Official English Premier League Thread

[Gaffer 0]

I thought Ronaldos mother handled herself very well

I would like to handle his gf

[mrpaddyx 13]

Who knows what will happen come the opening day of the season, apparently Fergie met him on Monday and said there's no way he's going.. but jeez, Ronaldo's proved himself to be a bit of a shit tbh, so I'm not sure. We're bigger than one player and Fergie's triumphed after getting rid of Ince/Hughes/Kanchelskis (season when Hansen said we can't win anything with kids, lol)... Cantona, Schmeichel, Stam, Beckham, and other great players have come and gone. So maybe it's time to thank him for everything he's done, remember the good times and move on.If you guys can get the £68 to £80 Mil thats being talking about It might be worth considering cashing in. There is no point having a player there that doesn't want to be there and the longer he is unhappy at the club the more his value will go down. Besides for that kind of money you could buy Stewart Downing, Berbatov and Arshavin and still have money left over.

[SlapStick 0]

Robbie Keane to Liverpool!Didnt see that one coming especially for 18m. Lots of interesting points from this.Wonder how the spurs fans will feel about him, but he spent 6 seasons there.He went to Liverpool basically because hes supported them all his life(and the small matter of 80,000 pound a week)Being Irish I'm happy as I like to see our players get extra attention etc so I'll be following his form and really hope he can have a great partnership with Torres and Gerrard.

[LJB723 0]

Robbie Keane's is a good move both for him and Liverpool. He will do well and they have a good strike partner for Torres now. If only they had good wingers...What's the deal with Spurs? Are they trying to buy everyone in Europe? Reports are suggesting Arshavin is a done deal. Pavyluchenko is also being strongly linked. After Gomes, Giovani and Modric I would have thought their transfer kitty would be dwindling. Apparently not. Does this mean Berbatov is going?

[aaronj 0]

this will just be another typical season for spurs, buy some new names and cross your fingers in hopes they perform..i dont see them cracking the top 4 and after giving up a 20 goal a season player they will need the others to step up although d bent is killing it i hope he can stay healthy..as for berbatov i hope he becomes a red devil

[DinkDonk 1]

Liverpool looked good today. The roster looks nice for this season.

[SlapStick 0]

Manchesters first game is against Newcastle.

[DinkDonk 1]

Manchesters first game is against Newcastle.

I have only recently began following the English Premier League (and football in general), so please inform me as to why this makes you sad.

[SlapStick 0]

I have only recently began following the English Premier League (and football in general), so please inform me as to why this makes you sad.

You're not missing anything, just me on a personal level. I'm a Newcastle fan and they put 11/12 or goals past us in two matches last season.Not a good way to start our season.

[LJB723 0]

Bets I'm considering for this season:7/2: Fernando Torres top goalscorer.5/1: Kevin Keegan to be first manager fired.5000/1: Hull to win the league (value).9/4: Wayne Rooney to become a father. All odds from Paddypower.

[SlapStick 0]

9/4: Wayne Rooney to become a father. All odds from Paddypower.

lol I love PaddyPower

[LJB723 0]

lol I love PaddyPower

Another one they have may interest you. Newcastle are 12/1 to finish 5th.

[SlapStick 0]

Another one they have may interest you. Newcastle are 12/1 to finish 5th.

I'd probably need better odds. Not optimistic at all really.At paddypower you can also bet on Carly Smithson(sp) from America Idol to win the Euro Vision

[James D 0]

5000/1: Hull to win the league (value).

Sorry, where's the value?

[LJB723 0]

Sorry, where's the value?

Hell, £1 to win £5000 and find out if God has a sense of humour? Valuetown lol. I lose £1 down the back of sofas all the time. When I find it again imagine it had another £5K attached to it.

[James D 0]

Hell, £1 to win £5000 and find out if God has a sense of humour? Valuetown lol. I lose £1 down the back of sofas all the time. When I find it again imagine it had another £5K attached to it.

Lol.. I think I'd need about 100,000-1 to find the value in that... it's Hull!Anyway, I'm getting exited about the start of the season for the first time since the end of last. I think the Ronaldo saga drained my interest somehow, for a while. I think we could see almost a repeat of last season for Man Utd though, with a slow start. However, will Chelsea slip up enough this year to let us back into it? I think not, tbh.Following the fortunes of Man City will also be interesting this year. I like your Keegan bet, but another to consider would surely be Hughes. The Thai owner (I won't attempt to spell his name), seems a little hot headed and spontaneous at times, and also has a warrant out for his arrest. Something else I'm going to be keeping an eye on this year, outside Prem, is QPR... Wonder what's gonna happen there, with Briatore and Ecclestone in charge? Could be interesting. With the money and contacts they have, something huge COULD happen you never know. Also, Lakshmi Mittal (4th richest guy in the world) bought 20% of the club at the start of this year.Top 6 predictions for this season:1 - Chelsea2 - Arsenal3 - Man Utd4 - Liverpool5 - Aston Villa6 - Portsmouth

[LJB723 0]

Wow James. No blind loyalty to Man U. I'm impressed.QPR are 6/1 with PP to win the Championship. I think they'll do it, even if not I can't see them not being promoted this year.Man City's owner apparently missed his court hearing. He might find it hard to sack anyone while on the run lol. Might just save Hughes' job. Ince could be a shout too, I heard rumblings that he isn't the easiest guy to work under and the Blackburn players aren't too happy with him.Also, I saw you have Chelsea for the league. They are at evens to win nothing this year...

[NoJazz 0]

Manchester United squad is more stronger than last year...but Chelsea and Lpool are stronger also....Tottenham also has really impressing names but I guess that their defence is really crappy..My prediction:ManUtdChelseaLiverpoolTottenhamArsenalMan city/Portsmouth

[Gaffer 0]

Mark Hughes may quit in the next week or two cause that owner has no money

[BigDMcGee 3,352]

Wow James. No blind loyalty to Man U. I'm impressed.

But he keeps his blind liverpool hate intact.

[DinkDonk 1]

But he keeps his blind liverpool hate intact.

I noticed this as well. I think Liverpool has a real shot to win the league this year. And I would make a completely uninformed bet at even money that they finish top 2.

[LJB723 0]

I noticed this as well. I think Liverpool has a real shot to win the league this year. And I would make a completely uninformed bet at even money that they finish top 2.

You obviously didn't watch last nights CL qualifier. Liverpool were bad, and lucky to get out of Liege with a draw. Still sure they'll qualify but until they purchase two decent wingers and another good defender they will not be Premiership challengers.Side note: Signing Gareth Barry for £18m is not a good thing. He will be Liverpool's 4th best central midfielder, yet most expensive, irony...

[rinswun 6]

QPR are 6/1 with PP to win the Championship. I think they'll do it, even if not I can't see them not being promoted this year.

the thing with QPR is that they have all this money but the players they have brought in are average at best, lots of serie B and C players - plus Dowie is a decidedly dodgy manager living off the back of a good season with Palace a few years back. I could see them making the playoffs but there are some much stronger squads in the Championship, imo Birmingham will walk it.As far as the Prem is concerned (i'm a gooner), i dont think you can look past United especially if Berbatov comes in. They havent lost anyone - discounting Ronaldo for 2 months which is a huge loss in that time span - and have the best defence in the prem by a street. If they are less than 5 points off top by the time Ronaldo comes back then they'll end up champs i believe. In spite of last nights performance, i like Liverpool to finish above Chelsea - possibly on goal difference. They have the firepower upfront to rival any team and once Torres and Keane find a spark they should fire them above the blues. Chelsea just dont excite me at all, even with the new manager. That said, they have the experience to see them above Arsenal who are one/two more years away and one CB and CM from mounting a serious title challenge again.Villa will finish 5th i think, Tottenham in 6th. Villa will likely lose Barry but have brought in a couple more experienced full backs in Shorey and Young which were underrated deals, and their youngsters like Agbohlahor and Ashley Young will have improved under the tutilege of Martin O'Neill. They could also be a decent outside shout for the UEFA cup. Tottenham have lost their talisman in Keane and will likely lose Berbatov in the coming weeks, Modric was a good addition but not enough to make up for those two. Plus Ramos had an almost identical winning percentage in comparision to Jol so i really dont see much extra improvement this term.Everton in 7th, Pompey in 8th, West Ham 9th, Newcastle in 10th to round out my top ten.

[James D 0]

You obviously didn't watch last nights CL qualifier. Liverpool were bad, and lucky to get out of Liege with a draw.

Results in CL qualifiers certainly don't define how your team will fare during the season. United have ground out results before at this stage... players just returning, refocusing on football etc. And look at the start to our season last year, bad run of results, but still ended up double winners.That said, I don't think they're ready yet, and will be bottom of the big 4.

Arsenal who are one/two more years away and one CB and CM from mounting a serious title challenge again.

Another Arsenal fan writing off his team. I really find this surprising... They've progressed immensely during the last 2 seasons, and remember, they finished only 4 points behind us last year. Even though they were unlucky to have Van Persie, Eduardo and Rosiky all out at the same time. We only managed to knock them off top spot, basically when this happened. This season, Fabregas will be back soon (your opening 4-5 fixtures are very favourable too, so you shouldn't miss players so much), along with Eduardo in late September, and probably Rosiky too. Walcott will be included more this season too.. he's growing into an elite Premiership striker more and more each month. Your defense is also still very strong, even though most Arsenal fans seem to be over critical of it - esp Senderos - and if Arsenal can avoid some of the bad luck they had last season, then you are very much genuine contenders.I'm not going to, but they're a tempting bet @ 6-1. There's also 2 weeks left until the transfer window closes, so still time to add a little strength in depth if Wenger sees fit.

[rinswun 6]

Results in CL qualifiers certainly don't define how your team will fare during the season. United have ground out results before at this stage... players just returning, refocusing on football etc. And look at the start to our season last year, bad run of results, but still ended up double winners.That said, I don't think they're ready yet, and will be bottom of the big 4.Another Arsenal fan writing off his team. I really find this surprising... They've progressed immensely during the last 2 seasons, and remember, they finished only 4 points behind us last year. Even though they were unlucky to have Van Persie, Eduardo and Rosiky all out at the same time. We only managed to knock them off top spot, basically when this happened. This season, Fabregas will be back soon (your opening 4-5 fixtures are very favourable too, so you shouldn't miss players so much), along with Eduardo in late September, and probably Rosiky too. Walcott will be included more this season too.. he's growing into an elite Premiership striker more and more each month. Your defense is also still very strong, even though most Arsenal fans seem to be over critical of it - esp Senderos - and if Arsenal can avoid some of the bad luck they had last season, then you are very much genuine contenders.I'm not going to, but they're a tempting bet @ 6-1. There's also 2 weeks left until the transfer window closes, so still time to add a little strength in depth if Wenger sees fit.

i agree with all that you've said right there but you kinda of made my point for me when you mentioned the injuries that we had when you overtook us last year. we have a fantastic first team, and can compete with every team in europe - case in point was leading united and chelsea with 20 mins left of both games at the end of last season. however we dont have the strength in depth that united, chelsea and even liverpool have. we have players who will progress to give us that depth but right now denilson, ramsey, bendtner and vela arnt the same impact subs that anderson, carrick, saha and giggs are. there is a reason that we lost both those games despite leading both with 20 minutes left and its that experience and depth.having said that, i have faith and always will that arsene will find the right players to fill the few holes there are and i am certain we will be proper contenders in a year or two max. 6/1 is probably a decent price and if we can get and stay healthy plus get some luck then we definitely have a chance to win this year.