Submitted by The Gaffer, Dec 5, 2006 02:17

Paul,

While I agree with many of your points (and I've posted similar ones previously on my blog at http://eplleague.blogspot.com), I do want to mention one major point about the English Premier League. Fox Soccer Channel is not the only network providing soccer fans with Premiership coverage.

On the same weekend where you complained about the unappealing three matches on FSC, Setanta Sports showed three matches (and what brilliant ones they were): Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur, Wigan Athletic versus Liverpool, and Portsmouth against Aston Villa. Collectively, these three matches resulted in eleven goals (a more respectable average of 3.6 goals per game).

Remember that Setanta Sports televise the better Premiership matches on Saturdays beginning with the 7:45am ET kickoff, which is usually a top match (this Saturday is the Manchester derby, for example). Then Setanta has the first choice of the 10am ET Saturday match (this Saturday, the network will show Liverpool v Fulham). Plus they typically televise a second 10am ET match, which this Saturday will be Blackburn versus Newcastle.

I'll be the first to admit that the Premiership needs to improve the overall goal drought, but we need to realize that Fox Soccer Channel isn't an accurate barometer of the overall level of the English Premier League this season.

Cheers,
The Gaffer
http://www.EPLtalk.com

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