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Post by DiBiase is Good on Aug 5, 2016 10:56:23 GMT -5
It's a new season, yes it is! Which means it's time for a new thread. As I say in every footy thread, please keep it friendly. You know the rules, a bit of light-hearted piss-taking is fine, anything more than that is not.
So get predicting!
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AdamAFL was sooooo wrong
Hank Scorpio
note to all: he's a pants-less heathen
I Survived The Impact Spoilers 7/22/15-7/30/15
Posts: 7,095
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Post by AdamAFL was sooooo wrong on Aug 5, 2016 11:54:56 GMT -5
I'm actually positive about Newcastle for the first time in years so I predict we'll bounce back at the first time of asking. I also think this is the year that Arsenal finally fail to make the top 4. The league itself is difficult to predict but if I had to go out on a limb I'd say City (again). Surprise package I think will be Boro who surpass all expectations and finish in the top half. Burnley, Hull and Watford to go down. Chelsea, United and Spurs to join City in the Champions League places. Barca to win the Champions League.
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Post by Nickybojelais on Aug 5, 2016 12:05:46 GMT -5
So considering the Championship kicks off tonight, i'll ask if anyone can find any compelling reason why Newcastle are not going to ease to the Championship this season. I'm often wary of teams who are made overwhelming favourites but in this case I just cant see anyone challenging them. Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday will be strong contenders to go up with them, but I'm really unsure about Villa's chances. Despite getting McCormack I actually think they'll struggle to make the playoffs. I actually see a lot of similarities between my own team and Aston Villa, and it took us 7 seasons to get back into the Premier League! I said it many times last season that I thought the standard of the Championship was the poorest I could remember, and I'm sure the cluster of decent but not special teams such as Ipswich, Birmingham, Cardiff, Brighton etc will fancy their chances of promotion. I think Leeds will make a decent go at promotion this year, got a great coach in Garry Monk and some good young talent (as long as Cellino stays as far away from the day to day running as possible!) Anyway, it will be the usual unpredictable fun once again, I think the Championship is my favourite league in the world. Surprise package I think will be Boro who surpass all expectations and finish in the top half. I like you, you are my new favourite poster on this site. Hope you are correct!
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Post by BRAINFADE on Aug 5, 2016 12:06:59 GMT -5
Same here, this is the most I've looked forward to Newcastle's season starting in years, and we're in the Championship! I think its imperative that we hit the ground running with a win tonight though - I'm looking for a convincing win to make a statement.
As for the Premier League, I predict that City will take it.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Aug 5, 2016 12:17:53 GMT -5
I'd like to see Newcastle go straight back up and I think they will. If Brighton have held onto their squad, I think they'll finally go up too.
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Post by Famous Rocking Chimes on Aug 5, 2016 12:50:31 GMT -5
I imagine Newcastle will bounce straight back up whether it's by winning the Championship or through the play offs, anything else should pretty much be considered a failure.
It's pretty difficult to determine who will win the Premier League this season. As much fun as it was last season, I can't see Leicester coming out on top once again. However I am pretty intrigued to see how they'll get on in the Champions League. That's going to be the real draw for me when it comes to the Champions League this season (well aside from Celtic of course, IF they get past Hapoel Be'er Sheva in a couple of weeks). I think it'll be either Man United or Man City, with an outside shot of Chelsea and Liverpool. Yep, I really do think Jurgen Klopp will do well in the Premier League this season with his own squad. I think Hull are certain to be relegated at this point. Who will join them? Hard to tell, but Watford is a good shout along with Burnley. David Moyes will be a good enough manager to keep Sunderland above the relegation zone again.
In terms of the Champions League, well it's going to be either Barcelona or Real Madrid isn't it?
Nah I'm going to go out on a limb and say Atletico Madrid will finally get the trophy they've been clamouring for.
Up here in Scotland, I predict Celtic to win six-in-a-row. No shocker there then, but I'm really excited to see what the journey will be like to get there. Brendan Rodgers being appointed as the manager was a massive coup, and there's a real buzz about the air at Celtic Park that you could argue hasn't been there since the days of Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan (no offence to Neil Lennon, who I LOVED as Celtic manager and managed to bring us that magical 2-1 win against Barcelona). In terms of Rangers coming up this season, I think they'll reach third. Their defence is still pretty leaky at the back and while they have made signings, they've all been Joey Barton's QPR pals. Clint Hill at 37 is the one that really stands out to me. Any team full of young guns such as Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts are going to have a field day with him. Plus to just pretend like Aberdeen don't exist just because Rangers are kicking about now is pretty disrespectful.
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Post by Nickybojelais on Aug 5, 2016 14:53:56 GMT -5
After a bit more deliberating
Premier League Champions- Manchester City (Tottenham, Manchester United & Liverpool making up the top 4) Relegated- Hull, Watford, Swansea
FA Cup- Middlesbrough League Cup- Manchester United
Championship Promoted- Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday & Derby
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2016 15:09:11 GMT -5
From a local perspective, I'm hoping the Indy Eleven march towards the NASL trifecta.
As for Premier League stuff... Hope Arsenal competes well.
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 5, 2016 15:36:27 GMT -5
If Mourinho gets United playing the way he wants them to and avoids any off-field drama I can see them pushing for the championship.
Guardiola's record is exceptional, but he's never managed in a league as competitive as England's, so we'll have to see if he continue to work his magic.
Tottenham have to prove they're capable of building on last season's good work.
Arsenal have to do better than last season, but where are the goals coming from?
Liverpool are a dark horse, but I see the same problems that has cursed them for years. Lots of talent, but never really look like a team.
Ranieri's already said Leicester will be happy to push for European places, and they've managed to hold onto Mahrez thus far while making some solid signings. They've been thoroughly outclassed against the big teams in pre-season, so a swift exit from the Champions League looks likely.
Chelsea should do better than last season. Conte needs to get his senior players performing and bring on the more inexperienced members of the squad. Perhaps a season too soon to expect too much from them.
At the other end of the table I think Hull are dead and buried already. Managerless, paper-thin squad that's lost almost all of its top performers, and no chance of bringing in reinforcements any time soon.
Burnley don't look significantly improved from the squad that was relegated last time around, and I don't see them surviving this time either.
I think Southampton will be this season's surprise strugglers. Lost Koeman, Pellè, Manè, and Wanyama, while not exactly bringing in equal class to replace them.
Everybody always tips Sunderland to struggle, and they always survive. Another tiny squad with little quality, but a good manager (albeit one with a damaged reputation). This season could be one season too far.
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Post by Famous Rocking Chimes on Aug 5, 2016 15:54:39 GMT -5
Can't help but be amused that Steve McClaren was acting as a pundit for the Newcastle game tonight. He's a big part of why Newcastle got relegated in the first place!
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 5, 2016 15:59:51 GMT -5
Fulham beat Newcastle 1-0.
Note to Rafa: do NOT start as you mean to go on.
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AdamAFL was sooooo wrong
Hank Scorpio
note to all: he's a pants-less heathen
I Survived The Impact Spoilers 7/22/15-7/30/15
Posts: 7,095
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Post by AdamAFL was sooooo wrong on Aug 5, 2016 17:25:32 GMT -5
My optimism remains but that was an absolutely shocking display. Zero invention, zero creativity.
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Post by Famous Rocking Chimes on Aug 5, 2016 18:32:05 GMT -5
Yeah I'm pretty surprised at how poor a performance that was by Newcastle tonight. Even worse was I put a bet on the game being a draw and they couldn't even score!
Full credit to Fulham though, especially since Dembele and McCormack have gone elsewhere.
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Post by Hit Girl on Aug 5, 2016 22:05:07 GMT -5
Newcastle were unlucky. Should have got two pens.
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Post by Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie on Aug 5, 2016 22:20:07 GMT -5
what's the betting on newcastle being RELEGATED? lolz
also scotland's mini old firm match is tomorrow ..... ST MIRREN V MORTON
balls
also newly promoted to the third division EDINBURGH CITY start their offical league campaign against FORFAR
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Mochi Lone Wolf
Fry's dog Seymour
Development through Destruction.
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Post by Mochi Lone Wolf on Aug 6, 2016 3:09:05 GMT -5
The worst thing Newcastle can do is think that because of who they are, they'll boss the championship no problem with their squad. They've got some fantastic players who are proven in both the Premier League, and the Championship. However, everyone else they're facing this season have the same exact goal they do. There are no European places to pacify fans and the ownership. There's only the automatic promotion spots, the playoff spots, unlikely cup wins, and then nothing. You either get stuck in to every game, or you get left behind.
I'm going to hold off on an in-depth prediction post until I get a better idea of where everyone is at but I'll put a couple of ones I'm fairly confident about here:
1. Bayern and Dortmund will go to the last day to decide the winner of the Bundesliega. It'll be a two-horse race by November.
2. La Liga will come down to one of the big three, and I think Barcelona added more than enough in the transfer window to edge it out.
3. Juventus will run away with Serie A. They've been the biggest winners so far in the market and they were already the power in Italy to begin with. I also think they will make it further in the UCL than they did last season as that will be what they'll have the minds set on late in the season. Another finals run? Sure. Why not? They undoubtedly have the talent.
4. PSG will win Ligue 1, and get bounced in the semi-final of the Champions League. Same old, same old.
4. I'm going to say City win the Premier League. I was certain of this last season but now, I think if they can stay healthy and the manager can work his magic, they'll win. BPL is hard to call this season. It could be the most competitive it's been in ages.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 8:48:38 GMT -5
I think that's the first Rangers game, I've ever watched. I was on Hamiltons side the whole time. A great opportunity wasted there for Hamilton to record their first ever win as Rangers were ripe for the plucking.
Rangers did play better football, but their defence needs a lot of work.
Considering how biased the commentary was, I guess they expected Hamilton to apologise and forfeit.
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armbar
Samurai Cop
I'm the real waffel113.
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Post by armbar on Aug 6, 2016 10:02:22 GMT -5
Connor Wickham looking very sharp against Valencia thus far, scored a brace during the first half to put Palace up 2-0.
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Post by kingoftheindies on Aug 6, 2016 10:56:20 GMT -5
Preliminary Agreement reached to sell AC Milan to a Chinese group headlined by Han Li. The delay came from internal issues with the group of investors and resulted in a few members breaking away and buying Milan on their own. Sale will be made in 3 installments and complete by January. So Milan's summer market is gonna suck but they'll have over $100 million for the winter market
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armbar
Samurai Cop
I'm the real waffel113.
Posts: 2,273
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Post by armbar on Aug 6, 2016 11:45:54 GMT -5
Any Nottingham Forest fans here? Thoughts on Thomas Lam's debut match?
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