Football season 2015/16
Posted by: MDS on 02 August 2015
Well the new season beckons, though I see some unfortunate clubs have been playing Europa League qualifiers already (no summer hols for the Hammers). So I thought I’d kick off (pun intended) with some predictions.
In the PL, as I did last season, I’m going to tip Chelsea to win the title. Mourinho has freshened his squad, it’s a bit younger and I suspect he has retained the all-important hunger. I also won’t be surprised if Mourinho gets Falcoa to fire in the way we know he can.
Man City/Man U and Arsenal to fight out the next three places. I further predict mid-table mediocrity to Liverpool (if so, Rodgers may not survive past Xmas), while Palace enjoy a season in the top half.
At the bottom, I hope Bournemouth survive while my head says not but whatever happens I hope the club and their fans have a thoroughly enjoyable season. I think Watford will drop with the other relegation place being between Leicester, Norwich and Villa.
I think the Championship is very hard to call. If QPR retain Charlie Austin I can see them bouncing back. I don’t see Burnley doing so. Nor Hull. Ipswich might make it this time.
Of course I’m hoping my lot will get promoted out of League Two under our new manager Paul Cook but I’ve been following them for long enough to know that disappointment is very possible again.
Posted on: 19 January 2016 by Christopher_M
Posted on: 24 January 2016 by Christopher_M
Man Utd 0 Saints 1, thank you Charlie Austin!
Must add that the thing that really took me aback in the Old Trafford experience was the booing at full-time.
C.
Posted on: 24 January 2016 by Kevin-W
Last night was one of the most exciting and entertaining games I have seen in a long while, with two evenly-matched teams battling it out for glory under the floodlights at a raucous Boleyn.
Aguero saved Citeh's blushes (Toure seemed to have spent the entire match half asleep), the refereeing was terrible, Byram made a remarkably composed debut and Payet dazzled (especially for his incredible free kick, for which Hart pulled off a world-class save), but for me the real story of the day was Alex Song, who was amazing in midfield. Back to the Song of early last season, and it's good to have him back.
Posted on: 24 January 2016 by MDS
Man Utd 0 Saints 1, thank you Charlie Austin!
Must add that the thing that really took me aback in the Old Trafford experience was the booing at full-time.
C.
Yes, Chris. The media's coverage will be mainly about the LVG, the booing and Man U's derisory scoring record. For example, the stats from this game say Utd had just one shot on target, yes, just one. But the Saints' victory deserves recognition in its own right. I think Austin is a very astute signing and great VFM at just £4m (considering what Newcastle just paid for Shelvey). Your lot should now end the season in the top half.
Mike
Posted on: 24 January 2016 by Blueknowz
Time forMartinez to go he is turning this team into Wigan!
Posted on: 24 January 2016 by MDS
After this afternoon's rather lack-lustre affair at the Emirates, the weekend's results seem to have favoured the Foxes. The club and their fans must be in dream-land. It still seems almost unthinkable that they could actually win the premiership but with only 15 games to play and being ten points clear of the fifth-placed team they should now reasonably be expecting a place in the Champions' League. Lovely stuff!
Oh, well done to the Swans for their win at Everton. The two North East clubs must now be increasingly nervous.
Posted on: 27 January 2016 by Romi
After this afternoon's rather lack-lustre affair at the Emirates, the weekend's results seem to have favoured the Foxes. The club and their fans must be in dream-land. It still seems almost unthinkable that they could actually win the premiership but with only 15 games to play and being ten points clear of the fifth-placed team they should now reasonably be expecting a place in the Champions' League. Lovely stuff!
Oh, well done to the Swans for their win at Everton. The two North East clubs must now be increasingly nervous.
My dream is for all three top clubs to lose all future games and Spurs will rise like a phoenix to claim the Premiership...
Posted on: 27 January 2016 by Kevin-W
My dream is for all three top clubs to lose all future games and Spurs will rise like a phoenix to claim the Premiership...
My dream is for Spuds to lose all future games, Kane goes to Barca, Poch goes to Chavski or ManUre, while the mighty Hammers under Super Slav claim the Premiership from under Arse, Citeh and the Foxes' noses... 
Posted on: 27 January 2016 by MDS
So Newcastle have just shelled out another £12m. This time on a player - Townsend - who showed some early promise then faded away. This seems a bit desperate to me.
Posted on: 29 January 2016 by Bruce Woodhouse
Posted on: 29 January 2016 by OscillateWildly
Shots on target from last weekend; Manchester United 1, Southampton 2, West Ham United 3, Manchester City 3 - includes a penalty, Everton 2, Arsenal 1 - deflected onto goal.
Liverpool v Stoke City - 120 minutes of football; 2 each.
In other news, De Bruyne crocks himself diving for a free kick.
Posted on: 01 February 2016 by Steve J
Pep Guardiola finally announced as City's manager for next year affirming the world's worst kept secret in football this year. I feel sorry for Manuel Pellegrini though as he's been a very good manager over the last three years.
Posted on: 01 February 2016 by Xenasys
Yes Pellegrini has just got on with it and deserves a lot of respect a true professional who will easily get another job so down to the team to make it a memorable season for him !!!
Posted on: 01 February 2016 by Steve J
I hope the team dynamics are affected positively but in these situations they have a tendency to take their foot off the pedal. Look what happened when they knew Mancini was leaving.
Posted on: 01 February 2016 by fatcat
they have a tendency to take their foot off the pedal.
That’s happened a few times already this season. Off the accelerator onto the brake, back to the accelerator, then the brake…..
I’m a bit puzzled at the clamour to get Guardiola as coach. Is he really that good. He was successful at Barcelona, but don’t forget he took over a team containing Messi hitting his prime and probably the greatest ever midfield pairing. (No not Bell and Oakes).
He took over at Bayern, the year after the won the treble, (domestic champions/cup winners and European champions. In his first year they where domestic champions/cup winners. Second year domestic champions.
I think City will be more of a challenge, apart from Aguero, Silva and possibly De Bruyne the rest are over the hill, crocks or not quite good enough to compete with the best. Although no doubt he’s been promised 100s of millions to rebuild the squad.
Posted on: 01 February 2016 by MDS
The parallel to Mancini is apt. I've always thought that through the blips in form and especially the press speculation about his replacement Pellegrini has conducted himself with admirable restraint and good manners (for a contrast look at Mourinho and recently LVG). Both Mancini and Pellegrini strike me as consummate gentleman and deserve success. The former is having it at Leicester and I wish Pellegrini well at his next club.
Posted on: 02 February 2016 by MDS
So the fairy-tale goes on. What a super result for the Foxes against Liverpool. And what a season Vardy's having? Can't say they are riding their luck.
Posted on: 02 February 2016 by dayjay
Deserved win and looked dangerous even in the first half when at least Liverpool looked competitive, second half was a walk over. Deserve to be top but Klopp has got his work cut out with us
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by Christopher_M
Really looking forward to Saints meeting Kev's lot at St Mary's. It's going to be gales though and Saints are always troubled by the wet. I'm still traumatised by their first half performance at the Etihad a few months ago. Second half, it stopped raining and they picked up.
C.
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by beginner
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by Dan43
watching game now, should have been 4-0 to Leicester. City fans booing and leaving in droves :-)
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by beginner
I'm just loving this season , if you just landed on the planet you would think it's Leicester that costing million and not the other way round, there just playing them off the park
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by Paper Plane
And I'm well happy being 2nd after just three league defeats all season and seven wins from our last nine games.
The best bit though is being above the Ars*...
steve
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by MDS
The Foxes five points clear with 13 games to go. Can they? Can they? Wouldn't it wonderful? The biggest upset since Villa last won the championship, and that was before the monied-PL days. Leicester fans will know the club's history far better than me, but isn't 15/16 shaping up to be their best ever? As a neutral I'm loving it.
Posted on: 06 February 2016 by Chris Dolan
No. It's set up for United to storm through and steal it now
Citeh are gone now that Guardiola's been appointed and Arsenal are in terminal decline. Easy game for the Cherries tomorrow.
Spurs will be Spursy and the Foxes will implode.
Simples 
