We Go Again! The Premier League thread

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

Galloway off for Browning due to injury

[GSC]

I'd take Sterling over Coutinho anyday.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I'd call Countinho a fair weather player really, will produce the occasional piece of magic but is otherwise quite ineffective whereas Sterling constantly tests defences.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Paying £49m for Sterling was overpriced, but he has the potential to be that world class player whereas Coutinho doesn't. 

I agree with HH's summation of the two personally.

[Duty281]

I thought Coutinho was going to be player of the season?!

[Guest]

Paying £49m for Sterling was overpriced, but he has the potential to be that world class player whereas Coutinho doesn't.

In your expert opinion. How on earth you can big up the 'potential' of Sterling & then disregard the potential of the 'just' turned 23, Coutinho. Sterling's game is about pace, he has no other attribute that frightens a defence & will never be a natural finisher to become world class. Coutinho will also unlikely be world class, however, he is technically superior to Sterling, superior passer of the ball, can actually strike a ball properly & has been playing to a level above Sterling already this season & even last season. I get the Coutinho hate from you & GSC, but do we have to hear it regurgitated on every post?

[Hammersmith harrier]

The biggest problems with using stats in this debate is the fact we can all agree Coutinho had a better season than Di Maria but the stats don't support such an opinion.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Paying £49m for Sterling was overpriced, but he has the potential to be that world class player whereas Coutinho doesn't.

In your expert opinion. How on earth you can big up the 'potential' of Sterling & then disregard the potential of the 'just' turned 23, Coutinho. Sterling's game is about pace, he has no other attribute that frightens a defence & will never be a natural finisher to become world class. Coutinho will also unlikely be world class, however, he is technically superior to Sterling, superior passer of the ball, can actually strike a ball properly & has been playing to a level above Sterling already this season & even last season. I get the Coutinho hate from you & GSC, but do we have to hear it regurgitated on every post?

I don't hate Coutinho - he's a perfectly fine player. He's just not as good in my eyes as people (mainly the media) make out.

We disagree about sterling evidently.

[Alistair]

The biggest problems with using stats in this debate is the fact we can all agree Coutinho had a better season than Di Maria but the stats don't support such an opinion.

And of course, in this day and age, statistics are everything.

It is very much a needs must situation. Coutinho for me though wouldn't be anywhere near the Chelsea side.

Oscar, Hazard, Pedro, Fabregas - All superior players to Coutinho.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Not sure Oscar or Fabregas are any more. Its coming to the stage now where I feel Fabregas is more a problem for Chelsea than a positive.

[Hero]

On that note, how would everyone rank the following attacking trios (behind the striker) in the Premier League:

Ramsey---Ozil---Sanchez
Pedro---Oscar---Hazard
Mata---Januzaj---Depay
Navas---Silva---Sterling
Ibe---Coutinho---Firmino
Lamela---Eriksen---Chadli

[Alistair]

Not sure Oscar or Fabregas are any more. Its coming to the stage now where I feel Fabregas is more a problem for Chelsea than a positive.

Statistically, which is what matters of course, Fab is still better than Coutinho. I think his game has deteriorated since Matic returned and Jose went defensive again.

Ramsey---Ozil---Sanchez
Navas---Silva---Sterling
Pedro---Oscar---Hazard
Mata---Januzaj---Depay
Ibe---Coutinho---Firmino
Lamela---Eriksen---Chadli

[lfc91]

Pedro---Oscar---Hazard
Navas---Silva---Sterling
Ramsey---Ozil---Sanchez
Mata---Januzaj---Depay
Ibe---Coutinho---Firmino
Lamela---Eriksen---Chadli.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Not sure Oscar or Fabregas are any more. Its coming to the stage now where I feel Fabregas is more a problem for Chelsea than a positive.

Statistically, which is what matters of course, Fab is still better than Coutinho. I think his game has deteriorated since Matic returned and Jose went defensive again.

Its easier to have better statistics in the title winning side, but Fabregas was a footnote second half of the season, and is a player you'd target as a manager as he offers no discipline in midfield. Hes not the player Arsenal had.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Pedro---Willian---Hazard
Navas---Silva---Sterling
Ramsey---Ozil---Sanchez
Mata---Januzaj---Depay
Ibe---Coutinho---Firmino
Lamela---Eriksen---Chadli.

I'm putting Willian into the Chelsea one to put them first. But its a really tough one. Navas is what lets City down, but hes important tactically to them as he has pace, works hard and stretches defences.

The United, Liverpool, Spurs ones are probably about level. Lallana is oddly ignored as a player on this site.

Januzaj, Ibe or Lamela for "worst" (could do with a better word) player on there? Shame for Eriksen as Id have him over Ozil, Januzaj, Depay, all of Liverpool's three, Navas.

[Hero]

Eriksen's one I'm very surprised a bigger club hasn't been in for this summer.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Shaqiri---Bojan---Afellay

Seems weird writing that down and knowing its Stoke's combination.

[Hero]

Normally it'd be...

Hackit---Smashit---Lumpit

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Eriksen's one I'm very surprised a bigger club hasn't been in for this summer.

Im still a bit surprised it was Spurs who bought him in the end. Always seem destined for a better side. He was seen as a gamble, but he performed very well for Ajaz for a good period of time. Seems bonkers that hes still only 23.

[lfc91]

Eriksen is a player I always hoped Liverpool would sign (before he ended up at Spurs), top quality.

[Guest]

Shaqiri---Bojan---Afellay

You think Stoke have a better three behind the striker than Newcastle? I'd say once we see the true potential of our new players, then our's could challenge or be better than Spurs, who are just Eriksen really.

Thauvin - Wijnaldum - Perez (we could even have Aarons, Perez, Sissoko & De Jong) We certainly have options.

[lfc91]

Shaqiri---Bojan---Afellay

You think Stoke have a better three behind the striker than Newcastle? I'd say once we see the true potential of our new players, then our's could challenge or be better than Spurs, who are just Eriksen really.

Thauvin - Wijnaldum - Perez (we could even have Aarons, Perez, Sissoko & De Jong) We certainly have options.

I have a similar view on the named Liverpool trio, all three very young and I expect their collective and individual stock to have greatly risen come the end of the season. However, ranking as it stands, they only truely better the Spurs trio in my eyes.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Shaqiri---Bojan---Afellay

You think Stoke have a better three behind the striker than Newcastle? I'd say once we see the true potential of our new players, then our's could challenge or be better than Spurs, who are just Eriksen really.

Thauvin - Wijnaldum - Perez (we could even have Aarons, Perez, Sissoko & De Jong) We certainly have options.

Definitely. You're going all Crimey on us over Newcastle lately! I reserve the right to change my mind, but at the moment they are nothing more than hope rather than any concrete evidence.

Chadli is an odd one. Not the player he was signed to be, I'm sure they wanted him as a tricky wide player who had more in his locker than Lennon, but Chadli scores goals. If they get rid of Lamela as seems likely and bring in someone decent then they'll have a very good combination in there. Ifs and buts at the moment though, and hopefully thats how it remains.

[Alistair]

Shaqiri---Bojan---Afellay

You think Stoke have a better three behind the striker than Newcastle? I'd say once we see the true potential of our new players, then our's could challenge or be better than Spurs, who are just Eriksen really.

Thauvin - Wijnaldum - Perez (we could even have Aarons, Perez, Sissoko & De Jong) We certainly have options.

Definitely. You're going all Crimey on us over Newcastle lately! I reserve the right to change my mind, but at the moment they are nothing more than hope rather than any concrete evidence.

Chadli is an odd one. Not the player he was signed to be, I'm sure they wanted him as a tricky wide player who had more in his locker than Lennon, but Chadli scores goals. If they get rid of Lamela as seems likely and bring in someone decent then they'll have a very good combination in there. Ifs and buts at the moment though, and hopefully thats how it remains.

That Stoke 3 beats your 3 John. Swap Perez for Sissoko and i think you're a match, but both sets of 3 only have one proven performer.

[Trebs]

Chadli is an under-rated player I feel. I do like the Tottenham trio, but Chelsea's has to be the best. I'd put Willian in over Oscar. They need someone a bit more defensive minded than Fabregas in that midfield though, he's a great player but effectively they're playing 4-1-4-1, which is fine, but the DM needs more support.

[Liam]

Personally I think Fabregas needs to be played in the 10 position. That way he isn't required to defend as much.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

Positionally very poor. Pace is suspect. Made numerous poor clearances, in both games I have seen him in. Hangs on to the ball for too long in some instances. Fails to get forward enough when his team are on the ball, unlike Clyne at the other end.

Not strange at all.

[Duty281]

Positionally very poor. Pace is suspect. Made numerous poor clearances, in both games I have seen him in. Hangs on to the ball for too long in some instances. Fails to get forward enough when his team are on the ball, unlike Clyne at the other end.

Not strange at all.

None of that actually contradicts what I've said.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

To be honest I stopped reading when you said his 'pace is supect'

[Duty281]

You stopped reading but still cared enough to respond?

How gracious.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The big guy is in line to return against either one of his former clubs Liverpool or the Toon.

[Duty281]

No he's off to Spain!

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/600628/West-Ham-Andy-Carroll-Sevilla-Arsenal-Transfer-News-Gossip

Route one is bound to make a comeback over there soon enough.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Thats an old, and still amusing to me, story I think. If i'm correct they've almost nailed down a deal for Llorente now. They obviously want a big man up top.

[Guest]

Everybody is on the Giroud to score first, right?

[Fernando]

[Duty281]

Good to see Theo and Oxlade starting - no Giroud is quite a surprise given his phenomenal scoring record against Newcastle.

[Fernando]

I suspect John is delighted by his omission. Can't say we have a lack of pace today really

[wadey101]

Is ozil injured?

[Fernando]

He has a minor knee injury (last time they said that he was out til Xmas)

[Duty281]

How is that a stamp?

BT commentators taking the p!ss, surely?

[Guest]

Never ever, ever a red. Game over now, well done ref

[Duty281]

How is that a red?

Marriner having a shocker. Missed a clear penalty; missed a clear yellow for a cynical challenge.

Atrocious officiating. The BT commentators rushing to defend him is just as bad.

Now he's given a yellow for an exact same offence that he didn't card previously. This is so sub-standard.

[CFCNick]

It's like watching Barcelona. Every knock is a foul. Ridiculous.

[compelling and rich]

yeah not a red that, going to be another the way newcastle are going though

[compelling and rich]

theo the centre forward

[Hammersmith harrier]

Pathetic decision, getting a red card for going for the ball, joke.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Six academy players and Matt Jarvis on the bench for West Ham at Anfield today. Not through choice. Doubt our bench is gonna change the game today

[Guest]

1-0 to the referee. An awful, one sided contest. Move on.

[Guest]

Skrtel  
Lovren  
Liverpool  
Stoke down to nine men    

[Dolphin Ziggler]

So confused right now. Thankfully Stoke have gone back to the Pulis days to balance out the universe

[Duty281]

Sounds like a mixture of Skrtel, Gomez and Lovren at fault for the goals.

Stoke having a bizarre match.

[Sponsored content]