Football 2010-2011

[The Nal]

Cesc back is massive, hes the glue the team need. Depends which Arsenal show up to be honest - the forward running passing Arsenal or the slightly timid get bullied off the park Arsenal.

[eFestivals]

Can see City hammering Arsenal, Arsenal seem to always struggle against the big clubs over the last couple of seasons, City will just out muscle them for the whole game.

Edit : If Arsenal do lose, I'd pretty much see that as the nail in their coffin as far as the league is concerned, I can't see them getting any points off Man U or the return game with Chelsea, so unless they go on some crazed unbeaten run between the games against them clubs - can see them just battling it out for 3rd. Know it's early days and all.

I agree that if they lose they very probably won't get near the title this year.

Am interested to see you say "can see them just battling it out for 3rd" tho. Presumably that battle would be with Utd, and not shitty or Chelsea?

[Badlands]

City haven't impressed me yet but are still in second. I watched them when they beat us (Newcastle) 2-1 and thought other than Johnson they weren't much cop.

[ampersand]

where is it? either way, i don't see man city losing. they seem to have something about them this year that they didn't last year.

[funkymp]

I agree that if they lose they very probably won't get near the title this year.

Am interested to see you say "can see them just battling it out for 3rd" tho. Presumably that battle would be with Utd, and not shitty or Chelsea?

[Steve P]

Can see City hammering Arsenal, Arsenal seem to always struggle against the big clubs over the last couple of seasons, City will just out muscle them for the whole game.

Edit : If Arsenal do lose, I'd pretty much see that as the nail in their coffin as far as the league is concerned, I can't see them getting any points off Man U or the return game with Chelsea, so unless they go on some crazed unbeaten run between the games against them clubs - can see them just battling it out for 3rd. Know it's early days and all.

[eFestivals]

City haven't impressed me yet but are still in second. I watched them when they beat us (Newcastle) 2-1 and thought other than Johnson they weren't much cop.

can't say I'm loving them either, but you're right about Johnson, and Silva was excellent last night - can see him becoming a major Prem player once he settles in. And of course Milner is still settling too, and they have Balotelli to come back (or start?).

I didn't see any of the game against Chelsea, but given the defeatist words from Mancini before that match I was surprised that they won it.

I can only see them getting stronger as the season goes on.

[eFestivals]

Chelsea, Man U, Shitty / Arsenal for 3rd and 4th.

Regardless of this whole Man U / Rooney fiasco, they'll still be our closest rivals, they've started the season like they always do and wont be surprised at all if they go on another crazy arse run around christmas - march time.

Blimey. It's one thing thinking Utd will get stronger as they normally do, but another thing entirely to think they'll do that without their best player. They were so dependant on him last season, I can't see where they'll make up his loss from within the squad - tho of course they might manage to buy someone in in January that'll make the difference (tho I'm struggling to think who they could get).

------

Have to laugh at the beeb's current top story - the man who has caused lots of players to break their contracts is saying that Rooney shouldn't.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9118192.stm

[ampersand]

Have to laugh at the beeb's current top story - the man who has caused lots of players to break their contracts is saying that Rooney shouldn't.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9118192.stm

[Badlands]

can't say I'm loving them either, but you're right about Johnson, and Silva was excellent last night - can see him becoming a major Prem player once he settles in. And of course Milner is still settling too, and they have Balotelli to come back (or start?).

I didn't see any of the game against Chelsea, but given the defeatist words from Mancini before that match I was surprised that they won it.

I can only see them getting stronger as the season goes on.

[ampersand]

on other matters, has anyone seen Mike Ashleys further attempts to endear himself with the locals of Newcastle. As well as trying to rename the ground Sports Direct@ St James Park he's now got a huge logo emblazoned on the roof of the Gallowgate end to entice those flying into Newcastle to shop at his discount tat store!! Looks absolutely awful!!

[eFestivals]

as sifi said, and you never responded to, how is he breaking his contract? all he's said is that he won't sign a new one.

Oh, I know (as far as anyone does, anyway) he's not said he'll break his contract. I think Rooney has gone at this the correct way, aside from the 'leaks' (which Rooney personally might have nothing to do with anyway).

I've said it a few times that if it was just about money he'd have signed the new contract without telling Utd his plan to leave - that's how he'd reap the most money, both out of Utd in pay, and because the transfer fee would be higher and he'd be getting a cut of it.

[ampersand]

Oh, I know (as far as anyone does, anyway) he's not said he'll break his contract. I think Rooney has gone at this the correct way, aside from the 'leaks' (which Rooney personally might have nothing to do with anyway).

I've said it a few times that if it was just about money he'd have signed the new contract without telling Utd his plan to leave - that's how he'd reap the most money, both out of Utd in pay, and because the transfer fee would be higher and he'd be getting a cut of it.

[ampersand]

he's signed a five year deal.

this smells of petrov signing at celtic and selling to villa to me. get the club some cash...

[Alcatraz]

Rooneys signed a five year contract with United

Not worth the paper its written on

Edited October 22, 2010 by Alcatraz

[The Nal]

Rooneys signed a five year contract with United

[funkymp]

What the f*** is going on

[eFestivals]

yeah the more i think about it, the more i'm seeing it from your side. just wish it'd bloody get resolved already. bored of seeing his face and hearing his name everywhere.

I'd love to know what's going thru Rooney's head.

While we all know that shitty have the money, what they don't need is yet another bleedin' striker. They haven't even started to use Balotelli yet, so I can't see how Rooney is thinking he'll get to play most games as he does at Utd (and while apparently badgering fergie to play the ones he does miss).

The only way I can think he fits into shitty's plans is if Tevez has made clear he's not staying past the end of the season - from his statements he doesn't appear to be the world's keenest player. Can pretty much ignore Adebayor being there I guess, as it seems likely he'll be shipped out next summer at latest.

Chelsea or Real seem to be more sensible options from Rooney's point of view, but neither appear mad keen to try and get him. He fits into Chelsea's needs the best of those two, but he's not really a player in the Chelsea style, and if he's after huge wages he probably won't get them there.

[the_hedge]

I always thought Rooney leaving was never a done deal. Never underestimate Fergie in persuading a player to stay!!!

[The Nal]

I'd love to know what's going thru Rooney's head.

While we all know that shitty have the money, what they don't need is yet another bleedin' striker. They haven't even started to use Balotelli yet, so I can't see how Rooney is thinking he'll get to play most games as he does at Utd (and while apparently badgering fergie to play the ones he does miss).

The only way I can think he fits into shitty's plans is if Tevez has made clear he's not staying past the end of the season - from his statements he doesn't appear to be the world's keenest player. Can pretty much ignore Adebayor being there I guess, as it seems likely he'll be shipped out next summer at latest.

Chelsea or Real seem to be more sensible options from Rooney's point of view, but neither appear mad keen to try and get him. He fits into Chelsea's needs the best of those two, but he's not really a player in the Chelsea style, and if he's after huge wages he probably won't get them there.

[eFestivals]

So, you can say the rest of the team is shit, and that fergie's a liar and it's all good.

Wonder how the fans will, take it.

It's surely an agreement to sell him at a certain point if he's still not happy.

[Badlands]

This post shows how insane and fast moving footie is. Before you started typing it he was gone, and now hes staying.

Im exhausted now. Im going to go into a dark room and bang my head of the wall.

[the_hedge]

So, you can say the rest of the team is shit, and that fergie's a liar and it's all good.

Wonder how the fans will, take it.

It's surely an agreement to sell him at a certain point if he's still not happy.

[ampersand]

It's surely an agreement to sell him at a certain point if he's still not happy.

[Snufflebutt]

he's signed a five year deal.

this smells of petrov signing at celtic and selling to villa to me. get the club some cash...