The Soccer Thread

[swampthing]

So many turnovers that it makes the game look so sloppy and I think that alone is one of the biggest differences in the quality of ball. What does everyone else think?

I COMPLETELY agree. It's so difficult for me to watch Man U play Liverpool, and then turn it over and watch the USA play Denmark. The ball movement on our national team is so poor that the game is unbearable to watch because it literally looks like a random kicking match. If you hate soccer it's because you haven't seen the right teams play. My friend made the comment last night while we were watching the LA Beckhams (ha good call whoever came up with that) that U.S. goalies are so good because the defense in the MLS is so bad that teams are getting like thirty shots off every game and I'd have to agree although I'm a fan of the MLS game.

Also, when we were in California during spring break Drew Carey told us while they were setting up The Price is Right that he co-owns the Seattle MLS team and that even though they don't even have a name yet he's already sold like 10,000 season tickets or something crazy like that. Then he was like "Oh man, it's so easy to make money!" and I wanted to shoot my broke-ass.

[jessexy]

Did anyone watch the CHI-NE game last night where Cuahtemoc Blanco trapped a cross-field pass by using his @$$. that was fantastic, especially because the broadcast kept showing the replay of hte ball bouncing up to his behind on purpose and then him spinning around a defender who had no clue what just happened.

[FLAK]

And the PL is wide open yet again because ManUtd can't take care of the "lesser" teams. We lead Chelsea by 3 now and face Arsenal next weekend, this is going to be one of the best finishes to the EPL in years as it might go down to the last weekend with 3 teams in the actual hunt, thank God the Red Devils have the superior goal differential because it might have to come to that.

[Timbalaned]

That was so weak. Shouldn't have been a PK and if they got that then we should have gotten one last week when Hleb got pulled down and it wouldn't have mattered cause they never would have gotten that 4th goal and we would have gone through on away goals. Stupid Liverpool. Still going to lose to Man U or Chelsea

[FLAK]

I wish it would have at least gone to extra time to tire out Arsenal's legs for their game against Man Utd this weekend. We should have Ferdinand back, but losing Vidic for another 2 weeks might be costly if we can't get him back by the Chelsea game. Great game b/t Liverpool and Arsenal though, Chelsea with a garbage win as usual.

Does anyone else just hate the choppy (read: crap) style that Chelsea play with? I just don't understand how they were able to keep up this year what with the drama in the fall and Avram Grant's seemingly overwhelmed disposition.

I think of all the "Big 4" EPL teams, Chelsea is by far the team I hate the most. Even more when they had Mourinho at the helm...

[Timbalaned]

I think of all the "Big 4" EPL teams, Chelsea is by far the team I hate the most. Even more when they had Mourinho at the helm...

Agree, though I do like some of their individual players, my order goes

1) Arsenal
2) Man U
3) Liverpool
4) Chelsea

But there is a huge gap between number 1 and 2. I still feel like I can't really truly root for Man U, just bask in the gloriousness that is Cristiano

[jessexy]

That was so weak. Shouldn't have been a PK and if they got that then we should have gotten one last week when Hleb got pulled down and it wouldn't have mattered cause they never would have gotten that 4th goal and we would have gone through on away goals. Stupid Liverpool. Still going to lose to Man U or Chelsea

Agreed wholeheartedly. I cannot believe that was called after last week. Thats the same exact foul so it should either have been a penalty last week or a no-call this week. These referees today, from Sweden, had to have been made aware of the game last week and that these teams have played 3 times in 6 days. They should've seen the video tape from last week's CL game. I cannot believe that was called against Arsenal.

Walcott's run was ridiculous, though. that was my highlight.

[PigPen]

that was one of the best finishes in Europe since that MANU/Bayern finish in the final in the late 90's-wow what a match.

[Timbalaned]

That flick-on header Tevez had for a goal today was ill.

[FLAK]

That flick-on header Tevez had for a goal today was ill.

I didn't know Hargreaves could cross like that, that was vintage Beckham bend and dip

[FLAK]

So Arsenal fans....quite the game this Sunday, with plenty riding on it. The Gunners need the win to stay in the EPL race and ManUtd needs the win to keep some distance between them and the rest of the pack...if only they'd gotten the W at Middlesbrough then it wouldn't be as dire for them to get full points.

ManUtd is boasting a full squad minus Vidic (which hurts), Saha (always injured anyways), Nani (tough loss but we can cope), and Fletcher (revelation as a squad player this year). Rooney and Ronaldo got a nice rest from the Roma game with Ronaldo sitting out the entire match.


Arsenal on the other hand are missing Flamini (their star defensive anchor), and Sanga (reliable full-back). RVP is back but not completely match fit as I would suspect. It's funny how similar RVP and Saha are in terms of the way they play and how they injure themselves every other week, I think both teams will be looking to off-load these strikers in the summer...

Nice to here Lehmann bashing Almunia in the news again, I can only imagine what the dressing room is like.

I'm really interested to see how United line up, they've been very effective lately in the 4-5-1 with 3CMs and Rooney as the lone striker, but when he is paired with Tevez in a 4-4-2 they can really devastate defenses. I think we'll keep Tevez on the bench initially and bring him on at the hour mark (depending on the score).


With it being at Old Trafford and United's ability to really get up for these big games, I think that if the Devils can keep Arsenal off the board for the first hour, they can go on to win it. If either team scores in the first 20 minutes and it isn't answered in that half, then that team will go on to win.


My prediction: United 3-1 with Rooney, Tevez, and Ronaldo (38th this year) and Adebayor scoring the consolation for Arsenal.

[Timbalaned]

Arsenal 2-1 Adebayor (in first 15) Cristiano with a dazzler (around 35) and Cesc with the game winner (77th)

[jessexy]

Methinks ManU will take this one also, though it could be a clasico. SAF will most likely play the 4-4-2 to put pressure on the Arsenal back line cuz Senderos sucks. that way Rooney and Tevez occupy all four defenders and keep Clichy from getting forward.

Gilberto Silva will get the responsiblity of marking Ronaldo, which isnt so bad given that Flamini would earn a red card with the same responsiblities. I think Adebayor will abuse and barely fit Ferdinand, if he plays, and John O'Shea wont be able to handle that either. I pray that Neville plays cuz he's a red card waiting to happen. If all you have to do to play right back at the highest level is kick as hard as you can (the ball, opponents, the wall, the post, whatever) the methinks i could do that also.

Wenger loves him some RVP and sees him as the next Bergkamp. Thank Birghingham that Da Silva is out for this one. Wenger likes to grab playes that resemble other players: Adebayor-Henry, RVP-Bergkamp, Gallas-Sol Campbell, Hleb-Ljunberg, Rosicky-Pires, Diaby-Viera, Flamini, Gilberto, Glichy, Ashley Cole, and so on.

I'm calling for a draw at best for the Gunners. Ronaldo does something brilliant and so does Fabregas.

[FLAK]

I think Adebayor will abuse and barely fit Ferdinand, if he plays, and John O'Shea wont be able to handle that either. I pray that Neville plays cuz he's a red card waiting to happen. If all you have to do to play right back at the highest level is kick as hard as you can (the ball, opponents, the wall, the post, whatever) the methinks i could do that also.

I think the young Spaniard Gerard Pique will fill in with Rio in the center as he did against Roma, he did fine so I won't have worries. I also don't think SAF would be so brash as to even contemplate starting Neville. He won't start until after the Chelsea game, if even then.

[FLAK]

Well the Gunners are done, United wins 2-1. It's hard to gauge the sides when you don't watch it live, but from what I gather through the online updates, it was back and forth with the Gunners creating more chances, just not capitalizing on them (story of their past two months).

The Devils have the title within their grasp and now can afford to drop points at the Stamford Bridge if that ends up the case. Though we still have to play Blackburn and West Ham who has been our poison for the last few seasons.

Good season by Arsenal who most did not even give a chance to finish 4th this season, Wenger has to come off his high horse and spend this summer as the Gunner's lack of quality depth was on display when they couldn't get a win these last few games.