Your club's chances for the 14/15 season

[Panda]

The football season's here again! And that means it's time to assess your team's chances for the season. Will you win anything? Will you go up? Will you stay up?  Share your thoughts below.


Team:


Division:


Greatest hope this season:


Biggest fear:


Most likely reason for success:


Most likely reason for failure:


Best summer signing(s):


Most important player:


Most underrated player:


Young player to watch:


Player you'd happily drive to his next club:


One change you'd make at your club:


Have you got the right manager?


What advice would you give him?


Which team do you most want to beat this season?


Best away fans:


Best away ground to visit:


Opposition player you despise:


Opposition player you secretly admire:


Where will you finish?

[Razzle Dazzle]

I will stick with a condensed version and say


west ham

no chance

[Paddy]

Team: Ipswich Town FC





Division:
Championship




Greatest hope this season:
Promotion




Biggest fear:
Relegation




Most likely reason for success:
Young good strikers.




Most likely reason for failure:
Lack of defense




Best summer signing(s):
Banjer, Bru, Stewart and Parr




Most important player:
McGoldrick and Tommy Smith




Most underrated player:
Wordsworth




Young player to watch:
Jack Marriot




Player you'd happily drive to his next club:
Nouble




One change you'd make at your club:
Make the tickets a little cheaper to fill the stadium.




Have you got the right manager?
Yes, in Mick we trust!




What advice would you give him?
The team need to be a unit, no egos. And start the season well, we always play catch up!




Which team do you most want to beat this season?
Norwich




Best away fans:
Bournemouth... well the one I know anyway.




Best away ground to visit:
-




Opposition player you despise:
All Norwich team except Fer




Opposition player you secretly admire:
Fer




Where will you finish? 3rd

[Paddy]

Aug 6, 2014 21:47:51 GMT 1 Razzle Dazzle said:

I will stick with a condensed version and say


west ham

no chance

I have West Ham sown to do well this season, good signings. Cresswell obviously the best.

[Razzle Dazzle]

Aug 6, 2014 22:01:40 GMT 1 Paddy said:

Aug 6, 2014 21:47:51 GMT 1 Razzle Dazzle said:

I will stick with a condensed version and say


west ham

no chance

I have West Ham sown to do well this season, good signings. Cresswell obviously the best.

best cb refuses to sign a new contract, jenkinson injured on his debut, carroll out for 4 month, no wins in pre season (with only 8 shots at goal) using our new attacking formation. Manager refusing to play new signings, morrison up on assault charges, restless fans calling for nolan to be dropped and fat sam to be sacked, the board at loggerheads with manager, I cant see any of it ending well

[frag]

Team: Arsenal

Division: Premier League

Greatest hope this season: Winning the league and retaining the FA cup

Biggest fear: Another season of collapses away from home, injuries to key players and horrible refereeing leads to us dropping out of the top 4.

Most likely reason for success: Our top-class midfield

Most likely reason for failure: Our top-class midfield all getting injured at the same time again.

Best summer signing(s): The wonderfully-named Alexis Alejandro Sanchez Sanchez.

Most important player: Per Mertesacker. Actually, can I have two? He and Laurent Koscielny are the best centre-back pairing in the league, but there's a big gap to <unknown signing> so it's the area where one injury or suspension at a key time could really hurt us.

Most underrated player: Mesut Ozil. Ask an Arsenal fan, and he's the best midfielder in the league. Ask someone else, and he's disappointing. Ask the Daily Mail, and he's awful.

Young player to watch: Expect some cameos for Yaya Sanogo, who scored four times against Benfica last weekend, topping it off by falling over Gerrard-style on his way to high-five some fans.

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Actually, we've got rid of all the deadwood, so there isn't really anyone who is surplus to requirements.

One change you'd make at your club: introduce another singing section at the Clock End.

Have you got the right manager? Absolutely. I've doubted him at times last season, but he talked Sanchez into joining us and Gooners are now more optimistic than they've been for years.

What advice would you give him? Use more conservative tactics away to the big teams.

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Chelsea

Best away fans / Best away ground to visit: I always feel slightly awkward not being able to answer these questions, but the only match I attended last season was Lech Poznań vs FC Honka, and Honka only brought 13 fans with them...

Opposition player you despise: RVP

Opposition player you secretly admire: Yaya Toure

Where will you finish? Top three.

I'd write a bit more about our prospects, but my dinner's about ready so that'll have to wait for another post.

[Maximo Mark]

Team:Nottingham Forest

Division: Championship

Greatest hope this season: Promotion

Biggest fear: The owner does something typically odd resulting in him falling out with Stuart Pearce, or just sacking him when we're doing alright, meaning we're onto yet another manager

Most likely reason for success: We now have strikers who can score goals.

Most likely reason for failure: We have a team that fans refer to as biscuits, as they break easily. Our three best midfielders and 5 of our 6 best defenders are very injury prone

Best summer signing(s): Britt Assombalonga - club record signing, it's the first time in years we have a striker I'm actually excited about watching

Most important player: Andy Reid. One of the best players in the league, a leader, creative and goalscoring force. I wouldn't swap him for anyone (who would realistically play at this level, anyway).

Most underrated player: Well I would've said Simon Cox but we've just sold him to Reading, I think Dan Harding gets more stick than he deserves.

Young player to watch: Ben Osborn - broke through at the end of last season and looked really good, will play a big part of this season, especially with the injuries our midfield will pick up.

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: We've cleared a lot of deadwood already, and with Jamie Mackie about to move to Reading and Greg Halford transfer listed I suppose I should say Djamel Abdoun as he's still here and not part of the first team squad. I'd sell Kelvin Wilson to anyone daft enough to take him too actually.

One change you'd make at your club: Appoint a Chief Exec, someone who can reign in and give proper advice to our owner.

Have you got the right manager? Absolutely.

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Derby as always. Cardiff too.

Best away fans: Sheffield Wednesday are always good

Best away ground to visit: I'm looking forward to visiting Rotherham's New York Stadium this season.

Opposition player you despise: I can't think of anyone in particular. Can I say Steve's McClaren and Evans?

Opposition player you secretly admire: After his Wembley performance, it can only be Richard Keogh!



Where will you finish? Anywhere from 2nd to 12th.

[Earl Purple]

Team: Charlton Athletic

Division: Championship

Greatest hope this season: Promotion

Biggest fear: Relegation

Most likely reason for success: We have a chairman who owns many clubs, who wants to make us big and has money because he can move players between clubs.

Most likely reason for failure: He tries too much to control the team, has got rid of two managers already and we have no idea how good this one is. He can be stubborn about players that are not good enough for the team and I'm not sure he knows just how strong the championship is compared to 2nd tier divisions in other leagues. Therefore, are our players up to this level?

Best summer signing(s): If we get Delort he is likely to be it, but we have George Tucudean and hopefully he will score for us.

Most important player: Potentially Johnnie Jackson, the captain, plays in midfield and needs to get the players to gel.

Most underrated player: Lawrie Wilson. Defensive midfielder, I think they are always underrated but they win you possession and turn defence into attack.

Young player to watch: Has to now be Callum Harriott with Diego Poyet having left us for West Ham. Last season I was worried as he lost the ball a lot but scored 5 goals in our last 2 games.

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Simon Church.

One change you'd make at your club: The chairman not to interfere with team selection.

Have you got the right manager? I have no idea, we'll have to see.

What advice would you give him? He knows more about football than I do.

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Millwall, of course. I want to beat Middlesbrough too and Derby. We've only taken 1 point off our 4 games against those teams.

Best away fans: Probably Brighton.

Best away ground to visit: We will be going to Craven Cottage this season. If it's midweek I'll see if I can get a ticket.

Opposition player you despise: Can't think of one.

Opposition player you secretly admire: Have no idea.

Where will you finish? I reckon that given the resources we won't go down, but I don't expect wonders this season and it's a rebuilding year. I'll go for a safe but disappointing 14th.

[Panda]

Team: Marske United


Division: Northern League Division One


Greatest hope this season: A top 10 finish and another cup run.


Biggest fear: Being sucked into a relegation battle.


Most likely reason for success: Finally having at least one striker capable of scoring 30 goals in a season.


Most likely reason for failure: Failure to address last season's defensive frailties and a lack of depth when first choice players get injured.


Best summer signing(s): The new strike partnership of Jamie Owens and Fred Woodhouse should ensure our goal tally is up on last season's.


Most important player: Craig Gott - player of the year last season and has been named captain. Could easily play at a higher level. Always seems to play well even when the rest of the team doesn't.


Most underrated player: Paul Collins - brought stability to a shaky defence in the second half of last season.


Young player to watch: A couple of promising youngsters have been ditched just before the start of the season, so it'll have to be Josh MacDonald. A winger who terrifies full backs when he's on form and but has a few days where he's invisible. Hopefully a year older and wiser will mean more of the former and less of the latter.


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Anyone I would've got rid of went in the summer.


One change you'd make at your club: Make better use of the PA system that was installed last season.


Have you got the right manager? Time will tell for the new man in charge. Some good signings over the summer but a few puzzling decisions regarding letting players go.


What advice would you give him? Try and make sure we have a full bench.


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Guisborough - haven't beaten them in the league since 2011 though we did smash them 4-1 on our way to winning the League Cup.


Best away fans: North Shields, when they're not trying to set fire to things.


Best away ground to visit: Bishop Auckland has the best facilities (there's a reason why Darlington have spent 2 years there), though you have to endure the zombie-like moans that come from their supporters. Crook is a really good, old-fashioned ground with a big bank of terracing at one end.


Opposition player you despise: Harrison Davies - though he's playing in Division 2 this season. Still way above his capabilities.


Opposition player you secretly admire: Adam Gell - most Marske fans would have him back at the club in a heartbeat.


Where will you finish? Just outside the top half.

[vastar iner]

Team: Birmingham City


Division: Second


Greatest hope this season:  Survival


Biggest fear: Liquidation


Most likely reason for success: you're having a laugh


Most likely reason for failure: being held hostage by a bent Hong Konger


Best summer signing(s):  Clayton Donaldson (striker)


Most important player:  Darren Randolph (goalie)


Most underrated player: Wes Thomas (striker)


Young player to watch: Reece Brown (midfield)


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Of our 25 man squad, 9 have never played for Blues, so I have no idea 


One change you'd make at your club: Replace the bent Hong Konger with trust ownership


Have you got the right manager? No


What advice would you give him?  Field a settled side in a settled formation


Which team do you most want to beat this season?  Wolves


Best away fans: Middlesbrough


Best away ground to visit: Craven Cottage


Opposition player you despise: Kevin Doyle (nothing against him, but there's no way he should be in this division on his wages)


Opposition player you secretly admire: Matty Fryatt


Where will you finish? If we finish at all, 22nd

[Shireblogger]

Team: SOUTHAMPTON


Division: PREMIER


Greatest hope this season: Avoiding relegation; avoiding a humiliating defeat in the FA Cup


Biggest fear: Relegation + a humiliating FA Cup defeat


Most likely reason for success: The £90m + banked from selling our 5 best players (and probably the next 2 best as well), has actually been spent on some more talent, rather than p*ssed up the wall, Tottenham-style.


Most likely reason for failure: We've lost our manager and sold our 5 best players, and the next 2 best will probably go before the season starts.


Best summer signing(s): Take your pick from the Serbian winger with 25 caps, the former Italian Under-21 who scored 23 times for Feyenoord last season, the Algerian midfielder with 12 caps, or the fabulously long list of players we've supposedly been linked with, as we desperately try to re-build a starting XI worthy of the name.


Most important player: Jose Fonte - first team captain & centre-back - if he manages to rally the remains of the team, and performs to his full potential, we might not get relegated.


Most underrated player: Morgan Schneiderlin, although the treacherous Spurs manager knows all about him, and now France have belatedly recognised his talents, he's probably not under-rated anymore. I'm presuming he'll be a Spurs player within a week.


Young player to watch: Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Theo Walcott / Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain / Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)... Oh, you mean one who is still on Southampton's books ? Well that is 19 year-old midfielder James Ward-Prowse, for the next few days at least.


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Why on earth would I do anything to encourage the exodus ?


One change you'd make at your club: Ask the Board to explain their strategy for the club. The fans are bewildered. If the Board want to see the club back in the third division, they appear to be going about it the right way.


Have you got the right manager? I think Ronald Koeman is a good appointment. Just like Mauricio Pocettino, Nigel Adkins, Alan Pardew and Nigel Pearson before him. Would be nice if one of them stayed for more than 2 seasons.


What advice would you give him? Watch your back.


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Spurs, with even more passion than usual. First game is against Liverpool, but Lallana's injury means only 2 of their 3 Saints signings can score against us.


Best away fans: Newcastle & Sunderland. So far to travel, such enthusiasm when they arrive.


Best away ground to visit: Arsenal have the best ground, but Sunderland the best home support. For me, Leicester combines decent stadium, close to home, and good atmosphere in the away end with a decent view (unlike Newcastle or Man Utd, for example).


Opposition player you despise: Joey Barton's back in the Premier Division, I think. So he can replace Gnasher Suar*z.


Opposition player you secretly admire: Many, many great players in the Premier Division. I will enjoy seeing Shaw, Lallana, Ox-C and Walcott doing well. Most of all, I really hope Rickie Lambert has a great season at Liverpool, the club he supported as a child. Of the non-Saints, Jack Wilshere, Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson all have much to admire.


Where will you finish? 17th - let's not be too fatalistic before a ball has been kicked.


Most admirable thing at another club ? Portsmouth have woven the names of the 1400+ supporters who died during World War I into their club shirts for the 2014/15 season. The fans, who formed the 14th and 15th batallions of the Hampshire Regiment known as "Pompey Pals", had been recruited at Fratton Park. I think this is a wonderful gesture of commemoration, and will cause lots of youngsters to ask why the names are there, thus contributing to their education at the same time.

[suedehead]

After all that doom and gloom surrounding Birmingham and Southampton have we got a Blackpool fan to complete the hat trick?

I agree with Shireb's comments about Pompey as well. Another reason to hope they are on their way back up after a dreadful few years.

[Tom]

Team: Reading

Division: Championship

Greatest hope this season: The last two occasions we've suffered last-day disappointment (2005, 2011 play-off final) we've won the title the following season.

Biggest fear: That our new Thai consortium turn out to be complete idiots and don't stick around. Whilst having someone for 20 years like Madejski isn't realisitically going to happen (especially when one of the members is in their 70s) it would be nice to think they'll be here for 5-10 years...

Most likely reason for success: Strong team spirit, less injuries (and those injured players returning quicker), plus some new signings.

Most likely reason for failure: Probably opposite to above, but particularly the latter two I think.

Best summer signing(s): Up until yesterday this would have been impossible as we hadn't signed anybody! Of the two we've signed Simon Cox and Jamie Mackie, the latter this afternoon, Cox wins quite easily. Decent record at this level, when you look past the goals and see his assists, especially when i'm not sure he's actually going to be playing up front that often. Plus there's the emotional attachment as well of seeing a Reading boy return home. Still feels like a bit of a dream, only heard it was happening on Wednesday and then yesterday afternoon it was done I'd only tried to sign him a few months ago in an old CM game I picked up (Swindon knocked me back as they were Reading's local rivals - this was 2010 game)...Quite honestly I haven't been this excited about a signing for a while, and it was interesting to hear that Adkins had tracked him for years since he was at Northampton on loan against his Scunthorpe side (reminiscent of McDermott's long held admiration for Jason Roberts here).

Most important player: Difficult to say. If we're talking players who are actually fit to play, then Pogrebnyak wins without doubt. There really is no-one in the squad who can take his position in the same way. If we're talking the whole squad then probably Danny Williams. In the 2nd half of the season when he played it left wondering why a) Hoffenheim let him go and b) why's he with us. The first part has been answered by his constant knee problems (he had those for maybe a few months before we signed him last summer, so it doesn't reflect particularly well on the club), but still think he's good enough to be playing at a higher level and if his knee issues hadn't prevented him from going to the World Cup he may well have done.

Most underrated player: Chris Gunter, effectively our vice-captain in the absence of new club captain Jem Karacan who is still not back from the ligament damage he suffered against Leeds last September.

Young player to watch: Craig Tanner, but plenty of players coming through to pick from. Spent 13 weeks out with an ankle injury from August onwards last season for the U21s and came back with 13 goals and 12 assists in 16 games. The last time I saw him found myself thinking that he'd look better with better players around him. The signing of Cox is going to make it harder for him to break into the team, (he plays as a striker or No 10)but if he doesn't start in the league cup and come off the bench to make his league debut this season i'm going to be disappointed and also rather concerned.  

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Royston Drenthe. Depending on your expectations, and I had varying expectations last summer so could put myself in both categories, he's either been a disappointment or a massive flop. He's also been excluded from the first team squad for a month now so it's a no-brainer.

One change you'd make at your club:

Have you got the right manager? The takeover feels like a fresh start so despite my misgivings i'm prepared to judge him on his signings. This squad since pre-season has badly needed them (when I don't think last season it really did). The signings that aren't to do with the owners that is, as we're on the verge of signing Anton Ferdinand from their club Police United in a similar kind of deal to the one that has seen Lampard join Man City

What advice would you give him? Sort out the injury problems, there have been the odd one that have been unlucky like Karacan's, and Robson-Kanu after a bad tackle in a pre-season game recently , but when every midfielder seems to get injured something isn't right imo. Also start games on the front foot, whether we score the first goal in a game or not makes a massive difference to the final scoreline.

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Millwall would be nice, but no real preference.

Best away fans: Do admire the fact that Leeds fans always fill up the entire away end, regardless of whether it's a weekend or midweek game.

Best away ground to visit: Done Brighton and won't be doing it this season when it's on Boxing Day. Brentford, Charlton, and Fulham are the ones i'd like to do. Of those Craven Cottage stands out.

Opposition player you despise: None that spring to mind.

Opposition player you secretly admire: A few off the top of my head, Will Hughes when on form, Patrick Roberts Fulham's teenage striker if he plays this season, Jordan Rhodes, along with Le Fondre and Jay Tabb ex Royals.

Where will you finish? A slow start but a late surge towards the playoffs finishing somewhere in the Top 10.

[Maximo Mark]

Whilst I think he's underrated I wouldn't get too excited about Cox. 90% of Forest fans seem delighted he's gone, and whilst I'd have happily kept him I think we've done well to only make a £2m loss on him given wages and only one year left on his contract. If he's motivated and the team play to his strengths he'll do well, just don't expect lots of goals and don't play him up front on his own, he's only really effective if he's playing off another striker.

Mackie is awful, but a large proportion of fans will love him because he has that wonderful ability to run around a lot quickly.

[Tom]

Aug 8, 2014 17:47:21 GMT 1 Maximo Mark said:

Whilst I think he's underrated I wouldn't get too excited about Cox. 90% of Forest fans seem delighted he's gone, and whilst I'd have happily kept him I think we've done well to only make a £2m loss on him given wages and only one year left on his contract. If he's motivated and the team play to his strengths he'll do well, just don't expect lots of goals and don't play him up front on his own, he's only really effective if he's playing off another striker.

Mackie is awful, but a large proportion of fans will love him because he has that wonderful ability to run around a lot quickly.

Yea, was going to mention about lone striker not suiting him, saw a Forest fan say that, bit strange that Forest would play him there. I don't see him playing as a lone striker when we've got Pog and not sure how often we will go 4-4-2 this season, so he's going to play most of the games as the No 10 in a 4-2-3-1 or maybe on the right side. He never actually played as a striker in the brief first team games he got before at Reading. It's as much to do with assists as well as goals for me, his record of goals and assists in the Championship throughout his career are remarkably similar. The fact that Forest fans don't rate him is strangely a good thing in my book. I remember you didn't rate Bryn Gunnarsson and not sure you were alone amongst Forest fans, and he turned out to be the biggest legend we've ever had! I'm assuming the knighthood is coming if/when he returns to the club in the future lol. That said, i'll readily admit I have been swayed by the emotional homecoming and that may put extra pressure on him when he's going to be playing a lot of games.

Mackie seems to have divided opinion amongst our fans, and there wasn't as much excitement for Cox as I hoped tbh (i'm more pleased than most I would say) though it was generally positive for both. I must admit i'm not sure how much quality he's actually got (though I haven't seen him a great deal) but I do think he'll fit in well with the work rate and I am happy with the signing. If I had been expecting playoffs at the start of the week, before these two transfers I was thinking lower mid-table, and he was a permanent signing I'm not sure I would have been so positive though. I couldn't help wondering whether the quality thing was why Harry Redknapp let him go last summer when he'd praised him so highly the previous season, i.e has he got enough for a side going for promotion.

Should add that Mackie is injured for a week lol, so his debut will have to wait. Hope that week doesn't turn into two or three...

[Maximo Mark]

When we signed Mackie I said I didn't see the point in signing him when we already have Cox, but they're actually a lot more different than I imagine. Cox isn't highly rated amongst Forest fans because he's perceived as arrogant (though I wouldn't say more than most), doesn't score enough goals as a striker and is forever getting caught offside. He was superb under O'Driscoll, playing with or just off either Billy Sharp or Dexter Blackstock, and his best spell (for me anyway) was when Davies first came back, he played up with Darius Henderson, we won 6 in a row and scored for fun, though Cox didn't score any his touch, skill, vision and ability to draw defenders away and find a team mate meant he was at least partially responsible for a lot of the goals we scored. His goals + assists total in his first season was 18, but it was mainly assists. If it was 18 goals and no assists he'd be rated a lot higher and worth a lot more too!

Mackie will be alright if you play a pressing game (like you did at the City Ground last season), he'll be good for that, he's quick, won't ever stop working and is a constant pain in the arse for defenders, but his shooting, crossing and touch are all terrible. The number of one on ones he missed last season was higher than the number of goals he scored, I remember he got an 'assist' towards the end of last season which was typical Mackie, he tried to control a fairly easy ball on the edge of the 6 yard box, but it just bounced off him about 6 yards in the other direction, fortunately landing to Paterson who smashed it in.

[raliverpool]

Team: Liverpool FC

Division: English Premier League

Greatest hope this season: We emulate the Manchester Guardian predictions of last year and finish 4 places higher than they predicted at the start of the season. Especially as Howard Webb has retired.

Biggest fear: A complete meltdown. No Suarez, more games, hangover from last season so near yet so far, terribly hard start, lots of new players to integrate, goals dry up up front, yet still gift goals in defence, we do a Spurs the season after they sold Bale, we are unable to sign a top class striker so in desperation we sign Balotelli, etc. ..... And Manchester United win the title.

Most likely reason for success: A bigger squad, less likely to gift goals to the opposition, and we no longer have to worry about our best player doing something off the scale idiotic, so forcing us to behave like the Harry Enfield Scousers arguing amongst ourselves and slagging him off in a closed forum to the internet public on RAWK, and yet showing a united front to defend the indefensible everywhere else.

Most likely reason for failure: We are massively lacking bite up front compared to last season; an increasing deteriorating Slipper Skipper can still pick himself for the 1st XI, free kicks, etc; The "Scousehampton" contingent drag us down to their old team's level; Glen Johnson remains a defensive liability. ...

Best summer signing(s): Dejan Lovren (please be the replacement for Jamie Carragher or Sami Hyppia in their prime we are so badly missing, resulting in Mamadou Sakho playing like that great French international in the World Cup, and not the shell-shocked shambles in the PL of last season).

Most important player: Raheem Sterling

Most underrated player: Jordan Henderson

Young player to watch: Philippe Coutinho (it was an insult he was not selected for his national side at the last world cup); but look out for cameos by Ibe & Suso

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Fabio Borini (a rather fine player, but we'd rather you go to Sunderland in return for £14 million!)

One change you'd make at your club: Chief Executive Officer: Ian Ayre. He is surely only in this job because he must know where all the skeletons are buried at the club.

Have you got the right manager? Is the Pope Catholic!

What advice would you give him? Cut out the David Brent impersonations with mind games that inevitably back fire.

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Chelski and the classless eye-gouger Mourinho.

Best away fans: Sunderland

Best away ground to visit: Old Trafford

Opposition player you despise: I don't despise anyone, but I'll say RVP as he is a bit of a voodoo/nemesis.

Opposition player you secretly admire: Wayne Rooney (the sh*t he takes off of clueless ignorant "IngurLand" supporters almost makes me feel sorry for him)

Where will you finish? Assuming we fail to sign a top draw striker in the next 3 weeks ........... 5th

[frag]

Aug 8, 2014 19:38:09 GMT 1 raliverpool said:

Most likely reason for failure: We are massively lacking bite up front compared to last season

OK, you win this thread

[vastar iner]

What has happened to Southampton sums up how toxic the Premier League is. When I was growing up, there was always the hope that your team might hit on a magic formula and do something special. Even though Liverpool kept winning the league, at least there was always hope. And teams like Forest, Ipswich, Palace, QPR, West Ham and so on were sometimes challenging for the title.

Now, what happens? Southampton train up a number of promising youngsters, add polish to never-weres, have a tremendous season and come 8th. It's a launchpad for the future.

Except that a very small number of clubs have decimated their squad. Even taking their manager. Southampton, on last season's form one of the top 10 clubs in England, have become a feeder club.

I know there's generally been a transfer from the poor to the rich over the years, after the maximum wage came in, and accelerated by Sky, but now it has become ridiculous. Teams can swoop in and offer £200k p/w in wages which they KNOW they will never recover, because that team is an egotrip for a foreign billionaire. It's not earning, it's market fixing.

Consequently it is impossible for 85 League teams and every non-league team - and remember it took Ipswich less than a quarter-century to go from non-league to League champions - ever to do anything.

The only hope for the game is a European superleague, cut off from the peasants in England, so the global gloryhunters can watch wherever. Every game being a Game 39.

Imagine a league with this lot in it.

Man U
Man C
Liverpool
Arsenal
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Valencia
PSG
Monaco
Inter
Milan
Roma
Juventus
Bayern
Dortmund

And that's just from the "big" countries. No Zenit, no Ajax, no Dinamos of any stamp.

Quite the league, isn't it? And who will come 13th, say? Could be anyone. Imagine a decade with Juventus or Man U finishing mid-table every year. The gloryhunters would melt away like the last snow in spring.

And if players were exiled from the World Cup, perhaps it would kill it off.

Meanwhile, you could have a European Cup final with, say, Napoli v Ajax. Much better.

[Earl Purple]

It happened in 2004 when Charlton were going well and potentially on course to upset the "big 4" (in particular Liverpool) only for Chelsea to swoop in and buy Scott Parker in the January transfer window. Unfortunately it is hard to get a player like that to stay and of course Charlton drifted away into 7th place. Liverpool finished 4th and qualified for the Champions League. And you know the rest is history...

As for Charlton, relegated 3 years later, but really it took the spirit out of the club as we started feeling we could do better than midtable.

How long will Southampton be contented with finishing say 14th after a season like the last one?