English Football Thread 2013/14

[thedon5]

I cannot believe Arsenal haven't yet extended Rosicky and Sagna's currently expiring deals. To lose out on two top class players on a free this summer would be a huge blow.

As for the United game yesterday, same old conclusion - their midfield is in absolute tatters. Horrible display and were overrun with ease at the center of the park by the likes of De Guzman and Pozuelo. Better get fresh faces this winter, else they might as well kiss goodbye to their top four aspirations. Cabaye and Reges should do. Offload Cleverley, he's useless.

Hearing they might get Coentrao as well, would be a great signing and a humongous upgrade over Evra.

Rosicky will definitely retire at Arsenal, expect him to sign on quite soon. He's a one of a kind player though, there aren't any other players that do what he can do. He is the dream squad player, such a shame he's 33. He's a fan favourite and I can see him playing a part for at least the next 2-3 seasons, as long as he stays away from the injuries he could play to 38 and beyond really.

I'm not too sure about Sagna, contract talks have definitely begun but I sense he maybe isn't that keen on sticking around. He has been linked with the Milan clubs over the past few seasons, that is an insane step-down. In reality there isn't anywhere better he could move so he'd better sign on ASAP, he's probably trying to get as much money as possible. He's been brilliant this season, very close behind Coleman as the league's best RB. Rock solid defensively and his attacking game has really improved over the last few seasons, plus he's shaken off the injuries. He's closing in on legend status so needs to stay.

The problem with both of them though is that the club tends to offer only one-year contracts to the older players, and this is probably playing a part in Sagna's hesitance to sign a new deal. Sagna deserves a three-year contract, Rosicky should be good with one year though.

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I'm not talking from the management's perspective, but what the fans seem to want. Empty stadia isn't a pleasing sight for anyone.
Besides, considering not much has changed in the squad, the same squad was at least winning easily at home just a few months earlier, at the end of last season. Under Moyes, they have hardly ever looked convincing enough. Surely, the squad hasn't suddenly worsened to this extent.

Ferguson is a better manager than Moyes, and also a better motivator to the team. The desire to win is perhaps no longer there, they have the 20th title, and you no longer see them winning games in the last minute. That plays a part. Also, Man Utd were pretty much a one-man team with van Persie doing everything with Rooney on the side. Rooney has somewhat replaced him, but it's still not the same without van Persie. The team has aged too, all of them are aging more and more and getting worse by the day. Ferguson is also gone now so they don't get quite as many rubbish refereeing calls going their way as they used to.

The fans don't matter, a few bad results for any team and it's automatically the manager's fault, just take a look at Arsenal in 11/12 and 12/13 and Chelsea during the Abramovich years. Man Utd fans are as fickle as those of any other big team, more perhaps due to the gloryhunters, so a poor reception is expected.

 

[ste_mc_efc]

Good decision by the keeper to leave a trailing leg. If anything the mistake Torres made was not making the most of it by sticking a leg out and going to ground. Good on him for not though.

Admittedly the fall afterwards was a bit Torres-esque though, he's wondering what happened. Both in that move and in his career.

I'd be inclined to agree. Solid keeping. Keeper goes that way knowing Torres can't really cut inside easily due to the defenders tracking back, so he blocks off the outside, forcing him inside and does well to get a foot on the ball.

The mistake Torres made was cutting inside, probably not aware of the players coming back being so close. He probably should have shot earlier.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

It's ridiculous to blame Moyes. How on Earth is he going to do anything looking at the players he has at his disposal? Ferdinand? Valencia? Cleverley? Welbeck? None of these players are any good even when on top form, in any case they're all so inconsistent.

Moyes deserves another chance in the TM, he did make some good signings for Everton. If he messes up again, sack him. Man Utd is a proper team, they aren't going to sack him so easily.

The thing is, the players aren't playing anything like they're capable of. We have to ask why that is happening when a few short months ago, we had just been crowned Champions again. For me, Moyes has either lost the dressing room or he never had it to start with. I saw him on the BBC earlier and he was talking about how sure he is that things will change.

He didn't sound sure. You know how it works with people speaking? Body language is the most important thing to look for, followed by their tone - the actual words are by far the least important thing.

Moyes was saying he thinks things will change, but his tone said 'I'm gone by the end of the season, if not before'. Of course, in a confined setting like a press conference, body language cannot be taken into account as much, but tone sure as hell can, and his tone was that of a defeated man. I never remember hearing Sir Alex with that tone - not once.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Walcott out for 6 months, big blow for Arsenal but massive blow for England. Knee injuries aren't nice, i'm recovering from one myself.

 

[War]

oh mannnn! The year aint even a week gone & the injury bug already hit.

But on a slight bright side, its in an area where ENG technically has its some good back-ups. Townsend/Lennon/Sterling are basically like-for-like replacements. While guys like Lallana/The Ox/Ward Prowse can play other effective roles from the flank.

However from a squad perspective, i was already viewing Walcott as potential striker option & this role would have allowed another squad player to be picked.

Generally too its hard on Theo especially considering his peculiar World cup experiences/non-experiences in 2006 & 2010.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Walcott out for 6 months, big blow for Arsenal but massive blow for England. Knee injuries aren't nice, i'm recovering from one myself.

Get well soon, Spitfires. How did you injure your knee?

 

[thedon5]

6 months!?!?!?!? DAMMIT!!!!!!! There was talk of him possibly coming back for our next game. 6 months!?!?!? Ridiculous, especially after a great appearance up front, it looked like he'd finally get a shot at playing up front for the while.

Not sure we can win the title without him, he is such an important player and our only guy who will really look to get in behind and make the most of Ozil and Cazorla. We need someone in January for sure and Podolski really needs to shine.

oh mannnn! The year aint even a week gone & the injury bug already hit.

But on a slight bright side, its in an area where ENG technically has its some good back-ups. Townsend/Lennon/Sterling are basically like-for-like replacements. While guys like Lallana/The Ox/Ward Prowse can play other effective roles from the flank.

However from a squad perspective, i was already viewing Walcott as potential striker option & this role would have allowed another squad player to be picked.

Generally too its hard on Theo especially considering his peculiar World cup experiences/non-experiences in 2006 & 2010.

As long as he stays away from any more injuries, Ox will 100% go this season. He now even has the spot in the first team with Walcott out of the picture, it'll be him competing with Gnabry which is stiff competition and will bring the best out of both of them as realistically, both are competing for WC spots now.

Ox was ridiculous in pre-season and against Villa. I was never a big fan of the guy as I felt he was far too overhyped, a bit like Townsend now. But he is really delivering on that based on what we saw at the start of the season. He was incisive and looked a complete winger with the pace, dribbling, killer shot and killer pass, plus he tracked back. So watch out for him. He is miles better than any of the other you listed, though Lallana has improved a lot this season.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Get well soon, Spitfires. How did you injure your knee?

I was in goal, came out for a 50/50 ball, there was a clash of knees and I came off worse. Ended up with a fractured knee cap, I've been out for 3 months and only a week ago I was able to fully weight bear on my leg.

 

[Bevab]

Lallana definitely needs to be in the squad, he's got good intelligence on the pitch that's not often seen with other English players.

 

[shravi]

Former Aston Villa, Everton and Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger becomes first Premier League player to reveal he is gay | Mail Online

Ha, I can almost picture War writhing in his chair.

 

[ste_mc_efc]

Wasn't a very well kept secret, anyway. but good on him.

 

[thedon5]

The thing I'm most puzzled by is why he retired. He was certainly a good player at his peak and looked good the few times I saw him at Everton. Surely his injuries weren't THAT bad...

Good decision by him to come out after his career though, you have to feel as the first in a while he would've been treated very differently if he was still playing.

 

[ste_mc_efc]

I guess it probably was because he was gay.

Spent his entire adult life somewhere he didn't feel accepted and that he couldn't be himself. I guess it just got to him in the end and he could no longer put everything into something he didn't think wanted him. Maybe with the injuries he faced he just didn't want to go on.

He did look okay at us, but most of those 7 appearances were 5 minute cameos. But it looked like he could still play.

 

[puddleduck]

I think his knee is genuinely tweaked. I'm sure he would have carried on playing, but he knew how good he could have been without injuries. Why force yourself through all the pain at 31 to make cameo appearances and potentially cause yourself serious damage for later in life.

He's not an idiot, so I would think he's probably managed his money fairly well.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Another substandard performance by Utd. It might be a good thing if we lose the tie; City will destroy us in the final.