The English Football Thread

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by James

I want to get into English football next season. I'm sick of the Scottish leagues. Who should I support? Pitch me your teams.

Do you mean sell my team to you?

As a Scotsman, and a Rangers fan at that, then I don't think there is a better choice than Villa. The original English club, the leading figures at the club in it's early days were Scottish and it was a Scot at Villa who invented league football, statue outside the Trinity Road stand of him - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McGregor_(football)

Another Scot & Glaswegian turned us into the world's first super club - George Ramsay - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Villa has strong ties to Scotland, in fact the blue in our kit comes from Rangers.

If you plan on actually attending matches at some point, tickets are dirt cheap, the ground is full of football fans and you won't get bumped or struggle to get one and the ground, surrounding area & transport is all fantastic. Can't really guarantee much glory i.e. trophies but we are about to be sold, everything is in place for the glory to return so you never know.

Me, jackhammer and TH are all Villa fans.

[Mojo]

Whether or not you decide you want to be able to attend matches could be important, as the north east of England would be, considerably, your shortest journey. However in terms of actual successes it's all pretty doom and gloom here. If you do go for a NE team though, let it not be Newcastle. I wont like you any more.

If I didn't support Sunderland and had to pick a Premier League side, it would be Arsenal or Everton.

[Goofle]

@ my main man James:

Arsenal kit launch today. And we just confirmed the Alexis Sanchez transfer.

[James]

You all make very good cases for your teams. I will wait until the season starts before I make a proper decision. I don't go to games because I'm poor and have too much fashion sense to truly fit in. Between Villa for the Scottish connection and Arsenal for the principles.
My friend had an ex that was a bit Arsenal fan and we used to have a bit of a crack where I'd pretend I was one too and bluff my way through conversations. It was pretty hilarious, so I have a nostalgic bond.
Also quite like Ozil, though he's not been great in the World Cup.

[Goofle]

lol it lasted like 40 seconds.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

Here's your away shirt Goof.



You've got three kits for next season, there is a 'cup' kit as well, it's dark blue with turquoise stripes across it.

Socks don't look right on the home kit but decent.

[Mojo]

Sunderland fans donate thousands towards tribute for Newcastle supporters killed in plane crash - Sunderland Echo

Very proud to be a Sunderland fan today. Two of the people on board the Malaysian Airlines flight were Newcastle fans on the way to a pre-season friendly. A Sunderland forum, Ready to Go, set up a page for fans to donate to buy a floral tribute, with a goal of raising £100. 17 hours later it currently stands at £09,095.00.

[Cuthbert]

Yes that was a touch of class from Sunderland there.

Borini £14m? Wa gwarn for that? Seems excessive.

Wengy tying up deals in July >>>

I saw our game vs Mansfield and we won 3-1. Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor looked chunkier than ever, Gabby actually looked quicker than he's ever been which is a bit of a mindfuck. Jores Okore finally made his return after 10 months out and didn't put a foot wrong, his tackling, composure and ball distribution was top notch. Keep an eye on him lads.

Oh and Newcastle can forget about signing Christian Benteke ffs. Cannot be serious.

[Mojo]

£14m is more than I expected us to pay, yes, but I don't think it's quite as ridiculous a sum as many people seem to and I'm happy to have him on board (providing he agree's personal terms).

It's a lot of money, but at what point do you start to make an effort to keep your best players? Johnny Evans, Nedum Onuoha, Danny Welbeck, Niklas Bendtner (yes, I liked Bendtner when he was here); all loanees in recent years, all did well, all gave us something we have yet to replace. We have struggled to score goals, we have two dinosaurs at centre half making way too many mistakes, and not enough quality to start to build, just fight to survive.

We paid a lot of money for Conor Wickham a few years ago and we've had to be patient with him as he was in no way ready to play in the PL. If his goals kept us up last season, then Borini's meant we were still in with that slim chance of survival that we needed when he came back from loan.

Fabs scored important, timely, crucial goals. He kept his head under pressure, and if he continues to improve he's still a young lad. Also, he and Vito Mannone were arguably the only two players of ours who you believe will give everything and clearly give a ****.

OK, so it's a lot of money but we know what we're getting and we love him. I'm glad we paid it rather than take a punt on a replacement.

We played today too and although it's only Darlington, 5-1 with goals from Fletcher, Wickham, Giaccherini and new boy Jordi Gomez makes me happy. If Fletch and Giacch can have good seasons they can be like new signings, Wickham has now shown what he is capable of and even showed a real, legit strikers finish, something we probably havent seen here since Bent (spit) and so if he can have a good season too then with Borini as well we should hopefully be more of a threat this season.

I hope we can sign Alonso up now as well cause our back four is woeful, and although it'll never happen I'd love a permanent deal for Kiiiiiiiiiiiii as well. He was remarkable last season.

[Cuthbert]

You're optimistic for the new season then Mojo? I can't say I know too much about Sunderland's team, you're obviously more informed than anyone else on here is.

How do you see Wickham doing this year?

at what point do you start to make an effort to keep your best players?

I know that feel, I kind of want the board to throw whatever it takes at Delph and Vlaar. We will lose one of them I'm sure. Probably Vlaar.

If we lose both I can confirm I will be very fuckin angry .