Any REAL football fans here? (Page 57)

....and leave a mark - ouch!

This era of Spanish football is by far the most dominant I have ever seen - even the Brazilian world cup runs in recent WC's were interrupted by other winners - I believe we are watching the best ever team - not only due to results but the nature of their play. 

The Dutch may have invented "total football" in the Cruyff days but the Spanish have perfected it - playing no recognized strikers in most games yet winning the tournament - and lest we forget only conceding one goal..

I doubt they can win in Brazil in '14 since Europeans have never one in South America but I will be pulling for them

Brazil will definitely be interesting. 

Italy basically ran out of steam and players (injuries). 

It hurted and lef a big mark as bcozican said....Nothing worse than having to fly out of the country for work on a sunday, rushing to the hotel bar before checking in to watch the game and see that outcome...Luckily it is Jamaica and the hotel bar was empty lol.

As you said, Italy ran out of steam and injuries played a role, but they just crashed against a team that is in the discussion for best ever.  I'm proud how the Azzurri played, they went down trying.  To win this game they needed to score early and then bunker down, once Spain open the score i knew it was over even if i didnt want to admit it and desperately chewed my nails.

It was a fun Eurocup and even more discussing it with you guys.....

Well don't go anywhere.  Plenty happening this summer.

MLS (yes I know, it doesn't have the same quality, but I still follow)

The occasional Friendly.

And of course, your favorite and mine, the silly season.  Trading is already going on and will be for a while. 

There are some hot names up on the trading block.  The one I will continue to follow is Dempsey.  And then, of course, keeping a close eye on who Liverpool has their eyes on.

So, anyone with trading predictions?

Silly season underway with the usual exodus from Arse - RVP and maybe Walcott ( no loss to Arse in my opinion) - RVP is a loss but given that Newcastle was able to find 2 class strikers for a lot less money there are options out there..

Big money teams are carving up the best between them - only teams with Sugar daddies are able to pay the fees and wages demanded by top players - as stated before - its unsustainable and will collapse at some point.

So they are getting fast and furious.

Carroll linked with a potential loan.

Boroni possible from Roma to LFC.  Dempsey was also talked about but a big impass on the offering.  Fulham standing firm on 10 million, LFC won't go above 8.

Oscar to Chelsea.

Schalke drop Van der Vaart talks.

Park Ji-Sung to QPR from ManUre.

PSG not interested in RVP.

Hell, even Everton is trying to get Landycakes back permanently. 

Not that it is a surprise considering the state of the current global economic environment but

Transfer spending down a 1/3 in the first half of 2012.

And if it wouldnt be because of PSG it would be even lower.

I think the FFPR has had a bigger impact than the global economic environment.  It will be interesting to see if it is actually enforced.  Specially if they have to punish one of the big teams.

At this point, they don't think so.  Namely because of the % of spending in countries outside of UEFA that appear to be affected.

Oh, and on an entirely different note, this time tomorrow, I'll be getting ready to go to Fenway to watch 'Pool v Roma.  I'm totally gigged and so is th wife. 

yeah, I realize it won't be the full team, but I don't care.  I get to see some of my boys in red play. 

Wouldn't it be nice if they could finalize the Dempsey deal tomorrow?  I've already promised the missus a jersey if he is signed.

Thoughts on the US v Canada match?

I didn't get to see it but from what I've read, Canada comes off as sore losers.

They have a reason to be very upset in my opinion...I have followed football for a very long time, and i have never seen a free kick awarded for a delay of game.  Those rare moments when the call is made, it always results in a yellow card and kick the ball.  Mind you, they didnt score with the free kick awarded, but that free kick also led to a 50/50 call for a handball which resulted in the penalty kick that tied the game.

For US fans, the call seems fair and the rule was enforced.  For Canadians and football fans in general it was a horrible call.

By the way, how was the match at Fenway

From what I've read, it was a poorly called match all around.  For both sides. 

Fenway was awesome.

Here is some evidence.

(This is Fenway.JPG)

Niceeeeee...It should have been a great atmosphere, i love Fenway doesnt matter what the event is.

I have a trip planned to England next year and plan in catching a game in Anfield.  People i work with are ardent Liverpool fans and they are normally the team that i root for in the premiership.

I think that particular call was crappy, but so were about two separate no-calls where Alex Morgan was tackled inside the box.  USA could've ended up with a PK on one of those and Canada would have no room to complain.

I agree that the officiating was bad in general, but you see non calls inside the box all the time, fair or not.  What you never see is a free kick inside the box for a delay of game to the goalkeeper.  I was happy to see our girls win, but i understand why canadians are pissed and i dont blame them....

Yeah but some of the Canadians were basically calling the ref out for match fixing.  If that was the ref's objective, there were much better opportunities to award a PK.

apparently the GK for Canada had been warned and also told at half to speed up - so this was not the first time she knew of the issue...

Agreed but it is so rare to give a free kick.  Normally a yellow is given. 

Exactly my point, and she was warned by the linesman not by the referee.  As i said, i cannot recall this call being made at any level, i have always seen the yellow, and in couple of occassions the red after two yellow but that was in lower level.

That is irrelevant.  Warned by one, warned by all.

Disclaimer: I used to play striker

After watching the final, I can see why Alex Morgan was having trouble scoring this tournament.

She's blazing fast and she has good ball control.  But when a defender gets between her and the goal, she ALWAYS makes her cut to the outside.  If Wambach is chasing, great, because Morgan has an excellent cutback cross.  But when she's alone she ends up taking a strike from a really poor angle.

She needs to get the defender's hips turned and cut to the inside.  Or at least attempt it once in awhile to surprise them.  Yeah a smart defender will try to push you baseline but it's a striker's job to beat people on that inside cut.  She needs to get that in her arsenal.

Good analysis - I see a lot of flaws with this National team both tactically and technically - I truly believe that they should distance their competition easily but are held back by current coaching. I know results speak louder than substance sometimes so Sundhagen gets the accolades - however, I think the standard of the Womens national team has gone down over her reign.

The defending was awful in the final and tactically they are very predictable and slow. Even decisions out of the back are startlingly naive and when they have the lead they look uncertain and vulnerable due to their decisions.

Athletically and individually this team should be #1 every year by a large margin - if they could add the tactical and skill level of France/Japan, of which I think they are capable, then they would enjoy an easier time in games.

Japan should have won this game but the US deserved the World Cup on the balance of play - guess it all evens out in the end.