Might as well start a general Footy/Soccer thread

[shafty85]

US soccer to ban heading youth soccer below the age of 10 and not in practice until older than 13. Not able to enforce, but will likely be adopted to avoid any potential lawsuits? I am not convinced either way that it will have detrimental effects on US soccer. Thoughts?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer...041431865.html

[Grape_Ape]

Golaso!!!!! https://instagram.com/p/91M-LugMWS/

Neymar works incredibly well with the biter and vice versa. I like Neymar's new doo too...I hate the pretty boy shit that some players sport.

[~mikey b]

Ummm

I'll say it again.


Zlatan!

[PlayItLeo]

T - 90 mins till el Classico. Visca el Barca!!

[PlayItLeo]

4-0. Total demolition.

[wolfelot]

That Barcelona-Arsenal game was a real doozy today. Barca's triumvirate up top can't be stopped when clicking. Arsenal did a good job of keeping them at bay.

[Bobby Finstock]

ZZZZZZZZZZ...another dreadfully dull European & CL season. Hopefully Leicester can keep things going.

[Odin]

[irul&ublo]

That Barcelona-Arsenal game was a real doozy today. Barca's triumvirate up top can't be stopped when clicking. Arsenal did a good job of keeping them at bay.

How the fuck did they leave Messi unguarded?

[nwslider]

First barca goal was class. Had flamini even touched the ball prior to conceding the penalty? I've been saying it since veira left: Arsenal needs to buy an elite cdm

[Tippster]

Oh fuck yeah. What a match!

[Long duc dong]

Caught the overtime of the Bayern game today. Wow. It is funny how things work, some teams get Juventus/Bayern for the round of 16 and some teams get Mainz. Juvy is definitely one of the best 8 teams in the world, it was a shame to see them draw Bayern. Arsenal seems to get hosed every year. I think they would have advanced against lots of other teams.

I think Bayern are the only team with a chance to stop Barcelona. I would favor Barcelona but Bayern has some players. If Robben and Ribery had been healthy for the semis last year they would have had a shot. I still think Barcelona wins but Bayern would have had a very solid chance to get to the finals.

That three up to for Barca though, wow. I think Neymar may have taken over the second best player in the world title from Ronaldo.

[PlayItLeo]

I think Neymar may have taken over the second best player in the world title from Ronaldo.

Ya, like a year or so ago.

Poor Juve, but every time a team tries change their tactics to shut up shop like Juve did in the last 20 mins instead of sticking to the attacking game plan, shit goes bad. Patrice Evra should be shot for giving that game away. Brutal.

[Tippster]

Ya, like a year or so ago.

Poor Juve, but every time a team tries change their tactics to shut up shop like Juve did in the last 20 mins instead of sticking to the attacking game plan, shit goes bad. Patrice Evra should be shot for giving that game away. Brutal.

Props to Pep tho for recognizing that Juve had problems with crosses into the box. Absolutely changed the match... but why the fuck did it take him 60 minutes to realize it?

[~mikey b]

FUCKING ZLATAN!

love it

[smitchell333]

Matuidi should sit the 2nd half . He gave away the ball on a poor pass and then jogged back on the MC goal . Then had Cavani wide open far post and whacked it way over his head.

[~mikey b]

FUCKING ZLATAN!

love it

That's the sort of goal Yaya Toure could score for MC.

And at least wee little David Silva is not afraid to go in heavy on a challenge with him.

[smitchell333]

Defense wins championships and PSG letting in two away goals...

I think PSG have top talent but the Ligue Un is maybe a bit weak on the competition to keep them playing their best.

[shafty85]

http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2016/0...rtland-galaxy/

How is that only a caution???

[Odin]

Because the referee was poorly positioned, too far away and couldn't see the play fully and even if he could see, the referees in MLS are (by and large) a giant festering suckhole of incompetence.

Also, It's De Jong. He kung fu kicked Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final in front of over a billion people and didn't get a red card.

[shafty85]

Because the referee was poorly positioned, too far away and couldn't see the play fully and even if he could see, the referees in MLS are (by and large) a giant festering suckhole of incompetence.

Also, It's De Jong. He kung fu kicked Xabi Alonso in the World Cup final in front of over a billion people and didn't get a red card.

Oh, I remember - was in South Africa for that tournament. Just incredible that they keep trying to call themselves a legit league, yet poor calls appear to be the norm, along with mediocre talents and rewarding mediocrity by expanding the playoffs; which reminds me, why are there playoffs? It's soccer, not hockey/any other north America sport.

[Odin]

The playoff argument is a non starter as they exist in different forms for leagues across the world, but yes... the league has a lot of problems. Not the least of which is the stupidity of a closed system in terms of ownership, finances, etc.... the simple fact, though, is that it is better to have a team to cheer for locally than not. So the fact that a league (or many leagues) exist is a good thing even if the league structure is idiotic (MLS), malformed (NASL), simplistic and slightly ridiculous (NPSL) or confused (USL) <-- better them than nothing at all, which americans/canadians over the age of 30 should be able to remember. I mean, MLS/NASL/USL/NPSL/CPL/NCAA/NAIA/PDL/MISL may all be a bag of dicks at separate times, but having them exist is a good thing.

Live local soccer is fantastic at every level (even playing/cheering with your buddies), even if the referees, ownership, commissioner can be shitheels.

[Long duc dong]

Good games today. I was sorry to see Wolfsburg lose, as I thought they made a valiant effort against a much wealthier club. It is interesting to see Man City go through in a battle of giants. Real/Barca/Bayern/City would be a pretty epic final four.

I should add that I will be rooting for Athletico. It would be fun to see a huge upset.

[smitchell333]

Down goes Barcelona. Defense wins the two legged tie again.

Funny situation at the end with Iniesta robbed of a penalty for a handball. Funny because he should not have been on the pitch after his obviously intentional handball stopping a clear goal scoring opportunity a minute before.

[Long duc dong]

Definitely did not see Athletico beating Barca. An interesting 4 at the end. I would have to favor Bayern now.