The Swamp

WaPo Soccer insider reporting that rumors have Celtic and Nottingham Forest eyeing Emerson Hyndman, who is on loan to Rangers from Bournemouth. My question, if you are Rangers, how do you let a starter move to Celtic.

On a side note: Celtic won the SPL this Sunday. There are still 8 weeks left in the season.

wlu_lax6 wrote:WaPo Soccer insider reporting that rumors have Celtic and Nottingham Forest eyeing Emerson Hyndman, who is on loan to Rangers from Bournemouth. My question, if you are Rangers, how do you let a starter move to Celtic.

On a side note: Celtic won the SPL this Sunday. There are still 8 weeks left in the season.

Does Rangers have any say, or are you saying Rangers needs to outspend whatever Celtic are willing to pay?

The Sybian wrote:

wlu_lax6 wrote:WaPo Soccer insider reporting that rumors have Celtic and Nottingham Forest eyeing Emerson Hyndman, who is on loan to Rangers from Bournemouth. My question, if you are Rangers, how do you let a starter move to Celtic.

On a side note: Celtic won the SPL this Sunday. There are still 8 weeks left in the season.

Does Rangers have any say, or are you saying Rangers needs to outspend whatever Celtic are willing to pay?

I don't know the details of the 6-month loan deal. MLS requires loan deals to have a purchase option. But even if that is not part of the deal, you have to at least show your fans you want to keep a contributor. Apparently Celtic were interested in him when he left Fulhman for the Cherries. I know Celtic has more $ than everyone else (Rangers still recovering from their financial fall and relegation to the bottom of the pyramid + Euro money for Celtic).

Only 5 players, post war, have played for both sides of the Old Firm (14 pre war & 11 who played youth for one side and senior for the other). This is a rivalry going back to 1888 and 406 matches. I know the game has changed but you always hope you end up on one side of this one and stay. Rangers still seems to highlight on social media the successes of their former Americans (Edu in particular)

Any thoughts on this League of Nations plan?

http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKL3N1HF3XV


Anything is better than a friendly, but what exactly is in it for USA and Mexico? It doesn't sound like there are WCQ or even Gold Cup implications for performing well in this. So basically we're stuck getting hacked by Central American teams in perpetuity? I could see where that would hasten the day when USA/Mexico leave for Europe or CONMEBOL.

Did one of the other soccer threads get this yet? Canada, US, Mexico to submit joint bid for 2026 World Cup

Best comment from reddit:

It's sad that joint bids are the only chance for small countries to outbid big countries like Qatar.

Pruitt wrote:Makes Blackpool's Ownership Seem Fan Friendly

That is a shame. Barry Hearn was an interesting owner. If you have never heard him. Go find all the podcasts that Men in Blazers did with him. He was on stage at BlazerCon (which is a great talk) and antoher where he talked about owning a team and promising them a all expenses blow out in Vegas if they were promoted. He may have been old school British mobster type but charming as all hell.

http://meninblazers.com/tag/barry-hearn

I remember some of those podcasts. Barry Hearn seemed to love Orient.

Sports fans demonstrate ridiculous levels of loyalty, but at what point do you say "enough?" How long does it take before people just walk away?

This statement from the club should have been the last straw for everybody. http://www.leytonorient.com/news/articl ... 28608.aspx

Barry Hearn is England's Don King. Promoted snooker and darts to the popularity they are now.

He should just buy the team back.

wow

Honest to god I don't know why players aren't suspended for like 10 games after that shit. That would put a dent in the number of dives at least.

brian wrote:Honest to god I don't know why players aren't suspended for like 10 games after that shit. That would put a dent in the number of dives at least.

Yup FIFA/the leagues could make this go away with post game video review panels like they have in other sports (Aussie Rules, Rugby). Sure the ref may still get taken on a PK but a big penalty after the fact would bring would see it go away. I saw a crazy dives yesterday from Chelsea player in the first half. Only resulted in a free kick, but still.

Now the counter argument here is the player was just trying to avoid contact and should not be blamed for the ref calling the foul. Sketchy but that is what I would argue.

Related note: I would love to see FIFA/the leagues show quick yellows for the gamesmanship to delay quick restarts. The grabbing the ball walking away, standing in front of the ball and not giving 10, etc. I think helping for more quick restarts would result in increase scoring.

Soccer thrives on this stuff though. Outside the Western World being devious and conning the ref are achievements celebrated in the game. How else do we expect little teams to beat big teams if the rules were the same for both? That dive got Ross County a point against mighty Celtic.

Little Uruguay will kick the shit out of Brazil and Argentina until the ref actually sees it and tells them to stop. At which point they will then threaten the ref's life. The fans totally get it. We are used to parity and fairness in American sports. In the soccer world, the little guy needs his slingshot.

degenerasian wrote:Soccer thrives on this stuff though. Outside the Western World being devious and conning the ref are achievements celebrated in the game. How else do we expect little teams to beat big teams if the rules were the same for both? That dive got Ross County a point against mighty Celtic.

Little Uruguay will kick the shit out of Brazil and Argentina until the ref actually sees it and tells them to stop. At which point they will then threaten the ref's life. The fans totally get it. We are used to parity and fairness in American sports. In the soccer world, the little guy needs his slingshot.

Except that it turns casual viewers off to the game and maybe understandably so. There are aspects of different sports that casual and hardcore fans might disagree about that will never change. (An example would be people who suggest that the goal should be widened in hockey for more scoring. It might make some casual fans happy, but at the expense of making an enormous change to the game, what statistics mean, etc.)

I don't think being OK with players cheating in soccer really is something that anyone should relish or justify or condone.

Thing about dives is when you watch replays, there is usually a foul being committed. It's more of an embellishment than a total fake job.

Having said that though, video review and 3 game suspensions would definitely curtail the more ridiculous dives.

Pruitt wrote:Thing about dives is when you watch replays, there is usually a foul being committed. It's more of an embellishment than a total fake job.

Having said that though, video review and 3 game suspensions would definitely curtail the more ridiculous dives.

Yeah, to be fair I'm talking about only ones that there's definitive video proof of (like the one above) not a 50/50 call in the box that could have gone either way.

I don't think it'll put an end to diving especially since the risk/reward ratio is so great at certain times of the game but the especially egregious ones deserve to be punished harshly.

brian wrote:

degenerasian wrote:Soccer thrives on this stuff though. Outside the Western World being devious and conning the ref are achievements celebrated in the game. How else do we expect little teams to beat big teams if the rules were the same for both? That dive got Ross County a point against mighty Celtic.

Little Uruguay will kick the shit out of Brazil and Argentina until the ref actually sees it and tells them to stop. At which point they will then threaten the ref's life. The fans totally get it. We are used to parity and fairness in American sports. In the soccer world, the little guy needs his slingshot.

Except that it turns casual viewers off to the game and maybe understandably so. There are aspects of different sports that casual and hardcore fans might disagree about that will never change. (An example would be people who suggest that the goal should be widened in hockey for more scoring. It might make some casual fans happy, but at the expense of making an enormous change to the game, what statistics mean, etc.)

I don't think being OK with players cheating in soccer really is something that anyone should relish or justify or condone.

I think this is it. There are no casual viewers of soccer except for us in North America. It's life and death everywhere else.
Even in the video above the commentator is outraged with the ref/assistant, not the diver.

degenerasian wrote:

brian wrote:

degenerasian wrote:Soccer thrives on this stuff though. Outside the Western World being devious and conning the ref are achievements celebrated in the game. How else do we expect little teams to beat big teams if the rules were the same for both? That dive got Ross County a point against mighty Celtic.

Little Uruguay will kick the shit out of Brazil and Argentina until the ref actually sees it and tells them to stop. At which point they will then threaten the ref's life. The fans totally get it. We are used to parity and fairness in American sports. In the soccer world, the little guy needs his slingshot.

Except that it turns casual viewers off to the game and maybe understandably so. There are aspects of different sports that casual and hardcore fans might disagree about that will never change. (An example would be people who suggest that the goal should be widened in hockey for more scoring. It might make some casual fans happy, but at the expense of making an enormous change to the game, what statistics mean, etc.)

I don't think being OK with players cheating in soccer really is something that anyone should relish or justify or condone.

I think this is it. There are no casual viewers of soccer except for us in North America. It's life and death everywhere else.
Even in the video above the commentator is outraged with the ref/assistant, not the diver.

So you have 1 Ref and 1 linesman who may or may not be even near the play, blocked, just have a bad angle, etc. They are also responsible for covering everything else at the same time. Crazy to think they won't get it wrong 30% of the time. FIFA/Leagues have shown very limited willingness to address it. UEFA has been serious by using the 2 extra ARs for Europa League/Champions League/Euros and that makes a difference.

Remember when the NHL went from 1 to 2 Rs. That was a fight too..but good for the game.

you guys are trying to make the sport fair. Soccer thrives on it being unfair.

brian wrote:Honest to god I don't know why players aren't suspended for like 10 games after that shit. That would put a dent in the number of dives at least.

He got two games.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39646717

CONCACAF U-17 tourney is going on. US and the Reggae Boys were 0-0 after 45 minutes. 5-0 final to the US. DC United has a homegrown signing who looks very good.

Canada was already eliminated with losses to Cuba and Costa Rica. They finish with a game against Suriname.

Top 2 teams in each group go on to another group (2 groups of 3). Somehow group C is Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Mexico.

The top 4 teams from the tournament (basically top 2 in each group from the 2nd group ) qualify for the U-17 World Cup 2017 in India this October.

wlu_lax6 wrote:CONCACAF U-17 tourney is going on. US and the Reggae Boys were 0-0 after 45 minutes. 5-0 final to the US. DC United has a homegrown signing who looks very good.

Canada was already eliminated with losses to Cuba and Costa Rica. They finish with a game against Suriname.

Top 2 teams in each group go on to another group (2 groups of 3). Somehow group C is Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Mexico.

The top 4 teams from the tournament (basically top 2 in each group from the 2nd group ) qualify for the U-17 World Cup 2017 in India this October.

Concacaf's website SUUUUUUUUCKS. I couldn't find the groups posted anywhere.

Wiki has it:
Group A
Panama
Honduras
Curacao
Haiti

Group B
Costa Rica
Cuba
Suriname
Canada

Group C
Mexico
US
Jamaica
El Sal

US plays Mex tonight at 6:30.

Nonlinear FC wrote:

wlu_lax6 wrote:CONCACAF U-17 tourney is going on. US and the Reggae Boys were 0-0 after 45 minutes. 5-0 final to the US. DC United has a homegrown signing who looks very good.

Canada was already eliminated with losses to Cuba and Costa Rica. They finish with a game against Suriname.

Top 2 teams in each group go on to another group (2 groups of 3). Somehow group C is Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Mexico.

The top 4 teams from the tournament (basically top 2 in each group from the 2nd group ) qualify for the U-17 World Cup 2017 in India this October.

Concacaf's website SUUUUUUUUCKS. I couldn't find the groups posted anywhere.

Wiki has it:
Group A
Panama
Honduras
Curacao
Haiti

Group B
Costa Rica
Cuba
Suriname
Canada

Group C
Mexico
US
Jamaica
El Sal

US plays Mex tonight at 6:30.

Yes but I appreciate the video highlight packages of almost every game.
US Game is live on Youtube

Ever heard of legendary Brazilian Carlos Kaiser? This is a good read.

sancarlos wrote:Ever heard of legendary Brazilian Carlos Kaiser? This is a good read.

That's just nuts.

Definitely be ordering that book when it's released.

US 4, Mexico 3. 25 Game unbeaten streak broken tonight.

http://www.concacaf.com/video/cu17-pan- ... highlights

Good stuff

Only issue for the US is to get out of the ElSal game without being injured or picking up cards. ES is already eliminated and US are through.. Type of game can get nasty if the ref isn't on things early.

I've said this elsewhere.. Some of the dirtiest play I've ever seen was from an ElSal team against a US U20 game. Full on punches to the head behind the play. Really dirty tackles. Spitting, constant bullshit off the ball.

Two really nice goals by Josh Sargent there.

Nonlinear FC wrote:Only issue for the US is to get out of the ElSal game without being injured or picking up cards. ES is already eliminated and US are through.. Type of game can get nasty if the ref isn't on things early.

I've said this elsewhere.. Some of the dirtiest play I've ever seen was from an ElSal team against a US U20 game. Full on punches to the head behind the play. Really dirty tackles. Spitting, constant bullshit off the ball.

Us likely will get Honduras and Cuba in Group D. Will probably need 3 points to qualify for India but better to see them advance to the final. US has a longer break before their first Goup D game. Likely Honduras v. Cuba, 2 days later Honduras v US, and then US v. Cuba.

I like this model because qualification does not come down to a single semifinal game (which has crushed the US over the years). But on the other hand 4 spots is a whole bunch and failure at this point would be terrible.

From very limited knowledge, it sure looks like the US should place in the top 4. They had this MEX game pretty much handled with MEX scoring late to make it a one goal game.

Nonlinear FC wrote:From very limited knowledge, it sure looks like the US should place in the top 4. They had this MEX game pretty much handled with MEX scoring late to make it a one goal game.

I watched the last 10 minutes (3-2 US when I turned it on). It was mostly the US break up Mexico attacks and kicking deep. The counterattack goal was fantastic, but in that last 10 minutes the US did have the ball on the Mexico side of the field much.

I guess my point is that MEX is typically in the top 2 or 3 of these U17 tournaments, so beating the tar out of JAM and then beating MEX while putting 4 in the back of the net is pretty good indicator of future success.

1970, Jack Charlton of Leeds United takes a break during training.

wlu_lax6 wrote:

Nonlinear FC wrote:From very limited knowledge, it sure looks like the US should place in the top 4. They had this MEX game pretty much handled with MEX scoring late to make it a one goal game.

I watched the last 10 minutes (3-2 US when I turned it on). It was mostly the US break up Mexico attacks and kicking deep. The counterattack goal was fantastic, but in that last 10 minutes the US did have the ball on the Mexico side of the field much.

And they have Timothy Weah, son of African Player of the (20th) Century and 1996 FIFA Player of the Year George Weah.

The Sybian wrote:

wlu_lax6 wrote:

Nonlinear FC wrote:From very limited knowledge, it sure looks like the US should place in the top 4. They had this MEX game pretty much handled with MEX scoring late to make it a one goal game.

I watched the last 10 minutes (3-2 US when I turned it on). It was mostly the US break up Mexico attacks and kicking deep. The counterattack goal was fantastic, but in that last 10 minutes the US did have the ball on the Mexico side of the field much.

And they have Timothy Weah, son of African Player of the (20th) Century and 1996 FIFA Player of the Year George Weah.

Yeah interesting to have the son of a Liberian Senator on the US National Team (Mom worked at Chase Bank in New York---where George kept a home during his playing days). Apparently he is having lots of success with PSG's youth side.

US Soccer has $100 Million surplus. Guess they are happy that news broke after the agreement with the WNT
https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/0 ... ing-center

FIFA experimenting with a new PK format at UEFA U-17s
https://www.uefa.com/under17/news/newsi ... ournaments

I much prefer that system.

US of A U-17 up 1-nil