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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

OT: The Soccer Thread: August 2012

Welcome to August! Notable Events:

Olympic Women’s Gold Medal Game: August 9
Olympic Men’s Gold Medal Game: August 11

(Both will be aired by NBC on or about August 15)

EPL Kick-Off: August 18
La Liga Kick-Off: August 19
Seria A Kick-Off: August 25

Let the excitement begin!

RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: July 31, 2012 at 10:35 AM | 1942 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: business

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1901. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:00 AM (#4224973)

Dammit. So much for that. Curse you Podolski!

1902. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:12 AM (#4224975)

Liverpool are putting some reasonable pressure on Arsenal but when they give the ball away Arsenal are breaking completely unmolested. It's hard to believe Arsenal won't score again.

1903. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:41 AM (#4224982)

I think the non-penalty call there was correct. Suarez was never getting to that cross so he want down at the slightest nudge looking for the call.

1904. I am going to be Frank Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:44 AM (#4224986)

Liverpool is the new Arsenal, all possession - no end product. Their midfield looks great going forward but defensively leave too many gaps. Suarez just won't score enough goals for this team. Diaby has looked really good. Gibbs is the new Clichy - looks decent going forward and defensively and can't cross worth anything.

1905. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:49 AM (#4224988)

Webb absolutely refuses to give Suarez any calls. It's kind of amusing.

1906. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:50 AM (#4224989)

I don't think I'm one to usually attack the refs but Howard Webb is really screwing Liverpool this game. Also, for some reason Suarez in full Diva mode is cracking me up. He's so over the top right now.

1907. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:52 AM (#4224990)

Wow, Stuart Downing almost looked alive there!

1908. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:53 AM (#4224991)

Is Pepe Reina still on the pitch or is he having a pint with the fans? We haven't seen much of him in the second half.

1909. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:56 AM (#4224992)

There's Reina!

1910. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:57 AM (#4224993)

Is Pepe Reina still on the pitch or is he having a pint with the fans? We haven't seen much of him in the second half.

Based on what we've been seeing this month, including that goal, I think soon Liverpool won't want to see much of him.

1911. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 09:59 AM (#4224995)

Anyone going to watch "Being Liverpool"? It could be fun in a trainwreck kind of way. Half of the players shown in the promos have been shipped out!

1912. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:04 AM (#4224997)

Between Shelvey and Agger, Liverpool are well prepared to welcome our new cannibalistic alien overlords.

1913. Spivey Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:11 AM (#4225000)

Liverpool actually has a lot of good players. They could use a better keeper. And a forward like Andy Carroll, amusingly enough.

Carroll's going to have another season where he gets 20+ goals in all competitions, I'm confident.

Edit: Liverpool's got some pretty poor players as well though.

1914. I am going to be Frank Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:13 AM (#4225001)

Wow, Liverpool goes down and the best they can do is bring on Downing and Shelvey?

1915. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:19 AM (#4225003)

Maloney has impressed me today. Liverpool have had a lot of corners and I think he's made good decisions about when to come and when to stay back.

1916. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:28 AM (#4225006)

Wow, Liverpool goes down and the best they can do is bring on Downing and Shelvey?

Their squad is ridiculously thin.

1917. Arnett Mead (Arjun) Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:29 AM (#4225007)

Maloney

Do you mean Mannone? Why was he playing today, anyway?

Also, lesson from the match: who needs Alex Song when you have Diaby?

1918. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:31 AM (#4225008)

Do you mean Mannone? Why was he playing today, anyway?

Chesney is hurt.

1919. Arnett Mead (Arjun) Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:36 AM (#4225009)

Chesney is hurt.

Ah, okay, thanks. Is Mannone the number two, then? What happened to Fabianski?

Also, Mannone looks like a gigantic toolbag (the way Martin Skrtel looks like a scary thug).

1920. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:39 AM (#4225010)

Ah, okay, thanks. Is Mannone the number two, then? What happened to Fabianski?

Not sure. I guess Mannone is the #2 as he's playing. Did Fabianski go to Watford or am I thinking of Almunia? Bah, I can't keep track of all these Arsenal arm-flappers.

1921. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:44 AM (#4225012)

If Dempsey is on a short contract, why wouldn't he have some sell-on value in, say, two years? They might not get all of the fee back, but they might get half of it... And if he's not on high wages I think it's still a good bit of business.

He'll have re-sale value. Just not $5M to MLS, who have paid nothing for bigger names.

1922. Arnett Mead (Arjun) Posted: September 02, 2012 at 10:44 AM (#4225013)

I think that was Almunia. Wiki has this nugget on Fabianski's page, about this season: "Fabia?ski began the season as backup to his Polish rival Wojciech Szcz?sny. Fabia?ski issued a warning to Szcz?sny that he is ready to challenge both him and Arsenal's third keeper Vito Mannone for the number 1 spot but so far has failed to even be a contender for the number one spot." Although it does appear that both Poles were injured.

1923. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 02, 2012 at 11:22 AM (#4225022)

Yes, Mannone. Not sure what happened there.

Nice goal by Southhampton. They are getting behind the ball but when they get possession they seem willing to get forward, they aren't being overly cautious.

1924. Arnett Mead (Arjun) Posted: September 02, 2012 at 12:14 PM (#4225040)

Straight red for the Udinese goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic, who levels Giovinco, but the red was a little harsh. Udinese down to 10 men in the 12th minute, and down 1-0 after Arturo Vidal converts the penalty.

1925. Swedish Chef Posted: September 02, 2012 at 12:43 PM (#4225044)

van Persie is set for his first hairdryer.

1926. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 02, 2012 at 12:51 PM (#4225048)

Oh, of course this happened.

1927. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: September 02, 2012 at 12:54 PM (#4225049)

I already hate this season. How much longer till it's over?

1928. Swedish Chef Posted: September 02, 2012 at 12:55 PM (#4225051)

The hairdryer has probably been downgraded to a mere sarcastic remark about the penalty.

1929. Swedish Chef Posted: September 02, 2012 at 12:59 PM (#4225054)

Good effort by Villa.

1930. Swedish Chef Posted: September 02, 2012 at 01:07 PM (#4225059)

Brendan Rodgers is sad

It strains belief that he let Carroll go like that when he knew that they would chance a lowball bid for Dempsey the next day.

1931. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 01:14 PM (#4225066)

It strains belief that he let Carroll go like that when he knew that they would chance a lowball bid for Dempsey the next day.

Dempsey isn't really a replacement for Carroll, anyway. Strange all around.

Juventus taking care of Udinese. Sigh.

1932. Swedish Chef Posted: September 02, 2012 at 01:19 PM (#4225067)

Dempsey isn't really a replacement for Carroll, anyway.

That kind of was the point for him, he wanted a more sophisticated forward type than Carroll.

1933. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4225072)

That kind of was the point for him, he wanted a more sophisticated forward type than Carroll.

I can see that, I guess. I hope Spurs don't play him up top too much, though as I think he's pretty great battling in the midfield. I would love to know the true story from all 4 parties--L'pool, Fulham, Spurs and Dempsey--about what happened with this transfer. It's kind of funky and I think it's interesting Spurs were still going all out for Moutinho even after they signed Dempsey. A lot of Spurs fans think it was either Dempsey OR Moutinho and that doesn't appear to be the case. Then again, now that I think of it, Kane got loaned out immediately after Dempsey signed so I suppose Spurs also see him as playing a lot of forward. So I've written an awful lot to get to the point where I say I don't really know what the hell is going on. Just have to see how it plays out on the pitch. It'll be fun to hear all the Spurs mentions during the games against Jamaica, at least.

1934. zack Posted: September 02, 2012 at 03:40 PM (#4225164)

Cassano with probably the luckiest goal of the season in first-half injury time against Roma. Shot from just inside the box directly into the defenders outstretched leg, but it bounces a good 30 ft up and perfectly over the goalie and off the right post and in.

1935. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: September 02, 2012 at 04:05 PM (#4225179)

I wouldn't put it past Cassano to dream something like that up.

1936. Mattbert Posted: September 02, 2012 at 04:44 PM (#4225208)

I would love to know the true story from all 4 parties--L'pool, Fulham, Spurs and Dempsey--about what happened with this transfer. It's kind of funky and I think it's interesting Spurs were still going all out for Moutinho even after they signed Dempsey. A lot of Spurs fans think it was either Dempsey OR Moutinho and that doesn't appear to be the case.

Duncan Castles has some plausible reporting on what went down with Spurs and Dempsey, although this focuses more on Moutinho:

While Tottenham may move for Moutinho again in the January window assuming Porto do not sell him to Zenit St Petersburg this week, the club are generally satisfied with their business in the summer window.

Liverpool were outbid for Clint Dempsey on Friday night, and [Spurs] see the £6 million United States international as a more dynamic version of Rafael van der Vaart - sold to Hamburg for £4m more.

Villas-Boas is said to regard Moussa Dembele as an ideal replacement for Luka Modric, with the Belgium international possessing a similar ability to create scoring opportunities and drive possession forward.

Also acquired from Fulham last week, Dembele cost £15m, while the unsettled Modric was sold to Real Madrid for an initial €30m, a further €8m in variables, and a cooperation agreement including two lucrative friendly matches between the club.

Meanwhile, Tom Huddlestone will look to secure an overseas loan move this week with the French, Russian and Turkish windows still open for incoming transfers.

The Tottenham midfielder wants regular first-team football as he seeks to complete his recovery from a recalcitrant ankle problem. While Benfica inquired about Huddlestone's availability to replace the outgoing Javi Garcia last week and agreed financial terms on a season-loan with Tottenham, the Portuguese club failed to complete the deal.

The French and Turkish transfer windows remain open until Wednesday, Russia's until Friday.

1937. Mefisto Posted: September 02, 2012 at 04:55 PM (#4225216)

Man, what a brutal result for Southampton.

1938. Juan V Posted: September 03, 2012 at 09:46 AM (#4225431)

Working with BEC Tero Sasana has always been my dream

1939. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: September 03, 2012 at 09:49 AM (#4225432)

I thought 1938 was an indication of a Robbie Keane move.

1940. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: September 03, 2012 at 10:02 AM (#4225435)

A whinge about money in English football from the LRB.

"Many deride what has happened at Manchester City, and with good reason, yet even critics have been surprised by how professionally the club has been run since the Mansour takeover. And putting millions into a club is surely less of an offence than owners buying clubs to take fortunes out."

1941. Swedish Chef Posted: September 03, 2012 at 11:47 AM (#4225485)

All you big clubs are going to be so sorry now, because Sven has found a job and is no longer available to rescue your season at short notice. The lucky club that has secured Sven's services is BEC Tero Sasana in Thailand. Surely great things will come out of this.

1942. puck Posted: September 03, 2012 at 01:24 PM (#4225535)

September thread is up.

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OT: The Soccer Thread: August 2012

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