The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

All Villa. All the time.

 

Not that anyone on here truly cares -- but Pittsburgh just opened up a brand new soccer stadium right on the river called Highmark Stadium and I went to the first game the other night (our team is some minor league team called the Riverhounds) and the atmosphere was awesome.

They built it right, it is the rigth size, it is in the perfect setting with a great view. I will be going to more games this summer, no doubt.

 

This is some committed coverage. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130416/english-premier-league-nbc-tv-coverage/?sct=hp_t2_a13&eref=sihp

I wish that some of my favorite writers/podcast participants (James Richardson, Jonathan Wislon) would somehow be involved, but this is pretty impressive.

 

Premier League south Wales derby next year. Cardiff finally promoted.

 

Funny how Welsh clubs can play in the EPL, but Celtic and Rangers can't get admitted into the English pyramid system.

 

Swansea, Cardiff and, if memory serves, Wrexham were grandfathered in when the Football League was founded. Given the league and national entanglements and the presence of UEFA and FIFA, Celtic and Rangers will find moving to the English pyramid nigh impossible. They'd stand a better chance of trying to talk their way into the European Super League that's always threatened but never seems to come to fruition.

 

That's a pretty ugly derby.

Part of the deal with the Welsh clubs is that they can't take Welsh spots in UEFA competitions. Until the 90s, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham would play in the Cup Winners' Cup as Welsh Cup winners, but UEFA put a stop to it.

Wrexham could be back in the league next year. I think they're in promotion playoff range in the Conference.

 

In case you want the graphic:
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BH-xBiWCEAACSMt.jpg:large">

Also, all 10 games will be show on 10 networks for Championship Sunday:
NBC, USA, CNBC, Esquire, SyFy, NBCSN, msnbc, Golf Network, Bravo and E!

I know Fox Soccer Channel is going away, but is UCL going to be on Fox Sports 1/2 still? What else in the U.S. will be shown (La Liga? Primera?)?

 

One of the ugliest around. I believe it was that one where the police pioneered the idea of all the away fans having to travel in on sponsored buses, thereby negating any possibility of contact with opposition supporters.

If you want to watch that one in the U.S., you'll have to get up early on a Sunday morning.

 

FOX has the Champions League and Europa League for another two years, plus it's picking up the Eredivisie.

 

Just in time for Jozy's (presumed) departure. Maybe Earnie Stewart will lend a hand and bring in one or two more YAs.

Also, of all the players to put in a graphic pimping your vast, new EPL coverage -- Vincent Kompany? I know the national team is stacked with defensive midfielders, but shirley they don't think the US has a case of Volante Fever.

 

My guess is some intern was told to put together the graphic:
"Ohhh, pretty blue," says intern.
*Cut, paste onto screen*
LOL