Barclays Premier League 13/14 Thread Part 'x'

[Ent]

First topic message reminder :

Mancini was terrible, how I wish he was still there.

Should have walked the league the last 2 years with the squad he had and gotten out of his cl groups.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Id pick you over Moyes.

But you've got a soft spot for me   

[guildfordbat]

I'm sure you guys get to go to a lot more Premier League games than me so I won't argue with your selections. However, if Rafael is the best right back of a combined Liverpool / United team, then I reckon both clubs have a serious problem. I accept the lad has some ability but too often a lack of consistency and concentration lets his side down. At times, he seems just plain dopey.

[mystiroakey]

Rafael has had a shocker recently.

But on the flip side he is a trier. He has got frustrated recently and made some really shocking tackles. But to be fair to him its more about the rest of his team being lacklustre.

[lfc91]

I'm sure you guys get to go to a lot more Premier League games than me so I won't argue with your selections. However, if Rafael is the best right back of a combined Liverpool / United team, then I reckon both clubs have a serious problem. I accept the lad has some ability but too often a lack of consistency and concentration lets his side down. At times, he seems just plain dopey.

Seeing as people are going more on ability than form (i tried to combine the two), in my opinion johnson is a better player than rafael. Johnson however has been poor for a few months and has now had to come out of the team for an undetermined period of time due to an injury hes had all season.(which is why i went for rafael).

[Guest]

Rafael has had a shocker recently.

But on the flip side he is a trier. He has got frustrated recently and made some really shocking tackles. But to be fair to him its more about the rest of his team being lacklustre.

Could have Dirk Kuyt in using that criteria

[socal1976]

Tbh I cant even see an argument between the sides here compelling. I am sure everyone can admit that both squads are similar?

There really isnt much in them man for man.

Except that Suarez might be the best player in the planet as he is tied or 1 goal ahead of Ronaldo, having played less games and playing in a much tougher defensive league. That is the Xfactor. Rooney and RVP are class, but this year what Suarez is doing is a level ahead. RVP doesn't create opportunities for others and is injury prone and getting older. If Suarez stays healthy I can't see Liverpool not holding off United. Mata looks like a real quality signing.

[socal1976]

Great match from Ox yesterday. Thank god Arsenal have so much depth in that midfield because it has been an absolute horror show again with injuries for Arsenal. About the only two players in our attack that have not missed lengthy time due to injuries this season has been Ozil and Giroud. We just have to hope Per and the Kosinator stay healthy along with Szcz we don't have as much depth in those areas as in our midfield and attack. Frankly this team is really missing theo and Aaron right now they have so much more cutting edge with those two out there. I don't know how well we will do in this brutal run of matches in February without 2 of our three best attacking players out. Now just to hope for a tie in the Chelsea and Man city match, come on Jose do what you do best and grind the joy out of football one more time. But to be honest Man City should win it.

[mystiroakey]

Ox did the business didnt he!!

Gutted. I have wanted to see make an appearance for ages as I rate him high and England needs him. But to do that against palace.. Gutted.

[socal1976]

Ox did the business didnt he!!

Gutted. I have wanted to see make an appearance for ages as I rate him high and England needs him. But to do that against palace.. Gutted.

Yes he really seems like he has his legs back and that second goal where he drove it right at the defenders and created space for his own after a brilliant give and go with Giroud was wonderful. Both goals were well taken. Palace was tough to breakdown, I am sure you were feeling optimistic after the first half where Arsenal really didn't create anything.

[Duty281]

I've just seen that Wenger has already admitted, pretty much, that the Kim Kallstrom signing was a bad idea.

I mean what was the point of the signing anyway?

[Duty281]

Ox did the business didnt he!!

Gutted. I have wanted to see make an appearance for ages as I rate him high and England needs him. But to do that against palace.. Gutted.

Will be great off the bench, at the very least, for England this summer. Hope he keeps up the kind of display he showed yesterday; that lob for the first was delightful!

[Fernando]

I've just seen that Wenger has already admitted, pretty much, that the Kim Kallstrom signing was a bad idea.

I mean what was the point of the signing anyway?

Because it was 5pm on Friday and it was him or no body by the sounds of it.

[socal1976]

I've just seen that Wenger has already admitted, pretty much, that the Kim Kallstrom signing was a bad idea.

I mean what was the point of the signing anyway?

What drives me nuts is Hull goes out and gets two good strikers and Arsenal can't buy one! I mean I wouldn't mind Long as cover for Giroud. To be honest though I am glad Wenger put the nix on the Draxler deal. For a 20 year old that has one league goal this year he simply is not worth 37 million pounds. He is not worth Mata or Ozil money. And if he we signed him we might not be able to invest as much towards getting a striker next year.

[socal1976]

I think you got it right Fernando, Kallstrom probably won't even see the field with the midfield we got, especially with Jack and Aaron due back soon.

[Duty281]

I've just seen that Wenger has already admitted, pretty much, that the Kim Kallstrom signing was a bad idea.

I mean what was the point of the signing anyway?

Because it was 5pm on Friday and it was him or no body by the sounds of it.

Technically, you've got the latter as Kallstrom could be injured for a few months. And if Arsenal did already know that, which the media seem to suggest, then it absolutely beggars belief.

[Fernando]

I've just seen that Wenger has already admitted, pretty much, that the Kim Kallstrom signing was a bad idea.

I mean what was the point of the signing anyway?

Because it was 5pm on Friday and it was him or no body by the sounds of it.

Technically, you've got the latter as Kallstrom could be injured for a few months. And if Arsenal did already know that, which the media seem to suggest, then it absolutely beggars belief.

They knew he had a back injury it showed up his Medical but went ahead anyway as they don't expect him to be out long 2-3 months isn't correct about 6 weeks or less seems likelier

[NickisBHAFC]

Don't think it was right for Wenger to say he wouldn't of signed a player, had he been given more time. Doesn't do that lads confidence any good does it!

[mystiroakey]

Ox did the business didnt he!!

Gutted. I have wanted to see make an appearance for ages as I rate him high and England needs him. But to do that against palace.. Gutted.

Will be great off the bench, at the very least, for England this summer. Hope he keeps up the kind of display he showed yesterday; that lob for the first was delightful!

palace were so organised - arsenal were trying the intricate through the middle stuff and you just couldn't penetrate our organisation . bar ox that got behind ward on 3 occasions and scored 2 times.

The only other man that can do regularly that is Walcott for you guys.. having ox back now that walcott is injured is paramount to you having plan b against lesser clubs that park the bus..

Arsernal have been first rate against lesser teams, but sometimes we are almost impossible to break down.. You having ox or walcott gives you that dimension.

[socal1976]

Ox did the business didnt he!!

Gutted. I have wanted to see make an appearance for ages as I rate him high and England needs him. But to do that against palace.. Gutted.

Will be great off the bench, at the very least, for England this summer. Hope he keeps up the kind of display he showed yesterday; that lob for the first was delightful!

palace were so organised - arsenal were trying the intricate through the middle stuff and you just couldn't penetrate our organisation . bar ox that got behind ward on 3 occasions and scored 2 times.

The only other man that can do regularly  that is Walcott for you guys.. having ox back now that walcott is injured is paramount to you having plan b against lesser clubs that park the bus..

Arsernal have been first rate against lesser teams, but sometimes we are almost impossible to break down.. You having ox or walcott gives you that dimension.

Well unfortunately with Theo being out I really think that hurts us. But if Ox has developed a nose for goal that will go a long way to cover for the loss. Palace certainly had Arsenal frustrated in the first half. I think Pulis will keep them up. I thought they would get relegated a couple months ago. Now I think they might escape. Amazing relegation race and league in general this year as almost all the bottom teams won last week, unfortunately for you all but palace.

[Fernando]

Man Citeh Vs Chelsea Line Ups

Man City starting XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Nastasic, Kolarov, Navas, Demichelis, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Negredo
VS
Chelsea starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; David Luiz, Matic; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Eto'o

[The Special Juan]

Now to watch Chelsea play with "19th century tactics". I hope Citeh gub them.

[Marky]

Love BBC Sport. Live text mentions Pat Nevin's plan of how Lampard and Mikel can stop Yaya Toure. Above it, the teams, Chelsea playing David Luiz and Matic...

[Fernando]

United got trolled on twitter in their latest #AskCarrick day.

if you could drop one player from the team how would you tell Cleverley?

You've gone from playing with the likes of Ronaldo and Paul Scholes, to playing with Cleverley and Nani. How does that feel?

'How many times has Mata tried to make a run for it since signing?'

'Is Cleverley as annoying to play with as he is to watch?'

in what game was your most memorable pass back to your keeper?

     

[The Special Juan]

United got trolled on twitter in their latest #AskCarrick day.

if you could drop one player from the team how would you tell Cleverley?

You've gone from playing with the likes of Ronaldo and Paul Scholes, to playing with Cleverley and Nani. How does that feel?

'How many times has Mata tried to make a run for it since signing?'

'Is Cleverley as annoying to play with as he is to watch?'

in what game was your most memorable pass back to your keeper?

     

He doesn't normally pass it that far...

[Marky]

By the way, Demichelis in midfield for City tonight will be the key tonight. If he's really better than Garcia or Rodwell at replacing an injured Fernandinho then it's City's game to lose. But if he plays like he has been since joining City...

[Fernando]

Citeh 0-1 Chelsea - Ivanovic bullet from 20 yards

[mystiroakey]

Game on.

[The Special Juan]

i cri evriteim

[Holymiky]

What a strike from Ivanovic!

[Fernando]

HT Citeh 0-1 Chelsea

Citeh looking defensively poor.

[Fernando]

Citeh still not turned up. Matic hits post from 27 yards. Chelsea should be out of sight

[Lumbering_Jack]

This is going to come back and bite Chelsea in the arse. Shame really, the plastic City fans don't deserve the success they are having.

[The Special Juan]

Dzeko's had as much of an impact in this game as an underwater fart.

[Bull]

Goodness me nothing is more annoying than people claiming things like "Plastic fans" etc.

[Fernando]

Chelsea hit the post again...

[Lumbering_Jack]

Nothing? Really? Think you need to get out more.

[Bull]

I was on about on this particular part of the forum.

[Lumbering_Jack]

I was on about on this particular part of the forum.

Well you should make that clear in future. Man up and stop whinging.

[Bull]

Nah, its what I'm good at.

[Lumbering_Jack]

That's a ref card. Clear goal scoring opportunity. He bottled it.

[Fernando]

Chelsea unhappy after Nastasic pulls Oscar down at the half way line being last man and only getting Yellow card. Personally he's at the half way line and was cover so would of have been a sprint race tbh and i wouldn't have fancied Oscar to win it.

[Fernando]

FT Citeh 0-1 Chelsea - Ivanovic.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Clear as a puddle for me. One not to give in my opinion.

Mourinho knows how to drill a side. Big game manager. City are a better team, but this is why Chelsea are in title races.

[mystiroakey]

Well played mourinhio. That was class.

[Fernando]

Think Chelsea may pinch in on the break against Citeh, Be interested to see if the Kompany/Demichilis partnership is up for it.

But will Chelsea be able to "pinch it on the break" four or five times in order to outscore City..?  That's the key question.  Chelsea's strikers haven't exactly been prolific this season, have they..?

If City's attack clicks.........

Only needed to do it once   

[Lumbering_Jack]

Chelsea unhappy after Nastasic pulls Oscar down at the half way line being last man and only getting Yellow card. Personally he's at the half way line and was cover so would of have been a sprint race tbh and i wouldn't have fancied Oscar to win it.

Are you allowed to look at the physical attributes of a player? Did you think it was a clear goal scoring opportunity?

[Fernando]

Chelsea unhappy after Nastasic pulls Oscar down at the half way line being last man and only getting Yellow card. Personally he's at the half way line and was cover so would of have been a sprint race tbh and i wouldn't have fancied Oscar to win it.

Are you allowed to look at the physical attributes of a player? Did you think it was a clear goal scoring opportunity?

No still half the pitch to go and there was cover for Nastasic. If being 50 yards from goal is goalscoring opportunity range then everything would be a red nowadays.

[Duty281]

Delighted to be proven wrong. Tactical masterclass from Mourinho. Chelsea surely favourites to win the league.

Hilarious as well to see all the plastic fans leave early. Can't fathom why though - you pay all that money for a ticket and then leave with minutes to go whilst the game is still in the balance?

[Lumbering_Jack]

Chelsea unhappy after Nastasic pulls Oscar down at the half way line being last man and only getting Yellow card. Personally he's at the half way line and was cover so would of have been a sprint race tbh and i wouldn't have fancied Oscar to win it.

Are you allowed to look at the physical attributes of a player? Did you think it was a clear goal scoring opportunity?

No still half the pitch to go and there was cover for Nastasic. If being 50 yards from goal is goalscoring opportunity range then everything would be a red nowadays.

Being 50 yards from goal and having no opposition players within 5 yards of you is surely different.

[Lumbering_Jack]

Delighted to be proven wrong. Tactical masterclass from Mourinho. Chelsea surely favourites to win the league.

Hilarious as well to see all the plastic fans leave early. Can't fathom why though - you pay all that money for a ticket and then leave with minutes to go whilst the game is still in the balance?

Every club has them, although not to the same level as both the Manchester clubs.

I've seen people leave matches at 1-1 in an end to end thriller just because the board for stoppage time goes up. What is the point.

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