Any Soccer Fans...

[Kennedy_UK]

Personally, I hate pro/rel. I hate it in Europe as it only affects clubs that suck the whole season and we know who the good teams are after week 1. It's practically killed a few teams in England and I'm glad it won't ever happen here.

Couldn't disagree more. I guess your point makes sense only if you care about the top 6 teams in the European leagues playing each other. Since that doesn't happen every weekend, I'd say that matches between teams trying to avoid relegations are often MUCH more intriguing. Watching teams fighting for their PL survival in the final month of the season is always a good spectacle.

Take this weekend in the PL for example. Of course the marquee match-up is Chelsea v. City. But I'd wager that Sunderland v. Norwich and/or Leicester v. West Ham will be a more entertaining, open match.

Finally, the relegation system didn't "kill" teams in England. Poor management kills teams (both at the coaching and front-office level). It's no different than running a business....the best survive and the weak do not.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Sitting here watching Everton/Southhampton at the car dealership getting my oil changed. Lukaku just placed a beautiful header on a counterattack.

3 of the 4 TVs in this place were already on the game before I showed up. Soccer is definitely growing in 'Murica!

 

[BlueRaider22]

Lukaku with another. Lefty from the top of the box. Everton's good on the counters.

 

[Violent Cuts]

Met the FC Cincinnati people last night at a bar here in Cinci. Pretty impressive group. Harkes was soft spoken but nice. The ownership/management were fantastic - very excited. Mentioned they plan on being at Nippert for a few seasons and their goal is absolutely MLS and following the Orlando path. Completely depends on attendance. I expect huge things from them next year. They also have to remove the first few rows of Nippert after next season to accomodate the width needed for international friendlies. Their group has gone to 8-10 local Irish/soccer pubs in town trying to build support.

 

[Kentucky Bandit]

Just as I started to type Tulsa scored to take a 2-1 lead on Louisville. 11 minutes to play.

- Swansea with another strong performance today with a 2-0 win over Newcastle.

*** Louisville just scored to make it 2-2 in the 80th minute.***

Back to Swansea , Gomis and Ayew score again. Was in total control the whole game.

- Watched some of Dortmund-Monchengladbach. Dortmund looked really good. Was really impressed with the Dortmund crowd. That was a sea of black and yellow. Really something to see and I bet it is even more impressive to see in person.

- Big one in the EPL tomorrow. Man City-Chelsea.

 

[O-Ville_CAT_FAN]

Met the FC Cincinnati people last night at a bar here in Cinci. Pretty impressive group. Harkes was soft spoken but nice. The ownership/management were fantastic - very excited. Mentioned they plan on being at Nippert for a few seasons and their goal is absolutely MLS and following the Orlando path. Completely depends on attendance. I expect huge things from them next year. They also have to remove the first few rows of Nippert after next season to accomodate the width needed for international friendlies. Their group has gone to 8-10 local Irish/soccer pubs in town trying to build support.

But Louisville City is going to regularly destroy them on the field! Seriously though, I think it does have the makings of a good rivalry and hopefully they'll both be in MLS soon. [cheers]

The LCFC match was a fun one tonight with Aodhan Quinn doing this. (Which made #5 on Sportscenter Top Plays)



I'm hoping Man City/Chelsea is a fun one to watch tomorrow but more importantly I'm hoping City can get the win. I'm looking forward to Mourinho sitting back with 11 players behind the ball. Hopefully Aguero, Sterling and Silva can quick hit them for a few goals. Would be huge to go 5 points ahead of them even though it is very early.

 

[AustinTXCat]

FC Schalke won their opener 3:0 against Bremen. We can only hope.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

Changing my prediction about Chelsea. I think they finish 4th...

 

[BlueRaider22]

Say I've got another 40-50 yrs of life left, do you think the US will make a final in the World Cup during that time?....or even win one?

 

[MoreheadEagle]

Say I've got another 40-50 yrs of life left, do you think the US will make a final in the World Cup during that time?....or even win one?

Yes. I'd say there's a decent chance in the next few World Cups to make it to the semifinals. After that, anything can happen.
Oh. I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but as long as Klinsmann is coach, no. So 2018 is out. 2022 will probably be moved to the US or somewhere in Europe so maybe beginning in that cycle we'll be in really good shape.

 

[BlueRaider22]

^I'm torn about Klinsmann too

-On one hand he has really helped to open up the development of soccer. Pushing players to play in Europe against better competition. Openly bashing MLS to push their development....all the while trying to help out leagues around the US in all levels to develop local talent. Trying to get younger players some international tourney experience.....with an eye on the future.

-On the other hand, you have to wonder about some of the moves he's made. Leaving Donovan off is a hotly debated topic. Going with such an unproven back line in the recent Gold Cup. Etc.

In the end, I think of him kind of in the way of Coach Rich Brooks for the football program. Decent coach, but not great. But seems to have a knack for building a program.

 

[Kentucky Bandit]

I think Klinsmann has done a good job as coach. I think he had a plan and belief on how to make the USMNT a better group and is doing what he thinks is the best way to go about building the team.

I think the biggest thing that happened was with Donovan. Leaving him out of the World Cup team was probably the wrong call. *Though Donovan didn't really help himself with his 4 month long sabbatical in the middle of World Cup qualifying*

I think he is trying to build the USMNT for the future. If he is going about it the correct way remains to be seen.

It will be interesting to see what squad he puts together for the game against Mexico in October with a berth in the Confederations Cup. That could be a HUGE game for Klinsmanns going forward as USA coach.

 

[O-Ville_CAT_FAN]

It will be interesting to see how the rise in popularity of soccer in America effects how many kids are signing up for soccer at an earlier age. If the concussion issues in football continue to be brought to light, I could see a lot of parents putting their kids in soccer over football. If our most athletic kids were choosing soccer over football and basketball we would be dominating world soccer in 20 or so years.

 

[MoreheadEagle]

I really think that college soccer is going to help a lot. Not that it's going to produce the next Messi or anything, but knowing as a kid that I could go to school for free and play soccer was a huge driver for me. Not that I was good enough to get more than a look from a local junior college but many kids are. Frankly, there's no excuse why all the Power 5 conferences don't sponsor men's soccer. Don't tell me it's Title IX or money, this is the SEC and Big XII that I'm talking about not the OVC. You have the cash.

 

[O-Ville_CAT_FAN]

I really think that college soccer is going to help a lot. Not that it's going to produce the next Messi or anything, but knowing as a kid that I could go to school for free and play soccer was a huge driver for me. Not that I was good enough to get more than a look from a local junior college but many kids are. Frankly, there's no excuse why all the Power 5 conferences don't sponsor men's soccer. Don't tell me it's Title IX or money, this is the SEC and Big XII that I'm talking about not the OVC. You have the cash.

Now I didn't play college soccer but I tend to disagree. It's best to get in with a club team while you're really young and if you're good enough, go straight into a USL, NASL or MLS team straight out of high school. Of course not everyone is going to be that good. Kids in the rest of this entire world are already playing at a high level well before they are college age anyway with club teams. Could some changes be made to college soccer to make it better? Of course but I don't think that's what is going to get us closer to the Brazils and Germanys of the world.

 

[Violent Cuts]

Yeah, if you're going to college to play soccer, you're too late. There are exceptions but generally we need to identify talent much earlier.

 

[Kennedy_UK]

IMO, HS and college soccer do more to harm talent development than enhance it. There are 206 NCAA Division 1 soccer teams, each team having about 25-35 players. The talent pool is incredibly diluted throughout the, with the top teams of course recruiting the better players. The problem is the top teams don't play each other regularly. Also problematic is that most college coaches are not that great. Thus, there are two problems: (1) diluted competition (i.e., 206 college teams vs. 25-30 top academy teams); and (2) less-than-stellar coaching. These same issues exist at the HS level, but to a much larger degree.

While kids in other countries begin a "professional" career at 10-12 through youth academies (sometimes younger), our players toil through the HS and college ranks. Apples to oranges....

 

[TheEgyptianMagician]

To get a talent like Messi, you don't just throw your inner city youth at the game and expect one to come out of the fray, you spot the talent in the 6-8 age range and then you develop him in a dedicated soccer academy or youth program or whatever where he lives and breathes the sport nonstop and is playing against similar level players.

Until that happens, the best you are going to get is a player of Donovan or Bradley's level as a playmaker and that just isn't going to cut it to get to the finals of a world cup.

 

[BlueRaider22]

^Also the popularity matters. The elite athletes in this country make a bee-line for football and basketball in this country.....mostly because they are the most popular by a wide margin. Now that youth soccer leagues has spread as it has throughout the country, it's only a matter of time before a few of the elite athletes start to choose soccer.

I remember growing up in Middle Tennessee during the 80-90's. Soccer leagues didn't exist. They just started to infiltrate the areas around Nashville around that time.....then as I entered high school a bunch of rec leagues started popping up in the more rural areas. After I graduated, high schools started to get teams. Now, it's a big deal. Franklin/Brentwood as huge regional tournaments that draw teams from Lexington, etc. And I'm sure other areas have similar stories.

And as the minority populations continue to boom in the US population.....(unless POTUS Trump deports them)....the popularity of soccer will grow even more.

 

[TheEgyptianMagician]

Popularity certainly matters and helps, but even in those days I would venture to say the USA had more registered youth soccer players than a fair amount of World Cup nations have people period and is certainly the case now. It is mostly about spotting the talent at a young age stripping them of their childhood and training them at a high level much like you would tennis or golf players.

 

[MoreheadEagle]

I did qualify my statement that college wasn't the best place to develop talent. However, several good USMNT players got noticed in college and moved on to bigger and better things. My point was just the idea of being able to stick with soccer longer will help kids. When a 13-year old is being trained, the idea that even if they don't make the pros, they'll have a chance to get a free education can go a long way. Especially if that education can come at a big school like Alabama, Utah, etc.

I think ultimately we'll see MLS with a complete minor league system. It's already happening.

 

[Kentucky Bandit]

It's crazy the difference in presentation with the UEFA Champions League and the CONCACAF Champions League. When the music for the UCL starts you just get the feeling you are about to watch a big time eveny.

The CCL music sounds terrible in comparison.

 

[Kentucky Bandit]

It is mostly about spotting the talent at a young age stripping them of their childhood and training them at a high level much like you would tennis or golf players.

Found on another site:

Recent goal from 12-year old Besiktas academy player: http://i.imgur.com/31tkZAX.mp4

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

So we have Man U, Lecister and Liverpool sitting at the top lol. I know its early but a couple thoughts:

1) Man U really needs a forward bad. They can get away with this 1-0 crap against bad teams, but it wont work against upper level teams.

2) Didn't see Chelsea getting killed like they did, even without Cortouis.

3) Man City looks probably the best so far.

4) Arsenal needs a forward. 56 chances created, 41 on target and only 2 goals. Need to seal up Benzema bad. Cech and that back line got to improve too.

5) Swansea, Crystal Palace and Liverpool are dangerous teams to watch. They wont break top 4 IMO, but they will beat someone that will cost them a champions league berth.


*Non EPL - WTF is going on with Barca? They have given up 10 goals in 3 games. That's not good at all...and got beat by Athletic Bilbao 4-0,

 

[ukalum1992]

So we have Man U, Lecister and Liverpool sitting at the top lol. I know its early but a couple thoughts:

1) Man U really needs a forward bad. They can get away with this 1-0 crap against bad teams, but it wont work against upper level teams.

2) Didn't see Chelsea getting killed like they did, even without Cortouis.

3) Man City looks probably the best so far.

4) Arsenal needs a forward. 56 chances created, 41 on target and only 2 goals. Need to seal up Benzema bad. Cech and that back line got to improve too.

5) Swansea, Crystal Palace and Liverpool are dangerous teams to watch. They wont break top 4 IMO, but they will beat someone that will cost them a champions league berth.


*Non EPL - WTF is going on with Barca? They have given up 10 goals in 3 games. That's not good at all...and got beat by Athletic Bilbao 4-0,

No one on this board besides you cares about EPL soccer. Please stop littering the board with posts that have nothing to do with UK, the SEC, or even sports in the United States.

And yes, I could have ignored the thread, but I am sick of even seeing the stupid thread titles when I come to the House of Blue.

 

[wildcatjr]

^^^^
This x's 1000. I can't tell if this is intentional to annoy people or if he really doesn't understand that no one cares about EPL soccer.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

No one on this board besides you cares about EPL soccer. Please stop littering the board with posts that have nothing to do with UK, the SEC, or even sports in the United States.

And yes, I could have ignored the thread, but I am sick of even seeing the stupid thread titles when I come to the House of Blue.

^^^^
This x's 1000. I can't tell if this is intentional to annoy people or if he really doesn't understand that no one cares about EPL soccer.

Littering the board is an overstatement. Also, believe it or not just because you don't care about EPL soccer, doesn't mean no one on the board cares. The last thread I put on here had over 100 replies within 4 days from people who "care about the EPL", so the assumption no one cares is completely wrong. If you are sick of seeing thread titles block me, otherwise you are going to be really annoyed because I am not going to stop. Also Alumn- it was decided by both Mods and long time members that HOB has never been exclusive to UK, the SEC or Sports in the USA. Again, you don't like soccer....so be it...just ignore it. Its not rocket science people.

 

[UKStig23]

No one on this board besides you cares about EPL soccer. Please stop littering the board with posts that have nothing to do with UK, the SEC, or even sports in the United States.

And yes, I could have ignored the thread, but I am sick of even seeing the stupid thread titles when I come to the House of Blue.

Here's an idea, look at the previous thread that was about the EPL...it had 100's of replies. Clearly, some on the HOB want to engage in this subject. I'm sick of the hilljacks on this board clicking on threads they don't want to read, only to read them and *****.

STOP READING THREADS YOU DON'T WANT TO READ. I only read the threads that interest me on the HOB. I can't for the life of me understand how a grown man doesn't have enough willpower to avoid clicking on things you don't want to read about. It's mind numbing.

 

[Violent Cuts]

Yes, there were dozens of us that posted in that thread and enjoy soccer. No idea why you guys want to try and ruin these threads just because you don't like soccer.

 

[Doctor.]

The Chelsea - Man City match last weekend had the feel of a World Cup final. It was amazing. Chelsea snapped out of their doldrums but a repeat championship this year is going to be tough.

 

[JamesIII]

This is a great topic for The Paddock.

 

[UKFanInLex]

if you don't like soccer fine, don't click on the thread. Those of you who say "only you like soccer" need to accept the fact that soccer is here to stay.

I personally would like to change my EPL pick to Man City. They've looked great. Chelsea will still finish top 4 (probably 2nd) but I really think Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal will battle for 3 - 5. I'm a Liverpool fan so I might be a little biased.

Arsenal needs defense. I'd take Benzema if I were a Gunners fan but I've always felt they were weak at DM and center back. Rooney needs help up front at Man U.

Swansea & Crystal Palace will be dangerous all season and fun to watch.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

if you don't like soccer fine, don't click on the thread. Those of you who say "only you like soccer" need to accept the fact that soccer is here to stay.

I personally would like to change my EPL pick to Man City. They've looked great. Chelsea will still finish top 4 (probably 2nd) but I really think Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal will battle for 3 - 5. I'm a Liverpool fan so I might be a little biased.

Arsenal needs defense. I'd take Benzema if I were a Gunners fan but I've always felt they were weak at DM and center back. Rooney needs help up front at Man U.

Swansea & Crystal Palace will be dangerous all season and fun to watch.

Man City looks great but If Arsenal gets Benzema - Aguero will head to Real Madrid.... What do you think of a Sergio Aguero-less Man City? I think its going to take a while for Cech and the Arsenal back line to develop some chemistry. We definitely could use another CDM though...

Liverpool is still developing with Benteke, Sturridge and Coutinho but they could be really tough as the season progresses.

 

[O-Ville_CAT_FAN]

It's crazy the difference in presentation with the UEFA Champions League and the CONCACAF Champions League. When the music for the UCL starts you just get the feeling you are about to watch a big time eveny.

The CCL music sounds terrible in comparison.

I didn't even know the CCL had official music lol. Galaxy play tonight at 10 on FS2.

So Memphis finally scored for Man U today and looked good doing it. Ugh, he's gonna be good

Also, looks like Man City are getting a highly touted Center Back in Otamendi from Valencia with Mangala going the other way on loan for a year. I did want a great defender but Mangala has played extremely well so far this season and I hope this move doesn't mess with our team chemistry.

 

[wildcatjr]

No one cares.

 

[O-Ville_CAT_FAN]

Sooo...what just happened? Posts get moved here from HOB?

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

I wish I could get into soccer. I need a sport to follow during the summer. I have tried year after year to give soccer a fair shot, actually hoping this would be the year it happens. It never will. I can't watch 20 minutes of soccer without falling asleep. I know most use the rest of the world loving soccer as the reason to watch, but for me, it takes more than what the world thinks about a sport to get me as a fan. I have to enjoy the game myself. What the rest of the world thinks does nothing for my entertainment needs. With that said, don't mistake me as the type of guy that when I don't enjoy a sport, I do my best making sure to ruin it of always talking ish about to others hoping they won't enjoy the game anymore. I'm not that guy. If you enjoy soccer, more power to you. I'm no soccer hater. I think it's almost as boring as baseball and many Americans love baseball. I think soccer does have a place in this country and someday in the future, it could actually draw ratings.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

If you want to start following soccer, start playing FIFA on PS or XBox. It really is that simple.

 

[Kentucky Bandit]

If you want to start following soccer, start playing FIFA on PS or XBox. It really is that simple.

Pretty much this.

Comunicaciones goalie just gifted LA a second goal trying to clear the ball. Foot got snagged on the turf and he fell down. Poor guy.

LA up 2-0 not even 10 minutes into the game.

 

[Get Buckets]

Anyone have a quick summary of what USMNT players are playing overseas?