Might as well start a general Footy/Soccer thread

[retirwntm]

Can't wait for the possible Bayern man city pep match.

[Long duc dong]

Can't wait for the possible Bayern man city pep match.

That would be pretty awesome. How mad would city fans be if their next coach knocks them out?

Bayern really need Robben back. I think it really hurt them last year against Barca to not have him and Ribery. I still think Barca would have won, but it would have been very close. Even without Robben I would favor Bayern this year, but with him and Ribery storming down the flanks they are truly a force.

What a bench Bayern has. When you are bringing Gotze off the bench that is some talent.

[MarcusBrody]

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.

I agree. I thought that the refereeing had slanted in Barca's favor over the course of the game, but then at the most critical moment it went against them. A rough day for the "Uefa-lona" conspiracy theorists, but a good day for those who believe in generally questionable refereeing competence even at the highest level.

[Long duc dong]

I now wish I had watched the Barca game, or at least turned over after Bayern went up 2-1.

[shafty85]

The Bayern game was over as soon as they scored - Benefica was never going to score 3 (or, at the least, highly improbable). Once they netted 2 away goals, it was over. Funny how the analysts are commenting that Bayern squeaked through, yet were 2 goals removed from being defeated.

Sending Iniesta off would be a difficult call, not least because he plays for Barca' and they are good for TV, but also because it's difficult to judge that the pass would have been well-placed, what the players touch would have been in receiving the pass, etc. and therefore saying he was more than likely to score; otherwise, pretty much any handball for a thru ball would require the player to be sent off. Just my $0.02

Also:

http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...e-penalty-area

[Odin]

Just a friendly note that many of the Europa League games have been just entertaining as fucking hell.

[Long duc dong]

I still think Bayern still goes through, but I am impressed with Athletico. I don't know the they will win the Champions League as that would take beating three bigger clubs in a row which is tough. That goal was spectacular though.

I really hope Athletico loses. Normally I like a cinderella story, but I hate teams that win with defense.

I don't think Pep is the best coach for Bayern.

[Bobby Finstock]

LEICESTER!!! KINGS OF ENGLAND!!!

[Long duc dong]

Wow!! I'm thrilled for Leicester, although I feel bad for Tottenham. I will be rooting for Tottenham next year, but I am absolutely over the moon for Leicester. They deserve it.

[PlayItLeo]

Just incredible for Leicester. Shame they weren't on their home pitch to win it, though.

[PNWbrit]

Amazing.....

I heard that Ranieri wasn't even going to watch Chelsea V Everton because he was flying to Italy to see his Mom....

[retirwntm]

Amazing. There are so many ways people are trying to equate how much of a long shot this was. Going forward it's going to be the very definition.

[PNWbrit]

Amazing. There are so many ways people are trying to equate how much of a long shot this was. Going forward it's going to be the very definition.

The big clubs are probably ok with it. Removes pressure to help out the minnows by further $ sharing, wage or transfer caps.

Be back to normal soon.

[Bobby Finstock]

Just incredible for Leicester. Shame they weren't on their home pitch to win it, though.

Its a shame it didn't happen on the final Sunday at Chelsea. I wanted to see Ranieri lift the trophy in front of that bloodsucking shitstain Shlomo Abramovich

[Grape_Ape]

I have been rooting for Leicester for a while now this season. I am glad they won it. They deserve it.

There was some bad blood between chelsea and the spurs, huh? For a second I thought I was watching my club team have another brawl.

[Stu Gotz]

I understand the long odds, but Leicester won 5/6 to close out last season. So while winning the league was a bit of a stretch, 5000/1 odds seem a bit farfetched. In the US, folks would notice if the Sixers won 10 straight to close out the season, or if the twins won 23/25 to finish out 2016. It seems like last year's blazing finish was totally forgotten.

[Odin]

Leicester winning 5 of 6 to close out the season isn't an indication that they would take the league by storm the next season. Late season escapes from relegation happen, but are less an indication of overall superiority and more an indication of right situation/right group of players to get out of a relegation battle (which sees crazy things happening from time to time)

Hell, Villa won 3 and drew 1 out of the last seven last season and were effectively relegated this season as soon as they took the field for the first time.

Wigan went 7 wins from 9 at the end of 2011-12 and were relegated the following season.

It is insanely improbable that a Leicester City team that started Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater, Wes Morgan, and Mark Albrighton all season long managed to keep it together for 36 (going on 38) games home and away and 5 cup games. I mean, they lost THREE times in the league. It's truly a crazy thing to consider, when you realize that they acquired Riyad Mahrez for less than some teams pay transfer fees for players in Major league Soccer, and when he goes to Real Madrid or Manchester City or Barcelona to sit on the bench Leicester are going to make a boatload of cash.

Leicester spent the same amount of money on their squad as Manchester City spent on De Bruyne.
http://www.espnfc.us/barclays-premie...-spurs-arsenal

The crazy part is that the team hardly ever got major injuries or changed their lineup. They used only 23 players and they used 11 who started at least 23 games. They only made 27 changes to the starting 11

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/...premier-leagu/

There is really no equivalent to it in USA/Canada sport unless somehow the Redhawks in Regina managed to get promoted to the NHL, survive one season (barely) in 2015 and win the Stanley Cup in 2016. Even the NCAA tournament you only play 6 games (or if the 16 seed made it further, seven) Leicester made it 36 games of grinding it out where the average away gain in the league is one point away from home.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...-worth-4204033

It's really incredible.

Especially when you consider that some of the story begins because the head coach (Nigel Pearson) in JULY 2015 (just before the season was to begin) was fired, in part, due to his son (and other Leicester youth team players) actions in a thailand racist sex-orgy sex tape rim job scandal.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/33339566

And this doesn't even begin to cover the Lad-tastic, dickheaded adventures of one Jamie Vardy.

[shafty85]

That's unfortunate. While I admire what Atletico is able to do with lesser talent than the teams they have defeated, it's sad to see that, even more so, people are figuring out successful strategies to kill offence and creativity in soccer.

Same thing had happened in hockey and they are still trying to figure out how to minimize the ability of teams to choke the life out of games.

[Long duc dong]

That's unfortunate. While I admire what Atletico is able to do with lesser talent than the teams they have defeated, it's sad to see that, even more so, people are figuring out successful strategies to kill offence and creativity in soccer.

Same thing had happened in hockey and they are still trying to figure out how to minimize the ability of teams to choke the life out of games.

I agree. Bayern outplayed them in this tie and deserved to go through. I hate defense first teams that just sit back. I am impressed though. As much as I hate their style you have to give them credit for beating the two best teams in the tournament. I will be rooting for Real or City in the final.

[old goat]

Leicester ties. Tottenham ties. Leicester Champions!!! Sorry, I'll keep watching hockey, where you play until someone wins or you drop dead (in the playoffs anyway).

[Odin]

Then why the fuck did you come into this thread to make a comment?

[shafty85]

I have been rooting for Leicester for a while now this season. I am glad they won it. They deserve it.

There was some bad blood between chelsea and the spurs, huh? For a second I thought I was watching my club team have another brawl.

http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2016/0...a-single-game/

I didn't see the game, but from this it is absolutely shocking that the Spurs kept 11 men on the field. There were at least 2 or 3 tackles that should have been shown straight red - you'd like to think otherwise, but I'd guess the ref didn't want to decide the Spurs fate by putting them down a man, or two (as is so prevalent in hockey during the playoffs when the rulebook essentially gets thrown out the window late in games/overtime). Didn't alter the table much (in the sense that a draw was as bad as a loss for Spurs) but I would hope the officials face some scrutiny from their reviewers.

[PlayItLeo]

That's unfortunate. While I admire what Atletico is able to do with lesser talent than the teams they have defeated, it's sad to see that, even more so, people are figuring out successful strategies to kill offence and creativity in soccer.

Same thing had happened in hockey and they are still trying to figure out how to minimize the ability of teams to choke the life out of games.

QFT

[shafty85]

WTF???

http://www.thesportbible.com/article...cramble-030516

You'd think there would be serious repercussions, beyond this season, as it is essentially over for the Spurs.

[PlayItLeo]

Meh - pretty much all points back to Diego Costa. You reap what you sow with that guy.