Any REAL football fans here? (Page 18)

Real Madrid - Europe's Answer to the Yankee's.

Just cause they are putting together a team of All-Stars doesn't mean they will do well.

Oh, and I'm going to have to find it but I heard a VERY quick blip on Fox Soccer Channel last night that Henry has again expressed interest in finishing his career in the MLS.  First links are with NY Red Bulls, BUT he is supposedly very good friends with Nash so he might be in Vancouver.  Should be interesting.

I haven't seen the clips yet, but it sounds as if the Mexico v. Panama match got REALLY ugly last night.  Anyone see the clips yet?

The thread lives!...I've been gone a couple of weeks..in Spain actually while the US beat them!...so my comments are a little dated

Confed cup - good results but still not the sort of performances to really say the US has arrived. The Spain and Brazil games were the "Alamo" reenacted...brief raids for a couple of goals and then backs the wall and hope to survive...at least Donovan came to play and looked better..and Howard was brilliant - all in all good publicity for US soccer since at least it got some media attention

Bradley made some tactical errors...I think his sphincter tightened when he went up 2-0 and thought he could hang on by defending...er...no...not enough quality at the back to do that....I think he should be given the 2010 WC then find someone else...

Transfers - Real are sick...thought there was a world financial crisis?..apparently not...as a side not...Valencia is in crippling debt...would not be surprised if in a year or two Real find themselves in the hole with these deals too...Ronaldo is set to earn millions in the years to come....and I'm sure Kaka has a similar scaled contract...should be interesting.

One interesting note is the shunning of the EPL by the big names....they are all heading to Spain in favor or England...I am sure climate, culture and the less physical nature of play has something to do with it and we may be seeing a swing in the "best league in the world" stakes....although the Champoins league will be the real test....can La Liga put 3 in the semis or 4 in the quarter finals?....

Gold Cup - shocking - makes the WPS watchable....hopefully it gets no press and no one pays attention..its not a good advertisement for US soccer or soccer in general for the neutral or casual soccer fan...even the US team is not a quality side..some of those players are just appalling and they are able to dominate other countries...not a fan.

I've been wondering where you were.

Yes, the Gold Cup quality of play is quite poor.  It has to be bad when the US B squad is so far 6-0 in their first two matches.  Don't know if you saw it, but Adu is out for the rest of the Gold Cup to return to Benfica to train in the pre-season.  Sign of playing time to come I hope because he needs it.  Also, if you hadn't heard, Gooch got picked up by AC Milan.  Which should prove to be interesting.

Real $ is sick.  I can't believe they have that much to spend on these players.  But, they tried this once before and it didn't work too well for them.  Only time will tell if second chances will be their charm.  Just cause they have the names, though, doesn't mean they will win it all.  I hope they don't spend themselves into oblivion.

I think, too, that there appears to be a cycle with who has the best league.  It felt that Italy had that claim not too long ago.  Whether true or not could be argued.  To me, it is a rotation between England, Spain and Italy.  The rest in Europe just don't have the team by team name recognition or player recognition that these three have. 

Finally, Bradley.  I didn't think he was the answer to begin with.  I'm not a "hater", I just don't think he is the one to get it done for the US.  I would love to be proven wrong, but I doubt it.  When we came out in the second half against Brasil and gave up the first one that quickly, I had a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.  It was confirmed with the second one and I knew it was only a matter of time for the third to go in.  I was hoping against hope. 

I agree that he needs to get us through 2010 and then be let go.  To me, I would consider it a good tournament if we make it out of the first round and win the next game.  I'm not setting the bar high because based on what I have seen, I doubt they will get that far.  They should make it out of the group stage (as long as they aren't in a group of death), but after that, meh. 

So tell me, what were the reactions in Spain after the loss?

One word.

FUGLY!

Had to go research what you were referencing...didnt have to look too hard since I presumed it was Gold Cup related...that tournament is a joke...

Haiti must have voodoo'd the US.....maybe they made a doll of Bradley and stuck pins in him...either way its embarrassing..but happens...good job noone is watching...

Looks like Mexico beat one of my local Tex-mex restaurants by a couple of goals too....

Re Spain...when they lost it was front page news...but since I am less than fluent in the language couldn't really say what the reaction was...but looked like shock etc.....

The biggest reason the tournament is a joke is because of the teams in CONCACAF.  Seriously.  Grenada?  Haiti?  i know it has been said before, but one of the big things against the US is the quality of play in our conference.  And that, in one word, is poor.  And it has gotten worse with the poor play of Mexico over the past 1-2 years. 

Speaking of which, their coach will now be spending the next 3 matches watching like the rest of us after his disgraceful "kick" at the Panama player.  Look it up on YouTube.  I can't believe he only got a 3 match ban.  Should be 10.  When I read about it I thought "oh it can't be that bad", but it is.  A crotch high kick at a Panama player.  I will say that even though Sven didn't get them too many wins, he got some major respect in my book when the last time we beat them, he demonstrated true class by shaking Bradley's hand and therefore a few of the other players did likewise.  First time that has happened in I don't know how many years.  Mexico is on a serious downward trend and I don't see it changing any time soon.

Wow, thanks for suggesting Youtube to see the coach kicking the Panama player. Reminded me of Woody Hayes, except Woody was immediately fired. Disgraceful, indeed.

Yeah, like I said.  I read about it first.  I thought maybe it was around the ankles or shins thing since he claimed he was going for the ball.  Then I watched it.  He should have said I was going for HIS balls.

Don't know if anyone was able to catch the Sounders/Chelsea game, but I did--in person! It was incredible. So cool to see 65K+ people in attendance. The Sounders lost 2-nil but really played well and had several good scoring opportunities. The Sounders had a lot of the ball, especially in the first half when Chelsea's first team was on the pitch. Didn't know it, but apparently in a friendly exhibition the 3-sub rule is waved because basically everyone played.

Saw an interview with Fat Frank on local Seattle TV after the game and he acknowledged the great crowd.

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What the heck were the shiney things on the field? Reflecting the sun?!!!!!

Overall the game was entertaining..great crowd - the difference in class was in the final third - Chelsea were able to be more clinical whereas Seattle could not find the final ball to finish some good approach play..

Yeah, it's something the Sounders do for MLS games, too--they release a buch of large-cut glitter. That picture was taken at the very beginning of the game when the some of the stuff is still floating in the air.

Speaking of the field, I don't know if they mentioned it on TV, but they brought in real grass just for this game. They usually play on field turf. Interesting, the grass wasn't going to waste--it will go to a local high school.

Euro season starts soon!

Can't wait, only a couple of weeks away!!

Please!!!!! At least it means the silly season is over...or about to be....seriously...Money City err..I mean Man City are making a mockery of the transfer market...$26M for Adebayor..who could not hit a cows arse with a banjo!....Wenger probably wet himself laughing when that deal was signed.....and among others...Toure!...The amount of money for some players is just astounding!...they have 7 strikers...interesting to see what formation they play....Hughes is over his head - wont las the season

From the off season transaction I say its situation normal..no one improved dramatically - not even Man City...so it will be Pool ( who will lose Alonso...bad idea).....Chelsea..done nothing...Man U..sold Ronaldo..so interesting to see where you get those 20-40 goals from..and Arsenal..the epitomy of doing nothing!

Answer - None, they are borrowing a lot at the moment, the club is about 1/2 billion $ in the red and Calderon (president of the club) is borrowing more to build the new team of superstars.  some of you may remember the Galacticos - Beckham, Ronaldo (Brazillian one) and co. they were the first group that Calderon spent a whole bunch on (again borrowing and not ready money), the new group are known as the Galacticos II and the manager has basically been told, you have the team, go win the domestic league and the champions league, this next season. 

So they are speculating with borrowed cash.  I would not want the managers job as I think he has a real hard task ahead even with the team he now has.

One final point, he needs to keep his hands off our Xabi!!!!!!!

Yeah, I am a Liverpool fan, through and through red!! 

Not looking good for Xabi.  I'll keep my fingers crossed though.

Lee Cattermole for $18M!!...:-)

Domino effect could be worse...out goes Mascherano...since he's made rumblings that if Alonso goes so does he....Pool should be worried..the foundation is crumbling...

i actually live in Wigan :-) I doubt Martinez will give him up easily, but you never know.

i don't think we need to worry just yet about the club crumbling :-), just a bit hacked off that Xabi looks like he's going, was a great player for us.  

Dewey - the crumbling was a reference really to depth...take a scenario where Gerrard ( who got a away with his assault wrap...criminal justice is an apt phrase there)..or Torres gets injured..which they seem to do...and then you lose Masch also...the back ups are not of enough quality to carry the team....if Pool wants to end the league title drought they need depth...and losing Alonso, Arbeloa et al is not the way to go..IMHO!...

Thank god we can debate really football for a change!

You hit the nail on the head.  this really hits our depth.  I would be ok losing Masch (real hot head and to me causes more trouble on the pitch than he is worth) but also Xabi and Arbeloa.  Takes away a real attacking mid field and severely limits our options should injuries happen.  And they always do.  no matter the team.