English Football Thread 2012/2013

[Haarithan]

I did not question that.

I was simply saying that Swansea winning the League cup has potentially limited that chances of Liverpool even getting EUROPA league place next season.

Here is Harrinath's summary of scenario from a few pages back:

http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/2459696-post11922.html

War, as Lee said, Liverpool have only themselves to blame for the situation they find themselves, presently in. All I highlighted there in my summary was the fact that the FA Cup semifinal draw could be extremely vital in defining our chances of playing in Europe next season. Nothing more, nothing less.

Also it's Haarithan.

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Suarez has scored 45% of Liverpool's goals this season while van Persie has scored 24% of United's goals...

RvP has won more number of points for Man United than Suarez has done for Liverpool though:

The table, before his hattrick at Wigan. Still at a fair distance off RvP. Also Bale's should now read 17 points if I'm not wrong.

All in all, both have been excellent this season, so I won't really be complaining if either of them took home the PFA. But as the others mentioned, Suarez will probably never win it for obvious reasons.

 

[Skater]

Seeing as Wigan didn't score on Saturday, wouldn't Downing's header have meant a 1-0 win anyway? Not quite sure how that can be put down as Suarez winning the game.

 

[Haarithan]

Pfft that completely slipped my mind. You're right. Previous post edited accordingly.

 

[KBC]

Somehow RvP had the harder part than the rest on the table, United were conceding goals before coming back to win their games.

The hat trick against Southampton and the Winner against Man City are prime examples. The goal against City was a 6'er.


The argument about his percentage of goals is pointless. Like his last season with Arsenal he was basically scoring every other goal (Suarez finds himself in the same boat this season).

United have the better team and you expect the share to come down with a strike force of Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck.

RvP is at his peak, he could probably do well with the quality he has at United for another 3 years.

 

[Epic]

Wasn't aware of the "number of points won" stat, but that's quite interesting.

Somehow RvP had the harder part than the rest on the table, United were conceding goals before coming back to win their games.

The hat trick against Southampton and the Winner against Man City are prime examples. The goal against City was a 6'er.


The argument about his percentage of goals is pointless. Like his last season with Arsenal he was basically scoring every other goal (Suarez finds himself in the same boat this season).

United have the better team and you expect the share to come down with a strike force of Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck.

RvP is at his peak, he could probably do well with the quality he has at United for another 3 years.

Actually, Le Fondre has had the worst of it, he plays for Reading.

As for as the percentage of goals stat goes, it's not pointless. It does what it's supposed to, it shows us all that Luis Suarez is more important to Liverpool than Robin van Persie is to Manchester United. And as you rightly point out, Manchester United have better depth in strikers(and across the squad as well) and so if it wasn't van Persie it would just be someone else.

 

[Epic]

A big money takeover wouldn't hurt with regards to that either.

One other thing, I have to call out Mancini again: Utd are lucky to have a twelve point lead? Winning the odd game, maybe that can be put down to luck but a twelve point lead demonstrates consistency and complete dominance over the second placed team. Maybe the gap between the two teams isn't as big as that (neither was it when we lost 6-1 last year), but we've been more consistent, have scored many more goals and now we're adding good defence to that.

That's not luck, Mr Mancini. Enjoy your last few months at City eh? Only a complete twit would back him to still be City manager next season.

You know what Steve, I really don't think it's as obvious as you're making it out to be(the inevitable sack). Yes both Begiristain and Soriano want Mancini out, meaning only the great Sheikh himself can save Mancini, but he's not going to do it for a Laudrup or a Pellegrini...

It will have to be Mourinho and only Mourinho himself, or else Mancini stays.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

You know what Steve, I really don't think it's as obvious as you're making it out to be(the inevitable sack). Yes both Begiristain and Soriano want Mancini out, meaning only the great Sheikh himself can save Mancini, but he's not going to do it for a Laudrup or a Pellegrini...

It will have to be Mourinho and only Mourinho himself, or else Mancini stays.

Well, we all know that continuity at a football club is desirable: you've only got to look at Man Utd to see that. But will the City owners show that sort of patience? Getting a new man in can throw things in the air a bit too much - it's going to be very interesting in a few years when Sir Alex finally packs it in.

 

[Epic]

I don't know about the patience factor, but it's got to be step up to go through with the Sheikh. Mark Hughes to Roberto Mancini was a step up, a big one at that, only something similar will put Roberto Mancini out of a job...

 

[MasterBlaster76]

True - and if City get Chelsea's reputation of being 'trigger happy' with managers, then it'll be hard to get a big name.

 

[Haarithan]

James Lawton: The signing of Robin van Persie was clear indication that Wayne Rooney is no longer fit for purpose at Manchester United - News & Comment - Football - The Independent

Interesting read. Never really thought Rooney was under threat to be sold, but this article makes a lot of good points. The Real Madrid game did seem to have a bit of a Beckham, van Nistelrooy type feeling about it for Rooney.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Rooney: looking hacked off, dropped for massive game: out; Ronaldo looking hacked off after beating Man Utd - in? To be fair to Rooney, he hasn't exactly been playing badly - there was nothing wrong with his goal vs Norwich, indeed his entire performance that day was very good.

 

[War]

I'm waiting to see if SAF of Rooney will say anything about this, since the british media has already made its concrete conclusions.

If Rooney does go, i'm going to start questioning if old SAF is getting senile.

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Is just realized also that both, the United vs Chelsea FA Cup match & the Reds v Spurs league are starting @ 12 noon on sunday.

That's dumb scheduling by the the league/fa cup organizers & the TV companies.

 

[puddleduck]

I think it's more down to Utd realising they were ridiculously stupid when they agreed to be anally savaged by Rooney for the tune of 200,000 a week if anything. However this also could very much be the press making a story where nothing exists.

 

[Skater]

Is just realized also that both, the United vs Chelsea FA Cup match & the Reds v Spurs league are starting @ 12 noon on sunday.

That's dumb scheduling by the the league/fa cup organizers & the TV companies.

Liverpool v Spurs is a 4pm kick-off, and Man Utd v Chelsea is a 4.30pm kick-off. Most likely ITV and Sky trying to fight for the most viewers.

 

[thedon5]

Bale will get player of the season, he is has IMO been more important to Spurs than RVP has been to Man Utd. Spurs aren't a title-winning team, but the title isn't all that's needed to get the award. Spurs will still finish higher than they have for a long while this season (no St. Totteringham's Day this season either!). He has been solid closer to the end of the season (end of the season seems to matter more), and let's not forget he's British. I think he'll get it but RVP is overall equally deserving.

Mata is brilliant, getting that number of assists and goals with a lump like Torres up front is brilliant. Without him Chelsea would be suffering, not only does he offer end product, he starts moves and gets pre-assists as well.