We Go Again! The 2014/15 Premier League Thread

[Liam]

First topic message reminder :

such a shame Strootman got injured before the world cup. Think he'd be at the club otherwise. He should have been here last summer along with thiago but we ballsed it up and ended up with fellaini.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Can's lucky not to see red there. Blatant dive.

[Duty281]

Got the score right. Simple matter of City profiting from their moments of dominance and Liverpool not doing likewise. The champions displayed, also, greater creativity and movement off the ball; their intricate play in the final third was very fine.

Good game as well for Michael Oliver, a very capable referee.

[Liam]

Same old same old for Liverpool. Looked threatening going forward but defensive issues letting them down tonight. Lovren's positioning for the two goals was very poor although they have plenty of time to work on that. Difficult game to make your debut in for Moreno. Johnson was pretty poor once again, think Manuqillo should have started. City very very strong tonight, straight fight between them and Chelsea for me.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Liverpool folks

Do you guys have a defensive coach? Or does Brendan still not believe in that sorta thing?

[mystiroakey]

Yep 2 horse race this year sadly.

Liverpool weren't that bad though . a lot of potential in that side.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

No Luis no party, I'm afraid. Don't have to be so scared of Liverpool now so the foot can go on gas more.

[CFCNick]

Sky Sports News keep saying Sturridge was "judged to be offside" at his disallowed goal at 1-0 Citeh.

WHY CANT THEY JUST SAY HE WAS OFFSIDE?!?!?!?!?!?!

[FootballLight]

Well, according to the BBC, it looks likely that Di Maria will complete a record transfer fee move to United. However, I don't know how trustworthy that can be. I will only ever believe the BBC when a deal is done. They get some right, others they don't. Also, who said he was flying out to do a medical today when they have only just agreed fee's overnight?

It looks as if Everton are going for Samuel Eto'o as well. Not a smart move on my part. He's not as clinical as what he once was and I think Everton have got a better player in Lukaku up top anyway. Cover, I could agree with.

This is the problem with the v2 site. You try to make opinions to a set group of fans and you get slaughtered for it. What is the point in having a discussion when all you ever say is, "Your points don't make any sense" or "I really don't understand what your point is", "Is your first language even English?" etc. I explained 3 times what my point was, United as a club and their fans still don't see that the problem isn't up front, its at the back. I did also participate in calling some United fans bitter, but that's just the reality. Not all of them are, some of them could actually see that United are in some trouble of finishing in another mid table position, even by buying Di Maria. The reason why I still think they will finish in a mid table position is because you don't have enough quality to finish in the top 4 in general and your defence is weak and is easily targeted by other teams attack.

I'll try to cover what your starting team might look like with Di Maria included and I'll show you what I mean.

De Gea is a pretty consistent goalkeeper, I'd say he is a good performer for you, but isn't always convincing with his handling of the ball, he saves a lot with his feet or spills/parries some shots (I have thought the same about Cech before).
Rojo is a good signing for you, has more quality than all of your current defenders, but you still need another CB.
Phil Jones is a solid defender on his day, when he doesn't go diving into tackles and gets beaten easily.
Chris Smalling is only good enough for back-up, he is somewhat quite a weak defender, but he still have time to develop.
Although, on a whole, your defence still looks weak with Smalling there, you need another CB. You can't expect to lose the experience of both Vidic and Ferdinand and expect to do well at the back.

Rafael was a solid RB, I'd like to see how well he'd do at RWB this season. Still a decent player.
Shaw is also a LB, I'd also like to see how well he'd to at LWB, plenty of talent and potential, good player.
Carrick, experienced, can pass a ball and can keep the game flowing, but can be a little bit slow on the ball from time to time and isn't a ball winner.
Herrera, a solid midfielder, especially good box to box, doesn't always have the power but has the legs to cover for Carrick and can create chances, another solid player.
Di Maria, couldn't say how well he'd fit in at United, but if he was to play in front of Mata in AM, he'd be a quality signing IMO.
Not a bad midfield but could use some work, seems you need a ball winner more than anything. Someone to sit in/Anchor man.

Rooney, I don't think he can work with RVP as he didn't show that last season or so far this season, still has plenty of quality to score goals but needs to be up front on his own really.
RVP exactly the same as Rooney really, past his prime, injured and unfit often.
I personally feel you'd do better with just 1 up front, as I don't think this partnership is working too well IMO. It's not bad, but it isn't working as good as what it should.

Overall, still pretty strong. That's just my opinion there. But, there still needs improvement. As United fans, you might look at that and think its a team worthy of top 4, it could challenge at best for me. The reason I say that is because, for what I've put in that team there (that might not be your true best 11 by thats what I think it is), there is some quality, but there are still some areas to be worked on i.e. A ball winner in midfield, a top class CB and maybe another CF that could partner with Rooney/RVP. The spine of your team needs to be improved. Add a top class CB, a solid ball winner and a CF that can partner with Rooney/RVP (alongside Di Maria in AM), then your team is certainly worthy of top 4. But until then, you might be stuck challenging for top 4 and Europe on a whole. Also, just to add, looking at that team, I could probably say exactly the same sorts of things about Everton as well, so you need to improve. Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City are all better than you, that's how it looks and how it seems at this moment in time and that's the reality. The point is, overall, you need to improve and United fans don't always see that, especially in defence.

[Hammersmith harrier]

He was photograped outside Carrington yesterday at about 9 o'clock, you really need to keep up to date, the BBC are rarely wrong in fairness anyway.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah the BBC don't generally report anything that isn't really close to being completed

And as HH says he was pictured last night at the training ground

[Duty281]

As someone who is not biased, I do not see how United's defence is inferior to Liverpool - their main rivals for fourth spot.

I think United will still get top four. They have a clear edge over Tottenham and Everton, whilst Liverpool are heavily reliant on the the make-or-break signing of Balotelli.

[Guest]

As Neville and Carragher rightly alluded to last night, Liverpool's defence is "new" whilst City's has been together for some time now and they've clearly gelled. (they cited the f**k up's Demichalis made with alarming regularity at the start of his tenure). They've stated that it's obviously an issue that needs looking at but not anything that can't be resolved with time and effort.

Sorry to say but I'm hoping Johnson is out for a while as he's getting worse as time goes on. Complete lack of guile and resorts to running in straight lines then losing the ball/giving it away cheaply)

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yeah but those mistakes Lovren were making last night weren't familiarity ones, they were just downright poor positional individual defending. 

I also think it might be worth Rodgers beginning to fade Gerrard out, he offers so little protection to the back four in these big games it's really hurting Liverpool

[Liam]

Gerrard's legs have gone. For me, he isn't that good at the deep lying playmaker role. He passes long allot of the time and isn't very good at keeping the tempo going. Scholes excelled in that role later on in his career as he was more intelligent in his positioning and his passing. He'd often play short sharp 5 yard passes and just drag the opposition midfield out of position. Scholes would be a dream in this current liverpool side.

Liverpool need to look soon at a long term replacement for Gerrard because they'll end up in utd's situation where we still haven't replaced Scholes or Keane for that matter. You'll might not get players of the calibre of those two, and that's a compliment to Keane and Scholes rather than a dig at other players, but you sign the same type of players and Liverpool haven't done that.

[Ent]

You can't replace the likes of gerrard, scholes, keane directly - no point in trying to. Just have to get in good players and let them do their thing instead of asking them to be a legend.

[Guest]

They should spend the money getting Mascherano back.

Lucas looked good a couple of season's ago but injury seemed to have curtailed his development. Not sure Allen is the best replacement either.

[J.Benson II]

Don't think Liverpool should look too much into the loss. City smoke 99% of teams at the Etihad.
Chelsea and City are the only teams I'm fairly certain will end Top 4. It's a toss up between the others (Arsenal, Liverpool, United, Tottenham and even Everton) since I don't think there is much seperating them.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Indeed, although I would look at the ease Silva pulled the strings up against Gerrard.

[Ent]

Warnock for Palace allegedly.

Lol.

[J.Benson II]

Indeed, although I would look at the ease Silva pulled the strings up against Gerrard.

Silva just oozes class. Gerrard can't cope anymore in the bigger games (as seen at the WC). Rodgers should use him mainly against the lesser sides at Anfield.

[FootballLight]

He was photograped outside Carrington yesterday at about 9 o'clock, you really need to keep up to date, the BBC are rarely wrong in fairness anyway.

Lets all remember Diego Costa's £21.5m move to Liverpool last season? Now he's at Chelsea. So that turned out to be a load of bull. So you're telling me that deal was close as well? What about Vermaelen's transfer to Man United for £21m this summer? They were both close deals were they? Sort of proves my point. Although I do believe now that this deal is going to go through. But I was just making the point the BBC isn't always the most reliable source. But there are plenty of others that are reporting this transfer so I do think it will go through now.

[hampo17]

He was photograped outside Carrington yesterday at about 9 o'clock, you really need to keep up to date, the BBC are rarely wrong in fairness anyway.

Lets all remember Diego Costa's £21.5m move to Liverpool last season? Now he's at Chelsea. So that turned out to be a load of bull. So you're telling me that deal was close as well? What about Vermaelen's transfer to Man United for £21m this summer? They were both close deals were they? Sort of proves my point. Although I do believe now that this deal is going to go through. But I was just making the point the BBC isn't always the most reliable source. But there are plenty of others that are reporting this transfer so I do think it will go through now.

You clearly ignored the post I made yesterday about him being at Carrington yesterday, get's a bit boring reading the same stuff when people have already proved what you're saying is incorrect.

[jbeadlesbigrighthand]

As someone who is not biased, I do not see how United's defence is inferior to Liverpool - their main rivals for fourth spot.

I think United will still get top four. They have a clear edge over Tottenham and Everton, whilst Liverpool are heavily reliant on the the make-or-break signing of Balotelli.

United's defence is probably on a par with Liverpool's, although I'd think Liverpool's midfield offer more protection.

I don't agree that United have a clear edge over Tottenham (at least if Tottenham have finally gelled), and their edge over Everton is mainly based on the fact that they are hurt less by injuries to key players. United may finish fourth, but I really wouldn't be surprised to see them end up sixth.

That said, there's still activity to come in the transfer window, and if Man Utd can tighten up at CB and midfield, then they could still be competitive. I still think Man Utd need to do as Arsenal did at the end of last season and ditch the crap bloating their squad.

[Hammersmith harrier]

He was photograped outside Carrington yesterday at about 9 o'clock, you really need to keep up to date, the BBC are rarely wrong in fairness anyway.

Lets all remember Diego Costa's £21.5m move to Liverpool last season? Now he's at Chelsea. So that turned out to be a load of bull. So you're telling me that deal was close as well? What about Vermaelen's transfer to Man United for £21m this summer? They were both close deals were they? Sort of proves my point. Although I do believe now that this deal is going to go through. But I was just making the point the BBC isn't always the most reliable source. But there are plenty of others that are reporting this transfer so I do think it will go through now.

The BBC reported that Liverpool had bid for Costa and that Man United had bid for Vermaelen, they however did not report that a deal had been agreed and that they were flying in for a medical and to sign a long term contract.

It's been well known since midday on Saturday that this deal was going through but having been proved wrong you're squirming and trying to make excuses.

[NickisBHAFC]

Warnock for Palace allegedly.

Lol.

[mystiroakey]

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Di Maria deal confirmed by Utd

FL doubts the source

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dwight Gayle scored for Palace already tonight

Honestly how does Chamalh get picked over this kid

[NickisBHAFC]

That's not a premiership match Olly.

[mystiroakey]

Hatrick Gayle.... Get in.

The lad has 7 goals in his last 3 competitive games (i don't think he played in the first two pl games, but I may be wrong)

[GSC]

Palace job between Steve Clarke and Neil Warnock.

[mystiroakey]

Great.......

[GSC]

Neither particularly inspired.

Warnock would pretty much be admitting we're preparing for Championship football next season.

[mystiroakey]

I'd rather Clarke. Warnock is a Holloway at this level.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Steve Clarke should only be a number 2 still I'd rather be managed by the ginger goblin than Warcock.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Its Warnock

[Duty281]

Bye, bye Palace.

What a crappy few weeks for them. From Pulis to Warnock, from safety to danger, and from the Premiership to the Championship.

[Breadvan]

Unlucky mysti....

[mystiroakey]

Feick,.......

Him again..



Our only chance is zaha.. man u give us Zaha and now......parish better be on the blower.

Playing players like zaha and Gayle week in week out may not keep us up but we may play some Half decent footy.

[Sam]

What a crappy few weeks for them. From Pulis to Warnock, from safety to danger, and from the Premiership to the Championship.

Agree with this, wouldn't say they are definitely going but I do feel they would have done alot better with Pulis.

[mystiroakey]

We are down . I have all ready faced it. SSN has found some crazy fans around selhurst that are happy about it. I can't see that being the majority decision .

Warnock is a brilliant champ manager. One of the best out there. But has he even managed a full season in the prem without being relegated or sacked?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He failed rather miserably at Leeds last time out

[The Special Juan]

QPR too.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Colin's back. What must be wrong for it to end up being him?

[mystiroakey]

I suppose most must think the job is to tough . So no one wants it and there stock will fall. Warnock gets another shot at the PL knowing if we go down we will keep him as he is a champ specialist..

[Mat]

Now I'm not the biggest Steve Clarke fan you'll find, but I'd love to know the reasons behind Palace picking Warnock over him.

[GSC]

Warnock will get you back up once they're relegated

[NickisBHAFC]

Warnock is an awful appointment we all know that. But depending on signings I'm not ruling out the scum yet.

[mystiroakey]

Croydon advertiser reporting we are about to sign Zaha..

[mystiroakey]

Confirmed by VP on twitter. We have him on loan and option to buy at any point during the season.

Get in..

There are issues with Warnock and punch.. Real shame on that score.. But well as much as I rate punch he is no wilf.. Punch will be sidelined.

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