The 2006/07 Football Thread [Archive]

yinyang

07-16-2006, 07:05 AM

Well, the 2006 ended with Italy as World Champs, Chelsea on top of the EPL (thanks Roman!), Real Madrid nowhere to be seen and the Italian domestic league with its credibilty in tatters.

So what could possibly happen in the 2006/7 season, be it the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A or maybe even the Aussie A-League ;)

Whatever does happen, you can 'debate' it here, with our panel of experts drawn from all over the globe.

And if you think you can do a better job than those overworked and underpaid managers in the EPL, then join up here for a challenge...

Fantasy Premier League (http://fantasy.premierleague.com/index.html)

and then join the iLounge Utd League (145850-28663) for a game of not much skill or strategy, but a lot of luck :D

And if you haven't worked it out yet, this football (the REAL football) uses the round ball.....!!

zenith_kitten

07-16-2006, 07:26 AM

It will definately be an interesting season in the Italian Serie A. I was very surprised the head honchos of the Italian league made the decisions they did. I was surprised at their decisions especially relegating Juventus to the second division and starting on -30 points! I didn't think they had it in them to severely punish all those involved in the match fixing scandals.

I'm looking forward to the new season in the EPL. As usual Chelsea has acquired a galaxy of stars in the off season - Michael Ballack and Shevchenko. Hopefully Liverpool can carry on from the sort of form they showed in the final of the F.A cup and be serious premiership title contenders this year - go the Mighty Reds!

yinyang

07-16-2006, 07:59 AM

cool - another LFC supporter :)

with the new signings (Bellamy is a bargain compared to Kuyt) coming in, it looks like the team have better balance and depth, especially if we're going to challenge on all fronts again. though Ballack and Shevchenko are pretty good signings, and as ever it'll be Chelski that we'll have to keep up with, though it's always fun to remind them of Champs League 2005 ;)

Crazysah

07-16-2006, 08:30 AM

I am a huge Arsenal fan and I love playing Fantasy Premier League.
I for one don't think Chelsea or Man Utd will win it this season.

Kristiano

07-16-2006, 08:33 AM

C'mon Man United :)

yinyang

07-27-2006, 12:50 PM

for the liverpool fans who want the fixtures for 2006/7, and use iCal or Google calendar...

http://iCalShare.com/article.php?story=20060716094301789

not sure if you can import it into outlook....

yinyang

08-15-2006, 10:29 AM

New sesaon starts for the English Premier League on Saturday - good start for the Reds, beating Chelski :)

Not too late to join the iLounge Fantasy Football League (http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/table.mc?id=28663) :D

Jackus

08-15-2006, 02:19 PM

Hey folks.. I'll check this thread every now and then. :)

Up the gunners!

maddMorten

08-15-2006, 04:20 PM

I hardly see Man U. as a contender for...well...anything. Though they do talk a lot about being much better than Chelski...and so on. I too am hoping Liverpool will win...with a Dane on the team...Go Agger! :D

In Spain it's too close too call...with both RM and Barca buying off the Juventus-yard-sale. I hoping that neither wins, maybe the UEFA-Cup champs Sevilla have a shot.

Serie A is pretty dead to me. With Juve out why bother watching. I was a big fan, but now it's ridiculous. With a mediocre club like Reggina getting accused of match-fixing, it seems it is the only way to play football in Italy. And I'm seriously dissappointed in the fact that Nedved, Buffon and Del Piero are staying in Juve. Guess I wont be seeing them in any CL-matches :(.

Jackus

08-15-2006, 04:33 PM

iMacc

08-19-2006, 09:24 AM

Come on people, join the iLounge fantasy league and make worse teams than mine so i don't come last.....

Kris, fellow United fan speak up, speak up.

Jackus

08-19-2006, 10:34 AM

Well in Sheffield United so far.. just 10 mins..

Kristiano

08-19-2006, 10:58 AM

I hardly see Man U. as a contender for...well...anything.

Yeah that's what all the smart### Liverpool and Arsenal said last season too and who was the only team that pushed Chelsea? :rolleyes:

I'm interested to see how we'll do without RVN. This is the season we'll find out if Fergie's policy works or not.

It'll either be "You'll never win with kids" Part II or goodbye United.

I want Owen Hargreaves though!

Barca will win in Spain.. their squad is far stronger than Real's I believe.

That is dependent on if Ronaldinho can cast off his World Cup blues since he is the heart of the team. Real look stronger but I think they won't do well if they sell a midfield strongman like Gravesen. They have way too many strikers and I don't understand how you keep Robinho, Ronaldo, Raul, Baptista, Cassano and Van Nistelrooy all happy.

iMacc

08-19-2006, 12:16 PM

I'm sorry all, but i fancy Liverpool for the title this year.....

Kristiano

08-19-2006, 08:17 PM

We'll see how they do after that uninspired match yesterday.

Kristiano

08-20-2006, 11:33 AM

Hands down, best 20 minutes of football from Man United since that 5-3 comeback at White Hart Lane half a decade ago.

Provboy

08-21-2006, 03:51 AM

!!! What the hell happened to the Arse?!?!?!?!

It's a new stadium dammit! And they draw??????????? ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAR

Kristiano

08-23-2006, 06:04 PM

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer! :D

iMacc

08-23-2006, 06:31 PM

and chelsea lose.....

Kristiano

08-24-2006, 01:30 AM

Best Thursday morning of my life.

I'm in school now about to fall asleep because the match had to air at bleeping 3am.

yinyang

08-24-2006, 04:50 AM

well done Viduka :)

neb

09-01-2006, 05:31 PM

As the Middlesbrough supporter around here I can be rightly punished for the lack of celebrating, however I'm posting this after the crushing 4-0 home defeat to Portsmouth, of all teams. It has started as a season of ups and downs. One unlucky performance, one superb and one what only can be described as: toilet. Where is this season going to take us?

Well, things are looking up only ~48 hours after the Pompey game. Southgate has drafted in Woody and Huth to tighten the gaping holes in the defence. I cannot see how these can be considered a backwards step. I accept that Woodgate has had his problems which has lead to a limited impact on Spanish football. A chance for him to experience regular (providing he stays fit) first team football is a bonus for both Real and 'Boro.

I've always admired Huth for afar, and a bit taken aback when we signed him. I think it's a decent progressive signing despite the little inflated price tag - £6m. He's young, an international, and deprived of first team footy. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a red shirt but I wish we could play Monday night's game again.

Provboy

09-02-2006, 03:39 AM

now what can i watch during this no football weekend?

iMacc

09-02-2006, 09:53 AM

England Vs Andorra should be packed full of goals provboy

neb

10-06-2006, 04:01 AM

bump.......

yinyang

10-22-2006, 12:11 PM

not happy rafa....! :(

Kristiano

10-22-2006, 11:38 PM

WHAT A GOAL BY RIO FERDINAND!

I think United are really lucky, we have the best veterans in the Premiership and they're in amazing form. Giggs, Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer. They're as good as they were in '99.

Kristiano

10-28-2006, 11:59 AM

HE'S BACK!

Did we ever doubt him? :D

Provboy

11-19-2006, 04:26 AM

Great first touch by Rooney. (I watched the Man U game coz they weren'r showing the Arse game here) Man U seems to be on a roll, while Chelsea scrape by. Im just so frustrated about Arsenal not capitalizing on their games!!

Kristiano

11-26-2006, 12:56 PM

1-0 Saha!

Come on lads...

yinyang

11-27-2006, 05:37 AM

Ronaldinho's overhead goal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlzOUrEWPqg) against Villareal....pretty amazing :)

CocheseUGA

01-19-2007, 11:36 PM

Come on you Irons!

(Someone has to love them...and that someone is me)

Kristiano

01-20-2007, 08:01 AM

Irons who? ??? :p

CocheseUGA

01-20-2007, 02:08 PM

Irons who? ??? :p

12/8/06 :p

Err, 8/12/06 for you Brits. :D

Kristiano

01-21-2007, 01:59 PM

I feel ill. That was cruel, absolutely cruel.

CocheseUGA

01-21-2007, 02:22 PM

With our poor play, it's my only solace. :)

neb

01-25-2007, 12:36 PM

5-1!

Bolton who?

Kristiano

03-31-2007, 01:22 PM

Nobody, nobody can honestly say now that Manchester United do not deserve the title.

neb

03-31-2007, 06:33 PM

The team has played well Kris, most certainly.

However, as long as Christiano keeps persisting with the cheating behaviour they will never truthfully 'deserve' the title. Besides this is kind of acting which has led me to give up on football. I take little interest in what is happening with the game. The money being squeezed out of the pockets of the punters has hit a new extreme. The drive to be a top-four team, and stay there, has meant the league and cups are a formality. Also, it seems to have destroyed the international team as footballers place club above country.

Whilst I attended one of the Rugby Six nations games this winter I realised that the respect for officials, and each other as professionals, was something rugby players have in abundance. This is a showcase of respect, yet still a game. Until football and the Premiership start implementing some of the ideas emanating from the egg-chasers they cannot warrant any kind of respect from me. The fan are the 'losers' amongst all of this and the clubs have not realised this yet.

Jackonicko

03-31-2007, 07:41 PM

I'd far rather watch Reading or Portsmouth than Manchester United.

More guts, more passion, and more feeling.

neb

04-01-2007, 08:15 AM

I'd far rather watch Reading or Portsmouth than Manchester United.

More guts, more passion, and more feeling.

I would too Jacko. However, when you sit down to watch some football, be it a live game or a highlights package, quite often you will find that it is either Manchester United/Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool being shown. The league is that way inclined, and it's having pretty damaging results. The gulf between the top two leagues in this country is widening, and that cannot be good for competition. Yes, there are isolated cases whereby small teams come good (read: Bolton, Portsmouth and Reading) but they cannot maintain this type of consistency over a prolonged period. Their success stories will be replicated by teams of a similar stature next year, and the process will continue.

Kristiano

04-02-2007, 04:21 AM

I like Reading and I felt sorry for them when we beat them 3-2 but there is no one else that gives me the thrill of Man United.

Kristiano

04-10-2007, 04:46 PM

It's 4-0 at half time and this is absolutely amazing.

yinyang

04-11-2007, 08:40 AM

that was a pretty impressive display of football....i think the Roma goal was damn good as well, though you have to pity them.....losing 7-1 must hurt, especially in the quarter finals of the CL.

wonder what Liverpool will do to PSV at anfield.....! :)

Liverpool vs Man Utd for the final