The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thread

aldukes · 04-23-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

I am a United fan for the past 16 years now, so what do I know? Without AA playing in the 2 CL games we should be fine, IMO, especially now that the entire defensive line is back with room to spare (Wes Brown coming back). I am still worried about the front line, though, we still create a ton of chances and yet can only convert a few. I do hope Berbatov rides the bench for the rest of the campaign, we need all 11 on the pitch in every remaining game.

I'm not sure Rio is fit enough for the upcoming sched. Same with Wes Brown. I hate to say this, but Vidic is lost when Rio is out. Evra has been solid for pretty much the whole year- just a few bad games lately.

I think they should be safe in the Prem- but the CL should be interesting.

TheRiddick · 04-23-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldukes

I'm not sure Rio is fit enough for the upcoming sched. Same with Wes Brown. I hate to say this, but Vidic is lost when Rio is out. Evra has been solid for pretty much the whole year- just a few bad games lately.

I think they should be safe in the Prem- but the CL should be interesting.

Have to disagree on Vidic having been playing either center back or left back all my life. Like I said above somewhere, once you start thinking your partner is not up to par (Evans in this case) your entire game changes whether you like it or not since you now think for two people and expect to bail the other out. Evans has shown great ability and promise for the future, but as can be seen lately, physical and mental fatigue did him in eventually. Last game they did really well without Rio, not that Portsmouth was giving them much to think about (just 2 shots on goal in second half). If anything, I'll take Vidic over Rio, Rio has made plenty of mistakes over last 2 seasons. Rio started his career playing attacker, he is a converted center back, although a great one.

Rio is fully fit at this point. Wes still needs a game or two to get up to full speed. Evra played 2-3 poor games, but I expect him to be up to it for the remaining ones. Plus, Fabio seems to be healthy and should help Evra out in some games. At least Anderson is back and Fletcher is healthy (can't recall the last game United lost with Fletcher starting).

I am still worried about Spurs this weekend, United really need to start scoring like they did last season.

04-24-2009, 01:25 PM

Aldukes, how is your spring season going? Team Pittman was barely beaten 2-1 by The Arsenal of Huntsville, two cheap goals from poor defending left the keeper (me) high and dry. One of my defenders gave me hell about it at half time, so I said "stud, here's the gloves go do better" and I went to take on my preferred position of Center Attacking Mid. Not only did We play much better with a bloody competent midfielder but actually had some attacking options and scored a goal. Did I mention I scored the goal?(I never score, so I'll give the wonderous details as it won't happen again) Picked the pocket of their midfielder right at half field, gave the ball to my R Winger who promptly returned it to me 10 yards up the pitch. Striker 1 called for the ball facing me. I played it to him and moved up he played me square and I turned my back to the goal to hold up play for the Dmid who was no where to be found, so as the ball comes to me from my left I flicked it past my left leg with my right foot and megged (luck) the Defender who was bodying up on me. I ran past him expecting to be run over by the right back(stupid fast) but he was running with striker 1 with his back to me... me n the keeper 30 yards of ground. Did my best fernando Torres impression of speed (which is laughable) keeper came out low, so I hit it high, goal. Grabbed the ball returned it to the spot. I was happy. My only other chance came when striker 2 took the ball down the left wing, and cut in and laid it back to me 23-24 yards out. Tried my best Steven Gerrard impression and it curled barely wide right. After all that running I subbed myself. managed 29 minutes total in the field after not playing there for 5 weeks, and being really out of shape. Problem is now I don't have a keeper as the defender who chastised me says he won't play it anymore... any ideas?

Current record for Misfits FC is 1-2-1 total of 5 points, out of 4 matches. With 7 Goals for 7 goals against. Next week, the first place Ta Sety Warriors who are currently 6-0-0.

aldukes · 04-24-2009, 03:28 PM

Team Dukes is actually playing well this season. You wouldn't know it by our record, but we've improved drastically over last fall. We're -6 in goal diff- but thats because we've scored 5 goals in 4.5 games. Yes theres a half there. The friggin lights shut off in the middle of the game- we were leading 1-0 at that point, about 50 min in. The league is making us finish up the last 31 min.
Our keeper was out for a few games, with kidney stones, but he will be joining us this week. First game of the season was a draw against the team that won 2 years ago and placed second last year. Our last game was against the best team in the league. I had the pleasure of marking some dude that came up in the youth system for a very famous team in Spain (think RM). We came back from 1-0 and 2-1 but the dude scored from about 25 out with 4 min left.
We have a tough stretch for the next three weeks, but we should gain a point. Oh, and our right mid had to go back to Italy due to visa issues.

record- *1-3-1 *the game that isnt finished
own goals- none, but an assist
wide open goals missed- 2
free kicks send over the fence from 45 out- 1
times I fouled the dude from RM in one game- 14
drunk refs- 1 dude kept time on his cell phone, didnt have cards, referred to a goal kick as a "kick ball"

04-25-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldukes

\
drunk refs- 1 dude kept time on his cell phone, didnt have cards, referred to a goal kick as a "kick ball"

damn! I thought my refs were bad.

reggiebuckeye · 04-25-2009, 12:29 PM

ManU can really ruin a day. Things were looking great around 1:30 when it was 2-0 to the Spurs. 5-2? Come on. They can't put it on the penalty. That was one stinking goal. They just gave up when they still had the lead. Then a sub at 85 minutes? Why? Horrible. All I need now is for the draft to make my day even worse. I need a good smoke.

04-24-2009, 01:25 PM	#3
theycallmedan'lboone Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thr Aldukes, how is your spring season going? Team Pittman was barely beaten 2-1 by The Arsenal of Huntsville, two cheap goals from poor defending left the keeper (me) high and dry. One of my defenders gave me hell about it at half time, so I said "stud, here's the gloves go do better" and I went to take on my preferred position of Center Attacking Mid. Not only did We play much better with a bloody competent midfielder but actually had some attacking options and scored a goal. Did I mention I scored the goal?(I never score, so I'll give the wonderous details as it won't happen again) Picked the pocket of their midfielder right at half field, gave the ball to my R Winger who promptly returned it to me 10 yards up the pitch. Striker 1 called for the ball facing me. I played it to him and moved up he played me square and I turned my back to the goal to hold up play for the Dmid who was no where to be found, so as the ball comes to me from my left I flicked it past my left leg with my right foot and megged (luck) the Defender who was bodying up on me. I ran past him expecting to be run over by the right back(stupid fast) but he was running with striker 1 with his back to me... me n the keeper 30 yards of ground. Did my best fernando Torres impression of speed (which is laughable) keeper came out low, so I hit it high, goal. Grabbed the ball returned it to the spot. I was happy. My only other chance came when striker 2 took the ball down the left wing, and cut in and laid it back to me 23-24 yards out. Tried my best Steven Gerrard impression and it curled barely wide right. After all that running I subbed myself. managed 29 minutes total in the field after not playing there for 5 weeks, and being really out of shape. Problem is now I don't have a keeper as the defender who chastised me says he won't play it anymore... any ideas? Current record for Misfits FC is 1-2-1 total of 5 points, out of 4 matches. With 7 Goals for 7 goals against. Next week, the first place Ta Sety Warriors who are currently 6-0-0.

04-24-2009, 03:28 PM	#4
aldukes Mr. Me Too Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 213 Trading: (3)	Re: The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thr Team Dukes is actually playing well this season. You wouldn't know it by our record, but we've improved drastically over last fall. We're -6 in goal diff- but thats because we've scored 5 goals in 4.5 games. Yes theres a half there. The friggin lights shut off in the middle of the game- we were leading 1-0 at that point, about 50 min in. The league is making us finish up the last 31 min. Our keeper was out for a few games, with kidney stones, but he will be joining us this week. First game of the season was a draw against the team that won 2 years ago and placed second last year. Our last game was against the best team in the league. I had the pleasure of marking some dude that came up in the youth system for a very famous team in Spain (think RM). We came back from 1-0 and 2-1 but the dude scored from about 25 out with 4 min left. We have a tough stretch for the next three weeks, but we should gain a point. Oh, and our right mid had to go back to Italy due to visa issues. record- 1-3-1 the game that isnt finished own goals- none, but an assist wide open goals missed- 2 free kicks send over the fence from 45 out- 1 times I fouled the dude from RM in one game- 14 drunk refs- 1 dude kept time on his cell phone, didnt have cards, referred to a goal kick as a "kick ball"

04-25-2009, 12:29 PM	#6
reggiebuckeye Exploring all slopes Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ummm Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 348 Trading: (17)	Re: The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thr ManU can really ruin a day. Things were looking great around 1:30 when it was 2-0 to the Spurs. 5-2? Come on. They can't put it on the penalty. That was one stinking goal. They just gave up when they still had the lead. Then a sub at 85 minutes? Why? Horrible. All I need now is for the draft to make my day even worse. I need a good smoke. __________________ Exploring new slopes everyday.