UF Quick Throw: ESPN's Move Into England Underway

The Worldwide leader in sports is coming England! Are you ready?
Since acquiring the rights to Setanta's 46 game EPL package for the coming season, details of how ESPN will use the package has been unclear. Until now! The ESPN UK channel launches on August the 3rd. But where it will be seen is still unclear. The sports giant is currently in discussions with SKY Television and UK cable providers to ensure their channel is available to as many homes as possible. The new channel will be a premium channel, yet it is unclear exactly how much access to the 46 games will cost viewers.

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Quick Throw: Setanta misses payment

News is hitting the wires that beleaguered Setanta Sports is unable to come up with the required cash for the Premier League today, which means its TV contract has been canceled. What will happen to the Special One?

Update: Confirmed by the BBC.

The league added: "It is with considerable regret that we announce that Setanta has been unable to meet their obligations. As such the existing licence agreement between us has been terminated with immediate effect.

The rights to show the 46 match package for next year will now be put up for auction.

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Premiership Time of Death: Approximately 4:50 pm EST

Some of you may have noticed that Wigan was hosting Manchester United today. Well, at approximately 4:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Michael Carrick put away the decisive goal for United. Fair play to Wigan for taking an early lead, but as usual the evil Man U has prevailed.

With United only needing one point from their remaining two matches to capture a second consecutive trophy, we're ready to call an end to the 2008-09 Premiership title race. All that's left of this season is a relegation battle, FA Cup final and Champions League final, and then of course summer transfers.

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We still want to sell you

At least he saved the world another week of bitching about how dirty Bolton are and how soft and squishy is the Gunners ' pysche with an 84th minute winner. But if Arsene can find a decent bidder, I won't shed too many tears if Bendtner takes leave from Emirates. For today its all good, however, as Arsenal keep pace in the battle for fourth (sigh) with Villa and Everton. The rest of Saturday's results after the jump.

FT Aston Villa 2 – 1 West Brom. Fucking Villans lose one already, ok?!?
FT Arsenal 1 – 0 Bolton Wanderers
FT Everton 2 – 0 Hull City. The Toffees have allowed no league goals in a month and are on a five match unbeaten run. Good time to find form, as they have a brutal stretch coming up.
FT Middlesbrough 1 – 1 Sunderland
FT Newcastle United 2 – 2 West Ham United. The damaged goods bowl. Slightly used Prem club for sale, $100 million OBO.
FT Stoke City 0 – 0 Liverpool. Whoops.

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Weekend reading assignment

Shirt should probably read "US Treasury"

After this weekend's results, Arsenal sit at the top of the table. The Gunners beat Bolton amidst some lumbering performances from the rest of the big clubs (P.S. - SAF might need to consider buying a bigger shirt). A good sight to see, especially after yet more insane spending by pretenders over the summer transfer window. But I'm not going to get too excited until we get through the muddy pitch season full of away games to Wigan.

The Premiership, in edited form:

1. Arsenal 12 pts
2. Chelsea 11 pts
3. Liverpool 11 pts
4. Aston Villa 10 pts
5. Manchester City 9 pts (Update: Man City demolish Pompey in an scoring orgy not seen in Manchester since....last Christmas)
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15. Manchester United 5 pts
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20. Tottenham 2 pts

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"Put me in boss!".."Who the fuck are you?"

Bigus again....Prolific this week eh? Well I am going to continue my epic summer journey of useless facts and capricious ramblings with a look at the humble substitute and a new rule that could force you to take note of the unknown reserve. The hardworking wannabe and the young up-and-comers...

As many of you may have heard, Premiership teams will be allowed to have 7 substitutes on the sidelines next season. The news sent joy through the bones of every mediocre player in the land and the cheers from Stoke could be heard in Hawaii. Louis Saha celebrated the news with a party the likes of which had never been seen before. Guests included Tony Warner, Jon Moncur and Harry Kewell. Spurs wannabes Danny Rose and Kieran McKenna danced the night away.

The new rule will also apply to the Carling and F.A cups. David Nugent is apparently upset as this will now require that he takes part in the warm up.

Football League clubs will still only carry 5 subs on the bench which is a good thing for my lot. I can't think of seven outside the starting 11 worth a spot warming the wood.

Did you know?

- Until 1965 NO substitutes were allowed at all.

- Clubs have been able to use 3 subs since 1995.

- In 1999, teams could name five subs on the bench.

Keith Peacock of Charlton Athletic was the first substitute ever when he ran onto the pitch on Aug 21st 1965. He was a midfielder and replaced injured Goalkeeper Mike Rose on 11 minutes......eh? I guess it didn't occur to have a back-up goalie in those days!

The first Scottish substitute was the famous Archie Gemmill. He replaced a sweaty called Jim Clunie on Aug 13th, 1966 (Scots have always been a little slow to get with the programme).

The first International substitute was German Horst Eckel. He appeared in a game against Saar on the 11th of October 1953.

Well I hope you learned a little something from that...I will be back later in the week to share my night out with Norwich youth coach John Revell. Don't forget to send in YOUR questions.

- Bigus.

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How dare they!

The lord of all football and the prime mover of every playing field in the universe today declared that the Premier League were bang out of order for not talking to him before publically declaring an interest in playing games abroad.
How dare they! Do they know who he is? How was this possible that Sir Whingy Face the overlord of all things obicular was not consulted for his opinion. I for one call for an immediate inquiry followed by 100 lashes across the back and a smack on the bum for any underling found guilty of such arrogant actions .

Well I hope that this little tirade reported on the bbc football website slips under the skin of the real folks in charge of the Premier League. If so I should imagine that Sir Given Right's red devils will be plucked from the 'hat' to play Tottenham in Timbuktu. Or maybe Fulham in Fallujah. How about Bolton in Banghazi. Oh how great would the world be if FA Cup games were played abroad. Sir Alex could even lick his lips at the thought of Notts County in Niamey.

-Bigus.

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