Ongoing Soccer Thread

[Gesshoo]

I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but I know that amongst all the Americans in CC, there are a good few football (soccer) fans from the U.K. and other places.

We all post in various threads - the CC FF thread, Crystal Blue's Predictions thread, etc. but there is no regular place to post rants or thoughts about football/soccer.

This may be it, maybe not. I'll kick it off in a new post here and we can see if it lives or dies.

 

[Gesshoo]

So - despite the misgivings I have expressed in other threads - I am relieved in many ways that Rafa Benitez has today signed his new contract, that will keep him at Anfield for at least 5 more years.

It does give us continuity and, despite the failure to beat so many of the lower-placed teams this year, we have managed to do the double over both ManU and Chelsea for the first time in a gazillion years, and are again in the last 8 of the CL.

I believe that new owners will arrive in the summer - probably with a bit more cash - so we can (at long last) start on the new stadium and move forward. Parry is leaving, and that leaves Rafa in a position of more control, which he obviously wanted.

Even if we fail in the Premier League this year, we will have bigger expectations next year. One of these days........

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."

Bill Shankly

 

[RichKo]

I don't know much about the european soccer teams, but I am a big fan here in the states. I had my season seats last year to watch the Columbus Crew kick ass and take the MLS Cup. Soccer (cough cough) football is definately my favorite sport...to watch that is,... my fat ass couldnt sprint constantly for 45 min. straight, just to come out and do it again. Man...I think I'm sweating thinking about it.lol

 

[Gesshoo]

I have been happy to see how well soccer/football has taken hold in certain areas of the US - Columbus/NY/LA/Salt Lake/Chicago. Columbus was I think one of the first hot-beds of US soccer.

What kind of crowds do you get? How much is it to go see a game? We have the Razorbacks here in Georgia/Atlanta but they are only USC not MLS.

 

[MrFold]

I'm a Man U fan (I live in Surrey so I've got to be), but it's no bad thing that Liverpool have found a good manager and are building the club around him. I like Benitez. I even like the fact he had a spirited dig at Fergie. I obviously hope that Man U win everything, but if Liverpool keep snapping at our heels as we do so, that's fine by me. Just don't beat us too often...

 

[Debi]

West Ham supporter here.

If we ever get a MLS team in Atlanta I know me and Gesshoo would start building some interest in American soccer.

 

[KMC1828]

West Ham supporter here.

If we ever get a MLS team in Atlanta I know me and Gesshoo would start building some interest in American soccer.

Therein lies the problem with American soccer. MLS is garbage.

Me and most of my friends like Liverpool, but I've also got a thing for Bayern Munich over in the German league.

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

What does MLS mean?

 

[Debi]

What does MLS mean?

I though it was Major League Soccer

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

Is that a purely USA thing?

 

[KMC1828]

Is that a purely USA thing?

Yeah its Major League Soccer and its purely a USA thing.

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

I don't follow any particular football team but I really enjoy some of the international things they organise, such as the World Cup, or UEFA Champions' League.

 

[KMC1828]

I don't follow any particular football team but I really enjoy some of the international things they organise, such as the World Cup, or UEFA Champions' League.

Same here, more or less, though it's not really my choice to be honest. I'll keep an eye on the Premier League and the German Bundesliga standings, but the only matches I get to watch (because I don't have a package or buy the channels from satellite and what not) are SOME of the CL matches and of course the World Cup is pretty much completely covered so I watch that nonstop. Cant wait for next summer. Gonna be a full month of nonstop football matches.

PS. In international play, I support germany

 

[RichKo]

I have been happy to see how well soccer/football has taken hold in certain areas of the US - Columbus/NY/LA/Salt Lake/Chicago. Columbus was I think one of the first hot-beds of US soccer.

What kind of crowds do you get? How much is it to go see a game? We have the Razorbacks here in Georgia/Atlanta but they are only USC not MLS.

in the beginning of the season it was usually less than half full in the stadium, and got better as the season went on. Of course though, when LA and Beckham came to town the Stadium was wall to wall. Our seats face value was 40 bucks, but we were in the club section, where we had our own seats instead of benches. But I'm pretty sure you can get regular seats for about 15 bucks...and everywhere is pretty much a good seat.

 

[Gesshoo]

Actually, I think the standard in MLS is pretty good. MLS teams have also acquitted themselves well in pre-season games against the top teams from Europe. The US national team has been ranked in the top 10-15 in the world for several years now, and of course the US women's team are former world cup holders.

The MLS teams wouldn't be at the top of the leagues in the top European countries, but enough MLS players have graduated to play in those leagues to deserve some respect, IMO - several in the English premiership.

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

Our local team have reduced the price of season tickets this year:
http://www.northants-chamber.co.uk/chambernews.php/2106

They claim that it works out at less than £10 per game that way, but I'm not sure how many people can get to every single game, I know I certainly can't. The other thing is that there is an enormous gap between the top teams and relatively insignificant teams such as Northampton's football team. Football has become a lot more expensive in recent years, and player salaries have also rocketed.

 

[MrFold]

You're a Northampton fan? I used to live in Northampton and went to see the Cobblers at the County Ground in the 80s and then at Sixfields when they moved over there. £10 a game is pretty good. I hope they stay up this season.

 

[blacksun]

Can't say I'm big fan of the MLS, the argument that a handful of their players made it in the top leagues in Europe doesn't mean the standard is that great, a fair few non-league players have become top players ala Ian Wright etc doesnt mean all the players there are all decent.

As for Rafa's contract, like the thread starter I am very happy to see him stay as I believe hes moving the club forward as well as anyone put in his position could. If we do get new owners in the summer hopefully Rafa will be given the financial backing he needs to take us to the final level I think it will take for us to compete year after year with Utd & chelsea.

 

[beardyian]

I may have mentioned that im a Portsmouth fan (aka Pompey)

I discovered the beautiful game in 1979 (aged 8) when a friend gave me his sticker album and i saw how a certain side in red always were in the top 5 (Liverpool)

I then heard the crowds on a saturday afternoon as the winds carried the Pompey Chimes to my ears as i played in the back garden.

My first game was back in the 1980-81 season as we played Plymouth in the 1st leg of round 1 of the then League Cup http://www.pompeyrama.com/pompey-fc-match-1610-12-Aug-1980-Pompey-2-Plymouth-Argyle-1.html

Whilst Pompey took a slow (so very slow at times) rise up the divisions my interest and love of the game grew quicker than a centre-forwards sprint .

Now nearly 30 years later and i still love the game and will happily watch a non-league match or a Premiership game, as long as theres a game.

Thanks to the shrinking planet, through television and the internet now global football can be followed just as well - great

 

[Shylax]

I'm an Arsenal supporter. Live in the states. Fell in love with the game after a ruptured achilles tendon in 2005 left me bedridden in the spring. Since I hate baseball, while channel surfing I bumped into Fox soccernet. Saw Henry and company running up and down the field like crazy and fell in love with their style of play and have been a supporter ever since.

I now follow European football religiously but just can't seem to get into MLS. I watch primarily Prem, Serie A, La Liga, Bundeliga and even Argentinian football (I root for River Plate) but I just can't get any excitement from MLS.

I just love the excitement from the crowds with the football chants and the energy as well as the world class footballers that MLS just doesn't provide (although I heard Columbus are really great supporters).

 

[chispa73]

I actually work in a soccer stadium. I work for AEG which runs the Home Depot Center where the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA play.

I will admit that the MLS is not at the level of the European leagues but we are very close if not at the level of the Mexican and Argentinian leagues.

I think that in 10 years we will surpass any league on the Western Hemisphere. It wasn't that long ago that US soccer was getting beaten by the whole world but now we're in the top 20 on a consistent basis.

If any of you ever stop by the Normandie, Hustler, or Crystal Park Casino's and want to see a game drop me a line. You might enjoy soccer live instead of television.

 

[MrFold]

I've been a Man U fan from way back. They first captured my imagination when they won the European Cup in 68 when the likes of Best and Charlton were in their pomp. I was also rooting for them during struggles of the 70s when they were relegated into the old Division 2. Ron Atkinson enjoyed some success but it was only when Fergie took over that they really hit the glory trail again. However, even he took a few years to get going before they actually had new silverware in the cabinet.

 

[stealthy1]

Aberdeen and West Ham fan here. Last night was a bad night for an Aberdeen fan, beaten at home on penalties in the cup by a team in a lower division. West Ham are doing not bad this season but sometimes I wish I supported a team that wins, a lot!

 

[chispa73]

Does Anybody know the difference in $ per team it means to be in the Premier league vs the next division down when a team is relegated?

Also, how big are the stadiums in the second division?