Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread

[GSC]

First topic message reminder :

It was always going to be hard for Hughton.

The Norwich family never really took to him as one of their own

[kingraf]

I'm still upset my 3/1 bet was not honored this weekend. Placed a fiver on SAS to link up and score, which is exactly what happened... you know - Santi and Sagna

[socal1976]

They look foolish because a man who made them into a team better than they had ever seen before and kept them in the European Elite even without financial masses flowing from their accounts was suddenly disrespected by a core who dont deserve to have such a man of class at the helm

A vocal minority hit out at Wenger and at players like Ramsey. To say that all Arsenal fans wanted Wenger gone is not accurate. I for one as a foreign Arsenal fan gravitated as a neutral in the early 2000s to Wenger's style of play. Last year on this site I stood up for both Arsene, Aaron, and Jack as quite a few others on the Arsenal thread did as well. Don't get me wrong I certainly did not enjoy watching our best players leave and going trophy less for 9 years. But the reason I became a fan was because of the way Wenger's teams play. I don't live in Islington or anywhere near North London, if Arsenal played boring Mourinho defend and counter football I would have never become a fan regardless of the trophies. Wenger deserves a lot of credit for putting the club on a longterm financial footing that will ensure Arsenal remain an English and European power capable to compete for years to come and even after he is gone.

I don't believe also for a second that Wenger spent money on Ozil because fans booed him or attacked him in the media. As the man has said if he has money he will spend it and he will still look for bargains and look to develop young players. If he doesn't have the money or doesn't think a player is valued correctly he won't spend.

[socal1976]

And if Arsenal lose next week, I fully hope that the hype machine will be dissolved.

There is no shame in losing to mancester united at old trafford and losing to manchester united at old trafford does not mean arsenal are a hype machine.

Exactly, I mean people are knocking Arsenal fans for over hyping the team that after 10 matches is top of the table, and winning the most points of any English team in the last 52 weeks. Well is it not worse to pin the quality of a side to a single match, the ball is round and anything can happen on a given night in this league. I mean are Chelsea now exposed as frauds because they lost to Newcastle? Of course not. People knock the Gunners for losing at home to Dortmund when Arsenal dominated the second half and gave up one goal in the 87th minute against the run of play to one of the best sides in Europe. In that Dortmund match we had an Arsenal shot cleared off the line that beat the keeper and a beautiful move that culminated with a shot against the woodwork from Cazorla and we lost by a single goal.

[kingraf]

Seeing Piers Morgan try to backtrack on his multiple "WengerOut" tweets makes me chuckle every morning after an Arsenal win.

[CFCNick]

And if Arsenal lose next week, I fully hope that the hype machine will be dissolved.

There is no shame in losing to mancester united at old trafford and losing to manchester united at old trafford does not mean arsenal are a hype machine.

Yeah there is. After seeing West Brom and Southampton go and play well in annoyed we didn't take our chance at an easy win.

[CFCNick]

Seeing  Piers Morgan try to backtrack on his multiple "WengerOut" tweets makes me chuckle every morning after an Arsenal win.

There's a great picture of a Piers Morgan tweet slagging off Ramsey and underneath is a tweet from this season saying he was the only one who kept faith in Ramsey.

[kingraf]

Do you have the link, Nick? He's done so much backtracking this weekend I'd have to wade through a lot of nonsense

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11709/9009737/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Bugger.

[ncfc_Tooze]

didnt hughton say that last week?
sky slow on that one lol

edit
he did- http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich_city_midfielder_alex_tettey_ruled_out_for_two_months_after_ankle_surgery_1_2958033

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I hadn't heard the length Tooze, until the new year is a blow. Johnson sucks

[Liam]

Olly you must be pretty disappointed with Noriwch's strikers this season. Spent quite a bit on them with nothing in return. I thought Hooper was a cracking signing and the wolf was linked with utd and none of them have scored a goal basically! what do you think is wrong at the moment?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Olly you must be pretty disappointed with Noriwch's strikers this season. Spent quite a bit on them with nothing in return. I thought Hooper was a cracking signing and the wolf was linked with utd and none of them have scored a goal basically! what do you think is wrong at the moment?

RVW has been injured for past month, shame cos he was looking good and adapting well. Hooper is doing alright. Elmander's a donkey.

But they ain't the problem. They are getting no service whatsoever. Up top by themselves, completely isolated, what chance have they got? These guys aren't Benteke/Lukaku types, they ain't gonna dominate up top by themselves, they need someone to play with, link up with. The movement of RVW is very good especially, just he never got played in. We've brought all these new players in, and instead of fitting the system round them, we're trying to stick square pegs in round holes.

Hughton just doesn't know how to get the best out of them. Put any striker in the league in our system, they'd struggle to score

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Anyways we play West Ham at the weekend, 9th November. Last Norwich manager to be sacked in the top flight was Ken Brown, with us third bottom, on the 9th November.

If we don't win, history will repeat itself I think

[Guest]

Anyways we play West Ham at the weekend, 9th November. Last Norwich manager to be sacked in the top flight was Ken Brown, with us third bottom, on the 9th November.

If we don't win, history will repeat itself I think

Quite possibly, because, as under pressure as Martin Jol is a Fulham, I don't think too many people expect them to get a result at Liverpool, although if they do get thumped that still may be the straw that broke the camel's back....of course now I've cursed the Reds by mentioning this weekend's game!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'd expect you to win, Olly. We are one club who do not ever put pressure on under pressure managers

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Christ, didn't realise it was on tv. What a dull way to spend a Saturday evening

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Reid's out Olly, arguably our best player. If you don't win this your whole team want shooting

[westisbest]

0-0

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Another exciting one.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Reid's out Olly, arguably our best player. If you don't win this your whole team want shooting

I'd say we "need" it more than you too. God I hope we win

[NickisBHAFC]

I think if Norwich lose, that's Chris Hughton done. 

I can see Norwich winning this one though.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

If we draw he's done I reckon.

[Ent]

Big game this weekend looking forward to it.

Expect us to get pummeled but at least we will know were we are both at come Sunday evening.

[mystiroakey]

I think you may do OK.. RVP obviously knows Arsenal well and Rooney can score against anyone.

But I dont expect you to have much possession.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

On the Norwich front, Van Wolfswinkel is still out injured, and Redmond is a major doubt (I say 10% chance he makes the bench, no way he starts), but Snodgrass is fit again.

[westisbest]

I wonder if we can find the net on saturday.

Need to get back to winning ways against Cardiff.

[JamesLincs]

narrow win for united i reckon

1-0 spurs

[Ent]

Would bite your hand off for that.

Given our calamitous defending of late can't see arsenal not scoring.

Rio and vidic unlikely to play as did so on Tuesday.

[socal1976]

First time in years I actually feel good about a road trip to United. I will say this that United look much better than they did a few weeks ago, and I think Moyes will turn the ship around. RVP and Rooney are the type of forwards that only need a single mistake and Arsenal in the past has provided multiple mistakes. That being said I think united's defense has looked a bit shaky to me at times this year and I think Arsenal will win 2-1.

[Duty281]

Going to plump for 2-1 United.

Hoping for a great game of football.

[Guest]

As an LFC fan I can't see me wanting anything other than a draw. Wife supports Utd so on the day I'll supppose I have to as well (keep the peace and all that).

Just hope we don't screw it up against Fulham. We have a nice run of games and could feasibly keep up with the leaders.

[Crimey]

Hoping Coutinho's return means we move away from the three man defence.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

PREDICTIONS:

Villa 1 - 0 Cardiff
Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom
Palace 1 - 2 Everton
Liverpool 4 - 0 Fulham
Southampton 2 - 0 Hull
Norwich 1 - 0 West Ham
Tottenham 2 - 0 Newcastle
Sunderland 0 - 2 City
Man United 1 - 3 Arsenal
Swansea 1 - 0 Stoke

[Guest]

United 1 - 3 Arsenal - can't see that happening. People seem to think United are just a walkover now. Arsenal are good but not that exceptionally good to just role up to OT & win with ease. Think United will win, RVP n Rooney will be massively up for this.

Pretty much agree with all your other predictions DZ, although Norwich vs West Ham might be a dull 0-0 or 1-1.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It could go many ways, but my theory is that United could sit to grind a game out. But Arsenal's midfield is so strong that they will love this game. Early goal stretches United, Arsenal find space all day. Just a prediction, I wouldnt be surprised at a 1-1 or United win, but Arsenal are flowing and United are not

[Ent]

We are a walkover.

Gonna get mullered, no doubt we will see the most defensive line up ever at ot and hope Rooney or rvp will pinch a goal.

De gea
Smalling Evans vidic evra
Carrick fellaini
Valencia Rooney giggs
Van persie

Is my prediction.

[Guest]

Ent if you think Giggs will start you are losing it. The guy is a liability now & plays in the non-essential games ever fortnight or so.

United aren't a walkover @ home in a game like this, your improving slowly. Wenger's got a bad record too at OT, you might poo poo records but Mourinho has never won at St James'. Chelsea rolled up to st james' and we were preparing for a thrashing.....we won 2-0 & we massively less quality than United.

Agree could go either way but I just don't buy this Arsenal side can now roll upto anywhere & take 3 points, just because of a good start upto november.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I wouldnt back them at City or Chelsea, but United are there for the taking. Early goal will shatter them.

Giggs has also played phenomenally in a few games this year, the man is incredible

[Ent]

I don't think they can roll up everywhere but we are still pretty terrible regardless of 8 games unbeaten. We aren't really improving, a good run of games and rvp is finding the net.

I think giggs might start in a defensively minded side with welbeck injured. He won't trust young or kagawa to get back, would not be surprised to see januzaj on the left instead though.

Personally I'd go with:

De gea
Rafael Evans vidic evra
Carrick cleverly
Nani Rooney januzaj
Rvp

I'd pick rio if he is fit but there must be something going on we don't know about he's barely getting a game and played mid week.

Gambling on cleverly as he had been terrible this season bit he understands and suits the pressing game and we will have to run a lot against arsenal and all fellaini is good at is missing tackles and fouling people.

Nani would give Gibbs a hard time IMO, Valencia can't look after the ball and when he starts arsenal will press him hard early and he will give them the ball back time and time again.

[compelling and rich]

id go similar with your team ent, with perhaps valencia over nani. although if nani ever decides to pull his finger out its usually only against arsenal.

the only other would be perhaps jones in the middle over clev, we simply cant play carrick and fellaini together there both far too slow against arsenals middle and we will be easily over ran.

strange that this time last season i wouldnt have been worried about this fixture, arsenal at home was always a 3 pointer, think last time they won here was 06. hopefully moyes has been on the phone to fergie because fergie had the wood on arsene in recent times

[mystiroakey]

that's a good attacking team tbh , that front 4 could cause damage to arsernal  if they get =enough service, which will probably mean Rooney dropping into a CM position

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Michael Turner first goalscorer at 40/1 on his birthday is too good to miss.

Cmon the yellas later

[mystiroakey]

Palace will be getting a result today!

CUM ON THE PALACE!!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Also put a tenner on us at 11/8.

We've just got to win...

[mystiroakey]

Never bet on your own team Olly!!

You should have stuck that money on a palace draw!

[GSC]

Both are pointless

[mystiroakey]

west ham have bad away form , so a Norwich win isn't to bad a bet, i have gone for a 1-1 though.

Everton are quality home or away, but not touching that bet tbh. Just hoping for something

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That bad away form is 1 goal conceded away in the Prem this year. And that was a penalty that never should have been.

[mystiroakey]

west ham have scored 3 goals away from home mate!!

that was in ONE game..

they haven't scored in 4 away games!(or 80%)

[mystiroakey]

which may be better than there home form, but I am not expecting many goals and I am going for a 1-1 or 0-0

[Sponsored content]