The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

That's the other reason he's a lot like Bale. I can live with it to be honest cause he seems very fiery right now. I'm much more concerned about him being a one foot player than him pleading with the ref. The ref was very bad, I think I saw 3 or 4 fouls given on good tackles.

 

[Grannyknot]

While Josh Gatt is an exciting prospect for the distant future of US soccer, I hesitate to compare a single characteristic of his to Gareth Bale.
His tendency to cut in, rather than cross, while on the left, is pretty telling about his left foot.
I agree that the ref's overall performance was poor.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Well that's the other reason I compare him to Bale haha. He wasn't lucky enough as a kid to have a coach like Bale did he made him play right footed to improve that but even with that work, Bale prefers the left foot. But even with all that, Bale is largely a one footed player. Klinsmann is a massively smart coach. He could have played Gatt at RW wing and he'd probably dazzle. But instead he put him out of his comfort knowing he has a lot to work on. It's the same thing he did with Chandler and Chandler grew massively under Klinsmann's tutelage. Hopefully the same will happen with Gatt. For WC 2014 I don't expect more out of Gatt than to be a late replacement when we need some pace, but there's a lot of value to that as well. And in those games, almost for sure, Klinsmann will put him on the right.

I also have to say I do love even when the B team is doing it the flowing passing game of the US. While they're not even a small amount close to them in talent they're becoming more like Spain which is great for the players the US has. Retaining possession was an achilles heel under Bradley and a huge reason for the collapses against Mexico and Brazil. While the new passing system needs more refining (as Brazil proved in their pressing style of play) I can't help but think this team short of the Central defense won't be a contender to make it out of the Group of 16 in the WC. Not saying they will for sure. But they will have the talent to score, and with more practice better ability to distribute and retain possession, even if they're playing Brazil, Spain, etc. They're not gonna win it or even pull a surprise like Uraguay and make the final 4 but a better showing this year will only build more interest in the game.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

I also have to say I do love even when the B team is doing it the flowing passing game of the US. While they're not even a small amount close to them in talent they're becoming more like Spain which is great for the players the US has. Retaining possession was an achilles heel under Bradley and a huge reason for the collapses against Mexico and Brazil. While the new passing system needs more refining (as Brazil proved in their pressing style of play) I can't help but think this team short of the Central defense won't be a contender to make it out of the Group of 16 in the WC. Not saying they will for sure. But they will have the talent to score, and with more practice better ability to distribute and retain possession, even if they're playing Brazil, Spain, etc. They're not gonna win it or even pull a surprise like Uraguay and make the final 4 but a better showing this year will only build more interest in the game.

I wouldn´t be surprised if USA gets to the semis one of these days, don´t know if Brazil 2014 or later, but I must admit that I haven´t seen so much improvment in the last 2 decades in any other team in the world. I don´t watch many USA matches but the few that I watched I liked the team a lot... of course next world cup already has an owner... wich is Argentina of course (hey a man can dream rigth?)

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Well it depends. Brazil is certainly better now than in 2010 becuase their amazing youth crop (Neymar, Lucas Moara, Oscar) will be joining the more experienced former young guys who're still young but now have more top football under their wings (Pato, Marcelo, Hulk, Ramires, and David Luiz)

If there's 2 things that would concern me about being a Brazil fan it's Brazil's natural collapsing on the big stage that's seemed to happen lately. They're always one of the 3 favored teams to start the tournament and almost always fall short against an opponent. Their concerns are GK where they don't have a star and central defense. If they can hold those positions they'll be the favorites.

My personal favorites are the Klinsmann trained Germans. For my money, the Germans are only contested by the Spaniards for the best back 5. Neuer, Lahm, Hummels, Badstuber, Boateng, Schmelzer, Howerdes and the slow buy smart Mertesacker. Only weakness is their second full back which Boateng filled in fine before but Schmelzer may push him. The German midfield is the stuff dreams are made of though. Ozil, Schweinsteiger, Reus, Muller, the Benders, Podolski, Mario Gotze (who may be the most talented young midfielder in the world), Kroos, Schurrle and Khedira, you can build 2 world cup winning quality midfields with those guys. And they're great at striking as well with Gomez and Klose can be the off the bench killer.

Spain is also great, Iker, Ramos, Pique, Alba, and Albiol will likely be their back 5, I don't think Puyol will start much. Xavi and Xabi Alonso at holding midfield, Silva, Iniesta, Fabregas, Mata, and Carzola as the attacking midfielders (though I'm sure Busquets will find his way in there and move Xavi or Xavi Alonso up) and Villa and Torres for strikers. Spian wil lbe very formidable in WC2014, but I'd bet my money on the Germans because of their team currently being younger and having a speed and strength advantage.

Of course you can't count out the Portuguese, the Italians, the English, Russians, Dutch, Mexicans, and the Argentines. Any team that has Leo Messi is a threat. Especially coupled with Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuin. Argentina's problem though is gonna be getting the balls to their super stars, I have serious questions about their midfield, and their defense and goal keeping are also suspicious. I think they'll run into the Germans or Spanish and get swept aside. But I personalyl hope for an Argentina/Brazil matchup cause that would be awesome. Probably end like 7-5

 

[Obliviousbrew]

The good thing about world cups is that you actually never now is not always the best team the one who lift the trophy at the end. If I have to bet I´ll definitly bet for a south american team, in every edition played in the american continent a south american team won, never in history an european team was able to win a world cup in the american continent, of course these static are going to be broken some day. My bet is for Brazil or Argentina even tough Brazil is not in it´s best shape ever and as you say Argentina struggles with it the defense and midfield, last few matches they are doing a lot better, still there is a lot of work to be done. Just one more year to go I can´t wait for the World Cup!!!

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

That's a very good point. Didn't even think about that. I still am betting on the German or Spanish squad to win. I jsut think they're 2 teams that are complete, the German's and Spanish kinda have the same weakness with second fullback. but their midfield is too good and both have great top strikers. By the time 2014 rolls around I think that Mesut Ozil will be one of the best players in the world and that will catapult the Krauts to victory.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

That's a very good point. Didn't even think about that. I still am betting on the German or Spanish squad to win. I jsut think they're 2 teams that are complete, the German's and Spanish kinda have the same weakness with second fullback. but their midfield is too good and both have great top strikers. By the time 2014 rolls around I think that Mesut Ozil will be one of the best players in the world and that will catapult the Krauts to victory.

Agree on Ozil he can be great I don´t think that playing in Real Madrid is actually helping him, I´ve seen Madrid ruin lots of great players before. No doubt Spain and Germany are strong solid teams, I don´t think that Spain is going to be able to repeat but you never know, Germany is always a good option.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Ozil seems to fit in great at Madrid. Though I'd prefer him at Man U playing behind Robin Van Persie if Real, Barca, or PSG decide to go bonkers and get Rooney. Ozil has great dribbling and vision some of the passes he made in the Euros were insane.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

Ozil seems to fit in great at Madrid. Though I'd prefer him at Man U playing behind Robin Van Persie if Real, Barca, or PSG decide to go bonkers and get Rooney. Ozil has great dribbling and vision some of the passes he made in the Euros were insane.

Ozil will fit good in any team, not only his dribbling skills but the way he plays without the ball and his ability to "read" the game, make him able to play in any team in the world... the bad thing about Madrid is that there is so many internal stuff going on... I mean if you think about the team, on one side you have the spaniards, they always make a liitle group that it´s in command, then the portuguese and brazilians like Cristiano and Marcelo and then the rest... Ozil is still for his teammates in the "everybody else" group... which is a shame, I´ve seen situations like that in Madrid too many times, hopefully Ozil will be able to shine with all that sh*t going on around him.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Ozil and Khedira seem to do well on Real, probably formed their own like German clique. Real is certainly a divisive squad, that is one of the reasons I don't get Wenger going there.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

News:

Plata traded from TFC to RSL... for a 2015 second-round draft pick. Dumb move considering he was the only attacking threat they had apart from Koevermanns (sp?) Should have pushed for more in the deal. But I guess that should help out when Toronto goes through their 10th rebuilding season

Also, Kei Kamara sent on loan to Norwich until May with an option for a full transfer afterwards. Rough for SKC... no Roger Espinoza, Kamara missing and possibly gone for good, no stadium sponsor (give it a month), and Zusi likely gone a lot for WCQ and Gold Cup.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Oh, and to the shock of the football world it's official that Becks isn't signing with the Gunners.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

oh, and to the shock of the football world It's official that becks isn't signing with the gunners.

whattttttttt????

 

[Joker]

I have watched it over a few times and it really looks like all he got was ball. For the kid, play stupid games win stupid prizes. The ref should have stepped in as soon as he fell on the ball.

 

[russrob81]

Beckham to PSG. Didn't see that one coming

 

[russrob81]

Sorry about the double post but thought for a moment and realised remembered how excited mrs beckham was to go to LA. now how excited will she be to go fashion world of Paris. Just saying

 

[Reno_eNVy]

From what I read at the beginning of the speculations, Lady Becks will stay in LA with the kids due to school and whatnot.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Beckham to PSG. Didn't see that one coming

You'd think PSG and their billions in spending could get a better player.

 

[Grannyknot]

I'm betting they move back to London.
People commute from London to Paris on a daily basis all the time.
Apparently their eldest son is having a go with the Chelsea youth academy as well.

 

[russrob81]

One great thing about deadline day is we get to see Kirsty Gallacher on sky sports news for more than an hour

 

[russrob81]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/socce...otelli-camouflage-bentley-040822869--sow.html

I think he deserves it

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I would pee on his car just because it's a camo bentley. Though that guy doesn't seem to have the right idea you pee on the door handle so they're gonna have to touch your pee.

 

[aygov]

but within hours of the pictures spreading across twitter on monday, the urinator was identified, reported to the greater manchester police, mocked for the size of his genitalia by thousands of people around the world and deleted his account in disgrace. So i don't think mario got the worst end of this prank. Plus the inside of that car has probably experienced far worse than what happened to the outside of it on sunday night.

hahahahahaha!

 

[ScotBrew]

Becks family living in London as the kids are going to school there.

And yeah, you could argue that PSG could afford a better player. But Becks brings more than just his on-field ability to the table. Sponsorship, media and everything else that comes with him raises the profile of a French club that's been seriously poor for at least the past 10-15 years.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Becks donating his salary to charity, apparently.

 

[ScotBrew]

Just heard that myself. All going to a kids charity.

 

[aygov]

Has anyone followed the hilarious Odemwingie transfer day saga?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Hey guys, MLS Fantasy Manager is now up. I've created two leagues specifically for HBT. Just go to fantasy.mlssoccer.com , sign up, make a team, and search for the league names below.

Bier League Classic
- code to join is 1591-591
- classic league bases ranking on total points your players have accumulated


Bier League H2H
- code to join in 1591-593
- Head-2-Head league bases ranking on record (W-L-D), each week a team facing another team


Hope to see you guys there!

 

[russrob81]

Has anyone followed the hilarious Odemwingie transfer day saga?

That's been a very strange story.