The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[lgilmore]

I think Bruce has Sigi's number because he makes Sigi overthink the situation. Sorta like Eddie Johnson with time on his hands and the ball at his feet. Johnson is unbelievable if you don't give him time to think, once he starts thinking he's done.

I'm in a big fight over the PK call. Lots of people upset by what actually after looking it over many times was a good legit call. The left arm was moving downwards and actually struck the ball. It was a fair call.

I see Becks is calling it quits. Sad actually to see him go. He's been a great embassitor for the game. Can't help but like him. Good luck with Houston. Forgive me, I am pulling for Houston, not because we lost, but for Brian Ching whom I met years ago on a practice field in Seattle with the old Sounders. The closest player America has produced to Brian McBride. the guy works hard to be a great player. Nice guy too. Like to see him retire a winner.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Yeah I'm bummed about Becks. It'll be strange not seeing that old man hustle his a$$ up and down the pitch.

 

[BainbridgeBrewer]

I didn't watch the second leg. I was in Wisconsin deer hunting. Sounds like a good game, but in the end the Galaxy held it together. Great win LA! So is the final going to be held here in Seattle? I thought I read that somewhere.

I'll be rooting for LA.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The final will be held at the higher seeded clubs stadium, so HDC

 

[BrewKnurd]

So is the final going to be held here in Seattle? I thought I read that somewhere.

I'll be rooting for LA.

It would have been in Seattle if Seattle had beaten LA.

 

[Grannyknot]

Chelsea sacked Di Matteo this morning.
Roman Abramovich is such a nut sack.

 

[BrewKnurd]

Chelsea sacked Di Matteo this morning.
Roman Abramovich is such a nut sack.

Come on now, its not like Di Matteo has done anything good recently anyways....

I think part of what happened here was Abramovich never really wanted Di Matteo as anything more than interim anyways. But even he understood that you couldn't very well not give the job to someone that just won champions league for you without looking like a complete ******. So he may have just been waiting for an excuse to ditch Di Matteo, as unfair as that may be.

 

[Grannyknot]

.......... But even he understood that you couldn't very well not give the job to someone that just won champions league for you without looking like a complete ******......

Someone should tell him he gained lifetime ****** status when he fired or ran off the 2 best managers the club has ever had.

Sometimes, as an Arsenal fan, I get tired of the "sack Wenger" rumors....but at least once a year, I count my blessings that my club isn't anything like that circus.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Really well-done ad for the finals. Kudos, ESPN

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EDIT: Not sure why there is extra dangly code but at least the video link works

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

All the female supporters of my team look like this one.

 

[dwarven_stout]

All the female supporters of my team look like this one.

I knew your lot didn't have all that many fans, but even so it's too bad that only one of them is a girl.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I knew your lot didn't have all that many fans, but even so it's too bad that only one of them is a girl.

haha I was gonna edit my post to avoid that particular smackdown, but then I thought what the hell, it's all true.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Time to start drinking in my LA kit. It's matchday, mofos!

LA 2
HOU 1

 

[aygov]

Someone get Alexi a cowboy hat and a duster...

I'm not much of a gal fan, but it'd be nice to see Becks get one last title before he leaves.

 

[aygov]

Congrats LA!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

3-1 LA!

Ha, I almost predicted the final score

 

[lgilmore]

congrats. My hope now is that Seattle doesn't implode as they plan for next season. Lots of blowback from the fans. Most of which don't understand league restrictions to begin with.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Lots of domestic soccer news:

- Here's the Re-Entry Draft list. It could change if clubs make deals with players before Friday. But there are some big names. Who knows, maybe Toronto will pick de Guzman back up

- Olave and Espindola traded to NYRB for allocation money. Wow... and in further gutting of RSL, Johnson was sent to Portland

- Portland sent Kosuke Kimura to NYRB

- Justin Braun will continue to be punted around the league, this time to Toronto

- NYRB put a big red bow on Kenny Cooper and is looking for offers, which is absolutely ridiculous. "Hey, thanks for scoring 18 goals. Now don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out."

- Sacramento is starting a USL PRO (3rd tier) franchise, the name to be chosen by the community. This is a few months after initial rumors of MLS expanding or moving a franchise to Elk Grove (Sacramento suburb.) USL PRO is also adding franchises in Tampa and Phoenix

- LA Galaxy are still the MLS Champs... not news, just wanted to mention it again

 

[lgilmore]

I find RSL moves interesting too. The three they got rid of were real thorns in Seattle's side. There is some talent out there to be had that will fit Seattle's needs, but in general it seems like a lot of teams are just dumping payroll more than anything else.

And yes, congrats on the cup win. Let's hope Donovan gets the playing bug back after a break. I will miss Becks too.

Right now looking at things and having experienced the NASL I am a bit concerned about the clubs who are trying to go cheap. We're only as strong as our worst club.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Well Portland, Toronto, and Chivas are making big moves both on and off the field so that may help in general.

 

[Joker]

Well Portland, Toronto, and Chivas are making big moves both on and off the field so that may help in general.

Getting daily changes for the Timbers:

Palmer - contract not renewed
Purdy - contract not renewed

Kimura - goes to New York
Brunner - goes to Houston

Acquire Michael Harrington from Sporting KC
Acquire Will Johnson from Real Salt Lake

I wish they would get our keeper back and find us a mobile striker with ball handling skills.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I wish they would get our keeper back and find us a mobile striker with ball handling skills.

As Jack Nicholson once said "Balls? You can't handle my balls!"

 

[Grannyknot]

Getting daily changes for the Timbers:

I wish they would get our keeper back and find us a mobile striker with ball handling skills.

I hear NYRB are shopping out Kenny Cooper.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I hear NYRB are shopping out Kenny Cooper.

Yup

Lots of domestic soccer news:
.
.
.
- NYRB put a big red bow on Kenny Cooper and is looking for offers, which is absolutely ridiculous. "Hey, thanks for scoring 18 goals. Now don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out."

But I doubt Portland will want him back seeing as he was dead weight for them.

 

[Joker]

We seem to be the striker black hole, they are great before they get here and do good after they leave.

 

[aygov]

So Chelsea become the first CL holders to fail to advance beyond the group stages....

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

 

[Grannyknot]

So Chelsea become the first CL holders to fail to advance beyond the group stages....

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

And 2 England teams crash out of CL group stage again.
The past two Champions League campaigns are really going to hurt the EPL uefa coefficient. I wouldn't be suprised to see them limited to 3 teams in the coming years.

edit....and to add to this. My Arsenal team, who is having an awful season, decided not to field a strong team and subsequently loose their last game. They didn't care, because they had already qualified in 2nd. Last time they sandbagged like that to finish 2nd, they got Barcelona in the first round of knockouts and promptly got their bell rung.

 

[BrewKnurd]

And 2 England teams crash out of CL group stage again.
The past two Champions League campaigns are really going to hurt the EPL uefa coefficient. I wouldn't be suprised to see them limited to 3 teams in the coming years.

If I'm understanding the coefficient process properly, they are not in any real risk of losing a team any time soon. They may well get passed by Germany for the number 2 spot, but the top three teams all get 4 CL spots and 3 EL spots. England is 17 points ahead of #4, italy, with a 5 year coefficient of 77 vs Italy's 60.

They were tied for second in coefficient based on 2011-2012 season, and are currently third for the 2012-2013 season. So yeah, these past couple years haven't helped them solidify their position, but their relative performance in the past couple years has still been solid enough to maintain 4 CL spots.

 

[aygov]

edit....and to add to this. My Arsenal team, who is having an awful season, decided not to field a strong team and subsequently loose their last game. They didn't care, because they had already qualified in 2nd. Last time they sandbagged like that to finish 2nd, they got Barcelona in the first round of knockouts and promptly got their bell rung.

As a fellow Gooner I hear ya. Unfortunately with our abysmal back 4 at some point in the tournament we're going to get stomped. It's just a matter of sooner or later.

 

[ThickHead]

As a fellow Gooner I hear ya. Unfortunately with our abysmal back 4 at some point in the tournament we're going to get stomped. It's just a matter of sooner or later.

I feel for the sanity of my Gooner friends. That was no skeleton team they put out against Bradford.