Premier League - 14/8, 15/8, 16/8

[RevDog]

14/8
Tottenham vs. Man City (Fox 3, Saturday 9.30pm)

Blackburn vs. Everton (Fox 1, Saturday 11.55pm)

Aston Villa vs. West Ham United (Fox 3, Saturday 11.55pm)
Bolton vs. Fulham (Viewer's Choice)
Sunderland vs. Birmingham (Viewer's Choice)
Wigan Athletic vs. Blackpool (Viewer's Choice)
Wolves vs. Stoke City (Viewer's Choice)

Chelsea vs. West Bromwich (Fox 3, Sunday 2.25am)

15/8
Liverpool vs. Arsenal (Fox 3, Monday 12.55am)

16/8
Manchester United vs. Newcastle United (Fox 3, Tuesday 4.55am)

All times are EST.

 

[moomba]

Getting excited about this already. We're not going to be at our best, but it will be great to see how the new players start out.

Doubts over Tevez, Silva, Boateng playing and the big question will be who gets the nod between Hart and Given.

I reckon we'll start with a 433, but we have so much flexibility in the side at the moment I could be totally off the mark. I'd take a draw if you offered it to me right now.

Hart
Richards Boateng Kompany Kolarov
De Jong Y.Toure Barry
Johnson Adebayor Tevez

Subs: Given K.Toure Lescott Vieira Silva SWP Jo

Bring it on.

 

[Knowledge]

What's wrong with Boateng moomba?

 

[moomba]

What's wrong with Boateng moomba?

Apparently got a cut on his knee that has become infected.

You'd think he'd be able to play with a jab or two, but he missed training on Friday.

 

[Crimson King]

Finally.

 

[Special88]

Getting excited about this already. We're not going to be at our best, but it will be great to see how the new players start out.

Doubts over Tevez, Silva, Boateng playing and the big question will be who gets the nod between Hart and Given.

I reckon we'll start with a 433, but we have so much flexibility in the side at the moment I could be totally off the mark. I'd take a draw if you offered it to me right now.

Hart
Richards Boateng Kompany Kolarov
De Jong Y.Toure Barry
Johnson Adebayor Tevez

Subs: Given K.Toure Lescott Vieira Silva SWP Jo

Bring it on.

Why would you play 3 holding type midfielders in the middle?
Wouldnt you at least put one on the bench and have someone with a bit more creativity or maybe a bit of run too on the left or right side of them?

 

[moomba]

De Jong is the only one I'd call a purely holding midfielder. Toure in particular will surprise a few I reckon. But we need a solid midfield because the it will allow the three up front and the two fullbacks a lot of freedom to get forward.

Also we're a bit limited just now with Silva only back in training and just back from Mexico and Bellend and Ireland having played their last matches for the club in all probability.

Personally I wouldn't play Barry, but Mancini seems to rate him.

 

[SebastianVettel]

But we need a solid midfield because the it will allow the three up front and the two fullbacks a lot of freedom to get forward.

I agree, but I don't think having three players who are almost all certainly classified as holding midfielders is going to be all that effective.

Tevez is certainly going to have to play almost a central role if you're playing all 3 of Toure, de Jong and Barry - otherwise the supply line to Adebayor just falls apart.

As an individual player, I don't rate SWP at all, but I think the team would function better with him in it, instead of one of the holders - probably Barry.

As you say, you are limited in terms of options at present, but I'd be tempted to almost play a 4-4-2 and really get at Spurs. With de Jong and Toure in midfield, you'd certainly cover Tottenhams central midfielders in terms of abilities and qualities, and even if they opted for a 3 man midfield, I think you could still get by - and have an advantage in other areas.

 

[Coledinho]

We have already been screwed by the injury bug and we havnt kicked a ball yet. Hitzleberger out for 6 weeks, been by far our best player this pre season. Behrami is out with a case of sooky la la, Winton Reid is crocked. Collison, Hines, Kurucz, Gabbidon are all out till New Year to it seems. Probably play a 4-2-3-1 like

Green
Faubert Upson DaCosta Ilunga
Noble Parker
Barrera Dyer Diamanti
Cole

 

[apollo_creed]

Gee, some people are seriously understating Yaya's capabilities.

 

[Coledinho]

Gee, some people are seriously understating Yaya's capabilities.

If Yaya scores, Kleenex sales will rise by 200% and lube sales will fall by 500% (Yaya is all the lube a man needs)

 

[meh]

Gee, some people are seriously understating Yaya's capabilities.

Great call, the man is a colossus.

Ripping weekend, every game is intriguing in it's own way, except Wolves v Stoke, that game can go eat an arseh*le.

Bring it on.

 

[Coledinho]

Great call, the man is a colossus.

Ripping weekend, every game is intriguing in it's own way, except Wolves v Stoke, that game can go eat an arseh*le.

Bring it on.

Id rather watch paint dry than Bolton vs Fulham TBH. Ive also got the exclusive teamsheet for Man City tonight, playing a 4-3-1-2

Yayas right testicle, Yaya Toure, Yayas left testicle
Yayas 11 foot schlong sponsored by Armored hotdogs

 

[Crimson King]

Ah, it's the opening day.

There's bound to be some upsets + goals.

 

[Coledinho]

Ah, it's the opening day.

There's bound to be some upsets + goals.

You have just guaranteed a Alan Smith header in the 91st minute for a 1-0 victory

 

[Crimson King]

Sheeeeeeeeeit.

 

[Coledinho]

You will cheer the goal as if it was a Rooney winner though

 

[Crimson King]

You will cheer the goal as if it was a Rooney winner though

Not as much as FC, though..

 

[Dagger5]

Come on Spuds!!! Keano to tear City a new one.

 

[Coledinho]

City should win this. Tottenham havnt had the best pre season and come the 70th min if its locked up the firepower City bring on will have BAE peeing his shorts.

 

[moomba]

Come on Spuds!!! Keano to tear City a new one.

Awww bless.

Our very own "Anyone But City" brigade.

Fantastic.

 

[Duncan Disorderly]

We're in the best position we have been going into a league season since the title winning side of 86/87 IMO.

Everybody is fit and seems to have played well during pre-season, while Blackburn have signed only Diouff and haven't been performing in pre-season.

This wouldn't be my line-up but it is what Moyes will select IMO

Howard
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Rodwell
Billyaletinov Arteta Osman Pienaar
Cahill
Saha

I would like to see Heitinga for Distin, Fellaini for Osman and Anichebe for the Russian lad.

 

[r dub 19]

Interested in the scum vs scum game.

 

[Special88]

We're in the best position we have been going into a league season since the title winning side of 86/87 IMO.

Everybody is fit and seems to have played well during pre-season, while Blackburn have signed only Diouff and haven't been performing in pre-season.

This wouldn't be my line-up but it is what Moyes will select IMO

Howard
Neville Jagielka Distin Baines
Rodwell
Billyaletinov Arteta Osman Pienaar
Cahill
Saha

I would like to see Heitinga for Distin, Fellaini for Osman and Anichebe for the Russian lad.

Pick one for the bench champ

 

[Duncan Disorderly]

We have already been screwed by the injury bug and we havnt kicked a ball yet. Hitzleberger out for 6 weeks, been by far our best player this pre season. Behrami is out with a case of sooky la la, Winton Reid is crocked. Collison, Hines, Kurucz, Gabbidon are all out till New Year to it seems. Probably play a 4-2-3-1 like

Green
Faubert Upson DaCosta Ilunga
Noble Parker
Barrera Dyer Diamanti
Cole

That could still be an okay line-up IMO.

If Ilunga and Upson play like they did the season before last then I can see you keeping a clean sheet. Noble and Parker will provide considerable protection to that back four.

In attack is where you will have problems. Cole can't do it all on his own and I think Diamanti's best football is played away from a flank.