Thursday, August 30, 2007
Champions League Draws
GROUP A
Liverpool (ENGLAND)
Porto (PORTUGAL)
Marseille (FRANCE)
Besiktas (TURKEY)
GROUP B
Chelsea (ENGLAND)
Valencia (SPAIN)
Schalke (GERMANY)
Rosenborg (NORWAY)
GROUP C
Real Madrid (SPAIN)
Werder Bremen (GERMANY)
Lazio (ITALY)
Olympiakos (GREECE)
GROUP D
AC Milan (ITALY)
Benfica (PORTUGAL)
Celtic (SCOTLAND)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKRAINE)
GROUP E
Barcelona (SPAIN)
Lyon (FRANCE)
Stuttgart (GERMANY)
Rangers (SCOTLAND)
GROUP F
Manchester United (ENGLAND)
Roma (ITALY)
Sporting Lisbon (PORTUGAL)
Dynamo Kiev (UKRAINE)
GROUP G
Inter Milan (ITALY)
PSV Eindhoven (HOLLAND)
CSKA Moscow (RUSSIA)
Fenerbahce (TURKEY)
GROUP H
Arsenal (ENGLAND)
Sevilla or AEK Athens (SPAIN/GREECE)
Steaua Bucharest (ROMANIA)
Slavia Prague (CZECHOSLOVAKIA)
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AWARDS
Goalkeeper of the year:
Petr Cech- why? don´t get me wrong i like Cech, but i´m not saying this as a Liverpool fan but i thought Pepe Reina was much better.
Defender of the year:
Paolo Maldini- whatever.
Midfielder of the year:
Clarence Seedof-
Forward of the year:
KaKa- i though that a lot of the people nominated were not even forwards.
Footballer of the year-
Kaka-
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Predictions later.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Watch this if you hate Manchester United
LMAO! i almost pissed myself when i heard this!
All the reasons to become a Manchester United fan LMAO!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
R.I.P Antonio Puerta
Crazy and not so crazy transfer rumors
-Manchester City and Middlesbrough are both ready to bid for Inter Milan´s Adriano.
I can´t see him at Middlesbrough, they don´t have the history or fan base and their manager Gareth Southgate is still very fresh and questionable.
I can see him at City though, they have a good start to the season, they have a good fan base, they have a pretty good manager, they can pay him, they have the potential to be very good, and their´s another Brazilian in the team.
-The Daily Mail and The Sun are reporting that Roman Abramovich is willing to make Ronaldinho the first £200,000-a-week player in order to get him to Chelsea.
All i have to say is shut up Roman, do you want another Sheva and Ballack? Let Jose do his job, he´s good at it and REMEMBER THIS just because a player is good in one club doesn't mean he will fit in yours.
-The Sun is reporting that Ole Solskjaer will announce his retirement from football after 4 years of a nagging Knee injury. ¨Norwegian Solskjaer, 34, is expected to be offered a coaching role with the club and will be used as a worldwide ambassador¨-The Sun. It seems Man U are another striker down.I don´t know he is retiring at the end of the season or for good now, i wish him the best of luck.
______________________________________________I´m still looking for a contributor for the blog.
Someone who can focus on any other league but the Prem, who can post at least twice a week, if you are interested e-mail me at hluwagc@hotmail.com
Friday, August 24, 2007
If Becks can´t save the Galaxy then who can? and Roy Keane
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Whats going on with Tottenham? and Transfer Market
England NT
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Ok so since i was on a plane i didn't see the England game but i did see the horror that is Paul Robinson and The Sun, The Daily Mail,every other newspaper and everyone in England has finally seen what i have been seeing for YEARS! he is pure RUBBISH!!!
Why is Michael Owen defending Robinson? When Michael Owen plays a full 90-minutes and DOES´NT get injured then he can defend whoever he wants.
My question is who is the new England number 1? Surely it can still be Paul Robinson
I really like David James but he is old, he can play for now, but they have to start building their squad for the next World Cup and for Euro 2008.
So who will it be? Ben Foster? (currently injured), Scott Carson? Robert Green?
Why did Beckham play for England? he has a nagging ankle injury and the time difference and being jet lagged will affect him in MLS, i understand that he wants to play for England but why risk his career for a friendly?
I heard something really interesting on World Soccer Daily (http://www.worldsoccerdaily.com/) recently, with Sven´s success at club level in England they mentioned that maybe the Golden Age of English football never existed, and i started to think that maybe they were right. There has always been this huge hype with the England NT but if you really think about it what have they done since the 1966 World Cup?
I think that we confuse the fact that England has arguably the best league in the world but they don´t have the best national team. Don´t get me wrong their are some good maybe even great English players, Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Gary Neville, Ashley Cole (in his Arsenal days), Joe Cole and others.
The problem i see is that when the players play with their country they can´t forget their club, I honestly doubt that Neville and Gerrard are buddies, or that they can even stand each other, when you play for your country you should forget about your club for that game but they can´t Neville is the captain of Manchester United and Gerrard the captain of Liverpool can they really forget the hate that they have for each other´s club?
I know this happens in other countries but i think that its stronger in Spain and England.
But Spain doesn't have the pressure that England has.
So was Sven really that bad? he did make some stupid choices but now that i think about it, Sven was not too bad, the players were just not there.
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Like i said in my other post i am currently looking for someone to write in the blog about any other League besides the prem.
If you are interested e-mail me at hluwagc@hotmail.com
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Announcement
Thank you to everyone who has been reading i really appreciate it. Sorry that i have not been updating daily but I'm going on a trip and i am getting everything ready.
The blog will be down until Thursday because I'm going on a trip, but after Thursday i promise that it will be up and running and i will be posting everyday.
I would also like to say that i am currently looking for someone to join the blog as a contributor.
I am looking for someone who follows any other league but the Prem, age or sex doesn't matter, I am looking for someone who can post at least twice a week to give a weekend preview/predictions and to take at least one day to cover whatever league they want to cover.
If you are interested please e-mail me at hluwagc@hotmail.com and tell me what league you would like to help out with.
Thanks.
Monday, August 20, 2007
England NT Call-ups
Defence:
Robinson (Tottenham), James (Portsmouth), Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa), Richards (Manchester City), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Campbell (Portsmouth), Taylor (Newcastle), Neville (Everton), Shorey (Reading)
Midfield:
Beckham (LA Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Carrick (Manchester United), Barry (Aston Villa), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (West Ham), Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Offense:
Smith (Newcastle), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Bent (Tottenham), Johnson (Everton), Defoe (Tottenham)
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Paul Robinson? Paul freaking Robinson?!!! Those of you who read this blog know how i feel about him.
I'm glad to see David James in the squad he had a great season with pompey and he is solid, but he is not the future of England he is 38 years old.
START CARSON!
Beckham?... seriously? Becks has a nagging ankle injury he did play the full 90 minutes against NY and he did score but its not fair to a player like David Bentley who IS the future of England (i know what he did with the under-20 was fucked up but he is a good player and he is young, he deserves the start).
Beckham should not go in respect to the MLS fans who have been waiting to see him.
Hargreaves? LMFAO! he's injured!!! and has been injured for the last couple of months!!!! you have to be kidding me.
Owen? whatever... he hasn't played a full 90 minutes for Newcastle in ages.
Some of these picks are a joke.
WHERE IS MATTY TAYLOR AND KEVIN NOLAN?!!!!!!
I am glad to see Nicky Shorey in the squad though.
UPDATE-Gerrard, Campbell, Hargreaves and Bent have pulled out of the England squad.
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I will update later on the weekend results.
Sorry
I will update later. There is a lot of news to talk about!
Thank you to everyone who has been reading and sorry for the lack of updates.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tottenham is at it again! and so is Steve McClaren
My beloved Reds have beat Toulouse 1:0 in the Champions League group stages by a goal by Andriy Veronin, whom i think will turn out to be a fine striker for us.
-Jamie Carragher has declined Steve McClaren's invite to go back and play with the England NT. And i have to say i completely agree with Carragher, i don't think its about his ego, i think its about having the best player for that spot and Carragher who next to Terry is the best English centre back has been disrespected. Playing him out of position and playing Ledley King and Wes Brown instead, Ledley King? He barley plays for Spurs! he's always injured!.
-I'm Very worried about Peter Crouch possibly leaving, there are many rumors that many clubs are interested in him. I think that I and most Liverpool fans just love Crouchy, he is a game changing player and i am very worried that we will lose him for lack of playing time. RAFA I BEG YOU PLEASE DON'T LET CROUCH GO.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007370717,00.html
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=453346&cc=5901
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Monday, August 13, 2007
How great was the Premiership?!!!
Arsenal vs Fulham 2:1 - I thought it was a great game,very exciting. Lehmann made an awful mistake. Healy has potential to get better. Warner had a great game. Van Persie is a fantastic player and he has class, this is the second time I've seen him tell the ref that there is no foul and no need for a free-kick, i wish more players were like him. There was good defending by Fulham, their defence will be better if they get Jay DeMerit.
Sunderland vs Tottenham 1:0 - Two words PAUL ROBINSON! he has to go! this is not the first time he makes ridiculous mistakes, his mistakes might cost spurs to break into the top four (I'm already going back on my predictions). I'm glad to see that Sunderland seem strong and i love how Roy Keane is calm and doesn't take the win too seriously, he is going to do good things with Sunderland.
Manchester United vs Reading 0:0 - Boring... i almost fell asleep in the first half, Rooney suffers a 2 month injury!!!!! England are screwed. I don't think Man u will be as affected as the England NT, Man U have Tevez, although if Tevez gets injured they will be in big trouble because i believe Saha is also injured. Solskjær is not reliable enough, they have to hope that Tevez does not get injured. I was very happy to see that Reading got a draw, even though i don't think they will play as entertaining football as they did last season.
Manchester City vs West Ham 2:0 - How good where Man City?? They played awesome! i was very very surprised, The Manchester Derby got much better, who would have thought that I'm looking forward to see Man City. Elano and Bianchi were fantastic. West Ham... yawn, they don't seem to work well together, i can see them going down, Craig Bellamy is a pig and I'm glad he is not at Liverpool anymore, point deduction or not they are going to have to fight to stay up.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool 2:1- I have to say i was starting to doubt Torres, i don't think he will score 25 goals this season, but from what i saw in this game he has the heart, passion and mentality to play in the premiership, it will take him a while but he is on his way to becoming a Liverpool legend. I'm getting worried thought as a Liverpool fan i think that Crouch doesn't get enough playing time and i think he is a game changing player, i hope Crouch doesn't leave for lack of playing time.Fantastic Stevie G free-kick. Villa are in trouble, they are going to be the Fulham of this season, Martin O'Neill is still very overrated.
Derby vs Portsmouth 2:2- Very surprised, i didn't see Derby winning or getting a draw in this one but they did, a good result for Derby, Pompey have to watch out for stupid draws like that.
Everton vs Wigan 2:1- zzzzzzz Wigan are still in the Premiership?? They don't deserve to be in the Premiership.
Middlesbrough vs Blackburn 1:2- i have to be honest i didn't watch this, but i bet they are missing Veduka now!
Bolton vs Newcastle 1:3- Good result for Newcastle, but can they keep it up?
Chelsea vs Birmingham 3:2- Another injury for Chelsea? i was surprised that Birmingham scored 2 goals, i have to say Cech is not looking too good.
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Who will win the sack race? Martin Jol? Gareth Southgate? Sammy Lee?
Who do you guys think will win the Sack race and what did you think of the games?
Friday, August 10, 2007
Premiership and the Coca-Cola Championship are back!!!!!!
THE PREMIERSHIP IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm also really excited that the Championship starts.
I would love to see Southampton, Wolves and Sheffield United promoted.
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BTW its official Man United have the most attractive team in the Premiership with Wayne Rooney and new signing Carlos Tevez..... i kid, i kid (i had to make a joke about it.)
So Carlos Tevez is a Manchester United player... lucky them (i really mean that).
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Leeds United, Transfers and Loans, and David Beckham
I know that to many brits Leeds is one of those clubs that if you don't support them you hate them, I'm from the states so i guess i don't have that history to hate Leeds ( even though I've been watching the EPL since i was 6) but a lot of my friends from England could not be more happy that Leeds have been relegated and it seems from what I've read in the British papers everyone else is happy that Leeds are now in League One and have the 15-point deduction.
To think about it in 2001 Leeds were in the semifinal of the Champions League. _____________________________________________________
-Sunderland have singed Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
-Aston Villa are interested in signing Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson on a Loan deal.
-Seems like Robben is going to Real Madrid.
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Golden balls where are you? When are you going to play? ok it was ridiculous here in the states the hype that there is for David Beckham, I've never been a huge Becks fan but i respect him and think he is a professional.
But when is he going to play for the Galaxy? and will he actually make a difference? The Galaxy are rubbish, they just are, their defence is horrible and to be honest can he do much with them? they are not even close to being in the playoffs and there isn't anyone at the end of Beck's crosses, I think that Becks should have gone to another MLS team, not the Galaxy I think he only went to LA because of posh wanting to be famous.
Becks is a good player but the Galaxy are rubbish, i just don't think he can save them, not this year.
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Thanks to everyone who has been reading, next post will be about La Liga and The Championship.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Not a good start for Chelsea.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007360477,00.html
Monday, August 6, 2007
EPL table predictions
My Predictions
1.Liverpool or Manchester United
2.Liverpool or Manchester United
3.Chelsea
4.Tottenham
5.Arsenal
6.Blackburn
7.Portsmouth
8.Reading
9.Everton
10.Newcastle
11.Manchester City
12.Sunderland
13.Aston Villa
14.Middlesbrough
15.Bolton
16.West Ham
17.Fulham or Birmingham
18.Fulham or Birmingham
19.Derby
20.Wigan
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1 and 2- I think that Liverpool really want the EPL this year, they have won the champions league and were in the final last year, i think they feel that they have to prove themselves in the EPL and they know their fans want the Premiership.
Manchester United- they have made great great great buys this season and it seems that they are getting Tevez which would be an amazing buy, they won last season and you can't underestimate them, Ronaldo is an amazing player and he can put that team on his shoulders, i think they really want the Champions League and that's what they will focus on.
It will all come down to who starts the season better and injuries.
3.Chelsea- It seems like they have got some good players in the transfer season, but Terry is out for a while (they always have problems when JT is out) and super Frank has not been playing that well, they will probably be the team most effected by the Africa Cup Of Nations, Sheva and Ballack are still not reliable and Robben is still up in the air if he stays or go. And i think that they will really push for the Champions League this season.They just don't seem like they can win the Premiership this year.
4.Tottenham- OK this is a bit of a stretch, you can't underestimate Arsenal but i think that spurs have a solid team and a good manager. They managed to keep Berbatov and i think he stayed because he knows this can be Tottenham's year. The thing that i think can hold Tottenham back is a big problem they have and that is Paul Robinson who in my opinion is one of the worst goalkeepers I've seen, this guy make the most ridiculous mistakes. Another problem they have is Ledley King who is always injured, but besides that i think they have a good team, they have made some good buys and i think they can break into the top 4 this season.
5.Arsenal-Like i said, its a bit of a stretch, you can't underestimate Arsenal, they do have a great young team but every year its the same "Arsenal's youngsters will do it this year", but they don't. I think that Van Persie and Fabregas are amazing players if they can keep free of injury then they will be have a chance of being 4th, i think that this is Walcott's year to prove himself.They will also be affected by the Africa Cup of Nations.They lost Henry which is a huge lost for their moral, and they don't know if Wenger is staying.
6.Blackburn-They always cause trouble for the bigger teams, they have a very good squad, if they don't finish 6th they still will have a say on who will finish in the top 4.Their goalkeeper is very good and i expect to see good things from this team.
7.Portsmouth-They have very quietly been buying some good player and building up their squad, David James had a fantastic season and i think that there is a lot of potential for this team. I like their manager and i think that they will also like Blackburn have a say on who the top 4 will be.
8.Reading-I think that they will be able to survive the second season jinx, i think that Steve Coppell is a great manager, their problem is that they have let some good players go and have not bought any season changing players, i think they have some good player and i want to see what Kevin Doyle can do this season. I have to be honest I'm a little biased with Reading, I have a soft spot for them for the last 3 seasons and i was very happy to see them promoted, i really hope they can survive the jinx and do good.
9.Everton- Everton drop from 6th to 9th for me because, they are always affected by injuries, Cahill is injured, Johnson is very injury prone. they got rid of James Beattie which is good for them, i think Howard is a good goalkeeper and they have Arteta who i think is one of the best midfielders in the Premiership, they haven't made any significant buys. I think that is they stay clear of major injuries they will be able to maybe slip into 8th.
10.Newcastle-I have some love for the toon army, they are very dedicated fans and they stand by their team, I think that big Sam is a good manager for them and i think he has made some very good buys, but the problem with Newcastle is that it seems like everyone who goes to Newcastle get injured!! I think that Alan Smith will fit in very good at Newcastle, they got rid of Titus Bramble who was horrible in my opinion.In my opinion they should get rid of Owen and spend that money on getting backup for the squad. If they keep clear of injuries, keep Obafemi Martins (I don't think they will) and Joey Barton doesn't kill them all (sorry i just had to say it!) they will improve in the table. I really do wish them luck.
11.Manchester City-Lets be honest, Sven was horrible with the England NT, but at club level he is pretty good, he has rebuilt this team to make it his own. i do expect them to score more that 10 goals at home this season.They have made some good buys.To Man city fans i have to say this, be patient they will improve and try (i know its hard) to be nice to Sven.
12.Sunderland-Roy Keane has proven to be a very good manager, he was able to turn this team around and he knows what player he wants, i think that they will stay up and if he gets more money they will be up for a while. I can't wait for Sunderland vs Man United.
13.Aston Villa- I just don't see them doing much of anything, Martin O'Neill is an ok manager he did pretty good at Celtic but the SPL is not the EPL, to me he is a bit overrated. If they are able to win some more and draw less them maybe they will move up.
14.Middlesbrough- They are one of the teams that i just hate watching, i don't want to be mean but they just bore me, Gareth Southgate to me is not the man for this job, he seems like a nice guy just not right for the job, they have let their top goalscorer go and they haven't really bought anyone with potential besides Luke Young. I can see Southgate being fired.
15.Bolton- To me the team with the biggest drop from 7th to 15th. Its simple they can't do it without Big Sam. I'm surprised Nicolas Anelka is still there.
16.West Ham-They will and should get a points deduction, they have spent money this season and they are looking good upfront. They have potential but because i think they will get point deducted they will be lucky not to go down.
17 and 18-It breaks my heart that Fulham could go down, it breaks my heart because of the Americans, i don't want to see the Americans relegated, Fulham have spent money but haven't really bought anyone that will truly help them, i couldn't decided if they go down or not, i have faith in them and i hope that they can stay up, as an american i really want them to stay up so that Dempsy and Bocanegra can get the experience (McBride doesn't play for the NT anymore but he represents).
Birmingham-I just don't seem them doing it.
19.Derby-I think we all know they are going down.
20.Wigan-the team i hate to see play the most, they bore me to death, Paul Jewell is gone, the bought Titus Bramble, they were lucky to stay up, sorry but they are going down. if not in 20th then in 19th.
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Wow that was a lot to write, i know some of the predictions are a little crazy but that's what i think will happen.
The teams that i wish luck to this season are Liverpool, Newcastle, Fulham and Reading.
C'mon Liverpool for the title! (i can dream)
Feel free to leave your predictions, I'm curious to see what other people think.
Please leave comments.
Manchester United Win Community Shield
Welcome to All About The Beautiful Game!!
This blog will be about all things football (soccer) related, i will write about the biggest news in the footballing world and also give my honest opinion on everything.
I am a Liverpool fan, but i'm not biased and i will try (even though its hard, lol) to be nice when talking about Man United.
Please leave me comments, you can leave any comments you want, you want to leave comments saying that i'm right and that i know what i'm talking about... cool, you want to leave comments saying that i'm an idiot and have no idea what i'm talking about... thats ok too!!!