The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

[TrooperBari]

The Olympic tournament is over, European leagues are starting again and there's a USMNT friendly next week. Seems as good a time as any for a new thread.

Playing at home in its season-opener, Paris Saint-Germain is down 2-0 at halftime to Lorient. Considering that Antoine Kombouare got the sack while PSG was in first place, I wonder how long Carlo Ancelotti has to get France's answer to the Death Star fully operational.

 

[Beaker]

Ibrahimovic's brace (one a 90th min PK) gets PSG the 2-2 draw.

 

[TrooperBari]

Ibrahimovic's brace (one a 90th min PK) gets PSG the 2-2 draw.

Signs of progress, I suppose. PSG lost last year's season opener 1-0 at home to Lorient.

 

[Webster]

Interwebs are buzzing with RVP going to Old Trafford.

 

[micropolitan guy]

One week till the season starts and Michael Owen is still tweeting about the Olympics. Come on dude, sign with Stoke and get to work.

 

[spikechiquet]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/video_audio/164807.html

Soccer's version of "The Expendables" open their FA Cup run with a 3-2 win over Langford FC.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Langford Town scored two? Time to sign a few recently retired defenders, Wembley.

And WTF was Derek Rae doing calling a glorified rec league match?

 

[spikechiquet]

Langford Town scored two? Time to sign a few recently retired defenders, Wembley.

And WTF was Derek Rae doing calling a glorified rec league match?

The power of Budweiser...

Oh, and it's the Bud FA Cup...so that might have a "teeny" part of it as well.

 

[spikechiquet]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19225698

Not sure if this story was touched on in the last thread...but now it looks like up to 9 Newcastle players could be headed to newco Rangers

And a recap of Game 1 as a 4th tier squad, a 2-2 draw with Peterhead: http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/third/results/3539383/

 

[kingcreole]

Forgot to post this last week. We saw a little-used rule enforced in the USA-Canada women's game, there was another one enforced in the US Open Cup championship game.

Sporting KC and Seattle went to PKs. Tied 2-2 in the fifth round, Sporting's Paulo Nagamura's shot was saved by Seattle GK Michael Gspurning. Immediately, the referee and assistant pointed at Gspurning and called him for moving off the line before the shot. Nagamura made the re-kick and Eddie Johnson blasted his kick to Nebraska Furniture Mart, giving Sporting the win.

The controversy spilled into postgame, where Sigi Schmid insisted nobody wanted Seattle to four-peat. While I am an unabashed Sporting fanboi, photos of the PK in question showed Gspurning completely off the line by about a foot before Nagamura's successful PK. Still, you hardly see that called. After, Nagamura said he reminded the ref about Gspurning moving too soon, and I guess Kei Kamara did too.

 

[TrooperBari]

Forgot to post this last week. We saw a little-used rule enforced in the USA-Canada women's game, there was another one enforced in the US Open Cup championship game.

Sporting KC and Seattle went to PKs. Tied 2-2 in the fifth round, Sporting's Paulo Nagamura's shot was saved by Seattle GK Michael Gspurning. Immediately, the referee and assistant pointed at Gspurning and called him for moving off the line before the shot. Nagamura made the re-kick and Eddie Johnson blasted his kick to Nebraska Furniture Mart, giving Sporting the win.

The controversy spilled into postgame, where Sigi Schmid insisted nobody wanted Seattle to four-peat. While I am an unabashed Sporting fanboi, photos of the PK in question showed Gspurning completely off the line by about a foot before Nagamura's successful PK. Still, you hardly see that called. After, Nagamura said he reminded the ref about Gspurning moving too soon, and I guess Kei Kamara did too.

It's hardly called, but it should be called more often. I've seen keepers take three full steps forward once the shooter approaches the ball and get away with it. You can question whether or not a team gains an advantage from encroaching on the penalty area before a PK is struck, but there's no question on whether a keeper gains an advantage from coming off his line too soon.

 

[Webster]

If there were powers that be, they couldn't give the furst crap whether Seattle wins 4 straight USOCs.

 

[Beaker]

Good start to the season for Jozy Altidore, as he scored both of AZ's goals in a 2-2 draw with Ajax.

Elsewhere, in the rather meaningless Community Shield, City beat Chelsea 3-2.

 

[micropolitan guy]

My son tells me Twitter reporting RVP to Man U for $25 million and Owen to Everton. If so, good moves for both players.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

My son tells me Twitter reporting RVP to Man U for $25 million and Owen to Everton. If so, good moves for both players.

I hope your son's source isn't https://twitter.com/agent_153.

That Twitter feed is the only place I can find either of those moves. Guy also claims Yann M'vila is going to Spurs and Gaston Ramirez to Liverpool. All in the last 90 minutes.

 

[Webster]

That's crazy for a player with one year to go and limited resale price

 

[TrooperBari]

For those inclined to follow the USMNT, what does everyone expect from Wednesday's friendly at Azteca? Should the US expect a result or is a learning experience in Concacaf's toughest environment good enough?

I'd be lying if I said that defense didn't make me nervous, but Howard does always seem at his best when he's forced to stand on his head.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (6): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steven Beithasour (San Jose Earthquakes), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim)

MIDFIELDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)

 

[kingcreole]

I love the fact that Klinsmann has wanted to play many regional teams on the road. Panama, Canada and now Mexico. Also have already gone to Guatemala and will go to Jamaica. That means, Klinsmann will have taken his team to (probably) four of the five nations that will join them in the hexagonal.

Wondolowski has been brilliant, obviously, in MLS. Now he has to make the most of his chance with the USMNT and put at least one ball in the net Wednesday. The thing that concerns me the most, however, is that defense. It could be picked apart.

 

[Beaker]

What's the situation with Timmy Chandler? Has he definitely committed to the USMNT, or no?

 

[derwood]

What's the situation with Timmy Chandler? Has he definitely committed to the USMNT, or no?

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/tim-chandler-sends-clear-message-to-jurgen-klinsmann-usmnt-051512