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The OtherArena
"I think we probably all feel some solidarity as partners in the War on Bullshit." -Nate Silver
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jdw
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Joined: 01 Sep 2005
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 Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:47 am Post subject: |
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I'd add that Pique came from the youth systems. ManU signed him before he signed a pro deal so they got him for free. But he was 16/17 at the time, having spent from 9/10 until then in the Barca youth system. He's more Barca than ManU.
It is pretty funny that he already has 31 caps for Espana at the age of 24, and is their starting centerback. Granted, everyone thinks defense is Espana and Barca's "weakness" if there is such a thing. But he certainly would have been a positive at ManU right about now. :)
John |
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jdw
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Joined: 01 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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So Harry says that Mordic and Bale aren't for sale.
Hadi: sell me on Mordic? :) Seriously, I spent too much time focusing on VDV and Bale when watching the Spurs to pay attention to Mordic. I know Wilson and others love him.
The worry I have when looking back at old ZonalMarking pieces on the Spurs is how pressure impacts him in much the same way it does Carrick. Obviously he's more creative, but it reads like he's been most successful as a deep laying creative MF with space to work in.
I like that in general for roughly 95% of the teams we play. Those other 5% might be Barca... and they'll pressure the hell out of everyone.
There also was a note in one of ZM's pieces that he's not a good defender. Wasn't massive criticism, just an off hand comment in getting across how Spurs were attacked in MF in a game. I do recall the Wilson quote of him being the new era creative player, with the words "more active" attached to him. My one worry is whether he'll be an improvement in pressing for ManU.
Granted... Mordic may not be on the block. I'm just trying to figure out where he would fit in.
I wouldn't mind a creative MF who plays deep. But I really wish we'd find out great holding DMF like Busquets. :)
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jdw
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Joined: 01 Sep 2005
Posts: 12617
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Some matches coming up:
Fri 06/03
2:35 ET Austria v Germany (ESPN2)
Sat 06/04
11:45 ET England v Switzerland (FSC)
4:00 ET Portugal v Norway
4:30 ET USA v Spain (ESPN)
06/07
1:00 ET Azerbaijan v Germany (ESPND)
Gold Cup Group stage:
Jun 5 8:00 ET Mexico v El Salvador
Jun 7 8:00 ET US v Canada
Jun 9 9:00 ET Cuba v Mexico
Jun 11 8:00 ET US v Panama
Jun 12 8:00 ET Mexico v Costa Rica
Jun 14 9:00 ET Guadeloupe v US
The US games are on FSC. I believe Mexico is on Univision.
Mexico is sending their A-team to the Gold Cup, so expect Hernandez. Their B-team will go to Copa America.
Between the Gold Cup and Copa America, there should be some decent international TV to fill up the summer. :)
John |
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Tom Greaves
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 76
Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
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jdw
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Sep 2005
Posts: 12617
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| Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:51 am Post subject: |
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| Tom Greaves wrote: | | * Michael Owen re-signs with ManU for another year. I'll always have a soft spot for Owen since he was the first superstar athlete who was my age, but he's obviously just about done. Probably says more about Fergie's lack of faith in Macheda, Obertan, etc. than it does about Owen himself. |
My guess is that Owen is happy to play almost not at all.
Do agree this doesn't bode well for Macheda & Obertan. Still think Walbeck has to have a role, but perhaps Sir Alex is thinking of loaning him out again.
This is up and down and up and down. :)
| Quote: | | * Ex-ManU striker Giuseppe Rossi is allegedly going to Barca from Villareal for €25m. Yeah, okay. |
Strong get stronger.
There was a fair amount of talk that their late season so-so performances (La League draw with Real and Copa loss to Real) were signs that they were tired and picking spots (CL against Real). They were well rested for the CL Final, and it showed.
Villa especially fell off before the strong showing in the Final. More depth up front, especially with added games to the schedule (Super Cup and WCC) is probably smart. Rossi is comfy already in La Liga. Then again, Inter is the other team being tossed around, and he may want to go back to Italy.
Would be interested in what Simon thinks of some of the Blues transfer talk. One ESPN's On The Move Blog:
| Quote: | 1613 BST: Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has revealed that he turned down a "major offer" for Argentina starlet Javier Pastore because the Rosanero are holding out for a higher bid.
"Chelsea was a club that we had a major offer from," Zamparini said. "But it did not reach the minimum figure that we set for a player of his quality. If someone wants to buy Pastore, the price is €50 million (£44 million). There are five or six clubs also interested, including Man City and big clubs from Spain and Italy but so far there has been nothing from them." |
| Quote: | | Romelu Lukaku believes he will complete a £18 million move to Chelsea at some point in the next six days. |
John |
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jdw
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Posts: 12617
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| Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:52 am Post subject: |
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In the least surprising move of the off season, the Neuer-to-Bayern deal was completed. Specifically cited that a lot of his national teammates are there, so that along with staying in Germany were likely big reasons for him.
Now if we can just get De Gea to make up his mind. :)
John |
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Midline Shift
Joined: 22 Apr 2010
Posts: 493
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:15 am Post subject: |
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I'm happy to see Chelsea pursuing Pastore, although that's a crazy amount of money Palermo is asking for. Hopefully that's just posturing by the nutty Zamparini. My big wish for this summer is one of Pastore, Alexis Sanchez, or Eden Hazard. I haven't seen enough of each to know which would be best, but all three are the type of player the team desperately needed this past season.
I'm also encouraged that Lukaku appears to be headed to the Bridge. The new Drogba? Sign him up. I like that the club is going after these young players with tons of potential instead of established stars.
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Scott
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1308
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:43 am Post subject: |
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Robin Van Persie tell Spain and Chelsea players to stop bitching at officials and get on with playing football.
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Van Persie claims he 'cannot understand' the behaviour of players who constantly put the referee under pressure and was scathing of Barcelona following their actions in the Champions League last-16 clash with the Gunners. However, he has now extended his ire towards the world champions and also London rivals Chelsea.
"They [Spain players] always go up to referees in an attempt to get an opponent booked. They are trying to screw colleagues! That kind of behaviour really annoys me," Van Persie told Sport 1.
"People who are watching the game on television and fans really do not want to see these kind of things. If you want to witness a lot of complaints, you should just go the bakery or something. There's always people nagging there as well.
"Chelsea players are always bitching against the referees. I really cannot understand that. Just shut the f*** up and focus on playing football."
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This is in direct opposition to his Arsenal teammate Jack Wilshere, who in an earlier story said:
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Wenger had suggested that Wilshere was suffering from burnout, but the youngster does not blame physical or mental problems for Arsenal's disastrous end to the season, instead preferring to highlight United's treatment of referees as the area where the Gunners can improve.
"It's no use just Robin van Persie going because it looks like it's just him having a go at the ref. If we all get round him..." Wilshere said.
"You just see the other teams do it and you think 'we need to do it as well'. Man United are the best at it. They get round the referee. We have to be more of a team and be more aggressive and show more authority."
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Scott
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1308
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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And what would football be without yet another match fixing scandal...
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Five years after the Calciopoli scandal Italian football has been rocked by fresh controversy after police made 16 arrests as part of an investigation into an alleged betting and match-fixing ring, with current and recently retired players believed to be among the ringleaders.
Giuseppe Signori, a former Italy international and Lazio captain and one of the country's best-loved players, was among several players, executives and bookmakers arrested as part of Cremona police's Ultima Scommessa (Last Bet) investigation. Signori told Italian media: "Have some mercy. I can't say anything. I will meet my lawyer and then he'll speak for me."
The Italian football federation has promised to co-operate with the investigation, which is focusing on 17 matches in Serie B and Italian non-league, and one failed attempt at fixing a Serie A match. The six-month investigation began in response to last November's match between Paganese and Cremonese, when it was alleged players had their drinks spiked in an attempt to hamper their performance, with several falling ill during the game.
Police said the investigation had produced evidence of an organised system among former and current footballers, sports-betting operators and others to manipulate results, with bets worth tens of thousands of euros, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of euros, placed on the outcome.
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Scott |
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jdw
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Posts: 12617
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Saw something on that... and it looks ugly.
John |
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jdw
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Posts: 12617
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jdw
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Posts: 12617
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| Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:18 am Post subject: |
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Owen resigned, Berba again talking about wanting to stay, and now this:
No Samp return for Macheda
| Quote: | | "As far as I am aware, Manchester United intend to keep Macheda," he told Radio Mana Mana. "They don't want to loan him out again." |
?
Macheda went 0-for-14 with Samp: zero goals in 14 appearances.
If the agent isn't just blowing smoke, I do wonder what that would mean for Welbeck.
I honestly don't get extending Owen, other than his clear willingness to be a bench player who barely plays at all. But you'd really rather have better potential out of the #4 forward so that there isn't the risk of running Rooney and Hernandez into the ground.
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Scott
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1308
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| Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:21 am Post subject: |
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Sampdoria as a team were fucking horrific the second half of the season. It wasn't just one person playing bad, the whole team was awful. Read the article, but a couple of snippets are below...
Sampdoria's fall from grace
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After beating Bologna 3-1 on February 13 in a bizarre match that saw them score three times within the first quarter of an hour, Sampdoria did not win again at home and won just once more overall as they took a 1-0 victory at Bari on April 23. The list of home matches between February and the end of the season beggars belief: a 1-0 defeat to Genoa, a 2-0 defeat to Inter, a 3-2 defeat to Cesena, a 1-0 defeat to Parma, a 2-1 defeat to Lecce, a 3-3 draw with Brescia and a 2-1 defeat to Palermo.
*snip*
Nothing you could point out on the tactical side can explain what went on during those excruciatingly painful home matches in March, April and May. Missed penalties, fluffed goal chances, mis-kicked clearances, and the wrong type of spirit. The last time Samp were leading a game all season came against Bologna on February 13, and there was one curious effect of the negative attitude that gripped the side every time it went behind: actual effort was never lacking, but it was often channeled in the wrong direction, resulting in the Genovese version of headless chickens running around with attitude but little discipline.
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That's one point in their last seven home matches. It was more than just attack, they had players playing in a system that didn't really suit them, which got even worse after they sold Pazzini to Inter and Cassano to Milan in January and got a new manager with yet another system.
Scott |
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Scott
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1308
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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USA 0 - 4 Spain
Can someone explain to me the point of scheduling this game so close to the start of Gold Cup? If it was a game where Bob would have started a full-strength 11, then that's one thing. This was basically an A- Spain squad against an A- USA squad, and it's patently obvious that the A- USA squad is not ready to play against any type of quality opponent.
Losing to Spain is acceptable. To get thoroughly dominated is another. Either the A- USA team didn't put out enough effort, or they just suck.
Scott |
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Scott
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1308
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| Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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One thing that I looked into after reading this article, which primarily covered notable omissions from the Gold Cup squad, is that the USSF coaching curriculum is going to be emphasizing the 4-3-3 formation (and variants) and is moving away from the flat 4-4-2. From the complete curriculum document, page 5 of the PDF:
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4-3-3 formation
Teams will use the 4-3-3 formation, either in its 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-3 variations. Teams in the advanced stage (U15 onwards) can also use a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in the middle. This system (4-4-2 diamond) provides more space in the wide areas of the field for the outside backs to move forward and join the attack.
Back 4
All formations used by the teams in 11-a-side games must keep a back 4 line. The back 4 provides consistency in defense and allows space for the outside backs to move forward when attacking.
9v9
Teams playing 9v9 soccer are strongly encouraged to use the 3-2-3 formation. This formation helps players express the principles of play specified in this document. This system allows for better adaptation to a 4-3-3 formation as the players progress to 11v11.
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