The 2009-10 Football Season Thread

To my wife's eternal displeasure, the new season is swiftly approaching. The Confederations Cup slightly softens the lack of summer football, but nothing beats the start of a new campaign, whether your club is Premier League, Champonship or beyond.

How do you think your club will fair this term? Who are they going to let go and bring in?

Big talking points already in the transfer market, with first Kaka and now Ronaldo breaking the world record fee. Is anyone likely to go one step further?

Predictions for the new season are as welcome as ever, although I'll be witholding mine until I see who United bring in to replace Ronaldo and Tevez.

Let the banter commence!

Definitely, I've enjoyed the Confed Cup. At half time I said I thought Brazil would come back and win it 3-2. It's 2-1 at the moment so we'll have to see.

I haven't any money on it though so it doesn't really matter. USA have looked fairly adept for a lot of this tourney so far. Didn't expect that.

I'll be interested to find out.

And 3-2 to Brazil I should start betting again.

No idea what's happening at Leeds United.

Beckford is transfer listed as he's only got 12 months left on his deal but there hasn't yet been a bid, Jonathan Douglas, Frazer Richardson and David Lucas have been released, and Fabian Delph is repeatedly rumoured to be on his way to a Premier League club for about £4m. Only signing so far has been Jason Crowe at right-back, a position Richardson played and Ben Parker looked good, if inconsistent in, towards the end of the season.

Simon Grayson has said that he wants to sign more players, and that he has replacements for Beckford and Delph in mind for if they do leave the club.

Personally, I'd reject the bids for both of them and see how the club is placed in January. If we look on for promotion, I reckon Beckford can be convinced to stay with a clause saying he can leave if we don't go up. Delph has only just signed a new deal about 7 months ago, so he's staying unless a stupid bid comes in.

Kaka wins player of the tournament?!

What!

Bloody hell, I know I'm not Kaka's biggest fan at the best of times, but there's no way on Earth he was the best player in the Confederations Cup. Not a chance.

Stratospheric rejection

Quote: Detective John McClane, Jul 2009

Michael Owen is a Manchester United player.

I always used to think he was, shows how much I payed attention as a kid. Thought any famous footballer played for United.

I can't decide what I think about him signing. I suppose at the end of the day he's on an average-ish wage and he cost nothing to sign. Worst case scenario is he's injured all season and it's like we never had him. Best case scenario is he rediscovers his goalscoring touch and proves to be a bargain from Fergy.

No one knows how he'll pan out but I'll sit back and trust Sir Alex, I guess. Slagging him off now he's signed isn't going to help anyone.