A doomed thread on soccer:

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

Let's see how well this goes over.

 

Anyone want to talk about soccer? (What with the confederations cup going on now...plus the World Cup a year away...plus the Wilf's seeking an MLS team)

 

...

 

anyone...?

 

I'm just going to keep watching the confederations cup...we'll see if anyone joins me...ever.

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

Anybody...thoughts on Tahiti finally going home? The stupid irrelevancy of added time in a 3-0 match where both teams are just running passing drills? Neymar's goofy haircut or Fernando Torres abundance of tattoos?

 

Anybody?

[Jon Marthaler]

PeanutsFromHeaven, I'll participate, but we have to talk about Minnesota United FC and not just the Confederations Cup.

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

I've been meaning to get into Minnesota United, but never find the time...I'll take any reason to get back into club soccer.

[Gernzy]

I've never gotten into the United FC. I mostly just watch the US team in international play. If we get a MLS team though I would definatly be into that.

[Jon Marthaler]

No sense in waiting - now's the time. Here's my real quick United primer:

 

What league are they in? They're in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of pro soccer in America. If the name sounds familiar, it's because the NASL existed from the late 60s to the mid-80s, most famously in New York with the New York Cosmos, who had Pelè on the team. (The Cosmos have re-formed for the second half of this year's season.)

 

The second half? This year, the NASL split the season into a spring season and a fall season. The spring season is almost over; the final game is July 4. The fall season begins August 3, and runs through the end of October. The winners of each half play for the league title.

 

How's Minnesota doing? They've hovered around contention for the league lead all season, but a painful loss to Carolina last Saturday - they were up 2-1, but allowed goals in the 86th and 88th minute and lost 3-2 - has their spring title hopes on life support.

 

In terms of talent, though, United is pretty packed; they signed both of the past two league MVPs, strikers Pablo Campos and Etienne Barbara, before the season. They've been beset by injuries - Barbara in particular has missed much of the year - but they're getting healthy, and should be more ready for the fall season.

 

And the games... Are in Blaine, at the National Sports Center. The fan base is rabid, but also very friendly to newcomers.

 

But nobody covers the games! Well, you're wrong.

That was pretty shameless. Yeah, sorry about that.

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

Ah, shameless-wameless Jon. I love soccer, and can easily afford $12 to see some live rather than waiting for ESPN to decide whether or not it's worth their time.

 

Meanwhile, if Gernzy or others want more examples of my snark on the national team level...there's this.

 

Now THAT was shameless..

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

Sadly, this has been hard to keep up with in the summer and then the fall--while we wait for MUFC to get back in action (and while we ponder the slim/nil chances of a Minnesota MLS team) there is the world cup draw today.

 

I'm hosting a live chat when the draw shenanigans start at 11 AM Central Time for all Twins fans/soccer nerds who'd like to join in. http://montanansforsoccer.blogspot.com/2013/12/live-chat-2014-world-cup-draw.html

[twinsnorth49]

Liverpool! Liverpool! Liverpool! Liiiivverrpooool!!!

 

How 'bout that Suarez huh?

[Riverbrian]

I love watching English Prem action Saturday Mornings.

 

Been doing it for years. The team I started following fell off a Cliff and has been Regulated down to League Two.

 

Portsmouth... Go Pompey!!! Ugh...that hurts.

 

I've yet to find a Prem team to replace them yet. I'm trying to become a Swansea fan but it's happening too slow.

 

I know I don't want to get behind the big money clubs like Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.

 

Maybe Fulham or West Ham could be my team if Swansea isn't going to take hold... I don't know its so hard. I need Portsmouth back up... I'm lost and have been for a couple of years since the Portsmouth collapse.

[twinsnorth49]

I love watching English Prem action Saturday Mornings.

 

Been doing it for years. The team I started following fell off a Cliff and has been Regulated down to League Two.

 

Portsmouth... Go Pompey!!! Ugh...that hurts.

 

I've yet to find a Prem team to replace them yet. I'm trying to become a Swansea fan but it's happening too slow.

 

I know I don't want to get behind the big money clubs like Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Maybe Fulham or West Ham could be my team if Swansea isn't going to take hold... I don't know its so hard. I need Portsmouth back up... I'm lost and have been for a couple of years since the Portsmouth collapse.

 

 

Father is from Liverpool so nothing to do with being a "big money" club. Actually I'm more of a "blue nose" (Everton).....the other Liverpool team. Their win last week against Man U was as sweet as it gets, first win at Old Trafford in 21 years!!

[Squirrel]

My colleague at work is a big Manchester fan. He refuses to acknowledge anyone in conversation who refers to football as soccer. And further, insists you say 'American football' for any NFL talk and always pretends to not understand the conversation until that clarification is made. Anyway ... that's about the extent of my soccer/football interest, other than my niece making the freshman team at school. I could be converted, though. Maybe.

[twinsnorth49]

My colleague at work is a big Manchester fan. He refuses to acknowledge anyone in conversation who refers to football as soccer. And further, insists you say 'American football' for any NFL talk and always pretends to not understand the conversation until that clarification is made. Anyway ... that's about the extent of my soccer/football interest, other than my niece making the freshman team at school. I could be converted, though. Maybe.

 

Yah, that sounds like a Man U supporter.

 

If you ever talk to him about footy, call them Man U, they hate it lol!

[Squirrel]

Yah, that sounds like a Man U supporter.

 

If you ever talk to him about footy, call them Man U, they hate it lol!

Ooou ... thanks! I'm going to do just that! hehehe ... and I have another colleague, with another orchestra, who is a Liverpool supporter; if he doesn't know that, I'll certainly tip him off as the two of them certainly try to give each other digs!

[twinsnorth49]

Ooou ... thanks! I'm going to do just that! hehehe ... and I have another colleague, with another orchestra, who is a Liverpool supporter; if he doesn't know that, I'll certainly tip him off as the two of them certainly try to give each other digs!

 

Hehe, well I should let you know the origins of calling them Man U are pretty sinister, if your Liverpool colleague is a true Liverpool fan he'll know where it comes from.

 

It's a reference to the 58 Munich plane disaster that killed the entire team.......so only use it if you really, really don't like this fellow much.

[Squirrel]

Hehe, well I should let you know the origins of calling them Man U are pretty sinister, if your Liverpool colleague is a true Liverpool fan he'll know where it comes from.

 

It's a reference to the 58 Munich plane disaster that killed the entire team.......so only use it if you really, really don't like this fellow much.

 

Ack!!! That's awful! Lol ... I'm glad you tipped me off otherwise I would have stepped in it but good!

[Riverbrian]

Ack!!! That's awful! Lol ... I'm glad you tipped me off otherwise I would have stepped in it but good!

 

I call them Man U... It's for determining what side of the fence you are on. I want them to lose. They are the Yankees of England.

[Riverbrian]

Father is from Liverpool so nothing to do with being a "big money" club. Actually I'm more of a "blue nose" (Everton).....the other Liverpool team. Their win last week against Man U was as sweet as it gets, first win at Old Trafford in 21 years!!

 

Your dad is from Liverpool... So Ferry across the Mersey all the way to Manitoba. Is your dad named Ringo?

 

I'm an underdog first guy and I tend to be Blue and not Red. So yeah I could get behind Everton. I was raised Protestant but married Catholic so I got enough Catholic in me to be Everton.

 

Although... I made an Arbitrary decision to be Southern England. Southern England just looks warmer and I'm doing the North thing living in North Dakota. So... Nothing north of Cambridge for me.

 

Also no Stripes... I can't get behind a striped team. And no Big Money.

 

That at kinda leaves me with Swansea or West Ham. I haven't been able to watch Swansea yet so it's hard to get behind them but I'm trying.

 

I'm in limbo and it sucks.

[twinsnorth49]

I call them Man U... It's for determining what side of the fence you are on. I want them to lose. They are the Yankees of England.

They are the Yankees of the EPL, but the phrase is not about which side of the fence you're on. The funny part is all the bandwagon United fans use the phrase themselves when referring to their team, because they have no clue.

 

 

ManU ManU went on a plane ManU ManU never came back again"

 

and..

 

"Man U Never Intended Coming Home" (if you combine the first letter of each word you get the word "munich").

[Riverbrian]

They are the Yankees of the EPL, but the phrase is not about which side of the fence you're on. The funny part is all the bandwagon United fans use the phrase themselves when referring to their team, because they have no clue.

 

 

ManU ManU went on a plane ManU ManU never came back again"

 

and..

 

"Man U Never Intended Coming Home" (if you combine the first letter of each word you get the word "munich").

 

Yeah but If a Man U fan shouts Go Man U near other Man U fans.

 

Someone will correct them with something across the skull. Seemingly... The English Football fan doesn't mess around much.