2016/17 Soccer Thread

I'm up for doing way better than my meager knowledge warrants again. Or maybe I will be crushed as I really should have been last year.

Ok people, the GWJ Premiership 16/17 is now open.

Code is 636407-179745.

Note to SKY...televised rights for this can be had for £500m, payable into my Swiss bank account.

I'm in, again with an all Belgian team.

Ok I'm in if it goes anything like my previous attempts have gone I will not remember to update my roster and the only points i will accrue are based on who i already have picked like right now. which needless to say is hardly a formula for success but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ashley Williams to Everton for £10m. He's 31 (going on 32 this season), seems like an awful lot to pay for one or two years of a guy. Centrebacks are hard to scout though.

I've been generally underwhelmed by Newcastle's signings. Gayle and Hanley are decent, Hayden looks like a good bet but then you have a bunch of guys like Ritchie, Gamez, and recently release claused Diame and Ciaran Clark who are will all do a job to get promoted but won't do much after that.

Going for safe transfers is probably a smart bet for a club in Newcastle's position (Clear favourites to win promotion and some good players already there) but it's not going to make things easy once they do.

At least we have a bit of depth for the first time in years, and in the present we have to realise what league we're in, we aren't exactly going to be signing too many internationals out there, we need to get out of the league first! Apart from Clark, I'm very happy with our signings so far, I think we've got a great squad now, although remains to be seen if they will gel together well.

Williams will be a good signing for Everton, although they, along with West Ham, have seemed desperate to spend this summer and ended up without that much. £50m for Stones and then £10m for 3 or 4 seasons out of Williams? I'd definitely take that.

Also, looks like Arsenal missed out on Ben Yedder, he's went to Sevilla. Who needs him when you've got Giroud

I know were comparatively flush with cash, but that seems steep for Williams unless he's willing to talk Sigurdsson into coming along (at which point I suspect Psych will self-combust).

Dimmerswitch wrote:

I know were comparatively flush with cash, but that seems steep for Williams unless he's willing to talk Sigurdsson into coming along (at which point I suspect Psych will self-combust). :D

I would implode with joy. Sadly, it looks like Gylfi has signed a new contract, so it is unlikely he will head to Everton.

Everton announced their squad numbers for the coming year.

Prominently not issued a number for the upcoming season? Oumar Niasse, Everton's third-most-expensive signing to date. He was signed for £13.5 million in this past January window, and played just 152 minutes of competitive football (about as long as he was under arrest for assault).

I do think that Martínez's tenure at Everton was a net positive, but in hindsight the Niasse signing should have been the indicator that his time with the club was well up.

Don't know what it is about us and signings from Russia, but I'm kind of hoping we don't get Witsel at this point.

Super excited!

The kids and I are going to AC Milan vs. Chelsea tonight in Minneapolis. First public event in the new US Bank Stadium too.

I hope you all have fun tonight Godzilla Biltz. I'm a fan of overseas pre-season friendlies (but not the variety where a team in the middle of the season is involved a la MLS). Getting an opportunity to see teams you wouldn't be able to see without travelling across an ocean is a treat.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

I do think that Martínez's tenure at Everton was a net positive, but in hindsight the Niasse signing should have been the indicator that his time with the club was well up.

Don't know what it is about us and signings from Russia, but I'm kind of hoping we don't get Witsel at this point.

Belgium have named Martinez their men's national team manager. I think this sums it up:

Russia does look like a league to avoid, Arshavin and Rondon seem like the only successful signings out of their in recent years and I'm not sure either turned out as well as one would have hoped they would. Guys seem able to put up good numbers there (Seydou Doumbia was a notorious numbers darling playing in Russia) and then they turn into a pumpkin when they move abroad.

Plus with the wages being paid in Russia it's not like you're likely to get a bargain out of there either.

Canada women's Olympics v Australia! Quickest goal in Olympic history, plus end up winning 2-0 despite being down to 10 women for 70+ minutes

juv3nal wrote:

Canada women's Olympics v Australia! Quickest goal in Olympic history, plus end up winning 2-0 despite being down to 10 women for 70+ minutes

The Steph Labbé Eccentric Goalkeeping Experience isn't getting any easier to watch but it's not like there are any alternatives (besides, putting Janine Beckie in goal would be a waste).

I was shocked Tancredi and Wilkinson started, they should only be used as late subs or #99friendship on the sidelines. I don't think it was a coincidence Australia had a lot of joy down Wilkinson's side.

Desiree Scott still worries me. After the Brazil friendlies earlier in the summer I compared her to Jack Colback - she doesn't seem to cover as much ground as she used to (or what's needed to break up attacks).

All that said, that was decent. Sinclair looking good, Fleming's really grown, Lawrence was a bit quiet at fullback but she's been great so no worries there, Chapman's solid, and Beckie was fantastic terrible penalty (that was never a penalty) notwithstanding.

That win means we should easily finish top-3 in the group and move on, just have to avoid injuries against Zimbabwe and not win the group to avoid facing the USA or France in the quarterfinals.

Double post because poor Joe Lewis:

https://vine.co/v/5qAYQALWLuV

And also pestering to join the GWJ fantasy league dave set up again:

davet010 wrote:

Ok people, the GWJ Premiership 16/17 is now open.

Code is 636407-179745.

Note to SKY...televised rights for this can be had for £500m, payable into my Swiss bank account.

Roke wrote:

I hope you all have fun tonight Godzilla Biltz. I'm a fan of overseas pre-season friendlies (but not the variety where a team in the middle of the season is involved a la MLS). Getting an opportunity to see teams you wouldn't be able to see without travelling across an ocean is a treat.

Great time had by all. Fun game to watch and the new stadium was a hit too.

Roke wrote:

Double post because poor Joe Lewis:

https://vine.co/v/5qAYQALWLuV

And also pestering to join the GWJ fantasy league dave set up again:

davet010 wrote:

Ok people, the GWJ Premiership 16/17 is now open.

Code is 636407-179745.

Note to SKY...televised rights for this can be had for £500m, payable into my Swiss bank account.

Can newbies play this fantasy league?

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Can newbies play this fantasy league?

Absolutely!

I mean, they let me play and all...

Of course you can, Godzilla. I rarely do well because I end up picking players who would do well in a Football Manager side, which isn't necessarily the same as players who score loads of fantasy points.

Plus I don't pick any Man U players, for the simple reason that I hate them.

Weekday league matches are the worst. Congrats Prederick! From what I've read Fullham defended very well.

Listened to the game on the radio, did sound as though Fulham had the better of it and that Newcastle struggled to generate much in the way of chances, though they had a possible penalty turned down in the first half.

In other news, Fernando Llorente has made his switch to Swansea. Quality striker when in La Liga, should be an interesting addition. What with Alvaro Negredo back in the Premiership (at Boro), there's a number of teams strengthening. And then there's Hull.

Amusing to see Jose calling out Wenger and Klippity about 'ethics' - this from the guy who only escaped a 2 day performance at an industrial tribunal over workplace behaviour re Eva Carneiro because Chelsea slipped her £5m (allegedly). All because they have been less than flattering about United's £100m transfer of Pogba (or £110m, depending which rag you read). Let's be honest, it's probably close to double what he's really worth, he didn't shine at Euro 2016, and the fee that they are paying his agent is £25m.

So let's not be talking about ethics, eh Mourinho ?

Klopp wasn't even that critical. All he said was (paraphrasing) 'even if i had the money i wouldn't blow that much on a single player, even one that I felt was worth it, bc if he goes out with an injury it's too much putting your eggs in one basket'

which...there's some degree 'boo hoo we can't afford that' sour grapes involved no matter how much klopp would deny it, but still makes perfect sense to me.

Fairly poor game last night, and Newcastle barely looked threatening. Was quite alarming to see how many of the players were arguing with each other on the pitch. Perez was terrible and looked terrified of the ball too often. Only Shelvey really played balls that really tried to stretch the game, I'd much rather he plays over Colback against Huddersfield. Hayden and Ritchie looked good though.

Also, I'll never understand how Chelsea do if. Signed Djilobodji for 2.7m, just sold him to Sunderland for 8m after 5 minutes play and an uninspiring loan spell at Werder Bremen!

Clusks wrote:

Also, I'll never understand how Chelsea do if. Signed Djilobodji for 2.7m, just sold him to Sunderland for 8m after 5 minutes play and an uninspiring loan spell at Werder Bremen!

David Moyes is now at Sunderland. That's how.

Woodward must be kicking himself for having Moyes ejected so ungraciously from The Swamp...they could have unloaded at least half of their deadweight (9 players, apparently) to Sunderland. He must also be gutted that Elephant Man has left Hull, as that was the probable destination for the rest of them.

Yikes, John O'Shea is still at Sunderland.

A week to go until the season starts seems as good of time as any to start posting our predicted tables. Last year didn't go so hot for me (as usual):

1) Manchester City
2) Tottenham
3) Arsenal
4) Manchester United
===============
5) Liverpool
6) Chelsea
7) West Ham
8) Southampton
9) Everton
10) Leicester City
11) Bournemouth
12) West Brom
13) Crystal Palace
14) Watford
15) Stoke
16) Middlesborough
17) Sunderland
===============
18) Swansea City
19) Burnley
20) Hull City

I don't know what's going on with Swansea but they seem to be selling good players for less than I think they should go for and not bringing in anyone particularly exciting this window. Especially weird considering the new TV deal and they have new ownership.

I'd put Llorente over Ayew by some considerable margin. He's well used to playing spearhead if Swansea go 4-2-3-1. I'd be less optimistic for them if they got rid of Williams, though.

Ugh looking at those predictions.

Anyone could win this year and the only team that would surprise me if they did is.... Arsenal.

Still need 2 players in and it's August 6th.

I think Chelsea will win the league, not playing in Europe is massive in a title run, just look at Leicster and Liverpool in recent years.

Not sure that Chelsea have got the squad. If I were betting my own money, I'd be tempted to have a punt on Spurs.

In other news, the Most Overpriced Player in the Premiership title looks like it's about to move from Raheem Sterling to Mr Pogba, as Juventus have apparently allowed him to travel to Manchester for a medical.

My favourite soccer blog/website is running through their EPL previews and I thought the Everton one was particularly good:

http://statsbomb.com/2016/08/everton...

Outside the clubs hoping to finish top-4 Everton are the most interesting club to me this year.

Thanks for sharing that, Roke. Definitely feels like this is going to be a rebuilding season for us, and I'm starting to get concerned we haven't had more inbounds, but until the window is closed I'm holding off on judgement.

Semi-relatedly, surprising no-one, Stones to City for £47.5m. My instinct is that he'll be more of a Lescott for them than a Rodwell, but wish him well regardless.

Edit to add:

davet010 wrote:

Ok people, the GWJ Premiership 16/17 is now open.

Code is 636407-179745.

Note to SKY...televised rights for this can be had for £500m, payable into my Swiss bank account.

After it was pointed out that there isn't a link anywhere in the thread for it, I should probably mention that the GWJ league is at https://fantasy.premierleague.com

Also, my predictions for this season. (Last year's guesses were wide of the mark, though I think the same can be said for most of us. )

1) Chelsea
2) Manchester City
3) Arsenal
4) Manchester United
===============
5) Liverpool
6) Tottenham
7) West Ham
8) Everton
9) Stoke
10) Leicester City
11) Southampton
12) Crystal Palace
13) Swansea
14) Middlesborough
15) Bournemouth
16) Sunderland
17) West Brom
===============
18) Watford
19) Burnley
20) Hull City