Any REAL football fans here? (Page 21)

HA!  your poor wife.

As always you bring up some excellent points. 

ManUre - I was wondering what the absence of Ronaldo and Tevez would mean for them and to me, I think the first two matches show it.  I think they will miss the both of them terribly and I hope that it means they will be much lower in the table at the end of the year.

L'pool - Yeah.  I knew this was going to happen.  I didn't get to see the Spurs match, but I read every bit of it.  Skertl has GOT to remain healthy, and so does Agger.  Rafa really is relying on youth this year, and I hope it doesn't let him down.  He has some quality players, but a team that had traditionally relyed on shutting teams down with defense is now probably going to have to try to outscore them.  And that has me worried.

Arsenal is the biggest worry.  They have, arguably, one of the best chances at staying at the top.

All that being said, I wonder how much impact the likes of Hull and Stoke City staying up last year will have on the table this year.  They really shook it up last year, playing well above their talent.  Can they continue this year?  Will the other newly promoted teams attempt to replicate what they did?  Will there be another shocker relegation this year or will it return to normal and those that made it up will go right back down again?  Should be an interesting year to say the least.  And it has only just begun.

 I was at the game.  It was horrible.  Our backfield just couldn't keep up with the Galaxy speed. 

Then again, it didn't help that the lines man on the other end of the pictch wouldn't know an offsides even if it were in slow motion. 

But he didn't cost us the match.  We were just outplayed.  Very disappointing.

As Bcozican alluded to earlier, EPL on Espn this year.

Today, LFC v AV at 12 noon pdt on ESPN2. I'm recording and watching tonight.

I have GOT to get a DVR!

What in the bloody hell is wrong with people?!?!?!

West Ham v Millwall match marred with violence and pitch invasions.

Be safe! 

As if England doesn't already have a long standing rep for this kind of crap.  Idiots!

Wow, what itiots. Glad there weren't more injuries--especially to innocent bystanders.  As the article pointed out, they've made big strides in the area of security. Hopefully this will be an isolated incident.

I hope so as well.  Although wasn't there an incident with Millwall last year?  I'll have to look to find out.

Its inbred - and I mean that in every sense of the word.....read Desmon Morris book 'the soccer tribe' it has great insight into this behaviour...or watch the movie Hooligans..its actually about WHU - for some reason in times of economic struggle the degenerates take out their frustration at football matches....expect it to escalate if the British and euro economies dont improve.

BTW - Crowny - I think I mentioned a radio program called World soccer daily to you..they also have a podcast. Well, the host and owner Stephen Cohen made some remarks about Liverpool fans needing to accept some responsibility for the Hillboro or Heysel disaster ( cant remember which)..basically scallies with no tickets caused the crush and deaths....this did not sit well with the Pool fans and they basically terrorized the host, his sponsors and then his family and friends...so he pulled the plug on the one soccer show we fans have here in the US. You can google world soccer daily and get the details..but sorry to say that some 'pool fans showed just why most other fans in the UK hate Pool supporters...its a shame a few chose this form or hooliganism to make their point.

Tough start for your team too...Rafa wont last until Xmas..

BTW - what ship has never docked in Liverpool?.....the PremierSHIP!...

Nice to see this thread continue...

Yeah, I heard about Cohen.  Here is an interesting read on it.

I had read his comments and while I wasn't able to listen to the show and rarely caught fone-in on telly, I didn't agree with his statement.  Sure, he has a right to that opinion, even if it is flat out wrong.  And it was Hillsborough that he was talking about.  Heysel was different. 

That being said, the actions by some of the so called 'Pool supporters is deplorable.  If there really were death threats made to his family, and anti-semitic statements and comments sent by 'Pool supporters, I'm embarrased by them.  There aren't words to describe the disgust and contempt I have for people like that.  And unfortunately, as you outlined, there are idiots like that with every club.  There are even idiots like that here in the States that follow other sports and do stupid stuff like that.  But unfortunately, LFC is again in the spotlight for twats that think this is the way to support their club.  Well, as a LFC fan, I don't want them supporting my club.  I don't want them supporting any club.  I want them to go away.  But alas, that is a naive thought.

Hillsborough is a very sensitive subject for the LFC faithful, and frankly with most footy supporters.  Throw in Heysel and it gets down right depressing.  I was fortunate enough to not lose any mates on that day in Hillsborough.  But my mates in Liverpool did know some that were affected by it.  And it left a lasting impression on them.  It is a scar on the club that may not ever go away.  An open wound that sometimes appears to heal and then is all too easily torn open by issues like this.

My first thought, when I saw the news article about the West Ham/Millwall match was Hillsborough.  I will probably always think of it whenever I see things like this happen.  It is part of me, unfortunately. 

Sorry to ramble.  I too am glad that this thread continues. There have been some great discussions.  I'm afraid, though, I am in for a long season, if these first matches are any indication.

Good link...I guess I'm bitter because it was about the ONLY forum we have where soccer was the focus...outside of an hour or two on FSC - this was the only place to hear daily debate of all the news etc. And for it to be ruined by the mindless internet thuggery of few just pisses me off.

Frankly I think Cohen is an idiot - usually wrong and irritating but..at least he was talking about my sport!

Now, er.....where is that link to AbbieR's photo albums again?  ....i need something to help me focus on something else! ;-)

I know.  Even though I never had time/took the time to listen, you are right.  It was the only option.  And I'm sad that there were a few bad apples that have ruined it for the rest.  However, it could be said that Cohen is equally culpable in this.  Hopefully someone will come along and fill the hole. 

I wish there was a local station that would review the Fire matches after they finished.  I'm not asking for much.  30-60 minutes of post match review, interviews and looking forward to the next match.  But, *sigh* we still aren't there yet.

Yes, the Seattle Sounders are US Open Cup champions!!! Montero scores and the DC United goalie, Wick, stomps him in frustration--drawing a red card. If you haven't seen it, check it out.

There was a funny (to me) mention of the final in yesterday's paper, saying that the tournament draws little attention, except from "hardcore soccer fans"

We watched the match last night.  I would say Wick might have some anger management issues.  He did it.  He knows he did it, and I was 1/2 expecting him to take out the ref too, with the way he was behaving.

Holy crap.

Anyone read about this yet? Chelsea with 2 year transfer ban!!!

I watched a couple of MLS games recently - Fire vs DC and LA /Chivas...saw the Cup too...seems to be some quality missing...definitely in the central roles up front and midfield..Crowny - your team lacks any punch up front..they looked slow to combined play and Blanco looked isolated...they lack any real movement off the ball....Seattle showed the best movement of all the teams I saw..DC looked tired - overall the quality was just mediocre.

The real news in Europe seems to be the Platini vendetta against the EPL...Banning Eduardo for 2 games for diving when there was no precedent or mandate etc...is just ludicrious....as is a 2 year ban on signings for stealing a youth player...everyone does it..but it goes unpunished until an EPL team gets caught....Platini is showing his true colors.

The EPL will be wide open this year...the quality is just not there top to bottom....my pick is Chelsea...and the rest is up for grabs

I got a giggle, yesterday, when SAF (Stodgy old scottsman) said UEFA got it right on the Eduardo call.  Yeah.  Right.  And if it were last year and Ronaldo had gotten the same call (which he very well could have) you would have been raising holy living hell in the media.  Twat.  I agree, though, about Platini showing his true colors.  If they are going to hit ManUre for this, they better start hitting every single team in UEFA for it.  I KNOW Liverpool did it with Keane a few years ago, Barca has done it, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and on and on and on.  So they BETTER start hitting every single team with this kind of crap. If they are going to "enforce" it. 

Oh, and Chicago has been hit with some MASSIVE injuries recently.  Essentially we have completely lost out entire backfield.  And because of that, everyone is retreating to help instead of doing their job.  We have some nice pace up front with Nyarko and Banner but they are both still very young and need some good midfield help and without it, they are useless.  And Blanco is going to be gone after this year (retiring) and McBride may, or may not, be back.  This shoulder injury he has is keeping all of that up in the air.

Seattle has a good squad.  Only time will tell as to how well they will continue to be.

International Break (Bcozians favorite)

US wins (as they should) and apparently identify the future of their front line in Altidore and Davies.  Only time will tell.

England plays Croatia and if they win, they are in like Flynn.

at least it is over! unfortunately the English press will now be enamoured with the results and expect Capello to win it all.....alas we will exit on penalties in the quarter finals!...

The USMNT looked better - still think they lack the quality and are flattered by who they play...should qualify though..

The shocker is Argentina - a talisman manager is not enough even with a wealth of talent at his disposal..I venture to believe that I could coach that National team to WC qualification!..but apparently the Hand of God is getting his come uppance...karma is a b@tch!

I didn't get to see all of the USMNT match againts TnT last night but what I saw wasn't pretty.  Sure they were away (at TnT) but still, to pull out a 1-0 win against the worst team in the group?!?!  And from what I saw, Tim Howard was busy.  Again!  Doesn't bode well.

And you are probably right about the UK squad.

On a totally different note, and only slightly to do with football, Michael Shields have finally been set free and pardoned.  Look it up if you don't know what it is about.

It's been a long time coming, but at last some sense...

I couldn't agree more.  Better late than never.

The mens team wim last night against T&T was not impressive. Dempsey looked tired, even when moved up top. Thank goodness for Howard. Where's Adu?