StevieDay1983

Team Name: Jambos2828
Name: David Notman
Good luck

Punters Lounge EFL Championship Preview. Hosted by our very own Darran Pearce and our Football League expert @GabSutton 
League 1 and 2 are to come. 
 

The 2023/24 schedule for the Premier League has been officially announced today. The opening game of the season feels a little planned with reigning champions Manchester City visiting newly promoted Burnley who are managed by former Citizens captain Vincent Kompany. It's no surprise that City are being tipped to retain their league title at 4/6 with Bet365.
Personally, I think Liverpool and Manchester United are decent value at 8/1. I think both will strengthen their squads this season and bolster in the right areas that will see them really push City this season. I'm not sure if Arsenal will replicate this season. I hope they do because a four-way title race would be class.
Anyway, I appreciate there are still a lot of transfers to be completed so proper predictions won't be as settled and accurate until later in the summer but always keen to hear your early calls for who will finish where. I'll review this closer to the opening games but right now here are my 1-20 of the Premier League for this season...
1. Manchester City (frightening how good they could be next season given the players they are being linked with)
2. Liverpool (expecting to be revitalised and replenished with big signings. Alexis Mac Allister is a superb start)
3. Manchester United (if they can secure the signing of Harry Kane then that will elevate them but they do need more depth in midfield and defence... and maybe replace David De Gea!)
4. Newcastle (they will surely only go from strength to strength under Eddie Howe. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with Champions League football)
5. Arsenal (I think they will drop off a bit. Their lack of squad depth hit them this season without European football. Throw in Champions League football and it will be even tougher this season. They are also losing a big experienced player in Granit Xhaka which will hit the dressing room)
6. Aston Villa (they have looked class under Unai Emery. With the right additions they could be just as effective this season)
7. Tottenham (I think the appointment of Ange Postecoglou is a brilliant one but Daniel Levy is still the manager. Kane looks set to leave so this is Ange's rebuild project and it's an exciting one)
8. Chelsea (this is an ownership issue. Throwing money at a problem in football rarely works. Mauricio Pochettino was worked out when he was last in the Premier League. I think his rebuild job here means he'll require patience... patience that Todd Boehly is unlikely to give him)
9. Brighton (Roberto De Zerbi killed it this year but they are set to lose a number of key players with Mac Allister already gone. Brighton always re-invent but they won't strike gold every season)
10. Crystal Palace (Roy Hodgson looks set to remain at the club and they're in safe hands. He won't rip up trees but he'll keep them solid)
11. Burnley (if Vincent Kompany can make the right signings then they'll do just fine this season)
12. Nottingham Forest (I can see Forest only getting better under Steve Cooper)
13. Brentford (Thomas Frank has turned Brentford into a consistent mid-table side. They have shown the loss of Ivan Toney won't affect them too much so I think it'll be more of the same for the Bees)
14. Fulham (Marco Silva saw his team's form heavily impacted with the suspension of Aleksandar Mitrovic but when he's available they get results. They won't hit the highs of last season but they should be safe)
15. West Ham (the departure of Declan Rice will see the need for funds to be re-invested. Is David Moyes the right man to bring those players in? He's had a hit-and-miss record in the transfer market. I just fear the team will suffer a European hangover this year)
16. Everton (the continued behind-the-scenes issues have already negatively impacted the club's preparations for next season. It could be another difficult year)
17. Wolves (I have a good friend who is extremely worried about the situation at Wolves. Rumours are that Julen Lopetegui could walk, big players including Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, and Adama Traore are set to have moved on, and the money isn't there to re-invest. If there is one team that could be a surprise drop in the bottom three this season then I wouldn't be shocked if it's Wolves)
18. Bournemouth (Gary O'Neil did a great job at turning their form around but their season ended in a drab manner. It'll need a surgical touch in the transfer market this summer but I'm not convinced Bournemouth can stay up)
19. Sheffield United (The Blades did brilliantly in the Championship last season but they did have periods where their frailties showed. A reliance on loan players kept them in the top two last season so they'll need to strengthen the squad. I'm not sure they'll have enough to stay up this season.
20. Luton - as much as we all want Luton to avoid relegation it feels that it'll be a tall order for it to happen. Their style of football under Rob Edwards won't enjoy as much success at this level. Will he look to tweak their approach? Money isn't there to invest in better players but that might actually garner a togetherness that could be their best weapon. I hope I'm wrong and they do survive!)
Let me know your thoughts! 

Hello everyone!
You will be delighted to hear that the new game for the 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League season has been launched. Punters Lounge will be running a competition once again and we have set up a new league for you to join!
Joining the league couldn't be easier. Simply use the link below and you'll be added automatically after you've entered the game.
https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/qvh08s
League Code: qvh08s
This season's competition will have the same prize structure as last season with free entry.
Winner: £100
2nd Place: £50
3rd Place: £25
Plus, a monthly prize valued at £35 for Manager of the Month in the form of one of the following...
- £35 Mystery Football Kit Box from MysteryKits.co.uk
- £35 vouchers for Tiny Rebel brewery online at TinyRebel.co.uk
- £35 M&S vouchers at Marksandspencer.com
- £35 donation to a charity of your choosing
Remember, in order to be eligible to win any of these prizes you must have joined the private league via the link above and be a registered member of this forum. Prizes must be claimed within 90 days of being announced. Once you have joined, please confirm your team name and real-life name in this thread so we can identify you if you are eligible to win one of the above prizes.
Can you beat the reigning champion @Gazza's United? Get involved if you think you have what it takes! 

Apologies, I have been on annual leave looking after my kids due to their school summer holidays starting. I will look into this for you mate! 

As someone who had two included last season in Neco Williams and Brennan Johnson, I do also advise against that! 

I've just got to avoid putting 3 Forest players in like I normally do 🤪

Hopefully, our weekly updates and general fair abuse of poor performers (along with unrivalled praise for the teams doing well, of course!) will encourage you to stick with it. I was always the same as you but found getting involved in leagues like this where the banter and rivalry flows helped massively. Great to see you sign up!

Team Name: The Rumplepumps
Manager: Stuart Eades
 
 

Team Name - Hector’s House
Manager - Stephen McGowan

Team Name- USA Allstars
Mitchell Hart

I think your other 9 teams will need removing from the Punters Lounge League (and Cup) at Fantasy Premier League then as I believe you are otherwise facing a ban here?
I'm sure this can/will be sorted amicably 👍
@StevieDay1983

Team Name - Bayern Side
Manager name - Mark Pitts-Murray 

I usually lose interest after the first week but will put a team in 😆
Team name: The Roosters
Manager name: Sean Fahy

Team name : Fk Metalac GM
Ivan Milosevic
I will win!

Team Name - Lucky Pierre
 
steve king
 
here's to a "normal" season for once.

Great to see a blend of returning players, new players, and also members of the forum who are familiar dipping their toes in. Can't wait for this to get started. Tell all your friends! Let's make it an epic one this season. Brilliant prizes up for grabs every month! 

Great to see a blend of returning players, new players, and also members of the forum who are familiar dipping their toes in. Can't wait for this to get started. Tell all your friends! Let's make it an epic one this season. Brilliant prizes up for grabs every month! 

Team name: Real Sosobad
Manager: Nick Bellingham.

Team : Heisenberg68
 
 
 
Walter Write

Kindelan has a good chance of winning I reckon? 🧐

Team name - Bankys Bangers
Jonathan Bancroft

"Remember, in order to be eligible to win any of these prizes you must have joined the private league via the link above and be a registered member of this forum. Once you have joined, please confirm your team name and real-life name in this thread so we can identify you if you are eligible to win one of the above prizes."
 
Not sure who it is myself but will be interesting to see if anyone claims all the team names in this thread! 👍

Team Name - Scratattack

Ritchie Parkin

Yeah, this is exactly why we have it that to be eligible for prizes you need to confirm details in here to avoid multiple teams and entries. Anyone found guilty of it will be banned from this and future competitions.