Proper Football season 2014-2015 thread

[The Captain]

So glad the Moreno signing went through. Now if we can just add a quality striker I think we can match up with anyone this year. Yet, somehow, Liverpool are being undervalued again. I've even seen some places predict them finishing as low as 7th!! I really don't see us placing lower than 3rd.

Arsenal need to sign a strong DM and United REALLY need to address their defense if they want to stay or rejoin the Top 4. Otherwise I could possibly see Everton sneaking in, I think Martinez is an excellent manager.

League predictions to come Friday!

Take care all.

[Psychotic]

I cannot see Everton finishing ahead of United or Arsenal. Indeed, if anyone outside of last year's Top 4 will do it, my money would be on Spurs though I can't say I expect that to happen.

As far as Liverpool goes, yeah, it's funny. United have only added Herrera and Shaw but I'd say Liverpool got the better players in both Lallana and Moreno in the Great Southampton/Spain Left Back/CM Buying of 2014. Liverpool have lost Suarez but even without his goals Liverpool still would've scored more than, say, Arsenal. Would predict a 3rd-5th place finish. Maybe 2nd or 6th if we have a great/awful season. Yeah look at me with my precise and accurate predicting skills, really sticking my neck out on this one.

[The Captain]

I cannot see Everton finishing ahead of United or Arsenal. Indeed, if anyone outside of last year's Top 4 will do it, my money would be on Spurs though I can't say I expect that to happen.

As far as Liverpool goes, yeah, it's funny. United have only added Herrera and Shaw but I'd say Liverpool got the better players in both Lallana and Moreno in the Great Southampton/Spain Left Back/CM Buying of 2014. Liverpool have lost Suarez but even without his goals Liverpool still would've scored more than, say, Arsenal. Would predict a 3rd-5th place finish. Maybe 2nd or 6th if we have a great/awful season. Yeah look at me with my precise and accurate predicting skills, really sticking my neck out on this one.

With Shaw also being out for around a month, United HAVE to go out and buy now. I like Everton because they are a mostly sorted team that has been together a while and won't take as much time to gel. They have excellent defenders and THE BEST GOALIE IN THE WORLD (USA, USA, USA!). Man Utd have a really easy schedule early so they could string along a good opening few weeks but I just don't think their team is quite strong enough yet and Arsenal relying on Arteta to be the defensive shield is just asking for trouble.

Take care all.

[Psychotic]

I dunno. I'd take De Gea over Howard and while Everton aren't bad, I can only see them in a battle with Newcastle and maybe perhaps possibly Stoke for 7th. Arsenal's defence may only be screened by Arteta, but Koscielny - Mertesacker is the best PL defence partnership bar none. I'm hopeful our own Lovren-Sakho axis will challenge it and Kompany-Mangala could be good too.

At the other end of the table, I can see the West Midlands providing at least one of the relegated team slots with WBA and Aston Villa both looking poor. Burnley are also candidates, and perhaps poor old Leicester. I also reckon Swansea will be embroiled in a relegation battle because they are a poo team comprised entirely of poo. If they sell Bony, Leicester will finish above them. QUOTE ME IN THE END OF THE YEAR POST.

[Bubba]

Koscielny - Mertesacker is the best PL defence partnership bar none. I'm hopeful our own Lovren-Sakho axis will challenge it and Kompany-Mangala could be good too.

You are forgetting the majesty of the Jones-Evans-Smalling partnership/triforce of terror. A trio so formidable they will cause nightmares...

...mainly for Utd fans.

[Old Manus]

In less palatable news, looks like Ched Evans is on his way back to Sheffield United.

(SPOILER)He's not even that good

[Rocket Edge]

United have only added Herrera and Shaw but I'd say Liverpool got the better players in both Lallana and Moreno in the Great Southampton/Spain Left Back/CM Buying of 2014.

Your forgetting one thing. Your forgetting our greatest transfer. A wonderful man who made Fellani score a goal within 15 minutes of pre season having went an entire season to not score under Sir David.

EMP_MOYES_SACKED_24-471781.jpg

[Psychotic]

Just got published in the Mailbox for my favourite football site

Focus On The Other Four...
I think it's considered a given that Chelsea and Manchester City are the favourites for the title, and considered sure bets for the top four. Two places remain to be filled, and I think it's fascinating that there are four strong contenders for them with so many changes and unknown factors.

Spurs will surprise many people. Last season was curiously deemed a failure and indeed 'doing a Spurs' has entered the football lexicon. It is worth noting that their points haul was just three less than the previous season's - their record total - and this was while they were managed by an honest-to-god clown. They've invested sensibly over the Summer, although their strikeforce of Soldado, Adebayor and Harry Kane leaves me to raise an eyebrow that they haven't brought anyone else in, although rumours of Loic Remy would fit comfortably. Pochettino is no mug, and Spurs do have a solid core of players that should now have bedded in. They could be dark horses.

Arsenal are very curious. They certainly have the best centre-back pairing in the league in Mertescielny, but back-up is seemingly non-existent which is surely a concern. While their full-backs are all solid, none of them strike me as among the league's finest either. Szczæsny is also far from convincing, and the signing of Ospina made sense until Wenger announced his Pole would retain the number one jersey. Much has been made of the blockbuster signing of Alexis Sanchez but I suspect of far greater importance to the team will be the returning Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey. If they manage to keep their players fit, if, Arsenal may not burn out in February this year.

One final note, although Olivier Giroud is a decent striker and would certainly improve many other teams, as F365 noted last season he should be an option rather than the option, and Wenger's failure to provide back-up or competition is astounding.

I have a feeling that Manchester United will storm out of the blocks. An impressive pre-season, the feelgood factor of Van Gaal, a generous fixture list and the benefit of being an unknown quantity will all play into their hands and the press will be going wild for Louis, declaring him the saviour of United. I do think they might run out of steam at some point though. I suspect the much-vaunted 3-5-2 may not be used in every game, with United returning to type at some point.

Regardless of the formation, there are still gaps in the United team to fill, specifically on the wings. While Ander Herrera might not be the saviour many Manchester United fans hope him to be, I do tip the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini to perform above expectations and regain some of his previous form - if he stays.

The biggest story surrounding Liverpool is the loss of Suarez - how will they replace him? The internet's general response seems to be that they have replaced him with Rickie Lambert, ho ho ho. Not so.

Last season it seemed that Brendan Rodgers' preferred attacking trio consisted of Suarez, Sturridge, and one of Sterling or Coutinho. Now it is simply a matter of Sterling AND Coutinho and the hugely talented pair have improved drastically, but the jury remains out as to whether either could manage a 45+ game season. The signing of Dejan Lovren is a very shrewd and underrated one, adding organisation to a back line that often acted like headless chicken last year. Indeed, a Lovkho pairing could have the potential to challenge even Mertescielny's supremacy. Lastly, Steven Gerrard is absolutely deadly in deadball situations but at what point is that benefit outweighed by the cost of having his aging legs being the ones to screen the back four?
Krakow (Gerry Francis eating muesli from your wife) Pauw

http://www.football365.com/mailbox/9421384/Mailbox

I actually originally began typing it for this very thread but then decided you guys cba to read it xD

[Bubba]

Very well written, Psy. Some good points raised.

EDIT: It looks like the ban for Suarez is going to stand but he'll be allowed to train. To be honest, the more I think about it, the more it probably is a little harsh banning him from club competition as well.

Then I remembered that Suarez is a and I don't care.

[Loony BoB]

So far Shaw hasn't looked anything special for United but I do have to say that Harrera has been one of the standout performers of our preseason so far, and while I don't expect him to be the next Scholes or even the next Keane, I do expect him to be very good for us all the same. Better than our other midfielders at the moment, perhaps excepting Fletcher.

I feel we need a CB. That's all, right now at least. I wouldn't mind a new winger/CM/wingback but I'm not currently of the opinion our season will live and die on such things - although what position counts as a "death" I'm unsure on. I'm in agreement with Bubba that I don't want too many new faces in one season because it could take some time for the players to gel. But them's the breaks. It'll potentially be a very busy final two weeks of the season. Looks like Rojo is our main bet for CB, since the Beeb are reporting on him requesting a transfer.

No idea how the season will turn out. It's great for the league! Hopefully it'll turn out great for us, too.

Also, Smalling and Evans are given far less credit than they deserve. Their record as a partnership last season was excellent, as good as any in the teams above us. The real problem was Jones, who for all the "natural leadership" qualities people say he has... has yet to really show that he can dictate a defence line better than David Luiz.

[Psychotic]

I'd like to add Crystal Palace aka Crazy smurfing Town to my list of relegation candidates.

[Old Manus]

I was actually thinking of backing Palace to go down yesterday before deciding not to, mainly because Pulis seemed to be getting a good setup going there. Odds been slashed now. Malky Mckay, come on down!

[Loony BoB]

Right, are we doing this? Pretty sure Manus will allow this to come back and haunt me, but...

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Everton
7. Spurs
---
Relegated : Crystal Palace, Burnley, West Ham

[Bubba]

1) Chelsea
2) Man City
3) Liverpool
4) Arsenal
5) Man Utd
6) Everton
7) Spurs

FA Cup: Man Utd
League Cup: Rochdale
Champions League: Real Madrid (to become first club to retain it)

Relegated: Burnley, Crystal Palace & Leicester City (to finish bottom with single digit points total)

[Rocket Edge]

Chelsea
Man City
Man United
Arsenal
Liverpool
Spurs
Everton

Toss up between Man United, Arsenal Man City for 2nd. I expect United to be more like the team that won the title under Fergie in 12/13 than the Moyes fiasco. We will be solid under LVG. Arsenal could very well finish 2nd, but City are probably too strong. Liverpool could easily finish 2nd too, it's too close to call. Spurs to be much more solid under Pochettino.

Relegation odds are so difficult as managers keep getting fired. My guess:

West Brom, Burnley, Crystal Palace

CP has to have the most amazing stupid owners in world football.

FA Cup: Man United
Champions League: Athletico Madrid
League Cup: Spurs