[Oranje]

DL_Panda, on 02 February 2010 - 11:18 AM, said:

Eh, I'm not too confident in the Netherlands' talent. If their offense consists of van Persie and van Nistelrooy, that probably won't provide enough of a counterpunch to the other teams you mentioned. I haven't been following their whole team, so I'm not sure if they have any solid defensive midfielders or backs.

I think Portugal has enough of a full team to be considered a threat. Perhaps not as much as 2006, but still very strong.

Wait, so you're ruling out the Dutch offense but saying that Portugal has a full team?

If you think the Dutch only have RVP and Ruud in attack then you've got a lot research to do. Lets start with the fact Ruud may not be in the team. You missed Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt, van der Vaart, and Elia in attack.

I'm not sure if you watch the Premier League but if you did, you'd know you Nigel de Jong is. He and Bayern's captain Mark van Bommel provide a great holding duo in midfield.

[I_AM_CANUCKIAN]

Chelsea draws Hull 1-1. Hope Arsenal can beat them this weekend so we can take back our rightful spot at the summit! UNITED!

[DL_Panda]

Oranje, on 02 February 2010 - 01:41 PM, said:

Wait, so you're ruling out the Dutch offense but saying that Portugal has a full team?

If you think the Dutch only have RVP and Ruud in attack then you've got a lot research to do. Lets start with the fact Ruud may not be in the team. You missed Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt, van der Vaart, and Elia in attack.

I'm not sure if you watch the Premier League but if you did, you'd know you Nigel de Jong is. He and Bayern's captain Mark van Bommel provide a great holding duo in midfield.

Isn't that pretty much the entire Real Madrid team?

[Oranje]

DL_Panda, on 02 February 2010 - 02:26 PM, said:

Isn't that pretty much the entire Real Madrid team?

No, it isn't.

Robben left Real for Bayern in the summer to make room for Kaka/ Ronaldo. Sneijder left for Inter for the same reason. Van der Vaart is still there and was playing well until he got injured. Kuyt is at Liverpool, Elia is at Hamburg. Research, please.

[Hopeless Unbeliever]

I think their attack will not include van Nistelrooy if they are at full strength, it will be van Persie up front with Kuyt and Robben down the wings, supported by a midfield 3 including Wesley Sneijder who is looking good in Milan and Nigel de Jong and one other. Portugal I maybe overlooked but I just don't see them being a major player at the WC. I've been wrong before though.

[Oranje]

Hopeless Unbeliever, on 02 February 2010 - 03:29 PM, said:

I think their attack will not include van Nistelrooy if they are at full strength, it will be van Persie up front with Kuyt and Robben down the wings, supported by a midfield 3 including Wesley Sneijder who is looking good in Milan and Nigel de Jong and one other. Portugal I maybe overlooked but I just don't see them being a major player at the WC. I've been wrong before though.

I think Ruud will get the call over Huntelaar if he gets some playing time at Hamburg. I'm concerned about van Persie being match fit but he should be fine to go come June. Kuyt and Robben are probably going to start the WC on the flanks, but I really like Elia. He's very similar to Robben, but you can't leave Robben out of the starting XI and Kuyt is a tireless worker. The 10 role behind RVP will go to Sneijder or van der Vaart, it's really a toss up.


I think Portugal are still missing a target man up front, but they've changed to a 4-4-2 recently so that may not be as big a factor as it would in a 4-3-3.

[tylenol]

Terry dropped as captain of England.

[tylenol]

yay Rio named captain.

[Bring Back the V]

Blind referee selected for World Cup:
http://fourfourtwo.c...06/default.aspx

[otherwise]

I saw this and thought it was nice. and kind of funny.

Puma has come up with an idea incase there is a match on Valentines day that you want to watch and your special someone doesn't...

Check it out: the Hardchorus

[otherwise]

Man City picked up a 2-0 win over Bolton today. Now in 5th in the table.

[Cooke_Hart]

Champion's League! Quite an entertaining game between Milan and Man Utd today. I'm glad for the goal difference. Hopefully it'll be wide open at Old Trafford.

[bobb]

With Marcus Haber playing right now on loan for Exeter City it got me thinking where are other Canadians playing in Europe. (Easy enough to check our national team players I mean ANY Canadian in general) Anyone know a webpage that lists them? Also, anyone know of Canada calling any new friendlies with our match with Argentina getting called off? I want to know if David Hoilett is going to burn Hart again if he gives him a call.

[Tenacious]

Real Madrid knocked out by LYON. Woooooooow.

My 2nd largest pet peeve about soccer (diving being the first) is how the commentators write off a 1 goal game with 20 minutes to go. I wanted RM to score a few goals and win just to shut those guys up.

[tylenol]

WhiskyDrinker, on 19 August 2009 - 12:38 PM, said:

United Fans,


i think you need RONALDO

ORLY?

[tylenol]

Tenacious, on 10 March 2010 - 01:44 PM, said:

Real Madrid knocked out by LYON. Woooooooow.

My 2nd largest pet peeve about soccer (diving being the first) is how the commentators write off a 1 goal game with 20 minutes to go. I wanted RM to score a few goals and win just to shut those guys up.

Madrid actually needed 2 goals, just to tie it up.

[Tenacious]

tylenol, on 10 March 2010 - 01:48 PM, said:

Madrid actually needed 2 goals, just to tie it up.

I realize that, but anything can happen once that first goal goes in. You also think that one of the best teams on paper in the world had the ability to do it too.

[DefCon1]

Tenacious, on 10 March 2010 - 01:51 PM, said:

I realize that, but anything can happen once that first goal goes in. You also think that one of the best teams on paper in the world had the ability to do it too.

Lyon had a great shutdown game and they played spectacular defense. They beat Liverpool and they certainly had the talent at the back to beat Real. Their defense today was unbelievable and they didn't give up any time or space to Real's superstar forwards. They could be a dark horse that might win the UEFA championship.

[DL_Panda]

DefCon1, on 10 March 2010 - 02:12 PM, said:

Lyon had a great shutdown game and they played spectacular defense. They beat Liverpool and they certainly had the talent at the back to beat Real. Their defense today was unbelievable and they didn't give up any time or space to Real's superstar forwards. They could be a dark horse that might win the UEFA championship.

But that's so booorrringgg!!! Gus Hiddink and the Chelsea squad last year? They basically used 9 backs and Drogba! Kind of what I saw today, and there is DEFINITELY no Drogba on Lyon. How did they miss those rushes? It looked like hockey near the end of the game, and Lyon practically missed two empty netters (no finish).

[GarthButcher]

100% disastrous joke on the part of Leonardo managing Milan today. Pretty much the worst possible squad he could've fielded.

Props to Rooney on some spectacular headers in the two legs. That bowling ball on top of a tree stump is good for something!

If you took the substitutes, and replaced them entirely with the players on the field, you would've had a 100% better match!

Off: Abiatti, Abate, Jankulovski, Huntelaar, Flamini, Boriello.

IN: Gattuso, Saedorf, Inzaghi, Zambrotta, Dida, Beckham.

That was such a joke, it looked like the midfield/forwards had never played together before. No flow, no fluidity.

The only players playing well were Ambrosini, Pirlo, Ronaldinho (when he rarely touched the ball) and Silva (except on the 3rd goal).

Leonardo has to go after that match. Pretty much THE low point as a Milan fan right now!