Everything Soccer

[notredomer23]

Anyone watching Sea/NY...? Martins looks pretty bad today...

I wanna know more about Cristian Roldan... dude looks like he may have a future for the USMNT. One of Seattle's best and he is only 19.

 

[ACamp1900]

That winning finish by Demsey was sick...

 

[RDU Irish]

Is it true they only allow one sub per game? quickest way to make soccer remotely interesting would be to allow unlimited substitutions. People watch sprints, not marathons.

 

[GowerND11]

Is it true they only allow one sub per game? quickest way to make soccer remotely interesting would be to allow unlimited substitutions. People watch sprints, not marathons.

3 subs.

 

[RDU Irish]

OK, so you always have to hold one back for injury so it is really two. How about forcing them to come out every time they stop play for an injury (99% fake)? Or just up the substitutions to 10 or 20. Just seems silly to me, like setting up a soccer goal at the end of the Boston Marathon. Impressive physically, but really doesn't make sense from a competitive standpoint. Baseball is the only major sport I can think of that really limits substitutions, and it makes sense for the game (can't switch b/w two pitchers every other batter, not a matter of physical exhaustion).

Reality is, the rest of the world finds the sport entertaining for some reason so they aren't going to change it for me.

 

[Emcee77]

OK, so you always have to hold one back for injury so it is really two. How about forcing them to come out every time they stop play for an injury (99% fake)? Or just up the substitutions to 10 or 20. Just seems silly to me, like setting up a soccer goal at the end of the Boston Marathon. Impressive physically, but really doesn't make sense from a competitive standpoint. Baseball is the only major sport I can think of that really limits substitutions, and it makes sense for the game (can't switch b/w two pitchers every other batter, not a matter of physical exhaustion).

Reality is, the rest of the world finds the sport entertaining for some reason so they aren't going to change it for me.

Yeah I have always thought that 3 isn't enough, although for a different reason. It just doesn't allow for much in-game coaching. The games would be more interesting if managers were freer to change tactics by bringing on players with different attributes.

The problem is that the clock is always running in soccer, and substitutions are a way to stop the game and waste time. So they have to be limited.

I'd like to make it 3 per half, 4 in the second half if you don't use any in the first half. Something like that.

 

[notredomer23]

Is it true they only allow one sub per game? quickest way to make soccer remotely interesting would be to allow unlimited substitutions. People watch sprints, not marathons.

Its the most watched sport in the world, and the fourth most watched(sorry, NASCAR isn't a sport) in the United States. More subs wouldn't really change much. It really makes it strategic what type of subs you need.

 

[ACamp1900]

I think the substitutions thing is fine as is imo... and a lot of the 'faked injuries' are real cramp issues and such... but I'm all for making every player that goes down in the second half leave the game for an amount of time, you see SOME of this but not across the board... faked injuries and flopping are still real issues though...

the point that they (powers that be) aren't changing the rules for America fans is totally true, but in a perfect world two things happen that would grow the sport here in a hurry...

1.) Flopping, if a replay shows a player clearly flopped they get a match ban (like a retro active red card) for the next match... if it's a repeat offense then it's multi game and a heavy fine... and so on... that would halt that stuff real quick..

2.) Off Sides, to me, this is the thing that kills a lot of American interest... you could do two things to fix it, one, a lot of times if a player is offsides when the ball is released, but comes BACK ON before being the first to touch the ball that should not be offsides... when I see a player make a run, off sides, only to have the defender re gain ground before the offensive players touches the ball and the flag still stays up I cringe, soccer would do itself a great deal by taking the NHL approach to offsides,... Also, if ANY part of the offensive players is on, the players should be considered 'on', basically, give the offensive player the benefit of the doubt always, they (referees) are supposed to do this but don't... I think that would help the scoring and thus the interest without drastically changing the game world wide.

 

[notredomer23]

OK, so you always have to hold one back for injury so it is really two. How about forcing them to come out every time they stop play for an injury (99% fake)? Or just up the substitutions to 10 or 20. Just seems silly to me, like setting up a soccer goal at the end of the Boston Marathon. Impressive physically, but really doesn't make sense from a competitive standpoint. .

Not trying to sound disrespectful so do not take it as such, I just get really defensive over soccer haha. How much competitive soccer have you actually watched? I would watch a competitive soccer match any day of the week over any sport and that includes football. Comparing it to the Boston Marathon with a goal at the end is silly. Soccer is the most tactically challenging and skillfully difficult game in the world. Don't believe me? Try bending a shot over a wall into the top corner of a goal. try doing a bicycle kick. try just simply juggling the soccer ball (kicking it without it hitting the ground) over a 100 times. Its incredibly difficult. I have played organized football, soccer, basketball, and baseball all at a high school level and soccer was by far the most challenging, while I thought football was the easiest.

 

[notredomer23]

Not exactly a high level of soccer, but anyone see this game mentioned at all the other day? 6-5 is some terrible defense lol.

USL Game

 

[ACamp1900]

What I always liked about soccer and baseball is that there is no physical specimen template you have to typically be born into to achieve greatness... those who dedicate themselves and work the hardest tend to be those who excel, regardless of your genetics... take basketball, you could be a skinny, 5'9" stud who works harder than anyone,... when it comes down to it you're still just 5'9" throw away playing against 6'8" dudes in a sport where height is half the battle ... it's a major disadvantage right from the start...

 

[notredomer23]

What I always liked about soccer and baseball is that there is no physical specimen template you have to typically be born into to achieve greatness... those who dedicate themselves and work the hardest tend to be those who excel, regardless of your genetics... take basketball, you could be a skinny, 5'9" stud who works harder than anyone,... when it comes down to it you're still just 5'9" throw away playing against 6'8" dudes in a sport where height is half the battle ... it's a major disadvantage right from the start...

Look at Messi... best footballer in the world. 5'8" on a good day, 150 pounds? Then look at Zlatan... maybe third best player in the world? 6'4". Agreed 100%

 

[notredomer23]

The u20 USMNT defeated New Zealand last night 4-0 in a spectacular effort. The triad of Zelalem, Hyndman, and Rubin were world class vs a decent New Zealand team. Just complete domination. Paul Arriola also netted a goal. Bradford Jamison deserved one but Rubin tapped it in from an inch out. Cameron Carter Vickers at just 17 looks like a man amongst boys out there. Desevio Payne got the start on defense and was spectacular on the outside. The boys have already qualified for the next round with a game to go. This is the most talented player pool since the 2007 player pool that featured Altidore, Bradley, and a then star in Adu

 

[Huntr]

Holy shit, Blatter stepping down.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

Think he's pulling a Ron Meyer? Ala, "well, it's just time." Exit stage left before this shit gets any worse.

 

[Huntr]

FIFA to mandate presidential term limits, as well.

 

[RDU Irish]

Not trying to sound disrespectful so do not take it as such, I just get really defensive over soccer haha. How much competitive soccer have you actually watched? I would watch a competitive soccer match any day of the week over any sport and that includes football. Comparing it to the Boston Marathon with a goal at the end is silly. Soccer is the most tactically challenging and skillfully difficult game in the world. Don't believe me? Try bending a shot over a wall into the top corner of a goal. try doing a bicycle kick. try just simply juggling the soccer ball (kicking it without it hitting the ground) over a 100 times. Its incredibly difficult. I have played organized football, soccer, basketball, and baseball all at a high school level and soccer was by far the most challenging, while I thought football was the easiest.

No offense taken and I appreciate what you are saying. I just find it incredibly boring. It would be great if the players had enough in the tank to showcase more of those skills. I saw something that said soccer pros cover something like 20 miles during a match. That doesn't even account for all of the moves they have to make, starts, stops and sprints. Endurance seems to be an overriding "skill" to all of the others, how often are you really seeing bicycle kicks? I'm not saying I'm in the global majority, just that I only watch it if I have a personal interest in a game (ND or my kids).

 

[RDU Irish]

What I always liked about soccer and baseball is that there is no physical specimen template you have to typically be born into to achieve greatness... those who dedicate themselves and work the hardest tend to be those who excel, regardless of your genetics... take basketball, you could be a skinny, 5'9" stud who works harder than anyone,... when it comes down to it you're still just 5'9" throw away playing against 6'8" dudes in a sport where height is half the battle ... it's a major disadvantage right from the start...

This is an excellent point, however I don't think Prince Fielder or John Kruk would stand much of a chance at soccer.

 

[ACamp1900]

This is an excellent point, however I don't think Prince Fielder or John Kruk would stand much of a chance at soccer.

They'd prob have a chance to do well as guards, D Linemen or MAYBE even Power Forwards though... those two do fit certain 'molds'...

 

[ACamp1900]

Holy shit, Blatter stepping down.

What garbage... he should have done so before the vote...

 

[zelezo vlk]

They'd prob have a chance to do well as guards, D Linemen or MAYBE even Power Forwards though... those two do fit certain 'molds'...

Not a chance.

 

[ACamp1900]

Not a chance.

You don't think Fielder could play guard?? He's pretty dang athletic... PF is a def stretch, IN fairness though, I was too young to remember if Kruk was actually athletic at all...

 

[zelezo vlk]

You don't think Fielder could play guard?? He's pretty dang athletic... PF is a def stretch, IN fairness though, I was too young to remember if Kruk was actually athletic at all...

They're both nowhere near big enough to play those positions.

To be fair, we'll never see how good Prince's movement would be at the size required.

 

[ACamp1900]

Fielder is like Omar Gonzalez... he can do it all.

 

[notredomer23]

I thought Blatter's ego would prevent him from stepping down. Happy day. US U20s beat New Zealand, US U23s beat Qatar off a Julian Green goal, and Sepp Blatter steps down.

 

[ACamp1900]

The interwebs is epic win today over the Blatter thing... US soccer fans having tons of fun.

 

[notredomer23]

The interwebs is epic win today over the Blatter thing... US soccer fans having tons of fun.

Let's be honest. I love the USMNT but taking down FIFA is by far the greatest soccer achievement the US has gotten so far lol.

 

[ACamp1900]

the memes have been awesome... i'll have to share some when I get home today...

 

[Irish YJ]

I thought Blatter's ego would prevent him from stepping down. Happy day. US U20s beat New Zealand, US U23s beat Qatar off a Julian Green goal, and Sepp Blatter steps down.

I'd bet Blatter got the call last night, or this morning with inside info... "Mr. Blatter, the FBI and Scotland yard are in possession of XXX and XXX and XXX. I'm sorry sir."

 

[Irish YJ]

I like the last one best...