WE'RE ON DIS TING NO HYPE LOL: Championship, League One, League Two, Blue Square, and lower thread, 2008/09

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/RupertLoweG_468x589.jpg

HE'S READY

http://homedir-c.libsyn.com/podcasts/a345f2e215d29cd3ee66ff2edf268836/489828bd/soccergossip/images/DrunkDelia.jpg

SHE'S READY

Didn't they try and get rid of her recently?

Nah, the dude who's meant to be buying the Canaries over is meant to be keen on keeping her on as a figurehead.

http://img.skysports.com/07/08/218x298/ridsdale_555858.jpg

HE'S READY

http://www.ntfc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/11/98/0,,10425~3643409,00.jpg

HE'S READY

http://img.skysports.com/07/10/218x298/IainDowie_587553.jpg

YOU'RE MY #1 GUUUUYY

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icchester/apr2005/0/1/000E9A98-458E-1256-81FF80BFB6FA0000.jpg

HE MAY OR MAY NOT BE READY, I CAN'T REMEMBER

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42148000/jpg/_42148426_campo_getty.jpg

ONE OF THESE MEN IS READY (IT IS THE ONE WITH THE PERM)

http://www.propertyweek.com/Pictures/316xAny/b/r/q/CMYK_76_Darragh_MacAnthony.jpg

HE'S GOT "DARRAGH MAC" IN HIS NAME, AND HE IS READY

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/03_03/ChrisColemanES0404_468x613.jpg

THEY ARE READY
THEY ARE READY FOR COV
YES THEY ARE
OH YES

http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/empics/20080109/15/3009062536-soccer-barclays-premier-league-derby-county-press-conference-moor-farm.jpg

"HEY ROB, I'M READY TO BE HEARTBROKEN"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/images/2007/10/30/glenn_roeder_450_05_450x300.jpg

"Obviously, Glenn Roeder is ready. Glenn Roeder is always ready. Statistically, Glenn Roeder thinks you will find that in terms of readiness there are no other managers in the division today that are comparable to Glenn Roeder's track record of being ready. There is nothing you can teach Glenn Roeder about being ready. Even if Gary Doherty is out till November."

So the News of the World has us BOTTOM in its predictions, Swygart. BOTTOM. Below DONCASTER!

We're not that bad, surely. SURELY!

This is c&p'd from a Palace fansite, as I can't find the original onlince. I'm guessing clowns are Charlton.

Reading
Birmingham
Derby
QPR
Palace/Blackpool
Wolves
Ipswich
Clowns
Cardiff
Sheff Utd
Coventry
Preston
Notts Forrest
Norwich
Bristol City
Swansea
Watford
Sheff Wed
Doncaster
Burnley
Barnsley
Plymouth
Southampton

That must be a joke. Blackpool are in the playoffs, ffs. That's the same Blackpool that have lost Wes Hoolahan and Kaspars Gorkss and replaced them with Zesh Rehman, Danny Nardiello and Steve Kabba.

I'm cautiously predicting us for mid-table. I think this bunch of young lads look to be bonding well, the new signings look to be meshing in nicely, MICHAEL SVENSSON IS READY - trouble is we look to be relying on Jan Poortvliet's abilities as a Leader of Men, of which I am not yet convinced, and Mark Wotte... well...

Oh, and we've no full-backs and Kelvin Davis is still our first-choice keeper (has Tommy Forecast played yet? I can't remember). We'll score goals, though, and with any luck that'll be enough to see us right. We ain't ready for play-offs, though, not by a long shot.

I did get a worryingly long way through doing some kind of season preview thing before I realised just how long and boring and not-that-well-informed it was. I'd say it'll be Doncaster, Blackpool and Watford to go down, though.

Key points:

- Reading have had another summer of not signing anyone apart from Stephen Hunt's brother. Coppell has said he expects Shorey to leave. Their defence is quite resolutely not getting any younger, and at least one or two of their players have been making noises about their dislike of his management.

- Everyone seems to be tipping Forest to do better than Swansea. Why? Swansea basically obliterated League One last season, and they did it with no little style. Admittedly, Scunny did similar the season before, but they managed to lose their key player in the off-season; Roberto Martinez, however, hung onto his and did so in the face of major pressure from a much bigger club. The fact that Wiki shows the Swans as having just the one keeper is a bit of a worry, tho.

- Watford. Watford, Watford, Watford. A disastrous run at the end of last season; a strikeforce of Tamas Priskin, Will Hoskins and, er, that's it; and their only summer signing is Jon Harley. Boothroyd's worked wonders before, but how on earth does he get out of this?

- Coventry. Freddy Eastwood has yet to have a consistently good season in the Championship. Chris Coleman is looking to bolster his strikeforce with Mr Consistency himself, Clinton Morrison. They actually finished below us last season. You gotta figure they're in trouble.

- This is Plymouth's squad. Luggy Sturrock has repeatedly expressed his frustration that they can't seem to afford anyone. The amount of time they've survived, and even thrived, at this level is quite amazing. Can they do it again?

- Then there's Bristol City. No-one is expecting them to be challenging for automatic promotion again, but, with the exception of Nick Carle and Darren Byfield, they look to have kept their squad together. What's more, they've added Nicky Maynard, meaning their top scorer this season might actually get more than eight goals. Gary Johnson is talking of going straight up, and he's shown he's not afraid to turn away people that don't fit his plans. One wonders if he might just be onto something...

Seriously you should work for football365 or the BBC or something, top stuff. I'm a big Gary Johnson admirer and I too think they'll have another good season. Watford for the drop is a little far-fetched, however, much as I'd love it to happen. You're right that calling Blackpool for a marginal play-off spot is bonkers. Also not as convinced by Sheff Utd's signings as some are, although there are a couple of potentially decent acquisitions in there.

Coventry should have gone down last season; they were dreck. If they finish above Plymouth I will be surprised and disappointed.

Also, Palace dude completely fkn out of his mind putting Burnley fourth from bottom. They'll be top-half, no problems.

Reading, Birmingham and QPR to complete three of the top four (in any order), the other team not to be Derby but someone like Brizzle C/lol Swansea/Wolves

Derby to finish about 9th or 10th, next to Burnley

Charlton to finish 7th and thus heap pain on all who fell for the following ad:

http://www.cafc.co.uk/uploads/Charlton8968splash.jpg

As for the A45's finest sons, a lot of Cobblers fans seem to be really, really optimistic this season, partly last year's post-Christmas form run plus the fact we've signed, ummm, Leon Constantine and Luke Gutteridge. Remember him? GLAMOUR. Anyway, we've been in the same division for, what, three seasons now we must surely being getting relegated this season, so my predictions are a strong start followed by a 13-game losing streak and relegation after a 2-1 loss to Peterborough, who field 11 Manchester United loanees.

Also, Palace dude completely fkn out of his mind putting Burnley fourth from bottom.

Just to clarify, that list is from the News of the World, reposted from Palace site.

I know we're probably going to sell at least one of them, but we do have TWO 20-goal a season strikers (in that Stern John and Rasiak actually scored 20 goals in the last two seasons, respectively). I don't know why everyone is so down on us.

I've never seen that Matejovsky guy that you go on about Louis, but I can't see Reading doing anything at all. They were dreadful last year, and they're going to be much worse this. Coppell "I have no idea of my best team" wasn't really on inspiring form last term either. I basically think their two seasons of success were ALL down to cheating those quick throw-ins.

check this jamie

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Burnley
Barnsley
Plymouth
Southampton

Much as I have no problem with Southampton, I would happily accept that as collateral damage for the Gargoyle being relegated this time. Sorry Saints d00dz.

As we were walking back to Torquay railway station, having just seen one of the most enjoyable twenty minutes I've ever had in a football ground, I confidently predicted that we* would be playing Argyle in a league fixture within five years. I still think that's true.

*Er that's Exeter City, assuming you're not one of the three peopel on this thread who know who the hell I am.

Oh and it occurs to me that Oxford United will have a good season, one of these years. Just by the law of averages.

Argyle get the ball rolling. Very, very slowly.

lol mediocre thug who played badly for our reserves

I am backing Sheffield United for a top 6 finish. This will change around half time on Saturday.

I think Blades are currently the side with the most pieces in place. They have a squad which might not pull up trees in the Premier, but is full of players who have performed well at this level or higher in the past; most of their side have been at the club for at least two or three seasons now, and know each other pretty well; but most importantly, they've got a manager who has good form at the club and with the squad. Birmingham and Derby could perhaps be said to have the first two, but they've definitely not got the third. McLeish and Jewell have a lot more to prove than Kevin Blackwell at this stage - in fact, more than most of the managers in the division.

Also, if I've not hexed the ILX massive enough - is it just me, or does Wolves' squad look really good this season? Admittedly, it's not hugely different from their squad last season, but still...

Starting as we mean to continue:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/queensparkrangers/2510281/Iain-Dowie-faces-the-sack-at-QPR-after-dispute-with-Flavio-Briatore.html

Haha, time to bump the Stefan Postma thread?

I like how, in casting about for managers the QPR board would find easier to work with, they've gone for Mike Newell.

SUB-PREM NEWS TODAY: Watford's clock keeps ticking as Danny Shittu goes to Bolton; Blackpool have loaned Mo Camara; Derby have denied that Leicester are in for Robbie Savage; Don Hutchison is a lovely man; Yeovil have signed Canadian keeper Josh Wagenaar; Accrington have got former Liverpool yoot Jimmy Ryan; it's trialists a-go-go at Woking, Oxford and Kidderminster; and Lincolon have signed a lad from Grantham Town.

But we are saving the best til last.

See that there thread title? Well...

Carlisle United have released Tyrone Cameron and Ashley-Paul Robinson following trials with the club.

Former Fulham trainee Cameron, 18, made three first-team pre-season appearances while former Crystal Palace winger Robinson, 19, managed just 45 minutes.

"We said Ashley wasn't fit and wasn't right and I think that was massively apparent," Ward told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"He's got some ability but he didn't seem to have the right approach in my view so we have let him go."

never forget ;_;

He's never going to get on dis ting now.

Two big bits of news tonight: Birmingham have signed Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, who you might remember from his time at Arsenal, where apparently he was very good at running fast; and Rotherham are set to start the season on -17 points. That's still 13 ahead of Luton, though.

dion dublin was on sky sports the other day with his list of the best talents in the champ that could make the step up to the premiership. would you like to know who those chosen few were?

1 brian howard
2 bradley wright-phillips
3 richard stearman
4 jon otsemobor

yep.

So all the papers had their Championship previews last weekend, right?

I can't find any of them online. Anyone have any links?

And Five live have their League 1 preview up to listen again, but not the Championship one - will that be tonight or tomorrow, or did I miss it?

I'M NOT READY

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/03/championship

In summary - everyone thinks we're going down.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article4454042.ece

In summary - we're finishing 20th.

Thanks. They're either ill-informed, or I am a hopeless optimist.

http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2008/08/video-benny-feilhaber-is-having-trouble.html

derby county american international reserve midfielder in novel plea for gametime

Looking at the team that lost the play-offs season before last, and we are not substantially weaker. Overall, I'd say the squad was better, but Bale is a big loss.

Bialkowski still at club
Ostlund - was no good, this James guy sounds better
Baird - Svenson much better
Pele - a disaster Davies or Perry better
Bale - true quality, no-one in the current squad compares
Belmadi - OKish, but Schniderlin sounds better
Viafara - much maligned, but I think we'll miss him. Don't know what Gillet is like
Guthrie, showed flashes but not much cop, Dyer is better
Surman still at club
Jones quality, but we have John, Rasiak and McGoldrick, so overall not a great loss
Saganowski still at club

I'm not ashamed to admit that a tear has formed in the corner of my eye

And it's 17 off for Bournemouth, too. This might well be the most disspiriting relegation battle of all time.

Also, interesting tidbit picked up - Cheltenham Town right-back Jerry Gill owns the franchise for Cheltenham Town's club shop.

ins and outs: Swindon have got FM08 lower-league stalwart Yinka Casal, Brett Johnson's gone to Brentford, Clinton Morrison is off to transform Coventry's season, Derby have signed one of our old youth players, Rob Edwards has moved to Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday are on the verge of a takeover deal, and Campo's off to Ipswich subject to a medical.

Other than that, all the stories today are just a load of chest-puffing in the run-up to Saturday. Except that the Football League have launched a new intiative to encourage more family-friendly behaviour at matches. Here's Northampton Town heartily endorsing this event or product:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44901000/jpg/_44901307_cobblers226.jpg

Chronicle and Echo says that the Cobblers drew 2-2 with new ILX hype team QPR behind closed doors the other day, with Akinfenwa scoring and promising that "he will be at 100% at some point this season".

I actually think Sheffield United's kit has pretty much the optimal colours in the best pattern

Random question- are there any teams in England who's first team kit is in yellow?

norwich

this is not looking good, tbh.

oh yeah! it was really annoying me knowing there was (at least) one but couldn't think of it.

that's odd, just about an hour ago I was trying to remember which English club(s) played in yellow. And I succeeded!

I just got the Burnley job in Football Manager 2006 after being fired by Notts Forest (fuckers, I get you promoted and then struggled with a £0 transfer budget, slipping into the relegation zone in December, so you fire me immediately?), so, uh, mon ae Burnley.

watford ffs u clots

eh, it's a bank holiday, i'm not up to thinking.

how the hell did that not go in?

Montgomery running over to shove Wade Elliott for doing too many stepovers = REAL FOOTBALL

Commentator: "of the 24 sides in the Coca-Cola Championship, Burnley have the 21st lowest attendance"

So that would be the 3rd highest?

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1341/oxford084859785.jpg

Sheffield Utd were the better team til the goal, but ever since they have been utterly dreadful, and as much as i hate owen coyle the Airdrie bastard, i dont want to watch sheffield utd's long ball shite next season.

Sheffield Utd couldve had 2 penalties now mind you

They're just going to ground as soon as they get in the box now

Mike Dean doesn't ha;f look like a comedy bloke from the 90's, maybe Absolutely? Weird he's not being generous as he does like to give a pen now and again.

I would like to see young Jamie Ward score a couple in short order, not least because this would give Chesterfield a few extra quid due to clauses in his transfer.

wow hes sent him off

d'oh

Do Chesterfield lose money now?

mike dean even more hated in sheffield after this game

loooooool xp

lol well done ref

I'm with Herman, I'd hate to see Sheff Utd go up. As an Ipswich fan there's too much previous as well, Warnock et al... Come on Burnley

Scottish people - am I imagining things, or was there once a time when Craig Beattie was considered good?

Yes, then we discovered his legs were made of glass. He was good, once.

he scored a winner for palace against charlton at some point this season

(just keeping up with ailsa)

He looked OK when he played for scotland, but like most promising youngsters from Scotland he never made it.

lee hendrie, one more reason to support burnley

Owen Coyle scored too many goals for the scum that were Airdrie against Accies too actually support Burnley in this game.

He never made it because his legs are perma-knacked, not through any lack of talent. He's standing one game away from the EPL, which isn't my definition of not making it.

xpost re Beattie

sorry "never made it" should have been in scare quotes.

He's on loan from West Brom, so technically he's Premier League already... or was.

what a tangled web

anyway he is now

He lost, Cyril.

Oh aye, so he is. xpost to WBS.

Still, well done Burnley, albeit that I've this horrible feeling that next season will see them getting the same "IT'S ALL ABOUT RESULTS" treatment that the Brom got this season just gone.

I dunno, I think in a battle to see who is the least incompetent, their pace and counter attacking might just be enough.

fucked: brum, hull

possibly fucked: any one of about 5 or 6 more

Just seen highlights of Champ play-off - yer right about that Kyle Walker. For a kid who's not 19 yet, his pace, strength and heart looks fantastic - probably not top-flight just yet, but a full season for Blades next season and he could really be proper tremendous.

That was his 7th appearance for Sheffield United. First team debut was in January.

Really? Wow. He's a proper swashbuckling full-back, too, tremendous pace, Burnley did really well to cope with him to the extent they did. Most impressive was when he made a mistake and played Robbie Blake onside from a long pass; Blake's head start takes him clear of the rest of the defence, but Walker doesn't waste time sticking his hand in the air, he charges back into the area and puts in an absolutely perfect block tackle to deflect Blake's shot behind. That was proper top-level commitment, the kind that people say is what differentiates the absolute elite players. He still needs more experience, but the materials are definitely in place.

I assume he's lacking in positional sophistication when defending, etc. (haven't seen him live so hard to say), but i'm always staggered when I see a decent defender in their teens. If he's choosing to play there despite his pace then I think I love him.

A jigsaw of a graphic photograph of the devastating Bradford City fire which claimed 56 lives has been withdrawn from sale after outraged fans branded it “sick”.

The bizarre item was being sold through the massive online retailer Amazon.co.uk, which is thought to have been acting as a vendor for a third-party company.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4393679.Fury_over_City_fire_disaster_jigsaw_on_internet/

Great weekend of matches, highlight for me was Daniel Day-Lewis' porkpie hat. Commiserations to caek et al but I think Burnley had the better of the game even discounting Dean's cuntish petulance and cheating for which he shd probably be banned for life imo.

Commentator: "of the 24 sides in the Coca-Cola Championship, Burnley have the 21st lowest attendance"

So that would be the 3rd highest?

Also lol I screamed this at the telly at the same time.

And so, as we wave goodbye to the season just gone, here's final confirmation that Southampton are now, without a shadow of a doubt, a small club.

Oh, and this, too.

Apparently we're properly getting a takeover now and Matt Le Tiss is on board and well yay, y'know?

Not so yay - Accy Stanley in serious bother with HMRC.

Also, QPR's magical revolving door just keeps on spinning...

Magilton? Fuck me that's some bottom of the barrel scraping. He'll be gone before the New Year.