So as the English football season is about to begin, what are peoples hopes or expectations from their teams this year?

I'll start: I expect Wednesday to finish just outside the championship playoffs (8th to 10th) however the optomist in me is hopeful of sneaking into playoff contention (expecially if we sign a new striker)

Starting at -15 points - avoid further relegation.

Bring on the abuse - it doesn't have much effect anymore

Leeds fans have my full sympathy. We came close to having Bates as chairman and so could easily have found ourselves in your position. I do think the point reduction is justified (especially against Bates and his dodgy dealings) but it is a shame the club/fans have to suffer.

Thanks Owls - you summed my thoughts up very well. I have no real complaint about the 15 points - it could be much worse. Bates and KPMG have engineered the whole situation and stuck 2 fingers up at the FL and HMRC - The FL would have found it very difficult not to return Leeds' Golden Share so this was the only option available (under thier exceptional circumstances clause). My guess is that on appeal it will be reduced to 10 points. Everyone will save some face.

Of course there's still the court case with HMRC on sept 3rd challenging the original CVA, no idea what that could throw up seeing as Bates has somehow managed to do all this without a CVA at all. I fear the turmoil will continue

Middlesbrough: mid-table obscurity with a late run for either a UEFA spot or to challenge Sunderland at t'other end of the table.

Tottenham - 3rd best, 5th worst...but I imagine Champions league football we be at the lane next year.

Great signings this window.

Liverpool will probably have the same ok start, terrible November, usual losses to small teams and then still finish 3rd/4th, just to disappoint us again...

Manchester United - the Treble (the real one, not the Mickey Mouse 3 cups version).

Also that Tevez will be top scorer in the premiership, Nani young player of the year and Scholes/Hargreaves/Rooney/Vidic player of the year.

At a minimum.....

If we are in the same league at the end of the season I will be celebrating like we won the thing.

Bates obviously has no shame.

Arsenal: I predict a semi-disastrous season and if we get a Champions League place next season I'll eat my chapeau.

Why the pessimism G?

I think you'll see our youngsters blossom and have a fine season, claiming 3rd with a good FA cup and CL run. We wont miss Henry as much as people think, and Freddie wasn't anywhere near the player he was in our double season and hasn't been for a while.

RVP for player of the year, the lad is a genius.

What that could through up is bankruptcy and Leeds thrown out of the league. Okay that is a worse case scenario but that is possibly what the HNRC are after. By the way there is a CVA it just is not to the liking of everyone.

Thank you Richard. I feel much better now

Liverpool
Would love to think we'll genuinely challenge for the league but will probably have a bad month at some point that will count us out.
I'll guess CL semi, 2nd in prem and win the fa cup
would be happy with that if new signings gel and we close the gap at the top to single digits, setting us up for a proper assault at the prem next year.

ps i will give HEAVY odds that manu will not do the trable and Nani will not win anything...

if you start with nothing but pessimism and feelings of certain doom and imminent failure, things can only get better.

Maybe not in my case.

But I did listen to BBC radio 5 over the weekend and most pundits are forecasting a good season for the youthful Arsenal.

IMO Highbury was the most friendly gound in London for away fans, I even sat with some of my Arsenal friends sometimes for Arsenal/Leeds games and enjoyed good banter. Whitehart Lane though was another thing!

Any WHL dissing is worth a thank you in my book

And Highbury was a great ground, shame we needed to move, but that's the way modern football is going. The Emirates is an amazing place though.

I honestly now think that this team we have will remain constant for 4-5 years, and if we get success in our first couple, then i don't see anyone stopping us until the team needs to be broken up for whatever reason (Fabregas to Barca springs to mind!)

I miss Highbury, it was emotional. My mate is a season ticket holder and I had a many a good moment there. I'm buying into half a season ticket this season as I'm keen to see what the new stadium is like.

mid-table mediocrity this season, administration next season. Football is shyte outside the premiership.

Sunderland; we will fight M'boro in the lower part of the table, say 15th place