We Go Again! The 2014/15 Premier League Thread

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

Who would have thought that Liverpool's strength would be the defence after the start to the season!

[Ent]

City will be 2nd if they win tomorrow.

Probably have the easier fixtures too.

United a point behind arsenal, have to play them at home.

Could be any order really. Arsenal also have a cup semi final to focus on.

[mystiroakey]

I am hoping somehow we can pull an upset- but i cant see it.. but you never know.. it could be the start of the man city slide to 5th in the PL- which would make my year

[Fernando]

Burnley XI vs. Tottenham: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell (c), Mee; Boyd, Jones, Arfield, Barnes; Ings, Vokes.

Bench: Gilks, Keane, Ward, Kightly, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, Ulvestad.

Tottenham XI vs. Burnley: Vorm; Walker, Chiriches, Dier, Rose; Bentaleb, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Paulinho; Kane (c)

Bench: Friedel, Davies, Dembele, Lamela, Stambouli, Townsend, Soldado

[FootballLight]

But its still an error. You can say exactly the same about Courtois. Them shots happen, sometimes you can do nothing. Either way, they are both still the same kettle of fish.

[compelling and rich]

kane captain? suggests that spurs are seriously lacking leaders in the dressing room if a young lad whos only just broke into the team is captain. why add the pressure, just let the lad play

[NickisBHAFC]

Don't think it's anything to get to worked up on and don't forget tottenham do have a very young squad.

[Hero]

Kane has apparently been quite the vocal leader in the dressing room all season, imagine it's Spurs trying to show him how important he is to them going forward.

[NickisBHAFC]

What a boring half of football.

[Hammersmith harrier]

It is an atrocious Spurs team on paper, Lloris and Eriksen are the only two proven quality players they have, the rest is just so so with a potentially very good player in Kane.

With Van Gaal looking like he's finally getting it right at United I can only see the gap between the top four and the rest getting even bigger next season, there's not much left to play for this season aside from pride against rivals.

[NickisBHAFC]

The battle for the drop is the only thing I expect to be going on, on the final day.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I wouldn't say it's over quite yet. United have to play City Arsenal and Chelsea.

[Ent]

Even if we lose those games we have 12 points to go for and an 8 point cushion.

Spurs et al would need to win every game to pip us.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That Is what Defoe can do!!

[Guest]

What a strike

Goal of the weekend, that.

[NickisBHAFC]

WHAT A GOAL!!! 

Swear you always get a random weekend where some absolute pings are scored. From memory Alex Tetty and Wayne Rooney did it on the same weekend last season.

[Guest]

Absolute dog**** this Newcastle side

[NickisBHAFC]

Staidum of light is bouncing at half time!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It's slightly surreal hearing Thierry Henry reference the Quinn/Phillips partnership. I know he was here, but still

[Guest]

Prolific Rivière to save us

[westisbest]

What a strike

Goal of the weekend, that.

Rooney's or Zamora for me freely.

Obviously Adam's wasn't bad.

[NickisBHAFC]

Charlie Adams was mine. 

Most people on here will class it as a keeper mistake though and ignore the absolute brilliance from Adam.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Has anyone done that?

Bobby's is mine, pure class.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I'd have the Adam goal as the fourth best of the weekend, tend to think the long range lobs which rely on a poor goalkeeping position are a bit over rated.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Newcastle in the derby

[Guest]

Embarrassing. I'm ashamed to share the same name with Carver, completely clueless, couldn't motivate someone with a winning lottery ticket to get off his couch & go & collect the winnings.

If we play like this until May, I hope 35 points is enough for survival.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Costel Pantilimon is a fantastic keeper, while i'm at it. Real quality

[Guest]

That goal deserved to win any game.

Bad weekend for Villa. On it rolls...

[Ent]

I'd have the Adam goal as the fourth best of the weekend, tend to think the long range lobs which rely on a poor goalkeeping position are a bit over rated.

Some skill to hit the target from that range regardless of what the keepwr is doing.

[Guest]

Embarrassing. I'm ashamed to share the same name with Carver

You're John Carver too. What are the chances

[westisbest]

Is a bad weekend for is.

Have to win on Tuesday.

Dint think we will get anything against Spurs and Man City.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I'd have the Adam goal as the fourth best of the weekend, tend to think the long range lobs which rely on a poor goalkeeping position are a bit over rated.

Some skill to hit the target from that range regardless of what the keepwr is doing.

Any player worth his salary should be able to hit the target from that range, that in itself isn't difficult but he has done well to lob the keeper in the process however the technical ability Defoe, Zamora and Rooney showed is higher.

[Ent]

I'd have the Adam goal as the fourth best of the weekend, tend to think the long range lobs which rely on a poor goalkeeping position are a bit over rated.

Some skill to hit the target from that range regardless of what the keepwr is doing.

Any player worth his salary should be able to hit the target from that range, that in itself isn't difficult but he has done well to lob the keeper in the process however the technical ability Defoe, Zamora and Rooney showed is higher.

Ever seen the crossbar challenge on soccer am?

Harder than it looks, especially to just do it during a game.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'd have Rooney's 4th, possibly 5th depending on viewing Gomis' again

[Crimey]

Big win for Sunderland, not safe but with QPR and Leicester winning and Burnley getting a point they needed that win.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Weekend of teams who want it more. Leicester, QPR, Sunderland, probably Burnley's point too

[Crimey]

Also shows the benefit of facing teams with little to fight for. QPR, Sunderland and Leicester all picking up points from teams that are practically safe.

[FootballLight]

Bad weekend for Burnley. They got a credible point against Spurs, yes, but all the other teams bar Hull and Villa around then won which isn't what they wanted.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

They'll have an eye on fixture lists and will consider it a decent weekend for them. People will have expected them to lose. They probably thought Leicester and Sunderland would win. They got the results they wanted from Villa and Hull.

Their last few games have been Saints, City, Liverpool, Swansea, Spurs. If they'd got 0 points it wouldnt have been a huge surprise. They've come out with 4, and most importantly theyve had those fixtures and have got themselves 18th and only 3 points from 15th. Their next game is Arsenal, a likely defeat, but after that they've got the fixture list you'd want in a run-in.

Their fixtures now: Arsenal(H), Everton (A), Leicester (H), West Ham (A), Hull (A), Stoke (H), Villa (A).

Leicester: WBA (A), Swansea (H), Burnley (A), Chelsea (H), Newcastle (H), Southampton (H), Sunderland (A), QPR (H)

QPR: Villa (A), Chelsea (H), West Ham (H), Liverpool (A), City (A), Newcastle (H), Leicester (A)

Hull: Saints (A), Liverpool (H), Palace (A), Arsenal (H), Burnley (H), Tottenham (A), Man United (H)

Villa: QPR (H), Spurs (A), FA CUP SEMI, City (A), Everton (H), West Ham (H), Saints (A), Burnley (H)

Sunderland: Palace (H), Stoke (A), Saints (H), Everton (A), Leicester (H), Arsenal (A), Chelsea (A)

I wouldnt wanna be Hull. QPR have to pick up wins against West Ham, Newcastle and probably Leicester. Sunderland now need to go on a run. Leicester have obvious fixtures to target. I'd be desperate to play Newcastle and West Ham right now.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I would guess Hull could lose their next 4. Then they HAVE to beat Burnley

[Guest]

I'd be desperate to play Newcastle right now.

Yeah, you can say that again. We're bottom of the form guide, truly woeful stuff. If we stay up, which we should just be able to manage, thanks to Pardew, I'd be amazed if McClaren isn't appointed in the summer. Leaving Carver in charge is a one way ticket to the championship.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Same old story with the toon, they play up until January at which point they're effectively safe and then they switch off for the rest of the reason,

[Fernando]

I'd be desperate to play Newcastle right now.

Yeah, you can say that again. We're bottom of the form guide, truly woeful stuff. If we stay up, which we should just be able to manage, thanks to Pardew, I'd be amazed if McClaren isn't appointed in the summer. Leaving Carver in charge is a one way ticket to the championship.

Ill be honest John, I think Newcastle need a proper overhaul in the summer regardless of manager, Realistically Sissoko & Perez are the genuine quality in your side with Cabella still "Adapting". If you lose any of them and don't replace well could see you in a relegation battle quite easily tbh especially with the crap going down this year...Even the sides coming up seem to have a decent standard about them for once.

[FootballLight]

Liverpool holding crisis talks. Only rumours but surely they can't be contemplating sacking Rodgers can they? Guided them to 2nd place last year and although this season hasn't gone anywhere near as well, they are still doing ok and they will be focusing on staying in Europe. Although you can't always go on last season, but surely he needs some more time? Maybe he will be gone by the end of the season.

[Ent]

I don't really rate Rodgers but Europa league is liverpools level currently.

They don't have the financial prowess or playing staff to be top 4 currently so why the big surprise in being 5-7th?

[Guest]

Well if top 4 was the minimum target, he's failed. You've gone backwards this year. Anway, BR probably knows Sterling is off to City this summer & won't be able to attract top stars without a top 4. Maybe, time he left. If he did go, surely someone like De Boer or Klopp?

[mystiroakey]

well you cant replace players like gerrard and suarez so in most peoples minds he hasn't failed, if he finishes 5th thats where liverpool's squad fit. and man u are now becoming a really good team again. not the best - but a true CL team. Arsenal have played amazing since that loss to monaco - possibly their best spell in years. city have gone a bit backwards-and chelsea have gone massively forwards.

[Ent]

Like I said I don't rate Rodgers but what else is he meant to do, United, city, arsenal, chelsea all have more money and better players/squads.

Unless he is sacked for a poor transfer window (he did waste all the suarez money) - which would be fair enough.

[Guest]

I think Liverpool are about par. Agree with Ent on this one.

Last season was a one off.

[FootballLight]

I think Rodgers is quite a good manager, just do not like his style of play. They are full of errors because they try play out from the back which doesn't work when teams press you. He needs a big physical striker and players that are quick and mobile to work off that player. That's why I thought he my have tried to sign Bony.

I hope he doesn't get sacked but there are justifiable reasons if he does.

[Guest]

If Rodgers, if.., wins the FA Cup and somehow leaves the club in the summer then he can consider it a job well done.

It's a mighty ask to consistently finish higher than Chelsea, City, Arsenal and United.

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