2014/15 Barclay's Premier League Thread

[nik-]

I feel like how a coach does at Bayern shouldn't really be relayed to the EPL. The Bundesliga is a one team league. The EPL is like a 5 team league, so a slow start there is more dangerous.

I'm not a massive soccer fan though, so maybe my opinion is totally off base.

[cheevers]

Originally Posted by nik-

I feel like how a coach does at Bayern shouldn't really be relayed to the EPL. The Bundesliga is a one team league. The EPL is like a 5 team league, so a slow start there is more dangerous.

I'm not a massive soccer fan though, so maybe my opinion is totally off base.

Since the beginning of the Premiership, the Bundesliga is no more of a one team league than the Premiership has been.

[d_phaneuf]

its not close the last 5 years though, and that's when LVG took over in 09

since then Bayern has 49 points more than the 2nd most team, 111 points more than the 3rd most team

in the Premier league since that time

Man U have 16 more points than Man City, 29 points more than Chelsea, 42 points more than Arsenal, and 65 more points than Spurs

Bayern have won the Buli by 25 and 19 points the last 2 years

the gap between 1st/2nd in PL those 5 seasons is

1/9/0/9/4

[d_phaneuf]

Costa injured his hamstring in training, some reports saying he could be out 6 weeks

[devo22]

Manchester United have accepted a £9m bid from Aston Villa for Tom Cleverley, according to Sky. Madness from Villa ... Woodward probably would have been happy with £9.

So the big exodus has begun: Cleverley to Villa, Zaha to Crystal Palace on a season-long loan. Kagawa will probably be sold back to Dortmund, according to local sources in Germany, and United have received £12-15m bids from Juventus and Valencia for Chicharito.

[Bagor]

Sometimes I just don't understand the mentality of clubs and the transfer market.

Surely there is someone better within their system or in the lower leagues that could save them about 8M? What I am trying to say is that they spent 9M on a very average dime a dozen footballer. Is it the name? The club he was playing for?

[Locke]

I think in the end, United fans are not going to be happy with Louis.

The first thing people point to with LvG is his winning the League in his first season in charge, the difference being that he was taking over already championship caliber teams.

[devo22]

two league games and we're already talking about "in the end"? Dear god. How quickly people forget ... Liverpool amassed 2 (TWO!!!) points in their first 5 league games under Brenton and I think they have been okay.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

two league games and we're already talking about "in the end"? Dear god. How quickly people forget ... Liverpool amassed 2 (TWO!!!) points in their first 5 league games under Brenton and I think they have been okay.

True enough, but we didnt have as much of a track record with Rodgers as we do with LvG to analyze.

[d_phaneuf]

Woodward couldn't throw in Ashley Young in a 2 for 1 package?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Woodward couldn't throw in Ashley Young in a 2 for 1 package?

Seriously, if they're coughing up £9M for Cleverley they've clearly gone insane and now is the time to take advantage.

[d_phaneuf]

also this marks the end of Tom Cleverley being called up for the England squad so I view it as a win for all England fans as well

there are 3 ways to get called up for that team

be somewhat talented
be mediocre but play for one of the big 5 or 6 sides (Cleverley was target number 1 with this one, Smalling isn't too far behind)
be young and have had a lot of press written about you but in no way deserve the call up

for number 3 in the past year alone we have had

Callum Chambers, Wilfred Zaha, John Stones

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

two league games and we're already talking about "in the end"? Dear god. How quickly people forget ... Liverpool amassed 2 (TWO!!!) points in their first 5 league games under Brenton and I think they have been okay.

Also, to follow up, how long do you think LvG will stay? He generally doesnt stay with any one club for very long for one reason or another.

[d_phaneuf]

Hasn't he said he thinks 3 years?

then Giggs will take over

[devo22]

yeah, 2-4 years looks like a realistic timeline IMO. Just like at Bayern, I then expect the next manager (probably Giggs) to reap the rewards of van Gaals groundwork.

[Bagor]

Daniel Taylor @DTguardian Latest info from #MUFC - and always reluctant to post these - is that there will be nothing happening with them and Vidal/Carvalho

That's that then. Quite disturbing in a way that Vidal dragged on for so long.

Plan C it is then. Blind?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bagor

That's that then. Quite disturbing in a way that Vidal dragged on for so long.

Plan C it is then. Blind?

Which would be a great acquisition. He had a great World Cup and is already familiar with LvG's 3-at-the-back system and would help shore up your defence.

I'm a big fan of Blind.

[d_phaneuf]

Nando on loan to AC Milan for the year

I think he will do really well in that league

Spurs sign Benji Stambouli, never seen him but french writers seem high on him, means Schniederlin is staying at Southampton

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by devo22

yeah, 2-4 years looks like a realistic timeline IMO. Just like at Bayern, I then expect the next manager (probably Giggs) to reap the rewards of van Gaals groundwork.

I think thats one of the issues though

Giggs played for 20 years, under SAF, and as a Winger

3 at the back is never going to be his system, so if LVG buys this team built to play a 3-5-2, Giggs is going to need somewhat of a rebuild in a few years

[Locke]

ESPNFC.com is asking who is the worst 'Value for Money' signing in the EPL.

- Robinho - £32.5M

- Fernando Torres - £50M

- Andy Carroll - £35M

- Andriy Shevchenko - £30.8M

- Juan Sebastian Veron - £28.1M

http://www.espnfc.com/

I have to vote Torres, for his fee and his wages he has been beyond woeful. Followed closely by Andy Carroll.