World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

[JF_Gophers]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

With the World Cup going on its easy to forget the transfer window opens tomorrow and the season gets underway in England in about a month already!

2010-11 Champions Blackburn Rovers Schedule

Friendlies:
SK Sturm Graz v Blackburn (7/10)
Fleetwood Town v Blackburn (7/17)
Preston v Blackburn (7/20)
Huddersfield v Blackburn (7/21)
Rangers v Blackburn (7/25)
AEK Athens v Blackburn (7/28)
Sydney FC v Blackburn (7/31)
Hearts v Blackburn (8/7)

EPL Season:
Blackburn v Everton (8/14)
Birmingham v Blackburn (8/21)
Blackburn v Arsenal (8/28)
Man City v Blackburn (9/11)
Blackburn v Fulham (9/18)
Blackpool v Blackburn (9/25)
Stoke v Blackburn (10/2)
Blackburn v Sunderland (10/16)
Liverpool v Blackburn (10/23)
Blackburn v Chelsea (10/30)
Blackburn v Wigan (11/6)
Newcastle v Blackburn (11/10)
Tottenham v Blackburn (11/13)
Blackburn v Aston Villa (11/20)
Man Utd v Blackburn (11/27)
Blackburn v Wolverhampton (12/4)
Bolton v Blackburn (12/11)
Blackburn v West Ham (12/18)
Blackburn v Stoke (12/26)
West Brom v Blackburn (12/28)
Sunderland v Blackburn (1/1)
Blackburn v Liverpool (1/5)
Chelsea v Blackburn (1/15)
Blackburn v West Brom (1/22)
Blackburn v Tottenham (2/2)
Wigan v Blackburn (2/5)
Blackburn v Newcastle (2/12)
Aston Villa v Blackburn (2/26)
Fulham v Blackburn (3/5)
Blackburn v Blackpool (3/19)
Arsenal v Blackburn (4/2)
Blackburn v Birmingham (4/9)
Everton v Blackburn (4/16)
Blackburn v Man City (4/23)
Blackburn v Bolton (4/30)
West Ham v Blackburn (5/7)
Blackburn v Man Utd (5/14)
Wolverhampton v Blackburn (5/22)

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

With the World Cup going on its easy to forget the transfer window opens tomorrow and the season gets underway in England in about a month already!

The Champions League started yesterday and the Europa League starts Thursday as well. I dare you to name a team competing without looking.

Man City finalized a deal for David Silva this morning. I'm okay with that, still hoping we can get Dzeko to join as well. And hoping we stay far far away from James Milner.

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

The Champions League started yesterday and the Europa League starts Thursday as well. I dare you to name a team competing without looking.

I could guess a few possiblities.

Trabzonspor
Rosenborg

Having played enough WSM some of those clubs names should pop into my head.

 

[JohnN]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Just re-watched the goal. He was a half-body offside. But the linesman would have had to have seen that through 4 Portugal players.

The assistant is in proper position, so if he had to see through 4 Portugal players, doesn't that mean he was onside? Just a thought.


My impression of the goal is that I'm really glad the referees awarded it. Benefit of the doubt is suppose to go to the offense and I think most assistant referees still give the benefit of the doubt to the defense. I think any goal that we need to see in slow motion or stop action to tell if it is "technically" offsides or not should count. That's what benefit to the offense means. In the great still photo that Shirtless Guy took, you can see that although marginally offsides, Villa is running and the defenders are standing still. The goal should of counted.

I thought the head referee for Spain-Portugal did a great job. Sure he could have handed out about six yellows that I counted and called about fifteen more fouls, but he didn't and the game went fine. Soccer games shouldn't be over-managed by a referee and this one certainly wasn't.

For the red card, We Want More summed up my thoughts completely. There was no video of the actual offense on the replay and the referee was in position and doing a great job up that point, so I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

on the replay and the referee was in position and doing a great job up that point, so I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I'm sorry, I don't think that's permitted on here (giving a ref the benefit of the doubt).

ETA: Question for the football laws of the game geeks on here. Youth game last night, had an iffy foul called in the box on us (looked like he tripped on his own feet with no contact). PK awarded. Lined up, taken off crossbar and out. Linesman went to ref and said the goalie was not on the line (there was no line - just dirt). Allowed to re-kick and a different kid took the PK. If it is a re-kick should the same kid not have to take it? If the goalie never had anything to do with the initial miss, why re-kick?

 

[Kepler]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

The Champions League started yesterday and the Europa League starts Thursday as well. I dare you to name a team competing without looking.

That must mean think of a decent team without hardware, so my guess is Hotspur.

Edit: I looked. I have never heard of any of the clubs in the First Qualifying Round of the Europa League. I had no idea there were so many rounds to the Champions League, either. There are 53 associations?!

 

[3W]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

I've heard of Skonto Riga before, but that was it for the Europa First Qualifying Round.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

I've heard of Streymur from the Faroe Islands, because Man City played them in the Europa League 2 years ago, and I've also head of Randers, because I think there's an American who plays for them. That's it though.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Speaking of government involvement in football, reports are just starting to come out that Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the national team from competition for the next two years.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

I'm sorry, I don't think that's permitted on here (giving a ref the benefit of the doubt).

ETA: Question for the football laws of the game geeks on here. Youth game last night, had an iffy foul called in the box on us (looked like he tripped on his own feet with no contact). PK awarded. Lined up, taken off crossbar and out. Linesman went to ref and said the goalie was not on the line (there was no line - just dirt). Allowed to re-kick and a different kid took the PK. If it is a re-kick should the same kid not have to take it? If the goalie never had anything to do with the initial miss, why re-kick?

But perhaps the shooter went high because the goalie cut down the angle by being off the line? Even as a GK, I agree with the re-kick. No idea on the rules/etiquette for having a different player take it, though.

 

[pirate]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Heading to the Region 1 tournament tonight with my oldest, since we have 3 games in 4 days (think they are trying to sell hotel rooms?) I will have plenty of time to ask the PK question.

I've seen PK's re-taken before but never by a different player although I have a hunch that is ok. The reason to re-take it would be a violation on the defenders so if the offense wants to put in a different guy I don't see why they wouldn't allow it. But, there are plenty of crazy rules out there.

I think it is fair to re-take if the goalie was off the line, it changes angles and increases coverage...that could influence the taker.


edit: I got distracted during my post, so although it appears I typed the same thing as Lynah...I swear I didn't see that post til after mine went up...

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Heading to the Region 1 tournament tonight with my oldest, since we have 3 games in 4 days (think they are trying to sell hotel rooms?) I will have plenty of time to ask the PK question.

I've seen PK's re-taken before but never by a different player although I have a hunch that is ok. The reason to re-take it would be a violation on the defenders so if the offense wants to put in a different guy I don't see why they wouldn't allow it. But, there are plenty of crazy rules out there.

I think it is fair to re-take if the goalie was off the line, it changes angles and increases coverage...that could influence the taker.


edit: I got distracted during my post, so although it appears I typed the same thing as Lynah...I swear I didn't see that post til after mine went up...

Can't a violation by the shooter also result in re-take though? Like stopping during the run up for example?

 

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Can't a violation by the shooter also result in re-take though? Like stopping during the run up for example?

As I understand it, a violation by the shooter can result in a retake if the penalty is successful.

 

[pirate]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

As I understand it, a violation by the shooter can result in a retake if the penalty is successful.

Sorry, you are right, I was only thinking of the miss in the example but I have seen my son's team lose a game on a last second penalty that we made but was re-taken due to a violation (someone's foot in the box) then missed the re-take...that was a fun ride home...it wasn't his foot in the box, thank god.

 

[J.D.]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Speaking of government involvement in football, reports are just starting to come out that Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the national team from competition for the next two years.

Nigerian team suspended for poor play

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Associated Press

ABUJA, Nigeria -- The president of Nigeria has suspended the national soccer team from international competition for two years after a poor showing at the World Cup.

Ima Niboro, a spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan, made the announcement Wednesday, saying the ban would enable the country to reorganize its football administration.

Niboro said that all funding for the World Cup squad, including the hiring of Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, would be investigated.

Nigeria was eliminated from the World Cup with just one point, which came in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in its final game. Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0 in its Group B opener and fell to Greece 2-1 in a game turned by the first-half expulsion of midfielder Sani Kaita.

The Super Eagles haven't won a World Cup match since 1998, going out with two losses and a draw in 2002 and failing to qualify for Germany 2006.

The Nigerian Football Federation's executive committee had earlier tendered an apology to the government and "all football loving Nigerians" for the early exit.

Nigeria risks being banned by FIFA, soccer's governing body, from all international soccer because of the political interference.

"At the time of writing, we have no official information on this matter," FIFA said in a statement. "However, in general, FIFA's position regarding political interference in football is well known."

Nigeria's next scheduled international match is a qualifier for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, at home against Madagascar in early September.

FIFA rules demand that national federations manage their affairs independently, or face suspension from world soccer. National and club teams, plus referees, would be barred from participating in international matches and soccer officials are prevented from attending meetings.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had already expressed concern over the French government's investigation into France's surprising first-round exit from the World Cup.

"Definitely I can tell you that political interference will be dealt with by FIFA notwithstanding what kind of interference and what is the size of the country," Blatter said Tuesday in remarks about France.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Nigerian team suspended for poor play

(snip)...
FIFA president Sepp Blatter had already expressed concern over the French government's investigation into France's surprising first-round exit from the World Cup.

"Definitely I can tell you that political interference will be dealt with by FIFA notwithstanding what kind of interference and what is the size of the country," Blatter said Tuesday in remarks about France.

What's funny is that the penalty for government involvement is usually suspension. So FIFA, in a true display of their wisdom, may punish Nigeria's 2 year suspension by... imposing a 2 year suspension

 

[gscott13]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

Heading to the Region 1 tournament tonight with my oldest, since we have 3 games in 4 days (think they are trying to sell hotel rooms?) I will have plenty of time to ask the PK question.

where is it this year... i played in it in amherst (twice) about 20 years ago and then niagara falls (once) before i quit playing club to focus on hockey...

 

[Priceless]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

President Goodluck Jonathan

That's a great name.

 

[J.D.]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

where is it this year... i played in it in amherst (twice) about 20 years ago and then niagara falls (once) before i quit playing club to focus on hockey...

MTOC? If that's what you're talking about, I played in it once. It was at UMass.

 

[JohnN]

Re: World Soccer XVI: The Sadness

I'd like to hear your predictions about the Quarterfinals.

A. Game most likely to end 3-2.

B. Game most likely to end 0-0.

C. Leading goal scorer.

D. Player most likely to be red carded.


Extra bonus points for fun comments.