linksfiend Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-f...ov=ap&type=lgns U-S-A!! U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!! 665890[/snapback] It's too bad that they couldn't have moved up before the World Cup draw. We probably would've been a #1 seed. Instead, now we're is a group with #2 Czech Republic and #14 Italy. That's the hardest group in my opinion.
meazza Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 The Champions league level is really better than the World Cup. this season's Barcelona could easyly beat any world champion team in history. Club teams are real teams, national teams are made up with selection committees, most of them thinking politics before soccer and they only play together a dozen times a year while club teams are year round built and trained. and about France's team...Excuse me but what are you talking about? 666739[/snapback] IMHO Brazil's team of this year could easily be one of the best ever in the game. Ronaldhino, Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldo, and the rest can score goals by the ton. Barcelona is a great team but I easily felt that Juve was one of the best teams as well. I think they lost in Europe because of their coach, who is one of the best coaches of all time... yet has never won in Europe. I'm not sad about it though cuz the !@#$er went to Juve after publically stating he would never coach that club.
ajzepp Posted April 21, 2006 Author Posted April 21, 2006 It's too bad that they couldn't have moved up before the World Cup draw. We probably would've been a #1 seed. Instead, now we're is a group with #2 Czech Republic and #14 Italy. That's the hardest group in my opinion. 666977[/snapback] Based on what I've learned about the teams in our group, I would have to agree with you I didn't realize the Czechs were that good, and Italy is ALWAYS good. It will be a true test for the US to see if they can come out of that group. If they do, it may do wonders for the US fans. You might see WC ratings hit record levels......unless ABC and ESPN do a poor job of promoting how big of an accomplishment it would actually be to come out of that group, then people will probably still continue to not give a rat's ass, lol.
ajzepp Posted April 21, 2006 Author Posted April 21, 2006 People would come up to me in Glasgow and scream in my face- RANGER OR CELTIC?! I asked what are you? Usually they were Rangers. I asked "what would you do if I said Celtic"? "I would punch you". I then went to Belfast and saw more of the same. Anyways I bought a Celtic jersey and was a hero in Dublin- an American wearing a Celtic jersey. I also had some people yell some stuff at me like "go bomb some busses". Intense 666918[/snapback] LOL, that's a riot....sounds pretty damn intense, too.....you're smart for asking those questions before answering,
Pete Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 LOL, that's a riot....sounds pretty damn intense, too.....you're smart for asking those questions before answering, 667165[/snapback] I also had people yell at me "EVERTON OR LIVERPOOL?". That is also religious based. Everton=Protestant, Liverpool -Catholic. Man city=Protestant, ManU=Catholic. Religion is huge over there. I truly learned to appreciate freedom of religion that we have in the USA
ajzepp Posted April 21, 2006 Author Posted April 21, 2006 I also had people yell at me "EVERTON OR LIVERPOOL?". That is also religious based. Everton=Protestant, Liverpool -Catholic. Man city=Protestant, ManU=Catholic. Religion is huge over there. I truly learned to appreciate freedom of religion that we have in the USA 667175[/snapback] As interesting as I find that dynamic, it's pretty damn hypocritical for these Christians to act like that, you know?
Pete Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 As interesting as I find that dynamic, it's pretty damn hypocritical for these Christians to act like that, you know? 667183[/snapback] To be honest everytime I was asked that question it was a Ranger that asked me. Thats why I bought a Celtic shirt- which I am wearing right now. I found Rangers to be very antagonistic and rude. In fact right before I arrived in Dublin the Rangers decided to bus down there and march down O'Connell Street. Well you can imagine how that went down. There is lots of construction going on there-the Irish bashed in the Rangers heads with bricks and burned down the Rangers bus. What the !@#$ were the Rangers thinking?
ajzepp Posted April 21, 2006 Author Posted April 21, 2006 To be honest everytime I was asked that question it was a Ranger that asked me. Thats why I bought a Celtic shirt- which I am wearing right now. I found Rangers to be very antagonistic and rude. In fact right before I arrived in Dublin the Rangers decided to bus down there and march down O'Connell Street. Well you can imagine how that went down. There is lots of construction going on there-the Irish bashed in the Rangers heads with bricks and burned down the Rangers bus. What the !@#$ were the Rangers thinking? 667187[/snapback] Geesh! That's way over the line.....I think both of them need to go back and read their damn Bibles a little more, lol. I don't remember the part in the Gospels where Jesus goes over to the pharisees, beating them over the head with a brick and lighting their mules on fire
meazza Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 just a few video clips to get you in the mood http://propunter.blogspot.com/2006/03/foot...-cup-goals.html and a guy you're going to have to watch out for this summer http://propunter.blogspot.com/2006/03/foot...esco-totti.html
Pete Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 Geesh! That's way over the line.....I think both of them need to go back and read their damn Bibles a little more, lol. I don't remember the part in the Gospels where Jesus goes over to the pharisees, beating them over the head with a brick and lighting their mules on fire 667202[/snapback] You know- I hear what you are saying. I am Irish Catholic and thought the whole situation was ridiculous and silly. I went over with that attitude. Well I could not help but getting caught up in it. I wear my Celtic jersey proudly. Belfast is one crazy city. There is a 30 foot wall that divides Falls Road(Catholic) and Shankskills Road(Protestant). You need to watch where you walk- especially if you are Irish. Its !@#$ing nuts over there!
ajzepp Posted April 21, 2006 Author Posted April 21, 2006 just a few video clips to get you in the mood http://propunter.blogspot.com/2006/03/foot...-cup-goals.html and a guy you're going to have to watch out for this summer http://propunter.blogspot.com/2006/03/foot...esco-totti.html 667208[/snapback] Wow, that guy is good.....those shots he was taking from outside the box were SICK! He seems like a master and finding his shot in traffic, too. I couldn't tell if he was the guy who did that bicycle kick or the one who scored off the deflection, but the bicycle kick was aweome If the video quality was better I'd watch the 17 min one
meazza Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 Wow, that guy is good.....those shots he was taking from outside the box were SICK! He seems like a master and finding his shot in traffic, too. I couldn't tell if he was the guy who did that bicycle kick or the one who scored off the deflection, but the bicycle kick was aweome If the video quality was better I'd watch the 17 min one 667212[/snapback] ya this was the guy who spit in the face of a player during Euro 2004 and everyone hated him for it. Obviously it was a classless thing to do but hopefully he has matured since then. If he's on form, and plays better on the world stage, only Brazil could possibly stand in our way
ajzepp Posted April 21, 2006 Author Posted April 21, 2006 yathis was the guy who spit in the face of a player during Euro 2004 and everyone hated him for it. Obviously it was a classless thing to do but hopefully he has matured since then. If he's on form, and plays better on the world stage, only Brazil could possibly stand in our way 667214[/snapback] How's your defense and goaltending? That should be a strength of the American team, so should be a good match up against Totti. I think our team is pretty well-balanced, which may account for our ranking at #4. I don't know if Freddy Adu made the team or not, but if he did, he and Eddie Johnson are probably are two real game changers. Adu is obviously very inexperienced, though.....but talk about creating a shot? He's already shown flashes of brilliance.
meazza Posted April 21, 2006 Posted April 21, 2006 How's your defense and goaltending? That should be a strength of the American team, so should be a good match up against Totti. I think our team is pretty well-balanced, which may account for our ranking at #4. I don't know if Freddy Adu made the team or not, but if he did, he and Eddie Johnson are probably are two real game changers. Adu is obviously very inexperienced, though.....but talk about creating a shot? He's already shown flashes of brilliance. 667215[/snapback] Our defence is the best in the world. Buffon is in the top 5 of goaltenders and was once the first. Even his backup is probably better than most. Defence goes like this Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, (Not Sure) The first 3 are starters for their clubs, Nesta is considered to be one of the best in the world as well as Cannavaro. Noone could stop Totti, he just stops himself. What's important to keep an attacking midfielder in check is your two defensive midfielders, the guys who play in front of the defence but in back of the forwards. If those guys could control the midfield, should spell trouble for any opponent.
ajzepp Posted April 22, 2006 Author Posted April 22, 2006 Our defence is the best in the world. Buffon is in the top 5 of goaltenders and was once the first. Even his backup is probably better than most. Defence goes like this Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, (Not Sure) The first 3 are starters for their clubs, Nesta is considered to be one of the best in the world as well as Cannavaro. Noone could stop Totti, he just stops himself. What's important to keep an attacking midfielder in check is your two defensive midfielders, the guys who play in front of the defence but in back of the forwards. If those guys could control the midfield, should spell trouble for any opponent. 667222[/snapback] Wow.....well, sounds like it will be a very good victory for the US
GoodBye Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 Thanks, I added the book to my Amazon list.....I've got another wave of CDs I want to order, so the book will add some variety Aside from my brother (who also played for many years), I don't think I know ANYONE else who likes soccer. It's sort of a drag cause it's always more fun when you have people to share the interest with, but if I have to enjoy it myself then so be it Something else about the game that I really like is that most matches are usually right around 2 hrs. They really aren't that long at all, and it's pretty much two non-stop halves of competition. I've said this before, but I honestly believe if you take someone who'd never seen baseball or soccer, put them in front of a television and show them both sports, they'll pick soccer as the more entertaining 9 times out of 10. Oh well, I'm just glad that MLS is having enough success to remain a viable league. I know what you're saying about the competition....but the advantage that the MLS has for me is that it's carried by HDNet, and the games look AMAZING. I"m also pretty excited to see Freddy Adu come along. He may end up being the best thing to happen to American soccer in the last 25 years. 666803[/snapback] You know, I've watched both baseball and soccer a few times over the years and I'd pick soccer over baseball any day. Baseball to me is so dang boring! Well, maybe not as boring as watching golf, but still. Although, watching a baseball game live is a LITTLE more exciting but not enough to keep my interest for very long. lol That reminds me, I have two tickets to a baseball game. Anybody want them?? I've also been to a few of my nephew's high school soccer games. Yeah I know they aren't pro, but they are still really fun to watch. I love going to them even though it may be cold and/or raining outside. I can't imagine what going to a pro game would be like though.
Taro T Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 You know, I've watched both baseball and soccer a few times over the years and I'd pick soccer over baseball any day. Baseball to me is so dang boring! Well, maybe not as boring as watching golf, but still. Although, watching a baseball game live is a LITTLE more exciting but not enough to keep my interest for very long. lol That reminds me, I have two tickets to a baseball game. Anybody want them?? I've also been to a few of my nephew's high school soccer games. Yeah I know they aren't pro, but they are still really fun to watch. I love going to them even though it may be cold and/or raining outside. I can't imagine what going to a pro game would be like though. 667264[/snapback] The cool thing about going to a baseball game is, for the most part, you don't have to pay attention. 90% of the time, before anything on the field happens you will hear the CRACK of the bat hitting the ball. You just look up when somebody hits the ball and you are good to go. (All you miss is the occasional stolen base and guys scratching themselves. ) Of course, I've only been to 1 MLB game since '94, but I do still go to a few AAA games now and then.
meazza Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 The cool thing about going to a baseball game is, for the most part, you don't have to pay attention. 90% of the time, before anything on the field happens you will hear the CRACK of the bat hitting the ball. You just look up when somebody hits the ball and you are good to go. (All you miss is the occasional stolen base and guys scratching themselves. ) Of course, I've only been to 1 MLB game since '94, but I do still go to a few AAA games now and then. 667277[/snapback] I like baseball. I used to go see a lot of expos games back in da day. Baseball is entertaining and people could watch whatever they want to and I will never judge them, but what i always found funny was how people that hate soccer for the reason that it's "boring" will sit through 9 innings of a baseball game, 162 games a year.
meazza Posted April 22, 2006 Posted April 22, 2006 Wow.....well, sounds like it will be a very good victory for the US 667262[/snapback] It will be a nice game. What scares me the most is that the #1 seed of our group faces the #2 seed of Brazil's group. So Italy has gotta move their ass and finish first in the group because Brazil is just insane.
ajzepp Posted April 22, 2006 Author Posted April 22, 2006 It will be a nice game. What scares me the most is that the #1 seed of our group faces the #2 seed of Brazil's group. So Italy has gotta move their ass and finish first in the group because Brazil is just insane. 667282[/snapback] Wow, I didn't know that.....that definitely raises the stakes a little.
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