2012/2013 English Premier League thread

[devo22]

United confirm the signing of Wilfried Zaha:

Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Wilfried Zaha have reached an agreement for the player to join Manchester United in July 2013.

The player is having a medical in Manchester today (Friday 25 January). There will be no further comment by any party until Wilfried joins United in July 2013, although Sir Alex did speak briefly about the deal at his Friday morning press-conference.

"As we like to do, we sign young players with potential," the manager said. "We can also develop players well here. That’s proved to be the case many times.

"Hopefully the boy will enjoy it coming here when he eventually does join us in the summer."

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...al-palace.aspx

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

United confirm the signing of Wilfried Zaha:

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...al-palace.aspx

ummm the lad showed up to his medical wearing this t-shirt:


oh, the significance you ask? that's apparently Imogen Thomas, the model Giggsy banged behind his wife's back.

oops?

[cam_wmh]

Why Baines, not a midfielder, is what Manchester United really need this January

The reason why Sir Alex has neither signed a combative central midfielder nor bred one through the youth ranks is because he does not need one.

All aboard the Carrick wagon.

Leighton Baines is the answer. A long-term target for United, it makes sense to finally push for him now. Not only is he very rarely evaded by wingers (at 0.3 per game, only Nicky Shorey is dribbled past less often of the league’s regular left-backs) but he snuffs out danger more quickly than Evra, making 1.7 interceptions per game compared to the 31-year-old’s 1.2.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/...-united-really

[cam_wmh]

Fergie angered by De Gea speculation

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...lation?cc=5901

Great stat:
From 15 appearances, De Gea has faced 75 shots on target and saves 59 of them (78.7 %), based on whoscored.com statistics. He is ranked no. 4 in Europe's best GK saves success rate

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

oh, the significance you ask? that's apparently Imogen Thomas, the model Giggsy banged behind his wife's back.

oops?

no biggie. By the time Zaha comes to United, Giggs should already have retired.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

no biggie. By the time Zaha comes to United, Giggs should already have retired.

lol ya. except he signed another year apparently

[d_phaneuf]

Baines is the best LB in the league, arguably in the top 3-4 in the world with Marcelo, Lahm, and Alba

[rubecube]

Everton is fighting for top 4. No way they let him go before summer.

[d_phaneuf]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21204485

Liverpool have agreed an £8.5m deal for Inter Milan's Brazilian midfielder Philipe Coutinho.
The 20-year-old is expected to travel to Merseyside early next week for a medical and Liverpool will need to apply for a work permit before the deal can be completed.

good signing, him/Sturridge/Borini will be the front 3 next year IMO after Suarez leaves

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Everton is fighting for top 4. No way they let him go before summer.

ya, I think he and Fellani both go in the summer but not in this window

might be for the best of the club as well as there's no other way Moyes gets investment to strengthen other areas

[d_phaneuf]

Balotelli to Milan is picking up steam

on one hand, good riddance, on the other hand, the PL would be much less entertaining without him

[Mightyfire89]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21204485



good signing, him/Sturridge/Borini will be the front 3 next year IMO after Suarez leaves

You seem pretty plugged in to this stuff, what makes you think Suarez is leaving next year?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Krack Korn

You seem pretty plugged in to this stuff, what makes you think Suarez is leaving next year?

He's 26 years old and really only has 3-4 years of his 'prime' left

Liverpool are probably 2 years at the earliest of being back in top 4 contention

rumors started immediately after Pep got the Bayern job that Suarez was their first target, from the same Italian source that had the Pep/Bayern thing right in the first place (that has since been found out to have come from an agent conntected in the deal)

I think there's a very good chance he's at either Bayern or Juve next year

[Mightyfire89]

^^^Fair enough. Though at this point it's your opinion and nothing more.

[d_phaneuf]

yep, just speculation

not set in stone or anything

[The Big Chill]

I think we'll get one more season from Suarez. We don't need to sell and he just signed a new contract, so the only way he would go is if there is a massive offer or he pushes his way out.

[d_phaneuf]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...n-lewis-holtby

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal with Schalke for the immediate transfer of Lewis Holtby. The midfielder had agreed terms to join the London club in the summer at the end of his contract, however Tottenham were keen to bring the move forward in order to provide cover after the injury to Sandro.

get in

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I think we'll get one more season from Suarez. We don't need to sell and he just signed a new contract, so the only way he would go is if there is a massive offer or he pushes his way out.

I don't think he will push out, he seems very loyal

I think it will be a massive offer where it makes sense for both sides

[devo22]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...n-lewis-holtby

get in

"Tottenham were keen to bring the move forward in order to provide cover after the injury to Sandro"

... lol what? I have seen a lot of Holtby in the last three years, but he is NOT a defensive midfielder and I doubt he has the physical ability to play that role in the PL. Holtby is an attacking midfielder, period. I still don't really get this move ... they already have Bale, Lennon, Dempsey and Sigurdsson, and in the deeper role, even with Sandro injured, you still have Dembele, Huddlestone, Parker and Livermore. Unless he outplays guys like Dempsey and Sigurdsson, Holtby might see a lot of the bench.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...n-lewis-holtby

get in

What do you mean get in? What about 2004 PFA young player of the year?


Really though as posted above, I see Dembele as the better DM option.