We Go Again! The 2014/15 Premier League Thread

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Who would have thought that Liverpool's strength would be the defence after the start to the season!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Ballotelli being held back by the fans

[Crimey]

Not a fan of admins deleting posts as this plea. This is a sports fourm after all.

It's also a sports forum with rules, which were broken. 

Attempting to get "bites" as you would say is actually against the rules, go take a look and read the section on trying to wind others up.

If that's actually the case I'm amazed Nick isn't banned.

He was the other day actually.

[Crimey]

Sturridge looks up for it.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Should try to get at Jones, his tackling on his left side looks a little suspect. Out of him and Mario for the next red

[1GrumpyGolfer]

What were they doing back there?

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Di Maria turning into one of Liverpool's best defenders as this half keeps progressing.

Where's Razor Ruddock to complete the comeback?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That was fantastic by United

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Stupid from Can

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Until then

[Crimey]

Great penalty save. 

Manchester United played quite well, but really should have won this by at least 3 considering how poor Liverpool were and playing with ten men for the entirety of the second half. 

In the end, it could easily have ended in a draw.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Should've let Mata take it for his hat trick. I suppose he was desperate for a goal at Liverpool

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Disgusting from Skrtel, disgraceful

[Hammersmith harrier]

Dirty dirty sod.

[Gerry SA]

Excellent victory by Manchester United. Liverpool enjoy the 2015-16 Uefa Cup.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Smalling was top class again today but man of the match has to be Fellaini, his dominance in the air at both ends was superb.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Hate to say I told you so Ent

Fantastic performance by United. Little wobble in the middle of the second half but huge performance. That average points total with Carrick in the side will go up from 2.2 per game

[Crimey]

Not sure whether that was malicious from Skrtel, would be disappointed if he gets retrospective action for that.

Gerrard will probably only play 1-2 more games for Liverpool you feel now. Out of the team for at least 3 games and then he was already finding it hard to get into the side.

Overall really disappointed with the Liverpool performance, showed too much respect to United, allowed him to play their game for most of the first half. Moreno was poor, it says a lot that United targeted him despite Sterling being on the other side. Sturridge worked hard but wasn't given great service.

Just reverted to the type of performance that happened in the first half of the season. I think Rodgers has definitely got to consider changing the system again, think teams have found it out a little bit and are taking advantage of the space afforded to them in the high wide areas and knowing that if the wing backs have to stay wide, Allen and Henderson can get a bit isolated. 

I'm thinking Allen may be dropped for Lucas now he's fit again because he offers more defensive protection and it urges Coutinho/Lallana to drop back at times into a deeper midfield position.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Nasty from Skrtel but it was funny how De Gea recovered well enough to fight him after the whistle went.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Crimey get a grip, it was a clear deliberate stamp.

[Ent]

Good win but 30 minutes of stupidity take the shine off it.

Should have been a comfortable win, made things hard for ourselves.

Not surprised Rooney missed, he had one of those days where he plays terrible but works hard. Dreadful penalty.

Di Maria was poor when he came on and mata faded badly.

Balotelli deliberately stamped on jones calf and skrtel deliberately trod on de gea. Was really dirty from a poor Liverpool side.

[Crimey]

Also don't think anybody other than Mata can get man of the match, he was absolutely fantastic. Definitely should be keeping Di Maria out. Thought Fellaini dropped off considerably after half time, aerially he was dangerous for a while but he stopped featuring as much second half. I thought Herrera did well, Carrick okay but he actually seemed the more nervous of the two central midfielders. I thought Jones was the obvious weak point in the defence, maybe a move is in the need for him, he just doesn't seem cut out for the level he's expected to play.

Manchester United played well and got the result and deserved it. I do not think the race for top four is over by a long shot though, they've taken a big step but they're going to have 3 teams hot on their trails and need to keep up their current level of play to hold them off you feel.

I'm hoping that having lost for the first time in 13 games in the league that maybe Liverpool can play with less pressure now, this team always seems better being a chaser than a leader.

[Crimey]

Crimey get a grip, it was a clear deliberate stamp.

I only saw the slow motion replay, and it doesn't look necessary deliberate to me, obviously I'm not sure, but his stride didn't change at all as far as I could see. I might change my mind when I see it again, but on first viewing it looked like there was enough doubt in it being deliberate.

[Ent]

Hate to say I told you so Ent

Fantastic performance by United. Little wobble in the middle of the second half but huge performance. That average points total with Carrick in the side will go up from 2.2 per game

Yes mata was good today and scored 2 great goals, but he faded badly and we couldn't dominate 10 men. We also didn't create that much and that's my issue with him. Don't feel his passing is incisive enough for what he's meant to do.

But over all he was excellent today so fair play to him.

[Gerry SA]

Jamie Carragher's face is a picture. Made my Sunday.

[guildfordbat]

Also don't think anybody other than Mata can get man of the match ...

Agreed although those Liverpool supporters who held Balotelli back deserve an honourable mention!

[Hammersmith harrier]

Hate to say I told you so Ent

Fantastic performance by United. Little wobble in the middle of the second half but huge performance. That average points total with Carrick in the side will go up from 2.2 per game

Yes mata was good today and scored 2 great goals, but he faded badly and we couldn't dominate 10 men. We also didn't create that much and that's my issue with him. Don't feel his passing is incisive enough for what he's meant to do.

But over all he was excellent today so fair play to him.

Judging by today's game you don't seem to know what he's meant to do and judge him on a false identity; he quite clearly isn't being used to play the final pass (Herrera), he's there to keep it ticking over and to make runs into the box.

You have a pre-conceived dislike for him and nothing will change your opinion, a foolish outlook to have really.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Crimey get a grip, it was a clear deliberate stamp.

I only saw the slow motion replay, and it doesn't look necessary deliberate to me, obviously I'm not sure, but his stride didn't change at all as far as I could see. I might change my mind when I see it again, but on first viewing it looked like there was enough doubt in it being deliberate.

You must be in a small minority there then.

[Ent]

Hate to say I told you so Ent

Fantastic performance by United. Little wobble in the middle of the second half but huge performance. That average points total with Carrick in the side will go up from 2.2 per game

Yes mata was good today and scored 2 great goals, but he faded badly and we couldn't dominate 10 men. We also didn't create that much and that's my issue with him. Don't feel his passing is incisive enough for what he's meant to do.

But over all he was excellent today so fair play to him.

Judging by today's game you don't seem to know what he's meant to do and judge him on a false identity; he quite clearly isn't being used to play the final pass (Herrera), he's there to keep it ticking over and to make runs into the box.

You have a pre-conceived dislike for him and nothing will change your opinion, a foolish outlook to have really.

I don't really, you can trawl through the posts around the time we signed them if you like.

Just don't think overall he does enough. Even forwards need to do more than score in the modern game.

He was good today, scored a great goal. You get days like this but he has let us down on many occasions, especially away from home and that's why he found himself out of the team.

Hope he keeps it up but I don't think you can carry someone in an advanced attacking position who can't play penetrative passes.

[Atila]

Well done to Gerrard for admitting that he was at fault.

[NickisBHAFC]

Yeah Tbf Gerrard is a legend but none the less today was just hilarious.

[Gerry SA]

Well done to Gerrard for admitting that he was at fault.

WHat else was he gonna say?

[Atila]

Well done to Gerrard for admitting that he was at fault.

WHat else was he gonna say?

[Hero]

Nice of him to apologise to everyone apart from the player he stamped on.

[Gerry SA]

Nice of him to apologise to everyone apart from the player he stamped on.

That's what happens when the guilty player is a classless individual...

[NickisBHAFC]

What a goal by Hazzard. 1-0 chelsea. Long afternoon in store for Hull.

[NickisBHAFC]

That positioning from Courtious was class there. Great save but Hernandez was forced to shoot when in theory he would of liked robot taken it round the keeper.

[NickisBHAFC]

2-0 game over.

[Gerry SA]

Hazard pretending he's 'world class' against a terrible side.... Hazard goes missing against every big team and bullies the rubbish teams.

[Guest]

Please, shut up

[NickisBHAFC]

2-2!!!!!!!! Quite brilliant!

[Gerry SA]

Chelsea bottling it

[Atila]

2-0 game over.

Not yet. 2-2.

[Gerry SA]

Please, shut up

Reus, griezmann, Ronaldo show hazard up.

[Crimey]

I think amongst football fans there is this utterly baffling lack of understanding that every player in the world performs better against weaker sides. That goes for Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi all the way to David Nugent and Shola Ameobi. Of course they are more likely to perform better against weaker sides, yet I don't know of a single world class footballer who isn't accused of going missing in big games.

[Crimey]

Think Chelsea will stumble a few times between now and the rest of the season, they've got the league all but sewn up and aren't fighting for any other competitions, nothing really to motivate them as players.

Also, I wish the media would stop asking Pele for his opinion, he's not only usually talking rubbish but he's also incredibly arrogant.

[Gerry SA]

I think amongst football fans there is this utterly baffling lack of understanding that every player in the world performs better against weaker sides. That goes for Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi all the way to David Nugent and Shola Ameobi. Of course they are more likely to perform better against weaker sides, yet I don't know of a single world class footballer who isn't accused of going missing in big games.

But no one goes missing more than Fabregas(I'm a Barcelona fan) and Hazard.

[Guest]

I wish you would go missing

[JDizzle]

Ivanovic is terrible. Not sure why Zouma doesn't get a look in either.

Fabregas has been terrible for a few months now, hopefully just having one game a week will help him get back to early season form. Hazard is POTY so far for me, class operator.

[Ent]

Nice of him to apologise to everyone apart from the player he stamped on.

He gets some serious grief about making it all about him and the Steven gerrard show and this baffling public apology won't help him - even if he meant well.

Good point about players against weaker sides. Players who absolutely smash the weaker teams apart and then when (understandably) their scoring ratio dips against the elite sides get accused of it. Bizarrely being punished almost for hammering the weaker teams.

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