Football Premier League Season 2013-2014

Cat-Man said:
More than anything, I hope liverpool flop, Suarez leaves and they all go back under their rocks. Everybody hates Liverpool! ;)
Your thoughts?
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You can understand why Manchester Utd fans are bad losers because they have had so little practice in recent years, but Arsenal fans have no such excuse.
I think all neutrals should applaud a team with a straight-talking British manager and a clutch of exciting young English players (plus Stevie G of course).

Alan
 
My thoughts? - Well, my English fellows, does it really matter who's winning the Premier League when the winner will lose in the Champions League against Bayern Munich? (By the way: I love the phrases of Gary Lineker)...:D
 
Cat-Man said:
Bongorob, you're very bitter ;) 'Never have a chance of winning trophies' - 3rd most successful team in English football history!
So what are your guys predictions for the title? I think we can all agree that the top four has now been decided on (let's all take time to laugh at Man United). The title is wide open now, however. I'm going with Man City to win it, but if Arsenal beat Chelsea next week the race is smashed right open again.
More than anything, I hope liverpool flop, Suarez leaves and they all go back under their rocks. Everybody hates Liverpool! ;)
Your thoughts?
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it is not my quote Cat-Man and it is supposed to be tongue in cheek, sorry that you feel offended.

the Britannia Stadium is across the road from the council incinerator and when the ground opened the Crewe fanzine had a cartoon on teh cover,

it was two football fans standing by a roadsign. To the left the sign said incinerator and to the right Stoke City Football Club

one of the fans said "we have a choice, burning rubbish, or watching rubbish." I thought it was good.:D
 
Don't worry Rob, no offence taken! ;)
I am a greater fan of Liverpool than I have been in recent years, but I'm curious about these young players! Off hand I can think of Sturridge, Sterling, Flannagen and Henderson, no better than Arsenals young crop of Gibbs, Jenkinson, Wilshere, Ramsey, Oxlade Chamberlain and Walcott! Criticism of our foreign players was at one time justified, however that is no longer the case!

Anybody got any idea of their personal line up for the England squad in the world cup?
 
Cat-Man said:
Anybody got any idea of their personal line up for the England squad in the world cup?
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Personally, I'd take the first 22 (or whatever the squad size is) people who'd be willing to have their face surgically enhanced to look like Queen Elizabeth II. My logic is the team's not going to get any further than the quarter-finals (at absolute best) and we may as well create some kind of art spectacle rather than inflame the usual media-led jingoistic cycle of "maybe this time" by picking players a few of which have very occasional, but never sustained, flashes of world-class skill.

Alternatives to the above would be a squad all with the surname Smith (just to mess with the commentators) or players dressed as clowns (fun to watch, especially the slow motion dives).

If they wanted to get really political they could dress in black with a tally of all the workers who've died constructing the Qatar stadiums (and update it as the total rises) on the front.
 
Shorts said:
Personally, I'd take the first 22 (or whatever the squad size is) people who'd be willing to have their face surgically enhanced to look like Queen Elizabeth II. My logic is the team's not going to get any further than the quarter-finals (at absolute best) and we may as well create some kind of art spectacle rather than inflame the usual media-led jingoistic cycle of "maybe this time" by picking players a few of which have very occasional, but never sustained, flashes of world-class skill.

Alternatives to the above would be a squad all with the surname Smith (just to mess with the commentators) or players dressed as clowns (fun to watch, especially the slow motion dives).

If they wanted to get really political they could dress in black with a tally of all the workers who've died constructing the Qatar stadiums (and update it as the total rises) on the front.
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Very good! ;)
 
Cat-Man said:
Off hand I can think of Sturridge, Sterling, Flannagen and Henderson, no better than Arsenals young crop of Gibbs, Jenkinson, Wilshere, Ramsey, Oxlade Chamberlain and Walcott! Criticism of our foreign players was at one time justified, however that is no longer the case!
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I would point to the use of these players as the difference. They haven't been pointed to as saviours as their opponents at Arsenal have (most notably Wilshere and Walcott, and more recently, Ramsey) and have instead been phased in to a team gradually.

John Flanagan has been on the scene for quite a while now and is gradually appearing more and more, Henderson, despite a difficult start under Dalglish, has had a similarly gradual introduction under Rodgers. Sterling, I think, has a great deal of grit which, like Wilshere, has helped him force his way into contention, whilst Sturridge was an England player before he moved to Anfield.

I still cannot bear Liverpool fans, though.

Cat-Man said:
Anybody got any idea of their personal line up for the England squad in the world cup?
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It feels like the lesser of evils to pick a team. But I would probably go for a 4-2-3-1: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Chamberlain, Rooney, Lallana; Sturridge.

Shaw, Barkley, Sterling, Adam Johnson and Jay Rodriguez all ought to be on the plane as well.
 
Stoke's main striker has missed the last three games, during this period they won all three, scored 8 and conceded 2. I wonder if there is a reason for this.
 
HGibbins said:
I would point to the use of these players as the difference. They haven't been pointed to as saviours as their opponents at Arsenal have (most notably Wilshere and Walcott, and more recently, Ramsey) and have instead been phased in to a team gradually.

John Flanagan has been on the scene for quite a while now and is gradually appearing more and more, Henderson, despite a difficult start under Dalglish, has had a similarly gradual introduction under Rodgers. Sterling, I think, has a great deal of grit which, like Wilshere, has helped him force his way into contention, whilst Sturridge was an England player before he moved to Anfield.

I still cannot bear Liverpool fans, though.



It feels like the lesser of evils to pick a team. But I would probably go for a 4-2-3-1: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Chamberlain, Rooney, Lallana; Sturridge.

Shaw, Barkley, Sterling, Adam Johnson and Jay Rodriguez all ought to be on the plane as well.
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The part about the Liverpool fans I also agree with. Jay Rodriguez started off at my local team, he deserves to be on the plane. He's had a great season, Barkley, Shaw and Johnson are also on my list however, I've never been a big fan of Raheem Sterling.
 
HGibbins said:
I would point to the use of these players as the difference. They haven't been pointed to as saviours as their opponents at Arsenal have (most notably Wilshere and Walcott, and more recently, Ramsey) and have instead been phased in to a team gradually.

John Flanagan has been on the scene for quite a while now and is gradually appearing more and more, Henderson, despite a difficult start under Dalglish, has had a similarly gradual introduction under Rodgers. Sterling, I think, has a great deal of grit which, like Wilshere, has helped him force his way into contention, whilst Sturridge was an England player before he moved to Anfield.

I still cannot bear Liverpool fans, though.



It feels like the lesser of evils to pick a team. But I would probably go for a 4-2-3-1: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Chamberlain, Rooney, Lallana; Sturridge.

Shaw, Barkley, Sterling, Adam Johnson and Jay Rodriguez all ought to be on the plane as well.
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You raise some interesting points about Liverpool, but I do disagree at some points - Hendersons difficult start was purely down to Dalgleish playing him out wide when it's clear to anybody that he isn't a winger, and when Rodgers came in he simply moved him back into the middle.I agree with you in Liverpool fans though ;)

With the England squad, my lineup would be
Hart (Gk)
Walker (Rb)
Cahill (Cb) partnered with either Jagielka or Jones.
Baines (Lb)
Then, I'd have a double pivot of Gerrard acting as the deep lying playmaker with Henderson along side him (Wilshere to come on to increase the intensity if we need a goal). Up ahead, I would have Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rooney and Lallana flowing and interchanging their positions behind Sturridge!
Jay Rodriguez absolutely has to go, along with Carroll, Rooney and Sturridge as the strikers. If you're watching United vs Bayern, you can see that Welbeck doesn't deserve to go to Brazil. This is the world cup for our youngsters, and Ox, Gibbs, Wilshere, Barkley, Henderson, Sterling, Shaw and co deserve their chance to go. What is the general feel about Milner here? A lot of people dismiss him but he works until he's breathing out of his ar*e!
 
While I think Sterling is overrated, he is a good young talent (even if he has a terrible personality), and deserves to go to Brazil ahead of Adam Johnson who has had a good few games and then disappears.
 
The answer is simple, Cat-Man: Yes they CAN, but they WON'T. All other remaining teams are better - normally.

Although I hate Chelsea to the bone because of its - normally - ultra-defensiv coward Football, I must confess that they played great yesterday (typical offensive british football I like) and deserved to reach the half finals.
 
Cat-Man said:
So - Chelsea through. Can they win the Champions League?
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The goal scorer was Demba Ba, he came for a medical at Stoke in January 2011 and failed, the report said he was not fit enough to play in the Premier League.

I nominate the decision not to sign him as Stoke City's worst mistake.
 
I'd heard about that Rob, he had a chronic knee condition. While at West Ham and Newcastle he was NEVER allowed to play more than one game a week - not a problem at chelsea as he never plays!
The fact you didn't sign him was probably for the best, he wouldn't have been able to handle Stoke Rugby Club! ;)
I generally agree with the tone here, I detest Chelsea, and since I can't see United getting through, I will be cheering on Atletico Madrid for the rest of the tournament!
 
Cat-Man said:
I'd heard about that Rob, he had a chronic knee condition. While at West Ham and Newcastle he was NEVER allowed to play more than one game a week - not a problem at chelsea as he never plays!

The fact you didn't sign him was probably for the best, he wouldn't have been able to handle Stoke Rugby Club! ;)
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He was described as a 'ticking time bomb' but none of those problems have surfaced. As for Stoke, he would have been absolutely superb at the Britannia, his strength is very well suited to direct play and he is, believe it or not, technically superior to Jon Walters.

Returning to the topic of England, I would have to disagree with regard to Adam Johnson, Danny Welbeck and Kyle Walker who have cropped up in discussion. Sunderland have been hugely reliant on Johnson this season and he is a valuable impact player who will stay in the Premier League beyond this summer regardless of Sunderland's fate.

Welbeck is definitely England's youth and is a very useful player to have about. The same can't be said of Kieran Gibbs, who is (a) older than Welbeck, (b) unreliable and injury-prone and (c) a fair way behind Baines, Cole and Shaw in terms of ability.

Walker shouldn't even make the squad, he's too rough around the edges and if you want a bombing full-back then Glen Johnson is your man. Calum Chambers and Kieran Trippier should be names touted as his replacement within the next 12 months or so.

As for Milner, he can run all he likes, he is still a boring wide midfielder who just isn't as dynamic a player as the other wingers. You wouldn't see him in the squad for any other top side.
 
Johnson - Although I wouldn't take massive issue with him going, and has been good for sunderland, he is an on off player who you don't always know what you're going to get.

Welbeck - The way people rate this kid is beyond me. I'll give him credit, he works hard and has some pace, but our other options are either technically superior (Sturridge, Jay Rodriguez), better at finishing one on ones (Sturridge, Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert) or gives us a different option (Andy Carroll).

Right back - This is by far our weakest area, so I would have no doubt about taking Walker and Johnson, and whoever plays is indifferent to me, as neither of them are great defenders (and it isn't like Roy plays football which requires bombing fullbacks) but taking Chambers - who has played about 12 games, or somebody else who I've never heard of, over them wouldn't be a good idea in my opinion. Clyne could be decent option, and it's a shame what has happened to Micah Richards.

Left Back - Baines, Gibbs and Shaw should all go. Gibbs, although injury prone, is extremely reliable and up until November was easily the best left back in the league (through Baines injury woes) and is a far more accomplished defender than Shaw (bias inclined, I admit ;) ) and actually has a better crossing accuracy that Shaw (although I admit that Shaw is a better 'wingback'). Meanwhile taking Ashley Cole over three players who have been outstanding for their teams this term, while he has barely played, is frankly ridiculous ;)
On Milner - He isn't really a Winger, but I would use him as a wide man if we were defending a lead, and use him as depth in the Midfield. Who else do we have? Only Barkley, Wilshere and Henderson offer more in a box to box role (Gerrard is a deep-lying playmaker now, really), and you could argue that he is better than Delph, and significantly better than Cleverly and Rodwell. In the top side, I couldn't imagine him at Arsenal or Chelsea due to their midfield depth (although are's is admittedly decimated right now) but Liverpool, United, Everton, Southampton and Newcastle ( ;) ) could fit him into their squad!

I hope that anything I said didn't appear rude! Good luck in your upcoming GCSE exams, I'm sure you're revising as much as I am!

On a slightly different note, what would you all do for your teams in regards to the upcoming transfer window?
 
I hope Wilkinson and Walters are sold, Mr Pulis might be interested.

Regarding the England squad, in the run up to Euro 2012 some people in Stoke said that Begovic should be in the team. There is a slight problem, he is not English.
 
Credit has to be given to Hughes, you okay better football now, and have escaped what appeared to be a downward spiral under Pulis!

These are coming from the fans who abuse Aaron Ramsey for something that was not his fault. Did you expect any more Rob? :P
I must say that your ability to laugh at your own team is admirable! ;)
 
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