Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sat Aug 31 2013, 11:57

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

by GSC Wed Sep 04 2013, 20:46

Levys ego wouldn't take back Modric after the way that unfolded.

They were told Ozil wasnt available earlier in the market

by GSC Wed Sep 04 2013, 20:48

Of course Ronaldo wouldnt be happy.

The club replaced a world class playmaker with a Spanish wonderkid and Perezs latest Galactico.

by Liam Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:00

Still in shock real let Madrid go as it didn't really make any sense. If they wanted big wages of the wage bill, let Di Maria and Benzema go, there's about 200,000 gone, and they are replaced by Bale and of course Isco. Plus, you keep the best play maker in world football in Ozil.

by mystiroakey Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:05

The rumours were that madrid had to get some cash back if they were going to buy bale- - i think it was that simple. They probably have pressure mounting from their debts.

if no one was coming in for di maria or benzema then what could they do but sell Ozil

We were slating arsenal for not being shrewd in this market- To be honest they have just acquired one of the best players in the world(top 6 imo)

ANd IMO better than bale.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:08

Im still not sure Bale is better than di Maria (who I expect to be the Lamb in the play), He has shown more, but that was without Ronaldo being the black hole which sucks in all the play... I see this ending up like Modric, only £50m more expensive

by Liam Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:11

I rate Bale higher than Di Maria personally. Although i still rate Di Maria as one of the best wingers in the world. I just feel with Arsenal needing a striker and a winger, maybe Real could have offered those two but like mys said, maybe they weren't offered.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:14

Liam, I think youre over estimating Bale a bit, Di Maria's stats are actually phenomenal given how far down the order he is at Real, in fact they arent far off anything Bale did pre last season. Will be interesting, to say the least to see what Bale does when he isnt the main channel

by Liam Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:20

For me, Bale is better. More versatile, can play through the middle. Also he single handedly got Spurs close to the top 4. Put Di Maria in the same team and I don't see him doing the same, although I rate him as one of the top winger in the world.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:25

My point is its easier to score 25 goals when you are the only hope in the team (also, 25 goals and a few assists is hardly single-handed.), than when you have a guy who went a goal a game in Champions League for two years, leading the charge, not to mention Isco, AND Benzema.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:27

Probably fair point on his versatility, but he isnt better than Benzema down the middle... I really do sometimes wonder how on Earth Perez is a billionaire given his spending scheme

by Liam Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:29

I really don't rate Benzema that highly. I think Bale will flourish with better players around him. I wouldn't say its easier to score goals when you're the only hope in the team. With that comes massive pressure and its all about handling that. Bale did which is commendable and highlights how good he is as a footballer and mentally.
I honestly don't think Di Maria could do the same if the roles were reversed but I still think Di Maria is outstanding.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:41

Time will tell, but Modric didnt exactly flourish with better players around him, and I rate him a fair bit above Bale

by mystiroakey Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:50

I think you are underestimating Bale mate ..

by Liam Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:52

kingraf wrote:Time will tell, but Modric didnt exactly flourish with better players around him, and I rate him a fair bit above Bale

Well he hardly played for the first part of the season. Second half he was outstanding and firmly nailed down a starting place, as well as this season as well. So don't think that point is valid imo.

I agree with Myst, people don't rate Bale because I thinkt hey feel they're jumping on the band wagon. Fact is he is a wonderful player and at only 24, is only going to get better.

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 21:58

As long as Bale doesn't become overawed and play like a rabbit in the headlights then he'll do just fine.

He's an incredible footballer and good luck to him. It's not his fault he cost so much.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 22:20

au contraire mon fraire, I dont underrate Bale at all, I just dont think he is worth £80m and losing Ozil! Theres a difference. Given how much Chelsea (!) were offering for Rooney, and Suarez Arsenal, its madness!

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 22:23

Look Im not one of those fans who would rather be right than win silverware, if Bale helps win the Big Ears, then I will celebrate unreseverdly, but surely I am entitled to my opinion, having seen this with Beckham, Owen (no fault of his), Fat Ronaldo, Kaka, and in a way Mourinho?

by mystiroakey Wed Sep 04 2013, 22:42

dont be so silly, most of those players were fine anyway

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Wed Sep 04 2013, 22:46

Gareth Bale is a superb footballer. He basically carried that Spurs team last season. I witnessed first hand just his sheer pace and power, then skill to finish when he scored that goal at Carrow Road, in fact he done it the year before too.

Not worth what Madrid paid, but I have no doubts he'll flourish there

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 22:52

Olly wrote:Gareth Bale is a superb footballer. He basically carried that Spurs team last season. I witnessed first hand just his sheer pace and power, then skill to finish when he scored that goal at Carrow Road, in fact he done it the year before too.

Not worth what Madrid paid, but I have no doubts he'll flourish there

Yeah, got no doubts he`ll flourish, just give him time to get match fit. Whoever has seen la liga, knows how bad some of the defending is and if bale can reproduce what he did against EPL defences, then he's going to obliterate the vast majority of la liga defences, just like Ronaldo does week in, week out.

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 22:53

mystiroakey wrote:dont be so silly, most of those players were fine anyway

It saddens me that Steve McManaman never gets mentioned anymore when talking about Real. Class act for that club.

by GSC Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:06

Alan Hanson leaving MotD next summer apparently

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssss

by The Terror of Tylorstown Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:11

It was often thrown at Ronaldo as criticism but when did Bale ever perform that well against the big four?

Sure he played well in a losing effort against Inter some years back but I have the slight impression that he's a bit of a flat track bully. It's what stands Messi apart from the rest his ability to win games against the best teams, i'm slightly biased but in the premier league the only two I can think of are Van Persie and Drogba. Even Rooney has a greater ability against the best teams than Bale.

by NickisBHAFC Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:11

I like Hanson, keep him Lawro and Shearer on i say. #TheOrginals

No point in bringing in people like Savage, Poyet and Redknapp. Not needed and wanted.

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:12

Yeah that was reported a few months back G. Think they are cutting Lawro's airtime too.

by GSC Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:13

Lawro needs put down.

MotD could use freshening up a bit to be honest

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:16

Not sure the BBC really care about football anymore. Their handling of their Football League coverage is pretty pathetic.

by NickisBHAFC Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:17

Lawro is way too negative about life, so don't mind him going. Bring back Lee Dixon. Poyet, Savage and Harry, shouldn't be on the program. I really like Hanson though.

by NickisBHAFC Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:18

They need to go more old school with Match of the day!

by The Special Juan Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:19

I don't know who I'd have as my 3 main pundits on MotD. Being a football pundit must be a tricky job because no matter how good you are, people are always going to hate you.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:22

I'll miss Lawro and Hansen. None of the new ones offer anything. Linekers point is right, you get about 2 mins to discuss something (max) whereas Neville has a whole hour build up show and half-time and full-time too.

Bale? Hes a great player, I didnt believe the hype till he beat us at Upton Park (and it was him, it really was). He wont need to do what he did for Spurs, his technical ability will ally to that team though. His ball striking is so clean and accurate, his movement superb and his vision probably quite underrated.

My only concern would be how he deals with Ronaldo's posturing. Theres not many players he has had to answer too since he got good, but if he wastes a shot or two and Ronaldo doesnt like it then the tension will be interesting.

For all I've read, he sounds very similar to David Beckham in regards to wanting to embrace the team and the area. Beckham won over the dressing room with eagerness and manners, but also determination and fight. Bale has all of that.

Above all else, Ancelotti is the coach for fitting stars into teams. He will sort it.

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:23

They should just read out GSC's legendary one liners between matches.

I relayed his "Spurs look like a one man team missing that one man" to a Tottenham fan on Monday and he nearly cried!

Sometimes less is more.

by NickisBHAFC Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:37

Bale is 100% the 3rd best player in the world. I think 85 million might be slightly too much. But not a millions miles away. But we can debate as much as we want, at the end of the day it doesn't matter, he earns 300 grand a week, fair play to him.

by Guest Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:44

He`s not the third best player in the world, Iniesta is. Bale is making significant strides up the ladder, but as of yet, he's only produced possibly one and a half years of sheer brilliance. The transition from being a big fish to a smaller one will be interesting to see at Madrid, will he shine or will he be lost in the quality that he is surrounded by. Only time will tell. Iniesta is a clear third best player in the world for me, proven domestically, internationally and has showcased his ability in Champions League arena for many years, Bale has not.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:49

thats the same British mindset that had Owen Farrel ranked de facto Flyhalf after one good performance vs New Zealand.

Champions League is the standard, Bale hasnt played that in nearly three years. Failing that, international competitions tend to help. through no fault of his own, Ethiopia are more likely to get in the World Cup than he is. I just cant see how you can be so sure of him being the the third best i the world. All I have seen on here is "His performance vs *insert mid to lower level EPL team* convinced me" seasoned with his Inter performance. By that reckoning RvP could then be #4, Suarez five, and Frank "15 goals 28 appearances" Lampard could sneak a top ten spot.

Fact is, if I am wrong about Bale, and he shines I will be ecstatic, like someone above me said, he does seem a real team player, and that will be important, because Ozil was sold partly to finance his deal, and that didnt go down to well with the locker room... apparently. Really most Real fans only object to the price tag, and not the player.

by The Terror of Tylorstown Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:49

I'd have said Bale was the third best player in the premier league, his impact for his club was lesser than that of Van Persie and Suarez last season. He's a fabulous player don't get me wrong but I want to see him perform consistently against the best teams before elevating him to third best in the world.

by Liam Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:51

I'd personally say Ozil is 3rd best. Think he's gone past Iniesta and the stats would back that up, although Iniesta is still a class act and easily in the top 5 still. He's 29 now so maybe another 3 years at the top of his game? Fabregas been by far Barca's best player this season.

by The Terror of Tylorstown Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:54

Ozil has a big money transfer and he's the best thing since sliced bread, I think Ribery gets overlooked a bit because he doesn't play for one of the spanish two. The best player in a team that just won the treble and he finds himself behind players who helped their teams achieve naff all.

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:56

I would say Schweinsteiger or Lahm are better, but Uefa agreed with you so...

by kingraf Wed Sep 04 2013, 23:59

It was a little difficult to look past Ronnie and Messi, though, people tend to forget how difficult it is to break 40 goals a season, and these two are nearing 60, outside of Falcao, when last did someone else in the big four leagues break the fifty club?

by The Terror of Tylorstown Thu Sep 05 2013, 00:01

The common denominator is poor defences in La Liga.

by kingraf Thu Sep 05 2013, 00:05

So how do you explain them going a goal-a-game in Europe?

by The Terror of Tylorstown Thu Sep 05 2013, 00:06

How many times has Messi scored against Chelsea and Liverpool out of interest?

What was Ronaldos scoring rate like at man united?

by Ent Thu Sep 05 2013, 00:08

John wrote:
Olly wrote:Gareth Bale is a superb footballer. He basically carried that Spurs team last season. I witnessed first hand just his sheer pace and power, then skill to finish when he scored that goal at Carrow Road, in fact he done it the year before too.

Not worth what Madrid paid, but I have no doubts he'll flourish there
Yeah, got no doubts he`ll flourish, just give him time to get match fit. Whoever has seen la liga, knows how bad some of the defending is and if bale can reproduce what he did against EPL defences, then he's going to obliterate the vast majority of la liga defences, just like Ronaldo does week in, week out.

Yeah but Ronaldo did it to pl defenses weekly and cl defenses every other week.bale does it to pl defenses for half a season every 4 years and once to a cl defense.

Flop waiting to happen.

God knows why Madrid wanted him and were willing to break transfer record, worth less
Than half what they paid.

by kingraf Thu Sep 05 2013, 00:14

I still suspect Perez was sending a message to Ronaldo re: Bales price. And before anyone wonders if anyone can be so petty, he turned down Ronaldinho because he was too ugly, Eto'o because he wanted to send a stupid message (Madrids scraps are the best Barca can manage) and sold Makalele because he wanted too much... this while buying a Galactico every summer... I seriously have no idea how this guy became a billionaire.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Sep 05 2013, 00:20

I also think Ronaldo will be off next year. Is there anyone else set up to play like Ronaldo? Bale does almost everything like him except head the ball and strop.

by mystiroakey Thu Sep 05 2013, 08:03

kingraf wrote:So how do you explain them going a goal-a-game in Europe?

King- wake up mate

I thought this was about la liga v prem.

The overall quality of European cups inst that great. The teams from other leagues are just fodder. In fact very similar to the lower level of la liga!

They do not have anything like that record against PL clubs.For example of my head Messi has a goal every 6 games or so games v PL opponents

by mystiroakey Thu Sep 05 2013, 08:20

"thats the same British mindset that had Owen Farrel ranked de facto Flyhalf after one good performance vs New Zealand"

look mate thats rubbish..No one rates him above Carter.

Secondly its real that rate bale the most- Yes your club. They are the team that did everything possible to sign him..

The irony is is that Bale is welsh anyway.. It would be like us english stating that priestland/biggar is the best. We are not going to do that Smile

Bale is that good. 85m good - no.. But that is what your club paid for him- No english club would have done it..

I would have thought 55m would have been the max a club would have spent here.

by kingraf Thu Sep 05 2013, 08:28

Mystir - CR7 scored 4 in four vs Manchester (utd and City) and five in six vs Dortmund and Munchen... Cannon fodder?

Also, Im not the one bale top 3, you guys are

by mystiroakey Thu Sep 05 2013, 08:37

King- so you only measure this on one year!! what are jabbering about!! seriously when you talk about goals to games- you don't talk about 2 games on the spin- you use a relevant history- I could mention many lesser players with an even better return based on a couple of games!!

Who are you guys? there is no saffa v england split here mate. There are plenty of english posters that haven't rated him top 3, and plenty of non brits that do rate him top 3!

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