2012/2013 English Premier League thread

[d_phaneuf]

Holtby is 3rd in the Bundesliga in assists behind Muller and Reus

He's a much better player than Dempsey and Sigurdsson

He's not replacement for Sandro, but he gives them a much needed 3rd option as a CM (even if he would be better played as a number 10)

Anyone who watched the Leeds game yesterday knows Huddlestone is useless, Livermore isn't very good, Carroll is young

in a pinch Holtby could play beside Dembele/Parker and be more effective, Raphael Honingstein has said he is a lot like Modric who will likely be moved to a deep lying playmaker over the next few years

[d_phaneuf]

right now the ideal midfield would be


Bale/Holtby/Lennon
Dembele/Parker

but if Dembele or Parker get injured

Bale/Dempsey/Lennon
Holtby/Dembele or Parker

[d_phaneuf]

I think you guys are remembering Sigurdsson from last year (excellent) compared to this year (so far extremely terrible)

I have hope because he's only 22 and this team isn't built around him like Swansea/Reading have in the past, but so far he's a huge bust

[cam_wmh]

Wow Galatasaray just signed Drogba.

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

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Wow Galatasaray just signed Drogba.

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

I dont get it, didnt he just sign for huge money in Shanghai? I know he left on a free so the club didnt pay to get him, but werent they paying him an obscene amount of money and now he didnt even play a full season for them?

Whats the point of that?

[Bagor]

DAVID BECKHAM is joining Arsenal today with his future still undecided. Free agent Becks has agreed a top-secret plan with the Gunners to train with the first-team squad while he ponders his next move.
The former England superstar, 37, is reporting for duty at Arsenal’s state-of-the-art Hertfordshire training HQ this morning determined to prove he can still play at the highest level.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...h-Arsenal.html

A half season deal would make a lot of sense for both parties.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont get it, didnt he just sign for huge money in Shanghai? I know he left on a free so the club didnt pay to get him, but werent they paying him an obscene amount of money and now he didnt even play a full season for them?

Whats the point of that?

He found out how terrible Chinese soccer is. Anelka is coming back too.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont get it, didnt he just sign for huge money in Shanghai? I know he left on a free so the club didnt pay to get him, but werent they paying him an obscene amount of money and now he didnt even play a full season for them?

Whats the point of that?

I recall stories of late paycheques

[NBC]

Manchester United's Paul Scholes has car stolen

Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes has had his car stolen after he left its engine running while defrosting the windscreen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-21243965

I don't know why, but I feel the need to do this:

[d_phaneuf]

the best part of that article is the end with the quotes from the police spokesman

however, it only takes a few seconds to steal a car when keys have been left in the ignition," he said.

THIS IS NEW INFORMATION

[NBC]

Mario Balotelli: AC Milan agree deal to sign Manchester City striker

AC Milan have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli on a four-and-a-half-year contract, the Italian club's director Umberto Gandini has confirmed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21251291

[NBC]

This was inevitable:

Sir Alex Ferguson charged by FA following comments about official

The Football Association has charged Sir Alex Ferguson following comments he made about a match official after Manchester United's game at Tottenham Hotspur on 20 January.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21190691

[d_phaneuf]

2-0 Newcastle

Oliver Kay ‏@OliverKayTimes
Newcastle fans singing "You're not laughing any more" - reference to Villa fans gloating when #nufc relegated in 2009

[d_phaneuf]

if only Man City had an enigmatic striker with a knack for big goals to come on and help them?

0-0

QPR have not lost to Chelsea/Spurs/Man Cit in the last month, yet they got smashed by West Ham and Dons

[cam_wmh]

LOL City.

[cam_wmh]

I'm scared City fire Mancini this summer, and hire Mourinho.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by NBC

This was inevitable:

No it wasn't. He usually got away with that sorta crap.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I'm scared City fire Mancini this summer, and hire Mourinho.

yes, with that amount of money he turns them in to a powerhouse

really want Mancini to stay as long as possible

[Bagor]

Rodgers is going to be an expert on criminal law by the time this week is over.

First he has his son and half the Brighton team up on sexual assualt charges ......

The footballer son of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied sexually assaulting a teenager in a hotel room claiming it was nothing more than "boy banter". Brighton player Anton Rodgers, 20, denied there was a sexual element to what went on in the room where photographs were taken on mobile phones.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...ed-sex-1561845


and hopefully that case is cleared up by Friday for him to make an appearance for Sterling who is up on alleged assualt ...

A Liverpool player will appear in court over an alleged assault after being summonsed to attend.Winger Raheem Sterling, 18, had been quizzed under caution by police officers after going to a station by appointment three days after the alleged bust-up in Toxteth when a 27-year-old woman received slight injuries.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...appear-1562870


Oh ... and Fergie has been charged by the FA for pointing out that a linesman is incompetent. That's serious stuff too.

[d_phaneuf]

QPR sign Christopher Samba (absolutely shocked he didn't like Russia...) for 10m

Also made an offer for Crouchinaldo for 10m

If Harry can't save them this year (I think he can) they are Portsmouth 2.0