LGP Futbol Thread - (CL, EPL, Serie A, Liga, 2014 World Cup)

[largegarlic]

Wow, Spurs signed Dempsey right before the window closed. This has to be one of the biggest clubs that a US field player has played for. I know Onyewu was at AC Milan for a couple years, but I don't think he ever really played. Going back a ways, I think Jovan Kirovski played for Borussia Dortmund when they won the Champions League in the mid-late 90s, but I think he washed out pretty quickly. That's about it for US field players that were at clubs as big/bigger than Spurs, at least as far as I can remember.

[Idoit40fans]

Reyna?

[largegarlic]

Reyna?

That's true. He played for Rangers when they were still a pretty big deal.

[GaryRissling]

Also had a good spell at Sunderland then City.

[GaryRissling]

I think there are more teams capable of contending for a top-4 finish this season than I can remember. Spurs, Newcastle, maybe even Everton could be in the mix with the usual contenders.

As optimistic as I am about Liverpool under Rodgers, it looks to me like it's going to take another transfer window or two to undo Daglish's buys and bring in the new blood as well as depth players capable of competing with the aforementioned teams.

[Rocco]

Dempsey is at Spurs and not Pool because Pool would only offer 5M and not 7M. Really, after all the money they wasted on mediocre Brits last year, now they're drawing the line over a small sum that would be made up in jersey sales? This annoys me so much. Yes, now is a great time to go cheap.

[GaryRissling]

I felt the same thing at first, but Liverpool aren't a player away from being where they want to be. I hope that their aim is to build a team from younger players that can replace Carragher, Gerrard, etc. I think Dempsey is just a couple of years older than the ideal signings they're looking for- and inasmuch as CL qualification is unlikely with or without Dempsey, they can afford to be patient.

[GaryRissling]

BREAKING: Man Utd have rejected a £38m bid from Man City for Howard Webb.

Sport Jokes Sport Jokes ‏@FootballFunnys

[Kraftster]

Finally!

[Kraftster]

Damn, I didn't realize Swansea lost Joe Allen too, liked him a lot last year.

[Rocco]

Raheem Sterling looks good. He'd look great with a guy like Clint Dempey. Wait, that's right, Pool have decided 2M would break them after blowing out the budget for mediocre British players last summer. They could have called Clive Owen and gotten the money, he's a Pool fan.

[SolidSnake]

RVP with the trick today

[Gaucho]

Ronaldo unhappy at Real, wants 50 ft statue in his honor.

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/09/03/tearful-cristiano-ronaldo-unhappy-at-real-madrid-over-mystery-professional-issue-that-could-spark-bernabeu-exit/

Ok, I invented the last part, but I really feel for the poor boy. *sniffle*

[GaryRissling]

Anyone happen to know if there are viewing options for the game tonight?

[pfim]

Wow, Spurs signed Dempsey right before the window closed. This has to be one of the biggest clubs that a US field player has played for. I know Onyewu was at AC Milan for a couple years, but I don't think he ever really played. Going back a ways, I think Jovan Kirovski played for Borussia Dortmund when they won the Champions League in the mid-late 90s, but I think he washed out pretty quickly. That's about it for US field players that were at clubs as big/bigger than Spurs, at least as far as I can remember.

Donovan played at Bayern, just a loan though.

[pfim]

Anyone happen to know if there are viewing options for the game tonight?

Dish, Directv, Comcast. hopefully a bar in your area has one of those.

Or some illegal feed on the internet, which is probably how I'll watch.

[GaryRissling]

Good God, that was awful.

[largegarlic]

Yep, pretty freakin' terrible performance by the US. It's pathetic to have to hope for Antigua and Barbuda to pull out a result in Guatemala to keep us in decent shape for qualifying for the next round.

[Tomas]

Goalie-acrobat (Danish 2nd league):

[Avyran]

Dempsey in tonight's game against Jamaica.

[Kraftster]

The wood work is in good form tonight for Jamaica.

[Avyran]

Wood work comes back to hurt Jamaica too. Goalie gets mad after the US goal, kicks the post, injures his leg. Hasn't taken a goal kick since.

[pfim]

Great 65 minutes. Pathetic last 25. They literally stopped attacking. Altidore had 3 nice thru balls Twellman chided him for, when Shea and Williams refused to move forward. Dempsey should have been subbed, he was dead after the goal and wasn't that great before it.

[largegarlic]

Great 65 minutes. Pathetic last 25. They literally stopped attacking. Altidore had 3 nice thru balls Twellman chided him for, when Shea and Williams refused to move forward. Dempsey should have been subbed, he was dead after the goal and wasn't that great before it.

I mostly agree with this assessment. I think it was partly due to Jamaica getting desperate and putting more pressure on the ball, but the US has to do better keeping possession and still being positive to kill off important games that they lead.

I kind of agree with Twellman about Altidore (although the ball to Shea would have been perfect if Shea hadn't stopped his run). When you come on as a forward with 10 minutes left with a 1 goal lead, you have to understand that your role is to work like crazy to keep pressure on the opposing defenders, not letting them play cleanly out of the back, and holding the ball up top and in the corners to kill the clock. If you see a surefire attacking move open up for you take it, but otherwise just stick to the above. I didn't think Altidore worked hard pressing the Jamaican defenders, who were very prone to giveaways when pressured, and he had some pretty bad turnovers that led to Jamaican breaks (the one that immediately comes to mind was the short corner he worked with Shea). I think I would have preferred Boyd coming on instead of Altidore. While not as skilled as Altidore, that guy works his butt off every time he gets on the field.

I would add too that Danny Williams, much to the joy of the Beckerman haters, might have taken over that deep-lying center mid role. He looked very good there last night.

[GaryRissling]

I've been to three wcq's at crew stadium including last night. I absolutely love that place-- the field is in incredible shape, the fans were tremendous, and you're right on top of the action as the stands are built very close to the field. If you ever get a chance to check out a meaningful us game (hopefully US/Mexico will play there in the hex), you won't be disappointed.