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.

[Fernando]

Hull 1-0 West Ham - Abel Hernandez

Was a cracking save by McGregor a min a go.

[FootballLight]

Well, I'll tell you what, wasn't looking forward to the thriller tonight, but at least we have seen one bit of quality so far which surely means there HAS to be more to come from West Ham now if they are to get anything in this game now. This game will probably finish 1-0 now but if West Ham make it 1-1, its all to play for, if Hull make it 2-0, its game over, simple. It was a quality cross met with a firm header and it was perfectly placed, quality from some hard work. (But don't start saying that Abel Hernandez is the next big thing - especially after a good performance at home to WHU).

But the first goal has changed everything. That was a fine effort from Hernandez and was unlucky not to have his second on the night and Hull most likely 3 points. Jelavic unlucky to be in an offside position there. That would have sealed the game though. Well its half time now, Big Sam's got some talking to do at half time if WHU are to rally themselves up to get something from this game. I'm sure Steve Bruce knows that and will want 110% in the next half.

[Guest]

If Hernandez is firing off rockets like this next weekend, Pardew is gone

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Ahhh the fortunes of football. Denied barely at one end then let in a cracking header out of nothing at the other.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hull much the better team in the first half. West Ham continue to look turd under big sam.

Hernandez looks the real deal. I also really like the look of that Hull left back, the lad they signed from Dundee, he looks class!

[Fernando]

Hull 1-1 West Ham - Enner Valencia

Cracking goal

[NickisBHAFC]

WHAT A GOAL!!!!

Said Valencia will be one of the best summer signings. Not a bad shout.

[Fernando]

Hull 2-1 West Ham - Mo Diame

Well that's pathetic by Kouyate

[Fernando]

Hull 2-2 West Ham  - Diafra Sakho

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well this is an unexpected good game

Saw someone earlier on Twitter say how much like Villa, being away from a toxic home crowd might free west ham up more to be better on the road. He ain't wrong judging by this showing

[NickisBHAFC]

Mo Diame what a man!

Yeah i take back what i said earlier, this has been a class game!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

We were definitely the better side in both halves! Shoulda won but i'll take a point. Not sure our crowd is particularly toxic, they got a standing ovation after losing to Liverpool but the papers just talk about the booing after we scraped by 10 men Hull last year

[NickisBHAFC]

You thought you were the better team in the first half?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

We definitely were. It was pretty dull but we had the chances. They scored when they hadnt attacked in a while

[Fernando]

Jordan Henderson appointed Liverpool Vice Captain...

[Crimey]

Jordan Henderson appointed Liverpool Vice Captain...

Very good news. Future captain material for sure. Probably the only player in the team unlikely to ever be dropped right now, puts in a lot of effort and is learning from Gerrard a lot. He won't ever replace him but happy with that. One of the most vocal players on the pitch as well.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Hull vs West Ham tonight. #ThankYouSky

I thought it was a good game!

Power Valencia got on the ball for his goal.

[sirfredperry]

Watched only a few highlight clips on the Man U-QPR match but it was clear that United were playing, for the first time for a long time, with REAL PACE.
One of the things that struck me, particularly in the Champions League matches of the last couple of seasons, was how slowly Man U were operating.
OK, QPR were poor on Sunday and I was at WHL to see them lose 4-0 to Tottenham earlier in the season and they were poor there, too. But as has been said this win will give Man U great confidence.

[NickisBHAFC]

The best right back in British football signs a new deal at Villa.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Interesting that Kaboul got the Spurs captaincy

[Guest]

Absolute liability is Younes. Strange decision, but just shows there is no real leaders anywhere in that team.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Bit like Newcastle then?

[Guest]

Well, we've got Fabricio, who's not too bad, but he's declining now & still not sure he even wants to be playing for us. Siem De Jong would be a natural leader & is vice-captain but he's injured. Other than that, you could look at Tiote but not sure how vocal he is, he's just more of a physical presence. I'd rather have Steve Taylor back in the line-up, instead of day-dreaming Williamson. At least he's a geordie & will show some fight.

[Fernando]

Saw a story about Colo becoming manager of the Toon if Pardew got the boot apparently when he was banned he took a lot of the responsibility on.

Thought Spurs might of given it to Vertonghen tbh.

[mystiroakey]

who would want the job at the Toon though?

the manager has zero say on signings!

Ashley loves it as long as Newcastle stays up.. Pardew will stay, i just cant see anyone going into that environment that is better than Pardew.

You fans have got to see where the blame lies..

[mystiroakey]

The best right back in British football signs a new deal at Villa.

wow that's a shock- didn't realise they picked up ward!!!

[NickisBHAFC]

Interesting that Kaboul got the Spurs captaincy

Sums up how much of a mess spurs are these days really.

[westisbest]

Saw that re Hutton.

In fairness he has done well so far this season.
He can be very reckless though.

[Fernando]

Newcastle United winger Jonas Gutierrez has revealed he has been receiving treatment for testicular cancer in Argentina.

Jonas

[hampo17]

Very sad to hear Nando, I'm sure we're all wishing him the best.

[Guest]

Sad to hear. Hopefully he makes a full recovery & that Spider-man celebration can be enjoyed once more. Great servant to us, shame how it all ended for him with us. Good luck Jonas.

[NickisBHAFC]

Yeah sad news, hopefully the lad can make a speedy recovery.

[Fernando]

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has accused supporters of "mass hysteria" after his side's poor start to the Premier League season.

Pardew also says that heavy criticism from the fans is affecting players.
"This situation at the moment is almost like mass hysteria," said Pardew, 53.

The Magpies boss added he did not seek assurances on his future in a meeting with owner Mike Ashley following the 4-0 defeat at Southampton which left his side bottom of the league.

Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini writing in Saturday's programme
"We are football fans too, so we understand that things can get frustrating. But please, support the team for 90 minutes inside the stadium. We need your support."

[kingraf]

Think City are going to lose this weekend. A defeat and its one point in three... I know what people would be saying had it been Wenger.

[Liam]

Some real good, hard to call games this weekend!

City/Chelsea
Leicester/Utd
Swans/S'oton
Villa/Arsenal
West Ham/Liverpool

All very tight games that could go either way for me.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Think City are going to lose this weekend. A defeat and its one point in three... I know what people would be saying had it been Wenger.

Arsenal haven't won two of the last three league titles have they though Raf and for them poor starts to the season are the norm so are therefore a long term problem not a short term problem.

[kingraf]

Think City are going to lose this weekend. A defeat and its one point in three... I know what people would be saying had it been Wenger.

Arsenal haven't won two of the last three league titles have they though Raf and for them poor starts to the season are the norm so are therefore a long term problem not a short term problem.

I'm pretty sure United had won two of three when they had a poor start last season.

Anyway. Real questions about this City team. Toure seems the definition of ambivalent now that he got himself a plump retirement fund contract. I'm not actually sure Fernandinho is all that good. Agüero is class, but does he stay fit? Real question marks over this team

[Hammersmith harrier]

There's no real questions about that side, they'll click into gear at some point, it's too reactionary to jump on a team after four games when they have a strong recent history.

[GSC]

I'd sell Toure in January. Seems to have real issues motivating himself, would be 2 years from 3 hes underperformed now.

[Crimey]

I do think people overrated the City team to be fair. I think this is the weakest side they've had for a few years and the team is getting older without them making a big effort to replace their ageing stars like Toure. They've overly reliant on Kompany and Aguero who suffer from frequent injuries and while their replacements are decent, their squad is weak compared to Chelsea's. They've bought poorly recently, last summer they did great, but the summer before was poor and I'm not sure this summer can be considered a success. They lost Negredo who was actually pretty good and offered something different to their other forwards as well as being more reliable fitness wise without replacing him. 

I still think they'll be up there this year, but I do think it's fair to say City have done poorly at building a team that can really challenge at the top level of Europe. As a squad Chelsea are now much better and the big teams of Europe like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona have strengthened while Manchester City have remained relatively static. They need to spend money properly you feel again before they're going to be able to properly challenge, or at least spend their money better and sell better.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

I'd sell Toure in January. Seems to have real issues motivating himself, would be 2 years from 3 hes underperformed now.

I personally thought Toure dragged City over the finish line in the run in.

[mystiroakey]

I do think people overrated the City team to be fair. I think this is the weakest side they've had for a few years and the team is getting older without them making a big effort to replace their ageing stars like Toure. They've overly reliant on Kompany and Aguero who suffer from frequent injuries and while their replacements are decent, their squad is weak compared to Chelsea's. They've bought poorly recently, last summer they did great, but the summer before was poor and I'm not sure this summer can be considered a success. They lost Negredo who was actually pretty good and offered something different to their other forwards as well as being more reliable fitness wise without replacing him. 

I still think they'll be up there this year, but I do think it's fair to say City have done poorly at building a team that can really challenge at the top level of Europe. As a squad Chelsea are now much better and the big teams of Europe like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona have strengthened while Manchester City have remained relatively static. They need to spend money properly you feel again before they're going to be able to properly challenge, or at least spend their money better and sell better.

I think they have underperormd in the CL, a lot of that is due to there seedings. However they should have done better. But they couldn't improve this season due to FFP sanctions. I do agree with above that toured has to go.that money could have been used to strengthen. He is going one way only . but no I dont think the team is over rated . I think they still have the best squad in the PL.

[Hero]

Currently 4 games into the season, what's everyones predictions now on how the season will finish and have they changed since the start of the season?

For me as a Utd fan I'm feeling a lot more positive, yes we've probably still not addressed our defensive frailties but going forward we've got options that would scare the best teams in the world.

I reckon come the end of the season:

1. Chelsea (by a margin)
2. City
3. Utd
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Everton
7. Spurs
8. Villa
9. Southampton
Bottom three of West Brom, QPR and Palace

[mystiroakey]

I would agree with most of that bar your bottom 3.

Burnley are a shoe in to go Down. QPR and palace to stay up.

(I have to say palace to stay up..... Not sure if they will, but our attacking options in Gayle , zaha, punch and ballasie will get us counter goals)

Oh and Southampton to pip villa. But 9th or 10th spot for villa. Swansea in 8th to beat both.

[westisbest]

Despite our good start, think we finish around 10-12thish.
We came through a big test last saturday.
Today is another big one.
Then Chelsea, Man City, Everton.

If we can pick up points, maybe a win, then I think it will go a long way to seeing where we will end up.
But its the non 'big 6' teams we need to be taking points off. So far we have done that.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

One win over QPR and suddenly United are finishing above Arsenal/Liverpool, logic

[mystiroakey]

The top 7 are set for me. Not sure on the order. But the real fight is 8th spot and I think swansea have the quality to manage that.. Today's game will be telling. Dyer , Routledge and bonny are class players.

[GSC]

One win over QPR and suddenly United are finishing above Arsenal/Liverpool, logic

Can't disagree with this, lets see United beat somebody competent first

[hampo17]

Currently 4 games into the season, what's everyones predictions now on how the season will finish and have they changed since the start of the season?

For me as a Utd fan I'm feeling a lot more positive, yes we've probably still not addressed our defensive frailties but going forward we've got options that would scare the best teams in the world.

I reckon come the end of the season:

1. Chelsea (by a margin)
2. City
3. Utd
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Everton
7. Spurs
8. Villa
9. Southampton
Bottom three of West Brom, QPR and Palace

What have United shown though? Apart from beating a very average QPR side that based on that performance, would struggle to beat most Championship sides.

[Hero]

All the betting firms have Utd to finish higher than Liverpool/Arsenal.

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