12/13 Football Thread

[Haydn C]

stateside

coverage of Premier League will move to the NBC network in August....this makes me sad as I will miss ESPNs coverage and Ian Darkes commentary

How much coverage do you get in terms of televised games?

[Vibranium]

How much coverage do you get in terms of televised games?

a good amount spread out among different networks...usually on Saturday mornings and Sundays ESPN or ESPN2 would have a match on, also on a channel called FUSE and some of the FOX Sports channels

now everything moves to NBC because NBC offered almost $100 million more than ESPN was offering, and they are trying to build the NBC sports brand

[Aubergine~!]

So Man City and the New York Yankees have apparently bought a new New York MLS franchise.

That's er... something.

[Vibranium]

So Man City and the New York Yankees have apparently bought a new New York MLS franchise.

That's er... something.

that would be the expansion team for MLS, adding another MLS Team to the NJ/NY area

[Alan Lynch]

I have always disliked Pulis and always regarded it as one of my irrational dislikes when I just take against someone for no particular reason, (never proud of this but it does happen). Interesting to see that others are none to fond either.

Add me to the list. Pulis has always come off as an arrogant, unpleasant chap. The fact he's clearly sent out hammer throwers to injure players doesn't help either.

that would be the expansion team for MLS, adding another MLS Team to the NJ/NY area

It's an odd partnership is all. City I assume want to benefit from an increased US profile, but knowing very little about baseball I'm not sure how the Yankees could've got involved.

[mcgaffer]

My predictions for the season all the way back on page two -

Premier League-Man City
Relegated-Swansea, West Brom, Southampton

Championship-promoted-Bolton, Birmingham, Leicester
Relegated-Barnsley, Sheff Wed, Peterborough

League One-Promoted-Crawley, Sheff Utd, MK Dons

League Two-Promoted-Bristol Rovers, Wimbledon, Gillingham, Fleetwood

SPL - Celtic
Spain-Barcelona
Italy-Inter
Holland-PSV
Germany-Bayern

Champions League-Man City
Europa League-Arsenal (long shot, but I reckon a third place finish in their CL group then they win this)
Scottish Cup-Celtic
FA Cup-Man Utd
League Cup-Aston Villa

Player of the Year-Torres
Wanker of the Year-Tie between Abramovich (after he sacks Di Matteo halfway through the year to get the big name manager he really wanted) and Redknapp (after he probably accepts the Chelsea job)

Financial collapse of the year-Tottenham (there's more behind Redknapp leaving then failure to get in the CL)

[mcgaffer]

Former Manchester United and England defender Brian Greenhoff has died suddenly at the age of 60.
Greenhoff was a member of the United team which beat Liverpool 2-1 in the 1977 FA Cup final, before moving to Leeds United for £350,000 in 1979.
In total, he made 271 appearances for the Old Trafford club, scoring 17 goals, and won 18 caps for England.
Born in Barnsley, Greenhoff, who served the Reds for six years from 1973, also played and coached at Rochdale.

[mcgaffer]

Germany's Bundesliga has warned that any attempt to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter could lead to legal challenges by European leagues.
Temperatures reach 50C in Qatar during June, when World Cups normally start.
Uefa president Michel Platini says the World Cup could be moved but European leagues might be disrupted for up to three seasons if that happens.
Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert said "I am not sure legally you can say 'we'll just play in winter'."
Sepp Blatter, president of world governing body Fifa, said last week it is "not rational and reasonable'' to play in the summer heat in Qatar, but has stopped short of advocating a winter World Cup.
Seifert said it is "impossible" to play in Qatar in the heat of the summer, adding that the decision to hold the tournament in the Middle East country is "not for the good of the game".
Seifert, who was speaking ahead of Saturday's all-German Champions League final at Wembley between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, said: "I'm not sure of the credibility of Fifa.
"It shows me Fifa, as a body which says what's good for the game, ignores completely the day-by-day basis in those leagues who are effectively the core and the heart of football - not the tournament that comes up every four years."
Qatar beat the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
"As far as I understand, it was an invitation to tender and I'm very sure especially England is watching out for what happens there and I understand that," added Seifert.
"From other leagues I do have the feeling they are also very upset with the situation - that the decision was done and that a four-week tournament affects maybe three years of running of professional football leagues in Europe."
Qatar has unveiled plans that include air-conditioned stadiums and the possibility of artificial clouds which would cool the stadia in the country, which is ranked 101st in the current Fifa rankings.
Asked if the vote should be held again, Seifert added: "I cannot say because I did not know the tender. At the end of the day the lawyers decide if there is a re-vote.
"I am absolutely sure if countries like England see a chance of a re-vote they will force a re-vote."

[mcgaffer]

Former Aston Villa club captain Stiliyan Petrov has accepted a new role as an assistant to the club's development coach Gordon Cowans.

Wayne Rooney feels he is being forced out of Manchester United and the 27-year-old striker is reportedly adamant that he has not asked to leave the club.

Real Madrid want to sign Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale, 23, this summer and are prepared to better Spurs' contract offer of £150,000-a-week.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says that talks have opened with Manchester City over a deal that would see Edinson Cavani, 26, move to the English club with 27-year-old Edin Dzeko heading the other way.

Malaga's Manchester City target Isco, 21, is now said to be interesting both Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, 37, will seek a £5m pay-off to tear up his contract, which still has three years to run.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are said to be monitoring Chelsea's David Luiz, 26, who may not be wanted by Jose Mourinho if he returns to Stamford Bridge.

Fiorentina want around £30m for striker Stefan Jovetic, 23, who is a summer target for Arsenal.

Incoming Manchester United boss David Moyes is keen to beat Chelsea to the signature of Southampton's 17-year-old full-back Luke Shaw.

However, Shaw has reportedly told Southampton that he will stay and sign his first senior contract at St Mary's.

Andy Carroll, 24, is stalling on a permanent move to West Ham after the Hammers agreed a £15m deal with Liverpool for the striker.

West Ham may also look at signing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, 20, on loan to partner Carroll, but face competition from Swansea.

Paris St-Germain have contacted Rafael Benitez as a contingency measure to deal with manager Carlo Ancelotti's possible departure from the club.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has been given 48 hours to decide if he wants to replace Tony Pulis at Stoke City.

Championship clubs are set to push for trials of safe standing areas in football grounds.

Phil Neville is in the frame for a senior coaching role at Stoke City following the departure of manager Tony Pulis after seven years in charge at the club.

However, the former Manchester United and England defender, 36, has told Everton chairman Bill Kenwright he is keen to replace David Moyes as the Toffees' manager.

Full-back Gael Clichy says that Roberto Mancini and the Manchester City players must share the blame for the Italian's dismissal as City manager.

The club that finishes bottom of the Premier League next season is set to collect around £63m in earnings from a new broadcasting deal currently in negotiations, just over £20m more than the current amount.

[king mob]

Financial collapse of the year-Tottenham (there's more behind Redknapp leaving then failure to get in the CL)

Private Eye touched upon Spurs fiances a few years back, but the real issue was Redknapp trying to sort his contract out live on BBC One.

[Vibranium]

It's an odd partnership is all. City I assume want to benefit from an increased US profile, but knowing very little about baseball I'm not sure how the Yankees could've got involved.

The Steinbrenners (owners of the Yankees) are rich, and getting involved in football will generate more revenue

also they will probably figure a way to use Yankee Stadium for occasional matches and that will also make some $$$

[mcgaffer]

Uefa will announce on Friday whether the Europa League winners will be rewarded with a Champions League qualifying spot from 2016.
The move would be designed to boost interest in Europe's secondary club tournament.
The decision followed months of discussions between the European Club Association (ECA) and Uefa officials.

[king mob]

Watch clubs suddenly start to take the Europa League seriously.

[Captain Clarkie]

Watch clubs suddenly start to take the Europa League seriously.

What, like winning it?