Soccer thread 07/08

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:46 am

fsquid wrote:If Barnsley make it, you'll see people from all over Yorkshire come for the match.

Programming note. The US Olympic team will start their qualifying tonight against Cuba in Miami.

Actually, the group stage is in Tampa, not Miami. US plays Cuba tonight at 8pm edt on FSC, and then on Thursday play Panama, also at 8. Saturday at 7pm edt, they play Honduras in the last group game.

Then it's off to Nashville, to play in the all important Semifinals on Thursday, the 20th at either 5 or 8pm, or something like that. The winners of those two games qualify for the Olympics. On Sunday the 23rd, the Final takes place, but that game is pointless. The important matches are on Thursday.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:21 am

fsquid wrote:Programming note. The US Olympic team will start their qualifying tonight against Cuba in Miami.

Game is actually in Tampa. I know because I'll be there tonight! Should be fun.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:53 am

Tampa, Miami, doesn't matter.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:24 pm

Go Inter!

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:13 pm

If only Julio Cruz had better execution when he had his chances...

F. Torres is a special dude.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:24 pm

JRod wrote:Go Inter!

Ibrahimovic has obviously seen my finishing ability in FIFA and decided to emulate the worst possible model.

Ah well, another year another waltz into the final 8

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:01 pm

JRod wrote:Go Inter!

Yes, go home.

Beat the back to back Italian champs 3-0...not bad.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:17 pm

Let's see what you can do against 11 men next round.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:22 pm

JRod wrote:Let's see what you can do against 11 men next round.

I was shitting my pants when Inter brought on Pele, thought he'd get 3 in 10 minutes and then finish us off with an overhead kick in injury time. Thankfully it wasn't that Pele.....

Inter were at home so their crowd was the 12th man, when Burdisso got sent off they were down to 11, so it was 11 vs. 11.....this is unlike the first leg when it was 12 vs. 10. This is absolutely true because I made it up.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:21 pm

JRod wrote:Let's see what you can do against 11 men next round.

If you spent as much time and energy supporting your team as you do winding us up and hammering Liverpool, I think I'd half 5x as much respect for you as a football fan. You're like the navigator of the Titanic calling up a rival cruise line and criticizing the food.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:44 am

can you make the argument that Defoe might be the signing of the year in the EPL?

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:59 pm

What, because he can take penalties ? He's a whining little s*** and always has been.

Torres signing of the year for me, by a country mile.

Owen Hargreaves is making a strong case for the worst signing of the year, on a pound for pound basis. City's Rolando Bianchi is putting up a strong fight, mind you.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:03 pm

Interesting champions league draw.

quarter-final draw:

Arsenal v Liverpool
Roma v Man United
Schalke v Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea

semi-final draw:

Arsenal or Liverpool v Fenerbahce or Chelsea
Schalke or Barcelona v Roma or Man United

In the next few weeks Liverpool will be playing, in order,

Manchester United
Everton
Arsenal (CL)
Arsenal
Arsenal (CL)

I'm not sure my nerves will be able to take it, also glad my dad doesn't have Setanta or FSW otherwise I'd be worrying about his heart-health!

EDIT: Then again his match analysis usually follows the same formula -

*grumble * [insert midfielder name] *not as good as Souness*
*grumble * [insert forward's name] *not as good as Dalglish*
*grumble * [insert winger's name...wait we don't have any] *not as good as Ray Kennedy aka bestliverpoolplayereverwhatasamehehasparkinsons
*grumble * [insert defender's name] *not as good as Smith*

He does like Pepe Reina though....

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:59 pm

I like it how secretly UEFA is sending not-so-subtle message to Avhram Grant. They keep sending him closer to Israel. It's all on purpose no doubt.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:37 pm

Macca,

Surely your dad doesn't think Reina is as good as Clements?

Best wishes,

Doug

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:38 pm

All 5 americans played today and McBride scored his first since his knee injury in Fulham's crucial win over Everton today. Fulhamerica still have a lot of work to do to avoid relegation, but there is hope if they can build off a solid win today.

Oh, and for all those who made the wise decisions to skip on watching US Olympic qualifying, here's the highlight of the round-robin stage. Too bad this young lady didn't show up the night I was there, although I think she was a little overdressed to be a streaker!
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3VGotp7ZEM0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed>

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:43 am

Defoe scored again.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:56 am

I agree with Christian Miles: Not too shabby. Nice rack.

Maybe she was looking for Client No. 10.

Take care,
PK

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:06 pm

Here's a decent/interesting article discussing how MLS compares to the European leagues (specifically the Serie B):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... index.html

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:23 pm

Tottenham and Chelsea played to a wild 4-4 draw today. Highlights (well worth watching).

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:39 am

Naples39 wrote:Tottenham and Chelsea played to a wild 4-4 draw today. Highlights (well worth watching).

What a game!

Berbatov could have won it!

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:40 am

Freddy was freaking awesome tonight.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:21 am

Zeppo wrote:Freddy was freaking awesome tonight.

I don't like how the US has played a pretty conservativ 4-5-1 through qualifying, but it has worked. They've given up extremely few scoring chances, and Freddy has shown the quality to create a goal or two by himself every game. Say what you will about Freddy's development, but he still looks to me to be the best US player ever (aka he'll be better than Donovan).

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:29 pm

when all is said and done, I think Altidore and Adu will be better than Donovan ever was.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:35 am

Pretty pathetic behavior by Mascherano over the weekend. Javier, you're not in Argentina anymore.