The Soccer Thread

[BigHouseUSA]

It's hard to even be excited. I want to look forward to the new season, but what am I supposed to look forward too? We're finally getting around to selling our better players, if Beye and Bassong do leave, we have absolutely no manager, and worse, Houghton is a terrible manager. And of course, despite what Llambas says about every week, we're not closer to a sale.

Does anyone miss Chris Mort?

[wr50l]

ESPN and ESPN Classic as a replacement for Setanta. I guess I'll take it.

[Archer]

ESPN and ESPN Classic as a replacement for Setanta. I guess I'll take it.

Alot better for Fans of American Sports , comes on the normal package I had at the same cost as Setanta was but with a shitload of american sports (NCAA , Baseball) plus the same amount of EPL games

[Archer]

We did have Setanta on our Virgin TV package for no extra cost, but I cna't work out if we get ESPN as a replacement or not.

You get ESPN in Setanta's place if you have the Virgin TV XL Package

[Archer]

I don't think we have the XL package. I looked through the channels that are in the XL package on the website, and I didn't recognise half of them. I could just turn the TV on and find out that way I suppose...

lol , well It's on mine . ESPN and ESPN America . They are channels 529 and 531

ESPN just shows prem classic's daily then american sports at night and ESPN America shows what NASN showed if you had that

[wr50l]

Well I finally got round to checking, and it's there. ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN Classic all showing. :D Was watching baseball, then changed to the 2005 Ashes on Classic. :D Good stuff - any chance MNF will be on ESPN? And Sportscenter? Or is that a little bit too optimistic...?

Monday Night Football is on Channel5 still no?

So are you guys saying that you now have ESPN America as part of the XL package? If so I'll have to make sure they aren't still charging me for my subscription to it.

[Bmore]

I still can't explain the recent influx over the past few years of good Strikers from the USA. We've always produced goalies, but now strikers are starting to go over seas to big teams.

[Archer]

I still can't explain the recent influx over the past few years of good Strikers from the USA. We've always produced goalies, but now strikers are starting to go over seas to big teams.

and sit on the bench in Altidore's case

[calgaryballer]

I still can't explain the recent influx over the past few years of good Strikers from the USA. We've always produced goalies, but now strikers are starting to go over seas to big teams.

And I don't know what defines 'good'. Altidore looks the part, but can't get a game at Villareal. Dempsey is a good player at Fulham, but plays more in a wing role with Johnson and Zamora at the strikers

Eddie Johnson? Epic fail
Charlie Davies? Finished 9th in the Swedish League

The last 'great' American striker was Brian McBride. Unfortunately I can't give you much more credit than that

[Bmore]

and sit on the bench in Altidore's case

I'd make his money to sit on the bench, Plus they got Giuseppe Rossi. Xerez currently has Altidore on a loan and after the season, Altidore may be moving to Everton. Seems Everton is throwing everything but the kitchen sink to get Altidore.

[1ke]

Agreed...and in more US strikers news, Everton are about to offer a contract to some kid from the US 4th division. Ill get his name in a sec.

Cody Arnoux....

Arnoux has hit 13 goals in 16 games for the Carolina Dynamo in the USL Premier Development League - the fourth tier of United States' football - and has played for the under-18 national team side as well as Wake Forest University.

And in other news, Edwin Van der Sar has a broken finger and bone in his hand and will be out for 2 months. Lets see what Foster does now with some games to play.

[Bmore]

And I don't know what defines 'good'. Altidore looks the part, but can't get a game at Villareal. Dempsey is a good player at Fulham, but plays more in a wing role with Johnson and Zamora at the strikers

Eddie Johnson? Epic fail
Charlie Davies? Finished 9th in the Swedish League

The last 'great' American striker was Brian McBride. Unfortunately I can't give you much more credit than that

Charlie Davies - Sochaux
Eddie Johnson - Cardif City
Jozy Altidore - Villareal
Clint Dempsey - Fulham
Kenny Cooper - Munich 1860 (previously played for Man Utd.)
Freddy Adu - Benfica
Damarcus Beasley - Rangers


I'm not saying we they are the greatest, but they are by far the best "group" of US Forwards/Strikers we've had in a long while or possibly ever.

[BigHouseUSA]

Altidore's probably going to be playing in England next season, his Twitter says he's headed there tomorrow morning.

[Bmore]

Altidore's probably going to be playing in England next season, his Twitter says he's headed there tomorrow morning.

Yea, he and Michael Bradley are my two favorite American players. So I have faith that Altidore will earn a starting spot on Everton and be a team contributor.

[calgaryballer]

Yea, he and Michael Bradley are my two favorite American players. So I have faith that Altidore will earn a starting spot on Everton and be a team contributor.

I don't know about starting, but it's certainly a good squad to go to. He will have to beat out a recovered Yakubu and Saha, as well as Everton's own talented youngsters in Anichebe (though he had spats with Moyes and is coming off a brutal injury) and James Vaughn. Saha is injury prone, Yak and Anichebe are coming back from surgery, so there should definitely be some chances for him to prove himself. I think he's got the build to be successful in England