English Football Thread 2012/2013

[Dr. Pepper]

Now that saga is over (hopefully), I want to ask a question. Just how good is Luis Suarez?

I honestly don't think he's *that* good. Sure his dribbling is incredible but that's about it. His finishing is terrible, his link up play isn't great either and his decision making in the final third is very poor. When you consider that he's considered a part of the elite of the league, his return hasn't really shown that.

 

[shravi]

 

[lancashire666]

Joe Hart. Best keeper in the premier league for me. Fantastic save to make sure we got all 3 points today.

Shame Mancini seemed to send the team out to play for a 0-0

 

[thedon5]

Now that saga is over (hopefully), I want to ask a question. Just how good is Luis Suarez?

I honestly don't think he's *that* good. Sure his dribbling is incredible but that's about it. His finishing is terrible, his link up play isn't great either and his decision making in the final third is very poor. When you consider that he's considered a part of the elite of the league, his return hasn't really shown that.

I think he's pretty good. Finishing isn't world class, but still good enough to bang in the goals, and he adds something to Liverpool the other strikers (Carroll) at the club can't add - goals, as well as the fact that he is generally relied upon so greatly. It seems as though during his ban he was missed almost as much as Stevie G, which is huge.

I'll be glad if we (the premier league) can get rid of him. Madrid don't seem to be happy with just Benzema and Higuain, so Suarez could go there.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

9 goals in 21 appearances for Liverpool this season is hardly fantastic though. Liverpool were struggling for goals with him so much didn't change without him. I think his eccentric dribbling glosses over everything else.

 

[KBC]

BBC Sport - Mick McCarthy sacked as Wolves manager after West Brom defeat

Bittersweet really.

 

[6ry4nj]

Yep, I'm a bit baffled by that comment as well.

Feeling's mutual - I'm mystified by your failure to understand.

Evidently you don't think the refusal to shake hands is racist. To me it constitutes a continuation of the original offence. That means only an indefinite ban (until he's capable of fitting in to civilized society - if ever) will ensure that racist scum don't play in the EPL.

 

[Skater]

Feeling's mutual - I'm mystified by your failure to understand.

Evidently you don't think the refusal to shake hands is racist. To me it constitutes a continuation of the original offence. That means only an indefinite ban (until he's capable of fitting in to civilized society - if ever) will ensure that racist scum don't play in the EPL.

The refusal to shake hands wasn't racist. Suarez and Evra have a personal problem with each other that existed before the racism incident. There's a lot of bad blood between them and there is nothing to suggest refusing to shake hands was a sign of him being racist.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Feeling's mutual - I'm mystified by your failure to understand.

Evidently you don't think the refusal to shake hands is racist. To me it constitutes a continuation of the original offence. That means only an indefinite ban (until he's capable of fitting in to civilized society - if ever) will ensure that racist scum don't play in the EPL.

He refused to shake his hand because he's a spoilt brat, but the refusal to shake someone's hand is not in itself racist.

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Anyway - in other news, Harry has come out and said that he wants Scholesy at the Euros. Which says to me that he's going to stay with Spurs until the end of the season and then go to manage England, because we all know the FA are going to offer him the job.

Personally, I think it would be great to see Scholes back in an England shirt. Sure, he was a little bit rusty at first, but his performance against Liverpool was immense. And he's already said that he regretted not accepting the offer to go to WC 2010. Furthermore, even though he's an 'old man' now, he wouldn't have had an entire season of gruelling Premiership football behind him.

 

[thedon5]

9 goals in 21 appearances for Liverpool this season is hardly fantastic though. Liverpool were struggling for goals with him so much didn't change without him. I think his eccentric dribbling glosses over everything else.

True, but to an extent he's had to sort of change his playstyle to become more of a goalscorer and hence this makes him look slightly worse.

He is a second striker, not an out and out goalscorer, so a bit harsh to judge him on his goalscoring when that is not what he should be bringing to the team (but has to try to).

 

[6ry4nj]

the refusal to shake someone's hand is not in itself racist.

Of course it isn't in all cases, but in this case it clearly is.

You have a right to your opinion, but I'm afraid wiggle room like this only benefits the worms...

 

[Skater]

Of course it isn't in all cases, but in this case it clearly is.

You have a right to your opinion, but I'm afraid wiggle room like this only benefits the worms...

It 'clearly' isn't. You make it sound like Suarez refused the handshake because he didn't want to shake hands with a black man or something.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Of course it isn't in all cases, but in this case it clearly is.

You have a right to your opinion, but I'm afraid wiggle room like this only benefits the worms...

It 'clearly' isn't. You make it sound like Suarez refused the handshake because he didn't want to shake hands with a black man or something.

I honestly don't understand what he's on about. What about Welbeck and Valencia - did Suarez refuse their handshake as well? I know Rio refused Suarez' handshake, but that was because of Suarez' behaviour towards Evra.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

True, but to an extent he's had to sort of change his playstyle to become more of a goalscorer and hence this makes him look slightly worse.

He is a second striker, not an out and out goalscorer, so a bit harsh to judge him on his goalscoring when that is not what he should be bringing to the team (but has to try to).

Okay then but if you look at his ability to bring others into the game, I think it's poor in the final third. His decision making often lets him down and he'll pick out the wrong pass/dwell on the ball too long. Further away from goal, his flick ons with his back to goal are very good but when actually playing the defence splitting passes, I think he's not up to scratch. The statistics support this as well as he only has 1 assist all season.

 

[shravi]

His finishing definitely needs to improve and in the final third he sometimes goes for the impossible (and pulls it off quite a few times). However, I would like to see how he does with a real goalscorer in the team, a REAL number 9. I think Liverpol will get the best out of him then. At the moment, without a striker in the team, he is isolated up front and basically has to do everything himself because he doesn't get much support from Downing and Kuyt because they are not good at the one-touch football he plays (also, Downing is useless). I think Suarez and Bellamy is a killer combination and hopefully we will see more of it.