Gribz

Either WH get a 20 or 25 point head start or just the individual matches - cant remember what we said.

Well of course its if's and but's as we will never know how it would have turned out. They hit a bit of bad luck at the wrong time, had they not then they wouldnt have been caught IMO. Ive already got the west ham bet with you, but id consider cancelling it and swapping it with Arsenal.

Maybe, and its all ifs and buts but if Eduardo didnt get injured Id say Arsenal would have went onto win it. That knocked the stuffing out of arsenal and a dodgy penalty set them on a run of 4 silly draws. The Wigan pitch was unplayable and the battered Middlesboro but couldnt score. Only Villa deserved to get something off them in the run. They they went to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and were the better team but lost. Van Persie will be like a new signing for them this year and as soon as they get Rosicky back thats a boost. The goons will still finish above Liverpool

Agreed about Tevez. He looked different class at West Ham but then at Man Utd he hasnt looked near as much a stand out. I expect Nani to be an improved player this season. He is a bit like Ronaldo was to start with - showboating etc, but Sir Awex will sort that out in him aswell. I would still never write Arsene Wenger off, he is so clever. I backed them this time last year when they were expected to fall out of the top 4 but they were brilliant for 8 months of the season. If they get 1 or 2 more players in then they will be there or there abouts again.

Yeah I see Fabregas going to Barca one day aswell, but probably not this summer. Henry may talk him out of it!! Arsenal seem to be building something special but then it just falls apart. Wenger being slightly stubborn in the transfer market is what is holding them back from being invinceable again. They were easy the best team to watch again last year and bar a couple of silly results they would have won the league.

PS Even if Man Utd still get Berbatov I cant rule out Chelsea. I think Scolari could put a winning mentality in them that Jose had in 2005/06. They might be able to let Lampard go with Deco being a straight replacement. The worry they have is if they lose Drogba aswell. Thats near 40 goals less straight away without those 2. I still rate Anelka but he once again looked disinterested when he played last season.

If Berbatov goes to Man Utd then you have to worry about Spurs. They wont have any strikers bar Darren Bent. They should have treated Defoe better. But Kanoute may go back there.

I think Riise will be a bit of a miss. He can prop up with quite a few goals for a full back. I always liked him in midfield aswell. Still cant see them being good enough to overhaul Man Utd or Chelsea over a season but if they are more consistant against other teams then they have slight chance. But cracking signing for them. Keane is much better than Crouch and Kuyt. Those 2 werent good enough for Torres.

Could this pave way for the Shittu move to be back on? Bit is a bizarre signing by Watford TBH.

Robbie Keane passes medical at Anfield That will be a superb signing for Liverpool. Keane could play for any team in the league IMO, he will guarentee you goals and is a class act on and off the pitch. Benitaz has done well to raise 20 million with those sales, but he is still short of at least 2 world class players IMO. But Gerrard, Keane and Torres are certainly a scary prospect. Plus they still have Alonso and Mascherano. If babel comes on a bit then id say they just need a defender. And Andy Johnson going to Fulham. Bit of a surprising move but good for Fulham. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/7520955.stm

I dont think JCD should play either. It could be 2 from Miller, Velicka and Cousin but wouldnt surprise me if its just 1 from that 3.

It could be all about match fitness but do we really need a glamourous tie like Liverpool to do this in between the Kaunas games. I think it would have been better played last weekend rather than before our trip for a 2nd leg.

I suppose we will find out on Wednesday, I think Walter will go with a safer option of 4-5-1 with Dailly/Whittaker, McCulloch, Hemdani, Thomson and Adam all possibly starting

Just been looking at our fixtures and see we have the Liverpool friendly this Saturday which lands in between the CL double header. Im not quite sure why we have scheduled for this friendly, surely qualifying for the CL has to be the main aim and having an extra game between the qualifier could be a mistake if any player were to pick up injuries. It may give players an extra 90 mins under there belt but id still not rather risk anyone.

Imagine they crawl up the leagues and eventually played Man utd!

Does anyone think WS doesnt actually know what starting XI he would like? I think he doesnt know what formation to use either which throws his decision. I think He knows his back 4 plus keeper but thats it. Im worried he is going to use Whittaker as a midfielder next season which baffles me. If you take our current personnel then 4-3-3 is the best choice for me. I dont know enough about Lafferty yet to comment but im hoping the 3.5 million price tag lives up to expectation. But at the moment id look at something like this when Ferguson is fit: ________________________McGregor_______________________ _Whittaker__________Cuellar________Weir_____________Papac_ ___________Ferguson______Hemdani_______Thomson__________ _______Novo______________Velicka______________Beasley_____ I like Cousin as a player but obviously his attitude is wrong, but if that was sorted then he would be accomodated in the team for sure. Cousin and Velicka would be a great pairing. However you know Miller, McCulloch and Adam will feature at the moment. I liked McCulloch before but since the turn of the year he has been so sluggish. Miller is a good worker and I like him but I think Velicka and Cousin are by far better. Adam....almost no comment! He is nowhere near good or consistant enough.

BTW i wonder what the odds would be on the league finishing in that order

There hasnt been massive activity in the transfer market here but this season seems its going to be as open as it ever has been. It will be interesting to see how Scolari does at Chelsea. He has a winning mentality about him. Portsmouth have smade some good signings and they are first up at Stamford Bridge. I think Ballack will be player of the season, and with Deco, Joe Cole, Essien and possibly Lampard they will be too good. Arsenal need 1 more signing and they could be unplayable at times but you have to wonder if they can last the pace. Man Utd are full of winners and will be favourties. There wont be much between them and Chelsea again. Liverpool need to make a challenge but I cant see them being strong enough. They have Torres who is awesome but they cant expect him to do it all. Gerrard is still there best player but only he and Torres would get into the Man Utd team - thats not enough good players to make a challenge. The rest are a lottery. Spurs were expected to come on leaps and bounds with Ramos but they could lose Berbatov and keane which would be a nightmare for them. Villa and Everton will be consistant again while Newcastle and Man City will have high expectations. I wonder how Paul Ince will do at Blackburn. He has signed Paul Robinson for 3.5 million which is a steal considering Scott Carson went to West Brom for 4 million. Obviously I want West Ham to do well but with the above teams being strong plus Portsmouth, I cant see them being in the top 8. They have the capablity of being there but are never consistant enough. I expect Stoke, Hull and West Brom to go straight back down. West Brom will have the best chance of staying up but the likes of Wigan, Sunderland. Bolton and Fulham are just a bit better. You just get a feeling Chelsea could be a hit or a miss and whether Scolari will stay all season. If Roman Abramovic buggars off they would go bust. But if all goes well Id say they will win the league. For me: Chelsea --------------- Man Utd Arsenal Liverpool -------------- Aston villa Tottenham Everton Newcastle Man City Portsmouth West Ham Blackburn Middlesboro Wigan Fulham Sunderland Bolton --------------- West Brom Stoke Hull

I really hope this isnt a sign of things to come this season - Whittaker and Adam in midfield!!! One good aspect is the bench there looks good!!

Have to say, pre season hasnt been too promising either, but its not the sort of thing that should be looked into too much, its all about when the season starts. If we broke the bank for Varynen, Lovenkrands, Davis and a centre half then id be more positive. But as it stands now i expect it to be unpretty all season even though if its effective. I think Walter will get us through but the football will be hard on the eye.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/7527242.stm 5-1 over Dundee Utd and 6-0 over Hibs.

Do you think we'll win the league this year lads?? One thing for sure is..its a must IMO!!!!

When you in Paris?? Im thinking of suprising the bird with a wee trip there next week. If not then Bali which is cheap

Thats some camping trip mate!! Enjoy ur trip home mate, home its bloody freezing for you!!

Where have you been hidding Craigy???? Not read much from you lately mate (not a bad thing :moon: )