FOOTBALL SEASON 2010/11

[Jonny Whizz]

As a Liverpool fan, I think the atmosphere around the club seems better since Roy Hodgson took over. We seem to be bringing in some good players, although to be fair to Rafa Benitez some of them were his signings. Joe Cole is an exciting capture, I thought he would sign for Spurs actually. Jocanovic (spelling may not be correct here) is a bit of an unknown, but from what I've heard he has a bit of quality. Danny Wilson seems to be a great prospect as well, particularly given our past record with Scottish players.

I feel that the aim has to be to try and get back into the top four if possible, we need to forget about hopes of the title for now and rebuild so that we'll be in a strong position in a couple of years. I think top six has to be the minimum target - top four may be overambitious if City's team manages to gel.

I think Roy will go for a 4-4-1-1 formation (the line-up is speculative)
Reina

Johnson Carragher Skrtel Agger

Kuyt Gerrard Lucas

Cole

Torres

I'm assuming that Mascherano leaves, and I've not suggested any signings for a new left-back or defensive midfielder, positions where we may have a bit of a 'gap'.

Weighing up the chances of the promoted teams, it will be especially interesting to see how Newcastle United do now they're back in the top flight. I'm going to be a bit cautious and suggest that they will face a battle against relegation but ultimately survive and finish around 15th-17th. I missed them a bit last year so it will be good to see them back. West Brom might do okay as well, they seem to be bringing in a couple of players and Graeme Dorrans was outstanding for them last year. I'm not expecting much from Blackpool but I don't really know a lot about their team so I may be underestimating them.

[steelclaw]

What a waste of time England v Hungrey friendly next week just before the season starts, I bet Spurs get loads of injurys.

At least Spurs have a good draw in the Champions League.

Tottenham v Young Boys(From Switzerland)

[Phoenix]

What a waste of time England v Hungary friendly next week......I bet Spurs get loads of injuries.

I think you can relax for a while, steelclaw. Well, at least until just before the European game starts anyway. Being drawn to play a team of young boys should allow you to make some progress on that front at least. Even Jenas could shine. In the league, however,..............

[steelclaw]

What a waste of time England v Hungary friendly next week......I bet Spurs get loads of injuries.

I think you can relax for a while, steelclaw. Well, at least until just before the European game starts anyway. Being drawn to play a team of young boys should allow you to make some progress on that front at least. Even Jenas could shine. In the league, however,..............

In the league they probably finish 3rd or 4th.
As for playing 'Young boys' where their teams average age is 14 Spurs should hammer them.

[Phoenix]

In the league they probably finish 3rd or 4th.

I reckon Spurs will end up nearer to 13th than to 4th. Take your rose-tinted spectacles off, steelclaw.

[steelclaw]

If Bolton are lucky 13th could be the highest position they could reach 1 place better then last season but relegation is a closer bet.
Even Blackpool will finish above them.

[Phoenix]

If Bolton are lucky 13th could be the highest position they could reach 1 place better then last season but relegation is a closer bet.
Even Blackpool will finish above them.

It's all a question of perspective, steelclaw. I'm just back from the Reebok Stadium, sitting here with a glass of decent Rioja and mulling over the performance my team put together tonight in their impressive 2-0 victory over Osasuna from La Liga. Only a friendly of course, but good vibes. Onward and upward towards that twelfth place, eh?

P.S. Blackpool won't finish above anybody. Regrettably, they'll be going holloway down again.

[Digifiend]

holloway -all the way! Good joke!

[steelclaw]

If Bolton are lucky 13th could be the highest position they could reach 1 place better then last season but relegation is a closer bet.
Even Blackpool will finish above them.

It's all a question of perspective, steelclaw. I'm just back from the Reebok Stadium, sitting here with a glass of decent Rioja and mulling over the performance my team put together tonight in their impressive 2-0 victory over Osasuna from La Liga. Only a friendly of course, but good vibes. Onward and upward towards that twelfth place, eh?

P.S. Blackpool won't finish above anybody. Regrettably, they'll be going holloway down again.

Probably played in front of the biggest crowd their gonna get this season 4,800.
Osasuna a bottom half of La Liga Bolton did well.

[Jonny Whizz]

Realistically, I think Spurs will finish top six, and Bolton will avoid relegation - probably coming around 12th-14th. That should settle these arguments.

As for the relegation candidates, Blackpool look likely to go down, they don't seem to have many Premier League class players but I could be underestimating them. If they do return from whence they came, I hope they do so like Burnley, while putting up a fight, rather than collapsing like Derby did a couple of years ago. I can see Wigan enduring the drop as well - their form last year was inconsistent but shipping nine goals against Tottenham and eight against Chelsea does not bode well. I also think Birmingham could suffer from 'second season syndrome' and Wolves could fall into the drop zone too. West Brom will probably face a relegation fight, but I have a feeling that they may just survive this year.

[Phoenix]

Probably played in front of the biggest crowd their gonna get this season 4,800.

Come to think of it, I did seem to have rather more elbow room than I'm used to.

[Phoenix]

If they do return from whence they came

Just a minor grammatical niggle, Jonny. The word from in from whence is superfluous/redundant because whence means from where. The fact that quite a lot of people use the expression doesn't make it correct.

[Phoenix]

What a waste of time England v Hungary friendly next week just before the season starts, I bet Spurs get loads of injuries.

It must have come as a great relief to you, steelclaw, to learn that your fears are nearly groundless. Capello's only picked Dawson from your lot!!!!!

[Serai]

I think Blackpool and West Bromwich will have a very hard time staying.

[steelclaw]

What a waste of time England v Hungary friendly next week just before the season starts, I bet Spurs get loads of injuries.

It must have come as a great relief to you, steelclaw, to learn that your fears are nearly groundless. Capello's only picked Dawson from your lot!!!!!

It's not the English players I'm worried about all the other players have been called up to play for their national teams.