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Official Football Thread 2007/2008 (Soccer)

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very much so. although I think that Eduardo will be on the bench. Wenger says that his chances of playing are bigger than his chances of not playing, so I don't think it's serious.
 
There's a huge difference between clubs like Man City and clubs like Portsmouth and Reading especially with the new owner at the helm. Man City's fanbase is too trophyless and too large to turn down a UEFA Cup place. Either way I should've just changed my comment to a top 10 finish rather than a UEFA Cup place.
 
the reason for me to think they'll be that high is because of Sven. He'll do a great job and turn a few heads. He's a top manager and he's got a decent side to work with.

The only thing that could stop this in my opinion is the dodgy ownership (like Mama already said). I wouldn't be surprised if we heard handcuffs clicking at some point.
 
Arsenal will go into reverse this season unless they sign an experienced striker and fill out their squad. No DoF this summer has hurt them.

1. Man Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Spurs
---------------
5. Everton
6. Man City
7. Newcastle
8. Blackburn
9. Arsenal
10. Reading
11. Portsmouth
12. Sunderland
13. Fulham
14. Bolton
15. West Ham
16. Middlesbrough
17. Birmingham
----------------
18. Wigan
19. Aston Villa
20. Derby
 
Osorio said:
There's a huge difference between clubs like Man City and clubs like Portsmouth and Reading especially with the new owner at the helm. Man City's fanbase is too trophyless and too large to turn down a UEFA Cup place. Either way I should've just changed my comment to a top 10 finish rather than a UEFA Cup place.
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I don't really see your point abouyt the size of the fanbase. I don't think having a larger fanbase makes it harder to refuse an Intertoto Cup chance, it's not like Portsmouth and Reading were sitting there thinking "well, we'll only be pissing off 20,000 people, so I think we can get away with it".

As for being trophyless, Reading had never even been in the top flight before last season, you'd have thought they'd have jumped at their chance to go into Europe. Portsmouth haven't won anything of any note for half a century either, and...I'm not sure about this...but I think they might not have been in Europe either.

I'm not saying Man City won't go for a place if they have the chance, Blackburn and Newcastle did, I just think it's up in the air. If they finish 8th next season, can maybe go into the Intertoto Cup, they'll be faced with the choice...go into Europe and risk dropping at least a couple of places, as most sides do, finishing let's say 10th that year, or focusing on the league and trying to break into the top 6. And I'd think that'd be a tough one for them.
 
Last call for Penguin King to announce himself btw, or hadareud's gonna chuck you out.

Sevilla say they've turned down two bids (they don't say who from) for Alves. One was for £21.3m, the other £23.7m. They're insane if they're playing hardball, so I can only assume they're just genuinally not going to accept any bid, they want to keep him.

Don't know what this means for Chelsea, can they bid enough to persuade Spurs to let Chimbonda go?
 
enishi said:
Oh, the Barcelona exhibition match has been postponed due to a sudden typhoon... Maybe I'm lucky that I didn't buy the ticket :P
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Match is back on for tomorrow... should be good, Barcelona in the early afternoon then three Premiership games :-)
 
edbrat's under my protection now, I won't hear a word against him!
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woohoo :D

Don't know what this means for Chelsea, can they bid enough to persuade Spurs to let Chimbonda go?
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we've already turned down £10-12m depending on which rumour you believe, it would have to be a fortune and a gross overpayment for (an admittedly) capable fullback to get a bid accepted.
 
Mika Vayrynen from PSV has just completed his move to Derby County. Fee has not been disclosed, but I bet it somewhere around 3,5 mil EUR.

EDIT:

RAMS AGREE VAYRYNEN TERMS
Posted on: Fri 10 Aug 2007

Derby County have agreed terms with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for the transfer of Finnish midfielder Mika Vayrynen.

The 25-year-old is described as a box-to-box player with an eye for goal and is primarily a wide-left man.

Vayrynen is currently undergoing a medical and the Rams hope to tie up the transfer later on Friday.

"We are delighted and he follows Benny Feilhaber in adding to our squad," chairman Peter Gadsby told Sky Sports News.
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1. Man Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
---------------
5. Spurs
6. Everton
7. Blackburn
8. Newcastle
9. Man City
10. Aston Villa
11. Portsmouth
12. West Ham
13. Reading
14. Bolton
15. Sunderland
16. Middlesbrough
17. Birmingham
----------------
18. Wigan
19. Fulham
20. Derby
 
You guys are pretty optimistic on Blackburn, generally. I think we'll be in there, but the distraction of the UEFA Cup and not spending anywhere near as much as most sides will stop us getting that high up the league I think.
 
edbrat said:
1. Man Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Spurs
---------------
5. Everton
6. Man City
7. Newcastle
8. Blackburn
9. Arsenal
10. Reading
11. Portsmouth
12. Sunderland
13. Fulham
14. Bolton
15. West Ham
16. Middlesbrough
17. Birmingham
----------------
18. Wigan
19. Aston Villa
20. Derby
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Dude wtf?

Mama Smurf said:
edbrat's under my protection now, I won't hear a word against him!
Click to expand...

NOTHING CAN SHIELD HIM FROM MY WRATH!!
 
Oh so we did get Scott Carson. Phew. Now we desperately need a right back!!

My league prediction:

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
-----------------------------
5. Tottenham
6. Everton
7. Aston Villa
8. West Ham
9. Manchester City
10. Newcastle
11. Portsmouth
12. Blackburn
13. Reading
14. Bolton
15. Middlesborough
16. Sunderland
17. Fulham
--------------------------------
18. Derby
19. Birmingham
20. Wigan
 
Fowler said:
Match is back on for tomorrow... should be good, Barcelona in the early afternoon then three Premiership games :-)
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There was live on TV if it played tonight... but only highlight now :/ and it is raining heavily after typhoon.
 
Where's the Liverpool love?

Fine I'll stand up for them.

1. Liverpool
2. Man Utd
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
---------------
5. Spurs
6. Bolton
7. Portsmouth
8. Man City
9. Newcastle
10. Aston Villa
11. Blackburn
12. Derby
13. Reading
14. West Ham
15. Everton
16. Sunderland
17. Birmingham
----------------
18. Wigan
19. Middlesborough
20. Fulham

Jeez is my Prediction league a mess, everytime I think a team will do better than X team that other team goes down a place lower than I think they deserve. :/

I don't know why but I think Chelsea will suffer at the start of this season, they had an injury Crisis at the right time of last season when they went through League 2 opposition in the FA Cup.
 
Chelsea have completed the..."signing"...of Alex. It's an interesting time for him, because Terry's injured for a bit so if he finds he can't even get in the team now, what hope would he have later?

He's probably not match fit anyway yet of course, but now he's there it makes the right back hunt a little less crucial. Ben Haim can play there, so either Alex can partner Carvalho while Terry's injured, or he can be the reserve to those two when everyon'es fit.
 
Cornballer said:
I think Alex played all of Brazil's matches at the Copa, so he's gotta be pretty close to match fit. Not quite there, but close.
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Yes, but that was several weeks ago, and he hasn't trained with PSV since.
 
Don't like predictions but I'll give the table a go.

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool
-----------------------------
5. Tottenham
6. Everton
7. Newcastle
8. Blackburn
9. Aston Villa
10. West Ham
11. Portsmouth
12. Manchester City
13. Fulham
14. Bolton
15. Sunderland
16. Middlesborough
17. Reading
--------------------------------
18. Birmingham
19. Wigan
20. Derby
 
Osorio said:
Btw Livewire nice pics. I hate your team, your fans, and your stadium but the people there seemed soccer savvy and represented the MLS well.
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Thanks! Yea, they're pretty hardcore. In fact, I heard that they've been getting so many applications to become a Screaming Eagle they may have to start waitlisting people! :lol There are at least 2 other smaller DC United support clubs that have been growing and have their own locations in the stadium now.

At this point I'm looking at getting season tickets next year and trying to catch all the remaining United home games. Such a great time (though 90 minutes goes by so fast!) :(

I need to figure out an international league/team to root for as there are tons of bars here in the city that show international matches.
 
edbrat said:
Arsenal will go into reverse this season unless they sign an experienced striker and fill out their squad. No DoF this summer has hurt them.
Click to expand...
<3

LiveWire said:
I need to figure out an international league/team to root for as there are tons of bars here in the city that show international matches.
Click to expand...
As a hardcore DCU hater myself I am ambivalent about aiding you but hey what the hell.

1. Are you of any European descent? If yes where abouts?
2. Do you want to be a front-runner?

Ah who the hell am I kidding, just become an Arsenal fan like every other Yanqui futbol fan.
 
Karakand said:
<3


As a hardcore DCU hater myself I am ambivalent about aiding you but hey what the hell.

1. Are you of any European descent? If yes where abouts?
2. Do you want to be a front-runner?

Ah who the hell am I kidding, just become an Arsenal fan like every other Yanqui futbol fan.
Click to expand...

:lol

1. Yes, 50% Czech, 25% English/German.
2. Sure! :D

Any suggestions?
 
LiveWire said:
I did. The Hotspur sound interesting.
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They're typically referrred at Tottenham or Spurs. Also, keep in mind that you're going to take endless stick from the Arsenal fans since they're rivals.
Or maybe Reading, since I'm from Reading, Pennsylvania.
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Reading have two Americans playing for them, too: Bobby Convey and Marcus Hahnemann.
 
Do you know where in England or Germany your family is from?

Czech... too small a country to really get too particular about your allegiances (no offense Czechers). So it'd be down to Sparta or Slavia.

Also don't listen to Bill Simmons.
 
NOTHING CAN SHIELD HIM FROM MY WRATH!!
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hi Wes

ok I have a really good friend who is a villa fan so I have practise ragging on the villa but its nothing substantial. Yes my putting you in a relegation position was a bit cheeky - fwiw I don't truly believe you will go down. I am concerned though as the huge promise of Randy Lerner's millions and Martin O'Neil have not been even vaguely fulfilled - I mean were you dreaming of Marlon Harewood for 4m when he bought you guys - and you don't seem to have strengthened meaningfully at all this summer. A few good players could propel you into European spots but currently the squad is thin for anything above tenth - and a few injuries and some bad luck could bring on some nailbiting months.
 
edbrat said:
hi Wes

ok I have a really good friend who is a villa fan so I have practise ragging on the villa but its nothing substantial. Yes my putting you in a relegation position was a bit cheeky - fwiw I don't truly believe you will go down. I am concerned though as the huge promise of Randy Lerner's millions and Martin O'Neil have not been even vaguely fulfilled - I mean were you dreaming of Marlon Harewood for 4m when he bought you guys - and you don't seem to have strengthened meaningfully at all this summer. A few good players could propel you into European spots but currently the squad is thin for anything above tenth - and a few injuries and some bad luck could bring on some nailbiting months.
Click to expand...

I have utter faith in MON. I've seen what he's done at Leicester and Celtic and I'm under no illusion that this improvement we demand/expect wont be instantaneous but will take a good 5 years.

Randy Lerner loves the club which is a good thing. MON is a classy manager (we got to mid-table last season with the squad we have with new players in in January don't forget!)

I think we're going to see more of Petrov this season. Reo-Coker is a clever signing in many ways. He's young, got a point-to-prove and tactically will allow Petrov to advance forward more - something which he wasn't able to do much of last year.
Same could be said for Harewood. Had a dodgy season last year but was good before then. If MON can shape him like he did Collymore at Leicester when he was in a slump then we've got a bargain. As a back up to Big John Carew I think he's not too shabby at all.

We just need a right back now....
 
enishi said:
SAF still gives a number to Heinze. But it is unlucky 14 :lol I think Foster is ahead of Kuszczak to be our number 2 this season.

United squad numbers 2007/08

1 VAN DER SAR (GK)
2 NEVILLE
3 EVRA
4 HARGREAVES
5 FERDINAND
6 BROWN
7 RONALDO
8 ANDERSON
9 SAHA
10 ROONEY
11 GIGGS
12 FOSTER (GK)
13 J.S. PARK
14 HEINZE
15 VIDIC
16 CARRICK
17 NANI
18 SCHOLES
19 PIQUÉ
20 SOLSKJAER
21 DONG
22 O’SHEA
23 J. EVANS
24 FLETCHER
27 SILVESTRE
28 GIBSON
29 KUSZCZAK (GK)
30 MARTIN
32 TEVEZ
33 EAGLES
35 LEE
36 GRAY
37 CATHCART
38 HEATON (GK)
39 CAMPBELL

No. 32 Tevez
76047560.jpg
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I thought hargreaves would have picked 23. He said he liked that number because of michale jordan and thats the number he had at bayern.
 
Mama Smurf said:
You guys are pretty optimistic on Blackburn, generally. I think we'll be in there, but the distraction of the UEFA Cup and not spending anywhere near as much as most sides will stop us getting that high up the league I think.
Click to expand...
I put them in the top hlaf of the league because whenever I watch them play, I'm always impressed. Hughes has put together a decent team. McCarthy has proved to be an excellent striker, You've got pedersen and bently, both of which are excellent wingers. Those are the three that really stand out, but the rest of the team is strong. If your key players can stay fit then I dont see why blackburn cant finish highly in the table.
 
hi Cornballer

A really interesting article on the Prem - nice one for posting it.

You either call then "Tottenham Hotspur" or you call them "the Spurs," but no other option is acceptable.
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Tottenham is acceptable, as is the Lilywhites (old school). Of course the mighty Spurs or the mighty Lilywhites is also fine.

So, the Hotspurs fans just turned the jeers around, proudly proclaiming themselves a 'Jew Army' and -- despite the fact that most weren't even Jewish -- embraced the imagery wholeheartedly.
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We call ourselves the "Yid army" strictly speaking. Our local fanbase includes some very Jewish areas in North London and yes, we revel in the moniker. Racism used to be a big problem at English football grounds and at WHL a healthy contingent of anti nazi league fans and others used to confront racial comments made within the ground. Some fans hiss when Spurs play at their ground, mimicking the noise of a gas chamber and take the mickey but it doesn't really raise the temperature anymore. Rightly so we are proud of the Jewish and generally diverse nature of our fanbase - as all top London clubs are.

Arsenal. And "hated" isn't a strong enough word.
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well you got that right, the rivalry is intense although it has softened a little in the last decade. The first few north London derbies I went to over 20 years ago were such intense occasions. I can actually say that I don't enjoy watching them as its too tense - of course I will and its satisfying but I don't enjoy it. Clever Arsenal fans will point to their excellent record against us and this is probably something to do with it :)

Probably the EPL's most popular team (I received more e-mails from Arsenal fans urging me to adopt their team than anyone else)
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No way the most popular on a global basis - Man U - Liverpool - Chelsea are leading the pack right now. Their fans just send you mail out of basic insecurity about the coming season :D
 
edbrat said:
A really interesting article on the Prem - nice one for posting it.
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No problem. It's a decent primer for someone like Livewire that wants some basic info on the teams, plus I'm sure a few of you would find it interesting to read an American's breakdown on the Premiership. That being said, Bill Simmons certainly isn't popular with everyone over here (as Karakand and many others can attest), and from my point of view he's a fair bit beyond his 15 minutes of fame on the interwebs.
 
edbrat said:
No way the most popular on a global basis - Man U - Liverpool - Chelsea are leading the pack right now. Their fans just send you mail out of basic insecurity about the coming season :D
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I'm guessing most of his emails were from Yanquis because Arsenal probably is the most popular club here.

psycho_snake said:
I hope he scores against city.
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That's like you saying you hope he makes (whatever he's under contract to make, don't remember) next season.
 
Karakand said:
That's like you saying you hope he makes (whatever he's under contract to make, don't remember) next season.
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I'm either reading this wrong because I'm sleepy or what you posted doesnt make sense
 
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