So finally league play overseas is back as the EPL (English Premier League), and Ligue 1 (French League) kick off today. Traditionally the EPL is seen as the top International League – seen by the most fans and the most competitive major league. Unlike the Spanish La Liga which has 2- maybe 3 good teams (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid), Italian Serie A (Jueventus, Roma, Milan), French Ligue 1 (PSG, Lyon, NICE), and German Bundesliga (Bayern Munich, Dortman) the EPL really has 6 to 8 teams vying for a top 4 (Champions League Spot) each season along with realistically 4 to 5 teams vying for the title. I don’t have a favorite at the top as my club Fulham Football Club (the EPL team who has played the most American’s over the last decade) was relegated 2 seasons ago and plays in the 2nd division Champions Division. In general I root for the teams with American’s on them – GK Tim Howard at Everton, GK Brad Guzan at Aston Villa, Def Geoff Cameron at Stoke City and now Right back Deandre Yedlin who just joined Tottenham. I also have buddies who live and die by Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man U so I try to watch and give them some love as well. Looking ahead to this season – I really think Arsenal’s addition of world class GK Petre Cech will give the Gunners and manager what they need to jump to the top this season. I think Chelsea falls back to 2nd, while Man U with Van Gaal’s 200+ million spent will keep the Reds in 3rd. The battle for is 4th place with Man City staying pat, Southhampton taking on Europa League play, Tottenham and young striking superstar Harry Kane looking to move up one and Liverpool – ah Liverpool – making offseason moves a plenty in an attempt to save Brendan Roger’s job at Anfield. Right Bill?
Man United with all the changes this summer (added Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger) and the Dea Gea saga (will the GK move to Real Madrid or not?) kicks off the season at home vs Tottenham and all-star Harry Kane at 7:45 on Sat. AM on NBCSN. EPL games will be show on USA Network now on Sat AM’s at 10 am as well as on NBC Sports Network all morning and often on NBC at 1 pm as well. USA will start with Everton and US keeper Tim Howard vs newly promoted Watford at 10 am on Sat, while NBCSN will show Aston Villa and US goalie Brad Guzan vs newly promoted Bournemouth at 10 am. Sunday has Arsenal vs West Ham at 8:30 am and Liverpool hosting US international Geoff Cameron and Stoke City at 11 am on NBCSN.
MLS has added more strength as Mexican International 26 year old superstar Dos Santos has joined LA Galaxy and scored in his first game – the Galaxy will host a reeling Seattle Sounders team with Clint Dempsey that has lost 7 of their last 8 on Sunday at 4 pm on ESPN. The New York Darby is also Sunday at 7 pm on Fox Sports 1 as the NY Red Bulls with Bradley Wright-Phillips and his younger brother Shaun hosting NYCFC and Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa.
Tuesday the winner of Champions League-Barcelona will face the winner of Europa League fellow Spanish side Sevilla at 2:30 on Fox Sports 1 with both teams expected to be at full strength (read Messi, Neymar and Suerez should be playing.)
Finally as club and high school soccer are getting back underway here in Indy, the Indy 11 will host Ottawa Sat night at 7:30 at home at the Mike. Its Family Pack night at the Mike with 4 tix, hot dogs, sodas and chips for just $79 or $10 per ticket normal.
The Post to Post Soccer Camp hosted by Camp Director Coach Sue Moy-Chin and CFC and Carmel High Ast Coach Carla Baker was a rousing success with a record # of campers on hand at Badger Field in Carmel.
Video- Must See Moments in Soccer last week –
http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/lionel-messi-head-butts-chokes-opponent-only-sees-yellow-card-barcelona-roma-joan-gamper-080515 Messi only gets red on
ESPN Marcotti – Around the World of Soccer – Wembley lessons, Bayern Doubts, Benitez Quiet
Wolfsburg Takes Bayern in Penalties in German Supercup
Michel Plantini Must Push for FIFA Reform – Marcotti ESPN FC
EPL
USA Adds 10 AM Sat Games to NBCSN EPL offerings
EPL Season Preview Gab Marcotti ESPN FC
6 Big Questions EPL – David Hirshey ESPN FC
10 Storylines EPL SI Littleton SI
Predicting Final League Standings EPL – PST
New Fans of the EPL – Fans guide to picking a Team
EPL top 5 Forwards – NBC ProSoccer Talk
EPL top 5 Goalies NBC Pro Soccer
Brad Freidels Take on EPL podcast SI
De Gea won’t start for United Sat? ESPN FC
Arsene finally wins one vs Mourinho – no handshake
Wilshere out with Leg Injury for the Gunners
Liverpools Rodger’s Future at stake
Young EPL Players Looking for Breakthrough – Terry Burton ESPN FC
Everton and US Keeper Tim Howard Season Preview
US Keeper Brad Guzan – Aston Villa Season Preview
Full EPL Schedule on NBC along with Capital One Cup + FA Cup
MLS + Indy 11
Indy 11 lose 0-2 to Edmonton on Wed
Indy 11 sign Ceballos from Guatemala
Family Night on Sat Night, 8/8 – $10 tickets, 4 ticket and food special for $79.
MLS Must See Moments from last Weekend
Dempsey’s return doesn’t fix Sounder’s problems
Armchair Analyst Mathew Doyle – What’s wrong in Seattle?
Altidore will find his Rhythm – Mcbride –ESPN FC
Toronto FC signs former USNT Forward Hercules Gomez
USA
Jill Ellis Agrees to New Contract to continue coaching USWNT
Has Klinsmann lost his way? Top Drawer Soccer
USA up to 29 in world Rankings Argentina 1
Timmy Chandler Rejects club coach suggestion to quit US team
Carmel FC DOC Paul Telfer works with the girls at the Post to Post Camp at Badger Field last week.
GAMES THIS WEEK
Fri, Aug 7
2:30 pm PSG vs Lille (French) beIn Sports
Sat, Aug 8
7:45 am Man U vs Tottenham NBC Sports Network
10 am Everton vs Watford, USA Network
10 am AFC Bournaemouth vs Aston Villa NBCSN
12:30 pm Chelsea @ Swansea City NBCSN
3 pm Nice vs Monaco beIn Sport – French
7:30 pm Indy 11 vs Ottawa CH 8, ESPN 3
Sun, Aug 9
8:30 am Arsenal vs West Ham NBCSN
11 am Stoke City vs Liverpool NBCSN
4 pm LA Galaxy @ Seattle Sounders ESPN (Must See-West Coast Darby)
7 pm NY Red Bulls vs NYCFC Fox Sports 1 (NY Darby)
9:30 pm Portland Thorns vs Chicago Red Star Fox Sports 1 (Women’s -NWSL)
Monday, Aug 10
3:00 p.m., West Bromwich vs. Manchester City NBCSN:
Tues, Aug 11
2:30 pm Barcelona vs Sevilla – UEFA Supercup Fox Sports 1
Friday, Aug 14
2:30 pm Bayern Munich vs Hamburg SV Fox Sports 2 (Germany)
2:45 p.m., Aston Villa vs. Manchester United NBCSN:
Saturday, Aug 15
7:45 a.m Southampton vs. Everton NBCSN:
9:30 am Bayern Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim Fox Sports 2
9:30 am Werder Bremen vs Schalke 04 Fox Soccer
10:00 a.m., TBD: Sunderland vs. Norwich City, Swansea City vs. Newcastle, Tottenham vs. Stoke City,
West Ham United vs. Leicester City, Watford vs. West Bromwich
12:30 pm Borussia Dortmund vs Monchengladbach Fox Sports 2
Sunday, Aug 16
8:30 a.m., Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal NBCSN:
9:30 am Wolfsburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt Fox Sports 1
11:00 a.m,, Manchester City vs. Chelsea NBCSN:
1:30 pm US Women vs Costa Rica Fox Sports 1
5 pm Seattle vs Orlando City ESPN 2
7 pm Philly Union vs Chicago Fire Fox Sports 1
Monday, Aug 17
3:00 p.m., Liverpool vs. Bournemouth NBCSN
Wed, Aug 19
6:30 p.m., US Women vs Costa Rica ESPN 2
Saturday, Aug 22
7:45 a.m., Manchester United vs. Newcastle NBCSN:
9:30 am Hoffenhiem vs Bayern Munich Fox Sports 1
10:00 a.m., TBD: Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa, Leicester vs. Tottenham, Norwich City vs. Stoke City,
Sunderland vs. Swansea City, West Ham United vs. Bournemouth
12:30 Hamburg vs Stuttgart Fox Sports 1
Sunday, Aug 23
8:30 a.m., West Bromwich vs. Chelsea
9:30 am FC Ingolstadt vs Borussia Dortmund Fox Sports 1
11:00 a.m., Everton vs. Manchester City NBCSN
11:00 a.m.,: Watford vs. Southampton Extra Time
11:30 am Monchengladbach vs Mainz Fox Sports 1
3 pm LA Galaxy @ NYCFC ESPN
Monday, Aug 24
3:00 p.m. Arsenal vs. Liverpool NBCSN
Friday, Aug28
2:30 p.m., VfL Wolfsburg vs. Schalke 04 Fox Sports 1
USA GAMES
Sun, Aug 16 USWNT vs Costa Rica Fox sports 1
Fri, Sept 4 USMNT vs Peru Fox Sports 1 (RFK)
Tue, Sept 8 USMNT vs Brazil ESPN (Foxsborough)
Thur, Sept 17 USWNT vs Australia Fox Sports 1 (Detroit)
Sun, Sept 20 USWNT vs Australia ESPN 2 (Birmingham)
Fri, Oct 9 USMNT vs Mexico – Fox Sports 1 – Confed Cup Playoff
Full EPL Schedule on NBC along with Capital One Cup + FA Cup
German Bundesliga Games on Fox Sports 1 + 2
Thanks – The Ole Ballcoach – Shane Best
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