235 replies to this topic

[Jackone]

A new thread to discuss the new season.

[Thundery wintry showers]

Some points to get the ball rolling.

I'm not sure how Chelsea's new manager will settle in. It isn't enough to rely upon getting a proven foreign manager as much depends on niggles like his command of English and interactions with the players. Guus Hiddink clearly had the measure of those issues, but not so with Scolari. If Hiddink was still in charge I would consider Chelsea as likely to win the title as Man Utd for 2009/10, but as it stands I think Man Utd will be the favourites yet again. It doesn't matter much that Ronaldo is off to Real Madrid when they still have the likes of Rooney, Tevez etc.

Arsenal showed promise towards the end of last season. I am quite a fan of the way Arsene Wenger encourages Arsenal to play, but the twin Achilles heel of Arsenal are poor finishing, and trying too hard to pass the ball into the net, and IMHO both of those need addressing if they are to mount a serious challenge.

Liverpool were superb in the latter stages of last season- so much so that I found myself rooting for them in the title race, which has never happened before, but I think they will struggle to recapture that form this season.

Only one North East club left (if you count Hull as being in Yorkshire and "North East" as referring to the region north of Yorkshire) and that is Sunderland. While Steve Bruce might not be the most exciting of managerial appointments, he's a pretty sound choice and is notorious for being active in the transfer market- and surprisingly he's been given a fair amount of money to boot! I think if he can get some good signings in, then the board's suggested target of a solid mid-table finish, continuing the slow progress up the Premiership table, is entirely realistic. And I would certainly rather have someone like "Brucie" than someone like "Big Sam" when it comes to preferred style of football.

[Phil UK]

Brucie isn't too bad a manager. He got us (Birmingham City) promoted twice, kept Wigan safe when it was looking pretty precarious for them. But during his latter months at BCFC, his tactical decisions left a lot to be desired. In fact, it was probably some of the most boring football I've ever seen.

That said, Alex McCleish wasn't all that much better last season.

I've also noticed that Birmingham's first 2009/2010 game is away to... Man Ure. Funny how when we've been promoted, we always have our first game against the top four. Arsenal (A), Chelsea (A) and now Man Ure (A) Good to get the heavyweights out of the way early but I do smell some sort of conspiracy here!

Phil.

[Solar Sausage]

Phil UK, on 18 Jun 2009, 06:51 PM, said:

Brucie isn't too bad a manager. He got us (Birmingham City) promoted twice, kept Wigan safe when it was looking pretty precarious for them. But during his latter months at BCFC, his tactical decisions left a lot to be desired. In fact, it was probably some of the most boring football I've ever seen.

That said, Alex McCleish wasn't all that much better last season.

I've also noticed that Birmingham's first 2009/2010 game is away to... Man Ure. Funny how when we've been promoted, we always have our first game against the top four. Arsenal (A), Chelsea (A) and now Man Ure (A) Good to get the heavyweights out of the way early but I do smell some sort of conspiracy here!

Phil.

That's coz the top four are really run by lizard-people...

I'll get me coat!

[Jackone]

With Setanta losing the rights to Premier League football, where do you want their 46 games to go, 23 seems likely to get to Sky , but where will the other 23 go?

A return to Terrestrial telly, BBC ITV or 5 perhaps?

http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/8109954.stm

[CatchMyDrift]

Phil UK, on 18 Jun 2009, 06:51 PM, said:

Brucie isn't too bad a manager. He got us (Birmingham City) promoted twice, kept Wigan safe when it was looking pretty precarious for them. But during his latter months at BCFC, his tactical decisions left a lot to be desired. In fact, it was probably some of the most boring football I've ever seen.

That said, Alex McCleish wasn't all that much better last season.

I've also noticed that Birmingham's first 2009/2010 game is away to... Man Ure. Funny how when we've been promoted, we always have our first game against the top four. Arsenal (A), Chelsea (A) and now Man Ure (A) Good to get the heavyweights out of the way early but I do smell some sort of conspiracy here!

Phil.

It did get you promoted though. What you complaining about

You could be really stuffed if BirmCity sign Barry Ferguson, unless he has one of his 20 goal seasons which happened a few years back. Time will tell and I'm not putting money on it.

Pete Tattum, on 18 Jun 2009, 06:59 PM, said:

That's coz the top four are really run by lizard-people...

I'll get me coat!

I have heard that apparently Real Madrid are incensed they may have to pay £80million for Christiano Ronaldo. Apparently someone has told them that Primark are selling big girls blouses for £4.

[Jackone]

CatchMyDrift, on 19 Jun 2009, 11:10 PM, said:

I have heard that apparently Real Madrid are incensed they may have to pay £80million for Christiano Ronaldo. Apparently someone has told them that Primark are selling big girls blouses for £4.

[davehsug]

JACKONE, on 19 Jun 2009, 11:52 PM, said:

I have heard a better one than that!
Apparently after signing Kaka, Real had to sign Ronaldo, cos after a Brazillian comes an irritating c**t

[Phil UK]

CatchMyDrift, on 19 Jun 2009, 11:10 PM, said:

It did get you promoted though. What you complaining about

Just about! Talk about doing things the hard way and leave the last game to our promotion rivals.

Quote

You could be really stuffed if BirmCity sign Barry Ferguson, unless he has one of his 20 goal seasons which happened a few years back. Time will tell and I'm not putting money on it.

Probably 20 red cards a season given his current record.

Phil.

[Nick L]

JACKONE, on 19 Jun 2009, 11:04 PM, said:

With Setanta losing the rights to Premier League football, where do you want their 46 games to go, 23 seems likely to get to Sky , but where will the other 23 go?

A return to Terrestrial telly, BBC ITV or 5 perhaps?

http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/8109954.stm

Good riddance to them. Hopefully it will be split half and half between Sky and a terrestrial channel. I doubt BBC will buy them because they already have live Championship games for this season (albeit only 10 of them).

[Jackone]

nick2702, on 20 Jun 2009, 10:15 AM, said:

Good riddance to them. Hopefully it will be split half and half between Sky and a terrestrial channel. I doubt BBC will buy them because they already have live Championship games for this season (albeit only 10 of them).

Under EU rules, Sky cannot show all six packages of 23 games), where the other 23 games go though is up for debate.

[Phil UK]

Seems like Tevez is leaving, and with Ronaldo already gone. I think our first game in August against Man Ure might not be so bad after all.

Phil.

[Nick L]

Phil UK, on 20 Jun 2009, 02:47 PM, said:

Seems like Tevez is leaving, and with Ronaldo already gone. I think our first game in August against Man Ure might not be so bad after all.

Phil.

Talking of Ronaldo, you seen this?

http://www.thesun.co...and-flower.html

[Jackone]

ESPN have won the rights to the 46 game vacated by Setanta.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/8113702.stm

[Nick L]

Will these games be available on the ESPN channels on Sky?

[kold weather]

They are making a new channel just for the prem and I guess thats where the other football they will get rights to will go as well.

[cookie]

im so bored of the lack of football roll on start of the new season

[davehsug]

cookie, on 28 Jun 2009, 11:23 PM, said:

im so bored of the lack of football roll on start of the new season

Surely you'll be watching England v Germany in the under 21 final tomorrow night?

[Jackone]

davehsug, on 28 Jun 2009, 11:25 PM, said:

Surely you'll be watching England v Germany in the under 21 final tomorrow night?

What chance England to win on penalties again.

cookie, on 28 Jun 2009, 11:23 PM, said:

im so bored of the lack of football roll on start of the new season

There is a host of sports related quizzes on here.

http://www.sporcle.c...e_nicknames.php

[cookie]

davehsug, on 28 Jun 2009, 11:25 PM, said:

Surely you'll be watching England v Germany in the under 21 final tomorrow night?

nah be working catch the 2nd half on the radio

its good but I miss the blackpool games and MOTD

JACKONE, on 28 Jun 2009, 11:34 PM, said:

What chance England to win on penalties again.



There is a host of sports related quizzes on here.

http://www.sporcle.c...e_nicknames.php

thanks