*Official* English Football Season 2007-08

[Shaggy Alfresco]

Chelsea maginal favourites in my book.

Not with Grant in charge. Have faith.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Anyone but United. Don't care who.

 

[roseboy64]

Chelsea maginal favourites in my book. As cpr said, the Brown-Pique prospect is scary.

Massive amounts of injuries in defence is exactly what ****ed us up in Europe last year, ad damn near screwed us up in the league too. Looks to me like lightning might strike twice.

How are Chelsea favourites? I have no doubts about a Brown-Pique partnership. Wes has been good all season bar a few games including the last one. Pique's played well when he's had a chance. No doubts at all. Pique is a less experienced version of Ferdinand while Brown while not as hard nosed as Vidic still gets in there for the tackle.

 

[headhunter]

You can still get 11/4 on the Chavs for the title. Super value IMHO. Easier run in (by far) and ManUre rapidly running out of centre-halves.

Still think ManUre will just nick it, but am sorely tempted to stick a few cheeky quid on Chelsea.

Would be tempted by that myself itbt.

 

[Tom Halsey]

How are Chelsea favourites? I have no doubts about a Brown-Pique partnership. Wes has been good all season bar a few games including the last one. Pique's played well when he's had a chance. No doubts at all. Pique is a less experienced version of Ferdinand while Brown while not as hard nosed as Vidic still gets in there for the tackle.

Apart from the fact that they're nowhere near as good as Ferdinand and Vidic? Not only that, but moving Brown inside means O'Shea at right back, which is hardly ideal itself. In other words, like last season we only have one first choice defender available. And we very nearly messed the league up last season, and in fact we would have done but for the poor form of Chelsea.

I'm not suddenly saying that we have no chance the league, however Chelsea marginal favourites given they have a far easier run in, we're only three points ahead, and that could easily be cancelled out at the Bridge given what our defence might look like and how good their record is there. Our biggest hope is Grant and his "tactical" changes.

 

[roseboy64]

True they're not as good as Ferdinand-Vidic but very few partnerships are TBH. O'Shea will just have to make the adjustment to deal with the pace he'll be facing. Brown isn't the fastest but he's adapted to dealing with that aspect of being a fullback.

Far superior goal difference to gaol Chelsea which actually means 4 points ahead. Chelsea can beat us if they like as long a Utd win their other games. Very hard for them to make up the GD. The Grant factor also is in Utd's favour. So still not seeing how Chelsea are favourites bar you being pessimistic.

 

[Loony BoB]

I'm personally more than confident in Pique. He looks the goods to me. Brown is decent enough, too, to at least cover for 1-3 games. Keep in mind we don't even know how long Rio is out, if at all, yet.

As for right back... Neville, anyone? Better than O'Shea and has managed a few reserves games on the trot now.

While you can never be happy with your two central defenders being out, feel happy we aren't resorting to Silvestre and O'Shea in central defence with Cathcart on the bench. In case anyone forgets, we won last season despite our back four being warped.

Even if we lose to Arsenal and draw to Chelsea we'd still win the league if we win all the other games, it should be noted. That three point gap and goal difference isn't gone yet.

 

[chaminda_00]

There is some talk that Neville will come back into the centre of defensive with Pique and Brown playing right back. I'm actually quitely confident in Pique ability to cover effectively in centre especially with Neville next to him. Personally I think he will be better then Rio in a couple years anyway. Hopefully though Rio will be back for the last couple matches though.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Far superior goal difference to gaol Chelsea which actually means 4 points ahead. Chelsea can beat us if they like as long a Utd win their other games. Very hard for them to make up the GD. The Grant factor also is in Utd's favour. So still not seeing how Chelsea are favourites bar you being pessimistic.

Given our run ins, I dont see us winning all our other games. Given how easy Chelsea's is, I do see them winning all their other games.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I'm personally more than confident in Pique. He looks the goods to me. Brown is decent enough, too, to at least cover for 1-3 games. Keep in mind we don't even know how long Rio is out, if at all, yet.

As for right back... Neville, anyone? Better than O'Shea and has managed a few reserves games on the trot now.

While you can never be happy with your two central defenders being out, feel happy we aren't resorting to Silvestre and O'Shea in central defence with Cathcart on the bench. In case anyone forgets, we won last season despite our back four being warped.

Even if we lose to Arsenal and draw to Chelsea we'd still win the league if we win all the other games, it should be noted. That three point gap and goal difference isn't gone yet.

The point is though that we wouldn't if it hadn't been for a similarly poor run of form by Chelsea. They drew their last three games that meant something (ie up until the Arsenal game).

 

[Loony BoB]

Rio is likely to be fit to face Roma anyway, just came up on manutd.com. I still think we'll be fine, though.

Thoughts on tonight's games, anyone? Not sure which I'd rather win out of Liverpool and Arsenal... will be happy with one going out either way. I hope Chelsea drop off, but don't think they will.

 

[Tom Halsey]

****ing excellent, less nervous about the title if that is the state of Rio's injury... all I'd heard previously was that there was no break.

I am like you hoping Fenerbace make it, though I have serious doubts. Similarly hoping le Arse do the Dippers but again I have serious doubts now unfortunately.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I reckon that Man United will just scrape by winning the title and we still have a decent chance in Europe. Just as long as scummy Liverpool don't win, I am fine with not winning the CL with the team we have atm + injuries.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

God it would be good to see Kezman score the winner at the Bridge.

 

[GIMH]

So what is it with you and Kezman? You've probably said before, but I don't remember

Why James Anderson as well LOL

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

Predictions?

Pool 2-1 in extra time

Chelsea 1-1 Fenerbache

 

[BoyBrumby]

Predictions?

Pool 2-1 in extra time

Chelsea 1-1 Fenerbache

Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1 - Scousers on pens

Chelsea 4 Fenerbache 0

 

[Matteh]

Chelsea 3-0
Pool 1-0

 

[Tom Halsey]

Can see the Chelsea match going either way... though a Chelsea win much more likely. If they score first, as they probably will, I can see Fenerbace falling apart somewhat. If Fenerbace score first, or it's still 0-0 after 60 minutes, I can see Chelsea struggling to score.

 

[cpr]

Would rather liverpool went out, the only reason being if we both got to the final, them singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' would **** over anything our fans threw out, dont want the embarrasment (not to mention the effect it'd have on the players).

Oh, and it'd annoy the brother in law.