Soccer thread

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:13 am

CAn't wait for the Bayern-Milano game.

Atxj · Post by **Atxj** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:56 pm

fsquid wrote:CAn't wait for the Bayern-Milano game.

How are you coping with the pain? Your boys didn't really show up.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:18 am

no pain. The season must go on and my boys have to get into 3rd position now in Germany.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:29 am

I don't know if it's a matchup that neutrals will like to see again, but Liverpool - Chelsea, with Rafa and the Special One already verbally sparring, has me pumped up beyond belief!

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:46 pm

Can someone explain to me why all the English pundits and fans call Jose, "Joe-Say" instead of the proper way? Is this just the portuguese pronounciation or is this the english completely f'n up his name.

It's been driving me nuts listening to english radio.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:59 pm

It's a week late, but the guys at That's On Point have started an MLS Fantasy league. It's just starting, so everyone is on an even playing field.

If anyone is interested:

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/2007/0 ... l#comments

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:34 pm

JRod wrote:Can someone explain to me why all the English pundits and fans call Jose, "Joe-Say" instead of the proper way?

It is the proper way. He is Portuguese, not Spanish.

Atxj · Post by **Atxj** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:06 pm

RobVarak wrote:It's a week late, but the guys at That's On Point have started an MLS Fantasy league. It's just starting, so everyone is on an even playing field.

If anyone is interested:

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/2007/0 ... l#comments

6 transfers per week?

I would of otherwise, but no thanks.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:15 pm

RobVarak wrote:It's a week late, but the guys at That's On Point have started an MLS Fantasy league. It's just starting, so everyone is on an even playing field.

If anyone is interested:

http://thatsonpoint.blogspot.com/2007/0 ... l#comments

2 weeks late. Evidently Week 2 starts tonight and they've already closed it for the week.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:02 pm

AtXj wrote:
6 transfers per week?

I would of otherwise, but no thanks.

That is dumb, but it's only for beer and skittles so I figure what the hell. It is just MLS anyway...

Atxj · Post by **Atxj** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:44 pm

RobVarak wrote:
AtXj wrote:
6 transfers per week?

I would of otherwise, but no thanks.
That is dumb, but it's only for beer and skittles so I figure what the hell. It is just MLS anyway...

True.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:27 am

Did anyone else catch the new EPL rights distribution format for U.S. TV for the next three seasons?

<<<<<

For the 2007-2008 through 2009-2010 seasons:

In the U.S., FOX Sports International (FSI) and Setanta Sports
North America will divide the EPL in the following manner:

Saturdays at 7:45am ET: Setanta Sports USA
Saturdays at 10am ET: Setanta Sports USA will have 1st choice,
FOX Soccer Channel will have 2nd choice, Setanta Xtra will
have 3rd choice, FOX Soccer Channel will have 4th choice (tape-delay)
Saturdays at 12:15pm ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Sundays at 8:30am ET or 9am ET: Setanta Sports USA
Sundays at 10am ET or 11am ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Mondays at 3pm ET: Setanta Sports USA
Midweek: Setanta Sports USA will have 1st choice,
FOX Soccer Channel will have 2nd choice, Setanta Xtra
will have 3rd choice, FOX Soccer Channel will have 4th choice (tape-
delay)

>>>>>

Now, can someone explain to me what the point is of having Fox Soccer Channel? It's getting all of the scraps of the EPL. Setanta has won the war; it clearly is the No. 1 soccer network for U.S. viewers.

The only positive of this deal is that Newcastle is so bad that its games will be very prevalent among the second- and third-choice scraps that FSC will broadcast, so I may end up seeing more Magpies' games.

Otherwise, you can only watch Middlesbrough v. Fulham so many times before you really start hating FSC.

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:16 am

I don't think FSC is a total waste. I'd need to doublecheck my facts, but I think Setanta mainly focuses on English sports, so other than the EPL, they don't carry much soccer. FSC on the other hand can still bring you an additional game or two a week from Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, Argentina or MLS.

The other big factor is price. For instance on DirecTV for $10/month, you can get FSC, GolTV, plus the 20+ other regional sports networks in the US. If I recall correctly, Setanta is $15/month just for that single channel. When I had DirecTV, the choice was pretty simple for me to get their $10 sports pack rather than Setanta.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:38 am

Chelski again........

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:44 am

Naples39 wrote:I don't think FSC is a total waste. I'd need to doublecheck my facts, but I think Setanta mainly focuses on English sports, so other than the EPL, they don't carry much soccer. FSC on the other hand can still bring you an additional game or two a week from Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, Argentina or MLS.

FSC no longer carries German, Spanish or Dutch games. It gets scraps from Serie A, with none of the elite clubs such as AC, Inter or Juventus. So we're left with Argentina -- which is a plus -- Mexican League and MLS, both of which make me yawn. At least FSC carries many UEFA Cup and FA Cup matches.

FSC blows. It has gone from the TV soccer destination for American footie fans to a pale shade of a network. If FSC's soccer offerings are going to be this meager, then it should return to its Fox Sports World guise and show some rugby and cricket, too.

The torrents at fbtz.com are looking like a better option than ever.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:33 pm

FSC won the rights to Serie A starting next season.

PK, in weeks that there are no midweek Euro games, the 11am Sunday game in the EPL's "showcase" game. on weeks where there is Euro games midweek, they move the "showcase" game to Sat. 7:45 EST. Thus, FSC had to give up first pick on Sat. to get the sole rights to the 11am EST Sunday game.

While it might look like a dumb decision, I'm guessing that those in the know at both companies think this works for them both.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:39 pm

Still sucks for an EPL fan. I have little interest in Serie A. I'd rather see Bundesliga, Eredivisie or La Liga before that league, especially Bundesliga.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:50 pm

pk500 wrote:Still sucks for an EPL fan. I have little interest in Serie A. I'd rather see Bundesliga, Eredivisie or La Liga before that league, especially Bundesliga.

Take care,
PK

That's why I have GolTV and the always great Ray Hudson!! The guys at EPL Talk interviewed him last week. Can't wait to hear that interview.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:02 pm

GolTV isn't available on my digital cable system, and I'm not hardcore enough to drop digital cable for a dish just to get it. I'm one of the few very satisfied TimeWarner Digital Cable customers, apparently.

Now, if I can only get the NHL Network on dish, hmm. Decisions, decisions ...

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:36 pm

pk500 wrote:GolTV isn't available on my digital cable system, and I'm not hardcore enough to drop digital cable for a dish just to get it. I'm one of the few very satisfied TimeWarner Digital Cable customers, apparently.

Now, if I can only get the NHL Network on dish, hmm. Decisions, decisions ...

Take care,
PK

I thought it was because your wife would cut your balls off if she couldn't see every Cuse basketball game.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:00 pm

Great Superclasico. I am not happy with the result, but clearly River's keeper J.P Carrizo was the difference. Martin Palermo missed some clear chances.

Always nice to hear Max Bretos doing the commentary, wished he could stay fulltime in Futbol Argentino.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:18 pm

10spro wrote:Great Superclasico. I am not happy with the result, but clearly River's keeper J.P Carrizo was the difference. Martin Palermo missed some clear chances.

Always nice to hear Max Bretos doing the commentary, wished he could stay fulltime in Futbol Argentino.

I find myself suffering from withering Superclassico fatigue. I get the magnitude of the matchup, but maybe if they played each other less than 9 times per year it would have even more heat?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:35 pm

where is Bretos going?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:53 pm

fsquid wrote:where is Bretos going?

I hear him doing a lot of Italian Serie A lately.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:45 am

10spro wrote:
fsquid wrote:where is Bretos going?
I hear him doing a lot of Italian Serie A lately.

True, they are about to get that whole contract and they might be shifting him there.