Football! (Soccer for Americans) 2009/10 Season

[GunnyMo]

Well, I couldn't find any other thread on The Beautiful Game so I thought I'd start this one.

2009-2010 Euro season starts this week!

Keeping the riots to a minimum who are you watching this year?

My Red Devils are always a top pick for me with Chelsea, Everton (Howard, you magnificent bald keeper!) and a soft spot for Newcastle United.

And, of course, more qualifiers for World Cup 2010.

Who are you looking at to win this year?

[fitbabits]

I'll be rooting for Chelsea and Arsenal in the EPL, Rangers in the SPL (natch), Barcelona in the Primera Liga, and that's about it.

Who will I be rooting against? Manchester United and Liverpool in the EPL, Real Madrid in the Primera Liga, and Celtic (natch, again) in the SPL. Oh, and let's not forget the abomination that is the Magpies.

Prediction time:

Barcelona for the Primera Liga
Rangers for the SPL
Chelsea for the EPL

Real Madrid for the Champions League

[GunnyMo]

Ewwww Arsenal. Granted, I love Wolcott but ewww. ;)

And it looks like we're the only two football fans amongst heathens. :)

[DangerousDaze]

My team always has been, and always will be, Manchester City. Blue moon!

[fitbabits]

My team always has been, and always will be, Manchester City. Blue moon!
That's what I thought.

So what are your thoughts on the upcoming season, especially with the close-season acquisitions? Do you think there will be enough there to dislodge the top four of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United?

My thoughts? Glad you asked. I could see them struggling early on until the team gels. I don't think that Mark Hughes is the man for the job, though.

[fitbabits]

Ewwww Arsenal. Granted, I love Wolcott but ewww. ;)

And it looks like we're the only two football fans amongst heathens. :)
Coming from a 'Man Ure' fan, I'm not surprised. :)

Is it any wonder there are so few football fans here? It's called the beautiful game for a reason.

[GunnyMo]

Coming from a 'Man Ure' fan, I'm not surprised. :)

Is it any wonder there are so few football fans here? It's called the beautiful game for a reason.

haha, sorry. Arsenal has always struck me as a bunch of assholes! lol Not to say Rooney isn't on that scale, too. lol But watch out for Nani this year. He's gonna tear it up. You see that goal he burned in against Chelsea today?

The Gunners get more players like Wolcott and I might be a fan. :)

As far as City goes, I agree with you. So many divas on that team now it'll take time to mesh. I say they'll do well this year but next year they should shine.

[Wedge]

Premier League:
1. Liverpool
2. Chelsea
3. Man U

La Liga:
1. Barcelona
2. Real Madrid
3. Who cares?

Serie A:
1. Inter Milan
2. Roma
3. AC Milan

Champions League:
I've stopped guessing. I always miss by a mile.

I'm not a fan of any of those teams mentioned above. I've never felt the supporter crazyness, I just love to watch a good football match.

Edit: Just remembered Maldini retired. Moved AC Milan from 1st to 3rd

[Church42]

Well, I'll be rooting for AC MILAN in Serie A, I don't expect them to win it. Just hoping that they do well enough to qualify for the Champion's League

[Matthias]

So where can a poor Texan go to keep up with the European Football leagues? The only fans out here tend to follow Latin American teams...

[DangerousDaze]

So what are your thoughts on the upcoming season, especially with the close-season acquisitions?
It's too tough to call. On the one hand we've picked up some quality players and they looked really good when they were all on the field for 5 whole minutes against Celtic (ignore pre-season results, they mean nothing).

But on the other hand, would Tevez have picked up an injury in his own shower had he been playing for any other team? ;) City will be City regardless of how much money they have! :)

[CES]

Prediction time:
Rangers for the SPL


How I wish I could agree with you. We won last season through what was effectively dumb luck. With Murray still being a jackass about new players (we really needed some people with a bit of aggression, not players content to piss about in our own half), I don't like the chances of a blue, red and white SPL trophy this year.

[SilentScreams]

I was predicting that my beloved Liverpool would win the Premiership this season...until we sold Xabi Alonso for a paltry £30m.

There's no way we can replace a player of his quality for £30m, and he was our best player last season, hands down. Forget the headline grabbers, Torres and Gerrard. Alonso was the man last season, and we always looked lost when he wasn't on the pitch.
I'm far from optimistic at the moment.

And no offence DD, but I hope City crash and burn just for the way they've gone about chasing their transfer targets. Unsettling them in the media, then throwing ridiculous amounts of money at them until they get their man.

[GunnyMo]

So where can a poor Texan go to keep up with the European Football leagues? The only fans out here tend to follow Latin American teams...

Hey, I'm stuck in the Mid West with people who don't even know where Europe is! :) I get most of my news via FSC, ESPN's soccer.net and various Euro sites.

And I agree with SilentScreams on City. They have all the divas now so seeing them come together in their first season together? I will be very surprised if that happens.

I'll stick with my Red Devils, my bald God of Keepers at Everton and, hate if you will Fit, my underdog Newcastle United. :)

Should be a fun day tomorrow!

[DangerousDaze]

And no offence DD, but I hope City crash and burn just for the way they've gone about chasing their transfer targets.
In all cases MCFC has followed the FA rules and submitted private approaches to the clubs. The two cases of city allegedly behaving poorly are with Chelsea (Terry) and Everton (Lescott) but in both cases the approaches have been made public by the clubs themselves! Had they kept their mouths shut then the entire business would have been conducted in private. Also, Chelsea are laughable criticising city given their past history, and Everton are likely to lose Lescott in exactly the same way they gained him from Wolves.

How is it "disgusting" to make offers through the correct channels? What's disgusting is intentionally making them public in order to apply pressure on city and try and drive the price up. Hughes won't wait for ever though, as Samuel Eto'o will testify.

/edit - and none taken. ;)

[Church42]

I'll stick with my Red Devils, my bald God of Keepers at Everton and, hate if you will Fit, my underdog Newcastle United. :)

Quite indecisive when it comes to your English teams, aren't you Gunny? Granted I can understand rooting for Everton b/c of an American bred phenomenal goalkeeper playing for them, but gotta pare it down between the Red Devils & New U. :p

[GunnyMo]

Quite indecisive when it comes to your English teams, aren't you Gunny? Granted I can understand rooting for Everton b/c of an American bred phenomenal goalkeeper playing for them, but gotta pare it down between the Red Devils & New U. :p

Not at all. I root for the Devils to win the League. I just have a soft spot for Newcastle. I like to see them do well.

And, well, as far as Howard and Everton? Sheesh. That Ars game was embarassing! lol