Author Topic: FIFA World Cup 2014 thread of GER bests ARG, Neuer wins Glove, Messi wins Ball (Read 182478 times)

Momo · « **Reply #1020 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:20:37 PM »

That's going to be a lot of future heartache for you :'(

Steve Youngblood · « **Reply #1021 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:24:50 PM »

Quote from: Momo on June 23, 2014, 04:14:47 PM

This is your problem. There are only like 6 leagues in the world people actually want to watch, dont be aiming so high as to want MLS to be one of them, be satisfied with superb foreign leagues like the rest of us

Hmm... let me try to clarify. What I mean is just that I think American sports audiences are used to having world class leagues to watch in terms of other sports. I'm really not a big enough fan of any of these sports to state with certainty that everyone represents the best in the world, but I have no trouble stating that it's world class play in terms of sports like basketball, baseball, football, and hockey. Sports fans are pretty much covered year-round to have a local team that they can invest themselves in.

I don't have any delusions of grandeur about soccer in America. I know that the money and interest just isn't there. But I do think strong showings by the US national team that might help fuel some interest into the MLS is probably more important to growing soccer here than showing the obviously better Euro leagues. Now, obviously, "Why not both?" is a good suggestion. Sure. I think it'd be fantastic if world class club soccer was easy to find on US airwaves. But I'm just not confident that these hordes of people tuning into watch a game like US vs. Portugal are clamoring to watch European club soccer.

But like I said, I do think it's possible that I'm being overly pessimistic here. I think I remember being surprised at one point to see the success that the Premiere League has found stateside. So it's quite possible that I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Himu · « **Reply #1022 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:27:12 PM »

I want us to be at least better than Mexico's league. I think that's a good place to shoot for rather than European. Mexico beasts on the rest of CONCACAF so we should be shooting for them and not the Europeans, imo. Especially due to the large Mexican population in the USA. Can you imagine MLS teams becoming actual contenders against Mexican teams in the CONCACAF cup? It'll breed A LOT of competition and competition is where soccer thrives.

With better continental competition, the euro leagues will get more attention by the sport just being more popular by default.

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #1023 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:30:32 PM »

Soccer will prevail in the end, even in the states.

Momo · « **Reply #1024 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:32:01 PM »

Dont you guys get hoodwinked by the Europeans at basketball all the time? And the cubans/japanese at baseball?And the russians and canadians at hockey?

I dunno Steve, you're seriously asking for too much, like I said there aren't really many leagues that travel and those that do are the absolute juggernauts of the sport. Yes people in Brazil/Argentina love watching Boca, Corinthians etc but ask any one of them and their favorite team is some team in Spain perhaps Portugal, fans and players alike. It's the order of things in football. Maybe you guys arent compatible with that.

Himu · « **Reply #1025 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:33:58 PM »

Here's hoping USA take 2022 World Cup from Qatar. I feel that would really help. If World Cup 1994 is what jump started modern interest in the sport and the birth of a new league in MLS, imagine what'd it do for the sport domestically if we had the World Cup 28 years after the fact?

Himu · « **Reply #1026 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:36:07 PM »

Yeah, is MLB really world class baseball? I don't watch it but many fans I know say it sure as hell isn't.

Momo · « **Reply #1027 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:38:04 PM »

I'm not talking competition, just viewership here. In terms of competition, I feel CAF, CONCACAF, AFC and OFC would do well to form a combined club competition, with the top teams of each respective 'Champs League' equivalent competing. Because lets be honest, of the 4 only CAF has decent and numerous internal competition. The problem for our CAF folk is lack of quality coaches and samey opposition. This would help us too.

Or maybe even an agreement to play each other more internationally in friendlies. We're giving away our trix by playing the Euro's all the time :'(

Steve Youngblood · « **Reply #1028 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:39:12 PM »

Quote from: Momo on June 23, 2014, 04:32:01 PM

Dont you guys get hoodwinked by the Europeans at basketball all the time? And the cubans/japanese at baseball?And the russians and canadians at hockey?

Sure, but I think most of the best hockey players play in the NHL. The best basketball players in the NBA. The Best baseball players in the MLB. And again, I want to make it clear that I don't think MLS is on the precipice of being a world class league. But I was just arguing that I think it has to grow more so that there's something domestically to watch that's worth a damn for the 3 years and 11 months every four years where there isn't a World Cup going on, as opposed to thinking that importing European club soccer will take hold here. However, I again note that Esch's suggestion wasn't really incompatible with growing MLS, so this whole tangent may be pointless.

Kara · « **Reply #1029 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:39:50 PM »

Quote from: TalesofWin on June 23, 2014, 02:17:13 PM

Quote from: The Business on June 23, 2014, 02:15:41 PM
Jürgen Klinsmann is as American Wernher von Braun

terrible comparison. Bringing war into sports is also distasteful.

"Once the rockets go up,
Who cares where they come down?"
"That's not my department,"
says Wernher von Braun

Himu · « **Reply #1030 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:43:29 PM »

Well, that probably won't happen traveling for the sport is already a big toil. Euro leagues begin in a few months and we end in May. MLS starts season in March and ends in December. During that we've got CONCACAF gold cup and all this other shit. Is it really good or even possible for us to meet more often? Asia, Africa, and the Americas could really use a way to play each other without World Cup to increase experience on the field, but it just ain't realistic.

Himu · « **Reply #1031 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:45:43 PM »

Yeah. I don't want America to be the best and I don't expect us to. But dammit I want us to strike fear at times and be considered a respected name for the sport. I want our league to be at least on par with a domestic league in that the games are on tv and the media gives a shit.

Momo · « **Reply #1032 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:49:46 PM »

If we keep our styles to ourselves and play amongst each other, the Europeans will piss themselves if they suddenly come up against the tempo of African football (literally everything is done at running speed) or the trickery, finesse and footwork of south america. i can also see america coming up with an athleticism and scientific based program where absolute condition is favored, you guys have a lot of sports science already, use it more. I rate the Europeans as the third best region talent wise, but the best coached. Their tactics can shut down flair like an Italian parking a bus and getting an 87th minute set piece goal for a 1 - 0 victory

Himu · « **Reply #1033 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:52:54 PM »

Well, how would more friendlies be possible? Friendlies are also a big negative because they can cause injuries and it won't even count for anything.

Mandark · « **Reply #1034 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:54:37 PM »

Trying to keep your tactics a secret by not playing the dominant teams? I could see that working in the 1950's. Now, when everything's televised and the top players will be going to Europe at the club level anyways? Not so much.

Brehvolution · « **Reply #1035 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:57:24 PM »

Quote from: The Business on June 23, 2014, 03:58:40 PM

I watched with some non-soccer fans and they really didn't get the whole tie thing.

Last night was the first whole soccer match I've ever watched. Who couldn't be excited at the end of that game? Yes, it sucked it was a tie, but you have to admire the beauty of that play.

Of the little I've seen of other matches, I have seen both Messi goals live.

Steve Youngblood · « **Reply #1036 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:58:37 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 04:36:07 PM

Yeah, is MLB really world class baseball? I don't watch it but many fans I know say it sure as hell isn't.

I'm not a baseball guy at all, so I'll happily defer to anyone else that fancies themselves a fan of the sport. But when I hear it talked about, my understanding is that it's the biggest league of its type in the world. I could very well be wrong, but I'd be surprised to hear that it doesn't have the top-paid baseball talent in the world. Keep in mind, I'm not saying the best baseball players are American, but I'm saying that I assume it has the top talent because that's where the money is. Are any top American prospects going off to Japan to make the big bucks the same way that pitcher Tanaka signed a massive deal with the Yankees to come to the States and pitch?

Momo · « **Reply #1037 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:59:17 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 04:52:54 PM

Well, how would more friendlies be possible? Friendlies are also a big negative because they can cause injuries and it won't even count for anything.

Yeah, I wouldnt even mind friendlies with just players from the domestic leagues, that way the big Euro stars dont cry about it, and you get depth.

Quote from: Mandark on June 23, 2014, 04:54:37 PM

Trying to keep your tactics a secret by not playing the dominant teams? I could see that working in the 1950's. Now, when everything's televised and the top players will be going to Europe at the club level anyways? Not so much.

It's not all tactics. They all play the Euro style over there. It's like when continental Europeans come to play in England, usually they need 6 months or so just to adapt to the pace. Unless you play against or in certain styles regularly, you're going to be adapting. We've got the advantage because our players often play in Europe but Europeans rarely play in Africa or South America. We can force the pace (if we work a lot on ball retention) and from there shell some heavy weights.

Steve Contra · « **Reply #1038 on:** June 23, 2014, 04:59:58 PM »

Yeah, MLB is the top of the heap. What the fuck is Himu on about?

Mandark · « **Reply #1039 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:00:41 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 04:36:07 PM

Yeah, is MLB really world class baseball? I don't watch it but many fans I know say it sure as hell isn't.

I think that's cause you live in Houston...

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #1040 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:03:35 PM »

http://www.thecoli.com/threads/american-sports-fans-how-we-view-sports-really-being-exposed-during-the-wc.225552/

Himu · « **Reply #1041 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:09:58 PM »

Quote from: Mandark on June 23, 2014, 05:00:41 PM

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 04:36:07 PM
Yeah, is MLB really world class baseball? I don't watch it but many fans I know say it sure as hell isn't.

I think that's cause you live in Houston...

Mandark · « **Reply #1042 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:13:05 PM »

When people talk about the US "catching up" to the rest of the world in soccer, they're usually talking about three different things: the progress of American players and the national team, the quality/popularity of MLS, and the overall popularity of the sport (including the WC and foreign leagues).

Those three things don't always go together. Airing EPL and Champions League games in the US has definitely made being a soccer fan easier, but it also makes it that much more obvious that MLS is a lower level of play. American players can probably develop better going through the European club system, but then you don't even have the best domestic players to market your league. I'd expect MLS to keep growing, just on the overall popularity of soccer here, but it's a tricky situation.

Kara · « **Reply #1043 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:13:31 PM »

The AL West is so much more fun now that the Disastros are in it.

Momo · « **Reply #1044 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:18:24 PM »

Quote from: Mandark on June 23, 2014, 05:13:05 PM

American players can probably develop better going through the European club system

This is the case for all of us really, we send our best over there so they can come back and do well for us nationally, I wish it wasnt so, but the rest of the world lacks the facilities, competition and coaches to do it ourselves.

Himu · « **Reply #1045 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:37:16 PM »

Yeah, aside from attending games I haven't watched MLS in a while. To be fair to myself, they don't air on tv anymore. I should get MLS pass. It's hard going from EPL or something and back to MLS. I should attend Dynamo matches more often to support. Can't wait for the tv deal to start.

Himu · « **Reply #1046 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:46:10 PM »

Go to some games. Bring friends. It should be fun, but don't expect the quality you're watching at the World Cup. You may think that's obvious, but the lack of prestige, history, and general finesse is a huge obstacle to get around when it comes to our soccer teams. Unfortunate, but true. The European teams are far more seductive. You can easily fall into a trap where your main focus is in the euro leagues and you ignore anything local. Even by accident.

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #1047 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:49:52 PM »

Looks like Mexico and Brazil will move on

Himu · « **Reply #1048 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:51:40 PM »

Quote from: Spencer on June 23, 2014, 05:49:52 PM

Looks like Mexico and Brazil will move on

Mexico made it? We have to make it. Because fuck Mexico.

Himu · « **Reply #1049 on:** June 23, 2014, 05:53:00 PM »

Momo · « **Reply #1050 on:** June 23, 2014, 06:03:49 PM »

Quote from: Esch on June 23, 2014, 05:50:29 PM

(Image removed from quote.)

Still bitter over Gareth Bale eh?

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #1051 on:** June 23, 2014, 06:06:01 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 05:46:10 PM

Go to some games. Bring friends. It should be fun, but don't expect the quality you're watching at the World Cup. You may think that's obvious, but the lack of prestige, history, and general finesse is a huge obstacle to get around when it comes to our soccer teams. Unfortunate, but true. The European teams are far more seductive. You can easily fall into a trap where your main focus is in the euro leagues and you ignore anything local. Even by accident.

I love going to Sounders games, but aside from Dempsey and a couple other guys, the level of quality can't compare.

Himu · « **Reply #1052 on:** June 23, 2014, 06:17:16 PM »

Yep. But when you're at a game somehow it doesn't matter if you enjoy the sport.

Steve Youngblood · « **Reply #1053 on:** June 23, 2014, 06:48:44 PM »

Quote from: Esch on June 23, 2014, 06:40:23 PM

....

Anyone still think Brazil is the favorite for this WC? They don't look THAT overwhelmingly great.

I think a lot of it just has to do with the fact that they're the host nation.

SantaC · « **Reply #1054 on:** June 23, 2014, 06:55:50 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 02:41:42 PM

Only SantaC would cheer for Portugal - the team that knocked his out from qualifying in the World Cup - so he can boo America.

If he's not cheering for Portugal, he sure as fuck doesn't seem mad Portugal wasn't eliminated.

I am allowed to cheer for anyone. Who do people care that I dont cheer for the US? I have no obligation to. Also lots of american fans seems insecure and spam that CONCACAF >>> UEFA crap.

Also saw a lot of Ronaldo sucks posts in that gaf thread. That really came back and bite you. Ronaldo was the guy who knocked out sweden, so no surprises.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #1055 on:** June 23, 2014, 06:57:25 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 06:17:16 PM

Yep. But when you're at a game somehow it doesn't matter if you enjoy the sport.

If I'm not at the game, i always watch them on TV. They're all aired locally here.

Steve Youngblood · « **Reply #1056 on:** June 23, 2014, 07:11:00 PM »

Quote from: TalesofWin on June 23, 2014, 06:55:50 PM

Also saw a lot of Ronaldo sucks posts in that gaf thread. That really came back and bite you. Ronaldo was the guy who knocked out sweden, so no surprises.

That's awful. Send me a PM on GAF with links to these posts and I'll be sure to deal with this kind of behavior.

Himu · « **Reply #1057 on:** June 23, 2014, 07:29:27 PM »

Quote from: Mr. Gundam on June 23, 2014, 06:57:25 PM

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on June 23, 2014, 06:17:16 PM
Yep. But when you're at a game somehow it doesn't matter if you enjoy the sport.

If I'm not at the game, i always watch them on TV. They're all aired locally here.

Not here. Here's hoping the tv deal works in the Dynamo's favor. Shame Brad Davis hasn't played in this World Cup yet.

Himu · « **Reply #1058 on:** June 23, 2014, 07:30:30 PM »

Quote from: Esch on June 23, 2014, 06:40:23 PM

....

Anyone still think Brazil is the favorite for this WC? They don't look THAT overwhelmingly great.

Agreed. Prediction that Brazil doesn't win it.

Himu · « **Reply #1059 on:** June 24, 2014, 11:58:46 AM »

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #1060 on:** June 24, 2014, 11:59:06 AM »

I'm goin for Uruguay, gotta rep that super continent America

Himu · « **Reply #1061 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:00:38 PM »

I want Uruguay to win but I have doubts

Momo · « **Reply #1062 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:08:28 PM »

Uruguay - Italy
Costa Rica - England
Greece - Cote D'Ivoire
Colombia - Japan

Himu · « **Reply #1063 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:09:36 PM »

Uruguay - Italy
Costa Rica - England
Greece - Cote D'Ivoire
Colombia - Japan

Momo · « **Reply #1064 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:18:34 PM »

Italy's defense isnt really what it used to be.
England can at least beat Costa Rica

the other two are toss ups for me

Momo · « **Reply #1065 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:19:59 PM »

Also dont forget, if even the slightest fuckery happens in the England match, tune in to R5Live afterwards, lets see how many more eight year old kids go to bed crying cause rooney lacks passion

Himu · « **Reply #1066 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:29:47 PM »

WHAT THE FUCK

Steve Contra · « **Reply #1067 on:** June 24, 2014, 12:56:01 PM »

Also Balotelli's girlfriend

Himu · « **Reply #1068 on:** June 24, 2014, 01:01:16 PM »

Quote from: Steve Contra on June 24, 2014, 12:56:01 PM

Also Balotelli's girlfriend

CatsCatsCats · « **Reply #1069 on:** June 24, 2014, 01:43:53 PM »

Ahahahahahahaha suck it Europe.

Steve Youngblood · « **Reply #1070 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:00:40 PM »

God dammit Italy. That's two shitty World Cup performances in a row.

Fifstar · « **Reply #1071 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:00:44 PM »

Did suarez really bite? Only catched a replay from behind.

Momo · « **Reply #1072 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:14:15 PM »

lol England

Warned you bros about Italy, it's been like a decade since they've been great.

Momo · « **Reply #1073 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:15:27 PM »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_five_live#

>PASSION WONT WIN YOU A WORLD CUP
>XENOPHOBIA
>PLAYBOY
>typical pom

Momo · « **Reply #1074 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:15:54 PM »

hi john!

Momo · « **Reply #1075 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:17:18 PM »

why are you fed up john?
>roy out
>lets get klinssman (lol yeah right like he wants to throw away his career at england)
>then guardiola (OH. MY. FUCK

)

Momo · « **Reply #1076 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:19:28 PM »

Hi Danny, why are you frustrated?
>our players should dive! look at the euros diving!

Momo · « **Reply #1077 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:20:19 PM »

SUAREZ BAN HIM FOR LIFE. STAND UP FOR YE FLESH DONT LET THE BED BUG BITE

Momo · « **Reply #1078 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:25:57 PM »

Let's talk about England!
>Stop making excuses!
>Same tactics since 1996
>Crap midfield

well shit caller, you figured some shit out!

magus · « **Reply #1079 on:** June 24, 2014, 02:27:07 PM »

i don't really care about the world cup but as the italian bore resident i feel i should pop out on this thread just for shits & giggles

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Author Topic: FIFA World Cup 2014 thread of GER bests ARG, Neuer wins Glove, Messi wins Ball (Read 182478 times)