So the EPL finally returned this past weekend and what a weekend of play as 4 of the top 5 contenders for the title struggled with Arsenal losing at home, Chelsea tying at home, Tottenham losing and Man United barely winning. Now which team looked the best on opening weekend? Man City – the team many including myself were guessing might slide out of the top 4 this year –their 3-0 blasting at West Brom was impressive with YaYa Toure scoring the brace. (2 goals) It sets up for another interesting EPL season on NBC. I am so glad to see they added USA Network to the 10 am Sat kickoffs since some folks still don’t get NBCSN. Huge EPL game Sunday 11 am on NBCSN as Man City host Chelsea right after the Arsenal/Crystal Palace game at 8:30 am. Sat features American’s Timmy Howard and Everton hosting Southampton at 7:30 AM on NBCSN, and Geoff Cameron and Stoke hosting Tottenham at 10 am on NBCSN. Also don’t forget if you miss the games you can always catch Match of the Day 1 on Saturday afternoons/eves and Match of the Day 2 on Sunday afternoons to catch a nice 20 minute synopsis of each game played set those DVRs.
So I watched way too much soccer on Sat/Sun but one thing I wanted to do was watch some EPL games on Sun AM then watch the MLS games right after to see the difference in level of play. Honestly – while the ELP games were not the greatest on Sunday – the play was eerily similar. Now I was watching the extremely intense NY Darby with NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls and LA vs Seattle – 2 very good MLS games – but both games had stadium atmospheres equal to or greater than the EPL games of the day. There were maybe a few more shots in the EPL games overall but I honestly found them just as entertaining. You Euro snobs out there –should catch an Sunday MLS game on ESPN or Fox Sports 1 you might just be surprised try the Orlando City vs Seattle game Sun 5 pm on ESPN 2 and see if Kaka (click on this link for a great video on Kaka) can will his team past Dempsey and the Sounders.
Now when it comes to atmosphere – few things beat being in the Brickyard Battalion (the standing room only section behind the goal). Though I have to say this past Sat Night was tough – Ottawa showed why they are top of the table – and honestly our Indy 11 looked like the bottom of the table on this day. The defense really struggled giving up 4 goals – however new addition Marvin Ceballos from Guatamala really looks like he has the skills to turn things around for the 11 in the midfield. The 5’5” #10 really showed supreme ballhanding skills and looks like he might really help us when he gets more on the same page with his teammates. The 11 return for a midweek – home stay on Wed, Aug 19th at 7:30 vs the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Oh and big thanks to Coach Tim for finding me a rare Indy 11/USA Bumper Sticker from last season – it now resides proudly on my new Mazda CX5 – thanks Coach!!
Don’t forget the German Bundesliga gets underway this Friday with games on Fox Sports 1, 2 and Fox Soccer, there are a bunch of American National Team players in Germany and of course Bayern Munich and Dortmann are two powerhouse Champions League contenders year in and year out. I’ll be tuning in Saturday to see how Eric R, Alexis Lalas, Burton and the boys at Fox Soccer will handle the coverage of their new property it starts with US International Aaron Johannsson with his new club Werder Bremen vs Schalke at 9:30 am on Fox Soccer Channel. Finally, the US Women’s World Cup Champions begin their US tour with matchups this week vs Costa Rica – Sun 1:30 on FS1 and Wed 6:30 pm on ESPN2.
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CFC Players – Injury Screenings Begin Monday 8/24/15 at Badger Field Location
If your athlete has a minor ache or pain and is unsure about participating in a practice or game session visit medical professionals from Methodist Sports Medicine who will provide free injury screens for CDC/Carmel FC athletes at Badger Field from 3:30-4:30 pm on Monday, August 24th
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Something to think about as Coaches Soccer America
EPL
First Weekend of Play – IAIN MACINTOSH ESPN FC
Arsenal start 2015 campaign with awful performance – player ratings
Chelsea Draw 2-2 after Courtoise is sent off in 52nd minute
City is Impressive in 3-0 blanking
Stoke City makes a Push for Europa League – Ben Lyttleon SI
Van Gaal to sit De Gea Again for Man U
NBC Signs on for 6 more years of EPL Coverage
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA Kicks off on FOX Sports
German Games on Fox Sports Networks this season
German Bundelsiga Preview – Games on Fox Sports start Friday
German Bundesliga what you need to know
American Players in Bundesliga Preview Who to Watch
Germany Key 10 Players to Watch
USA
US Defender Tim Ream Signs with QPR from Bolton -looks for quick return to EPL
American’s in Europe What can they do – SI
American’s in Europe
Few US Players starting in Europe
US Players in the EPL – MLS.com
MLS + Indy 11
MLS Insider Video on Kaka – I love this guy!
NY City Brawl Red Bulls vs NYCFC – Red Bulls won the game to sweep the NYC Derby this season
Young US U20 Matt Miazga Stepping up
Orlando’s Kaka back on Roster for Brazil games next month
NYCFC upsets MLS Top team DC United– Great Pass from Pirlo to Villa
Indy 11 Monday Musings after loss
Indy 11 lose to Red Hot Ottawa
Last Word on Sports- 3 Lessons Fixing Indy 11
Bloody Shambles Blog Not Happy with our 11
GAMES THIS WEEK
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:
4 pm Athletico vs Barcelona (Supercup) ESPN3
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., EPL –Tottenham vs. Stoke City NBC Sports Network
10:00 am West Ham United vs. Leicester City, USA
Watford vs. West Bromwich, Sunderland vs. Norwich City, Swansea City vs. Newcastle on NBCExtra
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
3 pm PSG vs Gazelec Ajoccio beIn Sports
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
4 pm Athletico vs Barcelona (Supercup) ESPN2
Tues, Aug 18 Champions League
2:45 pm Man United vs Club Brugge Fox Sports 1
Wed, Aug 19
2:45 pm Valencia vs Fr Monaco Fox Sports 2
2:45 pm Celtic vs Malmo Fox Soccer
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 NBCSN
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
12:30 Athletico vs Barcelona beIN Sports
3 pm LA Galaxy @ NYCFC ESPN
Monday, Aug 24
3:00 p.m. Arsenal vs. Liverpool NBCSN
Wed, Aug 26 Champions League
2:45 pm Club Brugge @ Man United Fox Sports 1
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
The Ole BallCoach 