Ok all.....I thought I would set up this thread for all us "footballers" out there.....seems like in the US we are all still considered to be almost second class athletes......but I think the tide is changing for the better.....I look around the MLS and see how Seattle (go sounders), Portland, even in Mid America KC have started to realize this is a true sport that only exceptional athletes can play.  No offense to others and I totally respect hockey, basketball don't get me wrong.  But, it takes a "complete" athlete to be able to run for 90 mins and still have the energy to hit players and pass a ball 30 yards in the air to a teammate striking to score.  Neways....cannot wait til' EURO 2012 and just wanted to open up some discussion about your opinions on the teams, players, managers in the best "futbol" league in the world the English Premier League........Take it easy all...

Arsenal are definetly the best team in the Prem!

I'm biast but when Arsenal are on their game ( and I have been loyal for almost 14 years)  I totally agree........interesting that ya picked Arsenal though.....Neways........I really hope RVP stays but.......im 50/50 now.....and heard some stuff about Theo today......im 70/30 stays though.  What we need to do is get rid of Squid (which I was hoping Vertoghen went to Spurs which surprised me cause him and Vermaelen ( which will be the new captain if RVP leaves played together for years @ Ajax........Podolski and Giroud look like great signings........hey everybody thought they would be relegated last season.......ended up 3rd......Kick on Gunners and captain stay....

Hey Jsmooth15, I'm a big fan of EPL. My favorite team is Man U. I've been a fan for over 15 years. I'm looking forward to the new season in a couple of weeks. We have to regain out trophies. 
  
CAD

I think it will be either Manchester United (my fave team) or Chelsea that win it this season as Chelsea have signed some good players like Marko Marin from Werder Bremen and Eden Hazard form Lille and United have signed the likes of Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and Nick Powell from Crewe plus United look set to sign Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo and RVP.

Glad to see some futbollers...hopefully American didn't check y'all out.  Neways........lookin' forward to the season........Arsenal for life here.  Not really sure bout what RVP is goin' to do but if it he had to stay in England.......@@@@ Man city........I'd be pissed if he went to Man U....but in he end Man U and Arsenal totally respect each other.  This Arsenal team of what I have seen so far are goin' to be lightning fast and technically stronger and efficient than in seasons I remember.  Vermaelen and Koscielny signing new long term deals are huge....with quite honestly Vermaelen bein' captain next year if RVP leaves.  It sucks as an Arsenal fan for many a year to watch major players leave right when were about to "take off from the launch pad" lack of a better phrase so to speak.  But......signing Podolski and Giroud....2 World class strikers...lessens the blow of RVP leaving.  I hope though RVP remembers what Arsenal did for him when everybody said he was an "injury prone, flash in the pan, striker......who spends more on the sideline than in the game."  Arsenal fans always have injured or hurt players, (Ramsey, Rosicky, Eduardo).......backs when the whole futbol world goes.....they are done.  Neways.....I'm pretty sure this season will be like the last but like on steroids......everything on another level.   That's all for now.....and congrats to the MLS All-stars for downing Chelsea last nite.....way to go guys.  

Are you angry that Van Persie has gone to United? If so you shouldnt be you have signed Cazorla, Podolski and  Giroud

Honestly........I didn't think he would out of pure loyalty and than the story wouldn't go away.......So I figured it was going to happen and yes it kinda pissed me off.  It was interesting how the fans dealt with him at cologne when podolski was goin' loud.  As of now.....even after his hat trick last weekend which annoyed me for multiple reasons....I think Cazorla, LP, and Giroud are excellent signings.  Knew alot about LP and Giroud but not Cazorla.....and the they are callin' him the buy of the season in the league.  The way they played against Lpool was like the Arsenal of old......awesome.  I think what pissed me off the most is he went to united...city would have been worse but giving Ferguson that weapon sucks.  He'll get hurt eventually.......the streak cant last forever considering how long on injury table he was with us Gunners.  If they play like they did sun they will be title contenders.  They have gotten 2 hard away games done and if they stay healthy they will get some silverware most def.......

I'm not a huge football fan and I don't pay too much attention to the English Premier League but I always route for Arsenal as well.
What do you mean these teams are realizing that they need exceptional athletes... Isn't that a given for any major sport? I'm just curious what these teams are doing, bringing in players from overseas?

I love the Red Devils!
Glory Glory Man UNITED!
I haven't really watched any of their games for a while, but I just love that team, even if they aren't that good this year.  My brother has a full Man united jersey.

Well.....Arsenal put on a 5 star performance yesterday....it literally made the whole futbol world go WTF...wow.  Per the above statements......the EPL is the best league in the world...some may argue La Lira but no....much respect to La Lira though.  Players are brought in from "overseas" b/c the EPL is the best club league in the world.  To the Man United fan.....what's always intrigued me is the fact Sir Alex and Wenger have an again mutual "respect" for each other.  Even when they throttled us 8-2 last year he still acted like a gent...guess that's why he is a SIR.  Arsenal were phenomenal yesterday y'all should really check out the highlights on the official site...www.Arsenal.com.

Man City will struggle to qualify for the next stage of the Champion's League after drawing at home to Ajax last night
They only have 2 points and are bottom of their group with Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid above them
It's still possible for them to qualify but they need to win their final 2 matches and need help from the other teams in terms of results
Maybe it will give them the chance to "concentrate on the league, Brian"

Have to admit to being quite pleased to see 'citeh' failing in Europe.  Yes, they've got a great team but it will be a while before they've mastered the tactics needed for success in European competitions. 

WOW!!!
Chelsea sack Roberto Di Matteo only 6 months after winning the FA Cup and European Cup Double after losing to Juventus 3-0!
Now they have appointed Rafa Benitez as their new manager until the end of the season
It's difficult to imagine what Rafa would have to do to be able to keep this most temporary of all English Premier League jobs

I totally agree.....but the majority of it wasn't the players of Chelsea's fault.  It is quite shocking to see a manager sacked after winning the best club competition in the world UEFA Champs League.   It's the owners fault honestly.....Abramovich is notorious for sacking managers ruthlessly after short stints of poor results.  It makes me appreciate Boss Wenger even more so along with the Arsenal board.....who in fairness tend to hold the purse strings in terms of purchases quite tight.  But I'm Arsenal.......and after seeing the Montpellier game and the combo of Giroud and Podolski....Podolski's cannon volley goal.....I'm happy.  Benitez honestly if I really thought about it would be one of the last managers I would have thought to take over Chelsea...wow.  I'm thinkin' the futbol world is saying the same thing.

Well.......it's been a crazy last few weeks in the league.  My Arsenal continue to try and figure themselves out......at least the D is holding up.  Theo's goal in the 1st against Everton was plain ridiculously cool.....another away point.....seems like they will have ALOT of home games in the 2nd half of the season which is all some.  Even though I'm full-blooded Arsenal I do feel bad for the stuff that has been going on with rasicm with Tottenham.  Benitez at Chelsea is such an issue.....the fans look horribly disillusioned along with the players.  Seeing Abramovichs face after the Fulham game was priceless.  That guy tries to run the managers like CEOS which is pathetic.  Chelsea have big problems and I dont feel sorry for them.  Liverpool has issues but I respect Liverpool but Gerrard is totally unhappy and I feel bad for him.  Neways, here comes the XMAS madness YEAHHH....Kick on you Gunners.