The upcoming English season
in [World Football]
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From: RED DEVIL on 10 Aug 2010 16:47 I've been gone a few days in the hospital but wanted to post some thoughts on the upcoming season. I believe the "big four" in England is no more, with the arrival of Man City's new found wealth there are more players on the scene this time around. I'll take it team by team (of the teams I think will challenge). Chelsea Still the front runners in my book, however they are aging somewhat and Terry still looks to be on a slow decline. They may have to address this in the Jan window if it becomes a problem the first part of the season. Of course as with all clubs Injuries could play their part, potentially losing Drogba could be the difference for this club. I predict they will be in the top two. Manchester United I see this mostly as a rebuilding year with a lot of the younger players getting more of a chance to play than in past years. There are some concerns in a couple of positions. The right back is still up for grabs unless Wes Brown is able to have a injury free season like he did two years ago. Gary Neville's injuries may have gotten the better of him and I for see a retirement in the near future. There is lots of concern on Ferdinand's fitness, but Jonny Evans can prove valuable cover there. The midfield looks ok with several youngsters pushing hard for places but the old guard look good for another year. The striker positions look very solid with Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen and Macheda. Perm any two from five there. I predict a top two finish. Liverpool With a better Manager now in place I feel they will be much better this season. Joe Cole was an excellent signing, last season they needed someone to unlock defences and he may be the key this year. There has to be concern as far as the back four, Carragher will need replacing at some point and they aren't too deep there. Midfield should be ok but they definitely need some more width. Up front, they still may be a little light and a lot depends upon Torres fitness this season. I predict 3rd/4th place Man City They are really a big puzzle. Will the new signings settle in quickly and is Mancini the man for the job? If thing's click they could challenge for the title, if they don't I expect more buying (and maybe a new manager) until they do. City aren't going away and they will become a force to be reckoned with. I predict anywhere from 1st to 4th place Arsenal Obviously talented but lacking in several area's (that still may be reinforced before the window closes). The keeper problem remains as does the central defence and holding position. If Van Persie can stay fit they'll be ok up front but still not deep enough to challenge for the top spot. They have too many players that are alike, small skillful but a bit lightweight. I predict 5th/6th spot. Spurs Harry has brought them a long way and if he can get them playing like they did the latter part of the season then 4th spot beckons. I predict 4th/5th/6th spot. Overall, no big surprises this season but it's definitely changed from a "big four' to a big six. RED DEVIL
From: The Scrutineer on 10 Aug 2010 20:10 > I've been gone a few days in the hospital but wanted to post some > thoughts on the upcoming season. I believe the "big four" in England > is no more, with the arrival of Man City's new found wealth there are > more players on the scene this time around. I'll take it team by team > (of the teams I think will challenge). Hope all is well Sir!!! > Chelsea > > Still the front runners in my book, however they are aging somewhat > and Terry still looks to be on a slow decline. They may have to > address this in the Jan window if it becomes a problem the first part > of the season. Of course as with all clubs Injuries could play their > part, potentially losing Drogba could be the difference for this club. > I predict they will be in the top two. They have to re-enforce, Carvalho is gone, and they cant depend on Ivanovic, Alex(Currently Injured) and Terry to last the season. Otherwise, the team to beat. > Manchester United > > I see this mostly as a rebuilding year with a lot of the younger > players getting more of a chance to play than in past years. There are > some concerns in a couple of positions. The right back is still up for > grabs unless Wes Brown is able to have a injury free season like he > did two years ago. Gary Neville's injuries may have gotten the better > of him and I for see a retirement in the near future. There is lots of > concern on Ferdinand's fitness, but Jonny Evans can prove valuable > cover there. The midfield looks ok with several youngsters pushing > hard for places but the old guard look good for another year. > The striker positions look very solid with Rooney, Berbatov, > Hernandez, Owen and Macheda. Perm any two from five there. > I predict a top two finish. The classic excuse, rebuilding once again!!! For me, Champions elect, they have pretty much the same team as they have had for 2-3 seasons now, with a few inclusions, if United avoid a traditional slow start, then they will be Champions!!! > Liverpool > > With a better Manager now in place I feel they will be much better > this season. Joe Cole was an excellent signing, last season they > needed someone to unlock defences and he may be the key this year. > There has to be concern as far as the back four, Carragher will need > replacing at some point and they aren't too deep there. > Midfield should be ok but they definitely need some more width. Up > front, they still may be a little light and a lot depends upon Torres > fitness this season. > I predict 3rd/4th place Totally agree, but no way they will finish above Arsenal, and Man City. > Man City > > They are really a big puzzle. Will the new signings settle in quickly > and is Mancini the man for the job? If thing's click they could > challenge for the title, if they don't I expect more buying (and maybe > a new manager) until they do. City aren't going away and they will > become a force to be reckoned with. > I predict anywhere from 1st to 4th place Total wildcard as you say, I predict they will have a similar season to what Chelsea had in 03/04. > Arsenal > > Obviously talented but lacking in several area's (that still may be > reinforced before the window closes). The keeper problem remains as > does the central defence and holding position. If Van Persie can stay > fit they'll be ok up front but still not deep enough to challenge for > the top spot. They have too many players that are alike, small > skillful but a bit lightweight. > I predict 5th/6th spot. Arsenal's abundance in talent is obvious, there is no keeper problem, its the total goalkeeping fraternity that's the issue. Central defence is the weakest its been in the Premier League era, the holding midfield positions are occupied by the least physical players in Arsenals Premier League era, and up front, I don't think we have 50 EPL goals combined with all our strikers, so we are weak up front. Hopefully we can get the most out of Chamakh, and our style of play will get us results against lesser opponents as it usually does. I cant get any more blunt than that. Now for the positives......Fabregas staying, and thats about it, oh yeah, and debt is on its way to being in the black again!!! In Wenger I (Still) Trust > Spurs > > Harry has brought them a long way and if he can get them playing like > they did the latter part of the season then 4th spot beckons. If they play like that, they will win the league by March, but that wont happen, they will face a real challenge and might end up being pretenders this year, that said they have a very strong squad!!! > I predict 4th/5th/6th spot. > > Overall, no big surprises this season but it's definitely changed from > a "big four' to a big six. Wolves, Blackpool and West Brom to be relegated!!!
From: RED DEVIL on 11 Aug 2010 02:02 On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:10:34 +1000, "The Scrutineer" <vlade4(a)bigpond.com> wrote: >> I've been gone a few days in the hospital but wanted to post some >> thoughts on the upcoming season. I believe the "big four" in England >> is no more, with the arrival of Man City's new found wealth there are >> more players on the scene this time around. I'll take it team by team >> (of the teams I think will challenge). > >Hope all is well Sir!!! > >> Chelsea >> >> Still the front runners in my book, however they are aging somewhat >> and Terry still looks to be on a slow decline. They may have to >> address this in the Jan window if it becomes a problem the first part >> of the season. Of course as with all clubs Injuries could play their >> part, potentially losing Drogba could be the difference for this club. >> I predict they will be in the top two. > >They have to re-enforce, Carvalho is gone, and they cant depend on Ivanovic, >Alex(Currently Injured) and Terry to last the season. >Otherwise, the team to beat. > >> Manchester United >> >> I see this mostly as a rebuilding year with a lot of the younger >> players getting more of a chance to play than in past years. There are >> some concerns in a couple of positions. The right back is still up for >> grabs unless Wes Brown is able to have a injury free season like he >> did two years ago. Gary Neville's injuries may have gotten the better >> of him and I for see a retirement in the near future. There is lots of >> concern on Ferdinand's fitness, but Jonny Evans can prove valuable >> cover there. The midfield looks ok with several youngsters pushing >> hard for places but the old guard look good for another year. >> The striker positions look very solid with Rooney, Berbatov, >> Hernandez, Owen and Macheda. Perm any two from five there. >> I predict a top two finish. > >The classic excuse, rebuilding once again!!! For me, Champions elect, they >have pretty much the same team as they have had for 2-3 seasons now, with a >few inclusions, if United avoid a traditional slow start, then they will be >Champions!!! > >> Liverpool >> >> With a better Manager now in place I feel they will be much better >> this season. Joe Cole was an excellent signing, last season they >> needed someone to unlock defences and he may be the key this year. >> There has to be concern as far as the back four, Carragher will need >> replacing at some point and they aren't too deep there. >> Midfield should be ok but they definitely need some more width. Up >> front, they still may be a little light and a lot depends upon Torres >> fitness this season. >> I predict 3rd/4th place > >Totally agree, but no way they will finish above Arsenal, and Man City. > >> Man City >> >> They are really a big puzzle. Will the new signings settle in quickly >> and is Mancini the man for the job? If thing's click they could >> challenge for the title, if they don't I expect more buying (and maybe >> a new manager) until they do. City aren't going away and they will >> become a force to be reckoned with. >> I predict anywhere from 1st to 4th place > >Total wildcard as you say, I predict they will have a similar season to what >Chelsea had in 03/04. > >> Arsenal >> >> Obviously talented but lacking in several area's (that still may be >> reinforced before the window closes). The keeper problem remains as >> does the central defence and holding position. If Van Persie can stay >> fit they'll be ok up front but still not deep enough to challenge for >> the top spot. They have too many players that are alike, small >> skillful but a bit lightweight. >> I predict 5th/6th spot. > >Arsenal's abundance in talent is obvious, there is no keeper problem, its >the total goalkeeping fraternity that's the issue. Central defence is the >weakest its been in the Premier League era, the holding midfield positions >are occupied by the least physical players in Arsenals Premier League era, >and up front, I don't think we have 50 EPL goals combined with all our >strikers, so we are weak up front. Hopefully we can get the most out of >Chamakh, and our style of play will get us results against lesser opponents >as it usually does. I cant get any more blunt than that. > >Now for the positives......Fabregas staying, and thats about it, oh yeah, >and debt is on its way to being in the black again!!! > >In Wenger I (Still) Trust > >> Spurs >> >> Harry has brought them a long way and if he can get them playing like >> they did the latter part of the season then 4th spot beckons. > >If they play like that, they will win the league by March, but that wont >happen, they will face a real challenge and might end up being pretenders >this year, that said they have a very strong squad!!! > >> I predict 4th/5th/6th spot. >> >> Overall, no big surprises this season but it's definitely changed from >> a "big four' to a big six. > >Wolves, Blackpool and West Brom to be relegated!!! I have a soft spot for Blackpool (I remember watching Stanley Mathews play for them) but I'm afraid you are probably correct. RED DEVIL
From: MH on 11 Aug 2010 02:25 RED DEVIL wrote: > I've been gone a few days in the hospital but wanted to post some > thoughts on the upcoming season. I believe the "big four" in England > is no more, with the arrival of Man City's new found wealth there are > more players on the scene this time around. I'll take it team by team > (of the teams I think will challenge). > > Chelsea > > Still the front runners in my book, however they are aging somewhat > and Terry still looks to be on a slow decline. They may have to > address this in the Jan window if it becomes a problem the first part > of the season. Of course as with all clubs Injuries could play their > part, potentially losing Drogba could be the difference for this club. > I predict they will be in the top two. Hard to say how well they will survive the loss of depth that losing Carvalho, Cole, Ballack, and Deco entails. It is true they have long term injured players Essien and Bosingwa potentially back, and that getting rid of Ballack and Deco made sense. Improvement of players like Kalou, Mancienne and Obi should be key. > > Manchester United > > I see this mostly as a rebuilding year with a lot of the younger > players getting more of a chance to play than in past years. There are > some concerns in a couple of positions. The right back is still up for > grabs unless Wes Brown is able to have a injury free season like he > did two years ago. Gary Neville's injuries may have gotten the better > of him and I for see a retirement in the near future. There is lots of > concern on Ferdinand's fitness, but Jonny Evans can prove valuable > cover there. The midfield looks ok with several youngsters pushing > hard for places but the old guard look good for another year. > The striker positions look very solid with Rooney, Berbatov, > Hernandez, Owen and Macheda. Perm any two from five there. > I predict a top two finish. Top two is a safe bet. I would guess first. > > Liverpool > > With a better Manager now in place I feel they will be much better > this season. Joe Cole was an excellent signing, last season they > needed someone to unlock defences and he may be the key this year. > There has to be concern as far as the back four, Carragher will need > replacing at some point and they aren't too deep there. Agger and Skrtel are not bad. Kyrgiakos I am not so sure about. > Midfield should be ok but they definitely need some more width. Up > front, they still may be a little light and a lot depends upon Torres > fitness this season. > I predict 3rd/4th place > > Man City > > They are really a big puzzle. Will the new signings settle in quickly > and is Mancini the man for the job? If thing's click they could > challenge for the title, if they don't I expect more buying (and maybe > a new manager) until they do. City aren't going away and they will > become a force to be reckoned with. > I predict anywhere from 1st to 4th place Should do well but there may be a lot of disgruntled players and they may have a lot of catching up to do once a settled eleven emerges. > > Arsenal > > Obviously talented but lacking in several area's (that still may be > reinforced before the window closes). The keeper problem remains as > does the central defence and holding position. If Van Persie can stay > fit they'll be ok up front but still not deep enough to challenge for > the top spot. They have too many players that are alike, small > skillful but a bit lightweight. > I predict 5th/6th spot. I would still expect them in the top 4. > > Spurs > > Harry has brought them a long way and if he can get them playing like > they did the latter part of the season then 4th spot beckons. > > I predict 4th/5th/6th spot. > > Overall, no big surprises this season but it's definitely changed from > a "big four' to a big six. I don't think Villa and Everton will be that far behind whichever of these six get off to a bad start. > > RED DEVIL
From: The Scrutineer on 11 Aug 2010 02:59
>>Wolves, Blackpool and West Brom to be relegated!!! > > > I have a soft spot for Blackpool (I remember watching Stanley Mathews > play for them) but I'm afraid you are probably correct. It's not that I want them to go down or anything, but the economic situation of the club, and the fact that they havn't really added to the squad is worrying, they will go down fighting!!! |