[Role Model]

Fixtures for the opening weekend:

Saturday, 16 August 2008
Arsenal v West Brom, 12:45
Bolton v Stoke, 15:00
Everton v Blackburn, 15:00
Hull v Fulham, 15:00
Middlesbrough v Tottenham, 15:00
Sunderland v Liverpool, 17:30
West Ham v Wigan, 15:00

Sunday, 17 August 2008
Aston Villa v Man City, 15:00
Chelsea v Portsmouth, 13:30
Man Utd v Newcastle, 16:00


Seeing as the Community Shield is the so-called ‘curtain raiser’ for the league season, thought I might as well have this thread up and it can be discussed in here.



I need to make it clear that I want people to watch their mouths this season, as I won’t be standing for it. Banter sure, just don’t take it too far, and lets try and discuss things like adults, without resorting to childish name calling.

Ok let the hype and madness begin.

[Ste]

Nice thread

Obviously can't wait for this season, my main hope is that it isn't a huge anti climax like last season.

[-TheEnigma-]

Is it Portsmouth/Man Utd this year in the Community Shield.

I reckon Portsmouth will do fairly well this season with Crouch & Defoe up front, i wouldnt put it past them to get another upset win over United in the Community Shield, especially with some of Uniteds key players out.

[Ste]

Crouch and Defoe is definitely one of the best strike partnerships in the league if they click togetehr. Saying that they should from England experience. Typical Big Man Litlle Man combination.

[Ex64]

My prediction of Top Five at end of season

Chelsea
Man Utd
Liverpool
Spurs
Arsenal

[-TheEnigma-]

I'll go for the whole table.

1. Arsenal
2. Chelsea
3. Man Utd
4. Liverpool
5. Portsmouth
6. Spuds
7. Aston Villa
8. Everton
9. Man City
10. Newcastle
11. Blackburn
12. West Ham
13. Sunderland
14. Middlesbrough
15. Fulham
16. West Brom
17. Stoke City - wishful thinking considering i'm from Stoke, but they will proberly finish rock bottom
18. Bolton
19. Wigan
20. Hull City

Yeah i'm a little biased, but their is no way Arsenal arnt finishing in the top 4 and their is no chance the Spuds will overtake them, i remember last year when everybody was claiming the Spuds would finish above Arsenal, we all know how that went

[KME]

I think the bottom 3's rally interesting.

Hull have signed pretty well in the window, Geovanni, Halmosi, Gardner, Mendy, Warner, Fagan and Boeteng is a mixture of experience and decent players.

Stoke have only signed Kitson, and for a ridiculous price, but they play quite defensive football and I can see teams struggling to break them down.

West Brom are the best of the 3 sides to come up, but sold Gera and haven't signed an abundance of players.

As for Liverpool, I'm hopeful we can make some progress and take advantage of the fact Arsenal have lost 2 of their best players in Flamini and Hleb.

[Rex Regum]

Chelsea
Man Utd
Liverpool
Spurs
Arsenal

Please tell me that's not in correct order, please.

At the moment I'm pretty sure of a couple of things. Man Utd should win the league. Chelsea won't win the league, but will be up there. Arsenal will either do wonderfully or poorly, there won't be any middle ground, we'll likely finish 4th. If anyon does break up the top four, which I highly doubt, it'll probably be Spurs coming in for us, but the only way its happening is if all of Spurs signings immediately click and Bent has a great season, coinciding with a shit season by Arsenal. Hardly likely to happen tbh.

There's a slight chance Liverpool could put something together and win the league, but a lot will depend on their defence, in particular Agger. They have 3 world class players in Torres, Gerrard and Masch, and if others can get up to their level, Liverpool should be a force, especially given know Rafa seems to have found a consistent selection to fit in with his system. I think the summer business by Liverpool so far has been poor. Keane will prove to be a useful player, but 20M is too much for him and Rafa has seemingly neglected the need for a left footer and wingers.

I can't see Blackburn doing too well. They've lost a good manager in Sparky, their best player in Bentley, and haven't replaced either adequately. Reports have already come out damning Ince, and although they're likely false as Ince has been a common media target in the past, I think the step up from League 2 to the Premier League will be too much for 'The Guv'.

Everton will make the UEFA Cup again. They've built up a good team there, and I still think they should be doing a bit more business this summer, in particular another striker would go down badly, nor would a right back. They did remarkably last season with injuy hit campaigns to Arteta, Pienaar and Cahill, so it they can all have good healthy seasons, feeding the Yak, Everton should be up there.

Villa look poor and apart from the recent acquisition of Shorey for 3.5M, they have been abysmal in the transfer market. 5.5M for Sidwell, and 6M for Luke Young (yet MON stated he only rates Finnan at 1M). They still lack depth, and an injury to SUPER YOUNG, could ruin them. Pompey are looking formidable, a left winger and left back would give them a very polished team which could make some noise next season. Their backline is ageing a bit though. They should compete for UEFA Cup. City should compete for Europe again if they can keep Corluka. Sell Richards for over the odds and keep Corluka would be my advice to them, then shift him into centre back so Onuoha can play at right back. Boro, Newcastle and Wigan will likely fight it out for the remaining top half spots. West Ham looks very 'dyer' , they haven't done good business and still have the same injury prone squad as last year, not to mention they're best players (Green and Upson) are unhappy for petty reasons on West Ham's behalf. Also, Freddie Sears looks like being a big disappointment to me. Fulham and Bolton will flirt with relegation, but avoid it. Sunderland will comfortably avoid it. West Brom may just avoid it too, but Hull and Stoke are both going down, Hull at the bottom. Zigic should do well for Stoke, especially with Lawrence's delivery.

[CyberWaste]

My Prediction for the table at the end of the season.

1) Chelsea
2) Man Utd
3) Liverpool
4) Spurs
5) Arsenal
6) Everton
7) Aston Villa
8) Pompey
9) Newcastle
10) Man City
11) Sunderland
12) Blackburn
13) Middlesbrough
14) Fulham
15) West Ham
16) Bolton
17) Wigan
18) West Brom
19) Stoke
20) Hull City

Ill make this quick: Yes I am biased to Spurs, but I think Arsenal have lost a few key players this summer and will have another trophyless season. Id like to be proved wrong though. I think Chelski will win the League this year as they are shaping up nicely but It will be tight again.

[Magsimus]

Ah, a nice easy win at Old Trafford to start the season off

Anyway, my guess is:

1) Man United
2) Chelsea
3) Liverpool
4) Arsenal
5) Spurs
6) Pompy
7) Newcastle
8) Villa
9) Man City
10) Everton
11) Blackburn
12) Boro
13) Fulham
14) West Ham
15) Sunderland ( hopefully 20th though )
16) WBA
17) Wigan
18) Bolton
19) Stoke
20) Hull