❌‼️ This Thread is now CLOSED. NEW THREAD link on last page, been a great Year ❌‼️

[QU!K]

Same, Wenger is Arsenal really...

 

[flyeed]

Wonder who Pep will try signing once he's at City. Dude will prob have near unlimited funds and it'll be a hot destination with him there. Also the fact that competition at the top of the EPL isn't as fierce will make it more attractive. It can be almost the closest thing to guaranteed EPL titles in a while if the right players join up with him.

 

[noskey]

Arsenal fans wont gaf that Wenger's gone once Pep wins a major trophy for the first time in 12 years. Get him out tomorrow if Pep wants to manage Arsenal, pay the man what he wants and open that infamous war chest. Do it, Stan.

 

[QU!K]

Maybe Pep will bring Messi to City

 

[jape]

He hasn't won a CL with Bayern, why would he go to City to win a CL lol

Pep and Arsenal are the perfect fit really

are you being serious?  

i hope not. 

at least with city you know they will try and bring in talent.

rumors are pep will only go to united if they bring in suarez. lmao...not happening. 

and there's no allure at arsenal at all. 

I honestly can see him going to PSG especially with the rumors that zlatan is leaving. 

 

[mastamind89]

U.S. Abroad: Dortmund promotes Pulisic to first team
by Mike Woitalla, January 5th, 2016 3:30PM
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Christian Pulisic, the 17-year-old Pennsylvania product who in 2015 starred for Borussia Dortmund's U-17 and U-19 teams, will practice with Dortmund's first team for the remainder of the season and is joining the squad on its winter-break training camp in Dubai.
The former U.S. U-17 international had previously been called into first team training sessions, along with a handful of other youth players, when Dortmund's stars were on national team duty, and he appeared in an exhibition game against St. Pauli last September. Kicker.de reported that Pulisic and another 17-year-old midfielder, German Felix Passlack, were promoted in part because the club sold 23-year-old midfielder Jonas Hofmann to Borussia Dortmund (for $8 million) in December.

Last month, Dortmund’s U-19 head coach Hannes Wolf told Soccer America: “Christian normally plays in the No. 10 position or on the wing. His strengths are his mentality, his speed, and his skills. He is a team player and strong in every part of the game.”

Borussia Dortmund is currently in second place, eight points behind Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga returns from winter break Jan. 22.

Pulisic, who started for the USA at the U-17 World Cup last October, scored six goals in eight games while helping Borussia Dortmund win the 2014-15 U-17 national championship. He has four goals and three assists in eight games this season for Dortmund's U-19s, who are undefeated in their first 12 games and in first place of the A-Junioren Bundesliga West.

Brad Friedel prepared well for coaching career
by Mike Woitalla, January 5th, 2016 6:14PM
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By Mike Woitalla
Less than a year after ending his 23-year professional career, goalkeeper Brad Friedel has been named head coach of the U.S. U-19 men’s national team.

That’s a quick rise in the coaching ranks, but the 44-year-old has been preparing for quite a while.

Friedel, a member of two U.S. Olympic and three World Cup squads -– he saved two penalty kicks during the USA’s 2002 World Cup quarterfinal run –- and an English Premier League record-holder with 310 consecutive starts in goal, spent his summers back in his home state of Ohio training young goalkeepers.

In 2006, Friedel broke ground on a youth academy in Ohio designed to provide cost-free training and residency for young players. “Soccer in America,” he said at the time, “is a mid- to upper-class sport. I want to change that.”

Friedel’s intentions were fantastic but the timing wasn’t. The Great Recession hit just as the Premier Soccer Academies’ launched in 2007, and the facility closed in 2009. The good news is that while Friedel was playing another six years of pro ball in England, MLS clubs began fully funding their youth academies.

At Tottenham Hotspur, his final EPL club after stints with Aston Villa, Blackburn and Liverpool, Friedel began coaching in its youth academy. He also started his UEFA A License course, which he completed in September of 2014.

Friedel began assisting with U.S. youth national teams last year and served as an assistant to Tab Ramos at the U-20 World Cup.

"I look forward to the opportunity to help develop our young players into professionals and full internationals," said Friedel. "The last four years I have focused my coaching at the academy and development levels, and I'm excited to work with the entire group of committed youth national team staff members to increase our levels of development here in the United States."

Further reading: Omid Namazi named head coach of the U-18 men’s national team

Youth National Team Rosters: First Camps of 2016

U.S. U-20 WOMEN START WORLD CUP PREP: Coach Michelle French brought 26 players into the U.S. U-20 women’s national team's first camp of 2016, Jan. 3-10 in Carson, Calif. French is preparing for the Papua New Guinea-hosted U-20 Women's World Cup (Nov. 13-Dec. 3), for which the USA qualified in December while winning the U-20 Concacaf championship. French’s first camp since qualification includes college players who weren’t available for the qualifying tournament, which conflicted with the NCAA playoffs. Twenty of the 26 are collegians. The 20-player roster for the qualifying tournament comprised of eight collegians and 12 high-schoolers.

“The first couple camps we’ll revisit college players who were with us,” said French. “And we saw a number of players bubble up during the college season, so it’s only right to give those players an opportunity to come in and fight for roster spot.”

Among those not in camp are 17-year-old Mallory Pugh, who captained the USA in U-20 World Cup qualifying and was the tournament’s leading score and MVP, and Ashley Sanchez, who scored three goals -- including the gamewinner in the 1-0 final win over Canada -- and had five assists in qualifying. Pugh has been called into Coach Jill Ellis’ full national camp for Olympic qualifying preparation while Sanchez is back with the U-17s, who are gearing up for U-17 World Cup qualifiers.

U.S. U-20 women's national team
GOALKEEPERS (3): Rose Chandler (Penn State; Atlanta, Ga.), Brooke Heinsohn (New England FC; Norfolk; Mass.), Casey Murphy (Rutgers; Bridgewater, N.J.).
DEFENDERS (9): Julia Ashley (Univ. of North Carolina; Verona, N.J.), Alana Cook (Stanford Univ.; Far Hills, N.J.), Maddie Elliston (Penn State; Omaha, Neb.), Emily Fox (FC Virginia; Ashburn, Va.), Shannon Horgan (Clemson Univ.; Long Beach, N.Y.), Natalie Jacobs (Notre Dame Univ.; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Taylor Otto (CASL; Apex, N.C.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Va.), Alex Thomas (Louisiana State; New Orleans, La.).
MIDFIELDERS (9): Savannah Demelo (Beach FC; Bellflower, Calif.), Jordan Dibiasi (Stanford Univ.; Littleton, Colo.), Kelcie Hedge (Univ. of Washington; Post Falls, Idaho), Emily Ogle (Penn State; Strongsville, Ohio), Courtney Petersen (Univ. of Virginia; Canton, Mich.), Mayra Pelayo (Univ. of Florida; West Palm Beach; Fla.), Haley Pounds (Texas A&M; Spring, Texas), Parker Roberts (Univ. of Kansas; Leawood, Kansas), Shannon Simon (Univ. of Washington; Torrance, Calif.).
FORWARDS (5): Mimi Asom (Princeton; Fairview, Texas), Cecelia Kizer (Univ. of Mississippi; Overland Park, Kan.), Taylor Racioppi (Duke; Ocean Township, N.J.), Jessie Scarpa (Univ. of North Carolina; Lakeland, Fla.), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; Colorado Springs, Colo.).

U.S. U-20 MEN EYE 2017 WORLD CUP. Coach Tab Ramos has named a 36-player roster for the first U.S. U-20 national team camp of 2016. The squad, primarily players born in 1997 with the ultimate aim being the 2017 U-20 World Cup, will convene in Miami at Barry University and split for games Jan. 8 against local all-star team CASA and Weston FC of the NPSL. Opponents for games on Jan. 12 will be announced later.

U.S. U-20 men’s national team
GOALKEEPERS: Jonathan Klinsmann (Univ. of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (Georgetown Univ.; Alamo, Calif.), Mason Stajduhar (Orlando City SC; Lithia, Fla.), Justin Vom Steeg (UC Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara, Calif.).
DEFENDERS: Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; San Pedro Sula, Honduras), Hugo Arrellano (LA Galaxy academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Jonathan Bell (D.C. United academy; Rockville, Md.), Marcello Borges (Univ. of Michigan; Kearny, N.J.), David Burns (Sacramento Republic academy; El Dorado Hills, Calif.), Aaron Herrera (Univ. of New Mexico; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Malcolm Jones (UCLA, Chino Hills, Calif.), Andrew Lombard (Northeastern Univ., Montclair, N.J.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire academy; Bolingbrook, Ill.), Miles Robinson (Syracuse Univ.; Arlington, Mass.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Diego Silva (Univ. of Maryland; Provo, Utah).
MIDFIELDERS: Amir Bashti (Stanford Univ.; Cupertino, Calif.), Joshua Doughty (Manchester United; Manchester, England), Cameron Lindley (Indiana Fire; Carmel, Ind.), Lucas Mendes (D.C. United academy; Arlington, Va.), Matt Olosunde (New York Red Bulls academy; Trenton, N.J.), Martin Salas (Univ. of North Carolina; Dallas, Texas), Yosef Samuel (Philadelphia Union academy; Philadelphia, Pa.), Evan Waldrep (Creighton Univ., Peoria, Ariz.), Eryk Williamson (Univ. of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.), Jackson Yueill (UCLA; Bloomington, Minn.), Alex Zendejas (FC Dallas; El Paso, Texas).
FORWARDS: Coy Craft (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Jeremy Ebobisse (Duke Univ.; Bethesda, MD), Sebastian Elney (Univ. of Maryland; West Chester, Pa.), Juan Flores (Houston Dynamo academy; Houston, Texas), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders; Des Moines, WA), Josh Perez (Fiorentina; La Habra, Calif.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Chicago Magic; Libertyville, Ill.), Abu Winter (Philadelphia Union academy; Newtown Square, PA), Isaiah Young (PDA; Berlin, N.J.).

U.S. U-17 GIRLS WORLD CUP QUALIFYING IN MARCH: Coach B.J. Snow called up 26 players for a Jan. 3-10 training camp in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. The team is prepping for the March qualifying tournament for the 2016 U-17 Women's World Cup. The training camp roster spans three birth years, from 2001 to 1999, which is the age cut-off year for the 2016 U-17 Women’s World Cup, hosted by Jordan next September. The Concacaf qualifying tournament, from which three teams advance, will be hosted by Grenada March 3-13.

U.S. U-17 girls national team
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brooke Bollinger (Orlando City; Orlando Fla.), Laurel Ivory (Sunrise Sting; Surfside, Fla.), Katie Meyer (Eagles SC; Newbury Park, Calif.).
DEFENDERS (7): Naomi Girma (Central Valley Crossfire; San Jose, Calif.), Karlie Paschall (Tennessee Soccer Club; Brentwood, Tenn.), Izzy Rodriguez (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich.), Karina Rodriguez (So Cal Blues; Torrance, Calif.), Emily Smith (De Anza Force; Los Gatos, Calif.), Kennedy Wesley (So Cal Blues; Rossmoor, Calif.), Sydney Zandi (Penn Fusion; West Chester, Pa.).
MIDFIELDERS (9): Ryanne Brown (Indiana Fire; Indianapolis, Ind.), Jordan Canniff (Richmond United; California, Md.), Emina Ekic (Javanon; Fairdale, Ky.), Sierra Enge (Carlsbad Elite; Cardiff, Calif.), Jaelin Howell (Real CO; Windsor, Colo.), Brianna Pinto (CASL; Durham, N.C.), Alyssa Poarch (FC Delco; Middletown, Delaware), Ashley Sanchez (So Cal Blues; Monrovia, Calif.), Taryn Torres (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas).
FORWARDS (7): Rachel Jones (Tophat; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Civana Kuhlmann (Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo.), Sophie Smith (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Alexa Spaanstra (Michigan Hawks; Brighton, Mich.), Frankie Tagliaferri (PDA; Colt Neck, N.J.), Jordan Taylor (Ohio Premier Eagles; Wadsworth, Ohio), Kate Wiesner (Slammers FC; Monrovia, Calif.)

U.S. U-15 boys split against Florida clubs

During the U.S. U-15 (2002s) boys national team's final camp of 2015, Southern Californian Marco Ceja scored a hat trick for the U-15s “Red” squad in a 3-1 win over Weston FC while the U-15s “White” fell, 2-1, to Kendall SC in Sunrise, Fla. Ceja’s second goal was set up by NYCFC’s Giovanni Reyna, the son of Hall of Famer Claudio Reyna. Maui United’s Kawika Kelii assisted on Ceja’s first. The Central Aztecs’ striker completed his hat trick after intercepting a Weston clearance. Kayvon Gray of New Jersey club Cedar Stars scored the lone goal in the U.S. loss to Kendall. LINEUPS.

Around the Net

The U.S. Soccer Federation will launch a girls equivalent of the Development Academy, reports Charles Boehm, who writes that multiple sources have confirmed it's planning a fall 2017 launch and that an official announcement could come next month. The USSF launched the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2007. The U.S. Club Soccer-sanctioned Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has served a similar role for elite players on the girls' side. SoccerWire.com: "Sources: U.S. Soccer set to launch girls’ Development Academy in 2017, likely relegating ECNL to second tier"
Ramona Giwargis reports: As workers for the NFL dug holes Monday in the meticulously groomed turf of a youth soccer complex next to Levi's Stadium, the Santa Clara Youth Soccer League added the mighty NFL to a lawsuit fighting the league's plan to use the fields for media broadcasts of Super Bowl 50. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Joseph H. Huber last week rejected the soccer league's request for a temporary restraining order but asked the NFL not to make "drastic changes" to the soccer fields until the issue could be heard in court on Wednesday. San Jose Mercury-News: "Santa Clara youth soccer league sues NFL as work begins on soccer fields"

 

[mastamind89]

Now official. Morris turns pro. Training stint @ Bremen will worry Sounders fans but still see him signing w/Seattle https://t.co/l3zY0xoAJf
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 5, 2016

 

[rck3sactown]

 

I think in fifa theydo US dollars not euros or pounds

if you're referencing the game, you have the option to put it in USD, Pound's and Euros

I was always under the impression that on the game, changing currency doesn't have any affect on the numerical value...

like I think EA just has their own number value when it comes to the transfer market and you can only choose USD, British Sterling, or Euro and they're all the same

ie there is no difference when choosing between between $ € £

 

[PRIME]

Dat hand placement

 

[Armada]

Maybe Pep will bring Messi to City

I think Pep will come to City (even though I still hesitate saying that because I don't want to speak it out of existence 

) but I don't think Messi will leave Barca for a long time I just don't see him going anywhere else maybe playing in Argentina later in his career but I think he will spend all of his prime years at Barca.

 

[AZwildcats]

all I know is Pep is not going to Chelsea, didn't he say we need 10 new players or something like that?

 

[Armada]

Pep can tell who on that team wasn't playing their best for Jose. *cough*Hazard*cough*Costa*cough*Fabregas*cough*cough*

 

[AZwildcats]

Pep can tell who on that team wasn't playing their best for Jose. *cough*Hazard*cough*Costa*cough*Fabregas*cough*cough*

no doubt

 

[mastamind89]

Halilovic

 

[flyeed]

Messi ain't ever gunna go play in Argentina. Don't care what he's said in interviews. He left there when he was still a kid. He's not gunna get fouled and abused my random tough guy Argentina defenders from bottom half teams trying to make a name for themselves and hear everyone tombout how maradona is their goat because he was able to deliver world cups.

 

[MetalMario]

Halilovic

the disrespect of calling it the Boateng skill

 

[mastamind89]

WHAT’S HAPPENED TO OUR POWER SERGE?

So Arsene Wenger has decided to scrap Serge Gnabry’s season long loan at West Brom and bring him back to Arsenal. There seems to be much consternation amongst the Arsenal faithful that Tony Pulis took a dislike to the German Youth international. Apparently Pulis disapproves of pacy, tricky wingers in favour of playing without any. Let’s chart his history and later attempt to unpack the reasons for his wasted opportunity.

Gnabry made his professional debut in the 2012/13 season, although he would really spring on to the scene at the start of the following campaign. Arsenal had raced to the top of the PL table at a blistering pace and Gnabry contributed with several eye-catching performances which included his first professional goal in the 2-1 victory away at Swansea.

He would cap 2013 by earning a new long term deal and a nomination for Tuttosport’s Golden Boy Awards, alongside the likes of Paul Pogba, Rafael Varane and Julian Draxler. It seemed all good, right…? Unfortunately, and as is the way with many a promising Arsenal youngster, his progress would be blighted by injury.

Fast forward to August 2015 and his arrival at the Hawthorns last August to great anticipation from Baggies fans. They’d failed to secure the signing of QPR’s Matt Phillips and saw Gnabry as a decent back up option considering his early promise and exciting style of play.

He would find a paltry 12 minutes of PL action and two appearances in the Capital One Cup.

But why?

Everyone thought Gnabry would fit in well with WBA’s 442 formation and provide competition for the likes of Sessegnon, McClean and McManaman but it never came to fruition. There’s also a school of thought that Tony Pulis for whatever reason doesn’t appreciate players of his ilk, prefers to play without wingers. I’m not trying to defend Pulis but I feel a little bit of context is required here: look at how he’s framed his philosophy and you’ll find pacy or tricky wingers were vital ingredients to how his teams played.

At Stoke Etherington, Pennant, Walters all had a mix of these attributes which provided ammunition for the likes of Crouch, Fuller and Kenwyne Jones (as well as Delap chucking missiles into danger areas) to take advantage of.

At Crystal Palace he also utilised Bolasie and Puncheon in wide areas. At WBA he has McClean and Sessegnon playing wide. Yes, even Sess has adapted his game to own their right channel.

Ask any Baggies, Eagles fan or Orc and they’ll tell you he loves players who work up AND down the line.

So I’m afraid that argument has to be debunked as a myth. I don’t like Pulis much but there you are. Take a look at their fans forums and you’ll see a common theme of initial excitement slowly turning to indifference.

It’s not to say Serge isn’t talented. He obviously is. But even Wenger said he’d have to man up and rise to the challenge. Allow me to be purely speculative here but it painted a picture of Wenger almost agreeing with Pulis that Gnabry had to improve his application, maybe even questioning his desire…

So what happens now?

Well, Wenger could take this time to assess him at close quarters, see if we can bring him back up to speed. Some will say he’s ahead of the Ox but if he’s not ready to defend as well as attack, is he really improving the situation?

The word on twitter street is that another loan move is likely. He could go to another PL club. We could send him to Remi at Villa for tutoring, he may see minutes there. Fellow relegation candidates Swansea need some added spark too. But apparently he’s favoured to go to the Championship. That would suggest the coaches don’t think he’ll get many minutes in the PL but at least he’d get more playing time in the rung below.

He needs time to re-establish himself and show to everyone he’s the player electric Arsenal think he’ll become. I’ll leave the final words to Wenger:

“We signed Serge Gnabry because I believe that he will be a great player… He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He’s a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal Football Club.”

Enjoy the week whatever you’re doing.

Up your Arsenal!

 

[heggsy]

Coupé It Aboubakar to Leicester?

 

[rolaholic]

Koeman's not really gonna keep an unhappy Mane against his will right?

@GFN_France: Breaking: Sadio Mané has revealed in French speaking African paper Stades: "I do not want to stay at Southampton."

View media item 1857809

 

[QU!K]

I thought Aaron Ramsey was absolute trash until that 13/14 season

Gnabry still has time to turn it around

Ox running out of time though

 

[rolaholic]

Marca say's that Peps dream is to manage United but he hasn't received an offer yet unlike Citeh.

View media item 1857813
If Woody misses out on both Mou and Pep for ******* Giggs or an extra year of LVG...the fans should riot/boycott the boards incompetence while being left behind by other clubs . Dude's are really gonna mess around and turn us into 'Pool

 

[rolaholic]

Man how much of a difference a year makes,apparently Lyon had accepted a 30m bid from Newcastle for him before he turned it down. My guess is that Fekir was the real star of the squad given that Laca's form went to hell when he went down

 

[flyeed]

Dude's are really gonna mess around and turn us into 'Pool

that unintended disrespect

 

[tomdiginson]

If Woody misses out on both Mou and Pep for ******* Giggs or an extra year of LVG...the fans should riot/boycott the boards incompetence while being left behind by other clubs . Dude's are really gonna mess around and turn us into 'Pool

Turning into Pool would be an upgrade for that dumpster fire you call a club.

"Woody, send in the brinks trucks"

 

[QU!K]

With Klopp at least Pool have a bright future

Can't say the same about United

But hey, maybe if you miss out on Pep and Mou, maybe you can sign Rodgers, then y'all can really be Liverpool