Parky

Portsmouth have the best defence by some way, I think. Ours is fucked - Mellberg is starting to look past it, Laursen is excellent but injury prone, Cahill is possibly not ready, Bouma is solid, but at RB there is a big, empty void, so worrying that I'm starting to pine for Aaron Hughes. GA last year being a starting point that is.... Everton conceded 36 goals only 9 more than the Champions. We only conceded 5 more than Everton did, but that is misleading. Incidentally, I checked out Soccerbase to see how many we'd conceded and noticed something odd about last year's table, check it out (I'd post the link, but you need to manually select the season) You scored more goals away?

Portsmouth have the best defence by some way, I think. Ours is fucked - Mellberg is starting to look past it, Laursen is excellent but injury prone, Cahill is possibly not ready, Bouma is solid, but at RB there is a big, empty void, so worrying that I'm starting to pine for Aaron Hughes. GA last year being a starting point that is.... Everton conceded 36 goals only 9 more than the Champions.

Yes, we struggled immensely at the end of last season, that is if you call a nine match unbeaten run including three away wins "struggling immensely". Joking apart, I think we'll finish more or less in the same area of the table as you will (although, obv, for the purposes of our wager, I mean above you), but I don't see how MON needs another year to get it right, but SA is going to get it right in his first year - that's a massive ask of any manager. I think you could probably take Newcastle, Villa, Portsmouth, West Ham, Everton and possibly Citeh, pick a random order and stand a very good chance of getting it right. One thing is for sure we both need to improve our goalscoring. Funny thing is, at the start of this window, i was worried about our strikers. Now I've thought about it, i'm not really (so long as Harebrain stays off the pitch, I think Luke Moore and Agbonlahor plus Carew will do well), but I am more worried about our defence. Much work needed. Out of this little group Everton have the best def. You and pompey close behind.

Yes, we struggled immensely at the end of last season, that is if you call a nine match unbeaten run including three away wins "struggling immensely". Joking apart, I think we'll finish more or less in the same area of the table as you will (although, obv, for the purposes of our wager, I mean above you), but I don't see how MON needs another year to get it right, but SA is going to get it right in his first year - that's a massive ask of any manager. I think you could probably take Newcastle, Villa, Portsmouth, West Ham, Everton and possibly Citeh, pick a random order and stand a very good chance of getting it right. One thing is for sure we both need to improve our goalscoring.

Yes, we struggled immensely at the end of last season, that is if you call a nine match unbeaten run including three away wins "struggling immensely". Joking apart, I think we'll finish more or less in the same area of the table as you will (although, obv, for the purposes of our wager, I mean above you), but I don't see how MON needs another year to get it right, but SA is going to get it right in his first year - that's a massive ask of any manager. I think you could probably take Newcastle, Villa, Portsmouth, West Ham, Everton and possibly Citeh, pick a random order and stand a very good chance of getting it right. Should have gone in the Man City bit.

Sven must have had some kind of wishlist ready....This is a very astute capture. Gelson Fernandes (born September 2, 1986 in Praia[citation needed]) is a Swiss football player of Cape Verde descent. He is a midfielder, currently playing for Manchester City in the English Premier League, and captain of the Swiss U21 national team. He signed for Manchester City, from FC Sion on 14 July 2007. He signed for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around 6 million euros (£ 4.2m), making him the highest transfer paid in the Swiss League. Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson believes that Fernandes is the best young talent in Swiss football.

Cracking post. +Owen and what looks so far like a v solid Roze and Geremi.

I'd have to agree with that. My minimum expectation is to finish a solid 10th. Anything better will be a bonus. Zis. We finished 7th with Rodent and half the 'B' team out for most of the season not so long ago. You big puff. Aye, cos that wasn't a one-off or anything. I just want us to build properly, and I can't see it happening overnight. Building properly is somethig that sounds nice and in general terms building there will be....But it shouldn't be at the cost of dynamism and proactivity. The quicker we start finishing higher and become more competative the more money we'll make and also the ability to attract quality players.

I think globally, everyone except for the English media rates Sven very very highly, and he will pull of a few more transfer coups yet. They are more likely to finish above us than Pompey or Everton. blueyes.gif

I'd have to agree with that. My minimum expectation is to finish a solid 10th. Anything better will be a bonus. Zis. We finished 7th with Rodent and half the 'B' team out for most of the season not so long ago. You big puff.

The obvious candidate has been Spurs for a while and apart from the their left side they are looking strong and the addition of Bent (Vastly overpriced he may be) will add some kick to their front line. I'm still not convinced by the goalkeeping of Robinson and King needs to stay fit. Aston Villa The honeymoon period is over and Ashley was a good signing, but I'm not impressed with Reo or Harewood and they struggled immensely at the tail end of last year. I don't think they will finish above us, most of the promise lacks experience and it will perhaps take one more season for MON to get closer to where he wants to be. Everton. No business in the transfer market and a team that is workmanlike but lacks goals. Top 10 at best. Manchester City For me are the dark horses and will surprise many under the astute stewardship of Sven who I would have had here if Allardyce wasn't available. Buys Ins: Geovanni (Cruzeiro, free), Rolando Bianchi (Reggina, £8.8m), Gelson Fernandes (FC Sion, undisclosed). In a recent interview Sven said that he was still looking to bring in two or three players. IMO Man City will run us close or finish above us. Top 8. Portsmouth. 'Harry has been buying buying and more buying they did well last year and will be a threat for a top 6-8 place again this year. Ins: David Nugent (Preston, undisclosed), John Utaka (Rennes, undisclosed), Arnold Mvuemba (Rennes, undisclosed), Sulley Muntari (Udinese, £7m), Sylvain Distin (Manchester City, free), Hermann Hreidarsson (Charlton, free), Martin Cranie (Southampton, undisclosed).

Whats your HP on that? A right back is the last thing we need, and Sven has already ruled out signing 30 somethings. Lazy tabloid Parky rumours

Sven has been buying cleverly the last couple of weeks. No doubt his Euro contacts and international days have helped. Man City are going to be much more likely to finish above us than WHam or Pompey.

One has broken his leg and the other has broken his face.

Thought Kewell was nailed on? I'd take SWP now. Though I imagine we'd have similar problems with his wages. Oh rest assured, you'll be siging Kewell as well. That move is yet to come, but it will happen.

Someone better than Carr thread.

Look out for Eduardo. Think he has the no.9 shirt.

A right back with flair and a high workrate, still enough in the tank for two seasons, depending on the price deffo worth a look. Salgado finds himself behind Sergio Ramos and Cicinho in the pecking order and although there have been denials from his agent I think he's on his way out. Sven seems to be one of the early suitors. "Miguel Ángel Salgado Fernández (born October 22, 1975 in As Neves, Galicia) is a Galician footballer, who currently plays in the right back position for Real Madrid of Spain. He is known for his combative tackling and attacking play."

Even if he gets back to close to his best where does he play? He isn't quick or tricky enough for a winger and Owen, Martins etc will be ahead of him in the pecking order for striking roles.

The way Sam works Luque will have every chance to turn it around. His runs off the ball for both goals were intelligent.

Troisi will graduate into the first team.

Luque finds yet another fiendish way to destroy the club.

Cheers. Looks like they're playing two or three reserves.