^^ I was talking about this with my brother... it's not entirely impossible they won't move up to Serie A after next year. Think about it, they only lost 1 game in Serie A this year... and if they keep all their players (I know this is doubtful, but they have said publicly they're going to try to keep their players), they have a good shot at making a top 3 spot. Last year, that was 76 points out of 42 games. Down 30 points, they can still afford to lose 5/6 games and still get to that 76 point plateau.

Of course, this is all based on their same roster and I don't know how that's going to work out

7/14/2006 6:07:20 PM

They say they're going to try to keep players, but where are they going to get the money to pay them? All of the foreign players are gone for sure. That's Nedved, Vieira, Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet, Thuram, Kovac, and maybe Emerson. Buffon has already said that he probably won't be back, and that's a bad sign for Cannavaro, Camoranesi, etc.

It's not impossible, but it's not probable, either.

7/14/2006 8:11:51 PM

They had mentioned loaning them out to other teams....


I doubt that will happen, either.


Also, that TAMOIL contract they've got is probably going to go right down the shitter, because you KNOW they've got to have a buyout clause.

7/14/2006 8:47:32 PM

7/14/2006 10:03:02 PM

Awww, look at li'l Ole. I like the socks, BTW.

7/15/2006 3:40:05 AM

Vinylbandit, good to know your a manchester united fan!!! Ive followed the EPL very closely for bout 9 seasons now, but i expect this coming season to be an absolute cracker. with Juve, Fiorentina and Lazio being relegated, the bidding wars will begin shortly. Manutd are rumored to have lined up an audacious bid for Viera. With Gattusso and Pirlo not going anywhere, it would seem like Viera, Hargreaves, Ribery and Carrick will be top of their shopping list.

The need for at least 2 quality midfielders has never been more at OT, and i expect the Glazers to shell out some big money for whoever they want. Personally i would like to see Viera and Ribery join Utd, but with Ole, Smithy and Scholesy fit, its going to be difficult to accomodate some big names.

For those fo you that dont have FSC and love watching games, i have been watching them online for 2 years now at NCSU. the program is called "coolstreaming" and can be downloaded online, just search for it on google. Also reliable are other programs like "pplive" , "tvants" , or "ppstream" . Again, just google for them and set them up to run on your system. If your on-campus the speeds are much better so there wont be any buffering at all. I was fortunate enough to find out bout these programs and so have been able to watch all the premier league games, some la liga, some serie A, some bundesliga and heck even some korean soccer!!!

GLORY GLORY MANUTD!!!!!!

7/15/2006 5:30:21 AM

With regards to a fantasy league, ive been playing the free version on yahoo for some time now. We should go ahead and create an NCSU group on that, unless someone knows a better website. The yahoo one does well with a salary cap and constant changing of player prices based on performances etc etc, unlike the lame world cup game that let you pick a ridiculously good team.

If anyone creates it, let us know, or i can go ahead and do it when the sign up begins. Trezeguet to Reading? Emerson to Bolton? hahaha, who knows what the next few weeks have in store for us!!!

7/15/2006 5:38:31 AM

To be fair, I picked United semi-arbitrarily because of Timmy Howard. I can't switch to Everton now, though.

However, if Northampton Town ever get a sniff of the Prem, I'll be all over them.

*ducks tomato*

7/15/2006 6:04:41 AM

I picked Man U because of Eric Cantona's flying kung fu kick to a Crystal Palace fan


and also because he picked another fan's nose

7/15/2006 8:28:36 AM

Speaking of picking EPL teams, I don't know if anybody here reads the Sports Guy, especially when it comes to soccer because he's usually quick to bash it. But, he said he's missed the ball on Champions League and EPL and he's had people send him in reasons to start pulling for a certain team. He's going to have a column next week that give his top 3 teams and he's going to pick one to pull for next season. He also said he's not going to half-ass it either - he's going to buy merchandise, tivo games, and even go to a couple of the home games.

I'm excited to read it because I used to be a big fan but lately all it's been is NBA and stupid pop culture crap.

P.S. - He said ManYoo won't be one of his choices.

7/15/2006 8:32:15 AM

weak


also, I find it hard to believe Ole is in his 30s


I mean, come on. Dude looks like he's twelve. He's the Anti-Adu.

7/15/2006 8:35:13 AM

Who Put the Ball in the Germans' Net?

7/15/2006 8:38:51 AM

^^ im gonna go ahead and say his top 3 picks will be :

1.Chelsea - they are the shit and have stars galore, mixed well with an idiotic, yet brilliant tactical coach.
2. L'pool - Gerrard inspires the entire squad and rafa is a wizard at taming people, so expect alot from Bellamy.
3. Arsenal - Thierry Henry chose to stay for a good reason, they have a young and hungry squad, and Rosicky is gonna be a fantastic addition to an already brilliant team.

However, my pick is Utd, i think the likes of Giggsy and Scholesy want to go out in style, not to mention Fergie, whos end is relatively near. Some big names will be announced soon im sure, and expect a firing start to the season from the Red Devils!!!

7/15/2006 10:35:19 AM

Quote :

"Trezeguet to Reading?"

WHAAAAATT?!1?

7/15/2006 7:01:07 PM

FYI: the guys at Sylvia's tend to have FSC on most afternoons when I've been there for lunch.

I think I'm going to throw all of my support behind the Spurs for good now. They're on the way up.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 1:27 AM. Reason : .]

7/17/2006 1:13:19 AM

^ good to know , thanks for the heads up. the problem is most weekend prem games start at bout 8 am in raleigh so finding someplace to watch it is really impossible. The spurs did well last season, and with ledley king back to full fitness, and some sumemr signings , martin jol's squad might be pushing for 3rd or 4th place this season. I cant wait for the season to start, whats the deal with the fantasy league? which one are we all gonna play?

7/17/2006 3:19:20 AM

as much as I'd like to see it united doesn't stand a chance at winning the premiership. with ballack and shevchenko joining Chelsea i'd be surprised if they didn't go undefeated and have the league wrapped up in record time.

7/17/2006 2:27:30 PM

oh come on, ye of little faith

SAF is putting together a bid for Patrick Viera as we speak, and Carrick is expected to be signed before Friday. Diarra wants to come to Old Trafford, Ole Gunner's in form, Scholes is back, Rossi is a wunderkind, Rooney's the man, and United has arguably the best back line in the EPL with Gaby back.


I think Chelski's biggest problem (as it has been in the past few seasons) will be the fact that there's way too much talent going to waste on their bench. That, coupled with the fact that they're going to have to gel with Schevchenko and Ballack in the lineup before they make any massive impact is going to open the door for the Red Devils to get back where they need to be (on top).

7/17/2006 2:35:04 PM

Quote :

"if Northampton Town ever get a sniff of the Prem, I'll be all over them. "

Hahaha, my cousin used to live in Northhampton. Any special reason for liking them? He always talked about how much of a dissapointment they were.

7/17/2006 2:39:25 PM

I need a Premiership team to go for. What Prem team would be most like NC State in terms of cheering for them? Newcastle?

Quote :

"I think Chelski's biggest problem (as it has been in the past few seasons) will be the fact that there's way too much talent going to waste on their bench. That, coupled with the fact that they're going to have to gel with Schevchenko and Ballack in the lineup before they make any massive impact is going to open the door for the Red Devils to get back where they need to be (on top)."

Chelsea's problem is they're becoming a new-age Real Madrid. And that team sure worked out well...

Hearts are going to win the Scottish title!

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 4:18 PM. Reason : .]

7/17/2006 4:15:34 PM

You mean rabidly faithful when they're doing well and ready to slit the manager's throat when they're not?


Uh... Newcastle, yeah.

Manchester City...

hell, just about any manager is in danger of getting sacked at any point during the season in the EPL, and around Europe. Over there, they don't give a damn. They'll throw you under the bus if you start out 0-3.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 4:19 PM. Reason : ^ They're Real London]

7/17/2006 4:17:53 PM

I meant more along the lines of "so much promise, but always pulling defeat from the jaws of victory".

I can't cheer for a bandwagon team or team that always wins. I have in the past and after awhile I just lose interest (I was kinda Lakers fan in the early 90s when they went 41-41 every year, but once they started winning I just didn't care) cause it doesn't mean anything to me. I have to have a team that loses occasionally (or often) cause that's how I build up an attachment. (For example, I'm a MetroStars/RBNY fan ). So I can't cheer for Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, or Chelsea.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 4:25 PM. Reason : .]

7/17/2006 4:21:18 PM

Tottenham Hotspur all the way...

I mostly support them because they are the "local" team to me. I grew up right next to Tottenham. Also, they have a HUUUUGE rivalry with Arsenal.

7/17/2006 4:44:34 PM

Hearts? Maybe. They finally broke the Glasgow stranglehold last year. Now if my Hibs can step up this year...

7/17/2006 4:46:31 PM

Quote :

"SAF is putting together a bid for Patrick Viera as we speak, and Carrick is expected to be signed before Friday. Diarra wants to come to Old Trafford, Ole Gunner's in form, Scholes is back, Rossi is a wunderkind, Rooney's the man, and United has arguably the best back line in the EPL with Gaby back. "

Add Fernando Torres to the list of possible signees. Spain choked in the WC but i like what Torres did.

7/17/2006 5:05:01 PM

^^ SPL. And they didn't break the stranglehold, Celtic still won the SPL with plenty of room to spare. Rangers just choked, which isn't surprising considering how shitty their whole situation was with management and ownership both wrestling for control. They'll be back on top this year, I think.

^ Torres isn't coming to United, his agent just shot down the whole proposition according to the last bit I read.

[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 5:12 PM. Reason : and to be quite honest there's no way Torres lives up to the 30 million pound tag slapped on him]

7/17/2006 5:10:12 PM

Quote :

"I meant more along the lines of "so much promise, but always pulling defeat from the jaws of victory". I can't cheer for a bandwagon team or team that always wins."

Leeds, Sheffield, or Wolverhampton

7/17/2006 5:12:59 PM

^Leeds didnt make it to the EPL tihs year



ahahahah fuck Leeds.

7/17/2006 5:15:27 PM

Quote :

"^Leeds didnt make it to the EPL tihs year ahahahah fuck Leeds."

yea but he wanted a team with promise but always fucks it up. nothing says promise like leeds with all that cash they had years ago and then imploding into bankruptcy.

7/17/2006 5:18:36 PM

i did not know that about torres. I havent read much about it in the past few days.

7/17/2006 5:35:19 PM

Yeah, his agent nixing the whole thing broke today.


Although it could all be a front, too. But like I said, the kid doesn't live up to 30 mil in any case, especially not at 22.



Also did anyone see that Chelsea got stuck with a #2 seed in the CL again? ahahahahahahhahahahhaha

GOTTA EARN YOUR PLACE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, BOYS


[Edited on July 17, 2006 at 6:14 PM. Reason : ahahahaha]

7/17/2006 6:08:35 PM

Quote :

"And they didn't break the stranglehold, Celtic still won the SPL with plenty of room to spare. Rangers just choked, which isn't surprising considering how shitty their whole situation was with management and ownership both wrestling for control. They'll be back on top this year, I think. "

Yeah, unfortunately that pretty much all true. Whatever happened with the talk of Rangers and Celtic going to the Premireship? Thats not still being discussed is it? I havent heard anything since ive been back in the states.

7/17/2006 7:03:52 PM

It'll never happen, they've been talking about it for years. The other EPL teams wouldn't like it because they'd lose some of their fanbase, and it would effectively kill the SPL. Not to mention it would be damn near impossible for either team to get into Europe.

7/17/2006 7:17:38 PM

my cousin has convinced me to pull for leeds, i need an EPL team

7/17/2006 7:21:46 PM

What English club was rumored to sign Onyewu? I want to say Boro, but I'm not sure

7/17/2006 8:27:18 PM

what is the word on kaka...is he leaving ac?

7/17/2006 8:48:15 PM

YNWA, bitches!




Chelski will win the EPL again, but sputter in Champion's League as always.


If Liverpool can get some goalscoring, they'll be tough to beat and may actually give ManU a good run for 2nd place.

7/17/2006 8:51:26 PM

Quote :

"It'll never happen, they've been talking about it for years. The other EPL teams wouldn't like it because they'd lose some of their fanbase, and it would effectively kill the SPL. Not to mention it would be damn near impossible for either team to get into Europe."

I followed the SPL somewhat last year (BBC Scotland gives free online audio for all non-Old Firm games, this was before I finally bit down and upgraded my cable to get FSC at least). Hearts splitting the Old Firm and taking second was good. Their Lithuanian owner has a large dictatorship streak in him and wants to choose the team himself instead of the manager (and fired one manager because of that), but he's made the club the best it's been in a long time.

Hibernian and even Kilmarnock could have potentially gotten past Rangers toward the end of the season. After their poor start, Celtic just ran off after awhile and never looked back, but Hearts kept last season very entertaining. You add in Aberdeen and Dundee United, who have large support who should be doing better, and the SPL is on the up.

7/18/2006 9:12:06 AM

Right, but the SPL will always play second fiddle to the EPL. They get no respect in Europe, and rightfully so, as it's a league where older EPL players go to retire, or where younger players get warmed up for the jump to the EPL.

They'll always be considered a tier below, and honestly I don't think I could ever see them putting 2 teams (or more) into European play, considering how the single team they put in regularly hasn't performed well to begin with.

[Edited on July 18, 2006 at 10:51 AM. Reason : really, I think the SPL is on par with the Championship, save for the Old Firm]

7/18/2006 10:50:28 AM

Yes, but if the entire point of every soccer team not in England, Italy, and Spain is to be a minor league for going to those leagues, than what's the point of people to care about soccer outside those countries (especially in ours)?

The day the entire existance of me being an American soccer fan outside of the national team is for me to cheer for one player playing as a substitute for Manchester City is the day I tell the sport to f*** off. (And I think that's what a Scot would say.)

[Edited on July 18, 2006 at 11:19 AM. Reason : .]

7/18/2006 11:17:43 AM

Oh, I'm not saying you shouldn't care about it, I'm just saying it's not nearly as competitive. You can take from that what you will.

7/18/2006 12:08:08 PM

FYI for all English soccer fans, Sheffield Wednesday of the Championship will be playing against the USL All-Stars at SAS Soccer Park in Cary on Wednesday night at 8pm.

Romario will be playing for the USL side (he plays in the league for Miami FC).

If you cannot make it out to the game, it will be live on Fox Soccer Channel.

(At halftime, the new USL-1 franchise at SAS to start play next year will announce their name.)

[Edited on July 18, 2006 at 2:14 PM. Reason : .]

7/18/2006 2:12:43 PM

sheffield just tied the wilmington hammerheads a couple days ago

7/18/2006 2:50:45 PM

NO ONE TOLD ME ROMARIO WOULD BE PLAYING

7/18/2006 7:03:07 PM

if anybody likes Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, he tries to pick an EPL team to follow here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060719

7/19/2006 2:45:08 PM

According to the tabloids, Chelsea had a 50 million pound bid to AC Milan for Kaka shot down today.

7/19/2006 2:57:55 PM

good...he better not go there

7/19/2006 3:01:10 PM

The new USL-1 team to play at SAS Soccer Park next year will be...



the Carolina Railhawks.

"Triangle Professional Soccer announced tonight during halftime of the USL All-Stars v. Sheffield Wednesday match at SAS Soccer Park that the name of the new USL-1 expansion team located in Cary, NC will be Carolina Railhawks FC and the team's colors will be blue, orange, and gray."

Thankfully, no sky blue.

[Edited on July 19, 2006 at 9:06 PM. Reason : .]

7/19/2006 9:04:46 PM

WTF is a railhawk?

I mean, I know the tracks are right there, but that'd be like naming the Canes the "Carolina Coast-to-Coast Interstate Highwaydogs."

[Edited on July 19, 2006 at 11:20 PM. Reason : tt]

7/19/2006 11:19:19 PM

SKREECH SKREECH MOTHERFUCKER

7/19/2006 11:19:55 PM