The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

Sounds like it's been confirmed (no surprise) the U.S./Mexico game is at Crew Stadium again this September.

Late to the conversation, but I thought the formation against Honduras was too narrow, even if the Chandler/Johnson combo's lack of runs forward was part of that. The progression of Gatt and Shea I think will play a significant role in determining aside from a four-back formation what kind of shape the attack takes in the next year or two.

 

He's played very well the past month. I don't think that you can play him against the top teams, but he is still a very useful player.

And I'm happy his goal wasn't a cheap PK.

I'd be shocked if Baines isn't in a United jersey next year.

 

I was going to post about Giggsy, but was too busy doing my happy dance.

 

Simon Kuper has fallen out of love with football. I don't think I'm that far off from where he is.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/2ed1dcbe-6ff7-11e2-8785-00144feab49a.html#axzz2KWqa72vS

 

Quite the feat right there. A lot harder to do something like this than you think. Usually people start sliding down the football ladder as they get older, but not so with Giggs.

 

Old Middle-aged man yells at cloud.

What I find fascinating about the existential crisis in English soccer is that it's about 20 years behind American sports in terms of dealing with free agency, super-rich clubs, etc.

They're where we were in the 1990s, when a number of similar stories were written about American sports.

And what is this shit?

Yes. Because English fans have always been so genteel. Did I miss that hooligan epidemic in the 70s to early 90s?

Christ.

 

AP rolling out a four-part series on match-fixing in soccer. Not sure how much is new info, but it's still startling to see it all laid out at once.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-faces-epic-fight-against-105943057--sow.html

Small wonder Sepp wants to just shrug his shoulders and dismiss any concerns -- he's basically a racketeer himself.

Also:

That would've left Ghana on zero points going into the game with the United States. What could've been....

 

Based on PSG's first goal, I think Dan Tan might have gotten to Valencia's keeper.

 

Gus Johnson calling soccer is growing on me.

 

Super good game between United and Real Madrid. At times, SAF turned into Steve Sampson with his formation, but a 1-1 draw flattered United.

 

Gus did a fine job. De Gea saved ManU's ass and then some.

 

He is great with the spectacular, middling with the routine.