Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'something'

by **Crimey** Thu 05 Dec 2013, 12:40 pm

First topic message reminder :

A place to discuss things all Premier League.

by mystiroakey Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:51 pm

Does this show us Gerard is gone.

As bad as Tottenham was. Liverpool looked better than they have all year.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:52 pm

Harry did a lot wrong, as Harry always does. Never has another manager been so short termist in his views of football. Why buy a young player today when an old mate knows a 34 year old who'll play well for a year.

I dont disagree too much. Clarke hasnt really proven to be a brilliant manager though. I could see why both boards would sack and I also think theres good reasons to stand by each manager. Still only five points off 4th at the end of the day.

FreekShow wrote:
Dolphin Ziggler wrote:5

Oh this is fun

Welcome aboard Crimbo

Any foe of Spurs is a friend of mine!

by Duty281 Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:53 pm

I remember the start of the season - optimism for Tottenham that they were stepping up, whilst it was all doom and gloom for Arsenal.

Look how it's turned out. Laugh

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:55 pm

Amongst it all, we have the same goal difference in 17th as Spurs do in 7th. Its -6

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:55 pm

Excellent performance from Liverpool, Tottenham were poor defensively but I hope that doesn't mean people ignore what has been a fantastic performance from Liverpool, missing Sturridge and Gerrard as well.

Hopefully that sets the standard now for the rest of the season, Tottenham have been a bogie team for the last few years so it's great to have such a emphatic win against them, at White Hart Lane. Struggled against the bigger sides under Rodgers, but a win against United, a ridiculous win against Tottenham, Chelsea and City are the big tests, but if we can get through them still around the top, sneak a win at Chelsea who have been poor this year perhaps, then I think top four is on as we'll have played most of the hardest games we'll have this year.

Henderson, Sterling and Suarez were all excellent, deserved their goals. Loved the Flanagan goal, great to see local lads and fans make it into the first team and it was a fantastic finish and run. All game he was very good, playing on an unfamiliar side he has changed my mind on him, his work rate today was great and he never made it easy for Lennon defensively or Walker offensively.

Even Joe Allen had a good game.

by Liam Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:56 pm

Gerrard has been past it for the last couple of seasons. Even more of a reason why I rate Scholes higher. Scholes was still playing superb when he was 35/36, gerrard looks gone at 32/33. Still a top top player however, just seems Liverpool have more to their game without him, more direct with henderson and more dynamism.

by NickisBHAFC Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:58 pm

What did Harry do wrong? Spent money wisely. Got Tottenham 4th spot, but Chelsea won the Champions League. Not his fault. I think he did an amazing job.

by Duty281 Sun 15 Dec 2013, 5:58 pm

Gerrard has the second most assists in the league, one behind Ozil and level with Ramsey - no time to doubt him.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:00 pm

Liam wrote:Gerrard has been past it for the last couple of seasons. Even more of a reason why I rate Scholes higher. Scholes was still playing superb when he was 35/36, gerrard looks gone at 32/33. Still a top top player however, just seems Liverpool have more to their game without him, more direct with henderson and more dynamism.

I think he's adapted his game well and over the last few years he has had more assists than he's ever had before. Henderson plays with that same direct approach with or without Gerrard, you can't compare them two, compare Gerrard to Allen today and I still think Liverpool would have been better with Gerrard who is technically far superior, has better vision and is even better at tracking back and driving forward even nearly ten years older.

by Ent Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:01 pm

I don't think you can understate how bad spurs where. You could barely call the 4 guys at the back a defense, they were just so terrible. The midfield just didn't even try and none of them came back when Liverpool attacked.

They didn't manage a shot on target, it was rank bad.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:02 pm

mystiroakey wrote:Does this show us Gerard is gone.

As bad as Tottenham was. Liverpool looked better than they have all year.

It was a performance very similar to most of the home performances this year, not sure it was because Gerrard was missing, rather the home form was replicated away from home as the players smelt blood early on.

by monty junior Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:02 pm

NickisBHAFC wrote:It's all about expectations and what both managers have done.

AVB spent all of that Bale money poorly. Yes players haven't performed as well as people expected, but with that money to use, surely it makes sense to go after players who have proven they can boss the Premiership e.g. Benteke. Soldado doesn't suit Tottenham style of play. Defense have conceded a lot this season as well. Never understood why they got rid of Harry tbh. What did he do wrong?

To be fair Benteke had only one good season and has struggled this so I don't know if he would have much difference. I thought the signings Spurs made at the time were great, some of the best young players in Europe being Lamela and Eriksen, a proven Spanish international forward in Soldado, Paulinho had been excellent for a while for Brazil especially in the Confed cup. I think a change of manager and system and Spurs can still challenge for the top 4, they have a squad of quality but no gameplan or guidance. They better act fast though.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:07 pm

Yeah, think Tottenham did very well in the transfer market, hindsight is a wonderful thing. They signed young but internationally proven players and bought in all the areas they needed. Soldado is low on confidence, it's quite clear as he's constantly leaving the box to get the ball because he doesn't want to be there to finish the chances, Lamela hasn't been given many opportunities to impress and needs a while to settle as he's come from Italy where players do struggle to adapt to the Premier League, but it should happen in time. Eriksen was being lauded when he first had a run in the side. Paulinho has been good, could do with more of a final product but considering he'd never played in Europe before he's adapted fantastically well.

Soldado should fit Tottenham's style of play with so many fast wingers, but he's let down by the likes of Townsend and Chadli wasting the ball by shooting from improbable angles and distances.

I would give AVB time, let the players settle, it's only been four-five months and see where they are come the end of the season. I don't think it's inconceivable that the players will gel the longer the season goes on for and Tottenham will finish well.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:07 pm

Id have had Gerrard over Lucas and Allen.

by Liam Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:08 pm

I was shocked when they sacked Harry, how unlucky can you be to finish 4th and chelsea go an win the champions league eh?

That sacking is looking even more ridiculous. Spurs are in a mess. They need a new coach and a new approach. The players they've brought in are quality they just haven't hit the ground running. Still time but the tactics are all wrong if you ask me.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:09 pm

I also think AVB was really let down by the players today, not the system he was using which suits the players they have. The defence was a shambles, expect Dawson as captain and long-time Spurs player to organise the rest of the defence better, Lloris was over-worked. Paulinho got himself stupidly sent off, and a lot of other players lost their discipline over the course of the game, e.g. Naughton, Holtby. It's a poor result, but before going down to ten men it was only 2-0 and two of the goals were scored late on.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:11 pm

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Id have had Gerrard over Lucas and Allen.

I think most people would. I thought Lucas was fantastic today, he's struggled for form since the two really bad injuries but felt like this was the Lucas of the old, dominated the midfield. Allen had probably his best game in a Liverpool shirt as he finally stopped spending too long on the ball and distributed it well, still wouldn't have him anywhere near ahead of Gerrard as he doesn't have the vision, technical ability, range or work-rate of Gerrard.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:12 pm

The Spurs fans I knew were not enamoured with Harry. His style of football wasn't progressing, his signings had no plan to them other than short term and above all else the guy is a weasel. He wouldnt have taken that squad any further, he mainly got lucky that that Chelsea side were bizarrely awful in the league.

I do find it funny that the same people that criticise AVB's signings were the ones creaming over them in the summer. Patience is a virtue and often pays dividends.

by Ent Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:16 pm

2 rank bad performances today, though the least you can say for villa is they tried.

Did anyone from the spurs team have a good game? Heck was anybody even average?

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:18 pm

Ent wrote:2 rank bad performances today, though the least you can say for villa is they tried.

Did anyone from the spurs team have a good game? Heck was anybody even average?

Lloris looked alright, he was given plenty of chances to show himself off and I don't think there was anything he could do for any of the goals. The second in particular. Without him who knows what the score would have been? 7/8-0?

by monty junior Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:18 pm

When you say Redknapp was a weasel, in what way do you mean? He always comes across to me as quite a decent guy who seems to have a very good knowledge of the game and isn't just one of those monotonous boring managers who blurt out the same old garbage about referee's and excuses every week. That guy who hits him and gets told "no wonder your in the reserves" Laugh

by Guest Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:20 pm

Probably BS like most things on there but few pages on twitter saying that AVB has been called upstairs without so much as a post match talk with the team

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:21 pm

Just seen this stat: PL goals in 2013: Liverpool 79, Man City 75, Chelsea 68, Arsenal 66, Man U 61

Monty, I dont have the time to explain why dear 'Arry is a weasel, the list of reasons is long though. From Rosie the dog's bank account, his columns in The Sun with criticism of Hodgson and the shafting of Bonzo at West Ham and lies about him and others in his book, well the guy is a weasel, a crook and much more.

by Hulking_up Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:25 pm

Louis scored more goals then 10 prem clubs this season?

by J.Benson II Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:27 pm

Cant see either Lambert or AVB lasting much longer.
Villa were just woeful. Even in the games they have won this season, it was more a case of smash and grab rather than any genuine quality. They even managed to make the likes of Wellbeck, Cleverley and Valancia look good and potent today. Laugh

Quite an achievement!

Spurs have just been horrible his season and they seem to be getting worse. Selling Bale was unavoidable but also getting rid of useful guys like Dempsey was moronic. Of course, then there is the fact they spent vast amounts on players with no PL experience. A gamble which clearly isn't paying off.
AVB isn't surviving any longer and he'll be back in Portugal within the month.

Credit to United and Liverpool though. Did what they had to do. Suarez is just ridiculous.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:36 pm

I remember before he came to Liverpool he had something like 41 goals in 40 games and I thought there is no way he'll even come close to replicating more than a goal a game in England...I have been proven wrong. At this rate, he'll end up with close to 40 PL goals. Every game it's like one goal just isn't enough.

by Guest Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:37 pm

Redknapp flirting with the England job and not committing his future to the club more or less sealed his fate. He'd taken them as far as he could.

AVB (apparently) did the same thing with PSG in the summer and I read a quote somewhere where he said " I wanted to give Tottenham another season." Not the kind of thing a fan, player or chairman really wants to hear I'm sure.

Levy won't flicker an eyelid in getting rid and I think'll happen sometime before the end of the season.

by Duty281 Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:38 pm

'Arry Redknapp has got more tricks than Derren Brown - don't knock the geezer.

by Guest Sun 15 Dec 2013, 6:59 pm

Spurs were clueless all game. Feel sorry for Lloris n Soldado. The service from this midfield is the worst, although he`s getting paid hansomly soldado compared to Sevilla, bet he wishes he was back in Spain. Gonna miss out on WC too at this rate with Negredo, Costa, Villa, Pedro & Torres. AVB is an idiot, why play defensively minded Sandro, Paulinho & Dembele at home? Soldado was so isolated. Wingers are shocking, why take off a player n then bring on Townsend who is effectively going to do the same thing n waste every cross, get Defoe in the box.

Two of the worst home performances today from Spurs/Villa. Liverpool were great though, don't wanna take that away from them. Henderson brilliant. Liverpool will finish fourth is Suarez remains fit, I standby that. Also, had to laugh at whoever yesterday said Spurs will finish 3rd. Delusional.

by Fernando Sun 15 Dec 2013, 7:11 pm

If Spurs are going to play with a defensive midfield then they need to start playing 2 up top.

If i was a spurs fan id be wanting my money back for that performance was a shambles.

by Liam Sun 15 Dec 2013, 7:27 pm

Thing is I quite like Spurs midfield.

Paulihno - good on the ball and always has a goal in him
Dembele - great dribbler and very direct

Shame Erikson has been injured really. I also think Townsend should go to the left wing. He cuts in from the right every time and just shoots rather than varying it a bit, slipping passes in behind for soldado. He'd be better suited to the left, he has the pace and can get crosses in for soldado.

by Duty281 Sun 15 Dec 2013, 7:29 pm

AVB's gone...according to Twitter.

by mystiroakey Sun 15 Dec 2013, 7:31 pm

Whatever Rodgers is rodgering. I suggest moyes and Avb get some. It's working..

It's not just about Suarez, his players are performing. And bringing on some good English talent.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 7:39 pm

Duty281 wrote:AVB's gone...according to Twitter.

Old tweets from his Chelsea sacking I believe

by **hampo17** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 7:48 pm

It's a French TV channel reporting it apparently, wouldn't surprise me.

The other rumour is AvB has been sacked and Capello will replace him, apparently the Russian FA have already been informed. Got to love these stories Laugh

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 8:31 pm

Capello was apparently at the match today, probably just scouting players that he'll eventually meet in the World Cup for Russia. Can't see Capello walking away from the World Cup with Russia to take over a troubled Tottenham side, don't think we'll see him work in England again. A lot of the links will because of Baldini being at Tottenham.

by **Crimey** Sun 15 Dec 2013, 8:34 pm

14 goals in three games for Liverpool. Great response to the embarrassing Hull result.

by socal1976 Sun 15 Dec 2013, 8:57 pm

I have to thank the Spurs for taking some of the attention off of Arsenal's 6-3 lopsided loss. I don't know why people cut Spurs and AVB so much slack, I hear a lot of apologist justifications. AVB is a bad manager, the players he bought are not panning out, his substitutions and rotations of the squad is poor, and so is his system and tactics. Eriksen does make them much better that and Paulhino were good buys but represent about a third of the money they have spent in the offseason. I have never understood the fascination with this guy, he was awful at Chelsea as well.

Why they don't play Defoe, I don't know, why he keeps playing Lennon who is just worthless I don't know. And who the __ck is Chahdli? Capoue as you your central defender? The guy is a disaster that being said I hope he manages spurs for at least a few more years. He wasted the Bale money and bought a bunch of squad players that were not any better than the ones he had with the exception of Eriksen and Pauhlino. He should have just bought 3 great players with the money.

by PF4EC Sun 15 Dec 2013, 9:50 pm

Without trying to hijack this thread, I rate gerrard higher than scholes though you are of course entitled to disagree. i just dont see how he is past it either, (Fulham a case in point). Before his injury he was level with Ozil on assists and goals...
They won 5-0 without him, imagine the scoreline with him!

by mystiroakey Sun 15 Dec 2013, 9:52 pm

My biggest hope is for the right players to not be fit or match fit so they don't get picked for England in the summer.

Gerrard is my biggest hope.

by NickisBHAFC Sun 15 Dec 2013, 10:50 pm

LOL WHOEVER FELL FOR THE AVB SACKING!!!!

by **Crimey** Mon 16 Dec 2013, 11:01 am

socal1976 wrote:Why they don't play Defoe, I don't know, why he keeps playing Lennon who is just worthless I don't know. And who the __ck is Chahdli? Capoue as you your central defender? The guy is a disaster that being said I hope he manages spurs for at least a few more years. He wasted the Bale money and bought a bunch of squad players that were not any better than the ones he had with the exception of Eriksen and Pauhlino. He should have just bought 3 great players with the money.

Defoe is becoming massively overrated through lack of play-time, a similar thing happened to Joe Cole during the end of his Chelsea days. He's seen as the answer to all Tottenham's prayers, but it's simply not the case. Clearly Tottenham's strength lies in midfield, so AVB doesn't want to weaken the midfield by playing two up top, but Defoe isn't any good as a lone striker as he struggles to hold the ball up to let his team mates join in.

Lennon was probably Tottenham's biggest attacking threat last night, and last season he was very good as well, he's the best winger Tottenham have, and is better to get the best out of Soldado than Townsend, Lamela or Chadli. Capoue is obviously at centre back because of an injury crisis, and he's also played centre back plenty of times before in his career, it's not just AVB being odd.

It's quite hard to say that he should have been "3 great players", who? They had a lot of money, they'd have been overpriced with any top players. Who was even available for them to target? The squad was in massive need of reinforcements, it could, perhaps should have happened over a few seasons but the squad really needed every player that was bought other than perhaps Capoue, but he is very highly rated so they probably didn't want to pass up on him at a fairly cheap price. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, all but Chadli and Chirches were considered some of the most promising and exciting players in the world, it's not like he bought Charlie Adam and Danny Graham. They bought players who had proven themselves on an international level but also had a lot of scope to improve and get better.

by compelling and rich Mon 16 Dec 2013, 11:07 am

AVB been sacked, hardly suprising

by **Crimey** Mon 16 Dec 2013, 11:08 am

AVB has gone.

by Guest Mon 16 Dec 2013, 12:27 pm

He was clueless, poor tactically, woefully bad at handling the media. Not surprised at all. He's taken a significant hit to his reputation since coming to England, expect him to scamper back to Porto to resurrect himself.

He must be sitting on an absolute Mount Kilimanjaro of compensation money from Chelsea & Spurs. Just shocking.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Mon 16 Dec 2013, 1:10 pm

Crimey wrote:
socal1976 wrote:Why they don't play Defoe, I don't know, why he keeps playing Lennon who is just worthless I don't know. And who the __ck is Chahdli? Capoue as you your central defender? The guy is a disaster that being said I hope he manages spurs for at least a few more years. He wasted the Bale money and bought a bunch of squad players that were not any better than the ones he had with the exception of Eriksen and Pauhlino. He should have just bought 3 great players with the money.

Defoe is becoming massively overrated through lack of play-time, a similar thing happened to Joe Cole during the end of his Chelsea days. He's seen as the answer to all Tottenham's prayers, but it's simply not the case. Clearly Tottenham's strength lies in midfield, so AVB doesn't want to weaken the midfield by playing two up top, but Defoe isn't any good as a lone striker as he struggles to hold the ball up to let his team mates join in.

Lennon was probably Tottenham's biggest attacking threat last night, and last season he was very good as well, he's the best winger Tottenham have, and is better to get the best out of Soldado than Townsend, Lamela or Chadli. Capoue is obviously at centre back because of an injury crisis, and he's also played centre back plenty of times before in his career, it's not just AVB being odd.

It's quite hard to say that he should have been "3 great players", who? They had a lot of money, they'd have been overpriced with any top players. Who was even available for them to target? The squad was in massive need of reinforcements, it could, perhaps should have happened over a few seasons but the squad really needed every player that was bought other than perhaps Capoue, but he is very highly rated so they probably didn't want to pass up on him at a fairly cheap price. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, all but Chadli and Chirches were considered some of the most promising and exciting players in the world, it's not like he bought Charlie Adam and Danny Graham. They bought players who had proven themselves on an international level but also had a lot of scope to improve and get better.

Agree down to the ground.

AVB hasnt done that badly there. Why let the man spend that much money if you won't give him time to see it come to fruition. His problem is that he wouldnt look at a 3-0 and think "shut up shop and make this less painful". He went for it still. Depressing really that two big defeats get him sacked, where if they had been two 2-0 losses it wouldnt have been noted.

I can see why, but the guy isn't inept by any means.

by compelling and rich Mon 16 Dec 2013, 1:20 pm

think west ham at home was the worse result he's had, liverpool not too far behind. city away, a fair few good teams have already been tonked there including united and arsenal.

by mystiroakey Mon 16 Dec 2013, 1:29 pm

not surprising is it- I was this close to sticking money on him last night as the next PL manager to be sacked.

He is well out of his depth at top clubs. He needs to just go down the leagues and learn his trade a bit. I think we can all see potential in him.

by mystiroakey Mon 16 Dec 2013, 1:29 pm

NickisBHAFC wrote:LOL WHOEVER FELL FOR THE AVB SACKING!!!!

by J.Benson II Mon 16 Dec 2013, 2:27 pm

Crimey wrote:
socal1976 wrote:Why they don't play Defoe, I don't know, why he keeps playing Lennon who is just worthless I don't know. And who the __ck is Chahdli? Capoue as you your central defender? The guy is a disaster that being said I hope he manages spurs for at least a few more years. He wasted the Bale money and bought a bunch of squad players that were not any better than the ones he had with the exception of Eriksen and Pauhlino. He should have just bought 3 great players with the money.

Defoe is becoming massively overrated through lack of play-time, a similar thing happened to Joe Cole during the end of his Chelsea days. He's seen as the answer to all Tottenham's prayers, but it's simply not the case. Clearly Tottenham's strength lies in midfield, so AVB doesn't want to weaken the midfield by playing two up top, but Defoe isn't any good as a lone striker as he struggles to hold the ball up to let his team mates join in.

Defore may not be anything great but he has proven himself to be a good PL goal scorer. Last season, Tottenham's top three scorers were Bale, Defoe and Dempsey. Two of these were sold and one is relegated to being a bench warmer.

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