11/17/24
September 03, 2009
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Not a fan of a "not good enough for a FPP, so let's just have an open FPP free for all" on the front page at all.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:05 AM on September 03, 2009
jerseygirl, you missed the lockerroom thread (and apparently yesterday's awesome huddle).
posted by dusted at 09:36 AM on September 03, 2009
I miss a lot of things from around here. Mostly the way it was, I guess. Carry on, take care.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:59 AM on September 03, 2009
What position is that? Black guy.
posted by dfleming at 10:14 AM on September 03, 2009
I miss a lot of things from around here. Mostly the way it was, I guess
I don't understand how a catch all thread you can skip is hindering your experience at all, but I guess to each their own.
posted by dfleming at 10:21 AM on September 03, 2009
EPL Transfer Deadline Day.
Q: How did your club fare?
A: I have no idea, they're in the Championship.
posted by owlhouse at 10:33 AM on September 03, 2009
to be very clear, dfleming, I did not specify that this thread was specifically hindering my experience. If you want to take it to email beyond this, go ahead.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:46 AM on September 03, 2009
I miss a lot of things from around here. Mostly the way it was, I guess
My own personal response to this is that, ironically (or not), I am actually starting to feel that SpoFi is back. I really fell outta the loop for a while after the move, but the look and feel is really back to the way it was when I got hooked. Part of that is the ongoing discussions about how it should be. The daily huddle is a welcome new addition in my books.
posted by Spitztengle at 11:48 AM on September 03, 2009
As mentioned as a possibility in yesterday's huddle, after disappointment with Ralf's brother and Luca Badoer, Ferrari have given their second car over to Giancarlo Fisichella.
FI claim they weren't financially incentivised to release Fisi from his contract five races early, but I'm sure it won't have hurt their payment terms on the ~E4,000,000 they apparently still owed Ferrari for last year's engine deal.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:33 PM on September 03, 2009
After his first podium on a Ducati, Nicky Hayden's contract has been extended another season. Hayden was the world champion in 2006, the last year of the 990cc bikes, but has struggled since to adapt his riding style to the 800s.
In other motorcycle racing news, World Superbike is back this weekend in Germany after a summer break, and American rookie Ben Spies will try to take first place from veteran Nori Haga.
posted by dusted at 12:49 PM on September 03, 2009
I miss a lot of things from around here. Mostly the way it was, I guess.
I miss people like you being around more.
posted by bperk at 01:51 PM on September 03, 2009
My own personal response to this is that, ironically (or not), I am actually starting to feel that SpoFi is back.
I agree with this in totality. A couple more really good arguments and we will be back on track. Maybe we need a loud-mouthed n0ob to come in spouting stupidity and then subject them to a good ole' fasheened thread lashing?
As for the huddle, I've no idea what to do with it, so it shouldn't be any different from the rest of the site for me.
posted by THX-1138 at 01:54 PM on September 03, 2009
Q: How did your club fare?
Reds did disappointing business. Johnson is an upgrade at right back, though GBP19M seems pricey compared to the 4M Real paid for Arbeloa. Aquilani needs to get fit fast, as Lucas Leiva is not getting the job done next to Masch. Speaking of whom, good work holding on to him against the lure of Barcelona.
Kyrgiakos, not sure of his quality against top-flight opposition since who did he face while at AEK Athens, but cover at central defense was clearly a requirement. Very disappointing that we did not add a quality striker as none from Voronin, Babel, Ngog and El Zhar seem ready to step up to provide goals off the bench.
What about your team? What do you think about the business they did or didn't do?
posted by billsaysthis at 01:57 PM on September 03, 2009
Q: How did your club fare?
Spurs picked up Kranjcar, which was a great move to back up for Modric's injury. Hopefully he can pick up where his countryman left off and keep this perfect start to the season going for a bit more.
Also, news update from tennis, Melanie Oudin (70th in the world) upset No. 4 Elena Dementieva, which is exciting stuff. Oh, and No. 1 Safina almost lost again.
posted by boredom_08 at 02:36 PM on September 03, 2009
From the obituary pages comes this sad news of former NFL RB John Stephens. He was something of a one-year-wonder, but still noteworthy.
posted by Howard_T at 02:49 PM on September 03, 2009
I'm a Spurs fan and was crushed when Modric went down. He was playing out of his mind, and is as big a factor in the team's unbelievable start as anyone. The announcers said he might be the EPL's best midfielder.
posted by rcade at 04:10 PM on September 03, 2009
Q: How did your club fare?
I feel Arsenal are stronger than they were at the beginning of last season. They added Arshavin in January and Vermaelen in the summer. That sounds like relatively few transfers, but with the readdition of Senderos to push Silvestre further down the depth chart, the emergence of Song in the d-mid role toward the end of last season, and the return of Rosicky and Eduardo from injuries, I have to saw I'm a lot more confident than I was at this time last year (but of course, Fulham had already defeated Arsenal by then too).
posted by trox at 04:32 PM on September 03, 2009
Arsenal's mistake was not getting a strong man up top after losing Adabeyore, I think. Even when Walcott gets healthy they do not have the depth at striker to cover the league, domestic cups and Champions League. I see them losing in the CL round of 8, finishing 3rd or 4th in the Premiership and who knows about the cups--their strong youth team could take them to a Carling Cup win.
Liverpool will do about the same, most likely. Sad to say.
Transfer ban aside, which probably won't take effect until the summer, I think Chelsea have to be favorites to deny ManU a fourth straight title.
Champions League trophy will go elsewhere than England in May.
*says me and my big mouth*
posted by billsaysthis at 08:27 PM on September 03, 2009
to be very clear, dfleming, I did not specify that this thread was specifically hindering my experience. If you want to take it to email beyond this, go ahead.
yet you just happened to post it in one of the threads which mark a major, recent change in the site. Passive aggressive much?
posted by rumple at 10:36 AM on September 04, 2009
Go easy on JG. Criticism of the site has been encouraged here forever (though it's normally in the Locker Room).
posted by rcade at 10:54 AM on September 04, 2009
Uh, this should really go in the Locker Room, not on the front page.