The Soccer Thread

[shnsajax]

ManU take down Liverpool 1-0 :evil: on a Tevez goal.

 

Arsenal and Chelsea scoreless at the 20 minute mark.

[shnsajax]

1-0 Arsenal at the half. John Terry is gone for the rest of the game, and Arsenal have controlled possession so far.

[Jon]

I'm glad I remembered to record the FIFA Club World Cup final. It was certainly entertaining despite not being too close the final 30 minutes or so.

 

Now it's time to start the Aresenal/Chelsea match.

[shnsajax]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

[shnsajax]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7136044.stm

 

espn is eying premiership tv rights.

Wow, that would be a huge coup for them in Europe! HUGE.

 

btw i hope this means dave o brien will be doing the broadcasts with wyno and tommy smyth so the people in europe can enjoy am i rite?!

 

I would rather see a full blown invasion of all the Sky Sports networks over to the US. Whichever gives me the most HD and live broadcasts is what I want. I get a little tired of the repetitiveness FSC.

[Guest]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

 

I'd say it's clear that, barring injury, it will be Man U and Arsenal battling for the title with Chelsea challenging.

 

Man U beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, tied Arsenal 2-2 on the road, and beat Liverpool 1-0 on the road.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at home, tied Man U 2-2 at home, and tied Liverpool 1-1 on the road.

Liverpool tied Chelsea 1-1 at home.

 

So Liverpool has played each of the top three, all at home, and only took 2 of 9 points. That doesn't bode well for when they go on the road against the three teams. Man U has taken 7 points with one home and two road matches. Arsenal has taken 5 points with two home matches and one road match. Chelsea has only taken one point but they've played all three matches on the road.

 

I just don't think Liverpool has what it takes to compete with the top-3. Chelsea will be making some moves in the transfer window and will undoubtedly improve their team. But I'd bet right now that Arsenal and Man U will occupy the top-2 spots at the end of the year.

[shnsajax]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

 

I'd say it's clear that, barring injury, it will be Man U and Arsenal battling for the title with Chelsea challenging.

 

Man U beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, tied Arsenal 2-2 on the road, and beat Liverpool 1-0 on the road.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at home, tied Man U 2-2 at home, and tied Liverpool 1-1 on the road.

Liverpool tied Chelsea 1-1 at home.

 

So Liverpool has played each of the top three, all at home, and only took 2 of 9 points. That doesn't bode well for when they go on the road against the three teams. Man U has taken 7 points with one home and two road matches. Arsenal has taken 5 points with two home matches and one road match. Chelsea has only taken one point but they've played all three matches on the road.

 

I just don't think Liverpool has what it takes to compete with the top-3. Chelsea will be making some moves in the transfer window and will undoubtedly improve their team. But I'd bet right now that Arsenal and Man U will occupy the top-2 spots at the end of the year.

 

They really don't have enough. Maybe next year with another year of Ryan Babel they will be a little better or close the gap between them and Chelsea. Torres has made them better than last year though. Gerrard should just go to Arsenal so he can win the personal Trebel :-). Watch they will probably make another Champions League semi or even final. At this point that is what they are playing for this season.

[circlechange]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

Arsenal definitely looked a lot better once Van Persie came on, he is so much better in open play than Adebayor. Fabregas is such a pleasure to watch, though, he controls that team going forward.

 

Chelsea miss Drogba even more that Arsenal missed RVP. Shevchenko was ok today (relative to his PL career), but without Drogba Chelsea have many less chances.

[circlechange]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

 

I'd say it's clear that, barring injury, it will be Man U and Arsenal battling for the title with Chelsea challenging.

 

Man U beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, tied Arsenal 2-2 on the road, and beat Liverpool 1-0 on the road.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at home, tied Man U 2-2 at home, and tied Liverpool 1-1 on the road.

Liverpool tied Chelsea 1-1 at home.

 

So Liverpool has played each of the top three, all at home, and only took 2 of 9 points. That doesn't bode well for when they go on the road against the three teams. Man U has taken 7 points with one home and two road matches. Arsenal has taken 5 points with two home matches and one road match. Chelsea has only taken one point but they've played all three matches on the road.

 

I just don't think Liverpool has what it takes to compete with the top-3. Chelsea will be making some moves in the transfer window and will undoubtedly improve their team. But I'd bet right now that Arsenal and Man U will occupy the top-2 spots at the end of the year.

 

They really don't have enough. Maybe next year with another year of Ryan Babel they will be a little better or close the gap between them and Chelsea. Torres has made them better than last year though. Gerrard should just go to Arsenal so he can win the personal Trebel :-). Watch they will probably make another Champions League semi or even final. At this point that is what they are playing for this season.

The Big 4 is a myth. Liverpool just aren't in the same class as the other 3, and haven't been for a while. IMO they're at the top of the Next 3 - Liverpool, Everton, Portsmouth. And this year Aston Villa, Man City, and Tottenham are the next tier. Liverpool can concentrate on the Champions League (and FA Cup), which Rafa started doing with 20 minutes left against Reading anyway.

[shnsajax]

Perennial National Championship losers O$U do it again in a 2-1 loss to Wake Forest. The best team won which was nice to see, and I would have loved to seen someone from Wake take a cleat to the face of Espinoza. He didn't deserve to finish the game after that.

[sethuel1]

Perennial National Championship losers O$U do it again in a 2-1 loss to Wake Forest. The best team won which was nice to see, and I would have loved to seen someone from Wake take a cleat to the face of Espinoza. He didn't deserve to finish the game after that.

after what? i missed it

[shnsajax]

Perennial National Championship losers O$U do it again in a 2-1 loss to Wake Forest. The best team won which was nice to see, and I would have loved to seen someone from Wake take a cleat to the face of Espinoza. He didn't deserve to finish the game after that.

after what? i missed it

 

Intentional high cleat to the face, gave him a black eye and huge laceration between both eyes. Lots of blood. Pics should be up on the internet soon if not the intro to Sportscenter. He might not have meant to kick him square in the face but it is very reckless and more than a yellow imo.

[sethuel1]

Perennial National Championship losers O$U do it again in a 2-1 loss to Wake Forest. The best team won which was nice to see, and I would have loved to seen someone from Wake take a cleat to the face of Espinoza. He didn't deserve to finish the game after that.

after what? i missed it

 

Intentional high cleat to the face, gave him a black eye and huge laceration between both eyes. Lots of blood. Pics should be up on the internet soon if not the intro to Sportscenter. He might not have meant to kick him square in the face but it is very reckless and more than a yellow imo.

he only got a yellow for it?

[shnsajax]

Perennial National Championship losers O$U do it again in a 2-1 loss to Wake Forest. The best team won which was nice to see, and I would have loved to seen someone from Wake take a cleat to the face of Espinoza. He didn't deserve to finish the game after that.

after what? i missed it

 

Intentional high cleat to the face, gave him a black eye and huge laceration between both eyes. Lots of blood. Pics should be up on the internet soon if not the intro to Sportscenter. He might not have meant to kick him square in the face but it is very reckless and more than a yellow imo.

he only got a yellow for it?

 

Yeah, just a yellow. Don't think the ref caught a glimpse of the guy before issuing the card. I could be overreacting based on the outcome, but too me Espinoza plays very reckless and had been the whole game. His cleat was 8-9 feet in the air to get his face.

[shnsajax]

http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/121607aaa.html#

 

Picture 13, guy in the middle. Not the better shots they had on tv.

[sethuel1]

http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/121607aaa.html#

 

Picture 13, guy in the middle. Not the better shots they had on tv.

picture 14?

[shnsajax]

http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/121607aaa.html#

 

Picture 13, guy in the middle. Not the better shots they had on tv.

picture 14?

 

It is 14 now.

 

Go to #9 in the regular photos, not the ap photo's for a better look.

[Guest]

Random EPL trivia (no cheating):

 

Which team has the best home record in the EPL this year?

Edited December 17, 2007 by soccer10k

[shnsajax]

Random EPL trivia (no cheating):

 

Which team has the best home record in the ESP this year?

 

Reading. I have no clue.

[Guest]

I'll put the answer in spoilers for people who want to guess first:

 

 

Manchester City at 9-0-0. Man U and Arsenal each have 8 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses at home.

 

[Exile on Waveland]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

 

I'd say it's clear that, barring injury, it will be Man U and Arsenal battling for the title with Chelsea challenging.

 

Man U beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, tied Arsenal 2-2 on the road, and beat Liverpool 1-0 on the road.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at home, tied Man U 2-2 at home, and tied Liverpool 1-1 on the road.

Liverpool tied Chelsea 1-1 at home.

 

So Liverpool has played each of the top three, all at home, and only took 2 of 9 points. That doesn't bode well for when they go on the road against the three teams. Man U has taken 7 points with one home and two road matches. Arsenal has taken 5 points with two home matches and one road match. Chelsea has only taken one point but they've played all three matches on the road.

 

I just don't think Liverpool has what it takes to compete with the top-3. Chelsea will be making some moves in the transfer window and will undoubtedly improve their team. But I'd bet right now that Arsenal and Man U will occupy the top-2 spots at the end of the year.

 

They really don't have enough. Maybe next year with another year of Ryan Babel they will be a little better or close the gap between them and Chelsea. Torres has made them better than last year though. Gerrard should just go to Arsenal so he can win the personal Trebel :-). Watch they will probably make another Champions League semi or even final. At this point that is what they are playing for this season.

The Big 4 is a myth. Liverpool just aren't in the same class as the other 3, and haven't been for a while. IMO they're at the top of the Next 3 - Liverpool, Everton, Portsmouth. And this year Aston Villa, Man City, and Tottenham are the next tier. Liverpool can concentrate on the Champions League (and FA Cup), which Rafa started doing with 20 minutes left against Reading anyway.

 

The last six years Liverpool has finished 2nd-5th-4th-5th-3rd-3rd, plus have won a Champions League and were runners-up last year. They haven't been as good as the other three, but are closer to that group than the second set.

[shnsajax]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

 

I'd say it's clear that, barring injury, it will be Man U and Arsenal battling for the title with Chelsea challenging.

 

Man U beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, tied Arsenal 2-2 on the road, and beat Liverpool 1-0 on the road.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at home, tied Man U 2-2 at home, and tied Liverpool 1-1 on the road.

Liverpool tied Chelsea 1-1 at home.

 

So Liverpool has played each of the top three, all at home, and only took 2 of 9 points. That doesn't bode well for when they go on the road against the three teams. Man U has taken 7 points with one home and two road matches. Arsenal has taken 5 points with two home matches and one road match. Chelsea has only taken one point but they've played all three matches on the road.

 

I just don't think Liverpool has what it takes to compete with the top-3. Chelsea will be making some moves in the transfer window and will undoubtedly improve their team. But I'd bet right now that Arsenal and Man U will occupy the top-2 spots at the end of the year.

 

They really don't have enough. Maybe next year with another year of Ryan Babel they will be a little better or close the gap between them and Chelsea. Torres has made them better than last year though. Gerrard should just go to Arsenal so he can win the personal Trebel :-). Watch they will probably make another Champions League semi or even final. At this point that is what they are playing for this season.

The Big 4 is a myth. Liverpool just aren't in the same class as the other 3, and haven't been for a while. IMO they're at the top of the Next 3 - Liverpool, Everton, Portsmouth. And this year Aston Villa, Man City, and Tottenham are the next tier. Liverpool can concentrate on the Champions League (and FA Cup), which Rafa started doing with 20 minutes left against Reading anyway.

 

The last six years Liverpool has finished 2nd-5th-4th-5th-3rd-3rd, plus have won a Champions League and were runners-up last year. They haven't been as good as the other three, but are closer to that group than the second set.

 

And the FA Cup. They are probably one player away.

[Exile on Waveland]

huge huge huge win today. Should have been 2 or 3-0, Arsenal were the better team. While I think Fabregas will and should win the PFA this season, this team clicks with van Persie. The second he enter today Arsenal transformed into the side they had been all season.

 

I'd say it's clear that, barring injury, it will be Man U and Arsenal battling for the title with Chelsea challenging.

 

Man U beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, tied Arsenal 2-2 on the road, and beat Liverpool 1-0 on the road.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at home, tied Man U 2-2 at home, and tied Liverpool 1-1 on the road.

Liverpool tied Chelsea 1-1 at home.

 

So Liverpool has played each of the top three, all at home, and only took 2 of 9 points. That doesn't bode well for when they go on the road against the three teams. Man U has taken 7 points with one home and two road matches. Arsenal has taken 5 points with two home matches and one road match. Chelsea has only taken one point but they've played all three matches on the road.

 

I just don't think Liverpool has what it takes to compete with the top-3. Chelsea will be making some moves in the transfer window and will undoubtedly improve their team. But I'd bet right now that Arsenal and Man U will occupy the top-2 spots at the end of the year.

 

They really don't have enough. Maybe next year with another year of Ryan Babel they will be a little better or close the gap between them and Chelsea. Torres has made them better than last year though. Gerrard should just go to Arsenal so he can win the personal Trebel :-). Watch they will probably make another Champions League semi or even final. At this point that is what they are playing for this season.

The Big 4 is a myth. Liverpool just aren't in the same class as the other 3, and haven't been for a while. IMO they're at the top of the Next 3 - Liverpool, Everton, Portsmouth. And this year Aston Villa, Man City, and Tottenham are the next tier. Liverpool can concentrate on the Champions League (and FA Cup), which Rafa started doing with 20 minutes left against Reading anyway.

 

The last six years Liverpool has finished 2nd-5th-4th-5th-3rd-3rd, plus have won a Champions League and were runners-up last year. They haven't been as good as the other three, but are closer to that group than the second set.

 

And the FA Cup. They are probably one player away.

 

Ah, true, forgot. I'd optimistically agree, though I hope it's only one player. I'd be satisfied with fourth this season. They've only lost twice, so it's not like they've been poor.

[reggiemiller rules]

If they can dump Kuyt and Crouch and get another world class striker up front with Torres and buy the right to Maschareno I think they could be close to competing with the big 3. The question is will Gillett and Kraft give them enough money to do both. I know that Rafa really wants to keep Maschareno.

[reggiemiller rules]

Oh they also need a Left Back as Riise is nothing that special.