Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'something'

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

A place to discuss things all Premier League.

[JamesLincs]

oh man, howards beard has gone

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Everton > Arsenal

[Duty281]

Fantastic keeping from Howard towards the tail-end of that half.

[mystiroakey]

Everton > Arsenal

last 10 mins

Arsenal > Everton

[kingraf]

Arsenal nearly scored the goal of the season... again,

[NickisBHAFC]

Tim Howard really is a class keeper. So underrated.

[LastDamnation]

Too easy down the wings for Everton at times, Jenkinson in particular looks really exposed - need walcott at some point to scare oviedo from bombing on too much.

Koscielny has been boss, szczesny not been tested yet.

[JamesLincs]

HANDBALL!!

[mystiroakey]

For a 0-0 this is a quality game of football

[J.Benson II]

You'll find a lot of people 10 years from now claim Torres was a World Class striker...for me he doesn't fall into that category. He was a very good striker and nothing more.

I cant agree with that mate. Torres at his prime was easily one of the top forwards in world football. A world class player without a shadow of a doubt.
As you've said though, he's a shot player now. He's had plenty of time to recapture his old form and has been unable to do it (save for a few games). Chelsea will get rid of him this summer.

When he has retired though do you think he will be looked back upon as a World Class player though? Or will he fall into the very good category as a player who was decent and had a couple of 'world class seasons'. At Atletico Madrid I would argue he had one truly World Class season; the rest of the time he had good seasons, scored goals and was rightly thought as of a great prospect. He came to Liverpool where he flourished...3 seasons where he was fantastic, 2 of which he looks truly sensational in. Since then he has nothing.

So in a career spanning 11, approaching 12 years I would say he has had 3 where he has been truly World Class. Not enough to stick him in with the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Del Piero etc....even Shearer was better than him over the span of his whole career in terms of being a World Class striker! (sure that one will get a few people talking)!

I think Torres will go down as a player who very shone brightly for a few seasons but was unable to maintain world class form due to injuries and possibly mental reasons.
I think longevity is only one aspect on how a player should be judged once they've retired.
The likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka will go down as great players for me despite a lack of longevity due to the incredible level they once set. I think Torres will be seen in a similar light, albeit a level below those two.

[mystiroakey]

what is arteta doing.. oh dear.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Distin misses a great chance one end, arsenal go straight up the other and score. Fine margins

[Crimey]

Arsenal could run away with the league, 7 points ahead already, certain to be top at Christmas. Can they stay this consistent though?

January will be crucial for Arsenal, they need to get a top striker in because if Giroud is injured, they're screwed. They struggled to sign one in the summer, so not sure if they'll be able to do much better in January before the World Cup, may have to settle for a mediocre forward simply to make the numbers up.

[Crimey]

Or not.

[Duty281]

Everton made of stern stuff!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

What a goal deulofeu

[JamesLincs]

love the premier league

[mystiroakey]

Great goal and great build up from barkley

But How good are these two teams..

Everton have gone from strength to strength since they lost Moyes and Fellani.

Really pleased for them.

[Duty281]

Oh wow. That would have been something special.

Fantastic game, and really excited about the growing talent of Ross Barkley.

[JamesLincs]

great game. everton are real contenders for top 4 now

[mystiroakey]

And Walcott looked sharp getting the assist

Good game.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Everton a very very good young side. Thought they deserved to win that.

[LastDamnation]

Disappointing not to snatch that after defending so well but draw is a fair result

[NickisBHAFC]

Great game of football! Point is fair result, Everton proving again there a Champions League side IMO! If you don't love the Premiership, you don't like football!!

Also how good was that Everton goal! Were seeing some great goals recenly!

A load in mid week, 4 from Suarez, Fabien Delphs goal, Sir Jonjo Shelvey and Lewis Holtby

Yesterday That Southampton goal by Osvaldo, Leroy Fer! You got to love it!!!

Great weekend of football and Home Alone is on!!!!!!

[Guest]

Said deufelou would be immense, b a top player for Barca in future.

Giroud woeful today

Great game, title still all up in the air.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

He did nearly win it with what would have been goal of the season.

Great game. Weird season, the nailed on wins that once were are now not so readily there.

Well played Everton. What a joy to watch they are. I'm aroused just thinking of an England team with Barkley and Morrison in. Least one of them has to be on the plane

[socal1976]

A good game, Aaron had his poorest performance in he league for some time. Giroud didn't have a great game, Ozil was immense and so was Koscielny and Flamini as a sub. Everton is a really good side, they outplayed Arsenal in the first half. The second half I think the gunners looked more dangerous but Everton was able to craft some good chances as well. A fair result although it is tough luck that Deufelou hit that great goal after we seemed to have the winner late in the game.

How hilarious would it be if it came down to United and Everton for the last 4 spot, quite ironic Moyes' old team vs. his new team. Although Liverpool I think is more likely to get that 4th spot.

[socal1976]

Great game of football! Point is fair result, Everton proving again there a Champions League side IMO! If you don't love the Premiership, you don't like football!!

Also how good was that Everton goal! Were seeing some great goals recenly!

A load in mid week, 4 from Suarez, Fabien Delphs goal, Sir Jonjo Shelvey and Lewis Holtby

Yesterday That Southampton goal by Osvaldo, Leroy Fer! You got to love it!!!

Great weekend of football and Home Alone is on!!!!!!

I agree, this weekend's matches and results show why the EPL is the best league.

Any team can beat any other team and no match is a foregone conclusion.

[NickisBHAFC]

Said deufelou would be immense, b a top player for Barca in future.

Giroud woeful today

Great game, title still all up in the air.

Also don't forget its easier to play in the Spanish league.

[Guest]

Yeah, deufoleu will be a star in la liga no doubt.

Agree social, today showed that when Arsenal aren't dominant in possession n can't involve Giroud, he`s pretty much anonymous n offers nothing in behind & things break down. Its works up to a point but, as I feared, it will stop arsenal from reaching the next level. Yeah, he could of scored a great goal but that's one moment, rest of his play is quite frankly not good enough n was bailed out by ozil for the goal.

As for the EPL, quite brilliant currently. Truly fascinating season ahead, more ups n downs to come for all the top teams involved in this title & top 4 battle.

Also have to mention Barkley. This guy is something special. People talk about Wilshere but Barkley offers much, much more & just excites me. Cleverley/Lampard off plane & Barkley moved into the first class seats please. No doubt Roy will **** it up n leave him at home.

[socal1976]

Well John, Giroud does a lot for the team even when he doesn't score goals. He wins a lot of knock downs and for a big guy he is a good passer after Ozil and Ramsey has the most assists. Still I would like Arsenal to bring another forward at least as good if not better than him. Lucky for him Ozil put that one in that he whiffed on from 2 feet in front of goal. There just aren't too many great strikers on sale in the january window and I think Walcott and Podolski can contribute at that position as well. Theo did great last year when we played him there for a spell. Don't get me wrong would love to get a tricky pacey striker in January. But teams are unlikely to let go of that kind of player in the january window. There was talk of Alexi Sanchez before the messi injury and before he scored a bagful of goals for them, now we got no chance. Javi Hernandez is one I wouldn't mind or even maybe Mario Balotelli.

[J.Benson II]

Javi Hernandez is one I wouldn't mind or even maybe Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli would be great at Arsenal I reckon. I can see him really flourishing, especially under the guidance of Wenger.
Hernandez would just be squad player like he is at United and wouldn't get ahead of Giroud.

[NickisBHAFC]

Christian Benteke?

[Fernando]

Arsene won't fork out the 30 odd million Villa would want and im not sure he's worth it tbh doesn't seem himself this season so far.

[socal1976]

Javi Hernandez is one I wouldn't mind or even maybe Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli would be great at Arsenal I reckon. I can see him really flourishing, especially under the guidance of Wenger.
Hernandez would just be squad player like he is at United and wouldn't get ahead of Giroud.

I agree that Balotelli would have the most upside and someone like Wenger who could both nurture and discipline him would probably be his best bet. If Arsenal could sign him in January I think that might be enough to become a heavy favorite to win league. I still don't think AC will give him up, they need him as badly as Arsenal does although he has had his problems over there.

[socal1976]

Arsene won't fork out the 30 odd million Villa would want and im not sure he's worth it tbh doesn't seem himself this season so far.

I agree, benteke's stock has gone down this season while Lukaku's has gone up. If Michu is healthy I wouldn't mind getting him but the problem is that I don't think many teams will want to sell a quality striker in the middle of the season. Dortmund might have to sell Lewandowski because he could then go on the free to Munich so they have a big incentive to sell. But I don't see many of these other teams having the incentive to let go a quality striker in the middle of the season. Most likely they will wait for Theo and Poldi to platoon up there with Giroud.

[It Must Be Love]

If Arsenal get Lewandowski, in they'd be heavy favourite for the title in my eyes and I'd fancy them to reach the latter stages of the CL.

[It Must Be Love]

I see United finishing 5th this season, they really need to invest in Januray.

[It Must Be Love]

Atleast they have Rooney who's a great sportsman, so they're winning the moral battle.

Am I right Socal?

[socal1976]

I see United finishing 5th this season, they really need to invest in Januray.

I also don't see United as getting the Champion's league. They may also have a difficult time attracting other world class players next season without Ferguson and with no Champions league spot. If Arsenal was not in the champion's league I doubt Ozil would have come here. As for Lewandowski the problem is that you would basically sideline Giroud. I would prefer a striker that could play out wide and brings something different than Giroud in terms of technique and or pace. That being said if you can get a lewandowski you have to pull the trigger.

[Liam]

Utd need a miracle in the transfer market in Jan. How many players who can really improve our midfield are actually available?

Gundongan, Reus and Koke all keep getting mentioned but would they give up champions league football to join a team in transition languishing in mid-table. Don't think so, no matter how much is offered. Unfortunately for Utd, David Gill's departure was almost as crucial as SAF's, because he did wonders in the transfer side of things whereas Ed Woodward seems an absolute clueless buffoon.

[socal1976]

[quote="Starlight"]Atleast they have Rooney who's a great sportsman, so they're winning the moral battle.

Am I right Socal?  [/quote

Lol! yes Rooney is a great sportsmen and prince and a gent.

[J.Benson II]

Villa probably now regret not selling Benteke during the summer when his stock was high. They aren't getting anyway close to £30m for him currently.
If Arsenal were to get another forward, it has to be someone who is a significant level above Giroud - such as a Balotelli or Lewandowski, not a Hernandez or Benteke.

[J.Benson II]

I've learnt over the years to never write United off. Therefore, I'll keep quiet until the season is over.  
Sure, Fergie might have left but I'm sure his "never say die" mentality has been instilled in some of the players mindset.
As I've said before with Moyes, he just seems to polite. Fergie could intimidate United's mediocrity to push above their weight.
A problem for United would be to keep hold of their stars. Despite being immense this season, Rooney often looks a detached figure - frustrated at the lack of quality around him.
If Chelsea or even Arsenal were to make a cheeky bid for him this Winter, I have no doubt that he would really push for the move.

[NickisBHAFC]

Arsenal ideal man would be Lewandowsk

[socal1976]

Villa probably now regret not selling Benteke during the summer when his stock was high. They aren't getting anyway close to £30m for him currently.
If Arsenal were to get another forward, it has to be someone who is a significant level above Giroud - such as a Balotelli or Lewandowski, not a Hernandez or Benteke.

Of the two I want Balotelli, Lewandowski is better but Balotelli has that pace, energy, and ability to take defenders on. He brings that X-factor, but I would be really happy if we get either one.

[socal1976]

If United is way adrift of the CL and Rooney refuses to sign, could United be forced to deal him? I can't see Rooney staying if United doesn't make the champion's league.

[monty junior]

Villa probably now regret not selling Benteke during the summer when his stock was high. They aren't getting anyway close to £30m for him currently.
If Arsenal were to get another forward, it has to be someone who is a significant level above Giroud - such as a Balotelli or Lewandowski, not a Hernandez or Benteke.

Of the two I want Balotelli, Lewandowski is better but Balotelli has that pace, energy, and ability to take defenders on. He brings that X-factor, but I would be really happy if we get either one.

Balotelli has only been in Milan a year, is on a multi year contract and would cost around 30 million, which I seriously doubt Arsenal would pay just because they splashed once in blind faith more than anything. Lewandowski will be at Bayern no doubt, he has already came out and said it then retracted his statement after a telling off from BVB. Some body like Pato is far more realistic.

[Guest]

I wouldn't want Balotelli coming in mid season anyway. Would remind me a little bit of Newcastle's 1996 Asprilla signing. Another loose cannon.

Fantastic talent is Balo and funny character but prone to blow up at any time.

[LastDamnation]

If Arsenal get Lewandowski, in they'd be heavy favourite for the title in my eyes and I'd fancy them to reach the latter stages of the CL.

He wouldn't be able to play in CL

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