All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Every analyst on television thought he should have made the save.

I just watched it again on YouTube. He had a slow reaction to the shot.

 

I'm not sure what he could have done. He moves to his left when the ball is struck and he dives at the last second. I think that his positioning was very good, given that Crespo had the entire goal at his disposal. Could he have reacted faster? Maybe, but on the replay it shows that he is in motion as soon as the ball is headed. His first step might be just a tick slow, but he has to adjust his body to the direction of the shot, especially because it would have been more likely that Crespo would have tried to glance the ball toward the near post.

 

like most analysts are experts? please, they don't know any more than you or I, they just have the face, voice, personality for TV, their words are just opinions like the rest of us

 

A better keeper would make that save, that's all I'm saying. Great shot by Crespo though. I forget how good he is inside the 18. Howard's a decent keeper. But would I trust him in a tight game this June in Venezuela, or in 2010 in South Africa? Not a chance.

 

Most color guys in Europe are former players, many former stars. If a guy like Alan Shearer talks today about a forward beating the offside trap and deftly placing the ball out of reach from the keeper...I'll trust his opinion over yours, thank you very much.

 

I watched about 75% of the games in which Howard played during his time with the Metros and with United. I think that he is a top notch keeper who is a step below those who are "world class" like Cech, Casillas or Toldo. With the exception of Cech, I don't think that there is a keeper in the EPL who is clearly better than Timmy, including VDS. His issues are ones of confidence -- when he's down on himself, he doesn't trust himself with crosses and in directing his defenders. I feel as comfortable with Timmy as I do with Keller or Friedel in their primes.

 

That's good, I'm sure that opinion will change when Howard makes his first David James-eque gaffe in the Copa/World Cup. I shouldn't nitpik too much. I hitched my wagon last summer to fragile Argy keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

 

For gods sake England, just one goal......83% of possesion in the first half, and it's 0-0 against bloody Andorra.

I'd say "Are you Scotland in disguise", but at least they've beaten France recently....

EDIT: Yes! Steven Gerrard finds the net.

 

Don't make SJ's Tartan Army kick your arse.

 

The booing before Steve G scored was hilarious. Maybe Andorra can pull an equalizer out of its ass and we can hear more.

 

Hell, they'd beat England at this point. There's no cohesiveness within the team going forward. They need to try something other than the highest paid players. How about the guys who'll mesh well and play for each other?

Talking about that, Northern Ireland looks like it's going to beat Sweden 2-1. David Healey can't be stopped right now, he's got both goals.

 

What channel are you watching this on? I thought it was only pay per view in the states.