I'm going with my Chewsee mates to the Bridge for our first game on the sunday. God knows how I'll handle sitting with all the Chelsea twatts! I've seen some shockers at White Hart Lane and that was unbearable!

Anyway I was just wandering who we'll play, what with the signing of Robert. Will Cort be available, does anyone know how is training is going?

God I hope we actually give them a contest, I can't handle getting turned over there!

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Answers

With our record in London, you are a very courageous man! Especially sitting in the home seats. Pals of mine who have sat with the home fans at Stamford Bridge said they feared for their lives - big bunch of abusive racists apparently. Although I am sure your friends are very nice (!)

Zenden should get a nice cheer from the Newcastle crowd.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I am 100% confident that we'll win at Chelsea. Our run has to end sometime, Sky expect us to lose, we're better prepared having had such a goos pre-season, easy !!!

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

4-1 to Chelsea. Macbeth ,i have heard of blind faith but your blindness would cause Vision Express to call it a day! Be realistic for a while will you.Your problem last season was not being able to keep a clean sheet.Obvious where the problem lies then? You know what positions need Strenghtening/replacing.So what does Compo do-buys a striker and a very hesitant left winger!!!! Hmmmm.Does this make you think that you will be so much better than last year? I do NOT share your confidence.Look at my team.We were short up front so we buy a forward.As i write we are getting a needed right back.Scharwz is tiring so in comes Medina.I know preseasons are not a yardstick (mansfield 1-3) but the boy Bellion looks quite decent.I have a good feeling,despite being a born pessimist-can you really say the same?

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Absolutely soopa! We couldn't buy a clean sheet last year, why? because we had no options up front, we would run around and into a wall, with nowhere to go. Players would try and make space or move into space, therefore pulling themselves out of position and therefore vulnerable. With more attacking options I feel that won't be the case this year. It can't get any worse than last year, I don't think we'll miss vital penalties like we did and I do believe that London is not going to hold the same stigma it has for the last few years.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Thing is, anything can happen in the first games of the season - they have a tendency to be 0-0 or 0-1 or that sort of thing.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I went to the QPR v Chelse friendly last w/end - Chelse strong early on, took lead, strutted, looked dangerous...then QPR equalised and outclassed Chelse for the remainder. Chelsea quickly lost interest and showed little cohesion. Petit hasn't/hadn't joined them yet, Lampard anonymous...could be a good time to play them, lots of new (expensive) faces trying to fit in. Most of all, if we get stuck in we've got a chance- THEY DON'T LIKE IT UP EM. QPR won 3-1 by the way, and this was a first choice Chelse team (pre Petit and Zenden, admittedly)

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Except chewsee seem to score 4 goals on the first day of the season on a regular basis (3 of the last 4 years)

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Well, Soops, I guess getting 4 knocked past you on the opening day of the season at The Bridge isn't too bad, eh?? As for wor opener, I do think we have a fair chance. But time will tell.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Syme ,dont really buy your 1st point.Goalscoring was not that much of a problem for you last season.What in effect you are saying is that it is because shearer is not there you cannot keep a clean sheet.I understand that if the ball comes back too quickly that the defence will be under pressure but even when you were lording it 95-98 ish it was the defence whom held you back. Build from the back is what all successful managers have done in the past.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Screacha how was the apple? How's it back in the castle? I bet the sheep are pleased their "shepard" is back home;0

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

Soopa our goalscoring last year was crap. I didn't make myself clear. What I am trying to say is that as a team we overcompensated for our lack of goal scoring by everyone trying to make themselves available, thereby not doing their own jobs well but instead doing other peoples jobs poorly. Still what do I know I am 4 thousand miles from home.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

4000 miles? I take it you do not get back for weekends! Are you still at work now then? Let me see 4000 miles.Usa? New york, about 4000 i think.5 hours behind us.Get some bloody work done!

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I'd hazzard a guess at Chicago, Soops ;-)

Didn't make it to The Big Apple Syme. SPent the w/e (and a great one too) in NJ. Saw the apple many times but didn't quite get there. And divvent taak to me aboot sheep. Baaaa! Humbug :-)

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2001

I was being flippant

It would be like you saying, for example, that you expect to win the fair play award as you'd seen them not get any bookings pre-season.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Having said what I said, I still think we'll struggle. Confidence gained from beating Div 2-level Eurotrash could quickly evaporate when we face Prem-level Eurotrash at Stamford Bridge. Gronkjaer looked v good v QPR by the way.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Dan was Gronkjaer playing on the right? i've heard they've switched wings for him.....bummer cos I was hoping the signing of Zenden would unsettle him, he'd leave, Zenden would be crap and i'd be happy....

I'm gonna have to work on a different fantasy scenario to keep me happy now....

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

When I noticed him he was coming down the left - they may have moved him about a bit.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001