[kurtsimonw]

If that rule is implemented, it'll kill off soccer in this country once and for all.

I think the opposite.

The main complaints from the US regarding the sport are almost certainly:
*not enough goals/excitement (shootouts guarentee both).
*"A TIE!? THEY PLAY 90 MINUTES AND NOBODY WINS!? WTF!?" (these rules would get rid of 'ties'.)

[Dracoris]

The ratio of goals to ghost goals in overtime would be so small its not even worth mentioning. I think you're a little paranoid there Kurt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

If anything is to change, Golden Goal would be the only thing I'd accept, though I am fine with the way things are and would prefer it remain that way.

[Bluesummers]

If that rule is implemented, it'll kill off soccer in this country once and for all.

No it wouldn't, soccer is huge in the North America. Its by far the most funded, most played sport in North America. Here in canada, where hockey dominates, the number of participants in soccer is double that to hockey and people here don't even watch soccer.



The usa is no different. The amount of participants in soccer is more than all other sports.



North America is going to be a powerhouse for soccer in the future.

MLS is starting to take shape with more teams joining in. It has a very balanced structure that ables it to maintain the league for a long time unlike europe, which is based on how patient the banks are willing to be.

NASL and USL Premiere are adding teams as well. (Thats MLS div 2) The growth in soccer in north america is huge.


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This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Aug 17 2010, 05:13 AM

[Locke Lamora]

Huge? They can't even spell the thing properly...

[Bluesummers]

Huge? They can't even spell the thing properly...

Well thats a given. They probably can't even spell barack obama properly.

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Aug 17 2010, 09:05 PM

[servbot]

You say that now, but every football fan in the US went on for ages about the bad decisions that went against you in the WC. They ultimately didn't even mean anything either, imagine being knocked out on a golden goal that shouldn't have counted? It just gives the referee's more chance of costing a team the game.

The more the game is taken out of the refs hands, the better.

First, weren't you the one going on for ages about a bad decision going against you in the WC??

Second, what difference would it make if the goal that shouldn't have counted was a golden goal, or a goal in extra time? It's still very unlikely to comeback from it anyhow, and it would eliminate one major US-based complaint, which is the injury faking and stalling, which happens more often in extra time when someone is ahead, than in regular time.

Hockey plays just fine with a sudden death OT. It's pretty exciting knowing a match could be over at any second.

Well thats a given. They probably can't even spell barack obama properly.

Sigh. I think you're right.

[kurtsimonw]

First, weren't you the one going on for ages about a bad decision going against you in the WC??

Yes? I fail to see your point? I'm the one that doesn't want Golden Goal, I want the game out of the refs hands, so I don't see what you're getting at here.

Second, what difference would it make if the goal that shouldn't have counted was a golden goal, or a goal in extra time?

That's pretty straightforward really. If a ref makes a horrid mistake and you go out, you're out. If he makes a horrid mistake and it's just regular ET, you've a chance to comeback at the very least.

Hockey plays just fine with a sudden death OT. It's pretty exciting knowing a match could be over at any second.

It's a completely different sport. Plus any debatable goals are reviewed, unlike football.

[servbot]

Yes? I fail to see your point? I'm the one that doesn't want Golden Goal, I want the game out of the refs hands, so I don't see what you're getting at here.

You made it sound as if complaining incessantly about refs is germane to American fans.

It's a completely different sport. Plus any debatable goals are reviewed, unlike football.

Well the obvious answer is to review debatable goals, no? I'm not familiar with how these things work, but IFAB (?) is reviewing this topic in October, from what I read awhile back. In the very least they will come up with a goal-line ref.

[kurtsimonw]

You made it sound as if complaining incessantly about refs is germane to American fans.

I was just using you as an example because you were 1) for Golden goal and 2) Complained about (irrelevant) decisions that went against you. The point was, how do you think you'd feel if you actually went out because of a Golden goal or other horrible decision? It's not very nice knowing you went out of a World Cup based on the stupidity of one man, I would know.

Well the obvious answer is to review debatable goals, no? I'm not familiar with how these things work, but IFAB (?) is reviewing this topic in October, from what I read awhile back. In the very least they will come up with a goal-line ref.

You say it's obvious, I say it's obvious, my dog knows it's obvious. But this is FIFA were talking about, the same governing body whos head came out with "Football is better with mistakes". Obvious and logic is not something they can compute.

[MizNelson]

IFFHS voted - hold your breath - St. Gigi as the top keeper of the last decade. Dida finished sixth, which to me seems fair considering how up and down he was from '05 onward.

How on earth did Barthez make the top ten, though?

1.Gianluigi Buffon
2.Iker Casillas
3.Petr Cech
4.Oliver Rolf Kahn
5.Edwin van der Sar
6.Nelson Dida
7.Jens Lehmann
8.Roberto Abbondanzieri
9.Fabien Barthez
10.Rogerio Ceni

[kurtsimonw]

Not a bad list as it doesn't only contain players from the big clubs. Still a bit poor though.

[X-Offender]

Jens Lehmann? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Bluesummers]

NO ABBIATI!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! THE GREAT ABBIATI DOESN'T EVEN MAKE THIS LIST!????/



IFFHS has lost all credibilty. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

[Zed.D]

Peter Cech above Kahn and VdS?! I can't agree with that!

EDIT: and I'm not sure why Toldo isn't there...

This post has been edited by Zed.D: Oct 14 2010, 10:29 AM

[kurtsimonw]

Two Fifa officials have offered to sell their votes in the contest to host the 2018 World Cup, according to a Sunday Times report.

The newspaper has video footage in which Nigerian Amos Adamu, a Fifa executive committee member, appears to ask for £500,000.

This is completely against Fifa rules.

And Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii, wanted money for a sports academy for his vote, which will take place on 2 December.

England are competing to host the tournament in eight years time, as well as Russia and joint bids from Spain and Portugal and Holland and Belgium.

A 24-strong committee will decide by secret ballot who should host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The footage, filmed by undercover Sunday Times journalists, shows Adamu wanting money to be paid to him directly for endorsing a bid.

The reporters had posed as lobbyists for a United States bid. The US decided on Friday to withdraw from the running for the 2018 World Cup and instead concentrate on the 2022 competition.

In the video, Adamu was asked whether the money for a "private project" would have an effect on the way he voted, he replied: "Obviously, it will have an effect. of course it will. Because certainly if you are to invest in that, that means you also want the vote."

Fifa has so far not responded to the allegations.

BBC

Oh well.

Russia 2018 it is.