Instead of just trying to comment randomly about the state of the sport, I’m going to try to list games on television each weekend on outlets in the US and toss in a few comments. All times are Eastern Standard Time. Please don’t be offended, but for the sake of brevity, I’m going to focus on the top divisions only. I’m also only listing live events and channels that I receive. Here goes Saturday’s games:
English Premier League:
The top match this Saturday should be the Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City. It will be on Fox Soccer Channel at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. This is a match between the league leader, Man U and their third place city rivals, Manchester City. Man U’s last five results are: DWWWL while City’s are DWLDW.
Second place Arsenal will try to rebound from their embarrassing 4-4 draw with Newcastle United, in which they surrendered a 4-0 halftime lead. It was painful to watch. They will face Wolverhampton Wolves, currently second from last only on goal differential. Arsenal’s last five results are DWWWD, while Wolves are WLLLW. The game is on Saturday at 9:55 a.m. on ESPN2.
If you’re a Scouser instead of a Gooner, Liverpool (DWWWW) will be playing Wigan Athletic (DLLDW) on Fox Soccer Channel on Saturday at 9:55 a.m. Or if you prefer the other team from North London, Tottenham (LDDWW) is facing Sunderland (WDWLL) on Fox Soccer Channel at 12:30 p.m.
Finally for Saturday, Blackburn (WLWLL) will play host to Newcastle United(WDDLD), brimming with confidence after overcoming Arsenal’s huge halftime lead to tie the game at 4-4 last week.
Italian Serie A:
Seventh place Roma (WWDDL) hosts second place Napoli (DWWLW) at 2:30 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.
German Bundesliga:
Gol TV continues to give viewers the impression that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayern Munich as the only Bundesliga game they’re broadcasting on Saturday is fifth place Bayern Munich (WDWWL) takes on seventh place 1899 Hoffenheim (DLDWW) at 9:30 a.m.
Spanish Primera Liga:
ESPN Deportes is carrying first place Barcelona (WWWWW) seeking to extend their near perfection against thirteenth place Sporting de Gijón (DWWWL) at 1:55 p.m.
Gol TV has fourth place Valencia (WWWDW) hosting eighth place Atlético Madrid (LWLLL) at 12 noon and follows up later with Racing Santander (DLLDD), languishing in 16th place facing seventh place Sevilla (WLWDD).
The toughest contests in Spain and Italy will take on Sunday. More later today. Meanwhile, enjoy today’s matches!
Steeplejack
Newcastle’s comeback against Arsenal last week was one for the ages. Glad I happened to catch it–and to stick around after the first-half pummeling.
MikeJ
Go Wolves! The giantkillers!
BGinCHI
Randinho! Great to see a post from you.
Could you please post some more details of that Arsenal-Newcastle match? I mean, what happened?
OK, sorry, that had to hurt.
Lot of Ws in that Liverpool line. I think we’re getting back to form and we’ll see how we fare against a team we ought to beat. That hasn’t been easy this season.
And let’s give a hail and hearty Fuck You to Bayern Munich. I hope they go bottom half of the table.
BGinCHI
@Steeplejack: Agreed. I almost skipped and then a goal, then another, then another. Amazing.
@MikeJ: Go Wolves indeed. If they win tomorrow then the EPL is really building some parity.
2liberal
I request Truth In Blog Posts. In the USA, the sport you discuss is called Soccer.
Steeplejack
@BGinCHI:
That last Newcastle goal by whomever–can’t remember the name–was beautiful. Took the high header on his foot with no bounce and scorched it in from 30-40 yards out. Unbelievable.
BGinCHI
@Steeplejack: Wish that game could have gone for another 15 minutes. That was an amazing goal.
Watching the Brazil-France friendly (which I recorded): Brazil looks shaky (Robinho? Really?) and France looks reborn. They have a solid squad.
Anyone know why Diego doesn’t play for the Brazil team? I wish we had him back at Bremen.
J.W. Hamner
Great post… from what I can tell from ESPN3 listings, Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton, Milan vs. Parma, FC Kaiserslautern vs. Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Gijón vs. Barcelona, and Roma vs. Napoli are all options for me. I know this is a tough question, but which of those matches is the best for a soccer novice to watch?
MikeJ
@J.W. Hamner: In a sane world, Arsenal should kick the shit out of Wolverhampton. Of course in a sane world first place, undefeated Manchester United should have kicked the shit out of last place Wolverhampton last week. That did not happen.
I don’t expect lightning to strike twice, but it’s certainly a game to keep an eye on. It should be an incredibly boring blowout, but there’s always a chance…
Thlayli
FYP.
Spurs haven’t beaten Sunderland away since 2001. With several stars injured (or “injured” as in “rested for the Milan game”), I’m not getting my hopes up here.
batemapa
@J.W. Hamner: if you have never seen barcelona play, i would recommend them above any team. they are without a doubt the best team in the world (with best player in the world, MESSI), and IMO the most fun to watch in the world. they make it look so effortless and smooth.
arsenal has the potential to play near barcelona quality, and they definitely play a similar style. i think the premier league is the most fun to watch in general, because i think the games are tyically more exciting. last weekend there were 42 goals…in one round of games! it was awesome.
i typically find italian soccer to be the most boring. there is lots of diving and they all act like babies. i don’t know if it’s because it is mostly italians or what, but i just find the games verging on annoying. but ill still watch that before any other sport!
Miss Kitkas's Comrade Wayne
Egregiously you have already failed. Copa Libertadores began last week.
J.W. Hamner
@batemapa:
I have never seen Barcelona play. I’m the kind of American who watched the World Cup and said “I should watch more club futbol!” And then didn’t. So Arsenal and Barcelona are the keys today?
SRW1
@BGinCHI:
Diego’s form appears to be in the doldrums. He never settled in properly at Juve and his season so far at Wolfsburg has been pretty underwhelming as well. In one sense Diego actually was the final nail in Steve McLaren’s tenure as Wolfburg’s coach coming to an untimely end, because in the 0:1 defeat against Hannover Diego took, and missed, a late penalty. That action was against McLaren’s expressed wish who had designated Patrick Helmes as Wolfsburg’s penalty taker.
SRW1
Randinho,
since you’re a fan of both teams: Which side gets your support in the upcoming CL Barca-Arsenal clash?
superfly
@J.W. Hamner:
And if you get the chance, Arsenal and Barcelona play each other twice over the next 3 weeks in the Champions League, mid-week, mid-day (2.45 EST) games on Fox Soccer Channel. If you can cut out of work early, or take a long lunch if your on the West Coast, do it, they should be as good a games as you’ll see.
piratedan
I have to admit, I really like the EPL games, perhaps its simply subjective, but imho there’s less histrionics and more playing when I compare it to the other leagues. Although I could do with less gamesmanship throught the sport and watching players bait refs into unearned advantages. Let the flame wars begin…
Amir_Khalid
@Randinho:
Wolverhampton Wolves? No team by that name in the English Premier League. You’re thinking of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Tsk, tsk.
With Liverpool doing so well again thanks to the Return of The King(Kenny) I think I’ll come back from supporting Melchester Rovers after all.
Amir_Khalid
@2liberal: What you in the USA call “soccer”, the rest of the planet calls “football”; what you in the USA call “football”, the rest of the planet ignores.
Superluminar
Amir Khalid@18 : yes Wanderers. I think Randinho confused it with the fact they are commonly referred to as Wolves.
@19 THIS. So much This.
And Arsenal are going to win today, and go on and beat Barca 9-0 on aggregate. Definitely. I need to cry now.
Blue Neponset
Go Reds!!! Suarez will get a hat trick today. You heard it here first.
All hail King Kenny!! I hope he gets the gig full time.
Brian S (formerly Incertus)
This is the first year I’ve tried following EPL, and in true form, I’ve chosen an underperforming team to root for–Aston Villa. They’re going up against Blackpool today, who they’re just above in the table, but I can’t help thinking that if Villa plays to its potential, it won’t be close. Problem, VIlla hasn’t played to their potential for most of the season, which is why they’re a perfect team for me to root for.
whiskey
More importantly, Six Nations rugby today followed by Las Vegas 7s.
SteveinSC
@superfly: Randinho: Please help us keep up with what our American internationals are doing, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Stuart Holden and the keepers, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel. I haven’t seen Bradley play for Aston Villa but have been rewarded watching Dempsey with Fulham.
Vis-a-vis Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, etc. People should just be glad this Barcelona physical hive-mind does not play for one country. I do not know who or what could stop them.
If at all possible I will be watching TV for the Arsenal/Barcelona matchup. I fear for Arsenal. I use this to keep track of what’s on TV.
Superluminar
Whiskey @ 23
Six Nations? Do the All Blacks play in that? Oh wait no they don’t. NOT important.
burnspbesq
@Brian S (formerly Incertus):
I’m pissed at Villa management. Lichaj has one bad game and gets banished on loan to Leeds? Unacceptable.
burnspbesq
2-1 to United. For one day, Old Trafford is Wayne’s World.
J.W. Hamner
OK, I’m watching and all in on the Wolves.
J.W. Hamner
A poor choice, sine it doesn’t look like Arsenal is in a mood to fuck around.
Superluminar
1-0! Good start, but the BBC liveblog says “Still plenty of time for a Wolves comeback though…” I fear this may be prescient.
J.W. Hamner
ZOMG Go Wolves! for defense at any rate.
Randy Paul
@SRW1: My heart says Arsenal, but my brain says Barça.
Randy Paul
@Amir_Khalid: I shouldn’t post after midnight.
irritable liberal
For the die haard fans there are a couple of sites that stream every game including many second division leagues as well as games from the lesser European leagues. Not exactly legal and sometimes a steam with go off air with a ‘due to copyright’ message. For the bigger games there are 20 streams so you can always find at least on although it might not be in English.
Links
http://livetv.ru/en/allupcomingsports
http://www.myp2p.eu/index.php?part=sports
Hope that doesn’t get me into trouble.