All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

[TrooperBari]

Re: USA/Poland Thread (soccer)

Poin, I know you aren't a big fan, but I think Reyna has a roll on this team. The team can run and progress and push with him on the field. However, with him off of it, you see lot of disjointment in the midfield. The US is not able to control the flow of play as easily.

Reyna is a playmaker. And as such he will push the ball to the open man. If the team is going up the field, he won't slow it down.

Someone like Reyna (or, dare I hope, John O'Brien) is key to the US midfield. Guys like Mastroeni, Zavagnin and Armas can do the destructive work, but they don't facilitate the attack all that well. Donovan and Dempsey are plenty creative, but they've both shown that being a straight-up central mid isn't the best fit for them. Rico Clark and Brian Carroll are, apparently, not ready for prime time.

JOB and Capt. America can do both, and more. They can distribute, defend and organize a midfield - anyone watching the Poland game knows how important that can be.

That said, though, I don't think it's a coincidence that Donovan became much more involved in the game when Mastro came on. He's shown that he can handle patrolling central midfield, which allows Donovan to play further forward and be more of a threat. If neither Reyna or JOB are available, something all too possible, Pablo would be my first choice to keep tabs on Pirlo, Gilardino, Nedved, etc.

 

[TrooperBari]

Re: USA/Poland Thread (soccer)

Here is another thought, and this may have been mentioned before, yesterday's win was HUGE. The US does NOT win in Europe, especially when playing European teams. The US had no business tying Scotland, even with their D-Team on the pitch.

Winning in Europe is great, yes, but I doubt the fact that the World Cup is located in a European nation is shattering anyone's confidence. Remember, too, that we've already beaten Poland in Poland.

Taking out Germany in Germany would be great fun. Keep in mind these are the same Germans who barely beat China, lost to Turkey and surrendered three goals to pre-Hiddink Australia at home. If the Yanks do pull it off, though, I can't help but feel the headlines will be more about Germany losing than the US winning....

 

[KP]

Re: USA/Poland Thread (soccer)

I wonder what Jack Edwards does during the broadcasts of the US games?  Is he in a fetal position in his living room in his bathrobe using a cereal spoon as a mike with a cardboard cutout of 'Celo?

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY!!!

Jack was doing the play-by-play of the Bruins blowing another 3rd period lead last night in Carolina. O'B was BRUTAL, I cut him slack for the last 20 minutes with the snow, but he was brutal. And Balboa is nothing to write home about either. Give me Seamus! Derek Rae should be doing pbp for ESPN.

If not Howard, what about Hannehman in the 2 spot?
I actually recently spoke to Reis and he wasn't very confident about being called to camp.

 

[zizzer]

Re: USA/Poland Thread (soccer)

I wonder what Jack Edwards does during the broadcasts of the US games?  Is he in a fetal position in his living room in his bathrobe using a cereal spoon as a mike with a cardboard cutout of 'Celo?

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY!!!

Jack was doing the play-by-play of the Bruins blowing another 3rd period lead last night in Carolina. O'B was BRUTAL, I cut him slack for the last 20 minutes with the snow, but he was brutal. And Balboa is nothing to write home about either. Give me Seamus! Derek Rae should be doing pbp for ESPN.

If not Howard, what about Hannehman in the 2 spot?
I actually recently spoke to Reis and he wasn't very confident about being called to camp.

There's not a single announcer I like - that includes Tommy Smyth, Seamus Malin, Derek Rae, the whole lot of them. They all either come off as some pompous foreign blowhard - like that'll grow the game in this country - or have the attitude like Balboa of "I've been there, this is what's going on." No, Marcello, you greasy dirtbag, you played at a time when they took 11 warm bodies. If you were in your prime right now, you'd be so far down on the depth chart that I'D be above you.

Can't we just have an announcer who doesn't see the incessant need to keep yapping?

 

[Webster]

It is hard to be a soccer announcer in the US -- you have to attract the causal fan, yet the hardcores will jump on you if you overexplain, discuss any "story lines" or, God forbid, make a single mistake with respect to the rules of soccer or anything regarding current events in the sport.  The Enberg-Collins team was great when I watched the French Open or Wimbledon, but more serious tennis fans hated how much they (meaning Bud) talked.  I actually like Rob Stone, if he would cut the goofiness by 50 percent.

On a side note, the Metros may be bought by Red Bull.  http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=5552

 

[Pastor]

Webster, I have been busy this morning, but, goddam, I wanted to talk about that Reb Bull bull****.

Well, I don't know if it is bull****, but "Reb Bull Stars" does not roll off the tongue.

Also, forgot about Hahnemann. He can play. Hartman, not so much.

And to the comment about winning in Europe, yes, the team did win in Poland a while back, but they haven't faired too well outside of that.

The Germany game will be big. There is no way that Germany will want to lose that one, especially after the Italy debacle.

 

[duckman]

Interesting week in French soccer..

Paris-SG and Marseille's match today was expected to be intense. Fearing fan violence, PSG downgrades the amount of tickets it typically gives to the away team.. this pisses Marseille off and Marseille sends a team of reserve players and tell its fans to stay home.

It actually worked to Marseille's advantage. The pressure was on PSG to beat a bunch of scrubs and they weren't able to do it. Match ended 0-0.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=360764&cc=5901

 

[Eagles1 in London]

I finally caved in and bought a TV...just in time for round 2 of Barca-Chelsea tonight and Arsenal-Real Madrid tomorrow....starting to hate Chelsea and their coach more and more everyday...

also...decided to throw my support around Fulham...they got thumped by the other team i watch here (Arsenal) 4-0 on Saturday but they are in my neighborhood and they have Americans playing for them so why not i guess....it's also easier to get tickets to their games which helps....

 

[Twoback]

Re: USA/Poland Thread (soccer)

I wonder what Jack Edwards does during the broadcasts of the US games?  Is he in a fetal position in his living room in his bathrobe using a cereal spoon as a mike with a cardboard cutout of 'Celo?

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY!!!

Jack was doing the play-by-play of the Bruins blowing another 3rd period lead last night in Carolina. O'B was BRUTAL, I cut him slack for the last 20 minutes with the snow, but he was brutal. And Balboa is nothing to write home about either. Give me Seamus! Derek Rae should be doing pbp for ESPN.

If not Howard, what about Hannehman in the 2 spot?
I actually recently spoke to Reis and he wasn't very confident about being called to camp.

There's not a single announcer I like - that includes Tommy Smyth, Seamus Malin, Derek Rae, the whole lot of them.  They all either come off as some pompous foreign blowhard - like that'll grow the game in this country - or have the attitude like Balboa of "I've been there, this is what's going on."  No, Marcello, you greasy dirtbag, you played at a time when they took 11 warm bodies.  If you were in your prime right now, you'd be so far down on the depth chart that I'D be above you.

Can't we just have an announcer who doesn't see the incessant need to keep yapping?

What about JP Della Camera? I think he's great on soccer.
He bothers you, too?

 

[Webster]

The World Baseball Classic has another victim -- today's game between Barca and Chelski will be shown on tape delay at 12:30 a.m., as will tomorrow's return leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid. There is no way that I can stay unspoiled until tomorrow a.m., so I guess that I'll follow it on the web.

 

[TrooperBari]

Re: USA/Poland Thread (soccer)

There's not a single announcer I like - that includes Tommy Smyth, Seamus Malin, Derek Rae, the whole lot of them.  They all either come off as some pompous foreign blowhard - like that'll grow the game in this country - or have the attitude like Balboa of "I've been there, this is what's going on."  No, Marcello, you greasy dirtbag, you played at a time when they took 11 warm bodies.  If you were in your prime right now, you'd be so far down on the depth chart that I'D be above you.

Can't we just have an announcer who doesn't see the incessant need to keep yapping?

What about JP Della Camera? I think he's great on soccer.
He bothers you, too?

Fat chance finding an announcer that'll satiate SoccerFan's list of wants from among the current ESPN pool.

JP was fine, Dave O'Brien is still finding his way and, for all his homerism, you couldn't fault Jack for his energy. I seem to remember Bob Ley being good back in the day - think he could pull himself away from Outside the Lines to do a few WC matches?

Balboa is brutal as an announcer and Wynalda is just as grating. FSC can keep Harkes. If we absolutely, positively must have a former player (what am I saying? It's ESPN!), I'd like to see Cobi Jones get a chance at the booth. He's intelligent, photogenic and decent on TV, from what I remember of his ill-fated run on MTV.

 

[TrooperBari]

The World Baseball Classic has another victim -- today's game between Barca and Chelski will be shown on tape delay at 12:30 a.m., as will tomorrow's return leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid.  There is no way that I can stay unspoiled until tomorrow a.m., so I guess that I'll follow it on the web.

Isn't the WBC game on ESPN, though? From what I saw of today's ESPN2 schedule, it looked like the usual Champions League time slot is filled with Cold Pizza and more of Steve Sabol's Greatest Hits.

I can understand Wednesday being taken up - who wouldn't want a day full of Big East basketball - but nothing today?

 

[Twoback]

The World Baseball Classic has another victim -- today's game between Barca and Chelski will be shown on tape delay at 12:30 a.m., as will tomorrow's return leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid.  There is no way that I can stay unspoiled until tomorrow a.m., so I guess that I'll follow it on the web.

I'm curious about this, Webster. How can you not stay unspoiled?
I've found that the easiest thing to do in this country is to avoid the final score of a soccer game.
I doubt I'll have time to watch, but I still don't know who won Liverpool's most recent game. I can find out if I want, but I also could wait if I thought I'd have the time to see the game.

 

[Pastor]

Eagles, good selection on a team. Fulham has a sweet looking kit and with a few nationals on their side they can be fun to follow.


Twoback, it is fairly easy to avoid a final score, however, if the game is on at 12:30am, that means I'm not watching it until 6pm tomorrow. Since that is well over 24-hours beyond the point, I will definitely have read or found out.

It has to do with the other websites I visit as well as the online newspapers I choose to read.


Now, the important stuff. Rangers have their return match with Villareal today. The light blues need a win, have to win.

I just hope their big stiffs in the back don't get played for fools as usual. I also hope Eck doesn't **** up the line-up as usual.

 

[TrooperBari]

Twoback, it is fairly easy to avoid a final score, however, if the game is on at 12:30am, that means I'm not watching it until 6pm tomorrow. Since that is well over 24-hours beyond the point, I will definitely have read or found out.

It has to do with the other websites I visit as well as the online newspapers I choose to read.

Not to mention the ever-present danger of a brainless co-worker/friend or a rogue ESPN ticker.

 

[Twoback]

Eagles, good selection on a team. Fulham has a sweet looking kit and with a few nationals on their side they can be fun to follow.


Twoback, it is fairly easy to avoid a final score, however, if the game is on at 12:30am, that means I'm not watching it until 6pm tomorrow. Since that is well over 24-hours beyond the point, I will definitely have read or found out.

It has to do with the other websites I visit as well as the online newspapers I choose to read.


Now, the important stuff. Rangers have their return match with Villareal today. The light blues need a win, have to win.

I just hope their big stiffs in the back don't get played for fools as usual. I also hope Eck doesn't **** up the line-up as usual.

Sure Crass, but it's not that hard. No ESPNSoccernet, No Bigsoccer, no UEFA.com. Just take some time away.
You're home free.
If you want to watch a soccer game with the suspense intact, it's no problem,.

 

[TrooperBari]

Thanks to Charter Cable, it'll be nothing but Guardian matchtrackers for me.

If I can get Radio Scoop to work tomorrow, I'll listen to Lyon-PSV in addition to Arsenal-Madrid updates.

 

[Webster]

Twoback: It's not impossible to stay unspoiled, but given that I need to be at work tomorrow for a 7:30 conference call (with my colleagues in the UK who love to talk soccer), at best I can watch the game Wednesday night. Given my surfung of the web, etc., it is usually very hard for me to stay unspoiled for more than a night. Plus, I love reading all of the news reports after.

I'll probably avoid the result, tape the game and, if my daughter wakes up in the middle of the night, I might fast forward through it.

 

[Pastor]

Eagles, good selection on a team. Fulham has a sweet looking kit and with a few nationals on their side they can be fun to follow.


Twoback, it is fairly easy to avoid a final score, however, if the game is on at 12:30am, that means I'm not watching it until 6pm tomorrow. Since that is well over 24-hours beyond the point, I will definitely have read or found out.

It has to do with the other websites I visit as well as the online newspapers I choose to read.


Now, the important stuff. Rangers have their return match with Villareal today. The light blues need a win, have to win.

I just hope their big stiffs in the back don't get played for fools as usual. I also hope Eck doesn't **** up the line-up as usual.

Sure Crass, but it's not that hard. No ESPNSoccernet, No Bigsoccer, no UEFA.com. Just take some time away.
You're home free.
If you want to watch a soccer game with the suspense intact, it's no problem,.

I'll have to avoid the phone as well. A few of my buddies, and my father, will be watching the Gers play. I'm certain to receive the drunk phone call informing that I either a) missed a great game or b) missed the light blues ****ting the bed. Most likely it will be b, however, it will be hard to avoid.

 

[Pastor]

Webster, if you would like to listen to the live audio for the Chelsea match, you can pull up the BBC's Five Live. I've got the Rangers game on there now.