EPL 2007 Thread

[Jobu]

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.

[lamaros]

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.

[Jobu]

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.

[Luxor]

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

[HaemishM]

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.

[WayAbvPar]

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.

[Jobu]

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.

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.

[lamaros]

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.

[WindiaN]

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. 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.

[Kenrick]

LIIIII-VVVVEEERRRRRR-POOOOOOL!

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


and lol cubs

[Jobu]

LIIIII-VVVVEEERRRRRR-POOOOOOL!

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)

[eldaec]

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.

[eldaec]

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. 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.

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.

[lamaros]

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.

[sigil]

Much Sadness over the love of the red teams.




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. :)

[HaemishM]

LIIIII-VVVVEEERRRRRR-POOOOOOL!

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:

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.

[Luxor]

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

[lamaros]

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.

[Hoax]

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.

[sigil]

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.

[Righ]

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. 

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.

[sigil]

You folks go ahead and pick teams full of high priced players. I'll be rooting for some real overachieving, underspending heroes *snip*

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" 

[lamaros]

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. 

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.

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.

[eldaec]

Where did Man Utds money come from?

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.

[naum]

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.

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…

[Jobu]

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.

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.

[Righ]

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.

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. 

[Hoax]

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. 

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.

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.

[Righ]

How can you expect people to bother to pick a low-rung team in a league in ANOTHER country? 

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.

[Tale]

Much Sadness over the love of the red teams.

Liverpool deserves to be loved for Steven Gerrard, Liverpool born and raised, Liverpool fan, captain of Liverpool, scorer of Liverpool's best goals, 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.

[HaemishM]

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…

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.

[Jobu]

Liverpool deserves to be loved for Steven Gerrard, Liverpool born and raised, Liverpool fan, captain of Liverpool, scorer of Liverpool's best goals, 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.

Beautiful.

And to think Chelsea allllllmost got him last season.

[Signe]

Liverpool has a football team?   

[HaemishM]

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

[sigil]

Or they stole her Tele.