Official 2012/13 Premier League thread

[Lineker]

Stoke City defender Robert Huth is suffering from suspected meningitis and undergoing tests in hospital.

Huth, 27, was sent to hospital after initially being diagnosed with a virus while at the club's training ground earlier this week.

"He was clearly not well," said manager Tony Pulis. "We're just hoping he will be OK and it's not too serious."

The Germany international defender was ruled out of Stoke's pre-season games against Torquay and Yeovil Town.

Pulis added: "It's a major concern so close to the start of the new season because Huthy is such an important figure for us.

"It takes a lot to knock him back, and we will hopefully have the results of the tests on him on Wednesday."

Huth won two Premier League titles with Chelsea before moving to Middlesbrough in 2006 and later joined Stoke three years ago for a fee of about £5m.

He was named the club's player of the year and helped the Potters reach the FA Cup final in 2011.

Stoke begin their Premier League campaign at promoted Reading on 18 August.

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

Hope he gets well soon!

Ihearing that anecdote about the reporter is making me look forward to the order soccer Saturday of the new season

[IAceI]

Odd because ask any Sunderland fan and they'd swear David Craig is the biggest Mag regularly on TV.

[Colly]

Is that just because Ant and Dec are small? Apparently DC's an Arsenal fan. Confusing.

[IAceI]

I forgot about them as I don't watch reality TV

Either way yeah the Arsenal thing sounds familiar. Sure I've heard/read it before.

[Matt]

So apparently Tony Hibbert scored in his testimonial and caused a pitch invasion.

[Lineker]

I really hope there's video of that. If so I reckon SSN will pick it up for tomorrow morning.

[Matt]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsp4ne_4-1_sport

Got one

[Lineker]

Amazing.

[Jimmy]

hahah, brilliant

[Adam]

That is awesome. I thought he'd have taken a penalty or something. Great response by the crowd.

At the start of pre-season Everton played Morecambe in manager Jim Bentley's testimonial and he went through on goal near the end when Everton's defence let him...but Jan Mucha saved his shot . Thankfully he tucked in the rebound, but that was a pretty funny moment as well.

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

Love that Hibbert clip!

Good job his first goal didn't come in a proper match or Everton would have got fined for not controlling their fans lol

[Summers]

that's fantastic.

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

As long as he doesn't score on the first Monday might football of the season I'll be happy!

[Berober]

Tony Hibbert is the new Daniel Sturridge, except he actually WILL score 20 goals this season

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

So Fergie has said Carrick may start in defence against Everton... Great

[therockbox]

Is everyone else injured?

[Starvinho]

Carrick isn't so bad in defence. Smalling, Evans, Jones and Vidic are all coming back from injuries/illness so may not be fit. I think Smalling is definitely out but the other three may be fit.

[MJB]

Pretty much.

Vidic is still trying to get fit, Evans has just had an operation and Smalling is out for another couple of weeks. Jones picked up a knock in Norway but will probably have to play RB anyway unless Rafael is rushed back.

That only leaves us with Rio and Evra :/

[Lineker]

Scott Parker has had successful Achilles surgery and will miss at least our first four games. And Marc Albrighton is to miss the first six to eight weeks of the new season with a broken metatarsal.