The Seaon has arrived

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Premiership, of course. Botlon get first goal and then get thrashed; Nick Barmby scores on his debut for Leeds, and minnows Man U scrape past West Brom.

So what do we think?

― chris (chris), Saturday, 17 August 2002 16:07 (twenty-three years ago)

It might be a lot like last time - a relatively close race between the big three teams in red, a couple of Midlands teams struggling badly (West this time rather than East), a bunch in the middle having nothing to get excited about at all.

Sigh. After losing at home to Rochdale today, Bristol Rovers are in the same position they finished in last season - 91st out of 92. If Boston hasn't had points deducted before the season started we'd be rock bottom. Sigh.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 17 August 2002 16:19 (twenty-three years ago)

saw that, the Boston points looked very odd as I watched the tables roll up earlier.

Chesterfield got their first win (and points) of the season against PortVale today, a result for Liverpool tomorrow and I'll be a happy man.

Did anyone hear Stuart Hall at the start of the Everton Game? Pure genius in his inimitable style, full of verve for the new season. By half time he was wishing he was elsewhere, such was the dire nature of the game (sorry Jonesy)

At least Hopkins will be happy, a good result for the Grecians today.

― chris (chris), Saturday, 17 August 2002 16:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Exeter City's win over Big spending Big City Hull - Shocka !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Saturday, 17 August 2002 16:45 (twenty-three years ago)

I hate Hull City, they tried to nick loads of Chesterfield's players in the aftermath of the financial scandal last year.

Plus... well done AFC Wimbledon, a 2-1 away win I believe.

― chris (chris), Saturday, 17 August 2002 16:56 (twenty-three years ago)

God bless the AFC, everyone's new second favourite team...

The mighty Cobblers remain unbeaten, five points from the first three now. I'd have travelled away to Cardiff today, but I'd rather not be beaten up.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 17 August 2002 17:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Gills number one in division one! Er, for now. ;-) I will enjoy it while it lasts.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 August 2002 23:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Argyle looking solid....

― Matt Fallaize (Matt), Sunday, 18 August 2002 00:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Shall we start a sweep on how long it'll take Keegan to resign? I'll take December.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 18 August 2002 07:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I wonder if West Brom's odds have been shortened after yesterday's performance? This where the real excitement is going to be this season, keeping a close watch on West Brom's odds. They are definitley my second favourite team, stuff AFC Wimbledon. I'm hoping for a three horse race between the Brummie teams, with the entire world's attention focused on Birmingham, so much so that it implodes under the intense media pressure and forms a Black Country Black Hole.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 18 August 2002 10:41 (twenty-three years ago)

phew, Liverpool scrape past Villa without ever looking like they were going to break into the Heavenly football they look like they're capable of.

Riise is an absolute star though, surely a must for any fantasy football team?

Birmingham however, look appalling.

― chris (chris), Sunday, 18 August 2002 14:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Birmingham were bad, but the Arse look ominously brilliant. With Pires, Ljungberg, Kanu etc still to come back they may be prove to be unstoppable.

And much as I love him, Michael Owen should never take another peno for LFC. Agree about Riise, but Diouf also looks like a nifty signing.

― Venga, Sunday, 18 August 2002 18:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I had completely forgotten about Graham Taylor before this morning's mini-highlights. I can't see my end-of-the-world scenario coming to fruition with him at the helm, he just oozes incompetence. Having said that, there was a good bit of goalmouth pinball from 'the Villa'.

Deportivo three-up against Valencia after about half an hour. Still don't know the final score because I switched over to watch 'The Ozzy Osbournes'.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 19 August 2002 07:24 (twenty-three years ago)

It's very, very early days yet but Exeter are playing the best football (most effective *and* most passing-on-the-floor-ish) anyone's seen from us in a decade or more. If we keep going like this, there's no doubt we'll be somewhere near the playoffs come the end of the season. Star of the show so far is a young man called James Coppinger who looks terrific. We're playing with what is substantially a new team, and the Manager seems to think that when they get used to each other they'll be better still. Plus there's the thirteen year rule: we go up every thirteen years.

It's all very exciting. The only dark cloud on the horizon is that - as Matt noted above - the vile Argyle are looking solid, though six goals conceded in three games is a hopeful sign. Torquay on Monday, it'll be interesting to see how the Turkeys will react to Lee Sharpe turning out for us (assuming he hasn't moved on by then).

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 20 August 2002 11:37 (twenty-three years ago)

It's early days yet, but I hope we get a report like this every week, Tim.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 20 August 2002 18:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I would expect Exeter to be playing well this season seeing as the rule of thirteen applies.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 20 August 2002 19:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Shearer to be bald by the end of the season.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 07:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I can't help thinking Michael Jackson's spritual guidance is more important than the rule of thirteen.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 08:18 (twenty-three years ago)

A dire first half at Goodison? No-one else seemed to mention this - perhaps they were too dazzled by The Golden Child's spin and lay-off and Pembridge's ferocious finish to remember the preceding 30-odd minutes. Good to see we've got a keeper as reliable as Barthez or early Grobbelaar.

My highlight of the opening weekend (the *previous* weekend, actually), was Millwall's annihilation at home. I've decided that the local affection I tend to feel for other SE London clubs simply does not apply in their case, and I wish for relegation and humiliation. Apologies to any fans of Div 2 clubs who may have to suffer a visit to the New Den next season.

Purely in terms of results, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle must be happiest with the big kick-off. I think 3-0 was a little harsh on City though; I don't think they'll struggle.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 08:26 (twenty-three years ago)

saw Sky's netbusters programme today and there were some cracking goals scored in the nationwide this weekend, a 40 yard screamer from Marco Gabbiadini (remember him???) and a lovely overhead kick from the Super Spireite's own Chris Brandon, lovely stuff.

West Ham simply rolled over in the second half, Roeder must have been tearing his hair out.

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 11:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Chesterfield have to visit the new den this season. I won't be going.

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 12:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I've been in the away end at the New Den and, while it was mildly intimidating, it was hardly the nest of vicious vipers people would have you believe.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 12:46 (twenty-three years ago)

whereas the old Den was possibly the scariest moment of my life.

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 12:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Well now that dance music is on the wane none of the hooligans are off taking E so obviously it's more dangerous (ahahahahahahahahah).

I don't feel confident about Liverpool's chances this year, all the signings felt like a desperate throw of the dice. I'm normally pessimistic enough though so we'll see.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 13:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I went to the New Den the two seasons before last, and didn't find it scary at all - but we (Bristol Rovers) got stuffed both times (3-0 both times, I think), so the Millwall fans were happy.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 21 August 2002 17:05 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

Hooray for Everton!

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 19 October 2002 15:02 (twenty-three years ago)

[how can Arsenal be the new untouchable force, so far ahead of the competition blah blah when they are not even top of the table?]

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 19 October 2002 15:06 (twenty-three years ago)

cool, a great end to a bad week foe arsenal!

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 19 October 2002 15:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Nice.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 19 October 2002 15:39 (twenty-three years ago)

foe arsenal, ha!

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 19 October 2002 15:45 (twenty-three years ago)

ahem, top of the league??? It'll never last, but I like it right now. I've never liked Everton more.

― chris (chris), Saturday, 19 October 2002 19:16 (twenty-three years ago)

...and I've never been happier on a day with such a vile looking Premiership table. (And I'm bottom of the ILE league again).

He is The One (in breathy Laurence Fishburne tones), you know. I was beaming to such an extent when I went to meet Pam off the bus at 5:30 that she was expecting some other kind of news... "at least to the level of a major scratchcard win".

I knew we'd win today. I can cite two regular ILXers who received e-mails from me earlier in the week predicting such. Yay. And now for the ITV highlights. Yay again.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 19 October 2002 19:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Jonesy you're third from bottom of the BBC league. Dicky Knee and I are below you on alphabetical order.

― Tim (Tim), Sunday, 20 October 2002 11:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh dear, I really must attend to the transfer market.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 20 October 2002 11:02 (twenty-three years ago)

No - it hasn't been updated yet; that doesn't happen until Monday morning. I did my own sums last night and (before today's games) Pam's top (33), Stevie's second (31), then Ben (27), Nick (24), Tim (23), me (21)*. Curse you and your Dunn bandwagon. He's this month's Inamoto, clearly.

(* - all approx, as I'm not sure of all the assist/substitution details).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 20 October 2002 16:30 (twenty-three years ago)

...and today's games change nothing. It's Nick v Stevie tomorrow at Villa Park. Unless anyone else can be bothered to use up transfers on Villa and Southampton players.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 20 October 2002 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm on 31 in ours too so would be second equal with Stevie in yours. Having Dunn and Simon Davies certainly helped for the profligacy of Anelka and Henry this weekend.

― chris (chris), Monday, 21 October 2002 10:50 (twenty-three years ago)

i'm so amused by kevin keegan lately

― bob zemko (bob), Monday, 21 October 2002 11:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I did get my sums wrong - but Pam remains top on 33, ahead of Wayne Bridge-enhanced Stevie on 32. I'm joint bottom with Timbo.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 22:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Told you.

All my early season optimism came to nought and we've already changed managers. Shame. Desperately hoping that the new fellow can get City playing as well as we know they can.

Note with no great pleasure that we won the second leg of the Great ILE 3rd Division Challenge last night, beating the Gas 1-0 at our place. It's nice to have won a game for the first time in a while. Sorry Martin: you don't care about the LDV wotsit anyway, do you?

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 09:17 (twenty-three years ago)

The media spotlight seems reluctant to settle on Carsmile's Crouchendesliga. I can only assume that my random West Midlands XI is romping away with the wooden spoon. All I know is that since I signed up for it I have been inundated with e-mails about penis enlargement and other such delights.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 09:36 (twenty-three years ago)

for some reason i can't resent arsenal's success...i used to fucking hate united during their heyday,but when i stopped watching football for a few years and came back to it i found arsenal a joy to watch,i just couldn't bring myself to bear a grudge against them (i also used to hate arsenal)
looks like villa won't be doing anything this season,as per usual,so i'm looking foreward to seeing more of arsenal...

― robin (robin), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 16:40 (twenty-three years ago)

No, I can't get too worked up about the LDV. At least we are groping towards midtable, and obviously this early in the season it is still possible to be optimistic - it doesn't take an astounding run to move from middling to promotion contenders, at this stage. The LDV would just be a distraction.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 19:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Hooray! Concentrate on the league! It's so early in the season that a decent run of five or six games could even have Swansea sniffing round the bottom end of the play offs... I think it's fair to say it's a rubbish division this year.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 20:05 (twenty-three years ago)

jesus, I'm 86th in the whole bbc fantasy football thing!!

look:
http://bbcfootball.fantasyleague.co.uk/standings/month.asp?m=2

I'm even on the leaderboard.

― chris (chris), Monday, 4 November 2002 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Show off.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 4 November 2002 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, yes I am.

― chris (chris), Monday, 4 November 2002 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Congrats, Chris! I am in a Yahoo league set up by Carsmile, who cleverly started it a few weeks before asking us to join, giving him a head start. I'm above average, but not by much, so far.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

dropped to 96th last night due to Southgate's rather poor performance. Hopefully my Anelka/Owen forward partnership will continue to bear fruit.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Wel I rather enjoyed 'Southgate's rather poor performance' last night. Still stunned a Newcastle back four consisting of Griffin, Caldwell, Hughes and Bernard kept a clean sheet, espec. against a striker of Maccarone's calibre.

96th is still impressive Chris. I hope current no.1 robert henderson isn't the self-named far-right loon who clogs up numerous Brit Political newsgroups. Given he has Vierra in his side probably not.

― stevo (stevo), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:49 (twenty-two years ago)

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