World Cup and European leagues

[Hoosier Titan]

The other shoe finally dropped on John Terry:
tp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8495604.stm

Rio Ferdinand is the new captain; Steven Gerrard is vice-captain.

Evidently some of the news which is just now coming out here is the most damning against Terry:  he sold on his executive suite at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea matches and at Wembley for England matches (both clearly against FA regulations).

[Hoosier Titan]

Big, big Liverpool Derby tomorrow.  Landon Donovan has done brilliantly for the Toffees to date; as a Reds fan I have to hope that doesn't continue.

Fortunately, the only day this week that the Archives that I need to do my research here are open is Saturday.   Otherwise we'd be pub crawling to see the match live!  In some ways, EPL fans who don't have season tickets are actually better off in the States...here in Britain, if you don't have satellite, you're stuck either in a pub or watching highlights on Match of the Day (a great show, but not like seeing the entire match). 

[Stinger]

Maybe you'll stroll into a pub with a 3D broadcast   US fans will be able to watch live on ESPN2.  I'm quickly becoming an Everton supporter.  Donovan has been called the best EPL transfer in the Jan. window.

[Hoosier Titan]

Yes, Donovan has done brilliantly.  Moyes is a great manager, too.  I like them as much as a Liverpool supporter can.  A couple of stories...

When I was last in Liverpool, I was trying to find where to get on a bus to John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's boyhood homes with a a gaggle of IWU students behind me.  I was wearing a Liverpool shirt, as we were going on a tour of Anfield later, and when I asked a bus driver he scowled at me until he heard my American accent.  He then smiled, told me where to find the bus, and said "You're wearing the wrong color shirt."  I tried explaining that it didn't seem odd to us to support one Liverpool side when the other wasn't playing.  The words registered; the sentiment didn't.  He was impressed that I remembered Joe Max Moore, who played for the Toffees ten years ago, but that was all.

We have a Scouser friend back in Bloomington, an Everton supporter, who refuses to have red in his house.  When he and his wife first got married, he wouldn't let her put red lights on the Christmas tree.  Supposedly the kids' friends asked if they had become Jewish because the lights were all blue and white!

Sentiments in Liverpool run deep and strong...almost operatic in their intensity.  Should be a good match tomorrow.

[ScotsFan]

Great stories Hoosier!    Thanks for sharing!

As having no vested interest in the Liverpool Derby, I'll be rooting for my boys Landon and Timmy over the Reds.  Sorry... 

Also, I'm kind of surprised that Terry let it come to this.  I was kind of expecting him to resign his captaincy instead of forcing Capello's hand and making him sack Terry as England Captain.  Should Terry really be surprised at Capello's decision?  Rio should fill in quite well as the new England captain, however.

You wonder what goes on in these superstars' heads to make them think they will get away with all of these affairs  in this day and age of all this technology?!  I guess John Terry didn't want Tiger Woods to have all the fun... 

[ScotsFan]

Maybe you'll stroll into a pub with a 3D broadcast   US fans will be able to watch live on ESPN2.  I'm quickly becoming an Everton supporter.  Donovan has been called the best EPL transfer in the Jan. window.

While I'm pulling for Landon and Tim to do well for the blues, outside of ManU, my support has become more towards Villa because of Brown's owner Randy Lerner also being the owner of the Villans. 

[Hoosier Titan]

Evidently Terry's marital indiscretions, as well as his desire for more money, were pretty openly known in football circles.  And, of course, those off-pitch pastimes are not uncommon.  This one got out of control because of the affair with an England colleague's partner (that colleague being Wayne Bridge). 

Terry just sounds completely out of control to me.  He was never as insulated from the public eye as Woods was and so he was doomed once the press started really looking at him.  The fact that the World Cup is coming up, with lots of hope and expectations from the entire country, didn't help him, either.

[ScotsFan]

Evidently Terry's marital indiscretions, as well as his desire for more money, were pretty openly known in football circles.  And, of course, those off-pitch pastimes are not uncommon.  This one got out of control because of the affair with an England colleague's partner (that colleague being Wayne Bridge). 

Terry just sounds completely out of control to me.  He was never as insulated from the public eye as Woods was and so he was doomed once the press started really looking at him.  The fact that the World Cup is coming up, with lots of hope and expectations from the entire country, didn't help him, either.

Personally, I was never a big fan of him as England captain.  I mean, as you said, he has spent plenty of time in the tabloids for the wrong reasons.  This was finally the straw that broke the camel's back, IMO...

[ECSUalum]

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING GROUPS

Group A Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Group B Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein

[WLCALUM83]

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING GROUPS

Group A Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Group B Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein

Wonder who'll make a "Turkey '08 like run" this time?

[ScotsFan]

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING GROUPS

Group A Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Group B Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein

WHAT?!  No France and Ireland in the same qualifying group?  What's up with that???   

Now THAT would have made for some entertaining football! 

[Hoosier Titan]

The Welsh are doing quite a bit of trash talking--saying that "Oh, England won't be bad.  We'd be scared if it were Spain, France, Italy, or Germany."  We'll see.

[ECSUalum]

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING GROUPS

Group A Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Group B Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein

WHAT?!  No France and Ireland in the same qualifying group?  What's up with that???  

Now THAT would have made for some entertaining football!  

SCOT

LOL,

Yeah, would'nt that have been a hoot!  I am sure the Boys in Green would have loved to get them again.  I think otherwise the Trap is happy with this draw.

On another note, what's up with Arsenal, they seem to choke when playing all the top BPL teams these days?  I watched the replay of the Chelsea/Arsenal game on ESPNPL yesterday, the Gunners looked flat!!  Drogba is just sensational!!  I predict Chelsea will pull away and win the trophy easily  

[ScotsFan]

On another note, what's up with Arsenal, they seem to choke when playing all the top BPL teams these days?  I watched the replay of the Chelsea/Arsenal game on ESPNPL yesterday, the Gunners looked flat!!  Drogba is just sensational!!  I predict Chelsea will pull away and win the trophy easily 

As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend." 

ManU is just 2 points adrift of Chelsea at the moment.  Furthermore, ManU is getting as healthy as they have been in a looooong while.  And have you seen the beatdown the Reds have been putting on teams lately?  In their last 4 matches, ManU has outscored their opponents to the tune of 20-2!    I'd say that would qualify as a team being in good form at the moment.     And lastly, Chelsea still has to make the trek up to Old Trafford late in the season in what could prove to be a crucial match for both squads.

Chelsea has looked like they are up to the task of knocking off the Reds this season, but you can never count out Fergie's boys.  Especially this time of year. 

As for Arsenal.  To say they are fading would be an understatement.  They were within sniffing distance of the top of the tables just 2 weeks ago.  And now, after back to back thumpings at the hands of United and Chelsea, they find themselves 9 points adrift of Chelsea and 7 behind United.  Heck, the Gunners are now closer to dropping out of the top 4 than they are to the top of the table. 

[ECSUalum]

Scots,  You may be right!!

In fact my favorite team is Man U, as they have John O'Shea, however, I read on RTE soccer website he is out until March from that injury sustained during the playoff game at Stade de France.  

I just think Chelsea is playing with a LOT of confidence these days.

It certainly will be an exciting game when Chelsea goes to Old Trafford!!

Are any of the big BPL games broacast live in this country?? ESPNPL does the replays.  I would love to at least PPV these games    I guess time difference is the problem.