How are your NFL and EPL teams looking for the new season?

[Colt45]

... and our OL can hold up a little better.....

Personally, I've felt the O Line has been an "issue" for some time - for a number of years, it seems any time they've faced a stout defense, they've had trouble.

[saintsmokealot]

Last year it was the Patriots...the Jets...the Seahawks...the Rams...the Panthers...then the Seahawks again...

Quit bringing up old stuff!

[brutusthebuckeye]

I'm a Browns fan...

[AlastairE]

agree with all that but re the community shield, i was actually hoping for a big big win by city. then wenger would know we really still need a player or two and more depth. now, bit worried he'll sell half the squad.

but i'll be disappointed if we are not top two. and as i said, i think chelski likely first. but injuries...

For a manager that has been around so long, you have to keep checking the transfer news to make sure he hasn't offloaded 2-3 players overnight Last time I checked, Podolski and Campbell were linked with moves away. I certainly hope the Campbell one doesn't occur. Certainly pen to a loan spell for him though.

We need another centre half and a defensive midfielder now. Although I am lead to believe that Wenger is grooming Wilshere to fill the latter role. Anyone want to take bets on Jack going a season injury free....?

Sanogo and Campbell (plus Sanchez) can give cover to Giroud, so I don't feel we need another forward (and there is no chance we are signing 3 players in a fortnight)

United looking revitalised under LVG. Good pre-season playing a new formation. People will do well to remember this is a squad of many PL winners, who just had a poor season last season after a big adjustment at the club and being led by someone who failed to motivate the players. Though we are thin for CB's (especially when looking to play 3 at the back) and quality CM's. You'll see us back in the top 4 this season, I've got no doubts about that. Wether we challenge or not is dependant on other teams. However, City will go through bad patches as they are just a team of mercenaries...too few players that really care about the club or their other team mates. I also think that Pellegrini is quite poor when it comes to managing his team during games that aren't going well. Chelsea look very strong, however I think they are over rated at CB...Terry and Cahill had a half decent season last year, but the are very slow and only really highly rested because they are English...top centre forwards will have them on their arses. Arsenal can't seem to sustain good starts to the season, though I think they will be much improved since last season. My hate for Liverpool means I can't really give anything even close to a balanced opinion...but for me they can not win the premier league with a team built around a 34 year old Steven Gerrard. They are going to smash some teams as they have some quality attacking players, but I also think they will get beaten a lot by teams they should be beating...not a hallmark of title winners.

So to sum up...UNITED! UNITED! UNITED!

I'm a real fan of 3 at the back. Well 3 centrebacks, and 2 wingbacks. LVG trialed it in a couple of friendlies and used it at the WC with the Netherlands for a game. I agree you do need cover for Jones, Smalling and co. though.

I feel (I wish I didn't) that United will finish top 5 this year. Along with Chelsea, Arsenal and City Chelsea's depth makes them favourite, and Costa should add that killer edge. Pretty well suited played to English football in my mine. Fabregas will come back and will have a substantial impact too I feel. I don't see how Liverpool will make up the 50 goals Suarez scored or assisted last year. Sturidge will have another 20+ goal season, and Coutinho and Sterling have looked deadly in preseason, but you can't overlook the gaping whole Suarez has left.

[El Presidente]

United looking revitalised under LVG. Good pre-season playing a new formation. People will do well to remember this is a squad of many PL winners, who just had a poor season last season after a big adjustment at the club and being led by someone who failed to motivate the players. Though we are thin for CB's (especially when looking to play 3 at the back) and quality CM's. You'll see us back in the top 4 this season, I've got no doubts about that. Wether we challenge or not is dependant on other teams. However, City will go through bad patches as they are just a team of mercenaries...too few players that really care about the club or their other team mates. I also think that Pellegrini is quite poor when it comes to managing his team during games that aren't going well. Chelsea look very strong, however I think they are over rated at CB...Terry and Cahill had a half decent season last year, but the are very slow and only really highly rested because they are English...top centre forwards will have them on their arses. Arsenal can't seem to sustain good starts to the season, though I think they will be much improved since last season. My hate for Liverpool means I can't really give anything even close to a balanced opinion...but for me they can not win the premier league with a team built around a 34 year old Steven Gerrard. They are going to smash some teams as they have some quality attacking players, but I also think they will get beaten a lot by teams they should be beating...not a hallmark of title winners.

So to sum up...UNITED! UNITED! UNITED!

Always easier in the PL when you ar not playing Champions league !

1. Chesea.

2. Man Utd

3 Man City

4.Arsemal

[Ken Gargett]

For a manager that has been around so long, you have to keep checking the transfer news to make sure he hasn't offloaded 2-3 players overnight Last time I checked, Podolski and Campbell were linked with moves away. I certainly hope the Campbell one doesn't occur. Certainly pen to a loan spell for him though.

We need another centre half and a defensive midfielder now. Although I am lead to believe that Wenger is grooming Wilshere to fill the latter role. Anyone want to take bets on Jack going a season injury free....?

Sanogo and Campbell (plus Sanchez) can give cover to Giroud, so I don't feel we need another forward (and there is no chance we are signing 3 players in a fortnight)

I'm a real fan of 3 at the back. Well 3 centrebacks, and 2 wingbacks. LVG trialed it in a couple of friendlies and used it at the WC with the Netherlands for a game. I agree you do need cover for Jones, Smalling and co. though.

I feel (I wish I didn't) that United will finish top 5 this year. Along with Chelsea, Arsenal and City Chelsea's depth makes them favourite, and Costa should add that killer edge. Pretty well suited played to English football in my mine. Fabregas will come back and will have a substantial impact too I feel. I don't see how Liverpool will make up the 50 goals Suarez scored or assisted last year. Sturidge will have another 20+ goal season, and Coutinho and Sterling have looked deadly in preseason, but you can't overlook the gaping whole Suarez has left.

alistair, i check them daily to see what is happening but i have learnt that so so so much of the speculation is utter rubbish, just press beat up. they need to write about something so make it up and are so often so far off the mark. so i am not too worried about campbell. everything wenger has said suggests that he wants campbell there this season. if a massive offer came in then who knows. pod is less certain as wenger has never seemed to warm to him and if you are going to make any dosh from him, now is the time to sell.

agreed we need depth at the back and back centre. no chance to win if not. season too long. need at least one, better two, decent signings. if we do, i see us top two and possibly a chance to go first if chelski stumble or key injuries.

have long thought chelski best chance. interesting to see a few pundits suggesting city will finish out of the four. can't see it.

agree re l'pool. losing mcbitey will cost them too much. i know a heap of signings but just look at all the signings spurs had instead of bale. and look what we lost when van dollars left.

for me,

chelski

gunners

city

man u

pool

everton

spurs

who cares

[littlepea]

I feel (I wish I didn't) that United will finish top 5 this year. Along with Chelsea, Arsenal and City Chelsea's depth makes them favourite, and Costa should add that killer edge. Pretty well suited played to English football in my mine. Fabregas will come back and will have a substantial impact too I feel. I don't see how Liverpool will make up the 50 goals Suarez scored or assisted last year. Sturidge will have another 20+ goal season, and Coutinho and Sterling have looked deadly in preseason, but you can't overlook the gaping whole Suarez has left.

Chelsea with Costa and fabregas last year would've won the league by 5-10 points.

[AlastairE]

alistair, i check them daily to see what is happening but i have learnt that so so so much of the speculation is utter rubbish, just press beat up. they need to write about something so make it up and are so often so far off the mark. so i am not too worried about campbell. everything wenger has said suggests that he wants campbell there this season. if a massive offer came in then who knows. pod is less certain as wenger has never seemed to warm to him and if you are going to make any dosh from him, now is the time to sell.

agreed we need depth at the back and back centre. no chance to win if not. season too long. need at least one, better two, decent signings. if we do, i see us top two and possibly a chance to go first if chelski stumble or key injuries.

have long thought chelski best chance. interesting to see a few pundits suggesting city will finish out of the four. can't see it.

agree re l'pool. losing mcbitey will cost them too much. i know a heap of signings but just look at all the signings spurs had instead of bale. and look what we lost when van dollars left.

for me,

chelski

gunners

city

man u

pool

everton

spurs

who cares

No doubt mate - the absolute rubbish that you have to trawl through during the transfer season is ridiculous. I just hope that I don't wake up to something insane.

Good to hear that Wenger has come out and said Campbell is part of his plans. Originally I thought he wanted to give him another loan spell.

City could finish out of the 4. But I don't see it happening. However I am not sure if there is room for both Manchester teams in the top 4. It's going to be one of the tightest seasons I feel.

I want to see what Liverpool can do without Suarez. If players like Coutinho, Hendo etc can pick up some of the slack, they'll certainly be competitive.

Your standings were pretty spot on for me, although I think the Gunners might not come in 2nd (maybe 3rd) and have a feeling Liverpool will be there or thereabouts at the business end. If they do alright in Europe, their domestic form will suffer though. United kind of have a sick advantage there.

Chelsea with Costa and fabregas last year would've won the league by 5-10 points.

Who's going to contribute more for them this season? Not goals, but an overall impact on Chelsea's performances.

[littlepea]

No doubt mate - the absolute rubbish that you have to trawl through during the transfer season is ridiculous. I just hope that I don't wake up to something insane.

Good to hear that Wenger has come out and said Campbell is part of his plans. Originally I thought he wanted to give him another loan spell.

City could finish out of the 4. But I don't see it happening. However I am not sure if there is room for both Manchester teams in the top 4. It's going to be one of the tightest seasons I feel.

I want to see what Liverpool can do without Suarez. If players like Coutinho, Hendo etc can pick up some of the slack, they'll certainly be competitive.

Your standings were pretty spot on for me, although I think the Gunners might not come in 2nd (maybe 3rd) and have a feeling Liverpool will be there or thereabouts at the business end. If they do alright in Europe, their domestic form will suffer though. United kind of have a sick advantage there.

Who's going to contribute more for them this season? Not goals, but an overall impact on Chelsea's performances.

Costa in my opinion. Fabregas is a good player, but very much a luxury player in my opinion. He struggles tactically in big games...but when on song he is class. Wenger said something interesting about fabregas when he left arsenal, which was that even though he was only in his mid 20s, he already had 10+ years of top flight football in his legs...almost eluding to him being past his peak. I know he was had some of the bet players that have ever played to contend with, but his time at barca might just have suggested wenger was right.

If Costa settles he is absolutely perfect for the prem. He loves to bully defenders physically, works tirelessly, and is a dirty sneaky little player...with an eye for goal. You can see mourinho just building another 2006 team of big physical hard working players, surrounded by hard working flair players. It's boring to watch but bloody works!

[littlepea]

Always easier in the PL when you ar not playing Champions league !

1. Chesea.

2. Man Utd

3 Man City

4.Arsemal

First time since the start of the champions league! Sustained periods of dominance do have to end at some point...though as a city fan I'm not sure you'd know much about that

[littlepea]

Always easier in the PL when you ar not playing Champions league !

1. Chesea.

2. Man Utd

3 Man City

4.Arsemal

First time since the start of the champions league! Sustained periods of dominance do have to end at some point...though as a city fan I'm not sure you'd know much about that

[Andrew11]

With the addition of Revis and big Vince and mayo being back, plus the young linebackers getting more experience, the D is solid. Now keep Gronk on the field all season and were going deep into Jan/Feb.

[El Presidente]

....though as a city fan I'm not sure you'd know much about that

As a Man City fan I am still coming to terms with the whole concept of competitiveness...let alone dominance!

[khomeinist]

Spurs should be more entertaining this year. Last campaign was brutal frankly. I think a minor trophy might be in the cards. Soldado can't be that bad right?

Buffalo Bills need major growth from EJ Manuel. I certainly wouldn't bet the farm on such a likelihood.

[Ken Gargett]

Spurs should be more entertaining this year.

i thought that they were very entertaining last year.

i see they have supposedly put nearly the entire team up for sale. not even the gunners would do that.

[Mr.T]

Very happy with the smart signings Liverpool did over the summer after Suarez' departure. I predict we will grab the fourth spot. As for my Minnesota Vikings, the most entertaining thing about the upcoming season will be watching our new stadium go up....

[Bruce15t]

So here's apparently the word on my team:

Why Your Team Sucks 2014: Atlanta Falcons

This unfortunately is my team. Being a falcons fan is like having a deadbeat father. Every year you think he is coming to Christmas and he screws you year after year. I still have hope as I always will. Guess I will never learn. Can't wait for college football though! Playoffs should add some excitement this year.

Some people are fans of the Atlanta Falcons. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Atlanta Falcons. This 2014 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group.

Your team: Atlanta Falcons

Your 2013 record: 4-12. Really dodged a bullet there. You and I were nearly saddled with the burden of having to watch Matt Ryan lose in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row! PHEW! Glad we didn't have to go though that exercise again. You know how analysts say a playoff game contains many "intriguing subplots"? This is not true when the Falcons play in a playoff game. There is no intrigue. There are no subplots. There is only one plot and that plot is, "How will they lose and how unwatchable can they make the process of losing?"

Your coach: Pinky-ring salesman Mike Smith. Hey, did you know that this team is on Hard Knocks this year, and that Hard Knocks is going on as we speak? You probably did not, because these are the Falcons and the Falcons are the C-SPAN of football. I was told the main highlight of the premiere was Mike Smith wearing amusing shower shoes. Jesus Christ. I've seen better-drawn characters on an episode of Dog with a Blog.

Whenever NFL Films shows up, there are usually a handful of players who talk extra loud because they know they're on film (Ray Lewis used to do this all the time). Watch that Hard Knocks premiere and you will see Roddy White and company straining to be telegenic, talking mild trash on the field and laughing WAY too loud, as if a director is standing behind the camera begging them for decent coverage. You people aren't CBS pregame show material yet.

Your quarterback: Matt Ryan. All this time we've been wondering if Joe Flacco is elite. Meanwhile, Matty Ice skates by, completely under-scrutinized when it comes to elite-itude. Here is Matt Ryan's game log from a season ago. Can you pinpoint where Julio Jones gets hurt? I'll give you a hint: It's somewhere before Ryan throws 15 picks in his last 10 games. OOPTY!

We need to spice up this Matt Ryan somehow. As of this moment, Ryan is made from pocket-passer boilerplate. If he's never gonna be quite as good as Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees, he may as well compensate in some other way. I GOT IT! A bra …

We'll throw a bra on him. Now we're getting somewhere!

What's new that sucks: Oh hey, it's Devin Hester! Now you Atlanta folk will get to experience the joy of watching Devin Hester return two kicks for touchdowns and offer no other positive contribution. I wonder if, sabermetrically speaking, Devin Hester is really worth a roster spot if he brings only two or three good plays a season. Or are those IMPACT plays that coaches overvalue just because they look so awesome?

The Falcons were one of the worst defensive teams in football last season, so they attempted to fix that this offseason by getting rid of a bunch of random people (Asante Samuel, Thomas Decoud) and replacing them with a bunch of other random people (Tyson Jackson, Josh Wilson, Javier Arenas). But don't worry, Atlanta. The front seven still blows, so some things will feel familiar. Nose tackle Peria Jerry just retired at age 29 to help speed along the process of sucking.

Offensively, Ryan will be without Tony Gonzalez, who retired and immediately got a TV job because he is handsome and sounds good in that phony Tiki Barberish kind of way. Tony Gonzalez is the kind of former player whom TV producers salivate over without ever realizing that he has nothing interesting to say.

Draft-wise, the team added Jake Matthews at right tackle to help protect Ryan so that he can again achieve the towering adequacy that fans expect from Matt Ryan. I find the entire Matthews clan to be annoying: Bruce and Clay and the other Clay and still yet another Clay and now Jake. Football families are fu**ing irritating. The Falcons play the Packers on MNFthis season and I promise you that the entire game will consist of Jon Gruden ejaculating into his hair and screaming THIS MATTHEWS FAMILY THEY JUST LOVE FOOTBALL. The pregame interviews will also be unbearable. "Jake, how hard will it be for you to play against your cousin, who will probably play on the opposite side of the field the whole game? Oh, it's just business to you? OK then."

What has always sucked: As always, I will start here by disclosing that I am a Vikings fan, so fu** Atlanta eternally for the 1998 NFC title game.

No, really. FU** YOU. With a nail gun. God, we'll never be that good again. It still hurts. It hurts my essence. The Falcons ruin everything for everyone. They are the neighbor you feel obligated to invite to the party and you hope they don't show up to the party but then they DO show up to the party and you're like why the fu** did you come to my party? That's the Falcons every year.

I actually saw the city for the first time this year. Normal Americans like me usually only go to Atlanta for no other purpose than to endure a layover, but this time I actually left the airport and went into town! And in downtown Atlanta there was … nothing. Nothing at all. Apparently all the good parts of Atlanta aren't in, like, Atlanta Atlanta. They are in other Atlantas and thus are a two-mile, 158-minute drive away. Downtown Atlanta has an aquarium, a hotel, a McCormick & Schmick's, and 70,000 TGI Friday's. I don't even know if the buildings are real. The whole downtown may just be a set. I couldn't even find a donut joint. It was like Ebola had swept through the town years ago, instead of just this week. No wonder they did the Walking Dead premiere in that city. You don't have to change anything.

Greater Atlanta is a train wreck. Every street is named Peachtree. Traffic is asphyxiating. Half an inch of snow causes the sort of panicky gridlock you'd find after a nuclear attack. (Memo to every city from D.C. south: Don't try to excuse being snow wimps by saying, "You guys up North get snow and we get ICE!" Go to Buffalo in January sometime, redneck. You'll see PLENTY of ice, along with people who know how to properly drive a fu**ing motor vehicle.)

And even worse than the gridlock is when friends of mine like Spencer Hall use the city's endless dysfunction as a way of making Atlanta sound unique and awesome. You people living in cities that work are so beat. Here in Atlanta we have babies stuck on roadways and that is CULTURE. Stop pretending your dying infrastructure and civil corruption are endearing.

One more thing about the ATL (and calling it "The ATL" will never not be annoying): People there are slow as balls. I was standing in line for a coffee there (call me Petey King Jr.) and the machine broke and when the machine broke, the people behind the counter did nothing. They just stood there and ******* stared off into space. And if you get pissy with Atlanta people about how slow they are, they just accuse YOU of being the *******. Why are you so uptight about standing there and having all your time wasted, mannnnnnnn? All Southerners believe that they somehow savor life more than their Yankee brethren because they are so painfully slow, but this is a lie. You people need to get your ******* **** together. You aren't seizing the day because it took you three hours to make a sandwich. The rest of us have lives to lead. No wonder your town has only one good plow.

What might not suck: Common sense dictates that when a competently run team like Atlanta has a down year filled with injuries and outright bad luck, it should rebound the following season. Jones is healthy again. The line is better. There are, like, safeties around. They seem better!

Thought this rather humorous as currently living in Atlanta.

Actually, I'm a Broncos fan

[Bruce15t]

Don't know why previous post messed up, but was trying to say I'm a falcons fan. It's like having a deadbeat father who you believe is showing up to Christmas every year. Like all fans I always think this will be that year. Guess it could be worse, I could be a cowboy fan.

[CaptainQuintero]

Although having a top manager come to Man U is a big plus, I reckon dumping Ferdinand, Evra and some of the other super-egos in the dressing room will be the best thing that happens at Old Trafford.

Supposedly Moyes had all the right ideas but some people in the dressing room essentially told players to do as they said and ignore Moyes. So a split team playing two different sets of tactics during the same game, egos wanting to run the show now Fergie was gone (teacher out of the classroom).

Van G seems to have seen what the issue was and departures soon followed.

Still the sporting director responsible for last years failed signings (and the monster over payment for what little he did manage to buy) seems to be choking again this year, needs to be sent back to Burger King or wherever they found him.

[Habana Mike]

Don't know why previous post messed up, but was trying to say I'm a falcons fan. It's like having a deadbeat father who you believe is showing up to Christmas every year. Like all fans I always think this will be that year. Guess it could be worse, I could be a cowboy fan.

Brother in law and a friends are die hard fans, I feel your/their pain!

Rise up!