Soccer/Football random discussion & other leagues thread

[Iplayboard]

Originally Posted by ThaSaltCracka

The thing is, he's too young to simply just "break" into any national team squad. He could show up and be an impact player off the bench, or even play in some friendlies, but its highly unlikely he would get much PT in big games. Honestly, it would have been the same with the USMNT.

How would he not be capable of getting playing time for the USNT? Which American strikers are better?

[raju]

Originally Posted by sixfour

crap, hereford won. need help from elsewhere now, and brentford/grimsby won't supply it imo

Hehe, well the thread is entitled Random.....

I know some Rochdale fans who will be disapointed with that result tonite. They dont seem to think they`d be able to get past Stockport in the play offs. What do you make of that?

And well done to Aldershot making it back.

Someone told me united FC got promoted again and are now only 3 leauges off div 2. Thats all we need.

[sixfour]

Originally Posted by raju

Hehe, well the thread is entitled Random.....

I know some Rochdale fans who will be disapointed with that result tonite. They dont seem to think they`d be able to get past Stockport in the play offs. What do you make of that?

We wouldn't play Rochdale before the final, and our record at wembley is less than impressive. I don't know tbh. I'd rather be playing Darlington than Wycombe in the semi though

[TheRover]

I took Darlington to the Prem in FIFA 06 so I'll be cheering them on.

[ThaSaltCracka]

Originally Posted by Iplayboard

How would he not be capable of getting playing time for the USNT? Which American strikers are better?

heh, I guess you are right.

[ThaSaltCracka]

Originally Posted by KDawg

he's not too young at all, there have been plenty of players around his age that have broken into their national squads at his age, and IIRC Cassano had gotten some senior caps at around the same age as Rossi, and I know that Buffon was given caps at a young age for a keeper too

When I think of breaking into a squad, I mean starting regularly, not just getting caps. Like for example Adu and Jozy have gotten a few caps, but they aren't breaking into the senior squad. A recent player that I think has broken onto the US team is Bornstein. I guess we have different definitions.

I think a player who is in the 19-22 range could easily get some caps. Unless said player plays for England, then its the same 27 year olds every game (HAHA)

[raju]

nicked this out of another thread but it got me thinking. Are there any terms foreign fans use for American sports that wind up the US fans?

Anytime someone refers to a "road game", "PK", "bad call", "soccer", "flopping"(wtf???), or any other US sport terminology in a football thread, then they get a one day ban. How about it?

[Disturbance]

Originally Posted by sixfour

crap, hereford won. need help from elsewhere now, and brentford/grimsby won't supply it imo

Stockport LOL, that explains a lot.

[giraffeboy77]

Lol yeah, I miss the Pilgrims spot on Soccer AM. "and he's pulled the offensive shooters uniform!!!!! In the PK area too!!!!!! Aannnd he's EJECTED!!!!!!!"

When I watch NFL on Sky though, they always use the US terminology and I do too when discussing it i.e "NYG were awesome on the road the end of the season", not "NYG were awesome away from home". And the oh-fense and dee-fense pronunciations. Weird.

[GuyIncognito]

Originally Posted by raju

nicked this out of another thread but it got me thinking. Are there any terms foreign fans use for American sports that wind up the US fans?

Dunno. Basketball would be the one sport that's big in the USA but also popular around the rest of the world, and I'm not aware of an alternate English-language lexicon for the sport.

I really don't understand why people get so wound up about the term "soccer" being used in North America and Australia though, given that it's a contraction of the official name of the sport ("Association Football") and its original nickname.

[raju]

I think it bugs people because its always been called football and then the Americans invent a new game which they call football and they start calling football soccer.

It is a bit insulting to the rest of the world. Its like calling Paris Madrid.

[teddikgb]

Originally Posted by raju

I think it bugs people because its always been called football and then the Americans invent a new game which they call football and they start calling football soccer.

It is a bit insulting to the rest of the world. Its like calling Paris Madrid.

I believe it was some Limey chaps who started the "soccer" bit. Though perhaps the Yanks should call their game Ruggers.

[GuyIncognito]

Originally Posted by raju

I think it bugs people because its always been called football and then the Americans invent a new game which they call football and they start calling football soccer.

It is a bit insulting to the rest of the world. Its like calling Paris Madrid.

American/gridiron football originated in the late 1800s as an offshoot of rugby football. It isn't that much younger than rugby or association football.

Australia and Ireland also have their own versions of football as well.

And Americans weren't the first people to call association football "soccer"; it was known as "soccer" very early on in order to distinguish it from rugby football. Seems to me that "soccer" is the most neutral term for the sport in an international context.

I certainly wouldn't be bent out of shape if people in Europe insisted on calling American football "gridiron"; it's just unlikely to happen because nobody outside of North America cares about it or ever has a reason to refer to it.

[GeraldGiraffe]

I've grunched this thread to an extent. On the Italian artist player front, can't believe I haven't seen Gianfranco Zola mentioned.

Also leads on to a question inspired by an article from Four Four Two; who is/was the best foreign player to grace the premiership? Article predictably went for Cantona, which is a decent pick, but it's Dennis Bergkamp for me, undoubtedly. Anyone else?

[PoliticalRefugee]

Bergie in 2nd after Cygan for me