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August 19, 2009

Argentina: Primera División, 2009-’10.

Filed under: Argentina — admin @ 9:23 pm

Reigning champions, from the 2009 Clausura competition, are Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield. The club now has 7 national titles, with their previous crown won in the 2005 Clausura. Vélez Sársfield are from the western edge of the city limits of Buenos Aires, in the Liniers Barrio [neighborhood]. Here is an article on Vélez Sársfield’s title win {click here (Goal.com, 6th July 2009)}. The club saw a 62.7% attendance increase, from 17,000 to 27,666 per game. To see Primera División Argentina attendance figures, from Football-Lineups.com…{click here}.

Gallery: CA Vélez Sársfield 2009 Clausura Champions. Click on the image below, then click on new image once more, for a sharper view.

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There are two newly promoted clubs for the 2009 Apertura and the 2010 Clausura. Chacarita Juniors are from just outside the northwestern city limits of Buenos Aires, in Villa Maipú, Buenos Aires Province. However, their stadium is being rebuilt, and they currently are playing back within the city limits, here at Estadio Ricardo Etcheverry, and at Vélez Sársfield’s Estadio José Amafitani {click here}.

The club was formed in an anarchist library, in the Chacarita Barrio, in north-central Buenos Aires. Chacarita Juniors won the 1969 Metropolitano, but have spent the majority of their years in the lower divisions. Chacarita’s last spell in the top flight lasted from 1999 to 2004. Here is the architect’s rendering of Chacarita Juniors future home {click here (Google 3D warehouse, w/ translation available)}.

The other promoted club is from the remote northwestern Province of Tucumán, Atlético Tucumán. The club replaces, so to speak, another Tucumán club who were just relegated…San Martin de Tucumán. Apertura 2009/Clausura 2010 will be Atlético Tucumáns 10th season in the Primera División, their previous spell being a single season in 1984-’85. Here is the 3D image of Atlético Tucuman’s Estadio Monumental José Fierro {click here (Google 3D warehouse)}.

The Primera División Argentina begins this weekend; Sam Kelly, at Hasta El Gol Siempre, has the details…{click here (’2009-2010: The season is upon us’)}.

Here is an article on why the Primera División Argentina’s 2009 Apertura season start was delayed…{click here (‘A question of rights and wrongs’, by Sam Kelly at ESPN Soccernet)}.

Primera División Argentina kits {click here (Football11.net)}.

Thanks to the Kit Design, by eroj site {click here (Vélez Sársfield post)}. Thanks to Football-Lineups.com site, for attendance figures and player information {click here}.

Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at Primera División Argentina 2009-10)}. Thanks to Sam, at http://hastaelgolsiempre.com/ , for input and fact-checking. And a huge thank you to billsportsmaps.com commenter Thomas, for finding Argentine attendance figures and sending me the address. I will be making an attendance map of Primera División Argentina after the 2009 Apertura is finished, around January.

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August 16, 2009

Germany: Clubs in the 2009-’10 Bundesliga season, with 08/09 attendance figures.

Filed under: Germany — admin @ 3:24 pm

Bundesliga table {click here (SoccerStats)}.

Reigning champions are the tepidly supported dark horses VfL Wolfsburg, powered by the record-setting goal-scoring tandem of Edin Dzeko and Grafite {see this (VfLWolfsburg.de, 23 May, 2009, ‘Dzeko and Grafite- A record-breaking strike-force’)}. Their 54 goals eclipsed the 53 goals scored in 1971-’72 by Gerd Müller and Uli Hoeness, of Bayern Munich. Speaking of the Bavarian giants, their former manager, Felix Magath, led Wolfsburg to their unlikely first title. Magath had been sacked by Bayern Munich in January, 2007, when the club was in fourth place, and below Champions League qualification. That Magath had led Bayern Munich to two consecutive league and cup doubles (in 2004-’05 and 2005-’06) was not enough. So it must be rather satisfying for Magath to win the title with a club like Wolfsburg…essentially Volkswagen’s pet club, and a club that has never been on any list of big German clubs. In terms of German standards, Wolfsburg play in a small stadium (30,000 capacity) that has never been filled to capacity over a season. And again, speaking of the Bavarian giants, it was only fitting that the Bundesliga goal of the season, a Grafite back-heel after a mazy run, was scored by one of Magath’s players against his former club {see this (‘Grafite’s signature goal takes Wolfsburg’s winning sequence to eight’, by Raphael Honigstein at Guardian.co.uk)}. Magath has left Wolfsburg, after signing a fat contract with FC Schalke 04. So he has got a reward for his acumen as a manager, but he has his work cut out for him, seeing as how Schalke are a notoriously underachieving club.

The map is accompanied by an all-time titles chart of the German Bundesliga. The Fussball-Bundesliga began play for the 1963-’64 season. Prior to that, the national champion was determined by a play-off between clubs which had qualified through the many regional leagues. Semi-professional status was introduced in 1949, when five Obërligen (Premier Leagues) were in existence. The five leagues can be seen here.

For the list of national champions in Germany, 1903-Present , {click here (Wikipedia, List of German football champions)}. Here is the list by total titles {click here}.

I also have listed all the European qualifiers from Germany. Wednesday, 19 August, Stuttgart starts their two-legged draw versus FC Timisoara, of Romania, for qualification to the 2009-’10 Champions League Group Stage. Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich are already in the 09/10 Champions League Group Stage. Draws for Play-offs for CL Group Stage, {here (UEFA.com/ucl)}.

In the Europa League (the re-brandedf and re-formatted UEFA Cup), Hertha Berlin, Werder Bremen, and Hamburg are in contention. UEFA.com Europa League main page, here.

Thanks to http://www.bundesliga.de/en/ . Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at Fussball-Bundesliga 2009-10 page)}. Thanks to Sascha Drenth @ Panoramio.com {click here}. Thanks to Christoph F. Siekermann at the German Wikipedia. Thanks to RP Online.de {click here}. Thanks to Soccerway {click here (set at ‘Edin Dzekov [sic] is going to stay at Wolfsburg’)}. Thanks to Subsidesports.com {click here}. Thanks to UKsoccerShop.com {click here}.

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August 11, 2009

England: 2009-10 Premier League, with attendance figures from 08/09 season.

Filed under: 2009-10 English Football,Eng>Premier League (Eng-1st Level) — admin @ 10:58 am

Note – to see my latest map-&-post of the Premier League, click on the following: category: Eng>Premier League
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On the map, all club crests are the same size. On the right, the crests are sized to reflect the clubs’ 08/09 average attendance, and are displayed in order of largest to smallest gate figures. On the far right are thumbnail lists for each club, with the club’s finish in the last 2 seasons; the club’s highest finish; total seasons the club has spent in the top flight; and Major Titles (English Title, FA Cup, and League Cup).

Here are the 09/10 kits for Premier League clubs, from the Historical football Kits site {click here}.

Thanks to Tony’s English Football site, for attendance figures {click here}. Thanks to the FootyMad sites, for clubs’ League histories {click here (set at Premier League)}. Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at 2009-10 Premier League)}.

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August 9, 2009

MLB Ball Clubs and their Minor League Affiliates: the Cincinnati Reds.

Filed under: Baseball Clubs/Farm Teams — admin @ 1:21 pm

Below: Cincinnati Reds Auxiliary Chart, featuring uniforms and logos from the history of the Cincinnati Reds franchise, established in the American Association (I) in 1884, as the Cincinnati Red Stockings (III) (1884-1889)/ established in the National League in 1890, as the Cincinnati Reds (1980-2009).

Cincinnati Reds team history with photos, from the Sports E-Cyclopedia site {click here}.

Thanks to MLB shop {click here}. Thanks to the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Dressed to the Nines” site, featuring baseball uniforms templates drawn by Marc Okkonen {click here (set at Cincinnati Reds 1900-1908)}. Thanks to Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos page {click here}. Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (Cincinnati Reds page)}.

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August 5, 2009

England: 2009-2010 League Two, with attendance figures from 08/09.

Filed under: 2009-10 English Football,Eng-4th Level/League Two — admin @ 10:59 am

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Note: to see my most recent post on the English 4th division, click on the following: category: Eng-4th Level/League 2.
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(Football League Two is the 4th Level of football in England, and the lowest rung of League football.)

Promotion favorites: {click here (Statto.com)}. The oddsmakers have made these clubs the favorites for promotion [Note: unlike the higher levels, 4 clubs, not 3 clubs, get promoted to League One each season]… Notts County (on the strength of their new, deep-pocketed owners and the appointment of Sven Göran-Eriksson as Director of Football) Rotherham United; Bradford City; Shrewsbury Town (who lost in May at Wembley to Gillingham, in the Playoffs Final); Northampton Town; and Bury (who lost in the 1st Round of the Playoffs in May). Also rated for promotion are Bournemouth, Chesterfield, and Rochdale (who lost in the Playoffs 1st Round in May).

Here is an article on the recent events at Nottingham’s less prominent club, Notts County, called ‘Sven on the Trent? Don’t laugh, this could well be the future’ {click here (Guardian.co.uk article from 22nd July, by Barney Ronay)}.

Here are the 09/10 kits, from the Historical Football Kits site {click here}.

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Thanks to the FootyMad.net sites, for their League History sections on each club {click here (FootyMad / League Two)}. Thanks to Tony’s English Football Site, for attendance figures {click here}. Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at 2009-10 Football League Two)}.

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August 2, 2009

MLB Ball Clubs and their Minor League Affiliates: the Cleveland Indians.

Filed under: Baseball Clubs/Farm Teams — admin @ 4:43 pm

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Below: Cleveland Indians Auxiliary Chart, featuring selected uniforms and logos from the history of the Cleveland indians franchise…established in 1901 as a charter member of the American League, as the Cleveland Blues (1901-1902) / Cleveland Naps (1903-1914) / Cleveland Indians (1915-2009).

Cleveland Indians team history and photos, at the Sports E-Cyclopedia site {click here}.

Thanks to the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Dressed to the Nines” site, featuring baseball uniforms templates drawn by Marc Okkonen {click here (set at Cleveland Blues/ Cleveland Naps, 1901-1909)}. Thanks to MLB shop {click here}. Thanks to Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos Page {click here (set at Cleveland Indians)}.

Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at Cleveland Indians page)}.

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July 29, 2009

France: the clubs in the 2009-2010 Ligue 1 season, with average attendances from 08/09.

Filed under: France — admin @ 6:20 pm

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Note: to see my latest map-&-post of Ligue Un, click on the following: category: France.
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The 72nd season of Ligue 1 will begin on 8th August [2009].

Last season, under second-year manager (and 1998 World Cup winning defender) Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux ended 7 seasons of league domination by Lyon. The squad won their final 11 games to claim the 6th French Title for FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

This season, at Marseille, after a front-office shake-up that finds former Chelsea and Juventus defender Didier Deschamps at the helm, the best-supported club in France hope to claim their first national title since 1992. Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, who were 5th and 6th place finishers last season, will probably be in the race for the title, but it remains to be seen if last year’s surprise 4th place finisher Toulouse will remain competitive…after all, the club from the rugby-intensive south-west of France barely avoided relegation 2 seasons ago. Their good showing last season was aided a great deal by 08/09 Ligue 1 leading scorer André-Pierre Gignac (24 goals). Here were the leading scorers last season in Ligue 1 {click here (espn soccernet.com)}.

Here is TheOffside.com‘s Ligue 1 section {click here}.

You can see information on the three promoted clubs (Boulogne, Lens, and Montpelier) from a post I made on 1st June…{click here}.

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Thanks to the E-F-S site, for attendance figures {click here}.
Thanks to Albion Road site, for information on some of the smaller clubs in the league {click here (set at Club Profiles / Grenoble Foot)}.
Thanks to the Markus Schaal at the RSSSF site, the maker of this chart, which helped me find the highest finish of some of the clubs {click here}.
Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at Ligue 1, 2009-10)}.

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July 27, 2009

MLB Ball Clubs and their Minor League Affiliates: the Colorado Rockies.

Filed under: Baseball Clubs/Farm Teams — admin @ 6:04 pm

Colorado Rockies Auxillary Chart, featuring uniforms and logos from the history of the Colorado Rockies franchise (1993-2009)…click on the following title: colorado_rockies_auxillary-chart2009__.gif

Colorado Rockies history, with photos, from the Sports E-Cyclopedia site {click here}.

Thanks to Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos Page {click here (set to Colorado Rockies)}. Thanks to MLB shop {click here}. Thanks to the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Dressed to the Nines site, featuring basenball uniforms templates drawn by Marc Okkonen {click here (set at Colorado Rockies 1993-2001)}. Thanks to MG’s Helmets, for the Rockies batting helmet {click here}. Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at Colorado Rockies page)}.

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July 22, 2009

England: 2009-10 League Championship, with attendance figures from 08/09 season.

Filed under: 2009-10 English Football,Eng-2nd Level/Champ'ship — admin @ 6:12 pm

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The map shows the 24 clubs in the 2009-10 season of the English Football League Championship, which is the 2nd Level of professional football in England and Wales.

Here are the oddsmaker’s picks for the best promotion candidates in the Championship this season {click here (Statto.com)}. The three clubs that were relegated from the Premier League in May are the three favorites for promotion back to the top flight…Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion, and Middlesabrough. Also highly rated for promotion are Ipswich Town (on the strength of new manager Roy Keane); Sheffield United (who, with their large attendances, have been perennial favorites for the jump three seasons running now); and Reading (despite a horrible second half of last season). It is interesting that even with all the cash at their owners’ disposal, Queens Park Rangers are now less highly rated for promotion. QPR has the 7th best odds for promotion now, versus second-best odds for promotion one year ago. All those managerial changes and the accompanying front office discord have taken the shine off noveuu-riche QPR’s potential, it seems. Also, note how decently-rated the three East Midlands clubs are, at 9th, 10th, and 11th best odds for promotion… Nottingham Forest, Derby County, and Leicester City. Forest had a tough time of it last season in their return to the 2nd Level; Derby County had an abysmal season following their horrendous last-place stint in the Premier League (in 07/08); while Leicester has just bounced straight back to the Championship following their first-ever season in the 3rd Level. All three clubs have solid fan bases and will draw well, and that certainly can’t hurt their chances.

Here is a 2009-2010 League Championship preview, from SportingLife.com, written by Pete Thompson {click here}.

**Here are the kits for the clubs in the 2009-2010 League Championship, from the Historical Football Kits site {click here}.

Thanks to the E-F-S site, for attendance figures {click here}. Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at League Championship 09/10 season)}. Thanks to the FootyMad.net sites, for each club’s League history {click here (set at League Championship main page)}.

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July 19, 2009

MLB Ball Clubs and their Minor League Affiliates: the Detroit Tigers.

Filed under: Baseball Clubs/Farm Teams — admin @ 4:45 pm

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Below: Detroit Tigers Auxilliary Chart, featuring uniforms and logos from the history of the Detroit Tigers franchise…established in 1894 in the Western League (I) as Detroit, and established in 1901 as the Detroit Tigers, a charter member of the American League [MLB] - (1894-2009).

Detroit Tigers team history and photos, from the Sports E-Cyclopedia site {click here}.

Thanks to Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos Page {click here (set at New York-Penn League logos)}. Thanks to MLB shop {click here}. Thanks to the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Dressed to the Nines” site, featuring baseball uniforms templates drawn by Marc Okkonen {click here (set at Detroit Tigers 1927-1935)}. Thanks to the contributors to the pages at Wikipedia {click here (set at Detroit Tigers page)}.

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