The new season

[Mikhail Chigorin]

I'm aching for the new season to start in this blisteringly hot, cricket playing summer, but I'm just wondering how events will unfold for us in the forthcoming campaign and what we would hope/settle for, in terms of success.

We'll be starting the season with some new players who will have to become accustomed to our style of play pretty quickly and, added to this, we've some injury concerns before we even kick off proceedings.

Our competitors have also changed and strengthened :-

Butthead might be able to re-galvanise the Scum to put their abysmal efforts of last season behind them.

We all know that Rodgers is a managerial and tactical genius and he could prove to be the most astute operator in the transfer market....or not.

Pochettino might be able to work his magic on the good players that Spurs already have, irrespective of any more who might go to that Club.

Arsene Whinger SHOULD have finally improved his perpetual fourth place chasing outfit with the money he is finally having to spend and then there's Chelsea who will be far stronger than last season now that Mourinho is sorting his squad out and getting them playing to his requirements. He'll also be desperate to get 'revenge' against his old opponent Pellegrini, for putting him in the shade, last season, with the terrific achievements our Chilean maestro clocked up.

Moreover, Chelsea could well be the favourites to take the title, at least with the 'bookies'.

We will still be the team to beat, although I just hope our Manager doesn't suffer some sort of second-season syndrome and we fail do ourselves justice in defending our title.

On that basis, my own hopes for the new campaign would be that we continue to play the same, attacking football as per last season and I would like us also to be the leading goalscorers. I'd like a decent run in the Champions League and to improve upon previous records and, moreover, not to go out of our two domestic cups at too early a stage, although taking the opportunity to 'blood' some of our younger players in those games.

Overall, if we play with style, skill and creativity I'll be happy and if any trophies come our way at the end of all this, then that's an extra blessing.

[DoomMerchant]

Quadruple or Die.

Cheers

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Champions league please. Only thing we've not won and would be the ultimate way to put this club on the world map.

[Ted Hughes]

It depends if we can reignite the passion, straight after the World Cup.

Our rivals have strengthened in attacking areas whereas we have been more practical. Strikers etc inspire, defenders don't. But Jovetic is almost a new signing in that respect. I would also like to see one or two of the kids involved in attack, it gives everyone a boost.

[ashton287]

At this stage a trophy is a must. Whichever one, we just have to win a trophy and keep the momentum going. Win the league with a bit of breathing space (I fancy a bet on winning it with 2 games left).

More clean sheets. Better showing in the champions league, go and attack no matter who we play and don't fuck with our style and get bummed like last year.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

At this stage a trophy is a must. Whichever one, we just have to win a trophy and keep the momentum going. Win the league with a bit of breathing space (I fancy a bet on winning it with 2 games left).

More clean sheets. Better showing in the champions league, [b]go and attack no matter who we play[/b] and don't fuck with our style and get bummed like last year.

Exactly.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Quadruple or Die.

Cheers

Nothing, if not forthright; which is exactly what we would expect from you, Doomie.

Without being unduly pessimistic, IMHO next season is shaping up to be very, very hard and actually winning anything could well take some doing.

The League itself might be an absolute street-fight and the brawlers and bruisers of this world (Chelsea ??) might be the ones who are most successful. In the Champions League, it could well be 'dog eat dog', with sides lining up to ambush us at every turn.

When all is considered though, it could well be a rivetting and enthralling season.

[Dameerto]

I'd pick us in a street fight against Chelsea, especially if Mangler actually signs (or we get the ok to tell everyone he has signed). I see it being a difficult season for everyone too though, in an ideal world we would get past the last 16 in Europe and defend our title and I would be happy beyond measure with that.

[Tesl]

I just want us to win the league again, that's the only competition I *really* care about.

Any other trophies would of course be welcome, but I really hope we don't cause harm to our league campaign by over prioritising the CL.

[ruralblue]

On a simular thread last year I put the demand of 'the league and a cup or I'm off to support Yeovil'. Pellers obviously read my comment so this year please I would like the same but with a semi final un the champions league.

[Slim]

I want 6 points from Sunderland, also both wins to be 10-0 or better and to send them down no matter when the match comes up.

Also the double over Everton would be nice.

As for our competition, Chelsea will be the real challengers this season I believe, Liverpool cannot possibly be that lucky with injuries again this season and Suarez gave them a level of consistency they won't find with Sturridge and Lambert. Arsenal might sneak third but in all honesty, who else is waiting for "when" they shoot themselves in the foot and not "if"? The rags are not nearly as poor a side as we'd like to believe or Moyes made them look last season, nor are they as good as Bacon made them look two seasons ago, I think they'll make the top 4 a close run thing but can't see Liverpool dropping that much. Spurs will fade away now they have spunked away the Bale money and finish a distant 6th with Everton and Stoke(yes, Stoke) close behind.

[ant london]

It's going to be an interesting season.

After seeing that last friendly I am very excited....esp if we do not sign/do not send on loan the Nigerian kid, Zucchini and a couple of others. Like someone else said further up the thread, I can also see some of these youngsters getting some games thie year and I think I can't wait to get behind them. It DOES make it more exciting seeing some real prospects get a crack at the first team.

What's the craic with Pozo btw? Does anyone know if he's back fit.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Pellegrini is going to pull another "Nasri" improvement out of one of our peripheral players.....someone like Sinclair


I can't wait for it all to start.

[Ted Hughes]

It's going to be an interesting season.

After seeing that last friendly I am very excited....esp if we do not sign/do not send on loan the Nigerian kid, Zucchini and a couple of others. Like someone else said further up the thread, I can also see some of these youngsters getting some games thie year and I think I can't wait to get behind them. It DOES make it more exciting seeing some real prospects get a crack at the first team.

What's the craic with Pozo btw? Does anyone know if he's back fit.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Pellegrini is going to pull another "Nasri" improvement out of one of our peripheral players.....someone like Sinclair


I can't wait for it all to start.

Pozo, I believe, has just recently started serious training again (spotted in the background on a video I think).

If the Count pulls a rabbit out of the hat with Sinclair then he is a true genius but you never know. I like the look of Boyata so far. He is trying to be decisive & commanding rather than the frightened mouse look we have seen in recent seasons.

Re Slim's mention of the rags: I had them down for top 4 but I've just seen their game v Roma, & if that was City I would be terrified. They actually looked much worse than Moyes' team. Early days but fucking hell. Van Kneck is blaming the air inside the stadium for their lack of passing skill.

[Bianchi on Ice]

A proper title defence this time. A QF place minimum in the CL, after that, who knows. If we get that and the scum finish 5th I'll be mildly delighted. I should be beyond caring what that shower of shit does by now really but this pre-season those cunts had a chance just to shut up and get on with preparing for this campaign without any brainless posturing and their media chums gobbing off...but no, they couldnt resist. I fucking despise them.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Besides winning the league of course I very much wish for someone of those who have been here a while now, like rodwell or Sinclair or Boyata to make a leap forward. With all three players it feels a bit like wanting water to turn into gold through will power but they all obviously have something, otherwise they never would've come here in the first place.

Fernandinho top scoring midfielder in the team

Dzeko scoring the most goal in the league

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I would like to retain the league title more than anything, just because it's so incredibly difficult to do.

[Moonchesteri]

I just want us to win the league again, that's the only competition I *really* care about.

Any other trophies would of course be welcome, but I really hope we don't cause harm to our league campaign by over prioritising the CL.

Ditto. Though I do want another day at Wembley!

[ant london]

I would like to retain the league title more than anything, just because it's so incredibly difficult to do.

Me too....I want us to ram it down the throats all those journalist cocksuckers who do everything they can to knock us and belittle us.

I saw us referred to in the paper the other day as "last season's champions". I'm sorry, call me paranoid, but the munes NEVER got that. Always "the champions". Cunts

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I would like to retain the league title more than anything, just because it's so incredibly difficult to do.

Me too....I want us to ram it down the throats all those journalist cocksuckers who do everything they can to knock us and belittle us.

I saw us referred to in the paper the other day as "last season's champions". I'm sorry, call me paranoid, but the munes NEVER got that. Always "the champions". Cunts

'Reigning Champions' is the usual description. The media are certainly hurting - let's hope it continues.

[sheblue]

Now with pelligrini a season under his belt things should be more settled so less silly away defeats in the league, and not handing chelski 6 points will help us retain title.
A CL is win probably too much for this team.