knocking the hell out of each other as long as their arms are at their sides and they are parallel and thus no hits from behind. But if an attacker feels an arm come out or gets nudged a bit from behind, taking a chance on a dive can result in excellent fk placement or even a pk, which can completely change the outcome of a game. And if it doesn't work you only have one player unable to defend but doesn't matter because the attack starts so far away from the goal. Worst case scenario you get booked for simulation but the potential outcome is worth the risk, similar to a defender getting book for intentionally fouling a player in open space that could start a dangerous attack.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

England 1-0 Ukraine

Way to go, you limey bastards!