A challenge for Fanzone writers

Attention all Fanzine Fanzone writers! Here's a challenge from The Potteries. It's good to hear what you have to say all season, but it's even better when you get an introduction to the people behind the usernames. So, here are fifteen questions about you and your expectations for the coming season. Looking good? Maybe not? Be bold, be brave, say what you really think will happen this season. Copy the questions below and answer them for you and your team. Oh, and no editing! We'll see how everyone fared next May. So, to kick us off, it's me, the Stoke City writer...

Name: Matthew Jones

Team: Stoke City (ST4) - last season 2nd in The Championship

Current location: Newcastle-under-Lyme (ST5)

Website: http://www.matthew-jones.net/

Time supporting: 6 years

Favourite formation: 9-1-1 (oh alright, probably a sturdy 4-5-1, I like to nick a 1-0 win)

Formation hate to play against: 3-5-2 - Usually it is utilised by the better teams, especially when they have possession of the ball, and it tends to work in their favour more than ours. The formation allows them to flood the midfield and this gives them extra chances to put balls through to the forwards. They can afford to sacrifice a man at the back to make it five in the middle of the park which then makes you look foolish if you can't score!

Looking forward to this season: It's the same for most newly-promoted teams I think, I'm just looking forward to watching my team playing in the Premier League for the first season in my lifetime. I'm hoping that we manage just the one win against a big side, it's been done before so I don't see why not? Watching us on Match of the Day every week, too. Come on!

Most fearing this season: A double-digit loss. If we concede ten goals or more, I have to pay out on a 50/1 bet. The prospect of shelling out £50 does not appeal. I would really hate it if we lost at Bolton for the first game, too.

Biggest rival this season: The nearest football league club to the Britannia Stadium is Port Vale, who were relegated to League Two at the end of last season. With no real prospect of playing them again any time soon, our local derby will probably be Aston Villa. Our traditional rivals from years gone by are the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, so there will no doubt be a few older ones in the stands who would especially like to beat those teams.

Best club pre-season transfer: We've had a scarily low amount of activity so it's hard to say. The player we've bought that is most likely to do well is Dave Kitson, who we purchased from Reading for £5.5m. I'm not sure whether we paid over the odds for him - Reading fans were generally sad (some angry) to see him go, but the fee they got for him seemed like good business to most.

Realistically, would like to see: Safety. I'd take 17th place on goal difference right now. Hell, I'd take it alphabetically if you're offering.

Expectations: A good start, dropping off in the middle of the season due to some tough 'Big Four' fixtures around the Christmas and New Year period. Grind out a few more results after a couple of more signings in January and stay up with a week to spare. All on the assumption that we sign at least two or three more players before the end of this transfer window.

Worst case scenario: Bottom at Christmas. Just no.

Final position prediction: 16th

Comments

[Oli]

I think the deafening booing in the concourse of the Strettie today when the cameras cut to Ronaldo at half time showed that most would rather he left. Football is not just about winning- the club is bigger than any individual and does not need anyone who does not want to be there. I would have sold him despite his amazing ability, just not to Madrid. We won the treble without Eric and the title in 2003 without Keane (and Ruud), and Ronaldo is not more essential than either of those were. It would be a blow but on principel I'd have gone for it. I won't boo him now he has stayed, but certainly won't be singing for him as we did in past years.

Hope you enjoyed the game today as much as can have been possible due to the result,

Oli

[Craig]

Hi Oli, hilariously put 'any decent red' - would love to hear your definition of this. Also, it makes me laugh you assume I am an armchair fan (I expected nothing less) despite me purposely not stating whether I go to games or not. Again, even if I was an armchair fan I thought you ' actually feel sorry for people who dont get to live the moments you do'.

I believe Chelsea to be our main rivals as I was thinking purely in terms of winning trophies. Also, if there was any possible way we could keep Ronaldo longer than this season I would be delighted (perhaps any decent red would prefer the best player in the world leaving though??).

Might see you at OT later......

Craig Malpas

[Oli]

Hi I also writing on behalf of Man United. Am writing this as a little embaressed by the other representative of the club- an armchair fan who thinks Chelsea are our biggest rival and is happy to keep Ronaldo when any decent red wanted to see the back of him.

Name: Oli Winton

Team: Manchester United

Current location: London (queue as many unoriginal jibes as you like)

Website: www.joinmust.org

Time supporting: 21 years

Favourite formation: 4-4- f'ing 2

Formation hate to play against: The 4-5-1 often deployed at Old Trafford

Looking forward to this season:
A hatrick of 1-0's at Anfield, watching City in turmoil, and trying to retain our two trophies whilst playing in Monaco, Tokyo and wherever else our directors choose to send us to this year.

Most fearing this season. Liverpool winning the title- just kidding. Injuries as without our two forwards we will struggle up front.

Biggest rival this season: As always, Liverpool. But need to look at Chelsea in terms of the title race.

Best club pre-season transfer: Nothing of note, but the young Brazlian twins have got potential.

Realistically, would like to see: Either 3 titles in a row or a happy trip to Rome in May.

Expectations: A very close title race and another good run in Europe to the late knock out stages.

Worst case scenario: Pipped to the title and dumped out of Europe.

Final position prediction: 2nd

[Craig]

Hi I am one of the guys who writes about Man United. Here's my answers to your questions.

Name: Craig Malpas

Team: Manchester United

Current location: Manchester (a rarity I know)

Website: N/A

Time supporting: 17 years

Favourite formation: 4-3-3

Formation hate to play against: 9-1 (commonly used by away temas at OT)

Looking forward to this season: Making a big name signing in August. Going for 7 trophies. Seeing if this respect campaign works. Enjoying Ronaldo for one last season.

Most fearing this season. Ronaldo leaving at the end. Seeing Chelsea win the European Cup. Getting closer to SAF leaving.

Biggest rival this season: Chelsea. (love to beat City and Liverpool twice though)

Best club pre-season transfer: Keping Ronaldo and the Da Sivla boys...... so far

Realistically, would like to see: Retain one of the two trophies andsign Berbatov or Huntelaar.

Expectations: Ok start, when Ronaldo returns and after Christmas I expect Uniteds usual powerful run and then an exciting finish.

Worst case scenario: Winning no trophies (apart from Charity Shield), not signing another striker, seeing Liverpool win the league.

Final position prediction: 1st

**Looks like there are only 2 of us brave enough to stick our necks out!! Good luck, hope you 'do a Sunderland'

[Emerson Marks]

I like your thinking, Jones.
Let's tear down these walls and tell it how it really is, no matter how bleak the horizon is.