Premier league

[CaptTurbo]

I decided to follow the Premier league this year and its about to start. I have adopted Chelsea as my team because I know a lot of the players and like the ones I know.

Anyone else following?

 

[Stout]

I decided to follow the Premier league this year and its about to start. I have adopted Chelsea as my team because I know a lot of the players and like the ones I know.

Anyone else following?

Yeah, and you've probably just made an enemy of all of them, including me

Seriously, it's like you walked into the Cards forum and said you're a big Cowboys supporter, that's how hated Chelsea tends to be. They're a big bandwagon team with huge money.

Pick up on Sunderland, a true Cards-type underdog, or root for my Newcastle United Magpies (we have Michael Owen), who get ravaged by injuries and controversy (also like the Cards, injury-wise).

At any rate, another soccer fan is always good.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Yeah, and you've probably just made an enemy of all of them, including me

Seriously, it's like you walked into the Cards forum and said you're a big Cowboys supporter, that's how hated Chelsea tends to be. They're a big bandwagon team with huge money.

Pick up on Sunderland, a true Cards-type underdog, or root for my Newcastle United Magpies (we have Michael Owen), who get ravaged by injuries and controversy (also like the Cards, injury-wise).

At any rate, another soccer fan is always good.

I figured that was Man U. I read Man U have 50 million fans worldwide to Chelsea's 10 million.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I would switch to Sunderland (since Im new I can pick whoever I want) But I want a team in London so when I go visit I can see my team in one of my favorite cities Any underdog cardinals like teams in London?

 

[Compa]

I wouldn't recommend Sunderland unless you REALLY like underdogs. They appear to have a super loyal fan base, but the last two seasons in the top flight, they went back down the following year and set the record for fewest points (19 in 03 and 15 in 06).

Even though Chelsea are front runners, I also like a lot of their players...Cech, Essien, and Joe Cole are my favorites.

I casually support Fulham (based in London about a mile away from Chelsea's ground) because of the three Americans on the team. Although both Fulham and West Ham (in London, too) both barely avoided relegation, I would say that Fulham are, by far, the biggest London underdog team in the top flight this year.

 

[Stout]

Compa has a point there. West Ham would be underdogs, and should probably have been demoted last season. Normally, you wouldn't expect much form them....buuuut...they picked up Bellamy, Ljungberg, and Parker, and have a young U.S. squad member, Spector, on the roster. I don't know why, but I've always liked them. West Ham, the Hammers, who often have Doc Martens as their sponser. You can't go wrong with them.

 

[English on tour]

NO NO NO NO NO

not West Ham - unless you want to support a team that thinks is Man Utd or Chelsea that is, they are so far up their own arse it unreal.

I see you point on Fulham but you need a club with tradition and a decent history.

feel free to look beyond Sunderland last couple of PL outings - we are a dif club with new chairman these days and look at what it has as one of the oldest teams in history.

all clubs play in london every few weeks anyway so dont worry about getting to games - you just need to time it right

the reason i support the Cards is because the play in red and white same as Sunderland and as Stout said there are no two teams better matched as it turned out.

...or just pick who you want (but you know what makes sense).

oh and if you pick SAFC then heres the link to the best msg board - theres even SAFC USA Branch supporters forum on there too.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/index.php

 

[Mulli]

I decided to follow the Premier league this year and its about to start. I have adopted Chelsea as my team because I know a lot of the players and like the ones I know.

Anyone else following?

I am considering following Chelsea as well. For the same reason, except I don't really like Ballack.

 

[Renz]

I find Chelsea, their owner and their coach to be extremely unlikable. If I wasn't a SAFC fan I would probably support a club like Manchester City or Middlesbrough.

Sunderland chose me more than I chose them. Just keep looking around and a club will start to stand out as the one for you.

PS - I agree with EOT about West Ham. I've never liked them and after last season, I like them even less.

 

[Mulli]

Okay, so perhaps I will let me wife be the Chelsea fan, but I don't think I can handle cheering for another Cardinal-like team. Bad enough I live to close to Wrigley. Disappoint abounds.

Hey, anyone care to explain indirect v. direct "penalty" kicks?

 

[Renz]

Okay, so perhaps I will let me wife be the Chelsea fan, but I don't think I can handle cheering for another Cardinal-like team. Bad enough I live to close to Wrigley. Disappoint abounds.

Hey, anyone care to explain indirect v. direct "penalty" kicks?

There are no indirect "penalty" kicks. All penalty kicks are kicked from the penalty spot and can be scored without touching another player. There are direct and indirect "free" kicks.

Direct free kicks can be kicked straight into the goal. Indirect free kicks must touch a second player before a goal can be scored.

 

[Mulli]

There are no indirect "penalty" kicks. All penalty kicks are kicked from the penalty spot and can be scored without touching another player. There are direct and indirect "free" kicks.

Direct free kicks can be kicked straight into the goal. Indirect free kicks must touch a second player before a goal can be scored.

Oops, I couldn't remember the word "free." Thanks. Can a corner kick be an indirect? What causes something to be direct or indirect?

 

[Renz]

Oops, I couldn't remember the word "free." Thanks. Can a corner kick be an indirect? What causes something to be direct or indirect?

Corner kicks are direct, although it is extremely rare to see a corner kick go in the net untouched.

Here are the direct and indirect free kick fouls. Sorry, it's kinda long.

Direct Kick Fouls - For which the other team receives a "direct free kick" (meaning a goal can be scored by kicking the ball straight into the goal) or a "penalty kick" ("PK") if the foul occurs within the Penalty Box (Note: It doesn't matter whether the ball was in the Penalty Box or not; what matters is where the foul was committed). There are 10 direct kick fouls. The rules say that the referee should call a foul for numbers 1 thru 6 if he believes they are committed in a manner he considers "careless, reckless or using excessive force":

1. kicking or attempting to kick an opponent. Accidentally kicking an opponent while tackling the ball is not a foul unless it was careless, reckless, or there was excessive force. If a player slide tackles from the front, it will be considered at least "dangerous play" (which is an indirect kick foul), or kicking, or tripping, or "unsporting behavior", even if the ball is contacted, since it would at the least be reckless or dangerous. (See "Cards, Red Card, Serious Foul Play")

2. tripping or attempting to trip an opponent (if careless, reckless or using excessive force),

3. charging into an opponent (the goalkeeper can also be called for this if his action is careless, reckless or uses excessive force),

4. striking or attempting to strike an opponent (if careless, reckless or using excessive force),

5. pushing an opponent, including the goalkeeper (if careless, reckless or using excessive force),

6. jumping at an opponent in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force (this includes jumping for a header if an opponent is carelessly or recklessly bumped, and jumping at the goalkeeper),

7. blatant holding or pulling (including holding clothing, using any part of the body to hold an opponent & "Sandwiching"),

8. making contact with an opponent before touching the ball when tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball (Note: it is always a foul if the tackler contacts the ballhandler before touching the ball. However, it can still be a direct kick foul if the ball is touched first but the tackler was "careless, reckless, or used excessive force" and was judged to have kicked, tripped, charged or jumped at the ballhandler. Or, if the Referee believes the tackler played in a "dangerous manner", an indirect kick can be awarded),

9. spitting at an opponent, even if it doesn't hit the opponent (this is grounds for a Red Card),

10. deliberately handling the ball (a "hand ball" should not be called if a player is instinctively trying to protect himself from injury or if the ball hits the hand while it is in a natural position near the players side and has not been moved toward the ball. (This does not apply to the goalkeeper inside his own penalty area.)

Indirect Kick Fouls - For which the other team receives an "indirect free kick" (meaning a goal only counts if another player touches the ball before it enters the goal). The indirect free kick is taken from where the offense occurred. There are 2 types of indirect kick fouls:

a. Four that apply to all players:

1. "Dangerous Play" (or playing in a dangerous manner) is any action by a player that in the judgment of the Referee is dangerous to himself or to another player and that isn't a "direct kick foul" such as tripping. Examples would be a high kick when an opponent is nearby, or if a player tries to head a low ball that an opponent is trying to kick, then the player who is putting himself in danger would be guilty of dangerous play. Another example would be any action that might endanger the goalkeeper within the Penalty Box. If the goalkeeper and an opponent both go for a loose ball, the Referee will tend to favor the goalkeeper if there is a collision. It isn't necessary for someone to be hurt for dangerous play to be called. For example, slide tackling with spikes high would be dangerous play, even if the opponent isn't contacted. However, a dangerous act (such as a high kick) isn't "dangerous play" unless an opponent is nearby.

2. "Impeding the Progress of an Opponent". Generally, a player cannot use his body to impede another players movements, even if it is not deliberate. This can be called if a player is not within "playing distance" of the ball (i.e., 3 feet) and block's an opponent's movement or screens an opponent from the ball. However, if a player is within playing distance & able to play the ball (meaning not laying on the ground), the player can legally screen an opponent from the ball. (You usually see this when a ball is going out of bounds & the player whose team will get the throw-in screens the opponent so the opponent can't save the ball). Impeding the progress of an opponent used to be called "obstruction". The rule also applies to "innocently" impeding the goalkeeper by standing in front of him when he has the ball.

3. Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands. A player who attempts to prevent the Goalkeeper from putting the ball into play by standing directly in front of the Goalkeeper can be called for breaking this rule or for "unsporting behavior", in which case both a Yellow Card & an indirect kick would be awarded.

4. Any time a yellow or red card is shown & a direct kick isn't awarded (e.g., for "unsporting behavior", "dissent", persistently breaking the rules, and offensive or threatening language.)

b. Four indirect kick fouls that only apply to the goalkeeper & only if committed inside the Penalty Box (the goalkeeper is treated like a regular field player when he is outside the Penalty Box):

1. Taking more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it (releasing it can include throwing it, kicking it or dropping it to the ground and then kicking or dribbling it. Once released, it is "live").

2. Touching the ball with hands after it is deliberately kicked to the Goalkeeper by a teammate. (Note: It is okay to pick up an accidentally kicked ball or a pass from a teammate that isn't "kicked" but is made using the head, chest, knee, etc.).

3. Touching the ball with hands on a throw-in from a teammate (i.e., the goalkeeper can't pick up a throw-in from a teammate).

4. Intentionally handling the ball again after he has released it and it has not touched any other player (e.g., dropping the ball, dribbling it and then picking it back up). Read b.2 and b.3 above. The Goalkeeper can only handle it again after an opponent touches or if it is accidentally kicked back or if it is headed or chested back by a teammate. He can't pick it up if a teammate has intentionally kicked or thrown it to him.

Advantage Clause - This rule states that the Referee, in his discretion, may decide to not stop play due to a foul if it would be to the advantage to the fouled team to not stop play (i.e., The concept is that the team that was fouled should not be punished by having an attack stopped which might result in a goal and, conversely, that the team which committed the foul should not gain an advantage as a result of the foul).

 

[Mulli]

Thanks Renz.

 

[Renz]

Thanks Renz.

 

[SECTION 11]

go reading go

 

[azsouthendzone]

Go Fulham. I have to support McBride, Bocanegra, and Dempsey.

 

[Mulli]

Go Fulham. I have to support McBride, Bocanegra, and Dempsey.

Ugh, I don't like McBride. Not sure he is that good really. Is he?

 

[azsouthendzone]

Ugh, I don't like McBride. Not sure he is that good really. Is he?

McBride is the best player on Fulham FC and he finishes. He's a great player. Not too sure why you don't like him.

 

[Compa]

I would say McBride is my favorite pro athlete, but I can't really pinpoint the reasons for it. He seems to have gotten increasingly better since he retired from the USMNT. He has his limits in terms of quickness and athleticism, but he makes the most of his opportunities.

 

[CaptTurbo]

OK I just watched Green Street Hooligans.

I have decided when they are on TV I will cheer on the following teams in this order

1) West Ham (hope Tevarez (sp) stays)
2) Chelsea
3) Sunderland (since you guys like them)

Eventually one will grow on me more than the others as I am always a one team per sport fan.

 

[CaptTurbo]

ANd when I cheer on West Ham I will say West am and go ammers just like a regular bloke

 

[Renz]

go reading go

I don't like their blue horizontal stripes.

You must be registered for see images

 

[Compa]

For anyone that is interested in the geography of the clubs during their favorite club selection process, or if one is planning on attending a match, this is a useful resource:

http://www.footiemap.com/?co=england&season=2007-2008&league=1

This site also has locations of clubs from many more countries.

 

[English on tour]

For anyone that is interested in the geography of the clubs during their favorite club selection process, or if one is planning on attending a match, this is a useful resource:

http://www.footiemap.com/?co=england&season=2007-2008&league=1

This site also has locations of clubs from many more countries.

for those who care just above the Sunderland and Newcastle badges is Whitley Bay, which is were i live