What's new
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

World Soccer XXX: We Have Men Too!

Status
Not open for further replies.
I think the big thing that the people proposing this want is that the actual “game time” on the actual game with the ball in play the whole time. In that sense the NHL and NBA are at 100% (though the NFL is likely way lower).

I just find it funny that a concept that was derided as “too American” years ago by Europeans is now being seriously discussed by Europeans.

I find the concept, stopping the clock at every stoppage, more palatable than the current uses in HS and NCAA soccer where the clock is only stopped at arbitrary moments, though I would add the rugby caveat that the game doesn’t end until the ball is out of play.

Yeah, that’s where the 20% number for the NFL comes from. It’s only 11 of 60 minutes that there’s actual action.

Outside of the obvious stalling you see in the last 10 minutes of games, I never really thought of it as much of an issue. Unless playing 60 minutes of stop clock somehow speeds the game up to 80 or 85 minutes, I don’t see why it matters if 60 minutes of action takes place in 90 minutes with a rolling clock or a stopped clock.
 
If you have ESPN+ they have a US Open Cup goalcast on showing highlights from all the games ala Redzone.
 
Quakes beat Sounders 10-9 on penalty shots. I'm guessing this wasn't the highest importance for Seattle after last week.
Yeah, I think there was one regular starter in the whole gameday roster.

On one hand, it sucks they were eliminated and it's worrying that they've lost another game.

On the other hand, we likely won't see Leo Chu play again so that's good.
 
Press: “The Seattle Sounders are in last place in the Western Conference!”
Seattle: “We have three games in hand.”
Press: “Can Seattle make the playoffs?”
Seattle: “WE HAVE THREE GAMES IN HAND!”
 
Clint Dempsey to join Fox’s World Cup coverage team

clint-dempsey-sunglasses.gif
 
US Soccer reaches agreements on CBAs for both the MNT and WNT.

Looks like the WNT had to give up their guaranteed contracts and most of their benefits in favor of a “play to pay” system like the MNT (which also means the WNT will likely see some heavy roster turnover) and equal bonuses.

The main problem, and this has always been my issue, is that way too much money is going to the players (90% of the prize money!) and not enough money going to development.
 
US Soccer reaches agreements on CBAs for both the MNT and WNT.

Looks like the WNT had to give up their guaranteed contracts and most of their benefits in favor of a “play to pay” system like the MNT (which also means the WNT will likely see some heavy roster turnover) and equal bonuses.

The main problem, and this has always been my issue, is that way too much money is going to the players (90% of the prize money!) and not enough money going to development.

The percent going to the players decreases after two years.

I think the change of number of contracts (there will still be some) is going to go a long ways towards keeping the WNT fresh and competitive.
 
The percent going to the players decreases after two years.

I think the change of number of contracts (there will still be some) is going to go a long ways towards keeping the WNT fresh and competitive.
It only decreases to 80%, still way too high of a number.

The only contracts remaining are the 16 current ones and they expire at the end of the year (and won’t be renewed). It’ll be interesting to see what the roster looks like for World Cup Qualifying/CONCACAF W Championship.

With the Men’s World Cup going to 48 and the Women’s World Cup going to 32 (there’s going to be terrible games in Australia and New Zealand next year) it’ll take something crazy for either team to miss a World Cup.

Edit: In fairness, the 48 team Men’s World Cup is going to have some terrible games too. CONCACAF is getting 6 teams, Asia is getting 8.
 
Last edited:
Europa League. Decent tournament and ranked below the Champions League for European clubs. Championship match today was in Seville, Spain in the middle of a heat wave where match time temp hit 93. Odd sorta match where one team is in 11th place in the Bundesliga and the other team is from a league rated lower than the MLS. I've never seen a match with 2 teams taking the worst corners ever; either too long, too short, or completely out of the 6 yard box. Anywho Frankfort beat the Glasgow team that wears blue(Fk the gers)1-1, 5-4 on shots from the spot. 8.6mil Euros to the winner plus money for various stages in the tourney and qualify for the CL next year slotted directly into the group stage.
 
Europa League. Decent tournament and ranked below the Champions League for European clubs. Championship match today was in Seville, Spain in the middle of a heat wave where match time temp hit 93. Odd sorta match where one team is in 11th place in the Bundesliga and the other team is from a league rated lower than the MLS. I've never seen a match with 2 teams taking the worst corners ever; either too long, too short, or completely out of the 6 yard box. Anywho Frankfort beat the Glasgow team that wears blue(Fk the gers)1-1, 5-4 on shots from the spot. 8.6mil Euros to the winner plus money for various stages in the tourney and qualify for the CL next year slotted directly into the group stage.

No need for Fk here. We’re allowed to spell fuck
 
It only decreases to 80%, still way too high of a number.

The only contracts remaining are the 16 current ones and they expire at the end of the year (and won’t be renewed). It’ll be interesting to see what the roster looks like for World Cup Qualifying/CONCACAF W Championship.

With the Men’s World Cup going to 48 and the Women’s World Cup going to 32 (there’s going to be terrible games in Australia and New Zealand next year) it’ll take something crazy for either team to miss a World Cup.

Edit: In fairness, the 48 team Men’s World Cup is going to have some terrible games too. CONCACAF is getting 6 teams, Asia is getting 8.

Some of the magic is going to be lost in 2026. Sure, 2/3 of the teams will still be getting three games, but the format seems perfect as of now with 32. Going to three team groups and possibly getting rid of draws is going to be weird. I would’ve rather they gone to eight groups of five, but as I recall they were worried about fitting that many games in succinctly.
 
World Cup Referees announced.

Female referees have been selected for the first time which is… interesting. Frappert from France, Yamashita from Japan, and Mukansanga from Rwanda.

Ismail Elfath is the US referee with Armando Villareal as a VAR, a bit of a shocking pick over Jair Marrufo. Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins, and Kathryn Nesbitt as ARs (Nesbitt as one of the females).

The use of female referees feels very much like a PR stunt rather than being appointed on merit. Nesbitt is a good example of being appointed on merit, she’s a regular in MLS, she was at the Gold Cup, and was a regular in CONCACAF WCQ. Frappert kind of has a case, she did a few WCQ matches and CL Group stage matches but she’s not a high ranking UEFA referee. Yamashita and Mukansanga have even less of a resume. Pretty good comment from a referee watcher sums it up:
And now, perhaps, an impolitic comment on the appointment of female referees. It's 100% a PR move. The women selected in the "referee" category were not designated for a single "top" men's qualifier. They were not, to the best of my knowledge, appointed to major (or any?) top-level continental club knockout matches. Frappart has the Super Cup, some second tier qualifiers, and UCL group stage matches--there are at least 10 male referees who are clearly ahead of her in UEFA, if not 20-25. From a pure fairness question related to performance, it doesn't pass the smell test. And then there's the issue of her being the second French referee when Cerro Grande and Gil Manzano can't get into list. These appointments just don't pass any reasonable objective test. I am all for female referees refereeing alongside men in men's competition when the spot is earned. Penso has earned hers in MLS. Frappart hers in Ligue 1. Etc., etc. But plucking a mid-tier Ligue 1 referee into the men's World Cup doesn't meet that standard. It doesn't come close. And Frappart is the best known referee of the three.
 
2026 stadiums are being announced June 16. Looking at the wiki list, the Midwest is likely getting shut out unless they throw Cincy or KC a bone. Wouldn’t be surprised to see LA get both Sofi and the Rose Bowl, even if they just use the Rose Bowl for the final.
 
World Cup Referees announced.

Female referees have been selected for the first time which is… interesting. Frappert from France, Yama****a from Japan, and Mukansanga from Rwanda.

Ismail Elfath is the US referee with Armando Villareal as a VAR, a bit of a shocking pick over Jair Marrufo. Corey Parker, Kyle Atkins, and Kathryn Nesbitt as ARs (Nesbitt as one of the females).

The use of female referees feels very much like a PR stunt rather than being appointed on merit. Nesbitt is a good example of being appointed on merit, she’s a regular in MLS, she was at the Gold Cup, and was a regular in CONCACAF WCQ. Frappert kind of has a case, she did a few WCQ matches and CL Group stage matches but she’s not a high ranking UEFA referee. Yama****a and Mukansanga have even less of a resume. Pretty good comment from a referee watcher sums it up:

If we're talking about appointment based upon merit, why does CAF have ANY representatives?
 
If we're talking about appointment based upon merit, why does CAF have ANY representatives?
If we’re talking on that level then why take any referees outside of UEFA and CONMEBOL? Because a World Cup needs referees from around the world. It that respect, there’s a far cry between someone who’s refereeing their continental finals and major qualification matches (plus appearances at FIFA youth tournaments) like Victor Gomes (2022 AFCON Final) or Said Martinez (2021 Gold Cup and 2022 CCL Finals) and a “did a few group stage and lesser qualifying matches” referee like Frappert.

I guess FIFA is desperately hoping for a dead rubber on the third match round so they can have an all female crew as another distraction to every s—-ty thing about this World Cup.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top