The Soccer Thread (Version 8)

Four more years, four more year, four more years!

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/12/131212-klinsmann-extension.aspx

 

I guess he wants a chance at getting a point during the group stage and 2018 seems like the logical first opportunity.

 

The best dive in the Newcastle-Southampton game wasn't even performed by a player.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/ref-mike-jones-takes-a-shocking-dive-after-brutal-flick-from-moussa-sissoko-newcastle-southampton-gif/

 

At the risk of luring Ragu into a soccer thread, the Guardian (who else?) reports that Premier League clubs are under scrutiny for paying players millions of pounds per year but keeping office staff on near-poverty wages.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/15/top-football-clubs-attacked-for-low-pay-of-ground-staff
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/15/premier-league-clubs-play-by-government-rules

 

Busy morning. AVB fired at Spurs and the Big Cup draw. Arsenal-Bayern and Man City-Barca are the tastiest:

Manchester City v Barcelona
Olympiakos v Manchester United
AC Milan v Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St Germain
Galatasaray v Chelsea
Schalke v Real Madrid
Zenit v Dortmund
Arsenal v Bayern

 

US Soccer announced the women's all-time team.


http://www.ussoccer.com/news/articles/2013/12/131219-womens-all-time-best-xi.aspx

Completely disagree with Scurry in goal. Hope Solo is much better. I know Scurry won a World Cup, but Solo had as many saves in the shootout against Japan as Scurry did against China. It's certainly not Solo's fault her teammates choked.

 

Megan Rapinoe deserved a spot. Great technical talent.

 

Not ahead the the 3 midfielders named.

I assume Friedel is the keeper for men's team. McHead is a lock for forward and if a second forward, Wynalda. If they do a 4-5-1, maybe Landon, Dempsey, Reyna, Ramos and Bradley in the midfield. If there is a 4-4-2, I would drop Dempsey. Not sure who makes the back line -- Boca, Lalas, Pope and Balboa? Maybe Dolo for Lalas?

 

Looking forward to seeing the men's team. I agree that Friedel should be the men's keeper. I would also guess we'll see some older players such as Eric Wynalda, Tab Ramos and maybe Thomas Dooley on the team.

 

Ramos is a lock, along with Reyna and Landon.

I wonder if John O'Brien gets any votes. He was a great player and just disappeared in his late 20s with the injuries.

 

The USMNT breakdown popped into my inbox as I was reading the comments.
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Articles/2013/12/131220-MNT-Best-XI.aspx

Goalkeeper - Brad Friedel 1992-2004 (25 votes)

Defender - Marcelo Balboa 1988-2000 (35 votes)
Defender - Carlos Bocanegra 2001-2012 (25 votes)
Defender - Steve Cherundolo 1999-2012 (25 votes)
Defender - Eddie Pope 1996-2006 (33 votes)

Midfielder - Clint Dempsey 2004-present (25 votes)
Midfielder - Landon Donovan 2000-present (52 votes)
Midfielder - Tab Ramos 1988-2000 (42 votes)
Midfielder - Claudio Reyna 1994-2006 (45 votes)

Forward - Brian McBride 1993-2006 (45 votes)
Forward - Eric Wynalda 1990-2000 (43 votes)

 

Hard to argue with most of those. I'd like Michael Bradley in there, but for who? You have to have Tab Ramos, who is still the most skilled player the US every produced. Maybe not Reyna? But when he was injury-free, he was damn good.

I also would have had Dooley in the middle of that defense instead of Eddie Pope.

The choice of goalkeeper is sure to be debated, but I agree 100 percent.