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The English Premier League have cancelled their contract with Setanta for next season and are opening up an auction for other companies to bid for the games Setanta would've shown.
The collapse of Setanta is bad news for me for a couple of reasons. The first is there is a chance that there will be less English football shown in the US.
It may also see the end of Special 1 TV. Hopefully someone will pick up this show as it is much more entertaining during half time than the usual former players spouting cliches. My Wife will be very upset if there is no more Special 1 TV.
Losing Setanta will save us $15 a month but at what cost?
The most worrying thing about this situation is that ESPN are one of the companies bidding for the available games.
ESPN have never broadcast English Premier League games in the US but this may change now that they have lost the rights to the UEFA Champions League.
And if ESPN have some more football to show, it will likely mean the return of the horrible Tommy 'onion bag' Smyth (with a why???).
So me plea to ESPN, should they win the rights to the games, please treat them with the respect they deserve and create a new football channel for the English Premier League. You can even call it 'soccer' if you want but please please please do not give Tommy Smyth another contract.
I'm sure I would not be the only person willing to give you the $15 a month we're saving on Setanta just to keep this idiot off our screens.
So I repeat my plea from last month to Mr ESPN: No more onion bags!
Also, look here. I'm not the only one.
The bidding for Setanta's games ends today so we will find out soon.
Showing posts with label UEFA Champions League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UEFA Champions League. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Game over
Oh well, so it wasn't to be this time. After riding their luck for a lot of the season and not playing as well as they could, the Champions League final was a step too far for Manchester United.
Other than the first 10 minutes, they were never really in the game. Barcelona scored with their first chance and never looked back.
I actually don't feel as bad as I thought I would. It would've been much worse had it been a late winner but United didn't deserve it and were totally outplayed on the night. Barcelona are worthy champions and it's still surprising that this was only their third European Cup/Champions League title (the same as Manchester United).
This season has still been a great success. English League Champions for the third season running and a record equalling eighteenth time in total, the league Cup, World Club Cup and Charity Shield.
It will be an interesting summer but I can't see United buying too many players. It will depend on the departures with Carlos Tevez seemingly on his way, and we're sure to endure another will he won't he saga over Ronaldo and Real Madrid.
Next season might be the last we see of some of the senior players, with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin Van Der Sar all likely to retire sooner rather than later so the next few years could well be a transition period, especially if Fergie decides to retire.
Other than the first 10 minutes, they were never really in the game. Barcelona scored with their first chance and never looked back.
I actually don't feel as bad as I thought I would. It would've been much worse had it been a late winner but United didn't deserve it and were totally outplayed on the night. Barcelona are worthy champions and it's still surprising that this was only their third European Cup/Champions League title (the same as Manchester United).
This season has still been a great success. English League Champions for the third season running and a record equalling eighteenth time in total, the league Cup, World Club Cup and Charity Shield.
It will be an interesting summer but I can't see United buying too many players. It will depend on the departures with Carlos Tevez seemingly on his way, and we're sure to endure another will he won't he saga over Ronaldo and Real Madrid.
Next season might be the last we see of some of the senior players, with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin Van Der Sar all likely to retire sooner rather than later so the next few years could well be a transition period, especially if Fergie decides to retire.
Pre-match nerves
I'm just about to head out to watch the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona.
This is a huge game and my pre-match nerves have been getting gradually worse throughout the day. The last hour at work was pretty much spent pacing around the office counting down until it was time to leave!
I can't think of anything else to say I'm so excited so I'm going to sign off, even though it's such a big game that I know I'm not going to actually enjoy watching it.
See you on the other side.
This is a huge game and my pre-match nerves have been getting gradually worse throughout the day. The last hour at work was pretty much spent pacing around the office counting down until it was time to leave!
I can't think of anything else to say I'm so excited so I'm going to sign off, even though it's such a big game that I know I'm not going to actually enjoy watching it.
See you on the other side.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Number 18
It's all over. Manchester United are Premier League Champions for the 3rd year running, and a record equalling 18th time!
They weren't on particularly good form today against Arsenal but all they had to do was avoid defeat. With the game finishing goalless the title was wrapped up and the celebrations could start.
The party will be short lived though as the players start to concentrate on the Champions League final, with the small matter of wrapping up the domestic season next week at Hull City.
In eleven days time United will come up against Barcelona, and yesterday was the 18th anniversary of the European Cup Winners Cup final between the two clubs.
I still remember that campaign really well. It was the first season English clubs were allowed back into European competition after the Heysel disaster led to a five year ban, although Liverpool were banned for an additional year. United qualified thanks to winning the FA Cup the previous year, a win widely believed to have saved Alex Ferguson's job. I remember calling for Fergie's head in the late 80's, the 12 year old me convinced the guy would never bring the glory days back to Old Trafford!
We were all looking forward to a European adventure and some glamorous games against the big boys but we had to wait as the early rounds took us to Hungary, Poland as well as a quick trip over to Wrexham.
Was it a sign of things to come as United got to the final in that first year? Probably not really as it took the club a few years to finally get it right but on May 15th 1991 a 2-1 victory against Barcelona gave the club only their second ever European trophy.
This was a few years before the European Cup was revamped into the monster that is now the Champions League so there were some big names in the competition. It's a sad sign of how things have developed since then that the Cup Winners Cup no longer exists.
I had pre-match nerves before the Arsenal game today but it is nothing compared to how I'll feel on the 27th.
They weren't on particularly good form today against Arsenal but all they had to do was avoid defeat. With the game finishing goalless the title was wrapped up and the celebrations could start.
The party will be short lived though as the players start to concentrate on the Champions League final, with the small matter of wrapping up the domestic season next week at Hull City.
In eleven days time United will come up against Barcelona, and yesterday was the 18th anniversary of the European Cup Winners Cup final between the two clubs.
I still remember that campaign really well. It was the first season English clubs were allowed back into European competition after the Heysel disaster led to a five year ban, although Liverpool were banned for an additional year. United qualified thanks to winning the FA Cup the previous year, a win widely believed to have saved Alex Ferguson's job. I remember calling for Fergie's head in the late 80's, the 12 year old me convinced the guy would never bring the glory days back to Old Trafford!
We were all looking forward to a European adventure and some glamorous games against the big boys but we had to wait as the early rounds took us to Hungary, Poland as well as a quick trip over to Wrexham.
Was it a sign of things to come as United got to the final in that first year? Probably not really as it took the club a few years to finally get it right but on May 15th 1991 a 2-1 victory against Barcelona gave the club only their second ever European trophy.
This was a few years before the European Cup was revamped into the monster that is now the Champions League so there were some big names in the competition. It's a sad sign of how things have developed since then that the Cup Winners Cup no longer exists.
I had pre-match nerves before the Arsenal game today but it is nothing compared to how I'll feel on the 27th.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
No More Onion Bags
The Uefa Champions League final on May 27th will be an historic occasion. Not least because it is the last Champions League game covered in the US by ESPN.
They lost the rights to show games from next season and they will be on Fox soccer channel for the foreseeable future.
It's not that I have any particular dislike of ESPN in general but I won't shed a tear at the loss of their coverage and the main reason for this is their regular co-commentator Tommy Smyth.
This guy is unbelievable, from his annoyingly exaggerated Irish accent, to his lack of general football knowledge and deep lying hatred of all things English their is nothing to like about Mr Smyth (with a Y).
But more annoying than all of the above is his insistence on referring to the goal as an 'onion bag'. Every time a goal is scored it 'burst the old onion bag', or it 'dropped right in the onion bag'.
After years of putting up with his nonsense and trying to block him out to actually try and enjoy watching the games, I recently discovered that I'm not alone in my dislike for the guy. A recent article in the Guardian newspaper referred to Tommy Smyth as 'the most hated sports commentator in the world'.
There is also a website devoted to the subject called No more onion bags, and an inevitable Facebook group (just one of many).
The guy really knows nothing about the game and it's actually embarrassing when you think that Americans may tune in to try and see what the fuss is all about, only to hear this guy spout his drivel and go back to their jumbo bag of cheeto's and throwball super match up series.
I don't have any particular affinity to Rupert Murdoch and his media empire but I will be forever in their debt for removing this pillock from my life.
They lost the rights to show games from next season and they will be on Fox soccer channel for the foreseeable future.
It's not that I have any particular dislike of ESPN in general but I won't shed a tear at the loss of their coverage and the main reason for this is their regular co-commentator Tommy Smyth.
This guy is unbelievable, from his annoyingly exaggerated Irish accent, to his lack of general football knowledge and deep lying hatred of all things English their is nothing to like about Mr Smyth (with a Y).
But more annoying than all of the above is his insistence on referring to the goal as an 'onion bag'. Every time a goal is scored it 'burst the old onion bag', or it 'dropped right in the onion bag'.
After years of putting up with his nonsense and trying to block him out to actually try and enjoy watching the games, I recently discovered that I'm not alone in my dislike for the guy. A recent article in the Guardian newspaper referred to Tommy Smyth as 'the most hated sports commentator in the world'.
There is also a website devoted to the subject called No more onion bags, and an inevitable Facebook group (just one of many).
The guy really knows nothing about the game and it's actually embarrassing when you think that Americans may tune in to try and see what the fuss is all about, only to hear this guy spout his drivel and go back to their jumbo bag of cheeto's and throwball super match up series.
I don't have any particular affinity to Rupert Murdoch and his media empire but I will be forever in their debt for removing this pillock from my life.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Goal!
An update on the second Champions League semi final and Barcelona scored a 93rd minute equaliser to go through to the final on the away goals rule after it looked like Chelsea had set up a repeat of last year's final.
But to give credit where credit is due, Chelsea took the lead from a superb goal from Michael Essien.
I'll admit I would much rather play Barcelona than Chelsea. Not because I think Barcelona will be the easier game, but because it is the European Champions league and it's a chance for the best teams from different countries to play against each other. We play Chelsea every year in the league so meeting them is nothing special.
Besides, should the worst happen, losing to another English team would be much harder to take than a European super power with a rich history.
The final is May 27th.
But to give credit where credit is due, Chelsea took the lead from a superb goal from Michael Essien.
I'll admit I would much rather play Barcelona than Chelsea. Not because I think Barcelona will be the easier game, but because it is the European Champions league and it's a chance for the best teams from different countries to play against each other. We play Chelsea every year in the league so meeting them is nothing special.
Besides, should the worst happen, losing to another English team would be much harder to take than a European super power with a rich history.
The final is May 27th.
When in Rome
Last night Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-1 in the Champions League Semi-final second leg to clinch their place in the final for the second year running.
This is a big deal. The club have won the competition only three times in their history, 1968, 1999 & 2008. A 4th title would be amazing but just getting to the final is a big thing simply because of the rarity of such an event (the last two years excepted).
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, I hoped United would attack straight from the kick off knowing that an early goal would mean Arsenal had to score 3 to progress. Getting 2 goals in the first 11 minutes was way beyond expectations and the game was virtually over with Arsenal needing to score 4 against one of the meanest defences in the world.
The other semi final is currently in progress with Chelsea meeting Barcelona so we'll have to wait a little while longer to see who we'll meet with a repeat of last year's final a possibility.
My main concern with the final being held in Rome is more to do with events off the field. The reputation of Italian football fans is well deserved. Recent visits by both Manchester United and Arsenal have resulted in English fans being attacked and stabbed by Roma's 'Ultra's'.
The Champions league final, especially if it's between two English teams will certainly be an attraction for the less savoury residents of Roma and when added to the reputations of English football fans, there's a strong possibility of trouble.
Uefa have long claimed to clamp down on crowd trouble but the small fines handed out to Italian clubs shows that it is not as high on their agenda as it should be and rewarding a city with such a recent history of trouble, the Champions league final, they are only seen to be rewarding their behaviour rather than demanding an end to the trouble.
This is a big deal. The club have won the competition only three times in their history, 1968, 1999 & 2008. A 4th title would be amazing but just getting to the final is a big thing simply because of the rarity of such an event (the last two years excepted).
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, I hoped United would attack straight from the kick off knowing that an early goal would mean Arsenal had to score 3 to progress. Getting 2 goals in the first 11 minutes was way beyond expectations and the game was virtually over with Arsenal needing to score 4 against one of the meanest defences in the world.
The other semi final is currently in progress with Chelsea meeting Barcelona so we'll have to wait a little while longer to see who we'll meet with a repeat of last year's final a possibility.
My main concern with the final being held in Rome is more to do with events off the field. The reputation of Italian football fans is well deserved. Recent visits by both Manchester United and Arsenal have resulted in English fans being attacked and stabbed by Roma's 'Ultra's'.
The Champions league final, especially if it's between two English teams will certainly be an attraction for the less savoury residents of Roma and when added to the reputations of English football fans, there's a strong possibility of trouble.
Uefa have long claimed to clamp down on crowd trouble but the small fines handed out to Italian clubs shows that it is not as high on their agenda as it should be and rewarding a city with such a recent history of trouble, the Champions league final, they are only seen to be rewarding their behaviour rather than demanding an end to the trouble.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Injury time winner
I think the momentum has now swung back in Manchester United's favour after the last gasp win over Aston Villa.
After two successive defeats, the title race has been thrown wide open and this afternoon at Old Trafford United were on the verge of a third defeat in a row to leave Liverpool at the top of the table but a 92nd minute winner keeps the title in United's hands.
It was a frustrating game, especially after a mistake by Ronaldo gave Villa the break from which they took the lead but I think the nature of the win will lift United more than a victory that came courtesy of a 60th minute goal.
The reaction of the players at the final whistle shows how much retaining the title means to them and this will hopefully lift them out of the slump of the last few weeks in time for the Champions League quarter final tie with Porto.
If the winner hadn't come in this game, the momentum would've undoubtedly stayed with Liverpool after a 92nd minute winner of their own against Fulham.
It was a makeshift team for United, especially in defence with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic out, as well as Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney and it was 18 year old debutant Federico Macheda who clinched the win with a brilliant turn in the area. He was booked for his celebration after running into the crowd and hugging what must've been a close friend or family member but it was worth it.
My brother is in town this weekend and it was one of those rare occasions where my Dad, myself and him got to watch the game together and for most of the second half it looked like it wouldn't be a happy one but the noise when the third goal went in must've woken the neighbours!
Whatever happens now, it's definitely been one of the most interesting Premier League seasons for a while and we're now just six weeks or so away from finding out if United can hang on to clinch that record equalling 18th title.
After two successive defeats, the title race has been thrown wide open and this afternoon at Old Trafford United were on the verge of a third defeat in a row to leave Liverpool at the top of the table but a 92nd minute winner keeps the title in United's hands.
It was a frustrating game, especially after a mistake by Ronaldo gave Villa the break from which they took the lead but I think the nature of the win will lift United more than a victory that came courtesy of a 60th minute goal.
The reaction of the players at the final whistle shows how much retaining the title means to them and this will hopefully lift them out of the slump of the last few weeks in time for the Champions League quarter final tie with Porto.
If the winner hadn't come in this game, the momentum would've undoubtedly stayed with Liverpool after a 92nd minute winner of their own against Fulham.
It was a makeshift team for United, especially in defence with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic out, as well as Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney and it was 18 year old debutant Federico Macheda who clinched the win with a brilliant turn in the area. He was booked for his celebration after running into the crowd and hugging what must've been a close friend or family member but it was worth it.
My brother is in town this weekend and it was one of those rare occasions where my Dad, myself and him got to watch the game together and for most of the second half it looked like it wouldn't be a happy one but the noise when the third goal went in must've woken the neighbours!
Whatever happens now, it's definitely been one of the most interesting Premier League seasons for a while and we're now just six weeks or so away from finding out if United can hang on to clinch that record equalling 18th title.
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