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[Zoolaga]

3 - 2 Booooooooooooo!

 

[h0pper]

Damn I was just joking....Lakitu is my boy we go way back... I don't even know this "h0pper" fellow but Im asuming by his avatar that he's upto no good and he's a sucker for shots on goal.

I know kaizoku unfortunatly but we have this tready thing so I can't tell you how much of a daft prick he is. Ah well...

lol, easy fella. I wasn't referring to you. Why would Fabregas imply that I'm a sucker for shots on goal? (who isn't though?) Cesc is a playmaker not really a big goal scorer. amiright?

 

[Zoolaga]

finished 4 - 2. I think that the future looks good for football in the US though.

 

[kaizoku]

A dodgy study from last year suggests its surprise surprise Barca with the most marketable squad!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4861300.stm

1 Ronaldinho (Barcelona) £32.6m
2 David Beckham (Real Madrid) £31.2m
3 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) £30.4m
4 Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) £21.3m
5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) £21.1m
6 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus) £20.9m
7 Ronaldo (Real Madrid) £20.4m
8 Frank Lampard (Chelsea) £20m
9 Thierry Henry (Arsenal) £19.95m
10 Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich) £19.9m
11 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) £19.2m
12 Raul (Real Madrid) £18.9m
13 Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) £18.8m
14 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) £18.6m
15 Didier Drogba (Chelsea) £18.3m
16 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) £12.9m
17 Ryan Babel (Ajax Amsterdam) £12.6m
18 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) £12.1m
19 Lukas Podolski (Cologne) £11.3m
20 Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan) £9.9m

though clearly a hell of a lot has changed since then. Big gap between top 3 and the rest.

The nature of the study by BBDO is also a little dodgy as it does seem like they pulled the numbers out of nowhere. I refuse to believe that an unproven Babel for a smaller club is more valuable marketing-wise than someone like Ruud or Giggs. Likewise Liverpool's and Arsenal's most marketable player being below Lampard and Ibrahimovic, chelsea are not that big and Zlatan isn't that popular.

 

[Ryck]

lol, easy fella. I wasn't referring to you. Why would Fabregas imply that I'm a sucker for shots on goal? (who isn't though?) Cesc is a playmaker not really a big goal scorer. amiright?

1. don't take me so seriously.

2. I meant since your an Arsenal fan and they need to shoot mor..... ahh forget it I miss Broklyngooner

 

[h0pper]

you are the one who should not be taking seriously the ones who aren't serious.

all joking aside, I was joking. aside.

 

[Ryck]

you are the one who should not be taking seriously the ones who aren't serious.

all joking aside, I was joking. aside.

I disagree you should be the one not taking seriously those who aren't serious and those who aren't taking seriously those who aren't serious.

 

[h0pper]

lololol ok, you're right.

Back to football/soccer!

Does anyone know if Robben wants t move to Madrid? The rumor doesn't want to die but Mourinho insists he is staying. Do Chelsea even need him anymore?

 

[BatiGOOOOOOL]

Well, different sources have said for a while that he already reached an agreement with Madrid. It's Chelsea the one holding the deal up.

 

[Mama Smurf]

See, the only way he could have an agreement with Madrid is if Chelsea allowed him to talk to them. Which is a really weird thing to do if you're then not going to sell him. Normally you agree a price and then let the player speak.

 

[BatiGOOOOOOL]

Florentino used this way of negotiation all the time when he was president.

He always went to the player first, offering something very hard to deny and making them put pressure on the club to let them go.

Madrid has also signed Hertha Berlin's CB, 18 year old Christopher Schorch.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Well that's tapping up and I don't think that's a very smart thing to do to Chelsea, you're likely to turn up face down in a sewer in the backstreets of Moscow.

 

[Ryck]

lololol ok, you're right.

Back to football/soccer!

Does anyone know if Robben wants t move to Madrid? The rumor doesn't want to die but Mourinho insists he is staying. Do Chelsea even need him anymore?

:lol :lol :lol poor h0pper is like shut up already crazy person... Yeah I think he's going, with Reyes more than likely out of the way he's guranteed playing time, tons of money and a chance to play with his countrymate Rudd. ( the latter prolly isn't that important tho lol) I would be really surprised if Robben plays for Chelsea next season.

 

[psycho_snake]

1. don't take me so seriously.

2. I meant since your an Arsenal fan and they need to shoot mor..... ahh forget it I miss Broklyngooner

Same here, he was a funny guy.

There's only like a week until the new thread anyway.

It would be pretty good if we did overtake the halo 3 beta thread and then start a new football thread, but it doesnt really matter. Its probably easier to start the new thread on 1st august.

btw nice summary of the prediction league mama. Everything you wrote sounds fine. I'm guessing that we also predict international games when they are on?

 

[psycho_snake]

Todays rumours

TRANSFER RUMOURS

West Ham have bid a club-record £12m for Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka. (Daily Mail, Independent)

Ronaldinho admits he would like to have Frank Lampard as a Barcelona team-mate - but boss Frank Rijkaard does not expect it to happen. (Various)

Real Madrid are still confident of signing Chelsea's Dutch winger Arjen Robben. (Various)
Birmingham's £9m joint move for Mido and Hossam Ghaly has collapsed over a last-gasp cash row. (Various)

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to wait a year to seal the £30m deal for Carlos Tevez. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United are letting England striker Alan Smith talk to Middlesbrough about a £6m transfer. (Daily Mirror)

Nantes' Belgian striker Luigi Pieroni is heading for talks with Middlesbrough and Blackburn. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa have ruled out a move for Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips. (Daily Express)

Manchester City are in talks with Serbian giant Nikola Zigic over a £13m move. (The Sun, Daily Mirror)

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has made an increased £6m bid for Atletico Madrid winger Martin Petrov. (Independent)

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce will not let Kieron Dyer go on the cheap and is demanding £6m for the midfielder. (Daily Star)

Derby's new £3m Jamaican defender Claude Davis has won his appeal for a work permit. (Daily Mirror)

Pompey defender Sol Campbell is a target for Spanish club Villarreal. (Various)

Everton have been told they will have to pay £6m for Wigan defender Leighton Baines. (Daily Mirror)

Striker Nathan Ellington has urged West Brom to play him or sell him. (Daily Mirror)

Hull have failed with an ambitious attempt to lure Italian legend Christian Vieri to the club. (Daily Mirror)

Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on a £2m move for Southampton's Grzegorz Rasiak. (Daily Mail)

QPR are lining up a £350,000 move for Charlton's Simon Walton. (Daily Mirror)

Luton are set to move for Arsenal's Joe O'Cearuill. (Daily Mirror)

Motherwell look set to miss out on Celtic misfit Adam Virgo after the Parkhead club insisted they match his £5,000-a-week wage packet. (Daily Record)

Gretna are set to sign Derry City defender Darren Kelly. (Daily Record)

OTHER GOSSIP

The Premiership war of words has started early, with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson telling Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to shut up and labelling him a fool. (Various)

Liverpool are considering ditching the name Anfield and selling the naming rights for their new stadium for £100m. (Daily Star)

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has been told it is time to deliver some trophies. (Daily Mirror)

The Premier League has assured West Ham they are highly unlikely to face any further punishment - even if Carlos Tevez and Kia Joorabchian win their High Court battle. (Daily Express)

AND FINALLY

Millionaire footballers have invented a new drinking game with only one rule - whoever brings the least amount of money on a night out has to buy ALL the drinks. (Daily Star)

About 1.5m people watched David Beckham's debut on ESPN, which is 50% higher than the record for a game featuring an MLS team.

I had a feeling that storiues about United having to wait until next yesr to sign tevez would pop us. I'm hoping thats not the case. I just want this sorted out as soon as possible, but thats not likely. The whole thing with tevez sems to get more complicated each day.

 

[Karakand]

Liverpool are considering ditching the name Anfield and selling the naming rights for their new stadium for £100m. (Daily Star)

Corporate-named stadia suck. Don't do it Liverpool! Just remember what Biggie told us:

 

[milanbaros]

Corporate-named stadia suck. Don't do it Liverpool!

If it meant we had 100m more to buy players I say definately do it. The fans could just call it Stanley Park.

 

[Stevie Gerrard]

If it meant we had 100m more to buy players I say definately do it. The fans could just call it Stanley Park.

yep. It was always going to happen.

 

[Shinobi]

jesus christ you big baboon.

Erm...you're the same person who cries like a little girl whenever someone calls you a name over simply stating footballing opinions, right?

Didn't see the TFC/Aston Villa game, but the highlights looked pretty good. The first goal scored by my local boys was just a thing of beauty, and again puts this "beer league" idea to bed. What MLS lacks is the money to get the truly top players, and the ability to field teams with depth. But there's a lot of good talent in this league, with players that work extremely hard. I don't think comparing MLS to Coca Cola Championship-level soccer is a big stretch.

Barcelona are far and away the most marketable club in the world. I think Man U's got second spot though (particularly if they land Tevez and he and Rooney can gel), now that Beckham has left Madrid. Then I'd say Real is third, AC Milan a very close fourth, and Chelsea fifth.

What am I basing this on? Absolutely nothing.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Man City have snatched Petrov out of Spurs' grasp at the last minute, signed him for £4.7m. I don't think I've ever actually seen him play, but I guess he's good, seems to have had a lot of teams after him. 28 year old Bulgarian left winger, for those who don't know.

The Zigic signing also seems to be close. His agent says he wants to play in the Premiership and he regrets not joining West Ham last year, and Santander's president says Man City are leading the chase (though there's other interest), as they're closest to the financial amount they want.

Assuming they get him, Man City can already put out a pretty good side:

--------------------Isaksson--------------------

Richards----Dunne-------Onuoha---------Ball

Jihai-------Geovanni----Fernandes-----Petrov

--------------Bianchi-------Zigic----------------

but there's still plenty of room to improve. We've seen them linked with Chiellini and Blasi from Juventus, ideally they'd have a better right winger, I think they should try and get Sol Campbell for a free from Portsmouth after he's indicated he might move on, and a reserve keeper would be useful.

btw nice summary of the prediction league mama. Everything you wrote sounds fine. I'm guessing that we also predict international games when they are on?

I thought about that, but I'm not sure. Again it comes down to a lack of knowledge about teams. It just seemed easier to ignore international games and focus on the domestic.

 

[Shinobi]

Premier League chief: Only the top four matter
25.07.07


Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore shrugged off fears that the big four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have made English football too predictable — because it keeps the fans in the Far East happy.

While supporters here are increasingly frustrated that the fight for the Premiership has become a moneydriven, foregone conclusion with each passing season — and the rich simply getting richer — last night Scudamore insisted such a scenario is good news for the game's profile abroad.

Speaking from Hong Kong, where free-spending Liverpool are competing with unfashionable Fulham and Portsmouth in the Asia Trophy, Scudamore dismissed concerns back home about the predictable nature of the Premiership title race.

He likened the dominance of the socalled big four to that of Tiger Woods in golf or Roger Federer in tennis, saying: "The talk about only certain teams being able to win the Premier League is a bit of a domestic phenomenon. In Asia, it is almost completely the opposite.

"The fans here are excited by the fact it is the clubs they have heard of who are winning. It is like the Tiger Woods or Roger Federer factor.

"People may want other players to win the major championships, but when those two do it there is more interest."

Scudamore's words are likely to infuriate loyal fans of those sides seen as second and third tier. Barring a solitary crown for Blackburn Rovers in 1995, United, Chelsea and Arsenal have dominated the Premiership title race ever since the League's inception 15 years ago.

But with domestic and overseas television contracts set to earn the Premier League almost £2billion over the next three years, the financial health of the game in England has become paramount for those in charge, even if the trickle-down of wealth has not seen the silverware spread among the lesser lights.

Scudamore is clearly keen to expand the Premier League's enormous profile further in Asia, even if the potential markets are only interested in watching the glamour sides on their television screens.

He added: "It is stating the obvious, but the Asian market have to consume most of their Premier League football very remotely, via TV. But the one thing that strikes anyone who comes out here is the fact the fans have an absolutely intense interest and knowledge in our domestic football.

"I know some people in England would say true fans are the ones who travel to an away game on a wet November night. But the people in Asia are just as fanatical about their football.

"It is a positive thing for all of us when we take an opportunity to give them a chance to touch and feel what they see on their television screens all year."

Scudamore was forced to admit that barring a shock, the army of fans in Asia — just like those back home — are likely to see yet another four-horse race for the Premiership title and Champions League slots.

He said: "It does matter that our League is competitive. Nobody is talking about a one-club league any more. The question is, how many more do you add into the mix?

"Liverpool are clearly having a go and you can never write Arsenal off. Who knows, at some point there may be a surprise and another club may force their way into the gang of four?"

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport...ue+chief:+Only+the+top+four+matter/article.do

His attitude is...interesting. I think competitive balance, or at least a semblance of it, should be strived for, even if it's unrealistic. Futhermore, the fans who've actually been going to these games for years and decades are the ones you should be the most concerned about, not the Asian market who'll jump on anything that's hot at the time (who says they won't get bored of the EPL in a decade? Though I suppose that's why he's working harder to secure them).

On the other hand, I admire his honesty...unlike the NHL who had a year long lockout under the guise that they were looking to improve competitive balance (something they already had...the lockout was about ****ing up the NHLPA and keeping more money for themselves, nothing else), at least he's being up front and honest about what he likes to see. And honestly, there's merit to it...the NBA never experienced higher ratings then when the Chicago Bulls won their six championships. Same with Major League Baseball when the New York Yankees win the World Series, or play their hated rivals Boston Red Sox in the playoffs. The layman, the people who have no rooting interest but might to watch like a particular sport, will be far more willing to do so when one of the established or glamour teams are one of the best in the league and featured as the game of the week, as opposed to seeing lesser teams playing for a mid-table position.

So yeah, I think he's overly blunt...but I can't help respect his bluntness.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Well as a fan of one of the second tier Premiership teams...I really don't mind.

It's complete rubbish to say the top 4 places is a foregone conclusion anyway. Last seaosn Spurs were 8 points off 4th spot, and that's as far off as it's been in ages.

The year before that Spurs were 2 points off 4th, the year before that Everton actually finished 4th ahead of Liverpool, the year before that Newcastle were 4 points off 4th...it's prefectly possible to break into the top 4. And with the amount of money pouring into some teams (Man City, Newcastle, Spurs), it could get even more intense.

You could say only one of the top 4 has a chance to take the title though, that's fair enough...but that's to be expected. It's not like in the past you could have asked people the best 4 teams in the league and another team entirely would end up winning it.

I think most fans are like me to be honest, happy to fight for the best they can be. As a Blackburn fan I'm looking for a top 7 finish, that's the ideal. A top half finish is necessary, and anything lower is a major disappointment. Birmingham fans are just looking to stay in the Premiership. Spurs fans just want to break into the top 4, etc. We're not sitting there disappointed year after year as we don't mount a challenge on the title.

Unless you're lucky enough to be bought by an Abramovich (and even then remember Chelsea were already one of the top clubs), you have to realise your club isn't going to be an overnight success. We don't have a draft system in the Premiership, thank god, so it'll take years for a middling club to get to the top. You need to invest wisely, get as large a fanbase as possible, get a good youth system going, get a top manager...and over time the smartest teams will make it. It's always been that way.

 

[Cornballer]

Highlights of Beckham's first practice with the Galaxy. Tee-hee.

 

[Osorio]

It kind of sucks to go into a season and hope for something other than winning the title. However, I've gotten used to it and I can see how other small clubs' fans operate. As a Bolton fan I'm always hoping for a UEFA Cup spot now. Before it used to be just staying in the Premiership, and before that was getting to the Premiership and staying there for more than 1 year. So it's not all bad that the top 4 is predictable because it's predictable now but who knows how it'll be down the road. Manchester United wasn't Manchester United a few decades ago, and Leeds was an important club, etc. So every club has their hopes and dreams, it's just that they're not all the same and I don't see anything wrong with that.

Then again, the parity the MLS provides me is also wonderful.

 

[Osorio]

Highlights of Beckham's first practice with the Galaxy. Tee-hee.

The English people are hatin'! Don't they know that practices are nothing like that, and he's only doing that because of his ankle? And MLS is the standard of the English third division? League 1 teams would get killed by most if not all MLS teams. Whatever, they can think what they want.

 

[Shinobi]

They also claimed England's midfield was the best in the world last year, so take what they say for what it's worth (a bag of shit).

 

[Ghost]

I do treat the massive growth of the premiership 'brand' with a little trepidation, I dont see it as a problem when you have a 4 club plateau, I'd prefer it the old way when virtually anyone could mount a challenge, but that's just not modern football.

I see problems coming when the plateau starts getting bigger, we already have Spurs firmly fixed in 5th place, Everton are maybe 1 more season away from being everyones 6th place team. As Mama said it wasn't too long ago that there were a few clubs fighting for 3rd and 4th, this season we could well see 6 teams fighting for 7th. And if you get to the point where you can be 90% sure of the top 7 teams (like we can be 90% sure of the top 5 teams now) then suddenly the best possible result 13 teams are aiming for is not getting relegated, which would kill the league for me.


Fans of those 7 clubs would probably feel differently, but for me football without the fear of defeat isn't football.

 

[Cornballer]

This may be one of the greatest online translations ever. It's of the Di Maria to Arsenal rumors....

Di Maria to the Arsenal

The leaders of Central Rosary had denied that the world-wide champion Sub 20 left the club. But the own soccer player admitted that the English set communicated with him

Angel I gave Maria said that very the negotiations are advanced so that it follows its race in the Arsenal of England.

After the president auriazul Pablo Scarabino affirmed that he was not going to sell to the steering wheel if there were no supply of the outside, I gave Maria, just arrived at Rosary, confessed that the British leaders already communicated with him.

“They were already speaking with me and is all advanced one, not only what it concerns to my contract, but also the negotiations with Power station”, needed that was one of the figures of the albiceleste selected one during the competition that was developed in Canada.

Later I gave Maria added: “He would be very pretty, as long as he is beneficial for my family and Power station. I would like that she is solved the sooner to know if beginning to play in Power station or I go away, because the championship begins in two weeks”.

The amount of the operation would make the rounds between the five and six million euros. As Central Rosary is taken part judicially, judge Liliana Georgetti will have to give the approval so that the operation is made, although it discounts that it will do it in case that the proposal becomes serious.

On the other hand, the equipment gangster won to Federal Shot by 2-1 and harvested his third consecutive triumph in friendly parties before rivals of the First National B.

The goals for Power station were marked by Damián Diaz and Damián Ledesma and the discount contributed to Cristian Sheep to it, of penitentiary.

Here's the original en español.

 

[Ghost]

I think i finally see what Mama Smurf sees in Craig Bellamy:

The look on the refs face is priceless :lol

 

[Mama Smurf]

I can't see it coming to that. There are a limited number of top players that can be bought, not enough for 7 teams, not with the rival leagues across Europe. And if you miss out on the CL, you miss out on a lot of money, and you miss the top players who want to be in the CL.

There is a lot of money pouring into a lot of teams, but money isn't everything. I'm pretty damn sure Spurs' spending has been higher than Arsenal's for years now. And look at the chase for a top 7 spot next year: Spurs, Newcastle, West Ham, Everton, Bolton, Reading, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Man City, Villa...all have a chance to grap a spot, yet there are vast differences in spending between many of the teams:

Blackburn

Friedel - free
Ooijer - £2m
Samba - £0.4m
Nelsen - free
Warnock - £1.5m
Bentley - £3m
Savage - £3m
Reid - £1.8m
Pedersen - £2.5m
Roberts - £3m
McCarthy - £2.5m

= £19.7m

Now I have to admit, Bentley's fee is a guess. It was undisclosed and I can't even find a rumour of it, but I can't believe we'd have paid more than that. He wasn't the player he was last season when we signed him.

Now let's look at a team who we've come higher than in the league for the past 2 seasons:

Newcastle

Given - £1.5m
Solano - £1.5m
Bramble - £5m
Taylor - free
Carr - £2m
Dyer - £6m
Emre - £3.8m
Parker - £6.5m
Duff - £5m
Owen - £17m
Martins - £11m

= £59.3m

Now you might say it's unfair to put players like Owen in, they were injured most of last season, but that's no different to Blackburn. Reid missed 35 games, Nelsen missed 26, Roberts missed 20, Ooijer missed 18 and Savage missed 17.

You'll always have your well run clubs with little money beating the poorly run clubs overflowing with money, that's not gonna change.

 

[Ghost]

*stuff*

All very true, but what happens when Newcastle go out and get Boltons manager to turn them into a well run club with plenty of cash? Or Man City go out and hire one of Europes most sucessful coaches? It's not just the playing talent thats starting to float to the top of the cash ladder. And the teams that are fighting above their bank balances are the ones that will suffer.

 

[psycho_snake]

The premiership is made up of little groups. You've got the title challengers which are the top 4. The UEFA cup place challengers, which is actually quite a big group. There are a lot of teams that have a chance of getting a european spot. The teams that have a chance of doing it are spurs, everton, bolton, west ham, blacburn, villa, newcastle, city and possibly reading. Then you've got the teams trying to avoid relegation like the three promoted teams, along with fulham wigan and possible borough

Now it would be better if everyone had a chance of winning the league, but its impossible for something like that too happen. However when you look at each little group, you can see that its quite even within the group. Any of the title challengers could win the league. Any of those teams i mentioned could get a UEFA cup spot, whilst the promoted teams plus the three others I mentioned could get relegated.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Well Newcastle and Man City have had top managers before, it doesn't bother me. Even if they do well, some other team will be hiring a manager not good enough regardless of their money, it's inevitable. Like we all get excited about big transfers before the start of the season, seems like they can't go wrong, big names going to big clubs...but there are always flops. Always. Same with managers.

It's like I'm not sure Benitez is right for Liverpool. As a tactician he knows his stuff that's for sure, but even with a new stadium and all that money, I'm not convinced they can win a title under him. I think a team needs more consistency than he puts out, and I'm unimpressed with most of his buys this summer. With the sort of spending they're showing at the moment, if he doesn't pick a title up within the next couple of years, or at least get within a few points of a title, I think he'll be gone. And there will be no shortage of top managers after his job, that's for sure.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I said a while ago that I'd already planned out my Premiership viewing for the first weekend (only 2 1/2 weeks away!), but I'm still not sure what to watch at 3pm on the Saturday. Obviously it'd be Blackburn if that games available, but I don't think it's going to be, it's not a big match. I was just happy to watch Bolton - Newcastle instead as Allardyce is going straight back to the Reebok, and maybe I still will, but that West Ham - Man City fixture sure does look tempting. Both teams are buying good players, and I think I'd like to see Eriksson's first game in charge.

 

[Cornballer]

I guess I may as well start thinking about which games to pick for the prediction contest. Here's the first set of fixtures:

Saturday, 11 August 2007
Aston Villa v Liverpool, 17:15
Bolton v Newcastle, 15:00
Derby v Portsmouth, 15:00
Everton v Wigan, 15:00
Middlesbro' v Blackburn, 15:00
Sunderland v Tottenham, 12:45
West Ham v Man City, 15:00

Sunday, 12 August 2007
Arsenal v Fulham, 12:00
Chelsea v Birmingham, 13:30
Man Utd v Reading, 16:00

 

[Mama Smurf]

Actually, these are the first set of fixtures:

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Aston Villa v Liverpool, 17:15
Bolton v Newcastle, 15:00
Derby v Portsmouth, 15:00
Everton v Wigan, 15:00
Middlesbro' v Blackburn, 15:00
Sunderland v Tottenham, 12:45
West Ham v Man City, 15:00

Sunday, 12 August 2007

Arsenal v Fulham, 12:00
Chelsea v Birmingham, 13:30
Man Utd v Reading, 16:00

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Birmingham v Sunderland, 19:45
Tottenham v Everton, 20:00

Wednesday, 15 August 2007

Blackburn v Aston Villa, 20:00
Fulham v Bolton, 19:45
Man City v Derby, 19:45
Portsmouth v Man Utd, 19:45
Reading v Chelsea, 20:00
Wigan v Middlesbro', 20:00

and a CL qualifier each for Arsenal and Liverpool.

The draw for the qualifying round is next Friday, so not too long to wait. At most it'll be 2 CL games though, so you can at least think of your top 3 Premiership fixtures from the above.

 

[Mama Smurf]

BTW, that Blackburn - Villa match will be postponed if we make it to the next qualifying round for the UEFA Cup, which is very likely, so don't pick it. That's another thing we need to look out for, I'll start writing up the rules in as clear a format as possible I think.

 

[Cornballer]

Ah, good point. I guess I can pick from the 2nd round of matches which are within the first week. I'll probably skip the Champions League qualifiers this time around unless something particularly juicy crops up.

 

[Maverick]

Mama - why hasn't there been more of an interest in M.G. Pederson?

He seems like a very, very effective player from what I've seen of him.

Or maybe I'm just overvaluing him because I bought him in my Master League and he turned into an elite winger for Chelsea.

I know he's getting up there in age - like late 20's, and I'm sure Blackburn want to hang onto him, but I'm surprising he hasn't been linked more to top clubs.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Ah, good point. I guess I can pick from the 2nd round of matches which are within the first week. I'll probably skip the Champions League qualifiers this time around unless something particularly juicy crops up.

Well the rule is we have to pick at least one game from each of the three competitions available, if any game is available at least. I mean we can change that rule if you like, but I just thought it would make sure there's variety.

Do we want to do the Community Shield as a one off?

Mama - why hasn't there been more of an interest in M.G. Pederson?

He seems like a very, very effective player from what I've seen of him.

Or maybe I'm just overvaluing him because I bought him in my Master League and he turned into an elite winger for Chelsea.

I know he's getting up there in age - like late 20's, and I'm sure Blackburn want to hang onto him, but I'm surprising he hasn't been linked more to top clubs.

He's only 25.

There's interest every year, but given that he not only chose to stay at Blackburn last summer when there was interest from United and Spurs, but in fact signed a new contract, I don't think teams feel they have much hope of getting him. We wouldn't seel except for a large fee, and it seems lik he's happy here. I do think Liverpool and Spurs could dow ith him though, so there might still be a bid before this transfer window closes.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Or we could keep the rule, but not count CLQ as part of the CL.

 

[psycho_snake]

Do we want to do the Community Shield as a one off?

I think we should do that.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Ok, I'll add that and go ahead and say qualifiers don't count, just actual CL games. We can always change the rules before we start if we need to, they aren't set in stone yet.

 

[Mama Smurf]

PREDICTION LEAGUE RULES

POINTS

- 2 points for every correct result (ie win, lose or draw). 1 extra point (for a total of 3) for the correct scoreline.

- 5 correct results gets 1 extra point. 5 correct scorelines got 1 further extra point.

- 17 total points possible in a week.

- In the event of penalties, the result at the end of extra-time counts.

- In fixtures over 2 legs, it's the result on the night you're predicting, not the team to go through.

MATCHES COVERED

- 5 matches for each set of games. A set of games is defined as Community Shield, Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League (not qualifying) fixtures.

- At least one game from each competition should be chosen when available.

- Only FA Cup matches involving at least one Premiership team may be chosen.

- In the event of a week with less than 5 matches, as many matches as possible will be chosen.

RULES FOR CHOOSING MATCHES

- The first set of matches will be chosen by Cornballer (the set of fixtures after the Community Shield).

- Thereafter, the person who got the most points that week will choose the games for the next week, unless they've already chosen.

- If someone doesn't want to choose the next matches, or is unable to, the choice goes to the person with the next amount of points.

- Once every person in the league has chosen (even if they've chosen to skip their turn), that's the established order for picking matches that we'll stick with.

- See "MATCHES COVERED" for details on which teams can be picked.

- Choices for predicted matches must be available by the Wednesday before that week's set of fixtures, ie. choices for the 11th-17th August must be in by Wednesday 8th August.

- You can discuss who you might pick to predict, but once you've picked 5 fixtures and said they're final, you can't change them, unless a fixture you've chosen is postponed.

- You can pick the odd obscure game of course, but if there's a big match coming up, for example Arsenal - Man Utd, make sure you pick it as people are going to want to predict it.

- In the event of a general outcry at a game not being picked, that game will be installed in place of another.

RULES FOR PREDICTING

- Only games chosen for that week can be predicted, any others won't count.

- Choose a scoreline for all 5 fixtures.

- You're free to change your predictions right up until kick off of the match, but once the whistle goes, your last predictions submitted are set.

- If you fail to predict, you will receive no points.

 

[Cornballer]

Nice work, mama. Sounds good to me. I'm sure we'll have to do a little bit of tinkering on the fly, but that should take care of most situations.

 

[psycho_snake]

Nice job mama. Those rules look fine to me. It would be good if you posted those rules in the new thread.

Thats actually got me thinking that we could post the games that we will predict on each week on the first page of the new thread. If you make the thread mama, then just include it in your first post. That way everyone can keep track with whats happeing. Also post our league table on the first page too.

 

[Mama Smurf]

In this Fantasy League thing, can we see each others teams the week after like we could at yahoo? Or is it kept private?

Having a bit of trouble picking my reserve midfielder. I know who I want and I can afford him, but I'm not convinced he'll be a first choice next season, depends on who is bought before the end of the window.

 

[h0pper]

Yeah I was wondering the same thing Mama. I don't really care who sees my lineup, so here goes:

----------------------James----------------------

Distin-----Dunne-----Toure-----Inigmarsson

C. Ronaldo-----Fabregas-----Speed-----Carsley

--------------Drogba-----V. Persie--------------

on the bench I have Jaaskeleinen(GK), Skoko(M), Vine(F), Pearce(D)

I made some changes since last time in order to get Cristiano since he racks some points up. I think my team looks pretty decent.

 

[Ronok]

Please sign me up for the prediction league btw.

 

[Cornballer]

Updated list....

Cornballer
hadareud
mama smurf
psycho_snake
h0pper
lakitu
Fowler
Steroyd
phfresno
Ghost
DCharlie
zoolaga
Ronok