Everything Soccer

[Cackalacky]

Henderson got off to a poor start last night but he settled in quite well. Liverpool fans really hammer that guy.

I don't know of another team I've seen this year that gets the ball in the midfield better than Liverpool.

Rumors that Steven Gerrard will be the next manager of Rangers. I find that to be one of the more ridiculous rumors I've heard in a while.

He is doing very well with the U18s right now 11-5-5 with 38 points (1 point off second in their group)

 

[notredomer23]

Never seen a player that chokes as much in the spotlight as much as Michael Bradley... kicked a field goal in penalties last night against Guadalajara. Unfortunate because he actually balled out most of the game but dude has some bad juju about him. Keep away from the USMNT..

 

[fightingirish26]

Never seen a player that chokes as much in the spotlight as much as Michael Bradley... kicked a field goal in penalties last night against Guadalajara. Unfortunate because he actually balled out most of the game but dude has some bad juju about him. Keep away from the USMNT..

He didn't just sky his penalty, he skied the penalty that ended the game. Brutal.

 

[nlroma1o]

Random thought after reading some of the headlines this morning...I typically love the chaos of the EPL purchasing market. The big clubs in England have some much damn money its just so entertaining to sit back and watch the rumors and movement of player transfers. But this summer it looks like the EPL is going to go HAAAAARD after some of the Serie A best talent. This makes me sad... mi rende trists.... I love how strong the Serie A has just gotten in the last 2 years. Napoli is going to be a freaking supermarcato this summer and that just breaks my heart a bit.

 

[dublinirish]

Random thought after reading some of the headlines this morning...I typically love the chaos of the EPL purchasing market. The big clubs in England have some much damn money its just so entertaining to sit back and watch the rumors and movement of player transfers. But this summer it looks like the EPL is going to go HAAAAARD after some of the Serie A best talent. This makes me sad... mi rende trists.... I love how strong the Serie A has just gotten in the last 2 years. Napoli is going to be a freaking supermarcato this summer and that just breaks my heart a bit.

in previous years the transfer market rumour mill in EPL was actually more interesting than the actual games :/

 

[nlroma1o]

in previous years the transfer market rumour mill in EPL was actually more interesting than the actual games :/

Ha, that got a laugh out of me. The EPL rumor mill is non stop. I dont know if its just tabloid created noise half the time or if some journalists actually have some insight on the matter. But the EPL rumor mill is always fun to monitor at this point in the season.

 

[Rogue219]

Before Ronaldo could take his shirt off yesterday, the Salah to Real Madrid rumors start up.

This is classic Real Madrid and Barcelona. Start up transfer rumors to unsettle players and clubs.

As a neutral, I'm hoping to see Liverpool trash Real in the final in Kiev, for reasons too numerous for me to mention.

 

[notredomer23]

Before Ronaldo could take his shirt off yesterday, the Salah to Real Madrid rumors start up.

This is classic Real Madrid and Barcelona. Start up transfer rumors to unsettle players and clubs.

As a neutral, I'm hoping to see Liverpool trash Real in the final in Kiev, for reasons too numerous for me to mention.

Chances he suits up in a Liverpool kit in 2018-2019 season? I'd say less than <25% especially if he can lead Egypt out of the group stage. The transfer fee will be record breaking. Idk how 'Pool can turn down over 100 Mill when they got him for 36.7.

 

[nlroma1o]

Before Ronaldo could take his shirt off yesterday, the Salah to Real Madrid rumors start up.

This is classic Real Madrid and Barcelona. Start up transfer rumors to unsettle players and clubs.

As a neutral, I'm hoping to see Liverpool trash Real in the final in Kiev, for reasons too numerous for me to mention.

Obviously, I want Roma to win it all. But I'm beyond happy they made it this far. I just don't want Madrid to win a third in a row. For fuksake dont let them win a third in a row. Bayern should have had 5 goals yesterday. So many scrambles in the box led to great chances for them but they were either unluckily deflected or Navas made a great save. I am beyond worried that Liverpool with play Madrid, and then get bossed by Modric and Kroos. They may not get many chances to send it up to Salah.

 

[ACamp1900]

Had an interesting conversation yesterday at Disneyland of all places... some guy in line for one of the rides sees my Irish hat and starts talking sports with me. He informs me is used to be a baseball and basketball guy but that he gave up on both because 'baseball's lack of a salary cap and the super team stuff in basketball'... He goes on about how 'it's just unfair man, the little guys have no chance at all anymore'... Okay whatever, this is a point I disagree with and I think the amount of teams that have made World Series runs or deep playoff runs in basketball over the last 20 years is very diverse but whatever... I let it go. I then ask causally if he watches/follows anything now and and he informs me he's a major Euro soccer fan and he pulls back his light coat to show me the shirt he has underneath is in fact a Man City jersey while stating he's a major City fan... I look at him like:

 

[dublinirish]

Had an interesting conversation yesterday at Disneyland of all places... some guy in line for one of the rides sees my Irish hat and starts talking sports with me. He informs me is used to be a baseball and basketball guy but that he gave up on both because 'baseball's lack of a salary cap and the super team stuff in basketball'... He goes on about how 'it's just unfair man, the little guys have no chance at all anymore'... Okay whatever, this is a point I disagree with and I think the amount of teams that have made World Series runs or deep playoff runs in basketball over the last 20 years is very diverse but whatever... I let it go. I then ask causally if he watches/follows anything now and and he informs me he's a major Euro soccer fan and he pulls back his light coat to show me the shirt he has underneath is in fact a Man City jersey while stating he's a major City fan... I look at him like:

Big Shaun Goater/Niall Quinn/Paul Dickov guy i bet

 

[ACamp1900]

Big Shaun Goater/Niall Quinn/Paul Dickov guy i bet

Ha, right??

 

[nlroma1o]

Had an interesting conversation yesterday at Disneyland of all places... some guy in line for one of the rides sees my Irish hat and starts talking sports with me. He informs me is used to be a baseball and basketball guy but that he gave up on both because 'baseball's lack of a salary cap and the super team stuff in basketball'... He goes on about how 'it's just unfair man, the little guys have no chance at all anymore'... Okay whatever, this is a point I disagree with and I think the amount of teams that have made World Series runs or deep playoff runs in basketball over the last 20 years is very diverse but whatever... I let it go. I then ask causally if he watches/follows anything now and and he informs me he's a major Euro soccer fan and he pulls back his light coat to show me the shirt he has underneath is in fact a Man City jersey while stating he's a major City fan... I look at him like:

Hahaha only at a place like Disneyland would I be able to let something like that go.

But in all seriousness, as much as I hate "that guy" and 5 years ago I probably would have said something rude. It benefits the sport here in the US when we let "those guys" think they are big euro soccer fans. Because in a few more years, that guy might have spread the love for the game to 10 more people. It all adds up.

 

[ThePiombino]

As someone who is just getting into the sport and doesn't have a side, I have to ask -- why are you throwing your noses up at a City fan? Is that like the equivalent of just getting into baseball and becoming a Yankee fan or something?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[ACamp1900]

As someone who is just getting into the sport and doesn't have a side, I have to ask -- why are you throwing your noses up at a City fan? Is that like the equivalent of just getting into baseball and becoming a Yankee fan or something?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

It's not so much just a City fan, like, 'oh you like City, I turn my nose up to you." Although I will openly say it's basically just shy of a 100% recent, bandwagon base here in the states (sorry to the good peps here that are City fans be let's be real). My point is you can't tell me you have problems with inequity in spending and talent with baseball and basketball and then tell me you are a City fan and expect to be taken seriously...

 

[notredomer23]

As someone who is just getting into the sport and doesn't have a side, I have to ask -- why are you throwing your noses up at a City fan? Is that like the equivalent of just getting into baseball and becoming a Yankee fan or something?

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It would be like a Tampa Bay Rays fan that was then bought by Bill Gates and had the highest salaries in the majors and bought players like Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant, Michael Trout, and Clayton Kershaw.

I became a City fan before they won it in 2011-2012, but still feel a bit awkward about it and feel like a front runner.

 

[ACamp1900]

It would be like a Tampa Bay Rays fan that was then bought by Bill Gates and had the highest salaries in the majors and bought players like Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant, Michael Trout, and Clayton Kershaw.

Well done, this is a good summation of what happened with City and why the Yankees comparison doesn't fit...

 

[ACamp1900]

There is also the very real dynamic in English soccer that any "American" who dares root for any team other than Newcastle is a punk ass poser with clear daddy issues....

 

[NorthDakota]

If you are getting into the Prem, I'd consider picking a Top 6 team AND a lower end team. Kinda makes things more fun.

 

[notredomer23]

Well done, this is a good summation of what happened with City and why the Yankees comparison doesn't fit...

Yeah as much as I hate to say it, Manchester United would be the Yankees. Liverpool would probably be the Cardinals. Not really many other like for like comparisons.

 

[notredomer23]

If you are getting into the Prem, I'd consider picking a Top 6 team AND a lower end team. Kinda makes things more fun.

I'd amend it a lower end team that is fun to watch. Don't pick a boring ass West Brom or Burnley. You'll hate your life. Even Everton would be a little cliche for an American to pick. Swans used to be exciting. Not so much anymore.

 

[nlroma1o]

It would be like a Tampa Bay Rays fan that was then bought by Bill Gates and had the highest salaries in the majors and bought players like Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Bryant, Michael Trout, and Clayton Kershaw.

I became a City fan before they won it in 2011-2012, but still feel a bit awkward about it and feel like a front runner.

^
This 100%

The whole bandwagon fan scenario in soccer here in the states is weird. Everyone is kinda bandwagon fan for a period.

I got destroyed for being a Chelsea fan in the Mid to late 2000s when they got good. They thought I was just some bandwagon fan. They didn't know I had been mailed Chelsea gear from my aunt in London since I was probably 5 years old and grew up wearing Umbro Chelsea jerseys in the 90s, along with my old school Roma gear of course. People in the 90s had no clue who Chelsea was, and they definitely didn't know about Roma where I grew up. Kids at my school made fun of me for wearing a Chelsea hat, because they were confused why I had a hat with a girls name on it. They didn't know any teams besides the Man United Fighting Beckhams.

 

[ACamp1900]

There is also the very real dynamic in English soccer that any "American" who dares root for any team other than Newcastle is a punk ass poser with clear daddy issues....

If you are getting into the Prem, I'd consider picking a Top 6 team AND a lower end team. Kinda makes things more fun.

I'd amend it a lower end team that is fun to watch. Don't pick a boring ass West Brom or Burnley. You'll hate your life. Even Everton would be a little cliche for an American to pick. Swans used to be exciting. Not so much anymore.

Do you even read bros??

^
The whole bandwagon fan scenario in soccer here in the states is weird. Everyone is kinda bandwagon fan for a period.

not everyone, you soulless bastard...

 

[dublinirish]

i remember arguing before that liverpool and tottenham are the two best clubs for US fans to follow as they are neither at the very top not totally crap so they will give you some up's and down's. and because they dont have any recent success per say you cant be accused of being a glory hunter. Plus they generally play attractive football.

 

[ACamp1900]

i remember arguing before that liverpool and tottenham are the two best clubs for US fans to follow as they are neither at the very top not totally crap so they will give you some up's and down's. and because they dont have any recent success per say you cant be accused of being a glory hunter. Plus they generally play attractive football.

I thought on this when my time came... Just couldn't root for a London team so Arsenal and Spurs were out. Liverpool... they are just too trendy a choice and there are a few things about their fan base that irritates me so I picked the team closest to the mother land and my conscience has remained clear.

 

[notredomer23]

Do you even read bros??



not everyone, you soulless bastard...

Rafa is gonna have Newcastle top 6 next year so they don’t apply

 

[Emcee77]

i remember arguing before that liverpool and tottenham are the two best clubs for US fans to follow as they are neither at the very top not totally crap so they will give you some up's and down's. and because they dont have any recent success per say you cant be accused of being a glory hunter. Plus they generally play attractive football.

Yep, I recall reading a column written by Bill Simmons about ten years ago in which he solicited reader input on which EPL team he should choose to root for, and discussed the options at length. He ended up selecting Spurs, with Liverpool a close second. IIRC, Spurs got the nod primarily because London is a cooler place to visit than Liverpool. Fair enough.

As I've said before in this thread, I root for Liverpool primarily because I view them as the ND of English soccer: once the dominant team in the sport, haven't won a title since the 80s, have been trying to recover that dominance ever since. Something about that dynamic of trying to retrieve lost greatness appeals to me.

And btw, after watching Bayern/Real yesterday, I like Liverpool's chances of winning CL this year. The bottom line for me is all 4 semi-finalists are capable of occasional sloppiness and occasional greatness. Liverpool are in a run of form where the greatness is outweighing the sloppiness; just need to keep that up.

 

[dublinirish]

Be interested to see what Rafa could do with a proper budget

 

[ACamp1900]

Rafa is gonna have Newcastle top 6 next year so they don’t apply

NCU is usually a mid table team though... to me better than picking one top and one bottom team... narrow that focus.

 

[nlroma1o]

Do you even read bros??



not everyone, you soulless bastard...

I said "Kinda". The team and timing of it has much to do with it lol