Premiership discussion August 11th/12th 2007

I know it's a little early but....the Premiership is back

only one week to go now:

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Aston Villa v Liverpool
Bolton v Newcastle
Derby v Portsmouth
Everton v Wigan
Middlesbrough v Blackburn
Sunderland v Tottenham
West Ham v Man City

Sunday, 12 August 2007

Arsenal v Fulham
Chelsea v Birmingham
Man Utd v Reading

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some interesting games to start the season off with, West Ham and City are two clubs with a lot to prove this season after spending a fair amount strengthening their squads this summer, City of course are under new management and Sven will want to start with a win.

The early game, on Sky is Sunderland and Spurs, a very hard opener for Keane and I can see Spurs getting 3 early points, I think Sunderland will take a draw from this and may sit back.

Liverpool have a very tricky away game at Villa, on paper Liverpool should win with the superior team, the summer spending and the title aspirations, but Liverpool haven't won their opening game of the season for a good 4 or 5 years, their away form last season was poor and that needs to change if they are to mount a title challenge, last season we couldn't break Villa down and it ended up being a bore draw, hopefully that wont be the case next week.

Bolton Vs Newcastle is also an interesting match, Alladyce returns to the Reebok with his new club, Newcastle are a club who have spent big as well, they have a lot of options up front now but will be without Owen who is struggling from a thigh strain, Bolton haven't been overly active in the summer market but still have a good team who can defend well and generally at home are a team hard to beat.

On Sunday the rest of the 'big 4' are at home against teams you'd expect them to beat, United and Chelsea should cruise their games, whilst Fulham might give Arsenal a run for their money, however I expect Arsenal to be too strong for them.

Discuss!

I can't understand why we have to play at 12 on Sunday when it isn't a tv game. It's a rubbish time to be playing football. I know that the inadequate transport services in London have forced us to play on the Sunday, but I wish it was a couple of hours later in the day.

Sheffield gunner wrote:I can't understand why we have to play at 12 on Sunday when it isn't a tv game. It's a rubbish time to be playing football. I know that the inadequate transport services in London have forced us to play on the Sunday, but I wish it was a couple of hours later in the day.

it's a 12 kick off!?

Yep. It's a shame because when you haven't had any football for ages I always enjoy turning up for the first game of the season, having a few beers in the sun, catching up with friends and just discussing the chances for the coming season. It's fun soaking up the atmosphere on the first day. I don't understand why the game can't be played at 2 or 3.

So what teams would you put out if you were manager in your first game? and what team do you expect to see?

If I was Benitez I'd go with this:

.........................Reina.................

Finnan..........Carra............Agger..............Riise........

.........Pennant..........Masch........Alonso.........Kewell...........

.....................................Gerrard........................................

..............................Torres.............................................

But I expect this:

.........................Reina.............................

.........Finnan..........Carra........Agger........Riise........

...........Gerrard..........Masch.....Alonso........Kewell

............................Kuyt.................Torres..............

Luis wrote:So what teams would you put out if you were manager in your first game? and what team do you expect to see?

If I was Benitez I'd go with this:

.........................Reina.................

Finnan..........Carra............Agger..............Riise........

.........Pennant..........Masch........Alonso.........Kewell...........

.....................................Gerrard........................................

..............................Torres.............................................

But I expect this:

.........................Reina.............................

.........Finnan..........Carra........Agger........Riise........

...........Gerrard..........Masch.....Alonso........Kewell

............................Kuyt.................Torres..............

That is a solid team

Cept' Gerrard has been poor whenever he's played as a SS.

Our likely team for the City match (with the players we currently have)

---------------Green-------------

Neill---Ferdinand---Upson---McCartney

Ljungberg---Parker---Noble---Boa Morte

-------------Ashton---Bellamy

Bench: Wright, Gabbidon, Bowyer, Etherington, Zamora.

Dyer, Shorey and Gudjohnsen could all be here by then...or at least 1/2 of them

Captain Neville could return (if not Brown could play as the RB) , Hargreaves + Tevez could make their Premiership debuts , no Scholes so a Carrick + Hargreaves in midfield with Nani/Giggs and Ronaldo.

maybe ?

van der Sar ; Neville , Rio , Vidic , Evra ; Carrick , Hargreaves , Nani/Giggs , Ronaldo ; Tevez , Rooney

Sheffield gunner wrote:Yep. It's a shame because when you haven't had any football for ages I always enjoy turning up for the first game of the season, having a few beers in the sun, catching up with friends and just discussing the chances for the coming season. It's fun soaking up the atmosphere on the first day. I don't understand why the game can't be played at 2 or 3.

You will just have to go to the Pub after the game and toast what hopefully will be a great start to the season.



Are we playing Zagreb on the Tuesday or the Wednesday?

I don't know. The Arsenal site hasn't comfirmed either date yet.

Arsenal according to UEFA will play the first leg on Tuesday 14th.

Freddie Ljungberg wrote:Our likely team for the City match (with the players we currently have)

---------------Green-------------

Neill---Ferdinand---Upson---McCartney

Ljungberg---Parker---Noble---Boa Morte

-------------Ashton---Bellamy

Bench: Wright, Gabbidon, Bowyer, Etherington, Zamora.

Dyer, Shorey and Gudjohnsen could all be here by then...or at least 1/2 of them

Did Freddie play today Deano?

I thought Boa Morte looked good against Norwich, think he could have a good season. Have both Neill and Boa in my fantasy team for the first game week, expect a good win for you lot. City played well against Valencia today, but looked to still be lacking a cutting edge which West Ham certainly don't with the two former canaries up front!

forza_rossi wrote:

Luis wrote:So what teams would you put out if you were manager in your first game? and what team do you expect to see?

If I was Benitez I'd go with this:

.........................Reina.................

Finnan..........Carra............Agger..............Riise........

.........Pennant..........Masch........Alonso.........Kewell...........

.....................................Gerrard........................................

..............................Torres.............................................

But I expect this:

.........................Reina.............................

.........Finnan..........Carra........Agger........Riise........

...........Gerrard..........Masch.....Alonso........Kewell

............................Kuyt.................Torres..............

That is a solid team

Just a pity then that Gerrard doesn't look too good in a SS-ish role and that Torres isn't a lone striker. ...And Pennant.
The second one looks by far much tougher and balanced IMO.

Freddie Ljungberg wrote:Our likely team for the City match (with the players we currently have)

---------------Green-------------

Neill---Ferdinand---Upson---McCartney

Ljungberg---Parker---Noble---Boa Morte

-------------Ashton---Bellamy

Bench: Wright, Gabbidon, Bowyer, Etherington, Zamora.

Dyer, Shorey and Gudjohnsen could all be here by then...or at least 1/2 of them

Why bench Gabbidon at all?

Freddie Ljungberg wrote:Our likely team for the City match (with the players we currently have)

---------------Green-------------

Neill---Ferdinand---Upson---McCartney

Ljungberg---Parker---Noble---Boa Morte

-------------Ashton---Bellamy

Bench: Wright, Gabbidon, Bowyer, Etherington, Zamora.

Dyer, Shorey and Gudjohnsen could all be here by then...or at least 1/2 of them

Sounds about right - one of Shorey and Gudjohnsen, and an injured Dyer

Dyer to West Ham isn't happening anymore. Newcastle stopped the deal.

Expected Sunderland Line-up.........

------------------Robinson--------------------

Chimby-----Dawson------Kaboul-----Bale-----------

Lennon-------Jenas----Zokora-----Malbranque---------

---------------Keane-----Berby...............


Or my line-up and Jol might go for it.....


------------------Robbo---------------------

Chimby------Dawson----Kaboul-------Bale-------------

-----------------Huddlestone/Zokora---------------------

--Lennon---------Jenas--------------Keane---------------

------------Bent---------Bertatov---------------------

Subs: Cerny,Defoe,Taarbt,Boetang,Rocha

Zack_thfc wrote:Expected Sunderland Line-up.........

------------------Robinson--------------------

Chimby-----Dawson------Kaboul-----Bale-----------

Lennon-------Jenas----Zokora-----Malbranque---------

---------------Keane-----Berby...............


Or my line-up and Jol might go for it.....


------------------Robbo---------------------

Chimby------Dawson----Kaboul-------Bale-------------

-----------------Huddlestone/Zokora---------------------

--Lennon---------Jenas--------------Keane---------------

------------Bent---------Bertatov---------------------

Subs: Cerny,Defoe,Taarbt,Boetang,Rocha

Is it just me who thinks that the latter would concede ALOT of goals?

DD wrote:

forza_rossi wrote:

Luis wrote:So what teams would you put out if you were manager in your first game? and what team do you expect to see?

If I was Benitez I'd go with this:

.........................Reina.................

Finnan..........Carra............Agger..............Riise........

.........Pennant..........Masch........Alonso.........Kewell...........

.....................................Gerrard........................................

..............................Torres.............................................

But I expect this:

.........................Reina.............................

.........Finnan..........Carra........Agger........Riise........

...........Gerrard..........Masch.....Alonso........Kewell

............................Kuyt.................Torres..............

That is a solid team

Just a pity then that Gerrard doesn't look too good in a SS-ish role and that Torres isn't a lone striker. ...And Pennant.
The second one looks by far much tougher and balanced IMO.

I think the second team isn't attacking enough to be honest, in the first formation Pennant and Kewell can push up to support Gerrard and provide width, I think Pennant, Gerrard and Kewell can all create chances for Torres who can create chances for himself also.

The second team (which I expect Rafa to go with) is strong also, but for me Kuyt and Torres wont work as a partnership, both like to drop deep, Kuyt especially, I think having Torres up top by himself will mean he can stay in and around the box and wait for the knock on from one of the forward midfield men.

Having said that I think either of these teams can win against Villa and should win against Villa.

Owen wrote:

Zack_thfc wrote:Expected Sunderland Line-up.........

------------------Robinson--------------------

Chimby-----Dawson------Kaboul-----Bale-----------

Lennon-------Jenas----Zokora-----Malbranque---------

---------------Keane-----Berby...............


Or my line-up and Jol might go for it.....


------------------Robbo---------------------

Chimby------Dawson----Kaboul-------Bale-------------

-----------------Huddlestone/Zokora---------------------

--Lennon---------Jenas--------------Keane---------------

------------Bent---------Bertatov---------------------

Subs: Cerny,Defoe,Taarbt,Boetang,Rocha

Is it just me who thinks that the latter would concede ALOT of goals?

The midfield may get over-ran a touch and it may only work if we were playing at home, with "weaker" opposition....Basically I just wanted to put Keane in a midfield role, were he can do a job. He tracks back and is pretty creative, plus Berby can drop more deeper and have a more of an Influence.....

Basically, I think by far I can see the Keane and Berby Partnership being 1st choice.....I was just trying to include Bent in the Team, without disrupting the Balance and as you say, it may well concede alot of goals, perhaps sacrificing Lennon in some games and Putting Tainio...

@DD-Gabbidon had been injured for a while and hasn't played lots in this pre-season. So it's likely he'll start after a couple of games.

The Dyer incident has really really annoyed me.
-We agree a fee.
-Dyer agrees terms.
-Dyer passes medical.
-Newcastle pull out and ask for £2m more.

That twat of chairman is achieving nothing out of this.

Luis wrote:

DD wrote:

forza_rossi wrote:

Luis wrote:So what teams would you put out if you were manager in your first game? and what team do you expect to see?

If I was Benitez I'd go with this:

.........................Reina.................

Finnan..........Carra............Agger..............Riise........

.........Pennant..........Masch........Alonso.........Kewell...........

.....................................Gerrard........................................

..............................Torres.............................................

But I expect this:

.........................Reina.............................

.........Finnan..........Carra........Agger........Riise........

...........Gerrard..........Masch.....Alonso........Kewell

............................Kuyt.................Torres..............

That is a solid team

Just a pity then that Gerrard doesn't look too good in a SS-ish role and that Torres isn't a lone striker. ...And Pennant.
The second one looks by far much tougher and balanced IMO.

I think the second team isn't attacking enough to be honest, in the first formation Pennant and Kewell can push up to support Gerrard and provide width, I think Pennant, Gerrard and Kewell can all create chances for Torres who can create chances for himself also.

You're getting ahead of yourself here I feel. That midfield and attack aren't anything like last year's - its more than attacking enough. You have Gerrard, Kewell and Alonso there so all flanks are covered, and Kuyt and Torres look like they can form a good partnership.
Big flaws are the inactivity of Gerrard as a SS and Torres as lone striekr, which he is't. Pennant is surplus, because he puts one good cross in per game, and Torres isn't that kind of targetman anyway. Besides you already have the much better Kewell for that. To make Pennant even more redundant is that, in your own words, Torres can make something for himself. If so, why not balance the squad out better.

The second team (which I expect Rafa to go with) is strong also, but for me Kuyt and Torres wont work as a partnership, both like to drop deep, Kuyt especially, I think having Torres up top by himself will mean he can stay in and around the box and wait for the knock on from one of the forward midfield men.

Quote bold statement seen as they haven't yet played together. Kuyt will always play in the service of Torres - Kuyt always does what the manager tells him too. So Kuyt won't drop back as deep, Rooney deep. Torres will stay upfront and you have Gerrard and Torres for the more direct aproach and kuyt, Alonso and Kewell for the more generally more subtle one.

The latter team is many times better IMO, both attackingly and defensively (Gerrard in midfield and Kuyt if needed). Not even a contest IMO.

Having said that I think either of these teams can win against Villa and should win against Villa.

yep. And Rafa will go for the aproach of latter.

Luis' second team is a million miles better and is what I expect to see in most of the tougher games (unless babel and pennant can make strong statements for their places)

I don't see kuyt and torres as similar at all

throughout pre season torres has been hanging on the end of the last defender and making runs in behind. kuyt pretty much never does this

the second lineup is hopefully what we will see

Just please no gerrard in the SS role Rafa

Hmmm, you see I'm entirely for the first team, I think the latter team is just too similar to last seasons teams that struggled away, I don't see how that's going to break defences down any better than the team from last season, IMO the first is more adventurous, pacier and will give players more freedom, especially Gerrard, I think Pennant can do a better job away from home down the right than Gerrard, Kuyt needs to start scoring goals, because although he does work hard, if he's missing chance after chance then we need to change it, I wouldn't be against playing Voronin with Torres as I think he'll keep the ball better and hold it up for interchanges down the flanks

Cesc wrote:Dyer to West Ham isn't happening anymore. Newcastle stopped the deal.

Newcastle are a bunch of c*nts

Luis wrote:Hmmm, you see I'm entirely for the first team, I think the latter team is just too similar to last seasons teams that struggled away, I don't see how that's going to break defences down any better than the team from last season,

We struggled cuz we didnt have Kewell

And Gerrard was non existant

Hence it didnt work.

The latter team is by far the strongest...

Rafa played a similar team season before last and we finished 9 points behind the champions

Grim are you on RAWK by any chance? some guy is called Grim Reaper on there

Possible line-up for Arsenal vs Fulham:

--------------Lehmann

---Eboue ---Toure---Gallas---Clichy

---Hleb----Denilson---Fabregas---Rosicky

-----------RVP----Eduardo-----

Nope

hardly go there..

is he a WUM?