1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

***The Official World Soccer Thread***

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by first&goal, Apr 12, 2008.

  1. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Ok, so at the risk of looking silly, I was wondering if any of the soccer die hards here could help me to pick an EPL team to follow. I've always enjoyed soccer and try to follow it as much as possible, but have lost track the past few years at the professional level. Well, the World Cup has reved up my interest again and I really want to pick an EPL team to follow. With ESPN's coverage of the league, I figure it should be easier to do now.

    So what I'm hoping some of you can help me out with is picking a team to follow. I'm looking for a team with some good young talent that isn't one of the favorites, but isn't a bottom level team either. You could say I'm looking for an underdog, but not a team that has no chance. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. texasPHINSfan

    texasPHINSfan New Member

    6,363
    3,740
    0
    Dec 14, 2007
    Bellevue, WA
  3. baboo72

    baboo72 Bleeding aqua & orange

    3,242
    782
    0
    Mar 23, 2008
    Watford, England
    Look no further than Arsenal bro. Meets all the above requirements; Young, talented team that isn't anywhere near the bottom but hasn't won anything in 5 years...also, they play the best looking football of any side in the EPL (like Barcelona reserves :lol:)
     
    sports24/7 and alen1 like this.
  4. texasPHINSfan

    texasPHINSfan New Member

    6,363
    3,740
    0
    Dec 14, 2007
    Bellevue, WA
    It's really hard to get emotionally involved in a team if you don't have a player you like to watch.

    My first advice would be to just watch ESPN2 on Saturday mornings when they play EPL matches. Watch a bunch and some players will start to stand out to you that you'll like to follow.

    My other advice would be to do what most Americans do and follow the "Americans Abroad" - and watch your hometown heroes play in the EPL, and then follow those teams. Major Americans that play there (short list, not comprehensive):
    * Tim Howard, GK, Everton
    * Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Wolves
    * Stuart Holden, RW, Bolton
    * Brad Freidel, GK, Aston
    * Brad Guzan, GK, Aston
    * Clint Dempsey, M/F, Fulham (arguably the best American player in the EPL outside of Howard and Freidel)
    * Eddie Johnson, M/F, Fulham


    There are other Americans out there, but those are the major ones I can think of in the EPL.

    Teams like Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal are like the Patriots, Steelers, Colts - perenially good, always finish at the top of the table. If you can't stand heartbreak or league demotion, stick with the big 3. If you like clubs that are kinder to Americans, Fulham is your club. Fulham has had more American players than all the other clubs combined; often called "Fulhamerica". Nobody likes scousers, so stay away from liverpool :lol:

    If you like adversity watch Portsmouth, and if you're sadistic, watch Hull City. :lol: (well they're both relegated now anyway)
     
    sports24/7 likes this.
  5. Skull Destroyer

    Skull Destroyer Well-Known Member

    751
    503
    93
    Jan 7, 2009
    Orlando
    Also Real Madrid v Bayern Munich on espn right now for anyone interested.
     
    baboo72 and finyank13 like this.
  6. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

    30,718
    5,415
    113
    Jan 6, 2010
  7. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Love your avy, mate.
     
    Skull Destroyer likes this.
  8. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Thanks guys. From the research I've done, two teams that seem to fit what I'm looking for are Arsenal and Tottenham. I'm not completely ignorant of international soccer. I follow the US team closely and try and keep tabs on the Americans abroad, and if Donovan somehow gets back to Everton with Howard (even though it doesn't look likely), it will be hard not to root for them. I do plan on watching the EPL on ESPN closely and seeing which team catches my eye starting with the Tottenham match tomorrow morning.
     
  9. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida

    ??????????

    WE OWN MEXICO. Check the record in the last 20 years. We also beat them in the biggest match in the series history (round of 16, 2002) In fact, Mexico's only hope against us is in Azteca Stadium.
     
  10. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Ah, the Tottenham Spuds. The club that refused to pay 7.5M for Dennis Bergkamp so he turned to Arsenal and they said surely. Now, he's one of the greatest footballers ever and he proudly wore an Arsenal kit.
     
    baboo72 and hammerbillsfan like this.
  11. hammerbillsfan

    hammerbillsfan Suffering Bills Fan

    1,210
    467
    0
    Dec 28, 2008
    Toronto, ON
    Please NOT Spurs :pray:
     
    baboo72 likes this.
  12. giovafin

    giovafin Rossonero

    1,149
    584
    113
    Mar 25, 2008
    OK, I did check the record in the last 20 years and taking out those useless friendlies and I say 'useless' because the Mexican Federation uses them only for financial purposes, I'm speaking from the Mexican side. (all those friendlies played in U.S. soil would give you a hint :wink2:) so let's stay in the official matches, shall we?

    The record goes like this.

    [table]
    DATE
    |
    LOCATION
    |
    COMPETITION
    |SCORE|WINNER
    May 10, 1990|Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada|1990 North American Nations Cup|1-0|MEX
    Mar 12, 1991|Pasadena, California|1991 North American Nations Cup|2–2|TIE
    Jul 5, 1991|Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California|1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal|2–0|USA
    Jul 25, 1993|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|4–0|MEX
    Jun 18, 1995|RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.|1995 U.S. Cup|4–0|USA
    Jul 17, 1995|Estadio Parque Artigas, Paysandú, Uruguay|1995 Copa America Quarterfinal|0–0 (4–1 PSO)|USA
    Jan 19, 1997|Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California|1997 U.S. Cup|2–0|MEX
    Apr 20, 1997|Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–2|TIE
    Nov 2, 1997|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier|0–0|TIE
    Feb 15, 1998|Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California|1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|1–0|MEX
    Mar 13, 1999|Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California|1999 U.S. Cup|2–1|MEX
    Aug 1, 1999|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City| 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal|1–0|MEX
    Jun 11, 2000|Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey|2000 U.S. Cup| 3–0|USA
    Feb 28, 2001|Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio|2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–0|USA
    Jul 1, 2001|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier|1–0|MEX
    Jun 17, 2002|Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea|2002 FIFA World Cup Round Of 16|2–0|USA
    Mar 27, 2005|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier| 2–1|MEX
    Sep 3, 2005|Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio|2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–0|USA
    Jun 24, 2007|Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois|2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|2–1|USA
    Feb 11, 2009|Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2–0|USA
    Jul 26, 2009|Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey|2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final|5-0|MEX
    Aug 12, 2009|Estadio Azteca, Mexico City|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier|2-1|MEX[/table]

    So since 1990.
    -22 official matches (or not friendlies)
    -10 Mexican wins
    - 9 U.S. wins
    - 3 ties

    Source

    Maybe right now the US National Team is slightly a better team than Mexico. But I don't think The US owns Mexico.
    :up:
     
  13. giovafin

    giovafin Rossonero

    1,149
    584
    113
    Mar 25, 2008
    I Agree!!
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVLRMWjHa0U"]YouTube- Best Goal ever!!(Dennis Bergkamp)[/ame]

    DAAAMN! :clap:
     
    hammerbillsfan, baboo72 and alen1 like this.
  14. baboo72

    baboo72 Bleeding aqua & orange

    3,242
    782
    0
    Mar 23, 2008
    Watford, England
    whooooaaa!!! Sp*rs are the J*ts of the EPL :no:
     
  15. baboo72

    baboo72 Bleeding aqua & orange

    3,242
    782
    0
    Mar 23, 2008
    Watford, England
    I remember watching the game with my Dad & brother who are both NUFC fans and even they gasped at the quality of the goal. Bergkamp never scored an average goal almost everyone of them was fantastic!

    I remember one game where Arsenal were playing Juventus in the CL and he set up Freddie Lumberg for a goal through 3 defenders with a twist a little through ball that had you staring thinking how the hell did you do that?! Greatest Arsenal signing ever and the reason we are who we are now :up:
     
    giovafin likes this.
  16. baboo72

    baboo72 Bleeding aqua & orange

    3,242
    782
    0
    Mar 23, 2008
    Watford, England
    hammerbillsfan and alen1 like this.
  17. High Definition

    High Definition No Smoke / No Drink 2011+

    8,836
    2,880
    0
    Nov 26, 2007
    South Beach
    Comcast needs to add FSC in HD man.... God.

    They just booted up a huge HD update and left this out again.
     
  18. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Man Robert Green and West Ham as a whole are awful. This is ugly.
     
  19. hammerbillsfan

    hammerbillsfan Suffering Bills Fan

    1,210
    467
    0
    Dec 28, 2008
    Toronto, ON
    I have the Wigan/Blackpool game on, Blackpool should be up 3-0 :O
     
  20. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Villa has, I believe, 11 corners through 34 minutes.
     
  21. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Ashley Young has played a quality game.
     
  22. baboo72

    baboo72 Bleeding aqua & orange

    3,242
    782
    0
    Mar 23, 2008
    Watford, England
    Joe Hart was the difference between Man City & Sp*rs today. Liked him at Birmingham last year and should have played during the World Cup. Sp*rs should have been at least 5 up by half time.

    Great result for Blackpool today, they'll need that confidence.
     
  23. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    Man City better spend a bit more money...they looked like poop today.

    lucky to get a result.
     
  24. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    not a good start for Wigan... Martinez may be back at ESPN sooner rather than later... yikes... saw some of the first half with Chelsea... looking mighty as expected...
     
  25. RangersPhin

    RangersPhin New Member

    73
    20
    0
    Aug 9, 2010
    Scotland
    Man City can spend money, Man City can buy 'top players,' they can pay top wages but they cannot make the squad gel.
     
    alen1 likes this.
  26. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Haha. Why is that? I really enjoyed watching them today and like some of their players quite a bit. I look forward to watching Arsenal play.
     
  27. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    They are the rivals of Arsenal and they are one of the teams that get some praise and they run with it, only to fall flat on their face.
     
  28. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Man Arshavin better not crap the bed this season. He needs to play with some consistency.
     
  29. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Wilshere!!
     
  30. Skull Destroyer

    Skull Destroyer Well-Known Member

    751
    503
    93
    Jan 7, 2009
    Orlando
    I'll never understand why players go into tackles with the scissor. I mean if your front foot misses in front of the ball/leg, physics says when you swing the back your back leg, you'll catch the guy. Happens every time. Koscielny was impressing me.
     
  31. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    not a red card on Cole's challenge... certainly a yellow and unnecessary by Cole in the other half of the pitch. Ngog is really a horrible player... all speed but not much talent with his feet...
     
  32. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Some first half thoughts:

    - What an awful tackle by Cole at the end. Well deserved card.

    - Koscielny down is not good. We can't afford losses on defense.

    - In the first twenty five minutes, Clichy got beaten nonstop. He's very inconsistent IMO. Every ball he was either late to or he simply got beaten. He got a little better as it went on and he did help save the goal on the line. Lets hope he continues to get better but man his inconsistency drives me nuts.

    - Arshavin remains anonymous.

    - I really like what Nasri's doing out there. He pushes it well and creates passing windows as well as opportunities but he needs to learn to put more air under the ball. On both corners and free kicks, they were short.

    - Jack Wilshere is doing well IMO. He has not given away any cheap balls from what I remember and he's shown a little physicality. I think that yellow was a shame because it wasn't deserving. It was no worse than Gerrard's foul, which went without card.

    - Emmanuel Eboue and Abou Diaby are good until they try to do too much IMO. When they get the ball at their feet, they dribble, dribble and dribble. Diaby loses the ball consistently. However, I think he's done well as a deep lying mid.

    - We need a goal keeper. Alumnia scares me, still.

    - Vermaelen appears to be in good form, which I like a lot. He did well on his only spot kick.
     
  33. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Agreed but that yellow as not deserving IMO. Agree on Koscielny. Damn shame he had to leave the pitch.

    Not a red? Really? He went right through Koscielny.
     
  34. Skull Destroyer

    Skull Destroyer Well-Known Member

    751
    503
    93
    Jan 7, 2009
    Orlando
    Is it me or does Nasri seem to play better when Cesc is out?
     
  35. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    I've seen worse from behind not called a red... that wasn't a red. Wasn't even from behind...
     
    baboo72 likes this.
  36. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    I think so too.
     
  37. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    The challenge was completely unnecessary. It deserved a red.
     
  38. Skull Destroyer

    Skull Destroyer Well-Known Member

    751
    503
    93
    Jan 7, 2009
    Orlando
    REAL CLASSY LIVERPOOL CHANTING SAME OLE ARSENAL ALWAYS CHEATING AS KOS IS CARRIED OUT ON A STRETCHER. With mascharano on their team, im sure this isn't a first.
     
    alen1 likes this.
  39. alen1

    alen1 New Member

    52,811
    20,365
    0
    Dec 16, 2007
    Koscielny is back! Yes!
     

Share This Page