All threads are temporary. This one's about soccer.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Nov 01, 2016 7:24 pm

Brontoburglar wrote:Ozil's game-winning goal is sooooo sublime

Fuck, totally forgot they played today. Goddammit.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:31 am

So no alcohol in public for the World Cup in Qatar (Parks, Squares, Stadiums)....So does England just choose not to attempt qualification?

Post by **Shirley** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 4:47 pm

Nice goal in the final minutes of sudden death to push UVA past Vermont.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Nov 20, 2016 7:45 pm

Top seeded Maryland lost 5-4 to Providence at home. That is not PKs..that is 90 minutes 9 goal game. Maryland had not lost all season.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:48 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:Top seeded Maryland lost 5-4 to Providence at home. That is not PKs..that is 90 minutes 9 goal game. Maryland had not lost all season.

The top seeds in both the men's tournament and the women's tournament (Stanford) lost their opening games. Can you imagine that ever happening in basketball?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:55 am

sancarlos wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:Top seeded Maryland lost 5-4 to Providence at home. That is not PKs..that is 90 minutes 9 goal game. Maryland had not lost all season.
The top seeds in both the men's tournament and the women's tournament (Stanford) lost their opening games. Can you imagine that ever happening in basketball?

I got some more on this game. Considering I was parked for the hoops game right next to the soccer field (could not convince my family for the double header), I should have remember the weather. Terps were up 4-1 but it was blowing hard. Providence scored on some very wind aided goals. Example, the game winner in the 82nd minute was an Olimpico.

Post by **Sabo** » Thu Nov 24, 2016 11:26 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:New version of football manager makes you deal with Brexit
http://www.businessinsider.com/football ... os-2016-10

Post by **Shirley** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 12:34 pm

Here's Stanford's golden goal yesterday against UVA. Someone explain to me why this isn't a foul. The keeper clearly got to the spot first and was completely taken out.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 12:45 pm

Shirley wrote:Here's Stanford's golden goal yesterday against UVA. Someone explain to me why this isn't a foul. The keeper clearly got to the spot first and was completely taken out.

Tough one. Maybe the official thought header before contact. 50/50 ball. Most refs are pretty quick to call anything like that a foul on the offense. Could see the call going either way. Ref has a good view on the play (but not a fan of the stroll he is seen taking as the ball is in flight..he jogs and it looks better...but it is late in the game). If the keeper goes for a punch on that play. I think he gets the ball first. Those sensor bra things look funny (watch the celebration after the goal).

Post by **Shirley** » Mon Nov 28, 2016 1:48 pm

I'd say that's a foul even if it was two field players. The goalie always gets that call. I think the ref got caught up in the moment - didn't want to blow the whistle on a potential golden goal with just a few minutes left before penalties.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 7:35 am

Us of A beats Portugal in U-17 Nike Friendlies. 7-1 result. Take on Turkey on Friday

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:19 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:Us of A beats Portugal in U-17 Nike Friendlies. 7-1 result. Take on Turkey on Friday

So on Friday USA beat Turkey 5-1

Then yesterday they beat a good Brazil team 3-0 (when all they needed was a draw to win the tournament). So they win the Nike Friendlies by a combined score of 15-2 going 3-0.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 12:57 pm

Stanford is back-to-back champs after a PK win over Wake.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 15, 2016 8:29 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:Tampa Bay Rowdies pick up Freddy Adu. So Adu is reunited with his first U-20 coach....Thomas Rongen

Moving again
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soc ... edb09a5354

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:21 am

Green moving from Munich to Stuttgart. A team fighting for promotion to the big league. Hope Green, 21, can crack the lineup.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 12:13 pm

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 10:20 am

China....
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/world ... .html?_r=0

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 10:34 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:China....
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/world ... .html?_r=0

I read about this school last year, and I don't think it is going to be all that successful. They are building entirely around developing a culture of Barcelona-style tiki taka. My guess is that by the time these kids are playing for the Chinese national team, defensive schemes to defeat tiki taka will be well designed, and the next big strategy will be the ideal. OTOH, if a huge number of kids are trained together in the same method, and many of the eventual national team players will have years of experience playing and growing up together, they will have a team dynamic much like Iceland's, which will be a huge advantage. On most national teams, the players only have very short camps together, and there are a lot of different players coming in and out of the team, so having an entire country learn under the same system, and ideally living and playing together their entire childhood, it could work.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 11:00 am

The Sybian wrote:
wlu_lax6 wrote:China....
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/world ... .html?_r=0

I read about this school last year, and I don't think it is going to be all that successful. They are building entirely around developing a culture of Barcelona-style tiki taka. My guess is that by the time these kids are playing for the Chinese national team, defensive schemes to defeat tiki taka will be well designed, and the next big strategy will be the ideal. OTOH, if a huge number of kids are trained together in the same method, and many of the eventual national team players will have years of experience playing and growing up together, they will have a team dynamic much like Iceland's, which will be a huge advantage. On most national teams, the players only have very short camps together, and there are a lot of different players coming in and out of the team, so having an entire country learn under the same system, and ideally living and playing together their entire childhood, it could work.

I agree. Spain happened to have a golden generation of players. Without Xavi and Iniesta, the Tika Taka is now struggling. China's one child policy is also a problem. Most parents don't want their one son to go into sports due to the risks involved so that really reduced the player pool. Also the last Chinese coach said these only-child kids don't know how to share the ball to take instruction. They don't grow up fighting with their siblings.

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 12:49 pm

Spurs new stadium

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... uture.html

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:42 am

I am watching the FA Cup this morning, from Sutton United from the umpteenth division. For anyone else watching, is this a turf field? Can they play on turf in the lower leagues? If this is real grass, it's immaculate. How does every podunk team have a better surface than half the NFL?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:14 am

It's best quality turf.

Small clubs use artificial turf so they can rent out the field 7 days a week. Sutton United are in the Conference (Div 5) so not that bad!

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:37 am

Do we really need a 48 team world cup?

Post by **Sabo** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:43 am

A_B wrote:Do we really need a 48 team world cup?

No, but FIFA does. Those bribes aren't going to pay for themselves!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:50 am

16 teams will only play one match

48 teams, with 16 seeds and a 32-team, single-elimination round before a 32-team group stage (80 games).

It's still only 48 teams out of 200. The euros are now nearly 50 percent! 24 out of 50ish.
Also those final qualifiers won't be duds as teams fight for top 16 spots.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:51 am

I saw 16 three team groups, play two games, top 2 move on to the knockouts.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:54 am

A_B wrote:I saw 16 three team groups, play two games, top 2 move on to the knockouts.

3 team groups are risky since two teams always play last and can manipulate the results.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:02 am

degenerasian wrote:
A_B wrote:I saw 16 three team groups, play two games, top 2 move on to the knockouts.
3 team groups are risky since two teams always play last and can manipulate the results.

It wasn't my idea. Just saying I saw it.

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:04 am

degenerasian wrote:
A_B wrote:I saw 16 three team groups, play two games, top 2 move on to the knockouts.
3 team groups are risky since two teams always play last and can manipulate the results.

According to this there will be shoot outs to avoid fixing

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sports ... roval.html

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:12 am

are they going to give a loser point?

This is crazy, we're supposed to have less shootouts not more. A 32-team knockout stage will be a foul-fest.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 12:11 pm

Sabo wrote:
A_B wrote:Do we really need a 48 team world cup?
No, but FIFA does. Those bribes aren't going to pay for themselves!

And will there still be the massively long qualifying campaigns?

What a joke, and the only thing keeping me from going on a diatribe is the knowledge that Iw ill still watch every single game, even Saudi Arabia-Kenya.

And no, Canada still won;t make it.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 12:14 pm

I like the World Cup just enough to fly to Dayton to watch these.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 9:23 am

Maybe the NASL and MLS early days were not so crazy.
* Shootouts
* No Offsides
* Effective time clock to limit time wasting
http://www.espnfc.us/blog/fifa/243/post ... roup-stage

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:24 am

Just gets worse

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:55 am

Something has to be done. In the first matchday of the African nations cup 6 out of the 8 games have been draws with a total of 12 goals scored.
That's a group of 4. A group of 3 would be worse.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 3:20 pm

72 hours with Ipswich
http://www.espnfc.com/espn/feature/stor ... ampionship

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 3:41 pm

Inside Italy’s ultras: the dangerous fans who control the game

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... l-the-game

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 7:27 pm

Sleazy Goings On In London

Millwall, one of London's smaller and most violent clubs, is in danger of having its stadium sold from under them. The Guardian has been all over this story.

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 10:08 am

There is a youtube out there on how the cops managed a Millwall v Forest game, well worth a quick watch

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:11 am

Baloney wrote:There is a youtube out there on how the cops managed a Millwall v Forest game, well worth a quick watch

Not surprisingly, a number of videos of Millwall fans brawling.,