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I know we have a few fans of the beautiful game around here so figured I'd start a new thread for the new season. English Premier League just started, Bundes and La Liga begin this weekend, MLS has been running since the spring... what's everyone's thoughts so far?

 

Liverpool are about a signature away from signing this man.

mario_balotelli.jpg

 

Super excited about this signing! Just hope he behaves lol

 

 

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I know it's the popular thing to say, but I think I like one of City, Chelsea's, or Arsenal to win it all. I think Chelsea made some pretty good additions, especially Costa.

 

They had problems with some of the big clubs last season... I don't think that'll be the case this year. Even as a backup though, happy to see Drogba back.

 

I don't have NBCS anymore, so I probably won't watch as much as before.

Edited by DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F

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Kinda funny that Torres replaced Drogba and now Drogba is back two years later which is keeping Torres from playing :laugh:

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Not convinced about Costa in the PL, Dmac. But I agree with your top 3 clubs. I really hope Arsenal wins it out of those three though.

 

I will be working during most games.....but I will be recording all of the Aston Villa matches. Pretty decent win for us this past week against Stoke. Expect to be a lot better this season, didn't spend much but we brought in some experienced players on the cheap and have a few players returning from injuries.

 

Balotelli, Sturridge, and Sterling up front? :ooo:

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Arsenal isn't really that good. Their strikers are awful and midfielders are decent at best,except Ramsey. They will be battling for ECL qualifiers again.

 

Liverpool has signed some great players. We still have to see Lallana and Markovic play but I'm sure they'll be good,especially Lallana who was EPL MVP candidate last season and has experience in this league.

 

My top five:

 

1. Chelsea

2. Man City

3. Liverpool

4. Arsenal

5. Man United

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On the Balotelli signing, I like it for Liverpool. Balotelli has a point to prove plus you have a manager that can handle problem players. Suarez played ridiculously well last premier league season the world cup incident was out of his control.

 

On who wins the league, for me Chelsea are most likely but it will be between them and Man City. Chelsea's signings of Diego Costa and Cese Fabregas are really the missing pieces of the puzzle for them. Burnley may have only just come up but Chelsea played really well against them and if they play like that for most of the season, I find it hard to see anyone but them win the league.

 

You know what you are going to get with City now, they are a very solid team and they know what they have to do to win the league. I feel that teams around them have gotten better but they still have the class to push Chelsea all the way.

 

Liverpool are them most interesting to me as it is obviously the post Suarez era, Sturridge is the main piece to this team but how they react to Suarez leaving, the amount of players they have brought in and the Balotelli factor will determine where they finish. They have an outside shot to win the league for me but I don't think it will happen. They finish third.

 

Arsenal have brought one of the most electrifying players in the world with Sanchez and he gives them another attacking threat, however I feel that Giroud is not a top class striker and with the midfield they have a striker should be getting 25/30 goals a season. Giruod is not that guy, unless they get a beast striker just before the window then they will need to hope that the midfield can carry with goals. They also need a center back as that has been a week spot for them for the last few years. As much as much as I hate to say this they will finish fourth.

 

Manchester United are still way off the pace in there re building program for me, Van Gaal is a well respected manager but they no longer have the aura that attracted players they once did under Ferguson. They have a lot of holes to fill and for me it will take another year or two before they are back challenging for the title. They finish 6th.

 

Tottenham are another very interesting team for me, not only because I support them but we have one of the best young managers in the world in Mauricio Pochettino, you also have to remember how much was spent on players last year and how they perform compared to last season. Players like Soldado and Lamela have points to prove and there is a desire to pick off teams from the top four. Pochettino has a very attacking style of play and likes to push youngesters through two things Spurs like. I expect a lot from them this season but setting my sights low with them finishing 5th.

 

My top 6

 

Chelsea

Manchester City

Liverpool

Arsenal

Tottenham

Manchester United

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Arsenal isn't really that good. Their strikers are awful and midfielders are decent at best,except Ramsey. They will be battling for ECL qualifiers again.

 

Liverpool has signed some great players. We still have to see Lallana and Markovic play but I'm sure they'll be good,especially Lallana who was EPL MVP candidate last season and has experience in this league.

 

My top five:

 

1. Chelsea

2. Man City

3. Liverpool

4. Arsenal

5. Man United

 

I hate saying this but Arsenal have one of the best midfields in the Premiership, Ramsey has come on leaps and bounds, Ozil although not producing to the levels many thought is still very solid, they have Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlin and Podolski who can all score goals from anywhere and they have the holding defensive midfielders in Wiltshere and Arteta.

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Woot. Soccer's honestly starting to become my favorite sport. <_<

 

Arsenal was frustrating last game. Really didn't generate any good scoring chances but were able to steal it at the end which I guess is all that matters. Was looking for a better performance though. Of course, we don't have Ozil or Walcott back yet. Ozil will be back tomorrow. :devious:

 

I do kind of agree with house though actually, Arz. The striker position is a concern for me. I've never been a fan of Giroud, and Sanogo is really young and unproven and judging from that last game I'm not sure he's ready. I wish Arsene brought in another player there.

 

A 3rd place finish is what I'm looking for and expecting. I hate dealing with these bullshit CL qualifiers. But if you think about it, we were 7 points away from the title last year, and that was with Ozil missing 2 months with injury, and Ramsey being injured from Christmas to April. And now we've added Alexis who is world class and Chambers who looked great filling in at CB last week, will probably slide to LB now that Mertesacker's back. Winning the league isn't out of the cards for us

 

Like what Liverpool's done with their new additions brought in to supplement the talent already on the squad. They have an array of scoring options with Sturridge, Lambert, Balotelli, Lallana, think they bought Origi as well. Sterling is a beast and could be on the verge of a breakout. Coutinho is a nifty little player too. This team has insane depth at forward and in the midfield.

 

With Man United anxious to see what they look like with RVP back and after everyone is integrated into LvG's system. Man City should still be really good even though they haven't really made any additions.

 

Chelsea is just a machine and my pick to win it along with everyone else lol.

 

Outside of the EPL, I can't wait to see Real Madrid and Barcelona with their new additions. Also I wonder if Atletico can still hang with them, I hope so but probably not.

 

 

 

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Oh I completely agree with the striker situation no doubt about that. Really don't understand why Arsene Wenger doesn't play Podolski up front. The guy is one of Germany's top goalscorers in the national team.

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Trying to figure the team I should root for in the premier league. Would help me follow better. Any suggestions?

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Trying to figure the team I should root for in the premier league. Would help me follow better. Any suggestions?

 

I started watching after the last world cup and eventually you just start to gel with a certain team. I would suggest picking a team that isn't in danger of getting demoted.

 

Oh I completely agree with the striker situation no doubt about that. Really don't understand why Arsene Wenger doesn't play Podolski up front. The guy is one of Germany's top goalscorers in the national team.

 

Yeah he has a cannon for a left foot, but he's not really a target forward which I think Arsene prefers from his striker. Joel Campbell I wish would get a look as well.

 

I watched the Tottenham game btw. Tough to really learn too much from it (other than Naughton is not good) because of the early red card. I thought Lamela was pretty good, and Townsend was a big spark off the bench.

Edited by BradyFan81

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I know most people don't watch mls, but it's just ridiculous that tonight's DC United v Sporting KC game isn't being televised, a late season game for first place in the Eastern Conference would be appointment viewing in any other sport

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Trying to figure the team I should root for in the premier league. Would help me follow better. Any suggestions?

 

Just don't choose Spurs like I did. We're just Real Madrid's farm team after all.

 

1VZV1Qe.png

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Trying to figure the team I should root for in the premier league. Would help me follow better. Any suggestions?

 

I would say Everton would be the best if you wanna watch a familiar face (Howard) and some young talent. And they have potential to be surprisingly good. Or Manchester CIty, simply because I think they'll score a lot of goals this year, and they are one of the teams more likely to win it all.

 

Or just Chelsea... Cause they are the best...

Edited by DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F

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I would say Everton would be the best if you wanna watch a familiar face (Howard) and some young talent. And they have potential to be surprisingly good. Or Manchester CIty, simply because I think they'll could score a lot of goals this year, and they are one of the teams more likely to win it all.

 

Or just Chelsea... Cause they are the best...

 

Considered Everton but outside of Howard I know absolutely nobody. Also thought about Hull City just on the basis of trying to see a team grow, but they are probably not going to do anything for a long long time. Considering Manchester City. Really big Yaya Toure fan. Aguero is a familiar face too.

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Honestly the best thing to do is watch as much soccer as you can. It gives you the chance to evaluate the pros and cons of each team.

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Lamela looking more like who the Spurs thought they had when they signed him last year. Poch the gawd reviving him. :rock:

 

Oh yeah, Spurs top of the league right now. :smug:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

soon to be short lived i'm sure. :(

Edited by CampinWithGoatSampson

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I hate saying this but Arsenal have one of the best midfields in the Premiership, Ramsey has come on leaps and bounds, Ozil although not producing to the levels many thought is still very solid, they have Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlin and Podolski who can all score goals from anywhere and they have the holding defensive midfielders in Wiltshere and Arteta.

I wrote that when Walcott and Ozil weren't playing. With those two back in the team they have a top 3 midfield in the league. Wilshere seems like he's not the same player he used to be, he sometimes looks lost on the field.

 

Anyway, a great match tomorrow between Liverpool and Manchester City. I actually like playing a top 2 team this early because we can show if we are actually able to compete for the title or if we're just an overrated team. I'm calling a 2-2 match with Sterling and Sturridge both scoring like in Week 1.

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Ahhhh ok that makes more sense then house, yea not really sure how Wilshere hasn't progressed to be honest. Not fussed as he's a player I'm not too keen on.

 

Liverpool vs Man City tomorrow shall be amazing and I think Liverpool have a great chance to win. I'll say 2-1 Liverpool with Sturridge scoring first.

 

Oh yea Tottenham are top of the league botched. Very nice and unexpected surprise. Agree campin this is the Lamela spurs where expecting, pochettinos play style and the Tottenham way of attacking football go really well together so far.

 

Plus Eric Dier is very quickly becoming a God at White Hart lane

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He is the first defender in PL history to score a goal in his first two games.

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Man, this thread's gotten a lot more activity than I thought it would so far. Let's keep it up!

 

Campin, I had high hopes for Pochettino when he took over. So far looking good for you guys. He's managed to get your signings from last year to actually play decent. I really rate Eriksen. Quality player.

We were outclassed yesterday. Liverpool controlled the first half pretty good but we lost focus for a few minutes and got punished. Next two goals were a combination of awful defending and keeping. Ah well, probably the toughest fixture of the season so not too fussed about getting the loss out of the way.

 

Glen Johnson got hurt so something good came out of the game - oops, did I say that?

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Man, this thread's gotten a lot more activity than I thought it would so far. Let's keep it up!

 

Campin, I had high hopes for Pochettino when he took over. So far looking good for you guys. He's managed to get your signings from last year to actually play decent. I really rate Eriksen. Quality player.

We were outclassed yesterday. Liverpool controlled the first half pretty good but we lost focus for a few minutes and got punished. Next two goals were a combination of awful defending and keeping. Ah well, probably the toughest fixture of the season so not too fussed about getting the loss out of the way.

 

Glen Johnson got hurt so something good came out of the game - oops, did I say that?

Disagree, you still have to play Villa at Anfield :coffee:

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