English Premier League idea

[Smitty]

Crystal Palace sounds more like a Disney film than soccer team. We finished middle of the league last year, hopefully we can jump up near the Europa and make waves in the FA Cup.

[DawgHouseUnited]

Leicester City doesn't have any U.S. players in the team, but they do have Captain Wes Morgan of Jamaica. Awesome.

ETA: I almost forgot last season's club Player of the Year, Danny Drinkwater. In addition to having a cool surname, he was a finalist for the Championship's Player of the Year last season.

Just judging by those names, I'd guess that they like to win the party as well as the game... Cap'n Morgan and Drinkwater? Nice!

[DanglyGiant]

Crystal Palace sounds more like a Disney film than soccer team. We finished middle of the league last year, hopefully we can jump up near the Europa and make waves in the FA Cup.

Close! It is a restaurant at DisneyWorld, though.

[TheRef]

Just judging by those names, I'd guess that they like to win the party as well as the game... Cap'n Morgan and Drinkwater? Nice!

Oh yeah. LCFC knows how to party. Our fans threw smoke bombs during one match.

[BulldogDX55]

Hey Smootness and DistrictDawg92, QPR is awful! Why can't you use words instead of an acronym like the rest of us?

[DudyDawg]

Well I've done a little studying, and we Saints have had an up and down time. Battled back from relegation in the late 2000's, we've just been back in the Premier League for a couple of years. We ended the '13-14 season in 8th position. Jay Rodriguez was our top scorer with 17, and Adam Lallana played in all 38 games.

I'm already disliking Sunderland, as they knocked us out of the FA Cup back in February AND the League Cup in November '13. It looks like our biggest historical rivalry might be with Portsmouth, currently in League Two (the third highest division behind Premier and League One).

Recently, we had 7 players in the WC, and it's nice to see an American on the team, even if it is just on the Development Squad, with GK Cody Cropper.

First match is against Liverpool, CBRunt and EBDawg better get ready, the Saints are marching on!

Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw, you two best players IMO both got sold. Lallana to Liverpool and Shaw to United. So it may take some time for the new guys to get settled

[DudyDawg]

Hey Smootness and DistrictDawg92, QPR is awful! Why can't you use words instead of an acronym like the rest of us?

If I had to bet, QPR finishes above Hull this year haha. They have hella money, and depending on if their coach can keep them in check, they should be a decent side. That's a big IF tho

[DawgHouseUnited]

Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw, you two best players IMO both got sold. Lallana to Liverpool and Shaw to United. So it may take some time for the new guys to get settled

I'm trying to catch up on the transfers- just doing a little history first. Thanks for the info!

[DudyDawg]

I'm trying to catch up on the transfers- just doing a little history first. Thanks for the info!

Haha no problem, that's what I'm here for. Southampton have some decent history as far as young talent goes. Those two, Gareth Bale started there. Pretty decent list

[preachermatt83]

SignaltoNoise and I along with Aston Villa are looking to start the season right against Stoke City.

Looking at you preachermatt and BrunswickDawg

[War Machine Dawg]

Hey Dudy, noticed that Hull is trying to load up on young, talented Brit players. They've brought Tom Ince, Jake Livermore & Robert Snodgrass into the fold and they're chasing another young kid (drawing a blank on the name/team, but he's U-21). Was just reading an article about Hull overpaying a little for this young Brit talent, because they don't have a solid scouting network in place overseas yet. But the owner hopes to have that network up in about a year, letting them bring in some talented but cheaper players from the continent. Really like the pieces they seem to be putting into place, though. Your thoughts?

[DudyDawg]

Hey Dudy, noticed that Hull is trying to load up on young, talented Brit players. They've brought Tom Ince, Jake Livermore & Robert Snodgrass into the fold and they're chasing another young kid (drawing a blank on the name/team, but he's U-21). Was just reading an article about Hull overpaying a little for this young Brit talent, because they don't have a solid scouting network in place overseas yet. But the owner hopes to have that network up in about a year, letting them bring in some talented but cheaper players from the continent. Really like the pieces they seem to be putting into place, though. Your thoughts?

First, from a business side. Yes, they may be overpaying for these talents now, but I think they know that and are willing to do it because it makes sense from a business side. If guys like Ince, who's 21 I believe have one or two good years, they will sell them for a huge fee compared to the one they had to pay at an "overpaying" price. So its more of an investment for them as a business than them overpaying to win.

On the field, I think they'll be a good team. They have some decent pieces, and like those names, most are in the midfield. And it doesn't matter how good a striker is or a back four, if a team doesn't have a good midfield that can help defend and create going forward, they won't be worth a damn. I think Hull is building that, and thats why I think they will stay away from the relegation zone pretty easily. Granted, it isn't an elite midfield, but it is a very solid one that is improving and will improve all year with the young guys getting plenty of experience. It wouldnt surprise me if they were one of the surprise teams that can jump into the top half of the league, largely due to that midfield

[Dawg61]

Go ahead and set your DVR fellas, this Saturday on ESPN2 at 3 CT the Tottenham Hotspur play the Seattle Sounders

http://www.soundersfc.com/matchday/2...tenham-Hotspur

[War Machine Dawg]

First, from a business side. Yes, they may be overpaying for these talents now, but I think they know that and are willing to do it because it makes sense from a business side. If guys like Ince, who's 21 I believe have one or two good years, they will sell them for a huge fee compared to the one they had to pay at an "overpaying" price. So its more of an investment for them as a business than them overpaying to win.

On the field, I think they'll be a good team. They have some decent pieces, and like those names, most are in the midfield. And it doesn't matter how good a striker is or a back four, if a team doesn't have a good midfield that can help defend and create going forward, they won't be worth a damn. I think Hull is building that, and thats why I think they will stay away from the relegation zone pretty easily. Granted, it isn't an elite midfield, but it is a very solid one that is improving and will improve all year with the young guys getting plenty of experience. It wouldnt surprise me if they were one of the surprise teams that can jump into the top half of the league, largely due to that midfield

Good analysis. Agree about overpaying now versus selling for more later. Seems like the owner, Bruce, knows what he's doing and is committed to putting a competitive team on the field. The one thing that sticks out to me is that Hull probably needs to look at upgrading the goalkeeper, but I'm assuming that's easier said than done. In fairness, it seems that the current guy is the GK for the Scotland WC team, but when is the last time the Scots were any good? (As someone of Scottish descent, it pains me to say that) Btw, Harry Maguire of Sheffield United is the kid I was thinking about earlier.

Here's the article about our "overpaying" for the current batch of young guys and the scouting situation. Would love to get some thoughts on it.

[mstatefan91]

Go ahead and set your DVR fellas, this Saturday on ESPN2 at 3 CT the Tottenham Hotspur play the Seattle Sounders

http://www.soundersfc.com/matchday/2...tenham-Hotspur

Let's go Seattle!

[Dawg61]

Let's go Seattle!

Haha of course!! I am a Spur on here but no way do I want them to beat the Sounders and Dempsey/Yedlin

[DudyDawg]

Good analysis. Agree about overpaying now versus selling for more later. Seems like the owner, Bruce, knows what he's doing and is committed to putting a competitive team on the field. The one thing that sticks out to me is that Hull probably needs to look at upgrading the goalkeeper, but I'm assuming that's easier said than done. In fairness, it seems that the current guy is the GK for the Scotland WC team, but when is the last time the Scots were any good? (As someone of Scottish descent, it pains me to say that) Btw, Harry Maguire of Sheffield United is the kid I was thinking about earlier.

Here's the article about our "overpaying" for the current batch of young guys and the scouting situation. Would love to get some thoughts on it.

Yeah, most of that is spot on. The problem for the lower teams like Hull, in England especially, is simply geography. A scout from a comparable team in Spain can drive a few hours to portugal, France, hell even northern africa. That gives them a chance to find talent from different countries that play a different style. English clubs are on an inland, and the all the British nations (or whatever they call themselves) play that similar style, so for teams that can't bankroll sending scouts to South America, its hard to find young talent outside of your typical english style.

[FatDrunkandStupidDawg]

Chelsea update: The blues just signed Diego Costa who helped lead Atletico Madrid their first La Liga title in 18 years, he will also be joining recent signee Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona to play with Chelsea this year!!!

Sounds like we are making some good moves this offseason... it's all coming together!

I'm working on my research and will shortly unveil my Chelsea FC season preview...

[Dawg61]

Chelsea update: The blues just signed Diego Costa who helped lead Atletico Madrid their first La Liga title in 18 years, he will also be joining recent signee Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona to play with Chelsea this year!!!

Sounds like we are making some good moves this offseason... it's all coming together!

I'm working on my research and will shortly unveil my Chelsea FC season preview...

Thanks Flounder

[bgdog]

So this may be cheating but what resources are you guys using. SB nation has a good page but it seems to only feature the "name" programs, I'm not finding a ton of info about newcastle united.

RELATED: **** YOU SUNDERLAND

#hailzebrahorsemermaids

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