World Cup 2014 (SPOILERS, YO!)

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:43 am

This is worth starting off the World Cup thread, right? This is incredible.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:50 am

I friggin love Sir Ian. I could get goosebumps listening to him read a phone book. "Oh it's incredible! There is another page of Smiths!"

Since I have been too lazy to start a thread, anyone up for the WC warm-up game on June 1? US v. Turkey, Red Bull arena? I gotta go.

I also saw that Arsenal just announced a preseason match against the Red Bulls in Harrison on July 26th, I believe. Again, I have to be there. Who is with me?

howard · Post by **howard** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 9:56 am

The Sybian wrote:Since I have been too lazy to start a thread, anyone up for the WC warm-up game on June 1? US v. Turkey, Red Bull arena? I gotta go.

I thought this is a Swamp tradition. (I hope the tradition does not extend to me bankrolling the venture, but whatever.)

Lets do this again. Sure it ain't Philly, but North Jersey is nice too.

Yeah, I'm down for that Arsenal match too.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:13 am

howard wrote:
The Sybian wrote:Since I have been too lazy to start a thread, anyone up for the WC warm-up game on June 1? US v. Turkey, Red Bull arena? I gotta go.
I thought this is a Swamp tradition. (I hope the tradition does not extend to me bankrolling the venture, but whatever.)

Lets do this again. Sure it ain't Philly, but North Jersey is nice too.

Yeah, I'm down for that Arsenal match too.

Never mind, I'm out.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:14 am

(1)

(2)

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 10:27 am

rass wrote:(1)

(2)

I did three searches and didn't come up with anything.

howard · Post by **howard** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:48 pm

The Sybian wrote:anyone up for the WC warm-up game on June 1? US v. Turkey, Red Bull arena? I gotta go.

Well, tix are sold out, available only on stubhub and other reseller sites for astronomic prices, starting around $100 upstairs, $200 downstairs.

Nevermind.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:57 pm

howard wrote:
The Sybian wrote:anyone up for the WC warm-up game on June 1? US v. Turkey, Red Bull arena? I gotta go.
Well, tix are sold out, available only on stubhub and other reseller sites for astronomic prices, starting around $100 upstairs, $200 downstairs.

Nevermind.

Seriously? Damn, that sucks. Still might consider it. Hopefully prices come down, but I doubt it.

howard · Post by **howard** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:49 pm

I'll still go. But as far as organizing a swamp group thing, I doubt we'll get the serious committed interest for that. Even if prices drop, the availability of a block of several seats together will also drop.

At $40 or so a ticket for those sweet low corner seats we had in 2010, that was a different story. We grabbed about 12 or 14, iirc, and we had no trouble getting rid of an extra ticket without a loss (I think I might've even made ten bucks.)

But getting two or four seats together on game day or shortly before, ~$100 per, that's doable. I don't mind sitting upstairs at Red Bull. I don't think I want to pay $200+ for downstairs, for a practice game.

Is it me, or has sports gotten really expensive in recent years? Even correcting for inflation of other stuff? I got over $200 each for my opening day tix in SF (well, stub hub collected over $200 per, but kept a chunk for themselves.)

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:11 pm

howard wrote:I'll still go. But as far as organizing a swamp group thing, I doubt we'll get the serious committed interest for that. Even if prices drop, the availability of a block of several seats together will also drop.

At $40 or so a ticket for those sweet low corner seats we had in 2010, that was a different story. We grabbed about 12 or 14, iirc, and we had no trouble getting rid of an extra ticket without a loss (I think I might've even made ten bucks.)

But getting two or four seats together on game day or shortly before, ~$100 per, that's doable. I don't mind sitting upstairs at Red Bull. I don't think I want to pay $200+ for downstairs, for a practice game.

Is it me, or has sports gotten really expensive in recent years? Even correcting for inflation of other stuff? I got over $200 each for my opening day tix in SF (well, stub hub collected over $200 per, but kept a chunk for themselves.)

Just checked Stub Hub, tix are up to $240 for the cheapest, up to $550. Insane. For a friendly. I did find tickets for as low as $108. I'd do that.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:25 pm

Check out tiqiq.com, they consolidate all of the scalper sites into one:

http://www.tiqiq.com/tickets/usa-soccer ... widgetid=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:42 pm

howard wrote:I'll still go. But as far as organizing a swamp group thing, I doubt we'll get the serious committed interest for that. Even if prices drop, the availability of a block of several seats together will also drop.

At $40 or so a ticket for those sweet low corner seats we had in 2010, that was a different story. We grabbed about 12 or 14, iirc, and we had no trouble getting rid of an extra ticket without a loss (I think I might've even made ten bucks.)

But getting two or four seats together on game day or shortly before, ~$100 per, that's doable. I don't mind sitting upstairs at Red Bull. I don't think I want to pay $200+ for downstairs, for a practice game.

Is it me, or has sports gotten really expensive in recent years? Even correcting for inflation of other stuff? I got over $200 each for my opening day tix in SF (well, stub hub collected over $200 per, but kept a chunk for themselves.)

I know it's 20 years ago but I watched the Holland-Brazil quarterfinal in the Cotton Bowl, 2nd tier around the 40 yard line for $70.
More recently a friend of mine watched a quarterfinal in South Africa for over $300 and the seats were far in the corner.

Here is the Brazil 2014 pricing chart.

Post by **Sabo** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:51 am

Engerland announced their squad today at a Vauxhall car plant in Luton. OK, sure.

GK: Joe Hart, Ben Foster, Fraser Forster

Backs: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling

Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere

Forwards: Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck

Standby list: John Ruddy, Joe Flanagan, John Stones, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverly, Andy Carroll, Jermaine Defoe

FWIW, here's how England announced its squad for the 1950 World Cup:

Post by **Sabo** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:53 am

Also, Sports Illustrated has a running list of announced World Cup squads on the following Web page. Final squads are announced June 2.

http://soccer.si.com/2014/05/08/world-c ... azil-2014/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:54 am

Joe Hard.

Post by **Sabo** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:56 am

Rex wrote:Joe Hard.

I contemplated not fixing that, but I caved.

Post by **brian** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:04 am

That Rooey guy is an Aussie! How'd he make it on Engerland's roster?

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:16 am

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/0 ... p-failure/

It starts early in England!

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:17 am

Sabo wrote:

I still can't believe Watson was selected. Smith got shafted. And you know it was all politics.

Post by **Sabo** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:18 am

brian wrote:That Rooey guy is an Aussie! How'd he make it on Engerland's roster?

Dammit!

Truth be told the Engerland spelling was intentional.

Post by **brian** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:40 am

Sabo wrote:
brian wrote:That Rooey guy is an Aussie! How'd he make it on Engerland's roster?
Dammit!

Truth be told the Engerland spelling was intentional.

Yeah, that one I know.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon May 12, 2014 12:19 pm

Rog and Davo with their first preview.

Post by **Sabo** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:00 pm

Here's the USMNT's 30-man WC squad:

GK: Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando

Back line: DaMarcus Beasley, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez, Clarence Goodson, Fabian Johnson, Michael Parkhurst, DeAndre Yeldin

Midfield: Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Joe Corona, Brad Davis, Mix Diskerud, Maurice Edu, Julian Green, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi

Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Terrence Boyd, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Aron Johannsson, Chris Wondolowski

Post by **brian** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:23 pm

Kind of bummed Gomez didn't make the final 30, but given his form of late and the logjam of forwards I'm not surprised.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:47 pm

brian wrote:Kind of bummed Gomez didn't make the final 30, but given his form of late and the logjam of forwards I'm not surprised.

Yeah, he is or was a gamer, but not even a consideration at this point. No surprises for the 30, can't wait to see who makes the 23. I love going with 30, let the best in camp win out.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:55 pm

what's your starting 11 if you were playing Ghana tomorrow?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:00 pm

Well at least Eddie Johnson won't miss any time with D.C. United

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:10 pm

degenerasian wrote:what's your starting 11 if you were playing Ghana tomorrow?

I don't know enough about Ghana to know how to set set up. Building an XI absent of consideration to opponent, I would like to see a 442. I would love to see Bradley in more of an attacking role as well. I think pairing Jozy and Johannsson up front would be great. I don't see how you sit either Dempsey or Donovan, but I don't think you start both of them in a 442.The more likely option is a 451 with Dempsey playing in the whole behind the striker. You'd have to think Jozy is the favorite, but I don't know if he is in poor form and lacking confidence, or just not the right fit at Sunderland. He clearly wasn't a fit at Sunderland, but I wonder if that damaged his confidence. I do think Johannsson is a lot of fun and could light it up. Wondo has to be a late sub when down a goal. I want to write him off, but the guy just scores goals. He is a poacher who has an incredible knack for being in the right place and finishing. And Jurgen loves him.

I never feel comfortable with Jones in the game, as he is a yellow card waiting to happen. I don't see who else could play the defensive CM role, except for Bradley, but I want him to have the freedom to play a more offensive roll. Beckerman isn't good enough to start, I don't think. I'd love for him to prove me wrong. Backline I have no effing clue. I'd love to see Chandler playing up to his potential, but from what I've read, he has been struggling. I'd love to see wingbacks with the ability to Cherun up the pitch and Dolo back. Chandler has the ability, so does Fabian Johnson, but I think they have both been in bad form. I frankly don't like any of the center backs. I like Goodson because he never makes mistakes, but he just isn't good enough to play against this Group.

I guess what my ramblings come down to, is that I have no clue.

Howard in Goal.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:16 pm

I don't think 442 works with Dempsey and Donovan, and as much as it seems like Jurgen isn't high on Donovan, my thought is that Donovan will start every game for the US this summer.

Perhaps a 442 diamond with Altidore and Johansson up top, Dempsey in the top of the diamond, Donovan on the right, Beasley on the left, and Bradley as the fulcrum in the back of the diamond.

Your guess is as good as mine with the defense.

Timmay in goal.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon May 12, 2014 9:22 pm

govmentchedda wrote:I don't think 442 works with Dempsey and Donovan, and as much as it seems like Jurgen isn't high on Donovan, my thought is that Donovan will start every game for the US this summer.

Perhaps a 442 diamond with Altidore and Johansson up top, Dempsey in the top of the diamond, Donovan on the right, Beasley on the left, and Bradley as the fulcrum in the back of the diamond.

Your guess is as good as mine with the defense.

Timmay in goal.

I had the same thought with the diamond, Bradley at the back, but dammit, I want him up more! No way Beasley is left midfield. He doesn't have the speed anymore, and that is really what made him serviceable. I think Brad Davis has a better shot at starting on the left, and I highly doubt he makes the 23. Beasley is only there because he admirably filled in at LB when Jurgen was desperate to fill the role. Jurgen seems to love Evans at RB, and he has done really well out of position, but I can't see how he can stand up to elite teams. The defense scares the crap out of me, but at least we are done with Bornstein.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Tue May 13, 2014 10:07 am

_______Howard________
?_____Besler___Gonzo-ish_______?
_____Jones_____Bradley_____
Donovan____Deuce_______?
________Altidore/Bacon________

Clearly I'm manager material.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue May 13, 2014 11:15 am

P.D.X. wrote:_______Howard________
?_____Besler___Gonzo-ish_______?
_____Jones_____Bradley_____
Donovan____Deuce_______?
________Altidore/Bacon________

Clearly I'm manager material.

It's difficult. I posed the question because I also have no idea what the American starting 11 looks like. I think it's a good problem to have,

Engerland on the other hand has no flexibility.

__________Hart__________
Johnson Cahill Terry Baines
___ Gerrard Henderson____
_Sterling Rooney Welbeck__
________Sturridge________

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue May 13, 2014 11:42 am

degenerasian wrote:
It's difficult. I posed the question because I also have no idea what the American starting 11 looks like. I think it's a good problem to have,

Engerland on the other hand has no flexibility.

__________Hart__________
Johnson Cahill Terry Baines
___ Gerrard Henderson____
_Sterling Rooney Welbeck__
________Sturridge________

I'd take England's squad over the US any day. Isn't Henderson an outside midfielder? Would they really go with what is essentially 4 forwards?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue May 13, 2014 12:49 pm

Pretty sure Terry isn't in the England set up.

Post by **Sabo** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:08 pm

govmentchedda wrote:Pretty sure Terry isn't in the England set up.

He'll probably start banging the wives of the FA board members until a roster spot suddenly opens.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:45 pm

Size the day, Sybian!

http://meninblazers.com/survivalkitforthebigone" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:57 pm

govmentchedda wrote:Size the day, Sybian!

http://meninblazers.com/survivalkitforthebigone" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was just debating whether to post this, or PM it to you and Cerrano. As much as I love MiB and would gladly shell out some money for MiB swag, that stuff is all horrible. Just ugly. And why would I want a Von Trapps "Not in the Face" scarf? Isn't that advertising that you are begging not to get crushed?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue May 13, 2014 2:06 pm

oops, replace Terry with Jones then.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Tue May 13, 2014 2:16 pm

Jagielka will likely start

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue May 13, 2014 5:53 pm

I'm predicting that Brazil hosts an organizational and logistical clusterfeck of epic proportion.