can we start a DU Soccer/Football group?

[redsoxliberal]

seeing all of the convo about it here, I would be lying to say I am not intrigued. :D

[bixente]

1. Sure, why not?

My only worry is that it may be infested by people that claim most matches end 0-0...

[redsoxliberal]

2. unfortunately most seem rather ignorant when it comes to the most

popular sport on the planet.

[PST]

3. count me in!

as a Dutchman living in the US I'll take any opportunity to talk about the greatest sport in the world!
nice topic below, even though it's completely pointlesss of
course :-)
loved the banter though.

[redsoxliberal]

4. ajax fan?

[PST]

5. yes sir. what about you?

[redsoxliberal]

6. the european champions!!!

[PST]

7. congratulations mate

must've been a great night for you. I still get shivers when I think of that night in Vienna in '95 when we won it..
hope the Red Sox will do better tonight btw.

[redsoxliberal]

9. thanks... not looking too hot now though :(

[bixente]

8. I support St. Etienne.

Other teams who I enjoy watching are: Arsenal, Barca, Ajax, Lyon...they play with great skill, technique, fluidity...The most boring team, for me, is Juventus...although I admire Nedved and Zlatan, they are nice to watch.

Some of my favourite players: Ronaldinho, Henry, Juninho Pernambucano (best free-kick taker in the world, for me)...And many more, really.

[redsoxliberal]

10. favourite players

gerrard, carragher, owen, shearer

[bixente]

11. Watching Carragher, at the end of the final, was amazing.

He had cramp, I believe...or was it something else? Whatever it was, it showed how commited he is towards the team.

Even more so than Gerrard.

[redsoxliberal]

12. yeah it was a cramp

he is so damn good.

[bixente]

13. it is so strange...

...that Liverpool can finish 5th in the EPL, and become Champions of Europe. I think one of the reasons behind it is the coach, Benitez. I mean, this is a guy that has never before coached in England, so it may of been difficult for him to understand the English game in his first season.

However, he understands the Champions League, with his time at Valencia. He understands Europe, but not the Premiership, and knows the tactics required to succeed in the CL.

[redsoxliberal]

14. it is... you're right about rafa, but injuries also played a role

we missed months from gerrard, alonso, cisse, morientes, kewell, hamann, nunez, kirkland, sinama, mellor, warnock... but we only missed a few games here and there from them in the CL... and there were always adequate reserves... whereas in the premiership, there were often times when we had to play really, really shitty sides and could not get results. That said, we were reasonably healthy at the end stretch and still couldn't get it done against crystal palace and the like... so, yes, it is perplexing.
Looks like we have approx 30M pounds to spend this season, and may actually compete in the premiership next season. New deal with Carlsberg too!

[bixente]

15. what are some potential Liverpool targets?

I heard that Vicente and Mista could be potential targets, given Benitez's Valencia connection. What would you think of that?

EDIT: I mentioned that Benitez may of had difficulties adapting to a new style of football, but it may of been the same for some of the players - a lot of new Spaniards came to the club, and foreigners sometimes have problems adapting to a new culture, different language, ect, just ask Reyes!

And of course, the injuries.

[redsoxliberal]

27. all very good points... as to targets:

Saun Wright Phillips is definitely one... also aimar, baraja or vincente from valencia and yeah also mista... but I expect only mista since gerrard is now definitely staying. (though aimar has made some interesting comments recently!)
We're getting Reina from villareal for almost certain... meaning byebye jellylegs :(... what a way to leave though!
fernando torres is a target to be sure... he has been saying he would like to come to liverpool as well.
In the back, I hear we've all but agreed to an 8M fee for Gabriel Milito... definitely an up there as well... don't know what that would do to hyypia though.

[bixente]

29. So, when you consider the players that may join the club...

...in the off-season, what would be your ideal Liverpool XI next season? And be realistic, so no Buffon, no Nesta, no Shevchenko, ect!

[redsoxliberal]

34. ideal, ideal

Dudek
Finnan Carragher Milito Riise
Hamann Alonso
Wright-Phillips Gerrard
Garcia
Owen

Bench:
Carson
Hyypia
Cisse
Kewell/Nunez
Sinama Pognolle

[manic expression]

50. There's been talk of Raul

but I think there's VERY, VERY, VERY little chance of this happening.

Morientes was linked to Liverpool, as well. If Baros leaves, I think first priority would be to get a striker to go with Cisse, who is VERY good and is coming into form, IMO.

It's a little sad to see Jerzy go now, but yes you're right, this would (and probably will) be the PERFECT way for Dudek to leave.

[Scout1071]

16. Only if we can talk MLS as well!

Soccer fan here!

[bixente]

17. David Beckham has said he would like to play in the MLS...

...when he has finished with Real...just like Pele and Beckenbauer.

[Scout1071]

18. MLS has come light years in the last 10 yrs. Europe is pilfering

all of our best players now.....which I take as a compliment.

Quite pleased to have Landon Donovan back this year.

And we will welcome Beckham in the next couple of years. MLS is signing fewer "aging" Europeans because they want to get away from the image as a retirement pasture for real players.

[bixente]

19. I never watch MLS...

...can you tell me about it a bit? Best players, best teams, ect. I know Landon Donovan used to play for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, I believe.

[Scout1071]

20. I would highly recommend checking out a game.

And yes, Landon was with BL.

Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Kasey Keller, Tim Howard, DeMarcus Beasley and more are all former MLS'ers playing in Europe and playing more than respectably.

At the moment, New Englad Revolution and FC Dallas are atop the standings. LA always has a good effort and aren't far behind. Landon now plays for LA along side Coby Jones. Chicago Fire is a good squad as well.

Personally I cheer for the KC Wizards, but I haven't had the time to make a match yet this season. I will in the next few weeks for certain.

[bixente]

21. Before,

it seemed that everyone was talking about Freddy Adu. But I don't here so much anymore. Do you see him play that often, or is he on the bench?

[Scout1071]

22. I haven't watched as much yet this year, but the season just

started.

Freddy Adu is going to be incredible. He's still only 15/16 and shows flashes of absolute brilliance. IMO, he still needs to bulk up a bit. But that's not his fault - he's a kid! Nonetheless, I believe he's being called up for WC qualifiers. A great sign of things to come.

And when he played in KC last year, the match drew around 27,000. Not bad for a Wizards crowd, so he is definitely generating a buzz.

[bixente]

23. I've almost never seen footage of him playing...

...does he have some of the "Brazilian flair"?

[Scout1071]

24. Definitely.

I couldn't locate any video and I have to get to bed. If I find a little footage I'll post again tomorrow.

Good night!

[TyeDye75]

31. I saw him play as a sub in the last match

of the season, he didnt show me much but Im definately going to watch more MLS this year, its on late at night but I cant sky plus it.

I think whoever wins the MLS this year may get an invite to the World club championship.... in which Liverpool will be playing

[nickgutierrez]

47. I could see MLS becoming a 'proving ground'...

...for young Central and South American players, before being sold to European clubs. To be a star in MLS requires a certain amount of quality, and I dare say that some of the league's top players wouldn't look out of their depth on all but the very best European sides. In the US, the players could play against quality opposition, while at the same time avoiding much of the pressure that comes with first-team football/soccer (the terms are pretty much interchangable, as far as I'm concerned) in a more intense environment.

In return, the American-born players have a chance to play against the best young players Central and South America has to offer, and can only improve as a result. And the money they receive from the transfers can be thrown into training facilities, into youth preparation, into any number of other things. It's a win-win relationship, I think.

[KamaAina]

39. And Chinaglia... and Cruyff...

actually that wasn't MLS but the old NASL (North American Soccer League).

Some sharp operator figured out that top footballers (who didn't have free agency) were going for a song compared to American football and baseball players (who did). So the NASL was able to lure the top names in the sport to a place that didn't really care all that much about it.

New York Cosmos, with Pele, Beckenbauer AND Chinaglia, may have been the finest club side EVER; they did what Real is trying to do nowadays.

Of course the European leagues caught on and bid the price of players back up; that was the end of the NASL, not to mention the South American leagues. Pele played for Santos before he came up here. What are the chances of, say, Ronaldo playing for Santos?

[T_i_B]

25. Sounds great!

[redsoxliberal]

26. good thread but we still need more people!

[HuckleB]

28. Go Timbers!

Hey, it ain't Europe. Heck, it ain't even Argentina, which is the football I've most exposed myself to over the years. Heck, it ain't even MLS. But it's what we've got in this here Portland town, and it's all right with me. I enjoy the games (though probably not as much as these guys http://home.comcast.net/~kurtds2/ ). I admit that I'm as ignorant as they come, having played a few years in grade school, a couple in high school (as a part of a brand new team, introducing the sport in the area at that level), and in intramural games in college (where the Saudi team always won the title, though we did all right with a corps of German, French and Kuwaitis on the frontline and us dumb Americans doing our best to get in the way) but never having followed the sport regularly outside of the World Cup, yeah, starting in 1994. Oh, yeah. Confessional: I have read Nick Hornby's book, Fever Pitch, twice. I simply think its the greatest book about fandom ever written, regardless of the sport in question.

Speaking of questions: Boca or River?

Salud.

[TyeDye75]

30. I think me may even have enough people for an LFC Group

My favourite player is Sami Hyppia.

I wasnt in Turkey last week but I was in Liverpool for the parade.

[PST]

32. according ot the BBC Benitez is after Zenden

decent player imo, bit like Kewell though.

[TyeDye75]

33. I hope we stick with Kewell

hes been dissapointing so far but I think his best years could still be to come

[redsoxliberal]

35. it depends... is he lazy or is he just oft-injured

I think either way, I wanna go with SWP instead and have Kewell on the bench. If Kewell can turn it around, then Hamann is probably dropped, or we have to rethink formation.

You're a lucky bastard going to the parade, how was it?

[TyeDye75]

38. The parade was amazing

I live about 20 mins from Liverpool and I go to University there....

After my morning lecture me and two friends went down to join the crowds at the end of the route outside Lime street station and stayed there all day.

There were 750,000 fans and Liverpool's population is less than 500,000

Amazing

[Byronic]

36. Count me in!

We definitely need a football (soccer) group here. As someone who trudges around non-league grounds, in all weathers, supporting a complete no-hoper of a team, I can safely say, it is a very special sport indeed.

[PST]

37. Kluivert joins Valencia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4606693.stm

[bixente]

44. So, Valencia have signed Edu and Kluivert.

Quality players. H

Hey PST, is it true Ajax was a Dutch warrior in the war a long time ago? I think I read it in a book about the Netherlands.

[redsoxliberal]

45. too bad they no longer have their number one asset...

RAFA!

definitely good signings though!

[PST]

46. not really Bixente

Ajax was named after a god from Greek mythology, called Aias in Greek, Ajax in Latin.

[TyeDye75]

65. He was a King in the Mycaenean period

and a warrior in the Trojan war (key character in the Iliad)

That being said I never knew that was who the team where named after

[musiclawyer]

40. I think we have ample #s to have a futbol group

And the company would be nice. Only one of my friends is soccer literate and watches FSC and GOL like I do. I like MLS it gets better every year. All it needs is better venues now. Having San Antonio and Toronto come in will be fantastic, especially if Toronto can load up on Canadians and really stir a passion up north of the border. I really like the Earthquakes. Go to as many games as possible. But I think Spartum Stadium is horrible, and the fan base too fickle. They should move to some place like Portland or Sacramento, where they would rule.

[HuckleB]

41. Indeed.

I can't believe that MLS hasn't made its way to the northwest.

[redsoxliberal]

42. well... I would prefer EPL... but while it's not getting TV time here

I guess MLS will have to do :(

[HuckleB]

43. Actually...

I'd say that MLS is a much better product than, say, NFL Europe is, so I think we might be better off with MLS in the long run compared to getting some lower division "Premier League USA."

I get your point. Just wanting to play the actual cards is all.

Salud.

[Huckebein the Raven]

48. Count me in too

[redsoxliberal]

49. so how do we get this approved now that the ATA forum is gone?

[Telly Savalas]

52. Here's the FAQ entry on it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=206x10

I'd put a footy group on the "My Groups" list, although as a Milanista I think it's only proper that there be no discussion of the events of May 25, 2005.

[redsoxliberal]

53. oh... you mean

that absolutely incredible, stunning come from behind win by my beloved scousers?

How could we not discuss it!

[Anarcho-Socialist]

51. I'm in!

[redsoxliberal]

54. okay, here's the deal...

we currently have 9 posters here with donor stars, and we need 10. Only people with donor stars can post in the group, so if you are able, please make a donation to DU so that all of us here can participate. We also need one more post from a donor for this group to be okayed.
Proposed mission statement:

A group where football/soccer fans from around the world can discuss the goings on in the worlds most beautiful game.

[Kerrytravelers]

55. Ok, you've got my star!

Since one day Mr. kt and I may be living in a country where football is a popular sport, I should have a place to learn as much as possible from like-minded friends!

[Anarcho-Socialist]

56. Woohoo!

:toast: :hi: Thank you.

[Vladimir]

57. Great idea, count me in! n/t

[Anarcho-Socialist]

58. Thanks Vladimir!

:toast:

[non sociopath skin]

59. Okay, If you need another, I'll go for it ...

... tho the Toon have been a great disappointment to me of late.

The Skin

[Anarcho-Socialist]

60. The more the merrier

nice to see another Toon follower. :)

[redsoxliberal]

61. I love Shearer.

[da_chimperor]

62. I'm up for it. n/t

[redsoxliberal]

63. great... I'll send this on to skinner later today!

[Mass_Liberal]

64. you know I'm in!

Go Birmingham! Top half finish next year, mark my words.

[redsoxliberal]

67. I'll make a bet

and you'll need a star to join :(

anyhow... liverpool top 3 Birmingham bottom 7 even odds?

[Saboburns]

66. I'm in

I Love The Premier League.

[redsoxliberal]

68. which club do you follow?

[redsoxliberal]

69. emailed skinner

I'll keep you all updated.

[Telly Savalas]

70. Cool. Thanks.

[redsoxliberal]

71. right so it sounds good like

he said email him back tomorrow to remind him to set it up.

woohoo!

[Hav]

72. nice

Make him name it Football, not Soccer ;).

[Telly Savalas]

73. It's listed now!

But not online yet. (Or is it just me?)

[redsoxliberal]

74. same here

[Byronic]

75. Group now fully functional! n/t

[nickgutierrez]

76. Nice!

I'll be there. :)

[redsoxliberal]

77. it's on!