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

[compelling and rich]

is it just me or does sammy ameobi just run out of play with the ball all the time

[Guest]

Watching Alnwick is unbearable

[Stella]

Watching Alnwick is unbearable

Got lucky with the corner.

Forgive my ignorance, but what was the round of applause for? It came in the 34th minute, if that helps.

[compelling and rich]

Watching Alnwick is unbearable

Got lucky with the corner.

Forgive my ignorance, but what was the round of applause for? It came in the 34th minute, if that helps.

was it not for those couple of fans who died?

[Stella]

Watching Alnwick is unbearable

Got lucky with the corner.

Forgive my ignorance, but what was the round of applause for? It came in the 34th minute, if that helps.

was it not for those couple of fans who died?

May have been, yes.

[Guest]

Woeful first half. Too nervous, keeper doesn't bring confidence to the team. Ameobi diabolical & Gouffran dreadful. Awful stuff.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Alnwick is doing better than most the toon team, Ameobi is awful just awful

[Guest]

That's why Taylor plays, unbelievable commitment.

Please no williamson

[Guest]

Fully deserved to lose this. What a sh** performance.

[JamesLincs]

agreed. defensively youve been shocking, sunderland have had almost 10 clear cut chances, and they would have been very upset if they hadnt eventually scored.

you really are lucky this isnt double figures, sunderlands finishing has been absolutely woeful

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Lock up the horses

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Awful game, finally decided to go for a Poopie instead of watch a pile and then someone scores

[Guest]

I'm talking offensively, more than defensively. How Ameobi stayed on for 88 minutes is beyond me, woeful from Pardew. Why is Quinn saying we were good today, we were absolutely dog****. Man
United next so defeat there too.

[JamesLincs]

all over mate, i feel for you, you must feel sick after that performance

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

My relegation tip for Newcastle lives on

[Guest]

Xmas is cancelled at John's, fourth Derby defeat in a row, absolute garbage performance again. The performances of Gouffran & Ameobi riled me the most, pathetic. Poyet is really beginning to get on my ti*s.

Olly, only if we replicate last seasons post xmas form. Need De Jong back ASAP

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Is Flamini the worst player at the so called "big" clubs? Atrocious

[Guest]

John obi mikel?

Arsenal are tactically clueless all over the field, lucky though that Liverpool look equally clueless in the final third. Sterling is wasted up top.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Got to take Flamini off at half time got to

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Pahahahahahahaahaha

[Guest]

Haha comical from Liverpool

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Arsenal dogshite but back in it cos Liverpool are mental. Need to put someone in alongside Flamini cos he's being left with two and marking neither nor the space they run in

[guildfordbat]

Would anyone buy a used car from Craig Bellamy?

[compelling and rich]

lolz at skirtel

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Liverpool's defending is actually worse than Sunday League. Four defenders there not one ever got within five yards of Giroud

[guildfordbat]

Liverpool's defending is actually worse than Sunday League. Four defenders there not one ever got within five yards of Giroud

... and a keeper that even John might not take in place of Alnwick?!

[kingraf]

But mainly a hopeless defence.

[Guest]

Typical Premier League game. Entertaining but both sides are pretty average.

[Crimey]

Deserved a lot more in that game considering the level of performance attacking wise but defence let down again. Not convinced by Sakho or Skrtel, crazy that Toure is currently the best defender. Jones is awful though, I feel like he doesn't actually know how to play football. He's clueless.

Coutinho and Lallana played really well and the efforts deserved a goal at the end.

Think that has got to be the last game Borini plays for the club, I don't care if he wants to stay, nobody else wants him to. He's not very good and today was ridiculously stupid, the dissent booking was totally avoidable and pathetic. He didn't even throw the ball down very hard, I will forever be annoyed with him for turning down the move that would have got Liverpool £14 million for him.

[GSC]

The 2nd goal is Toures fault.

How do you not stick that in row Z.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Whilst I dont think we'll finish in the top four, we would not have let it that Skrtel goal or that Giroud one. Or even the Debuchy one.

[Liam]

Have to be honest, that was one of the worst games i've seen in a long time in terms of quality. Feel like I've watched a different game to pundits like Redknapp and namely Rodgers because I thought Liverpool were pretty dire. Their passing was poor first half and were made to look 'ok' through the fact that Arsenal were even worse. What Rodgers was on when he said they played better today than the 5-1 last season is anyone's guess. Both are horrendous defensively, Arsenal lack protection for the back 4 in midfield and are paying the price for not signing defensive cover. Liverpool somehow think everything will be rosy when Sturridge returns, yet he's not going to sort out the defensive issues is he?

[Guest]

We're now at the stage where you can write down on a piece of paper beforehand what Rodgers is going to say post match.

Sturridge is just the go-to excuse. Yes he'll carry some of the load up top but - like most have alluded to - he won't stop the leak at the back.

CL football again was gone a few games ago and even the Europa League next season is looking unlikely, not that I'd want it.

I'm wondering who'll jump ship first? Sterling or Coutinho?

[Liam]

Agree with all of the Freek. For me, Rodgers spent poorly in the summer and in effect has caused allot of the current problems. Failing to replace Suarez, finding a solid centre half with good leadership qualities to sure it up at the back. Spent allot of money on players like Balotelli and Markovic who are incredibly unpredictable. He had all that money at his disposal, and yet still all he can say 17 games in is that Sturridge will be back. Over 100m spent and yet all the pressures on Sturridge to single handedly pull them up the table. Crazy. Big January window, if he's allowed the money to spend.

[hampo17]

Agree with all of the Freek. For me, Rodgers spent poorly in the summer and in effect has caused allot of the current problems. Failing to replace Suarez, finding a solid centre half with good leadership qualities to sure it up at the back. Spent allot of money on players like Balotelli and Markovic who are incredibly unpredictable. He had all that money at his disposal, and yet still all he can say 17 games in is that Sturridge will be back. Over 100m spent and yet all the pressures on Sturridge to single handedly pull them up the table. Crazy. Big January window, if he's allowed the money to spend.

My issue with fans who say Rodgers spent poorly is that they completely ignore the boards choice to put a transfer committee in place. The transfer committee oversee all business, means Rodgers can go to them with a list of targets but ultimately they will choose who to sign and who not to, but also how much to offer. It was their choice to haggle over Willian before Chelsea signed him, it was also their choice to not to say to Barcelona the only way you're getting Suarez is if we get Sanchez, I mean Liverpool held all the cards in the summer and came up with nothing. Yes Rodgers hasn't done well, but honestly I believe his hands are largely tied due to this stupid committee, that and the fact the board want the majority of signings to be young players with potential to be world class in five years time meaning if they're sold they'll make a profit.

[Ent]

I was lead to believe he had the final say in transfers and the committee merely lined up realistic targets.

Sanchez was never going to go to Liverpool and the board more than likely wanted an entire cash deal for suarez.

[hampo17]

My understanding is that Rodgers tells the scouting team what positions need filling, the Conmittee then discuss the scouting reports but it is Ian Ayre who negotiates with the other clubs.

[Guest]

All of this is irrelevant as it'll still be Rodgers' head on the chopping block. Only good news is that the owners are apparently requesting/demanding an overhaul of the transfer policy. Would like to think the little pitbull Tom Werner will (metaphorically) chew someone's balls off and finally get this debacle sorted. Incredible that as poor as they've been, Man Utd will still be given $80 million+ to spend in January whereas it looks like we'll be reduced to flogging surplus to requirement players and hoping to get a decent player on loan.

Anyway, on the pitch, whilst still abject in defence, we seems to have gelled at little more as an attacking force. Sadly with little end product in the final third things aren't as bright as Rodgers may have hoped or be telling the assembled media. Loads of pressure on Sterling at the minute and undoubtedly loads on Sturridge as and when he returns. If ever a player was expected to hit the ground running it will be Sturridge but I for one, am looking forward to it.

Anyway, have asked Santa to insist that Liverpool get a defensive coach or we get the FA to agree to let our keepers use five-a-side goals for the foreseeable.

[mystiroakey]

who would you take over Rodgers?

I think its a huge over reaction at present..

[Guest]

I wouldn't change Rodgers at all, mate. I'm referring to certain people in the media and the hordes of "fans" calling for his head. I agree some of the supporters' reactions are ridiculous but understand they're borne of the disappointment that this season hasn't started like last season finished.

I know Rodgers believed the Summer signings he made would fit seamlessly into the squad but it's only now that the likes of Lallana, Can and Markovic are starting to show signs that Rodgers wasn't completely wrong about them and I think he'll turn it around like before but it might be too late to make up lost ground. However, I recall when we were 11 points clear at Xmas under Rafa and still ended up coming second so making up nine points to challenge for top four isn't beyond us.

However, it can't be stressed enough that massive changes need to be made defensively and a few players need to start stepping up to the plate. The team are just starting to gel again and I would like to think that the recent performances are indicative of how it's going to be from now until May, but the Gods will undoubtedly conspire to kick me in the nuts at every opportunity.

There are things I dislike about Rodgers and his refusal to accept that we need to look at a defensive coach is one of them but as time goes on I think he's beginning to understand the need for an honest assessment of the team and himself even if there seems to be a large group of people happy to kick him to pieces every chance they get.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

You don't seriously believe Rodgers would still be manager if he didn't have final say on transfers Hampo?

Not a chance his ego would allow such a thing

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

My understanding is that Rodgers tells the scouting team what positions need filling, the Conmittee then discuss the scouting reports but it is Ian Ayre who negotiates with the other clubs.

Isn't what happens at pretty much every club?

It'll very rarely be the manager tying up deals

[Guest]

My understanding is that Rodgers tells the scouting team what positions need filling, the Conmittee then discuss the scouting reports but it is Ian Ayre who negotiates with the other clubs.

Isn't what happens at pretty much every club?

It'll very rarely be the manager tying up deals

The club always need a fall guy in these situations and it's usually the manager that goes. Look at Spurs, in any sane world, Levy would have been kicked to the curb long ago but there he remains whilst others go to the gallows. Villas Boas has just state dthe other week that Levy stifled his efforts to manage the club

[Liam]

If I was Liverpool, I'd go all out in January and try and sign:

Goalkeeper: Begovic
CB: Vlaar
ST: Benteke

[Guest]

Begovic £15m
Vlaar £8m-£10m
Benteke £25m

No chance happening, seeing as Villa would be commiting suicide selling those two & they've said they aren't for sale. Does signing a £15m keeper in January propel you to a top 4, not for me. Other areas need looking at that have a more significant impact.

[Guest]

Agree, Liverpool won't be blowing £50m in January, not after what's go on with the last window

[Crimey]

I'd be looking for a loan deal for a keeper in January, more realistic and means that a new keeper can be found in the summer when teams are more likely to be selling. Cech would be ideal but appreciate Chelsea might not want to let him go to somebody in the Premier League and there may be more interest as soon as he becomes available. 

Don't want any more money thrown at central defenders, for me the personnel are not the main problem, it's their coaching. They are not being organised properly and Rodgers keeps trying to find a player to do it on the pitch when he would be better finding a coach to do it. As much as people do assert it, Skrtel, Lovren and Sakho are not bad defenders, all three have been very successful in the past, when they are coached well. Already spent £37 million on the two latter central defenders and it hasn't helped.

While signing a forward would be ideal, not sure if Benteke is really the answer, he's hardly been fantastic for Villa so far this season has just come back off a serious injury and would likely cost a lot. Bony is a possibility but I'm not sure he's the right fit right now, he's a very different kind of striker and I'm not sure it would work, he'd also cost a lot. I'm not sure who would be the best right now, but selling Balotelli would be the best start. I wouldn't even mind looking at cheap/loan deals for somebody like Defoe rather than spending over the odds in January for a striker.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Rodgers has said in the past he has final say on if a player is signed. So that way the buck stops with him. Every club does things like Liverpool, just by a different name. Scouts and directors will put forward players and the manager says yes or no.

[mystiroakey]

You don't seriously believe Rodgers would still be manager if he didn't have final say on transfers Hampo?

Not a chance his ego would allow such a thing

hardly any do these days..Maybe LVG only, even Mourinhio and Peligrini are halted partially due to FFP(over club).

Soon they will all be called head coaches..

Tony Pulis better wise up.. Because he needs to understand how tough it is out there- you cant just blow x and y at players purchasing fees and salaries unless you manage a top 4 club(in rev- RM, barca, man u, bayern).

these managers are just coaches and not businessmen but i am surprised at how thick there are when it comes to understanding revenues and costs.. It doesnt excuse what happened at cardiff mind!!

Tan saying he didnt even know the club spend x amount of millions more on the players they did!!

[NickisBHAFC]

Sami Hyypia should join Liverpool as defensive coach. Could work out for him, chance to build his carrer up again.

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