On the Eve of the new Season...

Eriksson linked with U.S. post
PA

Sven-Goran Eriksson is being considered as a replacement for Bruce Arena as coach of the United States, according to a report in the U.S.

The New York Times report that United States Soccer Federation officials have spoken to the former England coach, although the Americans may struggle to meet his wage demands if he seeks a similar pay deal to the one he had with England.

Arena's eight-year spell with the US team came to an end after the World Cup, with the USSF deciding not to renew his contract after the Americans failed to get beyond the group stages.

Several high profile coaches have been linked with the vacant position, including former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann – who lives in Southern California – and Jose Pekerman, who led Argentina at this year's World Cup.
its klinsman's if he wants it

wasnt erickson saying he wanted to manage a big english club like a week ago? the conjecture was newcastle once they sack roeder
SATURDAY

7:30am Liverpool vs Tottenham (Set)
9:45am Fulham vs Chelsea (Set)
10:00am Arsenal vs Sheffield United (FSC)
10:00am Manchester City vs West Ham (Set Xtra - D*TV only, CH 670)
12:00 p.m. Reading vs Manchester Utd. (FSC)
2:30 p.m. Aston Villa vs Charlton (FSC)
3:30pm Manchester City vs West Ham (Set Delayed)

SUNDAY

11:00 a.m. Newcastle vs Everton

I haven't found the Old Firm game on Saturday on TV anywhere, so if anybody sees it, let me know.
This weeks Champion's League fixtures on US TV:

TUESDAY

2:30pm Benfica vs. Manchester United (ESPN2)
2:30pm Arsenal vs Porto (Setanta)
5:00pm Real Madrid vs Dynamo Kiev (Set Delayed/ESPN Classic Del)
9:00pm Lille vs AC Milan (Set Delayed)

WEDNESDAY

2:30pm Levski Sofia vs. Chelsea (ESPN2)
2:30pm Liverpool vs Galatasaray (Set)
5:00pm Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich (Set Del)
5:00pm Werder Bremen vs. Barcelona (ESPN Classic Del)
7:00pm Valencia vs Roma (Set Del)
newcastle/neverto match was pretty good. would have liked to have 3 points, but lucky to have one. ameobi was way off sides
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
newcastle/neverto match was pretty good. would have liked to have 3 points, but lucky to have one. ameobi was way off sides
Just let me know when you're ready to talk about Alonso's goal over Harper….

SATURDAY

7:30am Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool (Set)
10am Charlton Athletic v Arsenal (Set)
10am Chelsea v Aston Villa (FSC)
12pm Sheffield United v Middlesbrough (FSC)2:15pm Everton v Manchester City (FSC Delayed)

SUNDAY

9am Manchester United v Newcastle United (Set)9am West Ham United v Reading (Set Xtra)
11am Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth (FSC)
3pm Watford v Fulham (set)


Venerable tells me you're going to be busy this weekend and likely miss the New Castle match. Take it from me - lay the law down from day one and make her wait until after the match before you do anything!
For those in the Baltimore area, Slainte in Fells Point is showing this games this weekend.

Sat
7:30am Bolton Wanderers vs Liverpool - Premiership

9:30am Charlton vs Arsenal - Premiership

2:00pm Munster vs Ulster - Magners League

10am Chealsea Vs Aston Villa
12pm Shieffield Utd Vs Middlesbrough

Sun
9:55am Manchester United vs Newcastle United - Premiership

11am Tottenham Vs Porthsmoth
Mon
3pm Watford Vs Fullham
Chelsea 1 - Aston Villa 1
Charlton 1 - Arsenal 2
Bolton 2 - Liverpool 0

It seems that this year things are going to be interesting, the top teams are losing lots of points compared to previous seasons where you would have either Arsenal or Chelsea winning most of the games.
Originally posted by Barcelona:
Chelsea 1 - Aston Villa 1
Charlton 1 - Arsenal 2
Bolton 2 - Liverpool 0

It seems that this year things are going to be interesting, the top teams are losing lots of points compared to previous seasons where you would have either Arsenal or Chelsea winning most of the games.
You forgot Man U 2-0 Newcastle.

Ole, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ole, Ole Gunnar Solskjær!!
Bummer Brennser, looks like we'll have to hit the pub for the Ireland match next week.

Sat. Oct 7 Euro 2008 Qualifier

England v Macedonia 12:00pm (Set Premuim â?? Pub only)
Scotland vs France 12:00pm (Set)
Cyprus v Ireland 12:30 (Set Premium â?? Pub Only)
Denmark v. N. Ireland 2:00 p.m. (FSC)
Italy vs Ukraine 2:45 (Set)
Serbia v. Belgium 4:00 p.m. (FSC)
Sweden vs Spain 5:00pm (Set)
Bulgaria vs Holland 7:00pm (Set)

Sun. Oct 8 Euro 2008 Qualifier Delayed Broadcasts

Kazakhstan vs Poland 6:00pm (set)
Cyprus vs Ireland 8:00pm (set)
Greece vs Norway 10:00pm (set)

Tues. Oct 10 Euro 2008 Qualifier

England v. Macedonia 8:00pm (FSC replay)

Wed. Oct 11 Euro 2008 Qualifier

Croatia v England 1:00 p.m. (Set Premium â?? Pub Only)
Iceland v. Sweden 2:00 p.m. (FSC)
Georgia vs Italy 2:00 p.m. (set)
Ireland v Czech Republic 2:30 p.m. (Set Premium â?? Pub Only)
Poland v Portugal 2:30 p.m. (Set Premium â?? Pub Only)
France v. Faroe Islands 4:00 p.m. (FSC)
Slovakia vs Germany 4:00 p.m. (Set)
Turkey vs Moldova 6:00 p.m. (Set)
Georgia vs Italy 8:00 p.m. (Set)

Thu. Oct 12 Euro 2008 Qualifiers Delayed Broadcasts

Poland vs Portugal 5:15 (Set)
Ireland vs Czech Republic 7:15 (Set)
Originally posted by vansmack:
Bummer Brennser, looks like we'll have to hit the pub for the Ireland match next week.
at the rate the injuries are piling up I'm getting myself into shape for a last minute call up!!
:D
I hate these weekends with no soccer games from the different European leagues. These qualifying games for the European Cup or for the World Cup are so boring.
Originally posted by Barcelona:
I hate these weekends with no soccer games from the different European leagues. These qualifying games for the European Cup or for the World Cup are so boring.
I'm beginning to agree with you, and it's barely 10 AM pacific time.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Barcelona:
I hate these weekends with no soccer games from the different European leagues. These qualifying games for the European Cup or for the World Cup are so boring.
I'm beginning to agree with you, and it's barely 10 AM pacific time.
If they show it in the US, try to watch tomorrow's superclasico, River Plate - Boca Juniors from Argentina's Apertura league.
Originally posted by brennser:
at the rate the injuries are piling up I'm getting myself into shape for a last minute call up!!
:D
It might have helped, actually. Despite the injury, I never would have thought that would be the result. Embarrassing.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by brennser:
at the rate the injuries are piling up I'm getting myself into shape for a last minute call up!!
:D
It might have helped, actually. Despite the injury, I never would have thought that would be the result. Embarrassing.
agreed, as a former Irish Prime Minister once said, grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented…..truly a pitiful performance
smackie, I need my weekend footy schedule!! ;)
Originally posted by brennser:
smackie, I need my weekend footy schedule!! ;)
unfortunately, smackie is in socal this weekend.

all i got is that the tigers/cards game starts at 8:05 eastern on saturday. unless you want me to go through college football.
ALLEZ-LE LOSC!
I think this weekend you should try to watch this.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AoDOQmUG8fVL21jEhvzRZ.8mw7YF?slug=reu-spain_preview&prov=reuters&type=lgns

PREVIEW-Soccer-Real out to heal wounds against champions Barca

By Simon Baskett

MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Nothing hurts Real Madrid more than having to live in the shadow of arch-rivals Barcelona and a victory in this Sunday's 'clasico' at the Bernabeu would go a long way to healing the wounds from the last three seasons.

The last time Barca visited Real Madrid's stadium they dealt the home side a humiliating 3-0 defeat which ended with Ronaldinho being given a standing ovation by the irate home fans after he scored a sublime double.

That defeat was, in many ways, the low point of Real's so-called Galactico era and was one of the events that prompted the eventual exit of former president Florentino Perez.

After witnessing the collapse of their attempt to put together an all-star team based on glamorous big-name players and attack-minded football, Real have now opted for a back-to-basics approach under new coach Fabio Capello.

The Italian has been charged with the task of introducing a disciplined, conservative approach based on a solid defence and a well ordered midfield rather than the more anarchic style that has characterised the team's performances in recent years.

The change has yet to produce consistent results and the new-look team slumped to their first league defeat of the campaign when they lost 1-0 at Getafe last Saturday.

Ronaldo, the club's leading striker for the last four seasons, was sent off for back chat to the referee and will miss the Barca match through suspension.

But the team were a completely different proposition in Tuesday's 4-1 away win over former European champions Steaua Bucharest, the presence of Brazilian forward Robinho adding a new dimension to the Real attack.

"We saw a team with quality and spirit and that is what counts," said Capello. "Now I'm happy.

"I said we had to forget the performance against Getafe because we can't play like that ever again. Instead, we saw a Real Madrid that played with pace and skill."

HUMILIATING DEFEAT

After back-to-back league titles and victory in the Champions League last season, Barcelona appear to have lost some of their edge.

A humiliating 3-0 defeat by Sevilla in the European Super Cup was an early sign of vulnerability and Wednesday's morale-sapping 1-0 setback at Chelsea exposed another chink in the previously impervious Barcelona armour.

Without injured striker Samuel Eto'o, Barca no longer find it so easy to punch holes in opposition defences.

Also, coaches like Juande Ramos and Jose Mourinho have shown that tight marking of Ronaldinho and suffocating pressure in midfield are the secret to success against the Catalans.

Although they are not firing on all cylinders, Frank Rijkaard's side still have a three-point lead at the top of the Primera Liga, and are five points clear of Real after last Sunday's morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Sevilla.

Barca know another victory over Real will dispel any doubts about the team.

"The Chelsea defeat was an accident against a very good team, nothing more," said skipper Carles Puyol. "Things can be sorted out with a victory at the Bernabeu."

Real's biggest enemy could be overconfidence after their comfortable win against Steaua.

"I've told the players that we have the best squad in the world, that no one can beat us if we put our minds to it," Real president Ramon Calderon told Marca on Thursday. "I'm certain that we will beat Barca."

Updated on Thursday, Oct 19, 2006 6:01 am EDT