2012/13 Premier League discussion thread

by Guest Sat 18 Aug 2012, 1:05 pm

First topic message reminder :

The big one is about to begin once again lads. Hopefully week 1 will bring a lot of goals, controversy and maybe even a shock!

God I've missed Jeff Stelling and the boys!

Game on.

by GSC Sun 26 Aug 2012, 8:37 pm

Besides, even if it was Pique playing it was a suicidal pass.

by Guest Sun 26 Aug 2012, 8:40 pm

GSC wrote:Besides, even if it was Pique playing it was a suicidal pass.

Absolutely. It kinda ruined what would have been a great game for him.

by **Crimey** Sun 26 Aug 2012, 8:57 pm

I think Rodgers will learn over time that sometimes it is effective just to stick the ball out. It would have saved Skrtel and the team a lot of pain if he had just hit the ball out of play.

by Guest Sun 26 Aug 2012, 9:00 pm

Excellent performance nonetheless though Crimey don't ya think?

Hopefully we can perform like that against the lesser sides.

by **Crimey** Sun 26 Aug 2012, 9:25 pm

FreekShow wrote:Excellent performance nonetheless though Crimey don't ya think?

Hopefully we can perform like that against the lesser sides.

I hate to be negative all the time, but...it's still same old, same old really. It's not Rodger's fault, but it is a problem that has plagued Liverpool. Big games, particularly at home Liverpool look like Premier League contenders, they just can't recreate that against smaller sides. It's been the problem since the Houiller days, hopefully Rodgers can address it.

I'm hoping that Rodgers takes note of some of the things from the match such as how effective Sterling was, Suarez is clearly key and Shelvey is coming along very nicely, Coates impressed me as well. He needs to quickly work out what the foundation of the side is and build upon it. I'd make the spine Reina, Agger, Lucas, Suarez and build around that.

Another performance like that against Arsenal would be very good though, a win there is certainly achievable as they look totally toothless.

by Guest Mon 27 Aug 2012, 2:30 pm

3-0 defeat to swansea picard

and yet again we were dreadful at the back!

by John Cregan Mon 27 Aug 2012, 3:34 pm

Big Sam, one of the biggest spoofers in the game, as usual, blamed the "individual mistakes" that "cost us"............he then proceeded to name the players...................it was "even" other that that according to Big Sam!!!

I suggest he watch the game again and look and see is there anything HE can do to improve his team.................

by GSC Sat 01 Sep 2012, 12:57 pm

Andy Carroll has got better service in 10 minutes here than he had all last season

by **Crimey** Sat 01 Sep 2012, 1:00 pm

I started to watch the game, but it only further annoyed me that the management of the club from Rodgers and whoever was dealing with transfers has been so awful.

by GSC Sat 01 Sep 2012, 1:01 pm

The thing is, he was never going to get this service at Liverpool. They kept trying to use him in a role he wasn't comfortable with.

by **Crimey** Sat 01 Sep 2012, 1:06 pm

I think he'd have been fine and people underestimate his ability with the ball at his feet.

Even Andy Carroll getting poor service is much better than nobody...

by Guest Sat 01 Sep 2012, 3:54 pm

AVB just confuses me. Adebayor was their player of the season last year. Double figures for goals and assists

Still starts from the bench

by **Crimey** Sat 01 Sep 2012, 4:02 pm

gazzyD wrote:AVB just confuses me. Adebayor was their player of the season last year. Double figures for goals and assists

Still starts from the bench

I imagine it's because he hasn't been with the club training for a few weeks. I imagine he'll start most times.

by GSC Sat 01 Sep 2012, 4:04 pm

Yeah Adebayor would've only been training with the reserves at City. Probably isn't 100% match fit yet

by JamesLincs Sat 01 Sep 2012, 4:31 pm

great, great goal from dembele

by ncfc_Tooze Sat 01 Sep 2012, 9:48 pm

Snodddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddy

by drsambo1928 Sat 01 Sep 2012, 10:25 pm

Jesus the response from the Spurs fans was worrying, AVB will feel even more pressure by the next match. He has in some respect put himself under the pressure because he wanted a complete over haul and without instant success, everyone is turning on him.

by **Crimey** Sat 01 Sep 2012, 10:41 pm

I think they fans are being very unfair on AVB who has had to reshape the side because of the loss of Modric, it means they have to change their style as they have no natural CM playmaker in the side.

by Ent Sat 01 Sep 2012, 11:16 pm

The board should be sacked, spurs are the textbook example of how not to run a club, for 20 years they've had the fan base and money to make things happen yet do bugger all.

Yes Harry was lucky but he was brilliant and now avb will lead
Them to disaster- should have let modric go 2 months ago and replaced him.

by drsambo1928 Sat 01 Sep 2012, 11:25 pm

Yeah, tottenham fans can never really be happy cause they want silverware but its very tough for them to win anything with Man city, utd, Arsenal and chelsea about.

by **Crimey** Sat 01 Sep 2012, 11:46 pm

I think Tottenham have done very well, it's very hard to keep up with the top four because of the money involved. Just look how quickly Liverpool have dropped down from the Benitez days of pushing for the Premier League.

I don't know what more you can expect from Tottenham than consistently challenging for the top 5 places.

by Ent Sat 01 Sep 2012, 11:52 pm

Granted but they won't touch the top four and will have anew manager next year because they want an elite team before a good team.

If they expect to achieveanythi v withy the worst left back in pl history they are having a laugh

by drsambo1928 Sat 01 Sep 2012, 11:54 pm

Agreed, they need to get realistic, they cant get an amazing team straight off they must build up to it.

by GSC Sun 02 Sep 2012, 12:03 am

Fabio plays for QPR, not Spurs

by Guest Sun 02 Sep 2012, 8:23 am

My predictions for today's matches.

Liverpool 2 Arsenal 1
Southampton 1 Man Utd 3
Newcastle 3 A Villia 0

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 02 Sep 2012, 9:17 am

How about some credit for Norwich yesterday? We were bloody brilliant, would have been a travesty if we hadn't got a point, and if it weren't for Freidel having a blinder we would have got all 3.

Also how we were not given a penalty, when Assou-Ekkoto decided to try and tear Morison's shirt off I will never know https://twitter.com/NYCanaries/status/242073254200754176/photo/1

It was brilliant to be there, and we got a throughly deserved point, and that was the real Norwich back under Hughton

by JamesLincs Sun 02 Sep 2012, 1:26 pm

no disrespect to norwich, but if we want top 5 we have to be looking at beateing your norwichs and west broms at home. i look at the squads and i think we lead the chasing pack and have the 4th best squad in the league. those two draws really hurt. we look the same as we did in the last months of harrys reign, we look scared to take the ball forward and take men on. i mean for god sake we have been the best at taking players on for the last 2/3 season. but since around feb/march weve looked like kids

by Guest Sun 02 Sep 2012, 5:29 pm

If Utd come away from this game with nothing then RVP deserves a full blast from the hairdryer!! Arrogant sod.

by Guest Sun 02 Sep 2012, 5:51 pm

My word. Only Utd. How many times do we see this? Amazing.

by Guest Sun 02 Sep 2012, 5:52 pm

Win lose or draw he should

Pathetic from a professional and total disrespect for the goalkeeper he was facing

by GSC Sun 02 Sep 2012, 5:55 pm

Harsh on Southampton but thats the way it goes. United need to improve quite a bit if they're serious contenders

by Duty281 Sun 02 Sep 2012, 5:56 pm

Champions spirit by United to come back and win. RVP paying early divdends as well.

by drsambo1928 Sun 02 Sep 2012, 5:57 pm

Liverpool's worst start since the 60's Brendan, as i say with all Pool managers will be gone at the most by the end of the season.

by **Mat** Sun 02 Sep 2012, 9:06 pm

Beat Everton yesterday. Form side in the division going into the game as well. Steve Clarke's Barmy Army!

by Smirnoffpriest Sun 02 Sep 2012, 9:24 pm

Good win for Arsenal, glad that 2 of the new signings scored as well. But then it's not the 1st team I'm worried about, it's the squad, no back up for Giroud (though we can play Podolski as only striker or Walcott and Podolski), we're already hoping Sagna can return to full fitness quickly, no Defensive Midfielder bar Diaby (whose more box to box).

Not sure what's happened to Fabiansky either as he wasn't on the bench.

Still def what we needed and a cleansheet.

Liverpool have a lot of work to do and a lot of weak areas - as well as good players like Gerrard, Suarez, Allen, Spearing & Skertel

by westisbest Sun 02 Sep 2012, 10:32 pm

Good point from us at Newcastle today.

Thought we could have taken the 3 points.

The way we've started I would have taken a point before hand.

by **owen10ozzy** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 2:42 pm

Hiya Chaps,

If anyone is interested I do a football blog and have just done a new article which is a club by club guide for the new season.

Part 1 is up and is a run down of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea & Everton.

The link is as follows:

http://aviewfrommyarmchair.wordpress.com/

If this contravenes house rules then moderators please feel free to remove it. I don't know how you feel about me linking my own work...the boxing fraternity don't seem to mind but obviously everyone is a little bit different.

On a seperate note I really hope Liverpool fans give Rodgers time, he looks like he is trying to build something and their is alot of work to be done at the club regardless of who is in charge.

The decision to loan out Carroll baffles me, much like it probably does anyone. Can people realistically see M. Owen going back to his former club and if so what kind of reception do people see him getting?

by GSC Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:06 pm

Theres no point in having Carroll if you aren't going to use him right. Hes the perfect striker for Big Sam.

Underlines what has to be one of, if not the worst signing in PL history.

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:09 pm

Liverpool's worst start since the 60's Brendan, as i say with all Pool managers will be gone at the most by the end of the season.

Anyone fancy Arry Redknapp to be at Liverpool come Jan transfer window?

by **owen10ozzy** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:12 pm

Agreed GSC, I held the belief that West Ham would just about stay up, mainly because I think they will be hard to beat at home....with the addition of Carroll that is more of the case than ever before.

As you said he suits the direct football played at Upton Park....when Liverpool purchased him they had to build around his strengths...

Whilst Rodgers probably would have preferred to keep him had he known no one else would be coming in the fact of the matter is under him Liverpool will be playing football that doesn't benefit having Carroll in.

They will play short, passing game building it up from the back. Alot of the play will come through the center of the park. (which is a good thing since they do not have any genuine width, even Sterling whilst looking good drifts inside a lot).

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:13 pm

Owen (or Ozzy!) very nice article and round up of those teams. I look forward to seeing what you say about Norwich Very Happy

by GSC Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:14 pm

Exactly. Carroll got better service in 10 minutes at Upton Park than all last season. And then West Ham got players around him to profit.

Liverpool fans talk about a plan B, the plan B was a waste of time unless Rodgers wants to start playing long ball.

by GSC Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:17 pm

Also look at Barca. Ibra didn't fit their style of play so rather than persisting with him as a 'plan B', they cut their losses and were stronger for it.

by **owen10ozzy** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 3:58 pm

I was just about to use the Ibra situation, damn you for beating me to it!! :p

Rodgers doesn't have a plan B, I rate the guy but his short stint at Reading showed that he likes to play football one way. Much like Wenger he has a set philosophy and he doesn't like to move from it.

He did a fantastic job at Swansea and I hope he is given time at Liverpool because if he is he will build a team which will excite the KOP...who even during the Benitez reign were prone to having a little moan about the style of football on offer.

Olly - Thanks very much mate, just to give you a heads up, you may not like what you read regards Norwich i'm afraid. Out of interest how are you feeling about the season ahead and what how has Hughton been received by the fans?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 4:05 pm

owen10ozzy wrote:I was just about to use the Ibra situation, damn you for beating me to it!! :p

Rodgers doesn't have a plan B, I rate the guy but his short stint at Reading showed that he likes to play football one way. Much like Wenger he has a set philosophy and he doesn't like to move from it.

He did a fantastic job at Swansea and I hope he is given time at Liverpool because if he is he will build a team which will excite the KOP...who even during the Benitez reign were prone to having a little moan about the style of football on offer.

Olly - Thanks very much mate, just to give you a heads up, you may not like what you read regards Norwich i'm afraid. Out of interest how are you feeling about the season ahead and what how has Hughton been received by the fans?

What you got to say about us lol

I am feeling very good about the season and in general Norwich fans are too. We know this year will be a lot tougher than last, but we have strengthened well, especially in defence where we needed to most, so that has given us good encouragement. Hughton has been recieved well by the fans in the majority, I think everybody was happy with the appointment, and he has made good signings and plays good football. You obviously have a minority who always hate and moan, and seem to be struggling to get over Lambert, but they are fools most of the time.

I think maybe some wanted another striker, but with Kane on loan you never know. But Bassong, Snodgrass and Garrido have really impressed as signings so far, with Tettey, Butterfield, Whittaker and Kane to come. The less said about Michael Turner the better Laugh

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 4:08 pm

I look forward to seeing what you say Ozzy Smile

by **owen10ozzy** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 4:33 pm

Ha. Well I will be putting up a new part each day this week. 4 clubs a day until Friday so my views on Norwich will be up for you to rip in to on Wednesday Smile

Im glad to hear he has been received well. Given the turbulent times experience by Norwich over the years I think the majority are very happy to be amongst the big boys again.

As a Middlesbrough fan I know what it is like to suffer and I think fans of the clubs who have been through the mill begin to grasp both a better love for the game and more importantly more patience than those shown at the larger clubs.

Case in point Liverpool and Tottenham who have seemingly garnered some boo boys very early on in the campaign.

Obviously it is the minority in most cases but still they seem to surface a little earlier than fans of as I said 'smaller' clubs.

Hughton is a good manager and I think an ideal replacement for Lambert. My concern is whether you have enough quality around the squad if the likes of Holt & Ruddy do not reproduce .... which given the saying of '2nd season syndrome' could be likely. As you pointed out you look a little short up top.... M. Owen has been tweeting this afternoon..looks like he has a deal in place...will he become a canary?! Erm

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 03 Sep 2012, 4:36 pm

I would like to see what this Kane from Spurs does. Apparantly he is a very good prospect, so hopefully he will add some goals to our attack.

I think we relied on Holt and Ruddy a little last season, but this I think we have a much better squad and first team, so we don't have to rely on them as much. I would watch out for the likes of Snodgrass and Howson especially.

And we as Norwich fans are just happy to be in the Premier League and long may it continue!

by **owen10ozzy** Tue 04 Sep 2012, 6:31 pm

For those who had a little look yesterday Part 2 of my Premier League club guide is now up...if your interested in having a read then the link is below:

http://aviewfrommyarmchair.wordpress.com/

Less than 24 hours to go Olly and you get to tear your hair out over my view on Norwich Wink

...

Oh and you missed out on M.Owen....why oh why didn't Norwich attempt to get him!?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 04 Sep 2012, 6:35 pm

owen10ozzy wrote:For those who had a little look yesterday Part 2 of my Premier League club guide is now up...if your interested in having a read then the link is below:

http://aviewfrommyarmchair.wordpress.com/

Less than 24 hours to go Olly and you get to tear your hair out over my view on Norwich ...

Oh and you missed out on M.Owen....why oh why didn't Norwich attempt to get him!?

Because we don't need someone who is going to get injured and be on silly money we cannot pay...

I'm quite interested to see how this Harry Kane gets on for us. Spoke to a few Spurs fans on Saturday, and they all reckon he is a very good player and will score goals for us, so here's hoping Fingers Crossed

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