2012/13 Premier League discussion thread part 4

[Guest]

We are now entering the business end of the season!

Now Utd more or less have the title sewn up it's all about the relegation scrap and the race for the Champions League spots.

Game on.

[Fernando]

A few rumors flying about that a wealthy investors from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are lining up a 1.5bn buyout of Arsenal FC rumored to have been working on the deal for the last four months.

[Guest]

Interesting Nando. You all for it?

[Fernando]

If it gets Kronke out the club yes the guy is there for a profit would give him £350m so id be surprised if this is legit that he wouldn't sell

[Guest]

Put £1 on a Nottm Forest win & then ht/ft wins for ajax, liverpool, ac milan & valencia for a £250 return.

just checked it. All won except valencia who conceded in the 90th min for a 2-2 draw when leading 2-1 at ht

gutted.

[Guest]

Feel for ya there John. Been there many a time. If it makes you feel any better I have lost around 2 grand this season. Worst in 5 years. Mugs game

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Freeky did you bet on the Utd-Norwich game today?

In 5 away games I have been to this season, I have seen 4 losses and 1 draw, with 17 goals conceded and only 2 scored.

They call me the good luck charm

[Guest]

Freeky did you bet on the Utd-Norwich game today?

No I left that one alone but I was in two minds as to whether to back Nodge to get something. Thankfully I relented!

Did you have a good day Olly?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

What a win for the Irons. Breathing space, cant believe we'll go down now. Whoever wrote the West Ham book of survival I really wish they'd not done the part about losing in the dying minutes to Tottenham, too many times has that happened in tight years before a burst in form.

Stoke are an awful side to watch. Always kicking and fighting yet cry foul if any touch is made on them. Tony Pulis can look back on his giggle with Gary Neville when they blocked off our players (which is a foul Tony) for their corner routine "wonder goal" at Upton Park earlier in the season and choke on it.

Every result went our way today. Real scrap on at the bottom. Cant believe I'm saying it but I think QPR will be safe. Remy is top quality and theres a lot to be said for momentum in a relegation fight.

Next weekend is a cracker at the bottom:

Norwich (32) v Southampton (27)
QPR (20) v Sunderland (30)
Reading (23) v Aston Villa (24)
Newcastle (30) v Stoke (33)

Six pointer saturday!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Freeky did you bet on the Utd-Norwich game today?

No I left that one alone but I was in two minds as to whether to back Nodge to get something. Thankfully I relented!

Did you have a good day Olly?

Crackin day cheers! Despite the best efforts of the dude who sat next to me!

[Duty281]

A few rumors flying about that a wealthy investors from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are lining up a 1.5bn buyout of Arsenal FC rumored to have been working on the deal for the last four months.

I took that with a pinch of salt because it was the Sun reporting it, but now the Telegraph are reporting it as well. Wonder if anything will come of it.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Did Adam Lallana go off injured yesterday? If he is injured for a while, that could be a huge loss for Saints, he's there best player imo

[Crimey]

Luis Suarez is currently top scorer in the Premier League.

It will be interesting to see if the PFA or FWA give him the Player/Footballer of the Year awards, as he is surely up there with Van Persie and Gareth Bale making a push for them now.

With his history of controversy, they might take the safer option in Bale or Van Persie which I think would be a shame as arguably Suarez has been the better player (scored more, created more chances etc.) than Van Persie and Bale.

I think he deserves it, but as a Liverpool supporter I may be biased, however what could swing it is that Bale has dragged Spurs into the Champions League and Van Persie is arguably the difference in the title race where as Suarez has failed (despite his best efforts) to get Liverpool into a respectable position in the league or have any decent cup runs. On the other hand, Scott Parker did win the FWA Footballer of the Year when West Ham were relegated.

I hope neither group don't let controversy cloud their judgement and choose the player based on their merits as a footballer where this year, in my opinion, Suarez has been the best player in the league.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well personally I don't think any of those three trump Michu for the trophy if he keeps up his form...

[JamesLincs]

as much as i hate liverpool and suarez, i cant deny he has probably been the best player in the league, his first goal yesterday was just wonderful. he must have magnetic boots because imo he has the best first touch of any player in the world! if he was a better finisher hed be at barcelona for sure, he may still find himself there in the future. as devestating as bale is id have to give it to suarez, crimey, you have no idea how hard that is to say. but he is just world class atm

[Crimey]

I recently found that Suarez actually has a better rate of finishing by about 10% of clear cut chances than Van Persie does. When you look at it statistically, there is very little that Van Persie trumps Suarez one to be honest. Bale even less. Michu probably less than that.

I actually thought his third goal was the best where he intentionally finished by nutmegging Al Habsi. He loves the nutmeg does Suarez, I've never seen anybody do it so easily and so much.

[JamesLincs]

im not sure it was intentional. i think he was looking for the corner

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Id still give it to RVP at the moment, hes won them big games and is arguably the difference in the title race. Scotty was a different standard of amazing in that year he won it, he dragged us through so many games on ability and effort, but theres a lot to be said for being such a big factor in the title race as its a different level of competition.

[Crimey]

The problem is that Van Persie was very good at the start of the season but has certainly cooled off now and isn't hitting the same form as last year, Bale wasn't in the same form he is now at the start of the season. Suarez has been pretty consistent the entire time, I can't remember a part of the season where his performances started to drop off.

I think your reasoning might be the same that those two panels state to give it to Van Persie, but wouldn't a surprise if the real reason is Suarez' unpopularity.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Something that goes against Suarez imo is that of his 22 goals, a fair few have come against the bottom clubs (9 of them have come against Wigan and Norwich alone I think)

I personally think a goals a goal, but that'll come under consideration when voting is done.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Id agree that the flat track bully thing can, and should, work against a player. Stats need context.

I think Suarez being a pr*ck should work against him a little anyway. Part of the package for me.

[Crimey]

A fair few of Van Persie's goals have come against bottom clubs as well though, getting a hattrick against Southampton I believe.

Suarez has goals against Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal as well.

[The Special Juan]

I think the context of the goals scored may come into it too. RVP's goals will have gotten Man Utd to the title, Bale's goals will have dragged Spurs into the CL (if it happens) and Michu's goals have won a cup and kept Swansea well clear of any relegation scrap. What will Suarez's goals have done?

Admittedly that's a pathetic reason and Suarez is a great player. He'll never win it though; everyone aside from Liverpool fans hate him.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

To be fair that Southampton hat trick was sensational in terms of context. 87th and 90th minute goals from 2-1 down. Will anyone score a goal as important as RVP's freekick against City? Deflection or not, thats a season definer

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

https://twitter.com/Footy_Jokes/status/308275077001138177/photo/1

[CFCNick]

Sky are doing their best to make Bale seem better than he is. Just showed the highlights on SSN and even though the reporter and replay clearly shows Bale scored an own goal they still decide to give it to Mertesacker.

[The Special Juan]

What a really naff Citeh team.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Villa's next two fixtures; Reading away and QPR at home will define there season.

Huge is an understatement.

Delph missing both games. Been quality tonight.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

OptaJoe ‏@OptaJoe
5 - Aston Villa have won just five of their last 38 Premier League games. Struggle.

Yikes.

[westisbest]

Villa's next two fixtures; Reading away and QPR at home will define there season.

Huge is an understatement.

Delph missing both games. Been quality tonight.

Delph was quality tonight.

Poor management by Lambert keeping Delph on when he was a yellow away from missing the next 2 games.

The team battled to the end, another mistake costing us.

Thought we may have snatched a draw at the end.
Thought we should have had a penalty to.

Off to Reading we go.
Roll on saturday.

[JamesLincs]

wasnt even a yellow!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Villa's next two fixtures; Reading away and QPR at home will define there season.

Huge is an understatement.

Delph missing both games. Been quality tonight.

Delph was quality tonight.

Poor management by Lambert keeping Delph on when he was a yellow away from missing the next 2 games.

Think you've contradicted yourself there mate

[westisbest]

Not really.

Considering he/we all know Delph likes to get stuck in, gets booked quite often.

Should have taken him off so he wouldnt have got booked, despite how good he was playing.

I know you have a thing for Lambert though.
Fair play he did well for you.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Would be pretty outrageous to take off your best player by far tbh mate

[westisbest]

Yeah but we need him for the bigger games to come, (these next 2).

Thats gone now, cant do anything about it.

[The Special Juan]

I don't believe for a second Rooney is on the way out (this is 100% press speculation too!!) but if he does go it surely means either Lewandowski is in or Fergie has something outrageous planned. As I said, I don't believe it.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

I would be interested to see where he goes if sold. Can only be abroad surely. The only clubs in the Prem who could efford his wages are City and Chelsea and I can't see Fergie selling to any of his rivals.

[The Special Juan]

If he does go he will probably follow the previous Man Utd players that Fergie has cannily managed to sell to Real just as they've reached the end of their peak (Van Nistelrooy was great for Real but picked up a lot of injuries IIRC?).

[Guest]

Rooney is at that age where he should be in his absolute prime. Peaked already perhaps?

[Crimey]

Definitely.

You just have to look at the different directions Ronaldo and Rooney's careers have taken. In 2004, Rooney was the better player, the one with more promise, and the one most would have considered to go on to be one of the world's best players.

2008 Rooney is less important to United now, Ronaldo is the star and the world's best player. Rooney is struggling as he isn't the main man at United and is often pushed out of position.

2013, Rooney's career seems to have stalled, United have a new, better point to their attack in Robin Van Persie, Ronaldo is arguably the world's best player, if not he's second well ahead of everybody else. Ronaldo is the key to his side, despite his teammates costing many tens of millions of pounds, Rooney isn't even considered a key part of the team for the biggest game of the season.

Rooney hasn't improved since about 2009, Ronaldo has got better every year he has been playing football. Rooney is obviously a good player, but he's nowhere near great and arguably United might be better off cashing in now before his plateau ends and he starts slipping down the other side of the hill.

[The Special Juan]

Esteban doesn't appear to be the player he once was. He's been dreadful but then again so have the whole Inter team.

[Liam]

tbh, Rooney has looked unfit all season. When he's played he looks overweight and not sharp at all. If he does go we'll be getting a very nice sum of money for him. I would love to see Lewandowski. He's 24, only going to get better and offers allot with his all round game. However, by the sounds of things he's off to Bayern next season. If Rooney does go, I think we can replace him and hopefully he will go abroad to PSG/Real, for at least 25-30m. We can improve in other areas as a result.

[Guest]

How many points will secure safety this season?

An interesting set of stats here:

17th place and safety
2011-12: QPR - 37 pts
2010-11: Wolves - 40 pts
2009-10: West Ham - 35 pts
2008-09: Hull City - 35 pts
2007-08: Fulham - 36 pts
2006-07: Wigan - 38 pts
2005-06: Portsmouth - 38 pts
2004-05: West Brom - 34 pts
2003-04: Everton - 39 pts
2002-03: Bolton - 44 pts

I can see 36 points being enough this season.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

With 10 games left 17th is on 24 points. I can see 35/36 being more than enough. The teams down there arent averaging a point a game atm, and will have to average over that to get anyway near 40 which is the so called magical figure

[Guest]

A win for your lot tomorrow Olly and you are almost home and dry. I am betting on Nodge by the way.

Your home form is pretty impressive by the way. Didn't realise it was that good.

[ncfc_Tooze]

yeah apart from a couple of stumbles a good number have been wins or draws

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Think we've only lost to Chelsea, City and Liverpool at home!

Even then only Liverpool walloped us. Chelsea and City we could have got something from!

[Guest]

Carrow Fortress.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

We've hyped all this up and we'll go lose tomorrow now

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Reckon we might get a penalty tomorrow. Clattenburg likes to give one, we haven't had one all season, just a hunch...

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