Yeah, I think they did, I remember watching a really good Valencia team down at Elland Road walk over Leeds in a Champions League Semi-Final tie.

I think the EPL has become more interesting in recent seasons, and the unknowns of Manchester City will help it for the time being until they buy their way to the title then either the owners leave or they just keep on buying.

Yeah, City, Spurs and Villa have helped the league by really putting presure on the big 4. Some may call it predictable, but how many leagues have a team who's made a few CL Finals in recent years finish 7th in the league? Strength in depth at the moment, the fact teams like Newcastle with the players they have can get relegated says alot.

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Personally very excited for our season. We've struggled at home in recent years because teams have just came and parked the bus, but playing 4-2-3-1 with Ashley in a free role worked wonders. It was only West Ham, but it was the same West Ham we couldn't beat last season. Away from home we'll be fine, teams can't cope with our pace on the break.

Oh, and a metion for the overly-criticised Downing, magic performance at the weekend.

Seeing as our record at Anfield has been pretty damn impressive under Wenger (3-1, 6-3, 1-1, 4-4 are all results from 2007 or later), that doesn't make much sense to me.

I thought Wengers post-match was pretty good considering you had a player sent off late on for no reason at all. He was in a very good mood and praised Liverpools defending, can't see where the problem is.

Raise a fin if you're surprised that Joey Barton got Newcastle's first yellow of the season.

jeez i was kidding lol. Whats with all the canadian hate over here jeez.

So Villa and sha are playing at home on the same night at the same time? How on Earth did this get past the WM police? It's just asking for trouble.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Aug 17 2010, 04:14 PM

Looks like Gallas is making the short trip to Spurs then. Not bad I guess for a free, but he's not the player he used to be and everyone knows about his attitude issues, that can at times hinder whole clubs. Spurs really need to make a couple of high-profile signings now to have a chance in Europe.

After all this time I am gonna bite and ask what sha stands for. I know it's your praising term for Brum, but I don't know what it means.

Gallas, imo, is an EPL quality defender and 'Arry's made a great signing there.

Hmm, maybe a few years ago. He's a bit injury prone now and his attitude has never been that great.

I mean tie him in with King & Woodgate and it could be calamitous for the Centre backs in terms of injuries.

Arsenal and Chelsea both with big 6-0 wins today. Wigan is in last place after two games with a -10 goal differential already.

This Chelsea is weird to see. It's like the footballing equivalent of a pack of wolves on National Geographic. They prance around you, they nip a bit, bare their teeth; but they're not really looking like they want to attack....and then at the slightest smell of blood they're on you..ripping you to shreds...after that it's rinse-repeat for the next prey err...team.

Carlo's loving England isn't he? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

Will be interesting to see how they play against the bigger teams. Though FWIW, if you go one down against the Pensioners, you're asking for it. I think only Mou-style negativity can counter Chelsea.

I would too. Being in the toughest league in the world to achieve results for 8 years; really does wonders for you as a coach.


In England he's having a blast because the league is so easy to exploit tactically that its like a day in the park for him.

He also has the perfect squad at his disposal (age, skill etc) plus he can add the players he wants w/o being told to use what you get; he's in heaven.


I'd have to say its almost not fair (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Aug 22 2010, 11:16 AM

And after Scolari and Mourinho..the management must feel like they're in heaven. A coach who doesn't want anybody! Wow!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

But the trouble is in the new generation. Can he really blood in Sturridge and Hutchinson and Kakuta?