English Football Thread 2012/2013

[Haarithan]

Agreed with every single post above. Not sure why BR would want to fix something that ain't broken - Su?rez is at his peak since joining Liverpool at the strikers role, so switching him out wide for a player who's barely even played as a striker of late sounds very risky to me.

@Don: Couldn't agree more man, Ramirez would have been a perfect fit to Liverpool's problems upfront. Class signing from Southampton's point of view.

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Also one major difference in our style of play in the 3-0 win over Sunderland was that we went the Roma way and attempted a number of THROUGH BALLS, and it immediately worked wonders - all three goals resulted from through balls. Only problem lies in that only Gerrard and Su?rez are capable of delivering such balls among our present XI.

 

[thedon5]

Agreed with every single post above. Not sure why BR would want to fix something that ain't broken - Su?rez is at his peak since joining Liverpool at the strikers role, so switching him out wide for a player who's barely even played as a striker of late sounds very risky to me.

@Don: Couldn't agree more man, Ramirez would have been a perfect fit to Liverpool's problems upfront. Class signing from Southampton's point of view.

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Also one major difference in our style of play in the 3-0 win over Sunderland was that we went the Roma way and attempted a number of THROUGH BALLS, and it immediately worked wonders - all three goals resulted from through balls. Only problem lies in that only Gerrard and Su?rez are capable of delivering such balls among our present XI.

Rodgers you idiot, Nuri tweaking Sahin!!! Better than both of them at those sorts of passes.

Fixing something that isn't broken has to be done sometimes. Henry and RVP are examples of that, fine on the wings, what happens as strikers? Suarez himself, he was amazing playing behind and around the striker, now as the striker what's happened? But in this case I think Suarez would be deadly as the main ST and perhaps unless Sturridge is superb he should stay there in the long term.

Sturridge is a better signing than Holtby would've been IMO, Holtby isn't really a creative force at all and doesn't have Sturridge's pace and instincts, he is just tidy on the ball really with a great engine.

Though Holtby is a good upgrade on Dempsey and Sigurdsson and it looks likely he'll go to Spurs.

 

[Haarithan]

Rodgers you idiot, Nuri kerplucking Sahin!!! Better than both of them at those sorts of passes.

I was tempted to add this to my previous post, but given I've whined countless times over this, I decided not to. :|

Let's wait and see though, what if Rodgers suddenly decided to continue with this new obsession in through balls, and decided to replace Lucas/Allen with Sahin? Just like what he did with Downing, insisting he wasn't part of his plans at all, before starting him almost every single game now.

 

[thedon5]

I was tempted to add this to my previous post, but given I've whined countless times over this, I decided not to. :|

Let's wait and see though, what if Rodgers suddenly decided to continue with this new obsession in through balls, and decided to replace Lucas/Allen with Sahin? Just like what he did with Downing, insisting he wasn't part of his plans at all, before starting him almost every single game now.

Yeah but Allen is one of his 'babies' and Lucas is vital IMO. If Sahin were to come in for Lucas, he could do a bit of defensive work, but it'll mean Allen and Gerrard have to put in extra defensive shifts and that doesn't work for the good of the team.

He'll never drop Allen I'm pretty sure.

 

[Haarithan]

He'll never drop Allen I'm pretty sure.

Allen didn't start against Sunderland (was just a second half sub). Although I fear it had more to do with his match fitness than his form.

 

[thedon5]

I mean long term of course.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Yeah, I don't know why the media is trying to paint Mancini as the victim here.

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With Aguero out and Balotelli involved in this stupid spat, Guidetti might just get his City debut on Saturday against Watford.

Either way, I have to say that it's highly amusing.

They're cracking up, they're cracking up, they're cracking... City's cracking up!

 

[Haarithan]

Anyway made these tables on New Years' Day for those who're interested....

First table concerns the net spend of the Premiership teams (in million pounds), while the second one concerns just the overall summer spending (in million euros).

- If you include the latest winter transfers, Liverpool rise up to third place in NET SPEND and fifth place in just spending, having spent a further 15M pounds on Sturridge (12M) and Joke Hole (3M just to terminate his contract )! ABOVE Man City!!

 

[Bevab]

City will rise sooner than later.

 

[Haarithan]

MB (Steve) won't be happy seeing United leading City both on net spend as well as the total spend.

Anyway, the only positive piece of business from Liverpool's point of view is that they've freed up to 20M/year on wages now. Should benefit us in the long term.

 

[barmyarmy]

A negative net spend and we're still losing money...

 

[Auwais]

A negative net spend and we're still losing money...

I thought you lot offloading the big earners like Yobo, Cahill and Bilyaletdinov?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

MB (Steve) won't be happy seeing United leading City both on net spend as well as the total spend.

Anyway, the only positive piece of business from Liverpool's point of view is that they've freed up to 20M/year on wages now. Should benefit us in the long term.

Honestly? I don't really care. Ever since Chelsea were taken over, it's become obvious that the only way to stay with City and Chelsea is to make the proper signings - and RvP is definitely that. Sure he cost a lot, but he'll repay his fee and then some during his time at Old Trafford.

And I'm sure we're still ahead of City as far as revenue actually coming into the club from sales and merchandising etc.

 

[Haarithan]

it's become obvious that the only way to stay with City and Chelsea is to make the proper signings - and RvP is definitely that.

That's pretty much the difference - United have invested heavily on world class players definitely bound to improve the squad and ones who're guaranteed to start in the XI, while Mancini's just invested heavily for spending's sake.

I mean - Scott Sinclair (7M), Jack Rodwell (15M), Javi Garcia (20M), Maicon (3.5M) have all barely even started for City this season! On hindsight, Matija Nastasic for 15M seems the only signing close to being solid, and even he's started only 12 league games this season!

Sounds similar to Brendan Rodgers' case in Liverpool, where Sahin, Assaidi have all been signed only to warm the benches. Joe Allen for 15M (needless to say) is overpriced, and Borini for 10M sounds no better.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

That's pretty much the difference - United have invested heavily on world class players definitely bound to improve the squad and ones who're guaranteed to start in the XI, while Mancini's just invested heavily for spending's sake.

I mean - Scott Sinclair (7M), Jack Rodwell (15M), Javi Garcia (20M), Maicon (3.5M) have all barely even started for City this season! On hindsight, Matija Nastasic for 15M seems the only signing close to being solid, and even he's started only 12 league games this season!

Sounds similar to Brendan Rodgers' case in Liverpool, where Sahin, Assaidi have all been signed only to warm the benches. Joe Allen for 15M (needless to say) is overpriced, and Borini for 10M sounds no better.

Yeah, considering their spending power, City have made some rather confusing signings. Then again, that's the difference between Ferguson and Mancini. I found it hilarious when one or two people (not here) mentioned them in the same breath - Mancini will never be as good a manager as Sir Alex! Sure, he's signed his share of flops, but he's also made some marvellous signings, some that a lot of other managers wouldn't have risked. Cantona for example - the signing who really started it all. His name is still sung on a regular basis and for good reason.