the reason chelsea had such a poor league position last year was more to do with not being able to break 'lesser' teams down.

they played to their best on the break when teams came at them. as soon as a team dug in, AVB had no plan b and the midfield just kept trying to go through the middle of the defence and kept giving the ball away. the damage was done early on in the season and when RDM took over, the team were obviously concentrating on other competitions.

they have signed these new players to try and give them a bit of an oomph in getting the ball to torres IMO.

as for spurs - well they have AVB now so with no modric, parker getting on a bit and Adebeyor gone. I think they may struggle a bit.

They hit a lot of posts and missed a lot of penalties last year. My gut feel is that they are only going to get better as the new managers ideas take hold, the new striker has already got off the mark, and hell, even Downing has scored. Things are looking up.


Yes, God loves an optimist...

I agree they will be better. Last night's game was encouraging. I don't believe they will challenging for a top 4 this year but you have to start somewhere.

A lot depends on if they can keep it tight at the back now Steve Clark has left...

Only the two Manchester clubs conceded fewer if memory serves...

On the otherhand those two also scored twice as many goals, so like you say.. top 4 would be nice, but you have to start somewhere.

Likely the bottom four for youse scousers this season.

Well, well start in 6th, the highest I can remember, the loss of Bolton and Blackburn has helped no end in the alphabetical stakes

Based on last season Liverpool can only do better, whereas your beloved toon have their work cut out to improve donchathink?

Nah, youse'll flog us back AC for a 20 million profit before the month's out. He can play on the bench for Toon just as well as for your lot.

That sounds suspiciously like judging the season a success based on commercial grounds, like Dalglish and the Liverpool shirt deal....

Never mind trivia like points and league position eh

Anyway, why do they always fill the blank league table alphabetically? Liverpool in 6th, Arsenal on top. Makes more sense to do it based on last seasons finishing positions I think. To be honest I think maybe it confuses Arsene Wenger, it would explains his lack of summer transfer activity every year "Im top of the table over the entire summer, so no need to spend big"...

Rangers - nursery side for NUFC........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19225698

Ve haf a plan. Ve vill conker der Welt.

Courtesy of William Hill and gamblers (2012-2013 EPL outright):

Man City 5/2
Man Utd 5/1
Chelsea 12/1
Arsenal 16/1
Liverpool 25/1
Tottenham 150/1
Newcastle 250/1
Everton 1000/1
Sunderland 2000/1
Aston Villa 2000/1
Fulham 2500/1
QPR 2500/1
Stoke 2500/1
Swansea 2500/1
West Brom 5000/1
Norwich 5000/1
Southampton 5000/1
West Ham 5000/1
Wigan 7500/1
Reading 7500/1

If you're a subscriber to this thread (and especially if you're the OP), you need to tell yourself, firmly, that now is the time to enter your team into the BE Maple Leaf 2012-2013 fantasy EPL league.

Less than one week left before the season starts.

Oink & JamesM have kindly provided some very polite and clear instructions on how to enter the league here:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...&postcount=225

Bugger that. Who needs fantasy?

Boring Get!

Suprising that Pardew is as far down the list as Wenger and O'Neill @40/1. Have O'Neill or Wenger ever been sacked?

http://www.thesackrace.com/competitions/premier-league