Soccer thread 08/09 (will have spoilers!)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:39 pm

Does MLS have any business expanding?

The English seem real giddy about the WC qualifying results. Capiello is the toast of the country. Odd because a month ago, there was a lot of dread and doubt before the game at Croatia.

Will the team be good 2 years from now against better teams?

Or should they be dominating their group at this stage anyways?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:52 pm

wco81 wrote:Does MLS have any business expanding?

That is a damn good question. Popular myth has the NASL failing due to the enormous salaries that were taken on for international players. That's only part of the story. The reality is that over-expansion was what really sank the knife into the back of the league.

Then again with the salaries in MLS so low it's not like new owners have to take on the same level of obligation that NASL owners did when they were competing with the likes of the Cosmos and their Warner Bros. money.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 2:37 am

wco81 wrote: The English seem real giddy about the WC qualifying results. Capiello is the toast of the country. Odd because a month ago, there was a lot of dread and doubt before the game at Croatia.

Really ? I haven't noticed it, but then I only live here.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:39 am

Don't notice the current giddiness or the previous dread?

I was listening to the commentators and callers in some BBC podcasts.

Many joking that we should award the WC already, Rooney is playing the best he's ever played and should reach his peak in a couple of years, etc.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:17 am

wco81 wrote:Don't notice the current giddiness or the previous dread?

I was listening to the commentators and callers in some BBC podcasts.

Many joking that we should award the WC already, Rooney is playing the best he's ever played and should reach his peak in a couple of years, etc.

Like Dave, I only live here, but...no, none of that. BBC phone-ins aren't generally regarded as having a surplus of clear, rational thinking, but if there are people on there saying that kind of thing, they certainly aren't reflecting the mood of the country.

Edit: I was busy reflecting on what looks like another Hartlepool United away defeat, and how at least if I was a Spurs fan I'd have something to laugh at, so I didn't really finish my point. The general mood around these parts, and I can't imagine it being too far different where Dave is, is that given the teams we've played, being anywhere other than top of the group would be an effort even for this group of players. That they're playing as if they know each other is nice, yes, but no more.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:02 pm

I should also say that my only interest in international football is whether any of City's players get injured...couldn't really care less otherwise.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:27 pm

Liverpool are going to give me a heart attack.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:08 pm

Steel City Derby time! Feck the Pigs! Simek could also make a return after being injured for 10 months.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:18 pm

Chelsea continue to play well under Scolari's tutelage, yeah it was against Boro but their overall attitude towards the game and how threy treat the ball is different than most teams in the EPL. Scolari's South American style of playing soccer has his finger prints all over. All this while they still have some key players injured.

Liverpool fans must be in love with Dirk Kuyt so far.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:59 am

fsquid wrote:Steel City Derby time! Feck the Pigs! Simek could also make a return after being injured for 10 months.

Cue happy Squid after a game of almost stultifying dullness lacking in the real dishonesty and deceitfulness of a Premiership affair. Reminded me quite strongly of the Dog and Duck vs the Rose and Crown.

Nice to see Spurs paddling even further up s*** creek - losing 2-1 to Stoke and having two defenders sent off.

Corluka left City to go to Spurs the day before the mega-takeover was announced...how's that working out for you, matey ?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:10 pm

I think Spurs could really use a boost right about now. How about we return Robbie Keane for a full refund?

As fascinating as it is to watch an empty uniform run around for 75 minutes every game, Liverpool really would probably be better off with an actual footballer in that spot.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:17 pm

davet010 wrote:Corluka left City to go to Spurs the day before the mega-takeover was announced...how's that working out for you, matey ?

He can't hear you as he's still strapped into a neck collar and head brace after being kneed in the head by his own keeper! Spurs are a farce, particularly when you take into account just how much money they've spent - their right back costs 10 million ffs!

I agree with Rob, as much as I like Paddy Dogsh!t, I figure if he was blonde, had a pony tail and a Ukranian last name (I dunno...something that rhymes with er...."sporonin") I'd say he's been kinda naff.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:09 pm

Only Dave could call that a dull game. I love the Steel City Derby. Up the fecking Owls, we are 5th!

Cost of Billy Sharp...... £2 million. Cost of SWFC ENTIRE STARTING 11 ....... about £800,000

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:23 pm

Macca00 wrote:
davet010 wrote:Corluka left City to go to Spurs the day before the mega-takeover was announced...how's that working out for you, matey ?
He can't hear you as he's still strapped into a neck collar and head brace after being kneed in the head by his own keeper! Spurs are a farce, particularly when you take into account just how much money they've spent - their right back costs 10 million ffs!

I agree with Rob, as much as I like Paddy Dogsh!t, I figure if he was blonde, had a pony tail and a Ukranian last night (I dunno...something that rhymes with er...."sporonin") I'd say he's been kinda naff.

Yeah, I missed the bit with Corluka's injury, so I wasn't referring to that.

Spurs have spent shiteloads of money, I think the LB (Bale) might be a fee of £10m as well after various clauses...Spurs really need to get rid of that sporting director bloke Comolli, because he's absolutely clueless. Think the Berbatov transfer on deadline day really hurt them as well, but I don't care, because I've always disliked Spurs and still do.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:55 pm

RobVarak wrote:I think Spurs could really use a boost right about now. How about we return Robbie Keane for a full refund?

As fascinating as it is to watch an empty uniform run around for 75 minutes every game, Liverpool really would probably be better off with an actual footballer in that spot.

Plays pretty much like that in Fifa 09 so I'd guess that Fifa has made major advances in differentiating among players!

Best wishes,

Doug

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:12 am

Real was the favourite going into this CL match, especially with the way Juventus has been playing in the Serie A. So with the great play of Brazilian Amauri and a great strike by their Captain Del Piero, the Italians were deserving of the lead before the Spaniards woke up. Real just lacked of any offensive ideas. S. Ramos just plays so much better for the National team than with Real.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:25 pm

fsquid wrote: Cost of Billy Sharp...... £2 million.

Was it really? Decent enough player, ripped the everloving out of a woeful HUFC backline last time I saw him play for Scunny, but £2 mil? Bloody hell...

On the subject of my beloved, might I suggest that anyone feeling a bit bored or disillusioned with a lack of goals from their chosen side considers a trip to Victoria Park one day this season? I'll buy you a drink, perhaps even a steak pie if I'm feeling flush.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:23 am

Looks like Beckham will be playing for AC Milan next year.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:38 am

10spro wrote:Looks like Beckham will be playing for AC Milan next year.

Something doesn't seem to be added up for me here.

In the past, a potential Donovan loan was scrapped when FIFA said if he leaves it must be from January to June, and the Galaxy said no way we let Donovan miss half the MLS season.

Have the rules changed? Or is this just more of 'we let the big clubs do whatever they want' business at FIFA?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:04 pm

Beckham is gone, he won't be back.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:02 am

fsquid wrote:Beckham is gone, he won't be back.

The whole thing has been kind of strange since the start, so who knows. On the field, his time with the Galaxy has been a disaster, but I understand his family is loving life in LA and his contract with the Galaxy practically makes him a half-owner. I think Beckham came to MLS knowing it would be semi-retirement but thought be enough for him to be around for Euros. Now that England failed to qualify maybe it threw that plan off and now he wants to try his hand at WC2010. Who knows what he's thinking at the moment.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:32 pm

Naples39 wrote:
fsquid wrote:Beckham is gone, he won't be back.
The whole thing has been kind of strange since the start, so who knows. On the field, his time with the Galaxy has been a disaster, but I understand his family is loving life in LA and his contract with the Galaxy practically makes him a half-owner. I think Beckham came to MLS knowing it would be semi-retirement but thought be enough for him to be around for Euros. Now that England failed to qualify maybe it threw that plan off and now he wants to try his hand at WC2010. Who knows what he's thinking at the moment.

Nothing against MLS, but this is what Sir Alex said about Becks:

“Going to the United States does not get you the kind of football he is used to. It is not the right level of football, therefore coming back into the mainstream of the game is not a surprise.”

You know what, I tend to agree, although Beckham did knowingly go to LA trying to make a difference, to make the league grow further, marketing wise it surely did but how about the overall gameplay, the ambience of a footbal match. Soccer is front page in Europe, in the end I think that's what he misses the most.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:51 pm

Naples39 wrote:Now that England failed to qualify maybe it threw that plan off and now he wants to try his hand at WC2010. Who knows what he's thinking at the moment.

Good point. Who knows what the heck Beckham is thinking right now but I think the renewed interest and improved play of the English side under Capello has got to be peaking his interests a bit. I haven't looked into the finer points of his contract with MLS but I'd be really surprised if they let him leave to go play in Europe. Sure he hasn't been all that spectacular here in the US but they've invested so much into him it doesn't make sense. But then again what does make much sense in the football world?

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:13 pm

10spro wrote:Nothing against MLS, but this is what Sir Alex said about Becks:

“Going to the United States does not get you the kind of football he is used to. It is not the right level of football, therefore coming back into the mainstream of the game is not a surprise.”

You know what, I tend to agree, although Beckham did knowingly go to LA trying to make a difference, to make the league grow further, marketing wise it surely did but how about the overall gameplay, the ambience of a footbal match. Soccer is front page in Europe, in the end I think that's what he misses the most.

I think Beckham was smart enough to know full well the quality (or lack thereof) of the football in the United States. I don't really believe the idea that he got here and decided the football wasn't good enough.

If this really is a 2 month loan, then this is a non-story and we're discussing nothing. If he does leave permanently, I have to think there's more to it than the quality of play in MLS, which has always been a known quantity.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:25 pm

Naples39 wrote:
10spro wrote:Nothing against MLS, but this is what Sir Alex said about Becks:

“Going to the United States does not get you the kind of football he is used to. It is not the right level of football, therefore coming back into the mainstream of the game is not a surprise.”

You know what, I tend to agree, although Beckham did knowingly go to LA trying to make a difference, to make the league grow further, marketing wise it surely did but how about the overall gameplay, the ambience of a footbal match. Soccer is front page in Europe, in the end I think that's what he misses the most.
I think Beckham was smart enough to know full well the quality (or lack thereof) of the football in the United States. I don't really believe the idea that he got here and decided the football wasn't good enough.

If this really is a 2 month loan, then this is a non-story and we're discussing nothing. If he does leave permanently, I have to think there's more to it than the quality of play in MLS, which has always been a known quantity.

If Beckham was hired to draw more fans, then he succeded in the US, but he did little to help LA win more games. And with the salary cap in MLS and Donovan being the only other known player, it'll be a lot longer before LA has a winning team. With the team in transition, it'll be better in the long run for LA to free up that money and bring more players.

Clearly he wants to play for England as well, but if his new club is indeed in Italy, you can count his last days in MLS.