Pro Soccer

[Oxynia]

There are rumors flying today that Ashley Cole may be moving to Real Madrid to join his old boss Mourinho...

[hushhush]

Ugh. That'll be another douchebag on the Real Madrid roster.
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Mourinho already there if they could just buy-back Arjen Robben, then the collection of over-priced egotistical douchebags would be close to complete. (They'd still need to get John Terry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.)

ETA: and Henry is officially going to the NY Red Bulls

[chonies]

Dag, hushhush! I just came here to post that. I have some friends who are Red Bulls fans, and some seem excited, but it could be that desperation of *really* wanting to like the MLS, despite repeatedly bad Beckham-flavored decisions.

[Oxynia]

That will either be a great boost to the MLS or another dead-ending to a glittering career *coughBeckhamcough*

[hushhush]

If I were already in NY, I'd go see a Red Bulls game to watch Henry. He's not enough of a draw that I would make a special trip to go to NYC and see him in a game. If Henry could convince Zidane to join him, then I'd be hopping train cars and begging Oxynia to let me crash on her couch if I had to go to those lengths to see a game!

I may have posted this already, but I read somewhere that one of the reasons Henry wanted to come was because he'd have a lower profile than he would in Europe. I doubt he can walk through NYC unrecognized, but he could walk through my state unrecognized. (Well, I take that back... he's an attractive, well-spoken, well-dressed man, so he'd probably turn a few heads here, particularly the heads of African-American ladies, but it'll be because he's hot, not because he's a footballer.)

I confess that I'm still a bit miffed about Henry's double handball which kept Ireland out of the World Cup. It was a bit like the Suarez incident I guess. The French team's hope of qualifying was going down in flames so he did that. Problem is the stupid officials missed it, there's no video replay, no penalty was awarded, and, basically, he got by with it. Bah, well, the French got what they deserved. I would rather have seen Ireland there. At least they would have played for the shirt and put up a fight.

[Oxynia]

Jul 14, 2010 21:24:58 GMT -4 hushhush said:

I confess that I'm still a bit miffed about Henry's double handball which kept Ireland out of the World Cup. It was a bit like the Suarez incident I guess. The French team's hope of qualifying was going down in flames so he did that. Problem is the stupid officials missed it, there's no video replay, no penalty was awarded, and, basically, he got by with it. Bah, well, the French got what they deserved. I would rather have seen Ireland there. At least they would have played for the shirt and put up a fight.

I'm totally pissed about that because A/ Henry admitted it was a handball but said it was down to the refs to spot it (which is like saying "sure I robbed that bank but it's down to the cops to catch me"), and B/ France's hissy fit in South Africa was a slap in the face to the sport and to sportsmanship in general.

I'm not much of a fan of his, despite his past performances, so won't be handing over any cash to see him play here.

[Binky]

Eh, Henry wasn't the dick behind France's meltdown at the WC, and at least he admitted the handball, which is the only power player's have. It's not his fault FIFA has idiotic and unfair review policies.

Many Euro stars have enjoyed coming to the MLS as they age out of their prime - they still get to play, they don't have the celebrity they have in Europe so they get to have more normal lives, and they can branch out other business opportunities.

That said, MLS will hack Henry to bits if he tries to half-ass-it. It may be a 'lesser' league, but they won't take kindly to a star trying to coast (see also: MLS lifer Jesse Marsch kicking David Beckham in the gut in Beckham's first MLS game after Marsch decided the ref was being too easy on him). It's a scrappy league. (Also probably why the US has, ahem, a problem with red cards in international games - that play is OK in MLS.)

[chonies]

Looks like Landon Donovan did not father a baby with an anonymous Briton[/color], as had been earlier reported.

ETA: ew ew ew ew ew, Oxynia!

[Oxynia]

Jul 15, 2010 17:58:34 GMT -4 chonies said:

Looks like Landon Donovan did not father a baby with an anonymous Briton

[/color], as had been earlier reported. [/quote]

Good. Hopefully any threats of "hot & steamy" details can now be permanently banished from my proximity.

[hushhush]

Yeah, my first (shallow) thought on that was Donovan?!?! Of all the footballers out there, why would you wanna hit that one??

In case there are those who still think football/soccer is a wussy sport, this short article features an 18-second Youtube video showing Andres Iniesta's legs after the WC final match against Holland.