I'll be surprised if we do make them (and annoyed - please god alive no more play-offs!) It's not as solid as it looks. 6 youngsters (7 in fact, as our no.52 isn't on that list), Gestede who is playing every week but is looking very raw indeed, Kiss who has yet to play at all, plus the guaranteed comedy misfits who need to be sold to Conference sides - Naylor, Gyepes, Naylor, Parkin, Naylor, Taiwo, Naylor and most of all, Naylor. With Gunnarsson out we already have next to no cover in midfield. Earnshaw and Miller are not a good pairing and cannot keep playing together as they are practically the same player, though Earnshaw is considerably better as he can actually run to the right places and can trap a ball. We have no wing cover for Conway, who has already played every minute of the season. Oh, and we have no pace in central defence, plus Hudson looks to be regressing from his excellent form yesterday when he silenced the naysayers. We need: At least one more striker, one is taller than 5'9 and can hold the ball up in particular and link the play... like Jay Bothroyd. At least one more midfielder, one with experience and good passing ability Another centre-half We should be good for these by the end of the transfer window and the loan market. I stand by my prediction of 9th, but am enjoying the start we're having under the new regime. Especially the Carling Cup thriller the other night!
Guess it kind of sucks to be a Scottish football fan at the moment....... All out of European competition before the end of August. Even Ireland have managed to get a team into the group stages of the Europa League, congrats to Shamrock Rovers, great win in Belgrade! The SFA need to undertake a serious review of the state of Scottish football, because at the moment, despite what they might say, it's in a dire state.
Saw the highlights last night, honestly, it could easily have been 18 - Arsenal completely collapsed in the second half. Rooney and Young were absolutely sensational.
I felt genuinely embarrassed for Arsenal watching that game. Still cheered every goal that involved Young and Rooney though - my fantasy team needed them.
Good week for my team; Rooney, Aguero, Adam, Hart, Huth, Shawcross all did well for me. Sadly, Bale spoiled things slightly by being lumbered with a sh1t team!
Amusingly I didn't catch the final results on Sunday, last time I saw it was 5-2 or 6-2 I think, so this thread proved a bit of a shock Are Arsenal too good to go down?
Is it funny or sad that Scotland has no club in the European competitions anymore and falls down to 28th place in the provisional UEFA ranking for next year?
Yeah, there's something about irregular transfers by Sion or something, but still, Celtic was beaten on the field.
It used to be funny, now it's sad. I always remember the great rivalry between English and Scottish teams, and any opportunity for a 'Battle of Britain' match was eagerly anticipated. As we've seen in recent years though, it's a one-sided affair these days - Rangers and Celtic taken to the cleaners, Hearts destroyed, and they're the top three sides in Scotland. It's actually a shame.
I do what it takes to win, though it pains me to see Vorm and Graham in my side. But they'll keep clean sheets at home to doss opposition, there's no question of it. Anyway, they're both new boys. It's not like I've put in Tate, Dyer, Sinclair, Williams, Monk, Rangel, Dobbie or any of the other established Swanselonians who I hate so much Better these two as my cheap options than the likes of QPR who are useless or Norwich who are inconsistent. I actually feel more comfortable picking them than I would Cardiff players!
And it means that bringing Celtic and Rangers into the English leagues is highly unlikely to happen, unless they go into the Championship. Certainly they wouldn't get into the Premiership as was suggested a few seasons ago.
And even if you bought them into the Championship that's surely unfair on two other teams who'd lose out...