The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thread

[Jdbwolverines]

If players want to play for the national team, let them. Its not up for the clubs to decide this for them. If they don't want to play for the national team, no one should make them either. Take the US National Basketball team for example. In the early 2000s, playing for the national team had lost its appeal and a number of superstars decided that they did not want to be a part of it. Te US then lost at the 2002 World Championships and in the 2004 Olympics. It seems that many of the superstars kind of took this as a slap in face/ challenge to US basketball. In turn, a bunch of superstars stepped up and played on the team for the 2006 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics. If the players feel passionate about it, they will play. If they don't, you don't want them playing anyways.

I also think more could be done with the scheduling to help reduce the time crunch on players. More emphasis should be put on games and qualifying in the summer. They player are used to playing at least one match a week during the season, they can play more often than what they do in the off season. UEFA, or other respective governing bodies, can even dictate a few weeks off here or there during the club seasons to allow for international duty. Also, why play seemingly useless friendlies in the middle of the season. Play them for tuneups for a major tournament, but don't play them just for whatever. I think just some small changes could make a big difference.

How many transfers do you have left?
I've got 7

[aldukes]

ManU got away with 3 points- way too close.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by aldukes

ManU got away with 3 points- way too close.

If Sunderland had held out I may have taken a serious hiatus from watching televised football

Originally Posted by Jason

If Sunderland had held out I may have taken a serious hiatus from watching televised football

I had never seen a team just get dominated like that for a full 90 mins. Sundlnd could not even keep the ball. It was like all of us out there playing against United. During the first half I was just waiting for the first goal and the floodgates to open. I thought they lost the best chance on the Giggs/Anderson play and were doomed for the draw.

Im still so so on Berbatov, especially when Tevez gets on and does not stop working.

How bout the Deco Goal... Beautiful.. If I scored that I would retire from the game of football right after.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by funnymantrip

I had never seen a team just get dominated like that for a full 90 mins.

You obviously missed Paraguay's games in the 98 WC! They had Chilavert and clearly held out for penalties, an overtime/golden goal by Laurent Blanc finally sent them home to the collective sigh then cheers of planet earth.

I hate teams that think they can hold on defensively for 90 minutes. It's just stupid to invite 90 minutes of chances on your goal.

/rant

[Jdbwolverines]

I really hate that when Liverpool is playing weaker teams and they park it in from of the goal for 90 mins that Liverpool can only manage to get a draw, while Chelsea and man u will eventually score a goal and take all 3 points.

[aldukes]

Long live Chilavert!

Originally Posted by funnymantrip

I had never seen a team just get dominated like that for a full 90 mins. Sundlnd could not even keep the ball. It was like all of us out there playing against United. During the first half I was just waiting for the first goal and the floodgates to open. I thought they lost the best chance on the Giggs/Anderson play and were doomed for the draw.

Im still so so on Berbatov, especially when Tevez gets on and does not stop working.

How bout the Deco Goal... Beautiful.. If I scored that I would retire from the game of football right after.

seriously? I think WE would have done better than Sunderland... I would have been able to crush Christiano once...