World Soccer Digest: FanPosts

Moving WSDigest's Coverage to SBNation.com's (Main) Soccer Page(s)

2010-04-28T18:01:57Z

Hello all,

We hinted at this last week, but no need to continue asking you to read between the lines.

The coverage you are now getting at World Soccer Digest is going to be shifted to SBNation's main soccer page, where I will be writing from here forward.

You're still going to get the same type and tenor of coverage. There will be more quick-hit-type of stuff. The quantity of coverage is likely to go up, too.

There will be great integration with the other members of SBNation's ever-expanding family of soccer sites, most of which are more narrow in focus that this one.

But it's because the focus of this blog has tried to be global that, especially in this World Cup year, we at SBNation thought it natural to move the coverage to the main soccer page.

I hope everybody will follow me there, as we should be up-and-running within a couple of days.

Until then, thanks, and I will talk to you soon,

Richard

OMG WTF Huh? Riquelme Could Go to Flamengo

2010-04-22T17:43:41Z

Greg Sica might be the best writer covering South American futbol, which is high praise considering the immortal (not in a Gremio way) Tim Vickery is still unflappable. But over at SouthAmericanFutbol.com, the man's getting it done.

Today, Greg relays the idea of Riquelme at the Maracana:

Marco Braz, the vice-president of Flamengo, affirmed that he has already commenced negotiations with the agent of Boca Juniorsmidfielder Juan Roman Riquelme for the player’s transfer to Brazil’s most widely supported club. Riquelme was offered to Flamengo almost one month ago and since then Braz has been negotiating for a future transfer that could become reality.

Flamengo’s directors know that securing Riquelme’s rights won’t be easy, however, the fact that they are unlikely to hold onto highly-paid strikers Adriano and Vagner Love means it will leave the door open for Riquelme. With Adriano and Vagner Love out of the picture, Flamengo will count with sufficient finances to pay the Argentines salary.

Can't we just vote on this and make it happen? On the one hand, it would suck for Argentine soccer to lose yet more talent, but Riquelme's nearing the end of his run. Put him on a team that can do something in Copa, who are defending their title in the Brasileirao.

Please?

WSDigest Update

2010-04-22T17:08:23Z

Howdy all!

I wanted to give everybody an update on World Soccer Digest, as you may have noticed the frequency of posts has been decreasing.

We are currently in the process of revving-up our World Cup coverage here at SBNation.com. In the short term, that means taking a step back, getting refocused, and shifting gears away from the club game.

If you cover the international game to the depth I would like to think I do, you have to watch the club world closely, but SBNation has done a great job of expanding its soccer blog network, with the new outlets covering more-and-more of what used to be covered here (back in the tumbleweed-turning days when it was just me and Steve Davis, otherwise known as November).

I'll keep everybody abreast of the changes we'll be making, but for now, expect more World Cup news, and the coverage of the club game will be a little less in-depth.

It's be a bit of a challenge, over the last few months, driving a World Cup-centric blog when the focus is on the club world, but as we shift gears with national team call-ups in sight, the coverage will be more South Africa 2010-centric.

So just your friendly status update.

Ten Matches to Watch ...

2010-03-12T17:23:53Z

... will come early afternoon Pacific time. Again, will be looking at Europe and the Americas, and if I have time I will add "five matches to watch" from Asia.

Give me your ideas or, at least, which matches are you going to be watching this weekend (and why).

Wendesday's UEFA Champions League Matches

2010-03-10T17:59:05Z

I'll be here throughout the Manchester United-Milan, Real Madrid-Lyon matches.

Who are your picks?

FYI: Facebook

2010-03-08T18:15:07Z

After a long people of ambivalence, I've started a Facebook account and plan to be active.

You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/rffootball.

It's always good to know exactly how many friends you have.

Casting agent seeks soccer fans!

2010-02-24T19:24:13Z

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Are you over 25? Do you speak English?

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Open Thread: Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Action

2010-02-16T17:52:59Z

Interact here, and also discuss Everton-Sporting and, if you want, Stoke-Manchester City.

The matches are scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. EST in Milan and Lyon.

Picks?

Weekend Previews

2010-02-11T22:20:11Z

I think I'm going to make it a regular thing.

I'm going to make my preview articles interactive, and time/life permitting, I will have a Europe on and an Americas one drafted throughout this evening (PST) and tomorrow morning.

Something you want discussed?

Let's get it going. I'll try to follow your lead.

Copa Libertadores

2010-02-09T21:56:18Z

Reminder, all: The second stage of Copa Lib - otherwise known as group stage - starts today. That's right. The first round isn't completely done, but over the next two days, group play will get started.

Be it Corinthians or Flamengo or even if you want to argue Inter - the Brazil clubs look like they'll be strong, IMO.

John Terry

2010-02-05T14:57:34Z

Call me naive. Call me heartless. I just don't get the John Terry flap. I'm not condoning his actions, but I don't see why he shouldn't wear the armband. He cheated on his wife with a teammates "girlfriend". Oh the horror. Have the national team players indicated that they won't follow his lead? It's 2010. Today's professional athletes aren't the same as the one's from the 1950's. Many lead lives normal people can't and won't understand. Either Terry can still lead the English squad or he can't. The simple fact that he isn't a good husband or friend shouldn't disqualify him from wearing the armband.

Annoyed rant over.

Bafana Bafana's 2% Hope

2010-02-03T22:37:56Z

via www.mtnfootball.com

One of the things that this upcoming World Cup in Africa provides; is a look at one of the most unique nations on that continent and for some geographers one of the most unique in the world. South Africa is an ethnic melting pot of culture, language, heritage, and race that spans back over 180 years. So it is no surprise that the "Rainbow Nation" as colloquially referred to by major media outlets is ready to host the World Cup. But, there is a problem and not one that can be fixed by worker negotiations or police presence. This problem could be a cancer for the 40+ million nation; one that could be an issue far after the Copa Mundial. And that is just how bad Bafana, Bafana (Boys, Boys) is as a team.

The SAFA and the world media regarding to how bad this team is are asking a lot of questions. Only one team is ranked anywhere near South Africa in the FIFA world rankings and that is Rugby mad New Zealand who also happen to be the first nation to qualify for the final without ever playing a nation or over 1 million inhabitants. (For you fact nerds the largest they did play was Bahrain with a population of 550,000, or about the amount Rhode Island has.) And then their are names being thrown around like they are gold chips found in a abonded California mine, names like Matthew Booth and Bernard Parker. But the main question is their any chance to advance into the next round? I think simply the answer to that question is a slim but possible 2%.

Okay I get it, home field and altitude are two important tangibles but we are forgetting one more, Khune. The young SA net minder had a tremendious Confederations Cup only allowing 6 goals (One against Brazil on a Danny Alvez freebie) with a backline that minus the aforementioned Booth is not a spectacular showing at all. He in a lot of ways could be the next BIG Bafana over in Europe and surely has drawn comparsions to Richard Kingston of Ghana and Wigan fame, and of course Kamini of Cameroon glory.

The other rising star to watch out for is Siphiwe Tshabalala. Another Kaiser Chiefs product like Khune, Tshabalala is a great winger who has pace and some gifted feet that will make you ask yourself does he do ballroom dancing professionally. Both could be the "unknowns" who take Bafana to the next round (God willing) with Khune the number 1 in most ZA journalists eyes and Siphiwe being the second half sub to change the game. (He did well when the US played at Ellis Park in '08)

This hopefully will keep the run of no host going out in the first round alive for atleast another two WC's after 2010 (Brazil and European host will surely get through) but it will be an interesting test for sure. With Mexico, France, and Uruguay there is hope, but only 2% hope.

RFC: Libertadores, Champions League Coverage

2010-01-13T18:41:37Z

Hi all:

I just wanted to open up a conversation about the impending start to Libertadores, and to a certain extent UEFA Champions League.

Let me just be honest with you for a second: I want to keep you coming back. I don't care about site hits or anything like that. I care about comments. I care about poll votes. I can about interacting with you. That's my whole motivation for writing about the game.

What kind of coverage of these club tournaments would you like? Individual match reports? Open game threads? Daily recaps?

Are you concerned about a cluttered site? Would too much coverage of any of these events turn you off?

This is a Request For Comment.

And thank you, all. If anybody every has any feedback or just wanted to talk soccer, you can always email me at richardfarley@gmail.com.

Richard

Togo Shooting

2010-01-08T18:23:27Z

The Togo team bus has been attacked while in Angola. Reports are machine gun fire sprayed the team bus. Players were hit, and there are rumors of a fatality.

These are the type of stories that are too important for me to write articles about. If anybody wants to talk about it, please use this thread.

I'm not the WSDigest guy on this one. I'm following this along with you.

Suazo Goes to Zaragoza

2010-01-08T15:48:31Z

As SantiagoColombia reminded us in the latest Interliga post, Humberto Suazo has apparently been sold from Monterrey to Real Zaragoza (Spain) for a reported €10 million.

Here are my quick thoughts.

For Monterrey, this is a huge hit. It could cost them Libertadores. We'll have to wait to see how they replace him. Even if they do it before Wednesday, Copa seems a dream.

For Zaragoza, if Suazo integrates quickly, this could mean surviving, something that would allow the move to pay for itself. I like Javier Arizmendi there, but he needs help, and Ewerthon was not doing it.

I talked about this on a podcast recently: I'm going to miss Suazo. At the same time, €10 million is too much for Monterrey to turn down. While they can buy a replacement, it's difficult to think of somebody who has that combination of talents.

Of course, that's why he fetched €10m.

Thoughts?