2006-07 Soccer Thread

[MrBigglesworth]

I want to watch the Chelsea/Porto match on Tuesday, doesn't have to be live, but where would I find info about who when/if it's on TV?

[SirFozzie]

Live on Setanta, will reair on ESPN Deportes

Live Uefa Champions League - Chelsea v FC Porto
Live coverage direct from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea prepare to play host to FC Porto in the Champions League. The teams cancelled each other out with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of this knockout match, but a winner has to come from this game so expect both teams to put in a full-blooded performance. K.O. 02:45.

[cthomer5000]

I *think* that all Champions League matches are also offered in pay-per-view online. No idea about the quality or anything.

[Critch]

They say that a sign of a champion is that they can play badly and still win. Based on yesterday's Liverpool v Man Utd game, Man Utd will be champions. They were hardly in the game but still managed to pull it out. Not much of a game, but a great ending.

The Champions League games are offered for pay-per-view online through the www.soccernet.com site. It's $9.95 per game, not sure of the quality.

[bulletsponge]

If Man U wins the league, will thier fans still say thier American owner (whos name escapes me right now) is ruining the team?

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by bulletsponge

If Man U wins the league, will thier fans still say thier American owner (whos name escapes me right now) is ruining the team?

Don't underestimate the ability of an English football fan to be ticked off with his team/manager/chairman ..... regardless of the circumstances.

(if you doubt this consider that Mourinho has been under pressure from the media this season because of Chelsea's "disasterous" campaign (you know the one where they're still in all competitions and have a decent shot at the title still*))

*Don't take this to mean in anyway that I'm hoping they'll win anything this season .... heck I've even found myself rooting for Man Utd in matches, something which a few years ago I wouldn't have thought possible

[Critch]

West Ham v Spurs....wow, what a game. If you missed it, try and catch the rerun on FSC, great game from the first whistle to the last.

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

*Don't take this to mean in anyway that I'm hoping they'll win anything this season .... heck I've even found myself rooting for Man Utd in matches, something which a few years ago I wouldn't have thought possible

Cheer for Man Utd? Impossible. Is it your wife, or Duffy's wife, that is a Man City fan?

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Don't underestimate the ability of an English football fan to be ticked off with his team/manager/chairman ..... regardless of the circumstances.

(if you doubt this consider that Mourinho has been under pressure from the media this season because of Chelsea's "disasterous" campaign (you know the one where they're still in all competitions and have a decent shot at the title still*))

*Don't take this to mean in anyway that I'm hoping they'll win anything this season .... heck I've even found myself rooting for Man Utd in matches, something which a few years ago I wouldn't have thought possible

Trust me, there is one thing i dont underestimate; the complete insanity of soccer fans

ps Go Carlisle United

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Cheer for Man Utd? Impossible. Is it your wife, or Duffy's wife, that is a Man City fan?

Its my wife - and no she isn't happy about it .....

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Critch

West Ham v Spurs....wow, what a game. If you missed it, try and catch the rerun on FSC, great game from the first whistle to the last.

Yet again West Ham manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

(I'll be sad to see them go down as they've got Zamora (ex-Brighton wonderkid) in the side, but I can't see them staying up)

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Critch

West Ham v Spurs....wow, what a game. If you missed it, try and catch the rerun on FSC, great game from the first whistle to the last.

This is one of the best games i've ever seen from a neutral standpoint.



****spoliers below*****

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BUt i'm a Spurs fan... so you cannot believe the rollercoaster of emotions i went through with that one. Hole-eeeee shit. That was a very much needed win if they have any hopes of qualifying for Europe again through the league.. simply an unbelievable game.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Yet again West Ham manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

(I'll be sad to see them go down as they've got Zamora (ex-Brighton wonderkid) in the side, but I can't see them staying up)

Tivoed this and just finished watching it, incredible Game, you really have to feel bad for West Ham. I think this loss pretty much secured relegation for them as they have a murderous stretch coming up with Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. The only thing to dream about now for Hammer fans is Millwall making an incredible run, then winning the League 1 promotion Playoff so they can renew their rivalry next Year.

Tottenham has to be the most exciting club in the Premiership this Season (Aaron Lennon's runs are a thing of beauty, he can flat out fly). They are like the Soccer version of the 80's Chargers, just score more than the other Team. If they played Defense they would be downright scary.

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

they have a murderous stretch coming up with Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal

They're more than likely dead against Man U and Chelsea. We haven't shown enough consistency or kller instinct this season to be classified with them.

And it has nothing to do with Henry -- or him being out of the lineup.

[SirFozzie]

west ham is dead already, and the upcoming points deduction for Tevez and Mascherano=Doooom

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Tottenham has to be the most exciting club in the Premiership this Season (Aaron Lennon's runs are a thing of beauty, he can flat out fly). They are like the Soccer version of the 80's Chargers, just score more than the other Team. If they played Defense they would be downright scary.

As I said earlier in this thread, I really hope their board gives this staff a chance to build something [ie, NOT pull a West Ham]. Jol seems to be building for the future with all those kids and they have a LOT of talent on that squad. I'm sad that they sold Carrick since he was a big part of last season's squad but, hey, that's a LOT of money and I can't disagree with that decision. Supposedly Huddlestone (sp?) has looked solid stepping in but I have not seen them this season.

As an Arsenal fan, the hope, obviously, is that their board pulls a West Ham and does the stupid. As a footie fan, another well run and competitive club is a great thing.

[cthomer5000]

Huddlestone was a beast pre-injury. What's amazing is the beautiful touch he has for a guy of his huge size. He is immediately the best free kick taker on the team, puts the ball in amazing positions on long passes, and has a wicked strong/accurate shot from outside the box. Today though, against West Ham... he looked very rusty coming back from the hamstring injury, and he looked tired even though he came on at half time. I'm hoping he can be fit in a month or so and hopefully be a big part of the finish to the season (hopefully they're still alive in UEFA by then).

And Jol isn't going anywhere after this recent turnaround. I mean, even if the finish like 13th in the league, they will have had 3 pretty solid cup runs as well and it's obviously they are headed in the overall right direction.

[MrBigglesworth]

Originally Posted by Critch

The Champions League games are offered for pay-per-view online through the www.soccernet.com site. It's $9.95 per game, not sure of the quality.

I couldn't find it on that site, but I did a google search and found it at uefa.com. The quality is pretty good for a stream.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

I couldn't find it on that site, but I did a google search and found it at uefa.com. The quality is pretty good for a stream.

I looked at soccernet again and what I can see is an advert to watch the games on uefa.com. So sorry for leading you astray and glad you found the streaming yourself.

[Ajaxab]

It's a shame these old grounds have to go the way of the dinosaur. I miss Highbury and something tells me it's going to be difficult to duplicate the same environment we're seeing at Anfield tonight when the Reds move to their new stadium.

[Katon]

What a mess at Valencia-Inter. Makes the Carling Cup final look like a tea party (not that it was ever all that impressive as massive brawls go).

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Katon

What a mess at Valencia-Inter. Makes the Carling Cup final look like a tea party (not that it was ever all that impressive as massive brawls go).

I suspect that the Valencia substitute will be suspended for the rest of the season (in the Champions League) after throwing the punch that broke Bardisso's nose.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Ryan S

I suspect that the Valencia substitute will be suspended for the rest of the season (in the Champions League) after throwing the punch that broke Bardisso's nose.

I love how he throws the punch then runs like a bitch to avoid getting stomped. What an asshole. He deserves an incredibly serious suspension for that.

[cthomer5000]

I saw some post-game interviews from Liverpool... the funniest thing for me personally was how I found Dirk Kuyt's English far easier to understand than Jamie Carragher's. That is a serious scouse accent on that guy.

[SirFozzie]

Fox Soccer Channel will be the home of Serie A games through 2009-10, this is a blow to GolTV (which is being acquired)

http://www.multichannel.com/article/...=Breaking+News

[cthomer5000]

Brutal 10 days for Arsenal.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Fox Soccer Channel will be the home of Serie A games through 2009-10, this is a blow to GolTV (which is being acquired)

http://www.multichannel.com/article/...=Breaking+News

Any idea on what the long-term prognosis is for GolTV?

edit: And i cant see how this wont result in less EPL on FSC... so for me personally, this might stink.

[SirFozzie]

really good. The company that is acquiring 80% of GolTV (The Checketts Group) for $200 Million), also has rights to South American Qualifiers live, so they might add value, despite losing Serie A, they would still have La Liga, Bundesliga, and multiple Latin/Central/South American Leagues)

[Critch]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Any idea on what the long-term prognosis is for GolTV?

edit: And i cant see how this wont result in less EPL on FSC... so for me personally, this might stink.

I'd guess it won't make much difference for GolTV, Italian soccer isn't one of their big draws. Apparently their top draw is Spanish soccer, followed by their saturday night Colombian game. If they can replace Italian soccer with something like Argentinian or Mexican, I'm sure they'd be happy. Mexican seems unlikely though.

Make or break for me is if FSC take the UK commentary or hand it to their in-house guys. I can't stand the in-house FSC commentators.

[cthomer5000]

My (non-domestic) soccer viewing right now is this:

1) Any and all EPL
2) Any related European competition
3) Big games in La Liga (so this is one match every few weeks)

So personally from an FSC perspective, i'll be bummed if this results in less EPL coverage, and I cannot see how it won't.

[SirFozzie]

FSC Will probably lose one saturday game more to Setanta, or show it delated instead of live, but I don't think it'll be TOO bad.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

FSC Will probably lose one saturday game more to Setanta, or show it delated instead of live, but I don't think it'll be TOO bad.

yeah, the Setanta situation for me is not so hot... DirectTV isn't really an option, and ITVN isn't exactly wowing me (unlikely to renew when my 12 months are up).

[SirFozzie]

From an AP article

Fox plans to broadcast up three live games each weekend plus midweek matches, when they are scheduled. It estimates it will broadcast 140 games per season and also will televise a Monday highlights show.

...

Fox's schedule might feature Premier League games at 10 a.m. and noon Eastern on Saturday, with a Serie A match at 2:30 p.m, Sternberg said. Sunday's schedule could have Serie A games at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., surrounding a Premier League match.

[cthomer5000]

Anyone else catch Barca - Real this weekend? Fantastically awesome game from a neutral perspective. (zero defense, basically).

[Crapshoot]

Seriously. I think the best line I heard is what Phil Ball (over at Soccernet - probably my favorite soccer writer out there) noted when Ronaldinho was asked if he was the best in world, he said he wasn't even the best on his team! Messi is just pure genius - absolutely frigging magnificent. Barca's a far better environment for him than Italy or the UK.

[SirFozzie]

Brilliant game. Absolutely Brilliant.

We're really in the wheel house of good soccer right now. MLS Teams about to get going, great derby games in Spain/italy/Germany (it's really too bad that Inter are dominating Serie A right now)..

Just want my MLS tickets to show up

[cthomer5000]

And the Chelsea-Tottenham game was just bonkers as well. As a Spurs fan it felt like a loss by the end of the game, but all in all a 3-3 draw and a replay at the Lane is pretty solid. I just dont know how they're going to deal with all these games...they just played Thursday + Sunday and now play Wed, Sat, Monday.

[Fighter of Foo]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Anyone else catch Barca - Real this weekend? Fantastically awesome game from a neutral perspective. (zero defense, basically).

Valdes saved Barca at the end (Well, after Messi did). Full credit to Real for not boring the game up. I think it was Messi's second that was just exceptional, a calm finish to keep the ball under the bar when most guys would have ballooned it over.

Phil Ball's description of Guti was the most accurate I've ever read.


Did anyone catch Sevilla's game this weekend? How the fcck did they drop points again?

[Icy]

I saw the game as 99% of Spanish citizens

Pretty fun game, too bad R.Madrid Coach (Fabio Capello) is a really defensive coach (to not to say a coward) and he didn't go for the game when Barcelona was with 10 men in the field.

[Easy Mac]

For those who were waiting, the Mark Bosnich sex tape should be hitting the market soon hxxp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a43820/anderton-sex-tape-to-hit-the-net-any-day.html

[Critch]

When I saw the Anderton Sex Tape url I thought it was going to be Darren Anderton. If it was in the style of his career, he'd get injured early and have to be pulled off at half time.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by Critch

When I saw the Anderton Sex Tape url I thought it was going to be Darren Anderton. If it was in the style of his career, he'd get injured early and have to be pulled off at half time.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Ryan S

I suspect that the Valencia substitute will be suspended for the rest of the season (in the Champions League) after throwing the punch that broke Bardisso's nose.

Actually, quite a bit more then that, looks like a seven month Global Ban

Valencia's David Navarro has been suspended for seven months for his part in the brawl at the end of the UEFA Champions League match against Internazionale last week, while Carlos Marchena, Nicolas Burdisso, Maicon, Ivan Cordoba and Julio Cruz have also been given bans.

The Spanish side advanced to the quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw at the Mestalla took them past Inter on the away goals rule.

However, pandemonium broke out after the final whistle as Navarro punched Burdisso and left the Inter defender with a broken nose.

Several other players from both sides got involved as the trouble spilled over into the tunnel, and Uefa has been quick to take action.

Both clubs were charged with improper conduct and have now been fined 250,000 Swiss francs (£106,000) by Uefa's control and disciplinary committee.

A number of individuals have also been punished following the examination of official reports and video evidence.

Navarro has been hit hardest for sparking the brawl, and he will not be allowed to return to action in Europe until October.

Uefa is to ask world football's governing body Fifa to extend the suspension imposed on Navarro to international level, meaning the ban would then apply to all competitions - including domestic leagues and national team fixtures - on top of Uefa club competition matches.

Navarro's Valencia team-mate Carlos Marchena has been suspended for four European games.

Inter duo Burdisso and Maicon must serve six-game bans, while Cordoba has been suspended for three matches and Cruz for two.

Uefa has opted not to impose a stadium ban on Valencia, who meet Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

[cthomer5000]

Tottenham wade it way more interesting than they needed to yesterday, but won 3-2 (again) to move through 6-4 on aggregate. I have all the faith in the world in their offensive prowess (i.e. Berbatov is God), but the defense is in complete shambles.

[cthomer5000]

Tottenham v Chelsea - FA Cup Quarterfinal Replay

I do a lot of game viewing on delay, so I'll probably spoiler most everything I post in here.

Spoiler

The Spurs came out playing defensive, switched it up at halftime and it quickly bit them in the ass. They simply cannot cover themselves when they push forward. There is no doubt where eveyr single dollar of funds must go in the offseason, they need defenders by the boatload.

The 3 stars who sat Saturday all looked very rusty to me. Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, and Aaron Lennon - who needs to grow a pair of balls. Lennon simply cannot keep posession of the ball, and made a mind-blowing decision to not pursue a loose ball in the box when in injury time and the Spurs down a goal. I was screaming at the TV, I simply couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I thought bringing on Defoe for Malbranque was arguably a mistake, it quite possibly made them less potent on offense since it basically removed the ability to seriously move the ball up one side. Defoe was invisible once he came on anyway.

I really thought (in real time, not with hindsight) that they should have brought Tom Huddlestone on at the expense of Zokora. They were having a very hard time penetrating the Chelsea defense, but they had shots 10 yards outside the box all day if they wanted them, and Huddlestone is the one guy on the team who can make those things a serious threat every time, rather than just looking like a prayer.

A disappointing end to a nice cup run, but it just makes their inability to close it out at Stamford Bridge that much more painful. I've been slow to criticise Martin Jol this year, but he gave that game away with his substitutions, when you have Chelsea on the ropes you do not let up. They are like a the Terminator, they will keep coming and coming until they win.

And Chelsea may be a great and talented team, but that doesn't mean they aren't a bunch of scumbags for their absurd timewasting in the final 20 minutes. They're really should have been a couple more yellow cards handed out in addition to the one given to Cech.

Frustrating loss.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

I do a lot of game viewing on delay, so I'll probably spoiler most everything I post in here.

For anybody who is planning on watching tonights games on delay watch out during the Man Utd v Middlesbrough game, they give a few updates from the Spurs v Chelsea game during the commentary.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Critch

For anybody who is planning on watching tonights games on delay watch out during the Man Utd v Middlesbrough game, they give a few updates from the Spurs v Chelsea game during the commentary.

In fact it is impossible to watch either without the other getting spoiled for you. Though by my recollection the spoilers during the Man U - Middlesbrough game are more explicit than the ones in the Tottenham - Chelsea game.

[Big Fo]

"Maybe someone don't like me...but...because I'm...maybe I'm too good...I dunno why"

- Cristiano Ronaldo after the victory over 'Boro




If you didn't see it, check out this "tackle"/red card on Ronaldo as he was dribbling towards the corner in the final minutes.

Morrison red card

[BYU 14]

West Ham looks like they want to make it interesting, 5 points from safety now.........I would like to see them stay up and if they continue their form of the last three games they just might make it....They face a fading Arsenal Team next that has just plain looked uninterested their last couple of EPL matches, then the big away match against Sheffield Utd.

For tomorrow I am really looking forward to the Tottenham V Reading match......I am expecting a very exciting 90 minutes from these two teams.

[Marc Vaughan]

r tomorrow I am really looking forward to the Tottenham V Reading match......I am expecting a very exciting 90 minutes from these two teams.

Should be a good match - but I'd expect Reading to attempt to stifle Tottenham as much as possible, Coppell is a very good tactical manager and will know that 'on paper' if they both throw themselves forward the odds are Spurs will win ...

I'd expect a combative Reading side (as usual ) and who wins the midfield battle will be critical in the outcome - if Sidwell gets enough time and space to play I can see Reading getting something out of this*.

*and I'm not just saying that because he used to play for Brighton - imho he's a quality player and if he played in any other role than as a midfielder he'd be knocking on the door for an England spot by now.