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The Premier League Thread!

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I must admit, I do like the new phrase that seems to be going around football pundits, which seems to be 'If you want to win the league your going to have to finish above Manchester United'

😀 Respect to us. 😉
 
Markleshark said:
I must admit, I do like the new phrase that seems to be going around football pundits, which seems to be 'If you want to win the league your going to have to finish above Manchester United'

😀 Respect to us. 😉
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It's always struck me as a daft comment, really – of course you're going to have to finish above Manchester United, in fact there's 19 other teams you're going to have to finish above as well.

In other news, if you want to win the Champions League you're going to have to beat whoever you play in the final. 😀
 
United has to be the team everyone loves to hate...they've won what, 9 titles under Ferguson? If the FA isn't careful the Premiership will start looking like Ligue 1 and Lyon, with United winning every year. 😱
 
Meanwhile, Sky were running a feature on Sheffield United earlier – discussing their season so far and everything. They were paying particular attention to their 3-1 win over Wolves and showed Blades striker Jon Stead scoring their third goal.

Only thing is, they showed the wrong footage – they showed Stead scoring against us in our 1-1 draw against United earlier this season. See, this is what happens when we abandon our magnificent stripes and revert back to plain amber shirts – people mistake us for Wolves. 🙄

Just in case there's any doubt...

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A magnificent Tiger.

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A toothless Wolf (surrounded by magnificent Tigers)
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I can't wait to see Capello's first starting 11...
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May as well try and predict it, assuming everyone is fit.

Green
Richards Terry Ferdinand A. Cole
Beckham Gerrard(c) Hargreaves J. Cole
Rooney Owen​

No difference to what McLaren would have picked, but Capello will get them playing as a team
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I don't think Capello will keep Terry as captain - too many yellow cards/arguing with refs.

I can't wait to see Capello's first starting 11...
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There'll be some high profile casualties, I think we can be sure of that. For one thing, I suspect that Michael Owen's days of being an automatic choice regardless of fitness or form may well be over.

I think we'll probably see a new captain too. For one thing Capello will want to put his own stamp on the team, and as you say I don't think the Italian will be to impressed with some of Terry's antics...
 
Rooney and Owen...that's a fragile strike force. I suspect, as Jaffa said, that patience with Owen's constant injuries is finally running out. And if Rooney breaks his toe again some will start seeing him as injury-prone as well I think. Agbonlahor might be an option...

I'll go with a somewhat changed side:

Green
Richards Ferdinand Terry A.Cole
J. Cole Gerrard (c) Barry Nolan
Rooney Crouch​

Maybe Capello can convince Carragher to return - he'd replace either Terry or Ashley Cole.

Beckham can't run, can't dribble... He just wants his 100th cap.
 
I'd like to see Agbonlahor at least given a chance to prove himself in the friendlies we have before the World Cup qualifiers begin. But ultimately I think each and every player will have to prove themselves to the new manager, who has a track record of not being afraid to drop players who aren't performing as he'd like. To quote Capello from his press conference...

Places will be earned by behaviour, attitude and play.

...which is exactly how it should be. He said as well that he'll develop a style that'll suit the players we have at our disposal, rather than trying to shoehorn them into a preferred formation.

Predicting his team for the friendly against Switzerland is a tricky task... I fully expect him to experiment with his line up., but at the same time I'm sure he'll try and get our established players fulfilling the potential that they have. I'll have a stab, though. 😛

Assuming we're free on injuries, how about...

Green
Richards Terry Ferdinand A.Cole
Gerrard(c) Hargreaves Barry Young
Rooney Agbonlahor​

...although he may play Beckham to give the guy his 100th cap, and possibly even make him captain for the night before making his final choice on the captaincy. Capello has often favoured two holding midfield players in the past, which led to my choices in the centre of the park...
 
Jeez, how did I forget Hargreaves? 😱

After watching him shut down Liverpool on Sunday he certainly looks good enough to take Cole's or Nolan's place in my midfield.

I hope Capello doesn't give Golden Balls his 100th cap, if only to prove that he's serious about putting the best 11 on the field rather than the most popular 11.
 
I suspect that Capello won't make a quick decision about the captaincy – we can all see who does what on the pitch, but who are the leaders and motivators in the changing room or on the training ground? Capello might want to spend a bit of time around the players when we play Switzerland and see how they behave off the pitch before he makes a firm decision on who to hand the armband to long term.

I do think Terry has blotted his copybook one time to many to hang onto the captaincy for too much longer, though.
 
Notice we all went for the same goalkeeper and back four, and not a single mention of Lampard

I put Beckham in because I think he will give him his 100th cap.

Not sure I'd agree with Joe Cole on the right of midfield.
 
Glory Glory Man United

Just discovered this thread...hells gea!!!

Been a Man U supporter for over 15 years, and that was when they only showed one game a month on fox sports world back in the day!

Great game, I never miss any games (Premiership or CL)....I even order the FA Cup games at $15 a game, I pay $15 a month for Setanta, and subscribe to Dish Network just for Fox Soccer Channel! Yeah I'm a freak!!!!! 😡
 
WannaBMW3 said:
Just discovered this thread...hells gea!!!

Been a Man U supporter for over 15 years, and that was when they only showed one game a month on fox sports world back in the day!

Great game, I never miss any games (Premiership or CL)....I even order the FA Cup games at $15 a game, I pay $15 a month for Setanta, and subscribe to Dish Network just for Fox Soccer Channel! Yeah I'm a freak!!!!! 😡
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Guessed you were a freak as soon as you mentioned Man U. Still, won't hold it against you, welcome. 😀

Just a quick question, are you English and live in America or an American? reason I ask, not that many Americans in to football.
 
Why oh why does Ashley Cole get in everyones England team. He is piss poor, a horrible player that Joe Cole makes look good, and hes as bad as John Terry for being a complete thug.

Nicky Shorey for England!!
 
Markleshark said:
Why oh why does Ashley Cole get in everyones England team. He is piss poor, a horrible player that Joe Cole makes look good, and hes as bad as John Terry for being a complete thug.

Nicky Shorey for England!!
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Agreed, especially considering his punch on Fabregas and the swearing at the crowd.

Shorey needs more experience though and without an English manager* he wil hopefully get that.

*By this I mean someone who doesn't feel compelled to use players from the "Big 4"
 
Markleshark said:
Why oh why does Ashley Cole get in everyones England team.
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I must admit, that's the position that I scratched my head over the most when I put my team together. Goalkeeper fine, strikers fine, even going for the two holding midfielders wasn't too much of a stretch. But the left back...

I was of the thinking that Capello will probably want to build his team around a strong, established defence who offer options when we break forward – both Cole and Richards are comfortable sallying forth when needs be.

Mind, I would like to see some other players tried and the friendlies are the ideal opportunity. Shorey is one player I'd certainly like to see given the opportunity to prove his worth.

EDIT: Markleshark and xUKHCx – seeing your two avatars next to each other is well creepy. It's like a before and after death shot. 😛
 
Ashley Cole is not that good, but who is? England (despite what the media might say) aren't overflowing with world-class players at the moment.

You could go with Gary Neville or Shorey, and probably either one would be better.

I have to a agree that it be a good idea to to take a harder look outside the big four for an England starting 11...Andy Johnson's name gets thrown around, but for some reason he ranks below injured Michael Owen, an injured David Beckham and an injured Wayne Rooney.
 
Ok, so I've thought about it all day.

Robinson
Richards / Terry / Ferdinand / Shorey
Lennon / Gerrard / Hargreaves / J. Cole
Rooney / Defoe​

Bench: Carson / King / A. Cole / SWP / Lampard / Owen / Bent

That'd be mine. Shame Defoe isn't playing at Spurs.
 
No way should Robinson play in the national team, in my view he shouldn't even be playing in the premiership.

Granted James might make some mistakes but no where near as many as Robinson.
 
xUKHCx said:
No way should Robinson play in the national team, in my view he shouldn't even be playing in the premiership.

Granted James might make some mistakes but no where near as many as Robinson.
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Best of a bad bunch I'm afraid. Thats the problem and that was my hardest position to choose. Did you see him against City in the Carling cup yesterday? Brilliant.

Kieren Westwood would be my choice anyway. 😉

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Legend.
 
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