Is it a bit early to start talking about the new season? Mascaroni says no, and although he is a Spurs supporter, I have to agree.
So let the wild speculation, trash talking, transfer rumor mongering, and general acquiescence to the greatness of ARSENAL FC begin.
New deal for Arsene? I hope so. Spurs have got Wanyama and Janssen. Mourihno and Guardiola ready to lock horns again in Manchester, Klopp to have a full pre season, Everton with loadsamoney, Chelsea back in the mix, West Ham - who didn’t have the rub of the green at the back end of the season - could be up there. And those pesky champions Leicester… I’d write them off, but I might regret it…
This season is like being back to the seventies, when a fair few number of teams could win it. I’m really looking forward to it.
Cheers Knorf, I’ll delay the open hostilities until August…
I have a strong suspicion (as many do) that this is Wenger’s last season at Arsenal, regardless of how we compete. I’ll be sad to see him go, for many reasons. For all he has done for the club, he deserves to leave on his own terms, in my opinion. I don’t agree that sacking him would in any way obviously improve Arsenal’s chance for silverware.
Mascaroni is certainly right that this coming season looks wide open. I’d be surprised if Leicester City can sustain another serious run for the trophy, but I didn’t think they’d be able to last year, either. I’m sure Arsenal will be in the mix, and with a bit less bad luck, who knows. Almost everyone agrees that the Gunners under-performed last year, especially against clubs who finished in the bottom half of the table.
Hopefully we won’t Spurs it up this season. Arsene is unsackable. He’s taken The Woolwich (Whoops… I was supposed to wait until August), I mean Arsenal a long way in his time. He seems to have ruled out the England job, but i think he would be a good fit.
I’m over the moon about the Janssen signing. I really like him. What do you think the odds are of Spurs landing Mario Gotse? Seems like crazy talk right?
Janssen looks like the real deal. Wanyama knows Poch from Southampton - neither Mason or Bentelab have really pushed on from their early promise, and I think he’ll be ideal with Dier.
Gotze? Would he leave Bayern for Spurs? I think probably not, but at 24 he fits the bill…
He wants out of Bayern and apparently the only suitors at the moment are Tottenham and BvB. That spurs are even in the conversation is hard for me to wrap my head around.
No idea what to expect from Everton this season, club’s been turned up side down. The new manager is a huge step forward in rectifying a tragic situation, and various transfers are up in the air (Axel Witsel would be v nice, class player). It all went extremely wrong for Roberto second half of last season. Seen a few terrible sides take to the park at L4 in my time, but never before witnessed a downing of tools - players just absolutely sick of him.
The majestic John Stones is basically gone to City, sadly, according to those ITK. The princely Romelu Lukaku may be staying, though - despite spending the last few months trying to arrange his next move. A massive price tag and Belgian Euro 16 ineptitude are hindering his ambitions.
How would he be in any way good for England? He’d be Capello Mk II - once brilliant manager, obviously past it and not massively arsed either way, calamity ensues.
Brilliant managers in their prime don’t take on national sides. So in lieu of getting someone actually good, England need a manager who brings clarity to the game - for the pressure cooker environment of major tournaments. A man manager who can inspire players individually, calm nerves and get the best out of people. And someone who personally has a point to prove with their management. SUMMON THE BIG SAM.
Even as a Spurs fan, I’ve got a lot of respect for Wenger. I don’t consider him to be washed up, and I think he could do a decent job for England - maybe we wouldn’t win, but we’d always get to the semi-finals…
Ireland might not have minded Jack Charlton taking them to the World Cup quarter finals, but I don’t think England supporters would put up with his style of football. We tried it with Graham Taylor. At least the World Hopscotch Champion got a few games…
There is no “Barclays Premier League” this year.
Koeman’s no mug. He took on a decimated Southampton team and kept them competitive. Maybe not top four contenders this season, but they’ll be back up there soon.
If you’re going to be pedantic, I’ll point out that the correct term is “season”, not “year”.
Leicester have not made any signings. Ominous.
Man U are trying to buy another title and Chelsea have Conte who is not a good fix for the Premiership.
Guardiola better have more than tikki taka in his playbook, since if there is one thing Euro’s showed is that possession football is dead dead. SO Sheikhy, who need to get rid of waste of Sterling ASAP and find a guy with less fragile legs than Kompany.
I expect great for Arsenal, and another Champions League place. KO by Barca in R16 is of course par for the course.
In Europe, frankly cannot see any English team challenging, except Man U in Europa (if Jose decides that it a worthwhile competition) and Leicester might spring a surprise in the Cl if they decide to play with no fear.
My bet? Jose wins title no 4 for Man U, with Zlatlan being this years Van Persie. Young talent is wasted/sold and next year United return to mediocrity. Del Bosque is hired the season after.
Ah, yes. I’d forgotten that the “Barclays” sponsorship expired and was not renewed. I just reflexively copied the previous thread title and changed the year. Apologies, all.
I’ll ask a mod to fix the thread title.
Edited the title as you asked.
Merci beaucoup!
Conte? I mean he’s left the job now but he is bloody good, definitely in his prime and was the Italian manager.
Isn’t it more that brilliant managers in their prime don’t take on the England job?
Of the last few World Cup winning managers
Lowe
Del Bosque
Lippi
Scolari
Only Lippi can be seriously called past his prime at the time of winning.
Out of curiosity, why have the Sponsor on the thread title in the first place? I can understand league partners needing to include Barclays, but IME fans tend to drop Sponsor names from discussion of these types of events. (Frequently comes up with college football bowl games in the USA.)
Fans always referred to it as “Barclays Premier League” AFAICT.
And in the US, they refer to the NASCAR championship as the Sprint Cup. So I think fans do refer to the sponsor when they say the league.