2013/2014 English Premier League Thread

[NBC]

Originally Posted by moon

Tottenham clearly the better team

[d_phaneuf]

biggest potential loss today is Capoue

Spurs back 4 and midfield were strong but are lacking in chances created and that isn't surprising with an all new attack group

wouldn't expect them to gel together instantly, will take a few games of Eriksen/Lamela starting

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by moon

Well terrible results today but at least all 5 top 4 contenders have a loss and it was on the road so not so bad for Spurs.

Not really any good football played in the two marquee games. Liverpool and Arsenal get two early, lucky goals and then hold on and pray for the rest of the game. Man U and Tottenham clearly the better teams but didn't do enough creatively to get the goals they deserved.

What was 'lucky' about Theo's perfect ball and Giroud's excellent finish? Your analysis is wrong.

[moon]

Maybe not so much lucky as horribly played by Spurs. If Dawson isn't awful there he should easily step in front of Giroud.

Shouldn't have happened with competent play from Dawson and to a lesser extent Lloris.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Correction ... they didn't do anything anywhere near enough as regards creating chances. That's why it's a blown three points. They had the run of the pitch in the second half.

When the whole second half is played in the Pool half but they are unable to create a decent chance then it's a blown chance.

Two average teams as far as creating chance go, one a lot more dominant in midfield. The only difference is a garbage set piece goal.

Be happy with your 3 points but I wouldn't delude yourself that that was anywhere close to a half decent performance.

Calling it a blown chance usually suggests that they actually had some chances. Creating chances is the name of the game, and when one team can't create any, the other team should get credit for preventing them from doing so. Liverpool weren't great today, but they did well by not giving up many good chances against.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Calling it a blown chance usually suggests that they actually had some chances. Creating chances is the name of the game, and when one team can't create any, the other team should get credit for preventing them from doing so. Liverpool weren't great today, but they did well by not giving up many good chances against.

It was a blown chance in that they dominated the game but played terribly in the last third against a mediocre team. They had one HUGE chance in their absolute domination of the second half.

And yes, I give Liverpool little credit for the quality of United's final ball and for the decisions to have Giggs, Nani ... take the set pieces ahead of RvP. And for Cleverly's inability to make a forward pass, and for Young being ..... not very good.

Besides, regardless, when a top team like United fails to take three points from a mid table team like Liverpool it's a blown chance. Simple as that.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by moon

Maybe not so much lucky as horribly played by Spurs. If Dawson isn't awful there he should easily step in front of Giroud.

Shouldn't have happened with competent play from Dawson and to a lesser extent Lloris.

What the hell were you watching? That play was all a result of Danny Rose doing his best BAE impression.

Pretty pathetic performances by everyone not named Lloris and Townsend today. Dembele and Chadli were particularly terrible. Hopefully Eriksen can be an answer in the middle because there is absolutely no creativity there at the moment.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Bagor

It was a blown chance in that they dominated the game but played terribly in the last third against a mediocre team. They had one HUGE chance in their absolute domination of the second half.

And yes, I give Liverpool little credit for the quality of United's final ball and for the decisions to have Giggs, Nani ... take the set pieces ahead of RvP. And for Cleverly's inability to make a forward pass, and for Young being ..... not very good.

Besides, regardless, when a top team like United fails to take three points from a mid table team like Liverpool it's a blown chance. Simple as that.

The only thing United dominated was possession in the second half. Other then that, the sides created about the same amount of shots at and on goal. Make all the excuses you want but that's how the game went.

[Barnet Flame]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

The only thing United dominated was possession in the second half. Other then that, the sides created about the same amount of shots at and on goal. Make all the excuses you want but that's how the game went.

You got comprehension problems? Where was I making excuses?

Simply stating that they absolutely controlled the game in the 2nd half but lacked any creativity in the final third and it was a blown chance at three points against an inferior team.

[Fusebox]

Classless from the bitter Manchester United supporters on here.

Yes, it was a garbage goal off a set piece but those are the breaks. Manchester United had more than ninety minutes to come back and get an equaliser, but they didn't even come close to breaking Liverpool down. I think van Persie's little run down the right wing close to the end of the match was as close as they came, and that wasn't even that close.

Once again, Carrick was a total passenger. He offered nothing. At least Cleverley was trying. Cleverley was fighting hard to win possession and when he got the ball, trying to keep it. Yes, this meant that he was playing the ball backwards and sideways a lot but that is his job.

Funny that you guys should mention Paul Scholes, because that is exactly who you needed to come on for Giggs today at about the hour mark. Carrick offered nothing going forward, gave the ball away cheaply many times, and was punished with a silly yellow card for a poor read and a lack of fitness to get goal side of his man after he had lost possession. He was particularly terrible today.

Manchester United will likely finish well above Liverpool in the standings, but based on that performance today, they are a ways off being title challengers. The fact that Valencia had to come on as an emergency right-back tells you just how threadbare that squad really is. Liverpool have Johnson, Kelly, Wisdom, and Flanagan, all of whom are already top-notch right backs or will be playing in the Premiership at right-back one day.

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by Bagor

You got comprehension problems? Where was I making excuses?

Simply stating that they absolutely controlled the game in the 2nd half but lacked any creativity in the final third and it was a blown chance at three points against an inferior team.

Every time Liverpool got the ball in the second half, they tried to spread the pitch as wide as they could and I lost count of how many times they passed it from corner flag to corner flag, back and forth. None of the four defenders came much past the half-way line, so it wasn't like Manchester United were playing Liverpool off the park. There is a difference between dominating possession and one team dropping deep to defend a lead for the entire half, thus giving the ball to the opposition and inviting them to break them down.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Classless from the bitter Manchester United supporters on here.

Why because I laughed at your stupid assertion that Cleverly was trying to take the game by the scruff of the neck?

Originally Posted by Fusebox

At least Cleverly was trying

That's it? And that constitutes trying to take a game by the scruff of the neck? Ashley Young was trying too. Phil Jones looked like he was trying too. Insightful stuff.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Every time Liverpool got the ball in the second half, they tried to spread the pitch as wide as they could and I lost count of how many times they passed it from corner flag to corner flag, back and forth. None of the four defenders came much past the half-way line, so it wasn't like Manchester United were playing Liverpool off the park. There is a difference between dominating possession and one team dropping deep to defend a lead for the entire half, thus giving the ball to the opposition and inviting them to break them down.

Oh ... so Liverpool were giving them the ball now?

Aren't you the fella that suggested that playing 10 men behind the ball is tactical brilliance?

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Oh ... so Liverpool were giving them the ball now?

Aren't you the fella that suggested that playing 10 men behind the ball is tactical brilliance?

It is when you go up a goal to one of the best teams in the world three minutes in the match.

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Why because I laughed at your stupid assertion that Cleverly was trying to take the game by the scruff of the neck?


That's it? And that constitutes trying to take a game by the scruff of the neck? Ashley Young was trying too. Phil Jones looked like he was trying too. Insightful stuff.

You must be a massive Manchester United supporter. You don't even know how to spell Tom Cleverley's name correctly.

Insightful stuff.

[Bagor]

LOL. That the best you've got?

Why don't we get back on track and you educate me on how Cleverly was trying to take the game by the scruff of the neck?

[Fusebox]

I'm just re-watching the game now. Carrick gives the ball away super cheaply at 2:14

[Fusebox]

Carrick's giveaway puts Vidic under pressure, forcing Ferdinand to give up the corner that leads to Sturridge's goal.

[Fusebox]

Carrick mis-times his jump at 7:20, leading to a turnover just outside the Manchester United box