SHSUHorn
Thief
For those that have had their interest peaked because of the World Cup please, please TIVO the English Premier league action this year. Lots of big time names and stars. Best league in the world IMO. Also now with the Italian league going to shit because of the scandal watch for many to jump ship and join the EPL making that league any stronger.
Because soccer has become so popular here EPL games will no longer be on PPV but they will just actually show the games now. All old games on PPV that we used to have to pay $300 for is now free on FSC. Sentana just adds to the mix so we have more games to watch in the US.
You must have two channels Fox Soccer Channel and Sentana USA. I only have Fox Soccer through TW in Houston. I can’t get a satellite because I live in a high rise not facing the correct way. DISH does not carry Sentana only Direct TV.
So here’s how the lineup starts when the season kicks off in August 6th. All games live.
Saturday
6:30 am Sentana will show the first game
9 am will be on FSC
11 am will be on FSC
2 p.m. will be on FSC
Sunday
7:30 am Sentana will show the first game
10 am on FSC (best game of the week)
Monday
2 p.m. on FSC
All other midweek games (usually tues-wed) they have them will be on Sentana. FSC is the way to go and I’m so glad we have it here in Houston (ch 110 as I’m watching an old Chelsea match man their lineup is sick).
Also if you want Champion League games you must get ESPN Deportees (get the Spanish package) and Sentana for the full slate of games. ESPN will show the big games here and there.
For those just getting interest into soccer I’ll give you some insight into the league.
The EPL has been around for about 14 years years as all the top teams broke away from the England league to take advantage of a huge TV deal. Think of it along the lines of the top 20 college football teams forming one league and playing each other all year long only.
Only 4 teams have won the league title even though there are 20 total. Arsenal, Blackburn, Chelsea, and Man U. Man U has won 8 of the last 14 titles but can’t match the spending of the Chelsea Russian billionaire owner who has won the last two titles.
The league has 38 games as each team players each other twice home/away. The three lowest placed teams get regulated to the leagues below them so it gives the English teams in the first division a chance to move up as well.
The top four teams in the Premiership qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top two teams directly entering the group phase. The third and fourth placed teams enter the competition at the third qualifying round and must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase.
The Champions league is by far my one of my favorite sporting events to watch. The tournament consists of several stages and begins with three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds. Different teams start in different rounds, according to their position in domestic league and the UEFA coefficients of their league, while the sixteen top ranked teams spread across the biggest domestic leagues are directly qualified.
In each subsequent preliminary round, participating teams are paired, with aggregate winners proceeding into the next round. Qualifying rounds span from mid-July to late August. The losers of the third qualifying round are transferred to the UEFA Cup, while the sixteen winners of the final qualifying round are joined by the sixteen teams who have qualified directly, to participate in the group stage.
They are drawn into eight groups of four teams, each team playing every other team in the group twice (home and away). The group stage is played between mid-September and early December. The teams finishing third in their groups are transferred to the UEFA Cup, while the top two teams from every group qualify for the next round. Here the sixteen remaining teams take part in the knockout stages, which starts in late February and end with the final match in May.
All qualifying round and knockout ties are two-legged, with each team hosting one match. The team which scores the greater aggregate number of goals qualifies for the next round. The away goals rule applies. Extra time and penalty kicks are used to determine the winner, if necessary. An exception is the final, which is a single match played at a predetermined venue.
The Champions League final is the most important match of the season in European club football. The stadium to host the final is selected by UEFA two years before the match.
The latest UEFA Champions League final was held at Stade de France on 17 May 2006 between Arsenal and Barcelona, which Barcelona won 2-1. In this spectacular match, Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off and two late goals by Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti secured victory for the Barcelona side.
Real Madrid have won this competition nine times. The next most successful teams are A.C. Milan (six titles), Liverpool F.C. (five titles), FC Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam (four titles).
AMERICAN PLAYERS PLAYING IN THE EPL
DF Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham)
The 27-year-old from UCLA had a great World Cup for us much to the surprise of many. The defender was a former MLS Rookie of the Year before taking his game to Europe. He will only be 31 when the next World Cup rolls around so don’t count him out just yet. He enters his third season at Fulham and does start.
MF Bobby Convey (Reading)
One of my favorite players on the U.S team because he just attacks down the wing when he gets the ball. His team just got promoted to the English Premier where he was one of the best players in the first division this past season. He is only 23 so he will be one of our stars for 2010.
D Jay Demrit (Watford)
Kind of an unknown in many US circles but this kid needs to get his chance with the US team by whoever the new coach is. At only 26 Demerit has played well as a defender in England. He had a good year in 2004-2005 but hurt his shoulder last season and never really caught his form until the end of the season where he came on strong. Watford just got promoted to the Premeirship this season as well.
G Brad Freidal (Blackburn)
Even though he’s retired from international play he is still one of the better keepers in England. He has been Blackburn starting keeper for the last five years. Friedal will once again man the nets for Blackburn at the age of 35.
D Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic)
A stud defender for the US at only 26. Would have started for us if he wasn’t injured right before the World Cup. He is playing his first ever season in England after having been in Holland for the last two years. If he can stay healthy he will be a name to remember for 2010.
G Marcus Hahneman (Reading)
Third team goalie for us at this years World Cup at the age of 34. He’s been with Reading for 5 years and was instrumental in them reaching the Premier league this coming season.
G Tim Howard (Everton)
Had stardom written all over him. He was looking like he might become one of the best US soccer players ever after starting for Man U in his first season and being named best keeper in all of the EPL. He has since struggled and benched and was loaned out to Everton for this coming season. He is 27 and our goalie of the future so this year will be an interesting one to see if Howard can regain his form.
F Jemel Johnson (Blackburn)
At 21 he was born in NJ but has lived in England since he was five. He has been in Man U youths squad for five years before Blackburn picked him up when he was 16. He has only played on their reserves squad and is now being placed on loan to a lower league English squad for the upcoming season so we won’t be seeing him in the Premeirship just yet but he is under contract with a premier team.
F Brian McBride (Fulham)
A fan favorite in England and of course one of the US greatest scorers ever. At age 34 he scored 10 goals for Fulham and is a fixture up front for them.
MF Claudio Reyna (Manchester City)
IMO the greatest US soccer player ever. He has been a steady midfielder in the EPL for the last 5 years when healthy.
D Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
The future of US soccer at defense. At the age of 20 he has been brought up through the ranks of Man U playing their reserve squad side. Sir Alex has been reluctant to loan him out to give him experience because Man U consistently had injuries to their back four. Finally he was loaned out to Charlton Athletic last year where he started 16 games. This year he finally cut ties to Man U signing with West Ham where he will start. He will be one of our defenders barring injury in 2010.
I’ll update this thread with any news I hear of recent signings. Dempsey to Fulham looks like it may happen along with Gooch to Middlesborough.
Because soccer has become so popular here EPL games will no longer be on PPV but they will just actually show the games now. All old games on PPV that we used to have to pay $300 for is now free on FSC. Sentana just adds to the mix so we have more games to watch in the US.
You must have two channels Fox Soccer Channel and Sentana USA. I only have Fox Soccer through TW in Houston. I can’t get a satellite because I live in a high rise not facing the correct way. DISH does not carry Sentana only Direct TV.
So here’s how the lineup starts when the season kicks off in August 6th. All games live.
Saturday
6:30 am Sentana will show the first game
9 am will be on FSC
11 am will be on FSC
2 p.m. will be on FSC
Sunday
7:30 am Sentana will show the first game
10 am on FSC (best game of the week)
Monday
2 p.m. on FSC
All other midweek games (usually tues-wed) they have them will be on Sentana. FSC is the way to go and I’m so glad we have it here in Houston (ch 110 as I’m watching an old Chelsea match man their lineup is sick).
Also if you want Champion League games you must get ESPN Deportees (get the Spanish package) and Sentana for the full slate of games. ESPN will show the big games here and there.
For those just getting interest into soccer I’ll give you some insight into the league.
The EPL has been around for about 14 years years as all the top teams broke away from the England league to take advantage of a huge TV deal. Think of it along the lines of the top 20 college football teams forming one league and playing each other all year long only.
Only 4 teams have won the league title even though there are 20 total. Arsenal, Blackburn, Chelsea, and Man U. Man U has won 8 of the last 14 titles but can’t match the spending of the Chelsea Russian billionaire owner who has won the last two titles.
The league has 38 games as each team players each other twice home/away. The three lowest placed teams get regulated to the leagues below them so it gives the English teams in the first division a chance to move up as well.
The top four teams in the Premiership qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top two teams directly entering the group phase. The third and fourth placed teams enter the competition at the third qualifying round and must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase.
The Champions league is by far my one of my favorite sporting events to watch. The tournament consists of several stages and begins with three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds. Different teams start in different rounds, according to their position in domestic league and the UEFA coefficients of their league, while the sixteen top ranked teams spread across the biggest domestic leagues are directly qualified.
In each subsequent preliminary round, participating teams are paired, with aggregate winners proceeding into the next round. Qualifying rounds span from mid-July to late August. The losers of the third qualifying round are transferred to the UEFA Cup, while the sixteen winners of the final qualifying round are joined by the sixteen teams who have qualified directly, to participate in the group stage.
They are drawn into eight groups of four teams, each team playing every other team in the group twice (home and away). The group stage is played between mid-September and early December. The teams finishing third in their groups are transferred to the UEFA Cup, while the top two teams from every group qualify for the next round. Here the sixteen remaining teams take part in the knockout stages, which starts in late February and end with the final match in May.
All qualifying round and knockout ties are two-legged, with each team hosting one match. The team which scores the greater aggregate number of goals qualifies for the next round. The away goals rule applies. Extra time and penalty kicks are used to determine the winner, if necessary. An exception is the final, which is a single match played at a predetermined venue.
The Champions League final is the most important match of the season in European club football. The stadium to host the final is selected by UEFA two years before the match.
The latest UEFA Champions League final was held at Stade de France on 17 May 2006 between Arsenal and Barcelona, which Barcelona won 2-1. In this spectacular match, Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off and two late goals by Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti secured victory for the Barcelona side.
Real Madrid have won this competition nine times. The next most successful teams are A.C. Milan (six titles), Liverpool F.C. (five titles), FC Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam (four titles).
AMERICAN PLAYERS PLAYING IN THE EPL
DF Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham)
The 27-year-old from UCLA had a great World Cup for us much to the surprise of many. The defender was a former MLS Rookie of the Year before taking his game to Europe. He will only be 31 when the next World Cup rolls around so don’t count him out just yet. He enters his third season at Fulham and does start.
MF Bobby Convey (Reading)
One of my favorite players on the U.S team because he just attacks down the wing when he gets the ball. His team just got promoted to the English Premier where he was one of the best players in the first division this past season. He is only 23 so he will be one of our stars for 2010.
D Jay Demrit (Watford)
Kind of an unknown in many US circles but this kid needs to get his chance with the US team by whoever the new coach is. At only 26 Demerit has played well as a defender in England. He had a good year in 2004-2005 but hurt his shoulder last season and never really caught his form until the end of the season where he came on strong. Watford just got promoted to the Premeirship this season as well.
G Brad Freidal (Blackburn)
Even though he’s retired from international play he is still one of the better keepers in England. He has been Blackburn starting keeper for the last five years. Friedal will once again man the nets for Blackburn at the age of 35.
D Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic)
A stud defender for the US at only 26. Would have started for us if he wasn’t injured right before the World Cup. He is playing his first ever season in England after having been in Holland for the last two years. If he can stay healthy he will be a name to remember for 2010.
G Marcus Hahneman (Reading)
Third team goalie for us at this years World Cup at the age of 34. He’s been with Reading for 5 years and was instrumental in them reaching the Premier league this coming season.
G Tim Howard (Everton)
Had stardom written all over him. He was looking like he might become one of the best US soccer players ever after starting for Man U in his first season and being named best keeper in all of the EPL. He has since struggled and benched and was loaned out to Everton for this coming season. He is 27 and our goalie of the future so this year will be an interesting one to see if Howard can regain his form.
F Jemel Johnson (Blackburn)
At 21 he was born in NJ but has lived in England since he was five. He has been in Man U youths squad for five years before Blackburn picked him up when he was 16. He has only played on their reserves squad and is now being placed on loan to a lower league English squad for the upcoming season so we won’t be seeing him in the Premeirship just yet but he is under contract with a premier team.
F Brian McBride (Fulham)
A fan favorite in England and of course one of the US greatest scorers ever. At age 34 he scored 10 goals for Fulham and is a fixture up front for them.
MF Claudio Reyna (Manchester City)
IMO the greatest US soccer player ever. He has been a steady midfielder in the EPL for the last 5 years when healthy.
D Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
The future of US soccer at defense. At the age of 20 he has been brought up through the ranks of Man U playing their reserve squad side. Sir Alex has been reluctant to loan him out to give him experience because Man U consistently had injuries to their back four. Finally he was loaned out to Charlton Athletic last year where he started 16 games. This year he finally cut ties to Man U signing with West Ham where he will start. He will be one of our defenders barring injury in 2010.
I’ll update this thread with any news I hear of recent signings. Dempsey to Fulham looks like it may happen along with Gooch to Middlesborough.
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