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OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 16, 2012 11:33 AM
And the supposed new home kit...



Decent. Better than the new away kit. If this is actually it, I will try to land one. I am a fan of hoops and stripes. I just wish that Nike would settle on ONE design for the USMNT. Quit "reinventing the wheel." Brazil is typically always the same. England is always the same. The Dutch have the same look. The Germans do as well. Why in the world does Nike feel the need to continue changing EVERY national team kit for the US? They cannot settle on any Olympic attire either. It'd be nice to have something stay for more than one year.
Feb 16, 2012 11:33am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 16, 2012 1:18 PM
OSH;1087656 wrote:Decent. Better than the new away kit. If this is actually it, I will try to land one. I am a fan of hoops and stripes. I just wish that Nike would settle on ONE design for the USMNT. Quit "reinventing the wheel." Brazil is typically always the same. England is always the same. The Dutch have the same look. The Germans do as well. Why in the world does Nike feel the need to continue changing EVERY national team kit for the US? They cannot settle on any Olympic attire either. It'd be nice to have something stay for more than one year.
I agree, but there are two reasons why Nike switches it up every year for the US: money, and lack of tradition.
Feb 16, 2012 1:18pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 16, 2012 3:00 PM
gorocks99;1087773 wrote:I agree, but there are two reasons why Nike switches it up every year for the US: money, and lack of tradition.
Money is definitely the overriding factor. BUT, they will still make money by keeping a specific design with minor tweaks. It is done with England, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Croatia, etc.

Now the tradition side could be true...BUT, there is tradition...Nike just doesn't want to do that. There are so many supporters groups that want it. They want a sash OR something that they can call their own. Not something that continues to change every year or every other year. There's only one way to have tradition...and that is to continue with what has worked.


Oh, and GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!
Feb 16, 2012 3:00pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Feb 19, 2012 1:33 PM
Liking those new home threads.
Feb 19, 2012 1:33pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 21, 2012 1:14 PM
Real Madrid is up on CSKA Moscow 1-0 in the 54' minute.
Feb 21, 2012 1:14pm
killer_ewok's avatar

killer_ewok

iRep

11,379 posts
Feb 21, 2012 1:53 PM
What a goal in extra time. Wow. CSKA with the equalizer.
Feb 21, 2012 1:53pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 1:58 PM
CSKA are the Cardiac Kids of this years CL.
Feb 21, 2012 1:58pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 3:27 PM
Martin Tylers voice just makes me want to play Fifa.
Feb 21, 2012 3:27pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 3:35 PM
Edinson. Cavani. What a boss.

Chelsea got up early 1-0 through Juan Mata (on a whiffed clearance), then 10 minutes later Lavezzi equalized before Cavani, who has been all over the place really, got a goal before half in stoppage time. The Uruguayan has been on a tear since moving to Napoli before last season.
Feb 21, 2012 3:35pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

Senior Member

13,650 posts
Feb 21, 2012 4:10 PM
Napoli is looking good. EPL is looking bad.
Feb 21, 2012 4:10pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 4:31 PM
Mulva;1092110 wrote:Napoli is looking good. EPL is looking bad.
La Liga stormed passed EPL a few years ago, imo. This year it looks like Serie A has also passed them by. The Bundesliga is pretty strong in recent years as well.

That said, the EPL is still the most balanced league, so it provides the most entertaining games. Plus, not many teams go into a defensive shell, which makes it entertaining. But as far as strength at the top, middle and bottom...I think its:

1. La Liga
2. Serie A
3a. EPL
3b. Bundesliga
5. Ligue 1 (though this is on reputation. I havent seen ANY matches outside the top 4 leagues to justify it lol)
Feb 21, 2012 4:31pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 21, 2012 4:56 PM
There is no way that La Liga and the Serie A are better "overall" than the EPL and/or the Bundesliga. Not in my opinion.

La Liga is really a two horse race...and that is all. Real Madrid and Barcelona are no doubt two of the top clubs in the world. But, the rest of La Liga is crap...at best. Serie A is very similar.
Feb 21, 2012 4:56pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 5:46 PM
OSH;1092146 wrote:There is no way that La Liga and the Serie A are better "overall" than the EPL and/or the Bundesliga. Not in my opinion.

La Liga is really a two horse race...and that is all. Real Madrid and Barcelona are no doubt two of the top clubs in the world. But, the rest of La Liga is crap...at best. Serie A is very similar.
Well most experts I have listened to disagree.

You could argue EPL doesnt have a single player in the top 10 in the world at the moment. Rooney and Silva would be the only one to dent it, if they did imo. As I said, EPL is a more balanced league. But the fact that the powers are all WAY down and still at the top says a lot to me. ManU/Chelsea/ManCity. Those 3, right now, cant touch Inter/Bayern/Madrid/Barca/Milan. Again, just imo.

I dont see anyone in the EPL that is worth squat in terms of Europe this year. Man City was the only one I thought that could play with the "giants" and they didnt make it out of group stage.
Feb 21, 2012 5:46pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Feb 21, 2012 7:06 PM
Top to bottom no doubt the EPL has more quality. I don't see how La Liga can be considered the "best" when Barca and Real Madrid are the only two team to make any real noise the past few years.

The top teams in the EPL are somewhat close. La Liga, not even close. Madrid and Barca are running away.

Serie A? I don't really care. I only pay attention to them in the Champions League.
Feb 21, 2012 7:06pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 7:21 PM
Automatik;1092242 wrote:Top to bottom no doubt the EPL has more quality. I don't see how La Liga can be considered the "best" when Barca and Real Madrid are the only two team to make any real noise the past few years.

The top teams in the EPL are somewhat close. La Liga, not even close. Madrid and Barca are running away.

Serie A? I don't really care. I only pay attention to them in the Champions League.
I dont think its beyond thought that Madrid and Barca would run away with EPL as well.
Feb 21, 2012 7:21pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Feb 21, 2012 7:25 PM
This year? I'd probably say yes, but different leagues, different styles so who knows.

When was the last time a La Liga team not called Barcelona or Real Madrid did anything? I really dont know. I remember Valencia had some nice runs in the Champions League, but I can't recall them every making any noise in league play.
Feb 21, 2012 7:25pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 7:34 PM
Automatik;1092261 wrote:This year? I'd probably say yes, but different leagues, different styles so who knows.

When was the last time a La Liga team not called Barcelona or Real Madrid did anything? I really dont know. I remember Valencia had some nice runs in the Champions League, but I can't recall them every making any noise in league play.
Im only talking about this year. Years past its been EPL all day. Talent shift over the years though has led La Liga to be slightly better than EPL imo.

Also, the races used to be close. Madrids spending and Barcas development (hiring Pep) have changed that though.

Villareal made a deep run to the CL Semis a few years ago.
Feb 21, 2012 7:34pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 21, 2012 10:44 PM
Laley23;1092174 wrote:Well most experts I have listened to disagree.

You could argue EPL doesnt have a single player in the top 10 in the world at the moment. Rooney and Silva would be the only one to dent it, if they did imo. As I said, EPL is a more balanced league. But the fact that the powers are all WAY down and still at the top says a lot to me. ManU/Chelsea/ManCity. Those 3, right now, cant touch Inter/Bayern/Madrid/Barca/Milan. Again, just imo.

I dont see anyone in the EPL that is worth squat in terms of Europe this year. Man City was the only one I thought that could play with the "giants" and they didnt make it out of group stage.
So, are you talking about best "team" or best "league?" You started out at ranking the leagues...and then started ranking teams and/or individual players.

I am not denying that there are two teams in La Liga, two teams in Serie A, and a team in Serie A or Bundesliga that are class in terms of clubs -- especially in comparison to how they've performed in the Champions League. BUT, there is no way that the leagues themselves are BETTER than the EPL.

Stack up all the teams in the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga, I would venture to say that more teams in the EPL are winning games over those in the other leagues. Yes, maybe the top teams from La Liga (two of them) and the top teams from Serie A (two of them) are winning against the top teams in the Premiership...but the leagues, as a whole, are not better than the EPL.

I just don't see that happening. There is a lot of truth to this:
Automatik;1092242 wrote:Top to bottom no doubt the EPL has more quality.
Feb 21, 2012 10:44pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 21, 2012 11:15 PM
You are probably right that top to bottom the EPL might be stronger. But when the top is THAT strong (I wouldnt be shocked if Madrid and Barca play in the final of the CL) it has to have some bearing on the league as a whole. Especially when you factor in that Barca isnt dominating La Liga like they have before. They have dropped quite a few points. I mean, they are 10 behind Madrid, and they won the head to head....

I just dont think you all are giving La Liga nearly enough credit. They have a lot of solid, solid teams and players. But no one ever sees it/them because it is on GolTV and no one gets that. ESPN and FSC are common and cover only EPL essentially. La Liga teams play Madrid and Barca closer than a lot of the other teams in Europe, from what I watch.
Feb 21, 2012 11:15pm
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

Senior Member

13,650 posts
Feb 21, 2012 11:24 PM
I think La Liga has the best 2 (probably the top 2 clubs in the world), EPL has the most depth 1-20, but I actually think that Serie A has the most European-competition caliber talent overall with Milan, Inter, Juvy, Napoli, Udinese, Lazio, Roma, and Palermo. I'd stack that top 8 against any league.
Feb 21, 2012 11:24pm
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swamisez

Senior Member

1,990 posts
Feb 22, 2012 12:29 AM
Agree completely w mulva. Hoping for the return of bundesliga but it doesn't look promising.
Feb 22, 2012 12:29am
Mulva's avatar

Mulva

Senior Member

13,650 posts
Feb 22, 2012 2:30 AM
Man City/Porto and Man U/Ajax the next 2 days. Champions League caliber matches in the Europa League.
Feb 22, 2012 2:30am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Feb 22, 2012 11:58 AM
Mulva;1092780 wrote:Man City/Porto and Man U/Ajax the next 2 days. Champions League caliber matches in the Europa League.
Best part of the day, Phil Schoen and RAY HUDSON on the call for GolTV. I am glued. Too bad Porto lost the first leg at home, I think it could be an epic match if City had to REALLY go for goals.

But Ray Hudson will make any game worth watching. Most entertaining announcer in sports.
Feb 22, 2012 11:58am
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 22, 2012 2:59 PM
Bayern Munich and FC Basel right now.

Inter Milan and Marseille also.
Feb 22, 2012 2:59pm
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SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Feb 22, 2012 4:35 PM
Only took 92 min to make me wake up

Very important goal for OM though.
Feb 22, 2012 4:35pm