2012/13 Premier League discussion thread. The Final Day and Off Season

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Lets bring her home!

[GSC]

He's out until January

[MIG]

Oh. Doesn't say that on the sight. Injured pretty bad then?!

[GSC]

Got a bad knee injury in the playoffs

[MIG]

Rubbish. Any other good shouts?
Anelka at £5.5m might be worth a gamble.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Premier League 12/13 is on tonight at 10:30 on Sky Sports 1 if anyone fancies a gander

[NickisBHAFC]

Legend find Olly, you legend!!! Sky Plus it when i saw this last mate!

Premiership years, best program ever!!!!

[The Special Juan]

I liked the bit where Man Utd won the title.

[Breadvan]

Is there any fantasy prem leagues going this season? Not much happening on the sports gaming page...

[MIG]

Is there any fantasy prem leagues going this season? Not much happening on the sports gaming page...

https://www.606v2.com/t46592-fantasy-premier-league-the-606v2-fantasy-league

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The Racing Post today had their fantastic 72 page Football Season Preview Pullout. I will go through and slowly read it, probably edit my post with the details of who finishes where according to them:

1st Manchester City
2nd Chelsea
3rd Manchester United
4th Arsenal
5th Tottenham
6th Liverpool
7th Everton
8th West Ham
9th Aston Villa
10th Southampton
11th Swansea
12th Newcastle
13th West Brom
14th Stoke
15th Fulham
16th Norwich
17th Hull
18th Sunderland
19th Cardiff
20th Crystal Palace

[Ent]

From what I've seen in pre season (which admittedly is the Barclays Asian cup) Sunderland wont be near relegation.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Pre season does mean very little, I remember our pre-season with Uncle Avram was full of wins and goals.

The guy does make the point that this side could either push top ten or be god awful, but their price makes them worth a look for relegation. I can see his point about some of the players, and outside of Fletcher they have lost their other two standouts from last year; Rose and Mignolet.

[Crimey]

I'd be surprised if Norwich only finish 16th, I think they're looking like a top outfit next year and while the last two years they've managed to avoid relegation with a much worse side I expect them to be comfortably mid-table.

I'm not sure about Sunderland, I think it depends on the success of their signings. On paper they are good, but I worry about them signing too many players with very little Premier League or even English football experience.

I am very surprised how high Aston Villa are, I don't think they've bought particularly well and although keeping hold of the likes of Benteke and Weimann is good, they had those players last year and still struggled.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Olly is definitely going to hate Didi Hamann; he tips Norwich for relegation and Ipswich to win The Championship

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I expect Ipswich to do well in the league next year, McCarthy is a top manager.

I don't think we'll get relegated. I realise we may not be that great, as the players look good on paper, but things don't always pan out. But I just don't see us being one of the worst 3 sides in the division.

But then we are usually the lazy pick for relegation

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I was surprised by West Ham, Villa and Sunderland.

Norwich I get. The author's point that 11th maybe flattered Nodge's season is correct in my view, especially with two wins against disinterested sides in West Brom and City late on; 2 of only 4 wins after Christmas. I think it also highlights the competitive nature of the mid table bunch nowadays. Really, a lot of those could completely swap around.

[Crimey]

I'm also surprised by 12th for Newcastle, unless they do some serious investment into the squad in August I expect a relegation fight and probably 15th or below.

[Guest]

We essentially lost 6-0,3-0 and then 1-0 in our last three home games last season. We only survived thanks to that gift of a win at the hopeless QPR. We've added nothing since. I would expect a relegation fight when you compare how our rivals have improved. Pinning my hopes on the new boys being dreadful and that could be the case.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I see the point Chris for sure, but I'd hope that Hughton has learnt his lessons from the 2nd half of the season. Our away form needs to get better for sure. I think he will have learnt his lessons, but I guess only time will tell.

Plus when Kei Kamara was the starting striker for most of the 2nd half of the season, you know we lacked quality (we should have invested in a striker in Jan, rather than makeweights in Kamara and Becchio).

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I love this pullout. Coutinho 16/1 most assists, Kone 5/6 to score 9 or more goals, Zaha 14/1 PFA Young Player of the Year

[GSC]

Depends. Can Norwich be as secure defensively without being as negative as they were last season? And if not can they get enough service? Hughton struck a poor balance last season.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well he sorted out the defence last year with his signings.

Hopefully he is sorting out the attack this and can strike that balance.

And hopefully Bradley Johnson won't play

[GSC]

He sorted out the defense by being excessively negative.

Same question for the likes of Kone and Benteke, can they match their exploits in teams not as gung ho.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He sorted out the defense by being excessively negative.

.... and by getting in good defenders, and actually coaching the defence (which is something that Lambert rarely did)

[Crimey]

I think Norwich played a bit more defensively because that was obviously where their strengths lay last year, forward-wise Norwich were really poor but they had a decent group of defenders so it naturally ended up playing to their strengths.

I actually think Norwich look really balanced this year, making some very clever signings.

[GSC]

Turner sux.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Turner sux.

Not as much as Barnett, Whitbread, Ward and co

[westisbest]

The Racing Post today had their fantastic 72 page Football Season Preview Pullout. I will go through and slowly read it, probably edit my post with the details of who finishes where according to them:

1st Manchester City
2nd Chelsea
3rd Manchester United
4th Arsenal
5th Tottenham
6th Liverpool
7th Everton
8th West Ham
9th Aston Villa
10th Southampton
11th Swansea
12th Newcastle
13th West Brom
14th Stoke
15th Fulham
16th Norwich
17th Hull
18th Sunderland
19th Cardiff
20th Crystal Palace

I'd be happy with 9th, after the last couple of seasons.
I think Cardiff will stay up.

Palace and Hull to be joined in the bottom 3 by either Stoke, or the baggies.

[westisbest]

Actually WBA will be ok.

So Stoke to join Hull & Palace.

[Crimey]

I think Stoke are a dark horse for relegation as well, they've haven't made any massive improvements to a squad that looked increasingly poor throughout the season, a lot of their key players are ageing and with a new manager after so long playing under a different one with a distinctive style may prove to be disruptive.

Saying that, I expect them to stay up simply because none of the promoted sides look good enough or have improved their squads enough to stay up. They look distinctively average.

[NickisBHAFC]

Palace to go down (i hope) with Stoke (Mark Hughes messed QPR up and he will do exactly the same with Stoke, rubbish manager) and Hull all for the drop. 

Man City to win the league, with Chelsea, United and Tottenham making up the Champions league spots.

[Crimey]

I still think all three promoted sides will go down this year, I know that seems like a lazy prediction, but if you look at the teams that you might expect to be down there in the relegation zone, most have made better signings than any of the promoted sides as well as having better squads already.

[NickisBHAFC]

I really liked the look of Cardiff last season though Crimey, even with the squad they had that won them the league last season, i can see that being enough to survive in the prem. They won the league with a few games to spare as well. They have added one class player, a couple more and they will 100% be fine.

[Crimey]

I really liked the look of Cardiff last season though Crimey, even with the squad they had that won them the league last season, i can see that being enough to survive in the prem. They won the league with a few games to spare as well. They have added one class player, a couple more and they will 100% be fine.

Reading and QPR both looked good in the Championship, but it wasn't enough. I won't pretend to have seen masses of Championship football last year but I just don't think Cardiff's squad is strong enough for the league. Particularly with only one, unproven but expensive signing having been made.

[GSC]

If you like watching Stoke you'll love Cardiff.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hmm bit strange, when Cardiff came to the AMEX, they knocked the ball around very well and kept it on the floor. 100% Wouldn't class them on Stoke standard. 

However they got outclassed at there place by us, but still they knocked it around well and kept it on the floor.

Not sure what Cardiff side you saw last season.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I am surprised Cardiff have basically gambled everything on a young Striker who looks a decent prospect. Theres a few freebies that would do good in that squad, and some players in other squads who havent fit in but would probably relish a move. 

Hughes isnt a bad manager. He did well everywhere else but QPR, and that club was a shambles, even the darling 'Arry couldnt help them

[The Special Juan]

I think Cardiff might have just about enough momentum to stay up, plus they will make some new signings. Heck, Norwich are still in the PL and we saw the calibre of player they orginally brough into the PL Palace haven't done anything yet and don't look anywhere near staying up but there's a month to go and Swansea stayed up after winning the playoffs so they have a chance. Hull..... I don't know. I couldn't name a single Hull player in all honesty. There certainly won't be the relegation battle we saw last year because a couple of those teams have improved greatly, especially Norwich. Fulham aren't safe either. The defence and attack are alright but they don't have a midfield.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think Cardiff might have just about enough momentum to stay up, plus they will make some new signings.  Heck, Norwich are still in the PL and we saw the calibre of player they orginally brough into the PL  

To be fair mate it was hardly amazing!!!

I mean our defence was this opening day away at Wigan

Martin---De Laet---Whitbread---Tierney

then ended up like this

Martin---Ward---Whitbread---Drury/Lappin

Looking back it's a frickin miracle we stayed up  

[mystiroakey]

Cardiff are a good team. I would put money on them staying up..

[Breadvan]

Cardiff along with palace and either hull or Newcastle are in my bottom 3 tbh. They've only bought a lad from derby co.

[GSC]

I don't think Hull and Palace are good enough, nor have PL calibre managers.

Like Mackay though, think Cardiff will stay up. Gut says this is the year Villa don't get out of it.

[mystiroakey]

Palace is injured mate. Wont be back for 4 months minimum

[mystiroakey]

Palace= murray

[westisbest]

I don't think Hull and Palace are good enough, nor have PL calibre managers.

Like Mackay though, think Cardiff will stay up. Gut says this is the year Villa don't get out of it.

 
We wont even be in it:)
 
I'll give everyone on here £100 if we go down.
Thats a promise.
 
Think we'll finish 10-12ish.
 
Ok so as has been said before, the players we bought are not exactly world class.
 
Someone said now that Benteke & Weimann are staying it wont really matter as we nearly went down with them last season.
 
I think both playes will be even better this season.
Players like Lowton who was quality towards the latter stages of last season will be better.
 
The sooner we get rid of Bent and fodder like Bannan.
Use the money to buy an attacking midfielder(which is what we need), we'll be fine.

[Luke]

Think we (Hull), will struggle but just Survive like the last time (1st season in premier before our spectacular implosion the 2nd year). McGregor is a good signing,Figueroa sound left back, and they both fill the positions we needed. Midfield okay nothing spectacular other than Koren, Need Graham to show his form of Swansea days.

Keep an eye out for Brady, and Chester both good young players, Boyd's talented with a great work rate.

[westisbest]

Brady is a quality player.

Hope to see him get more caps for Ireland.

[Crimey]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Mackay jump ships some way through the season, if say Martinez leaves Everton or a club around that level I can see Mackay jumping over which would be a bitter blow to Cardiff.

Westy, I do think you're being very optimistic about your chances next year, while 10th-12th isn't out of the question it'd take huge improvements from your squad to do that. One of the main criticisms levelled at the squad last year was the lack of experience, and that is still the case this year. I think the teams around Villa have improved more than they have as well.

[mystiroakey]

So Bale has made it public that he wants to join madird.

Surely the worst business deciusion ever leaking that out.

They will get 85 max and not 100 now!!

[TheCultOfPersonality]

No way is Gareth Bale worth 80mil. Madrid are fools for paying that kind of amount. However this will work out great for Spurs as they can expand their squad and buy 2-3 quality playerss for around 10-20m.

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