^^I suspect it was to put pressure on them to get a deal done immediately or risk them becoming cup tied.

8/11/2011 12:22:04 PM

Liverpool are imo plainly outclassed by United, Chelsea, City and Arsenal...but I'll be optimistic and place them 3rd.

kiljadn - Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
aimorris - Liverpool - Prediction: 3rd
Wolfey - Chelsea - Prediction: 1st
Tarun- Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
mizzo - Liverpool - Prediction: 2nd
hey now- Manchester City- Prediction: 5th
Ribs - Tottenham Hotspur - Prediction: 4th
Opstand - Arsenal - Prediction: 2nd
egyeyes - Manchester United - Prediction: 2nd
d7freestyler - Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
DoucheU - Liverpool - Prediction: 2nd
IMStoned420 - Tottenham - Prediction: 4th
McWinger03 - Aston Villa - Prediction: 16th?
Jabbo - Liverpool - Prediction: 3rd
blanks - Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
Walt Sobchak - Manchester City - Prediction: 1st
heelfan - Arsenal - Prediction: 3rd
elduderino - Everton - Prediction: 7th
Turnip - Newcastle - Prediction: 14th
FriendlyFire - Arsenal - Prediction: 3rd
cali_j2004 - Liverpool - Prediction: 4th
harmemou- QPR - Prediction: 10th
aph319 - Tottenham - Prediction: 5th
Vulcan91 - Arsenal - Prediction: 4th
JeffreyBSG - Liverpool - Prediction: 3rd


[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 1:09 AM. Reason : /]

8/12/2011 1:08:13 AM

Arsenal? Even without Nasri/Fabregas?

8/12/2011 6:35:41 AM

Arsenal has lost way too much this offseason, I think the losses (still pending of course) of Cesc and Nasri puts them slightly below Liverpool and Tottenham, battling for 4th.

8/12/2011 8:00:04 AM

I kinda like Arsenal but these are two body blows to lose them, even though we knew it was coming.

Couple links saying Cesc is official to Barca for £31m

8/12/2011 8:39:33 AM

Arsenal will be ok, I reckon. Wilshere and Ramsey are ready to step up. I think Gervinho will turn out to be a great signing, maybe a 20 goal season.

Wenger needs to use this transfer $$ to stop pussyfooting around with the Jagielka/Cahill/Samba/anyotherCBslinkedthisweek and Mata deals and they'll be in the mix for a top-4 spot.

8/12/2011 12:16:03 PM

Even without Cesc/Nasri, Arsenal have bajillions of attacking options, and I think Jack Wilshere will step up and fill some of the void left by Cesc. They'll score a lot of goals, as always.

I do wonder, however, why they didn't sign a top-class central defender (or at least a defensive midfielder) over the summer. They have tons of class in attack and midfield, and next-to-none in defense.

On this note, the signing of Gervinho kinda boggles the mind. I'm sure he's good and all, but Arsenal's need for defensive class >>>> Arsenal's need for offensive class.

[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 2:14 PM. Reason : /]

8/12/2011 2:13:55 PM

If they can pick up Mata/Eden Hazard with the Nasri/Cesc money, I think they'll be ok.

8/12/2011 2:14:42 PM

Quote :

"RealArshavin Andrey Arshavin Today is the end of an era. Cannot believe this will be the last season of Desperate Housewives.. "

Shit I just realized that account is fake

[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 4:33 PM. Reason : .]

8/12/2011 4:28:56 PM

Arsenal - 13th

I'm new to soccer and started following them but with my existing allegiances to the Wolfpack and the Chicago Cubs I think its safe to say that Arsenal will probably now lose half their team to fire injuries in the riots and the other half in a freak Chunnel flooding incident.

Seriously, I think Arsenal ends up 6th and Everton 8th (the first EPL team I ever watched in a match so have a soft sport for 'em - they were playing United and since they felt like the Yankees/UNC I hated them immediately).

8/12/2011 4:34:08 PM

Wow, Robbie Keane to the LA Galaxy? Crazy.

8/12/2011 5:38:29 PM

I would like to see his wife, naked. That's the only thing I got from the article I read about the move.

http://www.kickette.com/files/2010/07/Claudine-Keane-2.jpg

[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 6:07 PM. Reason : for reference -- link]

8/12/2011 6:07:01 PM

Its lame and I rarely let things on the internet piss me off but Americans typing in British just because they are talking about English soccer makes me want to flip a car.

8/12/2011 6:30:21 PM

Adebayor on loan to Spurs done deal?

8/12/2011 7:19:04 PM

^^Same here, mate. I'd like to queue them, bring them on to the pitch, and invite some hooligans to bloody them up a bit. We share the same sentiment. Good on you.

England are a side that can speak in British colloquialisms when referencing football matches. Americans shan't equalize.

Although I must say that I am impressed with the American manager bringing back subtle tradition in the American kits that we wore during our friendly against Mexico. It was a decent showing as well. I would have been satisfied with a nil-nil showing against el tri, but I'll settle for the 1-1 draw.

[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 7:28 PM. Reason : ]

8/12/2011 7:22:45 PM

^^^ do one mate

8/12/2011 7:26:20 PM

Gdamn fantasy site has been down all day. Nice timing.

**back up**

Rooney reveals his plugs via twitter.





[Edited on August 12, 2011 at 10:43 PM. Reason : 5]

8/12/2011 10:35:16 PM

8/13/2011 12:10:48 AM

Hahaha

[Edited on August 13, 2011 at 12:32 AM. Reason : Shit is cracking me up for some reason.]

8/13/2011 12:31:55 AM

Wenger waxes philosophical about player transfers: "We are all replaceable. All the cemeteries are full of replaceable people.''

8/13/2011 1:42:18 AM

Just saw on Sky News that Arsenal want Tevez in exchange for Nasri and cash. That'd be nice.

8/13/2011 2:18:59 AM

Wenger is kind of being a dick at this point. Blaming the media like it isn't the lack of silverware since 2005 that people are getting impatient with.

Also said they aren't going after Mata and he doesn't have to give a reason why...

Anyway I finally made my choice of who to root for before the season since West Ham is long gone (and dropping home points in the Championship to start the season) and it's......

Fulham. So post to follow.

[Edited on August 13, 2011 at 7:23 AM. Reason : x]

8/13/2011 7:22:27 AM

kiljadn - Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
aimorris - Liverpool - Prediction: 3rd
Wolfey - Chelsea - Prediction: 1st
Tarun- Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
mizzo - Liverpool - Prediction: 2nd
hey now- Manchester City- Prediction: 5th
Ribs - Tottenham Hotspur - Prediction: 4th
Opstand - Arsenal - Prediction: 2nd
egyeyes - Manchester United - Prediction: 2nd
d7freestyler - Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
DoucheU - Liverpool - Prediction: 2nd
IMStoned420 - Tottenham - Prediction: 4th
McWinger03 - Aston Villa - Prediction: 16th?
Jabbo - Liverpool - Prediction: 3rd
blanks - Manchester United - Prediction: 1st
Walt Sobchak - Manchester City - Prediction: 1st
heelfan - Arsenal - Prediction: 3rd
elduderino - Everton - Prediction: 7th
Turnip - Newcastle - Prediction: 14th
FriendlyFire - Arsenal - Prediction: 3rd
cali_j2004 - Liverpool - Prediction: 4th
harmemou- QPR - Prediction: 10th
aph319 - Tottenham - Prediction: 5th
Vulcan91 - Arsenal - Prediction: 4th
JeffreyBSG - Liverpool - Prediction: 3rd
NyM410 - Fulham - Prediction: 7th*

8/13/2011 7:25:23 AM

Here we go

8/13/2011 9:44:00 AM

Woohoo!

8/13/2011 10:08:14 AM

My boy Charlie Adam

8/13/2011 10:14:40 AM

Suarez scores the first goal of the season

8/13/2011 10:14:53 AM

new season, same old hack Lee Cattermole

8/13/2011 10:27:42 AM

Dempsey is looking good today. Riise and Dempsey, to my eye, have been the best two players for Fulham.

8/13/2011 11:21:33 AM

that Sunderland goal was filthy

8/13/2011 11:24:25 AM

^^
Have a feed for that, or are you watching on tv?

8/13/2011 11:31:59 AM

espn

8/13/2011 11:33:01 AM

my boy Larsson's goal was way sick.

8/13/2011 12:23:46 PM

also, if you're a Bolton fan, you might want to screencap the standings real quick as it's not too often they're at the top of the table.

8/13/2011 1:17:01 PM

That first half did not bode well for the rest of the season.

8/13/2011 1:32:39 PM

Damn I had Larsson on fantasy almost all of last season and he didn't really produce. Thought about adding him yesterday because he is nasty on dead balls but didn't. That was a great shot, going to be hard to top that this week by anyone else.

Also, Suarez, what the hell. Love how he gets heel clipped when the defender actually just put his hands lightly on his shoulders. He's a cheap player and deserved to miss that PK.

Currently watching Arsenal, Gervinho and Arshavin both looking good so far. Van Persie should have put one in by now if he would just shoot with his right from time to time.

8/13/2011 1:36:08 PM

lol gamecast:

Quote :

"Still an air of listlessness here. Arsenal lack a final ball, Newcastle lack the ball. "

Quote :

"Long ball for Obertan but his large forehead is not enough to get there. "

8/13/2011 2:07:00 PM

how the fuck does Barton get away with only a yellow there? punk bitch.

8/13/2011 2:09:31 PM

Joey Barton really needs to get his leg broken. What a dick...

8/13/2011 2:09:40 PM

What a loser. Get's all up on Gervinho, trying to haul him up and then goes down himself from a school-girl slap to the ear. Wonder why no one else wanted to sign him when NUFC said he go for free...oh yeah because he's a liability.

8/13/2011 2:24:34 PM

fuck joey barton, he deserved to get smacked in the face for that.

8/13/2011 2:29:45 PM

lol, sounds like a lot of folks are mad up in here.

8/13/2011 2:31:35 PM

since all soccer is the same to me

http://lockerz.com/s/129350234



http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/942525/off-the-ball:-mexican-poopy-pants?cc=5901

8/13/2011 4:50:33 PM

who uses the words 'poopy pants' outside moms and their toddlers?

8/13/2011 4:56:28 PM

i make it a point to not use any form of "poop"

it's either shit, crap or dump

8/13/2011 4:57:48 PM

Ha dweedle I came to Sports Talk just to post that (although would have put it in the USMNT thread).

Joey Barton is taking a beating on Twitter right now. Somehow he thinks it's wrong that Gervinho dove (even though the replay shows he was clipped) but that he was in the right to throw himself on the ground after getting a mild head push / slap.

8/13/2011 5:05:05 PM

People getting way too butthurt over Barton. Gervinho was an idiot for reacting with a slap, even if it was light.

8/13/2011 5:50:17 PM

Do you not see why? He pulled him up and then grabbed his neck. And it's not like he has no history of being a first class prick...

8/13/2011 5:52:23 PM

Song should have been off for the stamp on Barton's leg 15 minutes earlier. Gervinho should've been booked for diving and red carded for the slap. Barton was rightly booked for the grab.
Case closed.

[Edited on August 13, 2011 at 5:58 PM. Reason : .]

8/13/2011 5:57:43 PM

Quote :

"Song should have been off for the stamp on Barton's leg 15 minutes earlier."

has nothing to do with the Barton/Gervinho incident.

Quote :

"Gervinho should've been booked for diving"

he was clipped by the defender, which anybody can see on a replay

Quote :

"and red carded for the slap."

agree

Quote :

"Barton was rightly booked for the grab."

so yanking a guy up by his jersey after he was clipped, and instigating the entire incident only deserves a yellow? absurd.

8/13/2011 6:18:20 PM