2007/2008 European football thread

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

There are plenty of dodgy ones not sure on the legal ones though.

There are no legal ones - other than club websites where you need to register. And they only get delayed games. I don't believe that the last media contract contained a permission for anyone to live stream games online. Could be wrong, though.

[zoraster]

Is it just my imagination or have Aston Villa left themselves remarkably short at the back with their summer transactions? They decided against making Bardsley a permanent addition, and they’ve also sold Samuel, Hughes and Ridgwell. To my knowledge the only defender they’ve signed is that teenage American whose name escapes me, and he is expected to join the academy, not even the stiffs. With Delaney still injured and Laursen only managing to be fit for 27 games in his three seasons at the club they look insanely thin.

Originally Posted by edrooney

There are no legal ones - other than club websites where you need to register. And they only get delayed games. I don't believe that the last media contract contained a permission for anyone to live stream games online. Could be wrong, though.

There are the beginnings of such a service. Setanta have simulcast their channels on the net for some months now as they seek to gain more exposure. This season their EPL content will be available to net subscribers (however this is of no use to Purple Cowboy as it is restricted to UK residents). Give it a few years once digital switchover has taken place and Sky will no doubt start providing online services.

[Purple Cowboy]

Originally Posted by zoraster

Is it just my imagination or have Aston Villa left themselves remarkably short at the back with their summer transactions? They decided against making Bardsley a permanent addition, and they’ve also sold Samuel, Hughes and Ridgwell. To my knowledge the only defender they’ve signed is that teenage American whose name escapes me, and he is expected to join the academy, not even the stiffs. With Delaney still injured and Laursen only managing to be fit for 27 games in his three seasons at the club they look insanely thin.


There are the beginnings of such a service. Setanta have simulcast their channels on the net for some months now as they seek to gain more exposure. This season their EPL content will be available to net subscribers (however this is of no use to Purple Cowboy as it is restricted to UK residents). Give it a few years once digital switchover has taken place and Sky will no doubt start providing online services.

Thanks... I've been on Forest World for a few seasons but you only get highlights and the audio feed of live matches. I live out in the sticks though with too much tree cover for any sort of dish (we've tried) to get a pay package through cable... hopefully the digital cable will make its way out to my rural area before the end of the season. As it is I've been listening to Premiership matches on my Sirius radio but that too is hard to hear uninterrupted I imagine because of the tree cover.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Purple Cowboy

Thanks... I've been on Forest World for a few seasons but you only get highlights and the audio feed of live matches. I live out in the sticks though with too much tree cover for any sort of dish (we've tried) to get a pay package through cable... hopefully the digital cable will make its way out to my rural area before the end of the season. As it is I've been listening to Premiership matches on my Sirius radio but that too is hard to hear uninterrupted I imagine because of the tree cover.

Just in case you were inclined, there are some perfectly serviceable unauthorised free online sites that show live feeds. I have a friend who uses one of them. They rely on the general lack of restrictions in Asia for showing these games. So you get the Sky feed with the Sky commentary, but the occasional bit of Korean text on the screen.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by zoraster

Is it just my imagination or have Aston Villa left themselves remarkably short at the back with their summer transactions? They decided against making Bardsley a permanent addition, and they’ve also sold Samuel, Hughes and Ridgwell. To my knowledge the only defender they’ve signed is that teenage American whose name escapes me, and he is expected to join the academy, not even the stiffs. With Delaney still injured and Laursen only managing to be fit for 27 games in his three seasons at the club they look insanely thin.

There's also Olof Mellberg, who's not bad. But you're right, they are pretty thin. They don't really have a great number of midfielders, either. Certainly not good ones. They're OKish up front, with Carew, Young and Harewood, but it's hardly that intimidating.

I thought that this summer, Martin O'Neill was going to take Lerner's money, and go hog wild and build himself a top 6 contender. If they don't have a very good August - transferwise - they're in for a long hard season.

[ukhotstove]

Their lucky we just sold our left back knowing too well that we had no back up, we now have to rely on Kilbane at left back who can't even play in his natural position of left midfield.

[ukhotstove]

Least their not all over hyped self centered ego's.

Lee Cook has given his cash-strapped former club QPR a major boost by handing over his £250,000 signing-on fee at Fulham as a parting gift. (The Sun)

[ukhotstove]

He isn't everyones cup of tea but Ian Holloway is one of the great characters of football, his column on the BBC site every week is well worth a read.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot..._1/6929172.stm

[zoraster]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Their lucky we just sold our left back knowing too well that we had no back up, we now have to rely on Kilbane at left back who can't even play in his natural position of left midfield.

I thought you had picked up Robinson... has that deal fallen through?

On the subject of Wigan how do you feel about the summers work? On the whole it has been a pretty decent one imo, with Koumas in particular being a good pick up. The defence has seen a change too many and I certainly would have been much happier if at least one of the three veterans had been kept on, but other than that the only real negative I see is Brown. The damage he typically does to team spirit could very quickly outweigh the on-field benefits he brings.

[zoraster]

Originally Posted by edrooney

I thought that this summer, Martin O'Neill was going to take Lerner's money, and go hog wild and build himself a top 6 contender. If they don't have a very good August - transferwise - they're in for a long hard season.

I think everyone was thinking that, especially with the noises the manager was making last year about the small size of his squad. Their summer activity is a head-scratcher to be sure; it isn't even like they've been involved in a lot of near misses judging by the lack of noise reaching the media.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Against Sheff United last game of the season imo he gave the best performance by any player during last season, not many get knocked out, swallow their tongue and two minutes later he's dusting himself off to do battle again.

Now that I can respect and he deserves praise for that, could have been quite a nasty day for him. It's sad in a way that he would deserve so much praise as it should not be a rare thing. A lot of footballers should just want to get up and keep going, not roll around, blame someone else and then go collect their 5-6 figure cheque

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Now that I can respect and he deserves praise for that, could have been quite a nasty day for him. It's sad in a way that he would deserve so much praise as it should not be a rare thing. A lot of footballers should just want to get up and keep going, not roll around, blame someone else and then go collect their 5-6 figure cheque

Some players would have still been rolling around waving their hand in the air for every Sheff Utd player to be booked or sent off.

[Bobbuttons]

Celtic with a home draw to kick off the SPL season. A disappointment, to be sure.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by zoraster

I thought you had picked up Robinson... has that deal fallen through?

On the subject of Wigan how do you feel about the summers work? On the whole it has been a pretty decent one imo, with Koumas in particular being a good pick up. The defence has seen a change too many and I certainly would have been much happier if at least one of the three veterans had been kept on, but other than that the only real negative I see is Brown. The damage he typically does to team spirit could very quickly outweigh the on-field benefits he brings.

Everything was all go until Wigan found out he only had 1 knee or something during a medical, instead of paying something like up to £3 million (way way too much imo) they want to pay it off in instalments.

They went after Jagielka but didn't get him they needed a nasty player in midfield, Brown does that job but rather have had someone else. Would have liked to have seen another forward brought in and another defender before we let Baines go but yeah Hutchings seems to be doing better transfer wise than Jewell so far and he talks a good game hopefully he walk the walk.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Bobbuttons

Celtic with a home draw to kick off the SPL season. A disappointment, to be sure.

Only watched the highlights, should have won with the chnces they had but once the forwards warm up everything will be good.

[ukhotstove]

EPL started and no posts ?

Liverpool deserved to win but only won thanks to Gerrard screaming at the ref, no two ways about it if thats Joe Bloggs average player he doesn't get that free kick.

Martins scores what could be one of the contenders for goal of the season on the first day of the season.

Went to Goodison and have to say Everton just about deserved the win but were nothing special, in fact if we'd had Brown in midfield it could have been different.

Sunderland win but their going to have to keep winning at home with that support giving them an advantage because imo they may struggle away.

Nice to see one of the old names of football back in the top league in Derby County, also nice to see them at least avoid defeat.

Man City look impressive against Cheatham specially Petrov.

And lastly Santa Cruz looked very good when he came on for Blackburn and Hughes must be manager of the week having put 2 subs on and both scoring within minutes of coming on.

[ukhotstove]

18 minutes into the Chelsea v Birmingham game and wont give the score away just in case people are on tape delay but so far very good game.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Went to Goodison and have to say Everton just about deserved the win but were nothing special, in fact if we'd had Brown in midfield it could have been different.

If Everton had had Cahill, Vaughan, and Baines available it might have been different, too.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by mlyons

If Everton had had Cahill, Vaughan, and Baines available it might have been different, too.

Where would you have put Cahill ? Would you have replaced Arteta ? Best player on the field yesterday or Neville their captain ? Or Osman who scored one of their goals ? Or would it have been Carsley who is probably their most dependable midfield player ? Cahill wasn’t a first choice midfield player last season and to be honest the four who played yesterday are better than him.

Onto Vaughan who hasn’t played regular for the, well he’s never played regular because of injuries. Also who would you have dropped for Vaughan ? Anichebe who scored the other Everton goal or Everton’s top striker Johnson ? Next up Baines, he wouldn’t have made Everton better, having watched him over 50 (full and not highlights) games he’s a good defender but hardly a game breaker and wouldn’t have made a difference.

Brown would have made a difference as Wigan had a decent amount of possession but also lacked someone who could have broken up some of the Everton attacks, if he’d been available he'd have taken over from either Scharner who would have dropped into the back four allowing Kilbane to go into midfield and Koumas to move to a central position or he would have been a straight replacement for Landzaat.

[mlyons]

Weren't you the guy up in arms that Baines wasn't named to the national team a few months ago? And now he's not good enough to make Everton better? You really are a homer, aren't you?