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The End Is The Beginning Is The End Game: Part 1 – United Soccer States
“How come (Lionel) Messi and Wayne Rooney don’t play in the same league?.” “That’s not how football works mate.” This question and answer, or something similar to it is at the simplest level the reason that the website even exists today. When I first met my “Brother From Down Under” Arran Airs at a pub…
Read MoreVAR – What Is It Good For? The Premier League’s Video Replay Problem
After watching the three Premier League matches on July 9/20 the 1969 Edwin Starr song “War – What is it good for?” popped into me head followed by the line “Absolutely nothing” and then it became “VAR – What is it good for?” well you get the rest. Ask Dean Smith, Eddie Howe, Carlo Ancelotti…
Read MoreWhat Is The U.S. Open Cup? America’s Oldest Soccer Competition
By Source, Fair use, Wikipedia If you are a fan of a Major League Soccer or USL Championship team in the United States, then chances are you are seeing a game on your favorite team’s schedule that is outside of regular league play. The games are a separate tournament called the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open…
Read MoreEFL League Two: The Battle To Avoid Relegation To Non-League
One of the most interesting in unique storylines in English Football is the EFL League Two relegation battle. League Two is the fourth division of English Football and is the lowest division recognized as being “League Teams”, meaning members of the EFL. In England, the Premier League is of course the top division, and is…
Read MorePremier League: Why you keep hearing about 6-point relegation games
How the “race to the bottom” plays out. We’re well into the second half of the Premier League season and the title race is heating up – as is the race to avoid relegation. And whether teams are going to survive for another season in the Premier League, or succumb to the drop down to…
Read MoreHow To Watch English Soccer In The United States
A Guide To Watching English Football In The U.S. One of the most frequent objections that casual American fans make to watching English Association Football is that they are not familiar with how to watch English Soccer in the United States. In fact, many people believe that there are only a handful of games available…
Read MoreHow the title is won
We’re not talking about boxing belts here We’re roughly halfway through the season as this post is being written and there is already “title race” talk. You’ll hear it from commentators and supporters alike because *generally* the team leading at Christmas is usually the ones lifting the trophy at the end of the season. I…
Read MoreWhat Is The January Transfer Window For European Football?
Matt Robards In less than a week’s time, Santa Claus will be making his legendary journey around the globe, delivering presents to boys and girls from all walks of life. While kids are hoping for a Nintendo Switch or a unicorn, some football clubs are going to be asking Santa for that last piece of…
Read MoreThe Ups and Downs of Promotion and Relegation
Understanding how teams can possibly be shunted from the “major league” Arran Airs Possibly one of the most interesting aspects of the English professional leagues – and baffling from an American standpoint – is promotion/relegation. Put simply, each year, the three teams with the lowest points at the end of the season (in the Premier…
Read MoreA Game in Hand is Worth Two on the Table
Arran Airs A friend of mine, who we’ll simply call “Loser Josh”, became enamored with association football a few years back. His interest has waned some, as his team of choice, Everton, is a spectacularly mundane “mid-table” candidate. Year-in, year-out. He has learned a lot about the game since and now has Arsenal as his…
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