August Football: We back bois?

[Pleb]

New season already?

Here's a poll.

[Smjffy]

I just see a repeat of last season if I'm honest. Man City edge it after we run them close, Tottenham don't really challenge but somehow make a meal of 3rd. Chelsea, Arsenal and United battling it out for fourth with Wolves closer than last year in terms of points. Leicester could go well. West Ham and the like going neither here nor there.

Strugglers for me look to me to be the three promoted teams, Brighton, Newcastle and Palace.

[niko_cee]

Not such a vast gap at the top and Spurs and Unite to be much more involved this year.

[-james-]

Liverpool will probably finish ten points behind City and ten points ahead of Spurs. I fancy Arsenal for fourth. I reckon Leicester and/or Wolves could above Chelsea.

Not sure about relegation. For once I don't really agree with the betting there. Probably because nobody has a clue. Villa, Norwich and Watford if I were to have a punt. Bournemouth if they get, like, two injuries to key players.

Can we have a proper prediction thread?

[Mellberg]

STFU yeah.

[Mellberg]

Straight forecast of City, Liverpool, Spurs available @ 8/1 :sherlock:

That's blinding value imo.

[Mike]

It’s our year boys. ;)
https://66.media.tumblr.com/615fb0d2f64bf40e3d39a7d545569559/tumblr_onqgnsgYI01teciwxo3_500.gif

[Ian]

That might be the least necessary gif ever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think we'll be better than people think, probably 50/50 for the top four. Definitely above Manchester Utd.

[mugbull]

I think we'll be better than people think, probably 50/50 for the top four. Definitely above Manchester Utd.

Ya. Beginning of the season will be rough but you’ll be killing it once the 3-named lads in midfield return

[Giggles]

I think we'll be better than people think, probably 50/50 for the top four. Definitely above Manchester Utd.

Was Hazard not about 75% of everything good they did?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes, so we probably won't come third or win the UEFA Cup, but the fact that he isn't there means the ball will go to others instead. Pulisic won't be terrible either. My main worry is lack of goals in the team.

[Manc]

Spurs to implode.

[Baz]

For those who missed it last week, I had an idea to use the power of the hive mind to predict the final 2019/20 Premier League table.

There were teething problems at first as I used an inadequate system to record everyone’s responses and subsequently some data was lost. However, I was quick to action a fix and the new survey was up and running as soon as the problem was spotted. Some of you may have entered on the old system so please ensure you enter your submissions today to avoid missing out on being part of this experiment, if you haven’t done so already.

There is still a week to submit your predictions! You can only submit one entry so please go to https://bit.ly/1920predictions and if you get a ‘thank you for participating’ message, you have already entered. Otherwise, please submit your predictions!

In the first week, I received a whopping 543 responses and the predicted league is really starting to take shape. I am pleased to say there has only been a handful of “sabotage predictions,” so would like to say a big thank you to everyone who hasn’t tried to spoil this. That being said, it could only take a trickle of genuine votes to reshape the standings.

The deadline to submit your predictions is kick-off time for the first league game, which is 8PM on Friday 9th August when Norwich face Liverpool. After which I will share the results for everyone to see.

So far this idea has been shared on various subreddits (r/FantasyPL ( https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/ci0sko/the_internet_tries_to_collectively_predict_the/), r/PremierLeague (https://www.reddit.com/r/PremierLeague/comments/ci0jjy/the_internet_tries_to_collectively_predict_the/) & r/soccer (https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/ci2zlp/the_internet_tries_to_collectively_predict_the )) as well as a few forums (ResetEra ( https://www.resetera.com/threads/footyera-18-19-season-ot-3-var-var-oblak-keep-have-you-any-pens.104972/page-137#post-23104251), rllmuk ( https://rllmukforum.com/index.php?/topic/311216-football-thread-20192020/&do=findComment&comment=12375026) & The Third Half (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?2510-July-Football-It-s-next-season-already&p=350039&viewfull=1#post350039)) and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/boozethis/status/1154750753292132352?s=20) and I encourage you to promote it among your friend and peers to help get as many responses as possible. If we can get to 1000 predictions submitted, that will be an amazing achievement.

As stated previously, I intend to provide regular updates on how the predicted table is performing compared to the real league table – although it’s worth noting that we are aiming to predict the final league table, and obviously it gradually takes shape over a nine-month period.

Once again, here is the link (https://bit.ly/1920predictions ) to do your predictions. If you are doing it on a mobile device, I urge you to “request desktop site” as it is much easier to complete.

Thanks again to everyone who takes part.

[mo]

First link says I can’t take part (definitely haven’t already) and second won’t load.

[SincereTheRebel]

Belfast was good. Going to Armenia is of the question though.

[Baz]

First link says I can’t take part (definitely haven’t already) and second won’t load.Fixed it, I think.

[Pleb]

Luton against Boro?

Strap yourselves in for a shitefest.

[Pleb]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football-europe/super-cup-final-referee-stephanie-frappart-to-become-first-female-to-take-charge-of-major-uefa-mens-showpiece-match/ar-AAFetTX?ocid=spartanntp

All female officiating team apparently.

[mo]

Luton against Boro?

Strap yourselves in for a shitefest.

Five goals, two of them crackers, one a goalkeeping error and still time left for more as Luton look for an equaliser. Not bad...

[Max Power]

Boro miss a pen and Luton make it 3-3. Great game!

[Giggles]

James Collins, still uncapped :uhoh:

He was in our under 21 squad when he pissed on someone at a horse race.


.

[Shindig]

Wigan's new mascot is adorable.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/137BE/production/_108160897_wigan.jpg
Pen must be thrilled to meet him.

[mo]

Always reminds me of the Di Canio era at Swindon (Collins). Seem to recall him scoring four in game once (I checked, 5-0 home win against Pompey, NYD 2013). Always thought he was under-appreciated at Town so pleased to see him doing well.

[mo]

Fixed it, I think.

Done :thbgrin:

[SincereTheRebel]

Wigan's new mascot is adorable.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/137BE/production/_108160897_wigan.jpg
Pen must be thrilled to meet him.

the british gas boiler as mascot was the best thing ever.

[Boydy]

Belfast was good. Going to Armenia is of the question though.

Should've given me a shout.

[Shindig]

the british gas boiler as mascot was the best thing ever.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NINTCHDBPICT000442628928.jpg?strip=all&w=960

[mo]

I see Bury have had their second game of the season suspended - not looking good for them. Amazed they've let Bolton start the season with three senior outfield players.

[John]

That idiot Lisbon chairman who had his own players attacked has been charged with terrorism.

[Shindig]

Joelinton's scored against Saint-Ettiene. He's going to have to carry us so hard this season, isn't he? FT: 2-1. Longstaff for us and Debuchy for them. :D

[mo]

An unexpected win to start the season, away at Scunny. Nice.

[igor_balis]

I don't recognise half of this west Brom side, it's gonna be an interesting season one way or the other.

[John Arne]

Chelsea's two longest serving players are Kenneth Omeruo, 7.5 years and 0 games and Lucas Piazon, 7.5 years and 1 game.

[Shindig]

Sit tight, lads. Testimonials await.

[SincereTheRebel]

Dortmund vs Munich in a hour lads

Football :D

[mugbull]

I honestly think Sancho is as good as Mbappe

[SincereTheRebel]

Sancho really plays like a beast. I wouldn't go that far with the Mbappe statement. Sancho does not contribute enough goals.

[mugbull]

He doesn't score as much, but he makes up for it in assists. For a worse team in a far more competitive league. Just from watching the two he seems to have an equal impact to Mboops, if not bigger. My balls aren't big enough to take it that far though.

[igor_balis]

I was pretty pleased with the Albion's performance today. Bit shite at first like, but quite like the balance of Krovinovic, Sawyers and Livermore in midfield. Thank fuck it ain't Chrissy Brunt stinking up the joint anymore.

Even if we don't go up this season it's nice to see young players given a go, and Bilic seems to have a plan.

[Browning]

Went to Brentford vs Birmingham yesterday expecting it to be better then the L2/L1 football I normally get with MK but it was terrible. Birmingham might have been worse than any L2 side I’ve seen but Brentford didn’t trouble them in the second half. Daylight robbery of a result though.

[Gray Fox]

Good to see Gomez back in at CB. Hopefully he can carry on from his previous stint there.

[Mike]

Do City not have a shirt sponsor this year?

I was hoping for a few youth players on the bench for us, give them a ‘big game’ while not having to worry about it.

[Gray Fox]

This is a retro shirt to remind all of their fans that this club did exist in some way before 2008.

[SincereTheRebel]

Most of the modern strips are awful. Wolves, in particular, are shocking. No shirt sponsors are great though. Hopefully, they catch on.

[Gray Fox]

Certainly looks like City are a week or two ahead of us here.

[Lewis]

This is a retro shirt to remind all of their fans that this club did exist in some way before 2008.

I lolled at them seething about an off-hand comment about their spending to build the non-existent rivalry.

[Gray Fox]

Did I just see Guardiola booked?

[John]

That new rule is quality. If someone shouts something at the referee or fourth official but they can't determine who it was, the booking defaults to the most senior member of the team present. Should provide solid entertainment through the season, seeing teams trying to 'I am Spartacus' their way out of it and managers flinging subs under the bus to avoid getting a second yellow themselves.

[Gray Fox]

That's a goal and assist combo I didn't think I'd see.

[Lewis]

What's happened to Kyle Walker's head?

[Gray Fox]

He's gone full Guardiola with it

[Gray Fox]

Good warm up that.

Defence needed that 1st half kick up the ass. 2nd half was the play we had last season. Salah with a few games under the belt could have finished with 4 or 5.

[SincereTheRebel]

What's happened to Kyle Walker's head?


He's gone full Guardiola with it

It will make a David Silva type return.

[SincereTheRebel]

If Wolves get through against the Armenian's. They will face Torino or Shakhtyor Soligorsk from Belarus in the final round.

[Giggles]

I see Dundalk or someone got drawn against Ajax or someone. How are Ajax in the Europa?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They aren't yet, but if they lose their CL tie to PAOK then they will be.

[Giggles]

Ah right. I'd presumed winner of tie, not loser.

[niko_cee]

Would VAR have ruled out that goal where Walker fouled Origi in the build-up and then City broke away or is that looking back too far? lol at them doing that after the seething when the opposite happened in the first half as well.

Not sure I can be bothered with City at all this year if Guardiola is going to be in full-on chimpout mode all the time. Unless the wheels come off I suppose and then it might be quite funny. They can get fucked with this 'rivalry' thing as well. It's more of a media construct, but it's not happening.

[Ian]

Guardiola is mostly in chimp out more I'd he not? Leagues are nice and all but they're not how he validated his ability.

[Manc]

Pep. Mate.

[Lewis]

*'Pep'

[SincereTheRebel]

I thought Pep was short for Pepe or Pedro. His birth name is actually Josep :cab:

[Giggles]

Do you not remember him as Josep Guardiola? He was that for a lot of his playing career before the Pep bullshit kicked in.

[SincereTheRebel]

I don't really remember his playing career at all. I remember Luis Enrique and Figo

[Gavel]

THE MIGHTY BLADES are going to run riot this season :cool:

https://talksport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/04/1200px-sheffield_united_fc_logo-svg_.png?strip=all

[Giggles]

THE MIGHTY BLADES are going to run riot this season :cool:



Robinson, Egan, Stevens, and McGoldrick :drool:

[Gavel]

Robinson, Egan, Stevens, and McGoldrick :drool:

Egan even wrote us a song :cool:

Dunno how to embed it...

https://youtu.be/WbMcR3CP4eQ

[Yevrah]

I see Tottenham are playing Villa again.

[Baz]

Why's Hammer/Gavel been banned? :nono:

[Spikey M]

Because he's hypernonce.

[phonics]

Because he asked to and then proceeded to spam the forum until he was banned. I’ll ban him again when I get back home.

[Baz]

...18 months ago.

Let him back.

[John]

Nope.

[bruhnaldo]

Just goes to show when you want to have a total meltdown never ask for yourself to be banned :drool:

[Yevrah]

Has Phil McNulty decided to finally get off the fence?


For all the cheerleading and predictable talk about a "feelgood factor", I have serious doubts that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the man to turn around this big beast of the Premier League - doubts voiced before the initial bounce was deflated into those embarrassing performances at the end of last season.

Solskjaer, rather like Lampard, is totally unproven but was the safe choice for United's hierarchy.

Harry Maguire, at an exorbitant £80m for a central defender who is serviceable without being anywhere near the Van Dijk class

Tough words.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095

[Ian]

I really don't see the point in debating the fee itself. More of an issue is that we've spent the summer seemingly trying to fuck about only to spend about what Leicester wanted back at the start of the window. And of course that we don't appear to do any actual scouting worth a shit.

[SincereTheRebel]

What are the chances of Sanchez, Pogba and Lukaku all staying?

[Ian]

The Lukaku thing seems to have enough traction that I reckon that'll probably happen. Sanchez there's no chance we'll get rid of him and I'd like to think we wouldn't sell Pogba at this stage unless we were able to line up a replacement sharpish, which Woodward does not have form for.

[Ian]

Also Dario Gradi is now potentially involved in a second paedophilia scandal.

I missed this when the Barry Bennell stuff was in the news last year:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43211929

[Yevrah]

It's hit Catholic Priest territory now.

[SincereTheRebel]

Some people are really sick.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My dad had Gradi as a PE teacher at school (my dad is 64) and he said Gradi was a notorious nonce even then.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Aren't all PE teachers nonces or at least suspected of being so by students?

[Lewis]

More so the former.

[mo]

Chelsea U23s tonight in the Football League Trophy (apparently sponsored by 'Leasing.com' now - the addition of Prem U23 teams bringing big sponsorship I see). Bit of a mixture this one as it's a joke fixture but still one I'd like a decent result in. I'll settle for no injuries to any first team players though.

[John]

I vaguely remember Dan Crowley as being a bit of a prospect at Arsenal, but he has fully embraced the Dutch way of life while he was there. He's full of pretty turns and runs well with the ball without doing anything at all of substance. I've influenced the game precisely as much as he has.

[Smjffy]

Your work with Beograd outweighs his pretty turns. Give yourself some credit.[/itsrealtome]

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea U23s tonight in the Football League Trophy (apparently sponsored by 'Leasing.com' now - the addition of Prem U23 teams bringing big sponsorship I see). Bit of a mixture this one as it's a joke fixture but still one I'd like a decent result in. I'll settle for no injuries to any first team players though.

Lol have that, loser. GET IN.

[mo]

Lol have that, loser. GET IN.

Comments from people who watched said the quality of Chelsea's attack was just unreal - the movement in particular. Some secret hopes of getting one of them on loan but based on what I've heard they need to be playing further up the leagues.

No injuries :-)

[bruhnaldo]

Diego Forlan has retired and just like Evra I had no idea he hadn't already.

[SincereTheRebel]

Djemba-Djemba and Roy Carrol are still active though

[bruhnaldo]

I thought you were joking holy shit.

[bruhnaldo]

LMFAO you dick it's literally the trivia question at the moment lololol i'm actually cackling at my desk

[Kikó]

Comments from people who watched said the quality of Chelsea's attack was just unreal - the movement in particular. Some secret hopes of getting one of them on loan but based on what I've heard they need to be playing further up the leagues.

No injuries :-)

United beat Rotherham as well 😎

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49265227

Rooney will wear 32 at Derby after 32Red made the club (and Rooney ofc) a huge sponsorship deal.

[Yevrah]

The moral issue angle is hilarious.

Either you allow gambling sponsorship or you don't, this doesn't add anything to the argument either way.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves are in Armenia for a 5pm kick off in the first leg. What a time to be alive.

[SincereTheRebel]

vs Armenia. Kick-off is at 5pm in the first leg.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBdGTF5WkAAGAqp.jpg:large

[SincereTheRebel]

4-0 easy work

[mugbull]

Good on you guys for pummeling a nation that was genocided, I guess

[SincereTheRebel]

and

[Baz]

Who’s likely to get more time, Batshuayi or Abraham?

[phonics]

Adama Traore wasn’t playing because he didn’t know he needed a passport to go to Armenia :cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who’s likely to get more time, Batshuayi or Abraham?

Abraham I reckon, at least until he goes 0 in the first 13.

[Ian]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/aug/08/trying-to-destroy-careers-ravel-morrison-defends-berahino-from-johnson-criticism

"‘Trying to destroy careers’: Ravel Morrison defends Berahino from Johnson criticism"

That's quite a collection of names for the one headline.

[mo]

2 weeks for Bury to save themselves. Genuinely think they could fold, and may well be the first of more to come and the financial disparity in football grows.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know they are more United side of the city, but if I was Sheikh Makhtoum I would give them 10 million or whatever they need to bail out. Best PR ever.

[Baz]

2 weeks for Bury to save themselves. Genuinely think they could fold, and may well be the first of more to come and the financial disparity in football grows.
Will the league just carry on with 23 teams, or what?

[mo]

Will the league just carry on with 23 teams, or what?

Assume so as the season has started. Not sure how Bury’s fixtures will be accounted for (cancelled out/default 3pts for other side?) or what will happen to relegation/promotion, although I assume just 3 will be relegated from League 1 and the normal 4 will be promoted. Perhaps an extra promotion slot for a Conference side or one less team relegated from League 2.

[Pleb]

Everyone will more than likely get three points as an insurance policy.

[SincereTheRebel]

A few teams have dissolved in the greek league over the past few years and all their fixtures get a loss with 3-0.

[niko_cee]

Pretty good idea, presumably by some committed Arsenal fans, to harass Ozil and Kolasinac so they don't play.

[Spoonsky]

What’s Kolasinac done?

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49299414

[John Arne]

https://gyazo.com/78c265197d6c040827172f83e6d986b0.jpeg

[Trancemeister]

Starting XI

Liverpool Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Salah, Origi, Firmino

Norwich Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Godfrey, Lewis, Trybull, McLean, Buendia, Stiepermann, Cantwell, Pukki.

[SincereTheRebel]

Pretty good idea, presumably by some committed Arsenal fans, to harass Ozil and Kolasinac so they don't play.

That could be a good thing. Ozil shows bo fight on or off the field.

[niko_cee]

Oh my god it's windy!

:uhoh:

[phonics]

What’s Kolasinac done?

After they merked off that gang last week or so it appears the gang have not taken kindly to it and have targeted them a couple more times. Presume that Arsenal are having trouble getting armed security for family members.

[Shindig]

You'd think being mates with Erdogan would've helped him out in that situation.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cracking finish by Hanley.

[John Arne]

Salah is such a ball greedy twat.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get fucked Delia.

[Trancemeister]

Liverpool won't keep many clean sheets playing like this in defence.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Both teams playing with just 2 at the back. Liverpool should get twelve if they're arsed, and Norwich should get three.

[Giggles]

Liverpool won't keep many clean sheets playing like this in defence.

They can afford to do what they like against Norwich City though.

[John Arne]

VAR not checking for keepers coming off their lines for pens is strange. You know as soon as a keeper saves one and the replay shows the keeper off his line, the manager and pundits will go absolutely mental. Can't wait.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Aarons is absolute shit.

[Giggles]

Tell me Allison's leg is in half.

[phonics]

Last 4 times Liverpool have scored 4 in the first half? Norwich, Arsenal, Arsenal, Norwich.

Aarons seems fine to me, he shouldn’t have to be defending against 6’2 players. It’s a systematic failure.

[Gray Fox]

Mignolet sits patiently behind Alisson all year and doesn't get a sniff. Adrian comes in and get on in his first day on the job.

Hopefully just a twisted knee or muscle pulled.

[John Arne]

This is a varce.

[randomlegend]

Aarons is absolute shit.

Bit harsh, he's playing his first game in the Premiership against the reigning Champions League winners.

[Gray Fox]

This is suicidal from Norwich.

[Giggles]

Shelbourne being Shelbourne :face:

https://i.imgur.com/9ddk1vN.jpg


.

[John]

I'd missed Drmic signing for Norwich. He looked like being brilliant for a while.

I wonder what marketing nonsense resulted in Sky adding little flags beside the player names on their chyrons.

[Gray Fox]

Not bad. 4-1 win whilst not really playing well can't be sniffed at.

Hopefully Alisson is only a few weeks away.

More concerning is how bad Alexander-Arnold looked tonight. Perhaps a lack of competition is a bad thing for him.

[SvN]

I thought your defence in general looked shite, just as it did against City last week.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't remember if he's normally really good or really bad at crossing (it's definitely one of those), but he was the latter in that game. And crossing is basically his only job vs bottom half sides (aside from running fast) so it's kind of important.

[Lewis]

He is a crap defender who would be FOUND OUT in pretty much any other team (or alongside any other centre-back); but his attacking is really good for Liverpool so whatever.

[niko_cee]

Norwich are going down hard if their takeaway from that game is that they showed character to not get done 8-0. The better sides will just lol their way past them, and the more limited teams will take the chances they're afforded without offering up the same in return. Maybe that would happen regardless, considering their limited resources, but having Martin Tyler wetting his pants that it could be 4-4 because you've had a couple of quarter chances isn't going to help.

Encouraging signs of a return to madness ball, fuck defensive solidity. Get Mané and a few more attacking midfielders in there.

[SincereTheRebel]

Norwich was down as soon as they were confirmed with promtoion.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My outlandish prediction in that thread really should have been we will see a double figure score in the PL. Defensive solidity as a strategy is so out of vogue, fans just hate it and will not allow it.

[-james-]

I think Norwich will be fine. They'll probably beat Steve Bruce's Newcastle next week. Bournemouth have never bothered with defending and they've been around ages now.

[Shindig]

We bothered with it last season. :(

[SvN]

I think Norwich didn't look too bad, actually. I think they've got a decent chance of staying up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they stay up they'll have done well. They got a bit fortunate last season I think, but they are intense as hell and their left back looks good.

[SvN]

I think you can say the same for most teams that get promoted. The first season is always a tough one, although you go occasionally get sides that get a weird first season bounce that puts them in a false position for a while that keeps them safe (Blackpool, Huddersfield, Ipswich in 2001).

There are 5 or 6 teams that could feasibly go down this season, including the 3 new teams.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Which year was it Hull were threatening the top four under Phil Brown? Madness.

(you're getting mauled by the tigers)

[Lewis]

Didn't they lose pretty much every game after November and stay up anyway? Heroic.

[SvN]

I was just looking at their Wiki page for that season. They beat Boro on 6th December then won 1 more game until the end of the season, which was in March against Fulham.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just checked, they were 6th at Christmas and then won once after that - an injury time Manucho winner at Fulham - but still stayed up by a point (this was the year when Alan Shearer's Newcastle lost x games in a row at the end, just pipping them to relegation).

In fact, they won twice after 25 October.

Blackpool did the same thing but I think managed to go down.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Joint first after 9 games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just checked, they were 6th at Christmas and then won once after that - an injury time Manucho winner at Fulham - but still stayed up by a point (this was the year when Alan Shearer's Newcastle lost x games in a row at the end, just pipping them to relegation).

In fact, they won twice after 25 October.

Blackpool did the same thing but I think managed to go down.

Knocking about in the Spanish third division now at '36' years old.

Edit: Wiki is wrong, he left them last month and has yet to find a new club.

[Lewis]

Bolton were top after seven games in 2001/02 and then fell to bits, but at least they managed forty points.

[phonics]

The problem for Norwich is they had everyone watching so it’s going to be impossible to rewrite the narrative as they won’t have anyone watching when they do. It’s like Fat Sam having a rep for doing Arsenal despite having a 4-26 record. It’s about winning the ones when the press have nothing better to do.

[Pen]

Which year was it Hull were threatening the top four under Phil Brown? Madness.

(you're getting mauled by the tigers)

Must have been the same year he went on bridges talking people out of jumping. What a hero he was.

[Mike]

Top of the league boys! #OurYear ;)

[Shindig]

I remember when LuaLua fired us to the top on day one.

[AyDee]

Saw Norwich in their last friendly last week and Jamal Lewis looked quality. Thought he looked alright last night too, although why he was told to mark Van Dijk at set pieces was a mystery.

Reckon he'll be Norwich's breakout player this year.

[Trancemeister]

Starting XI's


Watford : Foster, Femenia, Dawson, Cathcart, Holebas, Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Deulofeu, Gray, Deeney.

Brighton: Ryan, Duffy, Dunk, Burn, Montoya, Propper Stephens, March, Gross, Murray, Locadia.


Bournemouth : Ramsdale, Mepham, Cook, Ake, Smith, Lerma, Billing, Rico, King, Wilson, Fraser.

Sheffield United : Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, McGoldrick, Robinson.


Burnley : Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Wood, Barnes.

Southampton : Gunn, Valery, Stephens, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Bertrand, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Ings, Adams, Redmond.


Crystal Palace : Guaita, Ward, Kelly, Dann, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend, Meyer, Benteke, Ayew.

Everton : Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne, Gomes, Schneiderlin, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a bastard Aguero is.

Justified in missing it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck VAR.

The miss should have stood for taking away the chance for a hattrick.

[SvN]

I already hate VAR. It's been a total shitshow this game.

[Danny]

Top of the league boys! #OurYear ;)

Lasted a while

[John]

What the Dickens was Fabianski up to for that last goal? Sterling seems to have some Paul McKenna shit in his locker for those situations.

[randomlegend]

Was going to stick one of the games on but jesus, slim pickings.

[igor_balis]

Was going to stick one of the games on but jesus, slim pickings.

Got west brom on the radio like it's 2006 all over again, and I'm quite enjoying it. Streams have spoiled us.

[Giggles]

Just get there gaa on sky arena and forget the soccer for today. It's going to be war.

[-james-]

1-0 up and Potter makes a double change, brings on two strikers.

Andone scores with his first touch for 2-0.

:swing:

[niko_cee]

Looking forward to some feel-good-factor at The Amex next week.

[John]

Spurs' warm up gear looks like some Le Coq Sportif nonsense from the nineties.

[Trancemeister]

Tottenham : Lloris, Walker-Peters, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Ndombele, Lamela, Lucas, Kane.

Aston Villa : Heaton, Elmohamady, Engels, Mings, Taylor, Hourihane, McGinn, Grealish, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Wesley.

Eriksen on the bench :sherlock: a transfer perhaps

[phonics]

Milwall are awful. Sorry igor. Ya boys fucked it.

[Waffdon]

It’s mental Scotland are shite when they have the two best left backs in the world as well as the best box to box midfielder. Ryan Fraser can’t be far off top ten in the world either.

[Waffdon]

Milwall are awful. Sorry igor. Ya boys fucked it.


And me for £180. Seeek

[thommo]

Solid if unspectacular 2-0 win over Blackburn. Much more like it, still things to work on but nice to kick off the home games with a win.

Good to see both Cairney and Mitrovic get goals too. I’m also pleasantly surprised at how well Arter fit in after only joining in the week.

[SincereTheRebel]

There is a guy on the spurs bench called Oliver Skipp. Why is that funny? :D

[Boydy]

1159921531180519424

[mugbull]

Harry Kane persisting in being horrible at finishing

[Waffdon]

It’s August, he’s always a mong when the sun is out.

[phonics]

Fuck off Kane :moop:

[Waffdon]

It’s August, he’s always a mong when the sun is out.

Must be raining

[Boydy]

1160099494794530816

:D

Lol

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lol at Lineker calling them Sheffield Wednesday.

[SincereTheRebel]

My prediction is Martial will have a scorching season

[SincereTheRebel]

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Ndidi, Perez, Tielemans, Choudhury, Maddison, Vardy.

Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Albrighton, Ward, Iheanacho, Barnes, Praet.


Wolves: Rui Patricio, Coady, Bennett, Boly, Doherty, Dendoncker, Joao Moutinho, Neves, Jonny, Jota, Jimenez.

Substitutes: Pedro Neto, Cutrone, Gibbs-White, Ruddy, Saiss, Ruben Vinagre, Traore.

[Giggles]

The battle for 3rd begins.

[randomlegend]

Bringing in Alexis and sacrificing Martial for him has to be one of the most disastrous footballing decisions in recent memory.

[Trancemeister]

Newcastle: Dubravka, Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Longstaff, Shelley, Almiron, Joelinton

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock, Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Aubameyang

[Shindig]

Probably the strongest side we could field.

[Disco]

Have Arsenal had a plane crash or is that really the best they can come up with?

[randomlegend]

They've got Pepe to come in at least.

[Lewis]

Bringing in Alexis and sacrificing Martial for him has to be one of the most disastrous footballing decisions in recent memory.

If it's Mata or Young on the right today I'm writing the entire club calendar off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rashford up top with Greenwood just behind with James and Martial on the wings.

[Lewis]

de Gea

Shaw
Jones
Smalling
Young

Gibson
Anderson
Fellaini

Rashford
Lukaku
Mata

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We'd piss the league.

[Serj]

Mkhitaryan is having a terrible start. Has given the ball away to an opposition player three times already.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cracking attempt there too.

[Lewis]

We'd piss the league.

Ferguson would get third, and then challenge by replacing Mata with Welbeck.

[The Merse]

Have Arsenal had a plane crash or is that really the best they can come up with?

Bellerin, Tierney and Holding all still in recovery. Ceballos and Lacazette on the bench after small knocks, and Pepe and Luiz needing match fitness, neither having played a pre-season game. Ozil involved in another security incident at his place on Thursday - he and Kolasinac excused (not a bad thing)

Nelson and Willock will both get a lot of time this year providing they don’t turn shite. The former takes Iwobi’s place and the latter is seen as similar to Ramsey.

Quite exciting having 3 academy kids lads on the field.

[Waffdon]

Shame they’re all fucking shite

[Lewis]

If they were any good you would know them by their first names.

[Gray Fox]

Wolves had a goal disallowed because of a ball-to-hand situation in the build up.

Apparently now all goals that involve any kind of handball in the build up will be disallowed. Whether accidental or not.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Saint-Maximim :cool:

Just look at that hair.

[Shindig]

Wolves had a goal disallowed because of a ball-to-hand situation in the build up.

Apparently now all goals that involve any kind of handball in the build up will be disallowed. Whether accidental or not.

Probably my favourite new rule.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

De Gea; Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba, 'Andreas'; Lingard, Rashford, Martial.

Would have liked Greenwood and James in there but at least Sanchez, Mata and Matic aren't in the 11.

[Trancemeister]

Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, Pogba, Pereira, McTominay, Martial, Rashford, Lingard

Chelsea Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson, Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount, Barkley, Pedro, Abraham.

[Giggles]

Who's Mount?

[Trancemeister]

Home grown player that's been on loan for years. Been at Derby & Vitesse from what I can remember.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mason Mount, been at Chelsea for a while and loaned out a lot including to Lampard's Derby last season.

[Giggles]

What the fuck is this shit?

1160532819120140288

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

[Giggles]

Home grown player that's been on loan for years. Been at Derby & Vitesse from what I can remember.

Has he got Kantes place?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kante is injured right now I believe.

[Giggles]

Kante is injured right now I believe.

He's on the bench on the sheet I seen.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not fit enough to start though.

[phonics]

Aubameyang, my word. We barely created a thing today and the one chance he gets he knocks it in like it’s second nature.

[phonics]

1160560104883859457

[mugbull]

How the mighty have fallen :drool:

[Giggles]

Sooner the better it's back to normal and they're top again.

[Pleb]

Already this is a gongshow.

[bruhnaldo]

We're still shit. Not sure why I'm surprised.

[Lewis]

Big Fat Luke Shaw looks unfit, and Andreas Pereira is a nothing midfielder.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea will be comedy with their defence this year. Rudiger will have to put a shift in this season

[Bernanke]

What a challenge. :D

[Pleb]

You were saying?

[Waffdon]

This will be 3/4 for Man Utd just on the break alone.

[randomlegend]

Rashford is incredible at penalties.

[Pleb]

Both sides need an extra training session for finishing at this rate.

[Lewis]

Wan-Bissaka is one of them cheat players like Kante.

[bruhnaldo]

If we can see out 3 points I'll be very thankful we got Chelsea now where they look utterly disorganized and confused.

[Lewis]

Chelsea look good beyond the defending. United look like that 2011 season start where Anderson and Tom Cleverley were allowing twenty shots a game but the defence covered it up.

[Trancemeister]

Is it me or does Barkley look like an arrogant cunt.

[randomlegend]

Wan-Bissaka is one of them cheat players like Kante.

His slide tackling is actually unbelievable. Even when he goes in from behind (oi oi) he always gets the ball and never gives a foul away.

[Waffdon]

Is it me or does Barkley look like an arrogant cunt.

Typical Scouse chav.

[SincereTheRebel]

His slide tackling is actually unbelievable. Even when he goes in from behind (oi oi) he always gets the ball and never gives a foul away.

It is ridiculous. Ive counted at least 3 already

[Lewis]

Martial is keeping 'Alexis' relevant with this shitter.

[Ian]

I'm giving Lewis the assist there.

[Waffdon]

Abraham and Giroud as your first choice strikers won’t be much fun.

[randomlegend]

That's probably the best cross Old Trafford has seen from a home player in about 3 years.

[Danny]

Does Beckham count when they played the 99 reunion? :rosebud:

[randomlegend]

Chelolsea

[Waffdon]

This will be 3/4 for Man Utd just on the break alone.

Should have put money on the handicaps.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Stay 3-0 and I win 145 from a fiver.

[Lewis]

Can we add 'Frank Lampard's Chelsea' to the TTH Style Guide? I haven't heard anything like it since 'Harry Redknapp's Tottenham', which can't be a coincidence.

[Giggles]

Should have put money on the handicaps.

Harsh. Why would he back Chelsea though?

[John]

Defoe got a hat trick today from a combined distance of about three quarters of an inch. He looked seriously sharp, although if his finishing from ten to eighteen yards had been better he could have had nine.

For his own sake Joe Aribo needs to spend a maximum of two years up here then go to the Premier League. He mugs people off far too casually, and there are far too many little shithouse players who make more money off their second job as a brickie's mate who'll get sick of it and put him up in the air. Unless he's made of granite he'll spend at least a month of this season injured.

Chelsea look a right laugh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh well, lol at Lampard.