Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'x'

by GSC Tue May 06, 2014 8:51 pm

First topic message reminder :

I wouldn't be upset, if it were limited to League 2 and below, and had a quota of English players with an age cap.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 3:08 am

Atila wrote:Daily Mail is saying that Luke Shaw is going to United.

Whilst I think they're a day behind, I can't see Shaw going anywhere else. Perfect club for him.

by **Mat** Tue May 13, 2014 3:41 am

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:They always tell me how well WBA are run. Peace knows his stuff. Such a clever club.

We were until the FA butchered us of Hodgson but more importantly Dan Ashworth. Been downhill since then

by Marky Tue May 13, 2014 3:58 am

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:To be fair to him, he kept them up. He had to adapt to a new squad in a new league in a new country and do the hardest job. He could only implement short term measures as long term plans clearly were on hold. We don't know how good a manager Mel is, but we do know that he did what was required of him immediately.

From my recollection WBA weren't actually in a relegation battle when Clarke was sacked, Pepe Mel did keep them up but he also played a part in them being involved in a scrap in the first place. Same with Garry Monk and Swansea, yet Monk was rewarded with a 3 year deal!

by Nakatomi Plaza Tue May 13, 2014 3:59 am

Mat wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:They always tell me how well WBA are run. Peace knows his stuff. Such a clever club.

We were until the FA butchered us of Hodgson but more importantly Dan Ashworth. Been downhill since then

Who would you like to come in Mat?

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 4:02 am

Marky wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:To be fair to him, he kept them up. He had to adapt to a new squad in a new league in a new country and do the hardest job. He could only implement short term measures as long term plans clearly were on hold. We don't know how good a manager Mel is, but we do know that he did what was required of him immediately.

From my recollection WBA weren't actually in a relegation battle when Clarke was sacked, Pepe Mel did keep them up but he also played a part in them being involved in a scrap in the first place. Same with Garry Monk and Swansea, yet Monk was rewarded with a 3 year deal!

I think they were in the mix. A lot of teams were in the mix and I'd say WBA were as firmly in it as anyone else, and more so than others. Hes done what they brought him in for in the short term.

From what I've heard he had a break clause and may well have been happy to exercise it anyway, what with rumours hes off to Malaga. Malaga or Birmingham?

by Hammersmith harrier Tue May 13, 2014 4:03 am

Marky wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:To be fair to him, he kept them up. He had to adapt to a new squad in a new league in a new country and do the hardest job. He could only implement short term measures as long term plans clearly were on hold. We don't know how good a manager Mel is, but we do know that he did what was required of him immediately.

From my recollection WBA weren't actually in a relegation battle when Clarke was sacked, Pepe Mel did keep them up but he also played a part in them being involved in a scrap in the first place. Same with Garry Monk and Swansea, yet Monk was rewarded with a 3 year deal!

You definitely were in a relegation battle when Clarke was sacked, in an almost identical amount of games the pair won an almost identical amount of points, I posted the exact figures on here the other day.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue May 13, 2014 5:13 am

Marky wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:To be fair to him, he kept them up. He had to adapt to a new squad in a new league in a new country and do the hardest job. He could only implement short term measures as long term plans clearly were on hold. We don't know how good a manager Mel is, but we do know that he did what was required of him immediately.

From my recollection WBA weren't actually in a relegation battle when Clarke was sacked, Pepe Mel did keep them up but he also played a part in them being involved in a scrap in the first place. Same with Garry Monk and Swansea, yet Monk was rewarded with a 3 year deal!

Swansea were on a horrid run when Monk was appointed, they were in it. As were WBA when Clarke was sacked, heck we beat WBA away ffs that's how bad they were under him

by LastDamnation Tue May 13, 2014 5:37 am

Hero wrote:He's the perfect poster boy for the no7 shirt too. I'd still be moving heaven and earth to try and bring him in.

United have ZERO chance of signing reus

by **Mat** Tue May 13, 2014 5:48 am

Nakatomi Plaza wrote:
Mat wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:They always tell me how well WBA are run. Peace knows his stuff. Such a clever club.

We were until the FA butchered us of Hodgson but more importantly Dan Ashworth. Been downhill since then

Who would you like to come in Mat?

In an ideal world, Moyes would be perfect but that won't happen.

Don't want Hughton, Sherwood would be preferable to him. Mackay would be alright, but nothing more.

Steve McClaren would fit the role but doubt he'd leave Derby now. Same with Rosler and Wigan.

Eddie Howe would be an interesting one, we'll probably look at Jol, and McInnes at Aberdeen is also in with a shout, being a former captain of ours and someone who won't be afraid to upset a few egos in the dressing room.

by CFCNick Tue May 13, 2014 6:53 am

Sky Sports News reckon we've got a deal for Costa. £32m they say.

by Duty281 Tue May 13, 2014 7:03 am

Rio to leave United in the summer - overall, it was thirty million well spent.

by GSC Tue May 13, 2014 7:05 am

Jose needs to go to a more attacking mentality to make it worth it

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 7:19 am

Sounds like the WBA players are desperate for Keith Downing to get it.

Costa suits a Mourinho side perfectly.

Rio has been a hell of a player for United, but hes on the decline. I think i'd take him at West Ham, but hes injury prone and will cost so much in wages.

by **Hero** Tue May 13, 2014 7:28 am

32m for Costa is a great buy.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 7:37 am

Sounds more and more like Allardyce will be gone tomorrow. Then off to QPR if they don't go up. Could West Brom nick him? They'd stay up, thats for sure.

by mystiroakey Tue May 13, 2014 7:40 am

So who will WH get?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue May 13, 2014 7:47 am

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Sounds more and more like Allardyce will be gone tomorrow. Then off to QPR if they don't go up. Could West Brom nick him? They'd stay up, thats for sure.

Like WBA would pay his wages

by **Hero** Tue May 13, 2014 7:52 am

mystiroakey wrote:So who will WH get?

Moyes?

by The Special Juan Tue May 13, 2014 8:05 am

Chelsea ruin strikers so I don't hold much hope for Costa until he inevitably proves me wrong. Of course, I do want him to fail Wink

As for Rio, £30m can never be a "bargain" but Duty's right - very rarely will £30m in football be worth every penny. It's a shame he's going but it's the best move for all parties. Alas one of the greatest ever pairings in football is no more. Wouldn't it be funny if they both ended up in Milan? Wink

by Ent Tue May 13, 2014 8:11 am

£30 million for rio and 12 years of service.

Was the best defender in the world from 04-10.

Big miss, best playing days behind him but a leader, personality and very experienced.

We've virtually no experience at the back if (as expected) evra goes too.

Can see the logic from him, would likely only get a year from united and it will be a difficult year. Better off to get two in the mls have a good time and further his other interests.

by **Mat** Tue May 13, 2014 8:40 am

Olly wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Sounds more and more like Allardyce will be gone tomorrow. Then off to QPR if they don't go up. Could West Brom nick him? They'd stay up, thats for sure.
Like WBA would pay his wages

He hates us as well. Dingles fan growing up.

by NickisBHAFC Tue May 13, 2014 8:49 am

Rio leaving was always happening IMO. United need 3 new defenders this summer.

Costa to Chelsea for 32 million, would be perfect for them IMO. Torres and Lukaku ill imagine will be on there way then.

by LastDamnation Tue May 13, 2014 8:51 am

CFCNick wrote:Sky Sports News reckon we've got a deal for Costa. £32m they say.

Old news no?

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 8:52 am

Mat wrote:
Olly wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Sounds more and more like Allardyce will be gone tomorrow. Then off to QPR if they don't go up. Could West Brom nick him? They'd stay up, thats for sure.
Like WBA would pay his wages

He hates us as well. Dingles fan growing up.

He didnt like us before he got here, when he got here, the whole time hes been here. I really dont think what team it is would bother him. Its a job.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 8:56 am

mystiroakey wrote:So who will WH get?

Looks between Poyet, Bilic, Laudrup, Pardew, Allegri or Moyes

OR

We'll go dull as hell and get Malky or, even worse, Lennon. Either of which would make me very sad.

Much depends on how quick we move with it. If we wait then the field will open up.

by mystiroakey Tue May 13, 2014 9:04 am

I think moyes will be at wh unless he decides to chill out for a bit or go abroad and get out of the pressure cooker.

A club with ambitions, that or newcastle anyway

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 9:13 am

Id expect we'll know tomorrow whether Sam stays or goes anyway. Sounds also like Van Gaal will be within the next couple days, then Sherwood out too. We'll then just be waiting on whether Pardew stays before the managerial bit has a little rest.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 9:15 am

Pulis wins LMA Manager of the Year. Congrats

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 9:17 am

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue May 13, 2014 9:19 am

Just what Atletico need before there two biggest games in recent memory

by mystiroakey Tue May 13, 2014 9:28 am

YES that is really bad timing

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 9:33 am

In countries like that, and genuine football clubs (genuine in emotion), I don't think its such a big deal. They won't be angry, they'll be sad. And thats an emotion you can easily turn into togetherness. Like Zaha being so up for Palace's playoff run.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue May 13, 2014 10:05 am

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Pulis wins LMA Manager of the Year. Congrats

EDIT: Pulis won Premier League Manager of the Year, Rodgers overall LMA Manager of the Year.

by **Crimey** Tue May 13, 2014 10:35 am

I do think Pulis did a fantastic job, but do think that Rodgers did something at Liverpool that we're unlikely to ever see repeated, while managers coming in at a team that is slipping and has no motivation and pushing them up the table and making them organised and hard to beat does happen, albeit not managing to push them as high as Pulis did and with not as good a team.

by Ent Tue May 13, 2014 11:07 am

I wouldn't underestimate the job pulis did.

Palace were 19th On goal difference with 7 points and had conceded like 21 goals after 12/13 games.

They've finished 11th with 45 points, only conceded 48 in total.

In terms of points per game he would have had them 7th if the site in using is right.

Liverpool did well bit Rodgers has had a full season and four transfer windows to get that side going hasn't he?

by compelling and rich Tue May 13, 2014 7:08 pm

Crimey wrote:I do think Pulis did a fantastic job, but do think that Rodgers did something at Liverpool that we're unlikely to ever see repeated, while managers coming in at a team that is slipping and has no motivation and pushing them up the table and making them organised and hard to beat does happen, albeit not managing to push them as high as Pulis did and with not as good a team.

i think van gaal will have a great chance of taking a team from 7th to 2nd

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue May 13, 2014 7:10 pm

Pulis's job was much much better than Rodgers's

Rodgers spent a lot of money lest we forget. Pulis drd it with largely the same core players that were doing so awfully under Holloway

by **Crimey** Tue May 13, 2014 8:43 pm

I understand that, but sometimes it can actually be easier for a manager to come into a struggling side and turn their fortunes around by giving them a boost and getting them organised. They were atrocious under Holloway, who just didn't know how to set a team up properly and Pulis came in and got them organised and gave them a morale boost. It is impressive, but I think it would be more impressive if he now managed to keep Crystal Palace in a similar position because I think long-term success is much more difficult and impressive than short-term success is. We often see new managers being brought into relegation threatened sides and giving them that short term boost that can bring them out of the relegation battle and up the table, it hasn't happened quite to the effect of Pulis, but it does happen.

Rodgers has had transfer windows to try and build the side, but surely that should be praised as being well managed? The core of the side is very similar to the one that Kenny Dalglish could only get to eighth and surely Rodgers should be praised for bringing in two players who were essentially out of favour and failed youth in Sturridge and Coutinho and utilising them well, as well as promoting young players like Sterling and Wisdom.

I think both of their achievements are impressive and hard to compare because they essentially involve different skills and it is comparing different values of managerial abilities but I do think people are allowing two games to temper the view of Rodgers' year.

by compelling and rich Tue May 13, 2014 8:48 pm

pullis i think was overwhelmingly most peoples choice, if rodgers had won the league then maybe but the 3-0 up against palace really is a black mark against his name

what i dont understand is how pullis can win premier league manager but rodgers win overall manager?! liverpool didnt do anything in the cups, didnt have europe to deal with and has already been voted as not the best in the prem this season?!

i also thought sean dyche deserved the championship award over pearson, much less of a budget to work with

by GSC Tue May 13, 2014 9:24 pm

Just in case anyone missed Tan http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27387616

by Duty281 Tue May 13, 2014 9:32 pm

I think I preferred Tan - his name was easy to spell!

by GSC Tue May 13, 2014 9:35 pm

Hes delusional if he thinks 60m a year will crack the top 5.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue May 13, 2014 9:40 pm

So Leicester to get relegated next year then

by Duty281 Tue May 13, 2014 9:47 pm

And the manager to be sacked by Christmas.

by GSC Tue May 13, 2014 9:49 pm

Tbf I thought Pearson might be on shaky ground with a slow start anyway. Almost went last season

by Hammersmith harrier Tue May 13, 2014 9:54 pm

If Evra does leave too it will be a massive shame, three players who played a massive role in our recent success, three fifths of the best defensive unit I've seen in my time. The best combined £42mil we've ever spent, thank you very much for the memories and years of tireless service.

by compelling and rich Tue May 13, 2014 10:00 pm

i think its times for evra to leave, great servant to the club but he's been pretty shocking defensively for a while now. wouldn't be surprised to see him go back to monaco

the only one i feel could still do a job was vidic, but moyes had a falling out with him and his mind was made. yet more we have to be thankful from moyes

by GSC Tue May 13, 2014 10:01 pm

Tbh Vidic has been past his best the last few years anyway

by compelling and rich Tue May 13, 2014 10:03 pm

he was recovering from a long term injury, when he's been given a run he's been getting to previous form

if fit he'll be easily the best defender over in italy, his only weakness is pace and that league is terribly slow. he'll boss it

by GSC Tue May 13, 2014 10:05 pm

I don't doubt the Italian league suitability, but with United transitioning to a new team, there really isnt room for players firmly on the downswing.

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