Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'x'

[monty junior]

First topic message reminder :

It is kind of weird CS that Duty considers us an elite club and the quality of players (that Wenger has signed) and our CL football as the main reasons, but then he considers Wenger a failure. It looks like a logical inconsistency to me. And I can't name 10 clubs in Europe bigger or better than we are.

Bigger - Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan
Better - Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Dortmund/Napoli.

There we go. The first three have better history and are a "bigger" club in that respect. The other seven are just...better.

Is that why Napoli got knocked of our CL group. Dortmund is nowhere near the team they were earlier in the year when we played in CL in terms of injuries and we split with them. If you really want to measure we have to look at criteria. If it is "better" I disagree certainly with regards to Dortmund and Napoli as of right now or throughout the season. Dortmund is behind Schalke and Leverkusen and neither one of those teams are all that mighty this year. Here are the teams if I am ranking the "better" aspect

1. Bayern
2. real
3. Barca
4. Chelsea
5. PSG
6. Juventus
7. Man City
8. Atleti
9. Arsenal

So Arsenal are in the top 10, even if you would rate Dortmund who is on the skids right now as being better, which I don't. Liverpool would have a fair shout right now at coming in ahead of us. That would still put us in the top 10 in terms of quality.

Dortmund are a fairly comfortable second now and are almost certainly in to the CL quarters. Depends what you regard as elite, for me the word elite is the very very best like Bayern, Real, Barca even Man U, teams who have a history of domestic and European domination. Arsenal are the level below, certainly no disgrace.

[NickisBHAFC]

What part lol? Can't be all of it, because you would have to be a bit of biast fan to say West Ham played attractive football in the Championship. 

Fair enough it could be you don't think they don't play good football in the Prem.

But 100% its easier to play in the Prem than the championship, as retired footballers have said.

We played awful stuff at times, but youve got the trip to your place as a view of that. We dug in and did you, plain and simple, made you look like school kids. Ripped you a part at our place though. What Sam has done is made us solid as hell when we're playing bad, and for context we have never been that.

I agree with you about the trip to our place.

But the 6-0 was of 2 things. We had a Joey Deacon in goal. Also we simply couldn't cope with you're direct bullying style of play. Worked a treat, we couldn't handle it and our passing game didn't work. The only good thing was it remained 6, could of been a lot more.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

What part lol? Can't be all of it, because you would have to be a bit of biast fan to say West Ham played attractive football in the Championship. 

Fair enough it could be you don't think they don't play good football in the Prem.

But 100% its easier to play in the Prem than the championship, as retired footballers have said.

We played awful stuff at times, but youve got the trip to your place as a view of that. We dug in and did you, plain and simple, made you look like school kids. Ripped you a part at our place though. What Sam has done is made us solid as hell when we're playing bad, and for context we have never been that.

I agree with you about the trip to our place.

But the 6-0 was of 2 things. We had a Joey Deacon in goal. Also we simply couldn't cope with you're direct bullying style of play. Worked a treat, we couldn't handle it and our passing game didn't work. The only good thing was it remained 6, could of been a lot more.

Haha I bet thats what you all went home telling yourself "they bullied us". We were just a lot better than you that day in every way. We werent always great in that league, but we didnt just go around bullying teams. Carlton Cole cant head a ball in the intended area enough for us to have done that. With players like Tomkins, Faubert, Noble, O'Neil, Collison, Vaz Te all core to our team and not exactly big lump players, added to the other talent, we were just too Premier League for that division so could do a job when we needed to. Did it against Blackpool too, that playoff final was pretty 50/50 and we were ropey second half, but we had nous to add to ability.

Mysti - we have got better since that period but we're still in no great shakes, some good wins cos we defended very well, but theres a lot of fear football being played in the second half of the season. Survival is so ridiculously vital to the financial plan cos of the Olympic Stadium. I understand and accept that, slow growth and stability is huge to us, but Sam needs to make sure he remember the football we can play rather than the safety mindset.

[TRUSSMAN66]

I just love Mourinho's mind games he definitely has got Wenger in his pocket....Makes Fergie look like an amateur !!

Masterstroke getting two blokes sent off as well as himself and losing to a crap side like Villa just days before a huge game with Arsenal....

The best form of attack is to surprise the enemy and wenger never saw that coming !!

No wonder he's called the special one !!

[Crimey]

I do think the media has exaggerated how good the performance was, and are forgetting how poor United have been this season, but despite that I do think it was a very good game from Liverpool, just not quite as fluid and pacey as usual. Suarez and Sturridge aren't quite on form, but even then Suarez scored and Sturridge still got into dangerous positions.

I thought Rodgers was brave changing the formation, especially putting a lot of confidence in Flanagan and Johnson to deal with not only any wide attacks from Januzaj or Mata, but also the notoriously attacking full backs but they dealt with them fantastic. As soon as any player came into the half way line on the flank, they were pressing maniacally. Sterling as a number 10 even worked, showing that he's perhaps got more to his game than just blistering pace. He showed his ball-winning capabilities and his passing has got much better as well.

Allen had his best ever game for Liverpool as well I thought, I'm not convinced that Coutinho couldn't have done the same job while also adding some more forward emphasis as I still think Allen spends too much time on the ball which disrupts any quick breaks, he needs to get rid of it quicker. But his pressing and defensive work was fantastic.

Flanagan also had his best game for Liverpool, I thought early on he was frustrating as he kept just pushing Rafael over, but once he got the booking he did improve and showed great confidence in his first game against Manchester United on the wrong side of the defence to be rock solid. Moyes even swapped wingers to try and get something out of him, but nothing. Johnson also played well, hopefully that means his poor form earlier in the season was a result of the injury he was carrying. Good news for Liverpool and England. Liverpool have shown in the last two games that now the back four is basically restored, with Flanagan proving a very good back up to Enrique, the defence is much better, two clean sheets in a row now.

Rodgers is on dangerous ground, he might actually prove me and others who doubted him all wrong by pushing on for what seemed ridiculous at the start of the season.

If Liverpool beat Chelsea and Manchester City at Anfield, not even an unbelievable prospect now, are they title favourites?

[westisbest]

I just love Mourinho's mind games he definitely has got Wenger in his pocket....Makes Fergie look like an amateur !!

Masterstroke getting two blokes sent off as well as himself and losing to a crap side like Villa just days before a huge game with Arsenal....

The best form of attack is to surprise the enemy and wenger never saw that coming !!

No wonder he's called the special one !!

Yet we beat you. 

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

I just love Mourinho's mind games he definitely has got Wenger in his pocket....Makes Fergie look like an amateur !!

Masterstroke getting two blokes sent off as well as himself and losing to a crap side like Villa just days before a huge game with Arsenal....

The best form of attack is to surprise the enemy and wenger never saw that coming !!

No wonder he's called the special one !!

Yet we beat you. 

Hahaha Trussy..................thats bad form the WUM himself!

[TRUSSMAN66]

I just love Mourinho's mind games he definitely has got Wenger in his pocket....Makes Fergie look like an amateur !!

Masterstroke getting two blokes sent off as well as himself and losing to a crap side like Villa just days before a huge game with Arsenal....

The best form of attack is to surprise the enemy and wenger never saw that coming !!

No wonder he's called the special one !!

Yet we beat you. 

Hahaha Trussy..................thats bad form the WUM himself!

Wigan beat us.......

[Fernando]

Since been a while without a post something for the musical lovers and campaigners (Yes im aware it's SPL stuff)

A social media campaign by Aberdeen FC fans has propelled a 1980s hit by The Human League into the iTunes top 5.

Dons fans have embraced Don't You Want Me - a number one in 1981 - by changing the lyrics to "Peter Pawlett Baby".

Campaigns on Facebook and Twitter to get the song to the top of the charts have snowballed since the club won the Scottish League Cup on Sunday - with the song echoing in the background.

The Human League have now joined in with the effort

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

"@NorwichCityFC: Tomorrow's @SAFCofficial match at Carrow Road sees the return of #YellArmy clap banners. Come on you Yellows!"

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO FFS

[mystiroakey]

Palace away to Newcastle...

Newcastle is the only team to really put palace away this season- But with no Cabaye- going for a palace win..


UP THE PALACE!!!

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Palace away to Newcastle...

Newcastle is the only team to really put palace away this season- But with no Cabaye- going for a palace win..


UP THE PALACE!!!

 
Cant remember you have too much success at Anfield like.
 
Apart fomr yers f**king up my 3-0 Suarez bet!!!!
 
On holiday in Majorca at the time and there was some random fella taking bets in the bar haha.

[mystiroakey]

was it 3-1- I cant remember

But hey I will take that!! the way you battered everton, united, totenham etc. We did ok!!

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

was it 3-1- I cant remember

But hey I will take that!! the way you battered everton, united, totenham etc. We did ok!!

Yer it was 3-1

Think Gayle scored a tap in   

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I expect nothing from tomorrow, except to feel gutted that I've given my ticket away. United should come at us and use decent away form to kick a team that struggles against guile combined with pace.

[mystiroakey]

man u havent exactly bounced on after good european results before. But I think this one may give them a bit more fight.. Tough game for west ham if rooney and welbeck keep up that level of intensity. but no RVP or is he fit?

[westisbest]

Just watched ooh ah Ron Vlaar interview. 

Top man.

Hope we can follow on from the Norwich and Chelsea wins on sunday.

[socal1976]

Rvp out 4-6 weeks. Can't wait for arsenal v Chelsea hopefully Aaron is fit enough to give us a contribution. Jose shows his complete lack of class again by taking another run at wenger before his 1000th match.

[GSC]

Fair play, the SR Mastermind special was pretty funny

[Guest]

Fair play, the SR Mastermind special was pretty funny

It would have been even funnier had they seriously gone at it.

The pass joke is 20 years old.

That said I'd have still backed Wilshire to get zero points.

[GSC]

Enjoyable nonetheless

[Guest]

They are good sports and anything for charity is always good.   

[GSC]

Parker was best imo

[Guest]

Dawson's clean sheet celebration won it for me.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

My Nodge tips for the day

Under 2.5 goals, Norwich win, Hooper anytime

[Guest]

On it Olly, as always.   

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

On it Olly, as always.   

I'm semi confident today!

My accy is Citeh, Everton, Liverpool, Nodge and the gay boys from Brighton

[mystiroakey]

Draw arsenal Chelsea. Draw Everton. Palace win.

Crazy accy but I have had a decent run last week. Well up.

[The Special Juan]

This'll be at least 4.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lol Arsenal

[liverbnz]

Arsenal are pathetic.

[compelling and rich]

one good thing is the arsenal fans may spout less rubbish on here now

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Ahh the all too familiar Arsenal failure to have any backbone against a big team

[The Special Juan]

Oooh, nando.  Well the goals will have dried up now.

[compelling and rich]

oh dear, this could get nasty

[The Special Juan]

Alex Oxlade-Suarez

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What is Ox doing there?????? #headsgone

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He sent off the wrong player lol

[The Special Juan]

I won't even bother with the "facepalm" picture there.

[Hulking_up]

I guess the Arenal players thought it would be better to lose Gibbs then OX.

[Champagne_Socialist]

I don't think this result has changed anything myself or socal has said which is that ozil has had a very good 1st season and that wenger has not failed woith arsenal.

[sportform]

Andre Marriner

First it looked like he missed the penalty until the Chelsea players said so and then he sent the wrong person off.

Don't know what Oxlade-Chamberlain was doing either? The ball was already going wide.

[CFCNick]

Happy 1000th, Arsene!

I'll pour out some bourbon for you later, Socal, CS.

[Guest]

Embarrassing all-round. The end of Arsenal.

[sportform]

An Oxlade-Chamberlain hat-trick would be fun.

[compelling and rich]

bad decision to get the wrong person but like it matters, game was done and dusted either way

[mystiroakey]

Wtf is going on. Lol

[GSC]

Man Arsenal are terrible

[CFCNick]

Gibbs won't get suspended because obviously it'll go to review. Hopefully the FA show some common sense. Apparently if that happens it won't transfer over to Ox according to 5live.

[mystiroakey]

Jeas my accy went quick lol. Gonna watch the cricket.

[compelling and rich]

Jeas my accy went quick lol. Gonna watch the cricket.

you went for arsenal to win at chelsea?!!     

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