Congratulations to Tom Henning Øvrebø, European Champion - The Other Teams Thread

[Dear_Claudio]

Making money is always good. More teams can only be a good thing. It'll produce more games and higher gate and TV revenue.

Have 8 groups of 6 teams. The top 3 from each group advance to the next round of 4 groups of 6 teams. The top two from those groups would advance to the knockout stage, which would ultimately start at the quarter finals. I know, my vision would require an additional month to play, but it would bring about a more accurate champion.
That's a terrible idea, it would destroy the World Cup. The tournament is already long enough. How would adding more crap teams better determine a champion? It would only serve to make sure all of the big teams advance.
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Watching Serbia/Austria... Nick Webster is such a joke. He's spent most of the first 35 mins of the match talking about Vidic and Manchester United. The time he hasn't been doing that has been about Ivanovic... which ultimately leads back to United/Rio Ferdinand/Fergie somehow.

[Randy36]

I really don't see why the points I've made so far in this thread warrant such a reply. I tried to argue my case with facts and you come back with a lame attempt at baiting me into a flame war about the state of my NT.

I was being a little facetious. I agree your suggestions
made sense and deserve consideration. Peace!! :)

[fernb8]

Watching Serbia/Austria... Nick Webster is such a joke. He's spent most of the first 35 mins of the match talking about Vidic and Manchester United. The time he hasn't been doing that has been about Ivanovic... which ultimately leads back to United/Rio Ferdinand/Fergie somehow.


Webster is an idiot, never liked the guy or cared for his attitude. As much he proclaims to be a small club fan, allegedly a fan of Leyton Orient and Arsenal, he is clearly a throw back to the "old guard" of English football where one has to droll and fellate over Liverpoo;, Arsenal and Man Utd because no one else matters.

He is an idiot and an embarassment for the most part, but at least he is better than Tommy Smyhte or most of the other idiots on ESPN.

Must say that Harkes is starting to grow on me and for a US commentator is quite realistic and honest at times.

[Ben7021]

Kaka having a medical in Brazil apparently. It's looking like this one is going to be a done deal. Will get rid of about 1/3 of the content of transfer stories. Now if Ribery will just do something things might slow down a little.

[Rman3349]

Unfortunately the Ronaldo storm still looms

[fernb8]

Unfortunately the Ronaldo storm still looms

good news for us imo

creates some unrest at Utd

and in the event that he did go then one would have to think it would be a scrap between us and Utd for Ribery. Better bidding against one team rather than two imo.

[Macksam]

That's a terrible idea, it would destroy the World Cup. The tournament is already long enough. How would adding more crap teams better determine a champion? It would only serve to make sure all of the big teams advance.

Alright, adding more teams is a little rash, but bringing back the second group stage is a perfect idea. That would definately help determine a better champion. The knockout stage should start at the quarter finals.

[Randy36]

The majority of American announcers have one thing in common....they talk about everything except what's going on in the pitch. They show a lack of emotion and are devoid of tactical analysis. In their ignorance of an in depth knowledge of the game they usually concentrate on fouls, injuries and goals.

Bretos and Sullivan (with his keys to the game) really annoy me. I've reached the stage where I turn off the volume and concentrate on the game.

[fernb8]

The majority of American announcers have one thing in common....they talk about everything except what's going on in the pitch. They show a lack of emotion and are devoid of tactical analysis. In their ignorance of an in depth knowledge of the game they usually concentrate on fouls, injuries and goals.

Bretos and Sullivan (with his keys to the game) really annoy me. I've reached the stage where I turn off the volume and concentrate on the game.

unfortunately you are pretty accurate Randy which is a shame for the fans in general, not to mention how much nonsense some of these commentators rabble on about. I do keep in mind that it is a tough sell for some of these commentators as they are trying to sell a product to the hardcore fan while educating those new to the game- something which is never that easy.

It still amazes me that JP Dellacamera (sp) still says "serves the ball into the box" after all his years of commentating. FFS, just say cross you plonker. I think this is also one of the reasons Harkes gets it- he does not try to be smarter or show off more but its clear that he has a better understanding of the game due the time he spent playing and I think he gets the passion and other elements from the six plus years he spent abroad.

[Bruckner283]

Kaka completes switch to Madrid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8082147.stm

Its official.

[Ben7021]

His obvious team building flaws aside, it has to be said that Perez truly can sign almost any player in the world. Kaka was always supposed to be unsellable, loyal to Milan, etc, but he got him after a couple weeks in charge. The man knows how to get what he wants. If he ever figures out how to properly build a team Real Madrid would be a dominant force.

[Dear_Claudio]

Another world record transfer brought to you by 1930s totalitarianism;)

[Kazuma]

His obvious team building flaws aside, it has to be said that Perez truly can sign almost any player in the world. Kaka was always supposed to be unsellable, loyal to Milan, etc, but he got him after a couple weeks in charge. The man knows how to get what he wants. If he ever figures out how to properly build a team Real Madrid would be a dominant force.

My thoughts exactly. This same man convinced Figo to leave Barca too.

Will his new slogan be "Kakas and Torres'"?

[Andy Bennett]

Belgium is much better at Cycling e.g Eddy Merckx. I was a big fan of Justine Henin, the Belgian tennis player

Yeah, but only because of how good she is at tennis... right? ;)

and I love chocolate from Belgium.

Don't... please. Otherwise someone here will start banging on about how Belgium beer is better than English ale, (he wishes!) LOL

But I think our friend Belgian guy is suffering from sour grapes because Belgium can't make it to the top tier in football!
That thought did occur to me.
the non automatic spots- ie group runners up, 4th, 5th place finishers all be placed into a group drawing wherein they are randomly (hopefully no fixes here) drawn to play one another home and away.

As Andy said then the issue would be solved on the field. Perhaps two solid European teams will be drawn together, perhaps they were will be an easy tie here and there, but either way I would love to see more of this as I think the idea of a random two legged tie played amongst the teams to guarantee qualification would add a further dimension and a great deal of excitment to this fantastic game.
That could work, maybe. At least it provides an element of the sort of thing I'm talking about.
Yeah, it's tougher to qualify from Europe, but the fact is the teams that miss out on qualifying aren't going to win it anyways, and ultimately it's good for soccer in the long run to see smaller nations make it to the big tournaments.
Well, you say that but what about Denmark winning the '92 EC? Denmark were only there because Yugoslavia got thrown out due to the civil war going on in the country.
Unfortunately the Ronaldo storm still looms
When you say, 'looms', I think you mean 'look forward to', don't you?

Man, watching old red nose bleating about Madrid being the most evil thing in world football and manipulating stuff will be great :) That's the thing about red nose... he's the gift that keeps on giving :D

[Kazuma]

Perez being the fighter in this one will make it all the more entertaining between him and Fergie.

[YOUNGSTARS87]

one would have to think it would be a scrap between us and Utd for Ribery. Better bidding against one team rather than two imo.

Ribery in an interview with TeleFoote has said he doesn't want to go to England, so that leaves Spain and Italy.

Perez being the fighter in this one will make it all the more entertaining between him and Fergie.

Oh that will be something to behold alright.

Two manipulative, untouchable, demi-gods going mano y mano. The upper hand goes to Perez though because he's just too fooking manipulative. He's already started with his "I want to be friends with Manchester" rubbish.

[Portugeezer!]

Well then, if the likes of France, England and Portugal are truly that much better than their European peers, they should just prove it by qualifying.

I suspect that people who most protest the current WC set-up would want to make the WC something like the EC + Brazil, Argentina and maybe two or three token African sides.

Looking at the current set-up, where would you take away qualifying slots to award to the UEFA zone?

* Europe (UEFA): 13 places
* Africa (CAF): 5 places (+ South Africa as host nation)
* South America (CONMEBOL): 4 or 5 places
* Asia (AFC): 4 or 5 places
* North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 or 4 places
* Oceania (OFC): 0 or 1 place


South America should get 4
Asia should get 3
CONCACAF should only get 2
Oceania should get 1
UEFA 16
Africa 6

[Macksam]

South America should get 4
Asia should get 3
CONCACAF should only get 2
Oceania should get 1
UEFA 16
Africa 6
An attempt to sound politically correct or do you honestly believe that?:p

[Macksam]

Kaka completes switch to Madrid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8082147.stm

Its official.
Real Madrid have gotten the greatest player of our generation in my opinion. I hope he wins a CL or two with them.

[Portugeezer!]

An attempt to sound politically correct or do you honestly believe that?:p

No I'm serious. Why not? Either that, or have 4 from south America and 5 from Africa and have #5 South America play #6 Africa in playoff. After Argentina, Brazil, and Uraguay in South America, I could care less about the other teams. I would rather see some African teams than Chile or Columbia.