The Official English Premiere League Thread, 2011-12

[NASpurs]

Thanks for the info man. It's great to have access to minds and opinions of people around the world in this forum.

I'm going to have to follow Mario Gotze now and see what type of career he's going to have from the hype surrounding him. Like you said, bigger and clubs with deeper pockets have a shot at him so him going to Arsenal is a pipe dream but either way, he's a really intriguing player.

I'm really glad that I've started to follow soccer more closely now that the NBA lockout happened. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me and I will continue to follow it for years to come. I don't even have a NBA jersey from being a fan for almost 15 years but now I have an Arsenal away kit. I'm still wet behind the ears from starting as just a casual fan but that's why I like reading what the minds on this board have to say.

[Muser]

Thanks for the info man. It's great to have access to minds and opinions of people around the world in this forum.

I'm going to have to follow Mario Gotze now and see what type of career he's going to have from the hype surrounding him. Like you said, bigger and clubs with deeper pockets have a shot at him so him going to Arsenal is a pipe dream but either way, he's a really intriguing player.

I'm really glad that I've started to follow soccer more closely now that the NBA lockout happened. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me and I will continue to follow it for years to come. I don't even have a NBA jersey from being a fan for almost 15 years but now I have an Arsenal away kit. I'm still wet behind the ears from starting as just a casual fan but that's why I like reading what the minds on this board have to say.

I don't know where you live, but if you can ever get to a live match there's nothing like it.

[NASpurs]

I don't know where you live, but if you can ever get to a live match there's nothing like it.

I live in San Antonio but yeah, it's always been a dream of mine to go to England and now I want to go even more to go see Arsenal play. Hopefully in the next couple of years I can go, learn my Arsenal chants and participate in the crowd.

[resistanze]

Yeah I'm definitely going to see the Gunners play within the next couple of years. I also want to go to Brazil in 2014.

[ALVAREZ6]

Yeah I'm definitely going to see the Gunners play within the next couple of years. I also want to go to Brazil in 2014.

There's a strong chance I do it.

[quentin_compson]

Thanks for the info man. It's great to have access to minds and opinions of people around the world in this forum.

I'm going to have to follow Mario Gotze now and see what type of career he's going to have from the hype surrounding him. Like you said, bigger and clubs with deeper pockets have a shot at him so him going to Arsenal is a pipe dream but either way, he's a really intriguing player.

I'm really glad that I've started to follow soccer more closely now that the NBA lockout happened. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me and I will continue to follow it for years to come. I don't even have a NBA jersey from being a fan for almost 15 years but now I have an Arsenal away kit. I'm still wet behind the ears from starting as just a casual fan but that's why I like reading what the minds on this board have to say.

As for Götze, you will of course have the possibility to watch him against Arsenal in about three weeks.
And you might wanna catch the Bayern-Dortmund game just a couple of days before that. It is a clash of top teams in Germany, and Bayern are having a very good season so far.

[NASpurs]

As for Götze, you will of course have the possibility to watch him against Arsenal in about three weeks.
And you might wanna catch the Bayern-Dortmund game just a couple of days before that. It is a clash of top teams in Germany, and Bayern are having a very good season so far.

Completely missed your post. Thanks for the heads up man. I will watch the dude like a hawk, no doubt and I will indeed watch that Bayern-Dortmund game. Dortmund have regressed a bit though correct while Bayern are probably top five in the world? Hopefully it'll be a good match.

----------------

For the MLS/US NT fans:

http://www.clubcall.com/arsenal/weng...t-1328601.html

Shea is one of the best young players in America and has been encouraged to train with a Premier League side during the MLS off-season by USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

The 21-year-old will join up with the Arsenal squad after playing international friendlies in France and Slovenia on November 11 and 15 before returning to Texas in December, but admitted he would love the chance to play in the Premier League at some point in the future.

"The decision to send Shea to train with the Gunners was made after USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann encouraged his MLS-based players to spend the off-season training overseas to enter January camp in top shape," an FC Dallas statement said.

Shea told Reuters: "To see how he does things ... he has had so many young players over the years and turned them into who they became, that experience will be pretty cool.

"[Jurgen's] been pushing and wanting us to train in Europe in the off-season and it is good to get that experience. It's just strictly training, [getting] that experience and hopefully raising my game to another level. I think, obviously I am happy where I am, but I want to, eventually when the time is right, try it out and give it a shot."

FC Dallas head coach Sc as Hyndman added: "Affording Brek the opportunity to continue to work on improving his game and measure himself among the best players in the world is something we are all excited about."

[NASpurs]

And speaking of the devil, Gotze just scored for Dortmund.

[NASpurs]

No offense to Mertesacker but I'm really liking the speed of the duo of Koscielny and Vermaelen. Vermaelen's defense has been sorely missed as well as his other skills that he brings on the other side of the pitch when he's not defending. Can't wait to see what this team is going to look like when Sagna and Wilshere come back as well as whatever may or may not happen during the January transfer window.

Vermaelen has been playing with Frimpong's bulldozer mentality.

[IronMaxipad]

citeh

[Libri]

ManCity getting their ass kicked early.

[Sense]

Orly

[Venti Quattro]

How bout dem Spurs

[ElNono]

one horse race
money matters
buying a 'ship
petrodollars
La Liga more compe ive

[lefty]

Foreign owners 'want end to Premier League relegation'

Page last updated at 10:57 GMT, Monday, 17 October 2011 11:57 UK

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Owners want to scrap Premier League relegation, says League Managers Association chief Richard Bevan

Several foreign-owned Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation, according to League Managers Association (LMA) chief Richard Bevan.
Bevan fears that if more clubs are sold to foreign investors they may have enough votes to force changes.
But the Premier League said relegation and promotion were part of its rules and added to the league's strength.
Bevan hopes that a parliamentary inquiry into football governance would also help prevent the proposal.
"We're very keen that the report is successful in helping the Football Association introduce a licensing programme for clubs," he said.
"Because there are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League.
"If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen."
PREMIER LEAGUE FOREIGN OWNERS

Continue reading the main story

• Aston Villa (Randy Lerner)
• Blackburn (Venky's Group)
• Chelsea (Roman Abramovich)
• Fulham (Mohamed Al Fayed)
• Liverpool (Fenway Sports Group)
• Manchester United (Glazer family)
• Manchester City (Sheikh Mansour)
• Sunderland (Ellis Short)
• QPR (Tony Fernandes)
• *Arsenal's Stan Kroenke is major shareholder

Nearly half of the Premier League's 20 clubs are under foreign ownership, with rules stipulating that if changes are to be made to the format, 14 clubs must vote in favour of any new reforms.
Blackburn joined the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in this class when they were taken over by Indian-owned Venky's Group last season.
But the Premier League told BBC Sport that the move would be a non-starter, with the Football Association retaining the power to veto any proposals.
The Premier League clubs have not formally discussed any such move since Bolton chairman Phil Gartside proposed his two-tiered structure two years ago, an idea which was soon dismissed.
However, Bevan still believes it is a possibility, arguing any new owner of a Premier League club would not need to be foreign for them to see there would be money to be made from scrapping relegation.
"It doesn't really matter if you're from overseas or not, does it?" he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're from Birmingham or you're from Burma."
A Premier League spokesman said that they did not recognise LMA chief executive Bevan's claims, which come a week after the government demanded changes to the way that football is run.
Sports minister Hugh Robertson said that an FA-led licensing system would be brought in to safeguard against issues such as financial mismanagement, asset-stripping owners and tax avoidance.
The government also asked for rules to manage club debts and an overhaul of the FA board.
Last Wednesday, Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre said the Premier League's overseas television revenues should be skewed in favour of big clubs.
For the latest updates and reaction to this story read Sportsday Live. Have your say on Twitter via the hashtag #bbcsportsday.

[Libri]

I'm looking forward to the Man City vs Newcastle game.

[Muser]

Lmao don't blame the ref Arsene, you're the one who put that soft piece of in the defence

[NASpurs]

you Mertesacker. You gotta be ting me.

[NASpurs]

Van Persie is so out of rhythm. It's that long rest he's had.

[NASpurs]

Martin is owning Arsenal

[Muser]

Martins is a m'fin BEAST

[NASpurs]

Van Persie should have shot that instead of laying it off to Santos.

[NASpurs]

Martins is a m'fin BEAST

He's cleared off three goals that were right on target.

[NASpurs]

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAN PERSIE!!

[Muser]

Martins was taking a break there.