Soccer thread

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:40 pm

10spro wrote:I heard that J. Klinsmann wants a four year contract as US national team coach until the 2010 World Cup in SA and to have far more power than at his time as Germany helmsman. He wants full responsibility over the national team, the Olympic outfit and junior teams. Whether Gulati grants him all that power remains to be seen.

I wouldn't want to hire a coach who didn't make those demands.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:42 pm

10spro wrote:I heard that J. Klinsmann wants a four year contract as US national team coach until the 2010 World Cup in SA and to have far more power than at his time as Germany helmsman. He wants full responsibility over the national team, the Olympic outfit and junior teams. Whether Gulati grants him all that power remains to be seen.

Should have granted it to him yesterday

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:54 pm

RobVarak wrote:
10spro wrote:I heard that J. Klinsmann wants a four year contract as US national team coach until the 2010 World Cup in SA and to have far more power than at his time as Germany helmsman. He wants full responsibility over the national team, the Olympic outfit and junior teams. Whether Gulati grants him all that power remains to be seen.
I wouldn't want to hire a coach who didn't make those demands.

Too bad, then, that it's Gulati and not you making the decision. Something tells me he will want to have as many fingers as he can get into the pie as often as he can, and there will be lots of fireworks no matter whom he hires.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:08 pm

Now, I highly doubt Newcastle's supporters are as pure as this story depicts, but the report still is a pretty interesting look at hooliganism in Italian football, based on Newcastle's UEFA Cup match last night in Palermo, Sicily:

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newc ... _page.html

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:25 pm

The other night I watched on TV "Once In a lifetime: The Incredible Story of the New York Cosmos" and I recommnend it to any soccer fan. The story is also out on DVD and without giving too much away it showed how bleaked the NA soccer league was, no one in America cared until Pele showed up. He was still around 34 years old I think, and the moves he displayed in some games would leave your jaw in awe.

Remember these names? Pele, Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Chinaglia.

Of course today's MLS is on the rise and I was watching some UEFA action lately when I realized that D. Beckham seemed to be doomed in Real, even though, he's talking extension with the club. I don't think the feeling is mutual. He would be a starter in any EPL club except Sir A. Ferguson's club MU. And for him playing in a lesser club with such a rich tradition would be out of the question. Maybe.

Which brings me to the MLS. How about Beckham showing his stuff in America? It's a match made in heaven, marketing people would love him and the whole league would get more attention. It was jsut sad seeing hin on the bench lately and while he still can bend it, why not try his fortune in MLS?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:21 pm

ok British guys, tell me about Brian Laws, the new Sheffield Wednesday manager.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:28 pm

I'll tell you what I know, squid, and it shouldn't take long.

Managerial career began as Grimsby player-boss in '94-ish, the club parting company with him as results slid at the start of '96/'97. Definitely '96/'97, since I recall him moving to the dreaded Darlington that season for a spell. Famously fractured Ivano Bonetti's cheekbone in a changing room disagreement a few months before departing Grimsby. Pitched up at S-c-u-n-t-h-o-r-p-e, got them promoted twice (relegated the season afterwards first time round, survived into a second League One campaign this time), was sacked and then reinstated soon after a couple of years ago during a takeover or shift in boardroom power or something like that.

I've probably, over the years, seen as much of S-c-u-n-t-h-o-r-p-e as any HUFC opposition except Darlington. They've always been alright, occasionally had individuals capable of being much more than that, but generally they were solid, unspectacular, perfectly sound but not usually that inspiring. I'm a tiny bit surprised Wednesday have plumped for him, but if nothing else he ought shake them up a bit and get them doing the simple things well. Mind, looking at the league position, getting them to do the simple things at all might be a start.

*Edited for filter-swerving purposes

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:55 pm

There will be plenty of jobs going soon....I reckon Stuart Pearce has 2 games left at City, Gareth Southgate is going to get the can soon as he hasn't got the relevant UEFA Coaching badges..

Oh, and when you lose at home to Sheff Utd, you are pretty much clearing your own desk - bye, bye, Mr Roeder.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:58 pm

With the way Newcastle is playing right now in the league, it looks like Setanta will have a new subscriber next season. It's the only way I can see the Championship in the U.S.

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:02 pm

Just seen the pictures on Sky Sports News - if there were 50,000 in attendance at the game, 49,000 of them are outside the main entrance chanting for the heads of Roeder and Shepherd.

Shepherd will get out of it though, the greasy tw*t. Anyone who can retain his place in a club after being caught on film laughing at the idiot fans who pay for the shirts must have a very high survivability factor.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:24 pm

Dave:

I'll contribute $10 to the Belgravia bid kitty tonight if I'm given a PayPal address.

Take care,
PK

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:34 am

I know it's agonizing and I have empathy for the fans (well, maybe not Leeds supporters), but to see big clubs flirting with relegation is one of the most fascinating aspects of European soccer.

It's still early and I suspect NUFC has too much talent and money to take the drop, but I can only imagine the crisis planning going on this week.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:49 am

sfz_T-car wrote:I know it's agonizing and I have empathy for the fans (well, maybe not Leeds supporters), but to see big clubs flirting with relegation is one of the most fascinating aspects of European soccer.

It's still early and I suspect NUFC has too much talent and money to take the drop, but I can only imagine the crisis planning going on this week.

I have only two words with which to counter that hypothesis.

Titus. Bramble.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:59 am

davet010 wrote:
sfz_T-car wrote:I know it's agonizing and I have empathy for the fans (well, maybe not Leeds supporters), but to see big clubs flirting with relegation is one of the most fascinating aspects of European soccer.

It's still early and I suspect NUFC has too much talent and money to take the drop, but I can only imagine the crisis planning going on this week.
I have only two words with which to counter that hypothesis.

Titus. Bramble.

Two more:

Albert. Luque.

Add to that paying Kieron Dyer 60 grand per week.

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:40 am

Albert Luque is a good player - I've seen him plenty of times when he was at Depor. Trouble is that Newcastle didn't seem to twig that he'd only really had one good season, so overpaid for him.

Kieron Dyer, however, is just a bone-idle gutless waster. If I was a Newcastle fan, I'd begrudge him the oxygen that keeps him alive.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:51 pm

With regard to tonight's matches, I'm saying nothing

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:18 pm

davet010 wrote:With regard to tonight's matches, I'm saying nothing

LMAO! I just saw the result. Wow! And with the "big" club playing a strong side.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:54 pm

Wow...very interesting comments at halftime....

The MLS commission ad board have definately opened up the ooportunity for MLS teams to sign really top notch players like Beckham to come over with their new Designated Player clause...

Guys like Beckham, Figo, Ronaldo were all mentioned...interesting...MLS needs some players like this to really start driving up and putting MLS on the map...world map that is.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:39 pm

And with those comments the possibility of a D. Beckham to play in the MLS would suit both, the league and David himself.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 20&cc=5901

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:03 pm

Barcelona's hope to retain the Spanish & Champions league title will get tougher as L. Messi will be out for three months with a broken foot. Already out also is S. Eto'o.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:53 pm

I spotted this quiz, and wondered how many points PK would score today if he was filling it in ?

Thinking of taking up this trendy new thing they call football, but not sure which team to support? Perhaps you're a politician with votes to win, or an entertainment artiste who's looking to have obscene songs sung about your sexual predilections...

Whatever the reason, Football365 is here to help. Cast an eye over our handy checklist. If you answer 'Why-Aye Man' to five of the ten questions, read on for our 'cheat sheet' and off you go...

The Checklist
1) When you're at an outdoor entertainment event and the temperature has dropped below freezing, do you feel an unaccountable urge to strip to the waist?

2) Do you prefer your team to sign a string of trophy players instead of winning actual trophies?

3) Are you looking for a team whose players have interests outside the game, such as perfecting the ability to park a Ferrari upside down on a swing-bridge?

4) Do you like nothing better than spending your time hanging about in an airport, and then posting on message boards that you've spotted Otmar Hitzfeld, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Alessandro Nesta and Gigi Buffon signing contracts in the VIP lounge?

5) Are you prepared to spend an entire midweek afternoon standing outside a football stadium in driving sleet, in order to welcome the new manager whose sacking you'll be demanding in one year's time?

6) Is your idea of a good atmosphere to sit in brooding silence for minutes at a time, before bellowing like a moose in rutting season when the referee doesn't give you that vital throw-in at the halfway line?

7) Do you like the idea of watching football with a fat man's naked belly resting on the back of your neck?

Eschewing the new fancy-dan, multi-millionaire playboy chairmen, are you looking for a club with the more traditional type who looks like Clive James after a car crash?

9) Is your desire to fit in with your fellow fans so strong that you welcome a club policy that refuses entry to anyone who isn't wearing at least seven items of replica kit from the club shop?

10) Women, do you sport a fake tan so vivid that people think you're an evacuee from Chernobyl? Men, do you find an F cup pinches a bit around the bosom?

Five or more? Well, here you go...

Hello...The Phone-In Phrases
"Hello, is that 606? I just wanted to say the Geordie fans were fantastic today man, like!"
"Hello, is that TalkSport? Alan Shearer was - still is, mind! - the best centre-forward in the country and an absolute legend and always wanted to elbow people in tha heed an' take penalties for THIS club, rather than go somewhere else and win stuff."
"Hello, is that 606? Newcastle United are a massive club. MASSIVE, I'm tellin' yez."
"Hello, is that Radio Newcastle? Geordie fans are the best in the country. By. A. Mile, man."

Get The Accent
The simplest way to get the Geordie accent is to eat one of the superheated, scalding pies served at St James', which strip the roof of your mouth and soon have you shouting angrily and speaking authentically.

You Are The Pundit
It's all about passion in the north east. Look at that sea of black and white.

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:49 pm

Remember all that Tevez/Mascherano buzz just two months ago (myself included)? They are already being rumored to be sent back to South America:

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6172674

These guys have made Veron's and Forlan's stay in the EPL look glorious by comaprison.

I for one was way off on these guys. I thought Tevez especially would tear it up. Silly me, I have to stop rating guys based on how they do for me in my WE ML campaigns

.

It continues to fascinate me how a player's effectivness can change from league to league (see Sheva and Ballack) or how a World Cup "star" can flame out so quickly in the their new league after shining on the world stage (see Tevev, etc.).

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:38 pm

Latest ranking:

http://fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/inde ... 06,00.html

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:54 pm

US falls to 31, and I put all the blame squarely on the shoulders of Gulati. Why? Because since we don't have a coach, we haven't PLAYED ANY GAMES since the last rankings came out. You can't improve your ranking if you don't play any games, Sunil.

As far as I'm concerned, every day the post is open is a day the entire US Soccer program regresses. This guy is single-handedly destroying the progress that had been made in the last eight years by dragging his feet. HE can't resign soon enough, and I doubt he will ever let go of the job willingly, so we are in for a long, dark period of suckage, I think.

Gulati must go!

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:05 pm

Also I just learned that Ferenc Puskas died last Friday at age 79. He's one I definitely wish I could've seen play.