Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'something'

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

A place to discuss things all Premier League.

[Guest]

If anybodies planning on driving past Old Trafford this week be careful, alot of people have been picking up 3 points there recently

I have to laugh otherwise I'd probably cry

[Liam]

Right predictions for the Swansea-Hull game? i'm going for a close game with Swansea edging it 2-1

[socal1976]

sorry people, absolute mushy! Zaha to Newcastle????? So that will be sitting next to Ben Arfa on the bench then? Reason why we are playing well is because we dropped HBA/Cisse purely on the fact we couldnt afford to play passengers. Zaha to do a better job than Sissoko offensively/defensively....no chance.

If United want to prize Cabaye away, open your cheque book & give us near £18m for a 27 year old. Arsenal have already seen how difficult Ashley makes negotiations. Ashley will make mince meat out of Woodward or whoever comes calling. Cabaye barely two weeks ago, 'I want to play Champions League football in the future'......United are ninth & look appalling. Cabaye's just scored the winner at your club & knows first hand how dire you are. United with no Champions League next season, Rooney leaving.....do you seriously think your going to be attractive, just because of name or history?

Strootman, hardly a world beater. How much for him, £20m + from Roma, where does that leave Fellaini? Koke, huge talent but would he risk moving abroad to United & leave European football behind at a resurgent Atletico?

Just think United fans are in for a big shock in the next few months, if they havent been shocked so far. The Rooney saga will emerge soon.....

I agree with this a very good post. I really can't see Rooney staying if United don't make Champion's league football. Take the Suarez saga, the only reason Suarez wanted to leave Liverpool and this controversy has risen the last season or two is because Liverpool is not in the Champion's league. He was willing to leave LFC for AFC, eventhough LFC has a lot more history and name recognition than even a great club like Arsenal. There is no way Ozil would have come to Arsenal if we were playing the Europa league, and I doubt a player like Reus or Lewandowski would leave and go from Champion's league football to playing thursdays in Godforsakenistan. Younger less elite players, who aren't world class will still be attracted to name United but Champion's league football is a big deal in keeping a player of that level and attracting others players of that level.

Financially, it is also a huge deal, by getting to CL and then making it out of group which United and most English teams usually do you are talking about 30 million pounds in TV money, and that doesn't even account for the extra games, ticket sales, concessions etc. That is why I would rather have the 4th place trophy than the league cup any old day. It accounts for 10-15 percent of the revenue of club like United or Arsenal. And what do you need to resign Rooney? After the way he has played this year your going to have to give a pay raise, and simultaneously attract other high priced players with big salaries and transfer fees, while servicing a massive debt. The failure to make champion's league will be disastrous for United, I am not saying they will crash out of contention or not be a great club, but it will be a big blow. It is a massive loss of revenue at a time that you need to rebuild, and it will be a huge negative selling point that most world class players would never accept.

[Crimey]

I do think United might have a chance of signing Baines if they do go for him in January, not that I think they should, because he might see playing at United and in the Champions League as furthering his chances of being the starting left back at the World Cup, although with Cole out of favour at Chelsea, he might not need to. 

Cabaye is a possibility, but don't think he'll want to leave with his World Cup place looming into a shaky looking United side, and Ashley will be hard in negotiations and United will have to pay over the odds.

Think United will struggle to find any real quality players available in January, especially six months before the World Cup.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Dont think Cabaye turns down the chance to play at United in what looks a guaranteed starting place too. Newcastle could play buggers and stop it,

[Liam]

At the end of the day, when everyone is fit, who would Cabaye prefer to play with in Jan:

Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, ameobi

or

RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj, Carrick and start and help utd hopefully climb the table, whilst also not jepordising his world cup place. I know what i'd choose. But Ashley will squeeze every penny out of us and we're probably looking at 20m

[LastDamnation]

So United's answer is Davies from Swansea, Mulumbu from WBA, Koke from Atletico & Strootman from Roma.

  

This is what I mean, when I say United should be worried. Even the fans are now understanding that the likes of Cesc, Modric or players of that level are long gone.

Not sure why you're dissing Koke, he's only 21 and has already broken into Spain's national team, developing into a WC player. But not sure why he'd want to leave Atletico at this point.

[Guest]

At the end of the day, when everyone is fit, who would Cabaye prefer to play with in Jan:

Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, ameobi

or

RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj, Carrick and start and help utd hopefully climb the table, whilst also not jepordising his world cup place. I know what i'd choose. But Ashley will squeeze every penny out of us and we're probably looking at 20m

That's the same Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, Ameobi who have guided a 'wee' club to 7th, whereas RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj & Carrick have taken United to ninth? We also just outplayed you on your own patch.

Cabaye wants Champions League football, probably with PSG. United risk not having that to offer him, other big teams will be able to offer it to him, therefore I can't even see why United would be anywhere near getting him personally. Six months before a WC, he'd rather play in a team that he understands the dynamic, everyone knows each other's game n style & he's in an environment he enjoys that brings out the best in him. He's the big fish & get's the attention at United he'll be the small fish & won't be able to dictate as much as he would like because everyone knows that Rooney is the one that commands the ball.

Has staying at Newcastle stopped Cabaye being a French starter? No. He'll be staying for sure in my opinion but will leave in the summer, when it suits Ashley. End of.

@LastDamnation - I said Koke's a huge talent in my previous post. Should of removed him from that, my bad.

[NickisBHAFC]

Swansea 0-1 Hull at half time.

Danny Graham with the goal.

[Ent]

Whilst Rooney is currently our best and inform player he needs to remember he has won 5 titles and a cl with us - te only season in which he has been our top performer we won nothing.

I think he should give us a seasons grace, not sure if he will mind.

[Guest]

At the end of the day, when everyone is fit, who would Cabaye prefer to play with in Jan:

Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, ameobi

or

RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj, Carrick and start and help utd hopefully climb the table, whilst also not jepordising his world cup place. I know what i'd choose. But Ashley will squeeze every penny out of us and we're probably looking at 20m

That's the same Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, Ameobi who have guided a 'wee' club to 7th, whereas RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj & Carrick have taken United to ninth? We also just outplayed you on your own patch.

Cabaye wants Champions League football, probably with PSG. United risk not having that to offer him, other big teams will be able to offer it to him, therefore I can't even see why United would be anywhere near getting him personally. Six months before a WC, he'd rather play in a team that he understands the dynamic, everyone knows each other's game n style & he's in an environment he enjoys that brings out the best in him. He's the big fish & get's the attention at United he'll be the small fish & won't be able to dictate as much as he would like because everyone knows that Rooney is the one that commands the ball.

Has staying at Newcastle stopped Cabaye being a French starter? No. He'll be staying for sure in my opinion but will leave in the summer, when it suits Ashley. End of.

@LastDamnation - I said Koke's a huge talent in my previous post. Should of removed him from that, my bad.

In fairness to carrick I dont think we would have struggled last couple of weeks with him playing. We were on a good run and then he got injured. Its since cleverly and fellaini have had to step up that our results have gone belly up. Carrick is vastly underrated I believe (even amongst United fans)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

At the end of the day, when everyone is fit, who would Cabaye prefer to play with in Jan:

Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, ameobi

or

RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj, Carrick and start and help utd hopefully climb the table, whilst also not jepordising his world cup place. I know what i'd choose. But Ashley will squeeze every penny out of us and we're probably looking at 20m

That's the same Gouffran, Tiote, Remy, Sissoko, Ameobi who have guided a 'wee' club to 7th, whereas RVP, Rooney, Kagawa, Januzaj & Carrick have taken United to ninth? We also just outplayed you on your own patch.

Cabaye wants Champions League football, probably with PSG. United risk not having that to offer him, other big teams will be able to offer it to him, therefore I can't even see why United would be anywhere near getting him personally. Six months before a WC, he'd rather play in a team that he understands the dynamic, everyone knows each other's game n style & he's in an environment he enjoys that brings out the best in him. He's the big fish & get's the attention at United he'll be the small fish & won't be able to dictate as much as he would like because everyone knows that Rooney is the one that commands the ball.

Has staying at Newcastle stopped Cabaye being a French starter? No. He'll be staying for sure in my opinion but will leave in the summer, when it suits Ashley. End of.

@LastDamnation - I said Koke's a huge talent in my previous post. Should of removed him from that, my bad.

Equally, if he can perform in the United side then hes nailed on. Proving a good player in a better side where he isnt the focal point certainly says more for his France credentials, where he is a good player but not the focal point. And I really don't think a) he won't get picked if he goes to United b) he has only 6 months time in his mind.

All in all, I don't think United will go for him so it doesnt matter

[Guest]

All in all, I don't think United will go for him so it doesnt matter

   Exactly what I'm thinking. I think he's got his heart set on PSG & Blanc absolutely loves him.

If I was United boss, I'd wait until the summer, when the picture fully emerges of where the club is at, what you can offer in terms of European football & the Rooney situation comes to a head. Also, then some players would of retired & you could move Young, Evra, Anderson on etc. Then the major surgery can begin & Moyes can stamp his authority on the side & show what direction he wants to take the club. Desperation signings in January won't solve too much.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

If we beat Swansea at the weekend, and Utd beat Villa, I'm fairly sure we move into the Top 10...

How....

[Dolphin Ziggler]

All in all, I don't think United will go for him so it doesnt matter

   Exactly what I'm thinking. I think he's got his heart set on PSG & Blanc absolutely loves him.

If I was United boss, I'd wait until the summer, when the picture fully emerges of where the club is at, what you can offer in terms of European football & the Rooney situation comes to a head. Also, then some players would of retired & you could move Young, Evra, Anderson on etc. Then the major surgery can begin & Moyes can stamp his authority on the side & show what direction he wants to take the club. Desperation signings in January won't solve too much.

I dont think we'll be offering much in terms of European football, unless we can convince Cabaye that The Championship is a foreign league and Yeovil is tropical. And he'd still never start of Chicken Dance Kev   

[Fernando]

Downing out until March with his injury

[LastDamnation]

Poor scheduling to have our game on Saturday lunchtime imo

[Guest]

Agree, should of been a Super Sunday game. They must of known City/Arsenal would have been fighting in Europe away from home, FA could of changed it. Guess BT Sport made a difference.

As for the game, real test of Arsenal`s character now after midweek. City have the confidence to put on a big performance.

[Fernando]

I love a good rumor, apparently Mr Rodgers has been sticking it to a dudelady   

[mystiroakey]

Source?

[Guest]

Haha, wouldn't surprise me. new teeth, massive weight loss n his wife is a shocker I hear.

All I know for sure is that Rodgers was watching Draxler last night n Moyes was in Madrid watching Koke, who apparently has a 24m euro release clause. Good luck Moysie!

[mystiroakey]

watching who?

[Guest]

Haha predicted text mess up there.....watching koke

[mystiroakey]

There is more chance of him signing Rodgers lover .

[Fernando]

Source?

Put it into Google    It appears he's a big fan of Southampton mainly because he likes a surprise package   

[mystiroakey]

Read some stuff on a few forums and a few tweets but no source,

My fav tweet

Brend on todgers   

Anyway nothing wrong with it I suppose. But the away fans are going to start giving him some right stick!!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Downing out until March with his injury

Whilst it's just our luck that a tackle that should be a red gets missed and the player then misses a massive amount of time, it's hoped to be less as long as there isn't infection

Big Sam:
I don't think it will be that long (ten weeks). We always try not to be too specific about the date of any particular injury. The size and depth of the wound means that the last thing we want after the surgeon stiching him back together is an infection. Hopefully there will be no infection in there and his recovery will be much quicker than ten weeks.


That's Reid, Carroll, Vaz Te, Petric, Downing injured with Tomkins possibly out and Collins n Demel have missed training this week due to sickness. And Nolan is banned.

Gonna be doing the standard West Ham going down and we don't care dance this weekend at the Boleyn

[Fernando]

DISCLAIMER: Like Man United's Premier League title defence, Fakebook is a joke.

[mystiroakey]

Love it nando.

[nasisillmatic]

I'd heard rumours a few weeks ago that Rodgers had left his wife and was knocking off one of the Liverpool staff...could it be Joe Allen???

[Guest]

I know he got caught looking at Claire Rourke but hearing it might be his secretary. Proper funny though. I presume the "he shags who he wants" chants will be hilariously observed in every remaining league fixture this season.

[NickisBHAFC]

I still have no idea why Arsenal fans gave RVP so much rubbish when we left. United a much bigger club than Arsenal, he wanted to win trophy's and that was proved last season.

[Guest]

RVP's out for a month. Basically his injuries are back, getting on now & means even more pressure on Rooney to deliver, catastrophic burnout.

[Fernando]

It's ironic that United fans called Arsenal fans bitter when we brought this up when they bought RVP. They seem to forget we had him for years and his injury record was as long as Diaby's on occasions   

[Liam]

Maybe Moyes' new training methods and reports of RVP not being happy with them due to his injuries seem to make sense now. He's been injured more this season although it may be coincidence.

We're in trouble now because there is so much pressure on Wayne to carry us and score goals because they aren't coming from anywhere else. You look at the top sides and where they can get their goals from to utd:

Chelsea: Mata/Schurlle/oscar/hazzard/lampard
Arsenal: ramsey/giroud/ozil/wilshere/carzola
city: negredo/aguero/toure/
everton: lukaku/barkley/mirallas/delafeou
utd: rooney/hernandez off the bench

That's really worrying. Only positive spin i can see atm is Kagawa will get an extended run in the no.10 position. Carrick still not fit which is proving costly for us. Seems we'll keep jones cdm alonside cleverly (who did well in mid week)/giggs/anderson. Think anderson should get a run. With him, he'll start to play well and show signs of why we bought him then get injured for 2 months and stunts all progress. Need Jan ASAP just to bring in a couple of players to see us through till the end of the season.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It's ironic that United fans called Arsenal fans bitter when we brought this up when they bought RVP. They seem to forget we had him for years and his injury record was as long as Diaby's on occasions   

To be fair, you were bitter saying all that

[Fernando]

It's ironic that United fans called Arsenal fans bitter when we brought this up when they bought RVP. They seem to forget we had him for years and his injury record was as long as Diaby's on occasions   

To be fair, you were bitter saying all that

Nah it's more a sense of smugness that we 99% saw it coming    except United fans & Arsene who sees nothing.

[Guest]

Predo's for the weekend anyone?

Man City 3 Arsenal 2
Cardiff 1 West Brom 1
Chelsea 5 C Palace 1
Everton 2 Fulham 0
Newcastle 2 Soton 1
West Ham 2 Sunderland 0
Hull Tigers   0 Stoke 0

A Villa 0 Man Utd 1
Norwich 2 Swansea 1
Spurs 2 Liverpool 2

[Guest]

Maybe Moyes' new training methods and reports of RVP not being happy with them due to his injuries seem to make sense now. He's been injured more this season although it may be coincidence.

We're in trouble now because there is so much pressure on Wayne to carry us and score goals because they aren't coming from anywhere else. You look at the top sides and where they can get their goals from to utd:

Chelsea: Mata/Schurlle/oscar/hazzard/lampard
Arsenal: ramsey/giroud/ozil/wilshere/carzola
city: negredo/aguero/toure/
everton: lukaku/barkley/mirallas/delafeou
utd: rooney/hernandez off the bench

I think that's an under-statement & been the case for quite a while   

RVP missing during the crucial Christmas period is a shocker. I think RVP's injuries were always going to come back to haunt him. RVP needed Ferguson looking over him & coaches who knew & understood his body & the training he requires in order to get the maximum out of him. With Moyes coming in & the coaching staff being overhauled, that was taken away. Think Moyes' intense training has ruffled a few feathers & when, as a player, you are unhappy about something, your heart & soul is not into performing for the manager or the club & I think that's what we are seeing this season. The only player who seems to have been helped by this intensity of training is Rooney, who looks as sharp as we've ever seen him, but unfortunately the rest haven't taken to kindly it appears to working harder & having their usual routines changed. Nobody really likes something that was successful in the past to be changed.

As for the squads, just emphasises United's problems & lack of goalscorers. It's either Rooney or........? Throw in the lack of creativity from midfield & you really do have a recipe for disaster, hence the drop from Champions to ninth. You missed Liverpool in that list who also have better options than United.

I just don't see how United are going to drastically change things in January. It will be interesting but seeing Moyes scouting Koke just made me laugh. It would be no surprise to me to see another embarrassing window of random bids being fired off in all directions & hoping for the best possible outcome. Tough times ahead.

[socal1976]

Great RVP won his trophy, good for him, he spent most of his time except for about a season and half injured for ARsenal and the club paid him a lot of money to get healthy, which he rarely was. If he wanted out he should have at least had the decency like Cesc or Henry to not force the club to sell him to a domestic rival. If he went to munich, madrid, or even Barca I doubt their would be this animosity.

This year I am glad RVP traded london for Manchester, Moyes for Wenger, and a great young side that is challenging for the title for a team 13 points out who most likely will be playing Europa league football next year. He didn't want to build with Arsenal now he can help United rebuild, that is if he can find his way off the trainer's table.

[Guest]

Looking at United's upcoming 6 games I can see them going on a run. Whilst I don't think they'll contest the title I do believe they'll find some form.

[Guest]

I don't think you can really say with any confidence that United could go on a run, even against lower ranked teams in the EPL. Anyone can beat anyone & it's not as if United are some kind of a force currently. United @ cardiff 2-2, Everton winning @ OT followed by Newcastle winning @ OT for the first time since the 70's....who expected that?

I'd be amazed if United go on a four or five game run, especially over a xmas period. Rooney will be blowing in January if he plays all those games.

[Guest]

I'll bet you a pound that they bag 12+ goals in them 6 games and 4 wins in the next six matches John. I promise I'll send you that cheque   

I'd never write Utd off.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Man City 2 Arsenal 1
Cardiff 1 West Brom 1
Chelsea 3 C Palace 0
Everton 2 Fulham 0
Newcastle 1 Soton 1
West Ham 1 Sunderland 1
Hull 0 Stoke 0

A Villa 1 Man Utd 2
Norwich 1 Swansea 1
Spurs 2 Liverpool 2

And on Hull, those fans have been a credit lately. They've made their point and supported their team too, not either/or.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Maybe Moyes' new training methods and reports of RVP not being happy with them due to his injuries seem to make sense now. He's been injured more this season although it may be coincidence.

We're in trouble now because there is so much pressure on Wayne to carry us and score goals because they aren't coming from anywhere else. You look at the top sides and where they can get their goals from to utd:

Chelsea: Mata/Schurlle/oscar/hazzard/lampard
Arsenal: ramsey/giroud/ozil/wilshere/carzola
city: negredo/aguero/toure/
everton: lukaku/barkley/mirallas/delafeou
utd: rooney/hernandez off the bench

In fairness, injuries happen. You take out Aguero, Lukaku, Giroud, Hazard from each of those lists then it doesnt look as good.

[Guest]

Man City 2 Arsenal 1
Cardiff 1 West Brom 1
Chelsea 3 C Palace 0
Everton 2 Fulham 0
Newcastle 1 Soton 1
West Ham 1 Sunderland 1
Hull 0 Stoke 0

A Villa 1 Man Utd 2
Norwich 1 Swansea 1
Spurs 2 Liverpool 2

And on Hull, those fans have been a credit lately. They've made their point and supported their team too, not either/or.

Spot on. Reckon we won't be able to break down Southampton to easily without Cabaye. Should be a close game. Incredibly, if Arsenal lose at City & we win, we could be only six points off Arsenal.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It's ironic that United fans called Arsenal fans bitter when we brought this up when they bought RVP. They seem to forget we had him for years and his injury record was as long as Diaby's on occasions   

To be fair, you were bitter saying all that

Nah it's more a sense of smugness that we 99% saw it coming    except United fans & Arsene who sees nothing.

Quite revisionist though really isnt it? Where was the injury talk last year? Considering his goals propelled them away from City, stopped them from winning two titles in a row and, although Fergie probably would have stayed another year, could well have stopped the Fergie era ending with a whimper.

The RVP stuff is still derived from bitterness. Hell, he exited with kinder words than most Arsenal fans had for that side when he left. Kinder words than Arsenal fans had for the side until the Ozil deal was signed.

United knew the risks, they took them on and got a player who has been nothing short of exceptional for them. Now if they'd signed him as their only worthy striker and he'd not played since becoming their record buy, well I could see the "I told you so's" being fair. Not sure what kind of club does that though   

[Dolphin Ziggler]

In honour of Man City's incredible record (straight victories this season is just the continuation), here is a graphic showing the form of the team's - i.e. not West Ham (random example) - who have had the last three years in the Prem.

[mystiroakey]

That's an amazing average points per game

[Guest]

Further proof that we need to turn Anfield into a fortress again. 1.76 points per home game is pretty bad.

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