General Soccer Thread

[Arkansas Bronco]

Just figured I would make a thread that could be used by anyone wanting to talk about there team, Soccer news, ect.

[Jens1893]

MAAAAAAAAAAARCOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!



Stuttgart City Rulez!

[Dagmar]

Rangers 3-0 Hibernian

Rangers turned in a fantastic first half display to tear a wretched Hibernian apart at Ibrox.

[Arkansas Bronco]

The Chelsea/Arsenal game was one hell of a match. Anyone know what is keeping Henry out. It helped my Blues with him out so I defiantly am not complaining.

[Dagmar]

Originally Posted by Arkansas Bronco

The Chelsea/Arsenal game was one hell of a match. Anyone know what is keeping Henry out. It helped my Blues with him out so I defiantly am not complaining.

Did you watch on the Fox Soccer Channel? What an ending. Can't believe Chelski didn't score!

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by Arkansas Bronco

The Chelsea/Arsenal game was one hell of a match. Anyone know what is keeping Henry out. It helped my Blues with him out so I defiantly am not complaining.

Terry On-ree is taking a few weeks off as he feels he cannot play and is nursing a neck injury. He´s a little eccentric sometimes ... but it´s not unusual for international players to be tired in December after basically having little rest during the summer.

The point doesn´t help Chelsea a bit ...

One man I´ve lost a whole lot of respect for is Henrik Larsson. Him signing a 3 month loan deal at MUFC is absolutely idiotic, especially as Ferguson is only signing him for his personal ego. Shearer and Henke were the 2 that had always escaped him ... I thought he was above that.

[Arkansas Bronco]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Did you watch on the Fox Soccer Channel? What an ending. Can't believe Chelski didn't score!

FSC keeps my Saturday and Sunday morning exciting Cant believe Lamps hit the bar even more suprising is when Essien did because he had a pretty simple shot. I realy thought Lehmann and Drogba were about to get hit with reds.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

and Chelsea is now 8 pts behind United

[Jens1893]

didnt you say pardew was save, eddie? just pray magnusson wont pony up for eriksson

[epicSocialism4tw]

Essien's strike to tie up that match was absolutely classic. What a rocket.

[Arkansas Bronco]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Essien's strike to tie up that match was absolutely classic. What a rocket.

No lie on that and that ball sliced back at least 5 feet. Ballak hit one (bad hit) but it had some serious movement on it also.

[Dagmar]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Essien's strike to tie up that match was absolutely classic. What a rocket.

[Arkansas Bronco]

What realy kills me is that people here in the US dont see this as a serious game. Very little padding, alot of pysical contact, very precise execution. I know the Us will never realy relate becauses we want to see alot of action and on top of that we dont want to look at a sport that we are innferrior at. I for one that played about 10 years knows the type of game this is and I love it.

[Dagmar]

Originally Posted by Arkansas Bronco

What realy kills me is that people here in the US dont see this as a serious game. Very little padding, alot of pysical contact, very precise execution. I know the Us will never realy relate becauses we want to see alot of action and on top of that we dont want to look at a sport that we are innferrior at. I for one that played about 10 years knows the type of game this is and I love it.

Every American loves to play and hates to watch. When I 1st moved here in 03 it was the sport I saw most played, and that was Fort Collins who love their American Football (CSU barf...).

They just HATE to watch.

Make every kid that starts watch Brazil v Italy 1970 I say...

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Arkansas Bronco

What realy kills me is that people here in the US dont see this as a serious game. Very little padding, alot of pysical contact, very precise execution. I know the Us will never realy relate becauses we want to see alot of action and on top of that we dont want to look at a sport that we are innferrior at. I for one that played about 10 years knows the type of game this is and I love it.

I played competitive soccer from age 5 to my early 20's. It's the best team game on the planet. I have no doubts about that, and I've played all American sports competitively as well.

[Arkansas Bronco]

When does the winter transfer season come around?

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by Arkansas Bronco

When does the winter transfer season come around?

Transfer window opens Jan 1st and closes Jan 31st, but it´s hard as **** to find players in January. Most players are cup tied and good luck trying to convince a club to sell a decent player in the middle of the season.

Tricampeon Boca? Bosteros hijos de putas!!!!!!

[Jens1893]

Goodness bloody me, the CL is such a joke ... always the same clubs against each other. Where´s the fun when you play the same teams every year?

FC Porto v Chelsea
Celtic v AC Milan
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Lille v Manchester United
Roma v Lyon
Barcelona v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
Internazionale v Valencia

Except for the Roma and Liverpool ties those teams have all met each other at some point in the past 3 years.

Scrap that ... Barcelona and Liverpool met in 01 and 02. This is the SIXTH time Real Madrid and Bayern have been paired in the CL since 1999. What a load of ****.

[GSRelyea]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/socce...-bradley_x.htm

The U.S. national team's interim coach Bob Bradley recently talked to USA TODAY's Johnnie Whitehead as he gets prepared to for training camp — the roster will be released today — for a Jan. 20 exhibition vs. Denmark at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. It will be the U.S. team's first match since the World Cup in June:
Was it tough to leave Chivas USA just as the team started to make progress?

There's a part of me that feels very sad to step away from Chivas USA. The opportunity that I've had to be part of that organization has been very, very special. (Co-owner) Antonio Cue, his passion for the game, and the way that he has put his heart into Chivas USA, it's unbelievable. The people within the organization are terrific. But I also feel good about the progress we made at Chivas this last year. I'm confident that progress will continue.

What did former coach Bruce Arena tell you about the job?

The relationship that Bruce and I have has been built on so many soccer conversations over the years. So many arguments. So many debates. He's been great in terms of offering his ideas, his opinions, on all parts of the national team coaching position. He asked me some questions about the way the job was laid out for me. We talked about that. When we were finished with that conversation, he very simply said 'You're the right man for the job.' That meant a great deal to me. As a coach, his ability to learn along the way, the way he's grown as a coach, his understanding of international soccer, of CONCACAF qualifying, all of that is invaluable for me. The ability to pick up the phone and bounce some things off of him is an advantage and something I will always use. We don't always agree. That's part of it. But neither one of us is thrown off by that. We both have enjoyed trying to make each other better. I would absolutely look to him to make me better in this position.

Any concerns that some think your taking over the team is just a continuation of Arena, rather than a new direction for U.S. Soccer?

I don't think it's always easy to discuss those differences so everyone on the outside can see them. In reality, its not that important. On the inside with the team, there are subtle differences — how he would choose to communicate, how he would address a problem, how he might evaluate a player. That's something that players who have played for the two of us can discuss. Everyone has his own way of working in coaching, not just in soccer. I get asked that question so much and I've yet been able to come up with an answer to satisfy someone. Maybe it's better that way. That's what the work is all about. I have a great respect for what he's done, and I've been fortunate that all the teams I've worked with, all the different players I've coached. I've worked with exceptional players who helped me grow.

What do you see as the biggest difference between coaching national team and coaching a club team?

The obvious difference is that with the national team you're not together every day. Around the world, coaches that have worked on the international level and the club level have talked about those differences. It's an area that over the last eight years I've heard Bruce's thoughts. To come up with the right ideas in terms of building a strong group that's not together all the time is the challenge. And to win. In international soccer, that's what counts the most. It's the result.

What are the chances of teenagers Freddy Adu or Josmer Altidore making the senior team?

Both Freddy Adu (Salt Lake) and Josy Altidore (New York) are part of our under-20 team. The under 20s have their qualifying in January in Panama. We're all hopeful that group not only will qualify but be successful in the under 20 world championships in Canada next summer. It's a great opportunity for our young players to play an important role and we can use that to have a better idea what their place will be with the full team.

What are the chances Michael Bradley will be called in? Will it be tougher on him because he's your son?

Michael is one of the young players that is involved with the under 20 team. Just like with Freddy and with Josy, his first challenge internationally is to earn the respect in that group. That will help dictate his opportunities in the future. The reason it's probably tougher is because of perceptions from the outside. Handling situations like that on the inside, a coach's credibility is put on the line. You look toward your assistant coaches and you always count on key players to have a sense of what works with the group. On the inside it's not difficult. Like any player, you must earn the respect of your teammates. When you do that, the players that you play with feel strongly of your place on the team. That's the basis for your decisions as a coach. For every player on the national team, it's also an honor but very clearly it must be earned all the time. It shouldn't be given out. When everybody understands that and believes in that part of it, then it creates the kind of mentality that you need to be successful on the international level.

Most friendlies give coaches a chance to experiment with new players and tactics. As an interim coach hoping to be the permanent coach, is it more imperative to win those games?

The first responsibility is always to win and have the team look good. Of course, there are so many variables there. The idea of introducing young players into the team, the availability of players, it can go on and on. There are things that are out of my control. The ability to take whatever group is in camp and make sure the work in that camp is really good and when we have that opportunity that we take advantage of it.

What went right in 2002 when the U.S. team advanced to the quarterfinals, and what went wrong in its first-round exit in 2006?

I don't think anything went wrong. The qualification process to 2006 was excellent. There are always factors in the game that you can't control. A call, a bounce, a great play. National teams aren't together every day. When that team comes together, especially in May before a World Cup — all the players have just finished seasons, or in MLS' case they're in the middle of a season — you hope all of them arrive fresh mentally and physically and understand the responsibility of stepping onto the biggest stage. In 2002, our team had a freshness, a confidence, we got a great result in the first game (3-2 upset of Portugal). That's really important. If you're not together all the time, you build momentum during a World Cup. So that first game against Portugal absolutely was a spark. Sometimes, that's all it takes. France won the World Cup in 1998. In 2002, they had as good a collection of players you can have. The first game was Senegal, they lost, and you could sense some of the players coming off long seasons with big clubs weren't as sharp as they needed to be. As the pressure mounted, they fell apart. If it can happen to a World Cup winner, it can happen to anyone. It's a reminder that there are no guarantees, that when you taste success that it won't be so easy the next time. Sometimes it's harder.

Does MLS provide an adequate level of play to develop national team players?

The story of MLS, the way the league has grown in 11 years, it's incredible. I don't think we do a good enough job in this country of recognizing how much has been accomplished in a short amount of time. Every player makes a decision (that's) best for him. There are players who've grown tremendously and have benefited from the competition of being a pro in MLS. There are others who look for different challenges. The great thing is that you judge players on what happens on the field. When the game starts, it doesn't say where a guy's playing his club soccer. It says on that day he's playing for the U.S. national team and we all look to see which players on that day came through for the team and which players gave everything they had. That's the basis upon picking your national team.

MLS players performed better than the European-based players at the 2006 World Cup, which contradicts conventional wisdom that Europe is a better preparation for international play. Why?

MLS is certainly a much better league than most people give it credit for. There are so many other factors. For example, a player can play a very big role for is team in MLS and may learn about the pressure of being a big player, being counted on every game to determine if his team is going to win or lose. That's true pressure. Maybe that pressure in this country doesn't always bring that much media attention. Nevertheless, the responsibility within your team to be one of the key players is important in a player's growth. That may give him an advantage over a player in Europe who obviously has other challenges because it's competitive just to stay on a team in Europe. It's also possible that at that moment that MLS player may have certain advantages. There's no formula. Kasey Keller and Claudio Reyna are the best examples from this country who went to Europe at an early age, handled the challenges and made great careers for themselves and came back to contribute greatly to our national team. Brian McBride spent the early part of his career in MLS and had the opportunity to go to Europe a little bit later and has been very good for the national team throughout that time.

What do you see as the team's potential greatest weakness with all those veterans retiring, especially at forward where there aren't any obvious choices to fill the gap left by Brian McBride?

All teams need balance. With the best teams the pieces all fit together. It's obvious that the one of the most difficult things in soccer is scoring goals. Whether you score goals because of an individual who is just special or the team finds ways to create chances and score goals as a unit. You never know. Brian, during his years in MLS (with Columbus), was not always the highest goal scorer. His contributions has always been all-around, his effort, his ability to win balls to create chances. His qualities carried over to international soccer. He made such a difference for our team. At this time, I don't believe enough credit is given to Landon Donovan as a goal scorer. He's been very successful as a young player scoring goals for our full team. Prior to 2002, many of these same questions were asked (about lack of goal scorers). The team came together where we scored some great goals in the World Cup. There are players when you look at MLS who have made their mark scoring goals — Brian Ching, Taylor Twellman, Ante Razov. The most impressive about Josy Altidore was that in the latter part of the season for the Red Bulls is that he scored goals for his team. You want to look at which players now can score goals at the next level. Not all great goal-scorers in the domestic leagues around the world are great goal-scorers internationally. There's not an automatic transition. Another player in our league who has scored goals, and great goals at sometimes, is Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United). You have to get excited. You want to see if those goals will translate to the next level.

How important is it to get "interim" removed from your title?

It's important, certainly in part it's out of my control. It's not as important as making sure that the players in these upcoming camps are challenged the right way. It's not as important as what we look like when we step out on the field in these games. It's not as important as building the foundation for success in these next four years.

Posted 12/18/2006 10:30 PM ET
Updated 12/18/2006 10:39 PM ET

[Arkansas Bronco]

Chelsea with a extra time winner. Cant realy believe wigam fought back as hard as they did. Right now Newcastle is making the hotspurs look like a elementary team.

[Arkansas Bronco]

Just great Terry is out for 6 weeks. I bet Chelsea makes a move for a CB during the transfer period.

[chrisp]

Originally Posted by Jens1893

Goodness bloody me, the CL is such a joke ... always the same clubs against each other. Where´s the fun when you play the same teams every year?

You have to look at it this way: the Champion's league is the equivalent of the NFL, the domestic leagues are the equivalent of the college game. The big clubs have often threatened to form a breakaway superleague, but they know it would be risky to break away from and compete with the domestic leagues. The current setup is a nice compromise for them with the Champion's league being a bit of a club for the same old teams each year. They'd actually love to have a nice closed league like the NFL does, but the way football works doesn't make that very feasible.

If you look at it that way, its actually a bonus that there's a little variation from time to time - we don't complain that the Broncos play the 'same old teams each year' do we? At least you do see the odd wildcard do something from time to time.....

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by chrisp

You have to look at it this way: the Champion's league is the equivalent of the NFL, the domestic leagues are the equivalent of the college game. The big clubs have often threatened to form a breakaway superleague, but they know it would be risky to break away from and compete with the domestic leagues. The current setup is a nice compromise for them with the Champion's league being a bit of a club for the same old teams each year. They'd actually love to have a nice closed league like the NFL does, but the way football works doesn't make that very feasible.

If you look at it that way, its actually a bonus that there's a little variation from time to time - we don't complain that the Broncos play the 'same old teams each year' do we? At least you do see the odd wildcard do something from time to time.....

The NFL and football are 2 entirely different cups of tea for me and cannot be compared in any way, sorry. It´s partly down to the fact that I am actively involved in supporting a club here, whereas I only see the NFL on TV. This may make me a hypocrite, but I don´t care ... I enjoy American Football as a sport I like to watch, whereas football and especially my club is way more than that to me. I enjoy watching the Premiership on TV from time to time, but as a match going fan you´re miles better off here than in the UK.

I despise the Champions League as its bringing the game down IMO and the Premiership actually is one of my prime examples. Give me a lesser league with affordable ticket prices where some clubs don´t see the fans as customers only over the commercialized Premiership any day. Less talented players and an inferior quality is a price I gladly pay for that.

[British Bronco]

Originally Posted by chrisp

You have to look at it this way: the Champion's league is the equivalent of the NFL, the domestic leagues are the equivalent of the college game. make that very feasible.

You're so far off the mark its untrue

[Arkansas Bronco]

Well on TV the EPL and Seire A are far better then the Spanish Primera (basicaly are the big three that play on Fox soccer channell and gol!, to this day I have never seen a Bundesliga 1 or a Ligue 1 match yet). I am talking about how it is filmed not play style. The SP distances so far back you cant even make out who has the ball most of the time.