With the World Cup coming up this year and the popularity of soccer (or football as most of the world knows it as) we were remiss in not having a separate forum. So please keep this busy and post away.

EVERTON! EVERTON! EVERTON!

I've been an Everton of Liverpool fan since 1980. The local PBS station used to run a Match of the Week thing and one week it was a Merseyside Derby (prounounced Darby), Everton v. Liverpool. I found one of the Everton players, Kevin Ratcliffe, really cute and I loved their blue shirts and I especially liked the way they played.

So, throughout their glory years in the 80's, I followed them through the scores in the newspaper and the odd game on TV (this was waaaay before the 'Net and 4 different games a week on cable). In 1989 they played a classic FA Cup Final with the by-then hated Liverpool (who, thanks to their fans rioting at the Heuysel Stadium which lead to a wall collapsing and killing 39 fans; all English teams were banned from European competitions for 6 years, just as Everton were favorites to win the European Cup). Everton lead 2-1 until the final 2 minutes when Liverpool scored; they then scored in OT to win. Everton has been in decline since. They have been in danger of being relegated for the last 5 years. But I still love 'em, wear my Everton shirt when I can, and will always treasure my trip to Liverpool to watch them play at Goodison Park (even though they lost 2-nil to the Arse).

I always enjoy watching Manchester United and Leeds United. I love the English game (it's faster paced and more physical) and watch it on TV whenever I can. I love football (I'm not going to call it soccer in this thread) and it's my favorite sport apart from baseball.

So. Any fans of The Red Scum out there?

I'm a HUGE football fan (despite the fact that Bruce is the head coach of our national men's team). (Note to Cyd, look at the forum before you start laughing ). I've been fortunate to have been surrounded by top-notch football for years.

Ok, that's a joke poking fun at Bruce who has an EXTREMELY brilliant football mind. He is also a very funny guy--sarcastic, annoying, snide--but also very devoted to football and making it happen here in the States. I wonder what took the USAsoccer gurus so long to figure it out. (other than Bruce was busy winning titles at a certain school in the south).

I see a lot of college soccer (men's and women's) and get to the USA games when I can. A bunch of us watched the friendly vs Italy the other day on the HUGE screen tv. Oh MAN we had our chances. Glad to see Donovan play well, and I can't wait for Claud Reyna to come back to the states. That boy is magic on a pitch.

That's enough rambling for now. And thank goodness I can call it football with people understanding what I am saying here in the States!

[edited to be nicer to Bruce]

[ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: Chip ]

Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.....
Just look up Jim and you'll find a better team.

Well, at least Everton tied The Red Scum, 1-1. But from match reports I've read, after Everton scored their goal, they went all defensive and it was only a matter of time before Liverpool scored because Everton were conceding the middle of the pitch. Oh well, a point is a point when you're in a relegation battle......

Man U looked OK against Villa, which was the TV game I watched on Fox. They still have to be the favorites to win the title, though The Prison Stripes, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool are still contenders.

Congrats to Blackburn Rovers for beating Spurs in the Worthington Cup final. Everton plays Crewe on Tuesday for a slot in the FA Cup quarter finals. Everton has a way of losing these Cup games to lower division teams that's almost scary. *Sigh* Tough to be an Everton supporter these days.....

Jim,
Thanks for tying the Red Scum. We finally won an away derby. If we win our next two games...Arsenal at home and Liverpool away, I hate to say it but we have a chance at league...I just want ManUtd to have a least one "bad" season...maybe even see what a relegation battle is like...oh well too much to hope for...
GO GEORDIES!!!!!