2008/2009 Football (Soccer) Thread

[Endie]

Now that's a logo.

And it won't ever mark you out as a glory hunter...

[Jobu]

I've always liked the design of the Spurs logo actually. It has a nice kind of PanAm era elegance about it.

I was going to add a derisive zinger at the end, but really, why bother?

[Endie]

Aw man I never noticed our badge has "ltd" at the end of it.  That's fucking awful.

[Amarr HM]

Just marks you as a gloryhound 

When I was nine (1985 just after they had won the FA cup) a few older kids pinned me up against a wall and asked me which team I supported, the only team I could think of under the pressure of a severe beating was Man United. They were obviously supporters too cause they let me go unscathed seemed like a good idea to support them after that... though doesn't say much for the fans.

[sigil]

I've always liked the design of the Spurs logo actually. It has a nice kind of PanAm era elegance about it.

I was going to add a derisive zinger at the end, but really, why bother?

Spurs are a derisive zinger. I picked up Spurs because of Klinsmann and Kasey Keller. My first real taste of near glory was killed by bad lasagna.  Sad to think that's as close as they've come as of late.

[WayAbvPar]

Sounders game tomorrow night! I am headed to my brother's house for the evening, but plan to force him and his family to watch. They could use the culture! 

Gotta say I am not terribly envious of the fans in the stands tomorrow night. It is going to be a shitty wet windy mess. At least they sell beer!

[sigil]

MLS not following international schedule sucks ass, although it's better than it was.

I want to watch Sounders, I want to check out TFC to see if they're as good as last week  against a solid Columbus. I want to see  Convey and Huckerby against the Dynamo.


But several of the best players won't be there, because they're in El Salvador playing in a Cup Qualifier.

Plus I've got to watch all those games. Once again, MLSlive.tv is your friend.

[WayAbvPar]

Doh! I knew it was international week but I forgot all about the USMNT game- thanks for reminding me! Will have to keep an eye on that too.

[sigil]

Doh! I knew it was international week but I forgot all about the USMNT game- thanks for reminding me! Will have to keep an eye on that too.

Don't forget the third one Wednesday in Nashville against T&T.

[WayAbvPar]

Heh yeah I went and checked the schedule as soon as I realized there was a game coming. I have a Tivo Season Pass set up to grab the games in case I miss them, but I prefer to watch them live. Soccer is great that way, since there aren't a bunch of commercials slowing things down. I watch all my regular season hockey on TiVo-delay just so I can FF through all that crap. Watching the UW-Purdue game in the NCAA tourney live nearly drove me insane- there was literally a commercial break every two or 3 possessions!!

[Mr_PeaCH]

The talk about Montero got me checking the schedule.  I live less than 2 hours away from the Home Depot Center up in Carson, CA; home to both the Galaxy and Chivas USA.  (I didn't once ever think of going to see Beckham.)

Looks like for a Galaxy game against the Sounders I'll wait until August.  On the other hand, Chivas play them in 3 weeks.  Sweet.

[sigil]

The talk about Montero got me checking the schedule.  I live less than 2 hours away from the Home Depot Center up in Carson, CA; home to both the Galaxy and Chivas USA.  (I didn't once ever think of going to see Beckham.)

Looks like for a Galaxy game against the Sounders I'll wait until August.  On the other hand, Chivas play them in 3 weeks.  Sweet.

And with Chivas, you'll know that plenty of Good seats are available.

You can probably sit front row for that.


Seriously. Chivas draws dick. All the people in the know are waiting for them to be moved to St louis or someplace that wants a team.

LA follows Galaxy. And Chivas forgot that only a small segment of the latino population a: was from Mexico b) were fans of Chivas de Guadalajara . All the CA fans and Pumas and Cruz Azul and everyone else  fucking hates chivas. Which is good, becuase Chivas is a bunch of smug turdburgulars.

[WayAbvPar]

Switched to the Sounders game at about the 69 minute mark in the US v El Salvador game. Apparently all hell broke loose soon afterwards! Very surprising result to me- away games are always tough, but El Salvador hadn't even scored on the US in like 12 years or something crazy.

Sounders game was a lot more fun to watch overall. Keller made a couple of fantastic saves, and Montero hit a 25 yarder that was just WRONG. That kid can fucking play!

[sigil]

US  stunk up the continent Saturday. fortunately, Frankie Hejduk never, ever quits. And Jozy is a scoring machine. Also, Time to put Torres in for Sascha.

Seattle is really good. but I want to see what happens when they're down a goal.

They can be broken, but it will be interesting to see who can do it.

[sidereal]

Montero's goal was just wrong.  As soon as Ozzie dropped the ball off to him at around 35 yards out and it's a 4-on-3, you're thinking 'How's this going to go?  Cross to Jaqua?  Through ball to Ljungberg? Out to the corner. . OH HE DID WHAT?!'

Cold as fuck, though.  Thank Buddha they serve coffee at the stadium.

Oh, and the attendance was 28,548
Second highest this week was DCU at 15,895.  Yeah, we're lapping the league.

[sigil]

Noobs. You'd think your Chicago or something.

You haven't faced a challenge yet.

When  Montero pulls that off on Chad Marshall or Soumare or my beloved Dynamo's Goon squad then you can crow. Let s see what happens when you're playing on a really crappy turf like, well next weeks or  ugh Giants stadium. Wait until Kovalenko loses it  on Freddy.  Wait until your in august grinding out games.

Right now, you've got two wins at home. Talk to me after two months.

Yes, it's MLS. but  MLS is not a shit as  people make it out to be.  What it is lacking  is a lot of technical skill. but you won't find a harder charging league out there.

Also crowds are great, keep em coming, but for sheer insanity, nothing has beaten TFC's original goal celebration.



Seriously. Toronto is nuts, just ask Columbus. :D

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=4617

They had to bring out the cops and the cops chopper to control the scene, in a wonderful display of  force by CBus's finest.


 

[HaemishM]

So yeah, Newcastle... WHAT THE FUCK?

I know you revere Alan Shearer and all but... ANOTHER FUCKING MANAGER? You cannot literally make this shit up. That's INSANE.

[Endie]

Look, they have a handful of games left, are two points into the relegation zone and are playing Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa, as well as a resurgent Spurs who've not lost in seven games haveing taken 7 points from games against Chelsea, Man Utd and Villa in that time.  It's only natural that the Newcastle board would therefore look at candidates with a breadth and range of experience at the management level, and who have experienced similar situations both as a player and as a coach.  Then discard that list of names, pick a popular alumnus of the club and hail him as the new Geordie messiah, regardless of his never having coached anything more prestigious than his son's school side.

[HaemishM]

Welcome to the Championship, Toon Army! Be sure to say HI to the Derby County supporters. Tools.

[sigil]

Spurs have everything to play for now, what with seventh spot looking good for europe this year.

[Endie]

Oh and Southampton are on the verge of administration.  They've had trading in their shares suspended.

[sigil]

USA dominates Trinidad, Mexico gets stomped by Honduras. Good times, Good times.

Jozy with the hat trick. That second goal was something American strikers Just. Don't. Do.

He needs to get on the fucking field :now: No fucking way he should be sitting on  the bench for a second division Spanish team.

[WayAbvPar]

Much better from the US. What the FUCK happened to Argentina? Holy shit. Also Ireland tied Italy, Scotland beat Iceland, and Poland beat San Marino (Norway didn't play). All my ancestral brethren had good days 

[Amarr HM]

Who reveres Alan Shearer?

[sigil]

Much better from the US. What the FUCK happened to Argentina? Holy shit. Also Ireland tied Italy, Scotland beat Iceland, and Poland beat San Marino (Norway didn't play). All my ancestral brethren had good days 

Maybe Maradonna isn't as sharp a coach as the previous outing demonstrated? or  Maybe He owed a debt to a Bolivian.

Mexico has to be going apeshit right now. One win in three, out of the automatic spot and one point ahead of El Salvador and T&T.

Next game for the US is  in june @ Saprissa, with a 3 day turnaround to play in Chicago  against Honduras. four or six there will put us in the home stretch to win  the qualifications, and maybe even get seeded.

Also, only Geordie fuckheads revere Shearer, especially as a head coach. I hope they enjoy  the championship. I think they might be there a while.

[Amarr HM]

Maybe Maradonna isn't as sharp a coach as the previous outing demonstrated? or  Maybe He owed a debt to a Bolivian.

The cocaine abuse probably destroyed a few brain cells, what a fucking player though, he singlehandedly (no pun intended) converted me to football 

[HaemishM]

Much better from the US. What the FUCK happened to Argentina? Holy shit. Also Ireland tied Italy, Scotland beat Iceland, and Poland beat San Marino (Norway didn't play). All my ancestral brethren had good days 

I loudly expressed my WTFness when I saw the Bolivia score? When did Argentina become a League Two team? Where were Mascherano, Messi or any of the other world class Argentinian players?

As for the US, good on Altidore, but the rest of the team looked sloppy against T&T. Against any good World Cup opposition, they'd have gotten hammered. Sloppy passes, too many long balls to the wings (who were apparently invisible to the fullbacks for all the attention paid to them). I'm glad they won, but shit, they've got to improve.

[sigil]

I know what it is.

The us has to work on their passing and their touch as a team.

many balls were  given away or opportunities blunted because the just couldn't handle the ball pinged to their feet... Landon especially was notable for that, but he got three assists, so no one says anything. We all know Jozy needs to work on his first touch, but every one needs to do it, and DMB LD and CD especially need to work on their passing pace find the spaced behind more and let people run onto balls in the open.

[HaemishM]

Onyehu is a beast, but fuck's sake, I cringe everytime he gets the ball. I just know he's going to boing one 50 yards down the pitch. I can't say Beasley did that bad. But the midfield... creativity IN the midfield was completely nonexistent. They were ok once they got in the final 3rd, but they were dreadful on the center circle.

[Endie]

I actually watched the Bolivias match in the pub after the Scotland one, albeit with the sound down, but I have one suggestion as to why the result was so marked (Bolivia looked pretty tasty, anyway).

Your clue is that it was a home game for Bolivia, played in La Paz.

[WayAbvPar]

All Beasley seems to bring is speed- I am not seeing much more out of him. Wish the US had a decent option at left back. I used to be a DMB fan, but he is kind of a one trick pony these days.

[lamaros]

Altitude does make a big difference, still 6-1 is the worst loss by Argentina in 50 years, or so I seem to remember reading. Not a great result for Maradona at all.

Australia with another dull but useful 2-0 win. 1 more point to qualify, so it's looking pretty solid, but I do wish the team would start playing some good football too...

[Mr_PeaCH]

Re: Argentina scoreline... Didn't FIFA (or COMEBOL or whoever) crack down on the Bolivians, Uruguayans, Peruvians, etc. about playing qualifying games at extreme altitudes or were/are there stadiums even higher than this one?  Yeah, I don't expect it matters how great your athletes are; coming up from sea level to 12,000 foot plus a mere 2 hours before kickoff is FTL.

[sigil]

Well it's not like they've never played in La Paz before.

Oh , So the first signs of the wheels coming off of Seattle.  Freddy's under investigation for Sexual Assault. Also he's got "the Flu" and will be absent from  the game @ TFC.

I'd put money on TFC winning that one. Their turf is wonky and that crowd is a bitch. Let's see Letoux  get a decent corner off with with a face full of streamers. 

[Endie]

Re: Argentina scoreline... Didn't FIFA (or COMEBOL or whoever) crack down on the Bolivians, Uruguayans, Peruvians, etc. about playing qualifying games at extreme altitudes or were/are there stadiums even higher than this one?  Yeah, I don't expect it matters how great your athletes are; coming up from sea level to 12,000 foot plus a mere 2 hours before kickoff is FTL.

Yes they did, and ironically Maradona was one of the major defenders of the right to play at altitude.  To be fair to him. he's refusing to use it as an excuse, or was when I saw him interviewed.