We Go Again! The 2014/15 Premier League Thread

[kingraf]

First topic message reminder :

You're both quite awful, but I wouldn't rule anybody out of anything yet. Liverpool are THIRTEENTH and they are just five points off a CL spot (although, they might give up on it this year, so they can make a run for it next year). The teams are just all so close this season, u don't think it would have even cleared up by Christmas (except Chelsea winning the league, they should be coronated by then). Citeh are basically trying the Suárez trick with Agüero, and while it's working at the moment, I'd say with his injury track record, the one with the thunder thighs is not someone you want to base your entire season around. If Agüero's out, Citeh struggle (hell, with Agüero in they've made heavy weather). I'd back both Utd and Arsenal to make it, but If Southampton can make it out of December still top five, I think it begins to get interesting

[Dolphin Ziggler]

No one fancy discussing the Premier League plan for Friday night matches?

[Guest]

Sissoko and Krul are misses, the rest are a bit meh

Clearly you haven't watched us since the turnaround, but then you don't support us, so you wouldn't of seen the reasons behind it. Taylor has been brilliant, when he's started, we haven't lost in like the six games he's started since replacing Williamson. The one games he didn't start was at WHU, where we losthe didn't start. Abeid was man of the match vs Liverpool & is the long term successor to Tiote. Aaron's is one of our brightest English talents, ripped apart a number of teams, scored & helped knock out a near full strength City side in the League Cup. Clearly just 'meh' for us? Also, De Jong was Ajax captain, technically a very good player, but has been injured & therefore people haven't seen his true ability as of yet.

Arsenal can moan about injuries, but 50% of their injuries are to average players like Arteta, Rosicky, Szczeny & Monreal types.

[Guest]

I was there for WBA/Newcastle game, Abeid looked great in the middle & your right he was dominant vs Liverpool. Think people need to understand how important these lesser known players have been to Newcastle over the recent period. You can't lable them 'meh' because they aren't big name players. Taylor might not have a brain, but he can defend, that's for sure.

As for Friday night games, it was inevitable at some point. Too much demand, too much competition for TV rights to showcase games, so expanding to Friday was eventually going to happen. I like the idea, would kick off the weekend

[Dolphin Ziggler]

De Jong is yet to have any impact though so its hard to say if hes a miss or not. Taylor is fine, but hes no Colo and is an average defender. Aarons has been decent but isnt particularly likely to start and it seems a couple moments have made him a big deal, not like Toon fans to overreact though. Abeid is decent but not pivotal to Newcastle.

So yeah, I stand by it. The injury list is pretty much not comparable to Arsenal's

[Guest]

szczeny - average, not missed, arteta - terrible, not missed, monreal, shambolic, not missed, diaby - average, never fit until he needs a new contract, not missed, chambers, woeful & card happy, not missed, rosicky, basically a B player, not missed, ozil, anonymous in the PL, not missed.

out of all those injuries they keep banging on about, only ramsey, koscielny & wilshere would be actually missed, that's 3.

[kingraf]

If any of the PL managers thought they had injury issues, they should take a peak at my fantasy football squad... Should be giving an U13 a start just now.
#InBojanITrust
#makeshiftDefence

[Dolphin Ziggler]

szczeny - average, not missed, arteta - terrible, not missed, monreal, shambolic, not missed, diaby - average, never fit until he needs a new contract, not missed, chambers, woeful & card happy, not missed, rosicky, basically a B player, not missed, ozil, anonymous in the PL, not missed.

out of all those injuries they keep banging on about, only ramsey, koscielny & wilshere would be actually missed, that's 3.

Diaby is pretty much Taylor, both are only at their clubs for medical testing.

The thing is that they have first teamers out and then their back ups out. Debuchy will be centre back, Flamini has to start as there are no alternatives. I'd suggest Arsenal probably feel Ozil and Walcott's absences more than you think.

I stand by it, the only two important ones are Sissoko and Krul

[Guest]

a fair majority of Arsenal's injuries to those B players doesn't actually weaken them , they just get added to the pot, to enhance the list. I see them seeing off Newcastle quite comfortably because of the squad strength.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Adam Johnson is a diving Tinkywinky!

[Guest]

Fat Frank doing what he does best

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Altidore has just missed a chance only Altidore could miss

[kingraf]

Well well well Lampard. Quite the Indian summer it's becoming.

[Fernando]

So Willian on a yellow dives no card
Gary Cahill on a yellow dives no car
Diego Costa dives not a on yellow gets booked

#BigTeamDecisions

[Fernando]

To add insult to injury Tom Huddlestone just been sent off for Hull.

[NickisBHAFC]

Frank Lampard scoring again. What a player! Of course the haters will still hate!

[Guest]

All going pear shaped for Hull, can see Bruce being sacked over Xmas. Huddlestone three game ban, Ben Arfa's booked a one way trip to France & Hull are in the bottom 3.

[Fernando]

Gotta feel sorry for Brucey today. The Ref is having a mare might aswell just put a Chelsea shirt on him and get it done with.

[NickisBHAFC]

Hull would be stupid to get rid of Bruce.

[kingraf]

Think it's time to accept maybe Mourinho utilised Lampard wrongly last season. Might have cost them the league as well.

[Fernando]

Chelsea 2-0 Hull City - Diego Costa 

[kingraf]

Two goals separating him from Agüero.

[Guest]

the end of southampton, good while it lasted

[NickisBHAFC]

Ashley Barnes scoring in the Premiership. I'm not hurt.

[Fernando]

[NickisBHAFC]

The photo I was looking for! Kompany now of injured for city.

[Fernando]

Arsneal XI - Szczesny, Bellerin, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Welbeck, Giroud
Bench
Martinez, Ajayi, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Campbell, Podolski, Sanogo

Newcastle Team
Alnwick; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini (c), Dummett; Tiote, Colback; Gouffran, Perez, Ameobi; Cisse
Bench
Woodman, Haidara, Anita, Vuckic, Cabella, Armstrong, Riviere

[Guest]

Hardly a weak Arsenal side

Eventful day, status quo at the top, Southampton have just blown up, they will fall like a stone now, especially given the xmas fixtures. Cracking win for Burnley, heaps more pressure on Bruce.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Decent enough point, we were the better team but reasonably fair result. Alex Song is world class, possibly the best player I've seen in a West Ham shirt. With Saints losing we're nicely set in that top four. Can't go below Liverpool before Christmas, thats just incredible to say

[kingraf]

This is the most enjoyable fixture of the Premier league. It's guaranteed to drive john crazy

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

The mighty clarets march towards mid table continues #dychefortheballondor

[Guest]

Typical Giroud to score against us. Williamson & Alnwick are awful & counter attacking football won't work if we dont have the penetration from Sissoko. This is a free hit anyway this game, more interested in the league cup Qf next week

[FootballLight]

It's fair to say that Newcastle have been well in this game so far. I know they are still 1-0 down but they've had a couple of decent chances and have looked fairly solid when in possession. Sammy Ameobi looks particularly threatening against Bellion so it could be quite interesting.

The penetration isn't there with Sissoko but as long as you can scrap a chance in the box, I'd put good money on Cisse to grab a goal if the ball finds him. That's surely got to be Newcastle's main aim. Scrap a chance for Cisse in the box or put Arsenal's poor set piece plays to an advantage.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Newcastle's aim is to create a chance for their striker in the box?

Well who'd have thunk it

[FootballLight]

I don't know anyone who would "thunk" it if I'm honest.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Sunderland getting a ridiculous number of draws.... 10 out of 16 played.

[Hero]

Reckon Giroud turns it on specifically for John.

[Guest]

Stoke - lost - Williamson played
Leicester - win - Williamson didn't play
Tottenham - win - Williamson didn't play
Liverpool - win - Williamson didn't play
West brom - win - Williamson didn't play (Sub app)
west ham - lost - Williamson played
Burnley - drew - Williamson played
Chelsea - win - Williamson didn't play
Arsenal - lost - Williamson played

Quite a theme. Alnwick until January fills me with confidence too...NOT!

[Hammersmith harrier]

A team the size of Newcastle is always going to struggle more with a long list of injuries than a team like Arsenal, it's futile trying to suggest otherwise.

It's seems like it's a yearly theme that as soon as Arsenal get some injuries it's a big deal, it's far from ideal but the top 5/6 have such big squads they should just get on with it and stop complaining.

[Guest]

lol at that record with Mike Williamson in the team

[Guest]

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been named Barclays Manager of the Month

Great to see Pardew win this award, now for the inevitable thrashing at the Emirates.

[Fernando]

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been named Barclays Manager of the Month

Great to see Pardew win this award, now for the inevitable thrashing at the Emirates.

Tbf i think everyone knew Santi was going to score at some point. Just so then the papers can make cringeworthy Santi Claus headlines really

[socal1976]

Giroud 6 goals in 5 games against Newcastle, John I think he must be a 606v2 reader. There is a god and he has a sense of humor.

[Fernando]

Plot Twist: SoCal is Giroud

Predictions for Manure vs Liverfool - Manure should win but i have a good feeling about the Scousers today and this worries me

[socal1976]

Fernando, I am as good looking as Giroud but with more pace. John is a good guy it is just too ironic that Giroud's best goal scoring mark against any team is his 606v2 nemesis's favorite squad.

[Fernando]

United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Evans, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, van Persie, Wilson

United subs vs Liverpool: Lindegaard, McNair, Blackett, Herrera, Fletcher, Januzaj, Falcao

LFC XI to face Manchester United: Jones, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson, Moreno, Henderson, Allen, Gerrard, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling

#LFC substitutes: Mignolet, Toure, Lambert, Lucas, Can, Balotelli, Markovic.

[Crimey]

As bad as Mignolet has been, don't think he should be dropped until a better replacement than Jones had been found. No idea why Lovren has been put back into the squad when Toure has actually been playing well. At least the bench has more attacking threat than it has done in the last few games. Glad Sterling as a false nine is being tried out, expecting to play on the counter in this game and try and hit them with the pace of Moreno, Coutinho, Sterling.

[kingraf]

Liverpool could win this you know?

[Crimey]

Both teams are vulnerable at the back, it depends who is the most fired up I think. Valencia and Young are the weak spots for United, testing Brad Jones and Lovren as well as a lack of cover from Lucas is Liverpool's.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Jones is an awful, awful keeper.

United appear to have gone with the Kevin Keegan school of Premier League tactical play. "F*ck it, we can't defend anyway, lets just play all our strikers"

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I am gonna guess at this point that Carrick is part of a back 5 and Rooney is in midfield

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