The KR Football Thread: 2011/12 Season – In association with Mario Balotelli

[Squarepusher]

With the new season only days away, it’s time for a new Kittyradio football thread. With a grand total of four users expected to be posting here on a regular to semi-regular basis, this thread should fast become the place to be here on KR.

I’ve renewed the KR Premiership fantasy league at premierleague.com. Those of you who took part last season should automatically be placed back in it this season. Anyone who’s interested in joining can go to Fantasy Premier League - The official fantasy football game of the Barclays Premier League , register their team and enter the following code to sign up: 43164-205789. (Pablita, I’m looking at you. If you don’t sign up, we shall all be very disappointed. )

So, with the formalities out of the way, let the football talk begin. How do you expect the season to pan out? Will your team win the league? Be relegated? Be doomed to mid-table obscurity? Will Liverpool’s policy of signing 68 midfielders this summer lead to them lining up in some bizarre 1 – 8 – 1 formation on the opening day? All these questions and more should be answered as the season progresses. Welcome to the new season, KR people.

[pablita]

How terrible has Liverpool been this pre-season? *waits for Carter........* I guess it's to be expected if they're missing Gerard and Suarez, but they have made a couple of pricey signings.

To be honest, I am concerned about Barca's chances at winning La Liga this season. They will not be terrible by any means, but I suppose my fear comes from being able to beat or draw with Real Madrid twice in the year. Our team will not change much and can potentially be even better with Sanchez- but even though Pep doesn't seem to think so, our back line is weakened by injuries and the decline of Puyol. He still has not been training normally. On the topic of Cesc? If he doesn't sign this week, I do not see it happening. Will he show up for Arsenal picture day tomorrow? God knows. He would be a spendy addition to the squad, maybe even too spendy considering the fact that Puyol is still not fit and our other needs are more immediate, but I do believe he woiuld be beneficial in the long run given the decline of Xavi, a player who is also not fully fit and might play a few minutes for the first time tonight. Thiago- though admittedly brilliant- still does not inspire enough confidence in me to drive important matches with Iniesta. He's spectacular, yet not there yet.

And well, Real Madrid has bought every available player plus Mourinho has full, full reign over there.

I WENT TO SEE BARCA LAST WEEKEND.
Our arrival to the stadium (where we will had to walk over a mile in 100F heat and humidity)

photo.JPG by brooklynpablita, on Flickr
notice the Jeffren shirt. hardcore/sad

then we made signs in catalan in front of the stadium. this one says, "xavi, I have mushrooms" 'cause Xavi loves to go out into the countryside and find mushrooms. or so he said once in an interview

photo.JPG by brooklynpablita, on Flickr

this was my view of the warm up <3

photo.JPG by brooklynpablita, on Flickr

pep guardiola played in mia hamm's charity match the next morning. lots of shrieking and flailing. he was so close! i wish i had better pics but the sun was in my eyes and this is from my iphone. still, this is the closest ill ever get to him

photo.JPG by brooklynpablita, on Flickr

and more signage in catalan plus my friend has a senyera kit she got on ebay.

photo.JPG by brooklynpablita, on Flickr

HE SAW THE SIGN, SMILED AND WAVED AT USSSS /dead

[Squarepusher]

I can tell you've just been dying for a place to post those pictures. Also, who on earth gets Jeffren's name and number printed on the back of their shirt? Baffling. Although, I can see that further up that escalator, someone has a Man U shirt with Darren Fletcher's name and number on, which is much worse.

As for Burnley's season, I'm going to say I'm cautiously optimstic. I'm nowhere near as angry about losing Tyrone Mears and Chris Eagles to that lying **** up the road as I thought I'd be, and I think we have a good, young squad. We've managed to shift a lot of deadwood off the wage bill this summer with the likes of Iwelumo, Carlisle and Alexander clearing off and it looks like some of our promising young players might finally start to get a chance in the team. I'll predict a finish in the play-off positions for now, with Eddie getting us back to the promised land within the next three seasons. I think his overall footballing philosophy is good and his focus on youth and energy will stand us in good stead. Roll on saturday afternoon.

[Squarepusher]

Oh, and lets all remember to have a good old laugh at Venkys FC.

[pablita]

You know me too well dear Philip. The girl wearing the shirt is a friend. We got into a shouting match on the metro with some drunk Man united fans. English folk, take comfort in the fact that even American Man untd supporters are complete wankers.