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]

Arsenal next week will be a huge test for the new team of Spurs. On paper, Spurs look stronger but like Terror said, it may take time for Spurs to gel together. Whereas Arsenal are playing with a similar team that have played together for the last couple of years with a few exception which is why they will have the edge.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I looked at the City game and instantly compared it to when United were 2-1 down to Southampton last season. Champions can find a way more often than not.

[Liam]

Cannot wait for the chelsea game later. Got everything needed to be a top game. Hearing report Rooney will start tonight. Gutted Kagawa isn't getting the games he deserves in behind RVP and its a massive risk playing rooney against Chelsea. Then again he played decent last weekend.

[Guest]

I can see a deal/swap being done next summer for Kagawa & Reus possibly if it doesn't work out for Shinji. He just needs time but fear he won't be given it. Should be a good game, expecting a 1-2 in favour of Mourinho.

[CFCNick]

No striker in our XI tonight. Ba didn't travel. Torres and Lukaku on the bench. Schurrle most likely to be the "front" man.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Rooney starts for Utd, Lukaku and Torres on the bench for Chelsea who will probably play Schurrle up top, but have no recognised striker in the starting XI

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

#MUFC De Gea/Jones Ferdinand Vidic Evra/Carrick Cleverley/Valencia Welbeck Rooney/RvP

Very attacking lineup

[The Special Juan]

9-9

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Big big call that by Moyes, sending a clear message out that he is not for sale and still has a big part to play in the team, lets hope it doesn't backfire.

Chelsea being chelsea, i'm not entirely sure that they want Rooney that much but see it as the perfect opportunity to further disrupt a rival team. They didn't really want Willian but bought him just to urine Tottenham off and they're doing exactly the same thing here. It's one of the many reasons I can't stand them, they like City have never won anything on merit, it's just throwing money about because they can.

Come on United.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Suprised Ba aint playing for Chelsea, he's a presence and can hold the ball up very well. Seems like Mourinho doesn't rate him too highly...

Strong line up by United.

[Liam]

Like that line up for utd. Real message sent out by Moyes that they are gonna take the game to chelsea and rightly so.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Playing to sneak a win, Mourinho remains the coach he was

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Leaving the best player for Chelsea on the bench is an interesting tactic from Mourinho.

He's asking Schurrle to do a big job tonight it seems

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Saying that, Schurrle isn't exactly a defensive player. Can play up front. Think it might be a sneaking message to his chairman - "we need a striker"

[Duty281]

Rooney's not off then! Predo:

United 2-0 Chelsea (Rooney x2)

[GSC]

Both club and country prefer nobody to Torres

[CFCNick]

It's funny. All summer all I heard from reporters and pundits was "Leverkusen striker Schurrle", "Germany striker Schurrle", now he's at Chelsea and everyone forgets he's a striker. I'll admit I hoped we weren't signing him as a striker but he could have a big night and be our man for the season.

[The Special Juan]

It's funny. All summer all I heard from reporters and pundits was "Leverkusen striker Schurrle", "Germany striker Schurrle", now he's at Chelsea and everyone forgets he's a striker. I'll admit I hoped we weren't signing him as a striker but he could have a big night and be our man for the season.

But he's not really a striker striker, more like a winger-striker. Kiessling was the main man up front for Leverkusen, Schurrle was there to back him up. I'm sure others who know more about Schurrle will know if he can lead the line or not.

[The Special Juan]

I've not seen Rooney look so up for a game in ages!! He's pretty much everywhere at the moment and always looking to get the ball which is a refreshing change in attitude.

cAshley gets away with a really "bad" challenge. Why was that not a booking?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think we can all agree we are awaiting the arrival of the almighty KAGAWA

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Bit of a boring match this so far. Chelsea should bring on Lukaku and/or Mata who our much needed as Schurrle doesn't look to great on his debut, out of place.

[GSC]

Give me Watford Forest all day over this crap

[Guest]

Tactical borefest. Chelsea need some physicality outhere.

[Hero]

Why on earth have Sky employed Jamie Carragher?
He needs subtitles, pauses with nervousness constantly and looks scared by the touch screen.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Why on earth have Sky employed Jamie Carragher?
He needs subtitles, pauses with nervousness constantly and looks scared by the touch screen.

Give him a chance, G Nev took a while to get going

[GSC]

The Stoke-Palace highlights were like something from League 1!

^allways going for the little digs!


You couldn't be more wrong

I was only commenting on the highlights, the full game might have been much different, all three goals were the kind of thing you expect to see in the lower leagues, no power in the shots as they dribble in after a struggle in the box.

Ok Crimey

You watching? Plenty of struggles in the box and shots dribbling in

Damn

[The Special Juan]

If you don't like it, don't watch it would be my advice.

[GSC]

Probably shouldn't deride the lower leagues if this is the PLs best

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Evra's been pants tonite

[GSC]

Chelsea came not to lose and United were too worried about the break.

Yawn

[mystiroakey]

yep attritional game of footy.

rooney clear motm though..

[GSC]

He's no Shinji Kagawa...

[mystiroakey]

certainly no chamak. but ok..

[CFCNick]

Well, 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. Seems Jose took off Hazard because he was actually trying to win.....

#boringchelsea

[Duty281]

Very cagey that.

United didn't want to lose, and so they pressed without any real conviction. Chelsea were happy to settle for a point, and to not target United's weaknesses in defence. It all equated to something largely dull and lifeless.

Both teams are happy though.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

There were Norwich-esque ambitions away from home by Chelsea there ie. None whatsoever

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Typical Mourinho, sets his team up trying not to lose rather than trying to win and they're the favourites for the title, do me a favour.

[CFCNick]

Typical Mourinho, sets his team up trying not to lose rather than trying to win and they're the favourites for the title, do me a favour.

It's an away game to the Champions. The Champions first home game of the season too where they'd want to start with a win. I think you'll find most managers in the World would set their team up to not lose. Take it you didn't watch or have forgotten our flying starts against Hull and Villa?

[Liam]

Unbelievable Kagawa and Mata didn't play but there you go. Decent point for both sides. Rooney was outstanding, true motm. For me, blatant handball from lampard. Jumped with his hands up by his face, pen all day long.

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Well done to Chelsea for beating Hull and struggling past Villa with the refs help, all todays game showed is that if Abramovich wanted attractive football he brought back the wrong manager. This early in the season I think most managers would like their team to go out and prove a point that they are serious contenders rather than playing the exact same way they did 4 years ago.

[Hero]

There's also the opportunity to really make a statement of intent by Chelsea, dethrone the Champs in their own backyard when the manager has his first home game and also continue to unsettle the player you're tapping up by showing the grass is greener.
Chelsea could have come to OT and won, they chose not to.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

There was some very disciplined and good defending in there. Chelsea missed a left footed creative spaniard who could pick teams apart however tight they are. Where can they find one of them?!

Though Rio and Terry were very good.

[CFCNick]

Well the way we played four years ago was good enough. We won the double and scored 103 goals in the PL alone.

[CFCNick]

Unbelievable Kagawa and Mata didn't play but there you go. Decent point for both sides. Rooney was outstanding, true motm. For me, blatant handball from lampard. Jumped with his hands up by his face, pen all day long.

No it's not. It wasn't even the worst "handball" of the night.

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

There's also the opportunity to really make a statement of intent by Chelsea, dethrone the Champs in their own backyard when the manager has his first home game and also continue to unsettle the player you're tapping up by showing the grass is greener.
Chelsea could have come to OT and won, they chose not to.

Exactly this, we've been written off by all and sundry already so we're expected to be losing these games this season whereas the medias darlings of Chelsea are being talked up stupidly high.

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Well the way we played four years ago was good enough. We won the double and scored 103 goals in the PL alone.

Quite clearly I meant Mourinhos last season in charge 2008/2009 when he was sacked for being too defensive, that ended really well for him.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

There was some very disciplined and good defending in there. Chelsea missed a left footed creative spaniard who could pick teams apart however tight they are. Where can they find one of them?!

Though Rio and Terry were very good.

If Rio/Vidic stay fit, Utd are gonna be serious contenders. What a partnership they are

[NickisBHAFC]

What a bluddy boring game of football! Feel so sorry for fans who paid a lot of dosh to watch Chelsea park the bus for 90 minutes of football.

Rooney had a great game tonight, i think him playing tonight confirms he will be a United player this season.

Would love to know why Jose isn't starting Mata, not only is it fracking up my fantasy team but IMO he is there best player, very odd. 

Boring Boring Chelsea.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

No other team in the league has a striker as good as RVP. Constantly evident to me. If Chelsea did they could come at this game with a different attitude.

[Fernando]

Moyes asked about if they had bid for Bale

"We are always interested in the best players"

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