The Premier League Thread!

[pknz]

Ace. I'll sort mine out through-out today.

Has anyone else had a team running from game week 1? If not I'll make I can make it start keeping score from week 3 (which it is currently set to) so I don't get an unfair advantage

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Has anyone else had a team running from game week 1? If not I'll make I can make it start keeping score from week 3 (which it is currently set to) so I don't get an unfair advantage

Good work that man, I’ll assemble my team of world beaters this evening.

Starting off from week three as you suggest would probably be good, that way everyone’s starting off at the same point. As a suggestion, might it be worthwhile you creating a new thread for the game? That way it won’t get lost in the wider football discussion that goes on in this one.

 

[Markleshark]

Made my team and joined. Really quite happy.

Yes on starting at week 3, and yes on creating a new thread.

 

[xUKHCx]

Has anyone else had a team running from game week 1? If not I'll make I can make it start keeping score from week 3 (which it is currently set to) so I don't get an unfair advantage

I started at the beginning, i got a bit screwed over though. I made a team and wanted to change it but had forgotten my password by the time they emailed me it the season had started so i had to use my wildcard to save my losing 24 points with the transfers. Plus i'm going away in 2 weeks time for a month where i wont be taking the time out to manage my team.

I'm not doing too well at the moment.

My team name is "Bushey" - Village where I come from.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Excuses before the MacRumors season has already started. Shocking.

 

[Markleshark]

Excuses before the MacRumors season has already started. Shocking.

I was thinking the same. Hehe.

Edit, I also took it upon myself to create us a thread. All discussion should now be in there. If you think I missed anything off my post, let me know.

 

[xUKHCx]

Yet another legal case by Sheffield Utd, bloody cry babies, just ****.

Sheffield United have started legal action in order to gain compensation from West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Blades went down after an independant panel upheld a League decision not to dock the Hammers points over the signing of Carlos Tevez.

United have estimated the cost of their relegation at between £30m-£50m.

I personally don't see how they have a case as the issue regarding points deduction has been settled by the FA.

"We have always said that we will do everything in our power to secure justice for Sheffield United and restore the integrity of English football which has been tarnished by this affair."

yeah bought into disrepute by your continuing battle to seek justice for crap football. If I were the FA i'd consider looking into charges for bringing the game into disrepute if they lose the legal case.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

It's that time of year again when the Premier League big boys first get to turn their thoughts to domestic cup competition. Well, not the real big boys because they don't enter the League Cup until later what with being off playing in Europe and stuff, but I expect the likes of Aston Villa are getting rather excited right now.

Anyway, the draw for the Second Round of the League Cup has just been made and is as follows (Premier League teams are in bold)...

Plymouth Argyle v Doncaster Rovers
Southend United v Watford
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Birmingham City v Hereford United
Carlisle v Coventry City
Bristol Rovers v West Ham United
Derby County v Blackpool
Rochdale v Norwich
Portsmouth v Leeds United
Cardiff City v Leyton Orient
MK Dons v Sheffield United
Burnley v Oldham Athletic
Swansea City v Reading
Peterborough United v West Bromwich Albion
Shrewsbury Town v Fulham
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Morecambe
Middlesbrough v Northampton Town
Sheffield Wednesday v Hartlepool United
Luton Town v Sunderland
Wrexham v Aston Villa
Charlton Athletic v Stockport County
Newcastle United v Barnsley
Bristol City v Manchester City

 

[xUKHCx]

Luton Town v Sunderland

Come on Sunderland

 

[swiftaw]

Wigan Athletic v Hull City

Okay Jaffa, time to see how your mighty Hull handle the power of Emile "couldn't hit the side of a barn" Heskey and the rest of my Latics.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Okay Jaffa, time to see how your mighty Hull handle the power of Emile "couldn't hit the side of a barn" Heskey and the rest of my Latics.

We're certain to win. You see, I've a long-standing engagement on 25th September, the week when the Third Round fixtures will be played.

Therefore, it's written in the stars that the Tigers will advance to the Third Round, draw Chelsea or Manchester United at home and I'll miss it.

 

[gauchogolfer]

We're certain to win. You see, I've a long-standing engagement on 25th September, the week when the Third Round fixtures will be played.

Therefore, it's written in the stars that the Tigers will advance to the Third Round, draw Chelsea or Manchester United at home and I'll miss it.

Hey Jaffa, I just saw the highlights from the Carling Cup match. Are you going to incorporate the 'fainting celebration' into your daily life?

In fact, I think that ought to be the name of your EPL fantasy team: Fainting Celebration.

 

[Markleshark]

And Carlisle get a home tie against Coventry. Pretty happy.

 

[XIII]

From The Guardian:

Fábregas finds new role as enforcer for a tougher Arsenal

Cesc Fábregas is revelling in his role as an unlikely hardman as Arsenal seek to show they will not be bullied this season, says David Hytner.
The GuardianAugust 17, 2007 12:28 AM

It was almost as if Tomas Repka could not bear the indignity of it. Sparta Prague's captain, known to English fans from his time at West Ham, is the archetypal hard man. A wall of muscle and latent menace, he is a byword for "uncompromising". Yet there he was, in the final Champions League qualifying round against Arsenal, fighting a losing battle to prevent his legs from giving way. Repka had been sorted out by the unlikeliest of enforcers and Cesc Fábregas, the Arsenal playmaker, struggled to suppress his pride.

"It's true that maybe I was a bit late but you know, he [Repka] did the same before," said Fábregas, eyes twinkling. "Sometimes you need to do this kind of thing. Not with bad intentions, of course - I thought I could win the ball - but sometimes when you cannot play because they are physically very strong, you have to go for [the] physical game as well. I think this is football. Sometimes it happens to you, sometimes it happens [to others] . . . and of course, I am sorry."

Arsenal's players had been upset to hear Repka, in the countdown to the first leg, promise to leave his mark on them. After two minutes he cut through Robin van Persie, the Arsenal striker, from behind. And there were more full-blooded challenges from Sparta players before Repka went nose to nose in confrontation with Alex Hleb. Something had to be done and moments later Repka was in a heap. The Spaniard shrugged off the yellow card he received as Repka attempted to shrug off the pain as it coursed through his leg.

He regained his feet and tried to carry on but when he next picked up possession he slowly crumpled to the ground. After treatment he determined to betray no sign of weakness. Insults flew. Fábregas even felt emboldened enough to mimic Repka's limp but, on 37 minutes, the Sparta central defender was forced, begrudgingly, to admit defeat. The Arsenal man then blocked Repka's path as he was substituted and the pair had their final exchange. Fábregas, however, had already made the significant statement.

"Maybe he [Repka] thinks this is the way to play against Arsenal but this year we're ready to show everyone that we're not the same team as before," said Gaël Clichy, the Arsenal left-back. "We're ready for the challenge and we'll wait for the others to come. We play against teams like this in England every weekend. We believe we have football quality and physical quality. We showed it in Prague and we will show it again on Sunday [at Blackburn].

"It was nice to see Cesc get in there; that showed the spirit you're going to see from us this year. People have been saying it's not his game to play like that but he's showed he can score, he can pass and he can kick people, so everything is perfect."

Arsenal have acquired an unwanted reputation as a soft touch, principally away from home, where they have been bullied out of their stride. The suspicion persists that Arsène Wenger, the manager, has handed the club captaincy to William Gallas because the France defender has attitude. Gilberto Silva, vice-captain last season and this, is a more laid-back character.

Fábregas, too, has what it takes to shake things up and he has shown himself to be no respecter of reputations. He jabbed his finger angrily at Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, last season after the goalless FA Cup tie at Emirates, telling him that a man who had once played for Barcelona should be ashamed of the suffocating tactics he employed. The Spain international, who started at the Barcelona youth academy, was told to apologise.

The 20-year-old had also grappled with Frank Lampard, the Chelsea midfielder, in the mêlée that disfigured the Carling Cup final in February and he was accused of playing a prominent part in the Battle of the Buffet that followed Arsenal's defeat at Manchester United in October 2004 which ended their 49-game unbeaten Premiership run. Indeed, he is alleged to have been the phantom flan flinger.

Fábregas is coming to be viewed as an upstart in some quarters but he is developing broad shoulders. The jeers he heard from the Sparta crowd did not faze him and he went on to score the opening goal in Arsenal's 2-0 win. "I heard what Repka said and it's not good for football to say before the game, 'I will kick their players'," he said later. "If we hear this, we will be ready for it."

Fábregas hopes that Repka will have recovered in time for the return leg on Wednesday week. He will not run from anyone.

Cesc is our hard man.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hey Jaffa, I just saw the highlights from the Carling Cup match. Are you going to incorporate the 'fainting celebration' into your daily life?

Heh... the fainting celebration comes from the fact that it was McPhee’s first goal for the club since he joined us over two years ago. He’s only played a handful of games and missed the rest through a string of injuries (including a potentially career-threatening one where the bone in his leg died, or something) so we were well chuffed to see him finally get on the scoresheet. I think you could see how pleased his teammates were as well.

I might have to incorporate the celebration into my daily life, although I might bang my head as I tend to frequent harder surfaces than the average footballer. I wouldn’t want to pick up an injury and end up like Mr McPhee, would I now?

Mind, looks like you had a bit of a treat seeing the match highlights. I’d imagine that it’s not very often the Tigers grace your screens over there.

In fact, I think that ought to be the name of your EPL fantasy team: Fainting Celebration.

Nah, Sporting Dual-Cores in honour of my little MacBook.

 

[iGav]

And Carlisle get a home tie against Coventry. Pretty happy.

You won't be when we put 6 past you.

 

[Markleshark]

You won't be when we put 6 past you.

*Laughing* With Joe Garner? We'll at least score, the boys a genius.

You coming up to the Brunt?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

You won't be when we put 6 past you.

It's a real possibility, you know – especially with a warm up match against League One-standard opposition this Saturday to get you in the right frame of mind.

 

[Markleshark]

It's a real possibility, you know – especially with a warm up match against League One-standard opposition this Saturday to get you in the right frame of mind.

Internal Friendly?

 

[iGav]

*Laughing* With Joe Garner? We'll at least score, the boys a genius.

The only way you'll stop us winning is by attaching the net to the front of the goal.

You coming up to the Brunt?

I'm not that dedicated.

It's a real possibility, you know – especially with a warm up match against League One-standard opposition this Saturday to get you in the right frame of mind.

 

[Markleshark]

The only way you'll stop us winning is by attaching the net to the front of the goal.

I'm not that dedicated.

Oh well. I'm really looking forward to it already anyway. I do honestly think Carlisle have a good chance. Should be a good game either way.

 

[gauchogolfer]

Mind, looks like you had a bit of a treat seeing the match highlights. I’d imagine that it’s not very often the Tigers grace your screens over there.

I've actually been reasonable impressed with Fox Soccer Channel so far. I'd like a bit more French league coverage, but apart from that it's pretty thorough.

 

[Markleshark]

On the international front, England have recalled David James and Sol Campbell. Only for the Germany friendly, mind you.

See, this is how the international game should work, they were crap so they got dropped... They play well, earn a recall.

Also, David Bentley has apparently paid for his 'tiredness' by not getting the call. Rightly so.

 

[R.Youden]

If players who are crap get dropped, why is fat boy Lampard still in the squad. If McLaren wants to stamp his authority on the squad don't drop one of the most consistent players (Beckham) drop a player who has been out of form for his country for over 18-months.

I was at the England Vs. Brazil game and some of the things the fans sat around me where saying about McLaren where not nice.

 

[Markleshark]

Totally agree. Lampard is [has been, for England] *****.

Beckham, to be fair to McLaren, was dropped when he was playing crap. He was then called up again when he played really well for Real. That is how it should work.