Soccer thread 08/09 (will have spoilers!)

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:26 am

I have a request; can we start another thread for all Rafa related pissing and moaning? I feel like I missed the announcement that Liverpool would change their unofficial nickname from the Reds to the Red Sox and the 'woe is me/we can't get no respect' fanbase.

10s, I also hear Vancouver is a strong favorite to get a new MLS franchise. Any interest?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:30 am

Naples39 wrote:I have a request; can we start another thread for all Rafa related pissing and moaning? I feel like I missed the announcement that Liverpool would change their unofficial nickname from the Reds to the Red Sox and the 'woe is me/we can't get no respect' fanbase.

10s, I also hear Vancouver is a strong favorite to get a new MLS franchise. Any interest?

By all means, let's shelve that and have more MLS discussion

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:39 am

Naples39 wrote:10s, I also hear Vancouver is a strong favorite to get a new MLS franchise. Any interest?

Oh, the City is buzzing with excitement for another franchise that you can't imagine. Since the Grizzlies left town, VAN has been looking for another Pro event and I hear the decision may be as quick as next week. The new stadium would be just a walk away fromt he current BC place (where the Lions play football) and GM place home of the Oanucks.

I watch the Whitecaps about 5 times a year, they play near my neck of the woods and Bobby Lenarduzzi has done a masterful job to get them finally to the MLS. Consider it done my friend.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:42 am

RobVarak wrote:
Naples39 wrote:I have a request; can we start another thread for all Rafa related pissing and moaning? I feel like I missed the announcement that Liverpool would change their unofficial nickname from the Reds to the Red Sox and the 'woe is me/we can't get no respect' fanbase.

10s, I also hear Vancouver is a strong favorite to get a new MLS franchise. Any interest?
By all means, let's shelve that and have more MLS discussion

LOL I figured that response was coming.

I can also discuss the thrilling CONCACAF qualifying process and upcoming clashes with powerhouses Honduras and Trinidad & Tobago.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:53 am

Or the honeymoon between Maradona and Riquelme. They're done, but as an avid Boca fan, Roman just doens't have his head straight this time. It's the second time that he resigns from the national team and while I think he's much more efficient being a forward, he thinks he serves better the team in midfield. With players like Gago and Mascherano, he would be way more dangerous up front with the likes of Aguero, Messi and Tevez.

Riquelme, you got to bring your ego down.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:00 pm

10spro wrote:Or the honeymoon between Maradona and Riquelme. They're done, but as an avid Boca fan, Roman just doens't have his head straight this time. It's the second time that he resigns from the national team and while I think he's much more efficient being a forward, he thinks he serves better the team in midfield. With players like Gago and Mascherano, he would be way more dangerous up front with the likes of Aguero, Messi and Tevez.

Riquelme, you got to bring your ego down.

Well, I'd have thought that he'd more of a chance of getting a game in midfield (where you wouldn't always want to be playing Gago and Mascherano together) than he would trying to get into a team in front of Messi and Aguero.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:11 pm

I want Inter to win simply because I think it will make for a better Special 1 TV episode.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:01 pm

espn360.com may have it, if your ISP is eligible.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:04 pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/sport ... occer.html

This article may be of more or less interest depending on the outcome today.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:57 pm

Naples39 wrote:I have a request; can we start another thread for all Rafa related pissing and moaning? I feel like I missed the announcement that Liverpool would change their unofficial nickname from the Reds to the Red Sox and the 'woe is me/we can't get no respect' fanbase.

New thread?

Buddy, I'm creating a brand new website - www.rafaismyjesus.com

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:59 pm

Screw the red devils

.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:15 pm

Holy s***, Inter were awful! For an Italian team managed by Jose to give up 2 goals like that is unbelievable. Both scorers were very poorly marked, and they just let Rooney stand on the ball at the edge of the 18 to set up the second. Ibrahimovic looked like he was taking finishing lessons from Robbie Keane.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:47 pm

Only J.Zanetti and Maicon showed some inspiration, Ibrahimovic had his moments but overall Jose' team didn't show up.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:38 pm

The real highlight of the night was Vucinic's penalty. LOL

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:11 am

RobVarak wrote:Holy s***, Inter were awful! For an Italian team managed by Jose to give up 2 goals like that is unbelievable. Both scorers were very poorly marked, and they just let Rooney stand on the ball at the edge of the 18 to set up the second. Ibrahimovic looked like he was taking finishing lessons from Robbie Keane.

Well, here's the news...Inter ARE sh*te. Ibrahimovic's spots as a 'world-class' player last for about 5 seconds at a time, shoehorned into his 89-minute long impression of the Invisible Man. They've got one good player (Cambiasso) surrounded by players who were good in their day (Zanetti, Figo), players who were average in their day (Walter Samuel...boy, did he ever get shown up when he was at Real Madrid) and a host of shirt fillers. Granted being without key defenders didn't help, but if Mourinho is happy to settle for that sort of team, then he gets all he deserves. There's no way he'll want to deal with that sort of dross for another season.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:16 am

Macca00 wrote:The real highlight of the night was Vucinic's penalty. LOL

LOL. I would have felt strange trying that penalty playing on exhibition mode in PES 2009. He must have been thinking power down the middle and froze as he started?

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:54 am

I love the way Almunia sort of dropped to his knees apologetically, as if he was wondering whether Vucinic would be allowed to take it again if it didn't reach him.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:00 pm

Galatasaray and Hamburg played a highly entertaining UEFA cup game. Setanta is re-broadcasting later, I think. Would be worth watching.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:25 pm

RobVarak wrote:Holy s***, Inter were awful! For an Italian team managed by Jose to give up 2 goals like that is unbelievable. Both scorers were very poorly marked, and they just let Rooney stand on the ball at the edge of the 18 to set up the second. Ibrahimovic looked like he was taking finishing lessons from Robbie Keane.

His header off the crossbar and his shot from a tough angle that missed by a foot were both very good efforts. Zlatan played well until they went down 2-0 and it became a lost cause. But yeah, they were found out defensively.

dave's talking the usual pommy nonsense when he says Inter only have one good player. Adriano, Ibrahimovic, Balotelli, Cordoba, Maicon, Cesar, Chivu, Muntari, etc. are all good players.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:38 pm

RobVarak wrote:Galatasaray and Hamburg played a highly entertaining UEFA cup game. Setanta is re-broadcasting later, I think. Would be worth watching.

Thanks, I'll DVR the rebroadcast. Too much basketball to watch tonight.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:19 am

Jose in trouble?

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

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:15 am

10spro wrote:Jose in trouble?

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

Beautiful game does get ugly immediately off the pitch doesn't it?

Fans of the English clubs were subject to abuse on the road and were reportedly warned to avoid certain areas.

Makes Raider fans sound civilized.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:51 am

10spro wrote:Jose in trouble?

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

Police said the fan was not from the Manchester area..

Oooh, who'd have thought it...

rhymes450 · Post by **rhymes450** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:27 pm

davet010 wrote

Walter Samuel...boy, did he ever get shown up when he was at Real Madrid)

Central defenders who don't get shown up at Real Madrid probably won't get shown up anywhere. Players like Samuel and Cannavaro, used to playing in Italy as part of a 5-man defense, often reinforced by two holding midfielders, must wonder wtf is happening when the two full backs (Roberto...Roberto...ROBERTOOOO...) and the holding midfield player have gone AWOL. I recently read an article about how Cannavaro suffers in open spaces. Far more of those at the Bernabeu than the Stadio Dello Alpe. Full backs who defend and holding midfield players have not exactly been in vogue recently at R.M. The point was emphatically reinforced by their refusal to match Chelsea's salary offer to Makalele. Result...best defensive midfielder of the last decade...leaves. Big mistake. Footballing history will probably never fully recognise the incredible holding midfield work done by Fernando Redondo, surely the most significant player in their Champions League triumphs round the turn of the century (with Fernando Hierro, who was a beneficiary). He'll most likely be remembered for the little dribble at Old Trafford.

Talking of Cambiasso. Didn't he play the odd match for Real Madrid. Surplus to requirements obviously.

Apparently, Florentino Perez (lead singer with the Galacticos) wants to return as president of Real and rumour has it that the carrot for the supporters may be the signing of Steven Gerrard. Now, like a few years ago, he hasn't focused on another Liverpool midfielder, who when he was an excellent defensive midfielder at Real Sociedad was hotly tipped to join Madrid and would have given his right arm to do so. Wouldn't have sold enough shirts I guess.

Sometimes, life is unfair and you don't get what you deserve. The other night, Real Madrid got exactly what they deserved.

Apologies for the long post.

Take Care

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:04 pm

Good points rhymes. Not only F. Redondo was underrated and undervalued when he wore the Real colors but for whatever reasons he was also not fully quite appreciated on the National side because of some inner conflict with the coaches and the player that ressembles his style nowadays is F. Gago who's a lion in midfield. Gago has also an offensive side that Maradona is trying to explore while leaving Mascherano do more of the containing job.