Premier League (Official Thread)

[Bucklion]

Swans are probably my second favorite team in the premiership if I were forced to choose. I think they can do like Everton did last year and be the team that hangs around the top-four discussion until late in the season. I think Bony is going to prove to be another steal for them. I had hoped Spurs would take a flier on him as a second striker.

I don't think today's result changes my mind about how Swans will do. Manchester United does that to a lot of other teams. In fact, I don't get all of the people who keep saying ManU will be below their usual standard just because Ferguson retired. I think they'll be strong again this season and even though he won't be in the dugout, that team still has his fingerprints all over it. They have top notch forwards and their midfield and back line tend to perform greater than the sum of their parts. They are ruthlessly efficient, so they can have success even when people in certain instances think they are not the better team on the pitch in that game. I think it's natural to expect that when a manager like Ferguson leaves that there will be a bit of a dip. After all, if you believe like most that Ferguson was in a class of his own as a manager then you'd also have to believe that the man who replaced him may not be able to carry on at the same level. I think that's true, but I don't agree that we're going to see evidence of it this season. This is still very much Ferguson's team with the players he picked and the culture that he instilled. If there is to be any decay (even if only slight) I think it's going to take time for it show up.



I don't think you were hallucinating. I noticed the same thing during the early match. I didn't get to see Swansea vs. ManU so I can't speak for that one. It's interesting to me that you noticed it during that match though. During the early match I chalked it up to being caused by the way NBC was handling the world feed audio. As you noted though the late game was NBC's own feed and their own commentators, and the issue was apparently still there. It didn't bother me most of the time except for the odd shot where I could tell by the commentator what was going to happen a moment before the ball was struck.

The Swans commentary was not the real commentary...they were having trouble with their live feed (likely because of the rain) at the beginning of the match so they switched to their world feed with different commentators...hence the difference in timing. It was annoying that they called stuff before it happened, but it was a one time only kind of thing.

 

[Smudger]

Bad news for Arsenal fans.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/231199.html

That's beyond bad news. Considering the embarrassing start to the season, losing Ox for a significant period of time would be catastrophic. Watching the post-game interview with Wenger was pretty sad. He just looks like he's searching for answers in basically every aspect involving the club & can't quite seem to find any.

 

[Smudger]

If you watch the Sunday night episode of "ESPNFC", actually good banter between Steve Nicol and Craig Burley. Lots of one-liners (like Barcelona was playing a team of waiters).

The 'trolling' still hasn't infiltrated the Euros associated with ESPN yet, so it's alright.

Not as much Premier League coverage, but they jumped around a lot during the hour. Good debut program (the Sunday hour-long one).

Only saw a little bit of it, but definitely quality as I always like the ESPN crew (FC & Press Pass). EPL coverage shouldn't be an issue anymore, so it's ideal to get a taste for everything else on TV, rather than having to get all of your info online. I do the latter anyways, so it's not a big deal, but still nice to see highlights in HD rather than watch them online in Russian.

If you watched even a minute of the Barcelona-Levante game, you would know what they were talking about. Levante probably didn't have a minute of total ball possession until the 30th. They were obliterated from the start & Barca could've easily put ten past them if they really wanted to.

 

[Smudger]

Starting XI's for City-Newcastle, which kicks off at 3:00 pm ET on NBC Sports Network.

City - Hart; Clichy, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott; Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Navas; Dzeko & Aguero.

Newcastle - Krul; Coloccini, Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Debuchy; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Tiote, Ben Arfa; Gouffran & Cisse.

 

[Dee-Liem]

Really glad NBC's coverage has been widely lauded after the opening weekend.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2013/08/19/Media/NBC-EPL.aspx

The only downside (in my life) was FOX no longer showing Sky Sports News (since it was on FOX Soccer). Used to watch that every day for a number of years (DVR'd it). I still don't know why FOX Sports 1 doesn't show it (Sky Sports News) at like 4 a.m. or 10 a.m. to break up the replays (of FOX Sports Live).

 

[Smudger]

Definitely liking the circle design at midfield. Not something you see too often.

 

[Smudger]

1-0 City. David Silva. Was only a matter of time after the imperious start they got off to.

 

[Smudger]

2-0 City. Aguero. Accurate low shot to the inside of the far post. City looking real good today.

 

[morbitzerker]

Great feed by Dzeko with the back heel. City have come out firing today. Fast, strong start against a solid Newcastle squad.

 

[Smudger]

Great feed by Dzeko with the back heel. City have come out firing today. Fast, strong start against a solid Newcastle squad.

Impressive 30 minutes to say the least. Exquisite passing & awareness all around.

 

[Bucklion]

Looking for a clean sheet for Zabaleta, because my fantasy team has taken a beating in week 1

 

[Smudger]

Was just going to say I would be shocked if there wasn't a red card before the 55th minute....Taylor didn't even make it before the half....moron. Surprisingly feisty affair at the end of the half. Quite a few players on both sides were on the fringe, until Taylor decided to take things into his own hands.

 

[Smudger]

Looking for a clean sheet for Zabaleta, because my fantasy team has taken a beating in week 1

I'd be concerned about him picking up a Yellow (-1 pt) too. He's left his feet a few times & is definitely one foul away from getting one. He was great for me last season, so I would definitely hold onto him.

 

[Bucklion]

I'd be concerned about him picking up a Yellow (-1 pt) too. He's left his feet a few times & is definitely one foul away from getting one. He was great for me last season, so I would definitely hold onto him.

Yeah, I expect my share of yellows with him, but considering how good ManC will be, I'll ride him for a while.

 

[Smudger]

Yeah, I expect my share of yellows with him, but considering how good ManC will be, I'll ride him for a while.

Not only that, but even under Mancini he played virtually every game he was available for. Mancini liked to change up his lineups, but Zabaleta was one of the few that played regularly, plus he likes to get forward a decent amount so he should be able to get assists & bonus points. He was by far my best defender last season after I had to drop Leighton Baines, because he cost way too much to keep when I added RVP.