2011/12 Soccer Thread - Because Vacations Are For Cowards

Pikey26 wrote:

England's almost always been the team I focus on and 'support' the most during the Euros, probably since the English league is the one league I've been watching more or less exclusivley for over 10 years, but it's times like these when I am glad I am not bound to supporting England as a country-man.

I shrugged off supporting England after WC 1990, my only real concern with them now is that no City players get injured (which, for most of the time, hasn't really been a problem anyway).

Liverpool players in the current squad ? Johnson (hmm), Kelly (who?), Henderson (laughable), Carroll (carthorse), Downing (as much impact on the Prem last year as me), Gerrard (coasting along on his 'rep' for the last couple of years). I do hope Brendan Rogers keeps taking whatever he snorted before his press conference, either that or for his sake he better hope his Yankee overlords strike oil in Stanley Park.

Rio is mighty pissed off about his omission. I'm not usually his biggest fan (and not just because he plays for Man U), but he does have a point. If Hodgson had an ounce of gumption, he'd have sacked Terry off and taken Rio from the start. But he doesn't.

Ohhhh England. I can trust them to make me feel better about Portugal who look like they are going to make a very early exit.

People with iPads/iPhones - check out Score!:
http://toucharcade.com/2012/05/29/sc...

Which is not to say the game isn’t about scoring classic goals, as the name implies. You’re tasked with recreating eighty of international soccer’s greatest goals spanning the last four decades. While it includes some sensational individual efforts like Diego Forlan’s free kick against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup, it also highlights some wonderful team goals, like this beautiful Mexican header against Italy in 2002. And that’s where the game really excels -- its success at simulating the interplay of a team.

it's very simple gameplay (I'm still at amateur level, though) but it's full of "hey, I remember that" moments. Highly recommended.

While we are on the subject of the soccerly-obsessed iPad/iPhone owner, check out New Star Soccer if you haven't already.

In this week's Swedish 'Donald Duck'...

IMAGE(http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/46/fb/b4/z11860806X,Kaczor-Donald-kontra-Ibrakaczor.jpg)

I don't even know how to respond to that.

We're all agreed that if Zlatan did exist in the Disney universe, he would be a dick there too, right?

I'm saying nowt on that subject until deadline day

In other news, Chelsea are apparently getting ready to sign 'Hulk' from Porto (that's one song for next season sorted out, let's see if he can get over it without crying this time). Has the money-laundering peasant been reminding Platini about those photos in his safe again ?

The betting men (and women) among you may wish to put your ackers on Twitcher not starting next season with Spurs. He's just been on SSN giving it the "back me or sack me" routine, as Spurs board aren't exactly breaking their necks to give him a new contract. His latest gem

"To be honest, I think the Champions League is overrated. Premier League football is enough".

You
might think that, Harry, but I don't think Levy is chucking his cash in to watch Spurs appear on a Thursday night on Channel 5. Nor will that generate the transfer kitty you are planning to secrete in your overseas acco...errm, spend on new players.

Rumour is that the Twitchy one is eyeing up a job in the UAE, where the cash is plentiful, the competition is poor (and I know, I've seen it), and the taxman is a nasty dream, not a reality.

Thirty-nine percent of all players took a painkilling agent before every game during WC 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-en...

UCRC wrote:

Thirty-nine percent of all players took a painkilling agent before every game during WC 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-en...

Gotta provide big pharma gas money for their yachts somehow...

After thinking about it, am I the only one surprised it's only 39%? Although I'm sure the actual percentage is much higher. People lie, bad surveying, etc.

If FIFA had known about this before....the players would be using FIFA-branded painkillers.

I must admit, though, I've never heard of people taking painkillers before they get hurt. I am also slightly dubious that this is big news to FIFA - after all, it's been known about in US sports for at least 15 years.

I had past,fellow high school soccer teammates popping painkillers (nothing serious) before games like candy.

bigred wrote:
UCRC wrote:

Thirty-nine percent of all players took a painkilling agent before every game during WC 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-en...

Gotta provide big pharma gas money for their yachts somehow...

After thinking about it, am I the only one surprised it's only 39%? Although I'm sure the actual percentage is much higher. People lie, bad surveying, etc.

Thirty-nine percent of all players took a painkilling agent before every game during WC 2010.

Any fliers for top goal scorer? Guys at the guardian podcast like Lewandowski at 33:1 but I can only get him at 21:1.

Might throw some money away on Carroll at 67:1. It would be hilarious to say the least

davet010 wrote:

If FIFA had known about this before....the players would be using FIFA-branded painkillers.

I must admit, though, I've never heard of people taking painkillers before they get hurt. I am also slightly dubious that this is big news to FIFA - after all, it's been known about in US sports for at least 15 years.

The practice of pre-medicating is not new, it's just not widely discussed. I also believe that it's medically sound, as you're treating inflammation right when it starts. Note that I am not a doctor.

jowner wrote:

Any fliers for top goal scorer? Guys at the guardian podcast like Lewandowski at 33:1 but I can only get him at 21:1.

Might throw some money away on Carroll at 67:1. It would be hilarious to say the least :D

Lewandoski is 17/1 on Bet365, Carroll is 40/1. Gomez is the favourite at 7's (better hope Germany get 800 chances for that to work), but if I was going to have a dabble on that I'd be tempted to do a cheeky each way on Franck Ribery at 50/1.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
davet010 wrote:

If FIFA had known about this before....the players would be using FIFA-branded painkillers.

I must admit, though, I've never heard of people taking painkillers before they get hurt. I am also slightly dubious that this is big news to FIFA - after all, it's been known about in US sports for at least 15 years.

The practice of pre-medicating is not new, it's just not widely discussed. I also believe that it's medically sound, as you're treating inflammation right when it starts. Note that I am not a doctor. ;)

Yeah, when my Dad could still run but his knees were going, he used to pop an advil before he'd go out.

I've played Max Payne all weekend, maybe that's why PAINKILLERS ARE THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK ABOUT.

Gomez for top scorer of major tournament? Heard it somewhere before.

When Foreign Ownership Is A Naked Marketing Ploy

"Following a comprehensive review of wider supporter feedback via email, letters, media coverage and polls run via the official Supporters Club and Media Wales and as a consequence of the above commitment, Cardiff City Football Club will also reactivate rebranding proposals with a view to exploiting and maximising its brand and commercial revenues in international markets, which it is hoped in turn will bring success to the club locally, whilst also attracting new partners and investors."

Wow. Wow. Wooooow. They don't even give half a sh*t that there's already a team from Wales who wear red and are called the Dragons (and are Welsh derby rivals). It's just so transparently soulless.

Not sure which team you're thinking of, Pred. The only other league team in Wales is Swansea, and they aren't dragons...are you thinking of the kick and clap teams ?

And is changing team colour any worse than renaming your stadium ? It's not like they have any local rivals or great history.

UCRC wrote:

Thirty-nine percent of all players took a painkilling agent before every game during WC 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-en...

hm I can only imagine none of the Barca players take painkillers given how prone to pain they appear to be.

davet010 wrote:

Not sure which team you're thinking of, Pred. The only other league team in Wales is Swansea, and they aren't dragons...are you thinking of the kick and clap teams ?

And is changing team colour any worse than renaming your stadium ? It's not like they have any local rivals or great history.

Ah, double checked, I thought Wrexham were still in the league.

I'd argue it's worse, but that's speaking as a U.S. sports fan. Few stadiums here have that historic "it has to be this way" kind of quality. But even given the nature of American sports, if someone came in tomorrow, changed the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tigers, made the team yellow, and did it after saying they wouldn't do it... it'd be a little dismaying. I don't know if it's the act itself that stunned me so much as the sheer avariciousness of it.

davet010 wrote:

And is changing team colour any worse than renaming your stadium ?

I hate renaming stadiums.

I was playing frisbee this afternoon in the park next to Wisła stadium when Holland team turned up for training... and along them 20,000 people. Yes, full stadium was watching the flipping one-hour training.

Prederick wrote:
davet010 wrote:

Not sure which team you're thinking of, Pred. The only other league team in Wales is Swansea, and they aren't dragons...are you thinking of the kick and clap teams ?

And is changing team colour any worse than renaming your stadium ? It's not like they have any local rivals or great history.

Ah, double checked, I thought Wrexham were still in the league.

I'd argue it's worse, but that's speaking as a U.S. sports fan. Few stadiums here have that historic "it has to be this way" kind of quality. But even given the nature of American sports, if someone came in tomorrow, changed the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tigers, made the team yellow, and did it after saying they wouldn't do it... it'd be a little dismaying. I don't know if it's the act itself that stunned me so much as the sheer avariciousness of it.

But at least half of the MLB/NFL franchises have moved and completely changed names, colours etc. That, in my humble opinion, is why most of them don't generate the sort of fanatical devotion that soccer teams do, because at the end of the day they are just franchises, to be moved and altered at a whim.

Anyways, Wrexham were never a rival for Cardiff, they are about 140 miles apart. Wrexham's big rivals were Chester City, another team now out of the league.

UCRC wrote:

I was playing frisbee this afternoon in the park next to Wisła stadium when Holland team turned up for training... and along them 20,000 people. Yes, full stadium was watching the flipping one-hour training.

Ridiculous. Not as ridiculous as showing up for a player unveiling when a guy has signed for a new club, but still.

UCRC, are you going to be creating a new thread for the Euros (and 2012/13 seasons)? With the Euros as a big event there may be more people around and I assume there will be a 2012/13 thread. I figure there's no harm in starting up the next thread early with the focus on the Euros (how many times can I say 'Euros'? Too many.)

http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/1...

I feel so Predericky now!