Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'x'

[GSC]

First topic message reminder :

I wouldn't be upset, if it were limited to League 2 and below, and had a quota of English players with an age cap.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Adrian promised the press he'd buy them all beer if we beat Spurs. Press today come in to find a box full of San Miguel tinnies.

[Calder106]

The Independent are saying that there is no public support from any Premier League clubs of the "B" team idea yet, pouring scorn on Dyke's claim that some such clubs were in favour, and the Football League have called the idea "disgraceful".

A big enough backlash and it may not see the light on England's overly green and pleasant land.

Looks like some managers think it's a good idea.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10818818/Liverpool-and-Everton-managers-Brendan-Rodgers-and-Roberto-Martinez-back-FAs-B-team-plan.html

[NickisBHAFC]

I do know why he wants to do it, there are way way too many forgien players in the Premiership. But this B league idea is just madness. Must be a better way.

[compelling and rich]

i prefer the idea of improving local feeder teams and use the loans system better that way, perhaps have a local affiliation with a club and that doesnt count to the loan tally for that season. that way young players wont be up rooted all around the country and will also have team mates there to help.

take my local area for example, the likes of oldham, rochdale, bury etc all really struggle these days because they have the big two manchester clubs on there door steps. nature of young fans that there much more likely to support city or united. all clubs mention attendances are falling.

at least with what i suggest there can be something positive out of having neighbors that are severely affecting you. obviously this will be extremely helpful to north west clubs with the amount of decent clubs we have but they also have there catchment areas a lot more contested than the likes of a mk dons or plymouth who dont have massive neighbors stealing not only players but fans aswell

[andy_14clark]

I would be happy with pulis , bruce or poyet  as manager of the season. But you have to say with the worth of the squads and the position in the league pulis has achieved the most- its just that sunderland have done it late rather than early- What is the better way of staying up!! leaving it till the last minute or doing it with games to spare? The final push is remembered as its more dramatic , but it isnt the greater achievement! If Bruce wins the FA cup - I would give it to him - otherwise pulis then bruce and poyet joint second.

rodgers, martinez and Pochettino have all brought good football to their teams and all deserve credit- but all have marginally failed in terms of where they could have finished in the league. But kudos to all 3 for playing great football and utilising and growing home grown players.

And then the 7th manager on the list has to be pellegrini. (as long as he wins the PL)

How can the team that wins the PL not have a manager in the running.

Anyway I cant see past those 7 managers.

I don't think Bruce should be included at all for manager of the season. Have you seen what has happened to that team. Yeah they are in the FA Cup final but in the league he has been poor (even though he beat my team Sunderland twice and in the cup and we never scored once).

Pellegrini, yeah he has pretty much wrapped up the league but most managers can do it with teams like that.

Martinez, got the team pretty much where they were expected, just switched with Tottenham.

Pochettino, has really got things working at Southampton.

For me your looking at Pulis, Poyet and Rodgers for me.

> Rodgers has achieved what Liverpool have been struggling to do for years, its just a shame that they look to have bottled it when we pretty much gave it to them taking points from Citeh and Chelsea.

> Pulis has worked wonders at Palace. I wasn't a fan of his style of football and didn't want him here when there was problems with Di Canio (knew he could do a job though and keep us up) as i didn't like him at Stoke but you can't knock the tactics if they work. On paper, once of the weakest teams in the league, just goes to show he's a decent manager.

> Poyet, this guy has found a miracle in the last few weeks and our team performances have been nothing but amazing (except second half of WBA). Got to see my team play at Wembley where they did themselves proud and were on the verge of an upset, done by two great goals. Although it would be great for him to get manager of the season, it can be hard to base that over the last 5 games after we looked certain to go down. Yea we played some nice football but defensively we were poor and I have never seen a team defend corners so badly as well as score so many own goals.

I can now look forward to next season and see what comes of it and how many stupid rumours we are linked with. Alex McCarthy and Aaron Cresswell are two i would like us to go for. Even try to make Borini and Alonso loan deals permanent. However i hear rumours that there will be nothing for Poyet to spend.

[Duty281]

On the subject of Fabio Borini (), it sounds like he wants a chance at Liverpool next season and, with their rather small squad going into Europe, I imagine it's a chance he will get.

[mystiroakey]

I think you are being a bit harsh on Martinez mate most people assumed with the loss of Moyes and the GREAT Fellani(  ) they would slide.

Martinez is playing a much better brand of football and scored more points than ever. Everton fans were not expecting what they have seen and are as happy as lary even though they have just missed out on the top 4

And bruce has flown under the radar- done really well first season up.

Pulis hasnt just brought his stoke style to palace- He has utilised  our big strong quick forwards and is moving much more towards a very decent counter attacking style on the floor rather than lumping it up to a single target man.

Poyet has been lucky that Wickham has been on fire- but as i said he deserves to be in the running- but as i also stated - Sunderland's squad is worth double palaces!

[Duty281]

Now that Liverpool have, seemingly, lost out in the title race (barring an Andy Carroll miracle!), I would say that Tony Pulis is my manager of the season.

He didn't just take Palace to safety from a difficult position, he cruised to the safety line and took the club to the brink of the top-half.

As some people say from around my way: proper job!

[GSC]

In good news for olly, Mackays dropped his court case

[Fernando]

L'Equipe has reported that Newcastle United have approached Christophe Galtier to take over as new manager.

In other toon news Cisse out for several months after knee surgery. Well no one will buy him this summer.

Giroud > Cisse

[Guest]

L'Equipe has reported that Newcastle United have approached Christophe Galtier to take over as new manager.

In other toon news Cisse out for several months after knee surgery. Well no one will buy him this summer.

Giroud > Cisse

  

Cisse being injured is hardly depressing news. Although, when De Jong & Remy leave, that leaves the club with just Shola Ameobi & Adam Campbell.

Yeah, heard about the St. Etienne manager being lined up. Thought we'd be sticking with Pardew but maybe not now. If we hire this new manager, not only is it a huge risk, but it also means will be sticking with the French transfer policy for years to come. Not sure if that's the best idea in the long run. Maybe, Cabella & Grenier will be persuaded to come to Newcastle, knowing that Galtier is the new boss?

[nasisillmatic]

What about Mark Hughes?

He's put the disaster of QPR behind him, and proven he's still a good manager. I think I read he's set a record for home wins for Stoke.

[mystiroakey]

Hughes is an odd one because we could say he has out performed anything pulis has done at stoke- but stoke were an established pl team and palace finished 6th in the champs the season before and lost the player that got them up, so were way behind without signing anyone of note in the summer.Pulis has got a superior pts per game record this season as well and could easily finish level with them on pts even though they were maybe 10 pts behind them when he took over

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I think Stoke getting to that points tally on minimal investment and also changing the style so much is considerable enough to win the thing.

[Guest]

So Andy Carroll has scored more goals against Man City than any other team.

The straw clutching continues.

Tony Pulis is my manager of the season. Done an incredible job at Selhurst.

[Guest]

Pulis has done an incredible job & gets my vote. To pick up the amount of points Palace have done is astonishing, with that squad. Rodgers at times has made strange tactical decisions & sometimes I feel he just relied upon Suarez to bail him out. His failure to react to the situation last Monday night was strange too, why not at 3-1 up, realise the game should be seen out, get the three points & put the pressure back on City. Be pro-active & bring on K.Toure or Agger to shore up the defence, instead he just stood there. I found it odd.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Will go for Pulis as well, done wonders and at a team in Palace that I thought for certain to get relegate, Rodgers will probably get it but tactically he's not great, the fact his team can't defend despite huge investment in that area is proof enough.

[Guest]

I didn't think Palace would even reach 20 points and probably wouldn't have under Holloway.

Rodgers real test is now next season. Intriguing.

[Guest]

I'm still yet to be convinced Rodgers is a potentially great manager. Brendan Rodgers is sitting pretty currently, receiving a whole host of plaudits, but next year I think it will be difficult to repeat this form & momentum. He might get the Manager of the Year, like Pardew did in 2012, but then the form & results will no doubt go off & the reality, pressure & demands of EPL management long term, not just one season, kick in.

[Duty281]

It will, indeed, be a greater test for Liverpool next season.

Rodgers will need to make some tidy, sensible investments - not always the easiest thing to achieve in the aftermath of a World Cup - to shore up a rather small squad; a squad that will be competing on an extra European front next year.

Then you take into consideration the greater pressures and expectations that will be levelled onto Liverpool after this fantastic, not to mention surprising, Premier League campaign that they have undertaken this season.

Not to worry about that yet, though.

First comes Sunday - Stevie's Sunday?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

To be fair to Rodgers, not winning the title by a couple points shouldnt suddenly drop him from Manager of the Year to "meh". 7th last season was it? Now they are in the title race on the last day. I think hes been shown up at times, but created a side than can excite and destroy.

Hughes and Bruce would stand up there, as should Pellegrini if City win the title with a Carling Cup thrown in. Pulis has done a good job, although I feel its both patronising and a reflection of how well Palace have finished rather than a major accomplishment.

[compelling and rich]

have to remember that Liverpool seeding for the champions league will be poor, 3rd seeds if i figured out the coefficients out. which means there group is going to be extremely tough.

so yeah rodgers will have a proper test next season of balancing league and europe

[The Fourth Lion]

have to remember that Liverpool seeding for the champions league will be poor, 3rd seeds if i figured out the coefficients out. which means there group is going to be extremely tough.

so yeah rodgers will have a proper test next season of balancing league and europe

That didn't seem to bother anybody when Manchester City were drawn in a group with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund  (who made it to the final that season) and Ajax.

Frankly, when people start talking of "coefficients" and suchlike, my eyes glaze over and I feel an overwhelming urge to grab them by the shoulders, shake them vigorously and shout "Wake up, wake up.  You're having a terrible nightmare..!!".

I took the trouble to look at this so-called "coefficient system" and decided it was all too much bother.   When you boil it all down, it's about giving the biggest clubs an advantage.  Liverpool are no longer one of the biggest clubs so they are disadvantaged.   It's the modern way.

Personally, I'd go back to a straight draw and if Real Madrid are drawn against Barcelona in the first round, well, one will go through and one will go out.  End of.  Simple.

As for Brendan Rodgers.   It seems odd to criticise a man who has come almost from nowhere to become one of the top managers in England.   It's not as if he was a famous player at any time..... Ballymena....Whitney Town.... Newbury Town.   He didn't exactly garner a wealth of experience at the top level as a player, did he..?  

After gaining his coaching qualifications (without fast-tracking) he became a manager in 2008... yes, only six years ago.... at Watford for a year, then Reading for a short while before going to Swansea.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, he has taken Liverpool to a likely second place finish in the Premiership and returned Liverpool to the erroneously named "Champions" League in less than two calendar years.    Tony Pulis for Manager of the Season...???  <hoots of derisive laughter>

But after a mere six years as a manager the bloke is still learning.  Yes, it is possible that Liverpool could get a tough draw in the CL next season.  Well, that's how it is these days.  Rubbish, innit..?   If they do, I'm sure he'll do his best for the club, team and fans.   If they win they win.  If they lose they lose.   That's football.  But Brendan Rodgers will gain in experience and if Liverpool's board have any smarts about them they'll hang on to him and let him build.  Give him time.

I've got a feeling that, in the long run, he'll make it

[Duty281]

What's Pulis done to upset you, Fourth Lion?

[Crimey]

In Rodgers' favour next year is that the expectation in the Champions League will be low, particularly if the group is as tough as it will likely be, so if Liverpool do get knocked out in the group stages it won't necessarily be a disaster as long as he can secure Champions League football again (not easy though). Can be a learning curve for the players. 

I do think he showed naivety in the games against Chelsea and Crystal Palace, but it can happen to the best of managers that after so long of winning games at ease that reacting becomes difficult. Rodgers will learn to get better at that you feel, he's good at setting teams up in the first place or changing the system early, but when things start going wrong he does struggle to react. I was screaming at the TV after Palace scored their second goal because Rodgers was just stood silent, doing nothing, he should have been shouting at the players or talking tactics with his coaches, getting a substitute ready, I do think Palace's momentum was stoppable.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/chris-hughton-lined-up-quick-3519534

Its gonna happen Mat!!!

[GSC]

I think he could do a decent job. Norwich tried to run before they could walk a bit

[Guest]

Whoever touches Hughton is in trouble, i've seen it first hand, so has Olly. He will never be a good enough manager for the EPL. He can't motivate players, tactically he's inept, completely re-active instead of being pro-active on the touchlines. Appoint Hughton & the good old yo-yo days between divisions will be back at the Hawthorns.

[Crimey]

He's a coach not a manager basically.

[Guest]

Which suits West Brom's needs.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He's a coach not a manager basically.

One who can't coach attack, and is debatable whether he can coach a team defensively either

[NickisBHAFC]

Pulis 100% manager of the season.

Rodgers and Mark Hughes the next 2.

[compelling and rich]

pullis number 1 for me, rodgers two

and bruce number 3 for me who has been harshly over looked. never easy staying in the prem in first season up and he's done it easy enough as well got his team to the fa cup final

gus just misses out because most of the season he was cack, just saved my a miraculous finish. and the award is manager of the season not april/may

[mystiroakey]

Yeah agree compelling. My thoughts exactly.

[NickisBHAFC]

Forgot all about Bruce, yeah him number 3 for me.

As for Hughton going to West Brom, good appointment. Players let him down at Norwich.

[Duty281]

Roy Hodgson to Chris Hughton in two years, with Clarke and the Spanish bloke in between - how to go backwards the West Brom way!

At least they're going consistently backwards, I suppose.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

As for Hughton going to West Brom, good appointment. Players let him down at Norwich.

Lolz

[mystiroakey]

Ok how about. 

Let down of the season. 

Those in the running below

Moyes
Fellani
Houghton
Tan
Tan
Tan
Zaha??? even I can admit something has gone wrong - ok I blame moyes or fergie for buying then leaving but part of it must be his doing.
Antidore( in the running as the worst player ever in the English professional league) 
Tan
Rvp
Giroud(for John only)
Webb
Every other Pl ref.....

[Guest]

As for Hughton going to West Brom, good appointment. Players let him down at Norwich.

Lolz

Hashtag that mo fo Olly!

[Duty281]

Biggest let down?

Erik Lamela, surely?

Especially when you take into consideration the price and expectations.

[mystiroakey]

How much did altidore cost?

[Nakatomi Plaza]

Soldado's got to be in the running for letdown of the season.

[mystiroakey]

Yes soldado???

27m of @#?#

[kingraf]

expert penalty taker though

[Guest]

Soldado must of earned Spurs at least 15 points on his own this season.

[Guest]

He scored 4 winners in 1-0 wins so there's 12 points there.

[mystiroakey]

All pens?

Or was one not a pen.

I count that as 3pts gained.

[Guest]

Giroud has won Arsenal more points mind.   

[Guest]

His winner against Cardiff was not a pen. I'm sure it's four or five pens & a winner vs Cardiff. Not bad but certaintly not great. I guess if you remove those 15 odd points he earned, Spurs would drop down two or three EPL positions & would probably lose them around £3m+ in prize money (that is all guess-work)

I think Soldado scored more in Europe didn't he? I think he will come good, given the service & having adjusted to the EPL next season. You don't go suddenly dreadful at his age, just needs his confidence back because he is a prolific striker in my opinion.

How many points has Giroud earned? Doesn't surprise me seeing as he gets pin-point service most weekends in a dominate possession oriented side.

[mystiroakey]

defoe scored loads in europe i think john.. i think soldado was benched for defoe in most of those 'lesser' games.

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