# UK football, season 2008/09, forecasts **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 7, 2008, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150 "2008-08-07T12:09:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/301 "2009-01-02T20:19:07Z")
And so it begins. Wayne Bridge signs for City šŸ™‚ Now then let me seeā€¦who else shall we buy? ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/302 "2009-01-03T15:46:59Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Now then let me seeā€¦who else shall we buy? Robert Earnshaw? šŸ˜‰ Cā€™mon Posh! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/303 "2009-01-03T16:28:12Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > And so it begins. > > Wayne Bridge signs for City šŸ™‚ > > Now then let me seeā€¦who else shall we buy? Ah, thatā€™s the way to make yourself a football powerhouse. Buy players the powerhouses donā€™t want. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/304 "2009-01-03T17:24:06Z")
Craig Bellamy and Joleon Lescott next on the shopping list, rumours say. Canā€™t say either would be the first name on my lips if I had infinite money. At least the distraction of the cup is out of the way now though, eh? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/305 "2009-01-03T17:30:07Z")
What a fucking disgraceful performance. Losing at home to Forest, my flabber is gasted We must now concentrate on winning the UEFA cup and , and, andā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/306 "2009-01-03T18:55:00Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Ah, thatā€™s the way to make yourself a football powerhouse. Buy players the powerhouses donā€™t want. :rolleyes: Indeed, he shouldā€™ve bought someone a powerhouse wanted. Like Andrea Dossena, the worst left back in the league. Bridge is a very good player, probably one of the top 5 left backs in the league, nothing wrong with going for him. 0-3 though, hawhaw. Hughes just isnā€™t up to it Iā€™m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/307 "2009-01-03T19:31:12Z")
> [@Dead\_Badger](#): > > Craig Bellamy and Joleon Lescott next on the shopping list, rumours say. Canā€™t say either would be the first name on my lips if I had infinite money. > > At least the distraction of the cup is out of the way now though, eh? Craig Bellamy will never hurt you to have, I donā€™t think. Iā€™ve always found him an impressive terrier. Always first to the ball, tremendous pace still, and irritating as all hell to the opponents. šŸ˜ƒ Buying the castoffs of teams that you are trying to catch ainā€™t gonna catch those teams. Thatā€™s a given. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/308 "2009-01-03T19:37:36Z")
> [@Discordia](#): > > Indeed, he shouldā€™ve bought someone a powerhouse wanted. Like Andrea Dossena, the worst left back in the league. > > Bridge is a very good player, probably one of the top 5 left backs in the league, nothing wrong with going for him. > > 0-3 though, hawhaw. Hughes just isnā€™t up to it Iā€™m afraid. Why is it Hughesā€™s fault? He can only pick the players available; he canā€™t _force_ them to play to their maximum capability. This looks far more like player under-performance than a team selection problem. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/309 "2009-01-03T20:27:30Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Why is it Hughesā€™s fault? He can only pick the players available; he canā€™t _force_ them to play to their maximum capability. This looks far more like player under-performance than a team selection problem. Absolutely. Iā€™m no fan of Hughes but he usually manages to build pretty effective teams if not very exciting ones. Heā€™s having to use players that were at the club already and probably not ones heā€™d have chosen himself. I think Man. City and Hughes deserve one another. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/310 "2009-01-04T09:51:19Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Why is it Hughesā€™s fault? He can only pick the players available; he canā€™t _force_ them to play to their maximum capability. This looks far more like player under-performance than a team selection problem. Managers in England have two jobs. First, buying the right players. Second, getting the most out of those players. Obviously, Hughes didnā€™t have much say in the first part, the players are mostly Erikssons, plus Robinho. The second part he has control over, and is failing miserably at. Other than Robinho, Ireland and SWP (maybe Iā€™m forgetting someone, no matter), City have been _awful_. The fact that at times theyā€™ve been brilliant simply condemns him more, because the players have shown they donā€™t suck, their manager just canā€™t get the best out of them. Or in short, player under-performance _is_ the managerā€™s problem. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/311 "2009-01-04T10:44:19Z")
What you are all failing to take into account is the fact that this is _Manchester City_ weā€™re talking about. A team well known for being erratic (and thatā€™s putting it mildly). The only team to have won the league one season and to be relegated the next. Relegated despite scoring more goals than any other team One week they play like a world cup winning side, the next they play as if a football is something theyā€™ve never seen before in their lives. If I wasnā€™t firmly convinced that the good days are just around the corner Iā€™d seriously consider shifting my allegiance to Accrington Stanley or Inverness Caledonian Thistle or Abergavenny Athletic or that powerhouse of international football, the mighty Annan Athletic. As an aside: Notice that Rochdale won 3-1 which puts them in the play-off places with a game in hand. ā€œUp the Daleā€ ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/312 "2009-01-04T12:46:22Z")
Go on **Chowder** , you beaut! Fortitude is a Blueā€™s strongest trait, next to their sense of humour. šŸ™‚ Now, fingers crossed, letā€™s hope The Red Devils can avoid falling at the same hurdle. Southampton have been a bit of a bogey side to us, and anything can happen in the FA cup. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/313 "2009-01-04T12:59:57Z")
You forgot resignation and sheer bloody mindedness. Red Devils? Are Salford Rugby team playing today? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/314 "2009-01-04T13:05:17Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > You forgot resignation and sheer bloody mindedness. > > Red Devils? > > Are Salford Rugby team playing today? [You know which ones!](http://www.wearyourbeer.com/images/Manchester_United_Red_Devils_White_Shirt.jpg) šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/315 "2009-01-04T15:27:11Z")
I know which ones alright. I refuse to type the name of such a misbegotten shower of shite. Innit? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/316 "2009-01-04T17:09:53Z")
Merseyside derby in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Should be interesting. City would have had Derby, who barely squeaked past Forest Green yesterday. I suppose the really good news for City is: they donā€™t end up going out to Derby instead. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/317 "2009-01-04T20:36:34Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Merseyside derby in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Should be interesting. > > City would have had Derby, who barely squeaked past Forest Green yesterday. I suppose the really good news for City is: they donā€™t end up going out to Derby instead. šŸ˜ƒ What a shame. Man U could have softened them up a little on Wednesday, to make it easier for them. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/318 "2009-01-05T18:47:38Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > We must now concentrate on winning the UEFA cup and , and, andā€¦ Iā€™d want them to concentrate on staying up rather than the UEFA. I was about to say that Cloughie must have been drunk in heaven this weekend. But given that it is Cloughie, he would have to be drunk all the time for it to be anything like heaven anyway. And take that you Gillingham bastards. Looks like we got a reasonably easy 4th round draw too, though it wonā€™t stop us from choking. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/319 "2009-01-05T23:43:58Z")
> [@villa](#): > > I was about to say that Cloughie must have been drunk in heaven this weekend. But given that it is Cloughie, he would have to be drunk all the time for it to be anything like heaven anyway. Ha. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150/320 "2009-01-06T08:08:53Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Iā€™d want them to concentrate on staying up rather than the UEFA. > > I was about to say that Cloughie must have been drunk in heaven this weekend. But given that it is Cloughie, he would have to be drunk all the time for it to be anything like heaven anyway. > > And take that you Gillingham bastards. Looks like we got a reasonably easy 4th round draw too, though it wonā€™t stop us from choking. I donā€™t think thereā€™s any danger of City being relegated. But you never know, this is City:D Innit? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-football-season-2008-09-forecasts/459150.md?page=17)