2012/13 Premier League discussion thread

[Guest]

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.

[hampo17]

Why shouldn't these sides fielder reserve teams? It gives those players a chance to show what they can do, why should they be any different? Your comment is just big club supporter arrogance.

[Ent]

Considering they were 4 points off fourth, 5th off third (cl qualification) with an inferior goal difference they would have needed 6 more points. That's not one game.

Realistically they won't be challenging for cl qualification this season.

They are also playing weaker sides in the Europa league it seems?

I don't think it wise to rest players in competitions you could actually win for an outside shot in qualifying for another competition. But that's just my opinion and maybe cl money is more important to people than winning things.

[Smirnoffpriest]

I can't believe how arrogant your comments are Ent - Newcastle came really close to beating you, came 2 wins from qualifying for ther CL and have a very good squad. You seem to fail to realise that they have a good squad which needs game time, especially the up and coming youngsters, just like Arsenal and Man U do.

And I'll think you'll find that 4th is a CL spot (most years except when an English winner finishes outside of the top 4) - 5th is and 6th is Europa League.

How can you say they won't be challenging?

[GSC]

They were in contention in the final game.

I'm fully in agreement with Hampo here.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Never understood the fielding weaker sides thing. A manager does what he considers best for the club and the squad.

Plus it's a great chance for the reserves to shine, they will be hungry and eager, where as the first team may not see it like that, and could go out and play not to get injured

[Smirnoffpriest]

Next he'll b saying that teams like newcastle should play their xi everygame (as their squads r obviously not good enough) and then rest their players against the top 4 in the league as they have no chance against them - or sum madness

[Crimey]

It's like asking why Arsenal bother with the Premier League, they should focus on the Champions League as winning that is a guaranteed Champions League place which is what they are fighting for in the league anyway.

The manager wants to use all of his squad across all of the competitions and does his best to compete across all. The Capital One Cup is of less importance because naturally Pardew believes it is a less risky path to qualify in the league than it is through the unpredictable league cup.

[Ent]

A lot of points here:

Newcastle didn't come close to beating united last night,they would have done a lot better had they played ba or cisse for 90 mins and some competent wide men.

How is it arrogant to say they could have beaten us with a stronger side?

Teams do prioritise the cl, they always have full strength teams for knock out games and take the calculated gamble with the weekend league game. This is a very silly point see Chelsea last season.

Newcastle haven't won a trophy in half a century, it's is a real game they don't try to win some they have a realistic chance of winning- the league cup is a v good trophy, I'd love united to win it again.

[JamesLincs]

what a day of football! goals galore i expect at the emirates at lunchtime before the rest and then the main event at old trafford. slightly nervous now, but still cant wait. im hoping we dont sit back and we go at uniteds awkward backline. 4-4-2 with ade behind defoe with a midfield 4 of lennon, bale, sandro and im hoping dembele! and hopefully dawson will come in for gallas, but thats unlikely i know

[Guest]

Today's predictions:

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 2
Everton 3 Southampton 0
Fulham 2 Man City 1
Norwich 1 Liverpool 1
Reading 1 Newcastle 3
Stoke 2 Swansea 1
Sunderland 2 Wigan 0
Man Utd 3 Spurs 1

[GSC]

Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1
Everton 3 Southampton 0
Fulham 1 Man City 3
Norwich 0 Liverpool 1
Reading 1 Newcastle 3
Stoke 1 Swansea 1
Sunderland 2 Wigan 0
Man Utd 1 Spurs 2

[JamesLincs]

arsenal 2-1 chelsea
everton 2-0 southampton
fulham 1-2 man city
norwich 1-1 liverpool
reading 1-2 newcastle
stoke 1-0 swansea
sunderland 2-1 wigan
man utd 2-0 spurs

[Kay Fabe]

Arsenal 3 Chelsea 2
Everton 2 Southampton 1
Fulham 2 Man City 4
Norwich 1 Liverpool 1
Reading 0 Newcastle 2
Stoke 1 Swansea 1
Sunderland 2 Wigan 1
Man Utd 2 Spurs 0

[Crimey]

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1
Everton 2 Southampton 0
Fulham 2 Man City 4
Norwich 1 Liverpool 2
Reading 1 Newcastle 2
Stoke 1 Swansea 0
Sunderland 1 Wigan 2
Man Utd 2 Spurs 2

[Guest]

norwich are going in one direction. Hughton is a good bloke but not a great manager. He took over a newcastle side with quality and got them easily promoted with 100pts. He got the praise and then did an ok job before he got sacked. Can't see him lasting too long at norwich.

[Gregers]

Can I ask why so many of you (and pundits) thought Arsenal would beat Chelsea?!

[Guest]

There's been a sending off at Sunderland and it's not Lee Cattermole. I am stunned.

[Guest]

Can I ask why so many of you (and pundits) thought Arsenal would beat Chelsea?!

I thought they could get a draw. I actually tipped Chelsea to win the title at the outset.

[Guest]

£7m release clause on Demba in January......oh dear. Completely carrying the team.

[Duty281]

I often wonder why Crouch doesn't play for England more, he has a phenomenal scoring record and another 2 goals today.

[The genius of PBF]

Where is Olly?

[Guest]

I often wonder why Crouch doesn't play for England more, he has a phenomenal scoring record and another 2 goals today.

I think he's burnt his bridges in that regard to be fair by refusing to go on the stand by list but you are right, he's an excellent player.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Where is Olly?

I'm here. And?

[Guest]

United need a holding midfielder........bad!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

norwich are going in one direction. Hughton is a good bloke but not a great manager. He took over a newcastle side with quality and got them easily promoted with 100pts. He got the praise and then did an ok job before he got sacked. Can't see him lasting too long at norwich.

Judging after 6 games?

[Guest]

Yes I am. Worrying times for you. I like Norwich but I just can't see where the goals or the clean sheets are coming from. EPL is about getting results or you are gone. Newcastle have been playing appaling this season, yet we are picking up the points. Norwich have played well but the points have not been coming which is crucial.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yes I am. Worrying times for you. I like Norwich but I just can't see where the goals or the clean sheets are coming from. EPL is about getting results or you are gone. Newcastle have been playing appaling this season, yet we are picking up the points. Norwich have played well but the points have not been coming which is crucial.

Well you have your opinion, but to judge after 6 games, with 32 games remaining in the season is far too premature for me. Look at Wigan last season, I think they lost 8 on the bounce early on in the season, but they still stayed up. We will see how things are going at the start of December, then I will start to get worried if things are still not going right

[Guest]

Spurs are starting to gain some momentum. Is AVB going to make myself and plenty others eat their words? Didn't fancy them to get anything up there today so well done Tottenham.

Two losses already for Utd which is unheard of at this time of the season really.

[JamesLincs]

amazing, truely amazing. what a game, what a win! coys!

[JamesLincs]

tell you what, there wont be many blokes off the sofa tonight, motd!

[Josiah Maiestas]

Well done for surviving the onslaughts.. if Spurs had not won from that position then AVB would have been under serious pressure. I havent seen the post match thoughts, normally he doesn't credit his players with the win, wonder if he's changed?

[Ent]

Norwich are going down.

United molested tottenham and bizarrely
Despite the loss the happiest I've gone from OT in a long time.

Defensive errors cost us, I'll never know what rio was thinking letting Defoe turn when we were in complete control of the situation.

Now got to beat arsenal city Liverpool and Chelsea at home to make up for points dropped - a big ask.

[Josiah Maiestas]

You deserve to lose one like that if we remember the Pedro Mendes goal that was disallowed when Roy Carroll fumbled it..

[Ent]

Bizarre comment, we had a ghost goal not given in an fa cup final- a far more important game but you don't see us bringing it up all the time.

[JamesLincs]

not considering its rellevant to spurs 23 year winless run

[GSC]

If that goal had been given Spurs would've ended up finishing 4th

[Ent]

Not sure they would have, plus we may have scored after it - you never know.

We in all likely hood would have won the fa cup and therefore double that season had ours been given.

Maybe move on, it was 8 years ago (iirc).

[GSC]

Regardless it still had an impact on Spurs' season. And tbh CL qualification I'd place above the FA Cup nowadays

[Ent]

It was 2 points when they finished 9th and 9 points off cl.

Sorry it doesn't equate, league positioning is over 38 games - it is your overall quality that determines it over a season not a handful of decisions.

[hampo17]

Think what GSC is saying is that having that goal disallowed damaged morale, they get a result at Old Trafford with a superb goal then their morale stays high and they go in full of confidence to the next game. Instead they get screwed by awful officiating ruining confidence.

[Ent]

Tbh they are pathetic if they allowed that to damage half a seasons work - the sense of injustice should have spurred them on.

They also didn't get screwed it was a genuine (if pretty poor) error.

This is like me saying uniteds morale was damaged by that fa cup loss and would have won more trophies in following years otherwise... Ie nonsense.

[westisbest]

Least we didnt lose again today.

Thought we were gonna get the winner in injury time.

2 good saves from Foster from Hollman(who i was impressed with).

Passed it well i thought in periods, as did the baggies.

Spurs away will be tough next sunday given their resut yesterday.

[Josiah Maiestas]

You could always accidentally go out and kick Bale, Dembele and Lennon (wink wink)

[JamesLincs]

id be very shocked if you get anything against us, id be very dissapointed if we didnt win comfortably

[westisbest]

Not sure if spurs do win, it will be 'comfortable'.

I expect us to give spurs a tough game.

Dont think we'll win, but maybe lose by one goal.

Would be happy if we could get a point, delighted with a win, but cant quite see it.

We're leaking goals a bit to easy at the moment.

Bent was fired up yesterday, wonder if Lambert will start him on sunday, or stick with Benteke.

[Guest]

QPR have been complete guff so far tonight. There is no way they are in a false position as someone suggested over the weekend. Awful side.

[Kay Fabe]

They're definitely not in a false position Freakshow, totally agree, what they do have is a squad capable of doing alright, not great but alright, what they need to do though is earn the right to do alright and that's something they aren't doing.

To be honest I don't really like them, its just signings after signings, no continuity what so ever to the team

[Crimey]

And Diakite is a liability every time he plays...in fact, quite a lot of the team are, they get so many red cards.

[Guest]

Be interesting to see if the owner stands by Hughes should their poor run of form continue. He didn't hesitate booting out Neil Warnock last winter when they hit a dip under him and with Harry Redknapp at a loose end who knows?....

[GSC]

Warnock wasnt his appointment

[Sponsored content]