Official Coca Cola Leagues Thread 07/08

[Dan]

I Tommy Miller.

[new_era]

Credit - TWTD

Sub Gary Roberts grabbed an 86th minute equaliser as the Blues drew 1-1 at Royal Antwerp. The home side had gone ahead via Luciano Olguín with 10 minutes remaining. Antwerp, who included former Town trialist Sean Doherty in their first half line-up, came close to going in front in the eighth minute, a shot rattling the crossbar with Neil Alexander well beaten.

Pablo Couñago went near from a Jon Walters pass, then Tommy Miller and Gavin Williams, twice, both almost opened the scoring during a goalmouth melee. Couñago headed a David Wright cross over on 23, before Alexander pulled off a fine save, tipping the ball over. A 25-yard freekick flew over the bar, although the referee appeared to have been conned into the award by a diving Belgian. Four minutes before the break, Couñago turned and laid the ball off to Miller who shot tamely to the keeper. Town had enjoyed the better of a first half played at around 80% in sunny conditions in the almost Soviet-style Bosuilstadion. Alexander made an easy save on 52, prior to a harsh offside flag against Alan Lee. Soon after, Couñago turned and shot from 20 yards, but well over. The Spaniard was sent through by strike partner Lee three minutes later but the former Málaga man overran the ball and the keeper claimed. Miller shot well wide, before Jim Magilton started to introduce his subs, Danny Haynes replacing Couñago on 70. Two minutes later, Fabian Wilnis and Gary Roberts took over from Jason De Vos and Gavin Williams with George O'Callaghan and Billy Clarke introduced for Jon Walters and Owen Garvan on 77. The home side went in front in the 80th minute from a break down the left. The ball was crossed low into the box and Luciano Olguín stabbed home from close range. Shane Supple was introduced as an outfield sub in the 81st minute for Alex Bruce, who appeared to have hurt his foot. Supple, who we understand is a decent enough outfield player, put in a lively nine minutes at left-back making one or two confident overlaps. With six minutes remaining Wilnis hit a shot from a corner which was blocked, Lee hitting the rebound well over. Town got back on terms on 86 after Billy Clarke made an impressive run into the box before laying the ball to Tommy Miller. The midfielder found Gary Roberts eight yards out and the former Accrington Stanley man made no mistake. The Blues were mostly on top during the second half but with little penetration, neither of the Antwerp keepers being particularly tested. Town's most impressive performers were Jason De Vos and David Wright.

GK - Neil Alexander

RB - David Wright

LB - Dan Harding

CB - Jason De Vos (Wilnis 72)

CB - Alex Bruce (Supple 81)

RM - Gavin Williams (Roberts 72)

LM - Jon Walters (Clarke 77)

CM - Owen Garvan (O'Callaghan 77)

CM - Tommy Miller

FOR - Alan Lee

FOR - Pablo Couñago (Haynes 70)

____

The local newspaper said Magilton was going to name one of the stronger starting line-ups he has. Apart from a Striker starting wide left, at the moment that is pretty much what i expect him to be lining up with for the kick-off come two weeks. Gary Roberts or Jamie Peters will come in to play a wide role in place of Walters and at the moment, that pretty much is the strongest side.

Personally, Danny Haynes would be starting instead of Lee and it would be Roberts starting on the left. Haynes is a super sub, he got that rep after last year, the same with Billy Clarke. Two youngsters with a lot of talent in different areas, this year expect a lot from Danny Haynes.

The Navas deal is almost completed aswell, i've read on both IT websites. He's a definite starter in my eyes when he is signed and fit but i think we'll be seeing a few loanees arriving sooner rather then later.

A post all because of boredom :ohwell:

[IAceI]

'The Invisible Man' Tommy Miller, what a fucking hero he was for us <_

[9 to 5]

lol, Leeds on minus 15 points.

[therockbox]

It was funny at first.

And it still is.

[King Ellis]

...shit pickle.

[new_era]

Pablo Couñago celebrated his return to Portman Road with two first half goals as Town impressively defeated Panathinaikos 2-0. However, the shine was taken off the performance and result by Gavin Williams sustaining what looked like a serious ankle injury late in the game.

Walters saw the game's first serious shot saved by Panathinaikos keeper Arkadiusz Malarz in the fifth minute. From the resultant corner, the ball broke to Couñago inside the area. The Spanish striker worked himself space for a shot and sent the ball into the corner of the net for his first goal of pre-season.

Lee had the ball in the net in the 19th minute but Premiership referee Peter Walton had blown his whistle for a foul on the keeper.

The Blues immediately added to their lead. Couñago won the ball from a hesitant defender just inside the Panathinaikos half and calmly took it on towards goal before confidently slipping it past Malarz for his second of the game.

Edited August 7, 2007 by new_era

[Adam]

Ive been away since Thursday, so ive only just had the chance to come in and say

lol, Leeds.

Oh and that makes us second favourites. WOOOOO!

[new_era]

Premiership

Winners: Chelsea

Runner-Up: Man United

Champions League: Liverpool & Spurs

UEFA Cup: Arsenal

Relegated: Derby, Wigan and Sunderland

Championship

Winners: Charlton

Promoted: W.B.A

Play-Offs: Ipswich .. why not? I'll go out on a limb. But, if not i'm gonna go with Leicester.

Relegated: Colchester, Blackpool and Scunthorpe

League One

Winners: Notts Forest

Promoted: Luton

Play-Offs: Doncaster

Relegated: Carlisle, Cheltenham, Yeovil & Northampton

League Two

Winners: Bradford

Promoted: MK Dons and Wrexham

Play-Offs: Grimsby

Relegated: Peterborough & Morecambe

FA Cup Winners: Spurs

Carling Cup: Chelsea

Football League Trophy: Notts Forest

Just because i read the first post of the thread thought i'd post this.

___

Edit:

Credit BBC Sport

Ipswich midfielder Gavin Williams faces a spell on the sidelines after sustaining ankle ligament damage in the 2-0 friendly win against Panathinaikos.

The Welsh international, 27, was stretchered off in the second-half against the Greek side.

Ipswich physio Matt Byard told the club's official website: "The X-ray showed no bone injury to Gavin's left ankle but he has ligament damage.

"He will have an MRI scan later this week when the swelling settles down."

_____

It's a shame, he really makes the midfield tick at times, he was going to be starting down the right against Wednesday, now it appears it will be Jamie Peters who gets the nod, Gary Roberts was left out of the squad yesterday, i'm not sure why.

Probable Starting 11 For Sheffield Wednesday:

GK: Neil Alexander

RB: David Wright

LB: Dan Harding

CB: Jason De Vos©

CB: Alex Bruce

RM: Jamie Peters/Gary Roberts

LM: Jon Walters

CM: Tommy Miller

CM: Owen Garvan

FOR: Alan Lee

FOR: Pablo Counago

Subs; Shane Supple(GK), Fabian Wilnis, Jamie Peters/Gary Roberts, Danny Haynes and Sylvian Legwinski

Edited August 6, 2007 by new_era

[Sir Alan LCSugar]

I don't mean to be mean, but don't need to hear EVERY SINGLE peice of news about your club. I mean i put small things here and there as does everyone, but not huge reports about everything.

Also, the first game of the season is rapidly approaching, are you happy with your teams pre-season, signings and what are you looking forward to this season.

Our pre-season was average, we've brought in dads army whilst selling a great centre back and I'm looking forward to Sammy Parkin playing a full season for us and banging in the goals.

[new_era]

I do it about boredom, it's only been two friendly reports and a a post about a key midfielder being injured. That's hardly evvvvery little thing is it? And isn't that the point of the thread?

Don't count on Parkin doing anything, he was sold by us for a reason LOL he had this huge hype about him upon signing and he is one of the worse Strikers i've seen at Portman Road in my twelve years of going to watch them.

We had a very good pre-season only one defeat in ten games, two draws and seven wins/ One game left, all be it at Dartford. The signings are great, Tommy Miller has grown on me again, it's looking like to be a very good year for Ipswich with Pablo back in Town

Edited August 6, 2007 by new_era

[Sir Alan LCSugar]

Meh, Parkins back in a league he was top scorer in, and I'm sure he'll do great with a decent partner and some good backing from midfield.

[IAceI]

This morning Carlisle player Luke Joyce rescued a cat out of a tree.

Later this afternoon Danny Graham and Kieren Westood enjoyed a nice picnic dinner in a scenic park.

Chris Lumsdon today reported that not only does he have ginger hair, he also has ginger pubes.

There's just some information about Carlisle that I'm sure we're all on tenderhooks about. I'll see if I can get a 2 page match report of their next game up sometime (Y)

EDIT: Oh yeah I still want to know why so many people have Carlisle United to go down. At least BSIG was honest and just said he put them to make up numbers, however I'm going to guess a lot of people are just uneducated and only remember Carlisle as the team that spent time at the bottom of League 2 for a long time, before going to the Conference? Then their rapid rise from there has just been ignored?

Edited August 6, 2007 by IAceI

[Sir Alan LCSugar]

In my view their more likely to go up than down. Do they still ave Karl Hawley?

[IAceI]

Nah he got a little up himself and offed to Preston.

Danny Graham, Danny Carlton, Kevin Gall and the sorts are all in. Thing with Carlisle I noticed last season was, their strikers would come in, be awesome, then sort of fizzle out. Then they just got replaced, and the next striker came in and was good, scored the goals, then kinda fizzled.

Hawley wasn't that brilliant all season, but was a good player for Carlisle. I have a picture on my PC of him asleep on a sofa at Carlisle's award ceremony. He was a little drunk and missed collecting his award >_<

Edited August 6, 2007 by IAceI

[Sir Alan LCSugar]

Oh right, does he actually play much for Preston then? I suppose he will get a bit more of a chance now Nugents gone. Danny Graham is a good signing, doesn't match up to Paul Furlong though does it.

[IAceI]

I doubt he'll be up to a great deal at Preston, can see him playing a little, then maybe a season or two later being sold off for little money.

[Sir Alan LCSugar]

Well unless he turns 35 or over in those next two years we won't be after him. Maybe he'll move to the Kings of the Championship...the mighty Ipswich Town. I don't think Forest will be top 2, not sure why, i just don't fancy them to do it. I like the look of a couple of mainstays of the division in Oldham and someone like Doncaster.

[IAceI]

Give it 11 years or so, give or take, and you may be in the running for a 36 year old Karl Hawley. Well, you may have to be relegated a division or so since then but perhaps.

[Adam]

Also, the first game of the season is rapidly approaching, are you happy with your teams pre-season, signings and what are you looking forward to this season.

Our pre-season was pretty good, but nothing special. Beat Wolves, also beat some local teams like Retford & Worksop away, then lost to Man Utd last friday.

I was at the Wolves & Utd games and our new signings-Wellens, Hayter, Woods & Greer, all impressed me. Weve got injurys at the back and i think Greer & Adam Lockwood are gonna be fine for now, a solid backline.

Going forward i think weve got more flair, but we didnt show it in pre-season.

I think our probably starting 11 is gonna be

GK-Neil Sullivan

RB-James O'Connor

LB-Gareth Roberts

CB-Adam Lockwood

CB-Gordon Greer

RM-James Coppinger

LM-Martin Woods

CM-Brian Stock

CM-Richie Wellens

ST-Paul Heffernan

ST-James Hayter

Adding to that we have 'Big Mac' Mark McCammon, who i think works well with Heffs up front, same for Afro Goal Machine Jason Price, but hes always injured. Bruce Dyer is there too, but he's a bit past it now. Graham Lee & Stephen Roberts are great defenders when fit, and we still have Mark Wilson, Lewis Guy, Paul Green and more in midfield. Im pretty optimistic for this season, we should be in the play-offs at least.

And there is NO WAY that Carlisle or Yeovil will go down, both are solid teams who should be challenging for the play-offs.

Edited August 6, 2007 by 1PWCorino