A-League Offseason - OTHER LEAGUES!

[spectacular291]

Hello everyone and welcome to another Speccy thread and to celebrate Speccy's 1,000th post we will be discussing international football leagues that are in full swing to carry us through to the next A-League and other Financial Year calendar seasons!

 

J-LEAGUE

 

So lets get carried away with one of the leagues that we are of envy of culture, talent and attendance; the J-League! The J-League is currently in week 13 of their 22nd season and today's matches are as follows:

 

 

I advise viewing alternatives to be discussed in your own circles and away from this lovely website. The table is as follows:

 

1 Sagan Tosu

2 Urawa Reds

3 Kashima Antlers

4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

5 Albirex Niigata

6 Vissel Kobe

7 Kashiwa Reysol

8 Kawasaki Frontale

9 Cerezo Osaka

10 Shimizu S-Pulse

11 Nagoya Grampus

12 Yokohama Fï½¥Marinos

13 F.C.Tokyo

14 Ventforet Kofu

15 Gamba Osaka

16 Omiya Ardija

17 Vegalta Sendai

18 Tokushima Vortis    

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291

[spectacular291]

Now to celebrate my 1,001st post! I will also introduce our beautiful and attentative minds to another fantastic Asian nation on the rise in world football - South Korea!

 

K-League

 

The K-League now in its 31st year (surprisingly older than the J-League!) is in its 12th matchday! the following are the matches for heated discussion and debate!

 

 

The current table positions are as follows:

 

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291

[spectacular291]

Excuse me - whilst I fill up my plate with cheap Domino's pizza to follow up the next post with Speccy's 1,003rd post!

[spectacular291]

AND WE'RE BACK!! Fresh after that pork bbq meatlovers slice and a mighty gulp of Coca Cola's finest we're on to one of the more mysterious and burgeoning leagues in the world - Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Chinese Super League

 

CHINESE SUPER LEAGUE (CSL)

 

The CSL (not the BMW M3 CSL E46 that is a very lovely car but the football league in China PR) was founded in 2004 and is in its 10th year of existence. The Chinese have taken to football with a large amount of growth and ambition which can be exhibited by Guangzhou Evergrande success with Diamante up front and Marcelo Lippi at the helm. But don't let Evergrande's current success fool you as Shandong Shenhua has been one of the prolific teams in China and currently has a sister club arrangement with our favourite team to hate; Sydney FC (Please note: not sure if this is still in existence). 

 

Anyways!!! onwards and upwards to the current matchday that shows the following fixtures: 

 

 

The current league table looks like this also:

 

[spectacular291]

now for the 1,004th post, we've all been looking forward to!!!

 

ITS THE NOTABLE ASIAN LEAGUES THAT SPECCY COULDN'T GIVE A **** ABOUT TO KEEP YOU POSTED

 

Such Asian football leagues as:

 

1. Iran

2. Saudi Arabia

3. United Arab Emirates

4. Qatar

5. Uzbekistan

6. India

7. Jordan

8. Oman

9. Bahrain

10. Iraq

11. Kuwait

12. Thailand

13. Singapore

14. Hong Kong

15. Vietnam

 

For those that have an interest in the above leagues - please feel free to share!!

 

FOR SPECCY'S 1,005TH POST WE WILL BE GETTING OUR BAGS READY, OUR PASSPORTS CHECKED, OUR VISAS STAMPED FOR THE LONG HAUL ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN!! STAY TUNED!

[spectacular291]

NOW IN THE LAND OF TERRIBLE COFFEE, GULLIBLE PEOPLE AND EVEN WORSE ACCENTS - We arrive in the United State of Murica!

 

Now Speccy's informative posts comes straight to you like the pain from a customs agent exploring your anal cavities like a dog digging a hole to bury its salivating marrowbone - its time to discuss all things Major League Soccer!!!!!!!!!!! (! - one more explanation mark for the plebs). 

 

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS) 

 

This league comes to us from the Sydney FC of all nations, 'Murica' and is in its 21st season (now able to legally drink!) is a league of 19 franchises that spans all over the US of Ghey to Canadia. Its league is apart of CONCACONCACACACACACAF and is quality is quite formidable despite the common man's resentment to the US of 'M. 

 

Ideally if you are in to this league, I don't blame you, the quality is improving and so is the UROWPEEEEEAN atmospheres. Think of it like a Surry Hill's cafe shop (don't go there you might spot me embarrassingly) full of hipsters who like to wear mokasins on their noses and claim Frankie Goes To Hollywood is like 'totes, changed my life'. Now choosing a team is very much like choosing how tight you like your jeans and how 'soy' you want your latte (what is soy?!?!?), so Speccy is going to help choose a team that you can all understand:

 

Speccy's top tip for a team: Impact Montreal - why? you may ask - because one they are in Canada! But so is Toronto you may say, and well if you look at a map you are correct but does Toronto speak Quebec French?!?!! Well no, and there is your answer scumbag! But if you want a more solidified answer - Impact has been around since 1993 in the Canadian leagues unlike their Toronto brethren so you also gain the added bonus of a brag in front of your baguette eating swine drinking cellar monkey mates!

 

Other noteable mentions:

 

Portland Timbers - Mascot cuts up timber before every match - probably not great if you like trees and ****. But apparently not a bad little active support that they have going on over there. 

 

Seattle Sounders - first of all, what the **** is a 'Sounder' - this team receives a noteable mention because they are quite successful in their short time in the MLS both on and off the pitch. Their star player is Clint Dempsey - you know that guy that wanted to go to Liverpool but wound up at Spurs somehow - yeah him, apparently he ain't bad. Also keep an eye out for NY Red Bulls not cause Tim Cahill plays there but because David Carney played there and left quite the legacy (see below!)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz4J_7diKLQ This is just a taste too - so many great lols to be had

 

 

Again - how you watch these leagues IS TO BE DISCUSSED IN CIRCLES OF NOBLE MEN AND IN NOBLE PASSAGES AWAY FROM HERE!!

 

But here is the current matchday:

 

 

The current standings for these franchises are as follows:

 

Eastern Conference

 

Western Conference

 

[spectacular291]

PLEASE NOTE I'D LIKE TO THANK MACK FOR HAVING AUTO SAVE ON THESE FORUMS - ALMOST RAGE QUIT!   

 

HAD ENOUGH OF NORTH AMERICA YEWWWWWW SEYYYYYY HUH!!!!

 

Well Speccy is an understanding man and is here to help fellow brethren. So don't stress as its time to sneak in to a country that is famous for sneaking in to other countries, tequila, moustaches, teenagers from 'Murica' partying in and that the place is continually sinking!

 

THATS RIGHT - GET YOUR SOMBRERO AND MOUNT YOUR DONKEY AND GRAB A FEW CORONAS - ITS TIME TO PARTY IN MEJICO!!!!!!!!

 

LIGA MX

 

Now like your girlfriend's time of the month - we've managed to sneak late in to this league - so relax a little as its now the pointy end of the league and its now finals in the First Stage Clausura (whatever the **** Clausura means - latin friends - feel free to jump in!). 

 

the current standings at the end of the regular season is as follows:

 

 

Now lets talk seriously about the Liga MX - it has been around since 1943 which means a lot of years (get your own calculator!!) and is fantastic breeding ground for some of the talent worldwide, noteable players such as Rafael Marquez of former Barca fame and Javier Hernandez current Man Utd fame! Another noteable nod to this talented league is the Mexican National Team's choice to select only 7 players outside of Mejico for the Brasil World Cup - fantastic vote of confidence for strength in Central America!

[jocosmic]

NOW IN THE LAND OF TERRIBLE COFFEE, GULLIBLE PEOPLE AND EVEN WORSE ACCENTS - We arrive in the United State of Murica!

 

Now Speccy's informative posts comes straight to you like the pain from a customs agent exploring your anal cavities like a dog digging a hole to bury its salivating marrowbone - its time to discuss all things Major League Soccer!!!!!!!!!!! (! - one more explanation mark for the plebs). 

 

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS) 

 

This league comes to us from the Sydney FC of all nations, 'Murica' and is in its 21st season (now able to legally drink!) is a league of 19 franchises that spans all over the US of Ghey to Canadia. Its league is apart of CONCACONCACACACACACAF and is quality is quite formidable despite the common man's resentment to the US of 'M. 

 

Ideally if you are in to this league, I don't blame you, the quality is improving and so is the UROWPEEEEEAN atmospheres. Think of it like a Surry Hill's cafe shop (don't go there you might spot me embarrassingly) full of hipsters who like to wear mokasins on their noses and claim Frankie Goes To Hollywood is like 'totes, changed my life'. Now choosing a team is very much like choosing how tight you like your jeans and how 'soy' you want your latte (what is soy?!?!?), so Speccy is going to help choose a team that you can all understand:

 

Speccy's top tip for a team: Impact Montreal - why? you may ask - because one they are in Canada! But so is Toronto you may say, and well if you look at a map you are correct but does Toronto speak Quebec French?!?!! Well no, and there is your answer scumbag! But if you want a more solidified answer - Impact has been around since 1993 in the Canadian leagues unlike their Toronto brethren so you also gain the added bonus of a brag in front of your baguette eating swine drinking cellar monkey mates!

 

Other noteable mentions:

 

Portland Timbers - Mascot cuts up timber before every match - probably not great if you like trees and ****. But apparently not a bad little active support that they have going on over there. 

 

Seattle Sounders - first of all, what the **** is a 'Sounder' - this team receives a noteable mention because they are quite successful in their short time in the MLS both on and off the pitch. Their star player is Clint Dempsey - you know that guy that wanted to go to Liverpool but wound up at Spurs somehow - yeah him, apparently he ain't bad. Also keep an eye out for NY Red Bulls not cause Tim Cahill plays there but because David Carney played there and left quite the legacy (see below!)

 

 This is just a taste too - so many great lols to be had

 

 

Again - how you watch these leagues IS TO BE DISCUSSED IN CIRCLES OF NOBLE MEN AND IN NOBLE PASSAGES AWAY FROM HERE!!

 

But here is the current matchday:

 

 

The current standings for these franchises are as follows:

 

Eastern Conference

 

Western Conference

 

Those Portland Timbers have awesome support! I've seen it on YouTube. Well done to their fans.

[mack]

When's the next Cascadia Cup? If I'm home I always watch it.

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE I'D LIKE TO THANK MACK FOR HAVING AUTO SAVE ON THESE FORUMS - ALMOST RAGE QUIT!

 

Notepad bro.

[marron]

A lot of Latin American leagues have "apertura" and "clausura" - opening and closing - seasons. Its like splitting up a whole season in two with a break in between and they crown the champion of each. Their importance can vary. Pretty sure in Mexico the best 3-4 teams from each comp then go into a playoff series much like our finals series. In other leagues its a straightforward winner of apertura vs winner of clausura to decide who is the bestest.

[spectacular291]

AND LIKE AN EXPENSIVE ROUND TRIP FULL OF MEMORIES OF SWEARING IN NATIVE LANGUAGES AND GENERALLY MAKING TOP TEN LISTS IN HOW TO SLEEP IN GUTTERS, WE DELVE DEEPER FROM CENTRAL AMERICA IN TO THE BEAUTIFUL LATINO WORLD OF THE SOUTH AMERICANS!!!

 

AND YOU PLEBS DIDN'T THINK I WOULD GET HERE!!!

 

My, o' my! Where do I start!!!! Now since the RBB has more South Americans than.... (well I don't know something that goes with that - give me five minutes to think of something and I'll get back to you!) We probably have quite a few members of this brother & sisterhood of the travelling pants to inform us all of the culture and beautiful football scene that is South America! So please allow me to introduce this area for those that don't have a clue like myself (insert dictionary meaning for irony). 

 

Now I'm going to throw some dice up in the air for the multiple different leagues in this beautiful land (I'd also like to apologise about the lack of grammar in the following names):

 

Snake Eyes - Brasil's Campeonato Serie A

Boxcars - Argentine Primera Division

Easy Six - Uruguayan Primera Division

Nine (Nina) - Chile Primera Division

Yo (Yo-Leven) - Columbian Categoria Primera A AKA 'Liga Postobon'

Few Five - Peruvian Primera Division

Ace Deuce - Ecuadorian Serie A

Natural or Seven Out - Paraguayan Primera Divison

Easy Eight - Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano

 

Now that I’m running out of nicknames for crap dice - I urge you all to get yourself some die and roll until you land on one of the above results and get yourself involved in watching the above leagues where possible!

 

Speccy’s top tip - SETANTA has Copa Libertadories and the Argentine Primera Division and the Brasilian Campeonato Seria A!, for everything else, book a flight and get a ticket and stop by BCF on the way or …. (you know the alternatives!)

 

Now since I’m a lazy mutha, I urge to converse with your latino brethren and mamacita’s to converse in what is beautiful talent pool of world football!!!! You’ll be proud you did - HELL EVEN SHOUT YOUR HOUSE TO HAVE THEM ALL OVER AND HAVE A BIG TV PLAYING THESE GAMES WHILST YOU IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE CULTURE OF THESE NATIONS ON A LOVELY DAY FOLLOWED BY FIFA AND LEARNING TO SWEAR IN ESPANA OR PORTUGESE!

 

Please also note that I haven't done a league by league assessment as there is quite simply not enough time to give each league justice in a post each.

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291

[spectacular291]

 

.

Those Portland Timbers have awesome support! I've seen it on YouTube. Well done to their fans.

 

 

 

That they definitely do!! Hence why making my noteable mentions!! 

 

 

When's the next Cascadia Cup? If I'm home I always watch it.

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE I'D LIKE TO THANK MACK FOR HAVING AUTO SAVE ON THESE FORUMS - ALMOST RAGE QUIT!

 

Notepad bro.

 

I took on your advice in the form of TextEdit (Apple's verison of Notepad) again - another life saver!

 

The Cascadia Cup you say!! The next match is the 24th of May from carry over champion Vancouver playing the Seattle Sounders in Canadia! - please see the following website for your needs

 

http://www.thecascadiacup.com/

 

 

A lot of Latin American leagues have "apertura" and "clausura" - opening and closing - seasons. Its like splitting up a whole season in two with a break in between and they crown the champion of each. Their importance can vary. Pretty sure in Mexico the best 3-4 teams from each comp then go into a playoff series much like our finals series. In other leagues its a straightforward winner of apertura vs winner of clausura to decide who is the bestest.

 

 

Ah fantastic! Thank you for the insightful information!

 

 

FOR EVERYONE

 

These posts are not intended to be a speccy know it all - because I've got NFI - it's done out of my pure boredom in the offseason and I need something to keep the football brain working (World Cup is definitely a must view of course). So I figure this could be a cool thread to discuss all competitions that exist outside the typical financial year calendar!

 

Now there are a few Chinese apps for your iPad or iPhone that you are able to download that are free and are available that show either league games live or on available for replay - I don't believe these are illegal, but if it is, please let me know and I will remove this paragraph

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291

[Guest ZipGunBop]

Great thread.

 

Speccy, you win the internetz.

 

Someone help me pick a team from each league to follow.

[spectacular291]

Sagan Tosu is currently up 1-0 over Yokohama F Marinos which is live at the moment - 10 mins in!! Get there!

 

 

Great thread.

Speccy, you win the internetz.

Someone help me pick a team from each league to follow.

 

 

Why thank you sir, but if your like me - get used to watching a few games and get a feel for a team that makes sense to you, a club that you can develop an affinity with. I personally, find it difficult to wholely support a club outside of Wanderers due to me not being from there, F95 included. 

[spectacular291]

Sagan - now 2-0 in the 16th minute - from horrible defending

[Guest ZipGunBop]

What about Thailand league?

 

Does Patong have a team?

[spectacular291]

What about Thailand league?

 

Does Patong have a team?

 

Thailand did receive a noteable mention - but I'll expand due to interest

 

THAI PREMIER LEAGUE

 

Founded in 1996 to find ways to enjoy their time away from arcade games and karaoke - they felt that football was a fantastic activity to fill in the time and the following 20 teams make up this prestigious league:

 

(Since I'm nice and Wiki is pretty good for this league, I have provided in spades)

 

 

 

Speccy's top tip: If you like a good drink and even better time with a questionable gender lean towards Bangkok United - both a fantastic name and even better location to get lost with 2 other mates, with one no doubt locked in an ice fridge whilst you have a crazy Chinese-American either trying to get you drunk or killed. Oh and a animal of the ape kind of which I can't specify because I'm an idiot!! If you want success, I have attached a table below.

 

Interesting #FACT: Robbie Fowler I think tried playing in this league after his A-League days and subsequently left due to it being too tropical for his scouse skin. This is a #fact rather than an actual fact as I can't be bothered researching if he actually went to Malaysia or Thailand.

 

[spectacular291]

Yokohama F Marinos best chances (from what I've seen - coming to you live from Nissan Stadium) have been from outside the 18 yard box, pretty brave considering they're down 2-0 to 1st Place Sagan Tosu in a lovely pink and white kit that would make the Juventus faithful drool!

[spectacular291]

Crowd in Nissan Stadium is fantastic by the way

[Guest ZipGunBop]

No Phuket teams.

 

[spectacular291]

No Phuket teams.

 

 

There could be some in the Thai First Division and boom there is - Phuket FC!

 

[Guest ZipGunBop]

YES!

 

There's my team.

 

ALEH WAHHHHH!

[Jaggy]

What about Slovenia,NK Zavrc home of.............Yep you guessed it !!

[spectacular291]

What about Slovenia,NK Zavrc home of.............Yep you guessed it !!

 

A request for Slovenia, how could I turn down a request for a related topic for Dino Kresinger!!

 

STRAP YOURSELF IN KIDS, GET YOUR BEERS, GET YOUR SENSE OF ENTHUSIASM AND NO DOUBT SOME SUNGLASSES TO GUARD YOURSELF FROM WHAT HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE SHINIEST BOLD HEAD WE HAVE EVER SEEN AT THE WANDERERS AS WE'RE OFF TO SEE DINO IN SLOVENIA!!

 

SLOVENIA PrvaLiga

 

Now for some interesting facts, the league has been around since 1991, which makes it one year older than the aforementioned J-League! Now, according to the new Facilities Supervisor at my workplace, her favourite part of Europe in her 15 month trip was Slovenia due to the lovely natured people and their spirited attitudes of improving themselves as a nation whilst being quite humble. My opinion you ask? Never been, but it doesn't stop me profiling it with stereotypes that are most likely either wrong or unfounded or probably both. 

 

Just like Top Gear's advice, whenever the conversation covers the topic of the Morris Marina, you have to follow with the following line "you know Princess Anne had one of those". Well LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, it has been common cause in my conversations when discussing the Slovenian PrvaLiga (which comes up quite a lot in and around the water cooler) that I often follow it up with; "you know, Dino plays there" and I urge you to do so too!

 

ALRIGHT, SO YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WATCH THE ******* LEAGUE HUH!

 

YOU ******* CAN'T, BECAUSE ITS OVER - FINANCIAL YEAR CALENDAR FOR THIS LEAGUE!

 

But here is some fantastic information and I urge you to come up with your own fantastic interpretations of the following nouns of which you will no doubt will incorrectly pronounce, BUT WHO'S STOPPING YOU - SO GET IN THERE!

 

Current League Table

 

 

Brief Info about Team Locations - (just read the wiki...ffs)

 

 

Speccy's top tip: There is only one team worth following in the majestic and proud league (Ranked #29 in Europe out of 53 nations) and that is Zavrc! WHY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU HAVE NO HEART, NO SOUL AND NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, because he has #18 on his jersey but #1 in our hearts is Dino Kresinger playing in front of a formidable 1,200 packed stadium

 

OH SO YOU WANT MORE STATS HUH?!?!?! WELL SPECCY IS HERE AGAIN PROVIDING THE THROUGH BALL TO GREATNESS, CHECK OUT NK ZAVRC - HAVE YOU SEEN BETTER HONOURS THAN THE ONES BELOW! In all seriousness - seriously impressive coming up through the ranks that quickly! Promoted every season!

 

 

How to watch?

 

If you can even find it - I'd be impressed and if you can understand it - then your a miracle worker! Also too, the season has finished guessing by the league table above!

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291

[Jaggy]

Shiniest bald head in Wanderland......................LOL

[Stevo99]

Yokohama have been shite this season :/   I converted to F.Marinos when I saw them play against Victory in the ACL when I was still over there after our ACL game, their fans are unreal and a nice bunch of people.  Not to mention Shunsuke Nakamura is a footballing god.

 

DALE DALE DALE YOKOHAMA!!!

[spectacular291]

https://mediacru.sh/eLujmgMUBz4x

 

just a fantastic save by the goal.. ohhhhh

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291

[West13]

Got anything on the Lebanese league?...

Some fantastic views of the meditteranean at some stadia.

[spectacular291]

Yokohama have been shite this season :/   I converted to F.Marinos when I saw them play against Victory in the ACL when I was still over there after our ACL game, their fans are unreal and a nice bunch of people.  Not to mention Shunsuke Nakamura is a footballing god.

 

DALE DALE DALE YOKOHAMA!!!

 

 

That he definitely is! This is yesterday

 

http://www.gfycat.com/CrispGrimBlacklemur

[spectacular291]

Got anything on the Lebanese league?...

Some fantastic views of the meditteranean at some stadia.

 

FROM THE LAND OF WHAT HAS FAST BECOME ONE OF MY FAVOURITES IN CULINARY DELIGHTS 

 

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE QATAR STARS LEAGUE...WAIT, NO - ITS THE:

 

LEBANESE PREMIER LEAGUE

 

Strangely enough, this league was founded in 1900 which makes it older than our very own constitution (you know that thing gives us the right to bear arms - see below) didn't actually begin until 1934! What the **** were they doing for 34 years? I mean I love a good shisha just like the next person but 34 years?!?! REALLY?!?!? But in their prolific time frame, the Lebanese Premier League provided us with a Guiness Book of World Record - Al-Ansar recorded 11 consecutive titles between 1988 and 1999, a feat that has only been beaten by Skonto FC in Latvia!

 

 

TEAMS, LOCATIONS, STADIA

 

Ok, I hear you all with your deep voices and your thirst for garlic sauce (now I'm just getting hungry) and you demand - which teams participate in this prestigious league, well again - I PROVIDE MORE OFTEN THAN A $10 HALF A CHICKEN AND CHIPS WITH GARLIC SAUCE AND COKE FROM OUR FANTASTIC FRIENDS AT EL JANNAH!!

 

 

CURRENT FIXTURES AND STANDINGS

 

And just like a $10 special meal at El Jannah, I provide just like the follow through from the aftermath of El Jannah (refer to your own queasy but well worth experience of El Jannah), here is the current standings and fixtures - THIS ONE IS IN FULL SWING!

 

 

 

SPECCY'S TOP TIP

 

Get yourself down to Titanics in Parramatta, literally 2 minutes walk from the Parramatta Stadium on Church Street and order yourself some Fattoush and with a lemon and lime ice shisha or if you love your fellow compatriots get yourself on the blower and give Cosy Kitchen Catering a call and if you mention that your a ATB listener - you get 10% off (I think it's 10%!). Now on to choosing an actual team! (But seriously, another hot tip is Al Aseel - fantastic food! Also another noteable mention is Awafi, but I've never tried it there)

 

If you want to boast to all of your mates over a shisha then its hard to go past the aforementioned Al-Anser - 13 championship titles is enough to brag about being the most successful team in the country! Otherwise I have heard that Tripoli is quite a beautiful waterside city that is well worth the follow - just make sure you see the games during the daylight as electricity doesn't seem to be the most reliable (see http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21582570-power-cuts-are-symptom-deeper-malaise-blackout)

 

This post was brought to you by Cosy Kitchen Catering!

Edited May 10, 2014 by spectacular291