Premiership Soccer
This is probably just a discussion for Lowlife and myself, but I hope others will contribute too! But I thought it might be an idea to keep it away from the music. To introuce the thread I suspect a lot of the discussion will revolve around two teams anyway.
Manchester United is my team. Over recent years they are the top team in England, with many supporters throughout the World. Other fans criticise MU fans for this, not having a local fanbase. But I have supported them now for 55 years, when as a boy they were my local team. In the primary school I went to, you either supported Manchester United or Manchester City. Fortunately I did choose the right team, as otherwise my life would have been very different.
Lowlife supports Tottenham Hotspurs (often known as the Spurs). This is also the team that all my wife's family, including my stepson and now granddaughter, support too - my brother in law is a season ticket holder. So inevitably I also see/read a lot about Spurs too.
Until the last few seconds of last season, Manchester United were leading the title race, but Manchester City scored in added time to snatch it on goal difference, the closest race there has been. Most teams want to finish in the top four as that means they qualify for the Champions League, Europe's (and hence the World's) top club competition. Spurs did finish fourth last season, but were denied their place because Chelsea took it by winning the Champions League and qualified instead of Spurs. The best players in the World all want to play at Champions League clubs. Consequently, one of Spurs best player, Luka Modric, has just moved to Real Madrid. In many ways, the CL has more of the best players than the World Cup, as it includes great players whose country will not qualify for the World Cup. Certainly the top six or so European teams would generally beat the best international teams.
The new season started ten days ago. Spurs lost away by having a dubious penalty awarded against them. MU lost at Everton. Already this season their best defence players are injured. But normality resumed on Saturday. MU beat Fulham 3-2, with Spurs drawing 1-1. It was a typical Spurs score, they led 1-0 with not long to go, then let in a goal. Spurs fans come to expect this to happen. Even when they are 3-0 up at half time they have been known to loose the game. If matches ended at around 70 minutes, Spurs would do much better. Comversely Manchester United have a reputation of keeping going until the very end if they are behind, often winning in the last ten minutes of a match.
On Friday the Champions League draw will be made - four English teams - the two from Manchester, Arsenal and Chelsea. There is a second tier European competiton - The Europa League. Some teams are happy to reach this, but others who have missed out on the Champions League and want to try to qualify next time, don't put out their best team for this competition. It will be interesting to see how Spurs approch it this season with their new manager.
So the season enfolds. It is great to have soccer back. On Sunday afternoons Sky TV screen two consecutive games. Sunday afternoons in the summer are just not the same!!
Manchester United is my team. Over recent years they are the top team in England, with many supporters throughout the World. Other fans criticise MU fans for this, not having a local fanbase. But I have supported them now for 55 years, when as a boy they were my local team. In the primary school I went to, you either supported Manchester United or Manchester City. Fortunately I did choose the right team, as otherwise my life would have been very different.
Lowlife supports Tottenham Hotspurs (often known as the Spurs). This is also the team that all my wife's family, including my stepson and now granddaughter, support too - my brother in law is a season ticket holder. So inevitably I also see/read a lot about Spurs too.
Until the last few seconds of last season, Manchester United were leading the title race, but Manchester City scored in added time to snatch it on goal difference, the closest race there has been. Most teams want to finish in the top four as that means they qualify for the Champions League, Europe's (and hence the World's) top club competition. Spurs did finish fourth last season, but were denied their place because Chelsea took it by winning the Champions League and qualified instead of Spurs. The best players in the World all want to play at Champions League clubs. Consequently, one of Spurs best player, Luka Modric, has just moved to Real Madrid. In many ways, the CL has more of the best players than the World Cup, as it includes great players whose country will not qualify for the World Cup. Certainly the top six or so European teams would generally beat the best international teams.
The new season started ten days ago. Spurs lost away by having a dubious penalty awarded against them. MU lost at Everton. Already this season their best defence players are injured. But normality resumed on Saturday. MU beat Fulham 3-2, with Spurs drawing 1-1. It was a typical Spurs score, they led 1-0 with not long to go, then let in a goal. Spurs fans come to expect this to happen. Even when they are 3-0 up at half time they have been known to loose the game. If matches ended at around 70 minutes, Spurs would do much better. Comversely Manchester United have a reputation of keeping going until the very end if they are behind, often winning in the last ten minutes of a match.
On Friday the Champions League draw will be made - four English teams - the two from Manchester, Arsenal and Chelsea. There is a second tier European competiton - The Europa League. Some teams are happy to reach this, but others who have missed out on the Champions League and want to try to qualify next time, don't put out their best team for this competition. It will be interesting to see how Spurs approch it this season with their new manager.
So the season enfolds. It is great to have soccer back. On Sunday afternoons Sky TV screen two consecutive games. Sunday afternoons in the summer are just not the same!!
Comments
I feel the way things are going that the season has not started at Spurs but I am hoping to watch the game on Saturday and looking forward to the Europa Cup draw. I see Sparta Prague are still in and have mentioned to Mrs Lowfie that she always wanted to go there, so far with not much response if it included football.
Greg could be an interesting season at Utd especially with City seeming to still be buying everyone, RVP was an interesting buy and I am sure Ferguson would not splash out unless he thought it was right. We are due to play each other soon so it will be an intersting day. I am watching with baited breath at whats going to happen before the transfer window, Spurs always pull something out of the bag at the last minuite, cant wait to see who.
Rumours today include from a Spurs angle
VDV to go back to Hamburg
Berbatov to go to Spurs ??????!!!! ( That will not be popular on the terraces)
Somebody very late on that we never expected
Rose to Sunderland on loan
Jenas also rumours to Sunderland and Bentley to Blackpool
VDV has gone at a price more than we bought him, this is typical of Spurs as we have so far made a profit on every transfer deal.
BTW, the Amanda Palmer tracks were really good
Yes, agreed about Amanda Palmer, I will look out for the full album when it is out.
So that is where he is going, as you could no longer call him a major signing!
Watched it in the pub on Saturday, games at WHL are out this year as my supplier of tickets is working now in the Far East. AVB is trying his ideas out but we looked slow and cumbersome and you just knew that Norwich were going to score. As it is International weekend now AVB will have time to work on the players for a bit, those who off course dont get called up.
Great result yesterday for you, RVP looked quality and looks like a great signing for you.
Looking forward to Friday night to watch England, will be watching it with a my mates most of whom are Gunners ( how does this happen ) but I have early start with family on Saturday so not too much of the dark stuff!
Hope you have sorted out your problems with the broadband, we have the same problems when we go to the end of our contract. Lots of haggling but got a great deal after we threatend to leave.
Big game Saturday, bet its the usual we score first and lose 3-1. Bad draw for you in the League Cup, although a trip to Norwich is not great for us either
Thanks for the congrats, yes rather celebrated a bit too much on Saturday but what a game, the last half hour was pure toture and I thought you were going to grab a point at the end.
Thought SAF was a bit silly moaning about the time but he has to complain about something. Once Rooney came on it was a different game but I though Defoe was brilliant and Galas was huge in defence, I moan about him a lot but in the big games his experience really shows.
Good luck this week on the Euro travels, we play in Athens on Thursday, will be interested in who AVB plays
Saturday was not a good day, without Bale in the team we lost our shape and Chelsea were just too good for us.
Some strange Euro results, I was quite shocked with the City and Arsenal scores it seems that the English teams seem to be going backward at the momment.
Will watch our Euro game tonight, we have to win it to carry on our campaign and we go again at Southampton on Sunday, might sneak in the pub to watch it
Spurs looked weary yesterday,1st half were very good but shabby in the 2nd. Bale made all the difference but wil take the 3 points. Norwich in the cup Tuesday then Wigan on Saturday, must get 3 points there.
What is happening when Spurs play at WHL? Why was Defoe taken off when Adebayour came on, surely AVB should have played both against Wigan for much if not all of the game. They are playing great away from home, but less well at home this season, must be the set up for home games?
Greg, good luck tonight, I will be watching the football on Thursday through gritted teeth, its a game we have to win to stay in Europe this year.