The Soccer thread (Part II)

I don't think FIFA allows leagues to be larger than 20 teams any more. Eighteen is probably ideal ... 34 league games to go with US Open Cup, Superliga and any friendlies with European/Mexican clubs.

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Predictions: I never make predictions, and I never will.

If I were of such an ilk, though, here's what I would say:

Premier League
Top 4
1. ManYoo
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal

Euro Vase
5. Spurs (they're still Spurs, after all)
6. Citeh
7. Newcastle

Business end
16. Fulham
17. Bolton
18. Wigan
19. Birmingham City
20. Derby County

Scotland
1. Celtic
2. Rangers
Both reach the knockout stages of the Champion League, then bomb out

Spain
1. Real Madrid
2. Sevilla
3. Barcelona
4. Atletico Madrid

France
1. Marseille
2. Lyon
3. Lens

Germany
1. FC Bayern
2. Stuttgart
3. Hamburg

Italy
1. Roma
2. AC Milan
3. Inter
4. Juventus

Champions League final
Barcelona beats Chelsea

Euro Vase final
Hamburg beats Bordeaux

 

Add the CONCACAF Champions Cup in there as well.

 

Somewhere in greater NYC region, Pastor doesn't know why he just got a headache.

 

Holy crap, if you haven't seen Steven Gerrard's game-winning free kick from this lunchtime yet, make sure you catch Fox Soccer Report tonight.

One of the best free kicks I've ever seen, especially given the circumstances.

 

You can't get the ball into the upper corner any better than he did. Simply outstanding. I damn near fell off the treadmill when it went in. And it made me wish I'd ordered one of those white Liverpool jerseys with Gerrard's name on it.

 

N'Zog's this morning was class as well.

 

Bad news for Arsenal fans: Bernie Ecclestone wants to buy your club.

http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=379430

 

Positive: He has a ton of money.

Negative: If it will net him one extra penny he'll move the team to Bahrain.

 

Stan Kroenke has been after Arsenal. Not going to happen with the current board in charge, and I would imagine the same applies to Ecclestone. No-one wants to sell.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6566789.stm

With Ecclestone's reputation as a nasty piece of work, I would be shocked to find out they accepted his offer.

 

First guy to offer big bucks plus a goalkeeper gets to buy Arsenal.

 

Lehman does that at least three times a season. Nice comeback by the Gunners, although you feel bad for Fulham and especially Bocanegra. They played a good game, and should do well against Bolton midweek unless they have a major hangover.

 

Reading plays ManYoo to a scoreless tie despite a 22-2 SOG disadvantage.