The Vertical's EPL Picks

So Endy went with a shocker and picked Chelski over his beloved Liverpool. Now its my time to give my picks. So here goes.

1. Chelski: The only thing that scares me is that there is really no cover if any thing happens to Drogba.
2. Liverpool: Might have the best starting 11 in the league last year. But a lack of depth killed then and letting Alonso go to Real Madrid means that they are still stuck on 18 titles.
3. Manchester United: Ronnie and Carlos are both gone, so this will be a year of transition for United. Maybe an FA Cup. But the 2010/2011 season you will see another championship side developed.
4. Arsenal: Its going to be close with them and City, but in the end Wenger knows what he is doing and Hughes does not.
5. Manchester City: see above. How about spending more money on a manager.
6. Aston Villa: Love the way this team is being built, through young English players.
7. Spurs: Crouch and Defoe, I think I saw this at Portsmouth.
8. Everton: Moyes might be the manager in premier league.
9. Sunderland: They spend a lot of money over the summer maybe they will show improvement on the field.
10. Fulham: Being in Europe will be a test for Fulham.
11. West Ham: Zola will have the hammers playing some good football, but in the end will not have the quality to get into the top half of the table.
12. Blackburn: Big Sam can always save teams from going down.
13. Wigan
14. Stoke City
15. Wolves
16. Birmingham City
17. Bolton
18. Burnley
19. Hull City
20. Portsmouth

First Manager to get the sack: Paul Hart Portsmouth
Best Signing: Mike Owen, Manchester United. They signed him for nothing and he could score double figures.
Golden Boot: Torres.
War of Words be Sir Alex and Rafa starts: I'm going to say that it has already started.

Endy in the Outfield's EPL Preditions

The Premier League Season is set to start in less then a day, so its time for OTWT resident Liverpool Fan Endy in the Outfield to gives us his thoughts the marathon that is the premier league.

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Manchester City
6. Fulham
7. Tottenham
8. Everton
9. Aston Villa
10. Blackburn
11. West Ham
12. Wigan
13. Sunderland
14. Stoke City
15. Bolton
16. Birmingham City
17.Wolverhampton
18. Burnley
19. Hull City
20. Portsmouth

First manager to get sacked: Phil Brown, Hull City
Best signing: Carlos Tevez, Manchester City
Golden boot: Fernando Torres, Liverpool
War of words between rafa and sir alex start: Week of Sept 19th.

Jersey Palooza

Fans take pride in their soccer jersey, no matter the game, fans will wear the jersey that shows support for their current club, that was no different during the Real Madrid and DC United game on Sunday. The OTWT Tailgating Crew did our best to create a running list of the some of the jerseys that we saw in the crowd.

Some of the jerseys that were spotted:

DC United
Real Madrid old and new
Dutch
Barca
Portugal
Liverpool
Various South American clubs
Brazil
Germany
Eric Cantona United Jersey
Manchester United
Arsenal
England
Argentina
Benfica
Croatia
Celtic
Roma
Aston Villa
Boca Juniors.
Porto
AC Milan
Juventus
France
Bayern Munich
USA National Team
River Plate
FC Dallas
Ajax
PSG
Everton
Sao Paulo
Lyon
I'm sure we missed some but this shows how much soccer teams support their teams.

The Final Notebook

Some seasons have already started and others are on the very. So here is OTWT thoughts on the final couple of friendlies.
• Love the salmon colored Barca jerseys they wore during the Seattle Sounders game.
• MLS Teams have looked terrible in these friendlies.
• I know they got a ton for Alonso but Liverpool saw their title dreams leave when the Spanish international left Anfield. I'm sorry Lucas and Aquilani are not the answer.
• Real Madrid are going to take some time gell during the game against DC United they looked a little disjointed.

Professional Tailgating: On the Road Again

The Only Time Will Tell hit the road again on Sunday to go to see the most expensive team in the world, Real Madrid. So the crew loaded up the car and headed to DC to see Madrid take on DC United. Here are some of the sites and sounds of the game that drew approximately 72,000 people to FedEx Field.

The grill was cooking some fresh meatsThe most expensive team in the world, Real Madrid, arrives at the stadium

FedEx Field would make a classic World Cup venue in the future

Real Madrid take the field to warm up

Both teams take the field




A moment of silence for Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol captain, who passed away late last week

Our seats were really high up, but were really not that bad

OTWT goes to Washington

Follow the Only Time Will Tell Tailgating crew as they go to Washington for the DC United/Real Madrid game at www.twitter.com/JWVerticalJump updates all day long.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

The proper way to honor a legend

What is the proper way to honor a legend?

Is it to retire his jersey, have a special day for them, or build a statue in their honor. That is what we do in the United State, but in England they do it a different way. Take a look around at the classic stadiums in England and many of them have stands that are named after long time club heroes.

Take West Ham United's Upton Park, two of their stands are named after all-time great players Bobby Moore (above) and Sir Trevor Brookings. Nottingham Forest has a stand named after their iconic manager Brian Clough at the City Ground, and Wolves have a stand named after Wolves legend Bill Wright at Molineux.

I know what people are asking right now, what is the point of this. Last week the Eagles lost long time Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson. Johnson was the heart and soul of the defense and meant so much to the crazy fan base. I wonder how the Eagles are going to handle honoring a man that was one of the faces of the franchise for so many years.

The Eagles should name one of the stands after the Johnson. Doing this would allow fans from all generation to remember how much Johnson contributed to the Eagles. At West Ham, kids ask their parents to tell stories about Moore and Brookings, just imagine the situation at Lincoln Financial Field when a young child ask his father about how great a coach Jim Johnson was, all because they are sitting in the Jim Johnson Stand. I know the Eagles will do the right thing and honor him in a variety of different ways, but naming a stand after him would allow the fans to keep his memory for a long time.

Say it with me, the Jim Johnson Stand, it has a real nice ring to it.

The Champions League Playoffs are interesting

In some years the final round of Champions League Playoff can be almost a bore, but this year that could be different with one tie Arsenal vs. Celtic. The team that drops this tie could be in financial trouble. Both clubs count on the Champions League group stage money in order to fund their spending, so going out before that stage could be a mess for both. Rangers went out in an earlier playoff round last year and they are still trying to dig out from the lost revenue.

Here are some predictions for the playoff round:

• FC Sheriff v Olympiakos: Olympiakos
  
• SV Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa: Red Bull Salzburg
  
• FK Ventspils v FC Zurich: FC Zurich
  
• FC Copenhagen v Apoel Nicosia: FC Copenhagen
  
• Levski Sofia v Debrecen: Leveski Sofia
  
• Lyon v Anderlecht: Lyon
  
• Celtic v Arsenal: This has PK written all over it, but I can not see Wenger going out at this point.
  
• FC Timisoara v VfB Stuttgart: VFB Stuttgart
  
• Sporting v Fiorentina: Fiorentina
  
• Panathinaikos v Atletico Madrid: Panahinaikos, the shocker of the round. Last years the Greeks booked a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
  

Some leagues are up and running, while others about to start. It feels like it has been a long time since we have all had club football.

Is he staying or is he going?

The Daily Mail Soccer section has differing views on what is going to happen to Liverpool's Xabi Alonso. On the top of their site, they have a story about Liverpool and Real Madrid agreeing to the fee for Alonso, while right under it they have a story about Real dropping their interest in Spanish midfielder. I think the real story is that Alonso is heading to Real, but maybe the Daily Mail should update their site a little quicker.

Blast from the Past

College football preview magazines often focus on the positives of a football program, but often the positives turn out to be false. Here is a look back at some cover of the Smith & Street College Football previews from the last couple of years. Some cover choices now seem a little weird.

2006 Washington edition: WSU's Jason Hill. It's been a touch couple of years of state of the Washington when it comes to college football.

2005 Pennsylvania edition: Pitt's Tyler Palko. He was once thought to be a superstar but now it seems like a bad choice.

2004 Washington edition: Charlie Frederick, really. Wow it must have been a weak year in Washington.

2003 South Carolina edition: Really Dondrial Pinkins. I'm a big college football fan and this name caught me by surprise.

2003 Texas edition: Coach Fran and A&M. This had to be long before the secret email newsletter.

Making a Case

For the last three season, Mike Teel has both loved and vilified for his play as the QB at the State University of New Jersey, but one thing is clear Teel should have his #14 retired for good. I know what people are going to say, ya he started the season 1-5 last season, while some of that was his fault, some of the blame has to go the players around them.

After starting the season so bad, Teel rallied to bring the Knights to a bowl. On October 25, 2008, Teel threw 6 touchdown passes for 361 yards against #17 Pittsburgh, a school record. He was chosen as National Player of the Week for the first time in his career. On December 4, 2008, Teel had a career night in the final home game of his college career, completing 21 of 26 passes for 447 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions as Rutgers routed Louisville 63-14. The yardage and touchdown totals were single game school records as the Scarlet Knights finished their schedule at 7-5. After being so bad, Teel finished the season with 25 TD passes and a completion percentage of 61.6 percent, the highest in his three year career as a starter.

Teel's career is almost story book. He won three straight bowl games as a starter also beat two top five teams at home in nationally televised games, South Florida and Louisville. Those two wins are the two biggest in the history of the school.

During his career, Teel set passing records in all major categories including yards, 9,383, and touchdowns, 59. Those are numbers that you can not turn your back on. He was also drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Seahawks.

I know some people that sit in my section during the season hated Teel, but I have always been on of his biggest supporters. The staff at Rutgers should show their appreciation for him contribution to the program and retire his #14. Thanks Mike for making Rutgers football matter.

OTWT Preseason Notebook #2

OTWT home office is a buzz as ESPN 360 is up and running that means more preseason games for the second installment of the preseason notebook.

• After a terrible Champions League Final United's Anderson looks like he is going to grow up a little.
• He might not be Ronnie, but few are, Valencia might be better then people think.
• Watching United vs. Boca Game, it looks like Rooney might be playing in a role similar to Totti's at Roma. That creative player between the forwards and the midfielders.
• Everton is still Everton and that means that they are just solid, so solid.
• After watching Milan in the Audi Cup, I can only say one thing they are terrible. I would be shocked if they qualified for the Champions League next year.
• Why do I have this feeling that Gibson is going to have a huge roll for United this season.
• Munich looked to be a team that is deep enough to make a run to Champions League Final.
• Ever time Michael Owen goes down I hold my breath, cause he could always be out for a while.
• Watching the Ajax and Atl. Madrid game and am wondering if Martin Jol is going to wear a hat all season like he did last year, when he was in Germany.
• The Barca kids are amazing. Its like the football factory never stops.
• Sometimes I think that Wenger knows something that no one else knows.
• Wenger needs to find more playing time for Jack Wilshere. He was super impressive during Arsenal game vs. Rangers.
• What is a more valuable preseason Cup to win the Peace Cup or the Emirates Cup.
• Villa's Peace Cup win could give them the confidence to get off to a good start in EPL.

Fashion Disaster

I know they are not as bad as Newcastle United yellow look, but Readings neon green road kit might rank right up there. The Royals unveiled them today when they played Chelski in a friendly. Neon green letter on a white shirt and neon green shorts, just screams classy.

The Nick Johnson Era is Over, Thank God

Wow for one day I'm proud to be a Nationals fan. Why you ask, cause they did the right thing in trading often injured first baseman Nick Johnson to the Marlins for left handed prospect Aaron Thompson.

I know its not a big deal to most but to me it means something. Johnson was never going to be part of the teams long range plans, so why not move him and get a player that might help you down the road.

Thompson is the 13th ranked player in the deep fish system. The left-handed pitcher out of Houston features a fast ball that touches the low 90s, according to Baseball America.

Ok it does not sound like he is a top of the line starter, but to get a guy that can filled out the back end of the rotation is a good thing for a player that was part of future plans.

A Tale of Two Cities

At the start of the year, the Mets and Phillies were supposed to battle to the end for the NL East crown, but that has not happened. Just take a look at the back pages of the Philly Daily News (left) and the New York Daily News (right) and the story will be told.

The Phillies are talking about if they want to give up Kyle Drabek in a deal for Toronto ace Roy Halladay, while the Mets have a fine mess built around attacks on beat writer and a executive who wanted to fight a group of minors leagues.

The two front pages could not better tell the story of the two teams different stories. The Phillies are trying for back to back World Series titles, while the Mets are just trying to get people to take them seriously.

Soccer Preseaon Notebook #1

Every where you turn there are preseason soccer games on the TV. From the Peace Cup to the World Football Challenge to the Emirates Cup there have been a tons of games to sample. Here are some OTWT thought about different this games.

• Chelski Zhirkov looks like he might be the best signing in the EPL.
• Diego and Melo might be the pieces that Juve might need to win Serie A.
• The one thing that still bothers me about Real Madrid is that they still need a creative mid-fielder.
• Its weird seeing Ronnie in the all white of Real Madrid. He will always be a United player in my eyes.
• One thing that has been good to see in the World Football Challenge is how good Club America are. Shows how good the Mexican League is.
• There was no one at the Peace Cup in Spain a real shame, cause it has quality teams.
• Is there a better name in soccer then Porto's Hulk.
• AC Milan stinks, its that simple. If it continues they might be in the Europa League in 2010/2011.

Other preseason notebooks coming in the coming weeks.

The Tickets have arrived

Got home yesterday and look what was sitting in my mailbox, ya my tickets to see Real Madrid vs. DC United. Can not wait.

Soccer's Lost Souls

Three years ago, Jose Antonio Reyes and Ricardo Quaresma were the talk of the football world. Both were talented offensive player that played with flair. Fast forward a couple of years and both have almost lost their ways.

Reyes dazzled as a young player at Sevilla and then Professor Wenger made a move to bring him to his football factory in London.

Things started well for the young Spaniard, but it soon turned sour after reports surfaced that Reyes was not happy in London and wanted to return the Spain. Arsenal loaned Reyes to Real Madrid for the 2006-2007 season, but he did not impress enough to earn a permit deal. Arsenal then decided to sell Reyes to Atletico Madrid where he spent a season before he was sent out on load to Benfica for the 2008-2009. While playing well at the Portuguese giants, a full time move was not agreed upon. So to start this season Reyes will again be with Atletico Madrid looking to settle with a club for more then one season. Despite being only 25, Reyes has played for five different clubs and is in the process of being an lost player on the world stage.

Quaresma is the Portuguese version of the Reyes, a ton of talent but has yet to settle at some of the worlds better clubs.

Quaresma started his career at Sporting and then moved to Barcelona, but things did not go well there and he high tailed it back to the place of his birth, this time with Porto. After a couple of impressive season at both club and national team levels, Quaresma found himself at Inter Milan, where people thought that he would flourish under Jose Mourinho, just like Ajen Robben did at Chelksi. But that has not happen, after failing to impress during the first half of last season, Mourinho sent Quaresma out on loan to Chelski. While at Chelski things did not go that well and at the end of the season he was returned to Inter. Things have gotten so bad that Turkish side Besiktas have asked about taking him on loan for this season. Just like Reyes, Quaresma has already been through give 5 teams and his only 25 years old.

Despite having great skills Reyes and Quaresma both have to establish themselves this year or their dreams of being a world class player will be dead for good.

The Final Count Down

The clock is running on the Nats to sign top overall pick Stephen Strasburgh. I like many Nats fan hope the clock does run out without him in a Nats jersey.

The King is in the house

Getafe CF are hoping that the 2009-2010 season is a whopper of a season, ya I know its terrible joke. The Spanish club agreed to a sponsorship deal with Burger King, while that not mean anything the new kits include an interesting wrinkle.

If a players scores a goal and covers his face with the shirt, the King comes out (photo courtesy of Football Shirt Culture) It's an interesting and clever shirt.