Your team's chances for the coming season

[Panda]

Inspired by FourFourTwo's annual club-by-club guide.

Fill in the spaces below and tell us how well (or not) you think your team will do this season:


Team:


Greatest hope this season:


Biggest fear:


Most important player:


Terrace favourite:


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?


Opposition player you despise:


Opposition player you secretly admire:


Where will you finish?

[Razzle Dazzle]

Team: West Ham


Greatest hope this season: Try and push on from last year and get into europe


Biggest fear: Selling the crock that is Dean Ashton only for him to have the season of his life


Most important player: Hard choice... Green, Upson, Parker and Cole come to mind as the spine of the team but we have cover for most of them but if Cole gets injured we are screwed


Terrace favourite: Guess this means player? Herita Illunga, Hammer of the year and signed for little over a million quid, likes to get forward and has his very own website where he answers questions from every single fan even though his english is rubbish.


Young player to watch: James Tompkins, solid centre back, the best to come through the accademy since Rio Ferdinand. Hower watch out for Jack Collison, Zavon Hines and Junior Stanislas

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Julien Faubert! My god he is rubbish, why on earth Real Madrid took him on loan for a fee of £2.5 millon i will never know. unsurprisingly after failing to impress in a 6-0 win! he never played again. Thanks for the cash though


One change you'd make at your club: Probably the above. sell Faubert


Have you got the right manager? Yeah Zola and Clarke are a good team


What advice would you give him? Sign Luca Toni!!!


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Spurs, everyone hates spurs


Opposition player you despise: Florent Malouda, the guy is just wanktastic, cost £14 million and i have no idea why he plays for Chelsea


Opposition player you secretly admire: Shevchenko, he will come good!


Where will you finish? 10th

[frag]

Great idea!
Has this season's club-by-club come out yet, then? If so, I'll pick it up on the way home...


Team: Arsenal

Greatest hope this season: Signings, a title challenge and a cup.

Biggest fear: That the finances are worse than advertised, and we do a Leeds

Most important player: Cesc Fabregas

Terrace favourite: Theo Walcott

Young player to watch: They're all young. Best up-and-comer is Carlos "for he's a jolly good" Vela.

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: We have a few crap players, but can't afford to lose any more!

One change you'd make at your club: Transfer policy - stop selling players to rivals!

Have you got the right manager? The man's been hailed as a genius for years, but the jury's really starting to come out; this is a make-or-break season.

What advice would you give him? If there's money in the wallet, spend it!

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Man City, and the teams we failed to beat last season (Fulham, Sunderland, Villa, Liverpool, Spurs)

Opposition player you despise: Anyone in a Chelsea shirt; particularly Drogba.

Opposition player you secretly admire: Fernando Torres.

Where will you finish? Anywhere between 4th and 8th, depending on how optimistic I'm feeling. Current guess is 5th.

[Panda]

Jul 31, 2009 17:29:58 GMT 1 frag said:

Great idea!
Has this season's club-by-club come out yet, then? If so, I'll pick it up on the way home...

It was due out tomorrow but I saw it in the shops today.

[Panda]

Team: Middlesbrough


Greatest hope this season: Instant promotion back to the Premier League.


Biggest fear: Missing out on promotion and subsequently going the same way as Norwich, Charlton, Southampton, Leeds etc.


Most important player: David Wheater - our promotion campaigns have always been based on a solid defence.


Terrace favourite: Tuncay, but he'll probably be off soon.


Young player to watch: Rhys Williams. Welshman-turned-Aussie who can play just about anywhere. Also Jonathan Franks, if we don't sign a striker.


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Apart from the obvious (Midough), Brad Jones. Not even good enough for the Championship.


One change you'd make at your club: Bring in a coach who can teach the players to defend set pieces.


Have you got the right manager? Sadly not.


What advice would you give him? Be more attacking, especially at home. Some of the team selections last season simply invited oppostion teams to beat us. And don't criticise the fans when they get frustrated because the team's playing s**t. They have to pay to watch them. You don't.


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Newcastle, obviously, but also Palace because Warnock is such a c*ck.


Opposition player you despise: Joey Barton.


Opposition player you secretly admire: Tough to pick one as most of the best Championship players either got promoted, moved to Premier League clubs or used to play for Boro.


Where will you finish? Play-offs... Maybe...

[Maximo Mark]

Team: Nottingham Forest


Greatest hope this season: A promotion challenge.


Biggest fear: Like last year we have an injury crisis and start with a poor run which is hard to get out of.


Most important player: Chris Cohen. Workhorse in midfield. They type of unsung hero that's not started to be sung. Will be playing at a higher level than this, I'm sure.


Terrace favourite: Lee Camp. Brought up a Derby fan, played for Derby. Saved a penalty against them in only his fourth game on loan for us!


Young player to watch: ALL of our youngsters have gone out on loan! However we do have some young players in the senior squad still. Chris Gunter is still 19 and we've just signed him for £1.75m. I'll go with Radoslaw Majewski, a young Pole we've just signed on loan.


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: There's no one I particularly dislike, but I guess I'll go with Arron Davies, he's been here two years and still only had one really good game in a Forest match, and that was against us for Yeovil in the infamous 5-4 defeat!


One change you'd make at your club: I'd bring in a centre half.


Have you got the right manager? Most definitely! There isn't a single manager in the same division I'd rather have than King Billy!


What advice would you give him? Sign Matt Mills, just give Donny the money. He's good enough to repay it.


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Derby, obviously. Especially after they stuffed us twice at our own ground last season. Newastle too. And Sheffield United. And Palace.


Opposition player you despise: Kris Commons. Born and bred a Forest fan, signed an extension so he could help get us promotion and play for us in the Championship. Then moves to out main local rivals who every fan despises as soon as we'd gone up.


Opposition player you secretly admire: Kris Commons. He's still a bloody good player, and I lost count of the amount of times I wished we still had him last season!


Where will you finish? The Championship is a very competitive league but we've made some fantastic signings, we have a brilliant manager with a proven track record in this league and although we only survived the drop on the final day of last season by 5 points we were so much better under Billy than Colin. We definitely won't be down there again, I think we'll finish anywhere from 1st to 12th to be honest.

[Paddy]

Team: Ipswich "Tractor Boys" Town


Greatest hope this season: Promotion, in any form, but champions of the Championship would be the greatest hope.


Biggest fear: Missing out on play-offs, ending mid table or worse still relegation.


Most important player: This is hard to say atm, Keane has brought in so many new faces. Counago is a key player, never been decided on him, but if he keeps hitting the back of the net he will be staying.


Terrace favourite: Bruce, but he has gone.


Young player to watch: We have several new ones. The new Bermudian guy who already plays for country could be worth watching.


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: We actually got rid of the trash ithis summer. I'm happy with the squad.


One change you'd make at your club: Turn the clock back 7 years, and don't buy big players who don't gel. But that could be next season's change to make.


Have you got the right manager? Magilton was never bad. But didn't impress in the end. Keane has experience, with Sunderland getting them from Ipswich's position to premiership, so I suppose a yes.


What advice would you give him? Don't walk off if the going gets a little tougher then you expected.


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Would normally say Norwich, but as they aren't good enough for the same division, Peterborough. Fergie jun is there atm, nearest team to us too.


Opposition player you despise: C Ronaldo.


Opposition player you secretly admire: C Ronaldo


Where will you finish? Lets hope for 1st. But between 2 and 6 is most seen expectation.

[Panda]

Jul 31, 2009 20:31:19 GMT 1 Paddy said:

Opposition player you despise: C Ronaldo.


Opposition player you secretly admire: C Ronaldo

When did he last play against Ipswich?

[Paddy]

Cup game, few years ago.

[Maximo Mark]

Ipswich haven't played Manchester United since both were last in the Premiership.....

[Shireblogger]

Nice one MrH.


Team: SOUTHAMPTON


Greatest hope this season: a Cup run


Biggest fear: not overcoming our 10 point deduction, and getting relegated again


Most important player: Paul Wotton - experienced midfielder who needs to galvanise what will be a young team


Terrace favourite: Kelvin Davis - was already player of the year, even before turning down West Ham to stay loyal to the Saints


Young player to watch: Adam Lallana - he'll be off to a big club next summer


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: the one good thing about bankruptcy - the mercenaries have already run off - Jason Euell would have topped my list 3 months ago


One change you'd make at your club: so much trauma this summer I wouldn't change anything - we desperately need 12 months of stability


Have you got the right manager? yes - Alan Pardew is the wise level-head that's required for now


What advice would you give him? take your time and ensure the stream of youth talent continues (alumni include Theo Walcott, Wayne Bridge, Gareth Bale, Andrew Surman, Matthew Mills, Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier, Andy Townsend, Mark Wright, Rod & Danny Wallace...)


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Leeds United


Opposition player you despise: Joey Barton


Opposition player you secretly admire: Gerrard, Lampard and Barry, although I don't make a secret of this


Where will you finish? mid-table

[vastar iner]

Team: Birmingham City


Greatest hope this season: six points against the Vile


Biggest fear: replace six in the above sentence with zero


Most important player: Joe Hart - he will certainly be the busiest


Terrace favourite: Seb Larsson - for staying with us through a relegation season; also Keith Fahey for being one heck of a discovery


Young player to watch: Jordon Mutch - second youngest player ever, spent most of last season resting because of a growth spurt (!), if he gets to full fitness (and there is sadly some doubt about this) he is a very, very special talent


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: None - we need them all as our squad is no way strong enough


One change you'd make at your club: find a friendly oligarch and get him to put a few billion into it


Have you got the right manager? Yes - tactically far better than Bruce, and having to work within a tighter budget


What advice would you give him? Get the players revved up for the derbies


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


Opposition player you despise: Any in a claret and blue shirt in Aston


Opposition player you secretly admire: Jimmy Bullard - Mr 100%


Where will you finish? 19th

[Earl Purple]

Team:Bradford City

Greatest hope this season:
To get an automatic promotion position.

Biggest fear:
Relegation is unrealistic but failure to reach even the playoffs again is likely to set us back financially even further. Having said that I didn't think we'd go down in 2007 and it is the 3rd year again...

Most important player:
Peter Thorne is getting on a bit but is key to use scoring goals.

Terrace favourite:
Probably has to be Peter Thorne

Young player to watch:
Joe Colbeck is hardly young anymore as he is now 22 but hopefully this will finally be when he shows his potential. He has pace but his final ball has let him down a bit - a bit like Aaron Lennon but not as good. Hopefully that is something that can be worked on.

Player you'd happily drive to his next club:
I think Chris Brandon is one of the high-wage players we were hoping to off-load.

One change you'd make at your club:
A better youth academy.

Have you got the right manager?
No, I think he was employed because of his legendary player status at the club rather than his management experience and he failed last year from a strong position.

What advice would you give him?
We need different tactics dependent on who we are playing and what style of football they play against us. And don't fear anyone - go out to win every game, home or away even against the top teams.

Which team do you most want to beat this season?
Bournemouth, because they were the only team to do the double over us last season. And it would be nice to beat Barnet for once...

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

Opposition player you secretly admire:
Is Andy Bishop still in our division?


Where will you finish?
I fear it will be no better than 8th

[Tom]

Harper's likely departure has put a dampener on things, but that aside this is the most excited i've been going into a season for 3 years Not just because of the passing game that Rodgers wants to play but also because of the impact the youngsters will have, which judging by pre-season looks like being even bigger than i imagined. This is the best crop of youngsters we've ever had and it really justifies the interest i had 2-3 years ago of seeing reserve and youth cup games, which many of them would have played in, had i been in the area, and also my interest in their loan spells in the last couple of years which they seem to have really benefitted from. The average age of the squad was mid-late 20s but is now early-mid 20s, so if the squad can be allowed to develop it could be around for some time, especially the keepers who are particularly young in goalkeeping terms.

Team: Reading

Greatest hope this season: That our young team romp to the title getting 100 points. Fanciful of course but i wouldn't say the title is completely out of the question if the youngsters gel. This division is wide open this season.

Biggest fear: That all the pre-season optimism ends with a relegation season. But as i'll mention below i don't see that happening.

Most important player: Difficult to say, but i'll go for Shane Long as our strikers are going to be important imo in our 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation as to how the season pans out, and he's likely to play the most. Big season for him as i reckon not scoring 5-10 goals will see him out of the club at the end of the season, like it would have done last season.

Terrace favourite: No-one particularly stands out for me, but i'll say Chris Armstrong or Noel Hunt who were among our top 3 players in the end of season votes.

Young player to watch: So many i could pick! End of last season i would have said James Henry, someone i've always liked and wanted to do well. But i'll go for centre-back Alex Pearce or winger Hal Robson-Kanu. Pearce is or new vice-captain and as he'll be a first-team regular this season and with Ingimarsson (new club captain and deservedly so) injured and likely to be no more than a squad player this season, he'll be our captain more often than not i would say. Robson-Kanu is someone who's simply been very impressive in pre-season, making Shorey look average (not you can take too much from a testimonial) and also giving Ashley Cole trouble last week. As one fan said it was just as well he was taken off

Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Stephen Hunt. Tbf the club are trying to get rid of him having reduced his asking price from 5.5m because we had no bids for him!

One change you'd make at your club: Bringing in a quality striker

Have you got the right manager? Yes, for the reasons mentioned above

What advice would you give him? Absolutely nothing!

Which team do you most want to beat this season? Probably Newcastle, not because i particularly hate them or anything, though i have lost respect for them in the last year or so, but because they would simply be a big scalp despite their problems. A week tomorrow at St James Park would be great

Opposition player you despise: Thought this was quite hard but its not really, Joey Barton!

Opposition player you secretly admire: This is hard though, but i'll go for Nathan Tyson having met him! Still a popular player amongst our fans. Worthy mentions go to McGugan of Forest and Moses of Palace who impressed against us last season.

Where will you finish? Im slightly more optimistic after the Chelsea friendly so i'll say 7th-10th. Definitely expecting a transitional season rather than promotion though. A surprisingly large number of fans before the Chelsea game thought we may be involved in a relegation battle a la Southampton with their young team last season, but that would be a surprise and disappointing. Still think we need another 2 or 3 players to seriously challenge for the Top 6 though. A quality striker (bringing back Simon Cox would have been perfect...) a left-sided player should Hunt leave, and possibly another right-back as cover (though Davies impressed there during pre-season and has played there in the past for Aldershot on loan in the last couple of seasons and maybe for our reserves before that).

Sorry for the long-winded ramble at the start! Wanted to put my thoughts down.

[Robbie]

Team: Newcastle United


Greatest hope this season: to get rid of Mike Ashley


Biggest fear: I'll be saying the same thing next season


Most important player: Steve Harper


Terrace favourite: Steve Taylor


Young player to watch: Lua Lua


Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Joey Barton


One change you'd make at your club: get rid of the management


Have you got the right manager? No


What advice would you give him? Chris, we're desperate


Which team do you most want to beat this season? Boro!


Opposition player you despise: I can't think of one...


Opposition player you secretly admire: anyone who can score goals!


Where will you finish? bottom if the cockney mafia are still here