2229 replies to this topic

[Mashed Potatoes]

The end of that Forest game was amazing, how could you not root for them to stay up with that atmosphere?

[BSLSteveBirrer]

The end of that Forest game was amazing, how could you not root for them to stay up with that atmosphere?

Easily. Bad result for Leeds which is more important the NF. But I get your point. Pretty electric.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Well Leeds crapped the bed at WHU blowing an early lead. Now they have to beat the Spurs, and have help that both Leicester AND Everton lose out.

[ivanbalt]

Liverpool came up short so it's time to get ready for Europa nights.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Luton Town just clinched the final promotion spot to the Premier League on penalty kicks in the Championship League playoff. 9 years ago they were playing in England's 5th tier league.

 

Their stadium is 120 years old, seats 10,000 (which will be smallest ever in EPL), and literally abuts neighboring homes...so much so that one of the entrances goes through someone's house. Next season that stadium will host the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool. More than the soccer, it's stories like this that makes European soccer so fascinating.

 

(note: they do plan to build a new stadium, but they haven't broken ground so it won't be ready for 2-3 more seasons)

 

 

 

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Yeah so tell me why we can't have promotion/relegation in American sports? 

 

10.000 seats? They could sell out every match next season just in ticket sales to their visitors! Such a cool story. Thanks for posting this Mike.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Yeah so tell me why we can't have promotion/relegation in American sports? 

I occasionally wonder what European soccer fans must think about the economic aspect of American sports. Where a team that’s in the top league is guaranteed to stay there, but could also change cities for more money. Also, most funds are locked in via revenue sharing, spending is limited via salary caps and luxury taxes, and some teams feel incentivized to intentionally lose because player drafts exist and supposedly provides them with the best chance to win in the future.

[Mashed Potatoes]

I occasionally wonder what European soccer fans must think about the economic aspect of American sports. Where a team that’s in the top league is guaranteed to stay there, but could also change cities for more money. Also, most funds are locked in via revenue sharing, spending is limited via salary caps and luxury taxes, and some teams feel incentivized to intentionally lose because player drafts exist and supposedly provide them with the best chance to win in the future.

A perfect encapsulation of America more broadly. Neither a free meritocratic market nor a centralized state that guarantees a minimum for everyone, just a rigged system to ensure the uber rich get richer.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Championship Sunday and here's what's left to play for. Note that all games are at the same time so no gaming the system.

 

UCL is set. Its Man City, Arsenal, Man U, and Newcastle. But Man U and Newcastle could flip positions. To move to 3rd Newcastle has to win and Man U has to lose. If Newcastle wins and Man U draw they end up tied but Man U is way ahead on goal differential.

 

Europa is also set. Liverpool is taking 5th. But because Man C and Man U are playing for the FA Cup it opens up a 6th spot so Brighton and Hove Albion is also in this fall.

 

Relegation is pretty set although there are still some things that can happen.

 

Southampton goes down.

Everton can avoid relegation by beating Bournemouth who have nothing to play for. They also can stay up with a draw if Leicester doesn't win.

Leicester must win. If Everton loses or draws then Leicester would stay up as the are way ahead on goal differential.

Leeds has a simple route. They have to win and Everton has to lose and Leicester has to lose or draw. Tough for Leeds because they play Tottenham who can still earn a spot in the Europa play ins. 

 

Everton should win at home making all the permutations moot but it will be fun to watch. Praying for several miracles so Leeds stays up but its a huge longshot now.

[glenn__davis]

Just wanted to put a final bow in this thread for Fulham.  I know no one other than me cares, and plus for the past few months they really haven't had much to play for, but finishing in the top half of the table and above Chelsea is awesome.  And that's with Mitrovic missing 4 of 8 PKs on the year!  Need to get that fixed, next year might not be as good sledding as this year was.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Just wanted to put a final bow in this thread for Fulham.  I know no one other than me cares, and plus for the past few months they really haven't had much to play for, but finishing in the top half of the table and above Chelsea is awesome.  And that's with Mitrovic missing 4 of 8 PKs on the year!  Need to get that fixed, next year might not be as good sledding as this year was.

Not quite correct. I LOVE Fulham. They have two Nats as full time startes so what's not to love about them! And they had a terrific season and yes they need to fix their PKs for sure. Goals are far too precious to come by to have a 50% guy when the average is more like 80%.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Its all about perspective!!  Allen TX HS seats 18.000 and cost $60M. Luton's stadium seats 10.000 and is 120 years old.....LOL

 

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Oh and one more Luton tidbit. Their goalkeeper? American Ethan Horvath!!

[ivanbalt]

Shockingly, that TX high school stadium is only the 5th largest high school stadium in the state.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Shockingly, that TX high school stadium is only the 5th largest high school stadium in the state.

A handful of years ago we were driving from our Idaho home down to the gulf for the winter. Went a different way that trip and went diagonally across most of Texas. Was a frigid Sunday morning as we came into a small no nothing town out in them middle of the prairie. Saw a really nice new football stadium and figured there must have been a small college around there. Stopped in a c store for gas and snacks and asked the clerk about it. Oh no they replied that such and such HS. I have been in a lot of college football stadiums that weren't even close the as big or nice as that thing looked. Insane.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

City vs United

Blue vs Red

Citizens vs Red Devils

Evil vs Good

 

FA Cup Final is on ESPN+ in 20 minutes

 

City has already won the EPL.

City going for the double today.

City going for the treble next Saturday.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Unreal volley by Gundogan and Man C leads 1 - 0 after ....wait for it......14 freaking seconds.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

After Man U tied it up on a very weak penalty call, early in the second half Gundogen hits another crazy volley and its 2-1 City in the 52nd.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Man C wins 2-1 so they have the double. Does anybody think they won't win UCL next Saturday?

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: Premier League transfers: Best and worst moves with Chelsea rebuilding, Arsenal addressing needs

https://www.cbssport...dressing-needs/