Football Focus

[StraferJack]

agreed RD, just fancied seeing the breakdown

It's still good money as far as I can see. I may regret that of course.. he may have several seasons uninjured and combine with Rooney in a way only imagined at Arsenal, and could provide the platform for United to rebuild around

And yet... something about the dynamic (RVP and Man Utd/Fergie) seems askew. Unlike Stapleton, who was a Man Utd fan anyway

or it could just be me hoping against hope for a reversal of Arsenal's barren years, and our new signings will be the missing link we have looked for

Either way, the cards have been thrown up in the air in a manner not seen for a while, so it'll make the new season more interesting

I think Man City will stay on top, maybe second. I see Chelsea struggling again after the di Matteo honeymoon period is over. I see Spurs falling away after the pressure takes it's toll on AVB

So Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal have it all to play for, with plenty of changes in all 3 teams

of course the changes could have a negative effect and we could see them drop further than expected and leave room for other teams to come in. That would be good

[Alan Medic]

"Do I think Arsenal will finish above Utd this year? Yes"

SJ, I don't believe you wrote that. I'd like to bet you several glasses of liquid turf you are wrong.I never saw you wearing rose tinted glasses before!

That reminds me. That Mick Mac still owes me. With interest at this stage.

[StraferJack]

I my other posts, I allowed for the variables which could see Man Utd win the totle and Arsenal collapse- it's entirely possible

But I am more optimistic this pre-season than I have been for a while so even tho' it doesn't make apparent sense to say Arsenal will finish above Utd, for now I'm sticking with it

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> "Do I think Arsenal will finish above Utd this

> year? Yes"

>

> SJ, I don't believe you wrote that. I'd like to

> bet you several glasses of liquid turf you are

> wrong.I never saw you wearing rose tinted glasses

> before!

>

>

> That reminds me. That Mick Mac still owes me. With

> interest at this stage.

You ran out of time on that one Declan, you can't just keep me in your back pocket forever.

[maxxi]

Now that the Olympics have departed The Arsenal Olympic Stadium Mystery recommences... I have grave doubts about its suitability for football as it looks too big (even taking the temporary seating option into account) and the pitch and players too far away from the fans - can anyone who has visited it provide a 'live' perspective? Anyone who has been to the OS AND Upton Park?

[Jah Lush]

Well, I'm still waiting for Spurs to sign a few strikers let alone one. Apart from the youngster Harry Kane we've only got Jermain Defoe as our only recognised striker on the books. I am not optimistic at all about our chances of winning anything this year. I'm not convinced about AVB and I think we're in for a very tough start to the season whether we make some big signings or not.

[Chippy Minton]

Maxxi - I've been to both the OS and Upton Park. There's no doubt the OS is a stunning stadium, better than The Emirates (too shallow IMO) and as good as the Millennium and the new Wembley. I had a seat pretty high up at the OS and you get a better view than a high up seat at Wembley (although admittedly Wembley is slightly bigger).

The crux of the matter is, as you rightly say, once the athletics track goes, the pitch looks like it will simply be too far away - something that I think all West Ham/Spurs supporters have always known, but without actually seeing a football pitch in situ you can't be 100 per cent certain.

I think, on balance, if I was a West Ham fan I wouldn't want to move. Upton Park is a bit weird - stands that don't match, the chicken run that is miles from the pitch,, but an away stand that is tight as a gnat's chuff to the pitch. But at least it sells out - that's never really gonna happen if they move to a ground as big as the OS.

[Ladygooner]

Been to both OS and Upton Park. As soon as we sat down at OS me and my friend (fellow gooner) both said that OS wouldn't work as a football stadium as pitch too far from seating.

[Jah Lush]

Spurs were going to knock the OS down and build a new one as the pitch is too far from the stands it wouldn't work as a football stadium.

[red devil]

Th old Wembley, sh*thole that it was, didn't want for atmosphere, same goes for the Stadio Olympico in Rome.

Personally I think it's a great opportunity...to bring back dog racing to the East End :)

[????]

I'm with Strafer, I think Arsenal may surprise this year.

I'm also with Jah I think Spurs will struggle compared to last year and he'll be out sooner rather than later, although, unlike Jah, I am thoroughly looking forward to it.

Anyone from 12 to go down, I think (hope) the Irons will just survive..

Predictions - Man U League poushed by Arsenal and City

Newcastle another good season

Woe for Spuds and Chelsea

Down - Swansea, Reading and Norwich

Come on. Let's be having them.

[Otta]

Very surprised at City's lack of spending this summer. Man U will either be awesome, or they'll scrape by, but either way, they'll win it.

[red devil]

There's always a surprising result or two on opening day...

Arsenal 2 Sunderland 2

Fulham 0 Norwich 2

QPR 1 Swansea 0

Reading 1 Stoke 1

West Brom 1 Liverpool 2

West Ham 3 Villa 1

Newcastle 2 Tottenham 0

Wigan 1 Chelsea 1

Man City 3 Southampton 0

Everton 1 Man Utd 2

[Chippy Minton]

Liverpool to win away at West Brom AND score twice?

There's surprising and just plain ludicrous!

[maxxi]

Arsenal and Liverpool could do well if they click straight away but will be in trouble if they take time to settle. Newcastle could sneak in if that happens. Chelsea and Spurs need an overhaul - can't really see beyond the Mancs fighting it out again well clear of the pack.

Irons top ten.

QPR, Swansea, Wigan, Norwich & Reading to fight the drop.

[Undisputedtruth]

Otta Wrote:

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> Very surprised at City's lack of spending this

> summer. Man U will either be awesome, or they'll

> scrape by, but either way, they'll win it.

Man City have experience and belief to win the premiership again. Do not underestimate the mental strength aspect of the game. Also Tevelz will act as though he was a major signing.

As I said last year, it's going to be tight between City & Utd again.

[StraferJack]

"As I said last year, it's going to be tight between City & Utd again."

did you?

before last season all I can find from you on here is the following:

"If Man City are to be genuine title contenders this season then they need to acquire a top notch playmaker in midfield."

You did say towards end of october it was going to be tight between them, but after the various tonkings meted out by them that was an easier call to make than pre-season

[Undisputedtruth]

"If Man City are to be genuine title contenders this season then they need to acquire a top notch playmaker in midfield."

I felt they needed to acquire a top notch player in midfield and later a central defender. Silva is too weedy for my liking. However Rodwell is a very good player and can play in both positions.

You did say towards end of october October was last year, unless I'm seriously mistaken.

eta: corrected format tag.

[StraferJack]

you miss my point - I'm not disputing (ho ho) that you said it last year - my point was that you said it well into the season when things were already shaping up

wheras when you said earlier today (ie before the season has started) "as i said last year", the inference was that you predicted a tight race before the season had started.

Perhaps you didn't mean to - but it isn't comparing like for like

[red devil]

Schoolboy error SJ, UDT doesn't make predictions :)

[Undisputedtruth]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Perhaps you didn't mean to - but it isn't

> comparing like for like

I think you're reading into more than what I actually said. I couldn't make a proper analysis of City's performance until they played Utd again in October. The charity shield game was interesting as City made a defensive mistake which led to them losing but I felt, at the time, City's performance was nearly as good as Utd's.

When City thrashed Utd 6-1 and were five points clear of their nearest rival I didn't say city were going to take the premiership by storm. Instead, I gave a measured response that Utd were not playing well since the loss of Cleverley and it would be tight towards the end of the season. Is my thinking flawed in any way?

[StraferJack]

Nothing wrong with your analysis at all. In October

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

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> There's always a surprising result or two on

> opening day...

>

> Arsenal 2 Sunderland 2 really? - Arsenal win

> Everton 1 Man Utd 2 - lets all hope Robbing Van Pursetrings doesn't shatter a glass ankle, wouldn't that be awful. Still Rooney looked fit and full of energy during the Euros so he'll fill the gap while the coont languishes on the treatment table counting his filthy lucre

[Bluerevolution]

Apparently they signed RVP so he could mentor Welbeck and Shrek on how to deal with trophy less seasons!

[red devil]

Bluerevolution Wrote:

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> Apparently they signed RVP so he could mentor

> Welbeck and Shrek on how to deal with trophy less

> seasons!

No need, they've had plenty of trophyless mentoring just by looking across the city over the years.

I didn't think RVP would pass his medical due to a bad back carrying 10 other players last season...

eta: typo