Press Conference

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?
Top 4 - Last season was to just not get relegated

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?
City, Plymouth, Brum, Charlton, Watford... All away games?

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?
Seb Schweinstiegier

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
No, All made in the off season.

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?
De Bruyne/Tevez

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
De Bruyne

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?
Dont get a TP list so not sure which players have moved!

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.
Cedric Carrasso

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours? 
De Gea/Courtois

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?
GK

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?
DY

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?
Dzeko/Aguero

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?
Champions League - Fulham     Europa - Genk

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?
Luka Jovic - Genk

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?
1/12

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.
Brum

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?
Myself

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
City/Inter/Real

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?
Nantes/Acona

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?
City/Plymouth/Watford

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?

Can't play it down anymore I think especially after the outlay this summer, a title challenge is definitely expected by the fans, although it will be very difficult as there a lot of top teams out there.

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?

Any of the big boys really, although City away first up doesn't get much tougher.

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?

Probably Yaya or Suarez

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?

Possibly, will see how it goes to start with but have the option to change things if needed.

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?

Again, Yaya and Suarez.

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?

Aside from the obvious, see above, probably the full backs Kolarov and Zabaleta

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?

Not many to be honest, but at the time I was disappointed to miss out on Tevez and Nasri.  More upset at selling Sterling, Silva and De Bruyne, but the bigger picture was looked at with those deals.

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

Anyone who doesn't pull their weight.  First season I've been happy with my starting 11.

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours? 

Probably a stronger keeper like Phil, so Courtois or De Gea.

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?

Probably GK

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?

Happy with all areas, but probably got weakest cover at full back

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?

Can't see past Dzeko the amount of goals City score, although Rooney, Aguero will surely be there or thereabouts.  If Suarez can settle quickly then maybe he might be up there too.

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?

Yep, big one for Charlton again and Nantes in the Europa.


Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?

I'd say Anthony Martial but I kinda don't want him to do well for United in real life!  
May be better letting him go..... 
 

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?

4/6 Man City
2/1 Watford/Plymouth
3/1 Charlton/Birmingham
4/1 Fulham
5/1 Arsenal

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.

Fulham/Villa/Arsenal

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Everyone gets worried its gonna be them, but hopefully City.  How do they improve on a faultless season.  Sorry Geoff.

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?

City, Barca, Inter

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?

Ancona, Nantes, Arsenal/Newcastle?

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?

Who knows, any from City, Watford, Arsenal, Plymouth, Birmingham, Fulham, Newcastle etc  Anyones from the quarter finals onwards.

Sorry Phil, I accidently deleted your answers.

Apologies mate.

Q1.  A good season for Inter is winning Serie A and not getting City in my CL Group.

Q2. The acid test for me is always how I do against Ancona.  If those go well I feel a lot better about things.

Q3. Most important player probably all of my attackers. Inter must score more especially in Europe.

Q4. I did up until I went straight back to my comfort zone but Inter now have the potential to mix it up a bit.

Q5. Who needs to settle quickest ...... Busquets as it gives more midfield options and frees De Rossi to play as a DY.

Q6. Alaba.

Q7. Missed out on ..... no one really although the one thing I missed was inspiration on working out what I really need in the ST roles.

Q8. I think all of them will be in place. If I had to pick then Higuain or El Shaarawy might drop out if I find the ST inspiration.

Q9. Ummmmmm ........ Ancona have a few.

Q10. ST

Q11. Happy with the defence and have pulled in some really strong cover and midfield looks stronger too.

Q12. Not sure. This is a tough one as there are usually a few odd ones in there. Ibra?

Q13. Obviously so I f**k it up by drawing City in the group again.

Q14. He's still a bit lower profile than some French CB's but I am a really big fan of Aymeric Laporte and I think he will eventually bypass the likes of Zouma, Mangala etc and end up partnering Varane for France. And thank you Sky Sports for giving us Spanish football so I can watch him a lot.

I would add I am also a big fan of Luciano Vietto who I think will have an Aguero-esque imapact at Athletico Madrid.

Q15.  Inter must be odds on coming off a 5 season winning streak but a good run can't go on for ever. Can it?

Q16. Roma. I expect Ben to challenge straight away as they have kept some good players and brought some more in.

Q17. All the focus is on Inter to keep going so probably myself.

Q18. City (if Gerrard and Lampard are still alive), Barca who are a machine and one of Charlton/Watford/Real. Schalke are my dark horses.

Q19. Ancona or Nantes should be the final.

Q20. Whoever beats me in the semi.  Usually Napoli or Cagliari.

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?
Title, Cup Winners and European Champions.  Not much too ask!

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?
Real Madrid away

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?
Neymar

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
No, except for maybe the more defensive option i use.

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?
De Bruyne/Tevez

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
N/A

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?
Not sure on this one!

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.
Raul Albiol

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours? 
Messi/Ronaldo

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?
CL

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?
LW

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?
Ronaldo

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?
Champions League - Barcelona

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?
Paco Alcacer

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?
Barcelona - Evens
Real Madrid - 2/1
Sevilla - 10/1
Valencia - 12/1
Atletico Madrid - 15/1

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.
Valencia could take some points from the big 2

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?
Barcelona, could struggle this season following Yaya and Xabi's departures

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
City/Inter/Real (if iain gets the time to put his turn in consisitently)

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?
Nantes

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?
Real, Barcelona & Sevilla