Random Soccer Chatter

• Laley23

  

  Dempsey hit the crossbar in that game as well. Played really well. One of the 3 best on the field, for either team.
• OSH

  

  Sounds like Anelka won't be coming to the MLS. Montreal offered a deal that would've made him a top-5 paid player.
  
  He may be moving to Russia, China, or Qatar. Looks like he just wants a paycheck...
• ohiobucks1

  

  Hope Xavi wins
• OSH

  

  ohiobucks1;1003512 wrote:Hope Xavi wins

  I would much rather him than Messi.
  
  I think Xavi got the shaft last year.
• Laley23

  

  ohiobucks1;1003512 wrote:Hope Xavi wins

  OSH;1003540 wrote:I would much rather him than Messi.
  
  I think Xavi got the shaft last year.

  I thought Iniesta had a good shot last year, with the WC and for Barcelona. Xavi should win one before he retires, because he deserves it, but he wont get it.
  
  In the end, Messi is having tremendous years and is most deserving. Even if he is "down" by his measures, he is still playing as the best player in football.
• OSH

  

  Laley23;1003549 wrote:I thought Iniesta had a good shot last year, with the WC and for Barcelona. Xavi should win one before he retires, because he deserves it, but he wont get it.
  
  In the end, Messi is having tremendous years and is most deserving. Even if he is "down" by his measures, he is still playing as the best player in football.

  I wouldn't argue Iniesta getting the Ballon d'Or last year.
  
  Messi is having a good year, but so isn't Christiano...he does have his team atop La Liga.
• NilesPacMan

  I saw today that the Man Utd/Arsenal match on January 22nd is being from FOX Soccer to FOX, making it the first ever EPL game shown on broadcast TV.
• Laley23

  

  OSH;1003567 wrote:I wouldn't argue Iniesta getting the Ballon d'Or last year.
  
  Messi is having a good year, but so isn't Christiano...he does have his team atop La Liga.

  Yes, but because the award is given out in January, you have to factor last seasons second half. The one where Messi led Barca to the Champions League and La Liga crown. If Madrid win CL this year, I bet lots of money Cristiano takes this award next year.
• Laley23

  

  NilesPacMan;1003584 wrote:I saw today that the Man Utd/Arsenal match on January 22nd is being from FOX Soccer to FOX, making it the first ever EPL game shown on broadcast TV.

  First LIVE game??? Fox showed I think two games this year when CBS had the NFL doubleheader...but they were tape delayed.
• OSH

  

  Just when I was wanting some classic (retro) kits...look and see what the Portland Timbers gone and did!
  
  
• NilesPacMan

  Laley23;1003601 wrote:First LIVE game??? Fox showed I think two games this year when CBS had the NFL doubleheader...but they were tape delayed.

  Yeah, live game. FOX had already planned to show Chelsea/Man United on Super Bowl Sunday on its broadcast channel, so I wonder if the success of the previous two games made them want to show another EPL game on FOX as well.
  
  I think that as we move closer to the 2018 and 2022 Cups, FOX will push more of these games onto broadcast channels to drum up the audience for the WCs. I think it's great for soccer here, especially tied together with NBC getting the rights to MLS games and pushing them more mainstream. Things are definitely looking up.
• OSH

  

  The USMNT got their CONCACAF Olympic qualifier group...they will be in Group A with Canada, Cuba, and El Salvador.
  
  Group B has Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago.
  
  The top two in each group will have a semifinal and final that will be played at Sporting KC's Livestrong Sporting Park. Both finalists will advance to the Olympics. The finalized schedule could be out by the end of the week.
• Automatik

  

  United down 1-0 to FC Basel in the 30th. If by a long shot Basel holds on, United is out!!
• Laley23

  

  And down goes Vidic. Looks like ligaments were probably torn on that.
• Automatik

  

  I'm only following the gamecast, but a friend told me the field looks like shit.
• ohiobucks1

  

  Lets go BASEL
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Automatik;1005859 wrote:I'm only following the gamecast, but a friend told me the field looks like shit.

  It really does. Reminds me a winter Cleveland Browns game after a high school game friday, college game on saturday field.
• ohiobucks1

  

  Its not that bad from box to box but the boxes themselves are AWFUL
• Automatik

  

  Looks like United had a lot of chances...just couldn't cash in. I've seen games like this before. They'll win 3-1.
  
  But I hope I'm wrong. A Basel win would make my hump day!
• Laley23

  

  Automatik;1005859 wrote:I'm only following the gamecast, but a friend told me the field looks like shit.

  Its not terrible, considering they are playing on December 7th...in Switzerland. Maybe Im wrong, but I think Basel, and the whole country really, has pretty high elevation.
• Laley23

  

  Automatik;1005872 wrote:Looks like United had a lot of chances...just couldn't cash in. I've seen games like this before. They'll win 3-1.
  
  But I hope I'm wrong. A Basel win would make my hump day!

  Probably, but Basel are really tough at home. If ManU get the goal to go 1-1 they may just settle for the tie, which could be bad. Frei and Frie as well as the goalscorer Streller can put in a 2nd towards the end.
• Automatik

  

  So a draw and United is through?
• SportsAndLady

  

  Oh wow lol how'd they get away with that?
• ohiobucks1

  

  Wow shoulda been an owngoal haha
• Laley23

  

  Automatik;1005879 wrote:So a draw and United is through?

  Yes, they and Benfica are on 9 pts, Basel on 8.