English Football Thread 2014/15

[War]

Some initial weekend game thoughts

- Its close between Chelsea or City winning the league. The difference will come down to who looses less games vs the mid table/lower table sides. As we saw last season Chelsea dominated all the top 5 sides, but lost stupidly to the lesser teams.

- Liverpool should finish 3rd, but could possibly sneak into 2nd depending on the previous point - i believe their team has another level to go especially if they get Super Mario, Markovic, Lallana, Can, Moreno fully functioning in the starting XI.

- Arsenal are moving very slow in transfer market. It seems like all their targets are being gotten by other people, plus of course they failed to take back Fabregas. If Dortmund could take back Kagawa, Wenger should have jumped to get Cesc back. I think Bony would be a good striker option for them.

- I think 3-4-1-2 could work for United. But Mata could be vulnerable. Di Maria pace in the hole & closer to the box would be better. If you look at all the elite teams/national teams that have used this back 3 formation in recent times, Juventus/Holland/Costa Rica/Mexico/Argenntia/Colombia/Bayern Munich starting this season - at least 1 or 2 of the front 3 got to have electric pace.

However they need a senior defender & has i think around world football, all of he few good ones are either taken at champions league clubs or none really exists.

- Everton should start young Stones, Jageilka/Distin looking like two old twin towers together.

 

[Skater]

I have to say I've seen Alberto Moreno twice now (on TV, that is) and been very impressed. Looks like a top signing.

 

[War]

I have to say I've seen Alberto Moreno twice now (on TV, that is) and been very impressed. Looks like a top signing.

Ye he was very good in la liga last year, better than Spain's usual LB Alaba.


I'm saying it now Chelsea to win the premier league & champions league.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

better than Spain's usual LB Alaba.

He's Austrian...

I'm saying it now Chelsea to win the premier league & champions league.

That's a good shout, I initially thought that Man City would defend their title but after seeing how well Costa has adapted to the premier league so far I think they're probably favourites.

 

[Epic]

It's too early to call, I still got either us or Chelsea to win the league and Bayern or Barca to win the CL, I usually come down to 1 pick after New Year's.

He's Austrian...

He's thinking Alba.

 

[Haarithan]

Early days, but we're looking really really good to stay top four. Unreal performance at the Lane. Feels so good to have two proper fullbacks at last - the last time we had one was back in 2008-09 with Aurelio and Arbeloa!

Moreno is a cracking signing at 12mil - absolutely superb going forward as witnessed yesterday. Is defensively still suspect but was fantastic yesterday even on that front. Manquillo with a little more pace could be a monster. Had Chadli in his back pocket yesterday. Played 2, Won 2 with him in the side.

Balotelli wasn't clinical enough like his usual self yesterday, but he was very good overall. His presence opened up acres of space for Sterling to exploit, who in my opinion, has been our best player in 2014. Markovic is basically another Sterling, so it's a ridiculously good option to have him, Coutinho and Lallana on the bench (compare that to last year when we had Moses, Alberto and Allen on the bench). Also Henderson is clearly our best midfielder at the moment.

Negatives: Gerrard at DM - I'm convinced Rodgers doesn't have the balls to bench him, and he's basically in the side only for his set pieces.. Can has to start over him (or atleast over Joe Allen ffs). Lovren albeit reckless at times was excellent in his recovery tackles, but Sakho was just piss yesterday (Rodgers doesn't rate him imo). Still back him to come good though - this's clearly our best CB pairing by the looks of it.

 

[Epic]

Like me and Shravi said the other day, Allen, Gerrard and Henderson might work against weaker midfields, but they will be so out of their depth against us or Chelsea in the league and for the most part the top teams in the CL.

 

[thedon5]

Great performance from Liverpool for sure. I backed Spurs to win it who were so far looking quality under Pochettino, but wow were they bad defensively. Can't believe Rose is still starting over Davies as well.

I agree that Gerrard needs to be dropped. Henderson is looking quality.

Sterling is looking like the best teenager in world football at the moment. Markovic is still well off his level IMO.

Certainly encouraging signs, we'll see how the team handles Europe.

Terrible day for Spurs though, early days yet but clearly that isn't a good sign at all for their hopes of even making the top 5.

 

[Champagnepapi]

United got Falcao on loan.

 

[Champagnepapi]

He's back.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

United got Falcao on loan.

Why the facepalm? He's a quality striker, I think Arsenal should've gone for him though.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Falcao is maybe more your classic real madrid style "no one else can have him" transfer. If RVP is injured he's obviously going to be pretty useful, but arsenal or tottenham with a fully functioning, lethal central striker up front would have been heeps better than man united this year. as it is having to make do with Giroud and Soldado seriously weakens them, however bad man u have played so far they're obviously serious about re-entering 4th position and with chelsea and man city simply too far ahead they'll be realistically looking at getting in amongst arsenal, tottenham and liverpool.

still, defender?

 

[Champagnepapi]

Why the facepalm?

Because yet again they favor a attacker rather than a defender, what is what they need.

 

[Skater]

Fantastic scenes at Coventry.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Fantastic scenes at Coventry.

Pitch looks an absolute state though.