Was pleased with how Berba and Fletcher played. As Kdawg said, Fletch looks like he put on some muscle, which would make him all the more awesome in midfield.

Btw, where do you fellow Americans buy your replica shirts? I have bought from subside and worldsoccershop in the past, but is there something better?

What's the difference between the BP oil spill and Heskey?



Read more http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3057972/The-best-jokes-about-Emile-Heskey.html#ixzz0tuUipani

Both of these links are helpful if you want to learn some stuff about the game:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jonathanwilson

If you are feeling really motivated, buy Wilson's book "Inverting the Pyramid"

Also, Jared and Bjorn's blogs are likely to be helpful as well.
Jared's: http://analyticalfootball.blogspot.com/

Not sure what Bjorn's is now, it seems like its changed.


Just a quick run down on the differences between forwards and midfielders....

First, there are several different types of midfielders and forwards. A midfielder could be a winger, which is a guy that is generally deployed on the outside of the midfield who will utilize his pace to beat guys. Usually these types of midfielders are good crossers of the ball, but in reality this type of player is slowly disappearing as team tactics have changed. Other midfielders could be defensive or holding midfielders, who normally break up the opposing teams attack and win the ball back for his side. They also provide cover for the back four and usually help "hold" the ball and connect with the other midfielders. Some defensive mids are also what we would call a "deep lying playmaker", someone like Xabi Alonso, who in addition to doing the defensive duties can also create by using long ball passes to the forwards. The inverse of this midfielder is generally the attacking midfielder, whose job is to create chances for his team and himself. Wesley Sneijder is a perfect example of this player. In addition to the types I listed, there can be many variants depending on the formation/tactics a team plays.

Forwards also have many variations. Some are what we would call a traditional Center forward, who would primarily just stay up top and look for chances to make runs or play as a target man (he is the target for the long passes). There are also other forwards called "second strikers", who would play behind the CF. These guys will drop deep and help out with defense from time to time. They also like to exploit the space between the midfield and the CF. Tevez is a perfect example of this. In addition to these two, you can see forwards that are almost like wing-forwards (for lack of a better term). These guys generally play in a 433 formation or even a 451. Think about how Spain/Barca play, guys like Messi, Iniesta, or some others like Arshavin, Ronaldo, etc. These are guys that can play both withdrawn like a SS or even a bit more advanced, but they like to beat guys with their speed and dribbling. They are playmakers on the wings in essence.

Just sort of the tip of the iceberg really since guys can change their roles throughout a game/season. I hope this helps and if anyone else wants to clarify/add to what I said, feel free.

I feel asleep during the United/Celtic game, but was anyone else disappointed by the crowd? Seemed kind of weak considering who was playing imo.

fylink/post

lol canada?

beat me to it. or maybe just lol Toronto...

this was at Skydome (i refuse to call it by it's actual 2010 name), right? rarely has been much of an atmosphere there. would have been better at BMO Field, but it's too small. can't wait to see what it's like for Inter vs Panathinaikos.

/sarcasm

Thanks TSC, helpful stuff!

BJJ, go back and read the first few pages of this thread, as there was a lot of discussion about this topic. i made this post, but there's a lot of other good stuff in there. most recommend that you just watch for as long as you can impartially, and see which club you gravitate to naturally. but if you're one of the many who find it difficult to get into and follow without a rooting interest, then do as much research as possible and choose carefully. cheers!

As for choosing a team, I've ruled out a few that I know for a fact I won't root for, but among the others it will definitely come down to watching them play.

I don't know that anyone cares, but the ones I've ruled out are ManU/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool (because starting out as a fan of one of the "Big Four" would just be pathetic, I hate bandwagon fans in sports that I already follow, and refuse to be one in this), and then Blackpool/West Brom/Wolverhampton/Wigan (because according to Pinnacle they're projected to be the bottom four teams, and as an American I can't afford to pick a team that is *likely* to get relegated because I would never be able to watch them anymore).

The other thirteen are all in contention, Man City may also get ruled out for being too bandwagon, but on the other hand they are Man U's direct rivals, and I've heard Man U referred to as the "Yankees of the EPL" so they're automatically my LEAST favorite team, so their rivals automatically get *some* points in my book

Again though, which of those 13 teams I end up pulling for will depend on what I see when I watch them play.

martin jol in at craven cottage

any Celtic players impress?

i missed the game too, silly me forgot it was on.

if none impressed i'd rather not know about who was rotten.

lol, no.

oh **** this

hailstones are smashing down like bombs right now
BMWli please please be ok

Dint Dint Dint Dint

Downloaded and watched the game. Berba and Scholes were good,the rest were varying levels of ok. Smalling gave away a silly pen. Diouf looked lively. Cleverley is exciting. Macheda should have scored but their keeper made a great save. No one got injured. Samaras came on at half time and really lifted Celtic though Scholes coming off for Gibson helped as well.

A fine way to start the new campaign.

I've seen the goals, Berba goal was awesome.

So what's everyone's pre season prediction:

• League winner?
• League runner up?
• Forth place?
• Liverpool top 6 finish?
• Whose going down?
• Whose finishing rock bottom?
• Surprise package?

Winner: Chelsea
Runner up: United
Fourth: Arsenal
Liverpool: 7th
Last : Blackpool
Surprise: Brum to struggle after a good season last year

Anyone else watching Barnet Arsenal?
Good showcase of the youth.
Arshavin walked it in at 1:30

Hope we don't send Wilshere out on loan, if so only half season loan

as of right now?

Chelsea
Us
Arse or Spurs
nope
Blackpool, West Brom, Wigan (yearly tradition)
Blackpool
Everton to make a run at 4th

1. Chelsea
2. Arsenal
3. Man U
4. 6/7
5. Blackpool, Wolves, West brom
6. Blackpool
7. Newcastle pwning

winner: chelski
runner up: meh, probably yernited
4th: citeh
liverpool top 6: no (assuming they sell torres, probably no regardless)
down: blackpool, west brom, wolves
bottom: blackpool
surprise: everton > liverpool

League winner - Chelsea
League runner up - Manchester City
Fourth place- Manchester United
Liverpool top 6 finish - lol no
Whose going down - i have no idea
Whose finishing rock bottom - no idea
Surprise - Chelsea goes undefeated