Soccer thread 09/10 (contains spoilers)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:22 pm

Wonder what percentage of second-place teams in the group stages win the knockout games.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:25 pm

England-USA will be on a Saturday at 2:30 EDT. I believe I can hear the cash registers ringing at Disney HQ

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:32 pm

fsquid wrote:England-USA will be on a Saturday at 2:30 EDT. I believe I can hear the cash registers ringing at Disney HQ

So the only other thing going on will be some baseball games?

If they can't draw ratings then ...

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:43 pm

I love DeMarcus Beasley on Sky, talking like he has a chance to of playing in South Africa.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:51 pm

wco81 wrote:
fsquid wrote:England-USA will be on a Saturday at 2:30 EDT. I believe I can hear the cash registers ringing at Disney HQ
So the only other thing going on will be some baseball games?

If they can't draw ratings then ...

What makes you think it won't draw ratings? ESPN and ABC execs were very surprised and pleased by the ratings World Cup 2006 drew on the Mouse Networks.

USA-Italy drew a 5.8 in 2006. That's more than almost any NASCAR race, much more than a Stanley Cup Finals game, more than any golf tournament in which Tiger is not contending.

I wouldn't be surprised if USA-England draws a 6-plus, especially since the Mouse Networks really seem to be jumping more and more on the promotional train for soccer since 2006.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:57 pm

this is the first year that ESPN is actually paying for the rights. TV for the last three world cups I believe was similar to the NHL's deal with NBC post lockout.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:20 pm

Michael Bradley is tearing up Bayern right now.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:43 pm

The Sun didn't wait long to jinx England's World Cup campaign.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:01 pm

Three poor penalties today got saved today in the PL. Dindane, Fabregas and Lampard all thought hitting a weak, low shot slightly to one side of the keeper would be good enough.

It seems like almost every keeper dives along the ground as the penalty is taken, so any attempt in the top half of the net will be a goal. Getting the ball up there without sending it over the bar isn't too much to ask for, not from 12 yards.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:28 pm

Any serious assertion that France have anything to offer at the next WC any more is to be firmly laughed at. Argentina managing to fairly represent the sum of their magnificent talents is desperately unlikely from here. That group looks tough and if Diego doens't add speed to the back end the S.Koreans may surprise. Don't overlook NIgeria.

Italy are just too conservative to go far in the knock-out stages. Germany are the dark horses and will emerge from their group forged in more competetive adversity than most. Another toough group will be the Netherlands. Watch out for those Paraguayans.

Brazil, Spain, Germany and England are the top four contenders here IMO. Great demand in the UK for their game with USA. Brazill just needs to tie Portugal and do their job with the rest of the group and advance.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 2:10 am

I noticed Mr. Wenger shook Mr. Pulis hand after this game.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 6:01 am

miget33 wrote:I noticed Mr. Wenger shook Mr. Pulis hand after this game.

Here's a clue - "Arsenal 2 Stoke 0"

You can bet that if Stoke had muscled them about he'd have been moaning like a little girl....again.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 2:49 pm

And Defoe makes it four missed penalties. Shocking.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 4:03 pm

Besides the Sun cover, the English media seems very optimistic.

Someone on BBC said the English team may be at a disadvantage in the first game against the US because a lot of members of the English team will be on CL duty, while the US team doesn't have to worry about that.

The schadenfreude will be off the charts if and when the England team gets beaten short of the WC championship.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:31 am

Juve and Bayern play today in basically an elimination match. Will DVR it and listen to the Wendesday game this afternoon instead as I can't take it.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:25 pm

This Lahm character...if City buy him with Ribery, do they get a discount ?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:13 pm

s*** no. Maybe we will give you Lell at a discount.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:37 pm

Owen with a Hat Trick, frick yeah!

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:43 pm

Blimey, good result for Bayern there.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:23 pm

The match fixers can enjoy their time in the Europa League with the thugs from liverpool

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:13 am

fsquid wrote:The match fixers can enjoy their time in the Europa League with the thugs from liverpool

That's some serious sanctimony coming from someone supporting a team from Munich. LOL

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:58 am

Marseilles definitely had their chances but in the end it was too much Ronaldo. His free kick was an absolute beauty.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:01 am

RobVarak wrote:
fsquid wrote:The match fixers can enjoy their time in the Europa League with the thugs from liverpool

That's some serious sanctimony coming from someone supporting a team from Munich. LOL

Bayern are a classy team except for the big three in the boardroom who like to fire managers on a whim and piss off the legendary one we had.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:34 am

Classy team or not, it's MUNICH!

Not a municipal location with an unblemished history of humanitarianism. LOL

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:27 pm

RobVarak wrote:Classy team or not, it's MUNICH!

Not a municipal location with an unblemished history of humanitarianism. LOL

First it is Munchen and you evidently have never been there. Quite a place. I just can't afford to live there!