The Association Football Thread

#3,302
#3,302
I hadn't looked at the EPL standings aside from the top 2 in a couple of weeks, but noticed today that Newcastle has a very real shot to play their way into the Champions League next season. Absolutely unfathomable considering that only two seasons ago they were playing in the second tier.
 
#3,304
#3,304
bigtime said:
So we have some MLS fans here? I just can't get into it. Hope it gets better in years to come.
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It will. There are a number of sides that are getting increasingly good funding. I think at some point within the next five years, we'll start to see a few more high-quality guys still somewhat in their prime. There are definitely some clubs that are hamstrung by finances, though, and the MLS model will need to make a shift towards a more European style, with cradle to grave systems, before it can get taken very seriously. IIRC there are four or five guys on the national squad that are with MLS clubs. So there is some talent there.
 
#3,306
#3,306
milohimself said:
It will. There are a number of sides that are getting increasingly good funding. I think at some point within the next five years, we'll start to see a few more high-quality guys still somewhat in their prime. There are definitely some clubs that are hamstrung by finances, though, and the MLS model will need to make a shift towards a more European style, with cradle to grave systems, before it can get taken very seriously. IIRC there are four or five guys on the national squad that are with MLS clubs. So there is some talent there.
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Not to mention the U-20 team. RSL has a guy who is 18 starting games right now (Luis Gil). He'll definitely be on the national team when he comes of age.

MLS is getting much better at retaining talent. Surprised young stars like Fredy Montero are still here.
 
#3,307
#3,307
Roughneck said:
They need someone else who can score. They really seemed to miss Villa while he was out.
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A front line of Villa-Messi-Alexis is pretty filthy. Assuming Villa can fully reover from his broken tibia and doesn't hit the bad side of being over 30. Pedro was a great finisher for us, but has lost complete confidence.

I think CB and LB are our biggest needs right now. Lord knows we need no more midfielders.
 
#3,308
#3,308
WKX8r.gif
 
#3,309
#3,309
volball625 said:
Well they need chelsea to lose to Bayern or they would have to pass Arsenal
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I don't think so. The defending champ goes straight to the group stage while the 4th place EPL team goes in the qualifying round. Wouldn't the EPL actually end up with 5 teams in the CL next year if Chelsea win it this year and Newcastle finish 4th?
 
#3,310
#3,310
bleedorange0037 said:
I don't think so. The defending champ goes straight to the group stage while the 4th place EPL team goes in the qualifying round. Wouldn't the EPL actually end up with 5 teams in the CL next year if Chelsea win it this year and Newcastle finish 4th?
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I am not 100% sure, but England can only get four teams, no more.
 
#3,311
#3,311
bleedorange0037 said:
I don't think so. The defending champ goes straight to the group stage while the 4th place EPL team goes in the qualifying round. Wouldn't the EPL actually end up with 5 teams in the CL next year if Chelsea win it this year and Newcastle finish 4th?
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Not how it works.

4th gets dropped, 3rd goes to qualifying stage (I think on this part, not positive, but 4th loses out for sure). It's not possible to get 5 teams from a League into UCL.
 
#3,312
#3,312
HawaiiVol said:
Not how it works.

4th gets dropped, 3rd goes to qualifying stage (I think on this part, not positive, but 4th loses out for sure). It's not possible to get 5 teams from a League into UCL.
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Yeah you're right. This same thing happened a few years ago with Liverpool and that year they put Liverpool in the 1st qualifying round as well as the 4 other teams who qualified the normal way, but then changed the rules from that point forward that if a team won the CL and didn't finish top 4, the 4th place team in the EPL would get dropped to Europa League. I stand corrected.
 
#3,313
#3,313
What teams have the biggest budgets? NYC and LA? Are there any others with comparable funding to those two?


Also, the South needs a team. I don't care how bad the market is, there has to be at least one city in eight states that could support a team.
 
#3,316
#3,316
Here are the salary figures from last season:

New York $13,397,087
Los Angeles $12,419,679
Toronto $4,262,444
Vancouver $3,570,853
Dallas $3,522,437
Real Salt Lake $3,517,956
Columbus $3,471,860
Seattle $3,465,629
New England $3,432,636
D.C. United $3,324,518
Chicago $3,296,892
Philadelphia $3,296,892
Sporting K.C. $3,225,771
Houston $3,199,080
Colorado $3,173,078
Chivas USA $2,691,177
San Jose $2,710,774
Portland $2,652,557
 
#3,319
#3,319
tvolsfan said:
He dove against Australia in the last world cup.

To be fair, I rarely do see Germans flop.
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I stand corrected then. I didn't get to see a lot of the group stage of the WC unfortunately.

You are correct, most do not flop. Muller does occasionally, and it bugs me. I remember Gomez doing it once and Per Mertesacker shouting him down. lol

Most Bayern players don't either, except Ribery and Robben. It irritates the hell out of me when they do it.
 
#3,323
#3,323
VolsSportsFan said:
I'd support a team in Nashville.
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Nashville would be one of the likelier places (and it has been involved in expansion bids). They only have to compete with football and hockey there. Soccer is pretty popular in North Carolina. I'd think they'd be the first to get a team.
 
#3,325
#3,325
volball625 said:
Pep Guardiola is officially leaving the club. His longtime assistant Tito Vilanova is the new manager of FC Barcelona.
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With Messi's comments re: Pep's departure, let the speculation begin on summer transfers. Clearly, I don't see messi moving if at all for several years for what barca did for him and his family from the start and the success he has had at the club, not to mention his 10 gazillion dollar buyout clause... But I will still be interested to see what names are thrown in the hat, only teams that have about 500 million just for the buyout not to mention transfer fee and salary, so that's what, city, anzhi, real (which would obviously never happen)... Still curious to see the rumors fly. Or maybe some oil sheik in Bahrain or Dubai will want to buy him as a personal trainer for their children... Let the rumors fly.

Btw, I hate to see Pep leave, I always saw him as a real class act, night and day compared to someone like mourinho. So a tip of the hat to you and true barca fans everywhere on that note.
 
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