http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14226198.stm Are City the premier contenders to challenge United?? Arsenal seem to be nearing a crisis and the small team in Fulham are going to adjust to a new manager.
Your top starting XI in world football? Mine: 4-3-3 GK- Casillas RB- Maicon CB- Vidic CB- Carvalho LB- Evra DM- Busquets CM- Xavi CM- Sneijder LW- Ronaldo ST- Villa RW- Messi Manager- Fergie
Depends on whether you are asking, the 11 best players, or the 11 players that would make up the best team. For the latter, mine would basically be the Barca/Spain starting 11 with a few exceptions. 4-3-3 Casillas Alves Puyol Pique Evra(one of the exceptions) Alonso Xavi Iniesta Villa Suarez(the other exception) Messi I added Suarez because I think he is a really good team player, who maintains possession well, works hard, and wouldn't disrupt the team chemistry. Same with Evra. I think adding some one like Ronaldo, who is a fantastic individual talent, but a selfish showboat, would disrupt the cohesion of the team more than he would help with his talent. I think Evra and Suarez would slide into the team well, they are among the best at their positions, but don't require the spotlight, so wouldn't disrupt the team. If I have to pick the most talented starting 11, which in my mind, would get beat consistently by the best team starting 11 in a match, it would be this. It shares many similarities, but different enough to disrupt chemistry and balance. 4-3-3 Casillas Alves Vidic Pique Lahm Alonso Iniesta Xavi Ronaldo Messi Robben(when healthy) I think that is the most talented team, but not the best team. I think Ronaldo and Robben are fantastic talents, but they are selfish showboats who would disrupt the 1 touch style of football the Barca/Spain team play.
I agree completely. I was putting together a starting XI just based on the quality of players. I was not advocating a particular style of football, but Ronaldo would struggle with the total football concept. I do agree that Robben would have a step over too many, but I believe he understands total football (he should he is Dutch!!). I understand selecting Iniesta, but I prefer Sneijder. I also believe Busquets is already the top holding player in the world. He is excellent at linking up with the attack and his challenges seem to be timed well every time I see him play. I nearly went for Coentrao at left back, but Evra was the proper choice. Coentrao will probably be the best left back in the world soon.
I think Iniesta is extraordinary. In fact, if I had to rank the best players in the world IMO, I would say 1. Messi 2. Xavi 3. Iniesta 4. Ronaldo 5. Robben I think what Xavi and Iniesta do is so underrated but simply incredible.
Frodly, what is your opinion of Klinsmann taking over as the American manager? It will be interesting to see how he approaches managing the US team and what tactics he will use to make the Americans a tough draw.
No action in this thread for a while, so time to change things a bit. Which clubs are likely to be relegated this year? I believe QPR will stay up, finishing 17th. 18. Norwich 19. Wigan 20. Swansea I really look forward to Swansea in the Premier League. They have fantastic support, and they should provide an atmosphere to matches. A proper atmosphere is difficult to find in the top flight anymore.
I honestly don't know enough about Norwich and Swansea to accurately predict their fortunes. However, I will do my best. I think it will be 2 years running, where only 1 of the recently promoted teams will go straight back down. 18. Stoke 19. Wolves 20. Norwich I also think Aston Villa may get pulled into the relegation battle, though I think they will ultimately survive. They have talent remaining, but even with Young and Downing, they still finished only 9th. I think this year they will finish between 13 and 15. As far as the top of the table, this could all change with some new transfers in. But as of right now, I think it will be this 1. United 2. Chelsea 3. City 4. Arsenal 5. Liverpool 6. Tottenham However, if Chelsea sign a top class creative midfielder to play behind Torres, I think they can win the league. Similarly, if Spurs sign a top class striker, I think they will finish 5th ahead of Liverpool. I also think the top 3 are going to be very close at the top, and will go down to the wire, and there will be a big gap between the top 3 and everyone else.
I want them to go down because I am sick of them being in the Premier League. Ewood Park is rather boring and the town itself is
If I were going to support the idea of 2 of the 3 new boys staying up, I would go with QPR and Norwich. QPR will likely make enough investment in their squad to stay up and Norwich were in the top flight not to long ago, which may give the club an advantage in a relegation battle over Swansea. The welsh boys have a squad that is every bit as poor on paper as Blackpool's squad was last year. Stoke and Wolves seem to have enough in their squads to stay up. Wigan just have to drop down. They are such a small club and the squad just is not that impressive. If I could craft the ideal Premier League (drop the little clubs for the bigger clubs) it would be: Drop: Bolton Blackburn Wigan Stoke Fulham QPR Swansea New clubs (bigger clubs) Leeds Forest Wednesday West Ham Ipswich Derby Sheffield United (Leicester just missing out) Having those clubs back up would make the Premier League stronger.
My predictions for the new season: Champions: Manchester United Runners-up: Chelsea Relegated: Norwich, Swansea and Wigan. F.A Cup: Manchester City League Cup: QPR (I wish! Yes i support the superhoops.)
I hope QPR stay up since they are a club with supporters who actually have passion for the game. I miss the days of QPR being above Chelsea
Yesterday's community shield was one of the best I remember in a while. Great football played by both sides. United are still a class above City and I see no one standing between them and their 20th title. Anyone with any thoughts on the first round of the Championship, or any other lower tier?? I was shocked to see Cardiff take 3 points. Southampton sure came away with a nice result against Leeds and Forest were shocking.
Great game with the community shield. Couldn't watch the whole game (as I dont have Setanta) but Nani looked good in the highlights I've managed to catch. It'll be a good season for us (Yeah, I'm a United fan) Cardiff will probably bottle it and bomb out in the playoffs, again. Leeds v Soton was a bit of a surprise.
United should win the league again because that squad is so deep in every position. I hope Tottenham can finish 4th.
The friendly against the Netherlands has been called off because of criminal scum. I was looking forward to watching Cleverly make his England debut.
im not a fan of most of Tottenham's forwards, but the team is still fun to watch.... i am however a fan of G. Bale
van der Vaart, Modric, and Bale are all great footballers and anyone who loves the game should enjoy watching these three players. Now Dos Santos and Pavlyuchenko are rubbish.
Some rather shocking results from Tuesday night's League Cup matches Barnet 1 Pompey nil Northampton 2 Ipswich 1 Bury 3 Coventry 1 Macclesfield 2 Hull City nil Shrewsbury 3 Derby 2 Morecambe 2 Barnsley nil
van der vaart is and bale are fantastic so is modric but when i think spurs i always think bale first.. Peter Crouch however is garbage...
