How come CL Q/f's aren't in UEFA cup if there elmimated or is that just 3rd round losers ? So PL predictions ppl ? 1st - Chelsea 2nd - Man Utd 3rd - Arsenal 4th - Liverpool 5th - Tottenham 6th - Portsmouth 7th - Everton 8th - Man City 9th - Aston Villa 10th - West Ham 11th - Blackburn 12th - Newcastle Utd 13th - Middlesbrough 14th - Fulham 15th - Wigan 16th - Sunderland 17th - West Brom 18th - Bolton 19th - Stoke City 20th - Hull City I think Utd's injury/Suspension list, which now includes Rooney and Carrick could hamper there start and BIG PHIL has done a good job keeping the squad together and adding to it. RAFA's rotation early on will hamper Liverpool plus they have average full backs though Arsenal have problems due to lack of experience in the midfield but should claim 3rd again and may be a good shot for a cup.
Mine: 1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Arsenal 4. Liverpool 5. Portsmouth 6. Tottenham Hotspur 7. West Ham United 8. Aston Villa 9. Everton 10. Manchester City 11. Blackburn Rovers 12. Sunderland 13. Newcastle United 14. Fulham 15. Middlesbrough 16. Wigan Athletic 17. Bolton Wanderers 18. West Bromwich Albion 19. Stoke City 20. Hull City Right now, I think Sir Alex may just force Ronaldo to stay and that will be the deciding factor. The top four will be bunched right up to the point where we could be in for a four way race on the last day. Chelsea will take some time to adapt to Big Phil's new way. Arsenal will learn from last season's mistakes. Liverpool will push on, I expect goals going forward but they still don't look right at the back. Everton have got problems. Not enough money for the kind of deals Moyes needs to kick on and all sorts of boardroom problems.. I see Portsmouth's potentially lethal new Crouch/Defoe partnership their powerful midfield behind them, a great, experienced defence and the best English manager in the Premier League finishing fifth. My West Ham prediction is based on them being able to keep that massive squad of theirs motivated and fit. Aston Villa haven't done the business they need to do yet, but I think they're waiting to sell Gareth Barry first. The promoted sides are going back down. Sorry.
I was putting this together myself the other day hopefully I'll do better than last year when the only teams I got right were Man Utd and Derby 1. Man Utd (hampered start due to injuries and suspensions? See 2007-08, cf. 1998-99) 2. Arsenal 3. Chelsea 4. Liverpool (rotactics and dodgy back will count against the awesome strikeforce) 5. Portsmouth (looking good. Light on numbers though for a 4-cup year) 6. Tottenham (after last year, they have to) 7. Villa 8. Everton (as Hermiod says, massive problems at the moment) 9. Newcastle (I can never tip them for anything higher, because that would mean actual success) 10. Man City (haven't got a strikeforce at the moment and I still don't trust Benjani) 11. Wigan (buying very good players, won't struggle this time. Maybe even a cup run) 12. Blackburn (not looking good for them if reports are true) 13. West Ham (maybe if they get fit, but I'm still not convinced by them) 14. Fulham 15. Sunderland 16. Boro (I can never tip Boro to do anything. Alves, Arca, Downing and Wheater are all very good but who else do they have really?) 17. West Brom 18. Bolton (I admit it - I WANT this to happen this year. I'm sick of Bolton and sick of Gary Megson. Also, they're rubbish anyway) 19. Stoke (Championship side) 20. Hull (Championship side)
I think the no Euro could help Rangers win the title as last year the UEFA cup run ruined the squad. Am sure Celtic fans will call for Gordons head should he not win it despite winning the past 3 (so fickle when they called for his head last year despite two last 16 CL finishes as well as 3 titles). However I do feel Celtic come next year will begin a mini O'neill type domience of the SPL.
I think the money difference is going to be definitive and Celtic will dominate for the next couple of years at least. (I have no idea what happened to my earlier post about the SPL :s
Interesting transfer news - Blackburn have signed Julio Santa Cruz, Roque Santa Cruz's 18-year-old brother.
That IS interesting... I don't think I've ever heard of a transfer where I have no idea what to think of it before. Where did that come from?!
Supposedly it's got something to do with keeping Roque happy, and he's also apparently a useful player. Crazy isn't it? Though even winning three in a row isn't considered a massive achievement at Celtic by the fans. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Strachan take the soon to be vacant Blackburn or Everton jobs. He's probably achieved all he can, unless he really wants to push on in the Champions League this season. Or at the very least, win away.
^Soon to be vacant ? Paul Ince has just got the job. He'll get a year at least. David Moyes has just signed a new contract. It will take more than one bad season to oust him.
Moyes hasn't signed yet, he's getting no backing from the board, and has a paper thin squad. The club is in serious unrest. I should I think he's more likely to walk rather than be pushed. Ince is untried and may well be out of his depth. He's reportedly failed to convince the squad so far. If they have a bad start to the season, the board might kneejerk him out. Some predicions. 1. Chelsea. By far the biggest and best squad. They were so close to a treble last season with a limited manager. If Scolari proves his quality, they can go all the way. 2. Mancs. Ronaldo out for two months, and perhaps still off to Madrid, and some early injuries and suspentions might mean they have a slow start. I think they might be worried about their depth in defence after Pique's exit and might be short up front, but they still have the quality to mount a serious challenge. 3/4 Arsenal and Liverpool, but I'm not sure in what order. If Liverpool can continue where they left off, they might challenge past Christmas, but if Arsenal's young signings can step up, they could sneak ahead. Still perhaps worries about squad depth, particularly in defence. On the other hand, Eduardo's return could mean they get stronger as the season progresses. I think the top four will be closer than we've seen for a long time. 5. Man City. A good manager, a good defence and a good attack. They need to avoid the second half slump. I think they'll still be some way off fourth. 6. Pompey. I fancy them this year. Crouch and Defoe should strike up a good partnership. 7. Villa. Still going to score bucket loads, even if they loose Barry and have Bouma out for a while. Friedel is an upgrade on Carson. 8. Spurs. Still don't have a reliable defence or any steel in midfield. Should do better than last year though. 9. West Ham. Providing Bellamy and Ashton stay fit. They played some truly awful football and still managed tenth, so I don't forsee problems. They lack the quality for Europe imo. 10. Blackburn. Losing Bently and especially Friedel is a big loss, so they need Robbo to step up and regain his form. I think Brad was worth a lot of points to them last season. Question marks over Ince, but they shouldn't be in any real trouble if they play to their capabilities. 11. Everton. I think they will have a tough job matching their 5th place from last season. No midfield to speak of, and a very thin squad. 12. Newcastle. Another year of uncertainty over the manager and the ownership beckons. 13. Fulham. Should have an easier time of it. 14. Sunderland. Keane's improved the squad, but goals might remain a problem. 15. Wigan. 16. Middlesbrough. Some good players, but I think Southgate will regret no buying a goalkeeper. 17. West Brom. I think they have more about them, and have a decent manager. Should manage it, just. 18. Bolton. Megson made them hard to beat, but I don't think they'll get enough goals to stay up. They may regret blowing their chance in Europe last season. It could be their last for a long time. 19. Hull. Some decent signings, but I can't see them staying up. 20. Stoke. I don't think they have anything like enough quality. They might do better than Derby, though that's skant consolation.
May have a small midfield but these 3 are quality... Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar Also Phil Neville, Leon Osman and even Phil Jagelika can fill in those roles with decent effect but I agree Moyes is short of 2 signings.
They need a replacement for Carsley. He did a great job for them, very underrated in fact. And I don't know what I was thinking - Man City won't even nearly finish fifth.
One of the most tiresome transfer speculations in the history of football is over. Ronaldo confirms he will stay at United. Even so, I can't imagine the supporters are too happy with him. Ask Adebayor after his initial reception at the Emirates Cup. He's discovered fan's adoration is not to be taken for granted no matter what degree of frantic badge kissing one does after the fact.
That is really sad. I hope he has a good last few months/years. A real legend, as you say, one of my favourite people in football.
I don't know what you were thinking either And I'd take into account the fact Cahill is very injury-prone as well - definitely need some cover if not a replacement. EDIT - also no one has mentioned the League Two news that Rotherham have been docked 17 points (naturally administration issues and stuff). So that league now starts with them on -17 and Luton on -30. Bournemouth may yet lose points too later this week. If they do, I'd say that's relegation over and done with from the off. The promoted teams will have no fear at all, and the likes of Notts County and Chester and Dag & Red who are down there most years will also have little to worry about.
I do wonder how the hell does docking points help a team reslove there situation cause it leads to relegation or missing promotion, which means loss of money and further debts