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Phil McThomas

4 months ago

in ESPN Loses Premier League UK TV Rights Battle on EPL Talk
I think it's Setanta who have lost the most. Who is going to subscribe to that channel for 1 game a week?
1 reply
Raatzie Agreed. Will be interesting to see the distribution of games in the US.

5 months ago

in US TV Schedule For Midweek Premier League Games on EPL Talk
Ah, the Chelsea ga...sorry, I mean the Boro game is tape-delay, 5 p.m. on "proper" Setanta.

Sanity prevails!

5 months ago

in Wigan Begin To Rebuild But Can Mido Help Or Hinder? on EPL Talk
Mido just admitted that he didn't bother putting much into training for the last six weeks. Why? Because we were on a losing streak.

I wouldn't want such a player in my squad.

It's like hooking up with a lass when she's dating someone else. In order to date her, you have to delude yourself that YOU'RE different to the last guy and she's not going to cheat on YOU.

However, Boro should have been forewarned by his exit from Spurs.

5 months ago

in US TV Schedule For Midweek Premier League Games on EPL Talk
What's the deal with Setanta Xtra? Do many cable companies carry it? My FIOS service doesn't.

Yet they put a primo game like Chelsea/Boro (Boro are flipping brilliant, Chelsea are lucky to be on the same pitch) on Xtra and with no replay, I don't get to see it.

Boo!
1 reply
The Gaffer's picture
The Gaffer SetantaXtra is only available via DirecTV and sometimes available via Setanta Broadband. Sorry Phil.

Cheers,
The Gaffer

5 months ago

in Tottenham Use Texting Service To Eliminate Discrimination on EPL Talk
Patrick, I hear comments via the Boro board I frequent of people "ratting" on fellow supporters with some regularity. Imagine what it would be like to be sat there with your kids, and the bloke/lady behind you is screaming racial abuse the whole game.

You have no option to relocate. So do you just take it?

You have to get out of your seat, find a steward, and point the person out. They'll likely get a warning so you'll set there with an uneasy feeling for the rest of the game.

People are constantly texting during the game so to text a seat number to the control room is a good idea. Much more anonymous that the current options.

5 months ago

in Man Utd’s Pick and Roll Play on EPL Talk
That United got away with this was all the more suprising given the couple of occasions that Ronaldo knocked the ball past a defender and immediately ran into him. It seemed that the defender hardly moved at all, and than it was Ronaldo who initiated the contact.

To draw another analogy to basketball, it was like the defender "taking the charge" and picking up a foul. But in football, the decision always seems to go in the attacker's favor.

So in one situation (the free-kick, above), the attacker steps in front of the defender and doesn't get penalized. In another situation (Ronaldo), the attacker runs into a static defender and picks up a foul.

What's a poor defender to do?

5 months ago

in ESPN Insider Confirms UK Premier League TV Bid on EPL Talk
This will be a disappointment to people in the UK, who are still coming to terms with having to pay for two channels to get their live footy.

I'm sure Setanta and Sky will both end up with at least one package each, so if ESPN get one too, that's going to be three channels.

Here in the US, I'm enjoying the status quo of FSC and Setanta.

5 months ago

in Manchester City: Lottery Winners Eating TV Dinners on EPL Talk
Ah, but I certainly sparked City into action, didn't I?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagu...

5 months ago

in Manchester City: Lottery Winners Eating TV Dinners on EPL Talk
Ashley Cole has kept Wayne Bridge out of the Chelsea and England team for years, based on the decisions of Mourinho, Scolari, Sven, Don Fabio, etc.

Man City hater?? Really??

Too premature? Fair enough, but now you sound like my wife...
1 reply
Charles Ashley Cole is unavailable, Phil. You see, someone has to be willing to sell before you can buy, and Chelsea won't be selling as they don't need the money. City aren't here to prove they can spend silly money, they're here to win, and they will, given time.

You have a point as regards the caliber of players bid for, but simply because City need players doesn't mean others will sell. Especially with the EPL as competitive as it is at the top. City are still a few years from being title contenders.

5 months ago

in Preview: Middesbrough v Sunderland on EPL Talk
If O'Neil is out as well as Aliadiere, Boro may well have a problem. Tuncay, perhaps?

I can see all sorts of permutations if Southgate wants to get creative: Downing central with Digard, Tuncay on the right and Johnson on the left, Alves and Mido up front. Or Downing as a second striker with a more solid looking centre - Johnson/Shawkey/Digard/Tuncay plus Downing/Alves up front.

More likely I think it Alves and Mido upfront, Downing left, Johnson right and the defensive pair in the middle.

Uh-oh, I just started playing Championship Manager in a blog comment...

5 months ago

in Nolberto Solano Loses His Mind on EPL Talk
There's a fella holding the shirt up in the picture (you can see his hands and legs).

I wonder if he was bricking it, what with a gun pointed to his chest and all.

5 months ago

in Are Hull City Destined to Stay or Slide in the English Premier League? on EPL Talk
I do think Hull are vulnerable. The teams near the bottom have mostly been-there-and-done-that when it comes to pulling away from the relegation spots in March and April. That is an aquired skill and novices like Hull tend to fall fast and hard in the spring.

Like most, I do hope they stay up.

5 months ago

in Carlos Tevez Uncertainty and is Stewart Downing This Winter’s Berbatov? on EPL Talk
I'm hoping that Gibbo can pursuade Downing to stay until the summer at least. It's really not ideal to lose your best player in Jan, espcially when you're pretty much in the relegation zone.

6 months ago

in D-Day Approaches for Tottenham on EPL Talk
I think Downing is a long way from being a Spurs player. The Boro Chairman is insisting that no-one leaves, and the Spurs bids have been insultingly low for a player of Downing's quality. That's a big gap to close in a day or two.

I'm not saying it won't happen, just that it might run a bit from here, especially if another club steps in to muddy the waters.

As a Boro fan, my hope is either for a bidding war or than Downing can be convinced to stay until the summer at least.

6 months ago

in Arsene Wenger Slams Referees After Graham Poll Highlights Weaknesses in Officials on EPL Talk
Wenger is becoming increasingly erratic, which should worry Arsenal fans.

I heard Poll's comments and in a nutshell, he said referees are human with human feelings - shock, horror.

It happens in every walk of life. I'd be more careful in dealing with a client that brought in a million bucks than ten thousand. That doesn't necessarily mean preferential treatment, more like attention to detail.

6 months ago

in Premiership Considers Premier League TV on EPL Talk
Firstly, I feel this is a bluff on the part of the EPL, just to keep the TV guys honest during the bidding. There must be an instict to low-ball the bid, so the threat of having no bids accepted will keep them on their toes.

It's kinda like having a minimum on an auction, but the minimum is unpublished and can be arbirarily changed. And the fall-out from not reaching the minimum might be a change to life as the TV guys know it.

What I would actually like to see if an EPL website for viewing games and highlights. They could geographically restrict it - just like the BBC do - to allow fans where there is no TV, or very restricted TV, to see the games.

7 months ago

in Poll: Should Paul Ince Stay Or Should He Go? on EPL Talk
All fair comments Simon.

But Blackburn have never looked good this season. I can't really see him turning the corner.

I'd give him thru December and then bring somone in if things aren't improving.

7 months ago

in Why Americans Don’t Get Soccer on EPL Talk
>> "It makes you wonder what Americans use their feet for, other than walking."

And let's face it, Americans are not exactly renowned for their love of walking....
1 reply
Weston ^ Ha!

7 months ago

in 2008/2009 Premier League TV Schedule On U.S. TV: Nov to Feb on EPL Talk
Thank the Lordy for Setanta, friend of the unfashionable clubs. They have four Boro games to Fox's one.

7 months ago

in Time To Stop Underestimating Hull City on EPL Talk
Take it easy, man. It's just an opinion, no better or worse than anyone else's.

Enjoy your run...it may last all season and for many seasons to come for all I know. Or it may have already ended. The truth is, no-one knows.

Believe me, my comments are not bitterness.

My feeling is that there is a terrible gravity in the premiership that drags down teams that don't "belong" in the top. Many teams have a flirtation with the upper reaches, but the gravity seems to be inevitable. Even when smaller teams deny gravity for a reasonable amount of time - Reading and Bolton being examples - gravity still seems to win in the end.

I wish it weren't so, but experience tells me it is.

The next three games will show Hull's metal - Portsmouth and Stoke away, Boro at home. If Hull are to maintain a top-half position, I'd say 4 points are required. Two points or less would indicate (to me) that Hull will drift into the bottom-half.

Would you agree, Tom?

7 months ago

in Time To Stop Underestimating Hull City on EPL Talk
To be honest, I'd say it was time to stop *over-estimating* Hull.

Their only real jaw-dropping result was beating Arsenal at the Emerates.

Home wins against Fulham and West Ham - not great teams.

The four away wins is utterly unexpected, but they had the luck to play Spurs and Newcastle both in the depths of their dispair, plus former-Championship rivals West Brom.

More worrying is only picking up one point from home games against Bolton and Man City.

On balance, Hull have had a great start, but I fear the cracks are appearing and they'll probably spend the bulk of the season in the lower-mid-table range.
1 reply
tom Opinions are opinions, but yours is very annoying as it took you an age to mention all the teams we had beaten, never mind making excuses and reasons for it.

So how could we have got our praise from your grad old self then Mr McThomas? It seems it would have been impossible as we have done what has been asked of us by winning these games, even if the opposition were slightly handicapped on occasions. Its almost like.....what mor do you want from us?

We have the wins, and will keep winning this season when our backs are to the wall im sure as our pride, ballsy displays for a fresh premier league club and our general football week attitude really is something to be admired this season. Not many premiership managers would shoot us down if any!

Which leaves me to believe you may be bitter as I see no comments from the proffesional minds on the subject of how they predict us to fall into mediocrocy due to our extreme luck this season.

Which leaves to believe you could be bitter, as we are enjoying ourselves....

You clearly havent seen us play this season have you!? Full 90 mins? Every week? or even nearly that much? You just seen us on Match of The day? Only you know that mate? But it affects your rights on having a valid opinion!;)

Remember this wont you, when we have been the success story of the premiership at the end of the season, never mind the one currently.

And if you think I'm getting carried away Its because I'm enjoying myself and for me, the glass is half full! But I wouldnt expect the same optimism for a bitter opposition fan!

Where are these cracks by the way? If you have seen the games as I aforementioned, the only crack you could criticise was the first half against Bolton!!! You really havent been able to back up any of your beliefs with any facts or precise judgement.....your argument.......is terrible.

7 months ago

in What if the Premier League was American? on EPL Talk
I definitely see Liverpool and Philadelphia being twinned.

Sporting passion - check.

Industrial city - check

Prison cells in the stadium - check, check, check.

As for the other half of Merseyside, I'd have to locate them in Oklabama or somewhere else where nobody can understand what they are saying.

I can't believe you missed the clear and obvious parallels that you can draw between Middlesbrough and Hawaii. Peas in a pod.

7 months ago

in Football Manager 2009 Trailer on EPL Talk
Does say much about the game though, does it? That could have been the trailer for any version since around 2000.

8 months ago

in Liverpool Rescue Draw Against Atletico Madrid After Phantom Penalty on EPL Talk
I for one think it was a good call by the ref.

If the ball is on the ground, the attacker gets a touch and the defender only makes contact with the attacker, you'd call that a penalty.

The same rules apply when the ball is in the air.

If you say that challenge is fair, then why try to play the ball? Just bundle over the attacker while the attacker is heading the ball.

And to say it's a dive is just plain wrong. I encourage anyone to ask a co-worker to shove them in the back when they are running at full speed and jumping in the air. If that causes you to fall over - DIVE!!!

For the record, Boro supporter here with no great love of the Scousers.

9 months ago

in Is Justin.tv The Killer App For Soccer Fans? on EPL Talk
"People won't pay for something that they can find for free."

Yes and no.

People will pay for convenience and a quality of service guarantee.

For instance, I know I can go on the internet and download music from this place and that. But instead I go to Amazon and pay $9 for a CD's worth of music.

* I don't have to worry about spyware in the plug-in I have to download, because I trust Amazon.

* I don't have to keep changing services to whatever is available today, because Amazon is going to be around forever.

* I know the music is going to be exactly what I ordered - no blank tracks, no poor quality

* I know I'm not going to get any problem from the RIAA or anyone else, because what I'm doing is illegal.

My experience with online streaming of soccer matches is terrible. I've never lasted more than 2 minutes because of (a) poor quality video, (b) foreign commentary, (c) never sure how long it's going to work for, (d) I'm tethered to my computer (e) it only works in "real time" and I need DVR-like convenience.

So if the Prem offered me something that was great quality, reliable, legal and offered DVR-like convenience (plus highlights, please), I'd be first in line to pay for it.
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