Deuce

DCU still going strong! Olsen has really brought them back to life. And De Rosario man. One of the best MLSers of all time. Boggles my mind that he never played in Europe at his peak. Probably could still cut it for most Championship sides and Wigan.

God I hope so, the guy could really use a break.

I don't personally, no. But they are associated with those respective countries and feature those countries' players primarily. Americans. It's pretty simple mate, the 'English' refers to the location in which it is played, England. Not to the nationality of the players. The fans are English, the stadiums are English, the history is English. Fucking simple stuff. Relevance? The haughtiness is way overplayed here. I'm really not saying anything that hasn't been lamented by many PL/BPL/EPL fans concerning the lack of Englishmen in the league. From my experience of most Americans, there seems to be a lack of comprehension of history and the relevance of the past to the present. It's completely clear why the league would be referred to as English, and you're either completely stupid or are deliberately mis-representing your argument. Everyone would love there to be more English players at the highest leagues, but claiming the 'Premier League' isn't english due to the number of foreign imports is ridiculous, and coming from an American, pretty funny. No need to disregard what I say based on my nationality, as my experience with most Brits sees them so want to do (see how stupid that sounds when you generalise?) It does sound stupid, but I'm not sure it's how you meant it. Yes, I am sorry for generalising, but it doesn't mean what you were saying was right. Ultimately football is about entertainment, and I'd much rather Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa than Stuart Downing and Andy Carroll. It doesn't mean, however, we can't wish that the English players were better I'd love it if Steven Taylor was the new Thiago Silva, I really would. But he's not. In reality, my personal interactions with Brits have only ever been positive. We just like giving each other a hard time, particularly about sport. And I wish Steven Taylor was the new Thiago Silva, too.

That's sharp(er).

I don't personally, no. But they are associated with those respective countries and feature those countries' players primarily. Americans. It's pretty simple mate, the 'English' refers to the location in which it is played, England. Not to the nationality of the players. The fans are English, the stadiums are English, the history is English. Fucking simple stuff. Relevance? The haughtiness is way overplayed here. I'm really not saying anything that hasn't been lamented by many PL/BPL/EPL fans concerning the lack of Englishmen in the league. From my experience of most Americans, there seems to be a lack of comprehension of history and the relevance of the past to the present. It's completely clear why the league would be referred to as English, and you're either completely stupid or are deliberately mis-representing your argument. Everyone would love there to be more English players at the highest leagues, but claiming the 'Premier League' isn't english due to the number of foreign imports is ridiculous, and coming from an American, pretty funny. I'm perfectly aware of why the English Premier League is called as such. No need to disregard what I say based on my nationality, as my experience with most Brits sees them so want to do (see how stupid that sounds when you generalize?) Such an easy wave of the hand, when it's completely unfounded. You want to talk history, we can talk history. I'm just not so sure I understand how, on one hand, someone can claim the league's unique Englishness and on the other, lament how much foreign influence there is in the league (ownership, fans, players, etc.) Not saying you, but that's objectively true of many English supporters.

Gutierrez for sure. It'll be (mostly) unwarranted too.

@OptaJoe: 112 - Newcastle United made more substitutions than any other team in the 2011-12 Premier League. Changes.

I don't personally, no. But they are associated with those respective countries and feature those countries' players primarily. Americans. It's pretty simple mate, the 'English' refers to the location in which it is played, England. Not to the nationality of the players. The fans are English, the stadiums are English, the history is English. Fucking simple stuff. Relevance? The haughtiness is way overplayed here. I'm really not saying anything that hasn't been lamented by many PL/BPL/EPL fans concerning the lack of Englishmen in the league.

I don't personally, no. But they are associated with those respective countries and feature those countries' players primarily.

Sure, just like any other team. Is the problem that Celtic/Rangers are Scottish? What about Swansea and Cardiff, they are Welsh. I agree they should f*** off as well It just seems a bit daft calling it the English Premier League when teams from Wales are playing in it. Don't get me wrong I like the Welsh teams. It's not called the English Premier League. It's called the Premier League. Technically it's the "Barclay's" Premier League, but yeah. Colloquially, "English" PL... Only non-English people call it the "English" Premier League. Which is probably the majority of people who follow the league... My point is, the Premier League is the "English" league as the Bundesliga is the German league as La Liga is the Spanish league. The difference being the latter two are majority German and Spanish players, respectively. Anyhow, this is all fairly moot I suppose.

Sure, just like any other team. Is the problem that Celtic/Rangers are Scottish? What about Swansea and Cardiff, they are Welsh. I agree they should f*** off as well It just seems a bit daft calling it the English Premier League when teams from Wales are playing in it. Don't get me wrong I like the Welsh teams. It's not called the English Premier League. It's called the Premier League. Technically it's the "Barclay's" Premier League, but yeah. Colloquially, "English" PL...

But are any pre-season friendlies really "must-win"? I'd still trot out mostly youngsters against Monaco.

I think you can question he ability but not his heart/ effort. Really don't know where you get that from. He is a coward. Which affects nearly every decision he makes. Im sure he loves the club and the team but he doesnt have the balls to go past players or challenge them one-on-one, which constantly invites pressure and poses unnecessary risk. Coward's a bit strong a word to describe an athlete, imo.

Sure, just like any other team. Is the problem that Celtic/Rangers are Scottish? What about Swansea and Cardiff, they are Welsh. I agree they should f*** off as well It just seems a bit daft calling it the English Premier League when teams from Wales are playing in it. Don't get me wrong I like the Welsh teams. It's a bit daft calling it the English Premier League when the majority of its players aren't English. Shouldn't there be a fair few american sports leagues called 'International' instead of 'National'? NHL, NBA etc have teams from Canada. Good point. Canada might as well be the 51st state, though. Cue the Canadians to give me an earful now

Sure, just like any other team. Is the problem that Celtic/Rangers are Scottish? What about Swansea and Cardiff, they are Welsh. I agree they should f*** off as well It just seems a bit daft calling it the English Premier League when teams from Wales are playing in it. Don't get me wrong I like the Welsh teams. It's a bit daft calling it the English Premier League when the majority of its players aren't English.

Sure, just like any other team. Is the problem that Celtic/Rangers are Scottish?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ELFl2_1q7DI/TObn1HnV2fI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/5JkvAtpbv7k/s1600/Not_sure_if_serious.jpg They tossed that around for a bit earlier this season hadn't they? Having Celtic/Rangers switch to the English system. At least until Rangers' problems started.

What do people here think about folding the Scottish system into the English system? Or at least allowing Celtic to switch?

Borini? Yep. Sorry, thought it might've been Dempsey.

FYP.

@BrianSciaretta Big news coming for Liverpool in the next 30 minutes? Sounds like it Maxi to Newell's Old Boys, Borini to Anfield, etc. Or maybe something else

It is the spikes that bring the gravitas, the will and the edge that holds the whole ensemble together. Without them, the shirt (and ultimately, the team) would simply fall apart. I like 'em! So meta.

Then why put them on in the first place? just to piss you off Most likely, the fuckers.

I wonder which old Italian journeyman Montreal will sign next (not including Nesta in that). I mean, I get that Montreal has loads of Italians, but are the likes or Bernardo Corradi and Marco Di Vaio really going to draw Italians to the Stade Saputo more so than bigger name non-Italian players? Ferrari was decent before the injury tbf.

Then why put them on in the first place?