The English Premier League

[Canen Darkflight]

As an Englishman, and a gentlemen no doubt, I happen to be a lifelong fan of our national sport. Over here it's football, to you guys in the states it's soccer, but whatever the name it's a way of life for most of us on the tiny island and I was wondering if anybody else was a fan of the Premier League?

I am an avid, lifelong Manchester United fan. I live twenty minutes from Old Trafford and as you can imagine, Manchester City (our bitter rivals) have put a cat amongst the pidgeons by winning the league this year, a feat they have not achieved in 44 years.

So, does anyone else watch soccer, watch the EPL or otherwise indulge in the sport? If so what do you think about this season or any other season you may have watched?

[Letho]

I used to be an avid fan of European football, followed pretty much all of the five strongest leagues (Spain, Italy, France, Germany and England), but frankly I just lost interest and got bored with it all. It took too much of my time, and I had little enough of that as it is. I still follow the Champion's League more or less, and I'm still a fan of Bayern Munich. And no, not because they're in the finals this year. I've been a fan for a long while now, even before they lost ManU in the finals in like 1999, was it? Sheringham and Solskjaer scoring in like last minutes? Yeah, it still stings.

But yeah, I just watch football occasionally these days, on lazy Sunday afternoons when there's no Formula 1 race or something. Still prefer the EPL over all other leagues, though, even German. I still believe that's where the most interesting football is at this moment. EURO is close though. That ought to be interesting. We shall see who will lose to Spain in the finals this time. :P

[Duffy]

Oh dear...

Oh dear oh dear...

*Shakes head with oodles of judgemental overtones.*

Oh dear.

[Canen Darkflight]

Oh dear...

Oh dear oh dear...

*Shakes head with oodles of judgemental overtones.*

Oh dear.

Care to elaborate? ;)

[Leopold]

I am fond of balls, but not the sort covered in leather.

[Morus]

Did anyone see that ludicrous display last night? The thing about Arsenal is, they always try an' walk it in.

[Canen Darkflight]

EURO is close though. That ought to be interesting. We shall see who will lose to Spain in the finals this time. :P

Well, whoever it is, it won't be the English. We won't see the semis.


Did anyone see that ludicrous display last night? The thing about Arsenal is, they always an' walk it in.

I was too busy sulking over us not winning the title but I can imagine the sort of performance you are talking about. Credit to West Brom, though: transformed from a Championship side to a mid-table Premier League side in the space of a couple of seasons. Question is, will Van Persie stay at Arsenal? I hope we sign him. Fat chance, but hope springs eternal.

[SirArtemis]

Van Persie is going to stay at Arsenal from what I gather. He wouldn't fit into ManU.

The season this year was absurdly close and intense. ManCity's win was explosive. Literally things changed like no one imagined within minutes.

I'm a Chelsea fan. They sucked during the season. They haven't done so well for years, but at least they are in the final for UEFA. Granted, it's going to be an interesting game. With them missing four starters and Bayern missing three I believe, should be interesting. Last Final Terry slipped during PK's so... we'll see how this goes. No idea who will win.

And ManU wins enough as it is. Personally I'm glad City won, just because I'm tired of ManU winning every other year. It's really frustrating, especially when you hear ManU fans brag. It's like the Yankees or the Patriots over in the states.

[Canen Darkflight]

Van Persie is going to stay at Arsenal from what I gather. He wouldn't fit into ManU.

The season this year was absurdly close and intense. ManCity's win was explosive. Literally things changed like no one imagined within minutes.

I'm a Chelsea fan. They sucked during the season. They haven't done so well for years, but at least they are in the final for UEFA. Granted, it's going to be an interesting game. With them missing four starters and Bayern missing three I believe, should be interesting. Last Final Terry slipped during PK's so... we'll see how this goes. No idea who will win.

And ManU wins enough as it is. Personally I'm glad City won, just because I'm tired of ManU winning every other year. It's really frustrating, especially when you hear ManU fans brag. It's like the Yankees or the Patriots over in the states.

I was glad the Premier League was exciting this year (save for the fact we didn't win it on the last day, but hey-ho), however I must refer back to your comment about Van Persie not fitting into United. Fo' real??

If it was a straight up choice between Van Persie or Danny Welbeck / Hernandez (even though I like him) / Berbatov (who i'll be sad to see leave) / Owen (who plays more snooker than football these days), it's a total no-brainer. Not only do I think he would fit in, I think he would improve us massively.

However, that does of course depend on sorting out many issues, namely:

1. Having a world class midfielder under 37 at the club
2. Sorting out a decent right-back (Rafael doesn't cut it)
3. Making sure we are playing our strongest squads for huge games (example: vs Manchester City three weeks ago when we put Valencia and Young on the bench and played Ji Sung Park, who hadn't played in three months. Baffling.)

I don't know about other Manchester United fans, but I never brag. If we win the league, I celebrate, then we focus on next year. Please, my friends, do not assume we are all arrogant tossers...I was born in a time where Sir Alex Ferguson is winning everything in sight, yet my dad remembers the likes of Dave fucking Sexton and his utterly hopeless United squad. I count myself extremely lucky in this regard.

[SirArtemis]

Well the ManU fans I talk about are the ones in the States. I live in NYC, and when I went to school in Massachusetts, you have a lot of band-wagoners and people who pick the top team just because. My reason for liking Chelsea is because blue is my favorite color and they are THE BLUES after all.

And you say Van Persie would fit. I think Rooney is growing up. Chicharito is great when he's in his groove (alas he was injured). Berbatov is on his way out of the team. But I just don't feel like Van Persie would fit into the ManU lineup and perform as well as he does at Arsenal.

Look, it happens all the time. Shevchenko came from AC Milan to Chelsea and performed like crap and they let him go. Torres comes in and struggles through the whole season, and is still struggling. It happens, and can happen to any player. I think it would happen to Van Persie. I think ManU should focus on Rooney and Chicharito.

[Canen Darkflight]

Well the ManU fans I talk about are the ones in the States. I live in NYC, and when I went to school in Massachusetts, you have a lot of band-wagoners and people who pick the top team just because. My reason for liking Chelsea is because blue is my favorite color and they are THE BLUES after all.

And you say Van Persie would fit. I think Rooney is growing up. Chicharito is great when he's in his groove (alas he was injured). Berbatov is on his way out of the team. But I just don't feel like Van Persie would fit into the ManU lineup and perform as well as he does at Arsenal.

Look, it happens all the time. Shevchenko came from AC Milan to Chelsea and performed like crap and they let him go. Torres comes in and struggles through the whole season, and is still struggling. It happens, and can happen to any player. I think it would happen to Van Persie. I think ManU should focus on Rooney and Chicharito.

I agree with you about Rooney and Hernandez. In his first season, our little Mexican wonder scored a shed load of goals and proved his worth. I like him, he's a fast, unpredictable player who has an eye for goal, but he is suffering now from terrible "second season syndrome".

For me, Robin Van Persie is different to the likes of Shevchenko. Shevvy came from the continent, where they play a much slower, controlled game with oodles of space and passing. Here, it's a totally different arena; very fast paced, very gritty, very tight marking and I think Shev got a shock when he came to the Premier League because he wasn't used to it. Van Persie has been doing it in the Premier League for many seasons and is a top quality striker.

Maybe it could happen to Van Persie, it's possible, but I honestly believe a tall, powerful forward with a silk touch like him can change games for us, even if it means rotating the squad a little. I also hear your argument about Torres, waste of time for most of the season but then when he gets his head up and a bit of confidence hits the guy, the man can score goals. He is a proven goalscorer.

Which brings me to Dirk Kuyt. I cannot BELIEVE he is sat on the bench for Liverpool every week. The man is a game changer!

[SirArtemis]

Well Owen is out.