Delima

Well done Chopra. Chopra not good enough bla bla bla bla. Spurs breaking into top 4 bla bla bla bla (by starting Taino, Jenas, Stalteri bla bla bla bla ) Spurs have the best quartert of strikers bla bla bla bla. McShane Championship standard Man Utd discard bla bla bla bla. Championship players automatically not good enough for Premiership bla bla bla bla. Spurs having an excellent pre season bla bla bla bla.

Well done Chopra. Chopra not good enough bla bla bla bla. Spurs breaking into top 4 bla bla bla bla (by starting Taino, Jenas, Stalteri bla bla bla bla ) Spurs have the best quartert of strikers bla bla bla bla. McShane Championship standard Man Utd discard bla bla bla bla. Championship players automatically not good enough for Premiership bla bla bla bla. Spurs having an excellent pre season bla bla bla bla.

How is that bulllshit? Just because you think we would never sign him doesn't mean that the news is false. Think before you write

When you look at the bottom teams (my opinions of course), you will see that they have the quality we will normally assume as midtable. This season's Premiership will be the best and the most exciting ever, with so much new elements, new quality players. There will be huge disappointments, there will be flops, there will be the unexpected. But it will never be dull. And yes, I enjoy the big 4 infighting dog eat dog back stabbing money throwing rat race. Bolllocks to the big 4 boring theory. Commonnn big 4 the bitch slapping amongst you can't be anymore entertaining. And then the ambitious 4 - Newcastle, Spurs, Sunderland and Man City. And then the money wasting 4 - Portsmouth, Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham. And then the conservative 4 - Everton, Reading, Blackburn, Middlesbrough. And then the doom and gloom 4 - Wigan, Bolton, Derby, Birmingham.

1. Manchester United Van Der Saar Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs Rooney, Tevez 2. Arsenal Lehnman Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky Van Persie, Eduardo 3. Chelsea Cech Ben Haim, Terry, Cavalho, A.Cole Ballack, Essien, Lampard J.Cole, Drogba, Malouda 4. Liverpool Reina Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Risse Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Kewell Torres, Kuyt 5. Newcastle United Given Martins, Viduka N'Zogbia, Barton, Emre, Milner Enrique, Rozenhal, Taylor, Geremi 6. Everton Howard Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines Arteta, Cahill, Jagielka, Fernandes, Pienaar Johnson 7. Tottenham Hotspur Robinson Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Bale Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque Berbatov, Bent 8. Blackburn Friedel Emerton, Samba, Nelson, Warnock Bentley, Mokoena, Dunn, Pederson Santa Cruz, McCarthy 9. Manchester City Isaksson Richards, Corluka, Dunne, Garrido Geovanni, Elano, Fernandes, Petrov Bianchi, Bojinov 10. Portsmouth James Lauren, Campbell, Distin, Stefanović Muntari, O'Neill, Mendes, Taylor Kanu, Nugent 11. Sunderland Gordon Halford, McShane, Norsworthy, Wallace Edwards, Whitehead, Etuhu, Richardson Chopra, Mido 12. Aston Villa Carson Cahill, Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma Petrov, Reo Coker, Barry Agonbanlor, Carew, Young 13. Reading Hahnemann Murty, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Shorey Seol, Harper, Faé, Hunt Lita, Doyle 14. West Ham United Green Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney Ljunberg, Noble, Parker, Boa Morte Bellamy, Ashton 15. Middlesbrough FC Schwarzer Young, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor Sanli, Cattermole, Boateng, Downing Yakubu, Aliadiere 16. Fulham FC Niemi Volz, Baird, Knight, Konchesky Cook, Davies, Smertin, Bouzza Healy, Kamara 17. Birmingham Doyle Panarby, Ridgewell, (Martin) Taylor, Queudrue Kapo, Johnson, Muamba, de Ridder Forsell, O'Conner 18. Bolton Jaaskelainen Hunt, Meite, Faye, Samuel Teymourian, Nolan, Alonso, Wilhelmsson Anelka, Diouf 19. Derby Bywater Mears, Griffin, Davies, Todd, McEveley Oakley, Jones, Barnes Earnshaw, Howard 20. Wigan Kirkland Taylor, Hall, Bramble, Kilbane Valencia, Brown, Koumas, Landzaat Heskey, Sibierski

For example? (strikers still in the market) Moyes has learnt the lesson the hardway, and he is rather conservative nowadays. Gone are the days when he gambled big on foreign less known players (and failed unfortunately). If he is willing to pay big you can expect that his signings are going to work (Lescott, Johnson, Jagielka, Baines). If he isn't sure he will try the loan route (Arteta, Fernandes, Pienaar, Howard). Credits to him for holding out his nerve despite under severe doubts and critisms from Everton supporters.

If Yakubu doesn't join Everton, who will spearhead your attack? Andy Johnson is subject to injuries, Victor Anibeche is still very young, and James Vaughan, the biggest talents of all, is always crocked. Even James Beattie has departed, albeit for outrageously good money.

Anyone has the weblink for the football club plan - created by a Fulham fan - which everyone can sign up and contribute some money (250pounds I believe?) to buy and manage a club collectively? Thanks in advance for the link.

With so many Fantasy Leagues bouncing about, surely you have joined one? So what's your dream team? I signed up to one league (based on The Sun) in my workplace, and I am not allowed to make any change throughout the season. What's your reasons of picking your players? The following are my players and the reasons of selections. These players are also the players I think will do very well in this season. Scott Carson (Liverpool) - On loan at Aston Villa, courtesy of Sorensen's injury. In fact Carson is already better than Sorensen, and when Sorensen recuperates I wouldn't expect Carson to be dropped. He has already been challenged by MON to be England no. 1 keeper (no way, he is still not as good as Ben Foster), clearly MON sees a lot in him and wants him to feature heavily. He scored 100 for Charlton which conceded a lot of goals last season. At 2M for Aston Villa, a defensively better side, he represents value for money. Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - Defensively still suspect at times, he is a great engine down the left however. His crossings and overlappings have contributed to many goals and with Heinze frozen up this season, he has all the world in front of him. Christopher Samba (Blackburn) - Not the best defender around, but he is a regular for Blackburn and with Blackburn playing in UEFA Cup he will earn quite some points without costing too much money. My worry for him is that with Ooijer coming back this season, anad with Ryan Nelson the skipper, which 2 will Mark Hughes prefer? Joleon Lescott (Everton)- I expect him to takeover Alann Stubb's postition. Stubb contribured enormously last season but he is slow and old. Lescott has demonstrated that he is equally adept at both left back and centre back. He will definitely be a regular this season and again with Everton playing in UEFA Cup I expect quite some points from him. Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - Had had his share of injuries last season, maybe this season he won't be that unlucky? When fit one of the best left backs in the world. I am worried about his fitness, but I am willing to take the risk. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) - Surprisingly cheap at 5.5M, definitely one not to miss. Hasn't scored enough goals but towards the end of last season he started to show more willingness to have attempts on goals. He should keep improving and might have a free scoring season ahead of him. Geremi Nitjap (Newcastle United) - 2M! The star player in our pre season. Would have prefered to have him as right back in my team but the Sun classifies him as midfielder. Still, at 2M he is a snipp. He is a dead certain starter for us. If he isn't playing as right back he must be playing as midfielder. Don't expect him to score many goals but expect him to make a few assists. 2M, definitely defintiely loads of value for money. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - Expensive at 8M. But hell he is a goal machine and king of assist. Rafa has indicated that he will play Gerrard more centrally this season. And Gerrard should be even more motivated now that he has Torres, instead of Crouch, playing in front of him. Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) - As pointed out many media and fans alike, despite his injuries last season he still finished as top scorer in Arsenal. Has looked very sharped in pre season and now that Henry has left, he doesn't need to live in anyone's shadow again. He is a stubborn competitive character who should relish being the main striker of the team. Originally I had wanted to play Da Silva, but I have spare change and wasn't sure if Da Silva could start scoring immediately. Darren Bent (Tottenham Hotspurs) - He guarantees goals, simple as that! He has scored a few goals in pre season. Even if he face fierce competitions from Keane and Defoe Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - I am in the bandwagon believing that this coming season will be his best season yet. He's shown no sign of fatigue, and has looked very eager and enthusiastic in pre season. Some have doubt that if he could adapt to life as frontline striker, but however bad form he was in last season he still scored about 20 and contributed many other assists. I don't think Fergie would be stupid enough to strictly confine Rooney to a lonely role up front. And I have every confidence that he and Tevez would form a deadly partnership. Special mention - Michael Chopra (Sunderland). He is now the main striker of Sunderland, he will certainly score quite some goals. Many people here don't rate him, but many of the goals he scored last season were classy goals, and yet he earned his reputation by being a predatory striker. Fact is apart from not being a good dribbler like David Nugent, he has shown that he is an all round striker who could find goals in various situations (Ok it is only Championship I know). Would have wanted him in my team but he is too cheap and I want to spend all my money!

Yakubu is a good player. He will Guarantee goals for you whatever you think about him.

Kevin Nolan and Phil Gartside's "Bolton's success is not down to Sam Allardyce."

Sheffield United Paddy Kenny Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith Lee Hendrie, Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery, Keith Gillespie Stephen Quinn James Beattie, Billy Sharp Rob Hulse, Luton Shelton, Danny Webber, Jon Stead, Christian Nadé Under Neil Warnock, with detailed plan, a united squad and plenty of effort, the team is relegated courtesy of lack of conentration. It is a talentless (Jagielka, Gillepsie and Shelton excempted) but hardworking squad. Now with Robson in charge, without the detailed planning you wonder if they could punch above their weight? Why do they purchase Beattie for a whopping 4M when they have many decent Championship strikers? Surely Rob Hulse could do better than Beattie? And Shelton? Let him rot in the reserve after some good cameo last season? Bryan Robson, however natural a leader he is, has fallen out with important players in the history of his management. With a large squad I wonder if he could keep the squad united. My bet is for West Brom, Watford and Charlton to get promoted. Boothroyd has not bought as well as I would think but I still think they could get promoted.

Anyone else like me think that a Championship medal is a certainty for West Brom? Dean Kiely Paul Robinson Leon Barnett Curtis Davies Miguel Tininho Carl Hoefkens Martin Albrechtsen Zoltan Gera Robert Koren Jonathan Greening Ronnie Wallwork James Morrison Kevin Phillips Sherjill MacDonald Craig Beattie Nathan Ellington If they play in Premiership I think they might just survive relegation.

Lucho Gonzalelz? He seems to be available for transfer.

he didnt go to a s*** league to manage the best team in it, he went to a team that had seen its moneyed neighbour win everything year on year, and with practically no money to spend, turned it around. And who said anything about world football or top 20 in the world? And as for trophy-in-the-cabinet achievements, a lot more than most other managers managing in the PL On O'Neill in Celtic. He didn't have nowt to spend. He consistently outspent the Rangers manager, massively. It is Alex McLeish who had nothing to spend yet keep Rangers on a par with Celtic in terms of silverware.

Skysports

Baines has been signed for Everton

Why would Leighton Baines fail his medical? Even if he has injury I would imagine it to be a minor one.

If you are the manager, will you rather spend nothing and buy nothing or spend over the odd and get quality (or perceived to be) players who could give you a real chance of staying up? Sure Sunderland have spent considerably on a few players. But I don't think they are overbudget yet. If I recall correctly every team will earn 30M at least this year!? While the momentum is with them, Sunderland might as well spend all these 30M on new players. Even fi they go down they will still be secure fiscally. More establised teams with more established players, vast contact book, vast experience might have the gut and ability to stick with current players or freebies, hoping that they could skip this crazy spending time and save it for the future. But for teams like Sunderland, Derby and Birmingham, it is now or never. Never has it been better time to spend crazily, given the guaranteed windfall they will receive. And I think it is also extremely daft people keep comparing every transfer with the bargain in the same compartment.

Who is going to play on the left? SWP or Lennon?

for 4 millions? I think it is steep for a squad player. If the people complain so much about 5m on Chopra, a major signing for Sunderland, then 4m for Harewood is quite expensive. But if you have the money you might as well spend it. You won't bring success by keeping it in the bank.

The impending transfer of Youssi Benayoun to Liverpool? (Julien Faubert) The impending transfer of Nigel Reo Coker to Aston Villa? (Joey Barton)

You have something against the Gypsy?

Football365 is equally bad. Didn't read all the palacio related report but both BBC and The Guardian have clearly suggested it is transfer gossip and report from Argentina respectively. They are perfectly right and accurate. Those who lump BBC + The Guardian with The Sun are not right to do so, and by jumping the gun at first chance at the national media without base they are as bad as The Sun.

Is him a winger? So he will be a replacement for Benayoun?