B.A.

Mario Giunta
✔
@MarioGiunta

⚽️�� Done Deal: Gonzalo Higuain and Mattia Caldara to AC Milan, Leonardo Bonucci to Juventus! ��⚫️⚪️ #transfers

10:09 AM - Aug 1, 2018

B.A.

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2018/07/3...live-location/

DJariya

LaxBandit

bill hofheimer @bhofheimer_espn -
ESPN & ESPN+ have a new multi-year U.S. rights agreement for Italian Football.
More than 340 @SerieA_TIM matches will air on ESPN+, incl Ronaldo's debut w/ @juventusfc on Aug 18.

Starting this month, ESPN+ will carry an average of nine matches LIVE each week from August through May, while ESPN networks will televise a Serie A TIM Match of the Week - close to 40 matches per season. Most telecasts will air on ESPN and ESPN2, and the Match of the Week will also be available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

Coverage of Serie A TIM will also feature year-round news and highlights content across ESPN platforms. Additionally, ESPN+ will exclusively feature one-hour season preview and review programs, a weekly preview and highlight shows and a Serie A TIM goals of the week program.

Coverage of the 2018-2019 Serie A TIM season will begin Saturday, August 18, with the league’s opening match, ChievoVerona vs. Juventus, airing on ESPN+ (12:00 pm ET). Five-time Ballon d’Or Award winner Cristiano Ronaldo, will make his league debut for Juventus, winners of seven straight Serie A TIM titles. Before joining the club in July, Ronaldo scored a record 450 goals in 438 games in nine seasons with Spain’s Real Madrid, leading the club to four UEFA Champions League titles. His move to Juventus is considered one of the most impactful transfers in international soccer.

https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...lian-football/

Pharoh

More absolutely terrible news.

B.A.

you're not ready for more Gab Marcotti?

Pharoh

It really is everything. One of the big things for me is on demand replays. It is fine not having them if they would air all the main matches, allowing me to record and watch at my leisure, but since they are going to essentially air one match a week, (I am sure either a Juve or Milan match), I won't have that option. Now, if they have on-demand replays available, I am okay. Other than having to subscribe to yet another streaming service. If this is the setup, we will never get a chance to see a side like Sarri's Empoli. Hell, maybe not even Sarri's Napoli. That is a travesty.

Secondly, their announcers generally blow. Setting aside the expected England/Premier league bias that dominates football in our media, their on-air talent simply don't know the continental game well enough. Say what you will about the Bein guys, (yes, we are talking about you Ray), but at least you know they regularly watch the leagues and matches they cover, and have for years. Not true with the ESPN guys. Funny, the one exception probably is Marcotti.

The other thing that both Fox and BEIN would regularly do is use the league's own English announcers. The BuLi English speaking crew might be the best in the world. I also really like a couple of the La Liga guys. The Serie A TIM aren't as good, but still miles ahead of the ESPN and Fox announcers. In another rambling side note, I used to really enjoy the SKY BuLi teams, both English and German speaking.

Fox really was the gold standard, between the Fox Soccer Match Pass app and the FoxSoccer channel. I fear those days are gone forever though. Perhaps the Premeira Liga will go down in price, as it was ridiculously high last season.

Final note: I realise and accept that the above is whining, and the amount available to watch in the US was unthinkable just five or so years ago, and that more is legally available here than anywhere else. I was spoiled and I am entitled dammit.

B.A.

The Bundesliga crew is my favorite, too.

BDB

GETIN !! FOOTBALLS BACK!

Let's go Reds

B.A.

Seriously - Tottenham didn't sign anyone?!?

Has that ever happened before during the silly season?

http://www.espn.com/soccer/team/tran...tenham-hotspur

Pharoh

No, at least not in the history of the Premier League.

LorenzoL

What the heck was Klopp second goal celebration?

B.A.

Ha.

Fun game to watch. Glad the season is finally underway.

Nice touch by Keita on his hockey assist for the first goal.

BDB

Hell yeah

astrochimp

That was odd, even for Klopp

Great game to get us off and running!

pbrstreetgang

José Mourinho looks pissed.

RayChuang

In short, Manchester United--unless they really turn it around in a month or so--are DONE.

B.A.

That was not an easy victory.

Pharoh

Some random rambling thoughts that nobody likely cares about now that we are a week or two into the new season.

I still have a couple of matches to watch, including Inter's loss, but I just finished the best of the early bunch in Valencia-Atletico. Skill on display all over the pitch, and both sides decided to play, toe to toe, the entire time. Both team firmly entrenched in any top ten "power ranking" lists, with Atletico occupying my number 2 spot. Match ended 1-1, which was the just result. Not sure Valencia has the depth to compete on all fronts, especially as they wait for Guedes, but there starters are all very good. Atleti on the other hand have the depth, quality, and coaching to compete everywhere. Consider them the most serious challenger to Barca, in La Liga and the CL, ahead of madrid. Lemar is very good, and the steal of the window, perhaps literally, is Gelson Martins. (The whole Sporting issue).

Speaking of other clubs in the top ten, or on the border, that have been impressive is Chelsea, unfortunately. It really isn't that surprising, given Sarri's track record, but maybe a little surprising how quickly the side has adopted. City is still the prohibitive favourite, but I think Chelsea is going to strongly battle Liverpool for the second spot. Kante's more attacking role will suit him, and the side, very well. It is still Chelsea, but they will at least be viewable, if not fun, to watch this season. With the top three all but already done and dusted, who gets 4th?

At the other end of the spectrum, Juventus greatly underwhelmed. I think we could be seeing before our eyes the decline of the vaunted defense. Bonucci looks like he is one step from losing it, to me. Still in the top ten, but perhaps at the edge. Napoli, Inter, and Roma all a step behind still. Milan still a cluster.

Obviously the BuLi hasn't kicked off yet, but I can't see anyone else besides Bayern doing anything. Overall, a bad transfer season for the league. Even Bayern has more questions than usual. The battle for the CL spots though should be compelling.

Oh, and Messi is still Messi.

GCS

Well screw BEIN sports, Comcast, and Verizon. May you all rot in TV hell.

Just found out about their BS arguments and that means no La Liga or Serie A matches for me. You guys all suck.

Quake1028

I must know your Top 10.

B.A.

La Liga games in the U.S.?

http://www.espn.com/soccer/spanish-p...marketing-deal

Pharoh

I lost the post I had typed, so a shorter top ten. In tiers way too early. As always, simply my biased opinion.

1. Barca

2. Atletico
3. City

4. madrid

5. PSG
6. Juventus
7. Liverpool
8. Bayern

9. Valencia
10. Chelsea

B.A.

B.A.

Harsh red card via VAR for Schalke. Defender got the ball first!