f13.net

Ok, I thought since the World Cup thread did really well... there's gotta be some season-long soccer fans. So I figure what the hell, I'm gonna fish you all out!

So first off, I'm a Manchester United follower. And obviously, I'm not feeling too good lately. If we don't win something big this year (the Premiership, the FA Cup, or Champions League) I don't see Fergusson lasting much longer. He can only last so long on the good graces of his accomplishments for the club in the past. Results from his past three years have been very flattering... we simply haven't been playing very well at all. He's pushed out 3 really good players with his abrasive attitude. I was crushed to see how Van Nistelrooy was treated at the end of last season. It's one thing to bench him for Saha, but to chuck his ass on the bus home, and forbid him from playing in Keane's testimonial... what a shame. I'm excited to see Carrick join the team. He really stood out at Tottenham last season for me, it'll be great to see how his incisive passing will set things up. We've been without a great midfield dictator for awhile. Giggs is good, but he was off and on last season. I'm stoked to see Scholes back. He was one of my favorite players from the 90's era of dominance. God, how I wish I could hit a volley first-touch like that guy. So all in all, I'm hopeful... but wistfully so.

And since I'm not actually English, and not tied to my favorite team by geography or anything... I can say the following with complete satisfaction: My favorite teams to actually watch in the EPL lately have been Arsenal and Liverpool. Liverpool have been improving so, so much. Their games in Istanbul, and the FA Cup final were amazing, I can't help but cheer for them. I think they can do really well this season if they settle their new signings well. If I were a young, soccer enthused youngster here in the US and looking for an EPL team to adopt... I'd probably pick Arsenal nowadays instead of Man. U. Arsenal play beautiful, positive football. I REALLY hope Wenger can pull Ribery away from Marseille. Man that would rock. Come on already... dump Reyes, sell Cole, buy the fugly French guy!

And the white elephant in the room. Chelsea are choking all the entertainment out of the Premiership. Their penchant for waving buckets of money at every player in Europe is getting very tiresome. I mean, I don't bergudge them their success... entirely. They played very well to earn those titles. Mourinho is an excellent coach, both tactically and at developing his players (look at how Joe Cole has improved under him). It's all well and good. But... I dunno... it just got old after awhile. 25 million here, 30 million there, complete smugness when disciplined for doing bad things. I hope the other big teams give them a good run this year. They need to be taken down a notch or two. And I'd love to see the last month or two of the season actually mean something.

I'll be honest. When I read that Duff bailed for a pittance, I smirked. Part of me wants to watch them implode under their own "greatness". I hope Gallas bails, and starts a bigger flood of their very skilled benchwarmers to spread out amongst the rest of the Premiership.

So come on... I can't be the only one out there. I can hear you hiding.

You're kidding about liverpool, aren't you?

That FA cup was great fun, but they bore to tears so often it hurts. I just watch for Gerrard and Kewell. And Alonso.

I think this year will be the closest one in a while, and I hope Man Utd can take it.

I guess it's just... you see them play magnificently, and you just yearn for them to do it again. So I can't help but watch all their games and hope.

You must be hoping for them to go behind in every match then because the minute Liverpool go in front they change to their patented 10-0-0 formation.
The only way anyone will win the league apart from Chelsea is if they are playing FM2007, I just cant see past them. Although Uncle Romans billions must be under threat as they are stalling on buying Ashley Cole as they cannot/willnot meet Arsenals valuation

Thanks to the World Cup (and my Cubs sucking the big one AGAIN), I'm stoked about the start of the EPL.

LIIIII-VVVVEEERRRRRR-POOOOOOL!

Fuck Man U. I was happy to see Ruud go, if only because it means they won't be as good as last year. I love watching Rooney play, he just has the bulldog, down the throat attitude. But I'm a Liverpool man, so fuck him. Carrick was a good addition, but since he's going to be out for a few weeks, I'm not sure how much effect he's going to have early.

As for the Reds, I think they'll do good this year. From the games I've caught in rerun, Liverpool made it off of Gerrard, Reina in goal and tough defense. Their strikers were pretty ineffective. Cisse and Sinama-Pongolle just disappeared too much and Crouch is pretty terrible in the air. His height seems to actually be a disadvantage, in that everyone wants to air-cross the ball to him and he just doesn't go down the throat enough to make good use of it. What's frightening is how good he is with the ball on the ground, he just doesn't use it nearly enough. Signing Bellamy was fucking brilliant. In the games I've seen him, he's a really good striker, and I think he can only improve that offense. Alonso is good in the midfield, but I think Garcia is their weak link there.

Chelsea are the Yankees of the EPL. Money money money. Drogba is a fucking thug. But they play good football. Really strong team and I'm not sure how anyone will unseat them. Arsenal is a good team, but they just seem to fall apart too easy, like they did in the UEFA championship. Of course, having Lehman sent off so early probably totally screwed them.

I have been a Man U supporter for a few years now, but I am really having trouble rooting for Cristiano Ronaldo. He is such a whiny, diving douchebag. I can handle a bulldog nutstomper, but not a pretty boy who is sure the world revolves around him.

I don't think Ruud's exit will mean that much- it seems like he had gone into the doghouse and wasn't getting too much playing time. No point in having someone like that on your bench.

Yeah, but he's been like that for years. He was a prancing, diving, petulant wimp long before the World Cup started. I guess I've just gotten used to it. You know all the stick he's gonna get is going to make him worse too, and not turn his behavior around. Such talent, wasted on such a douche.

Ronaldo is one of my favourite players. He is one of the best in the world, as he showed at the World Cup, regardless of the fact that he still has showmanship and gamesmanship issues to deal with. I hope he does get over them, and Ferguson will help with that I think, because he has such huge potential.

Man Utd will be better without Ruud, as long as Rooney and Saha dont get injured. Ruud doesn't suit Rooney's style of play anywhere near as much as Saha does.

Bellamy is a complete tosser, good though he may be, in a way far worse than Ronaldo.

Ronaldo initially said he wasn't going back to Man U because English fans vandalized his house and he was afraid for his life. Keep in mind that all of England feels like it was him who  got Rooney the red card (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4MfRj-pJ8I). Before the World Cup Real Madrid was interested in a transfer for him but now that they realized he's a giant dbag they don't want him anymore. Since Real Madrid lost interest I think he might actually go back to Manchester.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/lfc_story/classics/sounds/walkon.mp3


and lol cubs

I fucking love how teams have their own songs and chants. Arsenal's always make me giggle ("Stand up if you hate Tottenham!"). This one tears me up:

In the Liverpool slums, in the Liverpool slums
Your mum's on the game, and your dad's in the nick
You're all on the social, you're so fucking thick
In the Liverpool slums

In the Liverpool slums, in the Liverpool slums
They look in the dustbins for something to eat
They find a dead rat and they think it's a treat
In the Liverpool slums

Stand-up if you've got a job (Go West)

It's due to be a decent season, although the top 4 are nailed on to be the three big clubs plus Chelsea. Of the big three the Manchester Buccaneers and Arsenal have had a relatively poor summer for transfers but are still head and shoulders ahead of Spurs and Bolton in the chasing pack; Liverpool have had an excellent transfer season and for the first time in at least ten years have 2 decent wingers, if LFC can avoid the crappy early form that spoiled last season there is no reason they can't win it this year, if you only counted matches from October last season, Liverpool would have won the 05/06 title. That is more than just a good end of season run.

Even as a Liverpool fan I've been comfortable ruling LFC out of title contention from the start every year since the early nineties. This year is different. I really don't think you can squeeze a cigarette paper between the top 4.

Chelsea have obviously continued to improve simply by spending a metric shittonne of roubles and probably remain the team to beat, but the egos are starting to grate on each other and the first cracks in team unity are starting to show, also noone really knows how Ballack and Lampard are going to be accommodated in midlfield. (given that Lampard has been shit for the last 12 months, I'm not sure Chelsea should even try)

The community shield match (season opening 'friendly' between the EPL and FA Cup holders) this weekend between Chelsea and Liverpool will be interesting. Superstition has it that whomever wins the shield will have a shit season. You could do worse than backing Saturday's losing team for the title.


YNWA. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIBEPU0fb60&search=liverpool)

The press like to talk it up, but I have yet to meet an Englishman who would oppose the motion... "This house believes Wayne Rooney is an idiot and thug and it's his own damn fault he got sent off, but also hopes to God that he sorts himself out because the England team is short of strikers right now".

Ronaldo will get booed mercilessly of course, but primarily because... well... he's a dick.

He's already back at the Buccaneers and has played in preseason games - it's extremely unlikely that he's going anywhere now. This suits me down to the ground - because it just feels right in the wider pantomine of the EPL if most of the Manchester Buccaneers are dicks.

And scored two great goals against Oxford too. He was never going anyway. Signed up to 2010 and one of the best players in the game, and best young talent, like Rooney. Utd would have been way daft to let him go.

Much Sadness over the love of the red teams.


(http://kassiesa.com/uefaclubs/images/Tottenham-Hotspur.png)

I feel the need for Songs to mark the oncoming season. :)

For Ars*nal:

If I had the wings of a sparrow,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over Arsenal Tomorrow,
And shit on the bastards below, below,
Shit on the bastards below.


For Liverpool:
You are a scouser,
A ugly scouser,
You're only happy on giro day,
Your mum's out stealing,
Your dad's drug dealing,
Please don't take our hub caps away.

For Man U:
They came down to Tottenham in Seventy Five
They took up the Park Lane the Paxton the sides
But Spurs were all ready - and ready to ruck
And the great Man United got battered to fuck


And one for Spurs:

 Tottenham are the greatest team
the world has ever seen
Tottenham are the greatest team
the world has ever seen
Tottenham are the greatest team
the world has ever seen
and the Spurs go marchin' on

Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
and the Spurs go marchin' on

We're the pride of north London
We're the kings of White Hart Lane
We're the pride of north London
We're the kings of White Hart Lane
We're the pride of north London
We're the kings of White Hart Lane
and the Spurs go marchin' on

Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
and the Spurs go marchin' on

They're the loyal Spurs supporters
and they come to every game
They're the loyal Spurs supporters
and they come to every game
They're the loyal Spurs supporters
and they come to every game
'cause the Spurs go marchin' on

Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
Glory glory Tottenham Hotspur
and the Spurs go marchin' on"

Bolton on the 19th on FSC. Ready to go. :)

I agree. I think it's pretty amazing. If you tried to get American football fans to sing a song like "You'll Never Walk Alone," I think someone would get shot, or stabbed, or have their eyes gouged out and skullfucked. The Kop Enders? They'll sing it loudly and drunkenly without one hint of shame, and stab you for saying anything about it. There's just something classy about that.

Ronaldo is a twat. But he's a twat that can play, so he and Rooney will kiss and make up and hate each other all along. Besides, Ronaldo may have been a whiney bitch about it, but by the time the ref blew the whistle, Rooney deserved the card for the nut stomp. I think Righ blamed the ref for letting the play go on so long, and he was right.

I've got the Tivo set for the FA Community Shield game Sunday. Sad that with just a little bit of money I can get more Euro socceer coverage in Mississippi than I can ice hockey, without spending $100.

It's not as if Man Utd and SAF don't know how to deal with strikers that cant stand each other, as Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham could testify

It wasn't just about that though. And the bustup was supposedly b/n Ronaldo (winger) and Ruud. And Ruud didn't fit with the playingstyle of Rooney.

So Rooney and Ronaldo at the expense of Ruud, who couldn't deal with being benched? Yes as far as I see it.

I'm rooting for Man Utd. because of Christiano, the kid can play if he ever matures a little people will need to watch out.  I also really started to like the Keane-led Spurs while watching reruns on FSC of last season.  Them loosing Carrick though most likely means they are boned.

Best 18 million pounds  Spurs have picked up this year.

Berbatov and Zokora have done for spuras and new additions. Still needing more support on right wing, but supporters are thinking this is the year the Spurs make their return to Champions League.

That thought i mixed with much concern, as befitting the Yid Army.

Man U supporters lamenting Chelsea spending is ironic. Haemish, that's like a Dodgers fan complaining about Yankees spending. Sure, you got outspent in recent years, but you were part of the damn problem.  :-P

You folks go ahead and pick teams full of high priced players. I'll be rooting for some real overacheiving, underspending heros - Pompey. They won't winthe league, but every victory this classy young team pulls off will be full of great football.

I like Reading, but I'm going to be realistic, y'know?

Had a passing interest in Spurs since Klinsy dived on his inaugural goal there. I've upped it as of late.

My team of Young pups is currently occupied by the Houston Dynamo. Off to watch the tape delayed game of the week. A strong start to the "New era with ESPN"  :|

Man Utd have only overspent a couple of times. But, most important fact:

Where did Man Utds money come from? Man Utd were VERY frugal early on with Alex, and it was the youth team and some quality buys that made them the most popular and profitable team in the world, not russian corruption.

Since you ask, public floatation, debt, aggressive development of the Asian marketplace, and strongarming smaller clubs into signing up to the split from the football league that led to the Premiership. The Buccaneers are currently around a billion dollars in debt.

I'm not saying it didn't take a lot of smart and dedicated businessmen to set up the whole thing up, but that's what drove them to the top of the revenue league.

That's really sad (about the hockey)…

I just added the Sports package with FSC and I didn't know it included GOL-TV… …man, there's always a soccer match happening, even if they are mostly replays. Hell, I watch and I don't know who won EPL matches in March 2006 or December 2005…

…speaking of DirecTV sports package, it's been near 10 years since I subscribed to it, kind of depressing to see that out of all the local sports networks, the programming is all mostly blacked out… …and that even goes for WNBA  (not that I would have interest here) games and MLS games…

Not to thread-jack or anything, but it's is tragically sad when 15 years ago, basic cable fetched more hockey (pro and collegiate all over only 2 cable sports networks…). Not counting the NHL package, which I subscribe to, and I swore I would never resubscribe… …we also get the NFL deal and the SuperFan package for all its HD games…

Kind of  a blast watching all these soccer games from all over the globe. Don't know much about EPL but recognize some of the players from World Cup action…

They got a great deal on Sol, assuming he can remember that he's actually a decent player. But Harry Redknapp back, hehe... good luck with that. Hopefully he'll win a few games early on to avoid being carbombed by bitter fans.

Of the bottom rung teams, I usually cheer for Wigan lately. They held their own really well after promotion last year. I also like watching West Ham, just because every extra day Sherringham plays is amazing.

He's not so bad - he's done the club some good in his time, even though he often creates conflict. But his history with cars isn't good by any means.  :-o

How can you expect people to bother to pick a low-rung team in a league in ANOTHER country?  Here's a thing, I'm always hoping for Scottish teams to do well in the Champion's league because Scotland > England (yes I've been to  both) but I dont bother talking about that.  I like Seville in the Spanish league because they were such a good story to follow and the two games I saw were impressive.  I like the Crew in MLS because I always root for Ohio teams as it really pisses off people in the Bay Area.  (Bengals 4tw!@!!)

The fact is though, that Chelsea/Arsenal/Man Utd. are all most Americans can be expected to know, also I really only recognize international players for the most part, that makes most non-elite EPL teams rather uninteresting. 

On another note, did anyone else watch the Barcelona/Real Madrid games in the USA?  Some were slaughterfests but others were pretty damn entertaining.  Which segues into the question, is Eto'o pronounced Etu?  If so dubbya-tee-eff.

Then don't get so damned defensive about it. Take my post as a heads up for a talented team that you should watch when you get a chance.

Liverpool deserves to be loved for Steven Gerrard, Liverpool born and raised, Liverpool fan, captain of Liverpool, scorer of Liverpool's best goals (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4773857593371238082), in a world where everyone else is an import, almost tempted by Real Madrid, stayed with Liverpool and said "I'll be staying here until the day someone tells me they don't want me". That is the stuff of legend, and I'm not even a Liverpool fan.

Yeah, I got the Sports Pack for the football, and just figured the regional Fox Sports baseball games would be a bonus. Then I saw they were all blacked out.

Fuck you very much, MLB. Eat my anus, you monkeyfuckers. Until the Cubs stop sucking, I'm not going to go out of my way to watch regular season games again. I'll watch the Postseason unless I give not a shit about any of the teams.

I like the fact that Liverpool seems to be a top team without spending huge pounds on marquee players. Chelsea can have all the big names if they want, I enjoyed the shit out of the Reds beating them in the FA Community Shield the other day. Helluva match, and even Crouch managed to head out a goal.

Beautiful.

And to think Chelsea allllllmost got him last season.

Liverpool has a football team?   :-P

Yeah, you just can't see it through the smog.

Or they stole her Tele.

I wish someone would do the same for F13's Tele.

I still have my tele-phone but Liverpool never calls.  Never writes.   :cry:

Lampard > Gerrard, I dont know why he gets so much love nor do I care.  Terry > both, great defender comes all the way up but almost always gets back, always clogging the middle on the cross.  I hate Chelsea, because rooting for the team w/ more money then god isn't much fun.  But you can't argue with the fact that Lampard/Terry/Drogba are amazing players.  Gallas (sp?) isn't too shabby either.

Since most of my experience with football comes from the World Cup, Gerrard gets the luv over Lampard because Lampard sucked it hard in the Cup. I mean, he had NO aim whatsoever. Almost every shot he took sailed over the goal or was way way wide. Also, he plays for Chelsea, and that seems to be the team to hate in the Premiership. Like the Yankees in baseball, as Righ said.

Hard to write or call with hands filled with stolen merchandise.

I'd draw compariisons to Mississippi for Haemish, but as I live in Alabama, I really have no room to talk.

Ehh... they're about equal I think. Lampard is a better passer, Gerrard is a better poacher. I don't know what you're smoking when you praise Drogba though. Total hack/cheat. When he's not handling the ball or hogging the ball, he's fluffing his first touches and watching it bounce for a goal kick off his chest or thigh. I hope Schevchenko and Kalou put his ass out to pasture.

Gallas needs to be played in the center again with Terry. The two of them paired are the best defense in the premiership. I don't know why they keep sticking Carvalho in there... maybe when they buy Cole, and apologize for giving his number away they can pop him (Gallas) back where he belongs. Or even better... he bails and leaves them hanging!

5 more days, and Fulham's going down!

Gerrard is an amazing player, and better than Lampard.

Him and Alonso are the only players in the Liverpool team that matter. Kewell also, but that's just because I'm Australian, he's never recaptured his Leeds form.

I can't believe someone is ripping on Drogba, you sir are fucking insane...

You don't have to limit to the world cup, Gerrard is just plain better than Lampard in every respect.

Which is partly why Chelsea offered Liverpool £35M for Gerrard's contract. Presumably to replace Lampard, as the England games had already showed repeatedly that Lampard gets easily confused when asked to play without a defensive central midfielder assigned solely to cover his back.

Lampard had a good season in 04-05 (The same season Gerrard was busy winning the Champion's League), and a good European Championship in 2004. That's about it.

Lampard can't run, doesn't contribute defensively, admittedly can make a solid short pass, can't cross well enough to play on a wing, needs the entire midfield built around him, pretty good at shooting from range. I won't be surprised if after the dust settles this year he ends up on the bench with Ballack in his slot - especially if he plays like last season.


I lolled. I don't know where people get this shit from.

Drogba is a bit of a dirty player, but he can provide pretty good service.

Lampard looked a lot better in the England/Greece friendly on Wednesday, actually managing to find the goal. Of course, Greece's defense appeared to be concentrating on the rear ends of all the England players, because the first half they got ran over. Almost all of England's goals were because the Greek defenders just forgot where they were. England looked much better without Beckham there.

That's like saying Katrina got New Orleans a little soggy.


Diving bastard.

Rumors abound of Jol going with a 4-3-3, with Berbatov feeding Keane and Defoe.

I'm looking forward to some high energy beautiful playfrom Tottenham. This is the year they break the top 4. :)

Diving bastard without Cristiano Ronaldo does not compute. That little fucker goes down more than Greg Louganis.

At least Drogba is a thug, Ronaldo is a diver and a bitch.

Liverpool gets Dirk Kuyt (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=376166&cc=5901)

Ph3ar, bitches.

To be fair...

Drogba: Thug, Diver
Ronaldo: Diver, Bitch

But you have to give Drogba credit for his open admission on the BBC last year.

"Sometimes I dive" "In fooball, you cannot stay up all the time"

So he might be a cynical cheating twerp, but it's hard to put all the blame at his door in a situation where he is perfectly open about his approach to the game, but still the league authorities are unable to do anything about it. And out of the two of them, Ronaldo is clearly the bigger dick.


True, but only because McClaren built the entire midfield around him. And 'a lot better' really only got him up to 'passable squad player performance'.

Fuck the EPL, let's talk about the Champion's League and how a Bulgarian team will get in the groups for the first time ever!!!!!!!!!

Good 3-0 start by Pompey, two of the goals coming from insanely tall former Arsenal striker Kanu in his first match with the team. And two of Blackburn's players were sent off for their challenges on him.

That was a nice start by them.

Great Start for Reading, Down 2-nil then coming all the way back.Great way to start their premiership.

Alas, my poor Spurs got cockblocked by the ref on the first goal, then a once in a lifetime shot from 45 yards out. Game over. Fucking Bolton.

That was a hell of a shot by Campo. Just amazing. Robinson actually played pretty well- that one just suprised him and caught him leaning the wrong way.

Liverpool got a goddamned gift- Sheffield should have won that game 1-0.

Haven't watched the other game I have on TiVo yet (Chelsea/ManCity).

The Reading-Boro game was great. It was obvious Reading was starstruck the first 20 minutes, but once they got calmed down, they played some good football.

That first goal from Bolton was just wrong, but the second was such a kick in the nuts the Spurs really couldn't recover.

The Chelsea/Man City game was not a great game to watch. And yeah, Liverpool got a goddamn gift and a half. They better not start out this year like last, unable to score goals. Both Man U. and Chelsea are going to come out blazing.

Spurs are 0 for six years at the reebok.

Again, fucking Bolton.

We shall see what the next week holds, but after that I believe it's at Man U. That would make this one prety much a must win to keep from being forced to tread water before it's even October :|

Will be watching the West Ham game with some fantasy induced interest this morning on FSC *cough* Harewood, quick hat-trick! *endcough*

Took a four point hit on the fantasy league to make some adjustments. Currently, chasing Ironmen by a fair margin as we begin the long hellish march to futility :)

And after todays game I've already recouped my investment with Berbatov's goal in what should have been a 4-0 rout by Spurs. Will settle for2-0. :)

There are no curses and expletives in existence to proper express my frustration and annoyance with Spurs at this point in time.

Arsenal just lost, now if Camara and/or Drogba can net me some points this may not be too bad of a week, I expect low scores for everyone.

Both Spurs and Arsenal looked terrible yesterday. Arsenal would have looked good if they'd remembered to actually shoot at the goal instead of dancing around it. Spurs though, they just looked lost. It was amazing how many times their midfield and defense just let them down on both sides of the pitch.

Arsenal will ceratinly wake up eventually; but Spurs are in for a disappointing season, both their players and the team are heavily overrated and overbacked following their successes last season, when all the big three clubs were in transition years (leaving Chelsea to win the title by default). They can't hope to even equal last year's performance (4th until the last day of the season) given how the big 3 + Chelsea have moved on over the summer.

Also, a ytmnd in honour of the glory that is Peter Fucking Crouch...

http://crouchcrouching.ytmnd.com/

That would be 4 goals from 4 matches for Liverpool and England so far this season.

Beautiful. Fantastic.

I think now that he actually has some decent service, Crouch might not be as bad as he looked in the early stages of the World Cup. They just have to remember he's not that good in the air.

I'm gonna love to see what Roy Keane can bring to the table for Sunderland. It's gonna be great watching him develop as a coach, good or bad.

Pompey's doing great Righ. Enjoy the view near the top while it lasts. Keep it up!

Yeah, Pompey is kicking ass. I watched the Boro-Porto game last night. Wow, does Boro ever look shitty. They have had about 40 minutes of good play in all 3 of their games. They looked clueless against Portsmouth, much like they did in most of the Chelsea match and after they scored the 2 goals in the Reading match. It's like they have no ability to adapt, if their way of playing is stymied they just keep at it. The Chelsea win was definitely a fluke.

Portsmouth, though... they may be my second team to root for after Liverpool. Good defense, decent goaltending, nice runs from Kanu.

After seeing his amazing goal in the first week and subesquently seeing him help beat Spurs (wow...what a dreadful start for them!), I am now an Andy Johnson (and subsequently, an Everton) fan. Even though I am once again hirsute, I have a soft spot for bald guys.  :-P

Johnson kicked ass against Spurs, and is apparently being considered for a role on the England squad. I hope he didn't look so good because Spurs were playing so incredibly bad.

Yeah me too. I just spent MORE money to pick him up in my fantasy leagues. I am starting to think that 8 transfers in 3 weeks might be a bit excessive. In my defense, I didn't know half the players I originally signed, so I was playing blind. My team is much better now than originally, methinks.

Yep, Pompey is doing fine. Handy goal difference there. Middlesboro's defense is a shambles psychologically. Whether adding a couple of big names with questions over fitness will help is anybody's guess. I reckon this could be an easy weekend for the Gunners.

Fucking fantasy sports...

Rio Ferdinand, injured

Camara, injured

Keane, sucking nuts

Cech, out for the first 2 weeks

I may need to make more transfers, I was pretty blind like WAP going in other then the few international stars I could afford to sign.

Hold on until tonight to do those changes hoax. You may want to wait until this transfer is confirmed and then go for Tevez as a striker.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/5301068.stm

Thats an absolute mindfuck of a transfer if it's true - these guys are being chased by everyone and West Ham get em?

Chec played in the game against Blackburn, so unless he was hurt after that, I'd be surprised if he was unavailable.

Jesus Christ. Tevez to West Ham?

I'm calling  a Rabid ManU fan I know right now who was begging for Tevez and laughing at him.

My jaw freaking hit the floor when I read that (about five minutes ago). How the HELL did they pull that off, out of nowhere?!

And Fergusson loaned Rossi off to Newcastle... for nothing in return? Wtf?

Cole Finally Transfers to Chelsea (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=377732&cc=5901)

Finally, it's done. Ashley Cole goes to Chelsea, and Gallas comes to Arsenal with 5 million pounds. I hope this doesn't mean Wayne Bridge gets pushed out of the first team. He's been good value on my fantasy team.

Because everything is funnier to Benny Hill tunes:

http://liverpooldobennyhill.ytmnd.com/

hilarity.

Yeah, I'm still not sure what the fuck is wrong with Liverpool's back line, but holy shit have they let in some really easy goals. That one was just the top of the pops for stupid play.

Made worse because it was former Anfield tenants Everton.

Happily in the CL game against PSV they were much better; altogether more organised, and Agger is offcially a house.

Which just as well given we are away to Chelsea this Sunday.

On the same day Arsenal play the Manchester Buccaneers. Sky are going apeshit with trailers.

Who's number one?  (http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10396,00.html) :-D

Flashy celebration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6czO5dOZmiw)

You if anyone on these boards would know that the season is still young ;)

However, A scoreless draw by Spurs makes me think any  happiness this season is going to come from the UEFA also ran's cup chase.

I can't believe ManU couldn't beat Arsenal with Henry out. That is fucking pathetic. Very entertaining match, however. At least until the 85th minute  :x

If they keep it up, UEFA action is looking good for them. I don't think they'll be able to hold out in the top 4 all season though... but who knows.

Lehmann had some extraordinary saves to make up for his schoolyard error with handling the ball. His fingertip deflection, and the one that blasted off his face were the decisive factores of that game, IMHO (and the botched penalty, of course). Unbelievable that we couldn't finish the game while Arsenal spent the whole time holding the ball, scared to even attempt a cross. Watching Wenger celebrate the goal was great. He's so goofy looking when he's trying to be excited.

I'm really enjoying the new ruling that if a player goes down, you keep playing and let the referee deal with it. In that Pompey video, you can see the Chartlon player (Holland?) try to stop the play by rolling around, but the ref had none of it and the other team played on. Good stuff.

That Drogba goal against Liverpool was fucking brilliant. Someone needs to run about 300k volts through the Reds backline, as they seem to be falling asleep at just the wrong damn times.

The Man U. - Arsenal match was a good one. Man U. really seems to be missing something the last two games, seeing as how they could only tattoo Spurs with one goal and got none here.

BBC had an exposé revealing corruption and bribery throughout English football. Managers who have accepted bribes were named, agents were secretly filmed bragging about the deals they can make.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5360700.stm (The summary of the program)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/5357420.stm (The agent they enlisted to go undercover for them)

The highlights include:

- Harry Redknapp talking about buying up Blackburn's captain
- Chelsea's youth director making advances toward's a youth Middlesbrough player (which is particularly ironic because they got busted for doing the same to Ashely Cole last season, and were warned if caught again they'd be docked points)
- Sam Allarydce and his son being specifically singled out as having accepted several bribes for a lot of Bolton's transfers.

Interesting stuff. The FA I guess is asking for all the evidence from the program since they had launched a similar investigation back in January. What will fall from it all?

P.S. Can any "locals" explain to me why they call them bungs?

It all seemed a bit of a stretch to me.

Most of the evidence was really about tapping up (talking to a player without his club's permission), but they seemed to be trying to spread the muck from some agent accusing Sam Alladyce of taking a bung as wide as possible.

If the Alladyce thing pans out he'll end up with 5 yearish ban from involvement in football (based on what happened to George Graham a long while back). But it's a big 'if'.

The rest of it was slap on the wrist stuff. I find it hard to get worked up about tap ups; the official line is that you have to go to all the trouble of putting a formal bid together with the agreement of the selling club before you can even talk to a player. I find it hard to believe any club works entirely on that basis.

As for the word 'bung', it's colloquial English for throwing something to someone, the idea being that cash is being thrown at a manager or other club official.


In other news, Xabi Alonso is a god.

It was from the other side of the circle wasn't it? I'm waiting for video. . .


I saw DeRosario's goal for the Houston Dynamo, which was 60 yards against the wind, but that was aided by some horrendous goalkeeping. It is MLS after all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWBxRT0LxAI

Truth.

Yes, Liverpool finally learned where the goal was.

But really only from far away. Get up close and it's like watching Mr Magoo from the cartoons of yesteryear.

Youtube provides for us all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysXBnvqd9Mk

Hardcore.

The other goal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElAHmplb-jo&NR

...is worth watching just for the awesome pass Alonso makes from the centre of the pitch to Finnan on the edge of the box.

Tottenham are fufilling their role  of  crusher of all hope and spirit admirably thus far.

As a side note: Red Bull New York are toying with alternate means of destroying the soft salary cap in MLS to allow for multiple  high salary players to sign with them. That could turn nasty as most of the MLS doesn't really want it to become the old farts of Europe farewell league.


Also Burger King signed a seven year marketing deal with MLS. The whopper is now the official Burger of Major League Soccer. I find that oddly amusing, but I think The King would be the ideal mascot of Real Salt Lake, which was the stupidest name in sports until Real Madrid  actually agreed to partner with them.

Not EPL, but it was quiet anyway.

Isn't that one of the reasons the last attempt at a US league failed? Teams like the Cosmos just spending way too much money on the old farts of the era, and draining money out of the league in the process? I need to watch that Cosmos documentary...

I think the US league is developing pretty well. Admittedly, I don't watch it all that much. The game is still a little too slow, but it's improving. They need to keep poaching from the South American leagues, and building up the American talent they can find. And maybe see about entering the Copa Libertadores (this side of the world's version of the Champions League). And they need to stop fucking playing in football stadiums. I can't stand watching all the markings every 10 yards everywhere, it's way too distracting.

I missed yesterday's UEFA games to go and actually play a game at lunch. Man U. seem to be starting to choke a little, albeit they won. I hope they recover in time for Newcastle, even though Newcastle's defense is still a total joke. Even sputtering and misfiring we had better bury them.

I'm right there with you. The MLS games I tried to watch, but either they are played on a football field that is almost completely empty, or they play in their own stadiums which look like high school stadiums. I understand that football is low man on the totem pole in America, but shit. Even the Mexican stadiums look better. Either do it right or don't fucking do it. Entering the Copa Libertadores would be the best thing they could do.

Pompey finally lost Monday, which was a real shame. But Bolton played great defense once they got the lead.

The following will show I follow MLS  a little too closely. I accept that, and the ridicule that  goes along with that.

MLS right now is burdened by undeveloped local youth programs and philosophy of building teams that will get points on the road. That's a hell of a lot of draws.

There's a lot of negative, defensive soccer  going on in the MLS right now.  Creativity is shunned for whatever works. New York  brought back Dema "legbreaker" Kovalenko ffs. Players at the lower end make $29,500. The All Star GK from DC United is a mortgage banker for his day job. Others are musicians or  just deal with the low pay. Clint Dempsey, the new US international golden boy, makes 86 grand a year from the league.

The early Soccer specific stadiums are lacking a bit, and the Home Depot Center's pitch has suffered from the XGames Motocross that was on it last month. Additionally, PHP in Dallas is also used by the Franklin County School system, as a means of justifying the school system paying for 15 million of the cost. Remember that most of these pitches  are new, and as such they're going to be  off for a few years. The new stadiums in Utah, Kansas City and Harrison, NJ look to be top shelf stuff.

They're putting the money they're making from the TV rights and the sponsorships to building soccer academies. and expanding their fan base. They have a plan, and it's a good one in my view. Time will tell.

OK back to the big boys. . .



I'm definitely going to have to check out that Liverpool v Galatasary match. That looks to be a dramatic one.

edit:

Once in a lifetime was a good movie. It was on ESPN2 a week ago.  You need to pull out your disco era jumpsuit though. the whole thing is a massive time trip. Shep Messing is punk, but Chingalia was the man most in need of a pimpslap from that movie. Some good stories though, especially about Pele dong his Mandingo impression.

Definitely. It HAS to be improved from the base with youth development. They need to embrace the young kids from non-traditional American families. Kids with names like Gonzalez, Petrovich, Mubutu or whatever. These are the ones raised with the game in their ear as kids from their expatriated parents.

It's great to hear they're building specific stadiums. Football stadiums suck not only for the ugly lines on the pitch, but the terrible atmosphere. You're so so far away from the players, you just can't get into it. Exhibition games in San Diego improved dramatically once they moved to the new baseball stadium. They cover up the dirt, and you can sit down real close to the action. Honestly, if San Diego had a team I'd try to go catch a pretty fair amount of the games.

Crouch yesterday with the scissor kick. . . amazing.

Tottenham puttering away to the second round of UEFA Cup, but not looking all that sharp still. *sigh*

I hate Chelsea but fuck those Levski Sofia fans...   Good to know that racism is a national pastime throughout the world...   :roll:

And that wasn't even the good old fashioned throwing of bananas type of racial based stupidity


Tottenham won again. Granted Zokora probably cheated, but I'll take what we can get right now.

Who, what now? What did I miss? Not that I'd be surprised by anything done by a Bulgarian football fan, but still :)

At least we scored this time. NEXT STOP - A POINT!!1

edit: Ok I read up a bit on it (took a lot of googling to even find where this whole thing comes from). So our fans are racist if they boo when someone's touching the ball? That's ridiculous. Tell me you didn't mean that. And just a fact for your consideration - two of our starters are Lucio Vagner (http://www.levski.bg/JpgPictures/players-04/12.jpg) and Richard Eromoigbe (http://www.levski.bg/JpgPictures/players-03/new/333.jpg). They're one of the best on the team.

Probably? hah. Which part of the dive of the century introduced doubts into your mind? He got 10.0 from the Ukrainian judge ffs  :-D

Shit, even Zokora knew it was a dive. That was a good game, marred by that completely silly incident. Porto should have at least got a draw out of that. Maybe this will convince them that LuaLua is not a starter.

This is not EPL, but he does play for Palermo and I just thought this was an awesome reflex goal (happened about 30 minutes before this post):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3rDqcPQ-94

DA-AAAA-AAA-AAMMMMMN.

That was sweet! I might be able to do that myself.

In a video game.

Maybe.


Football season  (and now hockey season) has really curtailed my ability to watch many EPL games. I just don't have enough time to watch everything I want. I really need to be independently wealthy so I can wile away my life in front of the TV and PC.

Just to prove  that not all European football is sweet blessed perfection, I present to you Mr. Paul Robinson, against Croatia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohf4m94Yrwk

Leave it to a Spurs player to fuck it up. *shakes head*


Maybe  he just really wants to see the Borat movie and got distracted , not seeing the invisible gopher in front of him.

Match highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buxAgsSTs5Q

England suck, but Robinson had a really good first half and the awkward bounce on that backpass was really a freak event. Defenders are told never to aim a backpass between the posts. The worst a missed backpass should do is go over for a corner.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Ok, so it wasn't that good of a story, but that's not important, either.

Euro 2008 looks a little more interesting now.  Ijust hope Robinson's confidence will be up by this weekend. Spurs can't afford to have a letdown right now.

it's safe to say England won't win Euro/WC in 50 years time. I'm willing to bet on it. They don't have the luck and good leader on the pitch. THeir boss can't even come up with a good tactic and the players can't take penalties.

Did anyone catch the Chelsea v. Reading match this weekend? That was some strange ass shit. For those who missed it:

In the first 30 seconds, the Chelsea goalie (Peter Cech) gets clocked in the face. He looked hurt, but was moving around. They took him off and subbed in their backup goalie, Cudicini. He plays the whole game. Both halves are saddled with a large amount of stoppage time, because guys are going down left and right. Both sides get a man sent off in separate incidents and are down to ten men. The second half had 4 minutes of stoppage time, and in the 93rd minute, there's a free kick to Chelsea's net. Cudicini goes up for the ball, knocking it out, only to be slammed quite hard in the face in mid-air. He falls backwards limp, bangs his head on the pitch and just lies there. I mean, totally still. There was no movement out of him. He was a stone, dead still. They cart him off, and because they are out of subs, and their 3rd goalie isn't dressed (and they couldn't sub him in anyway), John Terry pulls off his shirt, puts on the goalie sweater and gloves and plays the last minute of time (which is over the 100th minute) as the goalie, while Drogba comes back to take Terry's center half position.

Turns out, Cudicini was fine, he went to the hospital for X-Rays and was discharged. But Cech, who was moving around, had to have surgery for a depressed skull fracture. And Cudicini may not be able to make a Champions League start on Wednesday, and Cech definitely can't.

That was a weird game, but pretty exciting too.

I was  watching the Tide this weekend. . . I'll have to catch that on replay.

Reading are definitely leaving their mark this year, for better or worse. ;)


Tottenham = :|

They should have gotten from Villa.

I watched that CHelsea match with a buddy of mine who's really into gambling. What a tense match, my friend won a under 2.5 goals bet but he sweated it out after seeing Cech walking off the pitch in 30 seconds.

Reading really proved to be a tough nut to crack and I think Mourinho had a right to be pissed at Hunt's challenge. And Cudicini's injury was icing on the cake for my anti-Chelsea friend. He's salivating at Barcelona's chances to win at Stamford Bridge, I'm about to place a bet on it as well since it sounds just too good to be true. :-D

You're in England right?

The fact that you can just bet at any old bookie on the corner for EPL games just tickles me to no end. The NFL refuses to even acknowledge betting on games, yet every news outlet covering it will give the points spreads in their coverage.

Reading is a lot better team than anyone should expect them to be. They are fun to watch, with Doyle and Sidwell and some of the other running players they got. Watford are almost as fun to watch, though they aren't as good, because they just run at everybody. Sheffleld United, however, are a sad spectacle and look destined to return to the Championship.

I'm in one of those old colonies, Singapore.
Government only legalizes their own bookie...which pays poorly compared to illegal ones. But at least they take my $10 compared to minimum of $100 with illegal ones.

Ahahhah what can i say , we got pwed  :heartbreak:
oh well, I lost twenty bucks...my friend lost half a grand  :roll: there goes 1/3 of his paycheck

As soon as I heard that the reserve had followed Jose from Porto, i was confident that he'd do an outstanding job.

Ronaldihno was completely shut down this match. Has he lost his touch?

Messi kept making Cole look silly. Barca had outside play , but weak up the middle. Chelsea the other way around. The difference? You can get a shot on goal much easier with that one or two chances in front. Drogba proved that easily enough. Especially great considering he looked like he was going to fall over three or four times after he was escorted off the field.


Spurs play Bestika today. Here's hoping their run of good play in UEFA continues.

Liverpool limps through a victory against Bordeaux. If it wasn't for their weak Group, I'd be afraid the Reds wouldn't make it past this phase of the Champions League. They really have been mediocre this season at the best of times.

Tottenham 2-nil over Bestikas. Could have been 5.

Bestikas were shit though. but  I won't look a road win in the mouth.

Not a bad bit of skill during the Champions League this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDWYOywhws

Ho-ly Shiiiiiiittttttttttttttt.

Fucking Liverpool. The first Premier League game for Liverpool I catch this weekend, and they lollygag their way through the game. They looked completely flat, and Man U. didn't look that much better. Why is Garcia still playing? Why is he starting? He's not that good and he sure has a whiny look on his face whenever he fucks up. But almost the whole team just seemed like they couldn't be arsed to be there, other than Sissoko and Carragher and Kuyt. Maybe Hyppia. Benitez needs to settle on a lineup and work them like dogs.

Reading got a resounding welcome to the Premiership. Hopefully they'll  shrug off that drubbing quickly.

Spurs make the headlines again. When Jol told Defoe he needed to play hungry, I don't think he had biting the other team (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=423849&CPID=8&clid=6&lid=4161&title=Defoe+defends+'bite'+incident) in mind ;)

(http://images.thetimes.co.uk/TGD/picture/0,,354961,00.jpg)

Bon Apetit  :lol:

Still bitter about the  Dynamo game against Chivas.  They got jobbed again out there.

Damn, looks like I should have watched that game instead of the Arsenal/Reading game. But I keep expecting Spurs to reach the relegation zone any day now, so I don't watch them.

Reading looked decent, much better than that scoreline would indicate. But Arsenal was just so much better at every level of the field. Fabregas is an assist machine.

Barring a  massive change in form from  Liverpool, Spurs will finish ahead of them this year.   Don't mistake a slow developing of Chemistry for ineptitude. ;)

They will be in the upper third of the table by  December.

Watching Liverpool is as bad as watching England right now - but I suspect our form will come around eventually, and I'd be shocked if we don't make it back up to at least forth; but either way Spurs won't be challenging for the forth champion's league spot - instead based on what we've seen so far it'll be Bolton(!) who push the big 3 + Chelsea to the end the season, unfortunately they do deserve their 3rd place so far. Or possibly even Villa - O'Neill might be an irritating wanker, but he really is that good a manager.

Spurs are going to have an awkward season, they overperformed last season to such an extent that they've started to set unreasonable expectations. Given the way teams around them have changed in the summer, Spurs should consider 6th place a successful season.

It's still unsettled. There's people up in the top that will not be there, come  February, let alone May. I'm looking at you Bolton.

I think top six is about what they should end up, but the schedule at the end should favor them. I wouldn't be horribly shocked if they repeated a top five, sneak in at four, owing to  an uneven season from  the usual also rans and a top four, than to  Spurs excellence.


I'm not saying I'm expecting it, just that I could see it if things work out well in  springtime. I wouldn't be surpised  with a 7-9 finish either.

From what I've seen, Spurs just aren't that good. Of course, I've not seen Liverpool provide that much either. Bolton, however, looks a whole lot better than I thought they were going to be. Portsmouth is my dark horse sleeper (mainly because James has been giving me mad points in fantasy at goal) and I think provided Kanu and the rest of their strikers don't implode before season's end, they could push those top 4 spots. I think Villa is going to fade, because the team has been carrying Angel, who has made at least 3 unforced, bonehead errors in every game I've seen of him this season. I keep waiting for the greatness everyone seems to think he has to show, and he just keeps looking like an idiot. Baros is similarly not top quality anymore. Agbonlehor (sp.) is going to be good, but he's too young to carry that team. I'm hoping Reading keeps at least a top 10-12 finish, as I love their scrappiness. But based on their last game against Arsenal, I'm not sure they can stay that high.

Spurs have looked much better as of the past  couple of weeks.

There was a definite grinding of the gears in Spurs machine but  it looks like it's starting to come together.

 To those that follow outside of Europe,  An invitation to Copa Libertadores may be given next year to the US  Open Cup winner. In addition to the  spots that may be up for grabs in the  new MLS/MFL  competition. Details are still being worked out. Probably announced at MLS Cup, along with the new National coach (money's on Pekerman with a Bradley Assist)  More meaningful competition can only be good for soccer in America.

Every year it's, "Could this be the season for Spurs?". And every year they get their answer. It used to be they could hold on to the fact that they were the second best club in London. Not so much anymore.

I'm not expecting Spurs to  :be: the best team in London. I am expecting them to be better than their start implied and to finish top 7 maybe top 5.  I'd only be disappointed with a them out of the top ten and a bad run in UEFA.

Now you see just how good I am at jinxing teams? Muahahahah!

Every team except Liverpool will play great next week.

That ought to do it.

I watched the second leg of MLS first round last night, and did my errands in the am. One good game, one great game last night.

Having said that, Bolton got to experience Wayne Rooney waking up to the fact that he's Wayne fucking Rooney.



Spurs, ah well. Lennon has to start making  shots, but  we were at the disadvantage most of the game. To Watford. :(

I like Demerit, hopefully he'll start to get  national team time in the near future, whenever the national team starts playing after the new coach hire.

Both the Liverpool and Man. U games were good games to watch. Unless you were a Wanderer's fan that is. Bolton looked lost the first half and Man. U. just looked unstoppable. Crisp passing, good shooting. Liverpool looked like the team they are supposed to be, and even though they lost, at least Villa gave a good reckoning of themselves. The goals Liverpool scored were just fantastic goals instead of let-offs by Villa.

I'm ecstatic that Setanta Sports is going to be running Liverpool's Champions League game against Bordeaux this week. My Tivo is on fire with goodness.  :-D

US accepted an invite to Copa America, which after  the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Add in the new MLS / Mexican Football league, and Thursday night  MLS on the deuce, and  there's going to be a :lot: of soccer on the tube this summer.


Latest rumor is Jurgen with one of the top MLS guys as an assistant. That'd be a pretty sexy choice.

Ok EPL. Hammers finally win. any bets on when they win again? Will they recover or be threatened by relegation?

Badass. And in a strange related harbinger of the upswelling of soccer support in the US... I saw a David Beckham cologne at Macy's this weekend.  :-o

Champion's League group phase is basically done, who would have thought one of the only teams still in the balance would be Barca?  Looking forward to the knockout rounds when things finally get interesting.

Liverpool played decently yesterday against a really shitty Bordeaux team. Of course, it didn't hurt that one of their players went apeshit and headbutted John-Arne Riise to get sent off. Stupid, stupid man. Hell of a hit too, blood and everything.

I'm hoping Arsenal loses today, (on espn2, 11:30).  Right now of the contested 2nd spots here are my wishful picks.

Barca over Werder Bremen, because Barca plays wonderful football, German teams are typically boring.

Sporting over Inter, because I dislike Italian teams for the most part, although Sporting has played poorly so far.

Porto over Arsenal because any time English football fails on a world stage I find it hilarious, also fuck Arsenal.

Die in a boot fire. You should watch Bremen some time. They are my Bundesliga team of choice. Klose, Frings, Hunt, Klasnic, Diego, those motherfuckers are not boring players. They play with pace and skill and right now they are tearing up the Bundesliga. They've scored 27 goals in 9 games (I think it's 9 games). They are anything but boring.

Fuck Barca. They've been overrated this year, especially since Eto'o went down. I've watched them against Valencia and Real Madrid in La Liga and Bremen in the Champions League, and they look flat as Liverpool did against Man. U. They haven't played with spirit and don't deserve to beat Bremen.

EDIT: I will modify my criticism of Barca to say that Messi has been playing quite well. But most of the others have not been.

They aren't the same team w/out Eto'o I'll give you that because he is (and has been since at least 2000) friggin awesome.  As for Bremen, bah I say you can't convince me German football isn't mostly boring at a minimum after watching Sporting v Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Spoilers from today's game(s):

Bayern Munich IS a boring team. They have Podolski, and he's good, but the rest of the team doesn't inspire near the excitement he does. Seriously, watch a Bremen game if you can, if they are on, it's a helluva match. Diego and Klose have mad skillz and Frings is one of those hit a laser into the goal directly from 40 yards kind of guys. Imagine the way the German team played in the World Cup, and that's pretty close to a Bremen style.

94.9 Radio London didn't get blocked this time, so i've got live audio of the UEFA cup match.

Brugge got an early goal, but  Berbatov fired in a strike three minutes later. Tottenham showing a case of the "arsenals" as the color guy mentioned.

Edit:

Spurs are looking strong now, 3-1 in the 73rd Minute. It's been a highly entertaining  match.

Tottenham 2 - Chelsea 1

Fuck Yeah!

Arsenal 0 - West Ham 1

OMG!

/does the happy dance

Now, I get to watch Bruce arena and Eric Wynalda cover the DC United / Revolution Semifinal (Arena and Wynalda in the same room, that should be fun) then topped off with My Dynamo playing  Colorado at a packed Robinson Stadium.

Throw in a saints win *hope* and it could be an extremely satisfying  Sunday here.

Wheee Man United!

Good weekend for EPL action overall, even though Pompey got embarrassed by Man U. Fucking Man U.

Spurs looked fantastic against Chelsea, and deserved that win. Chelsea played pretty damn well, Spurs were just better that day. I take back all the bad things I've said about Tottenham. Maybe they do deserve top 10 placement. I'm still not sure what got John Terry sent off, but it was looking ugly for a minute there. That game did cement my opinion that Graham Poll is just one of the worst, most douchebaggy refs ever.

Liverpool beat Reading with little trouble. I hope Reading can pick it back up against some of the lesser teams in the league, they deserve to stay around. Maybe pick up a player or two in the transfer period in January to get a run at top 10.

Wigan looked pretty good against Bolton too, while Bolton just looked like they had no idea how to hit the goal.

Jol found his combo up top, and they've worked out their midfield issues. Great effort from the back line, but  Spurs need to  work on maintaining possession when they get up. It got silly there for a while. Spurs did make good attacking runs , but the perfectionist in me sees room for improvement.

Most entertaining match of the year.


Sidenote:  Dynamo face the Revs for the MLS cup. Dalglish got a brace, courtesy of some great play by Brad Davis and Brian Ching. ESPN should have broadcast that game, football lines or no. They packed Robinson stadium, incredible considering they didn't sell a ticket until Monday morning, and the atmosphere there was tremendous.  Houston has really gotten behind the Dynamo, and their success is a good forward step in American soccer.

ManYoo continues to roll, which is cool I think they have the best squad in the prem.  Liverpool, god I hate Liverpool I hope PSV beats the shit out of them come Nov 21/22 or whatever it is.   :evil:

I watched most of the highlights this afternoon from the recent spat of games so very good goals.  I can't believe how bad Johnson the baldy was molested in the box in that one game (Everton v Fulham I believe) what an utter crock of horseshit he couldn't get even one of the three calls they showed on the recap.

I really like Watford, for no good reason per say, something about King/Francis/Young's playing style makes me smile, hope they can stick around.

I keep an eye on them for  Demerit.

Yes, it really was quite good. Top notch performance for sure. I honestly figured they wouldn't recover in the midfield so well or quickly without Carrick orchestrating things anymore. And I'm very surprised Ghaly wasn't pulled in the second half for his profligacy with the ball. He gifted Chelsea with far too many chances for an attacking break to make me comfortable, were I Martin Jol.

It's starting to get to the point where Liverpool would quite like to get beaten by PSV.

Finishing top of the group will give probably mean a 2nd round vs one of...

Barcelona
Inter
Roma
Real Madrid
Celtic
Lille

Finishing 2nd probably means a 2nd round vs one of...

Milan
Moscow
Lyon
Valencia
Bayern Munich

So, of the first batch, I'd want to avoid everyone bar Lille (Celtic I'd want to avoid because the clubs have a history, it's a friendly history, but one that tends to help Celtic more than LFC).

In the second batch Moscow, Lyon, Valencia can be considered decent draws.

Either way, there are far fewer weak teams scraping through this year - the second round is going to be a bloodbath.

I don't imagine either Liverpool or PSV will be all that bothered if they win or lose their last two group matches.

Lyon is strong, would they have matchup issues with Liverpool? I wonder, because I see Lyon going far in the league this year.

Having watched Barca in domestic and Champions League play, I wouldn't be scared by them. Without Eto'o they are really only a decent squad with some star players. Of course, those players happen to be Ronaldhino and Messi, but still. They are beatable, as is Real Madrid. Valencia is a much better side than you're giving them credit for, especially if Villa, Morientes and Silva are healthy. Valencia has the fast strikers that can give Liverpool's slow ass back line problems and a decent midfield.

Glenn Roeder has started talking in the third person:


That'd be him doomed then.  


Every team on that list is strong bar maybe Celtic & Lille, none of the others will consider the campaign memorable if they don't reach the semis.

But I'd be happy with a draw vs Lyon, and I'd expect Liverpool to win, it's not an easy draw, but it's amongst the best of what you can hope for. For the English clubs the key is to avoid Inter, Barca, Madrid, Milan, and Celtic (everyone else will be delighted to draw Celtic - English clubs can do without the Scotland vs England build up). And any of the English clubs would be disappointed to be knocked out by anyone other than the first four on that list, or another English club.

Incidentally the European team rankings (used for seeding etc) can be found here: http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method3/trank2007.html
...it seems Lyon are ranked 8th, so higher than I expected, they'll be looking for a 1st seed berth in next year's group stage I guess. (that site also has lots of detail on the byzantine workings of the champion's league seeding and qualifying processes, however complicated you thought it might be, you were wrong, it's worse than that.)

EDIT: In response to Haemish's post, I haven't seen Valencia properly this season, so I'm admittedly basing it on previous seasons since they lost Benitez, if they are no longer a bit of a shower, then I guess I should watch them sometime.

You should watch Valencia, they are a cracking good side. Villa is an incredible striker, fast with good moves. Morientes is decent, made better by having Villa on the other side. Silva is good, Joquaim is supposed to be good, though I haven't seen much of him yet, and they have a decent midfield when healthy. One of their midfielders was hurt in the last game I saw (either Angulo or Albayol) and he was a good holding midfielder. Their goalie is really good, big blonde spiky haired motherfucker. I know everyone likes to talk about Real Madrid and Barca but at least in the number of La Liga games I've seen, Valencia is as good if not better than at least Real Madrid. They drew Barcelona playing AT Barca. Their Champions League play has been a bit uneven though, so I may just be talking out of my ass.

I'm really looking forward to 3 matches on each of the next two match days:


11/21 -- Real Madrid v Lyon
11/21 -- Celtic v Manchester Utd.
11/21 -- CSKA Moskva v Porto
11/22 -- Internazionale v Sporting
11/22 -- Bremen v Chelsea
11/22 -- Liverpool v PSV

All have implications of qualification for the knockout rounds and most should be interesting matches to say the least.  I hope PSV destroys Liverpool, because I hate them.

Looks like Freddy Adu should be moving in the summer, I wonder if he's going to spend 2 weeks on trial at every big club in Europe? Man Utd got there first though

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=427732&CPID=8&clid=1&lid=4161&title=United+confirm+Adu+arrival

Adu is the name, but Josmer Altidore for Red Bull New York is  further along developmentally and a year younger.

Assuming Bruce Arena doesn't  mess him up, he's going to be a serious talent.

Liverpool

LOL

That is all...

Yeah, Liverpool apparently forgets how to play entirely when they go on the road, especially against the better EPL teams. They are just abysmal. At least in this game they had a good 15 minutes of spirited play before forgetting that they are a top 4 team. The last half was just painful to watch, Liverpool looked like they gave up completely after going down 2 goals.

Goddamn stubborn Rafa Benitez needs to stop being a douchebag and actually start Gerrard in the center now that Momo has gone down. Why not? They can't play any worse than they have already. Can they?

I can't say anything, Spurs got owned by Reading. Fortunately I've be rather ill the past three days and missed all of it.

I actually thought the press was going way overboard following the Liverpool - Arsenal game.

Arsenal were ahead by a hair's breadth until the first goal destroyed Liverpool's confidence, and if we'd got the first goal, I suspect the same would have happened to Arsenal.

In the end the 3-1 result (Bellamy's goal was disallowed only because the linesman couldn't see a full back standing six yards away from him - idiot) was fair, but if Crouch had managed to get back onside for his offiside goal in the first half, I could easily have seen the reverse scoreline - both teams seemed altogether fragile, and unless something significant changes, I don't see either team running the Buccaneers or Chelsea close. In the meantime it's obviously a big problem for the EPL that it continues to be devalued by the Buccaneers (and to a lesser extent Chelsea) winning things.

As for the Gerrard thing, I don't think that's really the issue. LFC should have the best midfield in the league on a player by player basis, they are all playing like ass when away from home, there is no reason Gerrard can't play on the right if everyone is playing as well as they can and as well as they have done in the past; or even just as well as they do for home matches, Liverpool now have both the best home record and the worst away record in the EPL.  :roll:

Sugar Daddys are all the vogue these days. Now West Ham get their own personal bazillionaire, from Iceland. Will it draw vitriol from the rest of the league like it has for Chelsea and ManU? Maybe only if they start winning a lot. I can't imagine being so rich that I would buy a sports team as an entertaining diversion or hobby. Maybe this way they can actually afford to keep Tevez (assuming they actually want to keep him come January)

Kanu is still sensational. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJOnKI-jN5o)  :-D

Just wanted to remind everyone in advance to mark their calandar/Tivo for these Champion's League matches:

Tuesday 12/5 brings us Bremen @ Barca and Wednesday brings us two English teams playing to stay both against Portugese sides (who I will be rooting for whole heartedly) w/ Benfica @ Man Utd. and Arsenal @ Porto.

P.S.  Chelsea lost, lol I hate Chelsea so much, too bad Levski Sofia is just plain terrible.

Chelsea will beat Levski easily and win the group. The big game will be Bremen vs. Barca, which I'll give even money on. Anyone underestimating Bremen should have watched that Chelsea game. When they are on, they are ON. The good news for them is that not only did they beat Chelsea, but they came back into the Bundesliga and took care of business handily against a decent Bielfeld team this weekend, 3-0. The last few weeks their backs, especially on the wings, had looked vulnerable when attackers ran at them. Not against Chelsea or Bielefeld.

Man. U. did not play terribly against Celtic, but they didn't play great either. Celtic has a chance to win that group from what I can tell, provided they outscore Manchester against what looks like a weak Copenhagen side. I would so love to see Benfica beat Man. U. to knock them out.

Oh, and LIIIIII-VEERRRRR-POOOLLLLL!!!!

Spurs are driving me to drink, but at least they're top ten now.

Mido's out for at least two weeks, but on the  Striker Merry-go-round of Tottenham, that just means there's only 499 left on the bench.

And we still have people playing out of position in the midfield.  :roll:

Spurs striker rotation is amazing. It seems that they could score 6 between them including a mazy solo run from their own penalty area and they'd still be on the bench for the next game. Ditto for Liverpool, although they seem to be stabilizing a tad.

Oh and Haemish, Man Utd is never Manchester unless of course you want to wind up some Man City fans :)

True, the correct way to shorten Manchester United is to refer to them as either 'Man U', 'That club which has only been as successful in Europe as Nottingham Forest' or 'The Tampa Bay Buccaneers'.




Sorry.

Of course,and a fan of the red devil buccaneers is a ManU'er. ;)

There is a bit of a system going for spurs.

Berbatov is the anchor, Defoe is as well, but there seems to be a chemistry issue between the two. They work great, but not so much with each other. Keane is currently a notch below but a nice change of pace, which is why he normally  switches on  as a Super Sub. Mido fills in the mix.

I'd like to see Jol do a 4-3-3 one time with Mido, Berbie, and Defoe/Keane.

I'm ok with that. It's not like I like either team from Manchester.

But I guess I'd just wind up Sheffield fans if I call refer to Manchester United as United.

Can't we all get back to hating Chelsea?

This was great. Tevez forced to wear a Brazilian jersey (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=394063&cc=5901) as punishment for being a baby when he was subbed.

Lots of stories are circling the better informed LFC forums this week suggesting that the Dubai investment company that has been talking about buying Liverpool is getting very close to making an offer. Gilette's consortium seem to be second place to buy Liverpool, but they also seem to be getting more serious.

Either way people seem to think Moores is finally going to get bought out within a few weeks. Interesting times.

Popular opinion in the LFC stands is that the sooner Parry (Chief exec) and Moores (chairman) pack their bags, the sooner some effective business management can come in. Personally I think the current leadership has performed better than people give it credit for; I'm not sure new ownership is automatically a good thing - even if it does cover the new stadium and give Rafa a short term injection of transfer funds.

With new owners comes the baggage of a new set of expectations. With Rafa's tinkering and their hit and miss slump right now... I'd be worried about them trying to come in with dramatic changes in mind. God, imagine if they canned Rafa and hired Sven! hahahaha!

I'm not sure dropping Rafa would be a bad thing. He seems hellbent on proving that his football tactics are better than everyone else's even when the team is going through such an inconsistent run. And he's made some not-so-good transfer decisions recently, Pennant being the main one I can think of. Pennant and Garcia both have flashes of brilliance followed by complete fuckups. Crouch should not be anywhere near leading that team in goals, and yet he is. They don't have anyone who bring consistently good wing play, though Zenden could if he'd ever start regularly. Gerrard is not good on the wing, at least not with the team around him. It's not a surprise to me that he's gotten a fuckload better since taking over Momo's spot in the middle.

Rafa has at least this season and next season come what may.

Not even failure to qualify for the CL next season would be enough to get him fired, or even to turn the stands against him.


1) Winning the Champion's League remains a big fucking deal.

2) Liverpool is a club that has class. We don't fire managers in a hurry.


Plus I think most of the fans recognise that based on Liverpool's current £20-25M ($35-45M) annual transfer budget, Rafa has overperformed in his time at the club. Reasonable observers would still say LFC can realistically expect to finish in the top four in England, and the top 8 in Europe.

What's the transfer budget of someone like Man U or Chelsea? I know Chelsea's is obscene but is Man U spending that much more.

With the Glazers buying "us" up with a bunch of loans, it's kind of a murky question. They say it wouldn't affect the transfer budget, but I don't really believe it all that much. If you look at this season, you get £12m from Chelsea for screwing around with Jon Obi Mikel, but all of that went to overpay for Michael Carrick (£18.6m), and the sale of Ruud netted another £10m. And that's it. Whereas before the Glazers came in, we bought Evra, Vidic, Saha, Park, Rooney, Van Der Sar, etc. A pretty steady stream of semi-expensive players.

Maybe Fergusson is just being picky these days... but I suspect he would buy some more players (especially strikers) if he thinks he could wrestle the funds out of his bosses. Which he can't. It doesn't help that Chelsea can beat any offer made by any other club, in England or Europe. Maybe it's good for the team. For so long we were the fatcats buying up the big names throughout Europe with modest success (Juan Veron anyone?). I'm hopeful this will push the team back to finding awesome young players like it's history was built on. If you gotta be frugal, you better find some great deals on your investment.

Man U is currently second fiddle to Chelsea when it comes to  budgets. Heck, it may get more pronounced as more gazillionaires enter the premiership. (un)Fortunately Sir alex does a pretty good job at finding younger talent. As a possible example,  rumor has it he saw through the Adu hype and rejected him ;)

Chelsea's budget is unlimited for all practical purposes.

They've been spending £50M+ each summer.

The Buccaneers are harder to pin down because they recently changed ownership, and new the owners claim to be only willing to release £25M each year; but recent history suggests the Man U business can support something like £40M per year.

This year was a funny year, Ginsoak just didn't manage to get the players he wanted to sign on the line.

Hargreaves will likely cost a big wodge of cash in January.


The debt thing always amuses me. Fact is Man U have always been in debt, previously the debt was in the form of outstanding equity shares, now it is straightforward loans; either way, following the IPO that debt was used to fund massive capital investments in breaking foreign markets with ManU brand megastores and other promotional activity, it worked, and the profit from that project continues to service the loans with plenty left over, just as before Glazer it serviced equity debt by funding dividends.

Say hello to your new owner, LFC?

(http://soccernet-att.espn.go.com/design05/DJ/20061013/mak_dc.jpg)

Do they start serving lamb curry and hummus in the Kop now? (I kid, I kid) At least he's wearing red.

I thought Bayern Munich said they weren't going to let Hargreaves get transferred. Of course, unless he comes back strong from injury, I don't see anyone paying the price Bayern will likely want.

That's what they said, but it's rare that a player doesn't get a transfer eventually if he keeps asking like Hargreaves has been.

Barca pwned the hell out of Bremen, it only took 20 minutes of timid pathetic play for the game to be put out of reach.  I was all excited about the game too, but really by the time Bremen remembered how to not suck it was over.

I snuck away from work, also expecting an open exciting match. What a waste. It was nice to see some german style play though. I don't get any Bundesliga games... so seeing my old pals Frings and Klose again, who I got to know so well during the summer, was nice. And who is that dude Diego? He was awesome!

The  Premiership seems to be all kinds of knotted up at the moment.

Looking forward to Tottenham v Charlton. I'd like to help Watford get out of the  tail position.

As awkward as the start of the season has been, the hopeful part of me notes that Spurs are still capabale of making noise this year.

United sure earned their spot in the champion's league it was a hell of a game, really enjoyable.  Christiano Renaldo is so damn good, its too bad he often burns the defense AND his teammates when making a run to the front.  That cross he hit Giggs with was very well placed, but Benfica's goal was the moment of the match, absolutely fantastic shot.

Here's hoping Liverpool get matched against Barca or Real  :-P

And notice it took them 25 minutes of wandering around like a bunch of sedated has-beens in 4-5-1 before they woke the fuck up and played in 4-4-2. I die a little inside everytime I see Rooney starting out wide on the left pretending to be a winger.

Jurgen Klinsmann just turned down the US coaching job

The reason? the us wouldn't give up executive control.

You know, because we've done such a wonderful job dominating the world in Soccer.



This line of thought would preclude Pekerman as well, becuause he'd want to  rebuild the youth program from the ground up.

And somewhere, Bruce Arena is laughing with head thrown back, cackling like a fool. Gulati made Bruce look like a wise man.


Fucking bastards. They're trying to piss me off. I swear it.

*Edit* Bob Bradley is named interim. A step down from Arena. Fuck me.

What do you mean when you say "executive control"? What did Klinsman want to do?

Words just trickling in, but it's control of the program, as to who works where, and where the money should go.

Klinnsman wanted to overhaul the system to allow for more growth and step away from the current developmental system. US Soccer wanted to keep things as they were with minor adjustments.

*based off of interviews and fragments picked up on the net, mixed with a dose of moderate speculation.

If that's even remotely close to accurate, They really :are: a bunch of fuckups.

It's not like they were looking to hire a "Chairman" or an "FA President", whatever they call it in the MLS hierarchy. They just needed a coach for their team. A coach. The guy who picks the players, trains them, dictates tactics and formations, blah blah blah. I can kind of see their point.

But they definitely should have jumped on the chance to have him re-organize everything if that's what he wanted to do.

Diego is the shit. Bremen looked like shit, though, so much that I just fast-forwarded through the second half. They have two weaknesses that I've seen. At times, they get really sloppy with the ball in midfield and good teams will pounce on that shit like Barca did. Part of it may be that Jensen is playing (or Vranjes at times) and neither is that great with Jensen being more solid. Baumann is supposed to be out there but has been hurt a good bit lately. The second thing is Wume. As an offensive back, he's good, but he's very very susceptible to getting run on. Most of the goals Werder has given up lately have been because Wume or the other back got beat by someone with blistering pace on the wings.

Was it just me or was that second Barca goal not an offside that wasn't called? Gudjohnson was clearly offside with the ball was passed to him. Is this something about the offside rule I'm missing?

EDIT: And the US should have hired Klensman. What he did with Germany was spectacular.

The thing is, the US Federation is run by a bunch of micromanaging superfans, who don't really get the big picture of whats needed to really build the national program in such a way that it can achieve the goals that have been set out, namely to compete  at the highest  international levels.  I could write a damn book about what's wrongwith the US System, but  I'd rather focus on the game right now.

*sigh*

He was offside when the cross was played to Giuly, but since it went way over his head and Giuly was onside, play continued. Giuly then ran the ball ahead of him and passed a bit behind him (almost level) to cut back to Eidur. The whole time they were both in front of Bremen's defenders... but the offsides only qualifies when you are ahead of the ball. Eidur was behind the ball when he received the pass, irregardless of where the rest of Bremen's team were.

I think I understand but that's REAL confusing.

Oh christ aye, trying to work off what phase of play you are on to see who is offside is just mental. And why dont you know who Diego is, dont you play football manager?  :-D

Basically the question is, should they have called offsides on the initial pass.  Guldjohnson(sp?) was offsides when the cross came to the French guy but it is the ref's choice whether or not to call it.  Only if he feels that the player influences play should he call offsides.

For example an offsides player who is screening the goalie but who doesn't touch the ball on a shot will always be flagged.

By the time the ball came to him he had moved back into an onside position.  Honestly as a ref I was surprised there was no call on it but I can understand how it happened.

Tottenham is currently ninth in the table,despite scoring a grand total of Jack Shit away from White Hart Lane.

ESPN will carry all the games of Euro 2008. No having to pay 25 bucks per match. :)

West Ham have sacked Alan Pardew.

Smart money is now on Alan Curbishley to take over at West Ham, Pardew to move to Charlton.

Not EPL related, but not worth a new thread.

Adu got traded to Real salt lake for an Allocation, a player and future consideration.

DC United is about to go raiding the Argentine professional league.

The Chelsea/Arsenal game was a damn good game to watch. Back and forth and up and down. That strike from Essien was just masterful. Glad to see Chelsea slip even further from the title.

Aye, and it wasn't even the best goal of the weekend.

Matthew Taylor of Portsmouth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQi1T-dE8Hk

That Taylor strike was just gorgeous and completely preventable. Tim Howard just let off completely. He should have had that if he'd been paying attention. It was still a great shot though.

Champions league Round of 16 draw is up.

FC Porto (Portugal) vs. Chelsea (England)
Celtic (Scotland) vs. AC Milan (Italy)
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) vs. Arsenal (England)
Lille (France) vs. Manchester United (England)
AS Roma (Italy) vs. Lyon (France)
FC Barcelona (Spain) vs. Liverpool (England)
Real Madrid (Spain) vs. Bayern Munich (Germany)
Inter Milan (Italy) vs. Valencia (Spain)

Motherfucker. And it's on the road, in the Nou Camp where no one scores but Barca and where Liverpool have never won.

Motherfucker.

Say Goodnight, scousers ;)

Spurs have Feyenoord away in UEFA Cup. They're a sieve of defense, but  it is away. . .  ugh.

These are two legged match ups, we play away first, at home second (because LFC won their group, Barca came second), which is the preferred way to do these things.

Statistically around 60% of two leg matchs are won by the team that plays at home second.


tbh, it's better to face Barca now than in a later round. Getting a bye by drawing Lille is nice and all, but after round 2 everyone plays a tough side anyhow.

Not saying I wouldn't swap our draw for the Buccaneer's, but at the end of the day, I'm looking forward to watching Liverpool vs Barca much more than I would be looking forward to Liverpool vs PSV. Espeicially now that we aren't desperate for the cash that each round brings in.

I am a little irritated by the effect it will have on our European ranking if we do drop out in round 2, but we should still comfortably make pool A in next year's CL either way.


EDIT: And besides, Liverpool *have* to win. It's beyond belief that an entire season could go by without us playing Chelsea in the CL.

I'm not so sure Barca/Liverpool at Barca is going to be a good game. Have you seen Liverpool's away form? Against a team with any competence whatsoever, they are dreadful, listless and scattershot. They play with all the passion of corpse prostitutes. If they play at Barca like they did at Man U or Arsenal, the game will be over quick and will be a right fucking embarassment.

That 4-0 pasting Barca gave to Club America this week in the  World Club Championships was an embarrassment, Liverpool's form will hold on the first leg. I think they lose 1-0, which would put them in great position for the return visit.

Seven goals from the last two away games with none conceded. The away form sillyness is behind them.

In competitive football they've only lost matches away to the Buccaneers, Arsenal, Chelsea, Bolton, and Everton this season. Before the season started, if you had to make a list of 5 matches they'd be likely to lose, those 5 would have been it.

It hasn't been great, but people overplay the issue.

And they remain undefeated in 25 at Anfield of course, where the more important second leg gets played.

Barca remain favourites. But writing Liverpool off would be silly.

Barca got upset by Inter in the World Club Championship A great victory for the boys from Brazil.


Spurs scored away from home! 2-1 over Man city puts them in 7th now. :)

I saw that, a lucky sclaff from Tom Huddlestone won it for them  :-D

All 3 of Chelsea's goals were amazing, though the last one from Drogba only went in because the keeper was bunged some money not to even try to save it.

Against Fulham and Charlton. That's hardly Barca level quality, and those parks are hardly the bastions that Nou Camp is.


Which is where my pessimism comes from. The away losses they've had have been against good or really good teams. Barca is at worst a good team, at best a really good team. Liverpool's form against good teams away has been dreadful. I'm hoping that yes, they have indeed turned a corner, what with Gerrard and Bellamy scoring and Kuyt and Xabi Alonso playing just as well if not getting on the scoreboard. You have to remember I'm a Cubs fan, we live on the broken dreams of tomorrow.

A cubs fan like you should really support Spurs, they're pain and suffering and  frustration without  the constant threat of relegation that feels unamerican. :D

I believe the wife picked me up a 2007 home kit for Christmas. I hope.

Those pasty pastel blue Spurs uniforms irk me more than they should.

They should stick with their  brown and gold third kits ;)

I'm not sure you can lay claim to pain and suffering after so many years in mid table security. Most Spurs fans I know prefer to refer to the whole experience as 'treading water, but with style'.

Looking forward to Liverpool getting bushwhacked, I hate that team...

Nothing else to add really don't have FSC anymore so I haven't seen too many games.

Reading Drawing with Chelsea at Stamford bridge  gives me no end of happiness.

Spurs pick up another three points from Villa. A nice christmas gift to be sure. :) Makes up for that  piss poor perfarmance at  St James, kinda.

Picture for Hoax...

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42403000/jpg/_42403237_crouch203.jpg)

He's Big!
He's Red!
His feet stick out the bed,
Peter Crouch, Peter Crouch...<repeat till fade>

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone.......
You'll never walk alone.

Yeah, it was a good week for Liverpool footer. Beat Tottenham on the trot, spank the shit out of Bolton at Anfield. And they looked good doing it. Meanwhile, Chelsea has a draw with Reading and even Man. U. has a draw. LOVELY.

On a side note, setanta sport on itvn is much happiness for a person with comcast and too many trees for satellite.

Got to watch Spurs draw Pompey, and watched the triple header on Boxing day.
Currently I'm just hoping they get to play in Europe next year.

Setanta Sports really is luv. Matching that with Fox Soccer Channel means if I want, I can get just about any EPL game there is, plus I get Champions League and Scottish Premier League games as well. Throw in GolTV and I get Bundesliga and La Liga, which almost always has my Spainish and German teams each weekend. I Tivo enough football most weeks to take up every night of the week.

The fixture run from here is ...

Arsenal (Home - FA Cup)
Arsenal (Home - League Cup)
Watford (Away - EPL)
Chelsea (Home - EPL)
West Ham (Away - EPL)
Everton (Home - EPL)

There could also be an FA cup 4th round and 2 league cup semis in there.

I'd really like to be playing chelsea tomorrow while they are still shit, but anyway, it'll be interesting to finally get a decent challenge to Liverpool's 16 month unbeaten league run at Anfield.

Chelsea really has been pretty porous with John Terry out. That Boulahrouz fucker is just awful. I still can't figure out for the life of me why Wayne Bridge isn't being used more, because I think he's better than most of their back line outside of Cole and Terry. Is he just not a center back?

He's considered a left back - I don't remember ever seeing him play centre back - though he couldn't be any worse than anyone in any position for Chelsea over the last fortnight.

EDIT: The other problem with playing Bridge is that he doesn't appear to be nearly enough of an asshole to play for Chelsea regularly.

Fulham picks up Clint Dempsey, in a record contract for an American.

McBride, Bocanegra, Dempsey,  I think they should just make it official and  call themselves Fulham USA. I've liked their play in the matches I've seen. I've been fortunate to miss the games where they just  wander out on the pitch and look semi conscious. 


It's kinda EPL: Beckham is done at Real, in the least surprising  news of the new year.

Odds on his transfer to various clubs  have been changed, currently  any MLS Club is leading at 6/4.

I wonder if the bookies would give me some love if I Narrowed it down to the LA Galaxy?

Newcastle was 8/1, Spurs 10/1

Inter Milan was 12-1 but they just announced that they had  zero interest in  Becks.

There's a 4 year / $36 million contract for him at LA that's been offered. Fox News and Sky Sports announce it's a done deal, but I've heard nothing else.

Wow, what the fuck happened to David Beckham? I mean, sure he nonced about the World Cup like the Fat Brando, providing only token efforts for anything but set pieces, but shit. Wasn't he the "best player in the world!!!!" at one time? Now he's likely heading to the MLS? For an English Footballer married to a Spice Girl, that's got to be a blow to the pride.

Luis Garcia's popped a cruciate ligament and is done for the season. Not that he was the king of consistency, but he was decent at times. Liverpool really needs to be in the market for a decent midfield wing player.

There's more to it than just a footie contract.

Phil Anschutz  wants to promote all things Beckham. The Beckham academies, the clothing (with Adidas and others), the movies and the whole thing.

We're talking hundreds of Millions of Dollars when it's all done. The fact that Becks didn't run across the atlantic on his tiptoes to sign the deal package is as much a testament to his pride as anything.

Nope he never was.

However for a few years there at Man Utd he was a damn fine player in a great team.

I think that's exactly it. He was always a good player, but not on the level to shine through as a world class, game-turning player if he was mired on the field with 10 other mediocre players (Real Madrid currently). Without the rest of the team to cover for him as a whole, his luster fades a bit. I still think he's a great player mind you, but he was never in the same class as the greats. His marketing machine and star power convinced him and several others otherwise. I wonder if spending three years on and off the bench at Madrid have permanently stunted his game, or if he would improve again given enough playing time.

As others have said, Beckham was a good player 4 years ago.

He was an excellent crosser of the ball without enough pace or dribbling ability to be world class on the wing, and he's a great short passer without enough presence, footballing intelligence, or tackling ability to be world class in the middle of the park.

I never really understood how he got so famous.

His free kicks look good on TV I guess. See: Roberto Carlos.

One of the hopes for the "US first" side of the American soccer community is that  Becks struggles in MLS, proving that someone who isn't completely washed up ala Lothar Mattheus still can't be expected to coast to "excellence" in a league across the Atlantic. 

I'm curious to see how this will all play out If nothing else, It got MLS some worldwide press. There may be more if the Ronaldo Doughboy heads to Red Bull New York.

I don't know anything about soccer or Beckham but could someone tell me how an American soccer team has a quarter billion (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070112/wl_canada_nm/canada_soccer_england_united_ferguson_col_1) dollars to throw around?  And is that the highest amount ever paid to an athlete?

That amount will barely keep him in frilly frocks!  Don't forget, he has a wife to be prettier than.

Well, 1) it's over 5 years, and 2) it's LA. They usually have the money to waste on atheletes, no matter what the sport (even with salary restrictions in some leagues, big sports cities like LA, NY, and Boston can secure some of the best players).

I do believe it's the highest paid contract ever though. The previous highest might (?) go to Kevin Garnett in the NBA, who had a $126 million contract over six years. The highest NFL contract doesn't even touch that -- Donavan Mcnabb at $115 million for 12 years.

Highest paid athelete overall though is Tiger Woods, mainly through endorsement deals (think he's been making like 70 mill a year for awhile now).

Only about $51 million of that is for playing football. The rest is endorsement shit. He's media money, not football money. In five years, he'll probably be slower than Drew Bledsoe but at least he'll be able to kick the ball.

Also, Phil Anschutz is one of those people with Scrooge McDuck type money. 31st richest man in america at 7.5 billion.

Image rights - Galaxy will make most of the money back selling shirts and Galaxy-posters-that-just-happen-to-have-beckham on them to Japanese schoolgirls. This will also dramatically increase the value of their TV rights in foreign markets.

Real supposedly made a substantial profit on Beckham without him even having to play football.


And no, not the biggest ever athletic contract.

Where's the part of the thread where we talk about Liverpool getting crushed 6-3??   :evil:

The Beckham thing is terrible, as he will now show up a  bunch on American TV.  The only article worth reading on espn.com on the subject was by Jen Chang.  Who pointed out Becks has never been a superstar, and an MLS team would be better off with Deco or someone who plays like Deco any day of the week.  Which was cool, because I like Deco.  The other articles they had up yesterday were just slob-knob bullshit about how this was going to revolutionize a league where everyone makes the playoffs even though almost all of them are under five hundred.   :roll:

Fucker.

I'm still trying to figure out what Rafa was thinking playing scrubs and Dudek in a FA/Carling Cup match against Arsenal of all people? I understand it if he's playing Norwich or some shit, but WTF, mate?

I spent more time wondering wtf Gerrard, Gonzales, Hyppia, Garcia etc were doing on the pitch.

We do not have the squad to be fucking around in the Milk Cup right now. I had no issue losing the match, losing Gonzales and Garcia was a much bigger deal.

I would have thought this would have become obvious to Rafa after the Sissoko debacle.

At least Arsenal won.

 :-)

Liverpool 2 - Chelsea 0

Why is Essien playing center back? Surely Wayne Bridge can be used on the corner and let one of those guys play center back? Surely there's a better option. Essien is a great player, but he's not a central defender. If he had to play a back spot, he should have played on the wing opposite Cole. I understand Mourinho is desperate, but shit.

Bridge is injured as of last Friday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6280513.stm

Essien is playing centreback because Chelsea felt that buying Andrey Shevchenko was more important than having any cover at all in defence. I guess Chelsea were worried they might not miss enough penalties without the Ukrainian on the team.

 :cry: ^h  :-D

It was only for three minutes, but there were four Americans (with no keepers) on the pitch for and EPL Match.

For Fulham,

Bocanegra (man of the match)
McBride(scored the gamewinner, came off at 80')
Dempsey(another sharp,if brief, appearance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F8tNEwfyoE) : came on at 77')

And Oguchi Onyewu played a great match, but the defense of Newcastle was horrid. Poor backpasses and Brambles is terrible.
Gooch came close to getting a goal in his first match, but he was stoned by Bocanegra. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgEY8LU3FJw)

A good day for American Soccer. Hopefully this Wednesday, we'll kick the shit out of Mexico and keep it going.

Liverpool now owned by Americans (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=407155&cc=5901)

Gillett has done a good job being an owner for the Habs, he's been  supportive without overbearing, and lets quality people with knowledge of the field do the  dirty work.

You could do far worse for owners than these two. 

More importantly, not a dime of debt was incurred.  Look for the Pool to flex their newfound financial muscle. I'm sure you supporters  are happy that it's at least finished.

The other side of the Liverpool sale is Tom Hicks. Major League Baseball has Tom Hicks to thank for Alex Rodriguez's assinine and insane $25 million a year salary. I'm not exactly jumping for joy over his Dan Snyder-like hands touching my Reds.

But at least it's not Dubai.

He's also a semi-toady of George Bush. Yay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hicks#Politics

The debt is likely to come when the stadium is built.

The Dubai bid was far and away the more popular bid in the stands.

Everyone over here is cautiously eyeing up the Gillett/Hicks dynamic duo right now. Looking at the numbers I don't see any (big) increases in spending power unless and until they get LFC's merchandising other revenues outside of the UK on the rise. Also, the fans are now braced for the new stadium to have a *really* stupid name.

But it could have been much worse, and at least the whole saga has been resolved.

the key is which side of the duo exercices greatest influence.

If it's Gillett, you'll be in good hands. This is my thinking, as, as Gillett was the one who started this effort, only bringing  Hicks on at the end. If it's Hicks, then there's some question.  From thiis view. however, it looks good.

Then again, I like Spurs. What the hell do I know. ;)

Expect the naming rights to be sold to the highest fucking bidder, like baseball stadiums in the US.

LOL,Crouch is a fucking hack.

Was there an opportunity he didn't completely screw up on today?

Game tonight at 9 eastern, ESPN2. Four guys from the premiership playing tonight  of the US against Mexico.

I'm thinking it's going to get really ugly in Glendale. Should be interesting.

You know, I wouldn't really mind - it doesn't matter that much what the damn thing is called, except in most cases the amount of money involved has been pretty tiny given how much exposure the name gets. At £2-4M a year, stadium naming has to be one of the cheapest and best sponsorship deal that an advertiser can get.

Arsenal recently secured £100M for 15 years of stadium sponsorship and 8 years of shirt sponsorship; now the average premiership shirt sponsorship is worth £3M per annum, so a top 4 shirt is worth at least £5M, that leaves £60M left for the stadium naming, over 15 years that represents £4M per annum - which is still more than Hicks or Gilette have achieved in North American Baseball and Canadian Hockey, but nonetheless doesn't seem like that great a coup. At the time the media were falling over themselves to tell us how Arsenal had achieved an incredible deal......   clearly nobody did the maths.

Nobody in the media ever does the maths...

Math takes work, and journalism is increasingly becoming the bastion of the lazy.

And now Arsenal is the next to fall. (http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article2251275.ece)

Kroneke is in advanced negotiations to form a partnersip with Arsenal

He's been buying shares in arsenal through his landsdown hedge fund, and is currently a 2 .7 percent shareholder.

First step is an official tie in, Arsenal will have a sister club in North America, formerly the Colorado rapids in MLS.

Colorado Arsenal, and it's not fake wannabe crap like Real Salt Lake*.  It's a doubly fitting name, as the new stadium they occupy is on the grounds of the former Rocky Mountain Weapons Arsenal.

*Although Real Salt Lake did get a foot in the door with that and turned it into a partnership. They got their stadium and are preparing now to build a full fledged soccer academy in partnership with Real Madrid  in Salt Lake City.

I've always thought that was a good idea, making sister teams here in the US. It seems to be working quite well for Chivas. And also, LOVE the maroon kit!

Announcement arrives and it's stil rapids., Which isn't the worst name is MLS. Everything else looks pretty flesh out.

Liverpool's Bellamy pulls a Jack Nicholson on Riis over a Karaoke contest. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/02/19/bc.soc.extratime.ap/index.html)

LOL, Liverpool.

Spurs to the FA Quarters!

Damn Bellamy. Every time you think he's unfucked his head, he goes out and does something more stupid than his last thing.

John Terry has been officially had the shit beat out of him this season.

Knocked out for a minutes and swallowed his tongue during the Carling Cup Final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcIVYYHxoEA

God Damn, he's been through it.

Oh, since I forgot to do it earlier...

LIVERPOOL 2 - BARCELONA 1

Barca looked very ordinary in that game.

OUCH.

Hmm,

9 matches left and the only thing left in doubt is uefa cup and intertoto cup qualification.

Buccaneers now will obviously win, Chelsea 2nd, Liverpool and Arsenal will finish in the CLQ3 spots, Bolton in the first UC spot. Charlton, West Ham, and Watford nailed on for relegation. I can't remember a season when all these issues were resolved with such certainty before easter, never mind by the beginning of March.

2nd UC spot is between Everton, Reading, and Spurs. That's what is now being played for.

Meh, at least the Champions League is still alive.

Also, watching Leeds in the championship is a little bit funny.

Liverpool totally shit the bed yesterday. They played a good game, but never could finish it off. That last free kick was horseshit, though. Man U should not have gotten that foul. Fuckers.

I really hope Reading pulls into the 6th spot. Spurs don't deserve it, and Everton is a Merseyside rival. Plus, Reading is one of the best underdog stories of the season.

Regarding the Liverpool/ManU match, I think both sides were holding back because a draw suited them both, and this is a European week.

Clearly that worked out better for one side than for the other....


And yeah, it demonstrated once again that Liverpool are going to need 2, and arguably 3 new strikers this summer. The guy they already signed looks more like cover for Kuyt than a partner imo.

Carragher was hilarious talking about this in the aftermatch interview.

q: What will it take for Liverpool to win more matches against the other top sides?
a: Better players, but hopefully not at centre-back.

I think Bellamy and Kuyt are decent enough strikers, personally. But Liverpool really needs a good wing midfielder who can cross the ball in. Pennant/Zendan/Gonzales/Garcia/Aurellio just ain't going to cut it. And Gerrard needs to be back in the center where he does the most good. Of course, that would mean either selling Momo or Xabi Alonso, and I'm not sure that'd be a good idea either. Maybe switch Gerrard and Alonso, see if Alonso's great passing works better on the wing. Other than replacing Finnan, I don't think the back line really needs a lot of tweaking.

I wouldn't put Kuyt and Bellamy together every game, though. And as much as I've come to like Peter Crouch, I think he needs to be sent elsewhere.

The great thing about this thread is going back and reading all the crap from the beginning of the season. My turn to start eating crow:

Oops. The way things are going, this is the Ronaldo Season, not the Rooney Season everyone was thinking/hoping it was going to be. still a douche

This is where I ask for some salt and pepper to go with my huge serving of crow. And maybe a hat for dessert, to top it off.

Well.... at least *one* of them isn't getting relegated.

So now do I get to start calling Liverpool the RangerCanadiens?

This is a fun game.


My plate of crow appears to be quite large.


I was right about Garcia, but I thought Bellamy would do better. Maybe if he'd played every game instead of constantly being rotated like Benitez does.


Not so far off. Arsenal is playing up to last year's form, and Drogba is still a thug. But he's playing incredible this year, better than I would have thought. If Chelsea hadn't had so many key injuries, especially to Terry, I'd have put even money on them repeating.

Meh, if you like, refering to the Buccaneers is only fun because Buccaneer fans got so much sand in their vaginas about the takeover.

Trying to do the same to Liverpool fans doesn't really have the same impact on our collectively unbunched panties.

Yep!


Zing!


Red, red, wine!

So,I was right and yet horribly wrong. That would be  fitting.

Goddamn Spurs

A Spurs fan being realistic?  That's a table full of crow right there.


They upped it, then shit it all out like a a bad lasagna.


They won the MLS cup, and were the first team in MLS to beat a Costa Rican side in CONCACAf. Semis against Pachucha starts on the 15th at Robertson Stadium, live on FSC. Their new kits are teh ghey with the hideous  swirl. They turned down Cuahetemoc Blanco as their DP. I love them. :) Every MLS game on the Deuce will get a pre and postgame, and be broadcast in HD. Some crow for that too.

Watching the last 10 minutes of Liverpool-Barcelona right now, it's 0-1, but should be about 5-2. You really can't fault Bellamy and Kuyt for making chances and working hard, but the getting the shot off is such a performance - and it is getting old.

Barca's midfield has been awful throughout the tie. Whatever happens in the next ten minutes - Barca aren't winning anything.

Their midfield has been ok, the  defense is just fucking terrible.  Though Deco is apt to get discouraged and stop playing I can't find too much fault in midfield.  They just never really looked brilliant for any kind of sustained periods today.

Gerrard is ass, watching all 90 of yet another game where he did nothing amazing.  I find all the hype on this guy so infuriating.  He's a solid starter but calling him anything above that is bullshit.

Also fuck Chelsea, from what I've read that got lucky with their first goal.  Too bad Lyon lost they have a good team Roma is a free win for someone in the round of eight.

Liverpool's defence esp on the wings was fantastic kudo's to them.  Too bad Barca forgot how to play with Eto'o here's hoping he ends up on a new team next season.  He deserves better then how they use him.  He's the best tiny center forward I've ever seen lol.

Hoping for PSV to hold out tomorrow just to spite England, Man Utd to win because they are ten times as entertaining as Lille can ever hope to be.  Celtic to win of course and really who cares what happens in the Bayern tie?



As for early predictions:


Yeah, all you naysayers can eat it, the kid has skills and isn't the bitch diver horrible player you all pegged him as.

Keane was non-existent, Spurs sucked although even with Carrick they probably would have sucked so who knows if that was a good sell or not.


Hopefully Celtic can get an away goal or three tomorrow.  Seville continues to be a great underdog in the Primera, although I've yet to see anything but highlights of them this season.



I'd like to amend this to, they both are overrated.  I stick by my call on Terry and aparently many agree with me.  Drogba = teh win.  Called that one.  You all called him a diver and thug.  Gallas hasn't done much due to injuries and the whole crying to get traded drama.

Gerrard has certainly been off form for a few weeks now.

Today he was great at picking it up the ball and moving it forward, but his eye for a cross or shot has been off for a while and it has meant he's often been wasting ball.

Clearly he hasn't dropped anywhere near the standards of rubbishness that Lampard dives to each week, but it hasn't been great.

It took a little over half a season for Berbatov and the striker corps at spurs to get their chemistry in order.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. . .

Spurs

Sat 17 Mar     Barclays Premiership     Tottenham    -    Watford        at White Hart Lane
Sun 01 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Tottenham   -    Reading FC       at White Hart Lane
Sat 07 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Chelsea   -    Tottenham       at Stamford Bridge
Mon 09 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Tottenham   -    Blackburn Rovers       at White Hart Lane
Sat 14 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Wigan Athletic   -    Tottenham       at JJB Stadium]
Sat 21 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Tottenham   -    Arsenal       at White Hart Lane
Sat 28 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Middlesbrough   -    Tottenham       at Riverside Stadium
Sat 05 May    Barclays Premiership    Charlton Athletic   -    Tottenham       at The Valley
Sun 13 May    Barclays Premiership    Tottenham   -    Manchester City       at White Hart Lane

Reading
Sat 17 Mar     Barclays Premiership     Reading FC    -    Portsmouth        at Madejski Stadium
Sun 01 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Tottenham   -    Reading FC       at White Hart Lane
Sat 07 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Reading FC   -    Liverpool       at Madejski Stadium
Mon 09 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Charlton Athletic   -    Reading FC       at The Valley
Sat 14 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Reading FC   -    Fulham       at Madejski Stadium
Sat 21 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Bolton   -    Reading FC       at Reebok Stadium
Sat 28 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Reading FC   -    Newcastle United       at Madejski Stadium
Sat 05 May    Barclays Premiership    Reading FC   -    Watford       at Madejski Stadium
Sun 13 May    Barclays Premiership    Blackburn Rovers   -    Reading FC       at Ewood Park

Everton
Sun 18 Mar     Barclays Premiership     Everton    -    Arsenal        at Goodison Park
Mon 02 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Aston Villa   -    Everton       at Villa Park
Fri 06 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Everton   -    Fulham       at Goodison Park
Mon 09 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Bolton   -    Everton       at Reebok Stadium
Sun 15 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Everton   -    Charlton Athletic       at Goodison Park
Sat 21 Apr    Barclays Premiership    West Ham   -    Everton       at Upton Park
Sat 28 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Everton   -    Manchester United       at Goodison Park
Sat 05 May    Barclays Premiership    Everton   -    Portsmouth       at Goodison Park
Sun 13 May    Barclays Premiership    Chelsea   -    Everton       at Stamford Bridge

Bolton
Sat 17 Mar     Barclays Premiership     Manchester United    -    Bolton        at Old Trafford
Sat 31 Mar    Barclays Premiership    Bolton   -    Sheff Utd       at Reebok Stadium
Sat 07 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Wigan Athletic   -    Bolton       at JJB Stadium
Mon 09 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Bolton   -    Everton       at Reebok Stadium
Sat 14 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Arsenal   -    Bolton       at Emirates stadium
Sat 21 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Bolton   -    Reading FC       at Reebok Stadium
Sat 28 Apr    Barclays Premiership    Chelsea   -    Bolton       at Stamford Bridge
Sat 05 May    Barclays Premiership    West Ham   -    Bolton       at Upton Park
Sun 13 May    Barclays Premiership    Bolton   -    Aston Villa       at Reebok Stadium

The last two Euro spots are entirely up for grabs. I almost thought a top four was possible, then I saw  Arsenal's schedule and got back to reality

Champions League draw as follows....

Quarter-final draw
AC Milan v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v LIVERPOOL
Roma v MANCHESTER UNITED
CHELSEA v Valencia

Semi-final draw
Roma or MANCHESTER UNITED v AC Milan or Bayern Munich
CHELSEA or Valencia v PSV Eindhoven or LIVERPOOL



That draw is almost perfect from where I sit. I'd prefer to have no chance of meeting Chelsea in the SF, but you can't have everything.

If I were a betting man, I'd go for Munich, the Buccaneers, Liverpool as QF winners. I can't pick between Valencia and Chelsea. I'd say Valencia by a hair's breadth on form, but sheer fate tells me Liverpool will face Chelsea in the SF.

If I were a betting man I'd never bet against Kaka myself.  If Chelsea somehow eeks out a win that'd be crap, they didn't deserve to get by Porto imo.  Also PSV knows how to play Liverpool, if they continue to look terrible that could be really interesting.

The odds of an all English final look very, very good.

I have to have faith that ManU will make it through to the final. I think they'll get past Roma comfortably, but have a sticky fight against Milan (who I think will pip Bayern). But with our striking options severely limited... I could just be an hopelessly optimistic fan.

I'm a little surprised to see that the draw hasn't changed odds on offer much. Right now betfair is showing...

To win competition:

Chelsea    4.4
Buccaneers  5
Liverpool   6.2
Milan        9
Valencia   10
Bayern    10.5
Roma     12.5
PSV        26

Barca's problem is the coach right now, IMO. I watched the Liverpool game, then this past weekend watched them tie with Real Madrid. The coach keeps putting them in that 4-2-1-2-1 formation, then sending the 4th defender forward so there's only 3 at the back. It's a great offensive formation, but their defense has been TERRIBLE. I mean, they gave up 3 goals to a Real Madrid side without Beckham, with Robinho coming off the bench, and not much else. And I can chalk it all up to the 3 at the back just being overrun. Valencia has a real chance to win the Primera (don't spoil the Valencia game this weekend for me, I haven't watched it yet).

Man U took care of business with a pretty lackluster game. The Chelsea game was disappointing, as Porto just collapsed in the second half. Bayern and Real Madrid was an interesting game: Madrid looked like shit until they put Guti out there, but they still lost to a mediocre Bayern side.

Celtic got FUCKING ROBBED. The ref refused to give them two absolutely crystal clear penalties, one for handball in the box, the other for a guy getting hammered in the box. It was a fucking disgrace, especially when AC Milan scored in the extra time they shouldn't have had. That ref should never be allowed on the pitch again.

Liverpool drew PSV. Could be a worse draw, like Man U. who they've shown no ability to beat this year. As for Gerrard, he's really good, just not when he's forced to play on the right, like he has been all year. They really need to put him in the center, Xabi on the left and find someone decent to stick on the right. You don't want to move Sissoko out of the middle, and I think Xabi would do just fine on the left with his passing and crossing skills.

EDIT: I've give Valencia a decent chance to get by Chelsea, especially if John Terry is still having injury trouble. Chelsea is just not as good at the back without him, and Valencia has got some great fucking strikers in Villa and Morientes, especially with Angulo, Joquaim and Silva providing good service. Valencia can be a damned dangerous side when they come to play.

Alonso really isn't mobile enough to play on the wing, also he's not really attacking enough or comfortable enough running with the ball. Alonso is all about distribution.

But Alonso's big problem is that he can't tackle well enough. If Alonso could tackle you'd have the perfect holding player, Sissoko would drop to the bench, and Gerrard would move to the centre.

That said, the other part of why Gerrard is back on the right is that I think Benitez's patience with Pennant has run out. He doesn't have nearly enough impact on the right.



In other news, this weekend's FA cup ties were the funniest thing ever. Replays all round. IMO, the FA shoudl scrap the idea of replay extra time and penalties, and go back to the good old days when you just had more and more replays until you finally got a goddamn result. Arsenal and Liverpool once played a semi final tie four times.

And people criticising Rafa for not taking the FA cup seriously need to take a look at what is going on right now. The only mistake Liverpool made in those games against Arsenal was letting Garcia get exposed to injury.



As for Barca's defence, I have some sympathy given the complete lack of cover their midfield is giving them. Any defence will look shaky when every time the other team get the ball, they can carry it straight through the midfield unopposed. Barca's midfield might be great when they have the ball, but they switch off when they lose it, and that is what makes an admittedly lacklustre defence look abysmal.
 

Sure Barca's midfield is nonexistant on the defence, it's made up of guys who'd likely be strikers or wingers on other teams. It's like a 6 man-strike force, with Marquez playing so far up in the holding midfield role, he might as well be an attacking midfielder. I mean, it's a great formation if you want to score 3-4 goals a game, but if you give up 3-4 against the good sides like Valencia, Sevilla or Real Madrid, it does no good. It's a formation made to pick apart the Gimnastic's of La Liga.

Pennant is mostly useless on the right wing. He's probably great in the Championship, but he just doesn't have top flight quality. I think Alonso could do the left wing, it just wouldn't be a fast left wing. But really, Liverpool's not built on speed on the wings anyway, they are built on good defense with fast counter attacks on long balls.

If you aren't watching the playoff race in the Championship, you're missing some good football.

Who do you peg to head up next year?

I've started fallowing the update shows, but if my schedule permits, I'll start falling them more now that the majority of the premiership seems settled.

Dynamo v. Pachuca tomorrow night. CONCACAF Club semis for the next week or so, then God willing Finals, then MLS season starts.

I'll spare you guys the updates from that, Eurosnobs ;)

Birmingham and Sunderland in the automatic spots, though I hope I'm wrong, both managers irritate me intensely.

I hope West Brom win the playoffs, but I think Preston or Wolves is more likely.

I think Birmingham is a lock for automatic promotion. I'm not going to rule out anyone else to make the 2nd auto slot, it's just been such a muddle. Wolves is the Championship team I root for, because I love their unis and the name Wolves. Wolves are badass.

I'm American, I can be that simplistic, goddamnit.

Whoever makes it, I hope we see David Nugent or Michael Chopra in the EPL next year. Those guys do some good work.

Cry more Boro, fuck off god damn.  FYI if he was an English player you wouldn't hear half this crying, that was such an obvious penalty.  Did he make sure it got called?  I think so, but so does EVERY OTHER PRO EVER.

Player of the year imo.

Spurs in sixth, 2 back of Notlob, seven back of Arsenal. Yes they have a game in hand. Yes they're starting to fall apart right now. No, I'm not expecting them to fall to fifth. Just saying.

Chelsea next, after a Thursday Sevilla UEFA game. Ugh.

From there, it may just come down to Arsenal playing at the lane.

Wouldn't that be something. ;)

Dynamo beat Pachuca 2-0. second leg thursday at Hildalgo. The biggest game in the history of the club, even back when it was San Jose.

Win, and it's the finals.  Worse that happens is they lose the final and play in the Copa Sudamericana.

Win the Final and it's off to Tokyo to play in the Would Club Championship this december. 

Oh, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, crazed forward of Mexican and more importantly Club America fame, is heading to the Chicago Fire. Now that's going to piss some people off.

Liverpool totally manhandled Arsenal this weekend. I don't think I've ever seen Arsenal play so flat. The announcer (Nigel something or other, a former Arsenal player) was about to strangle himself with his own tongue criticizing their play. I know Henry and Van Persie are out, and Cole was gone, but I expected better.

Also, Crouch - Hat Trick. Lollerz.

-----P-----
-----S-----
-----V-----

Also go Seville, by far my favorite Spanish side this year.

PSV won't beat Liverpool. Now whether Liverpool can beat Chelsea or Man. U. in the Champions League is another story, but PSV. Pshaw.

Not PSV w/out Alex and two other starters, god that was a pathetic game.  But damn that Milan v Munich game was fucking awesome.  I still expect Milan to pull it out in Germany tho.

Milan is living on borrowed time. They shouldn't even have made it to this game, what with the fact that Celtic was ROBBED of two obvious penalties in Milan. But they played much better than Bayern for the first 70 minutes or so. Bayern looked like they didn't even know what they were doing on the pitch. When Milan pissed away so many chances to go 2-0, they really gave away their chances. That penalty Milan got was a fucking gift - the ref was total shit who should be beaten with a brick bat. That was about the least offensive tackle I've seen in the box in a long time.

The Liverpool/PSV game was just fucking sad. PSV never looked even close to figuring out how to play, and it wasn't that Liverpool was that dominant. PSV just played a shit game. How the fuck did they beat Arsenal? I'm still not convinced Liverpool can beat Chelsea or even Valencia, mind you. Valencia playing without Morientes, Marchena and Navarro against Chelsea might be a brutal, brutal game, especially at Stamford Bridge. I've already assumed Man. U. is going through against Roma.

Roma looked good tonight - though I get the impression they were playing above themselves, Valencia I wasn't as impressed by despite the draw with Chelsea. They looked basically good as individuals but without enough confidence or coherence to stop someone like Rafa getting in their heads. I'd be confident enough going into a semi final against them. I don't want to play Chelsea.

In the meantime every QF tie is set up for a either a great second leg, or a simple Liverpool victory, and you can't ask for more than that.

Liverpool's luck will run out.  They are the least inspiring, most English of the top English clubs.  I say that in the most insulting way possible of course.

Roma played out of their minds for stretches, really if they could have done something other then walk through the game for the first 30 minutes of the 2nd half they would have the two goal advantage they deserve.  Well it would have also helped if Christiano hadn't been playing for the other team also I suppose.  They did do a good job of focusing on him and exposing how terrible his support is with the craptastic O'Shea lined up behind him.  God that guy is a tool, I wish he wasn't Irish so I could hate him more...

Also I find it annoying I didn't get to see any of the crazy riot police v fans action on ESPN2's broadcast..

GoGo Seville tomorrow!

Berbatov  will put a boot  in Seville's ass today.

Spurs today, Dynamo tonight.


Anyone catch what Eric Wynalda said to FullhamUSA?

Gold, solid gold from the man. If he gets canned over  what he said about Jim Rome, then fuck ESPN.

I think everyone watching the game live gets the same feed. Our comentators said that "It's champions league policy not to show that sort of stuff". I don't care. Show me the Melee, bitches :P


If he only played at atleast 20% when he's on the national team, I might like him...

We got quite a bit of riot footage pieced together on the news channels over here. You usually can't really tell who was at fault, but this one really didn't show the Italian police in a good light.

A few bottles got thrown by Roma fans after the goal and for some reason that triggered an immeadiate baton charge by the riot police in the Man U section. It didn't even look like a baton charge intended to push the fans back or move the police line to a new position, it just looked like a one sided medieval battle scene with policemen simply clubbing the nearest fan they could find until they started bleeding. There was also a fair bit of footage of some Italian policemen trying to pull their colleagues off of random 50 year old man U supporters who just couldn't run quick enough.

Pictures can of course turn out to be out of context - but this was bad shit.


You should probably note that I didn't even feel it necessary to snipe at Man U by referring to them as the Buccaneers in this post - that is how awful the pictures looked.

Cool.  Didn't even know this thread was here.   :-D

Recently got my cable upgraded and Fox Soccer Channel now owns my life.  Giving a nod to a British colleague I have adopted the Tottenham Hotspur as my team and they're giving me quite a good return for my efforts so far.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

(I imagine their Sevilla game is about to go off live so I'll refrain from revisiting this thread until after I can watch it later at home on DVR.  Clean sheet for Robinson and a Berbatov header off the foot of Lennon in the 90th minute... To dare is to do or so they say; I can still dream can't I?)

If you have the ability to somehow watch/record the game currently going on live on FSC you FUCKING NEED TO.

Awesome awesome awesome stuff, I wont post anything about the UEFA games until this weekend though as they are showing all of them and I'm going to record the ones that aren't live and watch them later.

I can only hope that the ref at White Hart Lane next week will be as good to the Spurs as this one was to Sevilla... gawd almighty   :roll:

Not to beat the dead horse but in my scant weeks of passionate football following; mostly EPL games but now the UEFA stuff with euro clubs and a bit of Serie A on FSC... what is it with all the theatrical diving?  Seems to be completely legitimate in Europe but frowned upon (as it should be) in England or by English players at any rate.  Fucksticks.

There's two Spurs fans here.

Fear.

Having said that, the most entertaining game of the night was the CONCACAF semi second leg at Pachuca. It was like a God Damned heavyweight fight.  Pachuca deserved the victory, but  the MLS champs fought like hell.

Watch DC and Houston in the MLS if you get a chance. Especially Houston.

Spurs can't cry too hard, they got away with what sure looked like a penalty in the box after the bogus PK was awarded.  Also they were outplayed for much of the game and while they are more interesting then your average English team they are still boring to watch compared to Seville.  It was annoying in the second half when the theatrics started in terms of people rolling around a bit too much but that is something you see everywhere.  The calls on 50/50 headers were completely bizzare in that game though, I couldn't figure out what the fuck the ref was calling.

Peach, I think you should be wary of buying into the England-hype that announcers spew at us.  I've found it is a given that English players get twice the respect they deserve, usually even more if they play(ed) for the English national team.

Spurs deserved to lose, Berbatov was half-assing it much of the way, Lennon didn't get enough opportunities to attack David after he got that yellow and as usual the team from England just played less inspiring football.

Yeah, that was a pretty thrilling game. I didn't think about the fact that there might need to be extra time in this game, so my fucking Tivo gave out right after Pachcuca made it 4-2. FUCK. Too bad Houston lost, because that was a pretty damn thrilling game.

I'm looking for a Liverpool/Roma final in the Champions League. I can dream!

The diving is a big problem in football, IMO, mainly because refs aren't handing out the yellows like candy when it happens. Yesterday's Man U./Portsmouth game was a perfect example. Ronaldo was a diving, whiny bitch the whole fucking game, never got a card.

That goal at the end of regulation was a dagger, but  Dynamo had the better of it in the first overtime period, great save on a DeRosario header on the counter.

The ref had the whistle in his god damn mouth for  end of first overtime when Jimenez puts in a 90 mph rocket top right corner. Houston learns to always close down on the hot shooter. Shit.

Ching put the ball into the net in the 210th minute. Dissallowed for a foul on the Goalie, which was BS.  Ching did knock it down with his forearm. so no tears from me.


Looked to be 26-27,000 at the opener with the Galaxy. I'll be there for at least one, maybe three this year. Houston is the best city in the US to catch a professional soccer game right now.  I'd go more, but it's a seven hour trip to H-town.

That in 1983 has been the greatest shock half of this city had in the whole XX century. You have no idea the kind of trauma it generated. Even now, if you say "Liverpool" in front of an (old) Roma fan you can get any kind of reaction from shaking to random blasphemies.

Fuck, for a long time even the Beatles were hated for being from Liverpool.
Me, being a supporter of Lazio, I would dream about the same final... and with the same result of the 1983 one.

Only bad part is that they would kill each other in a final like that. And the supporters too. It'd be war. With casualties. Heysel style. So better hope Manchester kicks out those italian posers.

Man U is down to a three point lead.

Bolton v Arsenal is a definite game of the year candidate.

I I think Spurs can make their way to another fifth. This one being far more satisfying.

Really? Who out of Bolton and Arsenal (or Liverpool maybe?) do you imagine they are getting past?

Anyway, seems I might have been wrong to call everything so early - hurrah for that.

I still see the Buccaneers winning it though :( . Still see Chelsea second, Liverpool third, Arsenal forth, Bolton fifth.

Relegation West Ham's run in has them doomed, Watford obv down, and tbh, I still make Charlton favourites to drop, I think Sheff Utd will pull it out of the fire. At least everyone has conspired to keep the run in alive though ;)

Bolton.

Their form is terrible, they'll lose to Arsenal. I say they lose to Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcodes and Hammers.

Draw to reading

Win against  Villa.


Spurs get wins against Wigan, Charlton and Citeh  (Charlton maybe a draw)

Draw Boro, Rovers.

Lose to Arsenal.


Everton - Win a Charlton ( I can see this a draw)

Draw at pompey

Lose to ManU, Chelsea, West Ham

The battle for the championship and the relegation battle  will be the deciding factors.

ManU
Chelsea
Liverpool
Arsenal
-------
Spurs
Bolton
|
|
West Ham
Fulham
-------
Wigan
Sheffield U.
Watford

Everton won't lose to West Ham. They'll get a draw at least. They might even get a draw against Man. U. or Chelsea depending on which  team shows up that day. Both have shown themselves to be suspect at times lately.

Bolton's form may be terrible, but it's ALWAYS terrible. Yet somehow, they are mostly in games. Arsenal without van Persie and Henry have been imminently beatable. Chelsea will likely beat them.

Everton is the fly in the ointment over , I will grant you. but it's not like I have Spurs winning out.

The fan in me has them winning all save drawing arsenal,but I'm not going to stick my neck out on that.

Hope you've got a loss to Seville in there somewhere...  :-P

Spurs got their away goal. we'll see what happens thursday.

5 - 0 with 40 minutes to go.
Ho ho ho. I am so laughing. Tears coming down from my eyes. *does the happy dance*

That Man U. game was fucking brutal. I started fast-forwarding the Tivo at the 18th minute, after it was 3-0. What the fuck happened? It was like 2 completely different teams showed up from the week before.

Valencia's loss was their own fault. They had opportunities and missed them, but were just mostly outplayed the whole damn game. It looked like they were playing for the draw/extra time scenario. You can't just sit back on Chelsea.

Lights out, Bayern. I'll miss you.

Weird things happened.
Carrack's frist goal it's a great goal. But then second and third goals are two incredible amnesies of the defensemen (someone said Chivu?). Once they went 3 to 0 with less than 20 minutes into the game, it was over. Still, if they play that game again 100 times I think there's no way Man can score more than 3 goals against Roma's defense, that is usually very, very strong.
It has been a mixture of superb and over the top playing, great luck as opposed to sheer unluck where every single shot (but one, the great save on a corner header on the first post) simply went in.

Seriously, Manchester United proved to be a couple of levels above Roma, and they even proved that if it wasn't for Scholes red card in the first match Roma wouldn't have probably won that, but the 7 to 1 is basically the result of superb (and I mean SUPERB) long range shooting vs. the worst night possible for Roma's defensemen.

Anyway I am happy and my son was screaming in joy at the top of his lungs. Totti is the most irritating player AND man ever.

The Liverpool game was irritatingly boring. Liverpool obviously had nothing to play for other than not getting injured, and you can't blame them for taking it easy. But fucking PSV just slept through the whole thing. It's like they'd given up before they ever started the game. They never really tried to press, just lazily tossed the ball around. I mean, shit you're 3 goals down on aggregate, you lose NOTHING by going out there and playing balls to the wall, and if you get lucky and Liverpool really don't want to try, you could surprise them. No, it's not likely, but I blame that one on the coach. If he can't get his lads inspired to play then, he's not worth much.

The 2 Milan goals were somewhat freakishly good, but you could tell Bayern was done after the second one.

Three out of four English teams. God please don't let the final be a Man U. - Chelsea matchup. Fucking boring.

Cry more noob ass Spurs

Jesus wept, Hoax.   :roll:

Alright, fair is fair and the best team won; Sevilla are a talent, no doubt about it.  Spurs did themselves in ultimately (and quickly) with Steed's o.g.  Pretty exciting final 30 minutes though you have to admit.

Still, for a mid-level English side who only just qualified for UEFA play last season, to make the quarters in both the FA and UEFA play was a pretty good show.  Beaten in the end by quality opponents both times at any rate.  Here's hoping they finish the Premier league in the top six and finish what they've started next season.  Woe be unto Wigan on Sunday.

Definately a better pair of games then anything the Champion's League produced last round.  Except perhaps the Valencia v Chelsea games I didn't get to watch those due to an epic conspiracy.

I've got nothing against Spurs, except perhaps Keane completely raping me at the start of our EPL fantasy season.  They have a ton of players I am fond of.  But at this point I'm pretty much anti-England when it comes to football, I blame the blatent favoritism of the announcers and the constant hypocracy on the diving issue.

Diving issue... Not sure I see the hypocracy part.  I gather that it is 'part of the game' in Europe et al but the English see it as weak sauce.  However, with more and more of the top euro talent coming to the EPL it is becoming more common place... is that about right?  I don't suppose many supporters ever object when the call goes their star's way.  The commentators last night made remarks about teams like Tottenham getting valuable european experience and I suppose putting up with the players' diving and the refs' pandering is part of it.  Anyway, to each their own but I can identify more with the prevailing British spirit but I suppose I may be getting that bias you're talking about from the us/england commentator view.

Back up to what Haemish said... I dunno; I think the CL is shaping up rather nicely.  And with ManU and Chelsea almost sure to tilt for the FA cup and the EPL title only a 3 point separation it would be epic to have them hash it out in the CL as well.  ManU with a treble to play for and Chelsea the quad?  That said, I'm pulling for Pool to spoil it up a bit in the CL.

With the start of MLS, Spurs are taking a back seat for me,  but they had a good run in UEFA. Congrats to the better team in Sevilla.

I don't want a Man U./Chelseas CL final. That would suck, as I hate both teams.  :evil:

The UEFA Cup is going to be a good one, though. I forsee a Sevilla/Bremen showdown, now that Klose has gotten off the snide and scored again. They dismantled AZ Alkmaar.

Also, for the MLS, the Galaxy are OVERRATED. Landon Donovan needs Beckham to take corner kicks for him, because his free kicks against FC Dallas were putrid.

My Mancs are going to tear the shit outta the rest of the season. It's perfect. Rooney finally waking up, Ronaldo dancing through players left and right, even the fringes of the team like Fletcher and Richardson are playing really well. Another treble awaits, and I'm gonna go buy me a new jersey to celebrate. In sweet, delicious red.

It's gonna be Liverpool vs. ManU in Greece, and ManU beating (maaaaybe a tie) Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to seal the Premiership. And ManU vs. Milan could very well be THE best game of the season, anywhere.

Milan beats ManU, Liverpool beats chelsea

Chelsea win the FA cup.

ManU wins the premiership.

Everyone looks around, with their silverware in hand,  feeling vaugely unsatisfied.

And my Spurs will probably wind up in seventh.

/goes back to watching MLS.

Best game I saw last weekend was the "Super Classico" from Argentina.  River Plate at Boca Jrs.  The River goalie gave up one goal in the opening minutes and then stood on his freaking head the rest of the game with save after amazing save.

And won't 7th in the EPL be enough for UEFA cup next season... something about how many English sides made it so far in the CL gives their league an extra sport?  Anyways, I'm hoping for better but just in case.

 That was Schelotto's last Superclassico before he heads to join the Columbus Crew.

The fucking Crew went international.


oh, and Messi owns everyone on the entire planet right now. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmHrCMM029E)

bah, botched post.

I can't tell what's worse, the Galaxy's chemistry or DC United's defense. Anything Alexi Lalas touches turns to shit. It will be impressive to see if the golden touch of becks can undo Alexi's rotting ineptitude.

Houston is sleepwalking and still got four points. They  just picked up a decent midfielder from the wreckage of Toronto FC.  I'm happy.

It may be. I think it's because either Chelsea or Man U. are going to win the FA Cup and the EPL title, and the winner of the FA Cup gets in automatically as does the winner of the EPL. Since one team can't take two spots, I think the EPL gets another UEFA Cup spot.

DC United look like shit. I've seen both their games this season, and I can safely say that their goalie is not good enough to deal with the number of disco biscuits he's going to see with only 3 on the back line. Those 3 defensemen have been getting ripped to shreds on the wings, worse against KC because KC's got better quality than Colorado. It's going to be a long season for DC United.

That's basically it.

Top 4 go to the CL, 5th goes to the UC.

League cup winner goes into the UC, but if the league cup winner is CL qualified, then 6th in the EPL goes into the UC instead.

FA cup winner goes into the UC, but if the FA cup winner is CL qualified, then the FA cup runner up goes into the UC instead, if the FA cup runner up is also CL qualified, then 7th in the EPL goes into the UC.

Once you get below 7th, then the highest placed two teams who volunteer to play in the intertoto cup can do that, and potentially earn a UC spot each.

Also, the team highest in the fair play league that doesn't qualify through any of the above routes, goes into the draw for 2 fair play spots in the UC, assuming your association scores sufficiently highly in the uefa fair play scoring system (England usually does). Current fair play leaders are Liverpool, but Spurs and Villa are the likely to end up the top teams outside of the top 4.

Aston Villa could get into the UEFA Cup? I assume the fair play is for least amount of yellows/reds. Villa's second half form certainly wouldn't qualify them for Euro action any other way.

JENAS!!!!
(http://www.4thegame.com/media/00/03/46/jenas_jermaine_thfc_profile_2006.jpg)

2-2. I knew it was going to come!

woot!  COYS!   :-D

Sigil, were you watching live or was there a web feed somewhere?

Wow, quite the finish... just saw the highlights on FSC.  Jenas had a few recent lackluster performances but that's put aside now.  I gather the Spurs were pretty lucky to still be in the game at the end and to deny the Gooners 2 pts like that must be very sweet.  Still, we haven't beaten Arsenal in 18 meets and this would have been a good time to end that pathetic streak.

Spurs final games look pretty winable and hopefully they will be comfortably inside European Cup play again for next year.

Just got done watching Werder Bremen's game yesterday against Aachen. You have got to see this Diego goal. Bremen's up 2-1, into stoppage time. Aachen has a free kick in the Bremen half, and being down 2-1, they send up everybody, including the keeper. Diego gets the ball on the rebound and

HOLY FUCK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLXE03UFyQE).

Majesterial.

Setanta sports via ITVN.

It's killing me that I can't watch the Dynamo game tonight. Stupid cable and trees.

Man Utd. drew, I didn't see it till the last 20 minutes, its finally hurting them that they suit up such terrible fuckers in such crucial positions.

I'm looking at you, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, fucking Paul Scholes (you over the hill, no touch having hack) also Ole Gunner picked a bad game to have a sub-par performance from what I saw.

I think we should all post predictions in black text for this week's UEFA and Champion's League games sometime tomorrow.

It's not like there's much choice. There's what, like 10 people out on injury, including the entire first-choice defense? I'm starting to get nervous about the game at Milan with all those wannabes in the back four trying to deal with Kaka (who, btw, is my wife's second favorite player after Nicky Butt)

So let's talk about Spurs. What's it gonna take for them to finally make that last leap to "premiership elite"? They always seem to be just one step behind the others. Do they just need huge amounts of cash? Even when they have what qualify as star players like Gazza, or Klinnsman, or even Sherringham, they still kind of muddle around in the upper-middle, but never quite have the oomph to push through to the top 4. What gives?

wow.
What a game. I'm not going to spoil anything but Man Untd. - Milan was probably the best game I've seen in quite a while.

ManU vs. Milan really should have been the final. Not that exact game, just those two teams. I'm already yawning thinking about the Chelsea-Liverpool game today.

Not EPL related, but  it would not be a bad move to check out or Tivo the RBNY / FC Dallas game this evening on the Deuce at 8 eastern.

Folks need to check out Jozy Altidore.  He's 17 and  really, really good.  Tons of upside that's starting to become reality.

I'll tell you, I wish we could get Rossi at Parma to play for the US Nats. We could be looking at a really special group of young men playing for this nation in the near future.  He  could put that group over the top.

The Chelsea-Liverpool game wasn't terrible, but the refs in that game were. Lots and lots of douchebag diving by the Chelsea players, way too little attacking by Liverpool. The refs fucked them on stoppage time, IMO, giving only 2 minutes at the end, despite 4 subs (:30 seconds each for subs) and the 2 or 3 minutes Mikel and Drogba were turf-noshing. Of course, Benitez played way too conservatively. He should have had Sissoko in for Mascherano, Pennant on the left, and probably Crouch starting as well. Both Crouch and Pennant have been on excellent form lately and Zenden did all of jack and shit. He looked totally outmatched, and even Riise was flat for the first 45. Gerrard had one of his invisible games on the right. When he's wide, he either shows up big or not at all and last night it was not really at all. This team has too many central midfielders and not enough wingers. Hopefully, Liverpool can get a 2-0 at Anfield or something similar, because Chelsea really didn't deserve to go to the finals on that performance anymore than Liverpool did.

I hate how Chelsea is really the feel good story of the four big teams this year.  You can't help but tip a hat to them being in all three races after the slew of injuries they have had.

Also Drogba is a beast and Essien is awesome, its such a shame that both Ivory Coast and Ghana got jobbed in the group phases in Germany by bad calls.

Maybe they need Mr. T on call in the UEFA referee pool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0wX7KMJx1c

Drogba, thug that he is, has been amazing this year. But I'd hardly call Chelsea a feel good story. With as much money as they spent, it'd be a fucking crime if they didn't figure in most of the races. I'm still not sure they can beat Man U. (or Liverpool for that matter).

And that Mr. T commercial was teh win.

Two points from fifth with a game in hand.

It's getting good now.


Nobody here saw this, which is a damn shame, but the opening game at home for Toronto FC was incredible. Rocking atmosphere.  It looked more like an EPL match than a MLS affair.

Kansas City Got the late winner from Johnson, but TFC played with much heart and determination. They'll come around sooner or later..

So Big Sam is stepping down from Notlob.

 Think he's going to Citeh?

I like the timing of this, put a littlle extra in the mix, and lets see if Spurs can take advantage of it.

An unfortunate win by Blackburn over Liverpool and the draw by Bolton at Chelsea but yes, with a game in hand you have to like the Spurs chances.  Very riveting game with the Spurs doing their best to keep their opponent in it all the way through.  A couple of nice late saves by Robinson when 'Borough was heating up.  Berbatov was fucking money  and when Lennon came on he shone giving the assist for Keane's second and deciding goal.  And so cool to hear the visiting Spurs fans out-chanting the home crowd time and again.

I'm not sold yet on MLS but I did see a good game a week or two ago with KC at NY "Red Bulls".  I wish San Diego had a team at this point but I guess I'll go up the road and root for the Galaxy  I hear good things about the Toronto club from the FSC heads.  Their first year, eh?

Was it on TV? There are 2 MLS games a week (FSC and ESPN2) and both usually feature the Galaxy, DC United or New England. Fuckers are doing the exact same shit the NHL did to fuck up their TV viewers, showing only the big name teams.

With that said, LA looked really good against Chivas. Donovan actually showed some talent, but I have to take issue with the FSC announcers. After his run/assist to Cobi Jones, they start slobbing his knob, comparing him to Kaka. No, motherfuckers, he should not be in the same sentence as Kaka. The MLS has some decent players, but league wide, the defensemen SUCKETH TEH NUT. Hell, even Championship defensemen are better. The MLS is a scoring league, because the defenses really are not world caliber quality. Kaka is facing some of the best defensemen weekly in Serie A, not to mention the teams he plays against in the Champion's League. Kaka would score 50 goals against some of the lumbering twats in the MLS.

EDIT: Also, why would anyone think Sam Allardyce can do any better with City than anyone else? The team is a dud. He'd have to make wholesale changes to get them in the top 10 and I'm assuming they haven't already done that because they don't have the money.

They are currently trying to be like all the other cool kids at school, and selling to some rich Americans. If those rich Americans can also convince Big Sam to be part of the package, it might make it easier to convince the shareholders to sell. Allardyce is a much better coach than Stuart Pearce, and a fabulous coach can make the difference between the same squad being a bunch losers or a bunch of winners (see Sunderland)

So it's full time in Liverpool v Chelsea, we're waiting on extra time.

And fuck this game must be godawful to watch for neutrals. Muahahaha.

Anyway Liverpool are looking tired, I'm thinking they are going to need a hell of a rabbit out of the headpiece, well that, or penalties.

POST-GAME EDIT:

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42872000/jpg/_42872461_penalty_getty416.jpg)

Yep, that'll do.

TA-DA!!!! NAILED IT.

Sort of. I got the Birmingham right, but couldn't have told you Sunderland would get the automatic promotion. The Championship games have been at least as exciting if not moreso than the EPL this year. Hell, it's the last day of the season, and anyone from 4th to 8th position could end up in or out of the playoffs. Derby totally pooch-screwed the game at Cyrstal Palace to get elminated from the automatic promotion race, and lost Giles Barnes to a knee injury for who knows how long. My bets are that West Brom, Wolves and Southhampton get in the playoffs, Preston loses to Birmingham, and Stoke gets knocked out of the playoffs on goal differential. Whoever gets in, the playoffs should be fantastic.

EDIT: SCHWEEEET. Setanta will have the Preston/Birmingham tie on Sunday morning. Great match to end the regular season.

A thing of beauty.


LIVERPOOL!!!!!

MLSLIVE.tv  If you follow MLS at all it's a must have. 20 bucks for the whole season. You get everything but the ESPN2, FSC and Telefutura games. Some HD.net outages but there's usually a local afiliate that covers thhose that gets bundled in. Basically it's streaming Direct Kick. with a few extras.

That game was tough, tough, tough to watch yesterday. I was frustrated that Kuyt missed being onside by a shoulder in Extra time. Still, hell of a job by Reina. Pity 'bout his stuff.

So we're set for a good story no matter which way todays game goes.

Hope Chelsea crash and burn on the Cup final. Enjoy your carling cup there, jose.

Ronaldo who?  :-D

Gattuso absolutely owned him, to be sure.

That win was more a function of the breakdown of the United back four, however.

The midfield giving up posession at key moments didn't help matters any, either.

Kuyt should not have been offisde in the OT, IMO. Offsides really needs to be called less, mainly because of the way the rule is written. Ties or shoulders should go to the offense. When you start getting into body parts being offsides, you've gone too goddamn far.

The Man U. game was PAINFUL. The entire game was on the Man U. back line and they absolutely shit the bed. Dreadful play, especially that second goal where Heinze and Brown just fiddle-farted around with it in the penalty box. What the fuck was that? It was like they were begging Milan to score. I was half-wishing Man. U. would win just so Liverpool could own those 4, but I'm sure the good players will be back from injury by then. Milan looked decent but not overwhelming. Most of their positive play was from Man U.'s negative play at the back. Ferguson should be ashamed of that performance.

If Man U. play like that against Chelsea, they'll lose the FA Cup.

Dempsey appears to have saved Fulham on a nice play.

Holding my breath for Tottenham, but this was a favorable day.

People have focused on the question of whether the Kuyt was ahead or level with the player on the main stand side of him, I actually think the linesman flagged because he flat out couldn't see that defender, but Kuyt was ahead of the defender nearer the linesman.

Also, it's extra time. Not over time.  :-D



The correct term is no longer "FA Cup". In order to appropriately wind up Buccaneers/Chelsea fans, the correct term for the upcoming match at Wembley is "Champions league 3rd place play off".

Tomorrow is a big day for me.  Charlton hosts Spurs. Spurs :should: win. That would seal Fulham as being safe.  Then it's the Blackburn  Game on Thursday, then hosting Citeh to finish it out.

Lovely. :) Chelsea couldn't even beat an Arsenal side without Van Persie and Henry. It didn't help that they didn't play Drogba or Schvechenko. Also, Michael Essien really is Chelsea's Man of the Season, despite what Drogba has done.

Liverpool gifted Fulham that game. What the fuck? That lineup wasn't even a good second string team, and they still almost beat Fulham. Fulham's back 4 is horrible, and that headbutt on Alonso ought to get Brown a fucking suspension. I will say Insua looks a decent future prospect (perhaps after a year loan spell in the Championship) and Pennant has been kicking ass the last month. Paletta, however, doesn't really appear to be worth keeping around. Fuck, I hope Liverpool spends big money on a quality striker next year. Maybe they should make a run at David Nugent from Preston North End.

Bolton? What the fuck? Lose 3-1 to West Ham? LOLERCAKES.

The Championship finished up in fine form. Wolves are in the playoffs, Sunderland and Birmingham are in the EPL. West Brom donkey punched Barnsley.

Werder Bremen's games in the UEFA Cup were atrocious. That loss at Espanyol was bad enough, but losing at home like they did was criminal. Klose got fucked by that shitty shit ref. Two yellows in 20 minutes for a striker who really isn't known as a physical or dirty player? That's bullshit. Fuck, Drogba shouldn't even get 2 yellows in the first 20 minutes and he's a diving thug bitch.

Singing:

Dim-i-tar Berb-a-tov

Dim-i-tar Berb-a-tov


Wonderful strike for the opener.

To my fellow Spurs supporter, There is a slight chance, that would be a really smart idea, that Chivas may head to SD.

They just need a Soccer Specific Stadium..

Finally watched some tapes (no money for tivo/dvr, fucking $50 for cable is enough thx) this weekend, have had no time with all the Sharks and Warriors playoff games.  Man Utd got thrashed, jesus Ronaldo carries that fucking team.  Scholes is a moron, Rooney has a clumsy first touch 75% of the time and Giggs has had a terrible string of games in Europe.  Also Carrick wasn't even on the field was he?

I saw the first leg of Sevilla versus Osasuna.  A fun game even w/ Sevilla playing terribly it was more entertaining then most of the English football I've watched lately. I dont have the second leg on vhs but I'm hoping to catch a replay this week on FSC.

GoGo Milan and stuff.. 

Defoe!



Fulham survive the year.

Spurs in sixth with two games left.

Fuck yeah!

Spurs guaranteed UEFA play next season with 3 points in their last two games; both at home; Blackburn and Man City.  Gotta like those chances.

Watched the game (my last Spurs game from FSC this season looks like) on DVR delay last night.  Berbatov... what can you say?  That was inspirational.  Seemed like the whole team was very sharp and actually played some excellent defense for once.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

It'll be an interesting final weekend. If Bolton loses at home to Aston Villa, they could be out of Europeon competition next year. Given Bolton's recent form, it's entirely possible against a decent if not spectacular Villa side. All Reading has to do is either win or draw at Blackburn and hope Bolton loses and they are in. Portsmouth would have to beat Arsenal (HAH) and hope Reading loses and Bolton draws or loses. That's not going to happen the way Portsmouth have played lately.

I'm rooting for Reading to get that 7th spot. They are just a feel good story, though I really hope Madjewski decides to spend a little money to retain guys like Sidwell next year. Next year's Premiership ought to be awesome. Liverpool will have tons of money, Chelsea may fire Mourinho, and even Roy Keane's Sunderland will have money to spend. Good stuff.

I don't see  Reading pushing too hard for Europe. I think they want to focus on building the side and cementing themselves firmly into the league.


The early Spurs rumors  involve Mido to Citeh,  Having a go at Bent and Davies. Defoe to Pompey?

I've read rumours of Utd. snatching up Berbatov, which seems like a good move to me esp if Saha is going to be dealt or loaned out next season.

Will not happen this year.

If spurs don't make top four next year, then I'd worry.

Which is strange, because he's the best forward amongst what is admittedly slim pickings. Solksjaer is still good, but his workrate is elusive and hard to rely on. Alan Smith? lol. They need to keep Saha, unless they are completely sure they can find a good striker. His athleticism  is a great foil with Giggs/Rooney/Ronaldo swirling around behind him. As much as I'd LOVE to see Berbatov come over, I agree that there is no way Jol would sell him. He's too essential to their squad right now.

Oh... and I'm waiting to gloat/celebrate until I can find a post a nice picture of the honor guard at Chelsea. Suck it, José!

Frankly if I was Utd I'd be gunning for Eto'o but if I was anyone w/ the cash I would be gunning for Eto'o

I've heard talk of Liverpool going after Eto'o and I'm all for it. Hell, I'd be all for them snapping up David Villa from Valencia, although I'm sure Benitez would just shackle him into ineffectiveness like he did Morientes. I find it amazing that Morientes gets what, 6 goals in 2 years at Liverpool, then gets hooked up with Villa in Valencia and doubles that before a full year is up? Those two make a great strike pair.

I wonder if Sevilla will be able to keep David Alves after challenging for the league title all year and winning back to back UEFA cups.  That kid has talent although he really needs to make sure the defensive side of his game keeps up with his amazing service abilities.

Spurs finish with 60, get fifth. Not surprising, and it makes that miserable run in the beginning  more frustrating.

I see the games  Spurs blew and I can see a top four.

It was fun to see a good number of my predictions  hold. I feel bad for feeling discourage in fJanuary. Next year I wont lose faith.

It's Spurs. Of course you will. :0

Lot of last day drama went on. Too bad Reading couldn't beat Blackburn to get a European spot, but it's probably for the best.

The Championship playoffs were all good games until the second leg of the Wolves/Albion tie. Derby barely held on against Southhampton, but both games were fantastic. The second Wolves games started well, but Albion closed down the Wolves midfield after about 10 minutes and never looked back. All Wolves could do was sky it forward, and hope to head it goalward, but it just never worked. Wolves looked terrible. I'm thinking West Brom is going to beat Derby for that final promotion spot.

It will be easier for me supporting them knowing that fulham are going to be saying bye to the premiership next go around.

I don't see Birmingham and Sunderland heading back down any time soon.

Wigan, Fulham and the playoff winner are my vote to go down next year.

Did anyone else catch the UEFA cup finals; Espanyol v. Sevilla?  Pretty entertaining I thought.  Sevilla kept coming and coming once Espanyol lost a man (2nd yellow in the game) but the game went into extra time tied 1-1.  Kanute nets what should be a sure winner halfway through ET and there is despair among the Espanyol fans but a miraculous goal in the final minutes from 25 yards ties it back up so on to PKs.  Sevilla goalie certainly the man of the match stopping 3 out of 4 shots to earn the win and back to back UEFA cups.

What's next in cup action?  FA finals this weekend; Chelsea v. ManU but ppv only?  Next Weds. the UEFA Champions League from Athens; Pool v. Milan?

ESPN needs to go ahead and buy Setanta like they are planning to do and  end this ppv BS.

Just get DirecTV and pay for the Setanta Sports channel and the extra sports package that has GolTV and Fox Soccer Channel. I get more football from Latin America than hockey from the US thanks to that.

Hey, Haem.

 GOL TV picked up  english language rights to Copa America. Now we can watch the US get killed by the Argentina reserves!

I would get dish in a heartbeat,  but I'm cursed with those fugly Gulf coast pines that I can't do shit about because they're not on my property
Next hurricane is probably to result in at least two additional tress down near my home.  As long as they fall the right way. 

The UEFA final was fantastic just watched it on tape last night, fucking marvelous.  It is sort of too bad about the two yellows both were bonehead plays but both might not have warrented a card.  Considering how lucky Espanyol got against Werder w/ Klose picking up two yellows in 10 minutes in Germany though I can't feel too bad.

The better team won, back to back titles is surely an accomplishment, it will be interesting to see what they can do in King's Cup and the league now.

I can't decide if I want to get up early and spring the 16 bucks to watch the FA final.

25 bucks on Cox. Ouch.

ManUtd 3 Chelsea 2

1 red card... somewhere in there.

See ya in 7 hours!

My alarm went off at 7:30 in the morning, and I turned it off to go back to sleep. Oh well, saved myself some $$$.

After watching the 3rd place play off on Saturday, I now wish Man U had beaten Milan in the semis.

I'm pretty damn confident we could have beaten *that*.

So here I was thinking Chelsea would snatch two goals early on, and ManU would claw three back, with yellow cards and tackles flying everywhere as each team played for everything they had, with no season left.

Instead, we get two teams who were playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. They were going for penalties almost the whole match. What a freaking terrible game that was. The only upside were those freight train surges by Rooney here and there.

Season over then.

Milan probably just about deserved to win overall tonight, second goal especially was worthy of the cup.

Not a game for the purists, but a damn sight better than that godawful display on Saturday.

Problem for Liverpool was Zenden being rubbish and other left wingers being injured, Pennant not being good enough (esp in the second half), and not having anyone who could conceivably score a goal like Milan's second. Liverpool have to utterly destroy teams from midfield to get enough chances to score.

I do wonder what might have happened if we'd started with Crouch+Kuyt and Gerrard in place of either Pennant or Zenden.

I thought Pennant did really well. He got into a lot of it and made some thing happen. He did hold on to the ball a bit long at times, but there wasn't much to go to except for Gerrard. Zenden didn't do much. And while Kewell was a bit better he looked a bit out of it when he came on. Maybe just the place the game was at at the time though...

Liverpool did a good job, one might say a great job, in the first half. Unlucky for them to go behind like that, but that's the way it goes. Milan was in control for most of the second half, though if Gerrard had burried that chance he had it would have been a different game.

The FA cup was about what you expect. Two teams who'd been competing in the League, Champions League, and the Cup itself all season. You can say that United didn't attack like they usually do, but there is the argument of tiredness too. Same thing could be said about Chelsea. They've both had their squads tretched through injury throughout the season and some players have managed a lot of games. To compare the Liverpool half against Milan in the final to them is unfair, they wouldn't have the energy to compete like that.

Liverpool, Utd and Chelsea will only get better next season though, from how I see it now.
United will really benifit from the experience for their young players the addition of Hargraves in the midfield and just a bigger squad generaly.
Shevchenko and Ballak can only get better for Chelsea, and Drogba has really stepped up. A better run with injuries will help them too.
While Liverpool might have some money to get some decent players to assist Gerrard.

One last thing: Kaka best in the world? Maybe. But as tonight showed, when you're tightly marked and controled in the midfield there's not much you can do even if you are good. Liverpool made Milan's midfield look much more ordinary tonight compared to how awesome they were against Utd in Milan. So while Kaka might shade Ronaldo, and rightly, the gap probably isn't that great.

Pennant was very active in the first half, though we steadfastly refused to use his overlapping full back, which was partly why he became predictable, and well marked in the second half, leading to him becoming frustrated and innaccurate in the second half.

It is a little frustrating that there are so many if onlys...

If only Garcia or Aurelio had been fit I believe that would have made the difference.

If only Crouch had come on for Alonso or Kewell, Masch would probably have stopped the second from Milan.

If only Crouch had come on earlier the extra room afforded to Kuyt and Gerrard (which contributed to the Liverpool goal) would probably have been the difference.

If only the referee wasn't shit and hadn't started blowing for non-existant random fouls every 6 seconds, and been so indulgent toward Milan timewasting, the game would have had about 10 minutes more with ball-in-play.

Also if only referee hadn't stopped inury time about a minute early.

If only a few more LFC players in the second half had not let their heads drop, and started expecting the ball rather than being shocked when it bounced off them.

If only Alonso hadn't commited a pointless foul to concede the free kick that led to the first goal.



and so on and so on.

Hohohohohoho

I'm happy

While Garcia would have done better than Zenden, he wouldn't have made a difference. He's not that good. Arbeloa would have been a better choice, but I don't know if he's ever played midfield. Maybe they should have put Riise in Zenden's spot and Arbeloa in Riise's spot to start the game, or fuck it, just started Kewell. Either way, Zenden should not have been out there that long, and he surely shouldn't have been out there to start the second half.


Masch was the fucking man against Kaka. I'm beginning to think Sissoko shouldn't be first team choice anymore.


Ain't that the fucking truth. He called Kuyt on at least 2 occasions for fouls when Kuyt was being ping-ponged between two defenders. It was fucking atrocious. He did good on not pulling out yellows early, but he was giving Milan some fucking terrible fouls.


Yep yep. Milan spent the last 10 minutes fucking about with the ball, faking injuries, etc.


Oh yeah. I'm not exactly sure how stoppage time works, but it's supposed to be 30 seconds per sub (total of 6 subs equals 3 FULL FUCKING MINUTES) not to mention the "OW MY LABIA" diddling that went on. Even if he hadn't counted the 6th sub which occurred in injury time (he didn't), he was still a full 15 seconds early with the whistle since the sign says a MINIMUM of 3 minutes added time. Asshead.

It was a good game, in that it was watchable, but the ref was shit. Not total shit, just tepid shit. You'd think he was an Italian ref. Thing is, I've seen that ref in Bundesliga games, and he's been good there. Milan didn't deserve to win, at least not how they did. That game should have gone to extra time tied 1-1.

Injury time is supposed to be 30 secs per goal or substitution, plus any amount of time that players are getting treatment, plus any amount of deliberate timewasting while the ball is out of play.

And it should never be less than the number of minutes the 4th official shows on his snazzy electronic sign (in this case 3 minutes).

What actually happens is that the 4th official rolls d4+1 and puts that on the board, then the referee ignores it and blows his whistle whenever he damn well likes.

If the injury time rules were ever followed rigourously, most games would be closer to 10 minutes injury time each half.



It is about time football moved to stopping the clock whenever the ball leaves play.

I like that football doesn't stop the clock, and that you never quite know when the game is going to end. It adds some excitement. My biggest problem is when refs just don't follow even the most basic of rules. The 30-seconds per sub is HUGE with me, because it's an easy as fuck thing to count up. 6 subs/30 sec. per sub = 3 goddamn minutes. Not one second less. That's not even about determining if someone is wasting time, which was easy in this game because Milan was so fucking obvious. It's just simple fucking math. The fact that there were also 2 fucking goals in the second half meant that there should have been at least another minute added on to the 3 minutes the 4th official posted. Had Liverpool been given the extra 15 seconds they were promised, they might have scored, as it just happens that quick sometimes.

I am in complete agreement with Haem's last two posts with respect to the refereeing and the handling of stopage time.  What was even more galling about the game-ending whistle, above and beyond the fact that they hadn't yet reached the 'advertised' 3 minute mark, was that at that moment the ball was in Milan's half and they weren't even controlling the ball.  I almost always see the refs (in EPL anyway) allowing for continuation BEYOND the advertised time IF the team needing a goal is controlling the ball, is in their opponent's half and looking for a last gasp shot.  When the goal up team gains control and kicks it away down field, THAT is the time to blow the whistle.  Just common sense really.  As it was the ref handed Milan the game at the end as if to soothe their troubled brows... 'now now, no repeats of the 2005 game here'.

Furthermore, stopping the clock is not the answer; it's one of the things I like BEST about the sport, the mysterious extra-time and a flip of the bird to commercial breaks.

I actually think that the stop clock would flip way more bird to commercial breaks, because the time of the end of the game would vary much more (currently you can predict it to within 90 seconds).

And I'd agree that if referees were capable of doing injury time properly then not having an exact countdown to hooter is probably a good thing. I just don't believe match officials will ever start getting it right.

Congrats to Derby County for making the Premiership. However, based on their form in that playoff final, they'll probably be heading right back down next season.

WBA couldn't finish a Doctor Seuss book, let a lone a scoring opportunity. Sucks to be them. . .

That was a good Championship Playoff final, but yeah, I think Derby will be right back down next year. They're horribly inconsistent, playing great one minute then letting in easy goals another. Darren Moore is a great big hulk of a man who really has no idea where to put the ball half the time. Howard is good but not great. Giles Barnes is likely to get poached either before the new season begins or once Derby is headed back down.

West Brom could have won that game at any time, they just never finished.

The League One Playoff final was a good one as well. Blackpool won quite handily. Kiegan Parker is a name you WILL be hearing if you follow the Championship next season. He's got one helluva bend on the ball. Also, I just have to say that I LOVE Blackpool's kit. Tangerine orange, and they are proud to be called tangerine. I miss when NFL jerseys could proudly display tangerine, instead of everyone going black + a color because black sells better. Fuck that. Give me back my tangerine Bucaneers of old and I might root for them again.

(http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/shop/store_images/large/m125s.jpg)

Do not like. We are not blackburn rovers.

55 pounds for that too.

Fuck no on that.

Oy, I thought they couldn't make any gayer a use of that gayer than gay blue color.

I stand corrected.

That's going tobe used for one game. Hopefully it's Derby Away.

the rest of them are very traditional.

(http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/images/articles/3637-1.jpg)

Why did someone tell them to look down their noses at the camera?

Makes them look like some kind of crazy militia/cult.

Agreed; esp. Berbatov and Keano... they look like they want to fuck shit up.    :evil:

Bloody hell, I didn't even recognise Roy Keane.

And, we should be fair to Spurs player number 3, he doesn't look like he wants to fuck things up, that picture just makes him look like he is a very special person.

What the fuck is up with collars on jerseys? I hate that shit. Especially in the late nineties when they'd fold them up for that lame popped collar look. Ugh.