Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'something'

by Liam Mon 23 Dec - 21:54

First topic message reminder :

Boring game but good result for all the top teams around these two really. Difference between Arsenal winning the league and not is a world class striker, because in tight games like these in the big games a world class striker will finish the chance Giroud had. He's been excellent this season but misses far too many to deliver a title. That's what makes Suarez/Agueor and RVP last season the difference in the end.

by **Crimey** Thu 26 Dec - 23:31

Olly wrote:
Crimey wrote:It's a really poor result for Everton if they're trying to chase top 4, Sunderland have a lot of fight though and I can't see them going down easily.

Sunderland are gonna need some serious investment in January, or else they're going down pretty easy

I'm not so sure, they're only 3 points off 17th place and do have some good players in their squad like Gardner, Larsson and Fletcher amongst others and a lot of their performances seem to be showing a lot of fight. I don't think any team will go down easily this year, I think there is more quality in Sunderland's squad than there is in Crystal Palace's or Hull's, and Sunderland don't have the off the field issues like Cardiff or Hull.

I'm not saying that they won't go down, they're obviously favourites to go down considering they're 20th now, but they're not exactly cut off from the rest of the table. All it'd take is a good run of results and they'd fly up the table, it's all very tight.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu 26 Dec - 23:33

Crimey wrote:
Olly wrote:
Crimey wrote:It's a really poor result for Everton if they're trying to chase top 4, Sunderland have a lot of fight though and I can't see them going down easily.

Sunderland are gonna need some serious investment in January, or else they're going down pretty easy

I'm not so sure, they're only 3 points off 17th place and do have some good players in their squad like Gardner, Larsson and Fletcher amongst others and a lot of their performances seem to be showing a lot of fight. I don't think any team will go down easily this year, I think there is more quality in Sunderland's squad than there is in Crystal Palace's or Hull's, and Sunderland don't have the off the field issues like Cardiff or Hull.

I'm not saying that they won't go down, they're obviously favourites to go down considering they're 20th now, but they're not exactly cut off from the rest of the table. All it'd take is a good run of results and they'd fly up the table, it's all very tight.

From what I've seen of them, they're dead meat barring some serious investment.

by **Crimey** Thu 26 Dec - 23:33

Ent wrote:Some terrible refereeing today.

Also how nice would it been if ki had of just stayed on his feet and tapped the ball in, barely any contact and he could have easily stayed up.

Really wish that last man rule was changed.

Well there isn't a 'last man' rule, but I get what you mean. I think it works if the defender takes down a defender with a clear goal-scoring opportunity, but with goalkeeper ones like that, don't think the red card is necessary.

by NickisBHAFC Thu 26 Dec - 23:38

Chelsea were outstanding today.

Fair play to Swansea for not roiling over and keeping the score down. It could of got ugly. Very ugly.

by Born Slippy Thu 26 Dec - 23:43

Surely the keeper ones are worse? Its literally an open goal denied in those cases. If the keeper doesnt get sent off and gets up to save the penalty then the other team is severely disadvantaged. With a professional foul from a defender there is usually a fair chance the keeper would still have saved it.

by NickisBHAFC Thu 26 Dec - 23:43

Big fan of Gary Hooper. Great striker

What a ping from Scotty Parker!!! Now he is a player i love!

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu 26 Dec - 23:44

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Fulham?

by NickisBHAFC Thu 26 Dec - 23:48

Fair play, as much as i think Palace over payed for him. What a goal by Dwight Gayle.

Villa every right to be angry, 1-0 at home to Palace is just embarrassing.

by NickisBHAFC Thu 26 Dec - 23:56

O my lord what a free kick by Eriksen.

Comedy defending by Tottenham for West Brom's goal though.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu 26 Dec - 23:58

I see Spurs are providing the comedy element to the season

by The Fourth Lion Fri 27 Dec - 4:30

Crimey wrote:Think Liverpool were very unfortunate not to get at least a point out of the game, hardest City have been pushed at home all season and Johnson and Sterling both had excellent chances to put Liverpool level.

Really gutted about that, would have been an excellent result had we snatched the point. Promising performance in that the Manchester City steamroller couldn't get crush Liverpool as they did other sides. Think City are on to be champions, definitely favourites, then Chelsea, then Arsenal followed by Liverpool I feel. This was a big test and I think while Liverpool didn't get the 3 points, they showed they are capable of holding their own.

Bring on Chelsea, hoping for three points, think we'll get one.

I think Liverpool have surprised even themselves in recent weeks, although Rogers' comments about the league title being "City's to lose" was a somewhat clumsy attempt at mind games ahead of the match. Pelligrini's somewhat lugubrious demeanour doesn't give away much, but I rather got the impression he wasn't buying that particular pup.

City took a little time to find their rhythm in both halves, whereas Liverpool were all hustle and bustle from the off, which is probably the best way to take City on, but if opponents can't contain Toure and Silva in midfield, then City are going to find a way through sooner or later.

I'm glad Suarez kept scrapping away. He really is Liverpool's pivot.... everything revolves around him.... but if anybody has got the measure of him so far this season, Kompany did yesterday. Suarez is a lot more of an "honest" player now, and that's a good thing to see, but he did revert to type towards the end of the game. His attempt at gaining a penalty some ten minutes or so before full time was, frankly, risible. Don't do it, Luis. Please, don't go back to the bad habits.

Mignolet has come in for some stick for City's second goal, but I think he was somewhat wrong footed by Negredo opting to shoot with the outside of his foot rather than put his foot through the back of the ball with lots of power. The spin that Negredo imparted on the ball was j-u-s-t enough to ensure Mignolet didn't get a full hand on it and, well, we all saw what happened.

Can't talk about this game without commenting on Michael Owen's execrable co-commentary for BT Sport. He may have been a decent striker in his day, but he is, in my opinion, by far and away the worst commentator on any of the TV or radio platforms.

Are City the real deal this season..? At this point, I would have to say they look to be realistic favourites, but as the old cliché goes... there are no medals handed out at Christmas. City still have to travel to Anfield, Emirates, Old Trafford, the Lane and Goodison this season. Newcastle away could also be a test. This title race is not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination

I think Liverpool and Arsenal will have a bigger say in the outcome of the league than many give them credit for at this time, and Manchester United aren't out of it either. They're now playing in a rather Fergie-like way and we all know what that means, don't we..? There has been a certain familiarity about their recent performances and I noticed that Sralex was at yesterday's game, wearing some rather official looking United livery and sat not a million miles away from the dug out. I wonder......................... <strokes beard, pensively>

This is the best title race in years.

by westisbest Fri 27 Dec - 9:19

Olly wrote:Will respond to each post individually

NickisBHAFC wrote:For me, Villa and Norwich should hold fire until the end of the season. Im sure both will stay up fine, but the thing is there both clearly not going to progress under Lambert and Hughton respectfully.

I agree that we will hold fire. There's no way we will sack Hughton, unless it becomes situation critical, in which case, much like under Roeder it was too late and we went down. I fear that might be the case this season. Hughton is getting through by the skin of his teeth, every time a "must win" game comes round, he seems to win it, which is fair enough in the short term, but in the long term it just papers over the cracks.

Born Slippy wrote:Have to say, to a neutral, Hughton seems to be doing a better job at Norwich than Lambert is at Villa.

Luckily the neutral doesn't have to endure what we do every week.

GSC wrote:I disagree tbh. Hughton has had far more to work with

Totally agree. Hughton took over a good squad, players that finished 12th in the Premier League under Lambert. The likes of Ruddy, Pilkington, Howson, Ryan Bennett are good players, heck Holty was too. Over the past two summers he's been given near enough £40 million to improve this squad, which in terms of players he has done (the likes of Fer, RVW, Hooper, Bassong are great signings). However the product on the pitch, and ultimately the results are worse. Much worse. We're afraid of teams. We can't beat the teams around us (this happened last season, and is happening again this year where we have either drawn or lost to Hull, Cardiff, Villa, Sunderland, Fulham, Swansea - none of those we have beat, only Hull and Sunderland were away as well, even Hull were down to 10 men for 70 mins!)

Lambert took over a sinking ship at Villa. He was tasked with shipping out players like Hutton, Dunne, Bent who were on ridiculous wages, and has had to replace them with bargain basement signings or youth players. Sure they're on a bad run at the minute, but it wasn't too long ago they were top 10 and everything was rosy. He'll turn it around again.

Lets hope so.

Actually quite like the bloke.

by **Crimey** Fri 27 Dec - 10:19

Michael Owen just says so many things that are incorrect its untrue, such as claiming Joe Allen played the role at Swansea that Lucas plays at Liverpool which is nonsense. He says it every time Liverpool are on as well, I wish somebody would tell him he's speaking rubbish.

by **hampo17** Fri 27 Dec - 10:23

I can remember saying Flanagan was nothing special and that he hadn't done anything to get his first team place, about 20 minutes later he was drooling over him.

The guys an idiot.

by Bull Fri 27 Dec - 13:46

Cardiff Sack their manager. -_-

by Guest Fri 27 Dec - 13:48

Yeah, great day of football yesterday. Fantastic result for Newcastle, I'm just hoping we can really take it to Arsenal on Sunday & don't freeze in the occasion. Tiote is back from suspension too. Everton slipping up has helped us & United close the gap.

Yeah, Malky has just been sacked. Get the compensation & run.

by **hampo17** Fri 27 Dec - 13:49

Vicent Tan is a clown who knows sod all about football, Mackay has been superb for Cardiff, I'd love to see them drop like a stone now. Watch that clown run away as soon as things get tough.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 13:49

Quite like Owen, annoying voice but he stands by his opinions. Quite like him for calling Ozil out as class but inconsistent whilst everyone else was still drooling over him. Talking about a BT team of David James, Owen Hargreaves, Steve McManaman and Gary McAllister - I say Owen trumps all of them.

Flanagan isnt anything special either, whilst its not wildly wrong to say Allen played the Lucas role, he didnt fly forward much but was more effective in passing than breaking up. Britton was the one to buy, better player, better than both Lucas and Allen.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 13:52

Funny, whilst Tan has done everything about it wrong - Cardiff havent been any good. The way theyre playing at the moment id expect them to lose their next two games. Meaning they would need something massive from their game with us, enough time for the "new manager" syndrome to kick in again.

by **hampo17** Fri 27 Dec - 13:54

Just read that Vicent Tan complained that goal keeper David Marshall wasn't scoring enough goals last season. Why do we let people like this own football clubs?

by Guest Fri 27 Dec - 13:56

That has to be a made up story Hampo, surley? Laugh

Good lord if it's true..

by NickisBHAFC Fri 27 Dec - 13:58

Mackay should go to West Brom now.

He has done a brilliant job. Worked wonders at Watford with no budget. 2 seasons with Caridff, Carling Cup runners up, Play Of semi finalists, Promoted as Champions, Made some great signings in the Summer, healthy league position, beat Swansea.

Bloke is a Cardiff legend, supporters i feel sorry for the most.

by NickisBHAFC Fri 27 Dec - 13:59

hampo171 wrote:Just read that Vicent Tan complained that goal keeper David Marshall wasn't scoring enough goals last season. Why do we let people like this own football clubs?

Have you got a link????

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 27 Dec - 14:02

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Funny, whilst Tan has done everything about it wrong - Cardiff havent been any good. The way theyre playing at the moment id expect them to lose their next two games. Meaning they would need something massive from their game with us, enough time for the "new manager" syndrome to kick in again.

Yeah with the resources available and used, they really should be doing better. Just the way its been handled really for me, Malky certainly comes out looking rosy...

by Hammersmith harrier Fri 27 Dec - 14:02

It's about time the FA banned foreign ownership of football teams, they rip out the soul of a club and destroy it from within. It occasionally works out with Chelsea and City but what happens to them once their owners get bored and they can no longer afford the best players and the wages of the players they do have?

All well and good being Man United, Arsenal or Liverpool but lets be honest the americans are a bit more clued up on these things than most. They tend to buy teams with huge global marketability so they can make money from the club instead of pumping limitless amounts in using it as a kids toy.

by NickisBHAFC Fri 27 Dec - 14:04

Whilst my club is in the Championship and looking like remaining there for another season. I would MUCH rather be a Brighton fan atm, with a chairman who loves the club and is a passionate supporter. Much better than having a cu*t as a chairman who knows nothing about the game and sacks the best manager they ever have.

by **hampo17** Fri 27 Dec - 14:05

Was in a newspaper article poster on twitter

http://twitter.com/TSBible/status/416565718474567681/photo/1

by CFCNick Fri 27 Dec - 14:05

hampo171 wrote:Just read that Vicent Tan complained that goal keeper David Marshall wasn't scoring enough goals last season. Why do we let people like this own football clubs?

He might have been watching the Phoenix Coyotes.

https://youtu.be/V123BIh0bo4

by CFCNick Fri 27 Dec - 14:08

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's about time the FA banned foreign ownership of football teams, they rip out the soul of a club and destroy it from within. It occasionally works out with Chelsea and City but what happens to them once their owners get bored and they can no longer afford the best players and the wages of the players they do have?

All well and good being Man United, Arsenal or Liverpool but lets be honest the americans are a bit more clued up on these things than most. They tend to buy teams with huge global marketability so they can make money from the club instead of pumping limitless amounts in using it as a kids toy.

Are you seriously using the "when the owner gets bored" line?

I can't say anything about City but Roman's boy will takeover when Roman gets older. His boy loves the club. He's grown up a fan and who doesn't want a fan running their club?

by **hampo17** Fri 27 Dec - 14:15

Vicent Tan is 100/1 to name himself as the new manager Laugh

by GSC Fri 27 Dec - 14:19

At the same time Tan saved Cardiff from oblivion and they were promoted on his dime

by Hammersmith harrier Fri 27 Dec - 14:25

CFCNick wrote:
Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's about time the FA banned foreign ownership of football teams, they rip out the soul of a club and destroy it from within. It occasionally works out with Chelsea and City but what happens to them once their owners get bored and they can no longer afford the best players and the wages of the players they do have?

All well and good being Man United, Arsenal or Liverpool but lets be honest the americans are a bit more clued up on these things than most. They tend to buy teams with huge global marketability so they can make money from the club instead of pumping limitless amounts in using it as a kids toy.

Are you seriously using the "when the owner gets bored" line?

I can't say anything about City but Roman's boy will takeover when Roman gets older. His boy loves the club. He's grown up a fan and who doesn't want a fan running their club?

Well you're a Chelsea fan who doesn't care about the impact foreign ownership is having on english football and if you want a young guy with no business experience running your club then it says a lot about you as a fan.

by Bull Fri 27 Dec - 14:29

There is nothing wrong with foreign ownership. Stop being racist.

by NickisBHAFC Fri 27 Dec - 14:36

How is he being racist? Rolling Eyes

by Guest Fri 27 Dec - 14:38

Bull wrote:Stop being racist.

Bring on tomorrow & Sunday quickly.

by Duty281 Fri 27 Dec - 14:42

hampo171 wrote:Vicent Tan is 100/1 to name himself as the new manager

Has to be worth a fiver!

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 15:59

Racist, brilliant! Got to laugh.

Malky hasn't done enough to keep his job and is lucky Tan has handled it so poorly, been a PR windfall for him the same way Brighton helped Gus. Spent big money to go up, lucky to have a very poor league to win that year, and has spent a fair whack this year. Let in 6 first half goals in the last two games? Smashed by Southampton at home and tumbling. He's been treated badly, but once Tan had gone down this road then Malky has done nothing to change his mind

by Hammersmith harrier Fri 27 Dec - 16:03

Catch 22 though Dolph, Tan hasn't helped the team or the manager by being so public about it all, either keep schtum or sack him straight away instead of this media circus crap. You wouldn't get all this from a british owned club that's for sure.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 16:19

You say that, I point you to Sullivan and Gold's chase of Martin O'Neill when Grant was in charge. All media outlets report Grant is out and MON will be new manager. It doesn't happen. British owners make a lot of mistakes too

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 16:48

Or the wonders of Mike Ashley

by CFCNick Fri 27 Dec - 16:52

Yeah. Blame the foreigners. Wasn't it Brits that ruined Leeds? Coventry have done well under British ownership too haven't they?

It's not foreigners ruining football. It's idiots from all backgrounds and cultures. Yeah there's Vincent Tan & Venkys but there's far more British owners that have "ruined football" than the foreign ones.

Google "worst football owners/chairmen" and the majority are white British men.

by Hammersmith harrier Fri 27 Dec - 17:10

Ignoring the biased chelsea fan for a second.

I appreciate the examples of Gold and Ashley but at least the former made a very public apology about his handling of the situation and Ashley for all his critics has done a good job at Newcastle on the whole.

by Bull Fri 27 Dec - 17:12

CFCNick wrote:Yeah. Blame the foreigners. Wasn't it Brits that ruined Leeds? Coventry have done well under British ownership too haven't they?

It's not foreigners ruining football. It's idiots from all backgrounds and cultures. Yeah there's Vincent Tan & Venkys but there's far more British owners that have "ruined football" than the foreign ones.

Google "worst football owners/chairmen" and the majority are white British men.

Agree 100 percent!

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 17:38

Although I would also say that the British owners make mistakes, the foreign owners are more power hungry. Whether that be name changes or kit changes.

by Duty281 Fri 27 Dec - 17:46

Owning a football club, and knowing the square root of naff all about it, has nothing to do with colour, nationality, or race.

So why it's being brought up I have no idea.

It's pretty clear that the "fit and proper person" test has to be torn up and replaced though.

by **hampo17** Fri 27 Dec - 17:50

Tan has said that to much dirty linen has been aired in public but not by him. It's all been by him!

by Hibbz Fri 27 Dec - 19:21

I'm not sure chairmen/owners knowing naff all about football is even a modern phenomenon. Just ask Cloughie.

Though I also have to confess I can never understand why football fans (once they've been through puberty) still have this sense of "ownership" of the football clubs they support.

by Hammersmith harrier Fri 27 Dec - 19:25

I personally think any british institutions and that includes football or any sporting teams should be owned and run by british businessmen. Whether it be the royal mail, the media (shamefully owned by Murdoch) or anything we should self govern it and try to ensure they are run safely and efficiently.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 27 Dec - 20:08

I personally don't care for politics.

I do disagree with not having a sense of ownership to my football team though. Nothing immature about expecting your club to have certain values when it is a company funded by money supporters spend. And that's true even in sponsorship deals. Nothing immature in that, I would wonder how much of a fan you were if didn't put stock in such things

by GSC Fri 27 Dec - 20:26

I'd rather be in foreign ownership than financial oblivion.

Changes your perspective a tad when you're that close to oblivion

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