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.

[GSC]

Pulis has a job for life and Martin O Neill has credibility

[Liam]

Tony Pulis and Martin O'Neil. There positions must be under some scrutiny at the moment considering there current league positions

I think both are fine. O'Neil was only appointed last year. They have a good team, just need a couple of wins to get going.

Pulis is a tricky one. Who would go to Stoke for starters and if there was plenty if candidates for the job are they better than Pulis and what can they change?

[ncfc_Tooze]

What formation is Lambert using west? The diamond?

He used diamond against us last week olly

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Honestly I think whilst Pulis has done an admirable job at Stoke and probably taken them as far as they can go, I do wonder how long there fans will put up with there style of football.

As for O'Neill whilst he has only recently got the job I think they have only won like 1 in 15 odd games so he needs to address that run

[GSC]

I'd say Stoke fans will accept PL survival annually.

Also theres accepting the identityto wind other people up

[Guest]

If and when Pulis and Stoke do sever ties I would bet my bottom dollar that it would be Pulis' decision to do so. Not a big fan of the Pulis brand of football but what he has done there is quite remarkable. If they sacked him they'd eventually go the way of Bolton. They are a perfect fit.

Olly; would you take the Pulis style of play for guaranteed PL football year after year?

[GSC]

If Pulis managed Norwich Olly would defend his style to the death

#i.e.hesamassivehomer

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I honestly dont think I could watch his style week in week out. I certainly wouldnt go to away games because there is hardly any ambition away from home. I would rather play the way we do and have the risk of going down than play his style and stay up pretty much guaranteed.

On a side note why would you not start Aguero over Balotelli??????

[Guest]

On a side note why would you not start Aguero over Balotelli??????

Who? Me?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

No Roberto Mancini! Crazy management! Ageuro is clearly miles better

[Guest]

Oh right! Sorry Olly. When has Mancini ever kept a settled side? I honestly think regarding Balotelli Mancini wants to be THE man that has shaped Super Mario into A player. Such is Mancini's ego.

As much as I love Balotelli's character (as such) I believe he is a lost cause.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think it would be best for City to cut there losses with Mario. I also wonder if Mancini is the right manager for them. With the money he has had to spend he should really be comfortably top of the league by now and doing well in Europe.

[azania]

Ox is injured.

We are missing something in the middle. Diaby when fit should fit nicely in there. Get rid of Arteta from the DM position. Good player and I like him, but Diaby is a better player.

[Guest]

Who would take Balotelli though? Perhaps either of the Milan sides and Juve? Unless he's not salary motivated..

City should definitely fare better in Europe I agree. If Jose Mourinho ever becomes available then City would - or at least die trying -try to snap him up.

I'd be stunned if Mancini see's out his contract there.

[Liam]

I agree on the point of Aguero. I'm a big believer in a settled side. Players create relationships, understand each others games better and overall improve the side.

I agree with olly, Aguero is by far the best striker city have imo, not playing him is crazy. I think City are also missing Silva big time. I mean, they really lack wingers who can create. Sinclair isn't getting game time (surprise surprise), Johnson left leaving Milner and being forced into a 4-3-3 which clearly does not suit City.

[Guest]

Sinclair isn't getting game time (surprise surprise),

This is what's wrong with our league. He's probably trebled his wages knowing full well he isn't going to get nowhere near the Manchester City first team on a regular basis yet he was happy to go there. He'll probably spend a couple of seasons warming their bench - whilst securing his future financially (can't blame him, but still!) - and move on to pastures new.

I can't begrudge any individual for wanting to better themselves financially but don't bulls**t those that pay your wages with deluded spouts of aspirations.

Shaun Wright-Phillips will probably retire after earning 5/6/7 times more than his father who was - up until Theirry Henry - Arsenals all time goal scorer.

Alot of folk moan about the foreign invasion into our league but how can you when you have players like Joe Cole bagging 120k a week with half the talent?

[Liam]

It was a terrible move for Sinclair. If he had moved to Liverpool, where he would get game time and in my view, get recognised more as Liverpool is a bigger name than Swansea, then fair enough. But surely he knew full well, Silva/Nasri/Milner are all ahead of him in the pecking order almost whatever he does.

He's stalling his growth as a player. Staying at Swansea was the best thing he could have done, simple as. Continue to shine and eventually England would come calling. But, like you said, he's basically securing his long term financial future by giving up first team football and the chances of getting an England call up. If he wants that then good luck to him. Hopefully Nathan Dyer will get the call up he rightfully deserves.

[Guest]

He'll die a slow death at City Liam. Isn't his missus that bird off Corrie who bragged about being a WAG? Who's whispering in who's ear there?...

I agree with you regarding Dyer. He has been outstanding since Swansea were promoted and if he gets a call up it's form related and nothing else.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think today is more of a must win for QPR than Reading as Reading do have that game in hand and are away. If QPR lose this they become quite detached at the bottom and surely Hughes will be on the edge

[Ent]

The thing is footballers are stupidly confident in themselves and tehr ability, somewhat detached from reality. Sinclair will have gone to city believing he is an established pl player and will become first choice.

[mystiroakey]

so neither team (qpr or reading) have won a prem game yet!!


crazy times!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

QPR 1-1 Reading

The weekend just gets better for the bottom teams like Villa, Wigan and Norwich

[Liam]

QPR have quality players but just can't seem to get a run going. Plenty of chances created, lacking the finishing touch. Their defence is pretty awful so they have to try and out score the opposition, a game plan that if you don't score, goes to pot obviously.

Big game for both Newcastle and Liverpool today. If Liverpool can win, their confidence will grow and maybe then they can get their season going.

I'm going for Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle (Suarez, Gerrard, Ba)

[azania]

QPR have quality players but just can't seem to get a run going. Plenty of chances created, lacking the finishing touch. Their defence is pretty awful so they have to try and out score the opposition, a game plan that if you don't score, goes to pot obviously.

Big game for both Newcastle and Liverpool today. If Liverpool can win, their confidence will grow and maybe then they can get their season going.

I'm going for Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle (Suarez, Gerrard, Ba)

Hmmm. You picked the top scorers I see. Wild guess?

[Liam]

QPR have quality players but just can't seem to get a run going. Plenty of chances created, lacking the finishing touch. Their defence is pretty awful so they have to try and out score the opposition, a game plan that if you don't score, goes to pot obviously.

Big game for both Newcastle and Liverpool today. If Liverpool can win, their confidence will grow and maybe then they can get their season going.

I'm going for Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle (Suarez, Gerrard, Ba)

Hmmm. You picked the top scorers I see. Wild guess?

Calculated guess

[Guest]

Collocini obviously lacks an active brain cell. It could cost his side a point.

[hampo17]

Stupid challenge, that was a spot on decision and shouldn't even be debated.

[Liam]

Spot on with the red card. Good performance from Liverpool but again lacked that cutting edge when it mattered. Another game where they should have won, could have won but haven't won.

Suarez was superb today. If Liverpool could get a Huntelaar/Ba so Suarez can play just off them, I think Liverpool would be top 7 easily. Just lacking that out and out goal scorer, plus a couple of wingers.

Good point for Newcastle, got stuck in a grafted hard and they'll be thrilled to come away from Anfield with a point after going down to 10 men.

[Liam]

In fact, Llorente wants away from Bilbao, would be a hell of a signing for Liverpool and would be the ideal target man for the wingers to aim for.

[GSC]

Llorente to Liverpool seems a tad ambitious.

[hampo17]

The more I see that challenge the worse it looks, Suarez is a very lucky man as he could have had his leg broken.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Llorente wants CL football so I don't see him heading to Merseyside anytime soon.

Strong rumours that Huntelaar to Liverpool could be on, if the player wants to move

[Liam]

Yeh I know Llorente to Liverpool is almost beyond, just thinking if they had the funding in Jan Bilbao may just sell to highest bidder.

Huntelaar for just 6m I've heard, what a signing that would be.

[GSC]

Llorente still has to agree to move. And I can't imagine Liverpool are anywhere near the top of his list.

[Liam]

Yes I agree GSC, just in an ideal world it would be perfect for Liverpool. TBF, if they can land Huntelaar it would be a superb buy. Maybe not in January though, Shalke may still be in the CL.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

His contract is up at the end of the season Liam and apparantly he is quite reluctant to stay with Schalke. So they will sell in January

[Liam]

His contract is up at the end of the season Liam and apparantly he is quite reluctant to stay with Schalke. So they will sell in January

Fe Olly, 6m for a player in his prime sounds pretty good to me, especially with the quality of Huntelaar.

[Guest]

Llorente wants CL football so I don't see him heading to Merseyside anytime soon.

Strong rumours that Huntelaar to Liverpool could be on, if the player wants to move

Don't write Everton off just yet.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I was thinking more about Tranmere Freek. Just the type of player Ronnie Moore needs to propel them to League 1 glory

[Lumbering_Jack]

The more I see that challenge the worse it looks, Suarez is a very lucky man as he could have had his leg broken.

Yes, if he didn't pull out, which he did.

[Crimey]

Whatever you think of Suarez as a person, as a footballer he has been superb this season. Keeping up with the top scorers in the league he has finally started scoring in the way we have hoped. I think he's probably on the of the most creative players in the league, still a bit rough around the edges but at 25 could still improve.

He also has a pretty good link with Sterling and Gerrard which is obviously a good thing.

[Liam]

Crimey,

I think he and Liverpool will be even better if they can sign an out and out goal scoring poacher in january, as the pressure will be off Suarez to score all the time and he can be even more creative, by dropping deep and knowing that there is someone in the box. Bent, Huntelaar or someone like that will be available in Jan.

[Crimey]

Crimey,

I think he and Liverpool will be even better if they can sign an out and out goal scoring poacher in january, as the pressure will be off Suarez to score all the time and he can be even more creative, by dropping deep and knowing that there is someone in the box. Bent, Huntelaar or someone like that will be available in Jan.

I agree, but that would involve Rodgers changing his 4-3-3 system which I can't see him doing, unless he uses Suarez as an inside forward. I'd like to see Rodgers try a formation similar to:

--------New Forward

Assaidi------Suarez----Sterling

--------Allen-------Gerrard

but I'm not sure that would be able to have the midfield domination he wants which is why I'm not convinced Rodgers will go and sign a striker. I don't think Huntelaar will sign, no matter how cheap he is going for, he'll want Champions League football, something I'm not sure Liverpool can offer for a couple of years. Bent is a more realistic option, but not sure I'd want him as he is quite lazy and his form tends to fluctuate quite badly.

[Liam]

That's the formation I think would suit Liverpool. Its actually the formation he played at the Swans last season:

---------Graham-------
Sinclair--Sigurdsson--Dyer
------Britton---Allen------

Apparently Huntelaar's contract is up at the end of next season and Schalke want to cash in now rather than lose him on a free at the end of the season. I agree with you on Bent, its one of the main reasons why Lambert isn't starting him at Villa. Still, he's a goal scorer, Suarez can run around while he can score the tap ins and one on one situations.

[Crimey]

Sigurdsson is more of a central midfielder than Suarez is though, who despite liking to come deep, does tend to stay very high up on the pitch, even with another forward on the pitch.

Sigurdsson can drop deep like a midfielder to control possession with Allen and Britton where as Suarez wouldn't be likely to do that.

I know Huntelaar is available, I just think if no Champions League sides come in for him in January he won't go. I get what Bent is good at, I just think he'd be too expensive for what he'd actually offer.

[Stella]

How good was Suarez's goal? Pure class, and his work rate was Tevez like.

[mystiroakey]

suarez is the outstanding player in that liverpool team at present thats for sure!

[Beer]

Suarez was pure class yesterday, and that's coming from a Newcastle fan.

[Duty281]

If Suarez gets a long-term injury, then Liverpool will be fooked.

[GSC]

You could say that about every team over reliant on their sole good player

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