Between football and tech shows, I listen to 28 different podcasts on a weekly basis to make my commute that much more tolerable. Out of all of the shows I listen to, here are my current favorites:

1. The Spurs Show - Definitely my current favorite, but how funny will be it now that Martin Jol has left and when the Tony Soprano impersonations are history? Right now, each episode is laugh-out-loud.

2. The Game - Balague needs to be on this show on a regular basis to maintain a high place in my top 10. The banter between Balague and Marcotti is reason numero uno to love this show.

3. Football Weekly - If the podders can continue having episodes like this past Monday's, they'll surpass The Game in these charts because of one reason: humor. Glendenning needs to be a regular podder each week, end of story.

4. 5 Live Football Daily - This relatively new podcast from the BBC is a brilliant idea. Take the best football bits from BBC Five Live and combine them into a nightly podcast. Best part of the week is Friday night's Premier League preview show with Gabriele Marcotti and former players.

5. Divers and Cheats. Other than the occasional inane remark such as touting the show as being part of "The Only Football Network That Matters," Divers and Cheats is a winning formula focusing on the most remarkable football news stories of the week. The last two episodes haven't been as strong as usual, so if they can get back to winning ways, there's an opportunity to move up the chart.

6. BBC Sportsweek. Host Garry Richardson brings together some of the biggest names each week in sport on this insightful interview show. I usually fast forward past the athletes from other sports, but the football interviews alone are definitely worth the effort.

7. BBC World Football. Subscribe to this podcast and you'll get two equally special podcasts. The first is a football documentary show hosted by Alan Green, which shows a different side to Greenie from his 606 persona. The second podcast is the World Football Phone In featuring intelligent questions about the world's game and equally intelligent answers from Tim Vickery and Sean Wheelock.

8. Podball 365. A recent newcomer to this chart (and my iTunes subscription). Hosted by Football 365, the conversations with guests are forthright and refreshing, while some of the comedy parts are decent (especially a recent "interview" with Jamie Redknapp).

9. MP Red. The excellent podcast from the Liverpool supporters group in New York is top drawer for analysis even if you aren't a Liverpool fan. The podcast has dropped in my charts because of the absence of the astute Simon Davis and the lack of a regular schedule.

10. Major League Soccer Talk. Host Kartik Krishnaiyer has jumped into the top 10 charts after a host of fascinating interviews. My favorites episodes thus far: Christopher Sullivan and Jamie Trecker.

The debut episode of EPL Talk TV has been released featuring 5 minutes of Premier League-related news:





In this, the first episode, the news stories are:

• Juande Ramos gives Spurs a run for their money,
• Where is Jose heading next?
• Which club will Mark Hughes go to after Blackburn, and
• A look ahead at tonight's League Cup match.

The concept behind EPL Talk TV is to deliver you the Premier League news from overnight, as well as recapping any matches from last night and looking ahead to today's action. It's meant to be the five minute update you need in the morning before you head to work, or if you want to watch it on your video iPod.

If you subscribe to the EPL Talk Podcast, you'll automatically receive the TV show. Or you can also watch the episodes via http://www.epltalk.com/tv

Please post your feedback regarding EPL Talk TV on the comments here or email them to thegaffer[at]epltalk[dot]com. If you like what you see, please let us know. Or if you hate it, let us know that too. All opinions are welcome.

If we decide to continue the show, it'll appear every weekday morning beginning next week.

In today's Guardian newspaper, Daniel Taylor reports that Manchester United is planning on playing a friendly in January as a testimonial. The issue is that the match will be played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and it's a 6,000-mile round trip.

To repay Man United for taking this friendly during their regular season, the Red Devils will receive more than $2 million.

While clubs are free to make decisions on their own whether to risk injury or fatique from traveling, I'm more interested to see what the reaction will be from the UK press and football fans over the next week.

Imagine, for a minute, that the friendly was to be played in New York City at the Meadowlands instead of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After all, Manchester to Riyadh is a round-trip of 6428 miles, while Manchester to New York round-trip is 6692 miles.

If the Glazers had decided to play the friendly in the States instead of Riyadh, the next few days would be filled with articles by bloggers mocking and whining the decision, while the UK journalists would assuredly write several pieces lamenting how the game is being sold out to American corporate interests and how the influence of the Glazers over Man United is fueled by greed.

Double standards? I think so.

While you're surfing the Internet and reading articles on your favorite soccer websites over the next few days, keep a running tally of how many articles by bloggers and journalists criticize Man United and mock Saudi Arabia. I would hazard a guess that you'll see very few, if any, and that the whole story will be overlooked - for the most part - until January when you'll see a few articles criticizing Man United the team for taking the trip without blame or mocking being aimed at Saudi Arabia. Sounds like hypocrisy to me.

The EPL Talk Blog will be back to its regularly scheduled posting tomorrow (Tuesday), but in the meantime, be sure to check out the latest episode of the Championship Talk Podcast, the sister site/podcast to EPL Talk.

Alex Rice of BBC and The Beautiful Game fame joins host Brian Koski to revel in QPR's escalation to 23rd in the table on a testosterone-filled episode. Brian interviews Crystal Palace players Lewwis Spence and Charlie Sheringham regarding their Palace USA experiences in Part II of The Beckenham Sessions. Georgie manages to masterfully get a word in edge-wise, despite tragically being on holiday.

Subscribe to the Championship Talk Podcast via iTunes today or listen via the Championship Talk website (click on the podcast link near the top right to find the latest episode).

In other news, EPL Talk has released episode 89 of its podcast featuring an interview with Tony Evans, deputy football editor of The Times newspaper. During the episode, we tell you how you can win a FREE soccer jersey for your favorite Premier League club in our competition brought to you by Subside Sports.

Don't forget to listen to the EPL Talk Show live on Tuesday night at 11pm ET for a special Halloween episode chocabloc with football news and rumors alongside special guest co-host The Scout.

One last news item: Watch out for Tuesday morning for the first episode of the EPL Talk Show, a new daily Premier League news show available as a video podcast. Each episode is five minutes long so it's the perfect news program to view online before breakfast or download via your video iPod for your ride to work.

EPL Talk TV will bring you up-to-speed on all of the news from overnight and preview the day's matches and news stories. Keep an eye out for it at http://www.epltalk.com/tv (or, if you're already subscribed to the EPL Talk Podcast feed/stream, you'll receive it automatically as soon as it's released).

Liverpool v Arsenal (9am PT/ 12 pm ET/ 5pm UK time, Fox Soccer Channel. Replay 11 pm). Sunday, October 27.

Well after the performance Liverpool put up in Turkey midweek and Arsenal gave in putting yet another Prague side to shame, this game will be the first litmus test to see exactly how good Arsenal are this season. Rafa Benetiz got the backing of the ownership in regards to his rotation policy, but I wonder aloud how much of that was hollow? If Liverpool can get the ball forward and test Manuel Almunia, we will see if Jens Lehmann will be vindicated or the biggest dunce in London. This has the classic build to an intense 1-1 draw, and while this may sound cliché, this game truly can go either way. If your in the IKTS predictions league, I would give serious thought to using insurance on this game.

Experience the match online with other fans from around the world on the EPL Talk Chat.

Tottenham v Blackburn (8am PT/ 11 am ET/ 4pm UK time, Setanta Xtra. On Setanta 6 pm ET). Sunday, October 27.

Sacking Martin Jol does not solve Spurs biggest problem, the fact their back five is absolutely shocking. Blackburn have yet to lose this season on the road, and with the form they are on (three in a row) and their midfield finally linking up with the forwards, this could be the perfect day for Spurs fans to vent their frustration at the board. If you're in the IKTS predictions league, this could be a safe bet for your banker chip.

Experience the match online with other fans from around the world on the EPL Talk Chat.

Bolton v Aston Villa (6:30am PT/9:30 am ET/2:30pm UK time, Setanta. Replay Monday 2:45 pm ET). Sunday, October 27.

So Bolton now have a permanent manager. It maybe the right move in the end but it doesn't mean I can't question aloud what the disciplinarian will do. Aston Villa at times look brilliant, but more often than not they look incredibly average. With Bolton coming off a late draw in the UEFA Cup, Villa are the side who should get three points, but it wouldn't shock me if this wasn't a draw.

Experience the match online with other fans from around the world on the EPL Talk Chat.

Portsmouth v West Ham United (9:15 PT/12:15 pm ET/5:15pm GMT Fox Soccer Channel. On replay Tuesday 1 pm ET).

Portsmouth look a side confident they can score at any time. West Ham United look the typical mid table club. If this was at Upton Park, I could see West Ham having a chance, but Fratton Park is a different animal and the Hammers could be in for a bad day at the office.

Experience the match online with other fans from around the world on the EPL Talk Chat.

Chelsea v Manchester City (7am PT/10am ET/3pm UK time, Fox Soccer Channel. Replay Sunday 2am ET).

This is going to be a fun game to watch. Chelsea under Grant have done more passing of the ball to set up the attack than I have seen Chelsea do in a while, and it is working while Ricardo Carvalho is showing why he is the true pillar in the back. Manchester City counter attack sees them currently third in the Premier League and will really need to use the pace they have to end Chelsea's unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge. If Drogba stays on song though this could be one high scoring affair.

Experience the match online with other fans from around the world on the EPL Talk Chat.

By Lou Bruno

Love & Blood: At the World Cup With The Footballers, Fans, and Freaks
By Jamie Trecker
A Harvest Original/Harcourt ($14.00)

If there is one book that should be required reading for the new American fan to the world’s game it’s this one. Jamie Trecker gives us not only a view of the World Cup from a reporters perspective but a lesson in the tactics of the game, a bit of German World War 2 history (mostly on target I should point out, since I am very well read on the subject of WW2 I only caught one flaw in his historical perspective), player profiles, a history of the game of football in the US and the world.

Several lessons are learned by the reader along the way, such as why the American fan can feel free to call the game soccer, why and how the WC to the surprise of many American’s is The World Event, and what “Total Football” means and what is the “offside trap”. It’s a tall order to cover so much ground but he does it well and in a relatively short time.

The author, the well known soccer analyst and writer, does a mostly outstanding job of covering several different topics in his personal memoir of last year’s World Cup in Germany. He uses his assignment to cover the World Cup as a reason to give the American fan, who he well knows is mostly a late comer to the world’s game, an overview or an introduction of what is an obsession for most of the globe. He does this by breaking off from his description of a specific game to educate the reader on the tactics of the game, or the history of a particular national team, or a personality profile of key players. While he covers the event from an American point of view, the English, French, German, and other readers will find the book of great interest. Having been a fan of the English League and the USA team over the years, I will now appreciate greatly what countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Australia are doing with their national teams and leagues from Trecker’s insights into those nations and their players. Once or twice, the breakaways from the main flow of the Cup coverage to cover a related topic were an annoyance, but this is a minor flaw.

I was especially moved by the player profiles that are mixed into the storyline. Trecker explains Wayne Rooney to the American audience in terms that most Americans can readily understand and makes his impact on the English game understandable to some Yanks (myself included) who just were not able to understand Rooney’s impact.

Let’s just say that Rooney is an English version of the NFL’s Brett Farve. I must admit I have been critical of America’s own Clint Dempsey in the past when he seemingly misses an open shot. After hearing his story, never again will I be critical of him, but realize his mere presence on the pitch is a testament to his character. The author tries to gets us in the head of Zinedine Zidane (pun intended) but falls short. This maybe more of an issue with Zidane himself rather than a failing of the author. It may not be possible for any writer to unravel the mystery that Zidane is, but the story clearly requires that he at least tries and it was a good effort.

For the American reader, who the book is clearly geared for, this work is a throwback to the days when America was not a major part of the world. In the soccer/football world the Americans are at a pre-WW2 stage. We are not a major player. The field is dominated by Europe and South America and the Yanks are still eager newcomers with a lot to learn to be on top. Trecker tries to explain to the average American what this all means in our own terms and accomplishes the goal. When necessary he relates things in terms the American sports fan can understand, making comparisons to Michael Jordan or various MLB teams is the best way to get an American reader to understand a point he is making about a player or a certain team. Also, I must admit that as a fellow Chicago resident Trecker made a reference or two that you may only appreciate if you’re from the Windy City.

All of the above should not take away from Trecker’s own personal story. The great efforts he made to follow soccer growing up in America. The struggle it was in Germany as well as South Korea and Japan in 2002 to cover the event from a reporter's point of view, and last but not least his own personal health battles. I especially admire him writing about his health issues since it gives the readers` an even better insight of what it took to produce this book. I know there are those out there who find the author an unnecessary critic of the MLS or US Soccer, your views on his opinions should not deter you from buying this book. MLS and the US Soccer Federation have no reason to fear this story. In fact just having to deal with the train loads of drunken fans of various national origins is an act of courage.

I look forward to his next book and hope he will find the time and good health to write a longer piece on any one of the various subjects he touched on in this World Cup saga. Highly recommended.

Reviewer Lou Bruno, now in his 50’s, resides outside of Chicago, Illinois, and became a soccer fan later in life.

Labels: book review, jamie trecker, love and blood, world cup

Martin Jol's career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur has come to an end.

The Dutchman tendered his resignation shortly before the UEFA Cup match against Getafe, a game that was so typical of a Spurs match under Jol. The North London side went one-nil up before losing the match 2-1.

Jol had been in charge at Spurs for almost three years, but his departure comes as no surprise as the club is battling in the relegation zone with just one league win all season, against Derby, and four draws and five defeats.

The question now on everyone's lips is who will replace Jol. It looks likely that it'll be Sevilla coach Juande Ramos who is well respected in the game. The question is whether he'll begin coaching at the beginning of next season or as early as next week.

Up until recently, Jol's win percentage as manager of Spurs was 45%. The former West Bromwich Albion defender previously managed Dutch teams Roda and Waalwijk before heading to White Hart Lane to manage Tottenham.

What's your reaction to Jol resigning and how soon will Tottenham be able to turn to it around if Ramos is appointed manager?

Labels: juande ramos, martin jol, sevilla, seville, spurs, tottenham hotspur

West Ham United's Eggert Magnusson believes that playing an English Premier League match in the United States would be good for the game, according to an interview he did with Sky Sports News.

"I can see that happening sooner rather than later. It would be good for the game," Magnusson told Sky.

Of course, the idea of playing a Premier League match in the States is being mentioned because of this Sunday's NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London.

Here are five reasons why the Premier League won't play a Premier League match in the States:

1. It's more likely to happen in Asia first than the United States.
   
   
2. The Premier League would want to conduct a pre-season tournament in the States first before deciding to play a regular season match.
   
   
3. The English Premier League would lose credibility by conducting such a stunt because it's based purely on greed.
   
   
4. The British press and fans would have a field day ripping the idea to shreds if there was any hope of it happening, and
   
   
5. How would the Premier League decide which match would be played in the States? The Premier League would have a difficult time finding a fair way to randomly pick two teams to play, and I'm concerned that not all 20 clubs in the Premier League would agree to play overseas.
   

No, the headline to this blog posting isn't intentionally meant to be blasphemous. It's meant to stir debate.

The debate is whether soccer clubs, especially in England, would be better off borrowing some of the concepts of stadium designs from baseball organizations in the United States? For example, instead of English clubs such as Everton, Portsmouth and Liverpool building brand-new stadiums (as they're planning on doing) that look nothing like their former grounds, why not build retro stadiums that harken back to the past such as baseball parks like Baltimore Orioles's Camden Yards and Texas Rangers's Rangers Ballpark have done?

What those baseball parks have done, as well as many other baseball organizations have copied, is build parks that adopt designs that remind baseball fans of the past. Just being in these parks is a pleasant experience combining the best of modern conveniences and easy-access in and out of parks with the look and feel of glorious designs from previous decades.

In the case of Everton, and to a lesser extent Portsmouth and Liverpool, the clubs have designed plans for modern stadiums that look predictable, boring and unimaginative. Everton's proposed stadium in Kirkby looks like any other modern plastic ground in the Premier League such as Middlesbrough's Riverside, Bolton's Reebok Stadium, Reading's Madjeski Stadium and so on and so forth.

Clubs such as Everton, Portsmouth and Liverpool would be better suited selecting different architects who could design modern grounds that allow for larger capacities but feature designs that look similar to Goodison Park, Anfield and Fratton Park. For Portsmouth, why not incorporate the mock Tudor style design of their one entranceway into the design of the new ground? For Everton's new stadium, why not borrow some of the design techniques from Goodison Park architect Archibald Leitch such as the two-tier design of the Gwladys Street End or his famous gables?

The architects for the new Anfield stadium, at the behest of owners Gillett and Hicks, will incorporate a design that makes the new Kop a large part of the stadium design. But what are the plans for the Shankly Gates and the Hillsborough memorial, and is there a way for Liverpool to design the outside of the ground in such a way that is a fitting tribute to Shankly, Paisley and the people who died at Hillsborough?

What older stadiums in England have right now is identity. "The Grand Old Lady," as Goodison Park is nicknamed, looks like no other ground in the Premier League and, although antiquated, is one of the finest stadiums in the country. Craven Cottage, despite tiny, is one of the most unique stadiums in the world with its cottage nestled into the corner of the ground and the Johnny Haynes stand from the early part of the 20th century still being the focal point of the ground.

The tragedy is that in a few years time, the only retro stadium that will be in existence in the Premier League is Fulham's Craven Cottage. All of the other clubs will feature copycat plastic stadiums (with Blackburn and West Ham being the only two clubs that feature one part of their grounds with a very old and antiquated stand).

What a night in Champions League football today and lots of Premier League-related stories to talk about including Gary Megson on his way to Bolton Wanderers.

Join us tonight at 11pm ET for the live broadcast of the EPL Talk Show with special guest co-hosts Forza Futbol.

The topics for tonight's show include:

• A round-up of the results from Tuesday's and Wednesday nights Champions League matches involving English teams, including analysis of Liverpool's shock 2-1 loss against Besiktas of Turkey, which leaves Liverpool at the BOTTOM of their Champions League group.
  
  
• Second, in light of Barcelona's nil nil draw against Rangers, we debate which league is better: the Premier League or La Liga.
  
  
• Third, we debate whether Arsenal is the best team in Europe right now.
  
  
• Fourth, we'll be discussing whether Gary Megson will be the new manager of Bolton Wanderers and, if so, whether he can help the club avoid relegation.
  
  
• Fifth and finally, we take a look at Thursday night's UEFA Cup matches including Spurs against Getafe, and Larissa against Everton as well as previewing this weekend's Premier League matches.
  

You can experience the EPL Talk Show live via the Internet at 11pm ET tonight (Wednesday, October 24). We encourage you to log on as early as 10:45pm ET so you can participate in the online chat with fellow soccer fans.

Last season, there were plenty of clubs to make fun of and get angry about. West Ham United, for example, were the bane of so many jokes and insults. Sheffield United were targets too.

But this season, we have a different circus. Come one, come all to the most humorous show on earth named Tottenham Hotspur. At every turn, there's plenty of thrills, laughs, twists and turns and the faint aroma of animal dung.

Seriously, the headlines from White Hart Lane this season make for good reading. Just today, The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Spurs are targeting Mark Hughes as a replacement for Martin Jol. In typical fashion from British journalists, the news is attributed to no one, so it puts the story into question, but the interesting thing is that Spurs plays at home this Sunday against who? High-flying Blackburn Rovers of course.

The Guardian is reporting, meanwhile, that Dimitar Berbatov is stalling over signing a new contract. Can you blame him? This is a player that could be playing for any of the biggest teams in England if not Europe. His performance against Liverpool in the recent 2-2 draw shows how deadly the striker can be (even in heading balls on to Robbie Keane to score). Why Berbatov started on the bench for Spurs against Newcastle, I have no idea. What was Martin Jol thinking? If you're going to given Darren Bent more playing time, let him earn it by putting in a good performance in the Carling Cup against Blackpool in the next fortnight.

Spurs, the team, has been so inconsistent this season. They looked brilliant in the big matches against Man United and Liverpool, but failed to win in both matches. They looked flaccid this week against Newcastle and hardly troubled Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given at all.

In that performance, Tottenham looked flat, like a team that wants to finish in the bottom half of the league this year.

Sure Martin Jol has helped Spurs get higher in the table in previous seasons than other Spurs managers have done so, but is that good enough? Is that what Spurs want to achieve? I don't think so. Based on the players on the pitch, this should be a team that could win silverware this season albeit a Carling Cup or FA Cup trophy, but those achievements at this stage would be an excellent step-up for Tottenham. But under Martin Jol, I don't see that happening.

If you, like me, have been entertained by Spurs's antics on and off the field this season (the Juande Ramos hatchet job seemed like a scene out of The Benny Hill Show), be sure to listen to The Spurs Show podcast by Phil Cornwell via iTunes. I'm not a Spurs fan, but I find myself listening and laughing out loud to the funniest football podcast on the Internet. After all, they do have a lot of material to work with this season thanks to their club.

Breaking news: Umbro has agreed to be purchased by Nike in a $580 million deal. The English company was founded in 1920 and has the contract to manufacture the kits for England's national team as well as a handful of Premier League clubs including Everton, Sunderland, Blackburn and others.

Just a few weeks ago, EPL Talk interviewed an Umbro executive for an episode of the EPL Talk Podcast. Listen to the interview with Martin Prothero.

By Atlanta Pompey

Up Pompey: A Clueless American Sportswriter Bumbles Through English Football by Chuck Culpepper; Orion Books(UK Only)

I think it is hard being a fan.

When I first heard about this book, I wanted to read it because it was about my team. After I read it, I realized that it was not about Pompey, but about the journey of a man from a trained, neutral observer of all things sports in America to a supporter of a team he’d never heard of playing a sport he’d hardly ever noticed.

Chuck Culpepper moved to London after getting married. Twice-nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, Chuck had become the London correspondent for his Los Angeles-based newspaper and was looking for stories. It was his ear that first brought his attention to Pompey. I can relate because the Pompey Chimes caught my attention as well.

The book is laid out chronologically. His journey begins near the end of the 2005-06 season as Pompey is struggling to avoid relegation. Known as “The Great Escape”, Harry Redknapp had returned from coaching the Scummers to save Portsmouth. They would go on to finish 17th, thus avoiding the drop. The passion of those fans caught Chuck Culpepper’s attention as he had never experienced American fans cheering for a team at the bottom of the table. His travels took him to several premiership matches, but it was always the Pompey fans that kept him coming back, either to watch Portsmouth on the road or to visit Fratton Park.

Who knew a blue bear could be so important?

Being an observant sportswriter, Chuck noticed a blue bear riding the train to Fratton Park. Okay, honestly, most of us would have noticed a blue bear. How could you not? After introducing himself, they spoke briefly and parted ways, except that you could spot him from across the stadium. Meeting him at several other matches, Chuck would go on to get adopted by this blue bear. This blue bear would teach him about the history and traditions of Fratton Park, the Pompey faithful, and most importantly how to handle a few beers in the pub before the match. It was this blue bear who would finally give him permission to use the word ‘we’ when referring to Pompey. Sportswriters don’t tailgate in America, but supporters in England must go to the pub before the match.

This book is aimed at the English Football Supporter that doesn’t understand how different sports are in America. As an American, it was fascinating to read his explanations of all the strange things we do in our sports. Comparing Manchester City and the Los Angeles Clippers is a great explanation, although as he points out, at least Manchester City has won something.

Written with self-deprecating humor, Chuck Culpepper’s bumbling adventure through the landscape of English football, from not understanding why he can’t walk up and buy a ticket to trying to figure out why someone would wear a blue bear suit not only to the match but to the pub before AND after a match, will show you just how we Americans view English football close up. What he came to realize was that he had missed all of the emotions involved in being a fan. That’s why it’s so hard to be a fan.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.co.uk. I highly recommend the book, giving it 8 chimes out of 8, two paws up(blue of course), and can't wait for the American version due next spring.

Labels: book review, chuck culpepper, portsmouth, up pompey

EPL Talk has researched the sizes of football pitches in the Premier League and ranked them according to the largest pitches to smallest. Some of the findings may surprise you.

For example, Tottenham's White Hart Lane has always been renowned for its small pitch, but did you know that fellow London club West Ham's pitch is the smallest in the league?

Here are the top 20 pitches ranked in order of size. The large number after the size of the pitch is calculated by multiplying the length and width of the pitch (in yards):

1. Manchester City, City of Manchester Stadium, 116 x 77 yards, 8932
2. Manchester United, Old Trafford, 116 x 76 yards, 8816
3. Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park, 115 x 76 yards, 8740
4. Everton, Goodison Park, 112 x 78 yards, 8736
5. Aston Villa, Villa Park, 114 x 75 yards, 8550
6. Middlesbrough, Riverside, 114 x 75 yards, 8550
7. Arsenal, Emirates Stadium, 114 x 74 yards, 8436
8. Derby County, Pride Park, 114 x 74 yards, 8436
9. Reading, Madjeski Stadium, 111 x 76 yards, 8436
10. Sunderland, Stadium of Light, 114 x 74 yards, 8436
11. Wigan Athletic, JJB Stadium, 114 x 74 yards, 8436
12. Portsmouth, Fratton Park, 115 x 73 yards, 8395
13. Chelsea, Stamford Bridge, 110 x 75 yards, 8250
14. Fulham, Craven Cottage, 110 x 75 yards, 8250
15. Liverpool, Anfield, 110 x 75 yards, 8250
16. Birmingham City, St. Andrews, 110 x 74 yards, 8140
17. Newcastle United, St. James's Park, 110 x 73 yards, 8030
18. Tottenham Hotspur, White Hart Lane, 110 x 73 yards, 8030
19. Bolton Wanderers, Reebok Stadium, 110 x 72 yards, 7920
20. West Ham United, Boleyn Ground, 110 x 70 yards, 7700

Looking at the stadiums, the difference in size between West Ham's pitch and Manchester City's one is quite dramatic. West Ham's Boleyn Ground is seven yards narrower (21 feet) and six yards shorter (18 feet).

Many questions can be drawn from the facts above. For example, what sort of impact does West Ham's narrow pitch have on their playing style? Despite the narrow pitch, past players such as Martin Peters, Joe Cole and Alan Devonshire didn't seem to have too many challenges.

Parting fact: Out of the 20 pitches in the Premier League, the average size is 112.4 x 74.4 yards, measuring an average size of 8373.4.

With Steve Bruce, Chris Coleman and Gary Megson all dismissing the opportunity of becoming the next Bolton manager to replace Sammy Lee, the Trotters find themselves in a difficult position where their choice of next manager is extremely slim. Such is the dire state of quality managers in England.

With Bruce, Coleman and Megson out of the running, here's EPL Talk's analysis of what candidates are available and may be a good fit for the Bolton Wanderers manager position:

1. Paul Jewell. The former Wigan Athletic manager has been taking off from management after a stressful season keeping the Latics up last season. He's the type of manager who could keep Bolton up, but would he even want to put himself through another difficult season?

2. Peter Taylor. Despite being recently sacked by Crystal Palace, Taylor is well respected within the game especially after his stint as England under-21 manager where he built a team that has been more exciting and unpredictable to watch than the senior England national team.

3. John Collins. The highly rated manager of Hibernian has only been a manager for one year, but has impressed fans and critics by winning the Scottish League Cup and taking Hibs to sixth place in the Scottish Premier League (SPL).

4. Adrian Boothroyd. While Adi Boothroyd had a difficult time last season in the Premiership keeping his club up, albeit with limited budgets, the Hornets are now in top place in the Championship. If Bolton could woo Boothroyd away from Watford, that would be a huge coup, but don't count on it.

5. Steve Clarke. Whether Steve Clarke will be a permanent fixture on the Chelsea bench is unclear. If there was an opportunity to pluck Clarke away from Chelsea, a team like Bolton would be a perfect opportunity for the Scot to dig in and sort the team out.

6. Bryan Robson. His career as a player for England and Manchester United has been legendary. His performances as a manager, however, have been poor (with Middlesbrough being a rare exception as well as the season where he kept West Brom up). With his current club Sheffield United sitting fifth from bottom in the Championship, the Blades may be open to Robson leaving the steel town.

7. Glenn Roeder. The former Newcastle United and West Ham United manager has been out of work since May after resigning at St. James's Park, but the manager has recently been linked with a director of football position (or in a similar capacity) at Arsenal.

8. John Gregory. Sacked by Queens Park Rangers just two weeks ago, the manager is perhaps best known for his four years as the gaffer at Aston Villa. He's a longshot, but has management experience (and a poor track record) at six clubs.

9. Glenn Hoddle. The former England manager hasn't been in charge of a Premiership club since 2003 when he left his post at Tottenham Hotspur. After a disappointing 18 months at Wolverhampton Wanderers -- where it seemed all he could do for the club is make them draw matches instead of winning them -- he's been away from management working for Sky Sports.

10. Graeme Souness. It seems ages since Souness left Newcastle as manager there, but it's only been 18 months. The former Newcastle and Blackburn manager could give Bolton the rough treatment to get them playing better, but it's questionable whether Souness's career as a manager may be over.

11. David O'Leary. The former Leeds and Aston Villa manager has reportedly expressed interest in the Bolton position and would be eager for a return to management.

If you were Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, which manager would you choose to succeed Sammy Lee?

The English FA (Football Association) has decided to start the process of redesigning its website, TheFA.com, but what's the point?

The FA even need to even redesign its site. Compared to most football websites, it's better than average. It may look a little outdated, but other than the need to make it look more aesthetically pleasing, the site is fine as it is and functions rather well.

My question is what's the business reason from the FA to redesign the site? What will the new redesign accomplish that the current site doesn't already?

My concern is that the money spent to redesign the site could be better spent.

The FA would never do this, but imagine creating a website similar to MyFootballClub.com and encourage football supporters to pay for the right of voting for the next England manager and be involved in the running of the Football Association?

Besides that, the fans could be involved in the disciplinary hearings to vote on whether teams and players should be punished (by fines or points deductions, in rare cases).

This way, fans would be involved in the running of the game in England and could help restructure the organization into a 21st century association. It would be a revolutionary move, but the people in power at the FA and FIFA would never allow it.

Everton was robbed of a draw against their Merseyside rivals in the 2-1 win by Liverpool today at Goodison Park.

In the final few minutes of the game, Joleon Lescott was clearly pulled down from behind in the box by Jamie Carragher. The decision by referee Mark Clattenburg not to award a penalty was a cruel blow for Everton who were playing with nine men after Hibbert and Neville had been sent off earlier in the match.

The controversial decision not to award a penalty again points to the need for the Premier League (and FIFA) to consider adopting technology to help referees. The fans watching home have the advantage of TV replays. Some of the managers on the touchline have devices where they can watch TV replays. The referee meanwhile is blind to all of this and can only call what he sees (or doesn't see, in this case).

Labels: everton, Liverpool, mark clattenburg

One of the biggest matches of the season for fans of both Everton and Liverpool was ruined today for those viewers subscribed to ITVN.

The IPTV company that provides Setanta Sports over a broadband connection on to your TV set was plagued with technical problems. For example, here's a letter from one irate ITVN customer (just one of many I received this morning):

Gaffer, I'm trying to watch the Merseyside Derby, and I noticed that the ITVN reception was especially troublesome this week - something I attribute to the number of fans that must be tuning in the match (no technical basis for this assumption - just a gut feeling). So, the picture is fine for a while, then pauses, then returns (but not a restart from the same place - it has skipped over the time period that was paused).

Then I start to notice that this problem is very regular and predictable. Specifically: one minute on, and twenty seconds missed; one minute on, and twenty seconds missed. From 23:02 through 24:02 (gametime), my picture is fine, then the screen pauses and the game resumes at 24:22. This has persisted THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FIRST HALF - and I missed Sammy Hypia's own goal as a result.

Question: could ITVN be rationing like California's power grid? Rolling Blackouts, so that say instead of 300,000 people getting the match, they could provide the match to 400,000 people without upgrading their servers...?

I watch more on FSC than I do on ITVN - largely due to the inconvenience of hooking it up and picture quality problems, but I've never experienced anything like this. Thanks, Dave Morris Richmond, VA

Recent requests by EPL Talk to interview ITVN have been ignored. At this rate, they risk losing their customer base who have subscribed to Setanta Sports.

If you're searching for a way to experience Saturday's match between Aston Villa and Manchester United online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Villa and Man United fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the match. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding Aston Villa v Man Utd radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Saturday, October 20 at 12:15pm ET/5:15pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be A Villa, Man United or any other team.

If you're searching for a way to experience Saturday's match between Everton and Liverpool online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Reds, Toffees and neutral fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the match. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding Everton v Liverpool radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Saturday, October 20 at 7:45am ET/12:45pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be Liverpool, Everton or any other team.

The fate of whether England qualifies for next summer's Euro 2008 is now in the hands of Israel after the English national team lost 2-1. If Russia beats Israel and Andorra in its remaining matches, then both Croatia and Russia will qualify automatically leaving England to watch the tournament on television.

The pinnacle match deciding England's fate will be Saturday, November 17, when Israel plays at home against Russia. If Russia wins, then England's fate is doomed. Russia's last match is at home against minnows Andorra on November 21. If Russia doesn't get three points from that match, they don't deserve to qualify for Euro 2008.

Even if England doesn't qualify for the tournament, which would be massive blow, I'm not convinced that a shock to the system like that would do anything to improve the standard of football in England. Sure, McClaren would get sacked. His departure is inevitable. If it doesn't happen in late November, it'll probably happen after Euro 2008 especially if England puts in performances like they did against Andorra, Macedonia and Croatia.

The reason why I think England not qualifying for Euro 2008 will not make a massive difference is because the FA (Football Association) continue making the same wrong mistakes (hiring the wrong sort of managers), the influx of foreign talent into the Premier League and the lack of promising English footballers. Sure there are a handful of talented young players, but they are too far and few between.

Labels: England, euro 2008, israel, russia, steve mcclaren

Bolton Wanderers today sacked Sammy Lee as manager of its football club. Taking a page from Chelsea's book, the club claims the decision was "by mutual consent," which is the new corporate speak for "we sacked him for doing a terrible job, but we're too nice to say that, so we'll say we both came to the same decision."

Sammy Lee became Bolton manager on April 29, 2007, after he was appointed to succeed Sam Allardyce when it emerged in the newspapers that Big Sam had made an agreement with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside to leave the club. While no one knew the system, the club and the players and the modern training methodologies employed by Bolton better than Sammy Lee, many pundits questioned the decision at the time. Many thought, myself included, that Bolton rushed into the decision and would have done better by appointing Lee as a temporary manager until the Trotters could find an adequate manager capable of turning an already powerful side into one that could compete in European competitions such as UEFA.

Ultimately, it was Bolton's poor form in the defense that crippled the side this season, who currently sit second from bottom with just one win all season (against Derby County).

If you watched and listened to Sammy Lee this season, you'd be hard pressed to find such a warm and friendly manager and one who was more than willing to do personal interviews and wear his heart on his sleeve.

Those warm sensibilities carry over from Lee's playing career at Liverpool where he was affectionately known as "Super Sammy Lee." He was such a likeable character then and now, and played with a speed and skill that helped Liverpool achieve so much during its golden years of the early 80s. Lee played for Liverpool from 1976 to 1986 (see Lee pictured above after helping Liverpool win an European Cup).

In Liverpool FC's recent poll which named the "100 Players Who Shook The Kop," Lee was ranked number 47 which is a lofty achievement for a club with so many famous players over the years.

Where does Bolton and Sammy Lee go from here? I wouldn't be surprised if we see Lee take charge of managing a Championship club in the foreseeable future. Bolton, on the other hand, has a difficult decision to make. This Saturday, they play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and The Trotters will put first-team coach Ricky Sabriaga in charge on a temporary basis.

Looking longer term, who's the best person for the Wanderers position? Captain Gary Speed will be a possibility despite his management experience. My pick would be Paul Jewell who would be able to steady the ship at Bolton. The former Wigan manager also has the experience of keeping a Premier League side from avoiding the relegation drop. The question is 'would Jewell even want the job?' after all of the stress of helping Wigan escape? We shall see.

Labels: bolton wanderers, gary speed, sammy lee

I'm in New York today and tomorrow attending another Internet marketing conference, but it's so refreshing to be in a city in the States that embraces soccer -- even on a small scale. Compare this to my home near West Palm Beach, Florida, where soccer is almost invisible.

In New York, I've taken three cab rides. Each cab ride featured, at random, a cab driver who was fluent in soccer. In a previous EPL Talk Podcast episode, I spoke about the crazy Serbian cab driver who sped through the streets of New York City while pumping the sounds of a dance version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" over the speakers. Of course, he was a Liverpool supporter.

Then there was the driver from Senegal who spoke to me about his heroes such as Diouf and Cisse, but his depair for the future of Senegal on the world stage.

Yesterday, the third cab driver made it three-for-three. This one was from Haiti and described in lots of detail and emotion his favorite Brazilian players from the past including Zico, Falcao, Eder and others. This cabbie, too, was a Liverpool supporter.

Walking through along the street of Lafayette and Bowery, I came across a small bar with approximately 20 men sitting in a trance-like state staring at the wall. On closer inspection, I found they were all watching GolTV's broadcast of the Argentina against Venezuela match.

Soccer is alive in this country. You just have to observant and willing to broach the topic to see if strangers are aware of the sport.

I'll return to a regular posting schedule on Thursday. In the meantime, save the 10pm ET time this Thursday for the next live episode of the EPL Talk Show. Visit the EPLTalk.com homepage for a link and more information.

EDIT: Make that four-for-four. In my fourth and final cab ride in New York, my driver was from Egypt and was a huge Manchester United soccer fan. If you find yourself in New York and want to chat to people about soccer, take a cab ride!

Aston Villa's Curtis Davies is a breath of fresh air. In a sport where there is so much 'corporate speak' and layers of agents and publicists telling players what to say, it's refreshing to hear original, intelligent and uncensored thoughts from such a young English player.

For example, Davies is not too egotistical to criticize himself. After his debut match for Villa in the League Cup against Leicester (where Villa lost 1-0), here's what he said about his own performance:

"I was just awful. I didn't contribute anything. I've been bigging myself up, saying I'm ready and obviously I'm not. I'm not good enough to get in the team yet. I'm honest with myself in every performance and that was rubbish - I looked like a pub team player."

And here's what Davies thinks about the exorbitant wages that footballers are paid:

“I think it’s ridiculous the amount of money footballers get paid, right across the leagues. It’s ridiculous that a sport can generate so much money for those who kick a ball around to get paid millions.”

The difference with Davies is that he's not afraid to express his opinions and speak from the heart. Plus he's sharing interesting thoughts rather than repeating the obvious.

If Davies is half as good the player as he is the spokesperson, keep an eye out for him this season. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing him grow as a player on the pitch where West Brom fans have been raving about him for ages.

If I was an executive at BBC, Setanta or Sky, I would be laying the groundwork to have Davies signed as a pundit after his playing career comes to an end. With uncensored thoughts like the ones he's sharing above, Davies could be England's answer to Ireland's trio of Eamonn Dunphy, Johnny Giles and Liam Brady.

Watching the France versus England match from the Rugby World Cup this past weekend, one observation which stuck out in my head was how the England rugby players sang the national anthem ("God Save The Queen") loudly with passion and feeling.

Contrast that with the England football team and most of the players, if they even bother to sing the song, mumble the words with practically closed mouths.

Some may argue it's because the England football players are overpaid. But thinking back to previous England teams (even before the amount of money flooded into the game), I can't remember an England national football team that sang the anthem with pride.

Since there was no issue of the EPL Talk Email Newsletter this week due to the international break, here's the latest Premier League Fantasy Football tip from EPL Talk blogger Jeremy Lay:

Bye Week Strategy

While most players are content to sit tight on their selections during a bye week, some circumstances might lead you to consider making a move. Remember that player values are based on transfers in/out, but not on that player’s injury / suspension status or performance. If you already know that a key player will be injured or suspended for the next GameWeek, transfer him out early before others do the same- you might be able to get a better value for him.

We’re talking about saving a hundred thousand punds or so- so it’s not critical. But astute managers keep an eye on their team values as much as they do on their point totals. If you manage to continue making smart moves throughout the first half of the season, you’ll be able to leverage those extra pounds into a more powerful roster for the second half of the year!

Register for the FREE weekly issue of the EPL Talk Email Newsletter today so you can receive:

• Preview of Premier League matches,


• Premier League TV schedule,


• Fantasy football tips,


• Links to the top news and blog posts of the week,


• Best video of the week,


• A preview of the next EPL Talk Podcast and who the guest will be,


• And more including chances to win prizes offered to EPL Talk Email Newsletter subscribers only.

Sign up today for the FREE EPL Talk Email Newsletter!

Oliver Tse from SoccerTV.com is reporting that IMG Media has announced it will discontinue its soccer magazine TV show FIFA Futbol Mundial at the end of 2007 as part of IMG's latest restructuring effort.

Since its launch in 1994, the show has been one of the best soccer programs on television with comprehensive reports and interviews from all corners of the globe. Each 30 minute weekly episode featured interesting news stories and the quality of the production was second to none.

For many years, especially in the United States, Futbol Mundial was the only source for regularly scheduled soccer news and features on television. In fact, it's been the longest running soccer program on U.S. television (as well as being available in countries around the world).

For IMG to finish this show after 14 years is a devastating blow for soccer fans such as myself. Sure, there's so much soccer content on television these days but there are few shows as interesting as ones like Futbol Mundial and Fans United. Because of the nature of the show, bringing news stories from around the world, the cost to produce the story was probably quite expensive, but the quality and content were superb.

In the past few years in the United States, GolTV has broadcast the Futbol Mundial show.

If you want to express how disappointed you are with IMG deciding to pull the plug on the show, email IMG today at Corporate.Communications@imgworld.com

In the meantime, enjoy the remaining episodes of Futbol Mundial on GolTV between now and the end of the year. If you've never seen the show before and you're a soccer fan, you have to watch it.

Labels: FIFA, fifa futbol mundial, futbol mundial, gol tv, img media

Out of the more 100,000 leagues in this season's Fantasy Premier League, the EPL Talk private league is in 29th place. Out of the 392 people registered in the EPL Talk private league, the top ten players going into the international break are:

1. Hollywood Blues (Gary I), 518 pts
2. Nordic's Red Legion (Five Times), 509 pts
3. Louisville United (Daniel L), 506 pts
4. FC OnceAstanaFestina (Pat Pence), 503 pts
5. Cescy Football (Brendan McCusker), 499 pts
6. Yourpopquizkid's (Phil Curry), 492 pts
7. Erm....United (Rick B), 491 pts
8. Sherwood Sheriffs AC (Karl Yang), 488 pts
9. Monkeyhangers (Mad Muttley), 488 pts
10. AvaM_BranD (Hazril Estacado), 483 pts

Congratulations to Hollywood Blues who is currently in first place. His squad consists of Cech, Shorey, Terry, Lescott, Fabregas, Ronaldo, Petrov, Smertin, Dempsey, Van Persie, Adebayor and subs Kirkland, Distin, Rosenior and Forssell.

Just as in the real football, there's a long way to go in the season. Whether you play or not in the EPL Talk private league, be sure to register for the free EPL Talk Email Newsletter which features fantasy football tips each week as well as a preview of the upcoming Premier League weekend, chances to win prizes, news and much more.

If you're interested in joining the EPL Talk private league, there's still room. Join today!

Labels: fantasy league

Many people look back to the 1980's as a golden age, but for soccer fans living in the United States, it was a quagmire. Not only that, but it was also a very difficult experience admitting you were a soccer fan in those years.

If you were fortunate, you could probably see five to six live matches on TV each year. Nowaways, it's not uncommon to see that many in one day.

To me, the eighties were a very hateful time to be a soccer fan. During high school, I often heard the expression that soccer was "for fags." It was one of those situations where oftentimes it was better to ignore the conversation than try to debate it. After all, when you're the minority, how do you reply to such a derogatory statement like that?

What may surprise some people is that the expression is still used quite often in the US (but not nearly as much as in the 80s). See examples here, here and here.

The problem with soccer in the eighties was just as the sport was making small breakthroughts into being accepted, the hooliganism problem had an extremely negative effect on the sport in the United States. I'm not sure how many Brits realize how Heysel and Hillsborough hurt the growth of the sport in the United States. Not that they would care as the focus would have been on grieving for the lost ones and making dramatic changes in the UK to ensure that similar incidents would never happen again.

In the last few years, I finally feel like I belong as a soccer fan in the United States. No longer am I ridiculed for enjoying soccer. No longer am I accused. Instead, thanks to sites such as this one and many others, I can share my passion and discuss the sport (and league) with like-minded people across the US and around the world.

That said, soccer is still a difficult subject to bring up in social circles in America. For example, this week I'm at an Internet marketing conference in Florida. Anytime I bring up the word "soccer" in conversations (discussing my network of sites), it's guaranteed to be a conversation stopper. There's that awkward silence when people don't know what to say because they have nothing of interest to say about the sport.

Now that you've heard from me on this topic, I'd like to hear from you. Click the comments link below and tell me about a time where you were ridiculed for following soccer, and whether you now feel like you belong. The best answer (as judged by me) will receive a free EPL Talk T-Shirt. Deadline ends tomorrow, Wednesday, October 10.

Viewers to Fox Soccer Channel on Saturday were pleasantly shocked and surprised to see live coverage of Soccer Saturday, the weekly show from Sky Sports.

It was one of those rare Saturdays where Fox Soccer Channel had no Premier League matches on-air while Setanta Sports had the two matches from the day: Manchester United against Wigan, and Aston Villa versus West Ham United. Due to so many English teams playing in the UEFA Cup and Champions League, the majority of the matches are scheduled for Sunday, October 7.

So instead of reruns, Fox Soccer Channel showed Soccer Saturday live from SkySports so many of us had our chance to experience first hand how viewers in the UK follow live matches on TV. For a review of my first Soccer Saturday experience from this past February, go here.

On the minus side, the network only showed the first hour of the show from 10-11am, so viewers were unable to see the second half news and scorelines. Instead, Fox Soccer Channel showed the Premier League Preview Show, an excellent show no doubt, but one that could have been shown in a different timeslot.

If you watched the Soccer Saturday show on Fox, consider yourself fortunate. It's going to be quite some time until we'll have another Saturday with no football on Fox during the Premier League season.

If you're searching for a way to experience Sunday's match between Newcastle and Everton online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Toon Army, Toffees and neutral fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the final. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding Newcastle United v Everton radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Sunday, October 7th at 10am ET/3pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be Newcastle, Everton or any other team.

If you're searching for a way to experience Sunday's match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Liverpool, Tottenham and neutral fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the final. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding Man Utd v Wigan Athletic radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Sunday, October 7th at 10am ET/3pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be Liverpool, Spurs or any other team.

If you're searching for a way to experience Saturday's match between Arsenal and Sunderland online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Gunners, Sunderland and neutral fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the final. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding Man Utd v Wigan Athletic radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Sunday, October 7th at 7am ET/12pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be Arsenal, the Mackems or any other team.

If you're searching for a way to experience Saturday's match between Aston Villa and West Ham United online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Villa, West Ham and neutral fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the final. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding A. Villa v West Ham Utd. radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Saturday, October 6th at 10am ET/3pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be Villa, West Ham or any other team.

If you're searching for a way to experience Saturday's match between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic online, join the EPL Talk Chat hosted by BC John.

We'll have Manchester United, Wigan and neutral fans from around the world chatting in real-time about the final. We'll also be able to tip you off regarding Man Utd v Wigan Athletic radio coverage and how to listen live (depending on what part of the world you live in). The match kicks off on Saturday, October 6th at 7:45am ET/12:45pm GMT. You can access the EPL Talk Chat from the EPL Talk homepage.

If you have your own webcam, feel free to switch it on and point it at you so we can see you wearing your club's colors with pride whether it be ManU, Latics or any other team.

Rafa Benitez has himself to blame for Liverpool's defeat last night in the Champions League. Deciding to put Leto and Aurelio on the left wing and Sissoko in the middle was a devastating mistake.

It was almost as if Benitez seemed to not take Marseille too seriously, the first French side ever to win at Anfield. Valbuena's goal, an exquisite shot, was the deciding factor.

For Benitez, he should have started Arbeloa as left back instead of the woeful Aurelio. Riise should have began the match as left winger instead of Leto, and Mascherano should have been on instead of Sissoko.

With those changes, Liverpool would have been a completely side last night. Based on Sissoko's poor performances recently, how did he start the match and why did Benitez keep him on for 90 minutes?

Life sometimes gets in the way of football.

Juggling three kids, a full-time job and all of the boring aspects of life (getting a haircut, picking up or dropping off drycleaning, getting an oil change, etc), you may find yourself in a similar predicament to me where midweek matches become quite a chore.

If only life was easier where I could support one club and put my foot down and insist on watching them and only them. "Ey by gum lad, I'll only watch Middlesbrough on me telly." Not true, but if you did support Boro, you'd only see them on television maybe once or twice a month (and that would be a good month).

Instead, we had last night's Spurs versus Aston Villa match on Setanta. Here in the States, I got home last night and rubbed my hands with glee at the prospect of watching Spurs (well, not really, but I was excited about watching the match).

Then I realized something. Something terrible. The Monday matches are now on Setanta instead of Fox.

Gutted, because I have Setanta but only on ITVN and no way of taping it (at least, not legally), I felt the sick feeling at the bottom of my stomach that I had missed the match. I decided to tune into Setanta at around 8pm ET with the hope of seeing it re-aired. Instead all I saw was 45 minutes of mind-numbing interviews with Irish rugby players after their defeat against Argentina.

So I decided instead to suck it up and watch the highlights from the news segment of the taped Through The Night from Sky via Fox. Disappointed enough knowing that I missed the match, I was almost despondent when I heard the Sky presenters, at the top of the news program, mention how Spurs had their biggest comeback in their 125 years of football.

Still, I held on with awaited breath to see footage and hear the stories from the big match of the day. As is often the case with Sky, the hype was bigger than the actual substance. No clips from the match and no interviews. What?! I then realized that Setanta had the coverage in the UK and Ireland and, as a result, Sky wouldn't have the rights to the highlights or footage (at least not last night).

Bloody hell.

So where do you go when you don't have highlights and you need an immediate fix? The Premier League website? No. FoxSoccer.com's highlights? No. The club website? Pah! Are you kidding me? Of course, I made my journey over to 101greatgoals.com who provide faster turnaround of clips than even the broadcasters themselves can do (online, that is).

The realization about midweek matches is that they're often more exciting than day matches on weekends. While I won't be as far as saying that midweek matches should be "banned" for the sake of the working man (and being able to squeeze them in), I'm sensing that I -- more than ever -- need to move from ITVN to DirecTV or DISH.

When I do, murphy's law will strike me. I can imagine myself getting home for a football match on a Monday after work and having all of my errands completed. Sitting in front of the television, I pull up the Monday night football match taped earlier on my DVR. I sit back and watch what will undoubtedly be one of the most boring nil-nil draws known to mankind. Ahh, football sometimes gets in the way of life.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 3rd at 11pm ET for the return of the EPL Talk Show, a live one-hour Internet radio show featuring The Gaffer and a special guest.

The special guest for this upcoming episode is Peter Brown, best known for the Divers & Cheats Podcast, and an integral part of the Champions Soccer Radio Network. Brown is a passionate and charismatic soccer presenter and will join me, The Gaffer, for an intriguing look at the stories from the Premier League as well as our reaction to the Champions League matches.

This Wednesday's episode will be the third episode from the EPL Talk Show. While the EPL Talk Podcast focuses on interviews with some of the most interesting people inside the Premier League, the EPL Talk Show is more of a casual and fun discussion about some of the stories as well as a look at the upcoming weekend of Premier League matches scheduled.

For the audience member, you can listen live via the Internet and participate in an online chat with the studio audience. Plus you can call in during the show to ask any soccer-related questions to Peter Brown or me.

The EPL Talk Show will be released as a podcast episode on the EPL Talk Podcast stream/feed the following day (Thursday). But as an extra incentive to show up for the live show on Wednesday night, we'll be giving away one copy of "Love & Blood," the new book about the 2006 World Cup from Fox Soccer writer and U.S. soccer expert Jamie Trecker.

To make sure you get the most out of the live EPL Talk Show and you don't miss a minute, be sure to sign-up for free with Talkshoe via this link. That way, you can sign-up and download the console you'll need to enjoy the experience of the live event with plenty of time to spare before the show kicks off.

The EPL Talk Show will be broadcast live every Wednesday night at 11pm ET/8pm PT. Be sure you don't miss it.

The recent deal between Setanta Sports and DISH Network gave the Irish broadcaster the potential to almost double its audience. With DirecTV and DISH Network offering Setanta Sports, the company has made a giant leap forward to getting into more homes throughout the United States.

The challenge, however, is that not everyone has satellite (either by choice or if they live in an area where they're prevented from having a dish). The stop gap measure for many has been to resort to ITVN, the IPTV company that allows you to view Setanta Sports over your broadband internet connection via a box that's connected to your TV set.

So while more people can access Setanta Sports than before, the experience still isn't optimal for DISH Network and ITVN customers for the following reasons:

1) Both DISH Network and ITVN do not have access to Setanta Xtra, the "overflow" channel that's only available via DirecTV that shows additional matches to the ones that appear on the regular Setanta Sports channel in the United States.

While this isn't the end of the world, it can be annoying for those fans who want to have the choice of deciding which games to watch especially if your favorite team is being shown on Setanta Xtra and not the traditional Setanta channel. For example, Liverpool fans without Setanta Xtra will have been disappointed that they missed the match shown on the channel against Wigan this past Saturday.

2) One of the most frustrating disadvantages of ITVN is the inability to record matches for later viewing. While this may not be as big an issue for Saturday and Sunday matches, it does become extremely problematic for matches shown during midweek while many people in the United States are at 9-5 jobs while matches are being shown.

This week is a perfect example of this where Setanta Sports, which now has the rights to show the Monday matches instead of Fox Soccer Channel, will be showing the Spurs against Aston Villa match. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the channel will be showing key matches from the Champions League.

With DISH Network, you can record matches just as easily as you can with DirecTV.

If you those two above issues don't concern you, then the DISH Network and ITVN may be convenient choices for you. If you're interested in signing up for DISH Network to get Setanta Sports, go here -- or go here to sign up for ITVN.

But right now, the optimal experience for enjoying Setanta Sports belongs to DirecTV viewers who are able to get Setanta Sports, Setanta Xtra as well as the convenience of being able to DVR or record matches.

Unfortunately, the outlook for DISH Network and ITVN solving the issues mentioned above any time soon is very slim.

At the conclusion of the most recent La Liga season, the amount of interest in the premier Spanish league was perhaps the greatest it has ever been worldwide (and that includes the United States).

However, the continuing media war in Spain is crippling La Liga's chances of building a worldwide brand and, at the same time, is ruining the league's chances of closing the gap between the popularity of the league compared to the world's most popular sports league, the Premier League.

The petty feud just goes to show how professional and polished the Premier League business model is. While the Spanish media giants battle thus preventing us from watching many of the top Spanish games, the Premier League is growing in popularity. The quality of the production continues to improve, and the level of entertainment on the pitch is still exciting to watch.

There were more reasons than ever before for new and old soccer fans to watch La Liga this season. The interest is seeing Thierry Henry play at Barcelona. The continual rise of Sevilla and their wonderful art of football. The strengthening of the Real Madrid side and the prospect of watching how Arjen Robben would adapt to the Spanish game. The list goes on and on.

The situation is so terrible with the media war that even viewers in Spain are suffering (you have to read the report from Mando at La Liga Talk, who is currently in Spain, to comprehend how unpredictable and atrocious the war has become).

In the United States, the company that is suffering the most from the war in Spain is undoubtedly GolTV who have been able to show only some matches. The momentum that GolTV was building after La Liga followed by Copa America was impressive. Now the balloon has burst and it's going to take time to rebuild once the media war concludes. Sadly no one knows how long this affair can drag on.

What it illustrates, though, is that despite the Premier League having arguably an inferior product to La Liga (on the pitch, that is) that the winner is the one who can provide a consistent quality product. Right now, the quality may be evident on the pitches across Spain, but if the world isn't watching it, we're missing out and that's a crying shame.

This isn't a short-term issue either. Even after the media war concludes, sports networks around the world must be wondering whether a media war like this can raise its ugly head once again. It's not only the soccer fans that are suffering, but so too is the trust and business relationships that La Liga previously enjoyed with broadcasters. That loss of trust could take years to fix.