EPL, FIFA, MLS: News and Discussion Thread
08-02-2010, 10:24 AM
#2281
Senior Moderator
Came back from the Baltimore match. Manchester got a nice beating. 
TBH, the red card on Vieira was questionable, but Manchester didn't even seem to try. I know it's a friendly, but that was pretty lame.
Watch out for Coutinho, this kid looks very good.
TBH, the red card on Vieira was questionable, but Manchester didn't even seem to try. I know it's a friendly, but that was pretty lame.
Watch out for Coutinho, this kid looks very good.
08-12-2010, 11:49 AM
#2282
08-12-2010, 12:32 PM
#2283
What Would Don Draper Do?
i was looking to a saturday morning/afternoon of just watching soccer, but have to go to a wedding.
the wedding is an indian one. so it's all day.
08-13-2010, 02:09 PM
#2285
What Would Don Draper Do?
i know we're on a tight budget and all, but instead of paying the odd couple million and here for raw talent like bebe when we already have youngsters like macheda, welbeck, and chicharito, why aren't we forking up the 15million or so needed to sign oezil when we know that CAM is our weakest link?!?!?!
08-17-2010, 08:16 AM
#2290
Q('.')=O
iTrader: (1)
Drogs hat-trick. He could honestly have 10+ goals in the first 5 Chelsea games by looking at their opponents .
Blackpool are in dreamland and they will finally get sent back to Earth and be shown their place when the play at Arsenal this week lol..
.Blackpool are in dreamland and they will finally get sent back to Earth and be shown their place when the play at Arsenal this week lol..
08-17-2010, 09:56 AM
#2292
Burning Brakes
Real Madrid is piling up on players again. sigh..
Kaka, Oezil, VDV, Di Maria. who will start?? I'm assuming Benzema backed up by Oezil-Kaka-Cnaldo and Khedira-Alonso
and Man U definitely needs better wingers than Nani/Valencia. They're decent but just won't be good enough against stronger sides IMO
Kaka, Oezil, VDV, Di Maria. who will start?? I'm assuming Benzema backed up by Oezil-Kaka-Cnaldo and Khedira-Alonso
and Man U definitely needs better wingers than Nani/Valencia. They're decent but just won't be good enough against stronger sides IMO
08-17-2010, 10:09 AM
#2293
What Would Don Draper Do?
don't forget higuain.
mourinho said higuain and ronaldo will lead the line. so i guess he'll play ronaldo up top.
attacking mids:
kaka (out up to 4 months)
oezil
canales
di maria
vdv
granero
i read mourinho's been using a lot of 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and 4-2-1-3 formations in training.
i think nani still has potential. he just needs to work on better judgement and decisions. he really came around during the second half of last season. thing is, he'll always be in cr's shadow.
valencia is a good player, i think. but he's very linear and is more of an old fashioned winger. he'll stay on the sideline and is very good at crosses. he's helpful when we play 4-4-2. thing is, when we don't play 4-4-2 and use rooney as a lone striker, we need valencia to be more of a scoring-threat, which he isn't.
mourinho said higuain and ronaldo will lead the line. so i guess he'll play ronaldo up top.
attacking mids:
kaka (out up to 4 months)
oezil
canales
di maria
vdv
granero
i read mourinho's been using a lot of 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and 4-2-1-3 formations in training.
i think nani still has potential. he just needs to work on better judgement and decisions. he really came around during the second half of last season. thing is, he'll always be in cr's shadow.
valencia is a good player, i think. but he's very linear and is more of an old fashioned winger. he'll stay on the sideline and is very good at crosses. he's helpful when we play 4-4-2. thing is, when we don't play 4-4-2 and use rooney as a lone striker, we need valencia to be more of a scoring-threat, which he isn't.
08-17-2010, 11:06 AM
#2294
What Would Don Draper Do?
honestly, i think madrid will sell vdv. might as well loan off granero since he's not going to play. shame because he's a product of the youth team.
and those are just the attacking mids. for the defensive/holding mids, you still have:
alonso
khadira
m.diarra
l.diarra
gago
though i expect m.diarra and either l.diarra or gago to be sold too.
and those are just the attacking mids. for the defensive/holding mids, you still have:
alonso
khadira
m.diarra
l.diarra
gago
though i expect m.diarra and either l.diarra or gago to be sold too.
08-17-2010, 11:33 AM
#2295
Burning Brakes
I thought Mourinho said he wants to start Benzema? Higuain was an all round striker but now he plays more like a target man unlike Benzema who 'seems' more well rounded to me.
They probably won't start together due to the abundance of attacking midfielders Real has, which really only leaves 4-3-3 4-2-3-1 4-2-1-3 as the solution.
VDV proved that he is a good back up for Kaka, but he's too good to be playing back up. He should move for his own sake.
For defensive mids, Alonso should definitely start with either Khedira or Gago. M Diarra is not what he used to be, and Lass I heard is suffering from some genetic disease, which is a shame.
Man U needs at least one more midfielder of 'class' in my opinion. Valencia and Nani are decent, but not in the top level and I don't think they will make it up there. Then again, not many top class players out there left to sign..
If Berbatov plays like he did yesterday (though he missed some chances, it was a lively game from him) I'd expect them to play more 4-4-2, which I hope they do to reduce the pressure on Rooney.
They probably won't start together due to the abundance of attacking midfielders Real has, which really only leaves 4-3-3 4-2-3-1 4-2-1-3 as the solution.
VDV proved that he is a good back up for Kaka, but he's too good to be playing back up. He should move for his own sake.
For defensive mids, Alonso should definitely start with either Khedira or Gago. M Diarra is not what he used to be, and Lass I heard is suffering from some genetic disease, which is a shame.
Man U needs at least one more midfielder of 'class' in my opinion. Valencia and Nani are decent, but not in the top level and I don't think they will make it up there. Then again, not many top class players out there left to sign..
If Berbatov plays like he did yesterday (though he missed some chances, it was a lively game from him) I'd expect them to play more 4-4-2, which I hope they do to reduce the pressure on Rooney.
08-17-2010, 11:34 AM
#2296
Q('.')=O
iTrader: (1)
Man City and Real Madrid. I mean seriously, I think they are just gobbling up players left and right just because that player has one good showing and they have the money , so they buy them and then what? You have a squad of like 50 players (cough ManCity), most starter-worthy but who do you start? Man City has like 10 top strikers to choose from. Real has like 15 top midfielders to choose from. Honestly the only people I can see having an assured starting place for Real (that come to my head) are Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Casillas. Like ^ you said, they have so fking many holding mids... wtf are they thinking?
SPEND SPEND SPEND without thinking of who will actually play....
SPEND SPEND SPEND without thinking of who will actually play....
08-17-2010, 03:16 PM
#2299
What Would Don Draper Do?
They probably won't start together due to the abundance of attacking midfielders Real has, which really only leaves 4-3-3 4-2-3-1 4-2-1-3 as the solution.
VDV proved that he is a good back up for Kaka, but he's too good to be playing back up. He should move for his own sake.
VDV proved that he is a good back up for Kaka, but he's too good to be playing back up. He should move for his own sake.
vdv should move like sneijder did. but i thought he did well when he got to actually play in the second half of last season when kaka was out.i'll gladly take him if he's affordable. (i'd imagine he's on the cheap)
For defensive mids, Alonso should definitely start with either Khedira or Gago. M Diarra is not what he used to be, and Lass I heard is suffering from some genetic disease, which is a shame.
i hear lass is ok now. the genetic disorder was kinda bizarre. but i hear he's ok to play now.
Man U needs at least one more midfielder of 'class' in my opinion. Valencia and Nani are decent, but not in the top level and I don't think they will make it up there. Then again, not many top class players out there left to sign..
If Berbatov plays like he did yesterday (though he missed some chances, it was a lively game from him) I'd expect them to play more 4-4-2, which I hope they do to reduce the pressure on Rooney.
If Berbatov plays like he did yesterday (though he missed some chances, it was a lively game from him) I'd expect them to play more 4-4-2, which I hope they do to reduce the pressure on Rooney.
and we need a defensive mid that can boss the midfield. i was really hoping we'd get yaya toure. at the moment, our only defensive mid is really carrick, who's more of a deep lying playmaker, who happens to be a good defender too. but he's out of confidence at the moment.
Man City and Real Madrid. I mean seriously, I think they are just gobbling up players left and right just because that player has one good showing and they have the money , so they buy them and then what? You have a squad of like 50 players (cough ManCity), most starter-worthy but who do you start? Man City has like 10 top strikers to choose from. Real has like 15 top midfielders to choose from. Honestly the only people I can see having an assured starting place for Real (that come to my head) are Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Casillas. Like ^ you said, they have so fking many holding mids... wtf are they thinking?
SPEND SPEND SPEND without thinking of who will actually play....
SPEND SPEND SPEND without thinking of who will actually play....
at least for real, their signings have been good deals (other than di maria), price-wise. oezil, khedira, canales, and carvalho were all good deals.
i'm interested to see who's going be leaving city, and how their departures are going to be structured. loans? these players at city are getting PAID, and they're not gonna want to leave those wages behind. so maybe city subsidizes wages while the players are on loan?
and will players that leave city benefit other premier league teams?
the transfer season is
08-23-2010, 06:11 PM
#2301
Burning Brakes
Manchester City impressed me today. I guess money is paying off for them kinda..
Joe Hart WOW
Tevez - WOW!! Sometimes I think he is better than Rooney
Johnson - Milner line looked impressive. I wonder where and when Silva will play..
Micah Richards - some power he has and am I the only one who thinks Richards and Balotelli look alike?
Liverpool better hold on to Mascherano with how Lucas played today..
Joe Hart WOW
Tevez - WOW!! Sometimes I think he is better than Rooney
Johnson - Milner line looked impressive. I wonder where and when Silva will play..
Micah Richards - some power he has and am I the only one who thinks Richards and Balotelli look alike?
Liverpool better hold on to Mascherano with how Lucas played today..
08-23-2010, 06:41 PM
#2302
Q('.')=O
iTrader: (1)
Manchester City impressed me today. I guess money is paying off for them kinda..
Joe Hart WOW
Tevez - WOW!! Sometimes I think he is better than Rooney
Johnson - Milner line looked impressive. I wonder where and when Silva will play..
Micah Richards - some power he has and am I the only one who thinks Richards and Balotelli look alike?
Liverpool better hold on to Mascherano with how Lucas played today..
Joe Hart WOW
Tevez - WOW!! Sometimes I think he is better than Rooney
Johnson - Milner line looked impressive. I wonder where and when Silva will play..
Micah Richards - some power he has and am I the only one who thinks Richards and Balotelli look alike?
Liverpool better hold on to Mascherano with how Lucas played today..
Tevez IS better than Rooney. I still don't know why everyone hypes up Rooney so much. He is a POS!!!! (Btw Drogs is better than Tevez without a doubt)
The problem with their spending is how/when will they play Silva + 10 other of their star signings? Their roster is up to like 50 people now.
08-23-2010, 08:06 PM
#2303
Burning Brakes
Rooney deserves more credit than that.. not a big fan of him either but he is lethal (except for the past World Cup). I do like Tevez much better though
and yes Drogba is a god
and yes Drogba is a god
08-26-2010, 12:33 PM
#2304
Q('.')=O
iTrader: (1)
Champions League Draw...with my predictions.
Group A
Inter Milan
Werder Bremen
Tottenham
FC Twente
Group B
Lyon
Benfica
Schalke
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Group C
Manchester United
Valencia
Rangers
Bursaspor
Group D
Barcelona
Panathinaikos
Copenhagen
Rubin Kazan
Group E
Bayern Munich
Roma
Basel
CFR Cluj
Group F
Chelsea
Marseille
Spartak Moscow
MSK Zilina
Group G
AC Milan
Real Madrid
Ajax
Auxerre
Group H
Arsenal
Shakhtar Donetsk
Braga
Partizan
Group A
Inter Milan
Werder Bremen
Tottenham
FC Twente
Group B
Lyon
Benfica
Schalke
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Group C
Manchester United
Valencia
Rangers
Bursaspor
Group D
Barcelona
Panathinaikos
Copenhagen
Rubin Kazan
Group E
Bayern Munich
Roma
Basel
CFR Cluj
Group F
Chelsea
Marseille
Spartak Moscow
MSK Zilina
Group G
AC Milan
Real Madrid
Ajax
Auxerre
Group H
Arsenal
Shakhtar Donetsk
Braga
Partizan
08-26-2010, 01:24 PM
#2305
Senior Moderator
Inter got a tough group, but we should advance.
Group G is the group of death.
Group G is the group of death.
08-26-2010, 01:36 PM
#2306
Burning Brakes
A and G look pretty tough. Real and Inter should be fine, but for the 2nd spot, any of those 3teams could advance.. unless Milan really do sign Ibrahimovic
I hope Werder Bremen advances over Tottenham in A.. been a huge fan of Frings and would love to see him go deep into the tournament!
I hope Werder Bremen advances over Tottenham in A.. been a huge fan of Frings and would love to see him go deep into the tournament!
08-30-2010, 09:33 AM
#2308
Q('.')=O
iTrader: (1)
I see Serie A games on FSC all the time but I just can't watch them because they are so bloody boring, but the AC Milan game yesterday was actually entertaining so I actually watched it. They look good...
09-22-2010, 08:31 AM
#2314
Senior Moderator
Former referee Byron Moreno, who caused controversy in Italy’s 2002 World Cup elimination, has reportedly been arrested for smuggling heroin.
The ex-official was stopped at JFK airport in New York, according to DEA sources who spoke to the Ecuadorian media.
It is reported he had at least 6kg of heroin stashed in his underwear as he went through customs.
Moreno became notorious when he officiated Italy’s second round exit to hosts South Korea in the 2002 World Cup.
He rejected several penalty appeals, disallowed at least one goal for incorrect offside calls and sent off Francesco Totti.
Italy lost 2-1 in extra time to a header from Ahn Jung Hwan.
Moreno was later suspended for 20 matches and investigated by FIFA after the game between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito and Barcelona Sporting Club of Guayaquil went on for 13 minutes of injury time.
He had only signalled six, but Liga de Quito were trailing 3-2 and ended up winning at the 101st minute.
Moreno was also accused of falsifying his report to hide the number of minutes actually played.
At the time of this match, he was running as a candidate for election on the Quito city council.
He eventually retired in 2003 and is now working as a commentator in Ecuador.
The ex-official was stopped at JFK airport in New York, according to DEA sources who spoke to the Ecuadorian media.
It is reported he had at least 6kg of heroin stashed in his underwear as he went through customs.
Moreno became notorious when he officiated Italy’s second round exit to hosts South Korea in the 2002 World Cup.
He rejected several penalty appeals, disallowed at least one goal for incorrect offside calls and sent off Francesco Totti.
Italy lost 2-1 in extra time to a header from Ahn Jung Hwan.
Moreno was later suspended for 20 matches and investigated by FIFA after the game between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito and Barcelona Sporting Club of Guayaquil went on for 13 minutes of injury time.
He had only signalled six, but Liga de Quito were trailing 3-2 and ended up winning at the 101st minute.
Moreno was also accused of falsifying his report to hide the number of minutes actually played.
At the time of this match, he was running as a candidate for election on the Quito city council.
He eventually retired in 2003 and is now working as a commentator in Ecuador.
09-22-2010, 01:33 PM
#2315
Burning Brakes
yeah Moreno was an idiot lol
but the Italians really need to let go of that match.
they forget their missed chances and only blame the controversial decisions
but the Italians really need to let go of that match.
they forget their missed chances and only blame the controversial decisions
10-04-2010, 10:40 AM
#2317
Senior Moderator
From the WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...rld_MIDDLENews
Bahrain's national soccer team needed to prepare for an important game. So it jumped at a chance to invite Togo, a small West African country with a highly regarded soccer team, to play an exhibition match.
At least $60,000 was spent on flights, hotels and other expenses, and in early September, the Bahrain team lined up against 11 players in Togo jerseys. The Togo players weren't as good as the Bahrainians expected, and the Persian Gulf team won 3-0.
In Togo's capital, Lomé, the Togo Football Federation was surprised not so much by the team's poor showing as by the game itself: On Sept. 7 the Togo team wasn't actually in Bahrain—but on a bus returning from an official game in Botswana.
At least $60,000 was spent on flights, hotels and other expenses, and in early September, the Bahrain team lined up against 11 players in Togo jerseys. The Togo players weren't as good as the Bahrainians expected, and the Persian Gulf team won 3-0.
In Togo's capital, Lomé, the Togo Football Federation was surprised not so much by the team's poor showing as by the game itself: On Sept. 7 the Togo team wasn't actually in Bahrain—but on a bus returning from an official game in Botswana.
