Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

At last a new football season is upon us this coming Saturday. I have been suffering serious withdrawal symptoms without my regular dose of the fitba or soccer as a certain former England captain has taken to calling it.

Being a life-long Spurs fan I have very high hopes this season. I want qualification for the Champions League and of course it would be great if we could nick that by finishing above the Arsenal. I also want to us to win the UEFA Cup and if not then maybe one of the domestic ones like the FA Cup or League Cup. Not much to ask is it? Or is it?

How will your team do? What expectations to you have?

Will Steve McLaren's England qualify for the World Cup?

Post here for all your football related thoughts and stories.

[Ted Max]

For many (although relatively few in ED, I admit) the football season has already started.

Hearts 0: Hibs 1

Awa' the Hibees.

[Jah Lush]

I think you'll find there are quite a few Scots in ED, so feel free to post your thoughts. Tough on the Jambos that.

[Ted Max]

Tough on the Jambo fans, who have had to put up with all sorts of clownery (ten managers since 2004) but for the club itself, I think a Lithuanian exit is required and bad results (short of relegation) might be the best way of achieving that.

I know there are a lot of Scots here. We all meet up in Le Chardon on the full moon and abuse each other half-heartedly about our religious backgrounds. Maybe you've been there on occasion yourself, what with the use of the fitba word?

Champions League finish for Spurs and a domestic/ Euro cup? That seems to be the typical 'Lane benchmark at the moment, which is a sign of how much you've improved. Keeping Berbatov helps doesn't it? But even more striker rotation with the Bent acquisition will test Jol.

I'd like to see Hibs finish "best of the rest" but I think with all the best players having ben sold and Johnny Collins' "pass it out of defence and look pretty at all costs" football we'll probably ship too many points.

As for Stevie Mac and The England. I'd like to see them qualifym to be honest, and I think they will.

I think Scotland will find the return games versus Italy and France too hard, and will just miss out.

[Jah Lush]

Ah yes Ted the fitba word. I got that from reading too much Irvine Welsh. I thought Hearts were doing really well until they stupidly got rid of Graham Rix a couple of years back, who had them playing good football and it looked as if for a while there they could break up the constant success of Rangers and Celtic but it's been a slow and painful ride for Hearts supporters ever since. It will be interesting to see how Gretna Green get on this season though in their first season in the top flight although losing four-nil at home wasn't a good start.

[Ted Max]

Rix? Not many tears shed for the man on Gorgie Road. I'd have said it was Burley who really started them playing and genuinely threatening the Old Firm duopoly. But yes, the hiring and immediate firing of Rix didn't help.

Gretna is a bit of a soap opera isn't it? Their "off work through stress" manager turned up (with attendant media) before the game trying to get access to the ground.

Bent/ Berbatov/ Defoe/ Keane.

Who starts?

[Keef]

I'm a lot more excited about this season than I have been for a few years, what with the arrival of Torres at Liverpool!

However, I suspect after a couple of matches I'll be writing off another title charge! We just seem to be incapable of consistency!

Always feel quite confident about getting somewhere in the cups though, I do think we're one of the better cup sides.

Charlton have been my second team since I fancied a Charlton mad girl about 11 years ago, so I will try and get to the valley to see how they get on in the Championship....

[Jah Lush]

Yeah, of course I forgot about George Burley at Gretna.

Spurs though have really got some firepower up front now with the addition of Bent but I'd stick with Keane/Berbatov as first choice with the other two who could come on at any time and do the business. Could be a bit of rotation there, plenty of competition for places is always a good thing to keep 'em on their toes.

A young lad who I think will impress this season with his skill and flair is the 18-year-old Adel Tarabht, who it would seem only knows how to go forward and has bags of tricks up his sleeve. When he came on last season against West Ham he changed the game. A great prospect.

[Jah Lush]

Agree about the consistency of Liverpool Keef, who incidentally are a bit of second team for me as one of my nephews and especially his sister are Liverpool daft and I've always liked the way they play their football. But I think it will take quite some time for all the new players they've spent big money on to gel there although, obviously you'll be hoping they all settle in quickly especially Torres, but remember who it took nearly two seasons before Drogba started doing the business at Chelsea and if Shevchenko doesn't do it this season he'll be on his way back to Milan.

[mockney piers]

I'm just hoping to avoid dodgy deals with shady iranians and relegation.

First competitive Dulwich Hamlets home match is on the 21st if anyone's up for it?

[Keef]

Agree (with Jah about strikers), but Van Nistleroy had an immediate inpact at Man U (Boo hiss), so hopefully we'll get lucky.... At least Torres has plenty of Spanish speakers at Liverpool to help him fit in... Only doen side was losing Louis Garcia!

Must get down the Hamlets more this season, last years effort from myself was pretty poor.

[Annasfield]

and Fowler......

I reckon Spurs will do well this season and they'll definitely be challenging the top four. I can't wait until Saturday! Am at the Test match, but will be leaving at 5ish to watch the Liverpool game. I think that if we (LFC) start well this season, we'll do well. As mentioned previously consistency is our problem - I hate to say this, but I don't think we're going to win the Prem. I'm sure we'll bring home some silverware, but these things take time to gel. (I hope I'm wrong)

Come on you reds >:D<

[Jah Lush]

Ah yes God himself...I really hope he does well at Cardiff City. He's been one of my favourite players down the years and I can see him scoring plenty of goals there and I think they have real potential to get themselves into the Premiership next season.

[Annasfield]

I really hope he does well - such a shame he didn't stay at Anfield. I reckon he'll be back as a coach one day. His loyalty to LFC has no bounds. Loved it when he gave ManUre a five finger salute when not even playing for us - Brilliant!

[Keef]

I too was sad to see him go, but he was never going to get a big role this time round, so hopefully he can keep fit, play regularly and score a load of goals for the Welsh team that somehow play in our league :-S

He has been an absolute God over the years, and he always got the biggest cheer when his name was read out before a match at Anfield!

In fact, something for the Arsenal fans out there...... >:D

[Annasfield]

Fastest hat-trick in the Prem!

Can't believe he missed out on taking that pen in his last game - was gutted for him.

[Keef]

I know, that was a bugger!

He had to come off in his Cardiff debut aswell, and they're worried he'll miss the beginning of the season...

Along with Jamie Rednapp, Fowler was one of the most injury blighted careers in football! Both could have had good England careers had injuries not plagued them so badly!

[Annasfield]

What do you reckon about Carra' and McClaren situation? (Perhaps we need to set up an LFC thread - sorry Jah Lush)

[Jah Lush]

No need this should take in everyone.

[Annasfield]

So glad the season starts again on Saturday - its just not the same without it

[Keef]

RE Carra, I totally understand his position, and genuinely think he should have been partnering Terry at the back for some time (and I swear that's not just said as a Liverpool fan). I think he will play in these coming games, cos he always said he wouldn't leave his country in the lurch if he was really needed...

Still don't think he'd keep the place though, and don't blame him for not wanting to go to all these England camps, just to end up on the bench!!! We are talking about a central defender who has played a huge part in taking his club to 2 champs league finals in 3 years!

Changing the subject, I'm glad Owen Hargreaves will be playing in England, I really rate him, and thought he got a lot of unfair stick under Sven! Just a bloody shame he'll be playing for Man U!

[Ladygooner]

Just got back from Edinburgh - didn't see the match - but my friend lives in the same road as the Hearts ground. Needless to say - a lot of long faces last night!

[Annasfield]

I agree totally with his thinking - travelling to train and be in the squad is tiring whether you play or not. To be honest if he's not going to play I rather he stayed at home and not get injured.

At the same time, I'd love it if he got to play in the qualifiers (I have a ticket for the Russia game - Yippee!) and show everyone what a wally McClaren has been. Maybe then he'd get the respect he deserves.

England's loss is our gain.

[Jah Lush]

Ah welcome back Ladygooner, trust you had a good time north o'er border. How do you think the Arsenal will fair this season without Henry, Lungburg etc this season?

[spadetownboy]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think you'll find there are quite a few Scots in

> ED, so feel free to post your thoughts. Tough on

> the Jambos that.

the edinburgh huns i prefer to call them.