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Post by Panda on Aug 11, 2012 0:43:50 GMT 1
With a nod and a wink to Four Four Two, it's time for the annual preview thread again, which has proved very popular for the last couple of years.
Copy and paste the questions below and fill in the answers based on your assessment of your club.
Team:
Division:
Greatest hope this season:
Biggest fear:
Best summer signing(s):
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?
Best away ground to visit:
Opposition player you despise:
Opposition player you secretly admire:
Where will you finish?
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Aug 11, 2012 22:32:30 GMT 1
Team: West Ham
Division: Premiership
Greatest hope this season: Top 10, good cup run
Biggest fear: Relegation
Best summer signing(s): Diarra (2m), captained france against england at the euros, 6'3 cm, an absolute beast (and he can play a bit)
Most important player: Nolan, if he gets his usual 10 goals a season we should be ok
Terrace favourite: Tomkins, Noble, both homegrown and both have a big part to play this season
Young player to watch: Dan Potts (lb) son of former hammer Steve Potts, played well when came into the team last year and with not having much cover he might get thrown in again
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Frederic Piquionne, no explination needed
One change you'd make at your club: Sign a winger
Have you got the right manager? For staying in the league yes
What advice would you give him? Sign Usain Bolt to play upfront
Which team do you most want to beat this season? The Spuds
Best away ground to visit: Sunderland just for the fact i will be going
Opposition player you despise: Ashley Young is high on the list at the moment
Opposition player you secretly admire: Cisse and Cabaye at Newcastle
Where will you finish? 13th-18th
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419 
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Post by Tom on Aug 12, 2012 14:36:52 GMT 1
Got the 4-4-2 the other day, which got me thinking about this. The Reading preview was done with the assistance of a Reading fan, (not talking about the "View from the Stands" section here).
Team: Reading
Division: Premier League
Greatest hope this season: There has been talk of aiming for Europe long-term...
Biggest fear: Given all the managerial changes over the summer it has to be that McDermott is enticed away by another club before this time next year
Best summer signing(s): Danny Guthrie
Most important player: Kaspars Gorkss. Even in a year where no player really stood out in a team effort it baffles me that he wasn't in the Top 3 in the club's player of the season awards.
Terrace favourite: Hard one but i'll say Adam Le Fondre, not just because so many of his contributions last season proved crucial, but also because he reminds me so much of Jamie Cureton who was a real favourite of mine. Leigertwood's promotion-winning goal has made him a favourite as well though.
Young player to watch: Hard to say as i'm not sure any of our youngsters will get a chance at this level. They're more likely to get loan moves. Also, I didn't have much success with this category last year, Jordan Obita barely featured and didn't stand out in L2 on loan, and Manset who i mentioned later in the thread is no longer at the club! So i'll pass here!
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: I'm unconvinced about Shorey's return to the club, he's got to win me over again, but of the players that are in the squad there's no-one I dislike.
One change you'd make at your club: Make one stellar signing possibly, though Pogbreynak is along those lines. I'd love to see Shane Long come back.
Have you got the right manager? Comfortably the best manager we've ever had.
What advice would you give him? He doesn''t need my advice, but keep doing what you're doing.
Which team do you most want to beat this season? Apologies to Daz, but for the significance that it would bring to our survival chances another 6 points against West Ham would go down well. I'll settle for another win against Liverpool though, which would also end our run of defeats against Brendan Rodgers.
Best away ground to visit: Old Trafford
Opposition player you despise: Terry and Suarez are ones that stand out.
Opposition player you secretly admire: If he gets fit again i'll say Jack Wilshere.
Where will you finish? Unsure atm, could be anywhere in the bottom 6 really.
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419
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Post by Tom on Aug 12, 2012 15:28:53 GMT 1
As I'm planning to go to a few Herne Bay games this season I'll also do a shortened one for them too.
Team: Herne Bay
Division: Ryman Division 1 South
Greatest hope this season: I guess the best achievement would be gatecrashing the playoffs in the first season after promotion, but more realistically finishing in the top half would be a decent achievement.
Biggest fear: That all the hard work of last year is undone by relegation.
Most important player: Top scorer Byron Walker, assuming he doesn't join Oldham where he's currently on trial.
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: None
Have you got the right manager? Best manager the club has had not only leading them to promotion out of the Kent League for the first time in 40-odd years, but also taking them on the club's best ever Fa Vase run.
What advice would you give him? Nothing!
Which team do you most want to beat this season? Has to be Whitstable the nearest local side, first time the clubs have been in the same division since 2006-7 IIRC.
Where will you finish? This is based on a few things. The season last year and how it relates to the step up; newly-promoted Kent League sides doing well in their first season; And how Hythe did in their first season last year, think they finished 8th after pipping Herne Bay to the Kent League title on goal difference the year before, the pre-season Charity Shield-type fixture last year also went to penalties too, so not much to separate the two sides.
I would have said mid-table but various players have left so i'm expecting a struggle. Relegation would still be disappointing though, am expecting safety especially as no Kent side has ever been relegated for non financial reasons I believe.
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Post by Panda on Aug 12, 2012 21:17:20 GMT 1
Team: Middlesbrough
Division: Championship
Greatest hope this season: Promotion to the Premier League
Biggest fear: Missing out on the playoffs again after last season's late collapse
Best summer signing(s): Woodgate if he stays fit but that's a huge 'if'
Most important player: Grant Leadbitter - Barry Robson's departure leaves some big shoes to fill
Terrace favourite: Rhys Williams - puts himself on the line every time. If we don't go up this season, I think it'll be his last at the club.
Young player to watch: I said this last season but Cameron Park - ex-Marske junior who should see more first team action this season after a couple of loan spells last season.
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Seb Hines but he's not as bad as he was.
One change you'd make at your club: I say this every year but lower ticket prices = bigger crowds
Have you got the right manager? - Definitely. He proved it last season. The players look up to him, the fans love him.
What advice would you give him? - I don't think I need to give him any advice.
Which team do you most want to beat this season? - Dirty Leeds
Opposition player you despise: any playing for Leeds
Opposition player you secretly admire: Peter Whittingham
Where will you finish? - Top 6
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Post by Panda on Aug 12, 2012 21:40:38 GMT 1
Team: Marske United
Division: Northern League Division 1 (step 5)
Greatest hope this season: Pushing towards the top half of the table and maybe a cup run
Biggest fear: Sliding back into Division 2
Best summer signing(s): Kieran Edwards - ex-England youth international. Also ex-pros Roy Hunter and Curtis Collantine and goalkeeper Scott Allison after the surprise retirement of last season's supporters' player of the year Graeme "Lips" Willey.
Most important player: Tommy Marron - an absolute rock in the centre of midfield or defence and already captaining the side at the age of just 20.
Terrace favourite: With the departures of Basher and Lips, the title's probably up for grabs but veteran strikers Danny Brunskill and Benn Thompson remain very popular.
Young player to watch: Josh Myers - hard as nails midfielder who returned at the end of last season after an 18-month injury lay-off
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: No-one I'd get rid of but hopeful one or two might up their game following the change of manager.
One change you'd make at your club: Our new away strip's a bit dull. Also, with a new stand in place, it would be good if the next new feature at the ground was a proper bank of terracing.
Have you got the right manager? - Time will tell. He was a club legend as a player and has done well to persuade the vast majority of last season's squad to stay.
What advice would you give him? - Don't let the players' heads drop after a couple of bad results. Last season, two long winless runs left us nearer to the bottom three than we should've been.
Which team do you most want to beat this season? - Apart from local rivals Guisborough, it has to be Darlington this season.
Best away ground to visit: - For the atmosphere Spennymoor, for the pies Whitley Bay, for the bar Bishop Auckland, and for the view Tow Law but they got relegated.
Opposition player you despise: The Newcastle Benfield player who looks like Robbie Savage
Opposition player you secretly admire: Bishop Auckland's Andrew Johnson - the league's top scorer last season
Where will you finish? - Just below the top half
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Post by o on Aug 12, 2012 21:45:39 GMT 1
I would do this, but after losing 3-4 at home to Newport, I'm gutted and blown out the water already. I know the season's a marathon not a sprint, but to concede 4 goals to Newport after our excellent pre season scares the life out of me!
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Post by Panda on Aug 13, 2012 1:05:16 GMT 1
That horrible feeling of an opening day defeat...
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 13, 2012 20:12:07 GMT 1
Team:
Nottingham Forest
Division:
Championship
Greatest hope this season:
A promotion push.
Biggest fear:
Another season like last year
Best summer signing(s):
Adlene Guedioura
Most important player:
Adlene Guedioura
Terrace favourite:
Adlene Guedioura - A common theme! I'll only write about him once though. When he joined on loan from Wolves at the end of January last season we were on a terrible run and were only heading for one place; League One. But he put in some of the most memorable and mesmerising performances most fans have seen in years, and younger fans have ever seen. His passing, his vision, his skill, his consistency was something incredible to watch. A midfield partnership with fellow French speaker, the erratic Guy Moussi, blossomed incredibly quickly and the rest of the squad got a huge lift from his arrival. In all my years of watching football, I've never seen an ovation quite like the one he got on the final day against Portsmouth where a second half injury ended his season. It was a good thing in a way, the most fitting tribute to a superb loanee. The fact he was the first signing from the new owners was a lift to every Forest fan. A relationship between player, club and fan which you rarely see.
Young player to watch:
Jamal Lascelles - I probably said this last year too but this year will hopefully be his breakthough. An impressive loan spell including a play-off campaign at Stevenage under his belt meant that the rumours of Arsenal and Spurs wouldn't ever go away, but last week he put pen to paper on a new four year contract so hopefully this year he'll feature in our first team.
Player you'd happily drive to his next club:
I have two, Matt Derbyshire and Ishamel Miller - they typify the short Steve McClaren reign superbly. Expensive, lacking any interest, injury prone.
One change you'd make at your club:
It's hard to say I'd have one at the moment.
Have you got the right manager?
Without a doubt. Given the names that were mentioned when Steve Cotterill was sacked (Hoddle, Strachan, Ince, Keane) having somone like Sean O'Driscoll was a relief for everyone. I'd have taken him when Colin Calderwood was sacked, I'd have taken him when Billy Davies was sacked and he was my number one choice when Steve McClaren resigned. When he was appointed as the dinosaur's assistant in January it was a brave move, appointing an assistant who's better than you. Results improved, we started to play proper football and the players adored him.
What advice would you give him?
Stick to your principles. We have an entirely new back four and are still an unbalanced team carrying significant amounts of deadwood, as well as having a very disjointed and last minute pre-season (the furthest we travelled was Mansfield). Some morons in the stand will start to get on the backs of manager and players if we don't have a great start of the season but it'll come, it takes time.
Which team do you most want to beat this season?
Derby County.
Best away ground to visit:
For the whole experience, Bloomfield Road.
Opposition player you despise:
Marlon King
Opposition player you secretly admire:
Jamie Ward
Where will you finish?
Upper mid-table, 9th-12th.
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Paddy
Member
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Best newcomer 2009
Posts: 19,422
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Post by Paddy on Aug 16, 2012 18:03:03 GMT 1
Team: Ipswich Town FC
Division: Championship
Greatest hope this season: Promotion
Biggest fear: Relegation
Best summer signing(s): Not a signing, but a released player in Bullard.
But Scott Loach in is a good buy, we need some kind of goalie!
Most important player: Chopra, another 15 goals please.
Terrace favourite: Marcus Stewart, still living a decade ago...
Young player to watch: Right Midfielder... Ryan Stevenson
Altho Luke Hyam will be interesting to see if he moves away this season for a mill or more.
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Tommy Smith, unpredictable defender, plays for New Zealand, already been country captain but the start of last season made some dreadful errors leading to awful goals. Later in season was playing very well.
One change you'd make at your club: Use pre-season better
Have you got the right manager? PJ, Paul Jewell... undecided, still.
What advice would you give him? Win win win win win and please fans.
Which team do you most want to beat this season? Bolton Wanderers.
Best away ground to visit: Reebok
Opposition player you despise: pass
Opposition player you secretly admire: pass
Where will you finish? pass
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Post by Shireblogger on Aug 17, 2012 11:45:33 GMT 1
Team: SOUTHAMPTON
Division: Back in the Premier League again, hurrah
Greatest hope this season: Stay up
Biggest fear: We start badly, confidence evaporates, and we end up fighting relegation and scratching out results all year
Best summer signing(s): Presumably Jay Rodriguez, from Burnley, given that he cost £7m. I've never seem him play though.
Most important player: Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis. He's been brilliant over the past few years. But, much earlier in his career, he had a terrible spell for Sunderland in the Premier League, and they were as good as relegated by the time he was dropped. I hope he's banished those memories.
Terrace favourite: Ricky Lambert, Southampton's goal machine.
Young player to watch: Adam Lallana. He blew hot and cold last year. Has the potential to be yet another England international from the Saints academy, but the Premier could be a step too far. {Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Wayne Bridge, Matthew Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Andy Towsend, Danny Wallace...}
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Guly Del Prado - simply cannot understand what Nigel Adkins sees in him. The only Brazilian who's incapable of dribbling the ball around a stationary traffic cone.
One change you'd make at your club: Install a teleporter, so I can get to more home games.
Have you got the right manager? Absolutely.
What advice would you give him? I wouldn't dream of telling him what to do. I'm not worthy.
Which team do you most want to beat this season? Manchester City away on Sunday, opening game of the season.
Best away ground to visit: The Emirates is the best football stadium I've ever visited, but it has no atmosphere. Anfield is now one of the worst (for away fans), but has one of the best atmospheres. To combine the two, St James' Park Newcastle.
Opposition player you despise: John Terry
Opposition player you secretly admire: Scott Parker
Where will you finish? Anywhere between 9th and 20th. Eliminate the 4 Champions League contenders, and the 4 wannabies, and there's very little to choose between the rest of the Premier League. Thus, finishing position will be determined by consistency (or inconsistency). I'd settle for 17th place if offered to me today.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Aug 17, 2012 11:55:39 GMT 1
Team: SOUTHAMPTONDivision: Back in the Premier League again, hurrah Greatest hope this season: Stay up Biggest fear: We start badly, confidence evaporates, and we end up fighting relegation and scratching out results all year Best summer signing(s): Presumably Jay Rodriguez, from Burnley, given that he cost £7m. I've never seem him play though. Most important player: Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis. He's been brilliant over the past few years. But, much earlier in his career, he had a terrible spell for Sunderland in the Premier League, and they were as good as relegated by the time he was dropped. I hope he's banished those memories. Terrace favourite: Ricky Lambert, Southampton's goal machine. Young player to watch: Adam Lallana. He blew hot and cold last year. Has the potential to be yet another England international from the Saints academy, but the Premier could be a step too far. {Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Wayne Bridge, Matthew Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Andy Towsend, Danny Wallace...} Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Guly Del Prado - simply cannot understand what Nigel Adkins sees in him. The only Brazilian who's incapable of dribbling the ball around a stationary traffic cone. One change you'd make at your club: Install a teleporter, so I can get to more home games. Have you got the right manager? Absolutely. What advice would you give him? I wouldn't dream of telling him what to do. I'm not worthy. Which team do you most want to beat this season? Manchester City away on Sunday, opening game of the season. Best away ground to visit: The Emirates is the best football stadium I've ever visited, but it has no atmosphere. Anfield is now one of the worst (for away fans), but has one of the best atmospheres. To combine the two, St James' Park Newcastle. Opposition player you despise: John Terry Opposition player you secretly admire: Scott Parker Where will you finish? Anywhere between 9th and 20th. Eliminate the 4 Champions League contenders, and the 4 wannabies, and there's very little to choose between the rest of the Premier League. Thus, finishing position will be determined by consistency (or inconsistency). I'd settle for 17th place if offered to me today. think you can add Gaston Ramirez to best signing section |
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Post by Shireblogger on Aug 17, 2012 12:02:00 GMT 1
think you can add Gaston Ramirez to best signing section Can I ? That would be exciting. Haven't seen that reported anywhere else. |
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Post by o on Aug 17, 2012 12:40:34 GMT 1
That horrible feeling of an opening day defeat... And an even worst 2nd game defeat  |
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Aug 17, 2012 13:15:27 GMT 1
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419
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Post by Tom on Aug 17, 2012 16:54:14 GMT 1
That horrible feeling of an opening day defeat... And an even worst 2nd game defeat I know the feeling of an opening day defeat, Scunthorpe a couple of years ago, I was there to see it... Don't write off your team yet Andy, there's a long way to go as you say yourself. Reading didn't go on to have a bad season after that defeat (2010/11) 5th place finish, play-off final, and FA Cup QFs to boot. And anyway aren't Mansfield strong finishers after last season?  |
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 17, 2012 17:22:29 GMT 1
Paul Cox teams have always started off rubbish apparently.
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419
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Post by Tom on Aug 18, 2012 10:02:31 GMT 1
Team: SOUTHAMPTONBest summer signing(s): Presumably Jay Rodriguez, from Burnley, given that he cost £7m. I've never seem him play though. Having read a bit and reminded myself of the Sky game he played at the Mad Stad last season he looked lively and was unlucky not to score from a corner. We did restrict him to long range shots other than that but I could see why he got 21 goals last season. He's a good signing. |
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Post by raliverpool on Aug 18, 2012 12:25:29 GMT 1
Team: Liverpool FC (I could do one for my local club Swindon Town as I saw them more last season, but they are not my club, so I'm not as clued up)
Division: Premiership
Greatest hope this season: 4th place = ECL next season
Biggest fear: collapse into below halfway mid table mediocrity
Best summer signing(s): Fabio Borini
Most important player: Luis Suarez
Terrace favourite: Stevie G, but he is getting to pensionable age, otherwise it is definitely Luis Suarez
Young player to watch: Raheem Sterling
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: Stewart Downing
One change you'd make at your club: Why is the one person most responsible for the handling of the you know what debacle last season and the truly atrocious PR still at the club, when his job is to hire and oversea our PR, administration, legal team, manager, etc and made to look like clueless amateurs. Ian Ayre please go.
Have you got the right manager? If I had to come off the fence, I'd say no. The club is now in the hands of a manager that has managed 1 year at the top flight. FSG you better have this managerial decision right because the opportunity of making a mistake like this and LFC surviving it as a Premiership Top 6 club currently stands at close to 0%. Most LFC fans wanted Rafa Benitez back to finish unfinished business (which the Epic Swindle by Two Cowboys denied him), and the exit of Pep Segura (& likely exit of Rodolfo Borrell) means the Rafa connection that did such a brilliant job with our Youth Academy turning from a joke to something great will be over.
What advice would you give him? Please don't screw up, otherwise the fans will be on your back.
Which team do you most want to beat this season? Man U
Best away ground to visit: Goodison Park
Opposition player you despise: You really don't need to ask.
Opposition player you secretly admire: Wayne Rooney (LFC fans have always liked him because Everton fans hate him, but his behaviour last year of remaining pointedly neutral over you know what along with previously having a Twitter and internal dressing room bust up with the same player we despise 18 months previously, adds to our appreciation of "Shrek").
Where will you finish? 6th, but I am very worried it could easily be a lot, lot worse.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2012 22:52:37 GMT 1
Team: Swansea City
Division: Premier League
Greatest hope this season: Mid-table finish
Biggest fear: Injurys to important players after what happened to Taylor
Best summer signing(s): Mitchu
Most important player: Mitchu
Terrace favourite: "Take Me to the Vetch Field"
Young player to watch: Kyle Bartley
Player you'd happily drive to his next club: None, when we have players moving on, they express their gratitude for the players the team and management have helped them become.
One change you'd make at your club: None
Have you got the right manager?: Definetly, Laudrup has sorted out the defensive problems we had last season, such as corners away from home.
What advice would you give him?: Purchase a new left back to replace Taylor, seeing he is out for the rest of the season
Which team do you most want to beat this season? Liverpool, to further prove Brendan Rodgers wrong he's made a mistake in leaving us.
Best away ground to visit: Emirates for me
Opposition player you despise: Wayne Rooney with Twitter tw*t Ferdinand in second
Opposition player you secretly admire: Dzeko
Where will you finish? 10th I think, like West Brom did last season after finishing 11th the season before. I think we will follow in their footsteps they have left from 2010-11 onwards.
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