Association football (soccer)

I'm really surprised as well !! SA played freaking weakly in 1st half but they totally changed in 2nd half and if they were luckier , they could win >____> !! Now let's wait the the match of France and Uruguay !! Ruu...

The new Premier League Season starts this coming weekend, and many have already kicked off. Transfers are in full swing - for the American contingent, you have Rafael Márquez and Thierry Henry at NY, which isn't exactly bad pickings. Manchester United dominated the Community Shield match today with Chelsea having lost their last five games, and there's a round of internationals on Wednesday, with a completely mixed-up England squad after the World Cup debacle. So, we should be able to forge some discussion, right? :p

I'm really looking forward to this season; it looks even more open than the last. Arsenal look like they could make a real title challenge this year, especially if they snag a good new keeper during this transfer window. Man Utd have a fairly weak squad but as shown today, there is still some quality there and a great squad mentality. Chelsea dominated last year but are really struggling for form, and have an even older squad than United. Liverpool are looking to bounce back under Hodgeson, Man City are storming in with big money players but not necessarily the cohesion or management needed, Spurs look strong but have always been erratic under Redknapp, and Everton could cause the big teams some real problems if they keep injury-free and consistent, the former having killed their challenge at the start of the season (and yet they were still in contention for European places).

I'm predicting Arsenal to win, Chelsea 2nd, United 3rd and Man City 4th, and I'm a United fan. To be honest, I'm not even confident about that - Chelsea could collapse, United could do well on today's evidence, Man City could be amazing and Arsenal...well, they're Arsenal. You know how it is. Still, who knows what might happen if we bag Özil... :P

P.S. if there was enough interest, I was thinking we could set up a PL fantasy league on the official site...but I'm not sure that there will be. Still, do speak up if you fancy it.

The Gooners on top... Lol, You kidder! :)

By the way whats this PL Fantasy League about? Im interested but I need more info please! ;)

I'd be up for it!



All they really need a a better keeper and a top-class defender. The new signing is more of a back up than a starter, and Almunia+Flapianski aren't going to help us. I think Tex is going on loan, and Mannone might get more playing time.
DAMN IT WENGER, HURRY UP!

I know, it's a longshot, but when you look at the other teams, I think all they do desperately need is a good keeper and they could be right up there. A Clichy, Koscielny (impressive in the Emirates Cup), Vermaelen and Sagna back line would do fine as long as they keep fit and disciplined, plus there are good understudies in Gibbs, Cruise etc. They could do with another centreback but I don't think it's vital. Plus, as their last season with Fabregas, I think it's sort of now or never for Arsenal.

As for the Fantasy Football, it's exactly that - you get a certain amount of money to spend on two keepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three strikers, with four of them on the bench to be subbed in where needed. You then get points for how well they do in each Premier League game - goals, assists, defending, man of the match awards - and we all compete to see who made the best choices.

I have a team on there already which I could just enter in another league with you guys, or I could make a new account with my username if you don't want to use real names (which might also be confusing). I'd just need to make the league and then you could all sign-up using the code and join in. It's free, you don't win anything unless you're amazing but it's good fun and something to talk about on here. :) Best if we get 6+ people involved, but there's no prerequisite.

Everyone else who is interested voice it a.s.a.p, because as you probably realise, the season starts on Saturday. It doesn't absolutely have to be done by then, but that would naturally be ideal.

I'm interested. Gives me an extra reason to start following the Premiership more closely too.

Right then! I've set up a league, and I've made a new account with my username replacing my surname for easy identification.

This is the site you'll need to sign up on; when you're done, simply click on the Leagues button at the side and enter the code 1308103-267603 to join the mini-league. I've set it up to start scoring from the first game on the 14th, so everyone make haste. I look forward to losing to you all. :p

Well ive joined, My teams all ready to go! (Lets be having you) :D

Got mine in! :)

I joined the league. I can't wait to see all of my players get injured in their first game.

I have 10 points on my bench, everyone else is doing badly and everyone I had in the team and then got rid of is scoring. It'll be fiiiiiiiine. :p

Oooh, 26 points. Meh. I could have gotten more but two of my players didn't play today. I also got 4 points from my bench. Rest of the team decided to suck. All of my points came from one man.

Damn it.

Someone in the other mini-league I'm playing had Drogba as their captain. Fun times.

I also have three players to go, but I'm tempted to ring the changes. I'm still not confident in Chelsea to go the distance, nor Rooney to be as prolific as last season, but Villa, City and Everton surprised me. Will have to see what the prices are like.

Yeah, 20 points so far!

Well... Im REALLY lighting up the league with my dazzling 9 points! (Frank Lampard 16 points = FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU) :(

Cmon Rooney score a hat trick... Ple~ase! :)

I just decided to play a wildcard already since I had three players injured and did poorly, and have made seven changes...I'm last out of 13 in the other league I'm playing. ^_^ Let us see what the weekend brings!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah 22 points on the bench (also posting to fix glitch). I've had a barnstorming weekend so far on the FF front, but that's really annoying. Hoping Ireland doesn't play so I get Diaby's points instead. :p

All I need is for Rooney to bang in the goals and... I... Might... Not come last... Again! (Sigh)

Going ok so far, just need Torres to bang a couple in today. ;) Will Chelsea ever concede though, seriously?

Apologies for double post, but it isn't ever day that Spurs appear to have signed Rafael Van Der Vaart for £8m. £8 fricking million. If this goes through it will surely be the greatest footballing bargain of all time, if not for his performances then for his wife in the stands. :P Seriously though, wow. They badly needed a proper striker but you can't say he wouldn't add something; atop Lennon, Bale, Modric, Huddlestone, Palacios and Krancjar, their midfield is almost unbeatable. It's yet to be seen how he'll fit in but his delivery, creativity and set piece prowess can but help them.

This is all from memory, but elsewhere Birmingham somehow bagged Hleb on a loan deal, Beausejour and Jiranek, and Stoke made some four last minute signings, including PL club favourite Jermaine Pennant. Sunderland paid £13 million for Asamoah Gyan after a great WC but despite some iffy club performances, Bolton recruited Rodrigo Moreno not a month after he was swapped from Real, and lower-league coups included Yuki Abe and Martyn Waghorn going to Leicester. Meanwhile Robinho finally flew off to Milan, Huntelaar ended the speculation by settling with Schalke, and David Trezeguet broke lengthy ties with a depleted Juventus to ply his trade at Hercules. There were doubtless plenty more, so feel free to add them and discuss!