On the Eve of the new Season...

[godsshoeshine]

i was really crushed the first time i went to watch a recorded match. the group stages dont really interest me that much as a fan without any loyalties, but i would watch every espn2 match if it was in hd.
 
 by the way, fsc hints on their website that they may start picking up hd feeds

[Frank Gallagher]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  The Liverpool match was simply ridiculous.  For those that recorded it and hoped to watch it later, I'll refrain from any more commentary for a little while.

How can you call yourself a true United fan and watch that pond scum? (unless they're getting a thrashing of course)

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:
  How can you call yourself a true United fan and watch that pond scum? (unless they're getting a thrashing of course)

It was either watch that or do work, Mank, so I opted to sit at my desk and slingbox the Liverpool match while I ate my lunch.  At half of the Pool match, I switched to the Schalke/Chelsea match, but I couldn't stomach watching Schalke miss another glorious opportunity to take the lead.

[vansmack]

I wonder if Mankie has anything to say about this...
 
 Updated: Nov. 6, 2007
 Fergie support for Blatter stance on imports
 
 Sir Alex Ferguson believes clubs should be seen to have 'a proportion of home-based players' - and feels rivals Arsenal would 'protest the loudest' at such a rule.
 
 FIFA president Sepp Blatter has announced he will lobby for restrictions on the number of foreign players in each team and Ferguson has voiced his support.
 
 'It's certainly not wrong that clubs should be seen to have a proportion of home-based players,' the Manchester United manager said.
 
 'I totally agree (with Blatter) but it would be a problem for a club like Arsenal. That's why they'll protest the loudest.
 
 'You want to protect your own, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, for the good of the game in England, it would be good to see more home-based players at the top clubs.
 
 'United's critics would say `It's all right for you, you already have English players in your side'. But I think if you asked a neutral, they would rather see more home-based players.'
 
 He added: 'Under the present Treaty of Rome you couldn't make it law. It would have to be an agreement between the clubs. But if it went to a vote, I think it would get through [even though] there would be opposition from clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal, who have strong Spanish and French connections.
 
 'It would certainly be a contentious issue but I agree with the principle of it.'
 
 In an interview in the club magazine, Inside United, Ferguson also called for agents to be more strictly regulated to prevent money flowing out of the game.
 
 'I think we need a tariff for agents that brings them in line with other professions, like lawyers or accountants,' he added.
 
 'Agents need to be regulated in a far stricter way than they have been in the past.
 
 'They are a very lucky breed because as long as you have greedy club presidents, agents will always be in the driving seat. But if world football recognises the need for regulation, that would make a real difference.
 
 'The set up has to be more professional.'
 
 Wenger has also expressed his views on the topic in Arsenal's club magazine, and feels no coach 'at the highest level' would think it is a good idea.
 
 'I find the whole proposal completely ridiculous,' he said.
 
 'The thinking behind it, I believe, is to protect the national teams. But it won't protect the best players, it will protect the mediocre ones and you don't win a World Cup with mediocre players, you win it with world-class ones.
 
 'The best English players - the Rooneys, the Owens, the Gerrards, the Lampards - they are all playing for their clubs anyway.
 
 'FIFA are wrong if they think this will improve international football. Look at rugby for example. The Argentina national team - all their players play in Europe, and the national team takes advantage of that. Had they all stayed in Argentina, would they have made the semi-finals? To mix the best with the best makes everyone better.
 
 'I am worried that it could happen. I would say that it's more than 50% likely to be brought in.
 
 'FIFA is powerful enough to implement the rule internally, if (Sepp) Blatter has the support of the council and his committees. Will it go through or not, I do not know but it looks as though it could. I have already had many discussions at UEFA and it looks as though it could happen.
 
 'I don't believe one football coach at the highest level would say it's a good idea. A football coach is always confronted with the same problem - he wants to reward good players.'
 
 Asked what would happen if the rule was introduced, Wenger added: 'First of all we have to fight against it.
 
 'If you fight it that should buy us some time. During that time you have to adapt to it.'
 
 The Gunners boss fears the issue could prove divisive and refused to rule out clubs splitting from FIFA.
 
 'Maybe, I don't know what the evolution will be,' he added. 'I always think that it's the strength of the sport if it's unified at the top level and you do not have a split.
 
 'Because then the rules can begin to change and before you know it you have different sports. So that is dangerous too. If the football bodies don't take care of the sport that could happen and that's a real danger.'

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  The Liverpool match was simply ridiculous.  For those that recorded it and hoped to watch it later, I'll refrain from any more commentary for a little while.

that was fun to watch ... you could see the floodgates about to burst around the 16:00 mark

[vansmack]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  by the way, fsc hints on their website that they may start picking up hd feeds

I saw that.  And I also see that Setanta is saying no way to HD feeds until at least 2009 (too expensive).

[godsshoeshine]

yeah, they are too "small" of a company. crazy. doesnt setanta broadcast in england?
 
 i think that the fa should ban all nonenglish managers and throw the damn scots out

[Frank Gallagher]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  I wonder if Mankie has anything to say about this...
 
 Updated: Nov. 6, 2007
 Fergie support for Blatter stance on imports
 
 Sir Alex Ferguson believes clubs should be seen to have 'a proportion of home-based players' - and feels rivals Arsenal would 'protest the loudest' at such a rule.
 
 '

Two points,
 
 1) I've been saying the same thing for years.
 
 2) Which country won the last world cup? Now look at the teamsheets for the clubs within that country and tell me what the percentage of home-grown players are in those teams?
 
 I, and Fergie, rest our case....

[godsshoeshine]

the top italian clubs have a ton of south american players. i think you want your best english players playing in a league against the best players possible. why would you want john terry testing himself against marlon king rather than nani?

[vansmack]

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:
  2) Which country won the last world cup? Now look at the teamsheets for the clubs within that country and tell me what the percentage of home-grown players are in those teams?
 

Then explain Brazil's multiple world cups despite the vast majority of their starting 11 playing in Europe?

[Frank Gallagher]

Originally posted by vansmack:
   

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:
  2) Which country won the last world cup? Now look at the teamsheets for the clubs within that country and tell me what the percentage of home-grown players are in those teams?
 

Then explain Brazil's multiple world cups despite the vast majority of their starting 11 playing in Europe? [/b]

errr.....EUROPE
 
 My point is not to have 100% home-grown players, but at least a majority. Just look at my own team. Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt to name just four of the worlds greatest players at their peak all came through United's academy. We also have Rooney and *Keane who came in young enough for United to take credit. West Ham must get credit for Ferdinand though and  I'll give Arse credit for Walcot if he makes it because they got him young enough. I'm not opposed to foriegners but it just gets pathetic when you have teams like Arse with ZERO brits as regular starters and they're playing in the English premier league.
 
 *Republic of Ireland players would be included as part of the UK for home-grown status, because lets face it. Irish football is just subpar really so top Irish talent would be wasted playing for the likes of Derry City etc...Spain would get Gibralta and Portugal Madeira etc...

[godsshoeshine]

so you like the limit on principle, not just to benefit the national team?

[Frank Gallagher]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  so you like the limit on principle, not just to benefit the national team?

I like the limit because it gives talented kids a chance to come up through the academy system rather than teams just buy experienced foriegners then replace them with experienced foriegners.....not unlike the MLB and NHL farm systems. If it benefits the national team then great, but that isn't my main reason for supporting this idea. It's really to gives kids a chance.
 
 *edit* okay, now this has got me thinking. On second thoughts, a rule that states 7 of your players must come out of your academy, and been in the academy since age 16 or something like that, and not necessarily 'home-born' would be better. That way all young kids get a shot.

[Frank Gallagher]

Who would like to see Cannavaro play here in the US??
 
 (Just heard a rumour from a customer who's pretty well connected)

[Barcelona]

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:
  Who would like to see Cannavaro play here in the US??
 
 (Just heard a rumour from a customer who's pretty well connected)

Why all the bad players Real Madrid has have to go to the US? We already lost Beckham, please let's not do the same with Cannavaro, he is awful. let him stay in Madrid!