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Wednesday, May 02, 2012

OT: Soccer Thread—May 2012

League all around will have their Champion decided! Bilbao or Atlético Madrid will reign over the Europa League! Chelsea tries to finally bring Roman a European Cup

And most important of all…West Ham drives for promotion!

RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: May 02, 2012 at 09:53 PM | 1485 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: soccer

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401. puck Posted: May 11, 2012 at 08:17 PM (#4129746)

Artificial turf to be installed at San Siro?

I thought the stuff was really looked down upon by top clubs/leagues?

402. vortex of dissipation Posted: May 11, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4129757)

I thought the stuff was really looked down upon by top clubs/leagues?

Couldn't be any worse than it is now. When Arsenal and Barca were there for CL games this season, the pitch was atrocious.

403. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 11, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4129762)

Isn't that how you'd want the pitch if you were playing Barca or Arsenal?

404. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 11, 2012 at 08:50 PM (#4129788)

It's half artificial, half real. So it'll kind of suck.

405. ursus arctos Posted: May 11, 2012 at 09:36 PM (#4129838)

The pitch at the Meazza has been a disaster ever since the third deck was added for the 1990 World Cup. Essentially, the microclimate is such that no natural pitch will survive, for want of light and air; it is strikingly similar to the situation in the Astrodome when it was first built.

Re-laying the pitch every three months makes no sense and distorts competition. FieldTurf would create a better surface for all.

406. Juan V Posted: May 11, 2012 at 10:04 PM (#4129883)

Speaking of former Borussia Dortmund players, what's with Nuri Sahin? Is he another young player eaten by the voracious Real Madrid monster?

Apparently he had issues recovering from injury. He did play a bit (though always as a second choice player) in the latter part of the season. I can't do any Madrid rosterbation before I get an idea of what are Jose's intentions towards him, but Xabi does need a break from time to time.

If Modric goes, it should be to Barca. He is the perfect heir apparent to Xavi, and he deserves to play with the caliber of teammates he'll find there.

Screw you :-p

407. puck Posted: May 11, 2012 at 11:11 PM (#4129968)

The pitch at the Meazza has been a disaster ever since the third deck was added for the 1990 World Cup.

That's what the goal.com article said. Is it the 3rd deck, or this quasi roof thing? Though maybe that 3rd deck is taller than 3rd decks in US stadiums.

It's half artificial, half real. So it'll kind of suck.

Yeah, I wondered about that description. Maybe they mean that sort of grass turf that grows around a synthetic weave...I forget the brand names. It doesn't feel any different from regular grass but the weave helps keep it from getting torn up. However, if the problem is the stadium doesn't get enough sun, I guess this wouldn't help.

408. Flynn Posted: May 12, 2012 at 05:16 AM (#4130106)

The roof over the stands, which is an architectural masterpiece that just doesn't allow the pitch to get enough light. I'm guessing the people at San Siro are considering a Desso pitch, which has worked very well in England, most notably at Wembley Stadium where the pitch has been dramatically improved on recent years. Wembley had many of the problems San Siro has, but the Desso pitch, where fibres are injected below the surface to hold down the grass roots, has completely silenced the discussions about Wembley pitches.

409. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 09:59 AM (#4130141)

I'd forgotten about the Pokal final matchup (and, admittedly, the Pokal itself), but this should be fun. I don't whether to simply root for Dortmund or to cheer on the injuring of all non-CL suspended Bayern players. Or both.

P.S.: Probably the very last game involving Bundesliga teams to be played in Eastern Germany for quite some time. Sigh.

410. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 11:31 AM (#4130165)

Everyone getting excited for the Serie B game of the year?

For Spurs fans, I just waded through a bunch of stuff about the new stadium. Looks like they'll start work on the commercial part of the project this summer and start the new stadium next summer. So I guess it's actually happening.

411. Borussia, Du bist so wunderschön! (Mark Edward) Posted: May 12, 2012 at 11:54 AM (#4130174)

Bayern sucks Bayern sucks Bayern sucks.

412. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 11:58 AM (#4130175)

Bayern sucks Bayern sucks Bayern sucks.

Bayern is great! Soon to be champions of Europe!

413. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 11:59 AM (#4130176)

Here's a stream for the game:http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/122351/1/watch-pescara-vs-torino-fc.html

I'm not just being a smartass, either, this really is being hyped as the game of the year.

414. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM (#4130177)

That's what the goal.com article said. Is it the 3rd deck, or this quasi roof thing? Though maybe that 3rd deck is taller than 3rd decks in US stadiums.

I can't find any photos of the San Siro pre-1990, but I'm just eyeballing the pictures and the description on Wikipedia, I'm guessing the quasi-roof thing was added with the third deck, and is therefore referred to as one big unit.

415. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:06 PM (#4130181)

I'm not just being a smartass, either, this really is being hyped as the game of the year.

Can't wait to find out 2 years from now that it was rigged.

416. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:13 PM (#4130188)

If anyone is throwing this one, it's Torino. Blech so far.

417. Borussia, Du bist so wunderschön! (Mark Edward) Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:15 PM (#4130190)

Bayern is great! Soon to be champions of Europe!

For the next week We Are All Chelsea Fans.

418. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:24 PM (#4130196)

Bayern is great! Soon to be champions of Europe!

Et tu, Shoote?

419. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:28 PM (#4130199)

The only thing making me think of rooting for Chelsea is that John Terry won't get to celebrate it.

Mostly though I just want to watch a good game.

420. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:32 PM (#4130200)

Et tu, Shoote?

Depending on who's in 4th place...I'm still going for Bayern. Sorry!

421. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:38 PM (#4130203)

Here's the #1 reason everyone should root for Pescara to get promoted. That and the fact every Serie A game they play in would end 9-7 or 11-4.

Torino's got plenty of time to score a half dozen here, although it's the Torino defense that centers that team.

422. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:43 PM (#4130205)

They haven't come close to scoring yet. Both teams just lobbing balls into the penalty area since Pescara scored.

423. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:50 PM (#4130210)

Are those the Wolves backline players wearing Torino jerseys? Wolverhampton-esque marking on the header there.

424. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:51 PM (#4130214)

Not looking good. I'm not sure Torino is offensively minded enough to come back. They're more of a classic catenaccio-style team.

425. Swedish Chef Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:54 PM (#4130217)

The only thing making me think of rooting for Chelsea is that John Terry won't get to celebrate it.

Oh yes, he will. And he is shameless enough to not keep in the background too.

426. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 12, 2012 at 12:56 PM (#4130219)

I didn't see that they changed their stance. Damn. Great photo in that article.

427. Flynn Posted: May 12, 2012 at 01:06 PM (#4130223)

San Siro before the 1989 expansion. Behind the scoreboard side is the hippodrome of Milan, which is why when the ground was expanded and roofed for the 1990 World Cup, that side was not expanded upon.

428. Swedish Chef Posted: May 12, 2012 at 01:07 PM (#4130224)

I will root for Chelsea anyway as my mind is not able to grasp the idea of rooting for Bayern.

429. Randy Jones

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:03 PM (#4130239)

I will root for Chelsea anyway as my mind is not able to grasp the idea of rooting for Bayern.

You could root for the meteor with me.

430. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:05 PM (#4130240)

I will miss Kagawa...

431. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:07 PM (#4130241)

Pretty insipid from Torino today. Ah well, back to studying.

432. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:09 PM (#4130242)

Aw, c'mon Shooty, stick around and see Bayern taken to the woodshed for a couple of hours.

433. Mattbert Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:11 PM (#4130243)

Similarly, I cannot conceive of ever rooting for Chelsea to win anything ever. I haven't really cared for them much at all during and since the Mourinho era. The Terry/Cole/Drogba-led style of play with the diving, thuggery, petulance, and abuse of officials is a real turn-off. The crass and relentless tapping-up of Modric last summer didn't improve my opinion of the club.

The real reason I will never support them under any circumstances, though, is this. A couple of years ago I was hissed at by a group of Chelsea fans on the tube for, I assume, having the temerity to wear my Spurs scarf. And this was not hissing as in boo-hiss. A certain segment of Chelsea fans like to remind Spurs fans of their links to the Jewish faith by making the sound of a gas chamber. It's as charming as you imagine. And I'm not even a Jew! Nor were Spurs playing Chelsea that day!

434. Mefisto Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:15 PM (#4130244)

First paragraph of 433: pretty much my view too. I'm willing to root for a meteor strike, but I have to miss the game because I'll be on an airplane. Atmospheric disturbance isn't all that attractive to me under the circumstances.

Second paragraph of 433: Wow. Just wow.

435. Mattbert Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:24 PM (#4130247)

Let me hasten to add that I'm sure all football clubs have a jerky segment of their fanbases. For example, there was a segment of Spurs fans that liked to sing a racist song about Emmanuel Adebayor and racist/homophobic songs about Sol Campbell when those guys played for Arsenal. Being an imperfect human being, I am able/willing to compartmentalize that because I support Tottenham (and the club has really begun to clamp down on it over the last five years or so) whereas the Chelsea idiocy was directed at me.

436. Flynn Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:26 PM (#4130248)

Chelsea had a pretty active National Front chapter in the 80s. There's some nasty sorts in that club.

437. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:27 PM (#4130249)

It's a fair cop. Herr Weidenfeller has had an interesting first half.

438. Flynn Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:30 PM (#4130253)

There were several homophobic songs about Sol Campbell from the White Hart Lane knuckledraggers when he was winning trophies for the Arsenal.

He's big, he's black, he takes it up the crack, Sol Campbell, Sol Campbell. Or: Sol, Sol, wherever you may be, you're on the verge of lunacy. We don't give a #### if you're hanging from a tree, you Judas #### with HIV.

How sweet.

439. Mattbert Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:45 PM (#4130257)

Indeed. It was/is shameful, and all the Spurs fans I met in London denounced it. Just as I'm sure the vast majority of Chelsea fans would denounce the anti-Semitic taunting.

But, again, because I am an imperfect human being and I was on the receiving end of that stuff (and not on the giving end of the Sol ugliness) it would take a lot for me to root for Chelsea to win something.

440. Borussia, Du bist so wunderschön! (Mark Edward) Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4130258)

Shinji Kagawa is so ####### awesome.

441. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4130259)

Not to ignore the very pertinent racial/racist discussion, but purely clinical there from Kagawa. Clinical.

442. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:53 PM (#4130261)

I may have mentioned this, but I will miss Kagawa...

Also, Bayern played way better than Dormund for most of that half. To go in at 3:1 is incredible.

443. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:54 PM (#4130263)

I'm watching this Cup final while I study and it seems every time I look up a goal is being scored.

444. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 02:58 PM (#4130265)

Exactly how did Real not score at least ten goals against this Bayern backline? I didn't see those games, and I'm mystified.

445. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 12, 2012 at 03:24 PM (#4130278)

I hope Chelsea is watching.

446. Borussia, Du bist so wunderschön! (Mark Edward) Posted: May 12, 2012 at 03:26 PM (#4130280)

Robert Lewandowski is so ####### awesome.

447. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 12, 2012 at 03:46 PM (#4130290)

Neuer with the clown shoes.

448. frannyzoo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 03:46 PM (#4130292)

BVB Dortmund. Most fun to watch, bar none. Beautiful.

449. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 12, 2012 at 03:52 PM (#4130296)

That should have been a red.

450. Flynn Posted: May 12, 2012 at 03:58 PM (#4130300)

Kagwawa's kind of a jerk for leaving this team. They can really do something.

451. CWS Keith plans to boo your show at the Apollo Posted: May 12, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4130323)

Anyone know how WhoScored's player ratings are derived? Is it a voting system like Tango's Fans' Scouting Report? Based on some formula which includes tackles, dribbles, passing, etc? One person/multiple people who 'work for' WhoScored?

452. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: May 12, 2012 at 06:35 PM (#4130344)

Kagwawa's kind of a jerk for leaving this team. They can really do something.

Hey, when you have a chance to join a big team and play 3 1/2 games a season like Nuri Sahin did, you have to take that opportunity.

453. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 08:51 AM (#4130473)

Sandro!

It's just a puff piece but the picture cracks me up.

Hey, when you have a chance to join a big team and play 3 1/2 games a season like Nuri Sahin did, you have to take that opportunity.

It's not like Dortmund is Nott's County. They're something like 18th in the Deloitte list and they're the freaking 2-time defending Bundesliga champions.

454. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 08:54 AM (#4130474)

As was inevitable, Raul is headed to Qatar.

Van Bommel is headed back to PSV.

455. Swedish Chef Posted: May 13, 2012 at 08:58 AM (#4130476)

It's not like Dortmund is Nott's County. They're something like 18th in the Deloitte list and they're the freaking 2-time defending Bundesliga champions.

Ok, so they're like Forest.

456. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 10:01 AM (#4130481)

Alright, here we go. The remote will be active today.

457. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 10:01 AM (#4130482)

Here we go!

458. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 10:49 AM (#4130497)

The one game I can't get is the Bolton game.

459. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 10:49 AM (#4130498)

The tension here at the bar is incredible. A ggod mix of man u, city, spurs and gooner fans. No toon fans tho.

460. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 10:51 AM (#4130499)

These next 45 are going to kill me.

461. andrewberg Posted: May 13, 2012 at 10:58 AM (#4130505)

Just a terrible ten minutes for qpr. Bad to worse to worser.

462. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:05 AM (#4130510)

It's not that I actively want Man City to win. I just desperately want Man United to not win the title.

The big question for the second half is whether QPR will make any effort to actually venture into the offensive half of the pitch.

463. Randy Jones

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:06 AM (#4130512)

As long as Bolton is winning, QPR have to try to score.

464. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:09 AM (#4130514)

Insane

465. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:09 AM (#4130515)

Okay, I have to admit that was pretty funny. WTF was Lescott doing?

I'm sure England is going to have a very successful Euro 2012...

466. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:09 AM (#4130516)

Brutal defending by City. The table has turned again!

467. Dale Sams Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:12 AM (#4130520)

No toon fans tho.

Killed by hubris years ago

468. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:13 AM (#4130522)

West broms keeper is having a shocker

469. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:16 AM (#4130527)

Holy ####. What a ####### moron Joey Barton is.

470. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:18 AM (#4130529)

More and more hilarious.

471. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:19 AM (#4130532)

Over/Under for Joey Barton's suspension: 38 games.

472. President of the David Eckstein Fan Club Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:20 AM (#4130533)

One of the most astonishingly stupid things I've seen an athlete do

473. Dale Sams Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:21 AM (#4130534)

That was one of the best saves i've ever seen (QPR). Seaman, FA-cup quality. (I think it was the FA cup)

474. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:25 AM (#4130536)

Barton's elbow: dumbest play this year or dumbest play ever?

475. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:25 AM (#4130537)

Hahahahahahahaha

476. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:26 AM (#4130538)

QPR!!!!!

477. President of the David Eckstein Fan Club Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:26 AM (#4130539)

Holy ####

478. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:26 AM (#4130540)

Wow

479. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:27 AM (#4130541)

Yeah, of course City are ####### it up. Hooray, yet another title for ####### United!

480. I am going to be Frank Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:27 AM (#4130542)

How did City blow this?

481. Dale Sams Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:27 AM (#4130543)

Yeah, Barton's an idiot, but his thinking was that he got clobbered by Tevez, and Tevez 'made the most of' the slight contact by Barton's intentional elbow.

Everything after is nutsville though.

482. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:29 AM (#4130544)

Of course Tevez made a meal of it, but you can't elbow a guy in the face and expect him to stay on his feet.

483. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:30 AM (#4130546)

This game is insane.

Barton's elbow I can understand, it was the kicking and head butting after that which was disgraceful.

484. President of the David Eckstein Fan Club Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:31 AM (#4130547)

Tevez definitely made contact and definitely made the most of the elbow but it was still a terribly stupid thing to do. Barton's one of those players the refs are always going to watch closely and an intentional elbow to the face is always asking for a red. The stuff afterwards was unforgivable though - I wonder what this means for him going forward.

Anyway, the neutral in me is waiting for Balotelli with bated breath.

485. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:34 AM (#4130548)

Balotelli coming on. I'm hoping for a bench-clearing brawl.

486. Dale Sams Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:34 AM (#4130549)

God: "Yeahhh...another title for ManU? or...man...Tevez is on Man City...tough call here."

487. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:36 AM (#4130550)

That is just what this game needs, the addition of Balotelli.

Quadruple lolz.

488. I am going to be Frank Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:37 AM (#4130552)

Sad that Bolton is going down - is Holden good enough for another team in the Premiership to buy him?

489. Swedish Chef Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:37 AM (#4130553)

I wonder what this means for him going forward.

He's been a disgrace for many years with few lasting consequences.

490. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:38 AM (#4130554)

This is unbelievable.

491. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:38 AM (#4130555)

Hey Man City, you should try taking MORE 35 yard potshots through about 15 bodies. Those are your best chance for scoring.

492. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:40 AM (#4130556)

Holden is good enough, but Bolton is not going to get full value since he's hurt.

493. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:43 AM (#4130560)

Horrible crosses, muffed shots, poor positioning... Man City are really choking now.

494. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:44 AM (#4130561)

The other sure route to victory is to hit 'crosses' well over everyone's head in the box. It prevents QPR from heading them away!

495. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:45 AM (#4130562)

The Toure injury really hurt them.

496. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:47 AM (#4130564)

If it were anyone other than Man United who was the beneficiary of this, I would find this game absolutely hilarious. City just looks completely at a loss. Of the last 20 balls into the box, I think QPR has won about 17 of the headers. And the other three have floated aimlessly over everyone.

497. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:49 AM (#4130566)

He's been a disgrace for many years with few lasting consequences.

He did go to jail...

498. Tike Redman's Shattered Dreams (shayborg) Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:51 AM (#4130567)

Incredible save there on Balotelli. Not the best header, but still.

499. President of the David Eckstein Fan Club Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:52 AM (#4130568)

Dzeko gets one!

500. Baldrick Posted: May 13, 2012 at 11:52 AM (#4130569)

Alright, nice. At least we'll have an exciting final couple minutes to the season.

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