Barclays English Premier League

[DaytonBuck]

People get [censored]ed at the EPL because it's physical. The EPL is like Big 10 basketball

[Messi18Man]

I agree completely, Defenders in the EPL seem to play a lot more physical not only with their on ball marking but off the ball as well. Just an observation but to me at times it looks like the EPL has defenders that are bigger in stature as well.

Can't believe that Rooney scores in the 1st minute against Wigan today and then gets a hamstring injury which is going to sideline him for 3 weeks supposedly. Tough blow especially considering they have already lost Evra for the same amount of time and Ferdinand is injured as well.

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by Messi18Man

I agree completely, Defenders in the EPL seem to play a lot more physical not only with their on ball marking but off the ball as well. Just an observation but to me at times it looks like the EPL has defenders that are bigger in stature as well.

Can't believe that Rooney scores in the 1st minute against Wigan today and then gets a hamstring injury which is going to sideline him for 3 weeks supposedly. Tough blow especially considering they have already lost Evra for the same amount of time and Ferdinand is injured as well.

Rooney is pretty injury prone. I think England always has one of the biggest height weight wise teams at the world cup

[Messi18Man]

Is the EPL known for its rough and hard challenges ? or am I just making that up ? because I swear I've read that somewhere before.

Well Rio and John Terry are certainly on the taller side but isn't Germany known for their tall central defenders as well ? Because they had some big boys for central defenders during the last World Cup and Euro (Borowski, Metzelder, Mertesacker sp ?)

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by Messi18Man

Is the EPL known for its rough and hard challenges ? or am I just making that up ? because I swear I've read that somewhere before.

Well Rio and John Terry are certainly on the taller side but isn't Germany known for their tall central defenders as well ? Because they had some big boys for central defenders during the last World Cup and Euro (Borowski, Metzelder, Mertesacker sp ?)

EPL is a physical non 5'2 SA southern euro game. Challenges are hard.

[Buckeye513]

English grit = SEC speed!!1!!!1

If Nemanja Vidic played for Roma people would be saying that he's just another pansy bitch in the Italian league, like Philippe Mexes. The EPL seems more physical because 75% of the teams play not to lose.

[Messi18Man]

great points, not to mention the EPL is well represented in the UCL every year which you can't say year in year out for other leagues.

Mexes is a little bitch, has he ever been called up by Domenech ?


When I think of hard challenges I immediately think of Essien and the atrocious tackle on Eduardo Da Silva last season, that still turns my stomach to this day.

[23Skidoo]

Originally Posted by Messi18Man

It can be True while watching EPL matches that they are boring, but I'm convinced that the defenses in that league are far superior to all other leagues bar none. When I watch Serie A or La Liga it seems like teams allow you to bring the ball up unchallenged and allow you all the space in the world when in the EPL they mark players much more closely and spacing and passing lanes are a lot more tight (from my untrained perspective of course). I consider myself fairly neutral because I've only been watching the sport for 3 years now and I like to watch teams from throughout the various leagues in Europe as well as Internationals. I'm more a fan of certain players than their overall teams but If I had to choose one team it would be Barca. 1) Because their the only real team I've ever had a chance to see in person (twice, NY '06 and Chicago '08 during their summer pre-season tour) 2) Leo Messi and 3) they are one of the few teams that realize their is a market here for the sport and are at least giving an effort to try and market not only their team here (Miami MLS franchise ? summer pre-season tours) but the sport itself. I think this is great because futbol recieves too much negativity over here and I think there is great potential for it to not only gain popularity but to give future players a chance to make successful and meaningful careers in Europe.

I'm not a fan of MLS myself. Just can't get into it. The few games I've gone to they just look like they don't care and the atmosphere is crap. The atmosphere is a sticking point for me -- I think that's one of the best things about the sport. (leaving Serie A and Millwall out of it)

Originally Posted by Messi18Man

But like I said, that were if I had to CHOOSE a team right now and it would mostly be because of Messi alone. Yeah I watch pretty much all of their games but if he doesnt play I would much rather watch a good EPL, Serie A, La Liga or Bundesliga matchup with top teams in those leagues involved. But i'm still more about watching specific players unfortunately because I get a lot of enjoyment out of watching players I like perform well.

I get you on the players. I don't care much for NFL these days either unless it's a player. I caught myself rooting for Steelers the other week when Holmes ran that TD back.

Originally Posted by Buckeye513

English grit = SEC speed!!1!!!1

If Nemanja Vidic played for Roma people would be saying that he's just another pansy bitch in the Italian league, like Philippe Mexes. The EPL seems more physical because 75% of the teams play not to lose.

I'd have to agree here. But the "British" game in general does close down a lot more than others. And there is a reason... try and play like that at full speed for 90m in Spain or Italy.
As far as tackling, etc. ... let's be serious. Most of the players aren't British. They're getting them from the rest of Europe, which apparently is really weak. Next somebody is going to tell me Ted Ginn now has Southern speed because he plays for the Dolphins.
Anyway, I don't watch soccer for the tackling... I want to see people do something with the ball. Not kick the crap out of eachothers shins and attempt to break eachothers' legs.

[tmporter]

[quote=23Skidoo;1382274;]I'm not a fan of MLS myself. Just can't get into it. The few games I've gone to they just look like they don't care and the atmosphere is crap. The atmosphere is a sticking point for me -- I think that's one of the best things about the sport. (leaving Serie A and Millwall out of it)

Since Seattle just got a team, you should come to a crew game. Aside from Toronto, Columbus has the best game atmosphere. I go to a number of Crew games a year. Its no where close to a college football game at a big school, but for 12,000 fans max, its not bad.

[jmorbitz]

Originally Posted by tmporter

Since Seattle just got a team, you should come to a crew game. Aside from Toronto, Columbus has the best game atmosphere. I go to a number of Crew games a year. Its no where close to a college football game at a big school, but for 12,000 fans max, its not bad.

The Crew fans also do a very good job of harassing opposing teams corner kicks, by raining streamers and other objects on the players.

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by jmorbitz

The Crew fans also do a very good job of harassing opposing teams corner kicks, by raining streamers and other objects on the players.

Yes we do. I always sit up there in the North End. Throwing some streamers is a fun activity during corner kicks.

[Messi18Man]

Toronto also throws streamers at opposing teams during corner kicks and I believe Houston does it as well. I think any player will take streamers being thrown at them rather than being a U.S international playing at Costa Rica and being either spit on or having bags of urine thrown on you. Mexican fans are also notorious for throwing a vast array of objects onto opposing players.

[Messi18Man]

Is anyone else astounded by the apparent 107 million pound Man City offer for Kaka' ? To me it is unbelievable that Man City, let alone any team would be willing to spend that much money in this current economic time on just one player. But then again the owners of the club are absolutely loaded, however I would be shocked if Kaka' accepts it.

tmporter, do you know what Rio Ferdinand's injury is ? and how long he is supposed to be out for ?

[23Skidoo]

Originally Posted by tmporter

I'm not a fan of MLS myself. Just can't get into it. The few games I've gone to they just look like they don't care and the atmosphere is crap. The atmosphere is a sticking point for me -- I think that's one of the best things about the sport. (leaving Serie A and Millwall out of it)

Since Seattle just got a team, you should come to a crew game. Aside from Toronto, Columbus has the best game atmosphere. I go to a number of Crew games a year. Its no where close to a college football game at a big school, but for 12,000 fans max, its not bad.

Is it anything like this?

YouTube - Kickoff(long)-2007 ACL Final#2...

Originally Posted by jmorbitz

The Crew fans also do a very good job of harassing opposing teams corner kicks, by raining streamers and other objects on the players.

The streamers bit during corners is incredibly lame and poor form if you ask me. That wouldn't fly anywhere else in the world -- or any other sport in the US for that matter.

[jmorbitz]

Originally Posted by 23Skidoo

The streamers bit during corners is incredibly lame and poor form if you ask me. That wouldn't fly anywhere else in the world -- or any other sport in the US for that matter.

I didn't ask you.