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Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

Good morning folks. There is plenty of soccer action to follow today so this is where you can check in to share your thoughts and have debates and discussions with other SBI readers.

Feel free to post your comments, game updates or any other soccer-related rants in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. Mike:

    This is silly and will be my last post on the subject.

    This comment was about the key moments, the moments that decided the game. The moments the game was on the line. That’s when the game was decided, given the way the rest of the game played out.

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  2. amid all this bickering about individuals, let’s look at how shockingly bad Fulham are in the midfield. No creativity but for Demspey. Some decent, but predictable, crosses from Stalteri. Nothing else. Solano, say whatever you want about the goal, tipped the match in his team’s favor with his quality in the MIDFIELD. Contrast that with Bullard’s hairy-arsed, mindless running and you have the real difference in this match.

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  3. i don’t think i wan’t to watch the video after i saw a pic of the tackle. i’ve been distraught ever since. that thug needs to be banned for life after possibly ending eduardo’s career

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  4. I also think it’s funny that everyone’s saying Bullard and Murphy were the worst players out there, yet EJ, who misses a difficult chance, and Niemi, who got kicked in the face and scored on by a hand ball (given, he was late off his line), fall into the “mostly to blame” category.

    Just admit that it was a stupid statement hahaha…

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  5. Let’s see, someone plays 15 minutes at the end of a match. He’s a striker. He DIDN’T score an own goal.

    I don’t care who you’re talking about, you’re either braindead, a hater, or don’t know anything about the sport if you’re blaming him for a loss.

    I seriously think a lot of people just started watching games, because some of the complaints in this forum are so uninformed it’s borderline ridiculous.

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  6. Danny, I don’t think anyone claims he intended to knock the ball in with his arm, but it’s moot. He scored a goal with his arm, so regardless of intent, it should have been disallowed.

    And I can’t believe someone is blaming the loss on EJ. That was a difficult chance to take. I don’t think he passed the ball to set up a West Ham chance–Bullard passed the ball “to” EJ which went ot a WH player and set up a chance. Face it…any objective viewer wouldn’t blame EJ for the loss–you’re just scrutinizing the americans’ play. AND IT WAS HIS FIRST GAME. I think Johnson needs to grow a pair, but it really seems like people have already condemned him/want to see him fail.

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  7. Jade:

    I’m rooting for Fulham. I’m rooting for the Americans as much as anyone. You’re reading too much into this. By the way the amount of time EJ played shrinks with each successive post defending him.

    I am NOT evaluating the performances of all of the players for the full game. Just the moments that the game was decided. It just so happened that Fulham missed two good chances to score in the second half, and they were missed by EJ and Clint Dempsey. Bullard was awful but on the only other real chance that Fulham had, that Bullard missed, the goalkeeper was at his feet as he was taking the shot. I don’t see how anyone would have scored on that. Also, I am NOT blaming Americans. You do know Anti Niemmi isn’t American, right?

    If you want to take your frustration out on someone for giving Americans a hard time, comment on the announcers. It seemed to me that every time an American player made a mistake they went out of their way to mention they were American. McBride made a couple of great plays inside the box seconds apart to almost create a goal for Fulham, and instead of giving him credit, the announcer implies that maybe he should have somehow turned it into a chance on goal himself.

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  8. Agree Dannyc58, Solano with great effort on that play in the midst of a standout performance but, intentional or not, the referee should have disallowed the goal.

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  9. I understand its mostly Fulham fans here, but I feel the need to state that both the boot to Neimmi’s mug, and the goal off his knee then elbow were both UNINTENTIONAL. Some are making it sound as if there was intent, there was not at all.

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  10. aristotle:

    Try rewatching the game and Bullards performance especially.

    EJ played 15 minutes, Bullard played the whole game and Danny Murphy couldn’t hold onto the ball to save their lives, Blaming this loss on the Americans is like blaming 9/11 on Saddam Hussein.

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  11. I’m definitely not a Fulham fan but I agree with you guys on the goal. two things could have been called.

    Sure you’re allowed to challenge a keeper for the ball, but you’re not allowed to go in studs up with your boot a foot off the ground, nor are you allowed to put said boot into the keeper’s face or shoulder.

    Then the ball came off his arm as well.

    It’s tough for Fulham, but it’s also very typical. They just can’t win games.

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  12. I’m definitely not a Fulham fan but I agree with you guys on the goal. two things could have been called.

    Sure you’re allowed to challenge a keeper for the ball, but you’re not allowed to go in studs up with your boot a foot off the ground, nor are you allowed to put said boot into the keeper’s face or shoulder.

    Then the ball came off his arm as well.

    It’s tough for Fulham, but it’s also very typical. They just can’t win games.

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  13. Dave:

    It’s just a simple statement about the game. Those three players were involved in the three deciding moments of the game. If either EJ or Dempsey had taken their chances, and Niemmi hadn’t fallen asleep on his line, the game could have gone to Fulham. Twenty minutes may not be much but EJ didn’t just miss a chance, he was lost the moment he set foot on the field. The only other touch I can remember him having almost set West Ham up for a goal.

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  14. Dempsey,McBride,Johnson,Spector,Hangeland appeared on the pitch, Bocanegra and Keller never left the bench. Plus the Canadian Stalteri started for Fulham as well at left back.

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  15. Frank – I hear ya. McBride up top trying to lay off to Clint/Johnson on the right may not have the results that FFC is hoping to get out of them.

    The loss of more point(s) is crushing for the Red, White & Black of Fulhamerica.

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  16. Might be a bit harsh to say EJ bears the most responsibility for the loss. Are you serious, he played like 20 min and its his fault they lost b/c he couldn’t square a difficult cross on a one timer? Also I thought Dempsey was ok, but not spectacular. Fulham played ok today, but they simply are not a prem quality side.

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  17. Jimmy Bullard is class, but played poorly today. Danny Murphy is the player who truly struggles however. He has not recovered from leaving Liverpool.

    Dempsey, McBride get A for effort , c for finishing, Dempsey in particular missed a glorious chance to chip Green. Johnson blasted over the bar on a volley, and McBride did really well at one point to control, but his shot was blocked. Dempsey also had a shot cleared off the line in the first half.

    West Ham’s Goal was completely illegitimate. First Solano hit Niemi in the face with his boot and then knocked the ball in with his arm. Niemi should have come earlier however.

    Spector came on to preserve the lead but had little to do.

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  18. Terrible result for Fulham. After having two shouts for West Ham handling the ball in the box go uncalled in the first half, the Hammers scores in the second with a hand ball. Remember when Ives suggested Solano would be a great MLS player? Certainly looked like a brilliant observation based on today’s performance.

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  19. Bye bye Fulham.

    They just aren’t good enough. Eddie Johnson, Clint Dempsey, and Anti Niemmi bear most of the responsibility for the loss. The missed chances by Johnson and Dempsey speak for themselves. The goal was definitely Niemmi’s fault, although to be fair it probably shouldn’t have been allowed. I can’t see Keller letting that goal in. The funny thing is, if Keller had been in goal and saved that, nobody would have even thought it was a good save. Considering how bad some of Fulham’s defenders are I can’t see how Bocanegra would be any worse. So it might be wise for Hodgson to play Bocanegra, even if it’s just because of his offensive capabilities.
    Looks like Team America will be going to the Championship League. Maybe EJ can adjust there.

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  20. As a West Ham & Amerian fan that really wasn’t a fun game.

    Fulham deserved better, but I hope Fulham stay up–they have the fight in them thats for sure.

    Having said that…Come on you Irons!!!

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  21. To frank – about the Fulham – manager maybe that’s why they are in the relegation zone
    Funny the commentator said about EJ “The technique it’s not really there”

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  22. Frank – Apparently the right wing is where one way players are placed to hide their weak defensive abilities, if they have any ability in the back 3rd at all.

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  23. West Ham scores a hideous goal on a blatant handball. And Fulhamerica will likely be playing in the championship league next year. Bummer.

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  24. A horrible/weak effort from Niemi (Fulham Keeper) leads to a questionable goal for West Ham and a red card Andreasen for Fulham.

    I has been interesting to watch EJ play right mid in place of Clint

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  25. Very tough goal for Fulham right there…should not have been allowed as it came straight away from Solano’s arm. Unlucky, and that seems to be the way Fulham’s season has been going.

    And if Jimmy Bullard doesn’t play another game that it won’t be too soon.

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  26. Fulhams Bullard is shockingly poor. I can’t believe the amount of times he has given the ball away today. Not to mention stupid challenges. Fizzy Pop League player at best.

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  27. I think Eduardo’s career could be over. He has snapped his left lower leg in the same way that coventry’s dave busst did a while back. Sky TV will only play a wide shot of the incident, they say the other angles are too horrific.

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  28. Martin Taylor absolutely crocked Eduardo in Birmingham City/Arsenal. It was bad enough that they didn’t show the replay. He has broken his leg, and may require surgery. But theo with the brace!

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