Blasphemy! Seven clubs lock horns for the title after sir Alex Ferguson's retirement!

View attachment 401374View attachment 401373View attachment 401372

Newcastle - Manchester United
FA Community Shield
Sunday 13 August 2017
15:00

3' Goal!! 1-0 Paul Pogba o.g.
19' Jordi Alba (Man United) injured
45+1' Goal!! 2-0 Luis Suarez
45+2' Half Time
46' Goal!! 3-0 Mario Balotelli
54' Goal!! 4-0 Luis Suarez
90+2' Full Time

FINAL SCORE:
Newcastle 4-0 Man United

What a game! Newcastle simply had everything go their way there, scoring four goals with their first three shots on target! The season obviously started too soon for Man United who were just not ready for a competitive game of football and never offered anything! Let's take a look at match stats and individual performances:
​
View attachment 401370View attachment 401369View attachment 401368

​
View attachment 541056
FA Community Shield 2017/18 - holders Newcastle!​
 

​
Robbie Savage @RobbieSavage8 what a tool @ Marseilles can youiiiilieve 1m

Title rivals wonderkid reportedly on the verge of signing for #blackburn

Expand​
 
Rovers snap up Arsenal wonderkid
............................................................................................................
By Kevin Gallacher.........ii--iii-ii..........9:07 AM Friday 18th August 2017 in Sport
............................................................................................................

Blackburn have opened the check book to sign German central midfielder Gedion Zelalem (20) from Arsenal for a 14.25 million pounds fee. The wonderkid has received widespread praise for his determination to establish himself on the highest level and the Gunners hardly ever gave him a chance after only playing him three times last season.

View attachment 401364
Zelalem joins Rovers​

Gedion will certainly need some time to get up to pace to compete for first team football considering he hasn't had regular field time since his loan spell with HSV two years ago so he will probably go down as one for the future, especially considering how well stocked Rovers are in midfield.

Gedion Zelalem transfer verdict: 8.0/10 - wonderkids are hard to come by and taking one off your direct rivals is always good business - if the German midfielder can make an instant impact during his first season it would be a bonus.
 
View attachment 401363

Premier League predictions: Lawro v Hugh Laurie

BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is back for the new season and will again be pitting his wits against a different guest each week.

​
His first opponent of the new campaign is English actor, comedian, writer, musician, director and Arsenal fan Hugh Laurie.

View attachment 401362
Lawro vs Laurie for the opening games this season

​
A correct result is worth ONE point. A correct score earns THREE points.

Manchester United - Nottingham Forest
Hugh Laurie: This will be an easy game for the Red Devils - 3-0.
Mark Lawrenson: I don't know what to make of Man United after the Community Shield debacle but they really should be winning games like this. 2-1.

Arsenal - Hull
Hugh Laurie: We should be able to put several past Hull at home. 4-0.
Mark Lawrenson: I'll second predictions for Arsenal win here. 3-1.

Chelsea - Blackpool
Hugh Laurie: Not much contest in this first round, is it? 4-0.
Mark Lawrenson: Well, Blackpool are in for a tough return to the Premier League and Chelsea should cruise there. 4-1.

Newcastle - Stoke
Hugh Laurie: Once again, home win. 3-0.
Mark Lawrenson: Won't bet against the champions in this one. 3-1.

Blackburn - Manchester City
Hugh Laurie: Now there is an interesting game, I'll back Rovers for a surprise. 2-1.
Mark Lawrenson: The Citizens should win this one but it will be hard. 1-3.

Last season, Lawro was precise with his predictions but his guests pushed him right to the end:

Total scores for season 2016/17:
Lawro: 142
Guests: 133

Total scores for season 2015/16:
Lawro: 174
Guests: 144

Total scores for season 2014/15:
Lawro: 145
Guests: 128
 
View attachment 401358
Premier League 2017/18 kicks off!

Saturday 19th August 2017:

Chelsea - Blackpool 4-0
Strootman (pen 17), Falcao (25, 48), Neymar (58); Eckersley sent off (61)
View attachment 401351View attachment 401350

Arsenal - Hull 2-0
Isco (20), Nkoulou (42)
View attachment 401348View attachment 401347

Manchester United - Nottingham Forest 4-1
Ben Arfa (13), Evans (23), Iniesta (29, 35); van Wolfswinkel (12)​
View attachment 401346View attachment 401345

Sunday 20th August 2017:

Newcastle - Stoke 4-0
Campbell (6), Alvarez Balanta (22), Zouma (51), Depay (85)
​
View attachment 401342View attachment 401340

Blackburn - Manchester City 1-7
Benteke (34); Ronaldo (1, 32, 37, pen 53), Kompany (12), Gotze (20), Messi (56)
View attachment 401337View attachment 401335View attachment 401334

League Table:

View attachment 401333​
 
What is your rotation policy with your team? How many changes will you make, game to game, and how do you ensure every player plays as often as they want?
 
Strolla said:
What is your rotation policy with your team? How many changes will you make, game to game, and how do you ensure every player plays as often as they want?
Click to expand...

You'll probably notice that in the screenshots - I usually rotate the entire team except for the goalkeeper and sometimes a specific striker, unless the choices are limited by injuries and I need to keep certain players fresh. Never had a player complain for more first team football so far.
 

Gary Lineker: Good evening and welcome to Match of the Day for our thoughts on the 2016/17 Premier League season! It seems the race will be as tight as ever this time around and as we all know it is those direct 6-pointer clashes that play a decisive part in deciding who will fly and who will fall. For this reason we will be focusing solely on those giant games in Match of the Day. Stay with us as Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer aid me on analyzing the key aspects of what happened and why it happened for you!

Blackburn - Manchester City
1-7
View attachment 396363​

Gary Lineker: What better way to start the new season with a title contenders clash? Blackburn welcomed Man City at Ewood Park in a bid to show they have cut the gap to the top four. Well, they were completely destroyed. First half hattrick from Ronaldo plus goals from Kompany and Gotze were too much for Rovers who only managed to pull one back with a Benteke strike. The second half was no different and the home side will be grateful the Citizens pulled down a gear and only added two more from Messi and another Ronaldo goal. Final score Blackburn 1, Man City 7!
Alan Hansen: There isn't much to analyze in this one, is there? I have no idea why Rovers approached this game in such an open way, did they really believe they could outscore City? So wrong of them! They were carved open time and time again and what shocked me even more was they never changed their approach to contain the damage even after it became apparent the game was way beyond reach!
Alan Shearer: It's hard to point out a Blackburn player for praise after this but I'll say Benteke did pretty well spearheading the attacks for the home side. Apart from him the entire team was terrible, no exceptions. The opposite goes for Man City - hard to find someone who didn't perform there. Of course Ronaldo was the cherry pick with his four goals and PoM award. Kompany, Gotze, Messi and Modric were outlandishly good!
Gary Lineker: Blackburn hoped to send a message with their season opener but it was Man City who did it instead. They will certainly look to challenge for the title this time around!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

FMBase

Beta

Resources

Top