We Go Again! The 2014/15 Premier League Thread

by kingraf Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:42 am

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

by Guest Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:25 pm

Ent wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I loved Henry the pundit, guy just oozes class.

Style over substance. Has a french accent, has never said anything interesting.

Should be a shoe-in to replace David Ginola on TalkSport then.

Sounds like another f*ck-up from Sky getting a "legend" in for punditry. Paul Scholes has been a roaring success hasn't he? Love the chemistry between Carragher and Neville, they never seem more than one wrong word away from a fight but, Henry? Seriously? Can't question his footballing ability but for the money SKY are paying him, he better be doing twice the work of Neville and Carragher and reading the news on Sky Sports HQ in between

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:43 pm

Ent wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I loved Henry the pundit, guy just oozes class.

Style over substance. Has a french accent, has never said anything interesting.

Hes actually very interesting to listen to but the English being as we are take a pause and a break in speech to mean idiocy. Forgetting that this is a French guy who speaks fluent English but also considers his words. I found him fascinating during the World Cup, he doesnt make bland points as often as others and doesnt suffer nonsense. The guy was as intelligent a footballer as they come. A good addition to Sky considering their main pundits are no nonsense defenders, or Jamie Redknapp who was never that good and has always been an idiot.

But then people dont like Phil Neville and I think hes a fascinating pundit who makes very good points, just not a co-commentator.

by Ent Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:40 pm

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:
Ent wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I loved Henry the pundit, guy just oozes class.

Style over substance. Has a french accent, has never said anything interesting.

Hes actually very interesting to listen to but the English being as we are take a pause and a break in speech to mean idiocy. Forgetting that this is a French guy who speaks fluent English but also considers his words. I found him fascinating during the World Cup, he doesnt make bland points as often as others and doesnt suffer nonsense. The guy was as intelligent a footballer as they come. A good addition to Sky considering their main pundits are no nonsense defenders, or Jamie Redknapp who was never that good and has always been an idiot.

But then people dont like Phil Neville and I think hes a fascinating pundit who makes very good points, just not a co-commentator.

He's never made an interesting point, or any point really.

"So Thierry what did you make of that goal?"

"Uh, ah, ooo, it was a, mmmmm, yes" sigh "very uh le haw haw, good uh..... Goal"

He's one of the worst I've ever heard, no insight, no analysis, nothing.

by Guest Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:41 pm

Not sure it's a good addition for Sky, paying him £20m & three times the salary of Gary Neville, who lets face it, is running the show & very popular. Not sure how he's fascinating to listen to either, during the World Cup people were more interested in what he was wearing, instead of the stuff being mumbled out of his mouth. Fantastic player, but just doesn't suit being a pundit for me at all. See how it pans out, but not sure he'll be a raving success.

by Liam Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:40 pm

Suppose there were allot of similar reservations about Neville and he's the best pundit out there atm. Happy to give him time, he's an intelligent man so i'm sure he has some intelligent views to give. Suppose they had to pay him more as he may have had other plans they had to convince him to put on hold.

by Stella Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:50 pm

I can't see Henry being to critical, especially of a certain French manager. Bring back Andy Gray.

by Duty281 Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:51 pm

Who cares what Thierry has to say?

Just listen to that accent. Drool

by compelling and rich Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:11 pm

really don't see the fuss with henry as a pundit, seems he's just a little man crush for strange lads who pawn over him for being "cool", when in fact he just mumbles half the time

if it aint broke, at the moment sky pundits are not too bad. could easily get rid of the likes of souness etc but the main pundits are not too bad and certainly dont need henry who inputted nothing during the world cup other than sitting on fence the whole time

by GSC Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:20 pm

Gary Neville was some guy nobody except United fans liked with a weird moustache before his Sky stint.

by compelling and rich Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:26 pm

GSC wrote:Gary Neville was some guy nobody except United fans liked with a weird moustache before his Sky stint.

maybe to the ignorant, but he was england's best right back, also a england coach and had always come across well and knowledgeable in any interview he had done previously. good choice for a pundit as it proves

henry is just style over substance

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:46 pm

Or Henry is a man who has played in bigger games than any of the pundits they currently have, has attacking insight that no one but Dwight bloody Yorke offers at the moment, is charismatic and extremely interesting whilst also being smart and not obsessed with the fall of English football and the north of ruddy England being some dynasty in football.

I find the comments about his mumbles hilarious. HOW DARE A FRENCHMAN HAVE AN ACCENT AND NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AT SCOUSE PACE

by GSC Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:04 am

Ironically I find Henry easier to understand than Carragher.

by GSC Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:05 am

compelling and rich wrote:
GSC wrote:Gary Neville was some guy nobody except United fans liked with a weird moustache before his Sky stint.

maybe to the ignorant, but he was england's best right back, also a england coach and had always come across well and knowledgeable in any interview he had done previously. good choice for a pundit as it proves

henry is just style over substance

And there you have it

by GSC Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:06 am

And for all the style over substance, welcome to television. Nobody gave a toss about Phil Neville's substance when he droned on.

by compelling and rich Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:10 am

phil neville has neither style or substance

by GSC Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:20 am

I disagree, seemed pretty knowledgeable, always came across as such during a long career at the top, has coaching experience with United. Aside from the RB thing (and lets be honest, what other RBs did England produce, as a FB he was never near Ashley Cole in standard), there was little difference between his and Garys reputation pre Sky. Phil was probably more liked. He just doesn't have the requisite charisma for television

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:49 am

Phil was a brilliant pundit in terms of substance, he just doesnt have the voice for co-commentary. I find his articles on BBC to be far and away the best of their pundits too.

by NickisBHAFC Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:57 am

If people think Gary Neville and Jamie Charagger are bad pundits, there 100% watching the wrong sport and football isn't for them!

by GSC Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:03 am

NickisBHAFC wrote:If people think Gary Neville and Jamie Charagger are bad pundits, there 100% watching the wrong sport and football isn't for them!

I'm confused as to where anyone said that. Maybe you're 100% reading the wrong site.

Also lol at Charagger

by Ent Thu Dec 18, 2014 4:44 am

Carragher isn't great, Sky were just trying to replicate the success they had with Neville.

Neville was always very honest in interviews and was decent iirc when he did WC 2002 whilst out injured.

Henry, well he is just crap - I'm sure his World Cup footage is available if anyone wants to hear him say nothing at all in a french accent.

by **Crimey** Thu Dec 18, 2014 5:00 am

Newcastle United apparently looking for an emergency loan for the derby as all three first team keepers are injured, next in line is a 17 year old. Manchester City got one a couple of years ago so can't imagine they will be denied.

Think Carragher is alright, obviously not at the same level of Neville who has a few years of experience ahead of him and he's not as slick in terms of presenting but definitely think he often makes really good points and does read the game very well.

Football for me has never been better for pundits, more and more are eloquent and intelligent whilst also having insight into the modern game which has been missing for the last few years. The likes of Alan Hansen and Andy Gray were good but over time their experiences became less and less relevant whilst somebody like Jamie Redknapp is just too thick to be taken seriously. Now you've got the likes of Kevin Kilbane, Danny Murphy, Didi Hamann, Gary and Phil Neville, Jamie Carragher even somebody like Alan Shearer is a good pundit for me.

by Mad for Chelsea Thu Dec 18, 2014 5:03 am

I like Gary Neville, he's knowledgeable, informative, fairly articulate and doesn't feel the need to be constantly talking.

Wenger used to do the odd French game on French TV, and he was pretty good too, if anything a bit too understated (would have liked to have heard more from him and less from his usually idiotic co-commentators).

One guy I can't stand (again on French TV) is Désailly. Has this really annoying voice, only ever speaks boring platitudes, but constantly, and has this annoying habit when commentating Chelsea of refering to JT as "John" (but with a thick accent). Eugh!

by Duty281 Thu Dec 18, 2014 5:33 am

NickisBHAFC wrote:If people think Gary Neville and Jamie Charagger are bad pundits, there 100% watching the wrong sport and football isn't for them!

So football should just be a case of nod your head to the popular pundit of the day and go along with the crowd?

Interesting.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:38 am

To be fair, I think the majority of pundits across all channels would look good if they had the platform and time to do analysis like Sky give Neville and Carragher. Its unfair to compare the hour of talking Neville gets to the 5 mins combined that Shearer gets on MOTD.

Hansen opened up the game. He was the master, I think him and Neville being on the same show with some good time would be absolutely fascinating. Lawro will still always be my favourite because hes hilarious and clearly doesnt give a sh*t what people think of him

by Stella Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:41 am

I enjoyed listening to Benitez, who done some punditry, on I think a CL game once.

by GSC Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:24 pm

Hansen was terrible towards the end

by westisbest Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:30 pm

NickisBHAFC wrote:If people think Gary Neville and Jamie Charagger are bad pundits, there 100% watching the wrong sport and football isn't for them!

Or maybe they just have different opinions to you.

I think they are both decent.

by westisbest Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:21 pm

Made me laugh, Cleverly is serving a one game ban this weekend against Utd. He cant play against them anyway.

by MIG Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:59 pm

I don't watch the punditry. I always fast forward in between matches on MOTD and turn off after the final whistle on Sky.
I've never understood the need to be told what happened in a match that I just witnessed myself.

by Duty281 Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:12 pm

MIG wrote:I don't watch the punditry. I always fast forward in between matches on MOTD and turn off after the final whistle on Sky.
I've never understood the need to be told what happened in a match that I just witnessed myself.

Hear, hear.

by westisbest Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:33 pm

Duty281 wrote:
MIG wrote:I don't watch the punditry. I always fast forward in between matches on MOTD and turn off after the final whistle on Sky.
I've never understood the need to be told what happened in a match that I just witnessed myself.

Hear, hear.

That is a good point.

I normally fast forward in between games on MOTD, mainly because I'm not a fan of Lineker, Shearer, Savage.

Also on the football league show when Claridge is on, dear me he is so boring.

by Ent Thu Dec 18, 2014 4:07 pm

MIG wrote:I don't watch the punditry. I always fast forward in between matches on MOTD and turn off after the final whistle on Sky.
I've never understood the need to be told what happened in a match that I just witnessed myself.

A good pundit will offer insight and analysis of the tactics. Sometimes they offer a fresh view on things and point out something you hadn't noticed before and some people enjoy that. This is why Neville is so popular.

I like seeing the replays of incidents at various speeds and angles.

The sky platform does allow people to excel at punditry.

Hansen became a bit of a parody of himself at the end but in the 90s he was the top man.

by Guest Thu Dec 18, 2014 4:09 pm

We want Al habsi for this weekend, Alnwick was just terrible on all levels & I'm glad he got injured.

by Guest Thu Dec 18, 2014 4:31 pm

You could always ask to borrow Mignolet...we'll draft in Ray Clemence.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:21 pm

MIG wrote:I don't watch the punditry. I always fast forward in between matches on MOTD and turn off after the final whistle on Sky.
I've never understood the need to be told what happened in a match that I just witnessed myself.

Thats generally the difference between good punditry and bad. If they are just showing you what youve seen and basically commentating on it then its worthless, if they are adding to it and analysing then it works. Why Neville is popular, he shows you why things happened rather than just that they happened

by Fernando Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:06 am

Super Mario banned for 1 game over his twitter post which could be construed as racist by many.

Rio Ferdinand was banned for 3 games for calling someone's mom a sket

by 1GrumpyGolfer Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:13 am

westisbest wrote:Made me laugh, Cleverly is serving a one game ban this weekend against Utd. He cant play against them anyway.

That's good planning from Cleverly and Villa. Gets his ban out of the way without impacting the availability of the matchday squad.

by Fernando Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:17 am

Hypothetical Question for the scousers...

1) Would you sack Brenda
2) Who would you want him to be replaced by
3) Brenda or Rafa?

by westisbest Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:17 pm

So, Utd visit Villa Park tomorrow.
The last time we beat them at home was 1995.

Ya, fills me with alot of confidence for a home win.

A draw even would be great, but I think the trend will continue.
If we are to lose, as long as we play well and give it the 100, then its not so bad.

Dont want it to be a hammering.

by GSC Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:51 pm

Benitez would be a step back. He rarely showed signs of cracking the PL.

Don't like the guy but too early to dispense with Rodgers. Their transfer policy needs an overhaul, staggering amounts spent on relatively little

by Guest Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:05 pm

westisbest wrote:So, Utd visit Villa Park tomorrow.
The last time we beat them at home was 1995.

Ya, fills me with alot of confidence for a home win.

A draw even would be great, but I think the trend will continue.
If we are to lose, as long as we play well and give it the 100, then its not so bad.

Dont want it to be a hammering.

That was our opinion given our current form and Rodgers still got slated despite us playing better than Utd but without the ability to put the chances away

by Guest Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:05 pm

GSC wrote:Benitez would be a step back. He rarely showed signs of cracking the PL.

Except the time in 2009, when his Liverpool side nearly won the league. Anyway, who did look like cracking the PL in the Ferguson era, Benitez did a cracking job & certainly knows how to set up a team & conquer European competition. Benitez wouldn't be a step back in my opinion, but I doubt to would happen.

by GSC Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:18 pm

Yeah, if you squint you can just make out the word rarely

by Fernando Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:32 pm

Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo is set to leave the club on loan during the January transfer window.

The 21-year-old France youth international joined as a free agent in 2013 after his contract expired at French side Auxerre.
But he has scored only one goal in 19 appearances, eight of them starts.

Sanogo is likely to be sent to another Premier League club rather than moving overseas.

Got Mike Ashley written all over it sell Cisse(Wasn't he supposed to be going due to his lack of form before start of season and now he has 3 goals in a few games so could be fun that...) and loan in Sanogo Laugh

by Guest Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:17 pm

F*** off are we having that piece of garbage Sanogo, but with Cisse heading to the ACON's, no doubt Sanogo will be heading our way. Absymal signing if that happens. Hopefully De Jong returns sooner rather than later.

by **Crimey** Fri Dec 19, 2014 9:58 pm

I wouldn't sack Rodgers, I don't think sacking him now would help, I think all it would take is a few good wins on the trot and his self-doubt would be reduced and he won't look as lost. He is a very young manager who has had a lot of success and I imagine this has hit him hard, but think sticking by him is the best. He obviously does have some good ideas, but he needs to be less stubborn and also less worried about what is being said about him.

I think bringing back Rafa would tarnish his original run and I'm not sure it would be a good thing despite how much I like him. I know he would sort out the defence and he might do a little better with better owners in place but think have to look forward rather than backwards. I don't think there is an available manager right now who I would replace Rodgers with, Klopp's stock has got to be seriously down right now, he's been even worse than Rodgers' this year after losing a star striker and Lewandowski is not even close to Suarez in terms of talent and how much the team was structured around him.

I think the main things that needs to change right now are Rodgers needs to appoint a coach to work on the defence, he needs to buy a commanding goalkeeper not another central defender. Then the whole recruitment process has got to be changed, the transfer by committee thing is not working at all and while I wouldn't necessarily give Rodgers all the power I definitely think less people might be better.

by **hampo17** Sat Dec 20, 2014 2:42 pm

Raheem Sterling has won the Golden Boy award this year, had a great season last year. Anyone think someone else should have won it?

by Guest Sat Dec 20, 2014 3:14 pm

Liverpool hope he doesn't follow in the same direction as Anderson or Alexander Pato after winning that award.

As for the other nominees, not really anyone that stood out for me, as much as Raheem did this year.

by lfc91 Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:21 pm

Or the other previous winner at Liverpool john...

by **Crimey** Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:34 pm

Looks like Milner will actually start up top today for City, people were joking about that beforehand, don't think he has the pace or movement to make a good false 9. I wonder if it will actually be Silva is much more suited to that kind of role.

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