Ultimate Football/Soccer Thread 2016-2017

[Minoa]

For update suggestions, please telegram the author.

The Premier League Fixtures were announced at 0900 BST on Wednesday, 15 June 2016.

In line with forum tradition, a new edition of the Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread has been created to cover the 2016-2017 season, and covers all football activities between Wednesday 15 June 2016 to Tuesday 18 June 2017, except for the Euro 2016 finals and any outstanding tournaments, which (on the recommendation of The Blaatschapen) will continue in the the old thread.

So it looks like we will have a smooth transition.

The following links will instantly populate after the fixtures are announced: it is nice to know that the URLs for the fixtures on the BBC have not changed at all.

England:
Premier League fixtures: BBC link
Championship fixtures: BBC link
League One fixtures: BBC link
League Two fixtures: BBC link

Scotland:
Scottish Premier League fixtures: BBC link
Scottish Championship fixtures: BBC link
Scottish League One fixtures: BBC link
Scottish League Two fixtures: BBC link

Key points today:

• On 13 August, Leicester City will start their top-flight title defence with Hull City, while Arsenal face Liverpool on the first day.
• West Ham's first match is away at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, so their first league match at the Olympic Stadium is on 20 August, with Bournemouth.
• The Premier League also has a sharp new look (although I preferred the serifs in the typefaces). See the designs here.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Hmm, Sunderland starting at City and finishing at Chelsea. As long as they finally get relegated, I'll be happy.
Also, Hull hosting Leicester to start the season off. I imagine a few of my friends will be ecstatic about that.

Gearing up for life in Championship, still worried about who we'll lose over the summer and whether we'll make it back first time around. Still, Benitez has given us some hope. [/glorifiedtag]

[Osarius]

Premier League fixtures: BBC link

Got all excited about seeing who we play first, then I remembered......

[Eastfield Lodge]

Premier League fixtures: BBC link

Got all excited about seeing who we play first, then I remembered......

Don't worry, I too had that moment. Let us drown our sorrows together.

[The Blaatschapen]

In line with forum tradition, a new edition of the Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread has been created to cover the 2016-2017 season, and covers all football activities between Wednesday 15 June 2016 to Tuesday 13 June 2017, except for the Euro 2016 finals which (on the recommendation of The Blaatschapen) will continue in the the old thread.

Just for the record, I said mid-tournament. Not Euro 2016.

I could've been talking about the Copa America

Not that it matters, both still go in the old thread

[Auremena]

Final match at the Lane is going to be against a boring Mourinho United, if he doesn't get himself sacked by then. Would have been lovely if the powers that be had been able to arrange the home match to Arsenal then instead.

[Liventia]

Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester and Chelsea in the first five games for Liverpool. Fun times.

[Minoa]

Premier league-wise (and posted to the most appropriate UFST), we are starting to see some big money rolling in ahead of the 2016-2017 season, although Vardy eschewed an extra £20,000 a week to stay with Leicester (source).

Liverpool got Sadio Mane from Southampton for £34 million as they seek their first league silverware for the first time since 1989–90. Liverpool last won the FA cup in the 2005–06 season, and it clear they are anxious now that it is over ten years since they won a major competition. I am not sure if the League Cup is a major contest?

Another thing to watch out for in this transfer window is the Brexit. If the pound falls further this week, then we may see a very weak transfer season as foreign talent becomes expensive. What do you think the impact will be on the EPL's future influence?

[Osarius]

I am not sure if the League Cup is a major contest?

It counts. I like to think a "major trophy" is one in which top flight teams compete, and can be used as a qualifier to further elite competitions.

[The United Universe]

Iceland beat England and I now want a Wales-Iceland final.

[Great Kauthar]

first it was the voters, now Iceland make it the second time England are put out of Europe in a week
ICELAND V WALES FINAL?

[Liventia]

Euro 2016 talk belongs in the 2015/16 thread, guys.

I think we've overpaid on Mané. Certainly not worth the second-biggest fee we've ever paid.

[Adab]

United fan here. Really looking forward to Mourinho's tenure here. I kinda love and deride the guy; he's a good manager, but he's not exactly known for his... nice behavior. Let's just hope the team can demonstrate more interesting football and Mourinho doesn't suddenly freak out at everyone and get himself the sack.

[Auremena]

United fan here. Really looking forward to Mourinho's tenure here. I kinda love and deride the guy; he's a good manager, but he's not exactly known for his... nice behavior. Let's just hope the team can demonstrate more interesting football and Mourinho doesn't suddenly freak out at everyone and get himself the sack.

Mourinho and interesting football tend not to be found in the same sentence unless you prefix the latter with un-

[Val Halla]

I think that this season will go back to the "Who will disappoint the least?" winners

[Osarius]

Mourinho and interesting football tend not to be found in the same sentence unless you prefix the latter with un-

I get the impression you've not really followed Mourinho's career.

People love to play the "negative tactics" and "anti-football" arguments, but these criticisms don't really hold up if you actually look at his teams over the years. Sure he's employed defensive tactics extensively throughout his career... but it's never really been a default approach for him. He just likes to build from the back... which is smart. Even Arsenal's Invincibles were built from the back.

At Porto, his team played a highly aggressive pressing game and were highly proactive.
Each of his Premier League titles with Chelsea saw them finish as either the highest scoring or second highest scoring team in the league.
Same with Inter. Won Serie A with the best attacking record both times.
Don't even get me started on the records broken with Real Madrid.

[Auremena]

Mourinho and interesting football tend not to be found in the same sentence unless you prefix the latter with un-

I get the impression you've not really followed Mourinho's career.

People love to play the "negative tactics" and "anti-football" arguments, but these criticisms don't really hold up if you actually look at his teams over the years. Sure he's employed defensive tactics extensively throughout his career... but it's never really been a default approach for him. He just likes to build from the back... which is smart. Even Arsenal's Invincibles were built from the back.

At Porto, his team played a highly aggressive pressing game and were highly proactive.
Each of his Premier League titles with Chelsea saw them finish as either the highest scoring or second highest scoring team in the league.
Same with Inter. Won Serie A with the best attacking record both times.
Don't even get me started on the records broken with Real Madrid.

Recent trend I find shows better record. Who knows though, LVG United was pretty boring to watch as well. Perhaps it'll just be a different form of uninteresting.
I'm willing to be surprised, though, as long as United loses to Spurs twice

[FutureAmerica]

Leichester City will win the CL.

[Liventia]

Leichester City will win the CL.

Who are they? Are they like the San Diegro Padres or Green Baye Packers?

[Great Kauthar]

Leichester City will win the CL.

No they won't. Face it, British teams are shit. It's unlikely any British team will make it to the semi-finals never mind winning in the finals. All of the good players are in mainland Europe, sure Leicester are a good team, but they're not great.

[The Blaatschapen]

Leichester City will win the CL.

No they won't. Face it, British teams are shit. It's unlikely any British team will make it to the semi-finals never mind winning in the finals. All of the good players are in mainland Europe, sure Leicester are a good team, but they're not great.

Mainland Europe?

You mean Spain and Bayern?

Edit: And maybe, maaaaaaybe Paris.

[Valanora]

Here's to hoping United have a good season, but I have very little confidence in Jose making it an attractive team to watch.

[Northern Sunrise Islands]

Kinda am looking forward to see what Kennedy is doing on Chelsea.

Not as much as Thiago Silva on PSG, but still. Nice to see our academy might be up and running again.

[FutureAmerica]

Leichester City will win the CL.

No they won't. Face it, British teams are shit. It's unlikely any British team will make it to the semi-finals never mind winning in the finals. All of the good players are in mainland Europe, sure Leicester are a good team, but they're not great.

Leichester City are giant killers.

[Valanora]

FC Dallas topped Colorado 2-1 in extra time to advance to the Open Cup Quarterfinals, with Colorado currently atop the MLS table and FC Dallas in second. It should make Dallas the favorite for the Cup now, though with the CCL looking to start soon, fixture congestion could begin to be an issue in the Cup and League ambitions. I'm hoping Oscar knows how to juggle the depth he's assembled on the team, a title of some sort is long overdue for FCD for as good as they have been in the league.