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2009-10 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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jaffa,
i'm an american who's never been into the EPL (it's la liga or nothing for me!). i've seen the odd game now and then (i even attended a chelsea game in 1994 (what percent of chelsea fans today can say that?)), but i was never really emotionally invested in any of the teams until i started reading your reports here on macrumors a few years ago of hull's rapid ascent through the leagues. i remember reading your posts about their successes, and with every promotion, every improbable victory, i got a little more hooked. last year's opening day victory was probably the first time i've ever been actually excited about a premiership result, and i found myself checking up on hull almost every week throughout the year, mentally high-fiving your avatar when i saw their victories (as a person who posts on the internet with whom i've never communicated, you qualify as the only supporter i know).
anyway, now altidore (america's great hope®) has joined you, and i'm doubly invested. i've always thought it was funny that while i couldn't reliably name half the regulars of the premiership, i've been following old hull from their humble tier 3 days. and since that's pretty much all because of you, i thought i'd tell you. go hull! : )
i'm an american who's never been into the EPL (it's la liga or nothing for me!). i've seen the odd game now and then (i even attended a chelsea game in 1994 (what percent of chelsea fans today can say that?)), but i was never really emotionally invested in any of the teams until i started reading your reports here on macrumors a few years ago of hull's rapid ascent through the leagues. i remember reading your posts about their successes, and with every promotion, every improbable victory, i got a little more hooked. last year's opening day victory was probably the first time i've ever been actually excited about a premiership result, and i found myself checking up on hull almost every week throughout the year, mentally high-fiving your avatar when i saw their victories (as a person who posts on the internet with whom i've never communicated, you qualify as the only supporter i know).
anyway, now altidore (america's great hope®) has joined you, and i'm doubly invested. i've always thought it was funny that while i couldn't reliably name half the regulars of the premiership, i've been following old hull from their humble tier 3 days. and since that's pretty much all because of you, i thought i'd tell you. go hull! : )
Indeed, not only did you start the season with a crushing victory, but you did it against a team that has a reputation for not leaking lots of goals. As I said in my previous post it's too early to take too much from one match, but in this game at least Arsenal did not miss the outgoing players at all, and "The Professor" is upholding his reputation.
I want Liverpool to win the title. But seeing Arsenal do it would not be so bad, because it means neither Man U nor Chelsea will win it.
First of all, I'm obviously thrilled at the Arsenal result yesterday. I wasn't able to watch it, but I did see the Man City match. Everything I saw from Ade looked familiar. Great skill and effort for a short spell, but also long stretches where he was lazy and disinterested. I can't say I'm sad to see him gone.
Seems that Altidore is mired in some work permit complications...hopefully the red tape is cut in time for the next match.
Translation: "I was an idiot to drive Alonso out of the club, and we needed him yesterday. But it's still early in the season, so hopefully when Aquilani shows up he fills the void before any real damage is done so I don't look like a fool."
Rafa Benitez (from BBC) said:
Translation: "I was an idiot to drive Alonso out of the club, and we needed him yesterday. But it's still early in the season, so hopefully when Aquilani shows up he fills the void before any real damage is done so I don't look like a fool."
Hotspurs 2 - 1 Liverpool
A fine start, especially with Spurs being thin on defense. Hope it's a sign of things to come.
The only thing that puzzles me about Spurs' squad is how will Harry keep Crouch, Defoe, Pavyluchenko and Keane happy when they all want to be starting? Something's got to give methinks...
So we managed to beat Birmingham 1-0 but I'd much rather we played some fancy football and not win than scrap through the premiership like last year. If you think about it, the team that lost out to Milan in the Semi 3 years ago was worse than this one.
On the other hand, very mature performance from Hull, it'll be interesting to see if they suffer the "second season syndrome", Arsenal were a joy to behold as usual, Chelsea need to sort out a proper formation soon and are we all really that surprised Liverpool lost to Tottenham away??
On the other hand, very mature performance from Hull, it'll be interesting to see if they suffer the "second season syndrome", Arsenal were a joy to behold as usual, Chelsea need to sort out a proper formation soon and are we all really that surprised Liverpool lost to Tottenham away??
Yeah, I'm not sure how that will work, considering how different the four of them are. Why buy Crouch with that kind of depth up front, other than Redknapp's obvious love for him, I mean? Since no one would have bet against Woodgate getting hurt again, it seemed to me that the clear need was at the back, but they didn't address that. I predict that there will be some hair-raising, 4-3 matches this season.
Indeed, it will be a miracle if Spurs can get a whole season out of Ledley King, even only playing him one game a week max. The guy may be a great defender, but his legs are made of glass. Selling a striker and buying a defender would balance the squad better I think., of course, Spurs just bought a couple strikers so I have no idea what Harry is doing (which is fine, he's got a lot more matches under his belt ).
).
Maybe to do with the fact that if they'd have worn our away kit the kitman would have to name and number up a complete squad's worth of clobber at very short notice. It was a bit embarrassing mind, having to play at home in our away kit.
Aw, bless thanks for that. It's a pity I'm not on commission!
You may be interested then in taking a look at this it's an online guide the club put together ahead of the Asia Trophy. Lots of information about the club, our players and history.
As Phil Brown says on the OWS...
"Between work permits, swine flu scares, international duty, biometric tests, psychometric tests and without even mentioning his passport, I don't think Jozy is going to play any part in the game tomorrow night," said City boss Phil Brown.
"He is still in the United States and we are fairly adamant that he will be getting on a plane on Thursday, ready to train on Friday with a view to playing on Saturday.
"Jozy is very frustrated. He is a 19-year-old bundle of energy who has just signed for a new football club and can't play any part in the opening fixtures."
As I understand it, he's having some difficulty because his documentation requires a load of biometric information and his current passport isn't biometric or something, so he's having to have retinal scans, fingerprints logged and colour of underwear noted before he can be fully cleared to play.
Meanwhile, some not very good news about our captain Ian Ashbee he's suffered an injury setback that's going to have him out of action for another nine months.
There have been rumours over the last few weeks that Ashbee's injury was worse than first feared, to the point of being career ending. Unfortunately, it looks like there may have been some truth in them.
Arsenal are playing pretty well up at Celtic today, by what I can tell following online. A result there would be another good boost for our confidence, given Celtic's record against good clubs at home.
Wolves have just beat Wigan to record their first ever away win in the Premier League and first away win in the top flight for 25 years.
The pundits are all smoking the same crack in their predictions about Liverpool's season - every podcast and editorial I've read is exactly the same: "Well, it's too early to make predictions, but we can be sure that Liverpool is not only out of the title race but also out of the top four because Xabi Alonso has left."
What a bunch of crap.
What pain in the arse...I'm considering graduate school in Europe but looking at Altidore's travails I can't imagine the hoops I'd have to jump through to get over there.
Based on the Celtic game I'd say that Arsenal are definitely improved over last season, but it remains to be seen if they have the necessary depth (a problem shared with Liverpool IMO).
What a bunch of crap.
What pain in the arse...I'm considering graduate school in Europe but looking at Altidore's travails I can't imagine the hoops I'd have to jump through to get over there.
Based on the Celtic game I'd say that Arsenal are definitely improved over last season, but it remains to be seen if they have the necessary depth (a problem shared with Liverpool IMO).
Premiership manager has walked or been fired according to TalkSport.
Betting suspended on Premiership sackings on PP.
My money would be on Moyes, Benitez, Hart or Zola...
Betting suspended on Premiership sackings on PP.
My money would be on Moyes, Benitez, Hart or Zola...
^^ It could be Moyes, but only if Lescott is sold "behind his back".
Possibly related news: Moyes drops Lescott over attitude. Not the most surprising news after last weekend's performance...
Possibly related news: Moyes drops Lescott over attitude. Not the most surprising news after last weekend's performance...
Possibly related news: Moyes drops Lescott over attitude. Not the most surprising news after last weekend's performance...
Credit to Moyes for sticking to his guns, but if Man City are offering in the region of 18-20 million, and seeing as Lescott's head has clearly been turned, I can't see that he has much choice but to sell. If so, he'd better do it quick so he can buy a replacement.
I'd like to see that, too. Get rid of Lescott and buy Hangeland from Fulham before Wenger does...
I'd like to see that, too. Get rid of Lescott and buy Hangeland from Fulham before Wenger does...
I hope Lescott goes too, Wolves get 10% of any profit Everton make on the deal.
I have to give a shout out to the CONCACAF Champions League...I went to see Columbus defeat USL side Puerto Rico Islanders last night in front of a meagre 6,000ish fans at Crew Stadium.
The Islanders parked the bus from the first minute on, hoping for a scoreless draw, it took until the second half for my boys to break them down with a pair of goals. Because of the tiny crowd, I got to park right in front of the stadium, there were no lines for beer and we sat right on the sideline. Which made up for the dull first half.
So far, MLS sides have not taken the CL seriously, but Columbus is one of the few MLS sides that has the depth to do it and I was pleased to see the manager send out a full-strength side. Next opponent: Mexican side Cruz Azul. IF we manage to win the CL that's a ticket to the Club World Cup!
The Islanders parked the bus from the first minute on, hoping for a scoreless draw, it took until the second half for my boys to break them down with a pair of goals. Because of the tiny crowd, I got to park right in front of the stadium, there were no lines for beer and we sat right on the sideline. Which made up for the dull first half.
So far, MLS sides have not taken the CL seriously, but Columbus is one of the few MLS sides that has the depth to do it and I was pleased to see the manager send out a full-strength side. Next opponent: Mexican side Cruz Azul. IF we manage to win the CL that's a ticket to the Club World Cup!
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