English Football Thread 2013/14

[Haarithan]

Wilshere is most certainly not overrated imo. He's England's only hope for the future among the youngsters at midfield.

At least Januzaj looks like he could have a good future at Utd, if we get him tied down to a long term contract.

From what I've seen so far, Januzaj could be some player for United in the future. Looks insanely talented. Only frustrating thing about him though, is that he's one footed (as Valencia).

 

[thedon5]

Yep, Wilshere is most certainly not overrated, considering he had a world class season at 19. After his injury he hasn't quite reached the heights of his pre-injury form, so I can understand if people think he is a bit overrated, but he'll undoubtedly be back at that level later on this season.

One thing he needs to improve though is his end product, he seems afraid to shoot a lot of the time and he doesn't get enough assists. That is one way Barkley is better than him, though it makes him more of a highlight reel player and thus a lot of people are going to rate him higher than Wilshere. His passing, dribbling, defensive contribution and link-up play don't come close to Wilshere.

 

[Bevab]

Wilshere before injury was not overrated but now he is

And how exactly was he not overrated before injury?

 

[Auwais]

I ---- on him because I think he's an awful player in comparison to the hype and one of the most overrated there is, I'm sick of hearing England and Man Utd fans touting him as their savior, he is a mid-table PL player at best or a 4th or 5th choice for a team like Man Utd.

I agree when you say he does no one thing all that great which I guess is his downfall. Average players like him aren't going to win you titles. I definitely rate Henderson over him. Henderson went from being overrated and overpriced to underrated. He has had some really solid performances for Liverpool, he's been consistent in defense and even won then some games with his attacking output. Can't say that about Cleverley.

Wait, you hate him because he's overhyped? Where? Utd fans in New Zealand?

He's a decent squad player, that's about it. He had a good display tonight, where I think he's best suited as the link player in a midfield three and Utd often play better football with him in the side as he's good at giving and going.

He was overhyped at the start of 2011-12, when he broke through and Utd played some of their best football with him and Anderson together in midfield. He came on at half-time in the Community Shield and helped Utd come from 2-0 to win 3-2 and was involved in this excellent bit of football:

He's certainly down my list of players I'd get rid if I were Utd manager. The likes of Young, Buttner, Anderson look completely out of their depth compared to him.

 

[War]

Ye Cleverley & Henderson too for both club & country now & in the future will be the type of players who the squad/role players alongside whoever is the mid-field stars for their respective sides.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

What does everyone make of this Ross Barkley lad? Whenever I've seen him play he looks really good.

 

[Bevab]

What does everyone make of this Ross Barkley lad? Whenever I've seen him play he looks really good.

Very good player, seems to have decent technique and dribbles well.

Could be the sort of player around whom you could build a team.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

My only fear is that when he does eventually join a 'bigger' club he may fade away like so many other players who were good for their little old club but not so great for the bigger ones. Moses, Bentley, Palacios, Cleverly, Saha to name just a few.

 

[thedon5]

He's a much bigger talent than any of those guys that's the difference. Those are players who had purple patches at best, Barkley on the other hand has pure quality. Everton is a pretty big club anyway and he's doing the job so hell be fine.

 

[War]

Gary Neville: Arsenal must keep their unfashionable five fit and firing for title bid | Football News | Sky Sports

What you say about this thedon5?

 

[thedon5]

Gazza is spot on as usual though I think Arteta is of similar value to Flamini in that he can play a similar role so Flamini isn't quite as vital as the others.

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What about this?

Michael Owen: Arsenal do not look top-four side - Telegraph

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

what all teams need to do is roll into belgium and just buy everyone, particularly those of a foreign background.

 

[thedon5]

what all teams need to do is roll into belgium and just buy everyone, particularly those of a foreign background.

Zakaria Bakkali for starters!

That performance from Januzaj was always going to happen, it was obvious from a mile away. I think it's good for his development that Moyes slowly bedded him into the team without thrusting him straight into the deep end from the start, though the tea, probably needed him sooner. I think Moyes is coming to terms with his squad now, playing Nani and Januzaj from the start is a great idea and Valencia off the bench is a good choice to mix it up. Young is an awful excuse for a footballer and needs to be demoted to the reserves and sold to a mid-table Championship side ASAP, Welbeck is comfortably better than him so it's good to see him getting game time over Young. Kagawa and Hernandez still need to play though.

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Liverpool played quite well, but looking at the first half performance they should've won 6-0 but slacked off a bit in the second half. Crystal Palace look to be comfortable favourites to finish dead last, and severely lack flair and consistency of any sort. Unless Bolasie comes in and has a stormer they will struggle to no end in attack. They miss Zaha's explosiveness even though he was very inconsistent. Gayle looked a very strange signing but he could prove to be a great signing and is playing well, he alone isn't enough though. Could be a revelation at this level. One of the oddest looking fellows you'll ever see though, he's 22 with the body of a 12-year old and the face of a 70-year old.

Looks like Jol's job could be safe for now with the Stoke win.

 

[Haarithan]

Liverpool played quite well, but looking at the first half performance they should've won 6-0 but slacked off a bit in the second half.

A bit? Early days, but we're quite simply going nowhere with these sh1thouse second half performances. Been a common pattern this season, which's really really worrying.

Playing crap and yet grinding out good results is always a good sign though (ask Man Utd last season!), so let's see what we do when we actually play some good football.

 

[thedon5]

Ask Man Utd every season. I think Liverpool played really nicely in the first half so it wasn't exactly a scrappy win. They were just so out of sight that a Crystal Palace team so low on confidence and flair were never going to do anything away from home to turn it around.

I still think it remains to be seen whether this is complacency causing the drop in second half performance, or whether it's a drop physically in the second half or just almost completely running out of steam later in games. We really can't be sure yet as Liverpool have been ahead early on in most games. We'll see better in the bigger games. If it's the former Rodgers really needs to get his squad fully into the game.