Football (Soccer!)

[katoeylover]

I wish he would go and give them 60mill to buy a couple of decent players.

[daveduke007]

(geezer @ Jul. 03 2008,17:32)

(daveduke007 @ Jul. 03 2008,14:57)

FFS    bollocks, You didnt win the league because Man United ended up with "MORE" points than you at the end of 38 games.

Calm down Dave. I wasn't even trying to wind anyone up, I stated Man United were worthy winners both times. Incidently would love to know your feelings re the C. Ronaldo / Real Madrid story.[/quote]
I certainly did not mean a personal dig at you geezer but I've heard too many times that Man United were "gifted" the Prem and Champs League trophies and its gets "my goat" and I know you said that Man United were worthy winners

The Premiership Title and the Champion's League Winners will always be about " If's" and "But's"

As for Ronaldo I would like us to keep him for 1 more year and then get the ££££'s for him
I personally won't blame him or slag him off if he wants to play for Madrid , and if that is a dream of his then so be it and good luck to him.

Man United have replaced "the greats" before and will do so again

[swaraj]

It's nice to be able to give a completely unbiased opinion. I build my opinions around last seasons outcome for the E.P.L.

1. Chelsea
2. Man Unt:
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal

F.A.Cup. Well as we witnessed last season it has become wide open with the big four more interested in bigger prizes, but it's all about predictions so I would pick two from Villa, Spurs, Arsenal and Newcastle. be interesting to see how the latter go with Keegan. And for no other reason than there owner I hope Man:City go down.

Champions League, and how crazy to call it that now when it most certainly is not, European Cup much more apt: Well my team wont do too much, we need to replace Del boy, Nedved and need a top class striker, could make the last eight if Buffon does the business, not sure about Inter with Jose and cant see A.C. being back on track for a season or two, so Bayern or Real for me.

[allstar88]

anyone know anything about this jo city have signed?

[daveduke007]

Who?

[Naang Faa]

Peter Reid becomes new Thailand Manager

( could be a job for one of the girls to translate from Scouse-English-Thai-English to Scouse again )
x

[allstar88]

city on a roll in europe 2-0

[swaraj]

And predictions for the first premiership manager to get the boot ?
I'll go for Gareth Southgate

[Naang Faa]

i'll go for Alex Fergusen

[Naang Faa]

.....and 9 managers to get the boot this season..
x

[Otho]

I'm excited about Arsenal's chances this season. Losing Flamini was a blow, definitely, but selling Hleb was good business - he's OK, but replaceable. I might be proved wrong in the next few days but I think Adebayor might have been outsmarted by the Professor and will find he's going nowhere. No transfer, no pay rise, just turn up for training on Monday bonny lad and let's see how good you are now.

They've made some good summer signings, are probably in for one or two more and they now have one to watch - Carlos Vela. He's a Mexican striker they actually bought in 2005 but he's been on loan in Spain ever since because of work permit problems. But he's ready to start this season and apparently he's good.

I admit they are a bit "artistic". Great to watch, but they need a bit more steel and some of them need to grow up a bit more. But if it all comes right for them, you never know. Last season they were only four points behind Man U, the season before it was 19. So they're coming up on the rails.

I thought Chelsea would self destruct after the end of last season and I was glad, as it finally proves once and for all that it's not just about money - you can't just buy a team. But they made a brilliant appointment with Scolari and I wouldn't be surprised if he turns out even better than the special one.

Liverpool, sorry, but I can't see them making much headway. They've got a couple of individual match winners, a fantastic (and very underrated) goalie - but not a lot else. And Rafa's rotations  are now proven to be  unsuccessful.

I expect Man U to roll over everyone and win it again. They're just a bit too good for everyone else, especially in the big games. The rest of us can only hope they slip up somehow.

I can't see anyone breaking the stranglehold of that top four, although Liverpool look the most vulnerable. But who would overtake them? Spurs? Villa? City? I just don't think any of those sides have enough for a sustained, season-long challenge.

[allstar88]

(swaraj @ Jul. 19 2008,19:27) And predictions for the first premiership manager to get the boot ?
I'll go for Gareth Southgate

knowing thaksin it will be mark hughes after 2 weeks

[swaraj]

Naang Faa at first i thought na, but after thinking about it, I mean if you "can sack a guy who's lost the champions league final on pens: and the e.p.l. by a couple of points, one game, well i guess anything is possible. Says a lot about the world we live in dont you think.

[katoeylover]

(swaraj @ Jul. 20 2008,09:38) Says a lot about the world we live in dont you think.

Not really, when they are payed millions to WIN, not come second....

[Otho]

Yes. But there can only be one winner. By definition, the rest have to follow.

I think some chairmen and their directors are living in cloud cuckoo land with their expectations.

Look at Martin Jol at Spurs - did a really good job for them, only missed the Champions League by inches and a plate of dodgy lasagne , and still got sacked. Is Ramos going to do any better? Marginally, maybe. But he's not going to take the league by storm. Face it, he just isn't.

Same with Sven. Made good progress and was surely worth another season at least. But it wasn't happening quick enough for Thaksin, who clearly doesn't understand shit about football and cares less. But where the fuck does he think Mark Hughes is going to succeed where Sven didn't? Are we saying he's going to put out teams that outclass and outplay the teams put out by Ferguson, Wenger and Scolari? Forget it.

It might not be that far fetched to think of him being the first mananager to get the bullet, even after just half a season.

I don't think it'll be Southgate - he was actually making improvements toward the end of last season.

But if they don't get off to a good start, and given the fighting behind the scenes, it might very well be Rafa.