General Soccer Thread

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Tambourine Man
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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thrill wrote:Boca sold to St Etienne. An upgrade, and he hasn't retired internationally, so we'll still see him for the next two years or so.
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_i ... ienne.html
Tambourine Man wrote:
thrill wrote:BBC reporting Bob is back for 4 more years.
Who were some other candidates? I'm not sure I'm gaga over this decision.
In order of rumored USSF preference w/my opinions/rundown.
1. Bob Bradley - The best available combination of tactical acumen, experience and understanding of the American player. Potential drawbacks for me is the fact that more than one cycle rarely works for a National coach. Also, I'm anxious to see how his son would develop with another manager. This is not insignificant since Michael is our most important player for 2014.
2. Jurgen Klinssmann - Klinsy is largely responsible for the cohesive relationship between the German national team and the German football community from the youth ranks to the pro teams to the national team. The style of play, the direction of player development, etc is largely down to the work he did in the years leading up to and through the World Cup in Germany in '06. Tactically though? Suspect. He SUCKED at Bayern Munich. Club and country are two different beasts, but his use of Landon Donovan in particular was shocking. Also, current German manager/sideline booger digger/eater, Joachim Lowe was his assistant in '06 and many people credit him with the game tactics that led to the 3rd place finish.
3. Bruce Arena - No. Just no. He had 8 years and the second 4 were a debacle. He led us to our highest heights in '02 and our lowest disappointment in '06. He can enjoy winning more MLS titles with the Galaxy as long as Landon and Omar Gonzalez are there, but putting him back in charge of the national team would be a step back.
4. Jason Kreis - If there were a book that took such bets, I would lay big money on Jason Kreis being our head coach going into 2018 in England. If Bob represents the safest pick Jurgen the one with the most upside and downside, Arena representing a step back, Jason Kreis represent the future. He's out stud prospect. Reigning MLS champ, smart tactically, managed the transition from star player to head coach more seamlessly than anyone else I've seen, charismatic, hard working and a sharp sideline dresser, which I always like. He's not ready though. Needs seasoning.

I believe he could be our coaching equivalent of Claudio Reyna, as in the, the first coach to do big things with big clubs in Europe (although I guess it's possible that someday, Claudio Reyna could be the coaching version of Claudio Reyna, but whatever). I really like Kreis.

Tambourine Man wrote: Looking forward to Man U coming over here later this month, though I have no idea if they actually bring their "A" squad.
B squad.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pageg ... id=6650598
Travelling squad: Edwin van der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Rafael, Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson, Chris Smalling, Nani, Fabio, Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez (will join in Houston on 27 July), Mame Biram Diouf, Tom Cleverley, Ritchie De Laet, Corry Evans, Ben Amos, Gabriel Obertan.
No Rooney. If they sign someone in the upcoming transfer window, which they will, that player or players will probably come too.
Thanks dude. I really, really liked Klinssmann's commentary during the WC and what he brought to the German system. Too bad I won't get to hate Rooney on American soil.

Ronaldinho, eh? That dude's always been a fave of mine. I'd consider a drive to see him play, if tix could even be had for a reasonable price.

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Dillagii
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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Dillagii wrote:Thrill, is Manchester City a good team? They are coming to ATL next week and I am thinking of going to that game..
Thrill, help!!

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Tambourine Man
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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I always remembered them as a doormat team but that's all changed. Their new ownership has tons of $$$ and they're spending it. They be good.

thrill might be able to tell you more about what players travel with the team. The big names don't always play in those exhibitions.

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Re: General Soccer Thread

Post by MrSaigon »

Man City very nearly qualified for the Champions' League last year, finishing fifth in the BPL. I don't know who's travelling but they are a top club in a top league. Abedayor and Tevez play there. I saw them play a number of times last season (on television). It's an exciting team.

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thrill
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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Dillagii wrote:
Dillagii wrote:Thrill, is Manchester City a good team? They are coming to ATL next week and I am thinking of going to that game..
Thrill, help!!
Sorry Dill, didn't see that.

Yes, they're very good. Since they were bought by some Abu Dhabi royalty, they are the richest club in the world now and are spending like it. They will challenge for the title in the premiership this year, be odds on favorite in the Europa League (the soccer NIT) and definitely finish top 4.

They'll bring players like Yaya Toure, Emanuel Adebayor, Adam Johnson, Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, David Silva, Nigel De Jong, Robinho, Carlos Tevez and Patrick Viera. I'm not 100 percent sure who all they brought to the states, but they're on tv Sunday vs the Red Bulls if you have Fox Soccer Channel if you want to check in then and see who's all there. By then they may have even bought Landon Donovan if reports are to be believed.

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TabascoElvis
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Re: General Soccer Thread

Post by TabascoElvis »

Thought this was as good a place as any for this. lol

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TGantz
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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thrill wrote:
Dillagii wrote:
Dillagii wrote:Thrill, is Manchester City a good team? They are coming to ATL next week and I am thinking of going to that game..
Thrill, help!!
Sorry Dill, didn't see that.

Yes, they're very good. Since they were bought by some Abu Dhabi royalty, they are the richest club in the world now and are spending like it. They will challenge for the title in the premiership this year, be odds on favorite in the Europa League (the soccer NIT) and definitely finish top 4.

They'll bring players like Yaya Toure, Emanuel Adebayor, Adam Johnson, Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, David Silva, Nigel De Jong, Robinho, Carlos Tevez and Patrick Viera. I'm not 100 percent sure who all they brought to the states, but they're on tv Sunday vs the Red Bulls if you have Fox Soccer Channel if you want to check in then and see who's all there. By then they may have even bought Landon Donovan if reports are to be believed.
Tevez was a helluva pick up. One of the most exciting strikers in soccer.

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thrill
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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Jozy to Besiktas looks final:
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1614/ame ... rkish-club
A source familiar with American striker Jozy Altidore has told Goal.com USA that the Villarreal player will be on his way to Turkey in the near future to play with 13-time champions Besiktas.

...

Now it seems the USA star will head to Turkey on what the source says will be a long term deal (between four and six years) that should allow Altidore to find a regular home with one team for the first time since moving to Europe in the summer of 2008.

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Re: General Soccer Thread

Post by TimeForGuinness »

thrill wrote:Jozy to Besiktas looks final:
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1614/ame ... rkish-club
A source familiar with American striker Jozy Altidore has told Goal.com USA that the Villarreal player will be on his way to Turkey in the near future to play with 13-time champions Besiktas.

...

Now it seems the USA star will head to Turkey on what the source says will be a long term deal (between four and six years) that should allow Altidore to find a regular home with one team for the first time since moving to Europe in the summer of 2008.
How do you feel about this thrill? How does this help Jozy's development? I was hoping he would have gone to Ajax.

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thrill
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Re: General Soccer Thread

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It's a big club in a solid league with a really good coach. Bernd Schuster was Fabio Capello's replacement at Real Madrid. They signed Guti from Madrid and Jozy's ex teammate at Villarreal, so they have some really good players and play an attacking style.

Ajax would have been a dream destination, but this is a good alternative. He'll play in the champions league, play in a competitive good league and get good coaching. Now he needs to get stuck in and fight for a starting spot in the next two years, start for two years leading up to the World Cup, play well in the World Cup and then make his big move to a big club in one of the big 4 leagues.

I hope he is mentally tough enough to handle the inevitable racist taunts from opposing fans, but that's just kind of the reality for black players in Turkey.

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