OT-BPL opening day thread

Submitted by PB-J Time on
Well my son decided that we'd be up (well before) the start of the BPL season today. I know there are many fans here. Who's your team & why? Where do you see them finishing?

I did a post last year comparing BPL to B1G teams, & decided Liverpool was most analogous to Michigan & have been rooting for them since. Almost worked out last year. I think they'll still be top 4 but losing Suarez will likely keep them away from serious title contention. Fist game in is the OSU/Yankees of the league vs Swansea on NBCSN. Enjoy!

MaizeNBlu628

August 16th, 2014 at 7:58 AM ^

My fav team was Fulham for a while when they had Dempsey, and I had a chance to go to one of their games on Boxing Day a few years back. Unfortunately, they got relegated last year, so I'm hoping they'll be back up next year.



I think my team now is Everton. My father in law was there 2 years ago and got me one of their blue/yellow kits, so if nothing else, their color scheme is top notch! Add in Tim Howard as their keeper, what's not to like. Though I think they will finish mid table this year, maybe sneak into the last Europa league spot.

E.L. blue fan

August 16th, 2014 at 8:03 AM ^

I am excited for the season but I don't really have a favorite Premier League team. I use to have a least favorite: Manchester City. I like them more now that they are partnering with an MLS team and are supposidly going to be loaning some good young players over here though. So now I just root for teams with Americans on them. 

CoachBP6

August 16th, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^

Chelsea fan here.  Grew up watching Gianfranco Zola aka the magician, and fell in love with them and their history.  Played soccer for many years until it became time to choose between it and football.  I think Chelsea have as good a shot as any of the big guys to win it all this year and I think they will do so.  According to several acclaimed sites, Chelsea are the overwhelming favorites to do just that.  



Internationally I support my nationality, The Dutch, and I have become quite fond of Van Gaal during his time as coach.  

I will say that my love for Michigan football has built a hatred of the buckeyes so much so that I cannot ever root for any team in any sport that dons the color red or scarlet.  

bacon1431

August 16th, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^

I'm a Wolves fan obviously, but I still watch the Prem faithfully. Lots of great storylines this year.



And as I type, Swans score a beautiful goal to open up the season!!

Sopwith

August 16th, 2014 at 8:32 AM ^

just to find out what BPL is.  Ohhhhhhhh.... BPL is EPL.  Assuming the B is for British, are there any non-English British teams in the league? 

Barca Wolverine

August 16th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^

I've been a gunners fan ever since I first saw Thierry Henry play back in the early 2000s. When that team is playing well, you get to see why soccer is called the beautiful game.



But Barca for life son. For life

GoBlueRandy

August 16th, 2014 at 9:06 AM ^

Liverpool supporter here. Should be an interesting year with so many new faces. Aa far as predictions go, I'm just hoping for top 4 to stay in CL.



As for everyone else, I think Chelsea will win the league narrowly over City, leaving MU. Arsenal, and Liverpool fighting for top 4.

JTrain

August 16th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaalllllllllllllll!

I know nothing about soccer. Just that when they score the announcer tells the above.....

Happy Saturday fellas. The hype meter is rising. (((((GO BLUE)))))

In reply to by JTrain

itsbigcat

August 16th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^

Attention all not soccer fans! This is how you are supposed to post in a thread about soccer when you don't care. Please notice the lack of dickishness in this young mans response and excitement,



Someone buy this guy a beer

UofMGoBlue16

August 16th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^

Man City Fan here. My mom is and has been a big fan for a while, long before their first title a couple years back, and as a result I am too. I see them finishing somewhere in the top 2 this season. Hopefully Aguero can stay healthy

blackstarwolverine

August 16th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^

Hate Mourhino--his mind games are overrated and the media act as his lapdog. Look forward to getting revenge against Fabregas and the Blues. Can't see anyone outside of Man City winning it this year; Pellegrini is a good manager, and their team is loaded from front to back--depth and quality around. Sorry to the Man United fans, you won't finish in the top four--Spurs, Everton, or Liverpool for the fourth spot behind City, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Arsenal for the double--FA Cup again and the Champs League (must win it at some point).

SCS100

August 16th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^

Dortmund suffered a ton of injuries and slipped up enough to allow Bayern to win a lot earlier than everyone would have expected, even with that long unbeaten run. Given that Martinez is out with a torn ACL and there's no way BVB suffers another injury crisis like that, I expect it to be a lot closer this year.

Bill the Butcher

August 16th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^

Liverpool fan here.  Been following since '98 when I was but a wee lad and Michael Owen was my favorite player (I'm not sure I'll ever get over him not reaching his full potential).  I think it will be tough to replicate last years results but I'm hoping to maintain a spot in the CL.  We have some great young talent, but you gotta wonder how much longer Gerrard will play and who will fill that massive void that will be left when Captain Fantastic hangs em up.

 

Istanbul in '05 is still one of the greatest days in sports fandom for me.

 

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!

Generic MGoBlogger

August 16th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^

I think I'm actually going to follow through with watching the league this year.  It's always been something I wanted to start watching but just never have.  I don't know how I haven't considering that I love watching soccer, but I'm really excited about it.  Plus, it'll help get my mind away from the Tigers for the time being.  As for teams, I'll pull for Dempsey's old club, Tottenham (Soon to be Yedlin's too) and Howard's current one, Everton. 

Don Keypunch

August 16th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^

Thanks to Allan Shearer & Michael Owen dominating me while playing FIFA World Cup 1998 on my
playstation. Where will they finish........not in a place to gain European competition next season and not relegated......sigh....

bacon1431

August 16th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^

In other English footy news, Emerson Hyndman, an 18 year old American MF is making his second consecutive start for Fulham in the Championship today. From perusing Fulham forums after their game last week, everyone had his performance as a 7-8 out of 10. Don't know what level of prospect he is considered for the USMNT, but good to see a Yank getting quality time.

bacon1431

August 16th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^

And if you want to see some real footy, tune into Wolves-Rotherham. Should be streams somewhere online. In the two games they played last year, there were 16 goals combined. Should be enough for the pundits that think soccer is boring ;)

Prince Lover

August 16th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

So I figured I'd find out.
My parents always said a soccer field was a waste of a good grass infield, so I was raised on baseball. Needless to say, they have been giving me grief when I told them my 5yr old will start soccer in September. I'll be learning the sport this fall and am looking forward to it.
Enjoy opening day!!

And of course, Go Blue!!

nowayman

August 16th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^

Especially starting that young.  Having to control a ball with your feet while moving leads to very good body control.  Especially in sports where lateral and reverse movements are needed to excel.

Point being, even if the kid wants to play a different sport later the time won't be wasted.

Edit: it probably wouldn't help much for hockey.

ToDefyTheFrizzleFry

August 16th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^

My favorite club is Stoke City. They're located in the county from where I get my family name, so I decided a few years back to pull for them. I see another top 10 finish, somewhere in the 7-10 range.

Randy Marsh

August 16th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^

Chelsea fan for dumb reasons. I like their colors and did good with them in FIFA so I started following the real team and grew to really like them. Didn't realize Mourinho is such a villain until I started supporting them, but I like him. It's kind of fun being a fan of a team with that "everybody and everything hates us" thing going on.

Eden Hazard is my homeboy and the preseason got me to buy into the Diego Costa hype. They obviously have a very legitimate shot at the league this year and I can see it now: Champions League final goes to penalty kicks where late sub Didier Drogba gets the winning goal, just like 2012. 

Also, it might just be me, but there seems to be far less diving and rolling around in club games as compared to the world cup, so that's cool.

Clarence Boddicker

August 16th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^

Another Chelsea fan here. Got into them because of Didier Drogba--love the way he played, and the fact that he's so exceptional off the pitch as well. (Happy to see him back in the number 15 jersey this season.) It also helps that they are the Blues, and I cannot root for any team that wears red.