Association football (soccer)

I picked Germany to win this back after the last World Cup. So nice to see them win and me be right ^_^

Whoo! I placed a small bet on Germany to win, glad they won it in the end. Although I would have preferred Belgium or Costa Rica to have won it since I'm always a fan of the underdogs. But still, congrats to Germany.

Yo, anyone up for transfer rumors and gossip?

Here is Fox Sports and their Rumor Mill. Basically take 10 players week to week who look like moves are possible and to where.

Fox Rumor Mill

Also what the hell Lahm the German Skipper retired from International play today and he is only 30?

Well, he has a lot of years on his clock already, and it's doing things to him I can tell.

About the rumor mill, it's a bit, I don't know, unreliable for me, I prefer GMS, or LockerDome, or good old ESPN or Sky Sport sometimes does it.

Anyhow, Suarez, Kroos and James Rodriguez, let's talk about those three (another epic Classico line-up again)

Suarez is already going to Barcelona (which says it is okay to bite someone cause you get a raise), Kroos already off to Real Madrid as well as Rodriguez. So those 3 are basically done.

Well as Blink said, they're all ready finished basically. Not sure how I feel about the Kroos and Rodriguez signings since they seem very similar attacking midfield players and Madrid already have that kind of player in Isco and Modric (even though he was played in a deeper role last season). The only way I see it working is if maybe Kroos is preferred to Isco down the middle and Rodriguez is played on the wing if Di Maria leaves (Rumours upon rumours). Other than that, maybe Kroos is played deeper as a successor for Alonso? But he doesn't strike me as the player who puts in that shift to hound down players, tackle them and offer support for the centre backs. Plus Illarramendi and Modric kinda have that position down anyway. I'm also not sure Rodriguez is worth £55 million, he had a good world cup and all as well as a good season with Monaco but it's the French league...not like it's all that competitive and is bursting with great teams.

As for Suarez: I never believe any player should be worth that kind of money, he's a good signing (so long as he keeps his mouth shut and his teeth corked) but that kind of money is just stupid. I'm sure they'll make it back with the performances/trophies they'll get when he returns from his ban. It might take him a bit to settle in since he won't be able to train with his team-mates until October.

I know it's only an unprofessional guess, but from years of playing for a traveling team, I can see James fitting in as a CF, a possible substitute for Benzema, since it's clearly showing in Madrid's buying plan (I mean, Falcao should have been the choice). They're, in a way, looking for a better "Benzema", a player with a touch for those sensitive pass and a small ego, but is also an opportunist finisher, to compliment Ronaldo and Bale, so James coming wouldn't push Di Maria out, but certainly Morata, and maybe Isco. Ancelotti isn't someone to change what is not broken, but he tends to focus on fixing the weakest link. I can see Morata, Khedira, and Illara being sold (and maybe Isco), but not Di Maria (If he did it wouldn't go well with Carlo for sure).

As for Suarez, even though he's been lethal ever since I saw him playing in Ajax, this is the first time he has ever worked with people that also have the "Star Mentality", not to say it's bad, but if Messi and Neymar didn't have any of it they wouldn't be superstars in the first place, so we'll see how it goes. But I'm sure we'll see another epic El Classico.

I don't see him as a player who would he happy on the bench for Benzena, plus apart from the World Cup his scoring record hasn't been as good as Benzema's so I don't see him as a CF. I see Isco going, Ancelotti lost favour with him a bit so I could see him going. There's also been a lot of rumours about Di Maria going to PSG and the signing of Rodriguez only fuels my suspicion that he will be going as well as Isco and then they're replaced with Rodriguez and Kroos. But there's always Bale to consider, so either way Rodriguez, Kroos or Di Maria will be playing second fiddle for next season with Bale and Ronaldo on the wings.

Oh man, I just found out Luis Suarez plays for Barca now. Like I needed another reason to hate that team. Anyways, it's going to be pathetic is the appeal goes through. But then again, FIFA and their corrupt idiots are not one to turn down easy millions when put in front of them.

Soccer needs to come back soon. Summers tend to be boring without it :/

So Season started. Any new teams anyone is looking out for? Also transfer deadline got a few more days and teams like ManU still looking to add a few new key pieces.

Standings (mean little right now I know)
BPL - All 4 have 6 points right now
Tottenham
Chelsea
Manchester City
Swansea City

La Liga - You have 7 teams with 3 points after 1 game. No big surprise that Real Madrid and Barcelona are up there. Mainly only shock is Altetico Madrid ended with a draw, but it is only 1 game in.

Bundesliga - 5 teams with 3 points after 1 game and again no big surprise that Bayern is up there but surprised that Dortmund lost to Bayer their first week 2-0.

Serie A - yet to start I assume they should be starting this weekend or next.

I would cover MLS, but whenever I watch MLS game it just doesn't feel or look as good as leagues in Europe. Maybe just me...

Thought I'd give my thoughts on where the title contenders in the English Premier League would end up, given how it's the biggest league in the world (in revenue anyway).

Arsenal: Look good to me, Alexis Sanchez was a big signing and Ramsey looks to still be scoring for fun at times (early days I know). I'd imagine a 3rd place finish. Should improve in comparison to last season and maybe a title push.
Chelsea: Title favourites without a doubt, no offence towards Pellegrini but Mourinho is just a better manager and Fabregas and Costa already look settled and ready. Maybe if they sign Destro (rumours right now) they will storm towards a fith title.
Liverpool: Poor signings (Bar Lallana and Lovren) and they let their best player go, can't see anything from them this season unless Sturridge scores like he did.
Man City: Same situation as Chelsea, should be expected to win the title. Strengthened in centre-back which was the only place I thought they needed a quality player (Kompany never really had a good enough partner given his quality). I expect them to finish second because of Mourinho's quality however.
Man united: Looked poor. Haven't made signings quick enough and paid too much for Di Maria as well as other signings looking meh at best. Won't reach European football unless they make some drastic changes. Maybe they might even have a managerial merry-go-round like Chelsea have had in recent seasons.
Tottenham: Looked to have gelled well under Pochettino and even their fringe player like Lamela have looked good under him. Should sign another striker or left back since they lack a little quality in those positions but other than that they look good and might (emphasis on might) break into the top four.

Early days right now but that's what I think the top teams will achieve this season.

UEFA Champions League Groups where announced today:


Group E looks most interesting with Manchester City, Bayern, and AS Roma. Otherwise unless we have some surprise teams there looks to be only 2 teams in each group that looks above the rest. Maybe group D is other one that looks like 3 teams will compete. But that is the fun in it all you never know how everything will turn out.

I'm still bummed out about Di Maria, and Alonso, and Ronaldo's chronic injury, but what the hell, THE CHAMPIOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNS!!!!

Well after 4 games in BPL the standing actually look really weird

Top 4 teams are
Chelsea - 12 pts
Aston Villa - 10 pts
Swansea City - 9 pts
3 Teams tied with 7 pts - Southampton, Manchester City, and Tottenham

I know only 4 games but if you tell me that looks natural with Villa in the second spot then I need you to go get a crazy test check lol. Great to see these "lower" tier teams competing I just hope it last all year instead of them down and out here in another month.

Other leagues look more normal with not really any surprise teams down or up. BUT there is 1 league with 1 team that isn't right. After 3 games in La Liga Real Madrid only has 3 pts? WTF is happening there. I am not to worried though cause you need the team to gel a bit so I can see once they get comfortable playing with one another them back at the top in La Liga.

Bumping this thread, also.........HALA MADRID!!!

This is the only place where I can talk about Crystal Palace FC and some people know what I am talking about.

Although Palace has more points this season as compared to the same period last season, they are leaking in goals. Under Tony Pulis, defence was tight. Right now, they are scoring more goals, but I wish they are able to defend the lead at times. :(

I will try not to sound uneducated about Palace, but it seems to be that you've got quite a promising squad, Zaha, Galye, Hiram Boateng. And your doing well compared to other team with the same squad caliber, no?

To be fair Pulis hadn't taken charge until late November last season and you could argue that the club is still in transition. Guess we'll have to judge them based on the next 3-4 games in the league although I agree that they haven't looked convincing defensively at all this season and they'll have to be in order to get points off of the big teams like they did last season. Though I don't think Warnock as a replacement for Pulis and I never expected him to do well, he's never succeeded in the Premier League whereas Pulis has done it consistently. Warnock also doesn't seem like the kind of character to accept when decisions go against him, that can have a negative effect on his players given how they might just assume they aren't winning due to poor luck rather than the fact they haven't done enough/made mistakes.

Messi breaking Zarra's record, and #messiforbalondoro has gained a massive flood of support! In other news, #neuerforbalondoro is dead since all the supporters vanished without a reason.