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!

[Guest]

Ivanovic is terrible.

Pretty much carried Chelsea last few months, with Hazard. Easily the right back of the year, but he is having a bad day. Be amazed if Chelsea don't go after Varane, that backline needs pace & I'm sure if an offer came in for Cahill, Jose would consider it. Varane & Zouma is what Jose sees as his long term partnership at the back.

[JDizzle]

Ivanovic is terrible.

Pretty much carried Chelsea last few months, with Hazard. Easily the right back of the year, but he is having a bad day. Be amazed if Chelsea don't go after Varane, that backline needs pace & I'm sure if an offer came in for Cahill, Jose would consider it. Varane & Zouma is what Jose sees as his long term partnership at the back.

He is constantly out of position at RB and so, so many of the goals we come concede come down that Brani/Cahill side. Final delivery is poor too. Zouma was impressive in his outings, especially City at home, suprised he hasn't got more game time.

Would love Varane, can't see it though. But you never know with Madrid.

[Guest]

Remy makes it 2-3 to Chelsea

Lennon makes it 1-2 to Everton

[Guest]

Remy makes it 2-3 to Chelsea

Lennon makes it 1-2 to Everton

Pretty much confirmed that Chelsea are champions, with Leicester next up at home

Pretty much confirmed that QPR will join Leicester in the Championship

[Azzy]

Clyne is RB of the year for me. Bertrand is LB of the year too, how he hasn't been called up instead of Danny Rose is a mystery. Does Roy never watch Spurs? They have the worst defence of the top 8 sides, and he picks both the FBs. Although Rose is at least vaguely passable as a defender, unlike Kyle Walker. Worst RB to play for England ever, including Danny Mills.

[mystiroakey]

I think Roy watches spurs more than any other team to be honest!!

Maybe he sees something we dont.... But I doubt it.

He randomly picked Townsend a couple of years back with great success- but now he has stuck with him.. He isn't good enough for the squad any more. He has obviously picked Kane and rose(not the worst choice in the world although not the best)

[Azzy]

Townsend is baffling, yep. It's surprising then that Roy never liked Lennon!

[GSC]

Yeah Ivanovic has that weird thing lately where goals obscure his overall performance defensively

[Hammersmith harrier]

The Evra factor of a couple of years ago, Ivanovic is a bit too slow for a full back and doesn't have the positioning to make up for it.

[GSC]

Evra just stopped bothering to try

[Ent]

His legs went and he had to adopt a higher starting position to attack and couldn't recover if the opposition broke.

Though I thought he was passable last season and benefitted from a summer off.

[CFCNick]

Ivanovic has had a bad run but not as long as Cahill has been bad for.

I can't believe there's anyone out there that rates Walker. Nevermind the national team coach. But outside of Clyne who do we really have?

[mystiroakey]

Joel ward

[TRUSSMAN66]

I thought Steven Gerrard loved Liverpool....

Cost them the premiership last year and has probably cost them Champion's league status this year.....

Who needs love like that..

[Hammersmith harrier]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

[Stella]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

I'll remember him as their best ever player, well certainly in the last 20 years, who delivered in certain cup games, when it mattered. Hopefully he'll help Liverpool win the cup this season.

[Crimey]

I also don't think he can be blamed for the loss against Manchester United either, it won't have helped, but let's not forget that United were all over Liverpool in the first half anyway.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

I'll remember him as their best ever player, well certainly in the last 20 years, who delivered in certain cup games, when it mattered. Hopefully he'll help Liverpool win the cup this season.

The only way he'll help them win it, is by letting others play ahead of him

[Azzy]

Carl Jenkinson. John Stones. Calum Chambers. Even Micah Richards is better than Walker.

[Stella]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

I'll remember him as their best ever player, well certainly in the last 20 years, who delivered in certain cup games, when it mattered. Hopefully he'll help Liverpool win the cup this season.

The only way he'll help them win it, is by letting others play ahead of him

That may be, but he deserves a worthy send off, even if he only gets 10 minutes from the bench.

[Stella]

Carl Jenkinson. John Stones. Calum Chambers. Even Micah Richards is better than Walker.

Not Micah Richards, unless he's improved by 50%.

[Guest]

I also don't think he can be blamed for the loss against Manchester United either, it won't have helped, but let's not forget that United were all over Liverpool in the first half anyway.

For the first 30 minutes they were, then we got to grips with them, Lallana scores that sitter and it's 1-1 at half time. Gerrard's clearly channeled to spirit of Tommy Smith and Graham Souness but forgotten what year it is. Maybe going down to 10 men caused Utd to ease off, maybe we simply played better in the 2nd half and only went 2-0 down to a lovely strike and perhaps COULD have got something out of the game as we were in the ascendency. Can't complain too much though....just like the season as a whole, we were poor for too much in the early part to make up lost ground.

Gerrard's red card won't cost us fourth place, our poor form in 2014 will cost us fourth.

We need to win everything until the end of the season and hope Utd drop points along the way, but I won't hold my breath.

[Azzy]

Richards has been okay this season when he's played. Walker hasn't even had one 7/10 game, and looks like a 'defender' who will always give you a goal. He's simply atrocious. Tbh I'd rather play three at the back with Milner as RWB than have Walker in the team. It might suit Baines as well, allow Henderson to sit deep and allow Barkley and Sterling to rampage behind Kane and Sturridge.

[super_realist]

"We"

[mystiroakey]

Haven't you been getting enough laughter out of 9 chins recently?

[Guest]

Haven't you been getting enough laughter out of 9 chins recently?

sound like he's one of those fairweather w*nkers who goes from "we" to "they" as soon as his team has a bad day.

[Hammersmith harrier]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

I'll remember him as their best ever player, well certainly in the last 20 years, who delivered in certain cup games, when it mattered. Hopefully he'll help Liverpool win the cup this season.

The only way he'll help them win it, is by letting others play ahead of him

That may be, but he deserves a worthy send off, even if he only gets 10 minutes from the bench.

A player doesn't deserve anything, it's their job and they get paid very very well to do it, he's no more deserving than anybody else.

[super_realist]

Haven't you been getting enough laughter out of 9 chins recently?

sound like he's one of those fairweather w*nkers who goes from "we" to "they" as soon as his team has a bad day.

Eh? I never describe an affiliation as "we", unless I played for the team in question.

[Liam]

Was thrilled with our performance at Anfield. It's taken till March but finally we are seeing a better balanced utd side, playing Van Gaal's preferred 4-3-3 formation. Mata was absolutely brilliant again yesterday and despite past games on the right being quite underwhelming, he seems to have settled there now. I think Young being so wide on the left allows Mata to come more infield more, as a RAM rather than a RW where he's been played in the past.

We controlled the first half and probably should have won 3/4-0 after Gerrard went off but we seemed to suffer with nerves for most of that second half. Then again, Liverpool really didn't create anything apart from the goal. Di Maria was disappointing but still managed an assist. 6 points from 6 out of the l'pool/spurs games. Hopefully 9 from 9 when we play Villa at OT and I'd make us favourites for the City game. I always felt if we clicked, we'd match most sides and it seems to have finally happened. Just hope we can keep it up and cement top 4 by the Arsenal game.

[Stella]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

I'll remember him as their best ever player, well certainly in the last 20 years, who delivered in certain cup games, when it mattered. Hopefully he'll help Liverpool win the cup this season.

The only way he'll help them win it, is by letting others play ahead of him

That may be, but he deserves a worthy send off, even if he only gets 10 minutes from the bench.

A player doesn't deserve anything, it's their job and they get paid very very well to do it, he's no more deserving than anybody else.

Disagree with that. A player who has played 16-17 seasons for the same club deserves something. I'm a romantic, therefore would love to see him lift the cup.

[Guest]

If they do miss out on top four the harsh reality is that he'll largely end up being remembered for that slip and that red card, when it really mattered he cost his team twice.

I'll remember him as their best ever player, well certainly in the last 20 years, who delivered in certain cup games, when it mattered. Hopefully he'll help Liverpool win the cup this season.

The only way he'll help them win it, is by letting others play ahead of him

That may be, but he deserves a worthy send off, even if he only gets 10 minutes from the bench.

A player doesn't deserve anything, it's their job and they get paid very very well to do it, he's no more deserving than anybody else.

Disagree with that. A player who has played 16-17 seasons for the same club deserves something. I'm a romantic, therefore would love to see him lift the cup.

He carries on like this and he won't even be allowed into the ground

[super_realist]

Never liked Gerrard, as thick as Terry and Cole but beatified by scousers.
Hope he leaves with nothing.

[Azzy]

Let's not forget the guy has been in some off-the-field incidents, one in particular he was lucky to walk away from scot-free. He's no innocent, just as Terry and Cole aren't.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Cresswell and Bertrand are the best way performing English left backs this year and Clyne and Jenkinson on the other side. You can justify Baines keeping his place in the squad but I can't really see why Gibbs or blind Walker are in there.

Gerrard was one hell of a player and has probably been mismanaged by Rodgers this year into looking a poorer player than he is. He's just below Keane, Scholes and Vieira for me.

[Azzy]

Gerrard was one of the best PL midfielders last season - his game cannot have deteriorated that quickly. If it has, he'll be glad to have that big fat American contract.

Cresswell has become a good player, gutted we didn't chase him harder before he signed for you guys.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It might very well be that they just can't "carry" a slower player now they're under more pressure. But last year Suarez stretched teams so much that a passer of Gerrard's skill was likely to prosper, as well as teams being more pinned back.

He's still better going forward than on the back foot but he's a lovely player.

[Guest]

Cresswell and Bertrand are the best way performing English left backs this year and Clyne and Jenkinson on the other side. You can justify Baines keeping his place in the squad but I can't really see why Gibbs or blind Walker are in there.

Gerrard was one hell of a player and has probably been mismanaged by Rodgers this year into looking a poorer player than he is. He's just below Keane, Scholes and Vieira for me.

Think his disappointment at losing out last season coupled with a tragic WC campaign has made him lose focus (or at the very least re-focus his priorities elsewhere). Think he's like most high profile players who struggle to come to terms with the end of their careers and want to go out showing everyone they're just as good now as they've always been. There's the possibility that he's seen Liverpool go on a winning streak without him thus highlighting the fact that no-one is irreplaceable and perhaps it's hurt him to realize that he's not needed as badly as he may have thought. He's not exactly a loose cannon but there's a real danger that his desire to go out with a bang is to the detriment of the team and it's to be hoped that Rodgers is strong enough to bench him should we (yes WE) still be in a position to take that fourth spot. It's also to be hoped that Gerrard be strong enough to accept that, should it arise.

As we reach the end of an era I think Henderson has the makings of a very good captain although that's only likely to really come to the fore when things are going badly and he needs to steady the ship. There've been glimpses of this on a couple of occasions but he'd need to do it regularly to win over the doubters...although that would conversely mean the team were playing badly and they'd be on his back anyway.

Hopefully we can sign a Gerrard-esque player in the Summer as, for all their skill, I do feel our midfield is a bit lightweight. I had hoped Can would be something of a midfield tank but he does seem a tad easy to bully although I appreciate he's only 21 and may still develop the physical and mental maturity to fulfill that role

[Crimey]

I definitely think more than physically or tactically Gerrard has lost it psychologically this year. I think last year with Liverpool crushed him and then instead of making it better at the World Cup he only added to his misery. He just seems broken this year, not as confident in his abilities, desperate to make up for last year. Seeing the team struggle for half a season, missing out on playing at the Bernabeau will have piled on the psychological harm. I think mentally he just can't find the motivation any more, he's been the driving force behind Liverpool for nearly 20 years and now he knows his time is up, and instead of going out on the high of finally lifting Liverpool back to the Premier League, he leaves them in almost exactly the same position they had been before, albeit with a much healthier trophy cabinet, with two or three of those Gerrard a huge reason for. 

I think if Liverpool had won the Premier League last year, Gerrard would have stayed, I think he would have played better this year I don't think he's unfit or too old for the pace of the Premier League, I think he'd have retired at Liverpool. It's a real shame that Gerrard was the one to slip, it's a shame that Gerrard will always have that question mark over him for never winning the Premier League. I still can't believe there are some that don't rate him, it's absolutely baffling to me that you can watch football and not understand what a fantastic footballer he was. He was never perhaps as specialised at one thing as Paul Scholes was at passing, or Frank Lampard at getting goals, but I can't think of many other players who could do pretty much everything at such a high level as Gerrard.

I put it this way, he might not always make a greatest Premier League Xi, but if you had to pick a team made up of one player for every outfield position, I'd pick Gerrard every time.

[GSC]

Daddy's boy Tom Ince

Asking for the same wage as James Rodriguez from Monaco.

[Guest]

I wouldn't believe Tony Cascarino on anything, talks nonsense. Anyway, before the World Cup, you ask 8 out of 10 people on the street, who James Rodriguez from Monaco was, they wouldn't of known.

[Ent]

You ask 8/10 people on the street who any footballer from another league is (not called messi or Ronaldo) and they probably wouldnt know.

[GSC]

I wouldn't believe Tony Cascarino on anything, talks nonsense. Anyway, before the World Cup, you ask 8 out of 10 people on the street, who James Rodriguez from Monaco was, they wouldn't of known.

8/10 people would likely not have intimate knowledge of the Portugese or French league no.

Id hazard a guess the good people at Monaco do.

[Crimey]

I wouldn't believe Tony Cascarino on anything, talks nonsense. Anyway, before the World Cup, you ask 8 out of 10 people  on the street, who James Rodriguez from Monaco was, they wouldn't of known.

But a lot of football fans had heard of him, he was heavily linked with Manchester United before he moved to Monaco.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I'm guessing my next door neighbour has no idea who Toni Kroos is but that doesn't mean he isn't one of the best midfielders in the world, it's a rather pointless comment.

[Guest]

I think what LiamB meant was that Rodriguez at Monaco, pre World Cup, was not a big name & hadnt done much on the biggest stage, only at Porto. Paul Ince, acting on behalf of his son, was just looking for the best possible deal & stating he wanted his son, another promising youngster, to be reward on a similar level to that of Rodriguez. Not exactly a bad idea, seeing as at the time, Monaco were throwing money around in a silly fashion.

[GSC]

James Rodriguez showed enough to earn a 45m euro move to Monaco. Tom Ince was the best player at a mediocre Championship side

[Crimey]

Apart from the fact that after Falcao got injured early on in the season Rodriguez was Monaco's best player and probably the best player in the French league. His performance at the World Cup didn't come out of nowhere, he was likely to earn a big move regardless because he was exceptional at Monaco before the World Cup.

[Hammersmith harrier]

The £37mil James Rodriguez.

[Azzy]

Paul Ince has to share some of the blame for the way his son's career has come crashing down. After such a successful career of his own you'd think he'd know how football works. Asking for a huge payday when you've barely achieved anything, that's madness.

[Ent]

I think what LiamB meant was that Rodriguez at Monaco, pre World Cup, was not a big name & hadnt done much on the biggest stage, only at Porto. Paul Ince, acting on behalf of his son, was just looking for the best possible deal & stating he wanted his son, another promising youngster, to be reward on a similar level to that of Rodriguez. Not exactly a bad idea, seeing as at the time, Monaco were throwing money around in a silly fashion.

Multiple Portuguese league winner, Uefa cup winner, played in cl, Portuguese player of the year, full international and regular starter, wanted by Man United vs championship also ran.

Not deluded at all to ask for those wages.

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