FA Cup - Can you help a brother out

[T-bone]

With the addition of Fox Soccer Network to my television lineup, I find myself watching nothing but Premier Soccer these days. Italian, Brazilian, Mexican soccer I used to love. But none of these seem to match the teams in the Premier league.

So, how about some help for this American rookie.

How do they rank the teams? Is it total goals for the season? As I look at the standings, it appears Man U has it all wrapped up (and rightly so with players like Rooney and Ronaldo).

Also, what are the chants they're singing? And how do I interpret? I've learned a few Cockney sayings in my travels to London (Apples and Pears) but I haven't a clue with these chants.

Thanks,

tbone

[Jimmyb]

The FA cup and the Premier League are different tournaments.

The FA cup is open to all members of the English Football Association (which includes Cardiff and Wrexham, although they're actually Welsh teams). This is a straight knock-out tournament, although the Premier League teams do not get entered into the draw until the third round. This gives some of the smaller teams the potential to play the larger teams.

The Premier League is based on a points system, with 3 points being given for a win, 1 for a draw and nothing for losing. If teams have the same number of points from wins, then the goal difference (scored-conceded) determines placing. If this again is the same, the number of goals scored determines placing, from then it's alphabetical if it's still the same.

As for the chants, these tend to vary by club and the people that are playing for them at the time. Quite often they can be derrogatory (one used for David Beckham went along the lines of "you're sh%^ and you wife's a sl*&") More commonly used ones are "You'll never walk alone" (Liverpool) "Blue Moon" (Manchester City).

*disclaimer*

I know very little about football, it's not my thing, but I work in an office full of people that know what they're talking about.....

!!!Hot Tip!!!

For all of you betting guys, I can say with 100% confidence, that a team will win the FA cup.

[Petersonic]

Jimmyb's explanation was pretty good. If you have any other questions, keep 'em coming, quite a few soccer fans around here.
Yeah, the Premier League has been really good the last couple of years. Do you get the German Bundesliga as well? Pretty good league too, nice matches and all...

[colinboy]

up da gunners.come on Arsenal!i hope they beat Liverpool tonight in the champions league!

[T-bone]

That explains a lot. Thank you very much!

Those chants are brutal. And to turn against Beckham - that would be like us turning against Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.

As I watch these games, it appears to me Man U is one of the greatest teams I've seen. Rooney I dig and Ronaldo is one in a million. I sure wish we had teams like that here in the States.

Thanks again......tbone

[KennethB]

Originally Posted by colinboy

up da gunners.come on Arsenal!i hope they beat Liverpool tonight in the champions league!

Yes, Liverpool won 4-2!!! Yeeaaaaaahhh!!!

[azzy_wazzy]

That was horrible to watch. I'm no Arsenal lover, but I really dislike Liverpool. No WAY was that a penalty. Arsenal were class all night and they were robbed!

(And this is coming from a bitter Hammer)

[colinboy]

disgusted alrite but they got lucky with penalty and it was all over after that.we really need to buy some new players in the summer as we dont have a big enough squad to cope with the busy season.

[Jimmyb]

As I'm in an office full of scouser's they seem fairly happy with the way things turned out....

I didn't even know that there was a match on, although I did notice a lot of traffic on my way home last night.

Oh well, F1 is back in a couple of weeks

[puppyonacid]

Of all the places I can't believe it's here that I'm saying this. I mean. C'mon. Why al lthe negativity towards Liverpool? They played well. I know Arsenal played well to but.....and this is the point..........Arsenal played us 3 times in 6 days. In 270 mins of football you scored 4 and conceeded 6. In 3 games you couldnt beat us. We played you twice at the Emirates and you couldnt beat us then at Anfield and you lost. The Pen only seems so contencious because the one against Kuyt wasn't given last week. Yes I believe it should have been, but regardless, I don't think it would have changed the overall result. Sorry, but Liverpool aren't footy haters. We appreciate good footy regardless of who's playing. Credit where credits due and when we get beat we're always the first to hold our hands up and take hats off to the opposing side.

I think all this bad feeling towards LFC is a bit harsh. It's not like we're Man U!

[T-bone]

So it's okay to bash Man U but not Liverpool? Isn't that a bit like bashing Microsoft?

As a complete outsider, as a person who loves watching the best athletes in their respective sport, as someone who knows nothing about the history of Premier soccer and no allegiance to any team, I have to say Man U is one of the greatest teams I've ever watched. Now I know a lot of you guys hate them, but you have to respect how they play as a team.

Now, what the heck is a footy hater?

tbone

[KennethB]

I'm a Liverpool fan, but what I want the most when I'm watching football is a good game and great playing. So I'm no sore loser. For instance, I wasn't sad when Liverpool lost the CL-final against AC Milan. I have a lot of respect for Man U, they're a fantastic team.

[puppyonacid]

I was being ironical. Course, being scouse by birthright I am supposed to detest MAn U. And some of their supporters wind me up. But in all honesty, they play the most consistantley irresistable football I have seen over the past 15 years. Some of my all time favey players have been Man U players, much as it pains me to say that. If Liverpool don't win the champions League I'd rather it was Man U. I remember when they were on for the treble. I was barking at the TV as loud as anyone when Sheringhams goal went in in that CL final in '99.

I was talking about Liverpool with one of my students last night about al lthis bad feeling towards LFC. He made a good point. I guess people are getting a bit cheesed at the fact LFC are always there or there abouts in the the CL but can't sustain a decent challenge for the prem title. I'd love us to win the CL every season but......I suppose a lot of scousers feel the same. I'd rather have the premiership title. It does seem almost like we're trivialising the prem. But the premiership is a way harder competition to win. So I can't have anything but respect for Man U.

[azzy_wazzy]

Originally Posted by puppyonacid

I was being ironical. Course, being scouse by birthright I am supposed to detest MAn U. And some of their supporters wind me up. But in all honesty, they play the most consistantley irresistable football I have seen over the past 15 years. Some of my all time favey players have been Man U players, much as it pains me to say that. If Liverpool don't win the champions League I'd rather it was Man U. I remember when they were on for the treble. I was barking at the TV as loud as anyone when Sheringhams goal went in in that CL final in '99.

I was talking about Liverpool with one of my students last night about al lthis bad feeling towards LFC. He made a good point. I guess people are getting a bit cheesed at the fact LFC are always there or there abouts in the the CL but can't sustain a decent challenge for the prem title. I'd love us to win the CL every season but......I suppose a lot of scousers feel the same. I'd rather have the premiership title. It does seem almost like we're trivialising the prem. But the premiership is a way harder competition to win. So I can't have anything but respect for Man U.

Puppy you are spot on!

My niggle with Liverpool is that if they win the CL again, we'll be subjected to the usual comments from fans such as "Ooh, Liverpool are the greatest team in the world! Aren't we brilliant? We've won it more times than anyone else!" But then as you say, they consistently fail to do ANYTHING in the Prem. I mean, one season UEFA even had to do them a favour and stick them in the CL Qualifiers because the failed to even finish 4th in the league despite winning the competition.

No offence, but anyone can win a cup competition. Hell, my West Ham should probably have beaten Liverpool to that FA Cup the other year, but it just goes to show that anyone can do it in a cup. Look at this season's FA Cup. Greece winning the Euro Championships anyone?

I think Liverpool just think they're all that and a bag of chips, but they're not. And if people diss Man U and Chelsea and Arsenal who have all won the league whilst competing on other fronts as well, I think we are more than justified to give the Pool a bit of stick.

Plus yes, they stole my FA Cup - broke my heart that did!

[Petersonic]

I don't know, I'm a much bigger fan of efficient football than beautiful football (I know, one doesn't necessarily exclude the other, but anyway). Every now and then the press (the Brazilian press, at least) likes to turn some matches into "the guys with the offensive and beautiful football" versus "the guys who play ugly and defensive football", I ALWAYS root for the ugly football one. Then again, I'm from the south of Brazil, the rest of the country loves to hate our teams, saying they're violent and so on. Bunch of sore losers...
Well, sorry for the rant, back to the topic now: I like Liverpool, I don't hate Man U, I don't hate Chelsea but I dislike Avram Grant... I'm cool with any of them winning the CL. I just don't want Barcelona to win it.