DISQUS

Wow! What a day. The EPL has changed for the better. We now have several games of the week. We have to wait two weeks. Darn! I'd say worse in person.

I will take the unpopular view and say it's wonderful news. The only way to break up the hold of 2+2+16 is for some outside group with a lot of cash to elevate some team by an influx of cash. It's the only way that the other 16 can break into the top. Some of you may have heard Steve Bruce's comments over the weekend but there is no EPL, there are 3 different leagues in the so called EPL and the only way to change it is outside cash. Fact of life. The EPL wants to be the top soccer/football league in the world and sell it's product in every country. Foreign money is a fact. I only hope Everton is next!

Do not see the problem here. I'll take ten more Bass Ale signs as long as FSC programs quality football games and shows.

Lets face it, FSC has enough football programming. You can complain that you may not see the game each week you want to, but it's amount is something that is sufficient . What we do need is better pre/post coverage and sponsors make those shows. From the first days of broadcasting sponsorship has driven the media. So, if Bud, Bass Ale, or you name the brand is willing to pay for say a quality show, LET THEM.

No, not at all still some of the most creative comedy writing out there. The game show stuff was classic. This week was a little more of a satire.

Can't say I want to see it happen, just that at some future date it's likely too. The smaller clubs have no chance of winning, the NFL model will give them that. The real final push will come when the pressure mounts again for a European Super-League. The NFL model will then seem a way to save English Football. I'm not saying again I like it only that it will come.

Something in the water then in Europe?

Good to see your post here BC. While Stoke City played well and I must admit that at this point in time I have only watched a few minutes of the game, it appears to me Villa was taking this one a bit lightly and Stoke City wanted badly that first Prem victory.

Well done to Stoke City and hope you win many more.

I can not tell you how happy I am with your post Kartik. You have correctly praised my home town hero Temoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire with lighting the fire, no pun intended, under the Mexican team last night. He does that every time out for the Chicago Fire.

You break down the USA historic win in Guatemala very well from a EPL perspective. I think most of us know what Tim Howard can do with a defense in front of him, which maybe lacking at Everton right now. Bocanegra had a excellent all around game and Beasley sparked the US team when he came in. However, both can't find a place to play in the EPL.

What still is hard for me to understand is why some people across the pond have to elevate another poor performance at home by England as some sort of heroic victory but down grade the US win in a qualifier on the road before an extremely hostile crowd and a Guatemalan team that was out to physically harm the Americans.

One comment of note given other discussions. Why schedule international matches during the Olympics ? Does FIFA real care about anyone else. With the GB team doing so well in China you would think England fans should get upset.

I may be missing something but the Team Captain in whatever sport for whatever country means nothing! Michael Jordan was not the captain of basketball's "Dream Team" in 1992 but they managed to win. No one can tell me that England has not qualified for Euro 08 or the Olympics because of their choice for captain. It's a nice honor for a player but means nothing!

Well said BC and AP ,you go online. What bothers me is that only soccer well merit having the game being described half a world away. Why only in soccer is this allowed to happen. To imagine any other sport on US tv doing that is beyond imagination.

Hate it. Hard to stomach. Really bad. Just do not wear them again.

I think I've made my feeling known.

He was the best actor in the Dark Knight!

Gaffer & Kartik:

I would have to disagree on basketball not being a major international sport. After football/soccer basketball is the second most popular spot in the world. The number of international players in the NBA keeps growing. You did not say it but who says basketball is not popular in South America, well who won the gold medal in Athens in 2004. A team from South America. Spain a world champion. China loves the game.

I love soccer and the NBA has it's issues, but do not discount b-ball.

Lets hope that Barton can talk FSC into some better production values and maybe get some live reports from the field around the EPL. If we can can HD from a pool in China about standard video from central London!

Panda:

ESPN's coverage is`better this year. I implied that in my post. Also, since NBC restricts use of highlights it does become difficult to do a good wrap up show.

SSN sucks. True enough. However, to it's credit, ESPN is not much better. In prior years you hardly knew the Olympics were going on if you watched only ESPN. On the other hand when ESPN gets an event like Euro 2008, they promote the hell out of it. SSN also reflects the generalized lack of interest in the Olympic games in the English media since team GB is not a standout one. Why there isn't more interest in the Olympic soccer matches is strange since as we all know London has the next games.

As to the US draw v. Holland. Given how it happened it is disappointing. Given what most experts said before the games the US team is doing great and is in a good position to both win the group and advance.

Why anyone would watch the Community Shield over the USA v. China BB game this morning is hard to understand. I enjoy soccer for the great players and great action and this morning that was on the hard court in China.

Very nice piece. American ownership not that bad after all?

As hardcore EPL fans should we should be talking about the race 2nd four, since the first four are set in stone!

United4life:

Just to let you know i been in england twice now and have been to Chelsea. Nice tube stop there btw.

If, the MLS is as bad as you think how come we keep having players, especially Yanks being signed from the MLS to play in the EPL. Last year, a keeper that couldn't play in the MLS, no knock on him btw, did a very good job in the EPL and last I heard Brian McBride was wanted back by Fulham.

Mike: Thanks for the nice comment. Do not give up on Toyota Park or the Fire. I'll be back out there on Aug 16, when the Fire take on DC United for what maybe the first appearance of Brian McBride in a Chicago uniform. The Fire league games are fun and really worth the money. I've had great times at the park. You may want to see the US Men in a WC qualifier come this September at Toyota Park for something that is really big.

The lack of attendance last night had much to do with bad timing by the MLS and The Fire. Not only was Superliga on TV but Barcelona is playing in Chicago over the weekend as well as the Fire with a league game. Very noticeable last night was the lack of many of The Fire's great Mexican-American supporters at the game. Also, the ticket prices for the game were raised! Stupid beyond belief!

Yes, Everton lack some players but the Fire lacked Blanco and McBride and made a wholesale substitution at the start of the 2nd half. The deliberate style of play so frequently seen in the EPL was ineffective in the first half.
Moyes to his credit switched to a more open attack in the 2nd half. A friendly it was but Everton could not be happy with the effort in Chicago.

That last comment was mine. EPLNFL.

This was one of the most useful posts.

Hopefully you will find a regular spot with the BBC. The World Football show on 5 Live is simply the best. Maybe you can talk the BBC into having you as a regular commentator on the Prem from America. It would make great use of your talent and the work you have done on this website.