Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 10 Nov 2013, 5:57 pm

First topic message reminder :

Swansea 3-2 Stoke

What has happened to Stoke's defence

by socal1976 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:51 am

I have to say I am very impressed with the mid table and lower rated teams in the EPL this season. Every single road game this year for a top club is a game that they can lose. This is different than any other top league in the world. Just 10 points separate the top ten teams in the league.

by kingraf Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:33 am

I wouldn't put money on City in a road game even if they were facing a team facing relegation in the Ugandan premier league

by The Fourth Lion Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:11 am

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Jol sacked now. No surprise. What a busy weekend

I feel quite sorry for Martin Jol.

He is a decent man, a good "football person" and a man who I believe genuinely has the good of the game at heart.

I remember him as a cultured midfielder with West Bromwich. They had players like Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson in their team at that time and those individuals flourished most when they had Martin Jol playing alongside them, although he never got the credit he was due for helping with their development.

It's only my personal opinion, but I hope he finds another club in England, preferably in the Premiership.

Good luck, Martin.

by Guest Mon 02 Dec 2013, 12:27 pm

Martin Jol won't get another job in the EPL. Had his chance now at Spurs n Fulham & although he's done a good job in parts, especially for Spurs, he's pretty much finished in England. More likely back to Holland or Germany. Reputation here is at an all time low currently. Time to move on & he probably wants to anyway.

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 12:28 pm

I would have been very happy with Jol over Pulis!!

I wish we waited a bit longer

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 12:58 pm

Sad to say it as a United fan but I think I'm relying on City and Chelsea to reign them in now.......

United are a write-off, battling for 5th with Spurs probably. Saints must fall away at some point, probably in the dark Jan/Feb time when a few injuries set in. Sunday showed Liverpool can't cut it, expect them to fall away by May also.

by Guest Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:31 pm

What's the gap 9 points + goal difference, makes 10 really. It's only December but I can understand why you think it could be a tough ask now. Yeah, United are going on an unbeaten run, however, if your drawing half those games, it's not much to shout about if Arsenal keep winning. The difference is the midifield for Arsenal & United's is non-existent. I just had to laugh at Cleverley being turned inside out by Sandro, falling on the floor & allowing him to score a wonder goal. On the other hand, you have Ozil & Ramsey just making it look effortless & easy. Another point is that Rooney will be burnt out sooner rather than later. I think Moyes will hope RVP can recapture the form of last year to possibly cover any Rooney dip over Xmas.

Don't worry you've got Newcastle coming on Saturday. Guaranteed 3 points off us, we are awful at Old Trafford.

by Ent Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:39 pm

Aye cleverly was shocking on Sunday.

Goal difference doesn't really matter with a bi points difference- if you can turn round a 9 point deficit unless it's a huge gd you'll reign that in.

Not that we will, we are rubbish.

Don't think ozils all that either, rest of the arsenal team is pulling its weight.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:40 pm

Lol, thank-you for your kinds words, John!!

Used to defend Clev but can't anymore, he's just shocking.

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:43 pm

I kind of want Rooney to get a little niggle and have a nice 3 month break. Then be back perfect for England,

He is totally carrying this side.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:48 pm

Carried last season by RVP, carried this season by Rooney.

Sad

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:53 pm

Man U are looking ok again. Don't worry.

Rooney needs to just chill out for a bit though.

Think about the summer Rooney.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 1:59 pm

Yeh, 'ok' is probably about the sum of it. Still confident of Top6, just certain we won't be in title contention and it'll take a miracle to get us into Top4. 3 places are sewn up and there's Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and maybe Southampton to fight for 4th.

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:04 pm

Yep 3 look sewn up .

I think Everton will be the team to push you hardest for the top 4.

Which will really be a kick in the teeth to moyes.

But united have some purchasing power. So you could r*** them of Blaine's in the window

by Champagne_Socialist Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:06 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:Yeh, 'ok' is probably about the sum of it. Still confident of Top6, just certain we won't be in title contention and it'll take a miracle to get us into Top4. 3 places are sewn up and there's Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and maybe Southampton to fight for 4th.

According to you Man U are the best team in the EPL for the 2013/2014 season because you was the best team in 2012/2013 season picard

Man U look rubbish this year because they lost alex ferguson and also they failed to invest in the summer. Their only purchase, £28 million Fellani has already been dropped due to playing so poorly.

Man U will get top 4 but my guess would be 4th.

by Duty281 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:24 pm

I'm still backing United for the league. Never waver, never yield.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:25 pm

Champagne_Socialist wrote:
TopHat24/7 wrote:Yeh, 'ok' is probably about the sum of it. Still confident of Top6, just certain we won't be in title contention and it'll take a miracle to get us into Top4. 3 places are sewn up and there's Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and maybe Southampton to fight for 4th.
According to you Man U are the best team in the EPL for the 2013/2014 season because you was the best team in 2012/2013 season

Another example of you reading what you want to read, probably in order to have an argument.

At the point in time of the discussion there'd been nothing to suggest otherwise and I was very specific that I wasn't speculating into the future and guessing who might turn out tops in May-14. If I had been, then my more relevant comments would have been when I predicted Chelsea to pip City to the title. Ergo, United the 3rd best at the time I wrote that.

Another example of trying to play the man and not the ball....

by Champagne_Socialist Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:28 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:
Champagne_Socialist wrote:
TopHat24/7 wrote:Yeh, 'ok' is probably about the sum of it. Still confident of Top6, just certain we won't be in title contention and it'll take a miracle to get us into Top4. 3 places are sewn up and there's Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and maybe Southampton to fight for 4th.
According to you Man U are the best team in the EPL for the 2013/2014 season because you was the best team in 2012/2013 season

Another example of you reading what you want to read, probably in order to have an argument.

At the point in time of the discussion there'd been nothing to suggest otherwise and I was very specific that I wasn't speculating into the future and guessing who might turn out tops in May-14. If I had been, then my more relevant comments would have been when I predicted Chelsea to pip City to the title. Ergo, United the 3rd best at the time I wrote that.

Another example of trying to play the man and not the ball....

You said man u was the best team in the epl for the 2013/2014 season because you was the best the seson before. When myself and other very good posters highlighted man u's weaknesses eg lack of buying quality and losing ferguson along with Arsenal, City and chelsea strengthening you still said man u was the best team cs they won the league the year before. Pathetic

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:30 pm

Nope, I didn't.

I said they were the best team AT THE TIME.

I NEVER suggested they would be #1 come May, in fact quite the opposite.

Again, try actually reading and spending a second or two to understand before getting over-excited and launching verbal diarrhoea onto the boards.

by Champagne_Socialist Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:39 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:Nope, I didn't.

I said they were the best team AT THE TIME.

I NEVER suggested they would be #1 come May, in fact quite the opposite.

Again, try actually reading and spending a second or two to understand before getting over-excited and launching verbal diarrhoea onto the boards.

You made the comment at the start of the 2013/2014 season. Why would winning the league the previous season automatically make them the best team the next season?

by Duty281 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:43 pm

Champagne and TopHat sitting in a tree...

by Champagne_Socialist Mon 02 Dec 2013, 2:50 pm

Duty281 wrote:Champagne and TopHat sitting in a tree...

Well duty if you are feeling lonely I am still waiting for your reply on the off topic section regarding debt, the gap between the rich and the poor and how the labour party's policies helped poorer families whilst the current coalition government has abolished all of those policies thus making poorer families poorer.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:01 pm

Champagne_Socialist wrote:
TopHat24/7 wrote:Nope, I didn't.

I said they were the best team AT THE TIME.

I NEVER suggested they would be #1 come May, in fact quite the opposite.

Again, try actually reading and spending a second or two to understand before getting over-excited and launching verbal diarrhoea onto the boards.
You made the comment at the start of the 2013/2014 season. Why would winning the league the previous season automatically make them the best team the next season?

I made the comment about the point in time I made it. I was very clear, and even spelt it out when I noticed you were struggling back then, that I was NOT hypothesising and talking about where the league would be in May-14. If I had then my comment would have been a complete contradiction of how I'd already predicted EPL May-14 would look.

At the time of the debate United had just drawn with Chelsea and were only a couple of games into a season they started at Champions. People were putting Napoli in their top10 despite nothing having been achieved in the fortnight the league had been going and them selling their biggest star who'd scored them to success the previous seasons.

by Stella Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:14 pm

You never lose it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25188128

by Champagne_Socialist Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:18 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:
Champagne_Socialist wrote:
TopHat24/7 wrote:Nope, I didn't.

I said they were the best team AT THE TIME.

I NEVER suggested they would be #1 come May, in fact quite the opposite.

Again, try actually reading and spending a second or two to understand before getting over-excited and launching verbal diarrhoea onto the boards.
You made the comment at the start of the 2013/2014 season. Why would winning the league the previous season automatically make them the best team the next season?

I made the comment about the point in time I made it. I was very clear, and even spelt it out when I noticed you were struggling back then, that I was NOT hypothesising and talking about where the league would be in May-14. If I had then my comment would have been a complete contradiction of how I'd already predicted EPL May-14 would look.

At the time of the debate United had just drawn with Chelsea and were only a couple of games into a season they started at Champions. People were putting Napoli in their top10 despite nothing having been achieved in the fortnight the league had been going and them selling their biggest star who'd scored them to success the previous seasons.

Why do you keep talking about who will win the league? not once ave i said that. What i said and what you admitted to saying just now is that previously you said Man u was the best team in the EPL for 2013 season because you won the league in the 2012 season. I said man u look poor this season because other teams had reinforced heavily whilst man u hadn't and also man u lost ferguson.

I was right and youw as wrong Smile

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:40 pm

Wow, so much made up stuff I don't know where to start......

Thankfully, it's long been know that, despite being the most intelligent and educated member of the boards, your abilities of comprehension often verge on the non-existent.

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:41 pm

You had a really short spell as a mod didnt you Toppy?

by Stella Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:42 pm

Does that make champagne a rocker?

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:55 pm

mystiroakey wrote:You had a really short spell as a mod didnt you Toppy?

Haha yeh, was an act of desperation on both sides in fairness.

Am really not cool headed enough for the job.

It was a barney C_S had with me and others that closed the N&CA board and lost me my blue badge.... Crying or Very sad

lol

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 3:59 pm

poor toppy ;(

by socal1976 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 4:43 pm

What I see right now and for a number of weeks is a two-tiers of contenders:

Tier 1:
Arsenal
City
Chelsea

They are fighting for the top spot and all three can do it, have the players and the ability although all 3 have their problems as well.

Tier 2:
Liverpool
ManU
Everton

One of these three will get the 4th spot for champion's league football.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 4:45 pm

Sounds about right.

Would you not lump Spurs or Soton into that second Tier at all?

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 5:24 pm

Spurs yes- southampton no.

by compelling and rich Mon 02 Dec 2013, 6:07 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:Sad to say it as a United fan but I think I'm relying on City and Chelsea to reign them in now.......

United are a write-off, battling for 5th with Spurs probably. Saints must fall away at some point, probably in the dark Jan/Feb time when a few injuries set in. Sunday showed Liverpool can't cut it, expect them to fall away by May also.

cant agree that we'll be battling for 5th tophat, can still see us easily making top 4 with it being tight between arsenal, city and chelsea for the title. arsenal have started other seasons like this and fell away, it was only 2011 when arsenal were on to win four trophies according to the media. got beat by Birmingham in the league cup and fell away dramatically. still yet to be seen if they know how to grind it out for a whole season

who do you see pipping us to a top 4 slot?

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 6:10 pm

It's not that I'm confident of someone pipping us, it's more I just cant' pick from Everton, Pool, Spurs and us who will definitely finish 4th. Think we're all in the mix. Everton could nick it through consistency, Liverpool might make another push/burst or Spurs might learn to score.

by compelling and rich Mon 02 Dec 2013, 6:18 pm

i still consider us to have a much better team than all of everton, liverpool and spurs. were just adapting to the new manager. also see a strike force of rvp and rooney easily firing us to top four even with our p!ss poor midfield. add one top class CM to our team in jan and our team isnt looking to bad if you ask me.

would also add that start of the season i thought we would have to make ground up as it was a very tough fixture list to start with. having said that we are right with the teams mentioned having had a lot of our toughest games already. look at liverpool for instance, they still have to go to united, city, chelsea and spurs

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:22 pm

Looking at the teams and squads,

Now that I think we are all past the shock factor of Man u playing so rubbish and we all fll in to a reactionary trap that uniteds players were rubbish and Sir Fergie is a magical wizard.

Man u should get 4th minimum and if they don't its bad news.

RVP, Rooney, jones, smalling, de gea, wellbeck would get into most teams..

by Guest Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:28 pm

RVP would get into every prem side, probably as would Rooney...Jones would get into any of the top 10 sides...De Gea IMO is over-rated, as is Smalling, and Wellbeck dosent score enough goals.

by compelling and rich Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:32 pm

rvp, rooney, de gea, carrick, rio, vidic?

carrick was voted by most last season as the best CM

rio and vidic while having fitness issues aside still are top class defenders. kompany aside cant think if too many defenders who get in over them

de gea has been solid as a rock for two seasons now, cant say that about many other of the "top" keepers in the prem

by compelling and rich Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:34 pm

add to that great squad players such as smalling, jones, rafeal, wellbeck, hernandez, valencia who wont upset the ship if not playing every week but will always put a shift in

by socal1976 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:42 pm

TopHat24/7 wrote:Sounds about right.

Would you not lump Spurs or Soton into that second Tier at all?

Southhampton is a good side, I can't see them doing better than a Europa league finish and Spurs are awful, a terrible manager who wasted 100 million pounds. Out of that 100 mil, about 30 million of it was well spent on Paulhino and Eriksen the rest of the players they bought are no better than the players they were supposed to replace. This where the worth of Wenger and Ferguson type managers is shown. AVB stockpilled squad players and when Wenger spent he had one quality player, it is not a joke to incorporate 7 new players into this league without alienating the players you got.

With Bale they couldn't get a champion's slot, with Chadlhi, Lamela, and Soldado are not going to get it done.

by socal1976 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 7:52 pm

outside of RVP, Rooney, Jones, and De Gea I don't see much to brag about in United squad. Carrick is a decent player but I think he is overrated I don't think he makes it into Arsenal's squad. Vidic a couple of years ago yes, but he has not been that good since his injury. I like Hernandez, but I could see him leaving in January or in the summer he is being wasted at United.

by compelling and rich Mon 02 Dec 2013, 8:10 pm

dont think vidic has done too much wrong since coming back, sadly he's not not able to play every game these days and we miss that consistency at the back

i would say carrick is better than both arteta and flamini. certainly for me has been playing a better standard in the last couple of seasons. carricks a strange one, on tv you watch him and dont think he does much. go to the game and you see his game a lot better and more of the stuff he does off the ball that doesnt get shown on the tv

on Southampton i think Mauricio Pochettino is getting the very best out of the current squad but ultimately will drop off and challenge for the europa spots. they play with a very high intensity it will be interesting to see if they can maintain it for a whole year without burn out in a squad that isnt the biggest

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Mon 02 Dec 2013, 8:51 pm

If Arteta makes Arsenal's squad then Carrick does as hes better. Considering Wilshere has had about two good games this year as well.

Id have De Gea as best keeper in the league. Jones has potential, as does Smalling. Welbeck would make most teams, very good player. Cracking for a squad option for a top side. Hernandez is a better striker than most teams in the league have.

Problem is that Carrick isnt going to run riot in midfield, its not his game and if he started trying it then it would throw off all his other skills. Fellaini isnt settling, Cleverley has stalled.

United played ok against Spurs, thats not a bad point, so I would say things are still looking rosier. Two pretty standout goals.

I agree with Big Sam today on AVB. Can see why he'd take people on in the press, but sadly you cant do it, they just slate you more. Wield too much power, too many people see something written in a paper and let it become true.

Lamela is a good player and may very well come good. I dont think its a mistake going for him, its just not working out yet. Same with Soldado. He cant be slated as being bad at transfers if everyone looked at Spurs' business at the start of the year and thought it was very good. Eriksen is good, Paulinho is good, Capoue has been unfortunate, I think Chiriches has looked good. I think if you looked at every player AVB has brought in, most of them would be considered good buys.

by TopHat24/7 Mon 02 Dec 2013, 9:22 pm

Can't see Welbeck getting into any of City Chelsea or Arsenal teams, probably not even on the bench either.

Would back him to get into Everton Spurs & Southampton matchday squads, 50:50 starts:subs.

Gets in every other first XI in the league as far as I can think, including Liverpool.

by Champagne_Socialist Mon 02 Dec 2013, 9:50 pm

compelling and rich wrote:dont think vidic has done too much wrong since coming back, sadly he's not not able to play every game these days and we miss that consistency at the back

i would say carrick is better than both arteta and flamini. certainly for me has been playing a better standard in the last couple of seasons. carricks a strange one, on tv you watch him and dont think he does much. go to the game and you see his game a lot better and more of the stuff he does off the ball that doesnt get shown on the tv

on Southampton i think Mauricio Pochettino is getting the very best out of the current squad but ultimately will drop off and challenge for the europa spots. they play with a very high intensity it will be interesting to see if they can maintain it for a whole year without burn out in a squad that isnt the biggest

Flamini has probably been Arsenal's 2nd or 3rd best player this season. No way would carrick offer as good defensive protection as flamini does. This season and the season flamini left he has been playing amazingly good.

by Hammersmith harrier Mon 02 Dec 2013, 9:56 pm

I do think Arsenal fans rate Flamini too highly, he's too one dimensional for my liking. There's a reason why there's no Makelele types around, they just don't offer a lot. I'd take a fit Wilshere over Carrick but not Arteta or Flamini.

by mystiroakey Mon 02 Dec 2013, 10:04 pm

Its a tough call to name arsenals 2nd best player- so many have stood up so far.

Number 1 is as easy a choice as it is for united.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 02 Dec 2013, 10:07 pm

Chesney is quietly having a very good season for the Gunners. I've always rated him as a GK, and now he's cut out the mental moments he's starting to fulfill his potential

by The Fourth Lion Mon 02 Dec 2013, 10:09 pm

compelling and rich wrote:i still consider us to have a much better team than all of everton, liverpool and spurs. were just adapting to the new manager. also see a strike force of rvp and rooney easily firing us to top four even with our p!ss poor midfield. add one top class CM to our team in jan and our team isnt looking to bad if you ask me.

would also add that start of the season i thought we would have to make ground up as it was a very tough fixture list to start with. having said that we are right with the teams mentioned having had a lot of our toughest games already. look at liverpool for instance, they still have to go to united, city, chelsea and spurs

Apart from the match against Everton, which is at home for United anyway, I think United's fixture list for December should not be the most difficult phase of the season for them. They really need to use this comparatively easy time to pile up some points, get into the top five at least, and let Arsenal know that they will soon start to feel the hot breath on the back of their necks. Again.

There is only one way Arsenal will win the Premiership this season. Keep winning. And that won't be easy when the pressure starts to mount.

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