English Football Thread 2012/2013

[thedon5]

Koscielny and Djourou are duds? They're inconsistent but you can't doubt their talents, especially Koscielny. Don't forget Mertesacker, he's a very solid defender who I think can work well with Koscielny. Koscielny is the kind of player that goes to attack the ball quickly and can often get drawn out of position and Mertesacker is a very intelligent defender who uses his positioning to overcome his lack of pace.

I agree. Koscielny has potential to be an amazing player, I mean just look at how he dominated Barcelona in the Champions League. He's not as good as Mertesacker or Vermaelen the way he's currently playing, but Wenger should hold on to him for a while because I can see him becoming a devestating centre back. You can't call someone a dud due to their inconsistency in their first season, such a thing is to be expected.

Djourou, again, I agree. Far from a dud. Still young, but could easily become a great defender.

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He should look at selling Squillaci, and then buying Samba or Cahill.

Squillaci, however, is a dud. He will get very little for Arsenal, not nearly enough to finance a move for Samba or Cahill. One of Arsene's worst ever defenders for sure, considering he should be near his peak and can't possibly improve to even become a below average player for Arsenal. He should leave, he's holding the team back due to how terrible a player he is.

 

[Haarithan]

Consider this either to be a quiz question or a statement but, "When did Liverpool last win away from home, after being a goal down?"

 

[barmyarmy]

Absolutely robbed by Villa there. Prob deserved it after the Blackburn game last week.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Another demolition job by Utd - anything City can do, we can do better.

Just saw a clip of play in the after show chat on ESPN - I haven't seen passing like that outside of Fifa (maybe Barca come close) - amazing!

 

[Dr. Pepper]

City were fantastic, Silva and Aguero were once again outstanding.

Man Utd were also very good but Bolton were awful defensively. Jones looked great at right back. So many talented young players, and they're all so versatile. Real shame about Cleverley though, I read he may have a broken leg. Let's hope not.

 

[JBlues08]

Consider this either to be a quiz question or a statement but, "When did Liverpool last win away from home, after being a goal down?"

Saw that stats earlier. IIRC, it was 2008 when you won 3-2 at Bolton.

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United and City are basically like sparring off with one another at the moment.

 

[Haarithan]

Saw that stats earlier. IIRC, it was 2008 when you won 3-2 at Bolton.

That is correct. Really ashamed to say the least, we so lack that fightback spirit!

 

[JBlues08]

That is correct. Really ashamed to say the least, we so lack that fightback spirit!

Erm, I don't think Liverpool lack the fightback spirit. It's just that it's really difficult to score against Stoke when they basically parked the bus like they did in the second half. And besides, Liverpool had their chances to score but never take them. The last thing you want to do against them at the Britannia Stadium is going a goal down.

And oh, that point at Stoke earlier this season for us doesn't look so bad now.

 

[hedger_14]

Well Phil Jones is only 19 so he doesn't have to be registered, right?

And I didn't see the game cause I was too tired after studying and watching cricket/football all yesterday but great win for United

 

[War]

Koscielny and Djourou are duds? They're inconsistent but you can't doubt their talents, especially Koscielny. Don't forget Mertesacker, he's a very solid defender who I think can work well with Koscielny. Koscielny is the kind of player that goes to attack the ball quickly and can often get drawn out of position and Mertesacker is a very intelligent defender who uses his positioning to overcome his lack of pace.

I agree. Koscielny has potential to be an amazing player, I mean just look at how he dominated Barcelona in the Champions League. He's not as good as Mertesacker or Vermaelen the way he's currently playing, but Wenger should hold on to him for a while because I can see him becoming a devestating centre back. You can't call someone a dud due to their inconsistency in their first season, such a thing is to be expected.

Djourou, again, I agree. Far from a dud. Still young, but could easily become a great defender.

I'm sorry fellas, but i haven't seen anything remotely impressive about Djourou or Koscielny and certainly nothing that suggest they can be anything close to great players in future.

I see along with Squillaci nothing more than defenders who quality strikers would love to run at.

With Vermalen's injury record, Wenger needed to buy another stable partner for Mertesacker, maybe that was Cahill. But just like him missing out on Given, he certainly missed a trick by not getting Samba. He needs to get one of Samba or Cahill in january.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I really can't see the hype behind Cahill. He's never looked solid when I've seen him. Was awful yesterday. Often gets caught way out of position and lets the man he's marking slip away too easily.

 

[War]

I really can't see the hype behind Cahill. He's never looked solid when I've seen him. Was awful yesterday. Often gets caught way out of position and lets the man he's marking slip away too easily.

Its hard to judge such players in weak teams. I personally would agree i never rated him much & in fact i dont think i ever saw him have a truly impressive game for Bolton, like how i saw Samba have a good few for Blackburn.

Due to this up until recently i always wondered why Capello was always picking him for ENG. But in the presence of better players for ENG, i gotta admit he has looked pretty solid, so i guess coaches see something with him in training that we dont.

 

[JBlues08]

I really can't see the hype behind Cahill. He's never looked solid when I've seen him. Was awful yesterday. Often gets caught way out of position and lets the man he's marking slip away too easily.

TBF, his teammates weren't really helping him by letting constantly those pinpoint crosses coming in for a United player to easily attack it.

 

[thedon5]

I'm sorry fellas, but i haven't seen anything remotely impressive about Djourou or Koscielny and certainly nothing that suggest they can be anything close to great players in future.

I see along with Squillaci nothing more than defenders who quality strikers would love to run at.

With Vermalen's injury record, Wenger needed to buy another stable partner for Mertesacker, maybe that was Cahill. But just like him missing out on Given, he certainly missed a trick by not getting Samba. He needs to get one of Samba or Cahill in january.

Watch Koscielny is Arsenal vs Barcelona in last year's UCL. Koscielny was great. Koscielny and Djourou are undoubtedly miles ahead of Squillaci.

About missing Given, I still think Szcezny is easily good enough. He's making some great saves. He is in good form, but he still has skill when in average form. Better than De Gea atleast.

Bolton are in financial trouble so will need to get rid of Cahill to recover some money. Considering his contract is out next year, this will be in January. Whatever Wenger offered, 6 million or whatever is similar to what he'll be paying in January because Cahill has shown he has a clear preference of Arsenal over Tottenham.

Yeah, haven't seen Cahill play that well. He was really good in the first game of the season though. Definitely a good player, but I feel he isn't close to being worth the 17 million or whatever Bolton wanted, he's not that good.

I'm pretty sure Wenger will make a move for Cahill in January, and M'Vila and Hazard are also likely targets.

 

[m_vaughan]

About missing Given, I still think Szcezny is easily good enough. He's making some great saves. He is in good form, but he still has skill when in average form. Better than De Gea atleast.

De Gea is miles better.