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

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:22 pm

mister d wrote:I feel like if I'm going to make a serious attempt to follow NYCFC, I need to listen to today's expansion draft. I do not know who these players are but I love them.

Patrick Mullins was a good pull.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:24 pm

Are younger players not as desirable here because they're either not good enough to even get a few years in Europe or are risks to go if they're any good?

Ballouchy might be the greatest name ever for a jersey.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:26 pm

mister d wrote:Are younger players not as desirable here because they're either not good enough to even get a few years in Europe or are risks to go if they're any good?

Ballouchy might be the greatest name ever for a jersey.

European experience isn't as much an indicator of quality as it was a few years ago, so that's not really an issue. And teams reap the financial benefit of selling players abroad, so that's actually a positive.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:28 pm

P.D.X. wrote:
mister d wrote:Are younger players not as desirable here because they're either not good enough to even get a few years in Europe or are risks to go if they're any good?

Ballouchy might be the greatest name ever for a jersey.
European experience isn't as much an indicator of quality as it was a few years ago, so that's not really an issue. And teams reap the financial benefit of selling players abroad, so that's actually a positive.

I thought transfer fees went to the league. Is it just that the league has to sign off on a sale?

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:28 pm

Also, trades will happen as soon as this is over, so it's tough to say what either teams' strategy is until later.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:29 pm

The Sybian wrote:
P.D.X. wrote:
mister d wrote:Are younger players not as desirable here because they're either not good enough to even get a few years in Europe or are risks to go if they're any good?

Ballouchy might be the greatest name ever for a jersey.
European experience isn't as much an indicator of quality as it was a few years ago, so that's not really an issue. And teams reap the financial benefit of selling players abroad, so that's actually a positive.
I thought transfer fees went to the league. Is it just that the league has to sign off on a sale?

The rules are murky, but the general understanding is that the team gets 2/3 of the fee.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:32 pm

RSL just lost 3/4 of their starting back line from last year. Ouch.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:41 pm

Man do I love these things, even when I don't know anything about them. A roster being created in an hour is just awesome.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:52 pm

mister d wrote:Man do I love these things, even when I don't know anything about them. A roster being created in an hour is just awesome.

It definitely has a lot of the fun aspects of EA Sports video games and fantasy sports.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:11 pm

Run DMB hanging up his US National Team career.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:43 am

US losses New York Red Bulls Homegrown goalkeeper Santiago Castaño to Colombia. Had been part of us U-18 and U-20 camps. He was expected to be on the US U-20 Concacaf championship team. Wonder if this has anything to do with son of Jurgen.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:32 pm

Gold Cup 2015 venues.

Guess I'll have to hit up Sporting Pack.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:43 pm

Becuase you are a dummy
http://www.espnfc.us/liverpool/story/22 ... -fined-25k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:00 pm

Wondo's miss
http://grantland.com/features/chris-won ... lgium-mls/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 4:51 pm

Men in Blazers live Golden Blazer Ceremony already sold out. Fuck, people are fast buying this shit.

Baloney · Post by **Baloney** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:01 pm

That's a real shame, I was at the 1997 game against Brighton when they were relegated to the Conference. Hereford needed a win, Brighton just a draw, finished 1-1. Probably the most fighting I've seen at a game.

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Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:40 pm

P.D.X. wrote:Gold Cup 2015 venues.

Guess I'll have to hit up Sporting Pack.

The r isn't even anywhere close to the c!

And Swamp meetup time

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 4:25 pm

Brontoburglar wrote: The r isn't even anywhere close to the c!

And Swamp meetup time

Must have been a Bostonian telling someone else what to type.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 2:36 am

'Where's the Talking?' A guide to the language of Sunday League football

Any examples in America? How about pick-up football? I could probably write a similar one for hockey. "watch the five hole!"

boxcar · Post by **boxcar** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 10:51 am

Brontoburglar wrote:
P.D.X. wrote:Gold Cup 2015 venues.

Guess I'll have to hit up Sporting Pack.
The r isn't even anywhere close to the c!

And Swamp meetup time

I'll be there. Also, a buddy and I plan on doing the world's tallest water slide the day before, if anyone is interested!

Post by **brian** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:54 pm

If Phoenix wasn't only hosting Mexico games I'd go there for a game, but fuck that obviously.

In semi-related news, Gideon Zelalem because a U.S. citizen this week and apparently it's a done deal he's going to play for the U.S.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:18 am

So THIS time Barcelona's transfer ban is firm.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30633737

You may recall that the ban was put in place over a year ago, but Barcelona appealed. and during the appeal, the club spent a further $200 million on players.

From their flouting of financial rules to their sickening sponsorship by a dictatorial regime (whose logo replaced the Unicef logo that helped to prove that Barca was "more than just a club," it was a morally superior organization), Barcelona is one of the most repellant teams in the world.

But they have such great PR - don't forget, this team was a bulwark against fascism. It is the proud face of a plucky region.

Screw that - this team is as revolting as any of the oligarch's toys that dot the continent.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 12:47 pm

Sooo ... the Lampard thing. Seems both logical (Man City is obviously more important and has use for him) and shitty (bait and switch on season ticket purchasers). Wahl is really losing his dick over it. Thoughts from those more tuned in and familiar with the process?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 2:25 pm

Loans can be extended or shortened depending on the clause. So this is not uncommon around the world.

If NYCFC did their marketing around a loaned out player than it's their risk.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:31 pm

I don't think risk is the right word given the reported 11,000 season ticket orders.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:32 pm

degenerasian wrote:Loans can be extended or shortened depending on the clause. So this is not uncommon around the world.

If NYCFC did their marketing around a loaned out player than it's their risk.

Not really much of a risk when NYCFC is owned by ManCity. I've heard some talk that the contract with NYCFC was a bit of a farce. I don't remember how, and I am too tired to look right now, but City got around Financial Fairplay rules, or something similar. Also have to wonder if Lamps would have signed with City directly at that time.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:38 pm

City has actually made me have positive feelings about MetroStars/RBNY for the first time ever. If it weren't for ATL2017 I might have finally become a fan.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:51 pm

mister d wrote:I don't think risk is the right word given the reported 11,000 season ticket orders.

The risk was getting Grant Wahl fired up.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:00 pm

The Sybian wrote:
degenerasian wrote:Loans can be extended or shortened depending on the clause. So this is not uncommon around the world.

If NYCFC did their marketing around a loaned out player than it's their risk.
Not really much of a risk when NYCFC is owned by ManCity. I've heard some talk that the contract with NYCFC was a bit of a farce. I don't remember how, and I am too tired to look right now, but City got around Financial Fairplay rules, or something similar. Also have to wonder if Lamps would have signed with City directly at that time.

mister d wrote:I don't think risk is the right word given the reported 11,000 season ticket orders.

It's not as simple as a loan deal. There's never been a straight answer, as Syb said, about who Lampard signed with. He was initially announced as a signing with NYCFC with a loan deal until Jan 1. to MCFC. And then when this happened, it was revealed he was on a contract with MCFC and not even a NYCFC player.

That's the ridiculousness. If it was explained as such at the time, there wouldn't be this much controversy. But when it was presented as one thing and then shown as another, it's done this.

ETA: I'm sort of surprised this article is still on the MLS site.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 7:14 pm

Maybe MLS themselves didn't understand what they were signing.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 10:11 pm

But what about the children!

Google image search sure came up with a lot of press pics of Lampard in NYCFC jerseys, holding a NYCFC scarf in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, at a pres conference in front of the NYCFC logo... It certainly was billed as a deal sending him to the MLS. I lean towards believing something shady went down. If not, they got more than they expected in Lamps, and fuck NYCFC, City is keeping him. Seems like a major conflict of interest when 2 teams with the same ownership are doing deals.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 9:26 am

You want really shady. Read up on Traffic FC/Traffic Sports Marketing. They own player rights and several teams around the world (including Ft. Lauderdale Strikers). They transfer players between teams all over the place. The idea is buy a player, put him on their team, and then transfer them for a profit. It is very much soccer player private equity.

But yes the MLS once again is not so transparent and my guess is getting some $ to make this work for Man City.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:41 am

The most famous 'middle man' is this small club in Uruguay

Uruguay has a low tax rate on player transfers (it was just raised from 4% to try and combat these dealings) so large South American clubs that were selling players to major European clubs would first send the players to Deportivo Maldonado, who would immediately transfer the players to the European club, taking a cut for helping get the deal done.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:20 pm

Facebook thinks I may know Thiago Silva.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:17 pm

Rex wrote:Facebook thinks I may know Thiago Silva.

Can one truly know Thiago Silva?

Post by **Sabo** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:14 am

This is outstanding.

If Twitter were around when Eric Cantona kicked that Crystal Palace supporter ...

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:41 am

Red Bull youth squad flying out somewhere this morning. Unless it is the full squad and I am getting old and pro athletes look really young to me. Quite possible.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:47 am

Sabo wrote:This is outstanding.

If Twitter were around when Eric Cantona kicked that Crystal Palace supporter ...

fantastic!

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 1:27 pm

Van Gaal doesn't like 4-4-2.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 1:36 pm

The Sybian wrote:Red Bull youth squad flying out somewhere this morning. Unless it is the full squad and I am getting old and pro athletes look really young to me. Quite possible.

Most likely the "full" squad departing for spring training in warmer climes.