All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

[MertWindu]

The one guy is yelling at the ref, arguing he should give a guy a card.
Then ... I can't stop laughing at these guys. This can't be real.

It's FanZone. They grab a fan from each team and put them in the broadcast booth for a feature match every week. Sometimes it's fun, but yeah, I had to turn that one off. I'd already seen the match (and holy GOD, watch for Henry's goal shortly before time), and those two were just a little too much. Most of the time the english accent is so much fun to listen to, and sounds so refined, but those two seem like SERIOUS bumpkins. Let me know if it gets really interesting, I guess I could pause Idol for a few.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Thanks for the explination. I'm new to FSC.

 

[Eagles1 in London]

Watched the first CL Semi final last night....great save on a horrible call by the refs....Arsenal-Barca no doubt (but i'll still watch tonight anyway)....

People are of course happy that Arsenal are in but it's interesting to talk to people who don't support them but do support england....as you probably know, not a single starter for Arsenal is english which is fine by me by it rubs a lot of people the wrong way....

 

[Webster]

I hope that Barca makes it. Didn't see the game, but caught the highlights late, late last night. Bad penalty call and terrible spot kick.

 

[Pastor]

Not me, because I'm nowhere near 61, but I thought I would share:
Link to Letter to Editor

 

[Webster]

Rooney may be out of the WC -- he broke a foot in Man United's loss to Chelski (which gave Team Oil the EPL title)

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=366280&cc=5901

 

[Prep_desk_junkie]

Arena sets roster w/alternates

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=366677&cc=5901

Ching over Twellman
Conrad

 

[TrooperBari]

Arena sets roster w/alternates

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=366677&cc=5901

Ching over Twellman
Conrad

And just like that, we have our first switch.

HeyDude goes out with a knee injury, Albright takes his spot. It's hard to dislike Dude - you know wearing the Nats jersey means the world to him and he'll always give you everthing he's got. That said, it really is time we moved on from Hejduk being an integral part of the team.

We're going to need all the offensive push we can get, and Dude's crossing won't cut it at a World Cup level. Now, though, we have a converted winger starting at left back and a forward-turned-midfielder-turned-defender one injury away from starting at right back....

 

[zizzer]

Arena sets roster w/alternates

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=366677&cc=5901

Ching over Twellman
Conrad

And just like that, we have our first switch.

HeyDude goes out with a knee injury, Albright takes his spot. It's hard to dislike Dude - you know wearing the Nats jersey means the world to him and he'll always give you everthing he's got. That said, it really is time we moved on from Hejduk being an integral part of the team.

We're going to need all the offensive push we can get, and Dude's crossing won't cut it at a World Cup level. Now, though, we have a converted winger starting at left back and a forward-turned-midfielder-turned-defender one injury away from starting at right back.... 

The AP article about the switch outlines something I forgot from four years ago: Chris Armas was supposed to go, but tore his ACL (I recall the play, non-contact, he just had his leg in the air, then when he put it down, it just went - scary). Greg Vanney was the replacement, but he, too, tore a ligament. Steve Cherundolo was then the replacement for Vanney, but alas, he as well hurt his knee and was out.

Given all that, and the level of training and the three send-off games, I think it's pretty close to a given that we haven't seen the last injury replacement for Germany.... Still a chance for some of the other alternates....

 

[TrooperBari]

The AP article about the switch outlines something I forgot from four years ago: Chris Armas was supposed to go, but tore his ACL (I recall the play, non-contact, he just had his leg in the air, then when he put it down, it just went - scary).  Greg Vanney was the replacement, but he, too, tore a ligament.  Steve Cherundolo was then the replacement for Vanney, but alas, he as well hurt his knee and was out.

Given all that, and the level of training and the three send-off games, I think it's pretty close to a given that we haven't seen the last injury replacement for Germany....  Still a chance for some of the other alternates....

I remember that, too ... the Uruguay game we had no business winning.

Not great scheduling on the USSF's part for the '02 send-off. Two hack-tacular teams in Uruguay and Jamaica, followed by the best possible reality check in Holland. I know this year's run-up isn't that impressive, but at least they're teams who'll actually come out and play.

 

[KP]

How about this, most of Spurs came down with a case of food poisoning before their game against West Ham. Basically crushing any hope they had of potentially qualifying for CL next year.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=367343&root=england&cc=5901

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4982864.stm

 

[TrooperBari]

How about this, most of Spurs came down with a case of food poisoning before their game against West Ham. Basically crushing any hope they had of potentially qualifying for CL next year.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=367343&root=england&cc=5901

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4982864.stm

Ten players short for the most important match of the season ... the Guardian intimated the police had been contacted.

It would be interesting to see what the FA and/or UEFA would do if foul play was involved.

 

[Webster]

Strange news from Old Trafford -- RVN, who has been out of favor for some reason, isn't in the starting lineup and leaves the stadium before the game. I don't know how things go in soccer, but for him to be this pissed, he must have thought that he was starting. It looks like SAF has exiled another player. Generally, with the exception of Jaap Stam, these things have worked out for Man United, but I'm not sure that I'd be ready for Europe with Rossi and Saha as my starting forwards.

 

[Twoback]

Strange news from Old Trafford -- RVN, who has been out of favor for some reason, isn't in the starting lineup and leaves the stadium before the game.  I don't know how things go in soccer, but for him to be this pissed, he must have thought that he was starting.  It looks like SAF has exiled another player.  Generally, with the exception of Jaap Stam, these things have worked out for Man United, but I'm not sure that I'd be ready for Europe with Rossi and Saha as my starting forwards.

Beckham hasn't done a ton since leaving -- who has, in that mess at Real Madrid? -- but Man U hasn't won a meaningful competition other than the FA Cup since Sir Alex kicked Becks to the curb. I still don't see how this "worked out" for Man U. It was a mistake.

 

[Webster]

Well, Arsenal was undefeated three seasons ago and no one was getting in the way of Chelski the past two, so, Beckham or Ronaldo, it didn't make much difference in the EPL. They lost to the winners in the CL the first two seasons without Becks.

I didn't get the push to get him out the door, but I don't think that the team has been harmed by his departure.

 

[Cristiano_Ronaldo]

Strange news from Old Trafford -- RVN, who has been out of favor for some reason, isn't in the starting lineup and leaves the stadium before the game.  I don't know how things go in soccer, but for him to be this pissed, he must have thought that he was starting.  It looks like SAF has exiled another player.  Generally, with the exception of Jaap Stam, these things have worked out for Man United, but I'm not sure that I'd be ready for Europe with Rossi and Saha as my starting forwards.

Van the man is finished at Old Trafford...which sucks because he's one of my all-time favorite goal poachers. According to several UK papers he's either headed to Atletico Madrid, PSV or AC Milan (but I hear they aren't hot on him). Def not going to another EPL team.

Another big star that Sir Alex has pushed out the door...I really hope Chelsea shoves it up his arse every year.

 

[DuceEquitas]

The strangest news is out of England, where Sven named Theo Walcott, a whizkid who HASN'T PLAYED A FIRST TEAM GAME for Arsenal, to his 23 man squad.

And you think we have striker problems...

 

[Webster]

I like Sven's move -- if the kid burns it up in training -- he'll be a super sub. If not, he enjoys the ride as the last striker on the depth chart.

Think that SWP is happy he moved from Man City? From possible Becks replacement to not even making the reserve roster in record time.

 

[zizzer]

Strange news from Old Trafford -- RVN, who has been out of favor for some reason, isn't in the starting lineup and leaves the stadium before the game.  I don't know how things go in soccer, but for him to be this pissed, he must have thought that he was starting.  It looks like SAF has exiled another player.  Generally, with the exception of Jaap Stam, these things have worked out for Man United, but I'm not sure that I'd be ready for Europe with Rossi and Saha as my starting forwards.

Van the man is finished at Old Trafford...which sucks because he's one of my all-time favorite goal poachers. According to several UK papers he's either headed to Atletico Madrid, PSV or AC Milan (but I hear they aren't hot on him). Def not going to another EPL team.

Another big star that Sir Alex has pushed out the door...I really hope Chelsea shoves it up his arse every year.

I'd like to see RVN head back to Holland and go play for PSV. Always liked the Dutch league, and it'd be nice to see them be able to make a bit of a run at some of the powers in the Champions League.

 

[Cristiano_Ronaldo]

The strangest news is out of England, where Sven named Theo Walcott, a whizkid who HASN'T PLAYED A FIRST TEAM GAME for Arsenal, to his 23 man squad.

And you think we have striker problems...

If you have a UK passport, you can't play for Arsene Wenger...

And England has major issues up front. Darius Vassell?? Please...