We Go Again! The 2014/15 Premier League Thread

by The Special Juan Mon 20 Oct 2014, 2:49 pm

First topic message reminder :

Probably much easier to get motivated to play for AC Milan than QPR. But I agree with Crimey (for once Wink

), Taarabt should be fired for misconduct if this is true.

by compelling and rich Tue 21 Oct 2014, 7:35 pm

so we go throw and waste loads of money on defenders who aren't worth it and dont bother buying world class talent like di maria who improves our team massively?

by Soldier_Of_Fortune Wed 22 Oct 2014, 10:33 am

compelling and rich wrote:so we go throw and waste loads of money on defenders who aren't worth it and dont bother buying world class talent like di maria who improves our team massively?

So fickle.......Did you actually watch Man U against Leceister or West Brom?

by GSC Wed 22 Oct 2014, 10:35 am

Nah SoF.

A couple of teams overpaid for defenders, so obviously United had no choice but to sign a crappy defender for an inflated fee.

Which explains why they signed Rojo

by Fernando Wed 22 Oct 2014, 11:46 am

I just like the way Man Utd paid 30m for the Teletubby but wouldn't for Benatia or Hummels who were rumored around that price and Benatia moved for that.

by Ent Wed 22 Oct 2014, 2:18 pm

To bayern, not like he would have picked us with them interested.

Hummels not for sale and whilst he is one of the best around he isn't some saviour that people make out.

by Fernando Wed 22 Oct 2014, 2:29 pm

Bayern only picked up Benatia when Badstuber got injured you had 3 months to get it done Ent.

Hummels is better then all of your CB's. For 30m id try buy him out then a fat lad from Southampton

by mystiroakey Wed 22 Oct 2014, 2:42 pm

so i take it now that frank and Wayne are ageing- Shaw is going to get the fat tag....

OK that sounds reasonable Rolling Eyes

by Fernando Wed 22 Oct 2014, 3:00 pm

If he ever gets himself fit then he won't get called it simple as Mysti. If i pay £30m for a player the least you expect is them to be fit enough to play football after the summer break he played 1 game for England and we already out. It's not good enough for a professional footballer you know it, I know it and LVG knows it.

by Adam D Wed 22 Oct 2014, 4:37 pm

Why has no one never tried to buy Shawcross from Stoke?

He has been great for them in the centre of defence over the years and still fairly young.

by The Special Juan Wed 22 Oct 2014, 4:44 pm

I've always wondered that. I think he has an unjust reputation due to one awful tackle on Ramsey and ever since that clubs might look at him as a thug. He's not the best on the ball but I think for someone like Spurs/Everton/Utd he'd do very well. Another one is Ashley Williams - why has Brenda never tried to sign him?

by Guest Wed 22 Oct 2014, 5:03 pm

If they banished corners from the game Shawcross' worth would quadruple x 10.

Williams is vastly overrated also. Defenders in general ain't what they were, in this country anyway.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Wed 22 Oct 2014, 5:04 pm

Williams is toss

As for the Shaw unfit thing, seemed like a load of crap to me

by The Special Juan Wed 22 Oct 2014, 5:32 pm

Olly wrote:Williams is toss

As for the Shaw unfit thing, seemed like a load of crap to me

Still better than Lovren and probably at half the price.

by The Special Juan Wed 22 Oct 2014, 5:35 pm

FreekShow wrote:If they banished corners from the game Shawcross' worth would quadruple x 10.

Williams is vastly overrated also. Defenders in general ain't what they were, in this country anyway.

The standard of defender (or at least CB) is awful these days. As FBs have "improved" (I use that term loosely because they are good going forward but are questionable at the back), CBs have gotten worse. Gary Cahill, a solid CB, is one of the best about.

by Guest Wed 22 Oct 2014, 5:40 pm

Shaw isn't unfit, he's been involved since the end of September against West Ham & taking part in full training since. I believe over time he will improve & get better but he's not some kind of mind blowing left back, that we were all told to believe by the ridiculous media & some pundits last season. I was never blown away by him at Southampton, his stats weren't superior to that of Baines or Evra, so to see him struggling is no real surprise.

by compelling and rich Wed 22 Oct 2014, 7:16 pm

shaw was bought for his potential to judge him now and right him off you'd have to be a moron

by Hammersmith harrier Wed 22 Oct 2014, 7:27 pm

It's far too early to judge our new players, Vidic was shocking in his first six months for the club and he didn't turn out to be a bad defender did he so to label Rojo one after 4 games is pathetic. Lets give the players a chance to prove themselves a bit first shall we.

by Stella Wed 22 Oct 2014, 7:29 pm

LiamB wrote:Shaw isn't unfit, he's been involved since the end of September against West Ham & taking part in full training since. I believe over time he will improve & get better but he's not some kind of mind blowing left back, that we were all told to believe by the ridiculous media & some pundits last season. I was never blown away by him at Southampton, his stats weren't superior to that of Baines or Evra, so to see him struggling is no real surprise.

Shaw is not known for getting forward all that well. He's a good defender though.

by **Crimey** Thu 23 Oct 2014, 12:11 pm

Football is a game of innovation and then counter-innovation, currently we're in a period of great attacking innovation. We've seen the introduction of the false 9, the pace of the game has increased a lot, full backs have become quasi-wingers, the back three is becoming more popular, even playing two strikers is making a come back. It will take a while for defensive innovation, the counter-innovation to catch up and then defenders will begin to look good again.

by Guest Thu 23 Oct 2014, 12:19 pm

Crimey wrote:Football is a game of innovation and then counter-innovation, currently we're in a period of great attacking innovation. We've seen the introduction of the false 9, the pace of the game has increased a lot, full backs have become quasi-wingers, the back three is becoming more popular, even playing two strikers is making a come back. It will take a while for defensive innovation, the counter-innovation to catch up and then defenders will begin to look good again.

Can't come soon enough for Liverpool. We were shocking (again) last night. Only thing more embarrassing would have been if Madrid chipped up in the second half only fielding seven players to give us a chance!

Still, Balotelli to score twice at the weekend and all to be forgiven especially when everyone wants to swap shirts with him, including the referee!!!!!!!!!!

by Fernando Thu 23 Oct 2014, 8:47 pm

And the Balotelli side show continues picard

Police are investigating a claim that Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli "threatened" a woman who was taking pictures of his Ferrari.

Greater Manchester Police were called at 15:05 BST on Thursday by a resident in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester.

It is understood the woman alleges that the 24-year-old moved towards her daughter, who was taking a picture of the red sports car, which was parked on the pavement.

by Gerry SA Thu 23 Oct 2014, 9:39 pm

Former Barcelona goalkeeper, and free agent, Victor Valdes had been given permission by Louis van Gaal to train with Manchester United as Valdes nears full recovery from his ACL injury. Provided Valdes passes a medical he will join United in January.

Would love to see Brendan Rodgers' face right about now. Valdes was someone he wanted to replace the hopeless Simon Mignolet.

by The Special Juan Thu 23 Oct 2014, 10:36 pm

Uh I hope not. Overrated goalie.

by Gerry SA Thu 23 Oct 2014, 10:43 pm

The Special Juan wrote:Uh I hope not. Overrated goalie.

600+ appearances for Barcelona. I'd love to be that 'overrated'...

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu 23 Oct 2014, 11:09 pm

Look at Casillas. Sometimes the peak precedes one hell of a nosedive

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 24 Oct 2014, 7:13 am

Valdes was never really that good, he was ok

by Hammersmith harrier Fri 24 Oct 2014, 7:14 am

Valdes is an average goalie Gerry, like a few players benefitted from Barcelona having a monopoly on possession.

by westisbest Fri 24 Oct 2014, 8:20 pm

He was no Mark Bosnich

by Guest Fri 24 Oct 2014, 10:20 pm

mysti, what's this news about Palace being bought by an American Businessman, Josh Harris?

by Fernando Fri 24 Oct 2014, 10:54 pm

It's good news for Palace if that's true he's worth about 2.5bn. That being said he owns a Basketball & Ice Hockey team. Failed to buy Villa once i believe.

by LastDamnation Fri 24 Oct 2014, 10:57 pm

Gerry SA wrote:Former Barcelona goalkeeper, and free agent, Victor Valdes had been given permission by Louis van Gaal to train with Manchester United as Valdes nears full recovery from his ACL injury. Provided Valdes passes a medical he will join United in January.

Would love to see Brendan Rodgers' face right about now. Valdes was someone he wanted to replace the hopeless Simon Mignolet.

Why January? He's a free agent

by Ent Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:19 am

Hope he isn't fit, he's tosh.

by Guest Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:25 am

He's not tosh, but he's not top quality either, as some of his comical errors in El clasico's down the years prove. You basically need a new no.2 when Lindegaard leaves in Janaury anyway, so to sign Valdes on a free, would be a god bit of business. Having some good competition for De Gea is pretty important, in order to keep his performance level at its highest possible.

by Ent Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:27 am

His wages are likely to be high enough, plus can't see him being happy to be a number 2.

Add to that and he isn't any good and well it strikes me as a silly signing.

by GSC Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:33 am

Valdes is a fine keeper, even if he isn't the best in the world.

The part about #2 is irrelevant, he'll sign a short term deal with a view to recovering his fitness at United after a nasty injury. You can do a lot worse than Valdes as backup, and I suspect as insurance if/when Madrid come calling for De Gea.

by kingraf Sat 25 Oct 2014, 11:55 am

Valdes is decent, but come on, it's signing him is not god business Smile

by TRUSSMAN66 Sat 25 Oct 2014, 1:16 pm

I cannot believe you can spend 300 million plus and defend like City............

Keep ten men behind the ball soak up the pressure and then ask those kindly defenders of City to let you come up their end and score every now and then............They always are so happy to oblige...

City need to play 5 in midfield make sure they get the 0 and stink places out like Mourinho.. 1-0 is more than enough..

Too naive.......and it's getting stupid......

Get a decent left back and a Manager that can organise..

by kingraf Sat 25 Oct 2014, 1:18 pm

To be fair, I don't ever remember your club being able to defend.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 25 Oct 2014, 1:56 pm

Stewart downing in missing sitter shocker

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:12 pm

Who's have thought playing your best player in his best position would improve your performance? #silva

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:14 pm

Good game this

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:20 pm

What an absolutely outrageous goal by silva

by Guest Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:38 pm

If Chelsea win tomorrow, start engraving the trophy.

by Liam Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:48 pm

Great result for West Ham. The new attacking signings with the resurgence of Downing in the cam role has really given them a new dimension this year. Fantastic performance.

City looking poor atm. Toure is a passenger and doesn't want to know. Milner should be starting over him. Silva needs to be more central. He's wasted on the wing. Mangala is looking very edgy. Not writing him off, he's realatively young and is adapting to the league but for the amount of money city paid for him, he needs to start performing soon.

by Guest Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:52 pm

John wrote:If Chelsea win tomorrow, start engraving the trophy.

Was just saying this. It's gonna be about how many points they win it by.

by Liam Sat 25 Oct 2014, 2:54 pm

Fancy both Sunderland and Hull to get draws today

by kingraf Sat 25 Oct 2014, 3:01 pm

I keep saying this - Southampton really are the second best team in England. What odds are running for them to finish top four?

by Guest Sat 25 Oct 2014, 3:06 pm

kingraf wrote:I keep saying this - Southampton really are the second best team in England. What odds are running for them to finish top four?

I reserve judgement on Southampton until I've seen them come through December, that's when it matters. They face Man City (h), Arsenal (a), Man U (h), Everton (h), Chelsea (h), Arsenal (h), Man U (a) all within a six week period. Good Luck.

by Guest Sat 25 Oct 2014, 3:08 pm

Can't get the odds up now Rafa but I'd imagine 6/1 at least. Still a big ask.

Just seen 8/1 with BetVictor.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sat 25 Oct 2014, 3:11 pm

We were incredible today, absolutely brilliant again. Deserved all three points. Song better than most central midfielders in the league, Noble not being in the England squad looking more laughable by the game. Sakho and Valencia scare every defence. Downing very good again too, don't remember him missing a sitter. Header wasnt the easiest of chances by any means, standard Downing slating in general.

God, if only we'd got rid of that dinosaur Allardyce eh Nick?

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