No TV timeouts [Archive]

killerleft

08-14-2007, 10:53 AM

That is one reason I love to watch real Football, aka soccer. Thank goodness the EPL has started back up.

I don't have a favorite team, but I prefer Manchester United over Chelsea. I have become a Derbyshire fan because of their unlikely entry into the EPL.

Are there others who prefer Football to American football? I mean, I'm a Panther's fan and love to watch them. I rarely miss a home Duke Football game. But I quite often turn away from the Panthers on TV to watch a big match on Fox Soccer Channel.

I also like the extra trophies they play for in EPL and Europe, giving fans of some mediocre teams some hope that their team might win a coveted trophy. And the bottom-dwellers have something to play for as well, given that the bottom three are demoted to the Champions League.

Lavabe

08-14-2007, 11:21 AM

I don't have a favorite team, but I prefer Manchester United over Chelsea. I have become a Derbyshire fan because of their unlikely entry into the EPL.

Are there others who prefer Football to American football?

You'll never walk alone!

Liverpool fan ... still recovering from the payback UEFA final. I've been following them since the 80's & John Barnes days. I can recall growing up in the Cosmos country watching Seamus Mallon and the weekly broadcasts of the English game of the week.

Nowadays, for a paid subscription, the Liverpool web site gives you audio and some video on games. ManU (:mad: ) & Chelsea (:mad: ) have similar sites, IIRC. What's really been nice is that the Liverpool supporters of NY have also started up a weekly/biweekly hourlong podcast that is hard to beat.

Atlanta doesn't have a supporters' club, but I am good friends with ManCity and Reading fans in the area. You make do with followers of other teams (although I don't know if I could converse with a Chelsea supporter).

Cheers,
Lavabe

DevilWolf

08-14-2007, 11:48 AM

^ How 'bout Gerrard's free kick this weekend? Wow.

Lavabe

08-14-2007, 12:29 PM

An opening day away win ... that's rare. This week, Liverpool has an away CL game against Toulouse; then the deadly game against Chelsea.

We'll see how Rafa works his rotation with such a busy schedule. Gerrard has a world of talent. Bend it & dip it like Gerrard!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=COXVzXXJLpA
Cheers,
Lavabe

duke74

08-14-2007, 12:39 PM

Go Gunners! (with or without Henry)

Lavabe

08-14-2007, 12:57 PM

Go Gunners! (with or without Henry)

When my wife and I were in London (xx years ago), we went to see Arsenal 3, Saints (Southampton) 1. At least we saw Bergkamp when he was good. Letisier was injured. Arsenal is one of the best venues to go see a game. We had a blast!
Cheers,
Lavabe

duke74

08-14-2007, 01:12 PM

Emirates Stadium, I am told, is even better than Highbury. I am trying to catch a match when I am next over to London for my firm.

killerleft

08-14-2007, 11:34 PM

I would love to see a game in person. Hoping the wife and I can get over there soon.

Since we can't afford to travel much, I'll have to decide whether to time a visit during football season, or during the British Open.

The Gerrard goal was about as perfectly placed as you can get! I really hate Henry left Arsenal. He is just a very gifted player.

I'm glad I took the time to watch and learn about football. Still have a lot to learn about all the nuances, but the more I watch, the more I appreciate why it is the world's most popular team sport.

I'm not a total newbie, but I would like to learn more about the rivalries and history of English football. Is there a book or anything that could help me?

Lavabe

08-15-2007, 07:04 AM

Duke74: I loved the old stadium ... but things change. Likewise, Liverpool will soon no longer be at Anfield.

FWIW, you can now see Henry, Federer, and Tiger in a shaving commercial.

Killerleft: I strongly suggest going to the official club websites. You will usually find in the online shops at each site some sort of history book for each team. You will also find details about how to get videos, vodcasts, and other updates. These are much better than Fox Soccer Channel.

Depending on where you live, you may also find a pub where other EPL supporters gather round.
Cheers,
Lavabe

jimbonelson

08-15-2007, 08:35 AM

comcast is giving a free preview this weekend and sunday they have chelsea playing liverpool and manchester united playong tottingham

Exiled_Devil

08-15-2007, 09:35 AM

:(

I lived in London for a 1/2 year recently and had a good friend who was a Charlton fan - he had followed them up from First division to the premiership. I thought it was great, IIR, the Addicks were fighting for a Champions League spot at this point in the year (maybe just a UEFA cup spot)

I have followed Charlton ever since, just because of my friend's enthusiasm. This is like following Clemson Basketball - optimism with an inevitable let down in the end. This year, we were let down all the way to the first league. So now I need to cheer someone else.

I have always argued that the football goal is the best sorts highlight - no matter the context, every goal is a challenge, and many are spectacular. Contrary to this, the home run is boring as crap out of context. We so have the wrong pastime.

Exiled

killerleft

08-15-2007, 10:34 AM

Thank you, Lavabe. I will try some of the team websites. Anybody know of a pub in the Greensboro area where the football fan is catered to? I would definitely have to visit.

throatybeard

08-15-2007, 10:40 AM

Lavabe

08-15-2007, 11:17 AM

They're talking about an expansion team for MLS in Saint Louis...

...except not really. The soccer only stadium will be built way over in Metro-East (i.e., ten miles into Illinois). This doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

SIU-E & SLU have been big soccer teams in the Midwest, so something near Edwardsville, Collinsville, Belleville is fine. Put it near MetroLink and the "other" airport (;) ), and it begins to make sense. Aren't the Collinsville folks trying to tie this to MetroLink expansion?

South St. Louis and the suburbs have been soccer hotbeds, and there's always been loads of interest in indoor soccer. It's probably expensive and hard to find downtown outdoor soccer space.

In addition to the natural St. Louis/Chicago rivalry, a Metro-East MLS team can tap into the downstate vs. Chicago rivalry.

So long as it isn't in East St. Louis.
Cheers,
Lavabe

blazindw

08-15-2007, 01:41 PM

Hala Madrid...Real Madrid fan here, but just started really following DC United since I just moved up here a couple months ago. I also follow Chelsea in the EPL. As much as I love American Football, I cannot live without my soccer. I even decide on my cable tv options based on whether I could get Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV.

P.S. for those who like soccer and like TV dramas, look no further than "Dream Team". I can't get enough of that show. It comes on Fox Soccer Channel (I think it starts back up in September)...you will be hooked.

Lavabe

08-15-2007, 01:56 PM

Thank you, Lavabe. I will try some of the team websites. Anybody know of a pub in the Greensboro area where the football fan is catered to? I would definitely have to visit.

My in-laws live in Greensboro. Newcastle is supported well in the area. I just noticed that the Triad has recently started some sort of meetup group for fans of EPL, Budesliga, Serie A, Spanish, and French Leagues. You might try it:
http://pickupsoccer.meetup.com/142/?gj=sj7

Otherwise, I found a list of Greensboro pubs with FSC soccer subscriptions:
NC The Green Burro

Keegan's Pub & Grill
2506 Battleground Ave.

Natty Greene's Pub and Brewing Co.
345 S. Elm St.

NC Old Town Draught House

NC Tap Room
1740 Battleground Ave.

Cheers,
Lavabe

Master Shake

08-15-2007, 02:35 PM

If you're looking for a rollercoaster ride to get on, they're it. I've been supporting them since the Glenn Roeder era. Should have won the FA Cup two years ago, but Gerrard pulled one out of his . . .

throatybeard

08-15-2007, 04:26 PM

SIU-E & SLU have been big soccer teams in the Midwest, so something near Edwardsville, Collinsville, Belleville is fine. Put it near MetroLink and the "other" airport (;) ), and it begins to make sense. Aren't the Collinsville folks trying to tie this to MetroLink expansion?

You're probably right, Lavabe. I tend to forget about SIU-E. I was just skeptical that all those suburbanites from West County would drive 40 miles to go to a soccer game, especially with 64/40 in the shape it's in.

East StL, now there's an idea. Stick the soccer stadium near the Waterfront in East StL, by the casino. It's not really that dangerous in that spot, and you populate & pump some tax dollars into the most distressed area. You can probably get the real estate cheap. Put it right at the water and not even chicken white-flighters would be scared.

ETA: I just thought of a major difficulty with that. It's kind of a flood plain. Which is one cause of E StL's decline.

killerleft

08-15-2007, 08:44 PM

Thanks again, Lavabe. I just added the soccer group to my favorites. I go to Natty Greene's at least a couple times a month, and have watched a little football there. Natty's Sideways Dip (crab, of course) is excellent. I'm a little miffed at them right now, though. It's a brewpub and they recently took away my delicious Blue Moon tap beer in favor of their own Belgian white. Theirs is pretty good, but maybe the Blue Moon comes back in the fall.

cspan37421

08-15-2007, 10:43 PM

Memories...

I lived in and around London as a middle schooler (late 1970s), and I took to soccer then. I didn't realize that my favorite 2 teams would come to be so dominant (Man United, Arsenal). Saw them play at the Gunner's place IIRC. Hardly remember anything but following some forward named Frank Stapleton. Though I recall these teams were good, the dominant team was Liverpool, generally. I think Aston Villa was a kind of Cinderella champion one year,
though. Also, there were Divisions I - IV, not Premier and I-III. Back then Watford, nearest to my first house, was stuck in Div IV.
The last place I lived there, Chelsea was the closest FC, and they're not too shabby either. There's nothing like watching proper English football. The only souvenirs I brought back with me - an Arsenal scarf and a Man United mug. [The latter was my shaving mug through high school. Yeah, TMI - but I loved it].

The '78 World Cup saw Scotland (& Kenny Dalglish) qualify to go to Argentina but they didn't advance beyond group play, unfortunately. [England didn't even qualify, so it was interesting to see the English pull for the Scots, out of general UK pride I guess]

Duke won it all my soph year, first national championship in any sport. Duke won, Akron Zip.

I'll second many of the comments here, and add one other thing. If any of you (Euro) football fans have sport-loving kids, get them one of the EA Sports FIFA games. Not for handhelds - you need it for the PC or a serious gaming console, to get the full effect. We've got the World Cup one ('06 edition I think) and it is fantastic, esp. the commentary and crowd cheers. You really feel like you're watching and listening to an actual match.

duke74

08-16-2007, 12:07 PM

Rich

08-16-2007, 01:47 PM

duke74

08-16-2007, 02:21 PM

I'm not much of a soccer, uh, football fan, but I saw this in SI: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/08/02/manu.recruit.ap/ Apparently, Manchester United has recruited a 9-year-old soccer prodigy based on video footage featuring his skills.

Yup, an Aussie with English citizenship, I believe. I am told that this is not the first similar signing in the world of professional football.

DevilWolf

08-16-2007, 10:30 PM

"Should have won the FA Cup two years ago, but Gerrard pulled one out of his . . ."

Best goal I've ever seen.

For those local fans, don't forget the Railhawks are in the semifinals of the US Open Cup. I'm asbolutely addicted to the sport. I even watched a young girls' youth match by accident yesterday in North Raleigh between CASL and Triangle FC and was amazed at the talent level and how well coached the teams were. I'm guessing the girls were 14 or so, and both teams were quite good. And by "by accident", I mean I was showing an out of town friend the complex and a game happened to be going on so we watched.

With the college season about to start up, there are lots of chances to watch live soccer in the Triangle area this fall, and FSC seems to have some really good matches so far.