2014/15 Barclay's Premier League Thread

[devo22]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Also United wont need a goalie next year, Spanish papers reporting both Madrid clubs about to be hit with a transfer ban for this summer and next January

yeah I just saw that. But they'll just appeal it like Barcelona, meaning that they are free to spend big this summer before being banned in January and summer 2016 I guess.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by devo22

yeah I just saw that. But they'll just appeal it like Barcelona, meaning that they are free to spend big this summer before being banned in January and summer 2016 I guess.

makes it easier for United though doesnt it? because if they do keep DDG this summer he wouldnt be able to go there until January 2017

either way, it helps their odds for at least a few more seasons I think

[devo22]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

makes it easier for United though doesnt it? because if they do keep DDG this summer he wouldnt be able to go there until January 2017

either way, it helps their odds for at least a few more seasons I think

in theory I'd agree. They could easily block any Real move this summer, knowing that Real can't get him next year and he can't join them until 2017. But it's Man United ... they are too damn nice when it comes to selling players who want to leave. I wouldn't be surprised at all if United sold him for peanuts this summer, just like Bayern did with Kroos last year.

[cam_wmh]

It'd be interesting for LVG to say, "It's time to stop playing nice with Madrid. $60 million, or sits the entire 15/16 season."

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

It'd be interesting for LVG to say, "It's time to stop playing nice with Madrid. $60 million, or sits the entire 15/16 season."

hah, it'd be glorious. To be honest I'd rather staple De Gea to the bench than sell those Madrid dorks yet another top player. United are far too big of a club themselves to always bend over when Real come calling.

[rich76]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Congrats Rich!

AFC Bournemouth wins 3-0 today, ensuring promotion to the Premier League for first time in club history

Wow, the best 2 days of my life. Ever.

It all kicked off with the series win against those dirty Canucks early on Sunday morning, involving a grown man reduced to tears at 5am. First playoff series win I've ever seen, that was so special.

Then, less than 48 hours later on Monday night, the very same grown man reduced to tears yet again (blubbing for fully the last 15 minutes of the game in a busy pub) as AFC Bournemouth, barring the craziest set of results ever witnessed, clinched promotion to the Premier League.

It's an amazing story of rags to riches. I've been going for about 30 years now, since I was a little kid, through thick and thin, and there's so much emotion there that's built up over the years.

The club has had many highs and lows... from almost going out of business at least 3 or 4 times, points deductions, but at the other end of the scale, I've seen two "Great Escape" seasons (here and here), plus a Wembley Cup final defeat and a playoff final win along the way.

Such a rollercoaster. And they are still my beloved Bournemouth.

Yes, we have a very rich Russian owner at the moment, but we haven't really splashed the cash as a team in our position might have... 7 or 8 of our first team regulars were playing for us at the bottom of League 1 a couple of seasons ago, and our net spend over the last couple of years is zero (ignoring a £2m outlay on Tokelo Rantie a couple of seasons back who has really struggled to make a name for himself).

We're pretty well run (currently!), have the best young manager in the country, and maybe half a chance of staying up next season? Who knows... I'm normally a glass half empty person...

Originally Posted by Addick

Haha, I loved this tweet.

Charlton have been very good hosts this coming weekend... they even moved some of their own season ticket holders from their usual seats to accommodate an extra 1,400 Bournemouth fans, so thank you! (Assuming you don't actually beat us 19-0)...

Looking forward to some Premier League chat about "plucky little" Bournemouth next season folks!

Cheers! Up The Cherries... In All Departments!

[Locke]

Now they're talking about replacing Rodgers with Klopp? I dont know how I feel about that. I wasnt initially a Rodgers proponent, but over time I feel hes done an excellent job and for the most part gets his team selections and tactics right.

I mean, I cant remember the last time I saw a Liverpool game and was wondering what the hell Rodgers was thinking.

That being said, if they want to replace him and that replacement is Klopp I should be ecstatic, but I just dont know where I'm at with that.

[Imported_Aussie]

I think Liverpool should persist with Rodgers. He is a good manager, and if you plump for Klopp and he doesn't meet the higher expectations he will come with, Rodgers will get hired elsewhere. He is great at bringing along youth, which for a team like Liverpool is essential. His season this year is reminiscent of Spurs after Bale left - you don't realize how much that big player impacted the team. Give him next year to work with a team sans Gerrard and invest in youth.

[SuperMatt18]

Think some of these clubs fall into the trap of changing managers too often.

Rodgers is a good manager, let him continue to build and implement his vision on this team.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Think some of these clubs fall into the trap of changing managers too often.

Rodgers is a good manager, let him continue to build and implement his vision on this team.

I agree. I thought Rodgers was garbage his first season and I think hes had a couple of questionable moments this year, like I didnt think he fielded strong enough teams in the Europa League after being knocked out of the CL, but I also think hes done a solid job and I want Liverpool to be a club that has a manager they like and stick with him.

Its a big reason that I'm really happy with the Flames at the moment. I'm a strong believer in organizational stability, keep the same coach, keep the same manager and keep the same President as long as they're doing a good job. If they do a poor job then evaluate, but sometimes the management are doing an excellent job even if the results on the field arent to your liking.

I find knee-jerk reactions in terms of management are far too commonplace these days. In soccer its a lot different than in hockey, the goalposts are in very different places in terms of qualifying for competitions so that money comes in or relegation/promotion compared to making the playoffs etc.

But far too often you know when a guy is going to get fired be it rightly on wrongly.

And thats sort of where I'm at with Rodgers/Klopp. I mean, sacking Rodgers because he was forced to sell his best player, went through injury problems and couldnt buy a goal when the team needed some and is likely to finish 5th in the league despite all of it? I think thats still pretty good and is a very decent foundation to build upon given some time and investment.

[d_phaneuf]

really hope they dont fire David Brent

[GirlySports]

Rodgers is a great manager but even he can't coach Balotelli.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by rich76

Charlton have been very good hosts this coming weekend... they even moved some of their own season ticket holders from their usual seats to accommodate an extra 1,400 Bournemouth fans, so thank you! (Assuming you don't actually beat us 19-0)...

It's so special and we definitely have the experience to understand. Have a great time at the Valley tomorrow and apologies in advance if we somehow run riot and hit you for 19.

[Locke]

A plane carrying a banner calling for Brendan Rodgers to be dismissed as Liverpool manager flew across Anfield prior to the team's meeting with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

The banner displayed the words "Rodgers out, Rafa in," calling for former Reds boss Rafael Benitez to be reappointed as manager of the Merseyside club.

http://www.espnfc.com/liverpool/stor...odgers-sacking

Really?

I'll admit, after the losses that really killed our top 4 hopes as well as an insane tax season and the success of the Flames I havent been following as closely as I usually do, but what arguments do people have against Rodgers?

And if we're talking about Klopp as a replacement I'll admit to being on the fence, but Rafa? No thanks.

[rich76]

Originally Posted by Addick

It's so special and we definitely have the experience to understand. Have a great time at the Valley tomorrow and apologies in advance if we somehow run riot and hit you for 19.

You almost beat us 19-0.

Goosebumps all round.

See you next season, Premier League!

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

http://www.espnfc.com/liverpool/stor...odgers-sacking

Really?

I'll admit, after the losses that really killed our top 4 hopes as well as an insane tax season and the success of the Flames I havent been following as closely as I usually do, but what arguments do people have against Rodgers?

And if we're talking about Klopp as a replacement I'll admit to being on the fence, but Rafa? No thanks.

Maybe that's a United fan taking a page from Calgarypuck, with our Lowe endeavors in Edmonton?

[Bagor]

Gotta feel for Rio. So young. So sudden.

“My soulmate slipped away last night,” Ferdinand said in a statement. “Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. She was a fantastic, loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration.”

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ferdinand-dies

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Locke

http://www.espnfc.com/liverpool/stor...odgers-sacking

Really?

I'll admit, after the losses that really killed our top 4 hopes as well as an insane tax season and the success of the Flames I havent been following as closely as I usually do, but what arguments do people have against Rodgers?

And if we're talking about Klopp as a replacement I'll admit to being on the fence, but Rafa? No thanks.

I read somewhere that it was actually some Man U fans that flew the banner, but I have no idea if that's true or not. Either way, there definitely seems to be a growing 'Rodgers Out' crowd.

The season has been a total failure on all fronts, assuming that United don't collapse over the last couple games here. The biggest complaint is the wastefulness in the transfer market. We spent a huge sum of money and yet don't have a single goal threat in the side.

Rodgers also seems to have lost his way a bit with his philosophy. We played a 4231 at the start of the season despite not having players really suited for the 2 in midfield, and we constantly got overrun. Then we seemed to stumble into the 3 at the back system, which worked really well for a while. Rodgers apparently had the whole youth setup change to the same system, suggesting that we'd be using that system going forward. But then at the first hiccup when United and Aresenal kicked our butt, we immediately changed back to the 4231 that had never really worked for us.

I'd personally prefer to keep Rodgers, although he still has a lot of improving to do. I don't really see a replacement out there that would immediately be able to turn things around here. Klopp has huge potential, but his project would likely take a while, and I'm not sure his crazy pressing style would work in England very well.

If we did decide to make a change, I would hope we could convince Klopp to sign, but other then that I'd rather give Rodgers another year and see if he can sign up a goal scorer or two and get back on the right track.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by rich76

You almost beat us 19-0.

Goosebumps all round.

See you next season, Premier League!

Story on CNN about AFC Bournemouth. Very fascinating!

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/01/fo...ue-ten-things/

Congrats Rich! Curious to know how you became a flames fan?

[Pagal4321]

Probably not the best place to put this but a good read about everyone's favorite person, Sepp Blatter.

http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/20...-blatter-fifa/