Football (Soccer)

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Recently it hasn't been average teams.

It's been a few world class players and mostly average players who can play as a team like a machine.

England would do well to learn.

-AC

The "team like a machine" part is probably the key winning ingredient for this and other German teams. After all it is a team game. And their keeper Manuel Neuer is very impressive, can see him making the A team next year for the world cup.
Your favourite words "luck" and "jam" don't come into the equation then?😈

What do you think about Walcott's performance so far?
I think England are taking to long to counter attack so he has too many many players to go past. That and bad passes make it hard for him to shine

Facepalm.jpg

Originally posted by Bicnarok
especially if you consider the diversity of races in the USA.

Originally posted by Slay
...what?

Simple question here, Slay. Have you ever been to New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, Tampa, Detroit, Newark, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Cleveland, or Miami?

Originally posted by botankus
Simple question here, Slay. Have you ever been to New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, Tampa, Detroit, Newark, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis, Cleveland, or Miami?

Football is a sport based solely on talent. You do need some sort of pace, endurance and such, but it's not as important as in say American football or such where you basically need to be very fast and strong etc. There's been all white teams such as Italy or Germany, and teams consisting mostly out of black/coloured players like Brazil who have won the world cup. It's ridiculous to say that either the black, caucasian or asian race make great footballers. Every race does, and every race doesn't. It depends on how skilled the individual is. The diversity of races in the US isn't going to help them to become a better football-country. If football doesn't have a large increase in popularity in the US, they will never be much better than average.

Originally posted by Bicnarok

The ridiculous situation that people in the USA have to pay lots of money to have their kids play in clubs is of course a big spanner in the works.

Originally posted by Slay
I'm not denying that the US actually has a wide variety of races, am I?

Oh, okay.

Then from that viewpoint, I support what you're saying.

The variety of races comment which I added was maybe inaccurate in this sense. I was basically trying to show that there are other people in the USA who like football as opposed to Baseball, that other football game with helmets they play, or basketball. And these people are most likely from Mexico, The Caribbean (ok cricket is the main thing here but they prefer footy too.) and other countries. So this ethnic variety and their interest in the sport may help it progress..

As for Football being a "cheap" sport, from what Ive heard on a radio talk show I listen to, and their US correspondent, it VERY expensive to have your child play at a club.

its very expensive for your child to play at any sport club, the difference is in the equipment costs.

Good game last night, you have to hand it to the yanks for having a gutsy crack at Brazil, a shame they didn´t win I was rooting for them.
Brazil doesn´t play like Brazil any more, and I can´t see them winning the world cup next year.

Well who´s going to win tonight's U21 final. I hope England can do it but I think the Germans will, they have a thing for tournaments.

lol

Originally posted by Bicnarok
Good game last night, you have to hand it to the yanks for having a gutsy crack at Brazil, a shame they didn´t win I was rooting for them.
Brazil doesn´t play like Brazil any more, and I can´t see them winning the world cup next year.

Well who´s going to win tonight's U21 final. I hope England can do it but I think the Germans will, they have a thing for tournaments.

In Brazil's defense, their last great team contained Ronaldo, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Adriano (I think) and Rivaldo (If you wanna go further back) in their prime or approaching it. Not to mention Kaka'.

They also had Cafu in place of Daniel Alves.

So it's going to take mega rebuilding, and they DO have what it takes, even if they'll never have such concentrated star power again.

-AC

Wow England got a pasting last night against Germany in the U21, 4:0!! Against a team who has never beaten England.

The German tactics were a master work, they played with discipline and as a team.

England were frustrating to watch, James Milner & others continuously trying to go past 2 or more players then loosing the ball, constant wasting of chances when near the goal area, bad passing and Loach the goalkeeper was pathetic.

Playing a holding build up game with a counter attacking rocket like Walcott on the pitch was very bad tactics imo.

As for Germany, excellent active goalkeeper Neuer and Mesut Ozil is one to watch for the future.

Anyone else watch it?

Did Neuer even make a save?

-AC

Adler is far better than Neuer anyway, so he probably won't get a shot at the big time for a while, considering Adler and Neuer are about the same age.

A keeper isn´t just diving saves, Neuer´s oversight and the way he can start a counter attack with his long throws are impressive.

Adler is probably better on the line, as Neuer tends to do a "calamity James" now and again.

Amazing how many top notch keepers Germany produces.

so gerrard has been found innocent because he convinced the jury he acted in self defence even though he swung first. his argument was that he 'thought' the other guy was going to punch him so he swung at him. surely, thats the most ridiculous thing a jury has been fooled by? then again i'm not surprised as the court is in liverpool.

The decision is a disgrace but was anyone expecting him to be jailed like us 'peasants' would be? Seriously, there''s absolutely no difference between him and Joey Barton, save that Barton is a lesser footballer and commodity. Both have shady backgrounds, Gerrard with his gangster friends and hangers-on and Barton with his violent incidents.

Gerrard however, is Liverpool legend (although he wanted to be at Chelsea not too long ago), England 'superstar' and family man. Okay, it was classed as assault/affray but people have been killed by punches before- and it doesn't send out the best message that a person can punch you if he 'thinks' you're going to hit him.

Because thats the defence people will use now when punching someones face in in a bar.

Its a "one rule for them one rule for us" situation, its wrong!. (and I´m a Liverpool fan)

The Seasons starting again soon, any tips on who´s going to win various leagues.

I think the Barcelona v Real Madrid battle will be VERY interesting, especialy as Real seem to want to buy another Galactico team. My money on Barca though, because the way they play.

In the Uk, it could be Liverpools year,,, again🙂
I wonder what Man city will achieve with their new financial advantage.

I think Manchester City could break into the top 4 but dont see them winning the league title.