Consider this question, which would take more of a toll on your body over the long haul:
a) Running into a brick wall once a week for four months?
b) Running a marathon once a week for 11 months of the year?
Naturally, neither are that tempting a proposition. You'd think the marathon option would be more appealing, but not when your factor in the idea of joint pain and that occasional heart attack. At least with the brick wall option you get a couple days worth of ice and painkillers.
This hypothetical is a way to compare the physical exertions of American football players and European soccer players. In each line of work, the athletes absolutely grind their bodies into pulps, usually for some decent compensation.
Obviously playing in the NFL poses much more of a long-term risk to your livelihood considering the violent collisions on a weekly basis, though the amount of miles logged on the leg joints by soccer pros does dispell some of the pansy notion about Euro pretty bodies. (Of course that's discounted since many players tweak a toenail and they're out 2-3 weeks.)
Anyways, it was something that had me thinking the other day. Guess my decision would come down to how much money you're willing to throw me.
Saturday
Before the picks, some fun with numbers. As of today:
1) Seven of 20 teams in the league have six losses.
2) Only six teams have a positive goal difference.
3) The gap from 20th to 10th (4 points) is the same as 1st to 2nd place.
* Arsenal v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) One of my favorite things about following the PL is the overreaction my the English media. Arsenal loses a game to Stoke City then draws Fenerbahce in the Champions League and it's crisis time. You'd think Cesc Fabregas already has his bags packed for the Camp Nou. (Okay, on the back of that crazy 4-4 draw to Spurs does have some bearing.)
The Gunners are 6-2-3 and have 20 points, good enough for a fourth-place tie. Isn't that just about what we all expected? If they're one true place for concern, it's the center of the defense. Unlike the other 'Big Four' Arsenal doesn't have an absolute bedrock in the center like John Terry, Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand. English-ness shouldn't have a bearing, but in this case it might. Kolo Toure is a fine player and has a great knack for getting forward, but for all that does he have the grit to do the dirty work? As for William Gallas? It's clear his Chelsea form is a thing of the past, even if he'll nick the occasion goal. The ideal player for Arsene Wenger to target would have been a dude like Micah Richards, but with Manchester City's newfound wealth that isn't happening.
Perhaps the biggest scare for Gooners worldwide is that with a game in hand, United have already passed Arsenal in the table and don't seem to have any problems aside from Ferguson's temper and the endless Ronaldo to Real saga.
As for Saturday, if this was played at Highbury, maybe Arsenal would have the edge. As it stands the United midfield is too strong and Ronaldo is flashing his 2007-08 form which is damn near unstoppable. ... Arsenal 1, Manchester United 2 (Why the Premier League puts it most marquee matchup as the first game of the day never ceases to amaze me.)
* Wigan Athletic v. Stoke City -- So, if you can tell I wrote a lot for that game. This one? Well, do you want to break down Tony Pulis' flap with Wenger? (The true punching bag of all PL managers.) Instead, realize these matches are going to be basically season-long relegation slug fests because outside the Big Four and maybe Aston Villa can you say with any certainty the rest of the clubs won't be relegated? ... Wigan 1, Stoke 1
* Hull City v. Bolton -- Funny, this would have been the preseason 19 vs. 20 battle for most pundits. Will the Tigers' early-season edge continue? The fact that club icon Dean Windass is searching for another team can't bode well on the karma department. As for Bolton, here's your weekly factoid, aside from keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, Andy O'Brien, JLloyd Samuel, Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies have played all 990 Premier League minutes this season. ... Hull 1, Bolton 1
* Sunderland v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Of the ten games on the board, if you were going to wager this match would be pocked by red flags. Stay away like it was a marathon of any show on Comedy Central except 'South Park.' ... Sunderland 1, Portsmouth 1
* West Ham United v. Everton -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Need more proof that we are in for a wackily historic Prem season, West Ham hasn't won since Sept. 20 but remain in 11th place. The Irons haven't scored more than once in any of those matches, either. Everton is showing signs of respectability and might end up wearing the crown of best of the also-rans. Hey, it beats $20 for placing second in a beauty contest, doesn't it? ... West Ham 1, Everton 2
* Liverpool v. West Brom -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) It was a soft penalty call awarded to Steven Gerrard. Fact. Yet, stars get those breaks. Fact. No if, ands or buts, the Reds have to take all three points here. Fact. Maybe even get a goal from Fernando Torres. Fact. ... Liverpool 2, West Brom 0
Sunday
* Blackburn v. Chelsea -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Another scalp for Scolari. ... Blackburn 0, Chelsea 3
* Aston Villa v. Middlesbrough -- How did Villa lose to Newcastle on Monday? Egads, that's a bad job my Martin O'Neil. This one could actually turn out to be pretty entertaining since both sides seem more concerned by scoring goals than playing defense. (Warning, I've been wrong a lot this term.) ... Villa 3, Boro 1
* Manchester City v. Tottenham -- Congrats to City, the only team outside the top five with a positive goal difference. Free crude for everyone! Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips might get confused when they line up and see a team that's actually has players smaller and maybe quicker than they are. This one ought to playout like a 'FIFA' game. ... City 2, Spurs 1
* Fulham v. Newcastle United -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Can the Magpies win a third straight? Maybe that's the true sign of the apocalypse. ... Fulham 1, Newcastled 1
Last week: 4-6
Season: 45-62
a) Running into a brick wall once a week for four months?
b) Running a marathon once a week for 11 months of the year?
Naturally, neither are that tempting a proposition. You'd think the marathon option would be more appealing, but not when your factor in the idea of joint pain and that occasional heart attack. At least with the brick wall option you get a couple days worth of ice and painkillers.
This hypothetical is a way to compare the physical exertions of American football players and European soccer players. In each line of work, the athletes absolutely grind their bodies into pulps, usually for some decent compensation.
Obviously playing in the NFL poses much more of a long-term risk to your livelihood considering the violent collisions on a weekly basis, though the amount of miles logged on the leg joints by soccer pros does dispell some of the pansy notion about Euro pretty bodies. (Of course that's discounted since many players tweak a toenail and they're out 2-3 weeks.)
Anyways, it was something that had me thinking the other day. Guess my decision would come down to how much money you're willing to throw me.
Saturday
Before the picks, some fun with numbers. As of today:
1) Seven of 20 teams in the league have six losses.
2) Only six teams have a positive goal difference.
3) The gap from 20th to 10th (4 points) is the same as 1st to 2nd place.
* Arsenal v. Manchester United -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) One of my favorite things about following the PL is the overreaction my the English media. Arsenal loses a game to Stoke City then draws Fenerbahce in the Champions League and it's crisis time. You'd think Cesc Fabregas already has his bags packed for the Camp Nou. (Okay, on the back of that crazy 4-4 draw to Spurs does have some bearing.)
The Gunners are 6-2-3 and have 20 points, good enough for a fourth-place tie. Isn't that just about what we all expected? If they're one true place for concern, it's the center of the defense. Unlike the other 'Big Four' Arsenal doesn't have an absolute bedrock in the center like John Terry, Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand. English-ness shouldn't have a bearing, but in this case it might. Kolo Toure is a fine player and has a great knack for getting forward, but for all that does he have the grit to do the dirty work? As for William Gallas? It's clear his Chelsea form is a thing of the past, even if he'll nick the occasion goal. The ideal player for Arsene Wenger to target would have been a dude like Micah Richards, but with Manchester City's newfound wealth that isn't happening.
Perhaps the biggest scare for Gooners worldwide is that with a game in hand, United have already passed Arsenal in the table and don't seem to have any problems aside from Ferguson's temper and the endless Ronaldo to Real saga.
As for Saturday, if this was played at Highbury, maybe Arsenal would have the edge. As it stands the United midfield is too strong and Ronaldo is flashing his 2007-08 form which is damn near unstoppable. ... Arsenal 1, Manchester United 2 (Why the Premier League puts it most marquee matchup as the first game of the day never ceases to amaze me.)
* Wigan Athletic v. Stoke City -- So, if you can tell I wrote a lot for that game. This one? Well, do you want to break down Tony Pulis' flap with Wenger? (The true punching bag of all PL managers.) Instead, realize these matches are going to be basically season-long relegation slug fests because outside the Big Four and maybe Aston Villa can you say with any certainty the rest of the clubs won't be relegated? ... Wigan 1, Stoke 1
* Hull City v. Bolton -- Funny, this would have been the preseason 19 vs. 20 battle for most pundits. Will the Tigers' early-season edge continue? The fact that club icon Dean Windass is searching for another team can't bode well on the karma department. As for Bolton, here's your weekly factoid, aside from keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, Andy O'Brien, JLloyd Samuel, Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies have played all 990 Premier League minutes this season. ... Hull 1, Bolton 1
* Sunderland v. Portsmouth -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) Of the ten games on the board, if you were going to wager this match would be pocked by red flags. Stay away like it was a marathon of any show on Comedy Central except 'South Park.' ... Sunderland 1, Portsmouth 1
* West Ham United v. Everton -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Need more proof that we are in for a wackily historic Prem season, West Ham hasn't won since Sept. 20 but remain in 11th place. The Irons haven't scored more than once in any of those matches, either. Everton is showing signs of respectability and might end up wearing the crown of best of the also-rans. Hey, it beats $20 for placing second in a beauty contest, doesn't it? ... West Ham 1, Everton 2
* Liverpool v. West Brom -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) It was a soft penalty call awarded to Steven Gerrard. Fact. Yet, stars get those breaks. Fact. No if, ands or buts, the Reds have to take all three points here. Fact. Maybe even get a goal from Fernando Torres. Fact. ... Liverpool 2, West Brom 0
Sunday
* Blackburn v. Chelsea -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Another scalp for Scolari. ... Blackburn 0, Chelsea 3
* Aston Villa v. Middlesbrough -- How did Villa lose to Newcastle on Monday? Egads, that's a bad job my Martin O'Neil. This one could actually turn out to be pretty entertaining since both sides seem more concerned by scoring goals than playing defense. (Warning, I've been wrong a lot this term.) ... Villa 3, Boro 1
* Manchester City v. Tottenham -- Congrats to City, the only team outside the top five with a positive goal difference. Free crude for everyone! Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips might get confused when they line up and see a team that's actually has players smaller and maybe quicker than they are. This one ought to playout like a 'FIFA' game. ... City 2, Spurs 1
* Fulham v. Newcastle United -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) Can the Magpies win a third straight? Maybe that's the true sign of the apocalypse. ... Fulham 1, Newcastled 1
Last week: 4-6
Season: 45-62
Labels: Prem Picks, Premier League, Soccer
Football is sooo much worse for your body than soccer is. Just watch a big strong guy like Jerome Bettis, who isn't 40 yet, walk around with a permanent limp and tell me soccer players have it worse. There isn't a lineman in the league that won't have knee and joint problems by the time they're 50.
Nothing against soccer players they're great athletes, but you just can't compare the two. Football players experience the same joint and muscle strain a soccer player and they have to deal with chop blocks and horse collar tackles and face masks and a hundred other ways of being taken to the ground your body isn't meant to experience.
Love the site, but your fun with numbers doesn't really make sense:
1) The gap from 20th to 10th (4 points) is the same as 1st to 2nd place.
Two teams are tied for first. And the third place team is 5 points back.
Still like the blog, but what happened to all the Champions League stuff you used to do?
Seems like its hard to find good blogs on champions league or non-EPL leagues of late.
Now that the CL is getting to the nitty gritty, I'll pick it up, or at least try my best to do so.