britneyspearsisgod

I'm Bristol Rovers.

I'm special

If it's a choice between Stuart Pearce and Roy Hodgson, I'd rather take Roy. But in all honesty, I don't fancy our chances with Roy. I can't think of anyone I'd want - at least with Harry he has a sense of what could be perceived as ambition and fire to win. Harry, to me, would take a risk if we need it. I don't feel like that with Roy.

I can understand why they would feel like they couldn't shake hands, but the matter should stand between Anton Ferdinand and John Terry. They're going to have to shake hands at some point. But, maybe that will come next season.

He's Portugese. It's not his first language. I dare say he speaks better English than half of the Premier League anyway.

To be honest, I think the idea of a captain leading a team is now becoming redundant to the England squad of today. I'm not really bothered by the captaincy in the greatest of respects. However I do agree with Terry not being captain, if only because it's going to cause such unnecessary hassle from the papers and media, not to mention how can you have other black players getting picked and holding it against him? Hardly going to foster a great environment going forwards to Ukraine/Poland.

In terms of a new captain, it's obviously a tough choice given all of their misgivings in the public eye - the majority of footballers seem intent on portraying the worse sides of their personality to the fans - but I think if he can stay fit then Steven Gerrard would be the best choice. If not, maybe someone like Scott Parker if he plays.

The thing is, Villas Boas has proven coaching credentials as well as prior knowledge of Chelsea and the majority of their team there. Really, he was the best option they had. And fair play to them, because he is an outstanding candidate and I feel confident they will do good things with him in charge.

More to the point, I believe the players will respect him too and that will be crucial.

Old people generally do tend to be quite irked a lot of the time

Although he is completely right.

Bristol Rovers start away to AFC Wimbledon.

That should be fun

We then play at home the next week against Torquay. The team who's manager we stole a day after they lost the play-off's last season.

That should also be fun.

At home to Watford... let's hope Mackay goes to Cardiff and Watford start the season on a downer

A Liverpool shirt with blue on it?

I never thought I'd see the day

Still, I have to admit it is goddamn sexy. Makes me want to buy one now.

I don't want to see Bristol City succeed over Bristol Rovers, but if City did well and got into the Premiership then I wouldn't begrudge them that success. It would be good for the city.

Besides, if a team like AC Milan and Inter can share a stadium, isn't the whole "blood rivals" thing a tad over-zealous?

Umbro haven't made a decent kit in quite a while. Manchester City's new home strip is probably the first one in yonks that is actually good.

Parker lived a good moment with West Ham, and football is all about momentum, I think that we should hire him and keep for a year or two until he's not worthy and we get some money to hire a good one.Talking about experience, y'see, Alan Pardew said he would hire some young players to Newcastle, and if we don't want to be Arsenal V2, we need experience to lead those young mans, in the defense, we have Coloccini, in the midfield, we could have Scott Parker, unless you think that Joey Barton and his 'good conduct' can lead young players.

Sooooo... you want to spend what would turn out to be a large sum of money for a 30yo that you plan on getting two years out of at most, to then replace him at cost with someone younger. And you want to do that instead of rely on the 24yo who has done his job at the very least competently, who may also have a good 5-6 years left in him if we're not being kind?

...from Rafa to Martinez who hasn't really done that much of a job with Wigan? I am quite unimpressed. Maybe Rafa wanted too much money and control? Who knows. I wouldn't say Martinez won't do a good job there, but I'd certainly look at many other candidates before his name came up.

Somebody's either really cold or REALLY excited about that new kit

I've decided not to form an opinion on Bristol Rovers' chances of promotion until we get into the season. It could go either way, but with the signings of Matt Gill (Norwich, released), Scott Bevan (Torquay, End of Contract) and Craig Stanley (Morcambe, Free - I guess), we are certainly making head way on a push for promotion.

The only league they WON'T win will be YOUR FACE

I don't know where I was going with that.

SOOOOOOOOOOO... that prediction about Fulham being relegated is looking slightly foolish now

Swap them for whoever you want. I still call Manchester City to win the league.

Martin Jol to Fulham. Great to have him back in the Prem - he's great for Fulham - amazing appointment.

I retract my previous comment of Fulham finishing in the bottom three

Great appointment for Fulham. Jol will do a good job with them.

Every time I make a prediction, there is always one team who upset the odds and sneak into the top somewhere. I just decided to make that team Stoke this year.

To be honest, every prediction I make ends up being wrong. So sod it. Stoke to go 5th.

Not to mention everyone always talks up Arsenal and they ALWAYS fail to deliver, so why are they going to be any different next season?

...why are we putting predictions in spoilers? If you don't know who's going to be in the league now, you clearly have been left behind on a lot of things

For me, this is the way the table will look (roughly):

[1] Manchester City

[2] Manchester United

[3] Liverpool

[4] Chelsea

[5] Stoke

[6] Everton

[7] Arsenal

[8] Bolton

[9] Tottenham Hotspur

[10] Aston Villa

[11] Queens Park Rangers

[12] West Bromwich Albion

[13] Newcastle United

[14] Blackburn Rovers

[15] Sunderland

[16] Wolverhampton Wanderers

[17] Norwich

[18] Fulham

[19] Swansea

[20] Wigan

City are going to spend and top the table, without question. I don't see Chelsea actually doing that much this year, Arsenal will get left behind. Everton will have one of their weird "we're overachieving" seasons, Liverpool will begin to make the climb back up to the top, QPR will spend well and perform, Tottenham will under-perform, Stoke will over-perform, Swansea will be relegated but not as badly as people think, Fulham will make a steady slope down the table and go down and Wigan will finally be found out and get relegated.

Has anyone considered the possibility of Mark Hughes going to Cardiff?

If Cardiff can afford his wages, maybe. But I think his whole line of "I want to broaden my experience" would make going to Cardiff a little... odd. Considering he just left a Premiership club with potential to become a permanent fixture in the Europa League. Although the possibility of getting Cardiff into the Prem is just as ambitious, I guess.

He described four goals being scored, I'm pretty sure. Score was 4-0, right?

I did indeed misread that. You are correct

...if they won 4-1 at Old Trafford, surely 3-0 at their's would have meant they still went through on away goals?

Clearly, American player not returning home to rest on his laurels in an inferior league upsets some people

Good business from Tottenham if true. Solid, dependable and still quality.