...::[The Footy Desk]::...

[JoeyLeone25]

England haven't got four World Class midfielders, and Beckham is quite simply still capable of churning out world class performances. McClaren was right to drop Becks when he was playing poorly, why chose somebody who's only playing at 70% of there potential? While in the last one/two months, he's been churning out excellent performances for Real Madrid and deserves a recall because of them. McClaren may be taking a step-backward (in some peoples eyes), by bringing Becks back, but he's doing it to take England forward.

[saintdave]

The thing is he is basically saying/admitting we aren’t good enough without Beckham to beat Estonia! I'm not counting the Brazil game as that’s a friendly and they are world class opposition but Estonia should prove no problems, infact the line up from the B team has the quality to beat them.

[Cuse510]

 

The thing is he is basically saying/admitting we aren�t good enough without Beckham to beat Estonia! I'm not counting the Brazil game as that�s a friendly and they are world class opposition but Estonia should prove no problems, infact the line up from the B team has the quality to beat them.

Let's not forget, Dave, that Estonia has a world-class keeper in Mart Poom

 

The reason I bring up Mart Poom is that he (sadly) left Arsenal for Watford the other day, seeing as he is now expendable with this new Polish keeper (Fabianski is his name, I believe) in on a long term deal. I have never heard of this guy before, but apparently he's supposed to be pretty good. Anyone here heard of him before?

[Crokey]

Lets welcome back Derby County to the Premiership, so that's Derby, Sunderland, Brum City. I bet Sunderland and Brum go back down.

[Waddy]

Lets welcome back Derby County to the Premiership, so that's Derby, Sunderland, Brum City. I bet Sunderland and Brum go back down.

I was hoping Derby would win for the 6 points next season.

I can see them doing a Watford, even not winning one game next year, gota be worth a fiver.

 

Sunderland going down? I guess its all down to who is bought pre season. Not sure what they all have to spend.

New clubs often spend little because they know the risk of relegation is high.

 

Id put Sunderland to stay up.

 

Wigan aint gona be much stronger next season, nor Fulham, Liverpool in the relegation mix aswell probably.

[saintdave]

I think it will be Derby, Wigan and Middlesbrough for the drop.

 

Derby's squad doesn’t have the necessary experience and quality needed for survival. They don’t have much money for signings either and apparently Davies cant confirm whether he will be in charge of the team while they are in the Premiership.

 

Wigan look set to lose a few key players (Camara, McCulloch) as well as the ones they have already released. Their new manager has a bad track record when given the main job and although financially backed I cant see many players wanting to join next season.

 

Middlesbrough have been up and down in form for the last few seasons now, even with McLaren in charge. Viduka looks set to leave as well as Yakubu and possibly Downing and Mendieta. Another team with good funding but with an inexperienced manager with question marks over his coaching badge and all associated with it I doubt they will do anything worthwhile next season.

[monkeyman237]

^I think Fulham are more likely to go down than M'brough, for me they'll stay up next season. Fulham fell apart towards the end of the season, and they were lucky that L'pool played their second team on that match, or they would've went down. It'll also teach Sanchez for leaving Norn Iron.

 

Long time since I've posted here, wonder whether anyone remembers me...

[Crokey]

Unless this takover talk comes to anything within the next month, I think we'll be fighting off relegation next season as it will be too late to get anyone decent in and doing a good job.

 

But so far, I'd actually say Derby, Sunderland and Wigan. Sunderland are too much of a yo-yo team to do otherwise

[Cuse510]

I think Sunderland can stay up. With the team they have now, I'd probably predict maybe a 50-50 chance of survival. But I think Keane will be able to bring in some higher profile transfers that other managers could not, possibly some of his old United or Irish teammates. Just look at all of the players he attracted to the club this past year...

 

Overall I'd guess Wigan, Birmingham, and Derby will be going down. Then again, there will probably be at least one surprise team, as this year before the season Charlton were not really being considered and you would have been crazy to think that West Ham would be so close to relegation after their inspiring 2005/06 season.

[Waddy]

I think Quinn will have it planned out in the prem.

I think they have a good chance, Reading did it.

 

He promised a big war chest if they got into the prem, and with the sky money, plus what they had anyway, I think they will do it.

 

Wigan, Fulham and Westham.

[Andyzoot]

I'll wait till the beginning of the season till I choose my top and bottom 3. It'll be interesting to find who will be Wigan and Man City's new managers, especially with these talks of a Chinese takeover at Man City.

[Cuse510]

 

Wigan, Fulham and Westham.

I can't see West Ham having another sh*t season. I think they just have too much quality (barring a mass exodus, that is) to have two awful campaigns in a row. I'd predict in the 8-14 range.

 

Fulham... maybe. They definitely struggled a lot this year and were unable to find consistency. They are not exactly a young team either, so unless they have a good transfer season, they could be in for another fight. Like Panda said though, this is still probably a bit early to be predicting who will drop.

[saintdave]

It'll be interesting to find who will be Wigan and Man City's new managers

Wigans new manager was appointed almost as soon as Jewell left. It's his assistant Chris Hutchings, who was also Jewells assistant at Bradford, funnily enough he also took over there once Jewell left and was soon fired!

[Crokey]

I'll wait till the beginning of the season till I choose my top and bottom 3. It'll be interesting to find who will be Wigan and Man City's new managers, especially with these talks of a Chinese takeover at Man City.

The Chinese are involved now?, wouldn't surprise me, you never know whats going on at City. Like I say we need some action within the next month or else we are going to be screwed.

[Andyzoot]

I think it was Chinese, or maybe it was Thailand...I know they were mentioned recently as the papers referred to their failed Liverpool takeover a while back.

 

Yes Dave, I apologise. I realised about an hour after I made the post

[Crokey]

 

I think it was Chinese, or maybe it was Thailand...I know they were mentioned recently as the papers referred to their failed Liverpool takeover a while back.

Aye, it was the Thai's, Dr Thaksin Shinwatra fromer PM of Thailand. Still don't know if anythings going to happen, although it has been mentioned that in previous takeovers like Stretford Rangers and the Russian Brides of London, the process did take about 1-2 months as they've got to check the books and inform share-holders and replace the carpet in the trophy room, which in City's case would be easy... not a lot of furniture to move really.

 

EDIT: The BBC Sport Videprinter almost made me drop my jaw, I saw this result and thought 'Damn'

 

FLOI1: HT Limerick 37-0 Wexford Youths

Until I looked up the Eircom site and found out it was 3-0 to 'Limerick 37'... damn you Beeb and your typos.

 

 

Edited May 30, 2007 by Gareth Croke

[Waddy]

Something strange is going on at Man City, Ranieri has just kinda ruled himself out of the managers job.

Maybe the deal fell through.

 

the Thai deal should be done and dusted by Friday tho.

 

Looking forward to the Brazil game, hope we dont get beat to bad?

[Crokey]

Something strange is going on at Man City, Ranieri has just kinda ruled himself out of the managers job.

Maybe the deal fell through.

 

the Thai deal should be done and dusted by Friday tho.

Something strange is always going on at Man City

[OH NO]

Looks like United have just picked up two of the best young players in europe. Bit of a coup really

 

 

 

link

 

 

 

[Waddy]

Looks like United have just picked up two of the best young players in europe. Bit of a coup really

 

 

 

link

Looks to be 2 awesome signings.

2 very class players, I have never really seen anything of Anderson, I found this clip on youtube though, looks the typical Brazilian really, got a lot of tricks in his locker anyway, lets just hope he dosent fall down all the time like Ronaldo

 

 

[OH NO]

Anderson looks bloody class. Ive had him in my pro evo side for a couple of years, but other than that clip i havent seen much footage of him.

[saintdave]

As you say Tim the only concern I'd have with Anderson and Nani is the whole diving and play acting which is always encouraged in the Portuguese league as we have witnessed on TV in countless matches between the nations club sides.

 

With Ferguson as their mentor for the next few years though this will slowly evaporate from their game. Its a good coup for the English league too.

 

Anyone else struggling to come to terms with no significant football coverage? With the seasons over and no international competition till next season this summer is going to be boring. Didn’t realise our game against Brazil is on BBC 1 this Friday, will be one to watch with the first full international match on the new Wembley.

[monkeyman237]

^Good video there, I've never personally heard of either of the players United are signing, but the trick with 4:49mins sure was class.

[Crokey]

Anyone else struggling to come to terms with no significant football coverage? With the seasons over and no international competition till next season this summer is going to be boring. Didn’t realise our game against Brazil is on BBC 1 this Friday, will be one to watch with the first full international match on the new Wembley.

Except here in Scotland where we get... Holby Chity, whoo.

 

Ranson's pulled out of the bid for City, which according to someone means that the man from Thai could be about to finalise the deal.

[Joey.Leone]

Im off to the match tonight, managed to get tickets from the online ballot about a month ago, the day we found out we got the tickets was quite symbolic to me, for a few reasons.

 

Anyone else going to the game tonight?

 

Ill take some pics and upload them.

 

Well im off guys, take it easy. WEM-BER-LEY

[Waddy]

Look forward to seeing the pics from there.

 

Check the prices out aswell, full report please

 

Should be a good game tonight, England normally play ok against top sides, So I think we can do ok, Im no saying we are going to win it, but I dont think it will be a Brazil whitewash. Anderson will be able to show what hes gona do for Utd aswell, should be a great game.

[saintdave]

Anderson will be able to show what hes gona do for Utd aswell, should be a great game.

He would if he was in their squad

 

Doni (Roma), Helton (Porto), Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Maicon (Inter Milan), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Juan (Bayer Leverkeusen), Alex (PSV), Alex Silva (Sao Paulo), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Edmilson (Barcelona), Josue (Sao Paulo), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin), Elano (Shaktar Donetsk), Diego (Werder Bremen), Kaka (AC Milan), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow), Jo (CSKA Moscow), Afonso Alves (Heerenveen).

 

Apparently he isn't joining up with the squad until the Copa America tournament.

[Toni.Cipriani]

Brazil is gonna whoop England's ass this week in Wimbley.

 

I say, Brazil wins 2-0.

 

What you guys think? (Many of you are english people... I'm american haha...)

[Waddy]

They always play well in the big games.

 

I thought it was a good performance last night, The defense was brilliant for most of the game, very promising.

 

Becks was great, the goal was good, shame they snatched one back though, would have been a dream to win.

 

Im now however worried about Wednesday.

 

[AndyGanteks]

NEVERMIND