The Soccer thread (Part II)

EPL Champ: Everton (Howard wins keeper of the year, again)
Champions League: Rangers over Milan (Beasley nets the winner)

 

EPL: Chelski, Man United, Liverpool, Spurs. Man United is thin at the back and I can't see how they keep everyone happy. They have 10 top quality players (Tevez, Rooney, Saha, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo, Carrick, Owen H.) for 6 spots, plus Ole, Fletcher and JOS.
UCL: Barca
UEFA Cup: Bayern

 

EPL champ: Liverpool
Champions League: Manchester U., Chelsea, Tottenham
Uefa: Aston Villa, Newcastle, Everton
Relegated: Wigan, Derby, Middlesborough

Golden Boot: Rooney

 

Pastor, my Tartan Army-mate, what do you think of the rumors of Hearts' Craig Gordon being sold for to Aston Villa, Sunderland or ManCity?

 

Gordon's already gone to Sunderland. $18 million transfer fee.

 

When did that happen? I was just reading some transfer rumors on a Scottish site.

 

Yesterday. Signed, sealed and delivered. He seems very happy to be at the Stadium of Light.

 

By the ghost of Brother Walfrid, I completely missed it.

Oh well, good for him. I hope he'll lead Scotland back into the WC before he's done.

 

EPL Champ: ManUnited

Drop zone: Derby, Wigan, Fulham or Birmingham City

Team to watch: Tottenham. This will be the year that the Spurs finish ahead of Arsenal

 

To follow up my MLS thought earlier, it looks like St. Louis could be trying for a team. You could stick them in the East to form a rivalry with Kansas City.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/08/10/bc.soc.courtingprosocce.ap/index.html

 

I don't understand why they don't try to put the stadium here...

http://www.abconference.com/docs/sports/facilities.htm

 

So as I asked earlier, is 18 the top out for MLS franchises, or could you see them pushing for 20?

I certainly wouldn't go beyond 20, and think 18 would be a good number. 34-game regular season, plus Open Cup and Superliga. Sounds pretty close to Europe.