I'm going to the Chelsea/Inter game on the 21st. Should be great.
EDIT: I'll try to post some pics with my iPhone 3GS now that the pics it takes are actually usable.
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2009-10 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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I'm going to the Chelsea/Inter game on the 21st. Should be great.
EDIT: I'll try to post some pics with my iPhone 3GS now that the pics it takes are actually usable.
Awesome! I would have liked to made it to at least one game, but it is not to be. Pics would be great...let us know what the atmosphere is like.
Hull interested in Owen
I guess if they can agree wages, he might be a good signing for them:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/8112170.stm
I guess if they can agree wages, he might be a good signing for them:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/8112170.stm
He's going to be on a significantly reduced wages wherever he goes. The problem with Owen is that I don't see him as a good investment. He's getting on, is a huge injury risk (and the Tigers already have Bullard to deal with in that area), and probably won't come very cheap. Hull City will probably want at least ten goals out of him, and he didn't manage half that number last season IIRC. Plus, Hull City would presumably use him as a starter, which would make the injury risk even higher.
If Owen was cheap he'd make a good impact player off the bench, but he clearly is looking for a starting berth. If I was Brown I would pass.
If Owen was cheap he'd make a good impact player off the bench, but he clearly is looking for a starting berth. If I was Brown I would pass.
So, ESPN has bought Setanta's Premier League Games for next season.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8113702.stm
Two Questions:
1) I assume these are UK rights only, so ESPN cannot show these games here in the US?
2) Will they subject the UK audience to Tommy "old onion bag" Smyth as an commentator?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8113702.stm
Two Questions:
1) I assume these are UK rights only, so ESPN cannot show these games here in the US?
2) Will they subject the UK audience to Tommy "old onion bag" Smyth as an commentator?
If Owen goes anywhere I expect most clubs to want him on a pay per play agreement, given his recent track record. If he can keep fit, get some confidence and enthusiasm back, and get good service, he might bang a few in.
Hmm. Michael Owen. Hmm.
I really don't know what to make of this. On the one hand... well, it's Michael Owen, and he's not exactly a bad larker, is he? But on the other hand, I think of the injuries, the loss of one of his key attributes – his pace – and I think of the disinterested, pale imitation of a once great player who faced City last season. Hmm.
Do the finances put me off? Well, not hugely. One of the Sunday red tops reported yesterday – for what it's worth – that we'd offer him a one year contract on £40,000 a week, with a £20,000 appearance fee and £10,000 per goal scored. It's a fair bit of money, but when you consider he'd be a free transfer and as such wouldn't cost us anything to sign, then those numbers don't look quite so bad. Hmm.
There's also the PR aspect, which can't be ignored. Owen would easily be our most famous player, the publicity and commercial possibilities are factors that I'm sure the Chairman is more than aware of. Hmm.
His Lordship mentions his goal tally for last season. He actually scored eight goals in the league, from 28 appearances – giving him an average of a goal every 3.5 games. However, it should be pointed out that our top League goalscorer was Geovanni, who also only scored eight from 32 starts – and he's a midfielder, our top striker was Marlon King with 5 goals from 19 League starts. So he's not exactly a lot worse than what we already have in the striking department. Hmm.
The thing is, Owen is the sort of player who thrives on others creating chances – flick ons, through balls, that sort of thing. As it stands we don't really create those sort of opportunities, hence our strikers' poor return last season. If we can address this major problem, and can keep Owen fit, then he has a chance of scoring goals for us. But there's no guarantee of that. Hmm.
So, no – I really don't know what to make of the possibility of us signing him.
I'll say this, mind. Nearly eleven years ago I watched Owen effortlessly waltz his way through the Argentine defence and score arguably the goal of the 1998 World Cup finals – and never did it even cross my mind that one day he might be on the verge of signing for the Tigers. Even more so, I certainly never thought I might actually question the wisdom of such a transfer.
Hmm.
I really don't know what to make of this. On the one hand... well, it's Michael Owen, and he's not exactly a bad larker, is he? But on the other hand, I think of the injuries, the loss of one of his key attributes – his pace – and I think of the disinterested, pale imitation of a once great player who faced City last season. Hmm.
Do the finances put me off? Well, not hugely. One of the Sunday red tops reported yesterday – for what it's worth – that we'd offer him a one year contract on £40,000 a week, with a £20,000 appearance fee and £10,000 per goal scored. It's a fair bit of money, but when you consider he'd be a free transfer and as such wouldn't cost us anything to sign, then those numbers don't look quite so bad. Hmm.
There's also the PR aspect, which can't be ignored. Owen would easily be our most famous player, the publicity and commercial possibilities are factors that I'm sure the Chairman is more than aware of. Hmm.
His Lordship mentions his goal tally for last season. He actually scored eight goals in the league, from 28 appearances – giving him an average of a goal every 3.5 games. However, it should be pointed out that our top League goalscorer was Geovanni, who also only scored eight from 32 starts – and he's a midfielder, our top striker was Marlon King with 5 goals from 19 League starts. So he's not exactly a lot worse than what we already have in the striking department. Hmm.
The thing is, Owen is the sort of player who thrives on others creating chances – flick ons, through balls, that sort of thing. As it stands we don't really create those sort of opportunities, hence our strikers' poor return last season. If we can address this major problem, and can keep Owen fit, then he has a chance of scoring goals for us. But there's no guarantee of that. Hmm.
So, no – I really don't know what to make of the possibility of us signing him.
I'll say this, mind. Nearly eleven years ago I watched Owen effortlessly waltz his way through the Argentine defence and score arguably the goal of the 1998 World Cup finals – and never did it even cross my mind that one day he might be on the verge of signing for the Tigers. Even more so, I certainly never thought I might actually question the wisdom of such a transfer.
Hmm.
Poor old Newcastle United. Still, at least things can't get any worse for them* right?
Er, wrong. See, they've unveiled next season's away shirt...
Absolutely awful. It seems to be the same template as the new home shirt which looks great in their traditional black and white, but yellow on light yellow? Not good.
Er, wrong. See, they've unveiled next season's away shirt...
Absolutely awful. It seems to be the same template as the new home shirt which looks great in their traditional black and white, but yellow on light yellow? Not good.
Not TOO bad, imo, but I think that may be because SO MANY teams released piss-poor ugly kits for this upcoming year and "bad" ones look ok to me
I think ESPN is aiming for the possibility of showing 1200 British time Saturday EPL games on ESPN2 here in the USA.
This is not as far fetched as some people think. EPL is pretty well-known to soccer fans here in the USA, and I wouldn't be surprised that we see "Big Four" EPL teams (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea) play more 1200 BST Saturday starts in order to attract the US audience. Also, the 1200 BST start time will avoid interference with American college football games in the fall, since collage football games usually start at 1200 Eastern time here in the USA (1800 to 1900 British time).
This is not as far fetched as some people think. EPL is pretty well-known to soccer fans here in the USA, and I wouldn't be surprised that we see "Big Four" EPL teams (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea) play more 1200 BST Saturday starts in order to attract the US audience. Also, the 1200 BST start time will avoid interference with American college football games in the fall, since collage football games usually start at 1200 Eastern time here in the USA (1800 to 1900 British time).
Is this just your hunch or have you seen something to indicate this - would be awesome if true.
JC: Came to this thread just to post the Newcastle Away Kit but you beat me to it - absolutely hideous.
They clearly thought that by adding some yellow they might be as awesome as the amber-clad Tigers.
They're wrong, obviously.
Actually I think the 1200 GMT/BST start times are to accommodate the Asian TV market, more than the US market. If ESPN does begin showing games here in the US, then either the 1200 or 1500 start time would work since the games would be finished by 1700/1100 Central
Hull chase Fortune
No, it's not so they can pay Owen's wages
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/8110785.stm
JC with the interest in Owen and now Fortune, does this mean the Campbell deal is looking less likely?
No, it's not so they can pay Owen's wages
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/8110785.stm
JC with the interest in Owen and now Fortune, does this mean the Campbell deal is looking less likely?
We've been linked with Fortune for a while – potentially we could land all three, but at least we have options. As I've mentioned before, a key reason why our form took such a nosedive in the later stages of the season was our poor recruitment in January – we lost Marlon King who, despite being a twunt, had been an effective player for us, and Windass left too, meaning that we were placing all our striking eggs in the Campbell basket. As we all know, young Fraizer went on loan to White Hart Lane as part of the deal that sent Berbatov the other way, and we spent the closing months of the campaign unable to bother a bovine's bottom with a banjo.
I don't know what to make of the Campbell transfer, I've got a fear he'll end up at Wigan or Sunderland instead. I suppose we'll see what happens when he comes back from Sweden...
By the way, there's a good reason why I suggest ESPN might be aiming for broadcasting Premier League games at the 1200 British time start on Saturdays: It would be either 0700 or 0800 Eastern time start, which means by the time the game ends in around two hours it would not interfere with the 1200 Eastern time start for college football in the eastern half of the USA.
Besides the obvious issue of no live broadcast games at 1500 British time (due to the agreement with the Football Association) being fed to the USA, the 1500 British time start means the game will end after the 1200 Eastern time start for American college football games.
Besides the obvious issue of no live broadcast games at 1500 British time (due to the agreement with the Football Association) being fed to the USA, the 1500 British time start means the game will end after the 1200 Eastern time start for American college football games.
Son of a.......
I guess Mr Virgin Media will be reducing the price of my XL TV packages by £10. No? Funny that. I ain't paying out another £19 to watch English football on Sky. Besides it's the golf I'll miss the most.
A chap from the SFA on the radio this morning sounded pretty cocky about the sale of Scottish TV rights so it sounds like ESPN are talking to them. Sky aren't a preffered bidder up here as the only slots they've offered are Saturday tea time and Monday evening, both unsuitable for the SFA.
I guess Mr Virgin Media will be reducing the price of my XL TV packages by £10. No? Funny that.
I ain't paying out another £19 to watch English football on Sky. Besides it's the golf I'll miss the most.A chap from the SFA on the radio this morning sounded pretty cocky about the sale of Scottish TV rights so it sounds like ESPN are talking to them. Sky aren't a preffered bidder up here as the only slots they've offered are Saturday tea time and Monday evening, both unsuitable for the SFA.
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