2009/2010 Soccer Thread - Discuss all EPL/La Liga/Champions League, etc in here

[thekavorka]

Well, the Premier League started this weekend so I figured it'd be best to start a new thread to include all soccer discussion for the year.

[highlight] Want to watch highlights? Go here: [/highlight] http://www.101greatgoals.com/

[highlight] Tablers, Scores, Fixtures, News, etc: [/highlight]: www.soccernet.com

[highlight] Great site for us in the US to see what matches are coming on tv: [/highlight] http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/calendar.php

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Fantastic weekend to kick off the start of the Premier League. Lots of awesome matches and goals. Lets hope the rest of the season is the same way (except for Spurs winning )

 

[daschoo]

http://www.footytube.com/

a great site for finding highlights from all over the planet.

getting really nervous about tonight, butterflies in the stomach already and its still 6 and a half hours till kick off. think i need to go and drown them in beer and start greasing the old vocal chords in preparation for singing till i'm hoarse tonight!

 

[MC KAos]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090817

you guys should read this article, its a good one by simmons

 

[joseephuss]

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/championsleague/matchStats?gameId=2009081811009&refreshRate=30

Arsenal is off to a good start in both EPL & Champions.

 

[Temo]

I so did not expect that thrashing by Arsenal. All my hopes for a good EPL season from Everton to go with a good NFL season from the cowboys are draining away quickly.

I knew our defense wouldn't be good at the start, but that game was absurd. It's not a good sign when the best thing you can take away from the game is that you managed to keep them at bay for nearly a half hour before the chances started to convert. I just hope the severity of that beating isn't an early indication of what's to come.

 

[joseephuss]

I so did not expect that thrashing by Arsenal. All my hopes for a good EPL season from Everton to go with a good NFL season from the cowboys are draining away quickly.

I knew our defense wouldn't be good at the start, but that game was absurd. It's not a good sign when the best thing you can take away from the game is that you managed to keep them at bay for nearly a half hour before the chances started to convert. I just hope the severity of that beating isn't an early indication of what's to come.

I know Howard is a good keeper, but he sure has been on the bad end of the beating stick in recent games. He was named top keeper of the Confed Cup this summer. He played in 4 of the 5 US matches in that tournament. The teams gave up 3 goals per game in 3 of those games. He really needs to beat some attitude into his defenders on both the national team and Everton because they are making his life tough.

 

[thekavorka]

Well, both our goals today were pretty flukey, but I think they were deserved for the most part. Unless something miraculous happens at The Emirates, Arsenal is through. A big weight off our shoulders. Hopefully we can rest a bunch of these guys now. Not sure why Cesc or RVP were playing after the 2nd goal. So far, Arshavin and RVP have been a bit off with both their passing and shooting. I can't wait until they start to gel together in the new formation.

Highlights: http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3226783/

I so did not expect that thrashing by Arsenal. All my hopes for a good EPL season from Everton to go with a good NFL season from the cowboys are draining away quickly.

I knew our defense wouldn't be good at the start, but that game was absurd. It's not a good sign when the best thing you can take away from the game is that you managed to keep them at bay for nearly a half hour before the chances started to convert. I just hope the severity of that beating isn't an early indication of what's to come.

I recall Everton having a very poor start to the season last year too. I think this Lescott situation is a huge distraction. He was terrible on Saturday. There was one goal where Fabregas dribbled like 40 yards and scored with no pressure. It was like Lescott was trying to sabotage you guys on purpose.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/090817

you guys should read this article, its a good one by simmons

great article. finally from someone who has an open mind and actually took the time to learn about the game.

Anyone see the highlights of Sporting Lisbon-Fiorentina? http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3226775/
Couple great goals, but the best part was that Vukcevic scored a goal but then got his 2nd yellow for taking off his shirt :laugh2:

 

[jem88]

Not convinced at all by Manchester United's display. I think we're in for a long season trying to find enough match-winners to compensate for Ronaldo's leaving. Rooney is awesome, but there is a bit of a drop-off after him. Time for Nani to step up.

 

[daschoo]

Well, both our goals today were pretty flukey, but I think they were deserved for the most part. Unless something miraculous happens at The Emirates, Arsenal is through. A big weight off our shoulders. Hopefully we can rest a bunch of these guys now. Not sure why Cesc or RVP were playing after the 2nd goal. So far, Arshavin and RVP have been a bit off with both their passing and shooting. I can't wait until they start to gel together in the new formation.

Highlights: http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3226783/

can't disagree with any of that. i thought we did well to be able to compete so closely considering the resources both clubs have in terms of being able to bring in players. we were unfortunate as barring a couple of lucky goals we could have been going down to london with something to play for. i don't know if the first goal knocked the stuffing out of us but the first half i thought was very even but in the second half arsenal were clearly the better team.
had a great night anyway, met a couple who were up from london for the game in the pub in the afternoon and had a fair few drinks with them then a cracking atmosphere at the game itself. best of luck to arsenal for the rest of the season.

 

[joseephuss]

Not convinced at all by Manchester United's display. I think we're in for a long season trying to find enough match-winners to compensate for Ronaldo's leaving. Rooney is awesome, but there is a bit of a drop-off after him. Time for Nani to step up.

They also need to make up for the loss of Tevez. They lost a lot of offense. Not just guys that scored, but guys that opened up the field for other players. They still have a lot of talent just not as much as the past few seasons.

 

[thekavorka]

speaking of ManU playing like crap...

 

[jem88]

They also need to make up for the loss of Tevez. They lost a lot of offense. Not just guys that scored, but guys that opened up the field for other players. They still have a lot of talent just not as much as the past few seasons.

Not worried as much by losing Tevez. The guy was all-hustle, but arguably the worst first touch I've ever seen on a United player. He did create some special moments, but I think Berbatov can make up for those. Picking up the slack for Ronaldo on the other hand...

 

[Temo]

http://podcast.com/show/1375/

Simmons on the World Soccer Daily Podcast (at 14 minute mark)

 

[bracey]

Not worried as much by losing Tevez. The guy was all-hustle, but arguably the worst first touch I've ever seen on a United player. He did create some special moments, but I think Berbatov can make up for those. Picking up the slack for Ronaldo on the other hand...

The main thing Tevez gave you was the runs he made off the ball. He'd go into them with effort, drawing defenders away from your more skilled players. Berbatov is far too lazy to do this type of grunt work. Rooney is going to have to do it and he seems like a very streaky player. This is really going to be a problem for United because their midfield is not the most creative. You guys really need Anderson to step up this year.

That said, United is probably still the favorite this year. All of the top 4 have major flaws.

 

[jem88]

The main thing Tevez gave you was the runs he made off the ball. He'd go into them with effort, drawing defenders away from your more skilled players. Berbatov is far too lazy to do this type of grunt work. Rooney is going to have to do it and he seems like a very streaky player. This is really going to be a problem for United because their midfield is not the most creative. You guys really need Anderson to step up this year.

That said, United is probably still the favorite this year. All of the top 4 have major flaws.

Running off the ball is actually the one area in which I think Owen is superior to Tevez. Owen's movement is brilliant; however his finishing has been awful so far. I think we need to play Berbatov and Rooney regularly and let them establish a good rapport. I think Fletcher needs to be an automatic choice, paired with anyone of Carrick (overrated IMO), Scholes (somewhat past it but still class), Giggs (ditto) and Anderson (still great potential.) I would love to get a real upgrade on the wing. Valencia, Nani and Park just won't cut it. I'd love Arjen Robben.

 

[thekavorka]

http://podcast.com/show/1375/

Simmons on the World Soccer Daily Podcast (at 14 minute mark)

funny you post that. WSD actually ended recently. I guess the Liverpool 89 people got their wish.

 

[jem88]

Today was more like it. Rooney was immense and Berbatov also played really well. The key player for me so far this season has been Darren Fletcher. When he plays, the midfield has so much more bite to it.

 

[thekavorka]

rough start to the season for Everton. at least, Man U lost to Burnley too

I wonder who's going to be available for the Arsenal/Man U match next Saturday. It seems every game someone gets nicked or injured for us. That's the perils of having no depth.

 

[joseephuss]

rough start to the season for Everton. at least, Man U lost to Burnley too

I wonder who's going to be available for the Arsenal/Man U match next Saturday. It seems every game someone gets nicked or injured for us. That's the perils of having no depth.

Burnley could not have scripted a better start of their season in the EPL. They beat two of the top teams from last season with both of those teams failing to convert PKs. That can give them some great confidence for the rest of the season.

 

[thekavorka]

Burnley could not have scripted a better start of their season in the EPL. They beat two of the top teams from last season with both of those teams failing to convert PKs. That can give them some great confidence for the rest of the season.

definitely. i recall Burnley also beating one of the big four in the FA cup 1 or 2 years ago.


UGH. some reports saying Cesc is going to be out for 3 weeks. He's going to miss the ManU match. He's been so dominant for us so far. It hurts even more since Nasri and Rosicky are also injured.