Football 26-27

Jark

Jark

PLUMP and RIPE
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
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Howe sacked by Newcastle to be replaced with a Saudi league manager :o with Tonali sold and Bruno G potentially to Arsenal it's looking grim up there.
 
I have a horrible feeling City will take it this season. I suspect Arsenal will be a bit too crocked - at least for the first half of the season - from having basically played the first string in EVERY GAME last season, with Saliba out and Rice and Saka visibly kinda tired at the World Cup.
 
@Indie what's the story with York sacking the manager after he just led them to a 108 point season? Something behind the scenes or is this chairman just a tit?
 
Sardonicus said:
@Indie what's the story with York sacking the manager after he just led them to a 108 point season? Something behind the scenes or is this chairman just a tit?
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Chairman's a tit. Best guess, chairman wants control of all-non coaching aspects (e.g. transfers) and wants the manager to be a coach and nothing more, and that conflicted in the pre-season. New manager has been named as a 'head coach' instead.

But he sacked the previous manager at the start of last season when he was 5 games undefeated (a few draws too many) and that worked out ok so 🤷‍♂️
 
Also he's put a lot of cash into the club for transfers etc, so I guess trust the process at this point. If it goes wrong, fans will turn on them quickly.
 
Penelope said:
I have a horrible feeling City will take it this season. I suspect Arsenal will be a bit too crocked - at least for the first half of the season - from having basically played the first string in EVERY GAME last season, with Saliba out and Rice and Saka visibly kinda tired at the World Cup.
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transfer business isn't even sorted yet :D looks like we're getting top cover for Rice/Zubimendi in the form of Bruno Guimarães.

either way I don't see City as favourites. in both seasons at Chelsea Enzo Maresca had long winning runs and then runs of 8-10 games with barely any wins. he seems like a guy who can transmit his moods to the team and lose focus sometimes so I'm curious to see how it will pan out. but think Liverpool will be back with a vengeance and Chelsea should be much improved too.
 
Something about Maresca's style feels an awkward fit for the team Guardiola built for his last couple of seasons, they weren't as confident with the ball and I think it'll take a while for them to adjust. Arsenal finally getting over the mental hurdle of actually winning the league again is massive and they have a deeper squad, which is what I think will rule out Liverpool given how intense Iraola likes his teams to play.

Been watching old Premier League Years episodes to hype myself up for the season, always an essential around this time of year 😍

 
Chelsea are my dark horses this year. Alonso is a great manager and it feels as though the ownership are slightly loosening their grip in terms of the football - for example: the signings of Henderson and Welbeck means that they have at least slightly backed away from their stupid transfer policy that left them with a total absence of leadership and youthful and slightly chaotic inexperience all over the pitch.

They are also the only potential winners without European commitments. That is massive and one of the clear reasons that United overperformed last year (alongside getting knocked out of all domestic cup competitions stupidly early).

With Arsenal - I think unfortunately it is out of our hands a bit in terms of what happens. We are the only truly predictable quantity coming into this season but the rest are total question marks. Injuries aside, I think the addition of Bruno G means we’ve strengthened slightly and our midfield is now ridiculously stacked. However, our forward line was the problem last year and i’m concerned we’ve done basically nothing to make it better. Tzolis has looked good in preseason, but Trossard was good too and he’s gone. The defence remains strong but Saliba being crocked for any length of time could be enough to lose us the league in a tight race. Mosquera is really good and i’m excited to see him get some minutes in that scenario but he has mistakes in him that Big Willie doesn’t.
 
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100% agree. another forward would've been ideal but then who can say what impact Max Dowman will have as more regular cover for Saka, especially in this early part of the season? Tzolis may also contribute more than Leo who could be very up and down. if the upgraded midfield can make us more creative up top we may be fine. goals are always the worry, that's the arsenal way.
 
Arsenal devoured City 3-0 for the meaningless community shield :disco:

my early predictions for this season in the league...

01. Arsenal
02. Chelsea
03. Manchester City
04. Liverpool

05. Manchester United
06. Bournemouth
07. Aston Villa

08. Leeds
09. Brighton
10. Brentford
11. Spurs
12. Sunderland
13. Everton
14. Newcastle
15. Nottingham Forest
16. Fulham
17. Coventry

18. Crystal Palace
19. Ipswich
20. Hull
 
For all their new signings Spurs still look as abysmal as they did three months ago.
 
Spurs and United losing (and being well beaten) on day one? hold me... :disco:

give me a shock Citeh result and I'll be ready to declare it the biggest and best Premier League season EVER EVER!!!
 
I thought Brentford were excellent but Spurs really looked like they could not give a fuck. I know they're rebuilding and have injuries but that front three doesn't seem PL level at all.
 
Oh I see the universe-not-allowing-Liverpool-to-ever-lose phenomenon has started early this season!
 
imagine if Spurs resisted demotion last season, hired de Zerbi and spent like 300m this summer just to go down THIS season? :disco: god I'd be wet
 
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