Epl 2009/2010

[superfrank]

He came through their academy, didn't he? He's been there long before he first played a game for them.

Under the new UEFA laws for UEFA competitions, a home-grown player is someone who has trained in the country (in this case, the UK) for three years before the age of 21.

I'm pretty sure Ireland's been there long enough to qualify as "home-grown", in UEFA talk.

[Réiteoir]

Ah balls - going to have to put up with a season of the Sky Sports commentators calling him "Keith Farr-hee"

Hope he does himself justice at Old Trafford this afternoon

[old git]

He came through their academy, didn't he? He's been there long before he first played a game for them.

Under the new UEFA laws for UEFA competitions, a home-grown player is someone who has trained in the country (in this case, the UK) for three years before the age of 21.

I'm pretty sure Ireland's been there long enough to qualify as "home-grown", in UEFA talk.

so his place of birth or childhood have nothing to do with it .. more of a case of english media trying to claim another player as thier own when they are doing well

[superfrank]

so his place of birth or childhood have nothing to do with it .. more of a case of english media trying to claim another player as thier own when they are doing well

I think only people from former colonies would take it that way.

Any eejit from England with half a brain would know that Stephen Ireland is Irish. He's been capped and he's scored goals for Ireland and I'm sure there's been talk over there about his whole national team selection bull.

The fact is there is nothing wrong with Sky, or whatever other English media outlet, calling him a "home-grown" player. If Man City were in Europe or he moved to another English side playing European football, he would qualify as a "home-grown" player for that team's UEFA competitions.

AFAIK, from the Ireland match on Wednesday, only Shane Long and Kevin Doyle were the only players who couldn't be classed as UK home-grown players under UEFA rules.

So you better get used to it as a term because it's going to be bandied about a lot more frequently and an awful lot of Irish players will be branded with it.

[OwlsFan]

Ah balls - going to have to put up with a season of the Sky Sports commentators calling him "Keith Farr-hee"

Hope he does himself justice at Old Trafford this afternoon

How did he play? Didn't see the game?

The Irish people are mostly literal with their phonetics but once the name travels abroad, it gets changed. How Cahill (KA-HILL) become KAY-HILL, I have no idea.

[DeLorean]

How did he play? Didn't see the game?

He was ok but United had most of the ball really. He had a good effort for distance and was unlucky not to score. Jay O'Shea came on and was out muscled and put flying by Evra for the first ball, sent in a cross too close to Foster after that.

[briancool21]

World Cup Winners - Holland
Premier League Winners - Chelsea

Champions League Winners - Arsenal

Player of the Year - Cesc Fabregas or Drogba

Top Scorer - Rooney.

Best Buy of Summer - Vermaelen

Young Player of Year - Ashley Young.

Relegated - Portsmouth,Wolves,Birmingham

Surprise Package - Wigan/Fulham
First Manager to be sacked - Pompey boss

Promoted - Newcastle,Boro and Cardiff

[DeLorean]

Surprise Package - Wigan/Fulham

After last season I think the only way Fulham could be a surprise package is if they challenge for a Champions League spot, which I can't see happening.

Also I reckon if Rooney finishes top scorer I think he'd almost certainly get player of the year, not necessarily obviously. I agree about Vermaelen, early days but I've a feeling he'll be really good.

World Cup Winners - Brazil

Premier League Winners - Manchester United

Champions League Winners - Real Madrid

Player of the Year - Wayne Rooney

Top Scorer - Fernando Torres

Best Buy of Summer - Thomas Vermaelen

Young Player of Year - Fabio da Silva

Relegated - Portsmouth, Wolves, Burnley

Surprise Package - Wigan

First Manager to be sacked - Mark Hughes

Promoted - West Brom, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United

[gustavo]

World Cup Winners - Brazil

Premier League Winners - Chelsea

Champions League Winners - Barcelona

Player of the Year -Frank Lampard

Top Scorer - Fernando Torres

Best Buy of Summer - Stephen Fletcher

Young Player of Year - Fabien Delph

Relegated - Portsmouth, Wolves, Birmingham

Surprise Package - Burnley

First Manager to be sacked - Paul Hart

Promoted - Newcastle , Reading , Middlesborough

[lionelhutz]

World Cup Winners - Spain

Premier League Winners - Liverpool

Champions League Winners - Arsenal

Player of the Year -Arshavin

Top Scorer - Fernando Torres

Best Buy of Summer - Kevin Doyle

Young Player of Year - Stephen Ireland

Relegated - Portsmouth, Hull, Wigan

Surprise Package - West Ham

First Manager to be sacked - Mark Hughes

Promoted - West Brom, Preston, Ipswich

[OwlsFan]

Delighted for Burney and Owen Coyle last night (Le Tissier predicted the win) but the rest of the panel were reacting as if they had been struck by lightening. I am always so surprised that they never expect a surprise. Football would be very boring if every match went to script and every match Man U lose this season will be down to "the Ronaldo factor". Get ready for it. Were they really a one man team? Merson blamed the absence of Ronaldo but if Man U can't beat the likes of Burnley because they don't have Ronaldo, it will be a relegation dogfight for them

[DeLorean]

Well I suppose they did lose 1-0 and there weren't too many games over the last couple of years where Ronaldo didn't score so it's only natural. Same with Tevez, how many times did he recue United from a losing poition, well a lot!! Fact is they're gone though so get over it. Still think they're weaker in midfield than anywhere else.

[OwlsFan]

Well I suppose they did lose 1-0 and there weren't too many games over the last couple of years where Ronaldo didn't score so it's only natural. Same with Tevez, how many times did he recue United from a losing poition, well a lot!! Fact is they're gone though so get over it. Still think they're weaker in midfield than anywhere else.

Won't be too much talk about him after today's 5-0 win - that is until the next time they have a bad result.

Man City not exactly setting the world alight (as yet).

[superfrank]

Steady start from them anyway. The first year Chelsea won the league they started slowly too.

[eirebhoy]

Chelsea will drop stupid points as Ancelotti's team always do.

[briancool21]

was actually impressed by city against wolves missed a lot of easy chances though. Those heavy wallets must be affecting there sharpness..an especially awful miss for young stephen ireland

[bellavistaman]

World Cup Winners - England

Premier League Winners - Man U

Champions League Winners - Barcelona

Player of the Year -Wayne Rooney

Top Scorer - Wayne Rooney

Best Buy of Summer - Darren Bent

Young Player of Year - Ireland

Relegated - Portsmouth, Wolves, Birmingham

Surprise Package - West Ham

First Manager to be sacked - Paul Hart

Promoted - Newcastle , Cardiff , Middlesborough

[tetsujin1979]

World Cup Winners - England

I have recurring nightmares where this happens. But I fear they will come true.

[OwlsFan]

was actually impressed by city against wolves missed a lot of easy chances though. Those heavy wallets must be affecting there sharpness..an especially awful miss for young stephen ireland

Didn't see the game but I believe Keogh could have rescued a point with a shot off the post and Given was in the team of the day in some paper I saw (Indo?). How did Dunne play in what was probably his last game for City if the rumours of his transfer to Everton are true?

[shakermaker1982]

Didn't see the game but I believe Keogh could have rescued a point with a shot off the post and Given was in the team of the day in some paper I saw (Indo?). How did Dunne play in what was probably his last game for City if the rumours of his transfer to Everton are true?

Given made a top class save. I watched MOTD so hard to say how well Dunne played but I didn't see any bad marks in the paper for him (unlike week before).