Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

Man City 3 Hull 0
Cardiff 1 Everton 2
Newcastle 1 Fulham 1
Norwich 1 S'oton 2
West Ham 1 Stoke 0
C Palace 1 Sunderland 2

Liverpool 1 man Utd 2
West Brom 1 Swansea 1
Arsenal 3 Spurs 2

[kingraf]

Giroud looking better and better, I backed him to have a good sophomore season a few weeks back here, when Arsenal fans were hoping for someone - anyone - else. Hope he continues the good form. Arsenal looking quite promising this year. They missed Podolski's industry a bit, I feel. But if they camn reamain largely fully fit, they have to back a top 3 finish. Carzola-Podolski-Walcott-Giroud is a pretty potent quartet, and IMO eclipse the United attack collectively

[Guest]

Why do people refer to teams as "we" or "us"

You are not the team!

It probably proves that you dont have real loyalty to a team.

Or he's an aspergers sufferer. Bull ticks all the boxes. You decide..

[mystiroakey]

I always read aspergers as asparagus.  

[Guest]

I always read aspergers as asparagus.  

Tried Asparagus soup once. Never again.

[kingraf]

I always read the inverted, Mystir...

Its tough to read a recipe book and go, "How the hell do you add Aspergers?" Not that I own cookbooks or anything...

[The Special Juan]

I think the whole "we, us, our" thing is acceptable for those who work for the club they support or are season ticket holders or were previously long-term season ticket holders. For armchair fans like myself who've only ever been to the stadium once (although it was a front row seat against Liverpool a few years ago) I think it's stupid.

[mystiroakey]

I always read the inverted, Mystir...

Its tough to read a recipe book and go, "How the hell do you add Aspergers?" Not that I own cookbooks or anything...

hehe!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think the whole "we, us, our" thing is acceptable for those who work for the club they support or are season ticket holders or were previously long-term season ticket holders.  For armchair fans like myself who've only ever been to the stadium once (although it was a front row seat against Liverpool a few years ago) I think it's stupid.

I feel you need to have an irrational hate of one player to qualify. Mine was Andrew Surman. It has now moved onto Bradley Johnson

[Bull]

Or I don't actually care about footy? Lol

[The Special Juan]

I think the whole "we, us, our" thing is acceptable for those who work for the club they support or are season ticket holders or were previously long-term season ticket holders.  For armchair fans like myself who've only ever been to the stadium once (although it was a front row seat against Liverpool a few years ago) I think it's stupid.

I feel you need to have an irrational hate of one player to qualify. Mine was Andrew Surman. It has now moved onto Bradley Johnson

You used to "love" Johnno when Howson signed. I think I remember you saying he was good or something.

I do have an irrational hate of Nani. Useless player personified.

[Bull]

Why do people refer to teams as "we" or "us"

You are not the team!

It probably proves that you dont have real loyalty to a team.

Or he's an aspergers sufferer. Bull ticks all the boxes. You decide..

That's just offensive, pathetic comment.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think the whole "we, us, our" thing is acceptable for those who work for the club they support or are season ticket holders or were previously long-term season ticket holders.  For armchair fans like myself who've only ever been to the stadium once (although it was a front row seat against Liverpool a few years ago) I think it's stupid.

I feel you need to have an irrational hate of one player to qualify. Mine was Andrew Surman. It has now moved onto Bradley Johnson

You used to "love" Johnno when Howson signed.  I think I remember you saying he was good or something.

I must have taken an arrow to the knee that day

[Guest]

Or I don't actually care about footy? Lol

This is not really the place for you then kidda.

[The Special Juan]

I think the whole "we, us, our" thing is acceptable for those who work for the club they support or are season ticket holders or were previously long-term season ticket holders.  For armchair fans like myself who've only ever been to the stadium once (although it was a front row seat against Liverpool a few years ago) I think it's stupid.

I feel you need to have an irrational hate of one player to qualify. Mine was Andrew Surman. It has now moved onto Bradley Johnson

You used to "love" Johnno when Howson signed.  I think I remember you saying he was good or something.

I must have taken an arrow to the knee that day

I used to like Bradley Johnson then I took an arrow to the knee? That's made me chuckle.

[kingraf]

my irrational hate is Rooney. I have repeatedly made my feelings of him clear!

As a Madrid fan, I generally just irrationally hate managers. Schuster.... I get angry thinking about it now!

[The Special Juan]

my irrational hate is Rooney. I have repeatedly made my feelings of him clear!

As a Madrid fan, I generally just irrationally hate managers. Schuster.... I get angry thinking about it now!

Out of interest, what are your feelings towards Mourinho? Success or failure?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Or I don't actually care about footy? Lol

Probably that, yes. I dont care about graphic novels and such, so none of it evokes a passion in me. Hard to understand the passion of others when you dont share it

[Guest]

Why do people refer to teams as "we" or "us"

You are not the team!

It probably proves that you dont have real loyalty to a team.

Or he's an aspergers sufferer. Bull ticks all the boxes. You decide..

That's just offensive, pathetic comment.

Apologies Bull. Was a cheap pop and I didn't mean to cause any offence buddy.  

[mystiroakey]

Asperger's sufferers are the latest evolved humans anyway!

They don't have girly emotions and can cheat casinos!

Don't take it to personally Bully!

[socal1976]

Giroud looking better and better, I backed him to have a good sophomore season a few weeks back here, when Arsenal fans were hoping for someone - anyone - else. Hope he continues the good form. Arsenal looking quite promising this year. They missed Podolski's industry a bit, I feel. But if they camn reamain largely fully fit, they have to back a top 3 finish. Carzola-Podolski-Walcott-Giroud is a pretty potent quartet, and IMO eclipse the United attack collectively

I like that quartet myself, the arsenal midfield of Wilshere, Cazorla, and Rosicky made the spurs multimillion dollar midfield look rather pedestrian today. As an Arsenal fan they still should have still signed Higuain in the low 30s. I love Theo and Giroud, think both players will score bags of goals this season but the squad is light in terms of depth and if they want to actually win league this year Arsenal needed another top line striker. The injury to podolski and all the guys limping around today in the first month of the season is still an indictment on why players were not added.

[socal1976]

Arsenal beat spurs, and united lose; all in all a pretty good day. Does Liverpool's current form without Suarez bring the Arsenal deal back from the dead?

[TheCultOfPersonality]

"Arsenal in advanced talks to sign Mezut Ozil".  

Would be a great signing but to they need him? Im sure a defensive midfielder and another striker would be more of a priority?

[kingraf]

TSJ - I think Mourinho was a success... Three straight top two finishes, three straight champions league Semi-finals, a league win and a Copa del Rey trophy. Not his magna opus, but you cant complain about being consistently in the top four in Europe.

Im very apprehensive about the Bale move, by my reckoning, unless we get the Big Ears this year, CR7 is gone. The Bale deal pretty much confirmed that. Ronaldo's been on the same contract for four years, in that time, Messi has had four contract upgrades. By all accounts, that was the reason Ronaldo was ''sad" last year. Now Perez signs Bale on a record deal, and makes him the highest player in the team? This just seems like a Trojan horse of a deal. We have already lost Ozil, who had created the most goals in the last three years, and we will probably lose the second best player in the world as well. Pretty annoyed, tbh

Excited ahout the Ozil deal from a Gunners perspective. They have the most exciting attack in England at the moment. Sincerely hope they can score more than they ship, because they will ship alot!

[Guest]

They have the most exciting creative players arguably along with Chelsea. The problem is a certain Giroud, who is not a Ronaldo, Higuain or Benzema, therefore Arsenal will continue to create, however finishing those chances will be difficult. Ozil to match his assists tally from La Liga in the EPL, no chance. Still a great signing and a huge loss for Madrid.

Do u believe Spurs or Madrid about Bale`s fee? If it was £85m, I can see Ronaldo gone next summer, because of his ego and Madrid not showing publicly that he's still perceived as the no.1. If it was 91m euro`s, like Madrid say, then that's £77m and Ronaldo would therefore still be most expensive and will probably agree new improved deal.

[mystiroakey]

Palace have signed a lot of players!

It has added a lot of depth and players that have experience- The squad looks top quality championship- low level prem.. I am looking slightly more positive.

[Guest]

Do u believe Spurs or Madrid about Bale`s fee? If it was £85m, I can see Ronaldo gone next summer, because of his ego and Madrid not showing publicly that he's still perceived as the no.1. If it was 91m euro`s, like Madrid say, then that's £77m and Ronaldo would therefore still be most expensive and will probably agree new improved deal.

If this is indeed true then Ronaldo must have the mental age of about 10.

[kingraf]

I think the pay is a bigger issue John, the "Beckham rule" expires next year, if Im not mistaken, and part of the reason Ronnie wasnt given a new a deal was because it would mean that in a year, Real would have to double his pay to give him the equivalent of what he was looking at earning. At the time Real said they didnt have the money. To now sign a player (£77 or £85m doesnt really matter) and then send him to the top of the salary pile by about £90k, I think thats what will sting

[mystiroakey]

77m back then was worth more than 85m today just with inflation forgetting about the actual value of football today which has also increased above inflation.

I don't think any player would be so stupid as to feel jealous over a fee.

[socal1976]

Wow what a move by arsenal, best midfield in EPL probaby top 3 in Europe at this point. I like Chelsea and Man City's midfield as well but when you put Cazorla, Arteta, Rosicky, Wilshere, Ramsey, and Mesut it is going to be tough to get the ball from them and the passing should have that edge to create chances. The Arsenal midfield without Oezil danced circles around the spurs and that was with wilshere leaving before the half, now that they have mesut they are legitimate contenders I don't care what anyone says.

People can knock Giroud but I have liked him from his first day at the club he scored a very big and smart goal the spurs and has started the season strong. Both Theo and Giroud should be helped enormously by this signing.

[Guest]

I keep hearing 'Arsenal have the best midfield' but that does not win you a Championship or guide you further or deeper into a European Competition. There are other areas of the pitch, which badly need improving. Ozil, Cazorla & Wilshere, when fit, is obviously a talented trio, however let's be honest with ourselves, Ramsey is suddenly not world class because of playing two good games against a poor Fenerbahce team and a poor, poor, disorganised and thrown together Tottenham side. Arteta is hardly a quality operator anymore, would not get in any top side nowadays and doesn't scare any opposition with his presence. Rosicky again is hardly quality, he's too injury prone and only truly turns up when there's a contract on the table. As for Flamini...........

Agree, Arsenal are going in the right direction with this sole signing. He should be able to attract other top names next summer but it's still a long road to recovery for Arsenal, in terms of challenging once more. If your expecting Giroud & Bendtner to fire you to success this season, then your quite clearly delusional. Against the top defences & in Europe this will be for all too see.

[Guest]

Arsenal still need another striker...an injury to Giroud buts than right back to square one. Agree that Ramsey having one game doesn't make him brilliant any more than Liverpool's start to the season suddenly makes us Champions in waiting.

Happens every season though. No so long that peole were creaming themselves over Paul Scholes as he'd sprayed half a dozen long balls about without the irritation of anyone offering a tackle and the press were talking about him being a shoe-in for player of the year after about four games.

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Some people are going a bit overboard with this Ozil signing aren't they, the third best midfield in the world you're having a laugh. The midfield has the same problems he always, it's lightweight and can be dominated quite easily, Cazorla is a good player, Ozil is a very good player but the rest are nothing special. Wilshere flatters to deceive while Ramsey, Arteta and Rosicky are ok at best.

As good as Ozil is, his signing has gone no way to remedying the problems Arsenal had and still have, lack of potency up front, a poor defence, an average goalkeeper and no physicality in the middle of the park. All well and good being good on the ball and creating chances but you need a world class striker to consistently convert them and a midfield that has no defensive instincts. They'll still be battling Tottenham for 4th and that's the best that they will do.

Man City, United and Chelsea have more quality throughout the team and in Silva, Mata and Rooney to an extent have players capable of creating as many chances as Ozil did.

[Guest]

Totally agree, never the third best midfield in the world. Annoys me that people constantly going on about Ozil 'assists this, assists that'.....there's two simple reasons for this stat. Firstly, passing the ball to Ronaldo, Higuain or Benzema & secondly, the difference between the competitive nature of La Liga compared to the EPL.

Look at the stats since 2010/11 on European Assists
Ozil - 47 (La Liga)
Messi -47 (La Liga)
Ribery - 38 (Bundesliga)
Hazard - 37 (Ligue 1 & one season in the EPL)
Mata - 37 (La Liga & two seasons in the EPL)
Ronaldo - 34 (La Liga)
Marvin Martin - 34 (Ligue 1)
Fabregas - 34 (EPL for one season & La Liga for two)
Di Maria - 33 (La Liga)
Alves - 32 (La Liga)

It's pretty self-explanotary that playing in the more uncompetitive leagues, like La Liga, enhances your assists, goals.....you name it stats, in comparison to the Premier League. Barcelona & Real Madrid win their games by three or four goals against 75% of the clubs in their league, home & away. Will Ozil be the leading assist player in Europe servicing Olivier Giroud & Bendtner, if you think he will, you are delusional.

Arsenal have made a step in the right direction but that is all. The target is still the top 4, until next summer, when the 'Ozil effect' sets in and the club can attract similar levels of quality to the squad. It's a long term turnaround & can't be fixed in one window.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Can we all just stop and appreciate how good a name Marvin Martin is

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Imagine what Ribery would do in La Liga, 37 assists in the bundesliga is mightily impressive. I could be wrong but while in the premier league Fabregas was level pegging with Young and Rooney most seasons, he more than anybody highlights the difference.

[kingraf]

Oh, so you just explain it away by mentioning a chasm in La Liga and EPL? I suppose when one league has four teams in the Champions League R16 & is 30 seconds away from having three in the last four, its probably a true statement, just dont understand why you keep getting the superior league wrong, LOL.

[mystiroakey]

The bundesliga is very lopsided so not sure if ribery's assets is as telling as people say.

The EPL has move quality lower down.

[Duty281]

The bundesliga is very lopsided so not sure if ribery's assets is as telling as people say.

The EPL has move quality lower down.

Exactly mate. And that is why the EPL is superior to La Liga, and any other league in the world.

[The Special Juan]

They really balance each other out.  La Liga has the best players in the world playing in it but in terms of every team in the league, there's very little strength in depth.  The PL has some great players in it too but it's main (trying to think of another word for "strength") is that it has a lot of strength in depth. It's an age-old argument that neither side will ever win though.

[GSC]

Maybe theirs a bigger gap between the top and bottom because La Liga best are better than ours

[Ent]

La liga had great depth for many years, with great progress in the various tiers of European football whilst the pl struggled to provide much competition in the Uefa cup/Europa league.

5 years ago there was no doubt la liga was a better league, now all the clubs are skint and there's barely a decent team outside of Madrid and barca.

[GSC]

Aside from that all La Liga Europa League final year before last.

[The Special Juan]

Maybe theirs a bigger gap between the top and bottom because La Liga best are better than ours

Or maybe the bottom La Liga teams are rotten. We'll never know for sure. I know it's a poor indicator but Hull, who are "worth" the least in the PL", are "worth" £49.5m on TM. In La Liga, 12 teams are "worth" less than that.

[Guest]

Made worse by Madrid & Barcelona dominating and monopolising the Television money in Spain. The lower clubs in Spain barely get the crumbs of the TV deals, hence why they have no money at all to improve or challenge. It's embarrassing that a club like Valencia, an experienced Champions League team, can't even afford to finish it's new Stadium because of financial issues. That's like Liverpool or Spurs building a new ground and then stopping half way through.....would never happen in England.

The EPL is the best and most competitive league in the world, regardless of what people say. Is it to the detriment of these clubs in Europe now, more than possible. Man City lost 3-2 to Cardiff and barely beat Hull at home. Meanwhile, Barcelona were hammering Levante 7-0 and numerous players racking up their assists and goal tally's. It's a no-brainer my original argument.

[mystiroakey]

Maybe theirs a bigger gap between the top and bottom because La Liga best are better than ours

Or maybe the bottom La Liga teams are rotten.  We'll never know for sure.  I know it's a poor indicator but Hull, who are "worth" the least in the PL", are "worth" £49.5m on TM.  In La Liga, 12 teams are "worth" less than that.

Are you telling me palace are worth more than 12 teams in the la liga and Hull  

[kingraf]

Yep, Bilbao beating United over two legs is perfect evidence of the gap in quality at the lower end of the respective leagues. Or Chelsea's mauling at the hands of Atletico Madrid, or Malaga coming within a whisker of taking down Borussia.

English teams rarely make it deep in Europa league, so I must ask where the evidence of better lower rung team ls comes from. Bilbao beat the second best team in England, but got thrashed by Barca and Real. La Liga is better, that is all. How else do explain how Mata, Silva and Carzola of all people have gone from obscure (relatively in Silva's case) talents to EPL bosses? Yet to see anyone from Stoke, Hull and such make the equivalent damage in La Liga.

[mystiroakey]

King graf maybe you have only just started watching football over the last couple of yearss.

But in the last 12 or so years the epl has featured by far the most teams in the quarters and semis of the CL.

The only reason why EPL teams didn't have a winner in the UEFA so long before chelsea is because it was the norm for english teams to not go out of the CL early like the spanish teams did and therefore not qualify for the uefa cup.

You are basing everything on one year mate.. That is ridiculous. and even in that obscure year when our teams didn't get through to the later stages of the CL chelsea won the uefa proving the point. the normal winners of the UEFA are teams that get knocked out of the CL early enough to get in

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Aside from Barcelona and Madrid there's not a lot to get excited about in La Liga, english teams by and large don't take the Europa league too seriously. Tottenham always have two eyes on champions league qualification and the monetary benefits in the europa league are worth less than one position in the premier league. You're better off getting relegated than winning it.

Everyone talks about the strength of Madrid but what have they done in europe recently? They got to the semi final this year where they were thoroughly outplayed by Dortmund and were made to look toothless by a supposedly weak man United. Barcelona have for years got huge chunks of luck against english teams from the disgraceful refereeing against Chelsea to the Van Persie sending off.

The top 5 teams in england don't get an easy at all and have to try and compete on two or three fronts, aside from last season the winner of the league hasn't been decided until the last game or with 2/3 games left. Barcelona have been so far ahead they can rest players and concentrate on the champions league because their league is so weak.

[The Terror of Tylorstown]

Mata, Silva and Cazorla obscure?

Mata was the under 21 player of the tournament before Chelsea bought him and Silva and Cazorla have been highly rated for years.

[kingraf]

Of course in the last 12 years, Fat Ronaldinho has won more WPOTY's than any one not named Messi... anyone want him over, say, Rooney? 12 years is too far to try prove a leagues superiority. Chelsea winning the Uefa Cup is hardly an achievement, Given their ambitions.

If it was all about trying to win on all fronts, Why didnt EPL sides do better in Europa from 2005-10 when the league was almost always a two horse race? Given the Chasm in Value, I cant understand why you would think La Liga teams dont take league positions foremost, given the difference in income for CL teams

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