Football (Soccer) Thread

[PDH]

Those leagues have one (or two) teams that are among the better(ish) teams in Europe from time to time, the MSL seems to be like the "league right under the top league" teams in most of the major European leagues.

[Duque de Bragança]

So something like the Dutch or Portuguese league?

Not even so. The Portuguese league is even above the French league, at least according to the UEFA coefficient.
http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/index.html

Results over the last 5 seasons to give some perspective.

PS: this could change if the Paris Saint-German uses well its newfound Qatari money. They won 2-1 vs Marseilles tonight, a sine qua non victory to stay in the fight for the title but not sufficient.

[Admiral Yi]

the MSL seems to be like the "league right under the top league" teams in most of the major European leagues.

Say what now?

[Warspite]

The opinion of MLS is improving because the quality is getting better, but right now it's still on par with second or third tier football in the UK.

The Dutch and Portugese leagues have some famous teams but have been hit by the concentration of talent in an ever smaller number of big, continental outfits. Nevertheless, Dutch and Portugese players remain of a very high general quality. The Dutch particularly so because of the importance placed on technique from an early age. I don't know about the Portugese youth system but I would presume so as well.

[Admiral Yi]

Never mind Peedy, I got it now.  MLS is AAA or AA.

[Ed Anger]

I enjoyed Balotelli's petulance and Ryu style flying kicks to the knees today.

[Warspite]

I enjoyed Balotelli's petulance and Ryu style flying kicks to the knees today.

Fuck Balotelli, that tackle almost ended Song's career.

[Ed Anger]

Somebody send Balotelli after Andy Carroll.

[FunkMonk]

I enjoyed Balotelli's petulance and Ryu style flying kicks to the knees today.

Fuck Balotelli, that tackle almost ended Song's career.

Yeah that was vicious. He got what he deserved in the end though.

[FunkMonk]

Somebody send Balotelli after Andy Carroll.

I don't know if you saw Liverpool lose to Newcastle, but Andy was pretty much humiliated against his old club.

Then he threw a fit walking off the field when he was subbed.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Carroll sold in the summer anyway, but if they don't get rid of him I'd expect to see a lot less of him next season.

[Ed Anger]

I saw bits and pieces of it. 

[Warspite]

Somebody send Balotelli after Andy Carroll.

I don't know if you saw Liverpool lose to Newcastle, but Andy was pretty much humiliated against his old club.

Then he threw a fit walking off the field when he was subbed.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Carroll sold in the summer anyway, but if they don't get rid of him I'd expect to see a lot less of him next season.

Here's the incident from another angle:

[katmai]

Dempsey!!

[FunkMonk]

American superhero and Texan Clint Dempsey

[Ed Anger]

I liked that wee tiny stadium. I could have put it in my trenchcoat pocket.