DISQUS

How can you state that this is a win for the Premier League, but awful news for the other 15 clubs who won't be able to compete? Don't those two statements contradict each other? If 15 of the 20 teams in the league can't compete, how is the league benefitting? Sure, the Big Five love it, but that's only 5 of 90-something teams in the football league. If this is the way it's going, then the Big Five need to join a European Super League and let the rest of us worry about England.

Fifth is the new First might have just become Sixth is the new First.

What a fantastic idea. I do like the idea that jm added of a user score. If you've seen a match, log in and rate it yourself. More info can only help. I'm signing up immediately. I frequently record several matches in one weekend and want to see the most entertaining one, in addition to the Pompey match. Adding Champions League matches would be great too. I always record those and watch them that night.

SWP to ManCity for 9 million pounds. Why would anyone want to join that sinking ship? They are a fire sale waiting to happen.

Of course, it could be that I'm bitter that he didn't head to Pompey instead.

Allowing Muntari to leave, although it made economic sense, really hurt the team. Little and Large will only work if they get better service. I was impressed with Armand Traore's pace and willingness to attack. I was impressed with Kaboul as a left-back. Glen Johnson is making good runs from the right back position. However, central midfield is not working. Muntari would have done an excellent job of feeding the forwards. We'll see what adjustments will be made as we develop.

Overall, Pompey looked much better against ManU. Familiarity helped, and the embarassment of the Chelsea match provided some motivation. I am not as down on them after this match as I was last week.

Now that we've gotten those two fixtures out of the way, let's see what we can do against teams we need to be competitive with such as Everton this Saturday. If we think we can earn a UEFA Cup spot with our finish in the league, we have to beat Everton.

PLAY UP POMPEY!!!
POMPEY PLAY UP!!!

Why would anyone watch a match among the bottom few if relegation were not involved?

It will sound strange coming from me, but why was Pompey included? Smallest stadium in the league? Not Craven Cottage. Fratton Park. Revenue for Pompey is terrible, and Gaydamak has shown a willingness to splash some cash, but not enough to make the team competitive for a title?

How will ending relegation mean that everyone can compete for the title? Revenue sharing? Salary Cap? How about reapportioning players around the league like MLS did several times. (ManU is just too good, therefore, Ronaldo can't play for them anymore. He must go to Portsmouth.)

If this happens, my interest in the EPL lessens dramatically. (modeling after the NFL, not if Ronaldo moves to Pompey)

Give 'em 'ell 'Arry!!! Of course, they'll probably lose in the quarters on penalty kicks...

Of course, we won't get out of the group stage...

Watched it online without commercials or announcers. I've watched other matches on the Olympic Soccer channel with no commercials as well. I certainly don't want commercial interruption in my viewing, which is why I will not watch the matches on MSNBC or whatever they were on. I will watch the final online. It's free, the video quality is excellent, and I don't have to put up with stupid American announcers.

That was painful!!!

We couldn't string two passes together. We had Kaboul in midfield, who probably doesn't know his teammates names yet, and obviously doesn't know how to pass to them. We had Diop once again showing he shouldn't be handling the ball that much. We had Kranjcar pull a disappearing act. Sol Campbell out of position for the first goal. Glen Johnson jump all of three inches which allowed the second goal. David James coming off his line way too early and too far for the second and fourth goal. Crouch and Defoe got either terrible or nonexistent service. Slow lazy passes, always second to the ball, dribbling with our head down, no communication warning of double teams, no adjustment to Chelsea essentially playing 5 in the midfield. It's enough to drive you to drink, and I did. A lot!!!

Oh, and I don't like the new away kit. It's the wrong color blue.

Somebody please tell me that Chelsea is the best team in the history of the game, they will make everyone look this bad, and that we will bounce back next week against... Oh *#@%^!!! ManU is coming to Fratton Park next Monday?

I need another beer!!!

I don't begrudge anyone the right to spend their money how they see fit, as long they are acting within social norms, or at least being private about it so I don't have to hear. If Stevie G wants to build a gym, fine with me. If he wants to give it away to charity, fine with me. If he wants to give it to me, really fine with me.

Everybody does things with their money that others might find wierd. I spend $100 a month on Directv's HD package plus the sports packages so I can watch the EPL. I know lots of people who think that strange. One person's normal is another's strange.

ManCity is in trouble.

Blackburn is in open revolt against new manager Ince.

Everton's David Moyes says they need 3-4 more players to be competitive in the league.

All together now:

PLAY UP POMPEY!!!
POMPEY PLAY UP!!!

I agree Kartik. Long passes to Defoe and Crouch won't work against the better teams. Defoe or Crouch have to get the ball upfield themselves, or Niko needs to be involved in the game more.

Redknapp showed his big game inexperience when he kept substituting and ended up with several players on the pitch for penalty kicks that had no business taking them. When your kick is so far off that the goalie doesn't even flinch but simply throws his hands up in celebration, you shouldn't have taken the kick.

In all honesty, the defense was great at times, and not at others. ManU missed two easy goals because of defensive mistakes and David James made spectacular saves. Tevez was pulled down in the box which should have been a penalty.

It will be interesting to see how Redknapp handles this setback.

We were outplayed. If our strategy this year is to send in long crosses to Crouchie, who isn't that good with his head, or to Defoe, who is 5'7", then we're in for a long season. We didn't win many midfield battles, and weren't able to advance the ball on the ground against ManU. We can beat the lesser teams in the league, but we won't do that well in the UEFA Cup, nor can we aspire to finish higher than 8th if this is how our offense tries to move the ball up the field. I was disappointed, even though they were essentially doing this two weeks ago in Nigeria.

SWP: Were you watching? We need you in the midfield. Not just for depth, but to push some of the current players to do better than they are doing now.

In order to end Chelsea's home points streak, we'll have to do better than this.

Defoe and Crouch can be a great combination. The defense, while good, is getting a little old. They will need some relief at points this season with UEFA Cup games on Thursday and League games on Sunday. David James hopefully has a few more spectacular saves in him without too many 'Calamity James' moments. The midfield should be solid, even with the loss of Muntari. The addition of some depth in defense and midfield should provide us what we need to do well in the UEFA Cup and the League at the same time.

While we do have a tough start and some tough stretches, we still have to play everyone twice, just like everyone else. In the end, we'll be right back where we were last season. I could see us as high as 6th.

PLAY UP POMPEY!!!
POMPEY PLAY UP!!!

I really think this will be an interesting tournament and I plan to watch as much of it as possible. I will be recording most of the matches rather than watching them at 3 AM though.

The impact on the Premier League is much less than the impact from the African Cup of Nations. Pompey, for example, lost 4 players to that tournament, including starters. Losing only one player who rarely dressed won't affect us much.

Me? Why me? Not my fault... ;)

PFCtv is where I'm going to watch most matches apparently.

Going to the bars is not cheap, but it sure tastes better. I subscribe to both, which I believe is worth it, but I would love to see more matches.

Does this list include Setanta Xtra?

Once? The FA Cup holders? Once? Damn, that sucks!!!

I mean...

Only four times? Makes me wonder why I pay for that channel!!!

(If only I could read better...)

Only twice? Makes me wonder why I pay for that channel!!!

ManU created more chances than we did. We're still figuring out how to get the ball to Crouchie and Defoe. Too many long balls in, which are too easy to defend, plus neither one is particularly good with his head. We more than held our own in midfield and David James was outstanding. Both teams having played the night before made the match pretty slow at times.

I'll be watching the Community Shield on whichever channel the pub chooses. I might bring my laptop and watch it on PFCtv at the same time.

My prediction: 1-1 Pompey wins on PKs.

PLAY UP POMPEY!!!
POMPEY PLAY UP!!!

The Olympic Football Tournament is the oldest international Football Tournament. It is designated U-23 by FIFA, which makes it the final age-restricted bracket before Senior Level. Winning is prestigious. Just ask Brazil, who have never won it, and who are threatening to fire Dunga if they don't.

England, never having participated in it, I'm sure doesn't really understand it. I'll give them a pass on that.

I will be watching as many matches as possible, thanks to MSNBC or whatever network shows the tournament exclusively over here.

Since SAF doesn't want to coach the UK team in 2012 in London, I nominate Harry Redknapp.

It matters only in that everbody would prefer to win rather than lose. If they played well, individual players got the playing time they need to be ready for the opening of the season, and no one got injured, then a loss is not that big a deal.

Atlanta is a crappy sports town, I'll grant you that one. However, when the teams are well run, this city will support them, especially if the tickets are reasonable. With deep pockets and a soccer only stadium, I think it could do well here. Nobody follows the Silverbacks because they work really hard at maintaining the lowest possible profile in this town. Arthur Blank has never kept a low profile in his life. Think of him as Jerry Jones, Jr. or the proud owner of the George Steinbrenner starter kit. Regardless of what you think of those two, at least their teams traditionally do well.

Florida does have two or three places that could support a team, but haven't in the past. My wish for Atlanta is purely selfish, not based on any knowledge of our chances.

Entertaining match, really enjoyed watching Blanco, especially the back-heel pass to Gomez for the first MLS goal.

What does it say about the league when one of the starters(Kenny Cooper) is interviewed right after he's subbed out about his possible move to...

Norway?

(Quick, name a team in Norway. Any team. Come on, can't you name one?)

If you had asked me before the match, I would have said that was a step down in quality of league. Apparently, I would have been wrong.

They also announced two more expansion teams in 2011. I'm not sure that's a good idea unless the ownership groups have really deep pockets. So what two cities get them? Montreal already has a stadium, easily expandable to MLS standards, a built in crowd, and a good organization, much like Seattle.

I personally would love to see the league back in the South, and specifically come to Atlanta. Arthur Blank, Falcons owner and co-founder of Home Depot, has stated he wants and team and has already scouted land for a Soccer-Specific-Stadium. Deep pockets, 9th largest city in the country, large Hispanic population. Makes sense to me.

Two days until the first match against ManU. I renewed my subscription to PFCTv yesterday. I'm ready.

PLAY UP POMPEY!!!
POMPEY PLAY UP!!!

If Spuds lose both Berbatov and Keane, they have no chance of finishing in the top 4. Those two combined for 40+ goals last season. Who replaces those goals?

Everton is the logical choice, but they haven't made much noise in the transfer window. Pompey, with some more depth, will be positioned to challenge for the top 4 as well. I don't see any of the other teams making legitimate top 4 runs this season.

Of course, I'm a little biased...