World Football Thread XVIII: The Beckham has Landed

[Kropotkin]

Moving on.
If you'd trust swedish press - and you shouldn't - the biggest buzz in the world of football is sexy Sven and Man City. But does anyone really care outside Manchester and Torsby? One win over sorry hammers, with a million pound backing by a corrupt thai and suddenly he's a god sent genius.

[reds4ever]

They did look very impressive....

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
We were missing King and Dawson in central defence, I'm surprised we didn't let more in TBH.

You tempted fate... as I write, you've let in 3 against Everton in the first half... at home.

Not that I'm complaining, since two of the scorers are on my fantasy team, but Boobatov better get his ass into gear, as he's my captain for this round of fixtures.


Jol to be sacked first???

On the other hand, Everton have quietly built a really good team. Sadly, they don't have a decent striker, but the rest of the team, in particular Arteta, are really quite good. An old mate of mine in NZ is an Everton supporter, I'll bet he's chuffed.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Agathon

You tempted fate... as I write, you've let in 3 against Everton in the first half... at home.

Not that I'm complaining, since two of the scorers are on my fantasy team, but Boobatov better get his ass into gear, as he's my captain for this round of fixtures.

Jol to be sacked first???

On the other hand, Everton have quietly built a really good team. Sadly, they don't have a decent striker, but the rest of the team, in particular Arteta, are really quite good. An old mate of mine in NZ is an Everton supporter, I'll bet he's chuffed.

It was like watching the 4 stooges (Gardner, Stalteri, Kaboul, Chimbonda) in the first half, so I ****ed off out for the second.

I've got Arteta and Lescott in my team too, so it's not all bad. Johnson is pretty good but doesn't create much for others, plus his starting value is high this season.

[reds4ever]

Top 4 my arse....

[Maquiladora]

What Everton? Wouldn't bet against them...

[reds4ever]

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Barnabas
I am watching amatch of american teams, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto is in it ?!?!

A follow up on this:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/sebastian_perez_ferreiro/08/14/guille.columbus/index.html

Reprinted from SI Latino

"Thanks Guille For Coming Over To Play Here -- Silvia and Claudio From New York."

The makeshift banner in Spanish caught the attention of Guillermo Barros Schelotto on May 12, the day of his debut at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Guille -- the winningest player in the history of Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors, with 15 championship titles -- was still getting acquainted with the U.S. map, but he realized right away that the couple had made a long trip to watch him begin the last stage of his career.

"I saw them afterwards and they told me they were Boca fans who had come to Columbus to see the game," said the Crew right winger. "I stayed behind signing autographs and there were also people from Tennessee, Michigan, Chicago."

It's not surprising that his fellow immigrant countrymen would embark on a pilgrimage to Crew Stadium. Guille, 34, was the most beloved player of Argentina's most popular team over the last decade, when he had a knack for finding the Xeneizes target man, Martín Palermo, in the opponents' box and for having his best games against archrivals River Plate. But the last three coaches had benched him in favor of the younger and speedier Rodrigo Palacio.

"I didn't want to leave Boca," he said, "but it was an uncomfortable situation for everybody. Boca tied River [on April 15] and fans went home mad because I only played three minutes. I wanted to leave on good terms instead of having to quarrel with a coach."

Guille had to find a new home and several factors weighed in favor of MLS, among them his twin brother Gustavo's positive experience playing with the Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues.

"Money wasn't the main thing for me -- it was being able to play, learning a new language, coming over to a safe and orderly country," said Guille, who plans to play at least two more seasons before joining the coaching ranks.

On the field, however, the decision meant leaving the best club in the Americas, which was on its way to winning the 2007 Copa Libertadores, to come to a team that finished last in the MLS Eastern Conference standings in three of the past four seasons.

The Crew may have the country's first soccer-specific stadium, but that investment didn't carry over to the product on the field until this season, when Columbus pulled off the unlikely signing and head coach Sigi Schmid got his man.

"What he brings is his ability to assess the moment," Schmid said. "When you have a player who has experience and quality, they have the instinct to say, this is a critical moment, now I need to make the right play. Sometimes young players think all moments in the game are the same. But some are more important than others -- that's when you make the difference. Guillermo has that understanding."

What Guille does not yet fully understand in Columbus is the language, which can be a hindrance for a player who was legendary in Argentina for arguing with opponents and referees -- and even teammates -- during games.

"The first days were hard, but I learned words they use here like time, turn and again," said Guille, who's taking English lessons and meanwhile gets by on the interpretive skills of his Venezuelan teammate, Alejandro Moreno.

Guille's winning mentality, though, seems to be carrying over to the rest of the Crew, who were five points out of first place in the East by the end of Week 17. Guille -- who scored four goals and had seven assists (second-best in MLS) in his first 13 matches -- was named July Player of the Month after recording three goals and an assist in four games.

Maybe coach Schmid is right when he explains how he communicates with the crafty Argentine veteran: Soccer is a universal language.

[Agathon]

Well, I got ****ed up the arse in fantasy footy this week.

Just under half my team didn't play, and Ronaldo had the indecency to get sent off. I hate that prat, and I despise having him in my team. He's a cheat and he's shagging Gemma Atkinson (she of the divine hooters). Could he be more hateable? Apparently, the answer is yes.

And I had to waste four points on a transfer because Shrek injured himself. Probably aggravated a strain he picked up in a house of ill repute, if rumours of his behaviour are to be believed.

Stupid game....

[Agathon]

In other news, it seems that Toronto now has the best franchise in the MLS. It seems to be all bedlam all the time at BMO field.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The Superliga match between LA Galaxy and DC United, David Beckham lodges his first goal on a free kick in the 27th minute... in his starting debut with the Galaxy (and now they are up 2-0). Couldn't have asked for a better game so from him so far.

[Maquiladora]

I watch all LA's games up til now and the first one I miss he starts and scores.

[DanS]

Ugghh.

Minus Beckham, LA sucks the big suckage. With Beckham, it's 2-0 LA over DCU.

I hate losing to that gd ***** Donovan.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by DanS

I hate losing to that gd ***** Donovan.

Now you now how Mexicans feel

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm sure Landon is happy having someone who can actually provide him some service while he's up front.