Futbol Talk

[brewcity77]

That fourth goal was a lovely move. Michael Bradley made a great run, and still weighted the pass perfectly.

The difference in Jozy's finishing ability is incredible. Hard to believe that is the same player that used to miss sitters on a semi-regular basis.

Amazing what a couple years in Holland can do for a guy. It's a great nation for strikers to cut their teeth. Just hope he can keep it up at Sunderland.

[JWags85]

Amazing what a couple years in Holland can do for a guy. It's a great nation for strikers to cut their teeth. Just hope he can keep it up at Sunderland.

Lets hope it does the same for Johansson

[Henry Sugar]

The free kick was flawlessly placed.

[jesmu84]

Lets hope it does the same for Johansson

young guy already looked pretty solid in his time on the field. Took several defenders on one-on-one. only other US players that even try that, let alone succeed, are Brek, Landon and Clint.

[brewcity77]

young guy already looked pretty solid in his time on the field. Took several defenders on one-on-one. only other US players that even try that, let alone succeed, are Brek, Landon and Clint.

Liked what I saw from him. Legitimately made some guys miss, against a squad like B-H that's no small feat. Shots were pretty much straight at the keeper, but hopefully his shot selection and placement will improve with time. At least they were on target.

[MU B2002]

Lets hope it does the same for Johansson

Hasn't he already gotten off to a great start with AZ?

[Golden Avalanche]

Hasn't he already gotten off to a great start with AZ?

The only people concerned with AJ and his evolution are "fans" who didn't know his name three weeks ago. He's fine.

[GGGG]

My EPL prediction:

1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man Utd
4. Arsenal

Relegated: Hull, Crystal Palace, Stoke

Can I get a chance to modify this?  I didn't think Arsenal would do nothing in the transfer market...and Tottenham selling Bale at his top valuation might end up being better for them in the long run.

[brewcity77]

Can I get a chance to modify this?  I didn't think Arsenal would do nothing in the transfer market...and Tottenham selling Bale at his top valuation might end up being better for them in the long run.

This one will be interesting...getting pipped to Willian by Chelsea certainly didn't help matters. Looked like they would bring in plenty for Bale, and while they still may, losing their top target to a cross-city rival isn't going to help matters. Not sure where Arsenal will end up, but one thing seems certain...it's about time for Arsene to hang them up. Not sure if it's a case of ownership not giving him money and telling him to cover (so he's lying to media) or if he really rates his current players as highly as he says (simply not as good as in years past) but that's a side that really needs an injection of fresh blood. Somewhat ironic, considering how much a focus they've had on youth over the years.

[reinko]

I imagine we can all agree,  NBC 's coverage is the tits.

[Manifest Destiny]

This one will be interesting...getting pipped to Willian by Chelsea certainly didn't help matters. Looked like they would bring in plenty for Bale, and while they still may, losing their top target to a cross-city rival isn't going to help matters. Not sure where Arsenal will end up, but one thing seems certain...it's about time for Arsene to hang them up. Not sure if it's a case of ownership not giving him money and telling him to cover (so he's lying to media) or if he really rates his current players as highly as he says (simply not as good as in years past) but that's a side that really needs an injection of fresh blood. Somewhat ironic, considering how much a focus they've had on youth over the years.

Tottenham I think would rather lose someone to a club that is going to finish above them than to one that could challenge them for fourth.  (Liverpool)

[GGGG]

I imagine we can all agree,  NBC 's coverage is the tits.

Yes!  Really a first class production.

[brewcity77]

Tottenham I think would rather lose someone to a club that is going to finish above them than to one that could challenge them for fourth.  (Liverpool)

Without a doubt, but they screwed up with Willian. Announced it as a virtual done deal so Chelsea knew he was fit and knew how much to offer. Guys like that aren't easy to find. He could have been the type of player to assure them top-four, not sure anyone else on the market they can afford will provide them that kind of quality production.

[Golden Avalanche]

Without a doubt, but they screwed up with Willian. Announced it as a virtual done deal so Chelsea knew he was fit and knew how much to offer. Guys like that aren't easy to find. He could have been the type of player to assure them top-four, not sure anyone else on the market they can afford will provide them that kind of quality production.

Willian wasn't going to assure spuds a Champions League finish if they couldn't achieve that with Jesus-reincarnated Curious George lookalike Bale. 

spuds fans end all and be all is qualifying for Champions League and that's all they aim at. Meanwhile, for Arsenal, they do that crap in their sleep and its an utter failure in the eyes of everyone. Strange world.

[brewcity77]

Willian wasn't going to assure spuds a Champions League finish if they couldn't achieve that with Jesus-reincarnated Curious George lookalike Bale. 

spuds fans end all and be all is qualifying for Champions League and that's all they aim at. Meanwhile, for Arsenal, they do that crap in their sleep and its an utter failure in the eyes of everyone. Strange world.

Strange world? Not in the least. Not even remotely strange. In this sport more than any other teams are judged based on their own expectations. For some teams, finishing 17th is a wildly successful year. For others, it's a top half finish. Meanwhile, for Manchester United, a finish outside the top-3 would be considered a disaster, even if they finished 4th and assured a CL spot. That holds across other countries as well. This isn't the NFL where everyone has title dreams on day one (thanks, Rams) and half the teams have a legit shot.

And it wasn't Willian alone, Spurs had what, 4-5 guys rumored to be coming in? But only one had any hope of coming close to replicating Bale's impact, and that was Willian. All I'm saying is they really screwed the pooch on that and if the difference of 4th and 5th comes down to a handful of points, Willian may have been the unrealized difference.

[JWags85]

Strange world? Not in the least. Not even remotely strange. In this sport more than any other teams are judged based on their own expectations. For some teams, finishing 17th is a wildly successful year. For others, it's a top half finish. Meanwhile, for Manchester United, a finish outside the top-3 would be considered a disaster, even if they finished 4th and assured a CL spot. That holds across other countries as well. This isn't the NFL where everyone has title dreams on day one (thanks, Rams) and half the teams have a legit shot.

Exactly.  And Spurs has a wage cap, so even if they develop great players, they can't pay them like other clubs and they will depart. (see Luka Modric)  Thus they have to play a moneyball game of sorts (even though Wenger's approach at Arsenal coincidentally is more moneyball-esque).  Spurs have a good core, a great manager, but they can't just go out and sign mega players with the same efficiency and success as one of the big spenders in Arsenal.

Speaking of Arsenal, those expectations are a result of the cult of Wenger.  He's been good for so long, that people just assume they should be in a certain position.  If Arsenal had sacked Wenger, and had a new manager this year with this roster and lack of offseason moves, the mindset would be very similar to Spurs.

[brewcity77]

Full Champions League draw:

A: Manchester United, Shaktar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad
B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Kopenhagen
C: Benfica, Paris St Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen
E: Chelsea, Schalke 04, FC Basel, Steaua Bucharest
F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli
G: FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna
H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, Celtic

Group F jumps out as the Group of Death, but H is also tough. I like United and Leverkusen in Group A (Shaktar lost too much). In B, Real and Juve look like near locks in a lopsided group. C is one of the weakest groups, PSG should be a strong bet and I think Anderlecht can escape it as well. Munich will certainly come out of D, the question will be if City can edge CSKA to join them. I think so this year. E looks like Chelsea and Schalke, though Basel could make things interesting. F will be awesome to watch. I like Dortmund and Napoli to advance, further pressuring Wenger. Group G I like Atletico and Zenit. Finally, leaning towards Barca and Milan in H, though it will be a dogfight for the second spot, could be all three in it if Celtic can do well at home.

[GGGG]

Full Champions League draw:

A: Manchester United, Shaktar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad
B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Kopenhagen
C: Benfica, Paris St Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen
E: Chelsea, Schalke 04, FC Basel, Steaua Bucharest
F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli
G: FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna
H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, Celtic

Group F jumps out as the Group of Death, but H is also tough. I like United and Leverkusen in Group A (Shaktar lost too much). In B, Real and Juve look like near locks in a lopsided group. C is one of the weakest groups, PSG should be a strong bet and I think Anderlecht can escape it as well. Munich will certainly come out of D, the question will be if City can edge CSKA to join them. I think so this year. E looks like Chelsea and Schalke, though Basel could make things interesting. F will be awesome to watch. I like Dortmund and Napoli to advance, further pressuring Wenger. Group G I like Atletico and Zenit. Finally, leaning towards Barca and Milan in H, though it will be a dogfight for the second spot, could be all three in it if Celtic can do well at home.

I think the way UEFA determines the seedings need some thought.  Here we have Porto and Benfica in Pot 1.  And last year's runner up and winner of two of the last three Bundesligas (Dortmund) in Pot 3?

I think Man United has a good draw, but they can't sleep against any of those teams.  Sociedad is much better than the average Pot 4 team.

[brewcity77]

I think the way UEFA determines the seedings need some thought.  Here we have Porto and Benfica in Pot 1.  And last year's runner up and winner of two of the last three Bundesligas (Dortmund) in Pot 3?

2 Portuguese teams and 0 Italians in Pot 1 just seems odd. Just one more silly UEFA decision. And Platini wants Blatter's job? That'll end well...

[Golden Avalanche]

Strange world? Not in the least. Not even remotely strange. In this sport more than any other teams are judged based on their own expectations. For some teams, finishing 17th is a wildly successful year. For others, it's a top half finish. Meanwhile, for Manchester United, a finish outside the top-3 would be considered a disaster, even if they finished 4th and assured a CL spot. That holds across other countries as well. This isn't the NFL where everyone has title dreams on day one (thanks, Rams) and half the teams have a legit shot.

And it wasn't Willian alone, Spurs had what, 4-5 guys rumored to be coming in? But only one had any hope of coming close to replicating Bale's impact, and that was Willian. All I'm saying is they really screwed the pooch on that and if the difference of 4th and 5th comes down to a handful of points, Willian may have been the unrealized difference.

Wait, expectations are relative to past accomplishments? crap. Who'd a thunk? Different worlds being played in.

Not sure your love for Willian. Fine player for Shaktar but no world beater. Plays a different game. Lamela was always their first choice replacement for Bale. Plays the same possession but more from the middle as a start. Considering their outlay, it will be utter failure if they don't qualify. And not having a player they never had won't be the reason.

[Golden Avalanche]

Exactly.  And Spurs has a wage cap, so even if they develop great players, they can't pay them like other clubs and they will depart. (see Luka Modric)  Thus they have to play a moneyball game of sorts (even though Wenger's approach at Arsenal coincidentally is more moneyball-esque).  Spurs have a good core, a great manager, but they can't just go out and sign mega players with the same efficiency and success as one of the big spenders in Arsenal.

Speaking of Arsenal, those expectations are a result of the cult of Wenger.  He's been good for so long, that people just assume they should be in a certain position.  If Arsenal had sacked Wenger, and had a new manager this year with this roster and lack of offseason moves, the mindset would be very similar to Spurs.

Uh, spuds will be biggest spender of the window. Already put down nearly 150m US. That's a strange sort of moneyball.

And not sure you're familiar with Arsenal. Hard to be called a "big spender" when your club record fee of £17m is eclipsed three times in this window alone by spuds (not to mention any of the other top six clubs). And I laugh at you describing Arsenal with "efficiency" and "success" regarding signings (see: Juan Mata and Gonzalo Higuain).

Who was the last "mega player" signing for Arsenal?

[Hards Alumni]

Uh, spuds will be biggest spender of the window. Already put down nearly 150m US. That's a strange sort of moneyball.

And not sure you're familiar with Arsenal. Hard to be called a "big spender" when your club record fee of £17m is eclipsed three times in this window alone by spuds (not to mention any of the other top six clubs). And I laugh at you describing Arsenal with "efficiency" and "success" regarding signings (see: Juan Mata and Gonzalo Higuain).

Who was the last "mega player" signing for Arsenal?

+1  Arsenal has been disappointing me for years now.  They have the money, but they hoard it.  It is super annoying.

[Wareagle]

Who was the last "mega player" signing for Arsenal?

I believe the Cazorla signing set the team's transfer record.  That said, Arshavin's signing was for a similar amount (bangs head against wall).

[ATWizJr]

No Parkhurst on the USMNT qualifying team?  Bummer.

[JWags85]

Uh, spuds will be biggest spender of the window. Already put down nearly 150m US. That's a strange sort of moneyball.

And not sure you're familiar with Arsenal. Hard to be called a "big spender" when your club record fee of £17m is eclipsed three times in this window alone by spuds (not to mention any of the other top six clubs). And I laugh at you describing Arsenal with "efficiency" and "success" regarding signings (see: Juan Mata and Gonzalo Higuain).

Who was the last "mega player" signing for Arsenal?

I phrased it poorly, but guys like Henry, Nasri, van Brockhorst, and Reyes were pricey at the time.  They admittedly have been different and not big spending as of late. I guess I was speaking to past Arsenal activity and not the last few years.

And Spurs big spending is abnormal and clearly a result of selling Bale for such an exorbitant fee.