Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Well the season is nearly upon us, with matches starting next weekend, so I thought it was time for a thread for it.

I'll start with my predictions with the finishes, although a lot depends on signings so mine might change by the end of the window.

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Tottenham Hotspur
5. Liverpool
6. Arsenal
7. Everton
8. Norwich City
9. Swansea
10. West Bromwich Albion
11. West Ham United
12. Sunderland
13. Newcastle United
14. Fulham
15. Aston Villa
16. Southampton
17. Stoke
18. Cardiff
19. Hull
20. Crystal Palace

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Thats odd, Lampard don't miss penalties! Could be a sign of things to come...

[Duty281]

Super Frank misses a pen. How odd. Still, that's his penalty miss out of the way before the world cup!

[TheCultOfPersonality]

This could end bad for Hull. Chelsea dominating and look like scoring more

[NickisBHAFC]

THAT IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!

WHAT A FREEKICK BY LAMPARD!

[Duty281]

Well that certainly makes up for the penalty miss at any rate. Maybe I was a bit conservative with my '3-1 Chelsea' prediction; 5 or 6 wouldn't be out of the question here.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Tony Hill would have given that as a goal.

[JDizzle]

First Holly rant done. Can't agree with him though, definite penalty to me.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I can't stand the bloke

[mystiroakey]

Tony Hill would have given that as a goal.

 

[Duty281]

What's Holloway moaning about? Clear pen.

[NickisBHAFC]

Were going to have to get used to Holloway moaning about stupid stuff. Shame really.

[mystiroakey]

Holloway is a legend.

proper character

[Crimey]

His novelty was worn off now.

[mystiroakey]

Novelty????

why do you think he is a novelty?

Just a decent honest passionate manager

[Guest]

Holloway was a refreshing change from your everyday manager when he made his way up through the leagues but it does feel as if he's overkilling his gimmick a bit now.

The silly little phrases and soundbites were fresh at first but have soon grown tired. He is a character but a stale one. I just hope he doesn't overdo the moaning in the way he did in his final few months at Blackpool because he's a good manager without all that rubbish.

[mystiroakey]

what gimmick- he is what he is.

[mystiroakey]

if people don't like his honesty thats their problem i suppose- but he isn't trying to act a part. he is just a manager being himself

[Luke]

Well the expected defeat happened, though not as bad as I thought.
1st half thought Chelsea were going to run away with it, 2nd half (and I know that Chelsea took there foot off the pedal), thought we held our own, knocked the ball around well. Still the same problem as last year off getting goals (didn't look like we were going to score), but not a bad display. Thought De Bruyne was outstanding.
But this is not the games we need to get points from, it what we do against mid/bottom half teams that will decide our fate this season, Norwich next week at home we need to get at least a point from.

[NickisBHAFC]

Holloway was a refreshing change from your everyday manager when he made his way up through the leagues but it does feel as if he's overkilling his gimmick a bit now.

The silly little phrases and soundbites were fresh at first but have soon grown tired. He is a character but a stale one. I just hope he doesn't overdo the moaning in the way he did in his final few months at Blackpool because he's a good manager without all that rubbish.

This.

[Crimey]

http://fourfourtwo.com/statszone/share.aspx?i=0pY8K

Chelsea passes in the first half and second half today.

No wonder I was nearly bored to tears!

[GSC]

I did think it would take the team time to bed in Joses style of play

[Lumbering_Jack]

Torres is a dirty cheating rat. The FA need to clamp down on disgusting diving.

[NickisBHAFC]

Holloway really blaming the ref?

Does he not know the handball rule?

[Liam]

100% correct decision for the handall, no doubt

[Guest]

Holloway  

As for tonight, fear the worst for my boys. Can see at least a 3-0 or 4-1 beating. Hodgson says he will be watching Hart, however there's a serious chance we might not even get a shot off tonight. Pardew needs to be aggressive in his approach, no point be negative. No Remy because of injury is disappointing.

[Duty281]

A snippet of what Holloway said:

"I don't understand how it was a penalty, or how Dean Moxey could have got out of the way of it. I had three players right behind him. It's going to be a long hard season for me with these people (referees). I had this with Blackpool. Certain clubs get fouls and others don't. Tottenham will feel that if they play Man United."

I don't understand how you could argue with the penalty. Anyway, I suppose the FA will give Holloway a rap on the knuckles for that.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Duncan Alexander ‏@oilysailor
Little Blackpool won more fouls than Manchester United in 2010-11.

[Stella]

Palace were absolutely woeful, so Holloway should be concentrating on that, rather than refs.

[Crimey]

I am really looking forward to seeing City tonight, hoping they will make up for the disappointment of Spurs and Chelsea yesterday who apart from a short spell in the first half of the Chelsea game were quite boring.

Looking forward to seeing how City line up and how the new guys fit in, can see at least two débutantes from the bench.

[Guest]

It should be one-way traffic tonight. Tiote putting out fires but eventually getting over-run. Our full-backs, defensively are terrible and will be all over the shop. Cisse running around aimlessly and being very isolated is more than likely. As I said, 3 or 4 in City's favour. Might appear negative from me but I just want this game out of the way. If we get a draw, it would be one hell of a performance.

[Duty281]

No disrespect to Newcastle, but this should be rather routine for City tonight. I'll say 2-0 City, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was 3 or 4.

[Crimey]

4-2-2-2 selection from Pellegrini, Jovetic and Negredo miss out. Fernandinho, Dzeko, Aguero, Navas, Toure and Silva all start.

[NickisBHAFC]

Newcastle team v Man City: Krul, Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Gouffran, Cisse. #nufc #mcfc

No Cabaye for Newcastle, is he injured? Or is the Arsenal panic buying working?

[NickisBHAFC]

Man City team v Newcastle: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero. #mcfc #nufc

Glad to see Dzeko starting. Zabaleta starts on a day where he signed a new Man City contract, can he make his day more memorable with a goal?

[Crimey]

That is worrying that Cabaye isn't in the line up, has his head been turned?

Jovetic isn't even on the bench for City because of some niggles.

Apart from perhaps Natasatic for Lescott I imagine that will be City's strongest XI, although I can't see them playing that attack heavy against the rest of the top 5. The main competition will be between Dzeko and Negredo, I expect Aguero to have a free-roaming almost no.10 role for City.

[GSC]

Jovetic is injured. Cabaye was supposedly supposed to start earlier so must be forcing a move

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Yeah, don't think Demel is anywhere near good enough of a right back for West Ham.

Crimey, stop talking about West Ham. You just dont seem to know anything and its getting embarrassing now my friend.

On that note:

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend's action
Joe Cole has still got it, Arsenal need to splash their cash on a midfield stopper and Ian Holloway is back in the big time

[Guest]

Dreadful midfield and gutierrez. Should be a thrashing tonight. Cabayes gone, that's how we work. Bought for 4m, sold for around £15m I would imagine. Shame, love him as a player, all about replacing him though now, possibly Florian thuvian.

[GSC]

Bridcutt wouldn't be a bad cut price replacement

[Crimey]

Yeah, don't think Demel is anywhere near good enough of a right back for West Ham.

Crimey, stop talking about West Ham. You just dont seem to know anything and its getting embarrassing now my friend.

On that note:

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend's action
Joe Cole has still got it, Arsenal need to splash their cash on a midfield stopper and Ian Holloway is back in the big time

If anything that's a compliment to West Ham, Demel is an average right back even if he's not first choice. It's just an area I noticed that could be improved.

Just posting a statement from a newspaper saying Joe Cole has still got it isn't going to change my opinion that you seriously overrate him. You shouldn't let sentimentality get in front of clear judgement. West Ham have better players and shouldn't have to start Joe Cole that often this year.

[Guest]

Bridcutt wouldn't be a bad cut price replacement

More likely a French replacement or from somewhere else in Europe on Kinnear`s/Carr`s travels. Will Hughes been mentioned but I'd expect there demanding something stupid.

[GSC]

He looks like a bell end to boot

[Lumbering_Jack]

I find it absolutely laughable that a professional footballer earning more in 1 week than most do in a year is dropped just because a club has bid for him. It is a total and utter shambles and Cabeye wants to have a long hard look at himself. Shambolic.

[Fernando]

Citeh 1-0 Toon - Silva - 6mins 

Could be a rout this have gone in behind quite easily before this.

[GSC]

6 minutes and City already look more purposeful than last season

[Duty281]

City 1 up already. Will this game go like Chelsea v Hull yesterday, or will City put a lot on the scoreboard? That appears to be the only question with this game.

[Fernando]

Was unlucky that for Newcastle just a yard offside. good finish though by Gouffran.

[Fernando]

Yaya Toure goes down like a sack of spuds = no pen, looked a bit dubious

[Duty281]

Went down far too easily for me to warrant a penalty. Well done Marriner.

[GSC]

Newcastle living dangerously. Debuchy really has regressed in 12 months

[Sponsored content]