[GT] Tuesday August 16

[SuperMatt18]

Strong defense is not cowardly at all - winning in the Shootout is a bit lucky but playing strong defensive soccer is not at all cowardly.

It is a method of play that many teams have perfected through history.

[Fuzz]

Go time. Lots of empty seats.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Good for Sweden and all, but I can already see everyone here telling Hope Solo to "suck it" or whatever, will be wholly agreeing with her if Canada plays Sweden. Parking the bus is pretty gross to watch.

No.

I have no idea what your standards are, but I can't imagine calling another team or opponent at the Olympics (never mind the Sweden soccer team) a "bunch of cowards".

Whatever floats your boat though.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

No, if you play within the rules use whatever strategy it takes to win. That's the problem I have with Hope Solo.

The problem with Hope Solo is she's been a whiner and poor loser her entire career. Those comments just typified that. Parking the bus is a strategy no doubt, but any fan will tell you it's the worst strategy to watch by a mile. Nothing worse than 11 people behind the ball almost all game.

Originally Posted by chemgear

No.

I have no idea what your standards are, but I can't imagine calling another team or opponent at the Olympics (never mind the Sweden soccer team) a "bunch of cowards".

Whatever floats your boat though.

I can already see it happening. Canada totally dominates the game, gets all the best chances, loses in a shootout. Everyone here will say, correctly, the only reason Sweden won was parking the bus. Maybe the word coward won't come up though.

[calgarygeologist]

Oh man, I thought that header was in.

Looks like Canada has been pretty aggressive thus far. I like that.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I can already see it happening. Canada totally dominates the game, gets all the best chances, loses in a shootout. Everyone here will say, correctly, the only reason Sweden won was parking the bus. Maybe the word coward won't come up though.

Again, I don't know what kind of standards that you have or how you envision the world around you.

If they win today and if they happen to dominate the next game and if they don't happen to score in normal time and if they don't happen to score more in the shoot out - I would hope that Christine Sinclair and the rest of the Canadian team has more class than what you see in your minds eye.

It's crazy to me that you think playing defense is worthy of complaint or bitterness. Score more than your opponents and win. Or don't and lose. You don't play these games to be flashy or entertain.

Nevermind the fact that they have a game to win today first.

[TheScorpion]

I jumped and shouted until realising that wasn't in.

[polak]

I can't tell if they're playing sloppy or this is just womens soccer......

[Cecil Terwilliger]

What was she thinking?

[polak]

WTF? Why would you do that? She wasn't even a threat from there.

She wasn't even close to the ball.

That has to be the worst attempt at a slide tackle I've ever seen on television.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Even if the German player gets there the angle was so deep it wasn't a glorious chance. Poor decision making. Very poor.

[Dime_On_Flames]

what a dummy

[calgarygeologist]

Brutal penalty

[Sainters7]

Am I the only person that doesn't have the online stream working for them? Lame-o timing

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The problem with Hope Solo is she's been a whiner and poor loser her entire career. Those comments just typified that. Parking the bus is a strategy no doubt, but any fan will tell you it's the worst strategy to watch by a mile. Nothing worse than 11 people behind the ball almost all game.



I can already see it happening. Canada totally dominates the game, gets all the best chances, loses in a shootout. Everyone here will say, correctly, the only reason Sweden won was parking the bus. Maybe the word coward won't come up though.

If they go on to win the gold medal, then obviously, their strategy will have been an excellent one. Not sure why you're having trouble seeing that. Playing defense is a reasonable - and far from unusual - strategy.

Regardless of whether they win or not, they beat the US and Hope Solo reacted like a child with a ridiculous and classless comment.

[polak]

Goalie can't even stand in the middle of the net for that penalty??

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If they go on to win the gold medal, then obviously, their strategy will have been an excellent one. Not sure why you're having trouble seeing that. Playing defense is a reasonable - and far from unusual - strategy.

Regardless of whether they win or not, they beat the US and Hope Solo reacted like a child with a ridiculous and classless comment.

Plus I think the real distinction is being a dick. Which Hope Solo can't resist.

Sweden plays a boring style. It kinda sucks. Teams constantly have their style of play evaluated and called boring and crappy.

Calling them cowards is insulting the players, not the style of play, and it is whiny and a poor sport move.

[East Coast Flame]

There must be a sniper in the stands taking down these German women. Jesus.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

There must be a sniper in the stands taking down these German women. Jesus.

Yes, but there's a pretty easy way to alleviate that: get possession of the fricking ball for a while. Put the Germans on defense and pressure them.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If they go on to win the gold medal, then obviously, their strategy will have been an excellent one. Not sure why you're having trouble seeing that. Playing defense is a reasonable - and far from unusual - strategy.

Regardless of whether they win or not, they beat the US and Hope Solo reacted like a child with a ridiculous and classless comment.

From the opening kickoff, Sweden's goal was to get to penalties, not to actually win the game. They've been outshot in their last two games almost 7:1 (58-9). All I'm saying is people will complain if Canada makes the final and we see the same game. It is a strategy, one that essentially eschews trying to win the game for getting to the lottery portion of things. I wish they'd eliminate shootouts, take the NHL approach and take players off to open up the game. Might actually prevent bus parking. Cowardly was Hope Solo being Hope Solo (I posted the video of her trashing her own teammate and coach. She's a dick). But the strategy Sweden is employing is borderline unwatchable.