Here is how I see the EPL finishing up this season, using the WCSPI rating (Weston Corbitt Soccer Power Index) in reverse order of finish. I know the season already started and this is a little late, but the season is until May.
Bottom Three Get Relegated
20. West Ham United: Nickname: The Hammers. Manager: Avram Grant. Stadium: Boleyn Ground. 2009/2010 Finish: 17th. Rivals: Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea. The team with the coolest hooligans (they have a hobbit!!) isn't known for great soccer. Heck, their team song is "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" . I'm not going to get pumped for that. Also, their goalie is Robert Green. Ouch.
19. West Bromwich Albion: Nickname: The Baggies. Manager: Roberto Di Matteo. Stadium: The Hawthorns West Bromwich. 2009/2010 Finish: 2nd in the Football League Championship. Rivals: Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers. The team with a cute little bird for a mascot has had a rough time sticking tin the EPL for the better part of the decade (5 out 11 times in the EPL). They were very good back when India was owned by the Brits.
18. Stoke City: Nickname: The Potters. Manager: Tony Pulis. Stadium: Britannia Stadium Stoke-on-Trent. 2009/2010 Finish: 11th in the EPL. Rivals: Port Vale, Wolverhamton Wanderers. This team has signed some good veteran players and the last two seasons have played in the EPL. They finished last season very poorly and their players must come through to avoid relegation.
17. Everton: Nickname: The Toffees. Manager: David Moyes. Stadium: Goodison Park Liverpool. 2009/2010 Finish: 8th in the EPL. Rival: Liverpool. Everton does a lot with a little and are very popular all around the world. Tim Howard plays for the Toffees as did Landon Donovan, whose loan had Everton avoid relegation for the 107th year, most all time. Tim Cahill, the captain of the Socceroos, also plays for this team.
16. Wigan Athletic: Nickname: Latics. Manager: Roberto Martinez. Stadium: DW Stadium Wigan. 2009/2010 Finish: 16th in the EPL. Rivals: Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, Oldham Athletic. Martinez was on the ESPN coverage for the World Cup, but his team isn't all that good. The team has very low attendance and has been only in the EPL for five years. It'll avoid the FLC but not for long at this rate.
15. Bolton Wanderers: Nickname: The Trotters. Manager: Owen Coyle Stadium: Reebok Stadium. 2009/2010 Finish: 14th in the EPL. Rival: Wigan Athletic. Coyle came over with a lot of new players last season but they didn't translate into wins. This year they will try again to move up the ladder. They will stay in the EPL but not too high.
14. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Nickname: Wolves. Manager: Mick McCarthy. Stadium: Molineux Stadium. 2009/2010 Finish: 15th in the EPL. Rival: West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City. The Wolves
are the most charitable in the EPL, as they give a lot of money to charity and lose to teams last year. The team song is "Hi Ho Wolverhampton" (Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck) although Scunthorpe United may have called it first. The Wanderers have a problem with hooliganism and not winning much. This year should be the same.
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
English Premier League: Season Kickoff and Slight History Lesson Part 1
The English Premier League is the best in the world for soccer. The best players come from everywhere to play in this league, who beats out La Liga (Spain), the Bundesliga (Germany), Serie A (Italy) and Ligue 1 (France). The league is home to legendary teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. The teams play 38 games a season and the season runs from August to May. In the EPL, the bottom three teams get relegated (dominated, or demoted) to the Football League Championship. It would be like the Kansas City Royals got sent to AAA baseball and the Toledo Mudhens got moved to MLB. Obviously, the three top teams in the FLC move to the EPL the next season.
The top 3 teams in the EPL get to go on to the UEFA Champions League (All the best clubs in Europe get together for this, with the top teams playing each other for the championship. 32 teams total go) with the 4th team being able to qualify with playoffs. If you like parody the EPL is not for you. Since the current league started in 1992, 4 teams have won the league. 4 all time. Manchester United, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers (once) and Arsenal. And you can almost count that Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal will finish in the top three. Most teams battle for the 4th spot or to avoid relegation. Last year that 4th team was Tottenham Hotspur. Everton are the Oakland A's of soccer, not spending a ton of money but sticking to a system to stay competitive. Plus signing Landon Donovan. Manchester City are the New York Mets. ManU (the Yankees) are in town and always win, and ManCity spend a ton of money and try to catch up. It is a lot like baseball but far worse when it comes to who wins.
There are many good US players in England. Clint Dempsey (AKA the rapper Deuce) plays for Fulham, Landon Donovan played for Everton (may go to Chelsea or ManCity), Brad Guzan for Aston Villa (who might get US Men's coach Bob Bradley to take over for them), Jonathan Spector plays for West Ham United (the team in the excellent soccer hooligan movie "Green Street Hooligans", a must see) and Tim Howard plays goalkeeper for Everton. More Americans play in the other 4 leagues.
Soccer teams in Europe have awesome nicknames, because they go to a different naming system then the US. Soccer teams also play in some of the coolest old stadiums in the world, like Stamford Bridge for Chelsea and Old Trafford for ManU. Fans usually fill the stadiums pretty well, with tens of thousands of fans coming to every game. The teams have a transfer period in the middle of the season, where teams can sell or loan their players to other teams. This can happen all over the world, like when Landon Donovan went from the LA Galaxy to Everton. Training camps get started in July, where teams come over here to destroy our league teams.
The top goal scorers last year were Didier Drogba for Chelsea with 29, Wayne Rooney for ManU with 26, Darren Bent for Sunderland with 24 and Carlos Tevez for ManCity 23.
If you want to watch some EPL action, its on ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, FSN Detroit (when I get back from classes its sometimes on) and FS Soccer. You can usually catch multiple games a week if you really track down game times. Most games are played on Saturday or Sunday, with some during the week.
Next I will look at each team this season with a little write up on each. I'll do in reverse order of finish in the Weston Corbitt Soccer Power Index (WCSPI or phonetically We-sc-spy)
The top 3 teams in the EPL get to go on to the UEFA Champions League (All the best clubs in Europe get together for this, with the top teams playing each other for the championship. 32 teams total go) with the 4th team being able to qualify with playoffs. If you like parody the EPL is not for you. Since the current league started in 1992, 4 teams have won the league. 4 all time. Manchester United, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers (once) and Arsenal. And you can almost count that Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal will finish in the top three. Most teams battle for the 4th spot or to avoid relegation. Last year that 4th team was Tottenham Hotspur. Everton are the Oakland A's of soccer, not spending a ton of money but sticking to a system to stay competitive. Plus signing Landon Donovan. Manchester City are the New York Mets. ManU (the Yankees) are in town and always win, and ManCity spend a ton of money and try to catch up. It is a lot like baseball but far worse when it comes to who wins.
There are many good US players in England. Clint Dempsey (AKA the rapper Deuce) plays for Fulham, Landon Donovan played for Everton (may go to Chelsea or ManCity), Brad Guzan for Aston Villa (who might get US Men's coach Bob Bradley to take over for them), Jonathan Spector plays for West Ham United (the team in the excellent soccer hooligan movie "Green Street Hooligans", a must see) and Tim Howard plays goalkeeper for Everton. More Americans play in the other 4 leagues.
Soccer teams in Europe have awesome nicknames, because they go to a different naming system then the US. Soccer teams also play in some of the coolest old stadiums in the world, like Stamford Bridge for Chelsea and Old Trafford for ManU. Fans usually fill the stadiums pretty well, with tens of thousands of fans coming to every game. The teams have a transfer period in the middle of the season, where teams can sell or loan their players to other teams. This can happen all over the world, like when Landon Donovan went from the LA Galaxy to Everton. Training camps get started in July, where teams come over here to destroy our league teams.
The top goal scorers last year were Didier Drogba for Chelsea with 29, Wayne Rooney for ManU with 26, Darren Bent for Sunderland with 24 and Carlos Tevez for ManCity 23.
If you want to watch some EPL action, its on ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, FSN Detroit (when I get back from classes its sometimes on) and FS Soccer. You can usually catch multiple games a week if you really track down game times. Most games are played on Saturday or Sunday, with some during the week.
Next I will look at each team this season with a little write up on each. I'll do in reverse order of finish in the Weston Corbitt Soccer Power Index (WCSPI or phonetically We-sc-spy)
Friday, August 13, 2010
You're Welcome!
Football season is basically here, with preseason in full swing. And nobody knows what Brett Favre or Darrell Revis will do this season, or ever.
1. Brazil: The Brazilians are doing what the Americans should be doing right now, moving on with a new coach and playing young players to build towards the World Cup in 2014. The way I see it, you are either building and preparing for the next World Cup or playing in the World Cup. Their 18 year old sensation Neymar (who could sign a contract with everybody from Chelsea to Real Madrid) was spectacular. Wouldn't it be refreshing if an 18 year old American scored goals for us? Oh and by the way, Brazil's Rookie team beat us in our backyard.
2. Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders: Al Davis is looking better right now. JaMarcus Russell has admitted to using codeine (prescribed and otherwise) and looks like a wreck right now. He turned down an offer from the UFL Omaha Nighthawks (who signed Ahman Green and instead signed Jeff Garcia) and is now looking at playing guard as a possibility. Combine that with a nice draft, adding Jason Campbell, beating the Cowboys last night and sticking with a coach instead of Notre Dame-ing it (yeah its a verb). I would trust Al Davis a little more, and the Raiders have a shot at the playoffs. No joke.
3. College Football Mega-Games: While the new conferences still have new team smell, teams are starting to schedule very good non conference games. Notre Dame has signed contracts with Texas and Miami (not of Ohio!!) and are renewing a rivalry with Army (go Black Knights!). MSU is going to play West Virginia and Alabama. Penn St vs Alabama, Boise State vs Virginia Tech, Nebraska vs Washington. its like bowl season in September. I'll like college football even more with elite match ups. The Big Ten vs MAC and FCS lineup is pretty brutal.
1. Brazil: The Brazilians are doing what the Americans should be doing right now, moving on with a new coach and playing young players to build towards the World Cup in 2014. The way I see it, you are either building and preparing for the next World Cup or playing in the World Cup. Their 18 year old sensation Neymar (who could sign a contract with everybody from Chelsea to Real Madrid) was spectacular. Wouldn't it be refreshing if an 18 year old American scored goals for us? Oh and by the way, Brazil's Rookie team beat us in our backyard.
2. Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders: Al Davis is looking better right now. JaMarcus Russell has admitted to using codeine (prescribed and otherwise) and looks like a wreck right now. He turned down an offer from the UFL Omaha Nighthawks (who signed Ahman Green and instead signed Jeff Garcia) and is now looking at playing guard as a possibility. Combine that with a nice draft, adding Jason Campbell, beating the Cowboys last night and sticking with a coach instead of Notre Dame-ing it (yeah its a verb). I would trust Al Davis a little more, and the Raiders have a shot at the playoffs. No joke.
3. College Football Mega-Games: While the new conferences still have new team smell, teams are starting to schedule very good non conference games. Notre Dame has signed contracts with Texas and Miami (not of Ohio!!) and are renewing a rivalry with Army (go Black Knights!). MSU is going to play West Virginia and Alabama. Penn St vs Alabama, Boise State vs Virginia Tech, Nebraska vs Washington. its like bowl season in September. I'll like college football even more with elite match ups. The Big Ten vs MAC and FCS lineup is pretty brutal.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thoughts From My Desk: World Cup
Soccer: They have got to get some changes to the sport. I know they haven't changed since the 1870's but I think some new additions are needed. The refs have to start calling simulation (diving) more. It is really turning off a lot of fans over here (and abroad I'm sure) and the game could benefit. Sure, basketball is pretty bad too, but its no where as bad as some of the soccer acting. Getting rid of that, and simulated injuries (to kill time) needs to happen before Brazil 2014. Some refs crack down on it more, but still its getting really bad.
Also, like every other sport in the world, soccer needs to get a form of video review. Even baseball did, and that sport is just as old as soccer. The system should be at least to review goals, if they crossed the line, offsides, etc. FIFA likes to create controversy and I respect that, but I'd rather get calls right than be upset about a bonehead call. FIFA says they don't want to slow down a game with a review, but its OK to lay on the ground like you just got shot and get carried off on a stretcher only to pop back up and walk back on defense.
England: English fans are just like Notre Dame fans, only meaner and drunker. They expect greatness and nothing else every year, but they always disappoint. They point to their high paid, short tenured coaches and great recruiting talent for reasons to win, but the players have no desire. Then, when they get beaten by a lesser talented team, they want to blow it all up and start again without looking at the real reasons they are overrated. England just wasted a great generation and will have a real tough time doing well in Brazil.
France, Italy: Both nations thought experience would win, but both were embarrassed. The younger squads (Germany, Argentina) are doing far better. Italy played their game and was beaten, and France was the biggest mess in sports. Meanwhile, South America is killing teams. Has the rest of the world caught up to Europe? Possibly, but Europe did itself no favors putting out squads that had a razor thin margin of error.
US: Not to beat a dead horse, but the US really wasted an opportunity Saturday. With a win, the US had a direct path to the Final Four and could have sparked more interest in the sport here. And, in a match up versus Brazil or the Netherlands (most likely) the US could have pulled off a miracle, or at worst play in the Third place game. That would be best case, but still. They played awful and Bradley did himself no favors with his lineup problems. Still they took the game to extra time. The team will probably be younger and better for 2014, but the building has to start now. If the players don't have confidence in Bradley, hes out. Can they get farther, or have they peaked under this coach?
Also, like every other sport in the world, soccer needs to get a form of video review. Even baseball did, and that sport is just as old as soccer. The system should be at least to review goals, if they crossed the line, offsides, etc. FIFA likes to create controversy and I respect that, but I'd rather get calls right than be upset about a bonehead call. FIFA says they don't want to slow down a game with a review, but its OK to lay on the ground like you just got shot and get carried off on a stretcher only to pop back up and walk back on defense.
England: English fans are just like Notre Dame fans, only meaner and drunker. They expect greatness and nothing else every year, but they always disappoint. They point to their high paid, short tenured coaches and great recruiting talent for reasons to win, but the players have no desire. Then, when they get beaten by a lesser talented team, they want to blow it all up and start again without looking at the real reasons they are overrated. England just wasted a great generation and will have a real tough time doing well in Brazil.
France, Italy: Both nations thought experience would win, but both were embarrassed. The younger squads (Germany, Argentina) are doing far better. Italy played their game and was beaten, and France was the biggest mess in sports. Meanwhile, South America is killing teams. Has the rest of the world caught up to Europe? Possibly, but Europe did itself no favors putting out squads that had a razor thin margin of error.
US: Not to beat a dead horse, but the US really wasted an opportunity Saturday. With a win, the US had a direct path to the Final Four and could have sparked more interest in the sport here. And, in a match up versus Brazil or the Netherlands (most likely) the US could have pulled off a miracle, or at worst play in the Third place game. That would be best case, but still. They played awful and Bradley did himself no favors with his lineup problems. Still they took the game to extra time. The team will probably be younger and better for 2014, but the building has to start now. If the players don't have confidence in Bradley, hes out. Can they get farther, or have they peaked under this coach?
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