Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread 2014-15

[Nierr]

Figured I'd start this as the fixtures for the English and Scottish leagues are released tomorrow.

Really interested in the Scottish Championship (I'll take words I never thought I'd say for $300) as it'll contain Rangers, Hibernian and Hearts. Should be more interesting than the SPL atleast.

Good to see both Luton and Cambridge back in the Football League too.

Wonder which team'll get dicked over like Norwich was as well.

[Britcan]

Is it that time already? Time flies, I suppose.

I agree with you on the Scottish Championship. A league with Hearts, Hibs and Rangers is, at the very least, more exciting than Celtic demolishing every other team in the division.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Now taking bets on the first Premier League manager to complain about his team's schedule.

My money is on J-Mo, regardless of what the schedule actually is.

[Liventia]

Firstly, an important note: all World Cup–related posts belong here and not in this thread.

The league fixtures for the 2014–15 season in England and Scotland will be revealed later today (in eight hours' time).

But before that, the first round draw for the League Cup has already taken place and thrown up a very, very tasty tie as AFC Wimbledon have been drawn away at arch-rivals MK Dons.

There's also a Hertfordshire derby between Watford and Stevenage. Other selected ties: Coventry City v Cardiff City; Birmingham City v Cambridge United; Swindon Town v Luton Town. Full draw here.

Elsewhere in Europe, fixtures have already been announced in France (Ligue 1; Ligue 2) and the Netherlands (Eredivisie; Eerste Divisie).

In other news, Chelsea are reportedly looking into expanding Stamford Bridge instead of moving away, while Leeds United are expected to confirm the appointment of Dave Hockaday as their new head coach.

[Nierr]

Fixtures were released and we have two potential Norwich's

Crystal Palace finish with Hull, Chelsea away, United, Liverpool away and finish off with Swansea.

West Brom's last five are Liverpool, United away, Newcastle away, Chelsea and Arsenal away.

In Scotland's most interesting league, Hearts host Hibernian on the very second matchday, Rangers will play Hibernian in late September and open the season with Hearts.

Elsewhere Yeovil and Doncaster play each other on matchday 1 in a tie that last year was played in the Championship and Luton's return to the Football League see them travel to Carlisle. Cambridge host Plymouth Argyle after 9 years out of the Football League.

[Shove Piggy Shove]

What are your favourite opening day results? Mine is probably this gem from 09/10:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvxi4FDZYRs

Can't see us repeating that result this year, although starting at home to Oldham is winnable.

[Valanora]

*grumbles about how 90% of MLS games are no longer on regional stations but PPV* Really making it hard for me to stay connected with my club there MLS when I can't watch the for all but 4 games this season.

[Osarius]

Whoever/whatever decides Premier League fixtures must really not like Villa...

[Shove Piggy Shove]

Whoever/whatever decides Premier League fixtures must really not like Villa...

(Image)

There was a really good article on the fixture list on the BBC a few years back:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/paulf ... mpute.html

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Whoever/whatever decides Premier League fixtures must really not like Villa...

(Image)

Yeah, but you have a pretty great stretch from about the beginning of November to January...

Three months and only four games against top notch opponents - home v Spurs on 1 Nov, home v Man Utd on 20 Dec (they'll be a lot better this year...), home v Liverpool on 17 Jan, and away to Arsenal on 31 Jan. Might even want to extend that into the end of October, too, with QPR.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

while Leeds United are expected to confirm the appointment of Dave Hockaday as their new head coach.

Absolutely crazy. We have a few Leeds fans on this board... they must be very livid/worried. I've had a lot of experience watching Dave Hockaday as Forest Green play Wrexham in the Conference regularly. Trouble is, Forest Green have had one of the biggest budgets in the Conference often out spending their rivals. For past 6 years with Hockaday in charge they've rarely if ever made the play offs. This year they had by far the largest budget and severely underperformed. Ultimately leading to his sack after they were down in 15th and well out of contention. He's a nice guy, and has a brilliant relationship with Chairman hence his long stay yet severe under performance giving him a stay of execution. Cannot see how someone who failed so badly at Conference level can succeed at Championship level.

[Nierr]

*grumbles about how 90% of MLS games are no longer on regional stations but PPV* Really making it hard for me to stay connected with my club there MLS when I can't watch the for all but 4 games this season.

Wait, really? You only get 4 games for free?

[Yellow Yellow Red]

*grumbles about how 90% of MLS games are no longer on regional stations but PPV* Really making it hard for me to stay connected with my club there MLS when I can't watch the for all but 4 games this season.

Wait, really? You only get 4 games for free?

Maybe it's just where Valanora is? We get all our home games available on local TV channels and radio broadcasts can usually be found in three languages (English, Spanish, Polish)

[Osarius]

Yeah, but you have a pretty great stretch from about the beginning of November to January...

Three months and only four games against top notch opponents

Only because we will have already played them all. I obviously understand we have to play them at some point, but last season's top five all together like that? Three of them away from home? Come on man. Squad rotation concerns aside, we'll be lucky to get a couple points out of that stretch. That's probably gonna put us in a hole, and we'll be playing catchup for months.

I know they have algorithms and whatnot but its kinda hard not to look at this and think "oh shit" because you're anticipating seeing your team go through the demands of the Christmas period in or near the bottom three. Again.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Yeah, but you have a pretty great stretch from about the beginning of November to January...

Three months and only four games against top notch opponents

Only because we will have already played them all. I obviously understand we have to play them at some point, but last season's top five all together like that? Three of them away from home? Come on man. Squad rotation concerns aside, we'll be lucky to get a couple points out of that stretch. That's probably gonna put us in a hole, and we'll be playing catchup for months.

I know they have algorithms and whatnot but its kinda hard not to look at this and think "oh shit" because you're anticipating seeing your team go through the demands of the Christmas period in or near the bottom three. Again.

That is a rough stretch, but you could very well end up having a 12 or 15 point December.

[Apox]

Well Reading still aren't in the Prem this season. Maybe we'll hold on to a play-off place this year.

I agree with the OP though, Scottish Championship could well end up being more popular than the Premiership this season. Looking forward to that.

[Osarius]

That is a rough stretch, but you could very well end up having a 12 or 15 point December.

Oh, you.

Didn't you know? Midlands folk don't do optimism. It's just not in our nature

[Yellow Yellow Red]

That is a rough stretch, but you could very well end up having a 12 or 15 point December.

Oh, you.

Didn't you know? Midlands folk don't do optimism. It's just not in our nature

Heh, fair enough.

Speaking of Villa, what's your take on signing Joe Cole? Can he still contribute, or is he a has-been?

[Valanora]

*grumbles about how 90% of MLS games are no longer on regional stations but PPV* Really making it hard for me to stay connected with my club there MLS when I can't watch the for all but 4 games this season.

Wait, really? You only get 4 games for free?

All of FC Dallas' matches that aren't on ESPN or NBC are on PPV (or Time Warner Sports if you have Time Warner, which I don't), when last year and before they were on the regional Fox Sports station if they weren't on the national broadcast.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Al-Arabi's manager has claimed that they've just signed Xavi to a pre-contract. Is this for real? Surely he'll get a really rich contract with them, but he can still do so much better than Qatar. Hopefully this won't end up like Drogba's move to China - full of regrets and disappointment.

[Osarius]

Speaking of Villa, what's your take on signing Joe Cole? Can he still contribute, or is he a has-been?

If he can stay fit... I can see the benefit. I hear he's taking a massive pay cut, so I suppose he's hungry to play and prove a point.
I'd be lying if I said I was excited about the signing, though. Would have preferred Hoolahan, tbh. But Norwich will never sell to us again.

[I V Stalin]

This time last year I'd already worked out when Arsenal's season was going to fall apart. This year the fixtures make that a little less clear, but I'm going to go with... February/March.

[Liventia]

David Hockaday confirmed as Leeds manager.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

David Hockaday confirmed as Leeds manager.

Really do have to repeat this... it's utter madness.

while Leeds United are expected to confirm the appointment of Dave Hockaday as their new head coach.

Absolutely crazy. We have a few Leeds fans on this board... they must be very livid/worried. I've had a lot of experience watching Dave Hockaday as Forest Green play Wrexham in the Conference regularly. Trouble is, Forest Green have had one of the biggest budgets in the Conference often out spending their rivals. For past 6 years with Hockaday in charge they've rarely if ever made the play offs. This year they had by far the largest budget and severely underperformed. Ultimately leading to his sack after they were down in 15th and well out of contention. He's a nice guy, and has a brilliant relationship with Chairman hence his long stay yet severe under performance giving him a stay of execution. Cannot see how someone who failed so badly at Conference level can succeed at Championship level.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

I... didn't expect that.

Incidentally, I sacked Hockaday as Assistant Manager a few days ago on FM14 (it's 2020, I'm with York City, we've lost two straight Championship promotion playoffs and lost in the playoff semifinal before that (to Stoke, who FM predicted would go down in 2015 and then right back up. They put six goals past us. Humiliating.)