2013-14 Club Soccer/Football Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

Serie A begins with Milan losing away to Hellas Verona in an "upset." Juve win off of a Carlos Tevez goal away to Sampdoria. Disappointing since Samp was really hanging on and actually beat Juve twice last season.

Hope Milan has a wake up similar to Arsenal's ahead of their CL match.

[Franknburger]

With the transfer period nearing its end, throw-outs may get in focus. This especially concerns Hoffenheim who,  after barely avoiding relegation last season, have placed a number of players in their so-called "training group 2",which trains separately from their Bundesliga team. The group includes some illustrious names such as keeper Tim Wiese, former Dutch national defender Edson Braafheid, and former Swiss national  Eren Derdiyok.
Wolfsburg has mostly finished the post-Magath clean-up, but attacker Patrick Helmes (13 nominations to the German national team) is still up for sale.
Hamburg is desperately trying to get rid of Serbian national Gojko Kacar, plus a few other midfielders (Norwegian national Per Skjelbred, and Croatian national Ivo Ilicevic are frequently mentioned, alongside less prominent players such as Valmir Nafiu and Robert Tesche). Following this week's discussion about his two-day trip to Mallorca after his team's 1:5 loss against Hoffenheim, defender Dennis Aogo (12 matches for Germany) may become for sale as well.

In the meantime, there had be some speculation whether Schalke might be interested in buying Lukas Podolski, but Arsenal coach Wenger has already ruled out that possibility after Podolki's gala against Fulham.

[Keystone Phil]

The real highlight of the day is Napoli's opener but this City game is insane.

[Lief 🗽]

Even without Mancini, City is still a joke team.

[Keystone Phil]

So after a dream start for Napoli, Higuain slipped down some rocks in the waters off of Capri and injured his jawbone. Eight stitches. Better not be an omen.

[Tender Branson]

Looks like Austria Wien is going to the CL group stage.

After defeating Dinamo Zagreb by 2-0 last week, they are now leading in their home game with 1-0 already after 10 minutes played.

[Tender Branson]

Austria Vienna would be the first Austrian team to reach the CL group stage since Rapid Vienna during the 2005/06 season.

If they reach the CL group stage, the games will be played in the Ernst Happel-Stadium, not in their usual stadium - the Generali Arena.

The Happel Stadium can seat ca. 50.000, while the Generali Arena can seat only 13.000

[minionofmidas]

Does it also have a real name, or is it one of those newly-built, naming-rights-never-unleased thingees?

[Tender Branson]

Does it also have a real name, or is it one of those newly-built, naming-rights-never-unleased thingees?

The Ernst Happel Stadion ? It was named Praterstadion before that.

And the Generali Arena was named Franz Horr Stadion before.

BTW: Dinamo Zagreb has now equalized to 1-1 after 35 minutes.

Football is funny sometimes ...

[minionofmidas]

Does it also have a real name, or is it one of those newly-built, naming-rights-never-unleased thingees?

The Ernst Happel Stadion ? It was named Praterstadion before that.

And the Generali Arena was named Franz Horr Stadion before.

The latter obviously.

I don't know about Austria, but over here, unironically using a company name for a stadium that also has a real name ignifies that you're either a submoron or a sports journalist. Doing it exclusively signifies that you're both (shockingly, not all sports journalists are submoronic by this metric! )

[Tender Branson]

Now Dinamo up 2-1 ...

I should probably post stuff like "Austria Vienna going to the CL group stage" after it happened ...

[Tender Branson]

Does it also have a real name, or is it one of those newly-built, naming-rights-never-unleased thingees?

The Ernst Happel Stadion ? It was named Praterstadion before that.

And the Generali Arena was named Franz Horr Stadion before.

The latter obviously.

I don't know about Austria, but over here, unironically using a company name for a stadium that also has a real name ignifies that you're either a submoron or a sports journalist. Doing it exclusively signifies that you're both (shockingly, not all sports journalists are submoronic by this metric! )

Not both, neither.

I usually just don't give a sh*t about Austria Wien and its stadium.

[minionofmidas]

Meanwhile, Schalke are up. (Zagreb need one more goal still. I don't care about Austria Wien one way or another, Rapid being the cool club to prefer in Austria by all accounts (and Mateschitz' private wank, obviously, the one to look down your nose at) and I have friends who do care for Zagreb, so I apologize for having a vague nonviennese preference here.

[Tender Branson]

Meanwhile, Schalke are up. (Zagreb need one more goal still. I don't care about Austria Wien one way or another, Rapid being the cool club to prefer in Austria by all accounts (and Mateschitz' private wank, obviously, the one to look down your nose at) and I have friends who do care for Zagreb, so I apologize for having a vague nonviennese preference here.

I'm no fan of any major Austrian football club, sometimes I find it just interesting if RB Salzburg win (or new this season, Grödig) -> home state bias.

Or in this case, it would simply be interesting if the Austria enters the CL group stage.

Not that they have much of a chance in that one ...

[Tender Branson]

I'm pretty sure Dinamo scores the 3rd away goal soon and then the fans go like "what, did we really just think we could chill out for the other 80 minutes ?"

[Tender Branson]

PAOK has now scored the equalizer against Schalke.

[minionofmidas]

Or in this case, it would simply be interesting if the Austria enters the CL group stage.

Not that they have much of a chance in that one ...

Yeah, in a small country whose champion doesn't usually go to the group stage, obviously I'd support them getting through as well. Virtually anybody would. (But not if it's the same champion every year and they get to the group stage more often than not. That's when I'd draw the line, as a supporter of another club.)

[Tender Branson]

Dinamo is on constant siege-mode now, the Austria is only playing defense anymore.

This is not going to work very long anymore I think ...

[Keystone Phil]

PAOK has now scored the equalizer against Schalke.

I'd love a dramatic shoot out with PAOK advancing!

[Lief 🗽]

schalke down to 10 men, jermaine jones is still an idiot

[minionofmidas]

Ouch. Welcome to the Europa League.

[Lief 🗽]

DRAXLER YESSSS

Schalke lead 2-1

[Keystone Phil]

I jinxed it.

[minionofmidas]

lol

[Tender Branson]

Hosiner almost with the 2-2 for Vienna.