Soccer Thread

[Brent]

Originally Posted by SuperMcgee

Gap at the top continues to grow. Knew this would be a tough one, but man they've really had the wind taken out of them lately.

Which is kind of upsetting with EPL, if I pick a team like Arsenal, at least I know they'll be competitive, but feel like I'm rooting for the Yankees or something.

EDIT: unless, of course, Arsenal signs Brek Shea, then it's an easy decision.

[SuperPacker]

Yeah, it would be so much better if it was set up the way the NFL was.

It could NEVER work though.

[Todd Bertuzzi]

Originally Posted by SuperMcgee

Gap at the top continues to grow. Knew this would be a tough one, but man they've really had the wind taken out of them lately.

McGee :((((

This loss could be the spark that starts the debate over Mancini's job. No silverware this season and the epic collapse in the title race is just unacceptable. It's strange that once we were finally eliminated from all competitions and all we had to focus on was the title was when the wheels just fell off.

[Rosebud]

Originally Posted by Brent

I'm just going to see how things play out. If Newcastle actually makes an effort to be in the running for top 3 each year, then I'm down. I'd say Tottenham and Newcastle make the most sense for me.


While I am the third generation on my father's side to be born in the US, after migrating from Germany, I can't watch those games because I cannot understand what's being said. Also, I don't know **** about Bundesliga.

There's actually a lot of english streams for many of the bigger matches in the Bundesliga. And the beauty of the bundesliga is few people really know much about it.

Bayern will always be stacked contenders, Dortmund have done a great job of late bringing in amazing young talent and Schalke have been a solid 3rd place team thanks to a curious mixture of some stars in the twilight of their careers, a couple studs, some solid vets and interesting youngins.

After that who the **** really knows what'll happen next year. Gladbach have 4th wrapped up but they were the surprise of the season going from years of barely avoiding relegation to a CL place and just like their best player Marco Reus has already been poached by Dortmund for next year, I think they're likely to lose either Harmann (their IMO second best player and also a young german international) or their coach so they're a massive questionmark for next season. Leverkusen have some strong pieces to work with but were crushed by injuries and poor direction, haven't responded well to their recent coaching change and despite some great young talents could see a lot of change in the offseason.

Wolfsburg have a **** ton of money but haven't had a clue on what to do with it for a few years now but with Magath back in charge are scoring goals left and right again. Stuttgart and Werder are having solid campaigns but I don't personally see a clear way for them to move up without having some youngins break out like crazy. Hannover is a very solid club that lacks much fire power but have turned themselves into a solid mid table team. Hoffenheim are another team with money but poor direction, they broke out magnificently some years back but ended up selling off their best players and the guys they've brought in haven't worked as well.

After that you've got a number of teams that are all not very good this year.

TL:DR
The bundesliga's unpredictable because there's a lot of change over behind Bayern and whoever they're battling for the title with. Dortmund have been that team the past couple years and may well win the title again this year (and with their youth and finances figured out I actually think they'll stay at this level provided they make some CL noise next year), but those two are the class of league and behind them you have Schalke, who have been the third most successful team of the past half decade. After that though anything can happen and pretty often you see young teams shooting up the table from the relegation zone or just above it into CL contention the way Gladbach did this year or Dortmund, Hoffenheim and Hannover before them.

[UKfan]

Originally Posted by Brent

Which is kind of upsetting with EPL, if I pick a team like Arsenal, at least I know they'll be competitive, but feel like I'm rooting for the Yankees or something.

EDIT: unless, of course, Arsenal signs Brek Shea, then it's an easy decision.

I seem to recall that Aston Villa were linked with Shea, I could be wrong though

[Brent]

Originally Posted by UKfan

I seem to recall that Aston Villa were linked with Shea, I could be wrong though

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...or-experience-

Our new national team coach told player to train with top-rated clubs in the offseason, and he worked with Arsenal. I'm thinking next year Brek ends up in EPL and that'll probably be the deciding factor, regardless of what team it is, as he is one of the US' best young players.

EDIT: Aston Villa would be cool, though, as they already have Brad Guzan.

[Jughead10]

Originally Posted by Brent

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...or-experience-

Our new national team coach told player to train with top-rated clubs in the offseason, and he worked with Arsenal. I'm thinking next year Brek ends up in EPL and that'll probably be the deciding factor, regardless of what team it is, as he is one of the US' best young players.

EDIT: Aston Villa would be cool, though, as they already have Brad Guzan.

And Lichaj. And they brought in Bradley on loan last year as well as had Freidel for a few years. They obviously are not scared of bringing in Americans.

[UKfan]

Yeah it was a little while ago that I remember hearing about Shea now.

[Giantsfan1080]

Bolton has Holden and Ream who are also some of the younger better American players.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Jughead10

And Lichaj. And they brought in Bradley on loan last year as well as had Freidel for a few years. They obviously are not scared of bringing in Americans.

Oh, I forgot about Lichaj. Yeah, they need three US players, so I can easily justify it.

[Rob S]

I doubt Shea will jump straight to Arsenal. I can see Dempsey moving to Arsenal and Shea moving to Fulham though.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Rob S

I doubt Shea will jump straight to Arsenal. I can see Dempsey moving to Arsenal and Shea moving to Fulham though.

Aston Villa picking up Shea would be cool, though. Decent club with a good looking kit and two young Americans would work for me. Don't doubt Brek's talent though, he is only 22, he could easily become another legendary US player.

[Rosebud]

Originally Posted by Brent

Aston Villa picking up Shea would be cool, though. Decent club with a good looking kit and two young Americans would work for me. Don't doubt Brek's talent though, he is only 22, he could easily become another legendary US player.

And now I'm the one who's confused.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Rosebud

And now I'm the one who's confused.

Legendary in the US, no one cares about your silly Oliver Kahn.

[Rob S]

Shea can be alright. Soccer is a little different than most sports....quality usually shines through early, especially for attackers. Shea is never going to be great imo.

[MetSox17]

It's strange that i've watched soccer all my life and i've never truly identified myself with one team. Never really a fan of the Mexican League, i love EPL soccer but don't have cable so i don't have a lot of opportunities to keep up with it.

I find myself rooting for players a lot more than i do for teams, but i too would like to find one team to settle down with. I've lived the long life of a bachelor. I'm also looking to get married.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Rob S

Shea can be alright. Soccer is a little different than most sports....quality usually shines through early, especially for attackers. Shea is never going to be great imo.

Brek and Juan Agudelo just happen to be two who I really like.

[Rob S]

Yeah, I have nothing against either player. I just wouldn't expect them to ever be on the level of the better players in Europe and South America.

[Lil Quip]

Originally Posted by Rob S

I doubt Shea will jump straight to Arsenal. I can see Dempsey moving to Arsenal and Shea moving to Fulham though.

I definitely would love to see Dempsey jump up in the EPL. I like Fulham and their ability to stay comfortably in the middle of the pack is admirable, but I don't see them fighting for the top. Plus I have heard Dempsey wants to earn some hardware, so going to a top five team gets him access to the higher level tourneys.

One issue I see is how willing Fulham are going to let him get away. They let Zamora go, and (I am not that knowledgeable on their younger guys) letting their best offensive threat go is a little much. His price tag might get a little high for that to happen. Plus why would Arsenal want him, he isn't a really young french national after all.

However, I would also not mind to see Shea come to Fulham too. Never hurts to have national team players able to play together on club teams in top flight soccer. I mean not every country can have Barca and the SNT.

[Lil Quip]

Originally Posted by Rosebud

There's actually a lot of english streams for many of the bigger matches in the Bundesliga. And the beauty of the bundesliga is few people really know much about it.

Bayern will always be stacked contenders, Dortmund have done a great job of late bringing in amazing young talent and Schalke have been a solid 3rd place team thanks to a curious mixture of some stars in the twilight of their careers, a couple studs, some solid vets and interesting youngins.

After that who the **** really knows what'll happen next year. Gladbach have 4th wrapped up but they were the surprise of the season going from years of barely avoiding relegation to a CL place and just like their best player Marco Reus has already been poached by Dortmund for next year, I think they're likely to lose either Harmann (their IMO second best player and also a young german international) or their coach so they're a massive questionmark for next season. Leverkusen have some strong pieces to work with but were crushed by injuries and poor direction, haven't responded well to their recent coaching change and despite some great young talents could see a lot of change in the offseason.

Wolfsburg have a **** ton of money but haven't had a clue on what to do with it for a few years now but with Magath back in charge are scoring goals left and right again. Stuttgart and Werder are having solid campaigns but I don't personally see a clear way for them to move up without having some youngins break out like crazy. Hannover is a very solid club that lacks much fire power but have turned themselves into a solid mid table team. Hoffenheim are another team with money but poor direction, they broke out magnificently some years back but ended up selling off their best players and the guys they've brought in haven't worked as well.

After that you've got a number of teams that are all not very good this year.

TL:DR
The bundesliga's unpredictable because there's a lot of change over behind Bayern and whoever they're battling for the title with. Dortmund have been that team the past couple years and may well win the title again this year (and with their youth and finances figured out I actually think they'll stay at this level provided they make some CL noise next year), but those two are the class of league and behind them you have Schalke, who have been the third most successful team of the past half decade. After that though anything can happen and pretty often you see young teams shooting up the table from the relegation zone or just above it into CL contention the way Gladbach did this year or Dortmund, Hoffenheim and Hannover before them.

Now is definitely a good time to jump on the Bundesliga bandwagon. Hate to bore people with the economics of soccer, but there is big trouble brewing. Revenue wise the EPL brings in the bucks but it has some fiscal issues. The real problem is more Spain and Italy. There are some serious fiscal smoke and mirrors going on there, Enron type stuff. If Barca and RM get into dire straights, you could see a bunch of that talent migrating elsewhere. Italy in general is a mess too, so the same could happen. Coming back to the Bundesliga, it is the most fiscally sound of the top level soccer leagues, and one of the best of all (to be honest, the NFL is king of the hill.) After the billionaire owners throw their money away, I could see a bunch of Bundesliga teams getting some top level talent at bargain prices.

[Rob S]

Originally Posted by Lil Quip

I definitely would love to see Dempsey jump up in the EPL. I like Fulham and their ability to stay comfortably in the middle of the pack is admirable, but I don't see them fighting for the top. Plus I have heard Dempsey wants to earn some hardware, so going to a top five team gets him access to the higher level tourneys.

One issue I see is how willing Fulham are going to let him get away. They let Zamora go, and (I am not that knowledgeable on their younger guys) letting their best offensive threat go is a little much. His price tag might get a little high for that to happen. Plus why would Arsenal want him, he isn't a really young french national after all.

However, I would also not mind to see Shea come to Fulham too. Never hurts to have national team players able to play together on club teams in top flight soccer. I mean not every country can have Barca and the SNT.

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the upcoming season is the last one on Dempsey's contract. If that's the case, I expect him to be sold.

[SuperPacker]

We should be getting a win here! Bolton's away record is poor and we're on a great run. I'm hoping Papiss Cisse can continue his great run.

Im listening to it with Fox Soccer commentary. Its quite funny.

EDIT: Its not even American commentary :(

[Rob S]

Newcastle just not getting into a flow here. Hopefully Pardew gives them a talking to at the half.

[SuperPacker]

The game has been terrible.

[Rob S]

Bolton haven't looked like scoring, but a draw would be a poor result for us here.