The Beautiful Game (The All Inclusive Soccer Thread)

[numbers]

MLS runs from march-November, most games are on weekends teams have mid week games from time to time. England and most of the European leagues run from august-May, again with weekend games and the occasional midweek game.

[numbers]

The champions league is on Tuesday and Wednesdays during the European season, it's kind of hard to explain to someone raised on American sports. Basically, the best teams from each country qualify for a separate league that is played simultaneously alongside the regular leagues. It's the best teams in Europe though so it's def something you want to watch if you are trying to get into soccer.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Really hoping Nigeria would beat France.

[bada]

Thanks for all the info numbers!

[numbers]

Always happy to help a new potential fan of the beautiful game.

[Norah]

Is overtime sudden death in this thing?

[Simple Torture]

Negative, they play the full 30 (two halves of 15).

[Norah]

This game is awful.

[numbers]

Yeah this one has been pretty brutal.

[Norah]

I didn't mean this one specifically.

[numbers]

well, then you are wrong.

[numbers]

In 8 years I have gone from your typical soccer hater to preferring it to everything other than baseball and hockey.

[Kaius]

that was a funny exchange, fellas

[verb_to_trust]

Get off our lawn Chud

[Norah]

it's called a pitch

[numbers]

alright so Altidore is available tomorrow, I doubt he starts though. Does Klinsmann go with the same attacking setup he has the last 2 games? If he's going to leave Dempsey up top by himself, I'd like see Bradley in more of an attacking role. I know his touch hasnt been good all tournament, but Beckerman and Jones are holding it down in the CDM spot, and the argument against playing Bradley more forward was that he was needed too much in defense. Also, I'd like to see Diskerud in the spot that has been going to Zusi and Bedoya so far. I still have this huge fear that this whole Beasley at LB thing is going to blow up in their faces at some point, but it's worked thus far.

[verb_to_trust]

[verb_to_trust]

If Zusi and Bedoya could combine their best qualities (crossing and defensive work rate) into one player that would be great. Unfortunately, I think you need to start both if JK is gonna go 4-2-3-1. I'd like to see the 4-4-2 that they brought out against Ghana with Jones on the left for Zusi though. Clint has done an admirable job up top by himself but he needs to be playing underneath a target forward for us to be at our best offensively and to take playmaking pressure off Bradley. If Altidore can go I think he needs to start. Bringing him on as a sub is too risky if he were to run out there and get injured in the second half.

[Electromatic]

I like Dempsey in the style that Germany seems to attack. Push the trap deep into the box, suck the defense in and then pop it out for a one timer to your killer with the keeper possibly screened (Dempsey) I'd like to see what Bradley could do pushed forward as well, he hasn't played his best game yet, but he has the ability, and I think he's better when he's attacking. I really want them to mark more closely especially in the midfield but I'm not sure they have the fitness or ability in all the positions to play that way yet.

I'm with you Numbers, I like where your heads at for this one, though I would bring Diskerud on as a sub because that's where I feel he's had the most success creatively.

I'd like to start with Altidore so that he only costs one sub if he's unhealthy and see if they can't do something with early set pieces between he and Dempsey. Hopefully Dempsey is healthy too.


Also... Eden Hazard kicks little boys.

[verb_to_trust]

Obligatory hype video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaTmXuQr0LA