English Football Thread 2012/2013

[ste_mc_efc]

While I don't want to give my views on the Evra-Suarez incident and how booing doesn't mean the condoning the racism, because it will only instigate matters further (though willing to discuss it over PM), I'd just like to say that there are bad apples everywhere. I'm sure that the majority of Liverpool fans and the club included doesn't condone such gestures.

you're right. It just means that they all have a ridiculous blind spot regarding their club which is more in keeping with being brainwashed into a cult than being supporters of a football team.

 

[lancashire666]

Kompany had just been given the softest yellow card ive ever seen.

Fully expecting him to be sent off in this game now, second yellow for breathing or sneezing most likely.

 

[shravi]

Good win today. Very pleased with Enrique in particular who was superb. Carroll actually tried and bothered to run. Henderson was adventurous in midfield. Adam played some wonderful balls. Bellamy was a constant threat as usual.

Last game without Suarez as well!

 

[lancashire666]

Yet another shocking performance by city tonight. There is no way we stand a chance of winning the league, we were beyond terrible.

Roberto Mancini has somehow turned the most talented team in the league into a bunch of people who look like they are playing blindfolded. He really is an awful manager at times, every time we play Everton they are better than us with a tiny amount of the facilities, the reason is Moyes is a good manager, 10 times the manager Mancini will ever be.

Taking off Lescott for Kolarov? Why? It meant Clichy at right back!

Any success we have e.g. last seasons FA cup is in spite of Mancini NOT because of him, he has got the chance to sign almost any player in the world he wants, and he is out thought by David Moyes every time he faces him.

The only chance we have of winning something this season is to get rid of Mancini right now, and let Platt or Kidd take charge, there is no way they could possibly do any worse

 

[Haarithan]

Awesome win, loved the second goal (Bellamy) in special - top top play from defence to attack. Adam was sublime, Kuyt energetic as ever, Enrique super solid overall.

And yeah, that finally ends Suarez's 8 match ban. He's back for our next game at Anfield to Spurs.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Ha ha!!! Get in!!! I had a feeling City would drop points in this one, but I wasn't expecting a defeat. Congrats must go to 'Agent Gibson' - mission accomplished. Level on points - game on!

 

[barmyarmy]

Brilliant result for us. I watched MOTD without knowing the scores so a nice surprise. I also can't believe how bad Chelsea were. Luis and Ivanovic in central defence is a disaster waiting to happen. Cahill was a good buy but now he won't play him it seems...
Very impressed by Spurs tonight. Modric and Bale superb and they're looking locked on for third place.

 

[War]

I think the british media has put wayyy too much pressure on Andy Carroll since he joined liverpool man.

Its like everytime he has set foot on the field, the keep stressing about his price tag. Its not his fault the transfer prices in the premiership is inflated he costed more than what barca over in la liga payed valencia for david villa...

 

[Umair7]

First Wes Brown Scored A Own Goal And Sunderland Defeated MC Now Gibson Scored Against MC And Everton Won HAHA

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Am I the only one who thinks Luiz has been very good recently? His anticipation is superb. It's just that when he messes up (which isn't THAT often), he does it spectacularly so gets a lot of attention for it. You can't play him alongside players as immobile as Ivanovic and Terry and expect it to work though.

Very good performance from Utd. The players who usually get stick (Carrick and Evans) have seriously stepped up their game this season. I know I usually sound like a Carrick apologist but he has been superb this season.

 

[BKB1991]

I'd agree with you, have felt Evans has been more solid recently. Still we got loads of work to do if we are to retain the league.

I reckon Gibson has never been more loved by United fans

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I wouldn't actually have sold him - he's got one hell of a shot on him and can only get better as he gets older. Everton have got a good player there.

 

[barmyarmy]

Luis is a good midfielder imo but a joke of a central defender. You only have to look at his positioning - he regularly pops up on the wing or the edge of the opposition box and then is caught out by counter attacks.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I wouldn't actually have sold him - he's got one hell of a shot on him and can only get better as he gets older. Everton have got a good player there.

I think ultimately, he wasn't talented enough for Utd. Can be a good mid-table player but I don't think he was cut out for a big club. With a lot of players, it also comes down to mentality. They just can't handle the pressure of a club like Man Utd.

Luis is a good midfielder imo but a joke of a central defender. You only have to look at his positioning - he regularly pops up on the wing or the edge of the opposition box and then is caught out by counter attacks.

I've never really grasped the idea that Luiz can be a good mid because if his positioning isn't good defensively, then his positioning won't be good enough in midfield either.

Defenders moving forward and offering support/starting attacks isn't something uncommon now. Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Dortmund and obviously Barca are teams I can think of at the top of my head who utilse them but they accommodate for them by adjusting the players around them. You've seen how Liverpool have phased out Carragher as he doesn't have the pace anymore and how Utd are doing so with Rio. Terry and Ivanovic are classic defenders in that they like to sit deep, break up play when it comes to them and then hoof it up to clear it, and these kind of players just don't work with the likes of Luiz. He needs someone more mobile with him.

Chelsea can either revert back to Terry style defenders, sit deep and play the old way, but that's going back to a broken system. The future for Chelsea is players like Luiz and they need another centre-back who can work with him.

 

[shravi]

yesss, arsenal draw. top 4 still very much in our sights. Newcastle's ahead of both Arsenal and Liverpool but I'm not too worried because I don't expect them to still be challenging for the top 4 by the end of the season (or at least will be unpleasantly surprised if they are).