- Boots!
Are we really about to start another season of the Premier League?? (Suck it, Barclays!)
Sure enough, we are!
Just think, this morning every single team has a mathematical chance at winning the title. All, except for Burnley. They’ve already been relegated.
By now, you’ve surely read all of our in-depth team previews. You’ve also read our predictions for the upcoming season. Not much left to do but grab the remote, or make your way to your favorite bar, or turn on your computer, and bliss out to the greatest sport in the world.
Oh, and the Premier League isn’t even the only action this weekend. There’s also a big SPL match, and the managerless Canaries visit Exeter. The usual assortment of TV fixtures and all of your comments after the hop.
(All times EST)
Saturday:
7:45 Chelsea v. Hull City (ESPN2 – it’s true!!)
7:45 Aberdeen v. Celtic (ü75’s house)
9:30 Bayern Munich v. Werder Bremen
10:00 Aston Villa v. Wigan (FSC)
10:00 Blackburn v. Man City (Setanta)
10:00 Exeter City v. Norwich City (Ned’s house)
12:15 Newcastle v. Reading (Setanta)
12:30 Everton v. Arsenal (FSC)
2:55 Toulouse v. St Etienne (Setanta)
9:00 Real Salt Lake v. Houston Dynamo (FSC)
Sunday:
8:25 Man U v. Birmingham (Setanta)
10:55 Nice vs Rennes (Setanta)
11:00 Spurs v. Liverpool (FSC)
12:55 Spartak Moscow vs FC Moscow (Setanta)
2:55 Marseille vs Lille (Setanta)
Well, at least I got to see the first 40 minutes of Fulham/Pompey – feed’s down. Hell.
McCarthy misses again. Citeh are lucky not have conceded yet.
Richard Dunne has looked a very good atacking option for Blackburn, unfortunately he’s anchoring our City backline as well.
Yeah, the feeds are falling fast today.
i don’t want a fucking emergency alert system test in the middle of the match. local authority bastards.
Honestly Blackburn could have 3 goals by now, still City 1-0 at half.
0-0 at the half. We have had 58 % possession and had 8 corners. Finishing been poor.
Would it be too much to ask for ESPN to just use the halftime feed that the Premier League comes with from now on? Nice, simple, to the point, and no talking head nonsense (or golf/baseball highlights).
Oh, I know they’ll never miss a chance to push their brand, but still.
Not allowed, plus there is likely commercials. Or nothing if the EPL feed
At least the new FSC ProActiv commercial features Julianne Hough. The things I would do to her…
I blame EPLTalk for the failing feeds.
@Highbury..Squeeze her zits?
@ NYK: Why is that? Or am I just so thick I’ve missed a joke?
@phil – semi-joke based on the fact that The Gaffer’s fanboys were yelling at people for blaming him when the ESPN deal hadn’t been closed yet; but also because before the info was final, The Gaffer posted a “here are your illegal feeds” intro
Bayern Munich equalizer through Gomez.
@Phil. No one gets the Kids jokes. He is French.
A fish, a priest and a Pole walk into a bar…
Buuterworth and McNally do to interviews after the game. Butterworth getting the job?
If you think French jokes are bad, you should here some Irish jokes. Even we don’t think they’re funny…until we’re drunk.
hear/here
/is an idiot.
No Tevez in 2nd half for Citeh.
Absolutely pouring at Blackburn
Bridge has a new strategy: when they skin you, drag ‘em down.
Is Wigan going to be better this season without Valencia and Palacios?
@phil – Thought that was always Bridge’s strategy?
1 nil, Askou!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Jens baby!!!!!!! Get INNNNNNNNNN.
All us now, Camon City, crossbar, post!
I see him on the bench, but is Tevez still carrying his shower injury?
He warmed up at half time sven, so I think he is available.
KOUMAS!
I am certain now that Butterworth getting job, phew, much rather him than JFH.
2-0 Wigan. Shit defending by Villa.
Nice counter by Wigan. Koumas slotted it nicely.
Get home just in time to hear the Grecians equalize against Norwich…. Get in!!!
Been watching 2nd half of Villa-Wigan since the Citeh feed went bye-bye. Villa are a hot mess on both ends.
oooooooooooooooooh. Great save by Given on Robinho
@NY Kid: wait. what? Given saved Robinho?
@Spec, go out again yer bastard
That was a serious tattoo on Sidwell’s back. Looked like an open book.
Unless Robinho was shooting on his own goal, I think you mean Robinson
How the fuck did Andy Johnson miss that?
@TFA/phil – yes, I am an idiot. I blame Man City’s stupid kits
Notts County are a house on fire so far. 3-0 against Macc Town. Feel the Sven-citement!
@Green Eggs – and they just picked up Kasper Schmeichel!
@green eggs, they lost on tuesday
Tevez on for Robinho in the 68th, after Bellamy threw a fit
@Ned, I follow Rochdale for my L2 fix anyhow – but it’s kinda funny to see Notts do well in the league after struggling the past few years.
And Andy Johnson missed that sitter because someone has to not finish, and it can’t be Bobby Zamora every time.
Back from shopping with the wifey.
Has Villa been that crap?
Upson, 2-0. Fantasy goal, bitches.
None of the strikers on Fulham can finish worth a shit. No wonder Dempsey was team co-leader in goals last season.
@Ellis, Nevland seems to have success finishing, but he can’t play more than 30 minutes at a time.
Villa look shockingly disarrayed. Gonna be a long season for them methinks.
Ashley Young leveled… Not sure he knows where he is right now.
Ashley Young seems to be a bit of diva right now.
@ spec: agreed. They are all over the place.
Every single match on right now includes a clean sheet.
/jinx
Exeter controlling the run of play against the Canaries right now. Unbelievable that 18 months ago we were in the Conference.
Kieran Richardson off with an injury.
Citeh 2-0.
Ireland plays with the Blackburn keeper before coolly slotting it home.
Stephen Ireland 2-0
stephen ireland at 90 mins
Titus Fucking Bramble makes up for his horrible backpass.
Oh how did Villa not score there? And how did Titus Bramble manage a key clearance??
And the Fulham feed gets pulled completely. Looking rather anxious according to Gamecast anyway.
bramble screwed up and then saved his own mistake.
Yay Exeter manage a 1-1 draw to Norwich… Our first point in League One since 1994! Sorry Canaries, better luck next time.
HA! Mark Hughes bites it at the end of the match shaking hands with his staff.
2 points dropped. 10 corners to 1, 54% possession. We let them in with a def lapse and them settled for a point by stuffing the midfield. Not happy. Still, we didn’t lose.
Note to FSC: If you want to pique someone’s interest in the MLS Game of the Week, having Max Bretos scream “YEEAAHHSS” is not going to help matters one damn bit.
4-3-3 for Arsenal. Fabregas on the right? or is FSC just messed in the head?
@TFA: I think it’s probably Fabs and Denilson in the middle with Song sitting behind them as defensive mid. I see lots of interchanging players with this 4-3-3 though… Hopefully everyone will remember their defensive assignments.
not likely.
The new Arsenal lineup has the EPL graphics people confused as well… There’s no way that Bendtner is going to play behind Fabregas.
bendtner out on the right attacking mid?
i have a feeling the left side of Everton is going to have a field day.
Come on you Gooners!!
what the hell is up with almunia’s hair?
I’m liking Almunia’s new mohawk.
Bendtner’s out 10,000 pounds for reimbursements for kit number changes? I didn’t realize he has that many family members.
Fellaini lost some weight from a virus, but gained it back in his ‘fro
Ha you beat me to it
anyone else think Vermaelen looks like Jude Law?
Vermaelen’s aerial play has already given me wood.
/No homo
wow, Pienaar looked on to me. Doesn’t matter since it was cleared, but we can’t afford to play that game
my wife just called me on my cell from upstairs to request i make her breakfast.
@TFA – whipped FAIL.
Nice to see that even with a new number Bendtner will still fire into row Z.
@WSR: I’m sure that 10K also goes to pay for updates for all the Bendtner shirts that Arsenal have in their team store that will go to the poor and destitute of North London once they don’t sell anyway.
Fucking hell, Sagna holding his hamstring. You gotta be kidding me.
Good ol’ #52.
Sagna looks done. FUCK!
Think Everton will sell Lescott at the half?
ah, Sagna looked okay galloping forward and making that cross.
Sagna’s a typical Frenchman: looking for a way to quit early in the fight, even if nothing’s actually wrong.
A sleeveless NYK will murder you if he ever finds you, WSR.
Leighton Meester >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Leighton Baines
@u75 – I will indeed. Although I might wait until he falls asleep.
@umlat: I don’t hide well. If there’s another foul-up next summer, I’ll try to make it so he doesn’t have to work too hard at it.
Not sure why I deluded myself into thinking Bendtner would be better on the ball this year.
Minka Kelly >>>>> Leighton Meester>>>>>>>>>>>Leighton Baines
Awwww poor Tim Cahill got a pair of studs to his ankle
Sania is OK. he’s pushing forward on the wings and needs to come back a bit faster. Arsenal’s passing has not been as crisp as Everton’s actually.
This will be tough, I’m gay for Timmy Howard, but Arsenal must score on him.
One thing I did not miss this summer…. The agita caused by Arsenal’s last pass.
@WSR: I got to listen to NY Kid describe how he would ‘deal’ with some horn wanking Milan queens, and it wasn’t pretty. Not that they didn’t deserve it.
Bring on Eduardo! (Is he fit?)
Yes, it was something about shoving a vuvuzela up someone’s ass
Really? No one else thinks Vermaelen looks like Jude Law?
I would punch Tim Cahill in the balls, no questions asked.
With a haircut like that, how can Fabio Capello keep Almunia off the national team? He is obviously naturalized.
FAKE BRAZILIAN!!!!
DENILSON! Alright, you may be Brazilian.
Wow. That was pretty AND effective.
Denilson!!! Who needs that defensive mid signing afterall!!!
nice shot.
Denilson! What the fuck was that?
Damn, nice work from Bendtner.
I take it all back. With that shot, Arsenal will finish first this season and everyone else will finish 20th.
And then Denilson makes a good defensive stop on the other end. Wow, we aren’t getting a midfield signing now are we?
How old is Denilson? 19? holding midfielder in the EPL?
…AND Bedtner pulls a Ronaldo.
Nothing is less impressive for the English in general than a panned crowd shot.
Dear RVP,
You will not beat Tim from 40 yards. Stop trying.
Sincerely,
Highbury Library
@Mike: Denilson is 21… Only looks 19.
He’s 21? Is that little red dot in his hand flashing yet? It’s got to be close to time to sell.
Wow. Grafite just missed an easy one on one with the keeper.
Phew.
All Denilson all the time, it seems.
good lord! Denilson with the goal-line clearance
Denilson with the goalline clearance. nice 10 minutes for him.
Denilson for Player of the Year.
My Bad – he will always be 19 to me. Saved a goal there as well. Match Boy so far.
Phew again… terrible backpass by #52.
JUDE LAW! What a header!
Vermaelen! Get the fuck in!
how was he not marked? incredible.
Yep. He’s on my fantasy squad. Now I just have to learn how to spell his name.
Jude Law!!!
Get in Vermaelan!!! (checks spelling)
Ugh. Come on Everton, quit acting like Villa.
Horror show for Everton so far – yowsah. Do this enough, and you won’t need Hangeland in the back (hopefully).
Sania is being caught out of position which is allowing for those diagonal crosses. Arsenal is looking highly confident now.
BIG WILLY STYLES!
Game. Set. Match.
Fuck it, time to play some FIFA.
Cappy!!!
I JUST CAME IN MY PANTS!
Get in!!!! More terrible, terrible marking from Everton.
Yeah, my Everton buddy just killed the game on his TV – not the game I anticipated at all.
Eat on that, Autoglass.
Damn near got the fourth.
Close to another. Let’s get Timmay sold.
Everton started off with some solid crisp passing, and was looking more Arsenal than Arsenal was. But they are coming undone now.
Last day, 2005–Arsenal 7, Everton 0
First day, 2009–can they get there?
Bendtner is shockingly not total crap out on the right wing.
Some actually interesting choices for the CL broadcasts. Swell!
Memory fail. 7-0 v Everton was the last home game, not the last game of the season.
Wow.
Denilson is making a case to have his Brazilian citizenship reinstated.
I’m currently in first place in the Yahoo league. Suck it minions.
Quite the shitshow at Goodison today.
Did anyone see fans running out onto the field to throw their season tickets at David Moyes? I guess that only REAL fans do that sort of thing.
Hmmm Arsenal come out looking a bit sluggish. C’mon, keep the cleansheet plz (Almunia on my fantasy footy team).
4!
Hahaha nevermind about being sluggish.
Fabs nutmegs Timmay for the 4th
WAHOO! CESCY FOOTBALL!
The Ceschawk!
The stewards may be busy here soon
Get the magic pixie a couple, plzkthx
Time to go see if my car will start.
For the record, there were three nutmegs on that last goal. Arshavin pass to Denilson, through Neville. RvP pass to Cesc, through Yobo, and Cesc’s shot through Timmay. Ouch.
I hate getting megged on a goal. It’s so emasculating.
Evertonians are going to run riot if this keeps up.
FIFA triple sub!
Thanks for nothing, Jo.
Triple substitution… That’s a bit of a message from Moyes.
I love that the Magic Pixie ™ just pushed Cesc away from yapping at the ref.
Eboue!!
Eh-BOOOOOOOO-ay on for good ol’ #52.
Everton are trying to kill my Fantasy Football season, ON DAY ONE!!!
Cologne own goal puts Wolfsburg up 2-1.
I guess a PK at this point wouldn’t matter, but really–that was an arm away from the body on Neville.
Hoo-boy. Fabs with a brace.
This is really bad.
Fabs! Everton–oof.
A throw from Almunia to Fabs and he dribbles unmolested to the top of the 18.
Wow… Cesc just ran the entire length of the pitch completely unmarked.
That was sick. Cesc just strolled down the pitch and calmly placed it in the corner.
Time to watch Tiger and Vijay.
Eduardo!
Halsey not worried about any handballs from Everton now.
Edu brace to come as well. Ramsey makes it onto the pitch before Wilshere. Interesting.
Everton’s defense is a fucking disgrace today.
/Drogba’d
So, what are the odds that Citeh are no longer pursuing Lescott?
Obafemi Martins seals it for Wolfsburg. 1-3 in the 86th.
3-1 for Wolfsburg, they were down 1-0 up til around 70 minutes, then turned on the jets.
Norwich City mention!!!
@ u75 Did you see Richard Dunne today?
Shola Ameobi with a hattrick for Newcastle in a 3-0 win over Reading. Apparently, Joey Barton started.
Charlie Davies scores for Sochaux, maybe the guy really was the worlds best kept secret.
Ryan–No, why? I was napping off the effects of getting up too early to watch Aberdeen.
Charlie Davies scores for Sochaux. Too bad the home team is behind to Bordeaux 1-2.
everton should at least have some pride and try to injure arshavin or cesc… gaaaahd!
@ u75 Just saying, however bad Lescott looked today with Everton, it’s not like we’re in great hands at present here at City. In the first half Richard tackled our own keeper and also handballed in the box.
I don’t even think they can expend that level of effort right now. Plus, Cesc is off.
Well, I guess I’ll drop him for fantasy, then. Got full points today, though.
Sweet fantasy points!
Crap! I could have used that one from Arshavin, but it hits the post and Eduardo finishes it.
Yes, he had his moments, a couple good clearances, he started the counter for Ade’s goal, not nearly as awful as I made him sound. What’s football if you can’t bitch about your team though right?
Wife says Eduardo looks like someone who was on So You Think You Can Dance. Hopefully, that’s funny to someone out there.
Here comes 7.
No dice. Guess the +6 GD will have to do.
Or +5. Motherfucker.
FACK! No clean sheet for Manny.
yes…byebye fantasy clean sheets.
Dear Joleon Lescott: I do not appreciate your -1 fantasy points today.
Maybe for you guys, but Schwatrzer got mine.
Oh Arsenal, there goes my fantasy points… That said, get in Gunners! League should now be on notice, eh?
@Spec: Indeed. It’s early, so we shouldn’t get to excited, etc., etc., etc., but that was about the best performance one could hope for.
Everton was, as Norfolk Ned would say, “shambolic.”
I miss anything?
That cha-chinging sound I hear must be Marouane Chamakh’s price tag climbing. Second goal today for les Girondins.
So, Arsenal’s 4-3-3 looks like it’ll work well. Amazing that we still have Walcott, Nasri, Rosicky and even Wilshere to come into the fold. Only worry is the gaps on defense, but credit to Song as holding midfielder. We are still short a couple players (defensive mid and central defender) but more time till Sept 1. Arsenal just have to stay healthy (a lot to ask for), but I honestly think they challenge for the title.
Hmmmm… Stoke v. Burnley? Not sure I can manage that.
Davies scored twice.
Sami played the whole ninety today for Leverwhathaveyou, good for him.
Spectator: Gaps? Were you watching Vermahlen. He was fantastic today. Rarely out of position and bailed out Clichy a couple of times beautifully.
Green Eggs: He walks free in 6 months anyway (I think). If playing at Arsenal is indeed his dream, he costs nothing in January.
@PR – how dare you disparage Gael!
And, yes, Chamakh is free in January.
@PR: Not gaps in the backline, but rather in the midfield since we’ve got three up front. Just saying, we could get exposed on counterattacks with this formation. But if we can keep scoring six goals a game than it’ll work out okay!
Burnley will be down by St. Patrick’s Day
One of the corner’s at the Britannia is sponsored by “Chlamydia Test”
Jesus Christ on a crutch that was bad. At least we’re ahead of Everton on goal difference.