Business is about to pick up.
Winter is here, in the Northern Hemisphere. There are sure signs all over the place, not the least of which are the Christmas and other holiday decorations all over the place. Truly a fun time.
Unless you’re a football manager.
Players do not enjoy training in cold weather. Players do not enjoy playing in cold weather. Injuries seem to really take their toll during cold weather. This is the time of year, in my opinion, where the sides with true championship aspirations come through. In the Premier League yesterday, the three time defending champions dispatched their foe with ease, while the league leaders struggled and lost on the road. The gap is now two points at the top, and as much as people may want to see a Chelsea cakewalk to the title, it’s never that easy any more.
We often speculate what would happen if MLS adopted the so-called European calendar, and winter weather is cited as one of the main reasons why it would not work for the domestic league. While there is validity in that, let’s bear in mind that the NFL plays outdoors during this weather constantly. The idea that supporters wouldn’t turn up due to the weather has merit, but let’s face it, the American sports enthusiast will usually not be deterred by bad weather. Also remember that soccer matches are approximately two hours in duration, while the average NFL contest usually clocks in at three hours fifteen. Still, though, MLS would likely have to consider changing the league’s roster allocations for larger squad sizes as I’m sure that injuries would take a toll.
Any Everton supporter can absolutely fill you in on injury difficulties, to be sure. Everton hosts Spurs today in what is probably the second-best matchup in the Premier League. The other match will be Fulham hosting Sunderland in West London. Serie A has the Rome derby as it’s top fixture of the day with Roma hosting Lazio in the Olimpico. Werder Bremen tries to stay close to league leaders Leverkeusen when they travel to Cologne. It’s not a bad day of matches at all, really. For a wintery afternoon, that is.
Television for today courtesy of Jamie Trecker, all times EST.
Perth v Brisbane 0400 FSC
Utrecht v Ajax 0630 ESPN360/D
RKC Waalwijk v PSV 0830 ESPN360/D
Genoa v Parma 0900 FSC/RAI/360
Koln v Bremen 0930 GolTV
Fulham v Sunderland 1000 Setanta
Everton v Tottenham 1100 FSC
Schalke v Hertha 1130 ESPN360/D
Villarreal v Getafe 1300 GolTV
Toliuca v Monterrey 1300 Telemundo
Flamengo v Gremio 1400 GolTV
Roma v Lazio 1445 FSC/360/RAI
Bilbao v Valencia 1500 ESPN360/D
Lille v Lyon 1500 Setanta
Velez v River 1700 FSC (SDD)
As usual, we’ll be around on Twitter and in comments, so hunt us up and let us know what you’re thinking. I have thoughts forming around the World Cup draw, as I’m sure the lads do. Suffice it to say, June 12 is a day I’m not especially looking forward to. Enjoy your Sundays.
OK…this may not be the exact place to make this response, but I need some advice regarding FIFA10. Zeke is already on his Christmas break and my wife is looking to keep him occupied for part of the day
We already have a Wii but there is a good chance that Santa will be bringing an XBOX this Christmas. Should he also deliver FIFA10 for the XBOX? Or does the Wii version have the same features, which he can start using tomorrow (=happy mommy!), but just on a different platform?
Secondly, does the online feature work cross platform?
Thanks to anyone who can offer some insight.
Cross platform online play? I’d love it, but no such luck with any titles recently (outside of Shadowrun, from what I remember).
But as an owner of FIFA 10 for the XBOX, i’d say the sheer list of features available (Live Season 2.0, Virtual Pro, Manager Mode, etc) would have me leaning in that direction (given that the Wii versions of most EA sports games have a slimmed-down features list). I’m unfamiliar with the Wii version, although in all honesty, having played both, I think PES is the better game this year gameplay-wise.
That said, if I had to choose, i’d go with the XBox version, but that’s primarily if you’re looking to play online.
I can probably give even less advice than Prederick seeing as I haven’t played either version, but personally I’d go for the xbox version. There would probably be more people online in the Xbox version since that seems to be what a lot of people have, and like he said, there are probably more features on the Xbox version as well. So I think long term that might be the way to go.
One option would maybe be to rent the Wii version at blockbuster (if they even rent out videogames anymore) and keep him occupied for a week or however long the rental is.