**** OFFICIAL Premiership 2006-07 season Thread!*****

[ThaSaltCracka]

I wouldn't worry to much if I am Chelsea fan. Terry is back soon, and you can always play Essien basically anywhere. I really wish that dude was on Arsenal.

[The once and future king]

[ QUOTE ]
Chelsea loses yet another defender. This time--Ashley Cole. At least Terry is supposed to be back soon.

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Wayne Bridge for the win.

[Mickey Brausch]

Chelsea are possibly springing for Roberto Mancini, manager of Inter Milan, who are about to win their 2nd title as champions of Serie A. Which must look pretty impressive to Roman Abramovich, since Mancini is about to repeat in Italy with an assortment of prima donas in the squad, without any kind of inflammatory remarks, and under an owner who does not know how to stop signing checks for transfers, i.e. what Roman would like to do. He must be looking just the ticket for Chelsea, in Abramovich's eyes.

But things are not as they seem to be.

Someone tell Roman that last year's scudetto was not really won by Mr Mancini, but rather handed over by the Calcio authorities to Inter Milan, after two teams that finisehd above Inter, Juventus who were stripped of their title (and relegated) on the back of the bribery scandal, and AC Milan who were demoted in the table. And this year's title race has been made a lot easier through the taking away points from major Serie A teams, again as a result of that scandal. So Mancini has not yet truly proven that he can bring home the silverware.

But he has his own personal website up. (link) He must be a better manager than Mourinio then who has to make do with fan-created sites. (link)

Chelsea are seriously thinking of dumping Jose Mourinho, then... Unbelievable. I'm sure Inter will snap him up immediately, and, if not Inter, then surely Real Madrid will.

Mickey Brausch

[THEOSU]

yeah, i don't see how cole didn't tear his ACL there. That was just ugly looking.

[ThaSaltCracka]

Cole is certainly done for the season.

[Mickey Brausch]

[ QUOTE ]
LOL @ LIGAMENTS

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[kolotoure]

can't think of many people I would rather see injured

[KJS]

Curious what people think about these lists. ESPN pundits' best XI outside the big 4. Maybe we can expand our discussion to include some great players and good teams that are not Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea. Or if you have to: what would be your best XI from THIS season, including players from the top 4.

Dom Raynor: Ben Foster (Watford), Phillip Neville (Everton), Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough), Richard Dunne (Man City), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Mikel Arteta (Everton), Steed Malbranque (Tottenham), Joey Barton (Man City), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn).

Jon Carter: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), Micah Richards (Man City), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Matthew Taylor (Portsmouth), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Tim Cahill (Everton), Joey Barton (Man City), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn), Yakubu (Middlesbrough), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn)

Phil Holland: Ben Foster (Watford), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Arjan De Zeuuw (Wigan), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Nolberto Solano (Aston Villa), Gary Speed (Bolton), Mikel Arteta (Everton), Matthew Taylor (Portsmouth), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)

John Brewin: Shay Given (Newcastle), Lucas Neill (West Ham), Ledley King (Tottenham), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Joey Barton (Man City), Mikel Arteta (Everton), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn), Yakubu (Middlesbrough), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)

Dale Johnson: Shay Given (Newcastle), Pascal Chimbonda (Tottenham), Ledley King (Tottenham), Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Tim Cahill (Everton), Joey Barton (Man City), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn), Andrew Johnson (Everton), Yakubu (Middlesbrough)

Mine would be:

Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), Micah Richards (Man City), Ledley King (Tottenham), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Tim Cahill (Everton), Joey Barton (Man City), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn), Yakubu (Middlesbrough), Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)

[kolotoure]

I would have John Carew even though he has just joined the premiership in my team

[New001]

Lennon and Cahill are musts in midfield. Sol Campbell, Gamst Pedersen, and Claus Jensen would be others I think I'd want for sure. I'm not entirely sure of the others.