Soccer Question Options

[dangum]

Who's going to be watching the Champions League this weekend? The general consensus is that the 2 best teams made the final, but I hope the match is played in the right spirit and isn't too defensive like many finals tend to be...

PS. Does anybody else watch Special 1 TV? http://www.youtube.com/user/SPECIAL1TV
"Ah well"

[Pokey]

So im genuinely trying to learn now. This Champions league thing is the best few teams in different European countries from the previous year that are entered? I made a pact with a friend in the UK that if he became and Essendon fan in the AFL I'd support Tottenham in soccer. So far I believe they did a lot better than anyone expected in the champions league and finished 5th in the premier league. I think. I am pretty down on understanding the game itself now. What still confuses the hell out of me is how many different leagues and championships and finals there are. It seems like they all run at once. You need a degree to be able to work it out. But once the premier league starts again next year and I begin following right from the start instead of half way through a season I'll hopefully understand it better.

[Pokey]

I'm also going to support Barcelona in the final because Manchester United remind me of the Collingwood of soccer and thus I am not a fan!

[dangum]

So im genuinely trying to learn now. This Champions league thing is the best few teams in different European countries from the previous year that are entered?

Yep. The top teams in each country (some countries get 1 team, some up to 4) play in the Champions League.

What still confuses the hell out of me is how many different leagues and championships and finals there are. It seems like they all run at once. You need a degree to be able to work it out.

Well each team plays every week (38 rounds in a season) against other teams in their own country. That's their main league. Each country also plays a knock out competition (ie. the FA Cup) which contains teams from 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. divisions in their own country.

Then there's the European club competitions. Only some teams play in these comps.
The 'Champions League' is a round robin/knock out competition amongst the best teams in Europe. (The final is being played tonight).
There is also another European club competition called the "Europa League" that consists of teams that didn't qualify for the Champions League.

[Pokey]

So really the main league as far as England is concerned is the Premier League yeah? Which is the 38 round competition in which Man U won and Tottenham finished 5th, I think I get that. And based on how well you perform in that league is how you get into the Champions League. Then the bottom 3 from the Premier League which I think were West Ham, Blackpool and someone else got kicked back to the 2nd division and the top 3 of division 2 get moved into the premier league for next season. Am I understanding this?

I always seem to think I have it worked out but then there seems like a new Grand Final type thing every few weeks but then everyone is back to playing each other the week after. Then my friend said it was lucky that Tottenham didn't finish 6th or they would have had to start back playing a few weeks earlier than they would have now. Which.. I don't know what that means.

Is there a finals system after the 38 rounds? Or is it just the top team becomes the champions? There doesn't seem to be any sort of definitive major Grand Final or anything. Need a drink now.

[Merica]

Premier League is the TOP league in England. And yeah, worst teams get relegated to the league below, best teams get promoted to the league above (unless its the Premier League as, as said, TOP league). There's no finals or anything for PL, but there are play-offs for the leagues below. That's where the teams who didn't quite do enough to get promoted automatically have a knock out competition to take the final promotion slot.

I'm supporting United in the final, even though I'm a Liverpool fan and those two teams are big, big enemies. But I'm a strange football fan - I don't follow the rules. I'm particularly supporting United player (and ex-Liverpool star) Michael Owen, though it's unlikely he'll even get on the pitch.

[sh4rpz]

Premier League is the TOP league in England. And yeah, worst teams get relegated to the league below, best teams get promoted to the league above (unless its the Premier League as, as said, TOP league). There's no finals or anything for PL, but there are play-offs for the leagues below. That's where the teams who didn't quite do enough to get promoted automatically have a knock out competition to take the final promotion slot.

I'm supporting United in the final, even though I'm a Liverpool fan and those two teams are big, big enemies. But I'm a strange football fan - I don't follow the rules. I'm particularly supporting United player (and ex-Liverpool star) Michael Owen, though it's unlikely he'll even get on the pitch.

Well, I'm an Arsenal supporter and have been since I was 4 years old!

It was really difficult watching the Champions League Final as I despise both the teams who made it to the final.

I have to concede tho, that Barcelona definitely are the best club team in the world at the moment - playing some awesome football. The jewel in their crown is undoubtedly Lionel Messi, and he is just immense.

It is also worth mentioning that the fact I am so bitter toward the final is that Barcelona actually knocked Arsenal out in the 2nd round, even though Arsenal beat them in the home leg of the tie! We lost 4-3 on aggregate, and I think had we knocked them out, we'd have gone all the way!

As for Man Utd, they are just our annual rivals - who we beat 1-0 on the 1st of May, so yeah, I was hopeful that if Barca and Man Utd are the best 2 teams out there, my team having beaten both would've should've could've been a lot more consistent and won a major trophy this year - something they haven't done since 2005! aaargh!

Anyhow, Pokey, Tottenham are Arsenal's biggest rivals as both clubs are from North London and are neighbours who traditionally hate each other. I know hate is a strong word, but ask any Gooner (Arsenal fan nickname) and they will tell you so. It is a rivalry that grows with time as Arsenal fans constantly remind the Tottenham ones about who is the most successful of the two.

Oh well, 2 months now without football - sucks.

This post has been edited by sh4rpz: May 30 2011, 3:46 am

[+Ed+]

R, what are the rumours about Arsh going back home this summer? What do the tabloids over there say?

[Hoodstock]

R, what are the rumours about Arsh going back home this summer? What do the tabloids over there say?

They say Schwarteznegger has an illigitamate kid.

[sh4rpz]

R, what are the rumours about Arsh going back home this summer? What do the tabloids over there say?

Ye Dimi there have been stories going around for a while since Arsh is training in St Petersburg with Zenit, to stay fit for the Russia qualifying matches this Summer.

However, Arsh has come out and said that he will be at Arsenal 100% next season, so we'll have to see.

There has been speculation for some time now because he hasn't had the best of seasons this year.

[+Ed+]

4 goals in 1 match and not the best of seasons... what do the Brits want?

He indeed was training here but he was only getting ready for the national team match coming this saturday.

[sh4rpz]

4 goals in 1 match and not the best of seasons... what do the Brits want?

He indeed was training here but he was only getting ready for the national team match coming this saturday.

HAHA! That was 2 seasons ago, when he 1st joined in 2009!

Without question those 4 goals were the best we've seen of Arshavin. He has been struggling for form since 2010, ever since Russia were eliminated from the World Cup.

[baggieneil]

come on you Baggies!!!!!!!!
:banana

This post has been edited by baggieneil: Jun 1 2011, 12:00 pm

[sh4rpz]

come on you Baggies!!!!!!!!
:banana

Bumped into Peter Odemwingie a few days ago at the airport here in SA. What a genuinely nice bloke.

Not a bad footballer either

[+Ed+]

My club has becojme the champion of Russia well before the season end.

Can not tell you how happy and relaxed I am now.