Official 2012/13 Premier League thread

[Lineker]

SSN saying that they'll have the fixtures for this season from 9am.

[Summers]

we playing the don't copy and paste them because we'll be sued game?

[Lineker]

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact with representatives of former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas as the club's search for a new manager gathers pace.

Intermediaries acting for Spurs have contacted the 34-year-old's agent to gauge his interest and he may even be interviewed later this week.

Chairman Daniel Levy returns to London on Monday and will personally take charge of the recruitment process.

France coach Laurent Blanc has also emerged as a potential candidate.

Villas-Boas's agent was in London over the weekend, although Spurs insist they will not be rushed into a knee-jerk appointment and plan to speak with a number of candidates.

Harry Redknapp was sacked last Wednesday after almost four years in charge at White Hart Lane.

The decision came after weeks of growing tension between the 65-year-old and his chairman, the situation coming to a head when Redknapp was told the club had decided to go in a fresh direction and look to the future.

Levy will assume responsibility for the recruitment of the new manager alongside owner Joe Lewis and directors Sir Keith Mills, Matthew Collecott and Donna Cullen.

Ex-Porto boss Villas-Boas, who was sacked by Chelsea in March, is understood to have privately expressed an interest in the post.

There is also interest in Blanc, whose contract with the France Football Federation expires after the European Championship. His future will, however, depend on France's performance in the rest of the tournament and he may yet stay on.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is another who is likely to be considered while Fabio Capello and former Tottenham striker Jurgen Klinsmann, who is currently in charge of the United States national team, have also been linked with the post.

Everton manager David Moyes has admirers at White Hart Lane but there are concerns that the 49-year-old Scot may not fit the mould of the modern and perhaps continental coach Spurs have discussed.

Tim Sherwood and goalkeeping coach Tony Parks are the only two of Redknapp's backroom staff to have been retained by Spurs. Levy is known to rate Sherwood, who is likely to figure prominently in the new set-up.

Moyes, who told BBC Sport he has had no contact from Spurs, will travel to Euro 2012 on Monday and plans to continue preparations for the new season at Goodison Park.

Everton are not expecting an approach for their manager but it is thought Moyes would be willing to discuss the position at White Hart Lane.

[Nerf]

At The Belfry.

Sadly not, he was on the move.

Maybe totally wrong, but the Belfry in Birmingham? I stayed there once.

me too. food was shit, but man the pool/gym/etc are awesome. especially the hyro-therapy shit. did that with mrs. summ it was amazing.

The food WAS shit! Mrs. Nerf said I was being fussy because I ended up leaving most of it.

The AquaSpa was immense though. As was the massage I got afterwards.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I've read numerous newspaper and internet articles over the last hour or so (along with all the comments from football "fans") and must admit that now I would really like AVB as Tottenham boss. We're a better fit for him than Chelsea were and AVB's Premier League stats were better than RDM's.

http://soccer.indonewyork.com/andre-villas-boas-v-roberto-di-matteo-comparison/

I also like the way he upset the old players who just believed that they deserved anything they wanted.

[stokeriño]

Seen that bullshit stat pic before. It's not straightforward to compare AVB and RDM's league records directly, given that the circumstances of the end of the season meant RDM was putting out B-teams and just generally not having the players put in the full effort...because of the damage already done by AVB

Not to mention that RDM dropped points to the likes of City, Arsenal etc. whilst AVB spent the whole winter dropping points against Norwich, Swansea, West Brom et al.

[Dan]

Fixtures are out!

[therockbox]

Liverpool's first three home games are City, Arsenal and Man United.

balls.

[Dan]

Southampton have Man City, Wigan, Man United and Arsenal. That's harsh.

[Summers]

Away at West Ham. Always good to beat the kit stealers.

[Lineker]

Newcastle away. Balls.

[Matticus]

Reading have got Stoke at home, which is pretty nice start I guess, certainly can see us getting something from that prehaps. Chelsea first game away though is a bit poo.

[DavidMarrio]

At least we'll get the two Manc sides and Arsenal out the way that's one way of looking at it

[Johnny Drama]

Fulham away first game, could be worse!

[Dingle]

Reading have got Stoke at home, which is pretty nice start I guess, certainly can see us getting something from that prehaps. Chelsea first game away though is a bit poo.

Could be an absolute demolition job, which would be fun.

[Colly]

Yay, Spurs home! And we finish at home for once too.

[Robsturgh]

Will be interesting to see the differences between Newcastle/Spurs' squads now and their first game, given the interest in both teams' top players.

[Rafael]

First five games for Newcastle don't look too good, but I think we can make a fine start. A draw/win against Tottenham, a draw against Chelsea, a win against Norwich and Villa and a draw/win against Everton would be great.

[Hobo]

West Brom isn't a bad opener but those home games... ouch.

[stokeriño]

Chelsea's last five games of the season include trips to Old Trafford and Anfield.

THANKS AGAIN, PREMIER LEAGUE!