DISQUS

Not true. Because the sooner that happens, the sooner leagues across Europe turn to shit. I don't like that few clubs drive the revenue and drive the leagues, but they do. I'd like it even less if all the money makers (i.e. the ones responsible for the financial success of their respective leagues) just left to play their own league.

Is it romantic and fun to follow the Championship? Sure, and it's even exciting with the parity issue and the fighting at the top to move up and the bottom to stay in. But, let's remember that the Championship is also driven by clubs trying for that television money in the Premiership (and the gate receipts from having Premiership sides come to their home grounds). The Championship may be "pure" in the eyes of many, but it's also not as good. A European SuperLeague would NOT make things better for soccer in any country; it'd only make things better for the clubs allowed entry. By the way, how's a club allowed entry? 'Cause you watch, some SuperLeague comes into existence and some billionaire will buy Wolves, throw money Chelsea money at them and file lawsuits to enter the closed circle.

Spain is Real Madrid and Barcelona. To argue otherwise is just silly. Even when I lived there in the early 90s and Madrid was "bad," the league was still about them and Barcelona.

The parity of the league is great; Villarreal is a great story; loathe as I am to say it, Sevilla's latest run is...interesting; Levante; Espanyol, etc. But, the league is really about the "Big Two." Deportivo, Betis, Valencia, Sevilla, Racing, Espanyol, Atletico, Bilbao, Celta, Osasuna, Sociedad have had runs of success and runs of failure or mediocrity. Villarreal's an upstart that will likely falter at some point here . (What's the surrounding areas' population, 50,000?)

They're in a precarious state and Laurie Sanchez had 'em ALL screwed up. With that said, they had some bad luck (see: West Ham) and a really tough run of their schedule there for a couple of months. They CAN stay up and their remaining fixtures (many against fellow bottom dwellers) give them opportunities to actually escape the relegation zone.

Fulham is American-laden. But Everton? Sorry man, Howard's great and all, but Everton's fortunes go much beyond the success of Howard.

Irons fan from Oregon and from the mid-80s. Can I run for president now?

Good thing Big Sam is gone. Man...Newcastle really showed up today. Being able to recover and beat ManU 5-0 was quite a feat. Wait...oh God...jeez...0-6? Now that's a "big club."

To that end and as I mentioned, who'd want that job? A futbol club doesn't "just win" because of its name. But, even beyond that, Newcastle has been "okay" this season...enough of "okay" to give Sam a chance. I'd take him over Curbs any day of the week.

Stupid club and stupid fans. They act like fans of the New York Yankees, but with the historical success of the Cleveland Indians. Their mid-table AND they haven't played all that well. What do their fans think...that in six months they're going to compete with Arsenal?

Now, I don't think that Big Sam's done a great job or anything, but how long did he have? More importantly, what manager would want to go there when he/she could go to two dozen other sides with more realistic expectations, etc.

I'll just say that if he could win and win consistently at Bolton, he could win at Newcastle

Can you play any team you want? And, are the teams one plays just in the UK or are they European-wide? Sounds pretty damn cool, I'll have to check out the official website.

Can you get it for a Mac? As I age, the FIFA-type stuff doesn't interest me as much. This looks like a perfect way to waste an evening.

Luton v. Liverpool = Karma

Ahh...Liverpool, poor, everyone's-out-to-get-em-and-the-refs-aren't-fair Liverpool. They won't give up their gate money because they're broke themselves.

So, QPR played 'em close, that counts for something, eh?

I just watched Pompey v. Ipswich and it sure kept my attention. Kitson's response doesn't bother me because it's just his opinion...and who's Kitson really? As a futbol fan, I want to watch FA cup games to see Championship sides trying to make it v. their big brothers in the Premiership.

...seeing the Ipswich manager's mouth clearly say "fuckin' rubbish" to the ref was pretty funny.

Go QPR!

I disagree on West Ham. Looking over the free and inexpensive transfers last summer, I'm left with wondering what the hell Curbs what thinking--I know what he was thinking 'cause he's a crap gaffer--with CHOOSING to signe the likes of Parker, Dyer, Bellamy, etc. Hell, does the idea of sending a scout to just Argentina and Nigeria strike him as such a foreign concept?

West Ham is going nowhere with him at the helm.

Hey Shakira, your may Rams stink at the top level, but I'm really impressed with their efforts...and that of their fans. And man o' man have the last two games been heartbreaking for them. Who knows, had Paul Jewell been there since the beginning, maybe they'd be right there with Fulham and Wigan.

Jeez...we see a similar game (i.e. see my 2007 awards post). Totally agree on Curbs...ridiculous signings for too much money throughout the club's roster.

Happy New Year boys (and girls).