The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

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Nani didn't roll around to be 100% honest. He fell on the ground holding his leg and ribs. Neither are unreasonable injuries given what happened. It's not like he reached for his face. I'm sure both of the players were in pain. But again, the point (not your side point) holds some truth, Benzema at least gets a yellow most likely if the defender he kicked in the face rolled on the ground clutching his face. If he was a Spaniard he probably would have bit his lip as well to draw blood to go for the red.

And is Nani a real man?

I'm sorry I used the wrong word rolled it should of been flopped






The big difference that I noticed was that Arbeloa flopped around on the ground for 5 minutes like he had been shanked in a prison brawl. The galatassary defender went to ground momentarily, regained composure, then got back on his feet like a real man.



looks like the Galatasaray player was down for a while. You can't even really tell if his boot actually got him in the face .





some of my fav nani highlights



probably my favorite

 
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Changes that I would like to see in the MLS that might make it better.

1) promotion and relegation -- this would be great, NASL and USLPro stadiums aren't that bad, and it would get more regional attention.

2) I recognize that synchronizing MLS schedule with other top leagues creates conflicts with NFL and problems with weather. Still think it makes treansfer season better, and allows for better coordination of international and regional play within FIFA world.

3) The playoff system in the MLS is kooky. Set it up like other leagues do, where there is one or more tournaments that run concurrently with the league matches. (see FA Cup, CApital One Cup, Paint cup in british league)

4) Improve youth development -- drafting kids out of college is sloppy seconds. Any kids with talent are already pro by Age 21/22. In Europe, suitable kids are scouted and recruited at ages 8-12. Nothing that says MLS teams can't set up private boarding schools where academics are taught to prep a kid for college, but also where there is a heavy emphasis on learning soccer.

5) Turn the teams into clubs. Clubs means that in addition to them mens 1A team (the team we see on Saturdays/Sundays) have them have mens 2nd, 3rd teams, as well as womens, youth, and senior teams that play in non-paying leagues.

6) Team loyalty. Looks like a lot of players switch teams every other year...what's up with that?

________________________________________________________________

I just got the MLSlive app for IPad and laptop this year, and although i have been following international and european soccer for decades, have decided to start watching the MLS seriously. I semi-randomly picked the Whitecaps as a team to support. My thoughts here:

- The following players look pretty good: Daigo Kobayashi, YP Lee, Nigel Reo-Coker, Joe Cannon. Can we please get some forwards?!


+2

Maybe the MLS should hire you
 
Anyone in NBA want to sign our goalie??




And for good measure....Same goalie, same game. He's actually a bloody good goalie, one of those with tons of insanity.


 
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1) promotion and relegation -- this would be great, NASL and USLPro stadiums aren't that bad, and it would get more regional attention.
Sorry dude, it's not going to work... at least not for another 20-30 years. NASL doesn't even completely qualify to be a division 2 league. Any MLS club that got relegated would be completely doomed.

2) I recognize that synchronizing MLS schedule with other top leagues creates conflicts with NFL and problems with weather. Still think it makes treansfer season better, and allows for better coordination of international and regional play within FIFA world.
No. A million times no. MLS is doing just fine on attendance. It has a higher average attendance than NHL and NBA. Scheduling it during NFL season would DESTROY attendance, as well as winter matches in SLC, Colorado, Toronto, Montreal, NY, New England.... did you not see the last USA match in the blizzard? If MLS went through the roughest parts of the winter there would a big drop in attendance, a ton of cancelled matches, and the potential for many many more injuries.

3) The playoff system in the MLS is kooky. Set it up like other leagues do, where there is one or more tournaments that run concurrently with the league matches. (see FA Cup, CApital One Cup, Paint cup in british league)
It's a playoff system, not a side tournament. You can't do playoffs until the regular season has completed.

4) Improve youth development -- drafting kids out of college is sloppy seconds. Any kids with talent are already pro by Age 21/22. In Europe, suitable kids are scouted and recruited at ages 8-12. Nothing that says MLS teams can't set up private boarding schools where academics are taught to prep a kid for college, but also where there is a heavy emphasis on learning soccer.
Every year MLS youth systems get better. Give it time.

5) Turn the teams into clubs. Clubs means that in addition to them mens 1A team (the team we see on Saturdays/Sundays) have them have mens 2nd, 3rd teams, as well as womens, youth, and senior teams that play in non-paying leagues.
They're matching MLS clubs up with USL Pro clubs. Again, this is new territory. Give it time. But as far as same-club-different-league, there are plenty of clubs that already do that. Chicago has a PDL club, every club with an academy has their academy teams play PDL and USL Pro clubs, Portland, Seattle and Chicago now have NWSL clubs...

6) Team loyalty. Looks like a lot of players switch teams every other year...what's up with that?
............ what? Okay, are you trolling?

The following players look pretty good: Daigo Kobayashi, YP Lee, Nigel Reo-Coker, Joe Cannon. Can we please get some forwards?!
Chris Wondolowski, Mike Magee (goes between playing left wing and acting as a second striker), Claudio Bieler, Thierry Henry, Robert Earnshaw, Ryan Johnson, Deshorn Brown (looks excellent even as a rookie), Marco di Vaio......

Shall I continue? ;)
 
As a gooner I can definitely appreciate a keeper with an insane streak. I think you got a to be a bit unhinged to go between the sticks in the first place.

+1

These are the guys that go to bars, talk #$#$ to everyone, eventually end up in the back alley getting kicked in the ribs by a half-dozen drunken sods, and then consider that proper training for the next match.

Seriously, goalies are nuts. I have taken my share of soccer balls to the face, but to voluntarily stand there and risk not just getting the ball in the face, but the boot as well?!

Petr Cech has the right idea...
 
Seriously, goalies are nuts. I have taken my share of soccer balls to the face, but to voluntarily stand there and risk not just getting the ball in the face, but the boot as well?!

Played keeper for 12 years. Once I got into my traveling club, high school, and the Olympic Development Program, I'd broken every finger (most multiple times), a couple ribs, broken nose, countless boots to the face and chest, dislocated hip...

Hell, the very last match of my highschool career I landed wrong on my elbow are a long stretching save. Hurt like a sonofabitch but kept going. At half time someone pointed out that my elbow had swollen to the size of a grapefruit. Played the entire second half, even stopped a PK that would have stolen the match from us.

Being a keeper is brutal... but after playing lacrosse in college for a couple years I can tell you that in order to be a lacrosse goalie you basically have to be an alcoholic. It's the only way to get through it :D
 
Sorry dude, it's not going to work... at least not for another 20-30 years. NASL doesn't even completely qualify to be a division 2 league. Any MLS club that got relegated would be completely doomed.


No. A million times no. MLS is doing just fine on attendance. It has a higher average attendance than NHL and NBA. Scheduling it during NFL season would DESTROY attendance, as well as winter matches in SLC, Colorado, Toronto, Montreal, NY, New England.... did you not see the last USA match in the blizzard? If MLS went through the roughest parts of the winter there would a big drop in attendance, a ton of cancelled matches, and the potential for many many more injuries.


It's a playoff system, not a side tournament. You can't do playoffs until the regular season has completed.


Every year MLS youth systems get better. Give it time.


They're matching MLS clubs up with USL Pro clubs. Again, this is new territory. Give it time. But as far as same-club-different-league, there are plenty of clubs that already do that. Chicago has a PDL club, every club with an academy has their academy teams play PDL and USL Pro clubs, Portland, Seattle and Chicago now have NWSL clubs...


............ what? Okay, are you trolling?


Chris Wondolowski, Mike Magee (goes between playing left wing and acting as a second striker), Claudio Bieler, Thierry Henry, Robert Earnshaw, Ryan Johnson, Deshorn Brown (looks excellent even as a rookie), Marco di Vaio......

Shall I continue? ;)

Don't know where to begin with this response except for to tell you to "Relax and have a homebrew" and then:

1) Have you been to any NASL matches? Their stadiums are more than adequate to handle current MLS crowds. Also, if relegation meant doom, that is called competitive pressure and will get owners to spend some $$$ to keep their teams from getting relegated. Besides, as a Galaxy fan you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

2) You suspect that scheduling MLS during NFL will destroy the MLS, you don't know that for a FACT. In my opinion there is about as much overlap between MLS and NFL as there is between NHL and NBA...European leagues play in the cold, even the Russian league, Scottish league, swedish, norwegian, etc. They take a winter break during the worst of it.

EDIT: Once the MLS is fully established it will be the powerhouse league of North America -- attracting viewership globally, beyond the grasp of the NFL. Is the BPL worried about competing with the NFL?

3) a playoff system is a weak substitute for an actual tournament. To quote Jim Mora "Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?! You're talking to me about Playoffs?!!"

4) Hope to see the youth system improve -- will be hard to do when kids are getting siphoned off towards baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, tennis, and three other sports that are more lucrative than soccer in the U.S.

5) Having played sports in Europe, I am not sure how to express the difference between the "Club Atmosphere" of a European (Dutch) club, and that of an American team. Let's hope to see it develop properly.

6) Not trolling, there is too much turnover and rotation from season to season on many squads.

The last comment was directed specifically at the Whitecaps; the team i support. I would like to see some forwards play for the Caps. This is why i put a long line after my numbered suggestions and then started talking about the Whitecaps. I have yet to see a Whitecap Striker impress me.

Once again; "Relax and have a homebrew" you seem to be wound a little tight. It's not like this is field hockey, or anything...
 
Don't know where to begin with this response except for to tell you to "Relax and have a homebrew" and then:
Oh I'm not steaming or anything. These are just suggestions that come up all the time that really won't work for MLS considering the way it is. We don't have to be like the rest of the world.. that's the great thing about it being an international sport, each country and region can do it their own way.

1) Have you been to any NASL matches? Their stadiums are more than adequate to handle current MLS crowds. Also, if relegation meant doom, that is called competitive pressure and will get owners to spend some $$$ to keep their teams from getting relegated. Besides, as a Galaxy fan you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
#1 - NASL stadiums are far from adequate. The average capacity of NASL stadiums is 6675. That's not even enough to hold enough fans for a Chivas USA match, which is really saying something. In 2012 the average MLS attendance was just about 18800.
#2 - This isn't EPL. There is a salary cap and clubs can't go spending all willy-nilly.
#3 - I have a lot to worry about as a Galaxy fan. Due to the salary cap there is a lot more parity. Galaxy could go into a tailspin this season or next. This isn't a league of one-sided spending.

2) You suspect that scheduling MLS during NFL will destroy the MLS, you don't know that for a FACT. In my opinion there is about as much overlap between MLS and NFL as there is between NHL and NBA...European leagues play in the cold, even the Russian league, Scottish league, swedish, norwegian, etc. They take a winter break during the worst of it.
But MLS already has a higher attendance than NHL and NBA so your point is a little moot. So why try to compete with NFL for attendance and TV ratings when we're doing just fine where we are? And no.... no, western European leagues don't get as cold or snowy as the eastern United States or the Rockies. And Sweden, Norway, and Russia all have a 3 month long winter break so they don't count.

3) a playoff system is a weak substitute for an actual tournament. To quote Jim Mora "Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?! You're talking to me about Playoffs?!!"
Playoffs >>>>>> Random side tournament. Not only that but MLS clubs already have to deal with international call-ups, US Open Cup (there, MLS does compete in a tournament that runs along side the season), and CONCACAF Champions league... and they have to juggle all those without exorbitant payrolls.

4) Hope to see the youth system improve -- will be hard to do when kids are getting siphoned off towards baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, tennis, and three other sports that are more lucrative than soccer in the U.S.
Soccer is the #1 sport for youth in America... pretty sure by a long shot as well. The problem is that the freak, natural-athletes are getting swiped up by the other sports. There are several cases in NFL alone of players who wanted to play soccer but their parents didn't think it was lucrative enough.

5) Having played sports in Europe, I am not sure how to express the difference between the "Club Atmosphere" of a European (Dutch) club, and that of an American team. Let's hope to see it develop properly.
We also don't exactly have a complete soccer pyramid. And I'm completely aware of the difference.


6) Not trolling, there is too much turnover and rotation from season to season on many squads.
MLS is a single-entity organization. Most times players have absolutely no choice but to get traded.

Once again; "Relax and have a homebrew" you seem to be wound a little tight. It's not like this is field hockey, or anything...
Well I'm staying out of town for work in a crappy little town so I may come off wound up but I'm really not. I'm just sick of Europeans or Eurosnobs making arguments against MLS that are not only wrong but the complete opposite of what is true. No offense whatsoever, but your statements make it seem like you haven't watched enough MLS to make a complete assessment.
 
Well I'm staying out of town for work in a crappy little town so I may come off wound up but I'm really not. I'm just sick of Europeans or Eurosnobs making arguments against MLS that are not only wrong but the complete opposite of what is true. No offense whatsoever, but your statements make it seem like you haven't watched enough MLS to make a complete assessment.

I can't help where i was born, only where I live. My background is part of me. If I were in Europe I would be advocating an improvement to their "American Style Rugby" leagues...

I used to go to Tampa Mutiny games when i lived in FL -- that should tell you how long i have been following the MLS... I live in the ATL area now and I am grumpy about the proximity of a pro soccer team; not sure who is closer, United? Crew? Sporting KC? Dynamo?

The system may be improving but evidence of how immature the league is can be found in the reason why the Whitecaps managed to score against the 'Quakes this weekend (hint: 2 players off the pitch simultaneously changing their boots, they couldn't get back on the pitch because the ball needs to be dead first -- this would get a manager fired, stoned, drawn, quartered, burned in effigy, drowned, shot, and stabbed in any other league)

I like the international slot system the MLS uses.

I think the level of play has improved significantly in 17 years.

Announcers aren't all that great, but that will come with time. The media in general is messed up, camera angles are bad...the media is trying to do sideline interviews with local celebrities during games (really?!)

The MLS is fine if we take it for what it is and what it could be, but to think it is developing towards EPL is ridiculous, to even think it could rank near Serie A, Ligue 1, or the Bundesliga is highly optimistic.

It may be that the general American culture and mindset is not set up to enjoy a game of soccer -- it requires an uninterrupted 45 minutes of watching (unlike baseball or football), the buildup and interplay is valued almost as much as scoring, the players tend to be more like generalists than specialists, and the players do not take on Marvel super hero dimensions.

I love the beautiful game and would like to see it become huge here.
 
Too little too late... no chance in hell of pulling 12 points back.

As and gooner it does warm my heart a tiny fraction to see United lose though....
 
I can't help where i was born, only where I live. My background is part of me. If I were in Europe I would be advocating an improvement to their "American Style Rugby" leagues...

I used to go to Tampa Mutiny games when i lived in FL -- that should tell you how long i have been following the MLS... I live in the ATL area now and I am grumpy about the proximity of a pro soccer team; not sure who is closer, United? Crew? Sporting KC? Dynamo?

The system may be improving but evidence of how immature the league is can be found in the reason why the Whitecaps managed to score against the 'Quakes this weekend (hint: 2 players off the pitch simultaneously changing their boots, they couldn't get back on the pitch because the ball needs to be dead first -- this would get a manager fired, stoned, drawn, quartered, burned in effigy, drowned, shot, and stabbed in any other league)

I like the international slot system the MLS uses.

I think the level of play has improved significantly in 17 years.

Announcers aren't all that great, but that will come with time. The media in general is messed up, camera angles are bad...the media is trying to do sideline interviews with local celebrities during games (really?!)

The MLS is fine if we take it for what it is and what it could be, but to think it is developing towards EPL is ridiculous, to even think it could rank near Serie A, Ligue 1, or the Bundesliga is highly optimistic.

It may be that the general American culture and mindset is not set up to enjoy a game of soccer -- it requires an uninterrupted 45 minutes of watching (unlike baseball or football), the buildup and interplay is valued almost as much as scoring, the players tend to be more like generalists than specialists, and the players do not take on Marvel super hero dimensions.

I love the beautiful game and would like to see it become huge here.

Fair enough. My apologies. And I wasn't bashing on you being European... I'm from Vegas which began to turn into a decently international city by the time I was in high school and I had to constantly hear it from my friends originally from England, Germany, Estonia, Brazil... and half of them played on my hs soccer team as well. But then again, MLS is miles ahead of where it was then.

But here's my deal: it's really unfair to compare any aspect of the Euro leagues vs MLS. While EPL is not very old, the English friggin INVENTED the sport about 150 years ago, Serie A has been around for 115 years, La Liga 84 years, Bundesliga 50 years, Liga MX 70 years, Ligue 1 81 years, Eredivisie 57 years. Without including smaller but just-as-old leagues, that's 590 years more experience than MLS has.

And those leagues weren't mocked by the rest of the world when they still hadn't even had their 20th season and were still figuring things out.

But hey, fun fact: even though MLS is a newborn compared to the rest of the soccer world, we are 8th in highest average attendance (just a hair behind Ligue 1 and Eredivisie.)
 
And is Nani a real man?

I'm sorry I used the wrong word rolled it should of been flopped

Nani didn't flop either he clutched would be about the best description.

Flopped would have been him keelign around and making a scene, he just stayed down.

And I don't know what Nani being a man or anything like that has to do with the original point. Stay on topic or stop arguing. Point is that Benzema's foul should have been a red card especially considering the Nani card just the match before, and one component as to why it likely wasn't is the person who was fouled didn't act like he was shot. And I know Nani and Arbeloa were both hurting and it's normal reaction, but again if the defender went to the ground and was crying bloody murder no way does Benzema get of free and if Nani's foul was deserving of a red, then so was Benzema's. So stop making this about being a man or making Nani out to be a flopper or anything like that cause it's entirely irrelevant.

Fact is Benzema should have a Red and shouldn't be playing.
 
Nani didn't flop either he clutched would be about the best description.

Flopped would have been him keelign around and making a scene, he just stayed down.

And I don't know what Nani being a man or anything like that has to do with the original point. Stay on topic or stop arguing. Point is that Benzema's foul should have been a red card especially considering the Nani card just the match before, and one component as to why it likely wasn't is the person who was fouled didn't act like he was shot. And I know Nani and Arbeloa were both hurting and it's normal reaction, but again if the defender went to the ground and was crying bloody murder no way does Benzema get of free and if Nani's foul was deserving of a red, then so was Benzema's. So stop making this about being a man or making Nani out to be a flopper or anything like that cause it's entirely irrelevant.

Fact is Benzema should have a Red and shouldn't be playing.

You don't see his studs hit the dude in the face on the replay. I see Nani's studs connect though.

The defender did go to ground claiming bloody murder

Nani flopped after he drop kicked the dude. He does has a history of flopping or "clutching" like Ashley Young. :) I'm not making this all up their are videos online of him flopping. It sounds like you have a strong dislike for Spanish players.

If he was a Spaniard he probably would have bit his lip as well to draw blood to go for the red.
 
I'm doing this next Timbers match I go to...[ame="http://youtu.be/MPRig9e1vaU"]http://youtu.be/MPRig9e1vaU[/ame]
 
You don't see his studs hit the dude in the face on the replay. I see Nani's studs connect though.

The defender did go to ground claiming bloody murder

Nani flopped after he drop kicked the dude. He does has a history of flopping or "clutching" like Ashley Young. :) I'm not making this all up their are videos online of him flopping. It sounds like you have a strong dislike for Spanish players.

I have a strong dislike for most European and Latin American players. Rather have the sport be decided by the play on the pitch not who can act better. Keep in mind I said most Brits and Germans seem to play a little tougher than most, though they have their share of divers of course.

I don't think studs play as big of a role when someone's face is involve. If Benzema's studs connected with Kaya's face, then Kaya may be dead. If you recall whoever was defending the Nani red before (can't remember who it was) who was the ref or whatever was listing all the reasons it was a red, and all the same apply to Benzema. it's absolutely within Man U's rights to be upset about it because it should havebeen a straight Red if Nani's was. I don't care if Nani drop kicked the guy, hitting someone in the head>than the chest.
 
Fair enough. My apologies. And I wasn't bashing on you being European... I'm from Vegas which began to turn into a decently international city by the time I was in high school and I had to constantly hear it from my friends originally from England, Germany, Estonia, Brazil... and half of them played on my hs soccer team as well. But then again, MLS is miles ahead of where it was then.

But here's my deal: it's really unfair to compare any aspect of the Euro leagues vs MLS. While EPL is not very old, the English friggin INVENTED the sport about 150 years ago, Serie A has been around for 115 years, La Liga 84 years, Bundesliga 50 years, Liga MX 70 years, Ligue 1 81 years, Eredivisie 57 years. Without including smaller but just-as-old leagues, that's 590 years more experience than MLS has.

And those leagues weren't mocked by the rest of the world when they still hadn't even had their 20th season and were still figuring things out.

But hey, fun fact: even though MLS is a newborn compared to the rest of the soccer world, we are 8th in highest average attendance (just a hair behind Ligue 1 and Eredivisie.)

We should catch a game and drink a homebrew sometime. Appreciate your angle, and props to playing between the sticks. I got shuffled between striker and defender due to being 6'2". No pedigree like yours, just from the nation of Clockwork Orange ;)
 
I'm just sick of Europeans or Eurosnobs making arguments against MLS that are not only wrong but the complete opposite of what is true.

Reno, Footy is one of the few things that the rest of the world has that is better than the US......The US boasts about superiority in just about every aspect of life like everyone else is retarded.......Please let us keep or footy! ;)
 
We should catch a game and drink a homebrew sometime. Appreciate your angle, and props to playing between the sticks. I got shuffled between striker and defender due to being 6'2". No pedigree like yours, just from the nation of Clockwork Orange ;)
Yeah, I was 6'4" 200lbs by the time I was a sophomore in high school so I was always keeper during high school season and then our team would put together a team for the local indoor soccer beer league in which I played defender... but that's only because board checking was legal :rockin:

But hey, to be honest you playing in a real football nation is more of a pedigree than me being in American ODP :mug:

Reno, Footy is one of the few things that the rest of the world has that is better than the US......The US boasts about superiority in just about every aspect of life like everyone else is retarded.......Please let us keep or footy! ;)
Pfft, we like to think we're the best at everything but I see through the bulls**t :D

And very well, you may have your footy.... for now. I can't promise anything 20-30 years from now :ban:
 
If anyone is watching the Concacaf game Seattle missed a sure goal only to have Santos score on a hell of a free kick. Looks bad for the MLS teams
 
What a great FA cup game today seems like chelsea takes a half to get going. Yaya was a stud today like a freight train and another sick goal by ba.
 
What a great FA cup game today seems like chelsea takes a half to get going. Yaya was a stud today like a freight train and another sick goal by ba.

Agree was a decent game for the second half. Wish Chelsea had pulled their head out in the first and knocked MC out, just on principle. Can't stand Man City :p
 
Should of been a red but David Luiz did throw an elbow. Maybe that's the response he was looking for.

Should of been a penalty kick for the foul on torres in the box.

If he was a Spaniard he probably would have bit his lip as well to draw blood to go for the red.

I wonder if Torres is really Spanish?
 
Torres just looks weird with the hair cut & face mask....
Whats the deal with the mask anyway? did he have a broken nose recently?
 
Torres just looks weird with the hair cut & face mask....
Whats the deal with the mask anyway? did he have a broken nose recently?

yeah he broke it in Europa



I think Fellaini is going to Chelsea to shore up their midget midfield. No way in hell is Everton making Champions league.

Will Chelsea give fat frank a new contract?



found some cool highlights from the game all shot a field level

 
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