Soccer, footie, football, futbol

[Lavabe]

I love it...
CL matchup...

CHELSEA VS. INTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This could be fun!

[Rolvix]

Inter! Inter! Inter!

[Lavabe]

I wonder what the ol' coach has in mind for Chelsea?

BWAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[Lavabe]

The British press are really going after Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. Spain wants Torres to sit out and get an operation. Some word that one of the co-owners is thinking of selling the team. Mascherano picks up a suspension for his red card, which caused him a big knee injury. More players with injuries. Rafa wants Kuyt to take a breather.

Just another week with Liverpool Football Club.

WHY is Chelsea imploding?

WHY did ManCity sack their manager?

WHY is ManU still near the top of the table?

WILL Fabregas play sometime soon?

[Lavabe]

Fernando Torres kills Aston Villa with a goal in stoppage time:
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Liverpool
The game was played in frickin' snow and rain. UGLY!!

Tomorrow, Arsenal will begin play without Cesc. According to an ESPN story, we can expect 3 weeks of Arsenal playing without their main man.

Transfer window approaching. FSC was wondering if Liverpool would try to get van Nistelrooy. Now THAT would be funny!

[Lavabe]

The transfer window is now open...

Get ready for some crazy deals in the EPL.

Expect Ryan Babel and Adrei Voronyin to leave Liverpool.
Arsenal probably won't do anything, as Samir Nasri is filling in very well.
I don't see ManU making a big move, nor do I see Chelsea doing much.

The big moves should be Liverpool, ManCity, and Everton.

FA wise, it was WEIRD seeing Paul Ince lead MK Dons in their battle against Burnley. MKD 1 - 2 Burnley.

Tomorrow is Celtic & Rangers.

[Lavabe]

Unbelieveable result in the English FA Cup action today:
ManU 0 - 1 Leeds United

Leeds United is leading two leagues below the English Premier League. Today's result is the equivalent of a number one seed being knocked out in the 2nd round by a #15 seed.

Essentially, Leeds came to ManU (near the top of the EPL), a team with whom they've had rivalries over many years, hit an early goal, missed a couple of chances, and hung on for dear life.

[Lavabe]

Well, the snow and ice knocked out most of the EPL games this weekend. However, Arsenal stunk it up, being VERY fortunate to tie Everton 2-2 at the Emirates. Landon Donovan set up an Everton goal.

Birmingham 1 - 1 ManU.

Fantasy League sucked big, as I had only one player playing out of my 11, and that player, Tomas Vermaelen (my caotain), started, but conceded two goals. ZERO points.

Idiot.

[Lavabe]

Injury report:
1) Liverpool: losing in the FA cup to READING came at a price, their top three scorers: Gerrard (out two weeks), Torres (out six weeks with surgery), and Benayoun (ribs)... that's bad news for Spain and England;

2) Fulham lose today, and lose one of the US's starters, Clint Dempsey, due to a knee injury. Initial reports on the web are bad.

In the meantime, Chelsea DISMANTLED Sunderland yesterday by the score of 7-2, and Arsenal win today while riding the Fabregas train. He is my vote for EPL player of the year. Arsenal would be a mid-table team without him.
Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

Let's see... keeping up with major developments in the EPL:
1) Pompey having difficulty paying their players. Will they be unable to complete the season? They continue to sell off players.
2) Arsenal Injuries: Cesc is back, but Vermaelen is recovering from a lower leg strain that people thought might have been a broken leg.
3) Liverpool: Now that Gerrard is back, Merseyside waits another month for Torres, who had surgery early in January.
4) ManU: Rooney scores 4 in his last match, but is the ONLY hot player on ManU.
5) The Battle for fourth (and guaranteed position in Champions League) is among ManCity, Villa, and Liverpool. The Top Three are clear right now: ManU, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
6) Everton playing well with Landon Donovan.

[wilson]

6) Everton playing well with Landon Donovan.

Say what you will about Landon, but I'm really happy to see this. Anything that helps enhance American players' perception abroad is good in my book.

[Rolvix]

I don't like Manchester United.

[Lavabe]

I don't like Manchester United.

Well THAT thoroughly sucked today!
About as bad as yesterday's basketball game.

[Lavabe]

Liverpool wins vs. Everton, and have moved up into 4th place in the table. Donovan just had nothing going for Everton. Liverpool played 1-man down much of the second half.
I have pulled into the lead on the I KNOW THE SCORE competition with Rolvix.

[Lavabe]

Arsenal plays Liverpool this week. Should be interesting, considering Arsenal flubbed it at Chelsea today.

HOW Arsenal only lost 2-0 today is beyond me. Chelsea dominated.

[Lavabe]

Ashley Cole breaks his ankle in Chelsea's most recent game. He's out for 3 months.

This is BAD news for Team England in the World Cup. Ashley Cole figured prominently in England's plans. He should be back in time, but his fitness will be uncertain.

[Lavabe]

I just don't see Liverpool making the top four this season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea ManU, Arsenal are running away with the honors this year.

Rolvix: You ARE aware that Robbie Keane is doing well with CELTIC, not with Spurs, right?

Also, "I Know the Score" has become a tight race again!

[Rolvix]

I just don't see Liverpool making the top four this season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea ManU, Arsenal are running away with the honors this year.

Rolvix: You ARE aware that Robbie Keane is doing well with CELTIC, not with Spurs, right?

Also, "I Know the Score" has become a tight race again!

Haha I haven't looked at my fantasy game in months...

[Miles]

Maybe we should sticky this thread for the duration of the World Cup?

Anyway, thanks to England's continued lack of inspired play I believe Team USA controls their own destiny. All we have to do is beat Algeria and we win the tiebreaker if England beats Slovenia.

[devildeac]

Maybe we should sticky this thread for the duration of the World Cup?

Anyway, thanks to England's continued lack of inspired play I believe Team USA controls their own destiny. All we have to do is beat Algeria and we win the tiebreaker if England beats Slovenia.

True, but the major officiating blunders in the last several minutes of this match were abominable. Foul or offsides? Who cares? Neither are the right call/s. That worthless POS ref ignored obvious WWE moves against our guys in the box (which should have resulted in a PK for us) on the disallowed go-ahead goal AND invented either the offside or foul call on Edu. Plus the hand ball call after the ball hit our player's head/face was another call reminiscent and worthy of a ted valentine/karl hess blunder in one of their typical games.