ES Soccer Thread

[renaissance]

Anyone here play in local leagues or something? I've been playing since I was 4 but stopped for like 6 years gonna start playing again.

I played in two leagues in/around DC. One was pretty big - Northern Virginia Adult Soccer Association (I believe Forehead said he also played in that league at one point), and this summer boysetsfire and I played through Metro Sports Leagues in their 7 v 7 division.

If you're getting back into playing after a break I'd suggest a coed league. It's a lot of fun because you can find competitive teams but people aren't usually out for blood. Plus it's a great way to meet people.

[renaissance]

I would like to introduce you guys to The Südtribüne, the largest free-standing grandstand in Europe. It seats 25,000 fans and is part of Borussia Dortmund's (Bundesliga) stadium, Westfalenstadion, which has a total capacity of 81,000+.


Awesome fans are awesome

[youtube]gUsFqNgD02Y&p=4A91386DD9E9EC80&playnext=1&index=41[/youtube]

[ixcuincle]

[rdsknbill]

[Elessar78]

Boo this man!

Tough loss today. Your big guys (Rovers) were really giving us trouble. I was pretty confident that we'd win, but you never know. Definitely took Arsenal out of its rhythm today.

I think a lot of times, Arsenal is too stubborn and won't play any other way even if it makes scoring goals easier. I think that's the approach I like about Alex Ferguson, just get the goals doesn't matter how we do it—pretty, ugly, accidental—we'll take all of 'em. Arsenal won't even pull the trigger from beyond the area.

[renaissance]

Tottenham. Ouch.

Man U - West Ham on fox soccer now.

[thehogs]

Tottenham. Ouch.

Man U - West Ham on fox soccer now.

Typical Wigan. Attrocious one week then pull off a result like that. West Ham doing ok at the moment.

[renaissance]

Holy ****!!!! Berbatov!!!

[Elessar78]

Anyone else here hate Chelsea?

Don't get me wrong, I respect the fact that they have great players but I can't stand to watch their brand of football. On Sundays, I watch highlights of EPL games and I can't even bring myself to watch 5 minutes of it (unless I know they lost). It's so soulless and mechanical.

[thehogs]

Anyone else here hate Chelsea?

Don't get me wrong, I respect the fact that they have great players but I can't stand to watch their brand of football. On Sundays, I watch highlights of EPL games and I can't even bring myself to watch 5 minutes of it (unless I know they lost). It's so soulless and mechanical.

It can be methodical to say the least. Cant say I hate it but it can make for fairly boring games. Soulless is also how I would describe Liverpool. I'm old enough to remember the Liverpool teams of the mid and late 70's that could produce some fantastic, explosive football with goals from anywhere on the field. The current version hasnt been close for a long time. When I think on it Liverpool-Chelsea games of recent years have been dreadful to watch.

[Elessar78]

It can be methodical to say the least. Cant say I hate it but it can make for fairly boring games. Soulless is also how I would describe Liverpool. I'm old enough to remember the Liverpool teams of the mid and late 70's that could produce some fantastic, explosive football with goals from anywhere on the field. The current version hasnt been close for a long time. When I think on it Liverpool-Chelsea games of recent years have been dreadful to watch.

Agreed. It only works with the caliber of players they have, which is not a criticism since even Barca only works with the caliber of players they have. Part of the reason I can't watch Serie A matches—it's a lot of this type of play.

Even in the mid-80s L'pool seemed to be the Barca/Arsenal of their day. I was recently watching highlights from that era with John Barnes and Ian Rush.

[desioreo87]

It can be methodical to say the least. Cant say I hate it but it can make for fairly boring games. Soulless is also how I would describe Liverpool. I'm old enough to remember the Liverpool teams of the mid and late 70's that could produce some fantastic, explosive football with goals from anywhere on the field. The current version hasnt been close for a long time. When I think on it Liverpool-Chelsea games of recent years have been dreadful to watch.

you know what? we could have definitely moved towards a far more fluid style of football this year with the acquisitions we have made. However, (and im not sure if roy is totally responsible for this or if rbs or purslow have anything to do with it), we appaer to be in the process of dismantling it.

Loaning out Aquilani is really ****ing stupid. He is clearly the most technically gifted player in the squad, not to mention his first rate movement and passing. Also he is very attacking. Similar sort of drive to gerrard. He makes great runs and he really moves the attack forward all by himself.

The last quarter of last season was actually a little bit enjoyable because with aquilani healthy, and adding maxi, the football we played was fantastic. Sharp interchanges.

Also, that high tempo attack makes lucas' passing game much more effective. He was looking really good at the end of last year and now he might be leaving. What utter horse****e.

he then buys poulsen who might as well be identical to lucas. The lineup he put out today against WBA AT HOME was nothing short of pathetic. 2 holding mids with 2 grinders in kuyt and jova on the 'wings'.

Talk about sucking all the creativity out of the side. Even then, we were being opened up all game long down the flanks. Very nerve-wrecking.

We had to rely on some torres magic again for the millionth time.

I hope Roy has a clear plan in mind because right now im less than impressed.

What manager goes to Man City away trying to play 442 with gerrard and lucas in center midfield. We got destroyed in the first half of that game. We had no control of the ball and it was actually very reminiscent of the arse game a couple weeks ago.

I hope he does better with the next team slection because this one today left a lot to be desired.

[Harwich Hog]

Can't say I agree with what you say about Aquilani. And while it's not fair to blame our lack of goal production squarely at his feet (he actually had quite a few assists), our inability to replace Xabi Alonso's overall creativity (not necessarily assists but passing and link-up play) was the reason we went from free-scoring in 2008-9 to impotent in 2009-10.

He showed a glimpse or two but that's not enough in this league. Glimpses are something you hope to see from rising youngsters, not players that you've invested £20million. Those kinds of purchases you expect more from. Perhaps the club saw this as the best way of recouping some money they might have written off?

A simpler truth is that Roy just prefers Joe Cole in the pocket and Aquilani can't play anywhere else and decided to cash in.

[royallypwned]

Everton looks really really bad.

[Forehead]

West Ham doing ok at the moment.

...sigh...premiership games only, our goal differential is at -8 after 3 games, and we've given up three goals every match. The only other team that's lost every game is Stoke City. This is going to be hell.