Premier League 2008/9

Fixtures released today and can be seen here. So about time for this seasons new thread.

No real great games, opening day promoted team fixtures are as follows:

Bolton v Stoke
Hull v Fulham
Arsenal v West Brom

West Brom seem to have the best promoted game.

Man Utd defend their title home to Newcastle on the first day, which is the most attractive of all the ties.

May the debate begin.

[Neil]

I would actually say we have the best opening fixture, or the most realistic chance of winning it anyways. Not sure I would fancy a hammering by Arsenal as our first fixture.

Let the fun begin.

Originally posted by Neil
I would actually say we have the best opening fixture, or the most realistic chance of winning it anyways. Not sure I would fancy a hammering by Arsenal as our first fixture.

Let the fun begin.

You do have Man Utd away on the last day of the season. Just imagine if you had to win to get into Europe.

[Neil]

Originally posted by willd

Originally posted by Neil
I would actually say we have the best opening fixture, or the most realistic chance of winning it anyways. Not sure I would fancy a hammering by Arsenal as our first fixture.

Let the fun begin.

You do have Man Utd away on the last day of the season. Just imagine if you had to win to get into Europe.

Man Utd at home on the last day. Will probably be the title decider[:w]

and more importantly, here are the league one fixtures!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... efault.stm

We go to Leeds on the last day which could be an awesome game!

Hmmm...I will have to review these in greater detail but I am anxiously awaiting November 1 and May 24. [:)]

GJ

[/quote]

Man Utd at home on the last day. Will probably be the title decider[:w]
[/quote]

[^][^][:D][:D] Love the optimism

How's Wayne Brown doing[?] As an ex Tractor Boy I tend to keep an eye on his progress, but I saw he had been injured, is he being kept on next season?
He has matured into a better player than when we let him go many moons ago.

Wonderful to see the Spanish go through and those boring, drama-queen Italians go home. Truly, with Russia and Spain, we have some class-act footy. Good show, although I know we'd be semi-finalists at least if we were in it [:(]

GJ

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
Wonderful to see the Spanish go through and those boring, drama-queen Italians go home. Truly, with Russia and Spain, we have some class-act footy. Good show, although I know we'd be semi-finalists at least if we were in it [:(]

When asked to explain how England beat Euro 2008 semi-finalists Russia 3-0 at Wembley last autumn, their coach Guus Hiddink mischievously replied: 'England had a good day that day, their only one.'

Seems Guus disagrees with you GJ.

Must admit its gutting to not see England there. Although its kind of refreshing also. Lets be honest, we are a bit like Spain. A team that promises great things but when we get to the nitty gritty we are pants.

Was gutted Croatia went out, I admire Bilic and think it wont be long until we see him back in the Premiership managing a top side.

For me it is still Spain all the way.

Originally posted by willd

For me it is still Spain all the way.

VIVA!!!


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GJ

His armband said his was a red torres Torres!!!

Of course begs the question if an average to poor German side can make the final why cant England?

Originally posted by willd
if an average to poor German side can make the final why cant England?

Do you really want to ask that? [:#]

GJ

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by willd
if an average to poor German side can make the final why cant England?

Do you really want to ask that? [:#]

GJ

GJ I need amusing on this lovely afternoon. Give me your take.

My views, very brief though as I could write a whole dissertation on the issue are:

1. McClaren was the wrong appointment form day one. The FA wanted someone with international experience and Champions League expereience at club level, so decided to appoint a manager whose greatest achievement at that time was to get Middlesborough to a UEFA Cup quarter final.

2. The FA wanted to appoint Big Phil but the press messed up that plan.

3. The Premier League has worked wonders for UK football but English players aren't getting into the top teams (Spain fielded only 2 foreign based players in their team last night). The Big 4 average about 3 English players.

4. Too many big egos.

5. Most importantly, our system of football is wrong. The last 15 years of school sport has been awful. Primary school PE lessons consist of running round a playground with a beanbag on your head...how can that improve sport? Australia, a country with not even a third of our population, has a successful talent ID programme from aged 9 and it is producing results.

Also it is rather shameful when 84% of the British Olympic team at the 2004 Olympics were privately educated and 70% or there abouts of medal winners were privately educated (privately educated children in the UK make up about 12%). Those stats clearly show that sport in secondary schools is not working.


Plus about a trillion other reasons.

Originally posted by willd

GJ I need amusing on this lovely afternoon. Give me your take.

My views, very brief though as I could write a whole dissertation on the issue are:

1. McClaren was the wrong appointment form day one. The FA wanted someone with international experience and Champions League expereience at club level, so decided to appoint a manager whose greatest achievement at that time was to get Middlesborough to a UEFA Cup quarter final.

2. The FA wanted to appoint Big Phil but the press messed up that plan.

3. The Premier League has worked wonders for UK football but English players aren't getting into the top teams (Spain fielded only 2 foreign based players in their team last night). The Big 4 average about 3 English players.

4. Too many big egos.

5. Most importantly, our system of football is wrong. The last 15 years of school sport has been awful. Primary school PE lessons consist of running round a playground with a beanbag on your head...how can that improve sport? Australia, a country with not even a third of our population, has a successful talent ID programme from aged 9 and it is producing results.

Also it is rather shameful when 84% of the British Olympic team at the 2004 Olympics were privately educated and 70% or there abouts of medal winners were privately educated (privately educated children in the UK make up about 12%). Those stats clearly show that sport in secondary schools is not working.


Plus about a trillion other reasons.

Short of not knowing anything about #5 (though I trust you...), I can only agree 100%. Although the whole 'The media scared me' bit with Scolari was always suspect in my mind. I reckon he wanted more money/perks/etc. No England footy manager should be that afraid of the media and, if he really was, then he was wrong to begin with.

McClaren -- my god. Even now, the stomach turns at the mention of him.

GJ

Given the fact that England weren't good enough to be at Euro 2008, meant that I had no interest in this years tournament, shallow of me I know.

However, I was made to watch the final last night by MrG and promptly fell asleep[|)]Apparently it wasn't that bad a game because Torres scored and he's a Liverpool player, of whom MrG supports![n]

Regarding the Premier League, I'll happily settle for mid table obscurity for the Hammers again this season [y]

Still can't quite get use to seeing Hull in the Premier League fixtures though! [:w]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
Although the whole 'The media scared me' bit with Scolari was always suspect in my mind. I reckon he wanted more money/perks/etc. No England footy manager should be that afraid of the media and, if he really was, then he was wrong to begin with.

I agree. Now with Scolari at Chelsea I just wonder, being cynical, if he felt the money wasn't enough and/or the pressure of England manager to great, although it cant be any greater than Brazil.

McClaren -- my god. Even now, the stomach turns at the mention of him.

Indeed, highlighted by the fact that it took him ages to get another job and even then he only took Twente as Blackburn told him to go away!

This year promises to be an exciting season. Even more so if Ronaldo and Lampard leave Man Utd and Chelsea respectively, and also if Liverpool are successful in signing David Silva [:D].

Roll on the new season!

Originally posted by VS075
This year promises to be an exciting season. Even more so if Ronaldo and Lampard leave Man Utd and Chelsea respectively, and also if Liverpool are successful in signing David Silva [:D].

Roll on the new season!

Lame. None of this came true so boring season for you, then! Ahh, but you're a Liverpool supporter so it wasn't bound to be glorious at any rate...[:w]

GJ

CHARITY SHIELD

Anyone care to stake a claim to a scoreline? I'll say...MUFC 2 - 1 Pompey.

And yes, I know it's changed its name, but the curmudgeon in me (I'll have to learn his name one of these days...) insists I keep on using the old term.

GJ

Well it turned out 3 - 1 on pens, of all things. But -- the pace has been set...glory, glory Man United! [y][^][^][^][y]

GJ

So less than 24 hours to go.

Am sure Neil is getting very excited about Hull.

Believe this season will be the same as the last 6. The top 4 will remain the top 4. Liverpool will still not be able to break Chelsea/Man U.

Blackburn will struggle. Man City will be affected by off the pitch activities. Spurs won't deliver either and Ramos will do a runner. Fulham could be a surprise package.

Champions: Chelsea
Relegated: Stoke, Hull and anyone from Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan, West Brom.

[Neil]

Originally posted by willd
Am sure Neil is getting very excited about Hull.

Indeed I am Will, can't wait actually, been a long summer without football. Was actually meant to be at a wedding tomorrow but football has come first so I am now only at the evening reception!

Relegated: Stoke, Hull and anyone from Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan, West Brom.

[:(!] Typical easy reaction to write off the new boys, only time will tell and I hope we prove everyone wrong [:p]

Originally posted by Neil

[:(!] Typical easy reaction to write off the new boys, only time will tell and I hope we prove everyone wrong [:p]

Id love for you to prove me wrong. Nothing better than a team doing a REading and suprising everyone. I just worry that the legend (deano) is too old and you have also lost that Man Utd player you had on loan haven't you (campbell I believe he is called).

[Neil]

Originally posted by willd
Id love for you to prove me wrong. Nothing better than a team doing a REading and suprising everyone. I just worry that the legend (deano) is too old and you have also lost that Man Utd player you had on loan haven't you (campbell I believe he is called).

You are right about Deano, too old now, maybe the odd cameo from the bench, and I wouldn't bet against him scoring a few this season too.

Campbell is back at Man Utd at the moment, although there are very strong rumours that if/when they sign Berbabtov (which will be this w/e) then Campbell will be returning on a season long loan. We have even made one of our existing loans a permanent transfer yesterday well ahead of schedule so that it 'free's up' the other loan slot so we can sign a striker before the end of the month (managers words)! Fingers crossed.

Ladies and gentlemen, a tip of the hat to Hull for winning their first outing. And for exceeding MUFC in the current table. Only 8 points needed now to match powerhouses Derby, Neil! Can your side do it?

EDITED TO REFLECT ACTUAL RESULT. [:0]

Ta ta for now!

GJ