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!

[Crimey]

I'd say we're about on course with where you'd expect us to be, especially after having lost Suarez in the summer and let's not forget the poor start, this season looked like it was going to be a disaster, instead it'll likely be a on par season. It's disappointing not to get Champions League football again but as long as we cope with the demands of the Europa League next year we'll be in a better position to challenge with players having settled, another year older as well.

I would be very surprised if Rodgers is sacked now after the management stuck with him earlier in the season when not even in the top half. Think he's building a good side and right now almost every member of the first eleven is under 25 so I think will be better placed to challenge over the next two to three years.

[Crimey]

I also think Manchester United getting into the top four might actually be a good thing for the other teams around them as I have a feeling it'll mean less money will be spent in the summer. Had they failed to get top four, I think huge amounts of money would have been thrown at the side, as it is, I imagine getting top four will make that less likely. I'm still expecting them to spend money just not to the same extent.

[hampo17]

Think United will still spend big money in the summer Crimey. Rumours today that Van Gaal is looking to spend at least £105m.

[FootballLight]

I think if Liverpool want to improve this summer they need to sign a couple of good quality home grown players. The last thing they want to do is add to the squad unrest they had at the start of the season which contributed to their poor league form. Now they have started to gel a little better since Christmas, their doing ok.

I think Ings would be a good signing. Some potential and is capable of scoring goals in this league. It would be all about making the step up to Europe for me. I also think they could use another CB that has played in this league as well, someone with good experience of the Premier League because Skrtel and Can are good at CB for me, but I'm never convinced by Sakho or Lovren and certainly nobody else. Think if they could bolster that department with another player to start (or for Lovren to drastically improve over the summer), then there is no reason why Liverpool can't get back into the Champions League.

[Guest]

United will blow £100m with ease, let's not get carried away, this United still isn't great, it's a poor PL & if United have any ambition to do well in Europe, they need to be on a much superior level than right now. LVG is in this for the short term too, he will be demanding immediate resources to win as much as possible, seeing as he's not won anything in his first of three seasons. Hummels will be £30m, new £50m striker at least, new full back & another top midfielder

As for Ings at Liverpool, that does not send any warning signs to the established teams above Liverpool that the scousers are coming. He's simply not good enough.

[Ent]

The teams above them are better and will likely get better.

[Ent]

Think we will go for hummels and one more.

Apart from in defense I can't see where we haven't bought recently, now we might buy in areas we have a lot of players but it seems a bit of a waste.

For example if we buy a top striker like you suggest we will have the same situation as this year with Rooney/rvp/falcao battling for one position.

Then we'd have carrick/herrera/blind for 2 cm spots, will probably try and get a body in there to be fair.

[FootballLight]

Well your right in a sense that he won't strike fear into bigger opposition, but can he do any worse than Balotelli or Borini at Liverpool? Not really. Balotelli we all know has been useless and Borini has hardly set the world alight. I don't think Ings would do much better, I hardly expect him to be hitting 20 goals a season, but if he could get 10 league goals I'm sure Liverpool fans would be happy with that for his first season and especially on a free in the summer, it'd be worth it.

United with £100m won't be able to sign Hummels, a new striker, a better full back and a top midfielder. If United would be able to sign a good striker, Hummels and someone like Gundogan then that'd be a great transfer window. I think someone like Lorenzo Insigne or Marco Reus would be a really good signing for them if they could capture one of them for their front line.

[FootballLight]

Sign Gundogan for the midfield and then put Blind at LB potentially? That could work with Marco Reus as the False Nine sort of attacking midfielder and Rooney spearheading the attack. Or have 3 CM's with Herrera, Mata/Di Maria and Reus and then Rooney. Its better to have plenty of options.

[Ent]

No doubt it's better to have options, just seems a waste - going to have a 30 million left back not playing and a 60 million attacker.

Don't mind them spending a bit Of money but don't really want them to become an anglo Real Madrid.

Not sure signing half a dortmund team that have struggled this year would be a sound strategy.

Hummels might find himself short a yard of pace in the pl, but is a good option. Reus is a top class player, the rest I could take or leave.

[FootballLight]

Dortmund have been poor yes, that doesn't mean that Reus, Gundogan and Hummels are bad players though does it? I think they would be absolutely class if they came to the PL.

[Ent]

I don't think you have half a team of class players and do so badly, as the rest of them aren't bad players either.

Reus is top class and would probably succeed, I have my doubts about the rest.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Van Gaal will stick to the shape we're now playing and so he should, he'll be signing players to fit into this system not adapting to suit the signings.

Worth noting he's a manager loyal to his players so don't expect to see Young and Fellaini pushed to one side. Both have been superb recently and are more than deserving of their starting positions.

[Fernando]

Palace: Speroni,Ward,Dann,Delaney,Kelly,McArthur,Ledley,Zaha,Puncheon,Bolasie & Murray

Subs: Hennessey,Souare,Hangeland,Boateng,Ameobi,Gayle & Sanogo

Citeh: Hart,Sagna,Kompany,Demichelis,Clichy,Navas,Fernandinho,Yaya,Silva,Aguero & Dzeko

Subs: Willy,Zabaleta,Fernando,Milner,Nasri,Lampard & Mangala

[Fernando]

Wilfried misses from 4 yards showing his championship quality

[NickisBHAFC]

Still makes me laugh people actually thought he would flourish at united.

[NickisBHAFC]

Cracking save by Speroni keeps it 0-0

[Fernando]

Palace 1-0 Citeh - Glenn Murray (Looked offside)

[NickisBHAFC]

Yeah 2 offsides there. Officials continue to impress.

[Hammersmith harrier]

99.8% of offside decisions are correct apparently, what a load of tosh that statistic is.

[Mike Selig]

Strange game football. City have frankly played Palace off the park but are 1-0 down.

As for the goal, first one marginally off-side, second one marginally on-side. Type of call which when it goes against you is a howler, when it goes for you you say "benefit of the doubt, fair enough".

[mystiroakey]

LA la la , yeah yeah yeah, Wilfred zaha.

The first might have been level , might have been offside. But the second 100% not off side. Goal stands. And even if it was offside. Who cares

[Fernando]

It was just one offside Lino was never gunna see it tho.

[Fernando]

Palace 2-0 - Jason Puncheon

Hart gave too much of the goal to go for from the FK

Manuel out in 48 hrs if stays like this 12 pts behind, Get a new gaffa into to prepare & assess.

[mystiroakey]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHH

Hands hovering.

2-0

[Hammersmith harrier]

Palace 2-0 - Jason Puncheon

Hart gave too much of the goal to go for from the FK

Manuel out in 48 hrs if stays like this 12 pts behind, Get a new gaffa into to prepare & assess.

Can you sack the manager before what is now a very important Manchester derby?

[Fernando]

Palace 2-0 - Jason Puncheon

Hart gave too much of the goal to go for from the FK

Manuel out in 48 hrs if stays like this 12 pts behind, Get a new gaffa into to prepare & assess.

Can you sack the manager before what is now a very important Manchester derby?

If i were Citeh i would if can find one to take over. Realistically without or without a manager you'd expect to make top 4 with Liverpool/Spurs dropping away.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Wait until the summer then conduct a proper search for a new one.

The most worrying thing for city is that of the outfield players today, only kompany and aguero are under 29 years of age. Old old team

[Hammersmith harrier]

If their form doesn't improve Nando they could get dragged back into that battle, lose at the weekend and they could only have a four point cushion.

[Fernando]

They would have to lose 3 out of 7 games to be overtaken & Regardless of form id expect them to achieve it comfortably tbh HH.

[Mike Selig]

Between City and Liverpool for the final CL place?

Amazing how you can dominate a match so much but be 2-0 down.

[mystiroakey]

Well we have had more shots on target. It doesn't matter the possesion you have if you don't or can't use it Mike.

[Fernando]

People throwing coins at Puncheon.

#StayClassy

[Hammersmith harrier]

Stranger things have happened but it would need an impressive late surge from Tottenham to do it, so I suppose you're right, wishful thinking.

[mystiroakey]

Naughty city fans . Launching stuff at punch.

[Fernando]

Dzeko off for Lampard

[mystiroakey]

Murray having a great game. So pleased for him.

[Mike Selig]

Well we have had more shots on target. It doesn't matter the possesion you have if you don't or can't use it Mike.

Hey absolutely. We all know there's only one stat which matters. If I were a City fan though I'd have to say this game would have driven mad.

[Fernando]

Well that's a fairly handball by Glenn Murray. No pen given.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Well that's a fairly handball by Glenn Murray. No pen given.

Ref would never see it through the bodies - but lino should see it clear as day

[Hammersmith harrier]

How long before the sheikh gets bored with City?

FFP means they can't overhaul an ageing squad that needs new blood all over the pitch, paying £30mil for late 20 year olds starting to bite them.

[Fernando]

Nasri on for Navas.

[Fernando]

Palace 2-1 Citeh - Yaya

[mystiroakey]

Bulls

[Fernando]

Glenn Murray off - Yaya Sanogo on

3-1 it's gunna be then

#WakeMeUpBeforeYouSanogo

[Fernando]

Pape Souare on for Yannick Bolasie

[kingraf]

Always interesting to see what team's do when they are in the position Citeh are in. After all, the Sheikh has said that he won't hire and fire unlike "other" oil barons.

[Fernando]

James Milner on for Fernandinho

Dwight Gayle on for Wilfried "Championship Standard" Zaha

[NickisBHAFC]

New manager for Citeh then. I think they should hold of till the end of the season mind.

[mystiroakey]

Beautifull.

Yes we were a bit lucky. But we will fight like this till the end..

39 pts.. Beaten Man City.

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