World Soccer thread III

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
Newcastle buying Middlesbrough cast-offs? I wouldnt call that a successful transfer period just yet.

Well Forlan was a ManU cast-off . But the reason he's going after Viduka is because all of the other strikers he was targetting (except Kuyt) have been said not to be for sale. Though, to be fair, Owen probably wasn't moving anyway.

Viduka would only be a backup anyway.

Right now the center MF looks be the most strengthened by Souness's moves. He looks to be close to Parker and Emre (from Inter). If we can get Emre, that means Bowyer is gone within the next week.

Though with Hughes and O'Brian leaving, there is a need in defense, and talks of van Buyten and Distin are in the rumor papers, who knows if either will get done.

In other news, West Ham snagged up ManU's cast of GK, Roy Carroll.

[Locutus]

Today's US - Germany match in the WC U20 was the most bizarre football match I've ever attended. Half the audience was German and fanatically supporting their team, the other half was Dutch and fanatically supporting the Americans, despite not even liking them -- we just hate the Germans even more

Even when supporting my own teams I've rarely seen or given this kind of fanatical support, I've even lost my voice (and it's not like I'm not used to cheering on a team). Even I didn't realise Dutch hatred of the German still runs quite this deep (at least in football). The American players didn't know what the f*ck was happening, I don't think they've ever had this kind of fanatical support, certainly not this far from home

Despite the match itself basically being boring as hell with no real big chances for either side (though the US was stronger for most of the match -- they may go far in this tournament), it's been a while since I've had this much fun during a football match

[Lawrence of Arabia]

phillipe senderos will lead his team, for the second time, to a championship.

[reds4ever]

RVN made some comment re. the war, about the Dutch hating 'the Germans' in the last world cup.

[Imran Siddiqui]

the other half was Dutch and fanatically supporting the Americans, despite not even liking them -- we just hate the Germans even more

Wish the game was more exciting (I didn't catch it), though it sounded like Adu was great in the game.

--

In other Magpie transfer news (since we have the most wacked out players, it's more interesting ), Robert just was sent to Pompey. And Bowyer is talking with Birmingham. And Parker seems to be close to signing with Newcastle .

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Wish the game was more exciting (I didn't catch it), though it sounded like Adu was great in the game.

Nah, he had a few good moments but his overall performance was barely above mediocre. He even made one or two embarassing mistakes that don't belong in an U12 game. Unless he makes a major turn-around anytime soon I'm tending towards thinking he may be one of the most overrated players I can remember. Not necessarily bad (like I said, he had a few nice moments), but definitely nowhere near as good as he's hyped to be.

This match I was most impressed by the American number 2, the right back. He made some very impressive runs forward to support the attack, and did a solid job defending too. I didn't catch his name, I hope to find out in the rerun of the tv broadcast tomorrow, I forgot to tape it tonight. Peterson was impressive as well, extremely fast and good technical skill. Too bad he only played 30 minutes (and the worst 30 minutes for the rest of the team at that). And the German goalie, he saved the day for his team. In the other game the Argentinian players individually outclassed everyone else though. Messi was amazing again, and I was very impressed by their number 5 as well, a key player on the midfield, he gave some very impressive passes and neutralised more than a few Egyptian attacks.

[Locutus]

Originally posted by reds4ever
RVN made some comment re. the war, about the Dutch hating 'the Germans' in the last world cup.

That was published by Der Bild, the German equivalent of the Sun, one of the worst tabloid papers in Europe (probably the worst in continental Europe). I don't think anyone took that very seriously...

But it does indicate that the history of our two countries is still very important when it comes to football (but we still haven't forgiven them stealing the WC from us in '74 either, that's at least as important, probably more so)...

[Agathon]

Newcastle sign Chelsea's Scott Parker.

Be still my beating heart. What next? Ronaldinho?

[Imran Siddiqui]

This match I was most impressed by the American number 2, the right back. He made some very impressive runs forward to support the attack, and did a solid job defending too. I didn't catch his name

Feilhaber?

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Agathon
Newcastle sign Chelsea's Scott Parker.

Be still my beating heart. What next? Ronaldinho?

Louis Saha, if you are lucky!

[Locutus]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Feilhaber?

I honestly have no idea. The only Americans I know by name are Adu, Barrett, Peterson and Freeman. Adu for obvious reasons, Barrett because he stood out in the first match, Peterson because his name was announced when he came on the pitch after 60 minutes, and Freeman because he was spent a good portion of the first half just a few metres from where I was sitting But I'll let you know once I've had a chance to review the tv footage (and sometimes things look different on tv than in the stadium, so I may even revise my judgement tomorrow).

[Locutus]

Turns out it was Wynne. Have to add though that on TV I also saw him making a pretty big blunder towards the very end of the match that I hadn't noticed in the stadium (or rather, I had noticed the mistake but not that it was him making it).

I also saw an interview with and training footage of Freddy Adu and was positively surprised by that. He was very relaxed, down-to-earth, good humoured, social. From that report he seems like a very nice kid, a great player to have on a team regardless of his footballing qualities.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Wow... Arsenals Robert van Persie is being held in custody as they investigate a rape allegation against him. Could be very very bad news.

[Locutus]

Or it could be nothing. Someone accused him of rape, he's only being held pending an investigation (because he might've left for England otherwise). We'll hear if this is something to take seriously tomorrow, when a judge will determine if there's enough of a case to keep him in custody for another two weeks. His laywer basically said (in lawyer speak) the accusation came from someone who's just after Van Persie's money and not to be taken seriously.

In other news, the Netherlands beat Australia hands down (3-0, but could easily have ended in 6-0 as well) in the WC U20 and because Japan vs Benin ended in a draw, the Netherlands is now already group winner So now the race is on to secure the last few available tickets for the last 16 match next week -- I hope I'll be able to get some myself

[Imran Siddiqui]

Was there a real threat he'd leave England because of the charges? Otherwise, why hold him?