[Closed] A 2015/16 Football Thread

West Ham fan here, but have fallen out of love with the big money and big expense of the PL so have a season ticket at the Valley to see Charlton where I go with my 6 year old daughter and 85 year old grandad. Its more for the excuse to get together than the football, but the Under 11 season tickets being free helps.

West Ham, can't believe they got rid of Big Sam with such an important season ahead of the big move this year. Saw them play Charlton in pre season and they looked uninspired, strikers are all getting injured, 'distraction'of european football, it has all the ingredients of an awful season with the manager out by christmas. Fixtures have been kind though, with Leicester and Bournmouth to play early on so maybe points there will keep Bilic in a job for a while longer.

Charlton, They let a few go in the summer, but kept the important players. Signed a few that no one has ever heard of....as most do in that division. Keeper is out injured and it looks like the ridiculously error prone reserve keeper is going to be given a couple of months in goal rather than any sort of loan cover. In the pre season game against the hammers I thought they were brilliant, actually have a proper target man upfront to pair with one of the 2 4ft strikers we had last year. Fixtures have been very unkind, with an awful start to the season on paper at least, I'm looking forward to it. QPR on Saturday

Well it looks like there's only two of us! 😀

'ammers fan.

Europe we coulda done without.
Desperately seeking a striker.
Huge ask for the manager.

Leeds fan, actually have hopes of a potential push for promotion this year (if the manager isn't sacked five games in as Cellino is likely to do). It won't be easy and I don't expect to be champions but I do think the squad is looking good enough to be up there with a chance.

Arsenal fan here. Starting the season optimistic (again) hoping that by the time the 2016 Road Race Season starts in earnest - think Paris Nice - we'll still be fighting for silverwear.

As steve-g says, my 30 years of supporting the Arse is now confined to tv only. The cash in my pocket will be going to Burton Albion who will be comfortable in league 1. looking for a top half of the table finish.

Luton Town here. Season ticket holder through all the ups and downs of recent years... A number of decent signings over the summer so fingers crossed for a push on to League One.

Another Leeds fan here.

A weird summer - no huge influx of foreign rubbish from the Italian 3rd tier and with Adam Pearson coming in, everything seems to be a bit more planning for the longer term. We've signed some good, youngish british players whilst keeping all of the better players from the last few seasons.

Rosler seems to know what he's doing with with the cushion of Pearson between him and Cellino, should be left to just do his job.

For the first time since Grayson's days I'm feeling optimistic especially given that this time last year we had Dave Hockaday in charge!!

Preston north end for me, looking forward to being back in the championship this season. No real big signings this summer apart from a couple of payers we had on loan last year.
Happy with a mid table finish, as Simon Grayson's past record in this league is patchy.
Home to Middlesbrough on Sunday, but ill miss it, as riding the ard rock.

Liverpool, going into the season with massive optimism as always... mostly found being disappointed in the end. But it's a great journey.

Another Arsenal fan here. More optimistic than in previous years, but frustrated that we're only 2 players or so off a genuine title challenge and we've got the money to address that, but dson't. I'll wait until the window shuts, but don't hold out much hope.

I'll go and see Stevenage this year too, as they're local to me and Teddy Sheringham is now in charge.

Liverpool, going into the season with massive optimism as always... mostly found being disappointed in the end. But it's a great journey.

You say that weeksy but I've looked at Liverpool's signings this summer and thought that they must, surely, be title contenders this season. I'd say they've now got one of the strongest teams in the league - now we see whether Rogers is capable of getting the best out of it otherwise he'll be gone pretty sharpish I'd imagine.

You say that weeksy but I've looked at Liverpool's signings this summer and thought that they must, surely, be title contenders this season. I'd say they've now got one of the strongest teams in the league - now we see whether Rogers is capable of getting the best out of it otherwise he'll be gone pretty sharpish I'd imagine.

Having not seen much of Firminio I'm not really sure what to expect from him, obviously he's very highly regarded though.

Benteke I think with passes from Lallana and Cout will be a complete weapon and score 25+. Ings, I'm not so sure, along with Origi. But if Benteke and possibly sturridge can get firing, they'll certainly cause defences some problems.

the biggest potential weakness is CM, Hendo seems to drift in and out of games too often and too easily... but IMO if he can get Emre Can playing in the middle regularly then I think Liverpool can make top 4.

I don't believe they're contenders though due to a slightly flakey defence.

I hope I'm wrong of course... but not sure.

Leeds again. Cautiously optimistic provided Pearson can keep Cellino's fingers out of the pie.

Grayson's previous form in this division isn't that bad considering how hamstrung he was by Bates' constant selling of the best players without adequately replacing them.

Also looking out for Guiseley in the conference and Bratfud in league 1. Valley Parade is going to be busy this season, 18k season tickets sold... Quite impressive for third tier

Spurs for me. Watched them in Denver last week and some of the newer guys looked alright, but there was still the indecision in front of goal that has typified them recently. Hoping for 4th expecting top 10.

Also Spurs. Like some above, largely disenchanted/bored/not bothered with football these days, but I'd like to see Spurs play a youth side in the dreaded Europe cup. They might make fourth if the new defenders settle in quickly, I don't think goals will be a problem. I'd take a gamble on moving Chadli to a more forward role to assist Kane.

United have improved their 1st team, as have arsenal with Cech, so far city and chelsea have only improved their squads, I suspect city still have a couple of big deals to do. Losing De Gea will cost united points, but the rest of the team may gain them more.

I think Liverpool will be 5th, they have bought better this season and improved the team rather than taking a punt on squad players with potential.

Arsenal are being overrated by the pundits IMO, and city underrated. Still chelsea to win it, and city 2nd depending on business to be done. United and Aresenel need one last years top 2 to under perform to take their position, and liverpool need one of the 4 to under perform to break into that group.

The interesting stuff will probably be the fight for the top half, can southampton dnd swansea keep up their good work.

Swans fan here.
Excellent season last year but don't think we'll match it this year - finish 10-11th is my prediction.
Toughest start imaginable away at Chelsea later so we'll be bottom at 7.15 tonight!
Top 4 as last year - prob same order too.
Villa, Sunderland to go down with Watford.

The top four will remain unchanged, but the order might change. I still can't see past Chelski winning it, but they'll be run a lot closer, probably by Arsenal. Cech is the buy of the season, and if he manages to Marshall the usually wobbly defence in front of him, then Jose could really rue that decision.

An improvement on 4th for us would be progress, but that probably means 3rd. Midfield now looks tasty, but Rooney as a lone striker? Hmmmmmmm. And it looks like De Gea is gone. Let's see if the rumoured big name striker appears. I can't see where they'd come from. Depay might get the goals to make the difference, if he settles quickly

City will challenge properly. Aguero as the leagues top scorer, if he stays fit

I've just had a punt on Arsenal to win it, on the vague chance they don't 'do an Arsenal' as per usual, post christmas. I note the injury list has started already. Oh well.

The surprise package will be Stoke, who I reckon could finish 5th. Spurs 6th due to the Harry Kane show. Liverpool will be 7th at best, at least 15 - 20 points behind Chelski

Bournmouth will be this seasons Burnley. Everyone's second team. They'll give it a proper go, play good attacking football, but ultimately be doomed.

Oh.... and Villa to infuriate me for yet another season by being utterly crap, boring , and guaranteed 'last match shown on MOTD' every week, yet somehow managing to avoid relegation, yet again. I wish they'd just **** off to the championship where they belong, never to darken the premiership again with their spirit-crushingly dull, shouting at the telly provoking anti-football

Everton fan here. Mixed feelings about our summer. I'm obviously happy to have kept Stones and McCarthy, but at the same time we could have rebuilt the squad with those funds. Deulofeu and Cleverly should be good additions but squad has nowhere near enough depth so I fear a couple of injuries could land us straight into a relegation battle.

I expected Mirallas to leave, looked as though he was losing interest last season but he is one of the best players when on form, so hopefully the new contract means he is committed.

I'm looking forward to this season, Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool all looking much stronger, Chelsea not done much and if Aguero stays fit City should have plenty of goals in them. The next 10 teams could all realistically aim for 6th this season.

If anyone's into having a flutter on the footy (I know some on here do) , then all the online bookies are doing daft offers for the start of the season. £30 in free bets for a £10 stake on Paddy Power.

I've used one of my free £10 bets on Stoke starting the season as they finished the last one, by turning over Liverpool at the Brittania tomorrow. I've also had a hopelessly optimistic one on Swansea to beat Chelsea today. Very unlikely (8 - 1), but stranger things have happened, and it's free money, so why not? 😀

Celtic, we've just made hard work of getting by azerbijani teams in the CL qualifiers! Malmo up next for a place in the CL or it's the Europa league if we can't get by them. I'm fairly confident we should. Then we'll probably get scuddied about in the CL group stages if we don't buy a decent striker and replace virgil van dijk once he ventually heads to englandshire(I could see him staying till xmas if we get into the CL groups, if not he'll be punted)..

Otherwise, the league will be the usual cakewalk, but there's still the treble to aim for (we've only ever done it 3 times in our history, so it's not that easy.)

Occasionally go and watch Reading when not biking and lent a season ticket - mid table obscurity beckons and overseas owners now control the purse, so might try and watch an Arsenal game if i sell the house for a ticket.

Well I'll take that! A winning start! It looked like the first game of the season, and Spurs only woke up for the last 5 minutes. But the new additions all looked good. Particularly Romero. Maybe De Gea won't be such a huge loss, after all? Schweinsteiger looked like the proverbial brick ****house in midfield.

Looking good! And my first bet of the weekend is a winner. 😀

Well well well...a point at Chelsea...very happy with that! 😀

Rangers fan here. After years of mismanagement, both on and off the field, things finally seem to be looking up. Attractive football being played on the pitch, all the over paid dross cleared out with a young squad (hopefully) on realistic wages. Off the pitch it's all been very quiet which is a nice change from the shite that have been running the company in the last few years.

Leeds fan here and went to Elland Road today. Impressive performance against a team I expect to be in the promotion mix up. We've finally got rid of the cloggers Colin brought in and actually have some width for the first time in ages.

Dallas looks a great buy, Wood a better version of Matt Smith and all the young lads have stepped up.

From today's showing I expect top 10 with a possible dabble at the play-offs.

Life-long Chelsea fan, but hate the way the club's run and haven't been since Bobby was sacked. I predict mid table by Christmas and a second exit for Jose.
Have settled in East Anglia and now go and watch Norwich. Nice little club but I predict a swift exit from the PL I'm afraid.

Top of the league, we're Leicester City, we're top of the league.

That a was a nice '**** you' to all of those supposed pundit experts, we were rampant.

Will be upset if we don't take the title off Chelsea now.

whatnobeer - Member
Rangers fan here. After years of mismanagement, both on and off the field, things finally seem to be looking up. Attractive football being played on the pitch, all the over paid dross cleared out with a young squad (hopefully) on realistic wages. Off the pitch it's all been very quiet which is a nice change from the shite that have been running the company in the last few years.

The comedy value has been sensational over the last 4 years, long may it continue! 😆

Well my confident assertion that Cech was the buy of the season and Arsenal were title contenders seems to have worked its usual Magic 😀

Looks like binbins has wasted his free bets. 😀

My predictions are going great, aren't they?

[quote=deadlydarcy said]Looks like binbins has wasted his free bets.

😆

I'm still up, thanks to a Kyle Walker own goal.

Great goal from Cortinho, to be fair. Was that the only shot on goal?

Leicester fan here.

'We're Leicester City, we're top of the league!''

😀

The only one on target I reckon. Has to go down as a MASSIVE result though. 😆

(Bizarrely, the first time it's happened in the history of the premier league ie back to back identical fixtures at end of one season, beginning of next!)

Reading fan here. We can't be as bad as we were last season.

Although our African violet away strip suggests otherwise. Lilac in the real world.

Spurs fan here, aah usual start to the season, quite happy to come away at only conceding one goal.

Trouble for spurs is they are becoming a one-trick pony.

I'm a Barnsley fan . Went to Chesterfield on Saturday full of hope etc.etc. ....anyhow , we scored in the 3rd minute , could've had another... but after that it was the same old same old . Looking like a long winter at the moment 🙁

Bring on the cups! let's see!

The comedy value has been sensational over the last 4 years, long may it continue!

I'd be surprised if we can compete with anyone in the top half of the prem, but the bottom half should be do-able. Defense still looks shaky, even your strikers would rip it apart at the moment 😉

Newcastle fan, amazed the transfer activities involved spending real money.. If we keep sissoko then who knows, land a new back for and a number 9 then I reckon we can avoid a relegation fight.

I don't think Newcastle are in any danger. They won't set the league on fire, but McClaren's not a bad coach and he'll keep them safe (IMO).

Yes but this is Newcastle we are talking about... The transfer window is still open

😀

Yep... Still time for the traditional Mike Ashley last minute car boot sale. Or bringing JFK back into the fold again. 😀

Continuing the Binners family suicidal free bet philosophy, my beloved has a bet on a draw tonight. It's worth noting that she's well up already, after predicting a 2 - 2 draw with Swansea Chelski on Saturday. Fingers crossed.

Sounds like Sterling is the new Cashley Cole, where all fans, regardless of alleigence, spend the whole game abusing him. Bet he's relishing his first trip back to Anfield

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33880100 ]send the goalie up[/url]

[img] ?oh=23749f9cb3cff105c30bc70b35a4f99e&oe=567BCF28[/img]
hahhaahaha the hilarity continues!

🙂 at today's game being referred to as "El Cashico".

EDIT: erm, not the Arsenal - Palace game.

Heard it called "el plastico" today 🙂

Blimey! City look good! Could easily have been 5 or 6 nil that. Looks like all isnt well at Chelski. I wonder who's fault it is this week?

Remember when The Special One used to be witty, and urbane and amusing? Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?

Ah celtic, the w$$k stain on British football, like a bit of dog shit on the bottom of your shoe... shudder..
Anyway to more important matters
Good win for Citeh, Chelski misfiring or is their defence a bit crap, Jose in meltdown after today!
Could be worse you could be a Sunderland fan 🙂

Looks like Man City are going to give us (Leicester) a good battle for the title 😆

Chelsea - I've never been covinced by Cahill and if this is the season Terry's form goes the way of Stevie G they're in a spot of bother. It'd be asking a lot of John Stones assuming they do end up signing him but they've got the best manager, sure they'll be there or thereabouts. Fabregas must be a bit of a concern, he's been anonymous since halfway through last season and Costa's fuse looks very short.

Utd - 3 shots on target in two games and joint top! Efficient! I reckon they'll sign someone else before the end of the window, definite big hitter 🙂

There's no way that United can seriously be looking at playing Rooney as a lone striker up front for the season. I bloody hope! He's not a striker! His instinct is to drift back into midfield all the time. Got to bring in at least one top drawer front man. Maybe Super Mario 😆

Looking a lot more solid at the back though, but nowhere near what city have looked like first two games

Chelsea supporter here. Have to say I could see that coming, it's obvious the transfer market hasn't worked and the side needed a gee-up after rather staggering (efficiently) over the line last season. Some of the players still look knackered, Ivanovich & Fabregas in particular. I also reckon that Jose could well blow up entirely and walk, given his volatility. Stranger things have happened.

Everton follower here will probably manage 3 or 4 games ,we will be mid table mediocrity as long as we give the red shite a beating/a game i will be happy.
Stones will go to Chelsea after this weekends results shame but we need the money!

Bitterblue but we ARE the Peoples club!! 🙂

Bolton fan. ****in sick of this season already.

Think it's going to be a long season for Bristol City. 😐

Chelsea supporter here. Have to say I could see that coming, it's obvious the transfer market hasn't worked and the side needed a gee-up after rather staggering (efficiently) over the line last season. Some of the players still look knackered, Ivanovich & Fabregas in particular. I also reckon that Jose could well blow up entirely and walk, given his volatility. Stranger things have happened.

Typical 3rd season Jose Team. They always seem to be "burn't out" after 2 years of Mourinho Motivation! 🙂

Good to see Tottenham are back to their old reliable self, two up at half-time then concede two, quite good for them. 😕

Birmingham City for my sins. I don't think we are the relegation fodder that the so called experts are predicting. We are very organised defensively and decent on the counter, top ten finish for my blue boys. Totally agree with Binners about Villa

Two barnstorming performances 😆 from Liverpool - seeing off the mighty Stoke and Bournemouth by huge 1-0 margins see them 2 from 2. They'll be lucky to get 5th. Bournemouth deserved more from that game.

deadlydarcy - Member

Two barnstorming performances from Liverpool - seeing off the mighty Stoke and Bournemouth by huge 1-0 margins see them 2 from 2. They'll be lucky to get 5th. Bournemouth deserved more from that game

Plenty of teams have done well over the years with many average performances but winning.

Utd last year for example, arguably along with Chelsea who dominated the league but rarely impressed much.

Darcy I work with a fanatical Bristol City supporter, his mob sit in a corner of the ground and have loads of huge flags and banners, he thinks they will be ok.

I also reckon that Jose could well blow up entirely and walk, given his volatility

Not just me that thought that then. He seems to get a bee in his bonnet, throws his toys and is then too stubborn to back down; I thought something big/little like Doctorgate might catalyse it but as one of the journo's said, losing 3-0 to City gives him the chance to kill that one off as everyone moves onto the Chelsea are finished bandwagon.

Looks like John Stones made the right decision. Playing for a side that are in with a shout of a top 4 finish, as opposed to the one presently sat just above the relegation zone 😆

Looks like the wheels are properly coming off at Chelski. And just to make it even better, I had a fiver on Everton to win 😀

That'll do. We looked miles better without Rooney! The new Terry Henry looked good. Bar a contender for goal of the season the scousers never turned up. Long may Rodgers tactical genius, and great buys continue. 😀

We're second. Chelsea are 16th. Brilliant!

Another win for Brighton and 4 points clear at the top of the championship. More importantly a wonderful tribute to the victims of the Shoreham Airshow crash.

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Well another Sunday morning an no Newcastle loss - another positive for the season (yes I know we play Monday)

I hope Jose didn't take a long lease on his new pad.

Bit grim being a celtic fan the now, pumped out the CL to Malmo, and aberdeen storming the league! jebus! 😆 Ajax away next week is more than a little concerning!

Chelsea supporter here ... I also reckon that Jose could well blow up entirely and walk, given his volatility. Stranger things have happened.

@muggo, thanks for sharing that and respect to Brighton for arranging

I think it's too much to hope for seeing JM walk, he'll stick it out whilst grumbling profusely.

The lengthening list of Jose's spurious excuses, as he becomes increasingly paranoid, and details the conspiracies against him, are becoming more and more hilarious.

Apparently yesterdays defeat was due to the computers not working at the training ground 😆

Chelseas problems are all over the pitch though. Deleaney at Crystal palace got the measure of Costa. Just get close to him and get really physical. Play like he does, (a thug) and he doesn't like it one little bit. Deleaney completely nullified him. Then he starts getting increasingly frustrated, and chucking his toys out of the pram. His first sending off is surely just around the corner. The Jose can moan about him being targeted, and unfair refereeing

Jose's method now seems to be to find a victim to put the blame on, to enforce his authority. He does it externally in interviews blaming referees etc, but he also does it internally isolating players, eg Matta and De Bruin. The trouble is it breeds fear and mistrust and when it starts to go wrong players start to get nervous and wonder if they are next. I think the spat with his medical team highlighted to everyone inside chelsea they could be next, plus they didn't lie down and die for him as he thinks everyone should.

I think he used to be able to inspire players to follow his management, now he expects them to follow because he is manager, the inspiration is slipping away.

No bad, over all good result. We were 1-2 up against ajax till our LB got sent aff, finished 2-2, decent enough considering I was fearing a pumping. Ajax no great shakes, look as if they could be dangerous up front, but they're poor at the back.

Fancy taking them at celtic park now to be honest.

Another shock result, molde beating fernabache! good start all round in this group for us though, just a shme we couldnt' hold out for the win with 10 men for the last 20 minutes.

Fernabache at Celtic park up next in the group.

Not a great week so far for uk teams

Junkyard - lazarus
Not a great week so far for uk teams

Only if you're from manchester! 😆 celtic/liverpool, 2 away draws is decent, spurs won and chelsea won.