Other Team Discussion Thread Part the Third (ALL Teams, ALL Leagues, ALL Competitions - R)

[NattyBo]

Two observations from the Liverpool / Chelsea match.

Even Premiership referees can destroy a match. Yesterday's officiating performance was straight out of the MLS archives. Poor positioning, poor game and man management, and absurdly poor calls (both ways). There is a bright side, however: the bastard has been dropped for match assignments this weekend.

(http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=455023&cc=5901)
The pace, intensity, and quality of the match were breathtaking. These two teams just plain don't like one another. It has been a while since I have watched a top EPL match; the EPL at its highest level is a wonder to behold. To continue that second observation, however, is the significant drop-off between Liverpool/Chelsea and Newcastle/Villa. The entertainment quality for a neutral simply was not there. While it was not dire, it was not lively, either.
. But I do not expect MLS to compete with Europe.

Thanks for reading...
I like watching the top 6-8 in the EPL but the rest is a snooze, even the relegation battle games are pretty dire.

For top flight stars yet entertaining mid-table games I turn to La Liga. I appreciate the "comittment" shown by EPL sides, but I think that hustle and bad tackling are also a bit over-rated. On the flip side I can't count how many times I've turned on enthralling mid table battles in the Primera.

Bundesliga was great last year but I can see Bayern Munich running away with it easily this year.

FWIW I take MLS for what it is: DC is my hometown team and there is nothing like seeing a game of soccer played at a reasonably high level live, especially at RFK.

[RayWhitney]

Funny, I was suspecting more comments about the officiating than anything about atmosphere.

FWIW, I do not need the crowd atmosphere--especially in a match as spiteful as yesterday's--but I certainly understand the attraction.

[MattMathai]

From Peter King's weekly NFL column:
=====================
Sports Illustrated NFL editor Mark Mravic [was] on the scene at what I heard was a great sports event, the MLS game (with David Beckham) between the New York and L.A. teams Saturday night at the Meadowlands, witnessed by 67,000 and won by the Red Bulls, 5-4:

"Well, the tailgate scene was kind of surreal. Just like a Jets or Giants game at the Meadowlands, with all the grills and tables and tents and even a few motorhomes, except that instead of people chucking footballs around the parking lot, there were about 10,000 pickup soccer games going. And at least half of the fans playing in those games were little urchins in Beckham jerseys. Inside, every time Beckham set up for a corner kick or a free kick, the crowd would rise in anticipation -- and then a chorus of boos would cascade down. The Red Bulls fans may have been outnumbered, but they were louder by far. Beckham's pure class, though. After the game he walked around the edge of the field applauding all the fans that showed up.

"I've been to bigger soccer games -- U.S.-Mexico at the World Cup in Korea; U.S.-Italy last summer in Germany -- but I've never had more fun at one.''


Soccer is really a fun game when done right. I hope that game helps the cause.
=============

Me too.

[Bootsy Collins]

Two observations from the Liverpool / Chelsea match.
[LIST=1]
Even Premiership referees can destroy a match. Yesterday's officiating performance was straight out of the MLS archives. Poor positioning, poor game and man management, and absurdly poor calls (both ways). There is a bright side, however: the bastard has been dropped for match assignments this weekend.

(http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=455023&cc=5901)

I've been meaning to bring this up ever since yesterday morning. The EPL season is very young; yet it has seemed like every single match day, one of the matches that day has had an awful call by a referee determine the outcome -- phantom penalties, balls that obviously crossed the goal line ruled as still in play, etc. I've routinely savaged referees in this league; but so far, the standard of officiating in the EPL has been pretty awful too.

[Bootsy Collins]

Nice! Can someone rep him for me please?

done.

[Th4119]

done.

Thank you, sir.

[jason1551]

Interesting news over the last few days:

Fire signs Conde, waives Oliviera, and still needs to move an SI. I still don't get how they could sign Conde without dumping an SI, but MLS rules have always been less that logical.

Cunningham and O'Brien are basically done for the year after both learning that they need surgery to fix their ailments. One alone would be a major blow, but losing both basically leaves TFC with only a glimmer of hope for a playoff spot.

[s0ccerm0m]

Segares sent off for a hard tackle on Sealy. 67th minute. Tied 1-1.

[s0ccerm0m]

Sealy scores the go-ahead goal on a play where the ball was way out of bounds, and Chicago stopped playing thinking they had a throw-in. Linesman really missed that call.

[WFU03]

I actually am not sure that ball was out. The camera angle made it look like it was, but I bet the edge of the ball was still on the line.

[s0ccerm0m]

I actually am not sure that ball was out. The camera angle made it look like it was, but I bet the edge of the ball was still on the line.


On the replay, it was clearly out. By at least a couple of inches.

[WFU03]

I'm was talking about on the replay. :eek:

[JLZ286]

Burciaga makes it 3-1 KC.

And 2 minutes later Robinson makes it 3-2.

[griffin1108]

Looking at the standings, is it time for the Lalasgals playoff deathwatch? They have 6 games in hand on Houston, but sitting with only 14 points, even if they won all six that would give them 32 points in 22 games which would be tied for sixth with KC which is at 32 points. Chivas would be 8th at 30 points. The problem (one of many) in that scenario is that KC is at 32 points with 21 played and Chivas is at 30 with only 18 played. Lalasgals really have to run the table to make it into the playoffs this year.

[onefineesq]

Just so everyone knows, Goias defeated Cruzeiro in Copa Sulamericana. The significance? The winner of DC United/Guadalajara plays the winner of the Arsenal/San Lorenzo vs now GOIAS tie. The first leg of the Arsenal/San Lorenzo matchup ended in a draw 1-1, at the home of Arsenal. The second leg isn't until November 6th.

[Bootsy Collins]

Looking at the standings, is it time for the Lalasgals playoff deathwatch? They have 6 games in hand on Houston, but sitting with only 14 points, even if they won all six that would give them 32 points in 22 games which would be tied for sixth with KC which is at 32 points. Chivas would be 8th at 30 points. The problem (one of many) in that scenario is that KC is at 32 points with 21 played and Chivas is at 30 with only 18 played. Lalasgals really have to run the table to make it into the playoffs this year.
The last current playoff team is Cowlumbus at 26 points; so LA is 12 points out. They have five games in hand compared to Cowlumbus. Can they make up 12 points in 5 games? Certainly; but it's hard to imagine.

[Bolivianfuego]

Just so everyone knows, Goias defeated Cruzeiro in Copa Sulamericana. The significance? The winner of DC United/Guadalajara plays the winner of the Arsenal/San Lorenzo vs now GOIAS tie. The first leg of the Arsenal/San Lorenzo matchup ended in a draw 1-1, at the home of Arsenal. The second leg isn't until November 6th.

I bet San Lorenzo, their team is nasty. They won the argentine league last year.

[JLZ286]

Isnt San Lorenzo Christian's old team? Or am I thinking of someone else?

[Boloni86]

Isnt San Lorenzo Christian's old team? Or am I thinking of someone else?

No, Christian has played for Independiente, Nueva Chicago, Argentinos Juniors and Arsenal Sarandi.

[iammrben]

I'm sure this is fast becoming old news, but FCD's got Denilson now: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=456121&cc=5901 Projected first start -- 1 Sept vs DCU