On the Eve of the new Season...

[godsshoeshine]

back from holiday break

pretty much all i did for the past week was watch sports, and footie was a large part of it. i was really drunk when i watched the toon/wigan match so that was not much fun. ditto the thrashing they took against liverpool

should have gone through against hull is all i can say. mike has looked uninspired since he announced that he would continue to bless us with his services for the remainder of the year. rumors are going around that oba's injury may require surgury as well

the given rumors dont surprise me much. i thought they might have sold him last summer. really need a holding midfielder though. nicky butt has been shocking

[vansmack]

the given rumors dont surprise me much. i thought they might have sold him last summer. really need a holding midfielder though. nicky butt has been shocking

If he was three inches taller, ok maybe 5 inches taller, he'd be the best goal keeper in the world.  There is no way he is 6'1...

[godsshoeshine]

he's great. however, the only position we have genuine depth is gk. harper is a seasoned vetern and we have forster and krul who are supposed to be up and comers. i see the logic, and if newcastle were say 8 points clear rather than 2 i'd say do it. might still say do it if they can get involved in the city bidding war, or have juve overspend their hypothetical buffon windfall

as long as they actually buy more players though

[vansmack]

I've been trying to prepare myself for this, but I can't.  I just can't....

Giggs Drops Hint of Retirement

[godsshoeshine]

its been coming. great player

i like how 'arry doesnt waste any time overspending once he lands at spurs. £15m for defoe, when they sold him for half that last year? awesome

[Barcelona]

Today there was a classic game in Spain. Atletico Madrid Barcelona in the Spanish Cup, usually lots of goals and lots of incidents. Today, it was not different, 1-3 (anything can happen on the return leg in Barcelona, I think in 1997 Atletico was 0-3 and 1-4 and Barcelona ended up winning 5-4 at the end of the game).

Today, hat trick by Messi, apparently one great goal. I think this guy is now by far the best player in the world.

Sad for Giggs, great player!

[godsshoeshine]

almost forgot, smackie (and mankie if hes around) whats your take on the carlos tevez situation

[vansmack]

almost forgot, smackie (and mankie if hes around) whats your take on the carlos tevez situation

I trust Kia Joorabchian  about as much as I trust Scott Boras.  I think the real problem is the fee paid to West Ham has never actually been decided (correct me if I'm wrong, but it was out on appeal last I heard), so United are faced with the Transfer Fee and a new deal, plus dealing with Joorabchian.  Let him go if he wants to be third in La Liga, but if I were Tevez, I'd be directing my anger at Joorabchian.

[Barcelona]

Messi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejii6KDs5t0

[Barcelona]

I see that there is Manchester United - Chelsea this Sunday and that Scolari's job may be under risk?

[vansmack]

Geez, at least let me get in the office...

Saturday, January 10

7:40am Aston Villa vs West Brom (Set)
10:0am Arsenal vs Bolton (Set)
10:00am Newcastle vs West Ham (FSC) 
12:30pm Stoke City vs Liverpool (FSC) 
5:00pm Portsmouth vs Man City (Set) (also live at 10am on Setanta Xtra)

6:45pm Everton vs Hull (Set)
8:00pm Middlesbrough vs Sunderland  (FSC)


Sunday, January 11

8:25am Wigan vs Tottenham (Set)
11:00am Manchester United vs Chelsea (FSC)

[godsshoeshine]

hey barca, i have head that scolari is on the hot seat too. to be honest chelski should be running away with it, and my understanding is that there is some distrust of his lack of big time club managing experience. of course injuries are a big part of their season, and they're still in the thick of the league and cl. on the other hand his big buy was deco and he's been a flop. i think they really miss essien at the end of the day

[godsshoeshine]

jesus, son

[vansmack]

Me thinks he took a vacation in the Caribbean over the holidays...

[godsshoeshine]

didnt have it against hull last week