The 2007/2008 Football Season

[Undertaker]

I think you make some constructive comments.

However, Rob Jones isn't one of the better players at Hibs. We needed a physical presence and he supplied it but at times last season he struggled. He admitted so.

This league is obviously nowhere near the quality of the English Premiership but as Roy Keane would testify when he thought he was coming up for an easy time it's a tad underated.

So your a Hibs fan, then! Good to see other teams being followed on here. Although you need a keeper who can catch. I believe it was the Hibs keeper last season that cost me near on 400 notes because he made a howler against Hearts. There wasn't long to go either. I had it down as a draw if i remember right.

Dave

[kennym]

I think you make some constructive comments.

However, Rob Jones isn't one of the better players at Hibs. We needed a physical presence and he supplied it but at times last season he struggled. He admitted so.

This league is obviously nowhere near the quality of the English Premiership but as Roy Keane would testify when he thought he was coming up for an easy time it's a tad underated.

So your a Hibs fan, then! Good to see other teams being followed on here. Although you need a keeper who can catch. I believe it was the Hibs keeper last season that cost me near on 400 notes because he made a howler against Hearts. There wasn't long to go either. I had it down as a draw if i remember right.

Dave

Hibs season ticket holder.

We went through 3 keepers last season.. Absolute nightmare of epic proportions..

We've signed the Chelsea 4th keeper.. Fingers crossed..

[joncool5]

I'm hoping to consolidate in The Championship, I predict mid-table finish for the Seasiders! Leeds will have to battle hard if they're to get promoted from League One, if they show the same commitment as last season then they'll struggle.

What do you expect on the first day?

At Leicester, were not sure whats going to happen as yet, all we know is that it cannot get any worse. We do expect to beat Blackpool, even though they finished last season in tremendous form.

I'm not too sure, I'm hopeful we're catching you at the right time as your players will hopefully be getting to know one another while we've not broke up the team that got promoted. Money doesn't guarantee success and £2.5 mill on DJ Campbell is crazy!

[joncool5]

1. Sheff. Utd
2. Charlton
3. West Brom
4. Wolves
5. Coventry
6. Sheff Wed
7. Southampton
8. Cardiff
9. Colchester
10. Leicester
11. Watford
12. C.Palace
13. Preston
14. Ipswich
15. Bristol City
16. Norwich
17. Plymouth
18. Stoke
19. Burnley
20. Hull
21. QPR
22. Blackpool
23. Barnsley
24. Scunthorpe

I'd be surprised if we went down, we might have finished 3rd but were the best team to come up from that division in ages. I'm a bit concerned at the lack of signings but we appear to have signed goal scoring midfielders and those players that came up deserve a chance. Southend spent too much money and broke up the momentum last season, we're hopefully keeping ours.

[pet shop boy]

I'm not too sure, I'm hopeful we're catching you at the right time as your players will hopefully be getting to know one another while we've not broke up the team that got promoted. Money doesn't guarantee success and £2.5 mill on DJ Campbell is crazy!

Cambell cost £1.6m plus 500k if were promoted.

Ive seen 3 of our 4 friendlies so far, admitedly against lower league teams, but weve gelled ok so far, and in all our 4 games its been a complete mix of players.

Im alot more optimistic now, i can say this hand on heart, had we played these fixtures with last seasons squad, we wouldn't have played as good.

Martin Allen doesn't take any crap, for example, we played Hinckley united on tuesday, and one of our players was shattered around the 70th min, he gestured to Martin that he needed to come off, Martin wasn't having it and told him to get down and do 2 press ups, whilst the game was in flow, he did them and 5 mins later he was urging the other players to get stuck in, when the game was already well and truly won.

We have last seasons runners up, Birmingham's backbone of Ungotty, Clemence and Cambell. Cambell has averaged 1 gaol in 2 games at professional level, and an amazing 89 goals in 109 non league games.

What has Blackpool done in pre-season friendlies?

[Undertaker]

Martin Allen doesn't take any crap, for example, we played Hinckley united on tuesday, and one of our players was shattered around the 70th min, he gestured to Martin that he needed to come off, Martin wasn't having it and told him to get down and do 2 press ups, whilst the game was in flow, he did them and 5 mins later he was urging the other players to get stuck in, when the game was already well and truly won.

?

What player did he do that to? Not only is that ridiculous management, would he have done it to a top signing?

If a players wants to come off, you take him off because he is either injured/fatigued and needs resting, or he cannot be bothered, therefore no good to anyone.

Martin allen doesn't know what loyalty is. He has already walked out on 2 clubs in his short managerial career. He comes across as a complete idiot IMO. We will see if he proves his worth. With all that money spent, he will need to get it right quickly.

Dave

[pet shop boy]

What player did he do that to? Not only is that ridiculous management, would he have done it to a top signing?

It was a local Lestonian who is about 19/20. Martin new what he was doing, because last season our players got away with little effort, Stearman included. I watched him very closely after this, you could tell he was mentally very aware, after 5 mins, he was like a proper captain, rallying the other players, not wanting to give up, just like a top signing would do.

If a players wants to come off, you take him off because he is either injured/fatigued and needs resting, or he cannot be bothered, therefore no good to anyone.

But Stearman wasn't injured and he was able to carry on running. As captain for that game, he must take responsibility. Troops in Iraq go through harder conditions, no one says they cant take it.

Martin allen doesn't know what loyalty is. He has already walked out on 2 clubs in his short managerial career. He comes across as a complete idiot IMO. We will see if he proves his worth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/ ... ture.shtml

On saturday, in the first half against Notts co, we were 2-0 up and Martin was still demanding hard work from the players, so much so, i could see his face was beetroot.

With all that money spent, he will need to get it right quickly.

I fully expect us to beat Blackpool first game, palace and watford away after that, they are as tough a games as you can expect at this stage, anything like 4-6pts from 3 games is fine.

You can get 4-1 on Leicester finishing in the top 3, good bet.

[joncool5]

I'm not too sure, I'm hopeful we're catching you at the right time as your players will hopefully be getting to know one another while we've not broke up the team that got promoted. Money doesn't guarantee success and £2.5 mill on DJ Campbell is crazy!

Cambell cost £1.6m plus 500k if were promoted.

Ive seen 3 of our 4 friendlies so far, admitedly against lower league teams, but weve gelled ok so far, and in all our 4 games its been a complete mix of players.

Im alot more optimistic now, i can say this hand on heart, had we played these fixtures with last seasons squad, we wouldn't have played as good.

Martin Allen doesn't take any crap, for example, we played Hinckley united on tuesday, and one of our players was shattered around the 70th min, he gestured to Martin that he needed to come off, Martin wasn't having it and told him to get down and do 2 press ups, whilst the game was in flow, he did them and 5 mins later he was urging the other players to get stuck in, when the game was already well and truly won.

We have last seasons runners up, Birmingham's backbone of Ungotty, Clemence and Cambell. Cambell has averaged 1 gaol in 2 games at professional level, and an amazing 89 goals in 109 non league games.

What has Blackpool done in pre-season friendlies?

If we got you 10-15 games in the season I'd say you're obvious favourites but 1st game of the season anything can happen. I'm confident that Keigan Parker can cause your defence problems and if we sort out the Wes Hoolahan situation, he should give us some creative flair in the midfield that could be the difference.

In pre-season so far we beat Fleetwood Town 3-0 and are currently on a Latvian tour where we beat a Rigan team 5-0 but lost 2-0 to their champions Ventspilis on Saturday. We play Skonto Riga today and then play Wigan, Carlisle, Bury and Livingston.

I think that DJ Campbell is a risk but if you've got the money then he might do a job for you. I think Allen is a decent enough manager and doesn't mess about, you'll do well this season.

[joncool5]

Martin Allen doesn't take any crap, for example, we played Hinckley united on tuesday, and one of our players was shattered around the 70th min, he gestured to Martin that he needed to come off, Martin wasn't having it and told him to get down and do 2 press ups, whilst the game was in flow, he did them and 5 mins later he was urging the other players to get stuck in, when the game was already well and truly won.

?

What player did he do that to? Not only is that ridiculous management, would he have done it to a top signing?

If a players wants to come off, you take him off because he is either injured/fatigued and needs resting, or he cannot be bothered, therefore no good to anyone.

Martin allen doesn't know what loyalty is. He has already walked out on 2 clubs in his short managerial career. He comes across as a complete idiot IMO. We will see if he proves his worth. With all that money spent, he will need to get it right quickly.

Dave

I thought it was bad that he left Brentford to join Franchise FC, obviously the money talked. Saying that, there is bugger all loyalty in football these days and so it wasn't a total surprise.

[Kris]

From what I've seen of Martin Allen, he's a clear case of style over substance. People like him because he's a bit eccentric and a 'bit of a character' but the reality is he's not achieved anything in management yet. In each of the last three seasons, his teams (Brentford twice and MK Dons) have bottled promotion, which suggests he doesn't have the dressing room presence his persona would lead us to believe.

Having said that, I do think DJ Campbell is a good signing - he has fantastic pace and a great shot, and he was a bit unlucky not to get more games at Birmingham, where he faced some fierce competition up front.

[Blockhead]

Martin allen doesn't know what loyalty is. He has already walked out on 2 clubs in his short managerial career. He comes across as a complete idiot IMO. We will see if he proves his worth. With all that money spent, he will need to get it right quickly.

Dave

Make that 3 clubs.

He done the dirty on Barnet as well.

[pet shop boy]

If we got you 10-15 games in the season I'd say you're obvious favourites but 1st game of the season anything can happen.

Yes very true, i remember august 87, we'd just been relegated from the then div 1, at home to lowerly shrewsbury and we lost 0-1, Steve walsh sent off too.

I'm confident that Keigan Parker can cause your defence problems

No disrespect, but never heard of him. In our defence now, weve got Bruno ungotty who helped birmingham get promoted. Ashley chambers who helped watford get promoted and then just played in prem. Then we have, stearman, kisnorbo, macauley, kenton, maybury, all have played at this level for several years, plus 2 up n coming left backs, all to fill the other 2 positions, theres huge competition.

and if we sort out the Wes Hoolahan situation, he should give us some creative flair in the midfield that could be the difference.

Again, not heard of him, but we hadn't heard of Eastwood last summer.
We have birminghams last season player of the season Clemence, charltons kishishev and Sergio hellings from Ajax, Hoolahan going to threaten them?

In pre-season so far we beat Fleetwood Town 3-0 and are currently on a Latvian tour where we beat a Rigan team 5-0 but lost 2-0 to their champions Ventspilis on Saturday. We play Skonto Riga today and then play Wigan, Carlisle, Bury and Livingston.

Good results overall.
We play Partick thistle tomorrow and kilmarnock saturday, cheltneham tuesday then portsmouth, so kinda similar, be interesting to see how we both fair.

I think that DJ Campbell is a risk but if you've got the money then he might do a job for you.

Weve already payed the transfer fee and signed his wages contract

I think Allen is a decent enough manager and doesn't mess about, you'll do well this season.

Minimum top half, should make the play-offs, depending on the start, could make automatic.
I hope Blackpool do well, nice to see city old boy Grayson doing well. He was a player under Martin oneil and brian little, not surprising he's doing well. Maybe 10th.

I thought it was bad that he left Brentford to join Franchise FC

Martin said he resigned from Brentford because he felt he'd done all he could with the resources available. Click on the first link, 6 mins 20 secs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/ ... ture.shtml

[Undertaker]

It was a local Lestonian who is about 19/20. Martin new what he was doing, because last season our players got away with little effort, Stearman included.

Sorry, i'm not having that. If a player wants to come and there is nothing wrong with him, you simply substitute him and put him on the transfer list because he's not up for the challenge. Pre-season is about getting match fit and not risking your players to injury.

But Stearman wasn't injured and he was able to carry on running. As captain for that game, he must take responsibility. Troops in Iraq go through harder conditions, no one says they cant take it.

You are comparing the uncomparable. You cannot possible play a player who is exhausted. It's stupid and it's dangerous. Of course you are arguing that there was nothing wrong with him, i cannot see that being the case. He was probably carrying a knock and could easily run, like you said. Although he would be potentially making the injury worse.[/quote]

On saturday, in the first half against Notts co, we were 2-0 up and Martin was still demanding hard work from the players, so much so, i could see his face was beetroot.

Thats what every single manager demands from international level to amateur football on a sunday morning.

You can get 4-1 on Leicester finishing in the top 3, good bet.

Skybet offer top 4 placing. Even then, i think Sheff Utd will win it, followed by Charlton, WBA and Wolverhampton. I had Leicester in 10th but i think they will be higher with all that money spent.

No disrespect, but never heard of him. In our defence now, weve got Bruno ungotty who helped birmingham get promoted. Ashley chambers who helped watford get promoted and then just played in prem. Then we have, stearman, kisnorbo, macauley, kenton, maybury, all have played at this level for several years, plus 2 up n coming left backs, all to fill the other 2 positions, theres huge competition.

He's a good player but struggles to finish. Hoolahan is a dangerous player. I hope Leicester aren't as naive as you because they will get caught out if you think along those lines.

All those players you list, can apply to Leeds, for example. Infact, Leeds could list far better players who have played in the Prem. Result last season? = Relegated.

Dave

[Undertaker]

I'd be surprised if we went down, we might have finished 3rd but were the best team to come up from that division in ages. I'm a bit concerned at the lack of signings but we appear to have signed goal scoring midfielders and those players that came up deserve a chance. Southend spent too much money and broke up the momentum last season, we're hopefully keeping ours.

I hope they don't but apart from the Prem, going up to the Championship and surviving, is the most difficult. The Championship has at lease 10-12 clubs who wouldn't surprise anyone by getting promoted. Even Cardiff have a very strong squad now.

Dave

[joncool5]

I predict we'll finish 14th-16th, we'll do better than Bristol City and Scunthorpe. I agree that the division is getting stronger with the parachute payments but confident that we can upset a few teams along the way as we have some really good players in Shaun Barker, Ian Evatt, Keigan Parker (I agree that he needs to improve his finishing) and Wes Hoolahan along with experienced heads like Andy Morrell and Claus Jorgenson. I think the step up will be too much for some players but overall, we'll have enough to survive.