Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'x'

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Seriously desperate now, please score Norwich

[Ent]

True but the atletico game will be very, very tough and you need to beat liverpool.

[Liam]

Simply cannot see anything other than a liverpool title win because without Hazzard and a world class striker, Liverpool cannot compete with the firepower of Liverpool. I know they're very good defensively, but if it somehow comes down to a one chance game, my money's on Liverpool which kills me as a utd fan!

[Ent]

I think they are favourites but it is not ridiculous that Chelsea could win there, making them favourites or that Liverpool will draw a game letting both Chelsea and city back into it.

Many many permutations and it would be incredible if Liverpool won 14 games in a row to lift the title.

[Liam]

Oh yeh still allot to play for, and something crazy could happen like Norwich taking points off them next week (INCREDIBLY UNLIKELY!!) but if they do manage to win 14 games in a row to lift the title then that is an unbelievable achievement no doubt.

[Liam]

Read on twitter from a normally reliable utd source that Moyes will not be manager in the summer, maybe even before the end of the season and a 'mutual agreement' will come out as the glazers do not have trust in him to give him the money to rebuild the squad.

Have to be honest hope this is true and we go all out for Klopp, who is exactly the kind of manager that utd need. The Moyes experiment has failed, he is so far out of his depth and despite the team being in need of a rebuild, the performances have been dire this season, even when we've won games.

[Ent]

Pity is making me feel sorry for him etc but really he should never have been given the job in the first place. Club got it badly wrong in the summer with personnel.

He should have come fourth minimum this season, we are much better than arsenal who lack quality everywhere bit midfield and have a terrible mentality.

[Liam]

same ent but if i saw improvement in tactics, mentality, decision making etc across the season i'd say give him the summer. But who will want to come play for him? at least if we bring in someone like Klopp who plays utd esque football, who's young and has all the qualities to succeed at utd, plus attract players through his name alone despite no european football like Reus, then its time to bite the bullet, except Moyes hasn't worked and move on before its too late.

[Champagne_Socialist]

same ent but if i saw improvement in tactics, mentality, decision making etc across the season i'd say give him the summer. But who will want to come play for him? at least if we bring in someone like Klopp who plays utd esque football, who's young and has all the qualities to succeed at utd, plus attract players through his name alone despite no european football like Reus, then its time to bite the bullet, except Moyes hasn't worked and move on before its too late.

You need to gove Moyes time, at least another 2 seasons before you should sack him.

[Liam]

Yes but everything about him for me now screams that he needs to go. The things he says, the tactics etc, he just sounds and seems clueless and i can't see it suddenly improving over the summer. I really can't. If I saw gradual improvement, him growing into the job then yes, definitely. But its clear he doesn't have a clue and for the sake of the long term future of the club, he needs to go and Klopp should be the man to come in.

[PF4EC]

Always reading this forum and never commenting but saw somethings and i couldnt let them slide.
1. IF Liverpool win the league it wont deserve and asterisk next to it but an exclamation mark. They may have got lucky today but lets not be forget they were the unlucky ones at the Etihad. Kind of fitting that Sterling scored this time and it counted.
2. There is a thread about Liverpool's penalites? Really? I may be biased but I feel they have been given as many as they have deserved. (taking into account ones that werent given but should have been.
3. Steven Gerrard wont look like a mug if he doesnt win the league. Only people who are glory hunters (harsh but true?) or dont know the meaning of the world loyalty would disagree.
But thats just my opinion, no offence to anyone intended. Genuinely.

[Ent]

I agree.

Suppose it's because of having the same manager for 27 years but firing a guy seems really awful.

You won't find anyone more critical of him on this site but perhaps if someone else buys the players (ie fergie) he could have 1 season more.

He is awful mind, look at Everton now.

[Liam]

Always reading this forum and never commenting but saw somethings and i couldnt let them slide.
1. IF Liverpool win the league it wont deserve and asterisk next to it but an exclamation mark. They may have got lucky today but lets not be forget they were the unlucky ones at the Etihad. Kind of fitting that Sterling scored this time and it counted.
2. There is a thread about Liverpool's penalites? Really? I may be biased but I feel they have been given as many as they have deserved. (taking into account ones that werent given but should have been.
3. Steven Gerrard wont look like a mug if he doesnt win the league. Only people who are glory hunters (harsh but true?) or dont know the meaning of the world loyalty would disagree.
But thats just my opinion, no offence to anyone intended. Genuinely.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4653041.stm - Only thing I think of when people say how loyal gerrard is. Burning his shirt back then we'rent they?

[Ent]

Yeah, basically the story is he had a transfer request in and was threatened by various people I Liverpool not to move.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Yeah, basically the story is he had a transfer request in and was threatened by various people I Liverpool not to move.

yeh I remember that, he wanted to leave but changed his mind after threats.

[PF4EC]

Thats how the story went but im sure there was more to it than that. In his book he metioned his head was turned but he decided to stay. How is that being disloyal. Staying with his hometown Club after SOME of their fans burned his shirt. Chelsea, Man Utd, I think Madrid? and Bayern Munich quite recently all came knocking and he refused them all.
Find me another player who has done that. He also plays for his city's team, you cant say the same about Giggs or Scholes. This is probably the first time Giggs has played under a poor side, if he was 12 years younger you dont think he would contemplate moving if an offer came from a top tier club.
One last point, look at the international caps of the three players mentioned... ( I dont buy the whole "I dont wanna play on the left wing for my country" thing)
lol im serious when i say dont get offended. I felt the need to play devil's advocate. I'm not even English and im defending the national captain. Thats saying something!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

In his book he probably lied. Or it was self defence

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Tells you what looking at the table, Swansea are far far from safe yet, only a point ahead of us with Fulham and Cardiff creeping up

Not beyond the realms of possibility they get dragged into it

[Hulking_up]

Gerrard also said that he felt the club were dragging their heels in contract talks so he made that move to force their hand.
We will probably never know the truth so believe what you want to believe.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Look at their fixtures though. If we include everyone from Villa down - Their games played, their points and their fixtures:

Villa (33) 34 pts - Saints (H), Swansea (A), Hull (H), City (A), Spurs (A)
Swansea (34) 33 pts - Newcastle (A), Villa (H), Saints (H), Sunderland (A)
WBA (33) 33 pts - City (A), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A), Sunderland (A), Stoke (H)
Norwich (34) 32 pts - Liverpool (H), United (A), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulham (34) 30 pts - Spurs (A), Hull (H), Stoke (A), Palace (H)
Cardiff (34) 29 pts - Stoke (H), Sunderland (A), Newcastle (A), Chelsea (H)
Sunderland (32) 25 pts - City (A), Chelsea (A), Cardiff (H), United (A), West Brom (H), Swansea (H)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Look at their fixtures though. If we include everyone from Villa down - Their games played, their points and their fixtures:

Villa (33) 34 pts - Saints (H), Swansea (A), Hull (H), City (A), Spurs (A)
Swansea (34) 33 pts - Newcastle (A), Villa (H), Saints (H), Sunderland (A)
WBA (33) 33 pts - City (A), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A), Sunderland (A), Stoke (H)
Norwich (34) 32 pts - Liverpool (H), United (A), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulham (34) 30 pts - Spurs (A), Hull (H), Stoke (A), Palace (H)
Cardiff (34) 29 pts - Stoke (H), Sunderland (A), Newcastle (A), Chelsea (H)
Sunderland (32) 25 pts - City (A), Chelsea (A), Cardiff (H), United (A), West Brom (H), Swansea (H)

Predicting those games I would see:

Villa (33) 34 pts - Saints (H) DRAW, Swansea (A) LOSS, Hull (H) WIN, City (A) LOSS, Spurs (A) LOSS
Swansea (34) 33 pts - Newcastle (A) WIN, Villa (H) WIN, Saints (H) LOSS, Sunderland (A) LOSS
WBA (33) 33 pts - City (A) LOSS, West Ham (H) WIN, Arsenal (A) LOSS, Sunderland (A) LOSS, Stoke (H) WIN
Norwich (34) 32 pts - Liverpool (H) LOSS, United (A) LOSS, Chelsea (A) LOSS, Arsenal (H) LOSS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulham (34) 30 pts - Spurs (A) LOSS, Hull (H) WIN, Stoke (A) LOSS, Palace (H) WIN [End of season relaxation versus mad panic Mysti]
Cardiff (34) 29 pts - Stoke (H) WIN, Sunderland (A) LOSS, Newcastle (A) WIN, Chelsea (H) LOSS
Sunderland (32) 25 pts - City (A) LOSS, Chelsea (A) LOSS, Cardiff (H) DRAW, United (A) LOSS, West Brom (H) WIN, Swansea (H) WIN

Thus predicting the table (Excluding teams not on this list):

Swansea 39
WBA 39
Villa 38
Fulham 36
Cardiff 35
Sunderland 34
Norwich 32

If Sunderland don't beat Cardiff then I'm not sure they'll win another game all season and will finish bottom.

(Editor's note: I kept changing my mind so may not have got everything listed right)

[socal1976]

Liverpool deserve the title although I will say this they have no, no basis in hell of complaining about penalites not given (ie against Arsenal in the FA cup) Skrtel is a walking penalty kick. The guy is a disgrace to football. The referee before the match should bring out the rule book wipe his backside with it, violate it sexually and then set it on fire. The guy doesn't even play the ball on set pieces and corners, today they showed him on replay with his arms around both Fernandino and Dzeko in a bizaree man sandwhich where he was doing all the holding. The fact that he never gets called except for once this season doesn't change the fact that he is a cheat. And Sturridge and Suarez are both known to dive.

That being said, nobody is perfect, if they finish with the most points this season they will fully deserve the title. The way they have played and the fact that I do remember a few matches where the calls really did go against (ie like Etihad). They play good football, have the best player in the league and aren't run by an oil dictator or Russian racketeer, oh I mean businessman. Plus the pompous one is not their manager so that is always a plus.

[Stella]

A cracking game yesterday. Could have been four penalties, two definite's, both to City, and Suarez should have gone. You could say the ref bottled a couple of decisions, but it made the game better for us neutrals.

[nasisillmatic]

That was one hell of rollercoaster of a game. Suarez, yes, should have gone. I thought he'd cut out the diving, but he was awful yesterday. One of the worst games he had this season.

At least people can't say we're a one man team.

James Milner & David Silva were superb for City in the second half. It was like the ball was glued to Silva's boot.

[westisbest]

Look at their fixtures though. If we include everyone from Villa down - Their games played, their points and their fixtures:

Villa (33) 34 pts - Saints (H), Swansea (A), Hull (H), City (A), Spurs (A)
Swansea (34) 33 pts - Newcastle (A), Villa (H), Saints (H), Sunderland (A)
WBA (33) 33 pts - City (A), West Ham (H), Arsenal (A), Sunderland (A), Stoke (H)
Norwich (34) 32 pts - Liverpool (H), United (A), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulham (34) 30 pts - Spurs (A), Hull (H), Stoke (A), Palace (H)
Cardiff (34) 29 pts - Stoke (H), Sunderland (A), Newcastle (A), Chelsea (H)
Sunderland (32) 25 pts - City (A), Chelsea (A), Cardiff (H), United (A), West Brom (H), Swansea (H)

Predicting those games I would see:

Villa (33) 34 pts - Saints (H) DRAW, Swansea (A) LOSS, Hull (H) WIN, City (A) LOSS, Spurs (A) LOSSSwansea (34) 33 pts - Newcastle (A) WIN, Villa (H) WIN, Saints (H) LOSS, Sunderland (A) LOSS
WBA (33) 33 pts - City (A) LOSS, West Ham (H) WIN, Arsenal (A) LOSS, Sunderland (A) LOSS, Stoke (H) WIN
Norwich (34) 32 pts - Liverpool (H) LOSS, United (A) LOSS, Chelsea (A) LOSS, Arsenal (H) LOSS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulham (34) 30 pts - Spurs (A) LOSS, Hull (H) WIN, Stoke (A) LOSS, Palace (H) WIN [End of season relaxation versus mad panic Mysti]
Cardiff (34) 29 pts - Stoke (H) WIN, Sunderland (A) LOSS, Newcastle (A) WIN, Chelsea (H) LOSS
Sunderland (32) 25 pts - City (A) LOSS, Chelsea (A) LOSS, Cardiff (H) DRAW, United (A) LOSS, West Brom (H) WIN, Swansea (H) WIN

Thus predicting the table (Excluding teams not on this list):

Swansea 39
WBA 39
Villa 38
Fulham 36
Cardiff 35
Sunderland 34
Norwich 32

If Sunderland don't beat Cardiff then I'm not sure they'll win another game all season and will finish bottom.

(Editor's note: I kept changing my mind so may not have got everything listed right)

 
Saints l
Swansea d
Hull w bases on they will be safe and have cup final to think about.
City l
Spurs l
 
similar to your prediction dolph. Just have saints and swansea game other way round.

[FootballLight]

Really big win for Liverpool yesterday. couldn't see them not winning that game though, even at 2-2 when City had momentum, they just seemed to stop going forward. That's when Liverpool got their 3rd goal. Liverpool have got better, a lot better. 12 months ago, I don't know if Coutinho would have scored that (even if he was in fine form) but he did yesterday. However, Sturridge's lack of goals may be a concern for them, especially if he is injured.

Chelsea got a valuable 3 points, but as always, makes it look harder than what it was reflecting on the scoreline but much easier watching them. It will be an interesting game when they go to Anfield. It's ok collecting 0-0 draws at Arsenal, but you can't do that at Liverpool, no way, or especially not this season with their goalscoring form. But, they held out Man City a while ago and got a much needed 0-1 victory. Who is to say that they won't do that at Liverpool? But then again, I think Liverpool have just got that little bit more of a cutting edge to them than City up front this season. Suarez doesn't get injured/suspended often anymore, but Aguero seems to be getting injured more and more frequently.

Nevertheless, another big twist in the title tale.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Least Poyet is showing as much bottle as his players...

Asked about growing rumours he may quit at the end of the season, regardless of Sunderland’s fate, he said: ‘First of all, it’s difficult to talk now because feelings right after a game don’t help me answer that question. But I think there’s something wrong in the football club and it’s not an excuse. I need to find that. If I don’t find it we’ve got a problem.
‘I think I know what it is but I don’t know for certain. You know, you just think to yourself it’s too many times, too many things. I always say to myself “What happened with Brucie in the second year?”, “What happened with Martin O’Neill?”, “What happened with Di Canio?” and what happens with me now?

[GSC]

He has a point. Cycled through multiple managers with big reputations, spent a fair amount of money.

[Guest]

Really big win for Liverpool yesterday. couldn't see them not winning that game though, even at 2-2 when City had momentum, they just seemed to stop going forward. That's when Liverpool got their 3rd goal. Liverpool have got better, a lot better. 12 months ago, I don't know if Coutinho would have scored that (even if he was in fine form) but he did yesterday. However, Sturridge's lack of goals may be a concern for them, especially if he is injured.

Chelsea got a valuable 3 points, but as always, makes it look harder than what it was reflecting on the scoreline but much easier watching them. It will be an interesting game when they go to Anfield. It's ok collecting 0-0 draws at Arsenal, but you can't do that at Liverpool, no way, or especially not this season with their goalscoring form. But, they held out Man City a while ago and got a much needed 0-1 victory. Who is to say that they won't do that at Liverpool? But then again, I think Liverpool have just got that little bit more of a cutting edge to them than City up front this season. Suarez doesn't get injured/suspended often anymore, but Aguero seems to be getting injured more and more frequently.

Nevertheless, another big twist in the title tale.

Would have thought the opposite, if he was scoring frequently and THEN got injured, we'd be panicking slightly but the goals seems to be coming from enough sources for it not to be too much of an issue. Maybe push Sterling up with Suarez, put Allen, Moses or even Alberto in to replace Henderson but definitely find a way to keep Lucas in the team as I think he's vital especially against Chelsea.

Disappointed with Suarez yesterday. A replay on MOTD shows he WAS clipped by Demichalis but not anywhere near the extent that he displayed. I think he was far too wound up and, bizarre as it sounds for a player like him, was actually trying too hard. As they said, had Kompany gone in with anyone else it would have been a penalty but again Luis' reputation and earlier actions went against him. Lucky not to concede a further two penalties with Sakho and Skyrtel but the "offside" against Sterling at Etihad sort of evens things out.

Great game yesterday, blood pressure through the roof and my wife's expecting this week. Not sure I can take much more of this.

[Stella]

Thought Sturridge was pretty poor yesterday. Running with his head down, when there were options.

[Crimey]

Yeah Suarez was disappointing, both in his lack of good football and his diving and complaining. Think the occasion got to him, which is odd because this season he has arguably been at his best in this biggest games. Glad the rest of the team stood up though, I thought Gerrard was fantastic in this game, Sterling and Coutinho had really good games as well, thought Flanagan showed his strengths again.

If Sturridge is injured, I think the best thing is probably just to go 4-3-3, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas behind Sterling Suarez Coutinho. Not sure I want Allen in the team, but he's a better option in my mind than Moses, Alberto or Aspas. I just hope Rodgers isn't tempted to play three centre backs.

[Crimey]

Thought Sturridge was pretty poor yesterday. Running with his head down, when there were options.

Definitely, had a really poor game against West Ham as well. Think going a couple of games without goals hasn't been good for him. He's always dangerous though, even when he's having a poor game, same goes for Suarez.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Its World Cup year. A striker needs to lose form, especially as Rooney has kept up his end of the bargain by getting injured.

[Fernando]

Also did he go off as a tactical switch yesterday or was he injured?

[GSC]

Lallanas come out of nowhere to be the smaller club player who has to start.


All we need is an older CB coming out of retirement.

[Guest]

Also did he go off as a tactical switch yesterday or was he injured?

Suggestion he had a hamstring injury

[Fernando]

Also did he go off as a tactical switch yesterday or was he injured?

Suggestion he had a hamstring injury

That'll be season over if a tear/pull then.

[Crimey]

I also hope those that see Sterling as a Wright-Phillips, Lennon style clone have been paying attention the last couple of weeks, playing as a number 10, Sterling is arguably even more dangerous and his passing and composure in front of goal has been improving at a remarkable rate.

[Guest]

I also hope those that see Sterling as a Wright-Phillips, Lennon style clone have been paying attention the last couple of weeks, playing as a number 10, Sterling is arguably even more dangerous and his passing and composure in front of goal has been improving at a remarkable rate.

He's everything Walcott wishes he could be

[Liam]

I can see Cardiff staying up tbh. Stoke at home is more than winnable after that Saints result, Newcastle and Sunderland away may look difficult but their form as been abysmal second half of the season, especially Newcastle with cardiff already winning there this season in the cup. Chelsea game can be pretty much written off.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Stones is the one I'm gonna campaign for the world cup squad, he's been brilliant for Everton since Jagielka got injured

[GSC]

Cardiff are a poor side. It'd surprise me

[Crimey]

Stones is the one I'm gonna campaign for the world cup squad, he's been brilliant for Everton since Jagielka got injured

I would call him up, considering the lack of quality at centre back. After Cahill and Jagielka there isn't really much there.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I like Stones a lot. Hes probably not better than Smalling or Jones yet, however, just at a club that holds less expectation.

Sterling is impressing me. I still think the hype is over the top, but hes kept it up. But I still think there is a lot more to wait for him to be considered a very very good player. He doesnt look majorly better than when SWP and Lennon burst onto the scene. If he doesnt taper off then jolly good.

[Ent]

I've been really impressed with stones, might just be being overly critical but both young united centre halves have underwhelmed me. Jones in particular is an awful player.

[Liam]

What I would say that impresses me about Sterling at the same age compared to Lennon and SWP when they burst on the scene is his composure in front of goal. SWP scored some worldies to say the least, but wouldn't necessarily back him in a one on one situation, same with Lennon. With Sterling, he's proven it this season, one that stands out was the game vs Spurs.

[GSC]

Jones is a man without a position. I don't think he really excels anywhere.

[Liam]

He needs to be kept at cb from now on and stop messing him about. The only way he will develop and reach his potential at cb is to play there and gain experience, not by having him fill in at cdm/rb etc. We saw what potential he had at Blackburn when he played a full season at cb. He's been unlucky with injuries but as long as we stick with him there, he'll become a fantastic cb. He has all the attributes to succeed.

[GSC]

Tbh I don't really see him being great at any position

[Liam]

Tbh I don't really see him being great at any position

Why not at cb? He has all the attributes to be a very good one: Pace, Power, reading of the game, heading, good technically on the ball

[Stella]

What I would say that impresses me about Sterling at the same age compared to Lennon and SWP when they burst on the scene is his composure in front of goal. SWP scored some worldies to say the least, but wouldn't necessarily back him in a one on one situation, same with Lennon. With Sterling, he's proven it this season, one that stands out was the game vs Spurs.

Thought Sterling got a little bit lucky with yesterday's goal. it looked good, but he did dilly-dally, and could have easily been robbed of the ball.

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