Got to admit it up front, no coherent preamble before the picks. Just a couple thoughts to keep you warm until USA/Mexico next week. I'll make it up to you, I promise.
In case you missed it, Sky got four of the six Premier League packages in the newest deal, leaving Setanta and ESPN to battle for the other two.
How this translates to us in America is beyond me, though it likely bodes well for Fox Soccer since Sky is owned partially by News Corp., which owns FSC. Guess we'll find out soon enough. [Update -- ESPN got shut out in the UK, not sure what it means for us Yanks.]
...and this whole Beckham thing. The Galaxy ought to do the right thing and let him stay in Italy. You can't hold the guy against his will and force him to smile about playing in MLS.
It is a tad ironic that the guy that essentially forced Beckham to accept the Galaxy's deal in 2007 -- Fabio Capello -- is the same guy that he's now trying to woo and earn a 2010 World Cup spot with.
...when was the last time a Champions League match was played?
Saturday
* Manchester City v. Middlesbrough -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) City seem to yo-yo and are due a good performance at home. Your last Middlesbrough league win...that's right -- Nov. 9!! ... City 3, Boro 1
* Blackburn v. Aston Villa -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) It's the Brad Friedel bowl at Ewood Park. This is another hard to calculate item, but how much better would the Blackburn defense be this season if Big Brad were in nets? Not to say he'd stop a ton more shots than Paul Robinson, but he'd likely inspire the defense to play better just because they know he's behind them. ... Blackburn 1, Aston Villa 2
* Chelsea v. Hull City -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Chelsea adding Quaresma might be the most useful move of the window, since it gives the team a little more options wide. If the Portuguese international comes to play is another question all together. At least Chelsea ought to mush Hull at Stamford Bridge to stop the immediate bleeding. ... Chelsea 2, Hull City 0
* Everton v. Bolton -- Everton remains the little (big) club that could. ... Everton 1, Bolton 0
* Sunderland v. Stoke City -- If this was a wrestling match, maybe we could make it so the loser can't wear red-and-white stripes any more just to spice it up. ... Sunderland 1, Stoke 1
* West Brom v. Newcastle United -- What would you rather be, bad and bland like West Brom or bad and tragically funny like Newcastle? ... West Brom 2, Newcastle 1
* Wigan v. Fulham -- Here are you two 'surprise' teams. Two teams built with lesser transfers made to build the team the right way. ... Wigan 1, Fulham 0
* Portsmouth v. Liverpool -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) No Gerard, no hope for the Scoucers? Luckily they get Portsmouth, who's been pretty bad. Fernando Torres, pack a lunch...and a superman cape. ... Portsmouth 1, Liverpool 1
Sunday
* Tottenham v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Look at the size of that Russian! Ok, Andrei Arshavin is probably doesn't come up to Ivan Drago's waist, but indulge me. Arsenal really ought to turn the ex-Zenit player out and see what he can do against the rather suspect marking of Tottenham. This might be the prefect place for Arsenal to end its mini-slide, since it's highly unlikely Spurs will pack their players in and allow the Gunners to attack. At home Tottenham should try to create chances, which ought to open up the match. You never know which Spurs team shows up, which should make this one highly entertaining. Oh yeah, that whole Robbie Keane thing too. ... Spurs 2, Arsenal 2
* West Ham v. Manchester United -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) West Ham have given United trouble lately. After bearing down and holding Arsenal last weekend, are they ready to give another 90 minutes against United? As I've said, United are due a hiccup, but it's not going to happen at Upton Park. ... West Ham 0, Man. Utd. 1
Last round: 3-7
Season: 106-128
In case you missed it, Sky got four of the six Premier League packages in the newest deal, leaving Setanta and ESPN to battle for the other two.
How this translates to us in America is beyond me, though it likely bodes well for Fox Soccer since Sky is owned partially by News Corp., which owns FSC. Guess we'll find out soon enough. [Update -- ESPN got shut out in the UK, not sure what it means for us Yanks.]
...and this whole Beckham thing. The Galaxy ought to do the right thing and let him stay in Italy. You can't hold the guy against his will and force him to smile about playing in MLS.
It is a tad ironic that the guy that essentially forced Beckham to accept the Galaxy's deal in 2007 -- Fabio Capello -- is the same guy that he's now trying to woo and earn a 2010 World Cup spot with.
...when was the last time a Champions League match was played?
Saturday
* Manchester City v. Middlesbrough -- (Live, Setanta, 7:45 a.m.) City seem to yo-yo and are due a good performance at home. Your last Middlesbrough league win...that's right -- Nov. 9!! ... City 3, Boro 1
* Blackburn v. Aston Villa -- (Live, FSC, 10 a.m.) It's the Brad Friedel bowl at Ewood Park. This is another hard to calculate item, but how much better would the Blackburn defense be this season if Big Brad were in nets? Not to say he'd stop a ton more shots than Paul Robinson, but he'd likely inspire the defense to play better just because they know he's behind them. ... Blackburn 1, Aston Villa 2
* Chelsea v. Hull City -- (Live, Setanta, 10 a.m.) Chelsea adding Quaresma might be the most useful move of the window, since it gives the team a little more options wide. If the Portuguese international comes to play is another question all together. At least Chelsea ought to mush Hull at Stamford Bridge to stop the immediate bleeding. ... Chelsea 2, Hull City 0
* Everton v. Bolton -- Everton remains the little (big) club that could. ... Everton 1, Bolton 0
* Sunderland v. Stoke City -- If this was a wrestling match, maybe we could make it so the loser can't wear red-and-white stripes any more just to spice it up. ... Sunderland 1, Stoke 1
* West Brom v. Newcastle United -- What would you rather be, bad and bland like West Brom or bad and tragically funny like Newcastle? ... West Brom 2, Newcastle 1
* Wigan v. Fulham -- Here are you two 'surprise' teams. Two teams built with lesser transfers made to build the team the right way. ... Wigan 1, Fulham 0
* Portsmouth v. Liverpool -- (Live, FSC, 12:30 p.m.) No Gerard, no hope for the Scoucers? Luckily they get Portsmouth, who's been pretty bad. Fernando Torres, pack a lunch...and a superman cape. ... Portsmouth 1, Liverpool 1
Sunday
* Tottenham v. Arsenal -- (Live, Setanta, 8:30 a.m.) Look at the size of that Russian! Ok, Andrei Arshavin is probably doesn't come up to Ivan Drago's waist, but indulge me. Arsenal really ought to turn the ex-Zenit player out and see what he can do against the rather suspect marking of Tottenham. This might be the prefect place for Arsenal to end its mini-slide, since it's highly unlikely Spurs will pack their players in and allow the Gunners to attack. At home Tottenham should try to create chances, which ought to open up the match. You never know which Spurs team shows up, which should make this one highly entertaining. Oh yeah, that whole Robbie Keane thing too. ... Spurs 2, Arsenal 2
* West Ham v. Manchester United -- (Live, FSC, 11 a.m.) West Ham have given United trouble lately. After bearing down and holding Arsenal last weekend, are they ready to give another 90 minutes against United? As I've said, United are due a hiccup, but it's not going to happen at Upton Park. ... West Ham 0, Man. Utd. 1
Last round: 3-7
Season: 106-128
Labels: Prem Picks, Premier League, Soccer
Newcastle's woes almost became tragic unfunny this morning, eh? Kinnear is the new Gipper.