The BigSoccer "What If?" Thread

[SirManchester]

Continuing in the tradition of the classic comic book series it would be interesting, at least I think so, to see what would have happened were things not how they really happened. How would things be different if one team did sign that one player that got away, or had a team not missed that crucial penalty...you guys get the point.

I'm going to start this off with a transfer story that still keeps me up at night.

What If Manchester United signed Ronaldinho last summer.

Well, I think Manchester would not have finished third in the Premier League and would have gone farther in the Champions League. Ronaldinho kinda single handidly revived Barcelona and led them to their spectacular run in La Liga. Also, Manchester wouldn't have dropped so many points in certain matches, ex: Wolves (ARG!!!). Ronaldinho would have pulled the team together well and be a constant threat while scoring some goals.

I don't know whether or not Man U would have won the Champions League with Ronaldinho, that was just so unpredictable, but they would have certainly done a lot better.

[AFCA]

What if some sort of budget-cap was installed in Euro football?

I think French, Italian and Dutch football clubs would rule Europe.

[210597]

In 1958, a 13-yr-old from München's working-class area Giesing was slapped in the face by a player from Giesing's pride of the city, 1860 Munich, during a youth game. Stung in more ways than one, he vowed not to join the "Blues", and instead joined up with a smaller club from the more noble Harlaching section of town, a club by the name of Bayern Munich.

The kid's name was Franz Beckenbauer.

What if Beckenbauer hadn't gotten that slap? Would 1860 have been even more dominant in the 1960s? Would they have defeated West Ham in the Cup Winners' Cup finals? Would Bayern have ever even achieved promotion to the Bundesliga? Would Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller have joined other clubs, or maybe never taken their talent to the highest level at all? Would Franz Beckenbauer have even made the first team at 1860? Or would 1860 have become the richest club in Germany, not going down in 1970, but instead retaining a young striker named Klaus Fischer, and building a team around Beckenbauer, Petar Radenkovic in goal and Rudi Brunnenmeier and Klaus Fischer up front? Would Fischer, and not Müller, be remembered as Germany's greatest striker, with the stigma of the Bundesliga scandal not attached to him for years and a lot more national caps as a result of it?

Fascinating thought, isn't it?

[Deuteriumoxide]

What if instead of taking over eddie brock... the alien symbiont had taken over the punisher?

oh wait... they actually did that one.

[Gordon EF]

What if the East Fife board of directors had accepted Stevie Archibald's demand to go full time in 1996...

Would Setvie have stayed on as manager, signed a group of players who would have consolidated our place in the 1st division, crowds would have flocked back to Bayview and we would have enterec the SPL, maybe winning a League or Scotttish Cup? Or maybe would have gone bust, spending money we never had.

Either way, it didn't happen and East Fife were relegated under Jimmy Bone. Our plummet down the Leagues would only halt 7 years later under Jim Moffat.

[Dark Savante]

Here's one for ya:

What if Marc Bosman had lost his case.......

[Auriaprottu]

What if the ref had called the handball in USA-GER 2002?

What if someone other than a just-got-on-the-pitch Zico had taken that PK against France in '86?

What if the ref had redcarded Schumacher in '82?

[Gordon EF]

What if Marc Bosman had lost his case.......

Everything would be set right in the world and football could go back to a state of sanity........if only.

[Gordon EF]

What if the ref had called the handball in USA-GER 2002?



USA would either have been beaten by S.Korea or Brazil. Dosen't matter, it was always going to be Brazil's tournament after the QFs.

[DanRod78]

What if Simon Bolivar had accomplished his efforts and Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina were one country???
What if Southamerican countries were as rich as European countries?
What if I was a professional soccer player?

[Auriaprottu]

USA would either have been beaten by S.Korea or Brazil. Dosen't matter, it was always going to be Brazil's tournament after the QFs.

Well, there's still no certainty that the USA would have beaten Germany, as the PK would have only tied the match (IIRC). But had they beaten Germany, I'm convinced they they'd have beaten S. Korea as well. I don't think they would have beaten Brasil.

But why are you counting out Turkey? They were the team that gave Brasil its toughest match(es), not Germany. I don't think there was any reason to favor the Selecao until after the semis.

[Kaushik]

In 1958, a 13-yr-old from München's working-class area Giesing was slapped in the face by a player from Giesing's pride of the city, 1860 Munich, during a youth game. Stung in more ways than one, he vowed not to join the "Blues", and instead joined up with a smaller club from the more noble Harlaching section of town, a club by the name of Bayern Munich.

The kid's name was Franz Beckenbauer.

What if Beckenbauer hadn't gotten that slap? Would 1860 have been even more dominant in the 1960s? Would they have defeated West Ham in the Cup Winners' Cup finals? Would Bayern have ever even achieved promotion to the Bundesliga? Would Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller have joined other clubs, or maybe never taken their talent to the highest level at all? Would Franz Beckenbauer have even made the first team at 1860? Or would 1860 have become the richest club in Germany, not going down in 1970, but instead retaining a young striker named Klaus Fischer, and building a team around Beckenbauer, Petar Radenkovic in goal and Rudi Brunnenmeier and Klaus Fischer up front? Would Fischer, and not Müller, be remembered as Germany's greatest striker, with the stigma of the Bundesliga scandal not attached to him for years and a lot more national caps as a result of it?

Fascinating thought, isn't it?
What stretch of imagination! A nice read though.

[Gordon EF]

Well, there's still no certainty that the USA would have beaten Germany, as the PK would have only tied the match (IIRC). But had they beaten Germany, I'm convinced they they'd have beaten S. Korea as well. I don't think they would have beaten Brasil.

But why are you counting out Turkey? They were the team that gave Brasil its toughest match(es), not Germany. I don't think there was any reason to favor the Selecao until after the semis.

True.

I know what you mean, but could you really see Brazil blowing it. The little kids had their fun at that World Cup, the biggest boy was never going to let them win.

[LeslieSantosfan]

What if blatter succeeded? Sexy jersey for the women side?

Imagine that "model" girl on US team wearing tight like the Aussie B-ball team. Poor Brandi can't take her jersey off tho after she score......owell, she isn't playing anyway, right?

*wolf howling*

[Mobile]

What if England had entered the first 3 World Cups?

[afgrijselijkheid]

what if kluivert's PK against italy in the euro2000 semis had hit the inside of the post 3mm to the right of where it did?

ORANJE probably would have whooped the azzurri 3-0 and beaten france at the ArenA to lift the trophy for the second time

[Gordon EF]

What if England had entered the first 3 World Cups?

What if Scotland had entered the first 3 World Cups?

What if that ********, David Seaman hadn't let a pish Kluivert shot through his legs to make it 1-4?

What if Ally McCoist had stepped up instead of Gary McCALLISTER?

[Mobile]

What if Scotland had entered the first 3 World Cups?

They still wouldn't have made it past the first round :D

What if that ********, David Seaman hadn't let a pish Kluivert shot through his legs to make it 1-4?

Then you'd have to be eternally grateful to England for allowing you to qualify out of that group.

What if Ally McCoist had stepped up instead of Gary McCALLISTER?

We'd still have beaten you 2-1 :p

[Gordon EF]

They still wouldn't have made it past the first round :D



Then you'd have to be eternally grateful to England for allowing you to qualify out of that group.



We'd still have beaten you 2-1 :p

:D

Come on, we might have made it past the 1st round. And then, without that monkey on our back, we would have won the World Cup in 1978. Think outside the box.

I think England only cheated and let Holland through because they knew they weren't good enough to beat Scotland a second time, especially if it wasn't at Wembley. We would then have gone on to win Euro 96.

I think we would have gone on to win the game and Euro 96.

[Mobile]

I think we would have gone on to win the game and Euro 96.

Oi! That's our line!