2013/2014 English Premier League Thread

[cam_wmh]

Lamps arm being extended does it in for me. He makes an effort to have his hand close to his torso and I'm ok with it.

[Jagger]

I've seen them given for much less than that.

It was certainly unintentional and he did appear to make an effort to keep his arm/hand in towards his torso but, still, I was incredibly surprised when the ref didn't give it. That was incredibly close and Lampard definitely knows he got away with one there.

[Bagor]

Apologies but I really have to respond to this ....

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Fergie may have gone - but it's still one set of rules for United and the other for the visiting team. Valencia lucky not to be booked, then De Bruyne booked for what must have been seen by the referee as De Bruyne using his face against van Persie's elbow...

I think you might have missed a couple of replies.

Originally Posted by united

Why didn't you mention Cole's tackle on van Persie?

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Or Ashley Cole's dive, or FAT FRANK's HANDBALL.

Here we go, first game of the season and the conspiracy theorists are out already.

Let's break this down a bit Aussie so I can attempt to point out the insanity of your claim which I believe it to be something you're just regurgitating because you've heard other people say it and if enough people say it, it might one day be true, or indeed if enough people say it, then they believe it to be true.

Here goes ......

• I agree Valencia should have been booked.
• Using the same (your) standards for an equally if not more reckless challenge, so too should Ashley Cole.
• Cole also was extremely lucky not to have been booked for being a deliberate cheating little blatant diver.
• So in essence, it is not outrageous to make a claim that in any other given day Cole could have been sent off.
• Furthermore, Frank's handball. Seen them given just as often than not. Chelsea got away with one there .......... for the second week running might I add.

So to conclude ...... you're whinging that United got special treatment and have their own set of rules at OT because ...... Valencia escaped a yellow.
You ignore that it is not unreasonable to claim that Chelsea could have very easily today had a man sent off and a penalty given against them.

So what am I missing here? Explain to me how United benefited from having their own set of rules today?

Have you met Locke?

Personally, I'm not that bothered about the decisions today, it was just a case of a bad ref day and not getting the breaks. It happens. Just these conspiracy theories.

Really surprised how negative Chelsea were today. Happy enough with the draw.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

What a god awful game.

I didn't mind it as I had some emotional investment in it, enjoyed it tactically but I can see where you're coming from.

Having said that, this Arlo White commentator fella is brutal.

[cam_wmh]

Rooney was our best player today, and the fans made sure he knew it.

He's not going anywhere. GGMU

[Fusebox]

Anyone who thought that was a boring game needs to watch more football. Mourinho is such a great tactician, he really is a pleasure to watch. I'm not a supporter of either team, but it was brilliant to watch how toothless Mourinho can make the best strike force in football appear completely toothless with an over the hill John Terry and a somewhat suspect Gary Cahill.

Manchester United are really in need of a creative midfielder to replace Scholes. Cleverley is not as limited a player as Ramires is for Chelsea, but Ramires is definitely a far better ball winner, which is what you need from a holding midfielder. They'll need to make a big splash before the window closes, and I don't think a midfielder in the mould of Fellaini is what they need at all. Why hasn't Kagawa played yet? Does Moyes not fancy him?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Anyone who thought that was a boring game needs to watch more football. Mourinho is such a great tactician, he really is a pleasure to watch. I'm not a supporter of either team, but it was brilliant to watch how toothless Mourinho can make the best strike force in football appear completely toothless with an over the hill John Terry and a somewhat suspect Gary Cahill.

Manchester United are really in need of a creative midfielder to replace Scholes. Cleverley is not as limited a player as Ramires is for Chelsea, but Ramires is definitely a far better ball winner, which is what you need from a holding midfielder. They'll need to make a big splash before the window closes, and I don't think a midfielder in the mould of Fellaini is what they need at all. Why hasn't Kagawa played yet? Does Moyes not fancy him?

United needs another holding midfielder?

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

United needs another holding midfielder?

I don't think so personally, I think they need a midfielder who can spray the ball around the way Scholes did. Rooney kept dropping deep today to pick up the balls from Cleverley and distribute it out wide to Nani and Valencia. Carrick has never been the finished article for me, he was a far better player at Spurs I think.

Rooney is a magnificent player and I think there might be a job for him in the centre of midfield when he inevitably loses a yard or two of pace, just like when Dwight Yorke dropped back when he signed for Sunderland and was great.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Carrick has never been the finished article for me, he was a far better player at Spurs I think.

Oh? Who were better than him last season?

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Oh? Who were better than him last season?

Who was a better player than Carrick last season? Paul Scholes, for one. I'm not saying Carrick is a poor player, I'm just saying that I don't think a team can win a Premier League title with him as the fulcrum of the midfield. He is well capable of delivering forty-yard, surgical like passes, but I certainly don't think his work rate compares at all with the likes of Lampard, Parker or Yaya Toure. Toure in particular is a far superior player to Carrick in almost all aspects, in my opinion.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Who was a better player than Carrick last season? Paul Scholes, for one. I'm not saying Carrick is a poor player, I'm just saying that I don't think a team can win a Premier League title with him as the fulcrum of the midfield. He is well capable of delivering forty-yard, surgical like passes, but I certainly don't think his work rate compares at all with the likes of Lampard, Parker or Yaya Toure. Toure in particular is a far superior player to Carrick in almost all aspects, in my opinion.

Everything in this post is flat-out misinformed or insane, with the exception of maybe the Toure bit.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Who was a better player than Carrick last season? Paul Scholes, for one. I'm not saying Carrick is a poor player, I'm just saying that I don't think a team can win a Premier League title with him as the fulcrum of the midfield. He is well capable of delivering forty-yard, surgical like passes, but I certainly don't think his work rate compares at all with the likes of Lampard, Parker or Yaya Toure. Toure in particular is a far superior player to Carrick in almost all aspects, in my opinion.

You're ######ed.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Anyone who thought that was a boring game needs to watch more football. Mourinho is such a great tactician, he really is a pleasure to watch. I'm not a supporter of either team, but it was brilliant to watch how toothless Mourinho can make the best strike force in football appear completely toothless with an over the hill John Terry and a somewhat suspect Gary Cahill.

I'm not sure I buy into this line of thought. Tactically, it's much easier to shut things down and prevent them from happening than it is to create them for yourself. In addition, when you are playing positively as opposed to negatively you also have to balance your style so you don't get caught out; that is the product of a great tactician.

While the managers of smaller clubs would rightfully deserve credit for getting a nil-nil draw at Old Trafford, Mourinho has so much talent at his disposal that the same scoreline is a failure to utilize his large collection of quality resources. It's okay to credit him with the humbleness it takes to play it safe but let's not pat him on the back too hard, save that for the Holloways that get a nil-nil or AVBs that pull out a positive victory at Old Trafford.

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You're ######ed.

What an excellent, well thought out, and intelligent rebuttal. If Carrick is the second coming of Jesus Christ, then why was Moyes chasing Cesc Fabregas for most the of the summer?

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by Addick

I'm not sure I buy into this line of thought. Tactically, it's much easier to shut things down and prevent them from happening than it is to create them for yourself. In addition, when you are playing positively as opposed to negatively you also have to balance your style so you don't get caught out; that is the product of a great tactician.

While the managers of smaller clubs would rightfully deserve credit for getting a nil-nil draw at Old Trafford, Mourinho has so much talent at his disposal that the same scoreline is a failure to utilize his large collection of quality resources. It's okay to credit him with the humbleness it takes to play it safe but let's not pat him on the back too hard, save that for the Holloways that get a nil-nil or AVBs that pull out a positive victory at Old Trafford.

Fair point, I do hold Mourinho in extremely high regard so perhaps I shouldn't get carried away when he leads a squad of superstars to a nil all draw. However, you must admire him for ignoring the opportunity to attack like many naïve managers might be tempted to do. I don't remember how many times he lost at home as manager of Chelsea, but it can't have been that many. He'll attack Manchester United when he's playing them at Stamford Bridge. He's under no obligation to entertain the supporters when he's playing at Old Trafford, which is part of the charm of football in my opinion.

Also, how often do Manchester United lose at home?

2012/13 - 3
2011/12 - 2
2010/11 - 0

In 2010/11, they won 18 out of 19 games at home and dropped points only to West Brom, whom they drew 2-2. Those are incredible stats. They've only lost 5 out of 57 home matches in the league over the last three years. When you see stats like that, I don't care how good of a squad you have at your disposal, I find it tough to blame you for not trying to be expansive.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

What an excellent, well thought out, and intelligent rebuttal. If Carrick is the second coming of Jesus Christ, then why was Moyes chasing Cesc Fabregas for most the of the summer?

Because teams need more then one midfielder. Especially when you are expected to compete for the Champions League and Premier League title.

Look at the other top teams in Europe (Bayern, Madrid, Barca) and they depth they have in their midfields and then compare that to United. Of course they are looking for reinforcements, because outside of Carrick they have nothing in the center of midfield.

A team looking for cover or more depth has nothing to do with the quality of one player that already is in their lineup.

Barcelona went out and signed Neymar, I guess Messi must be #### then.

Madrid has been chasing Gareth Bale all summer, I guess that means Ronaldo is not top class.

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Because teams need more then one midfielder. Especially when you are expected to compete for the Champions League and Premier League title.

Look at the other top teams in Europe (Bayern, Madrid, Barca) and they depth they have in their midfields and then compare that to United. Of course they are looking for reinforcements, because outside of Carrick they have nothing in the center of midfield.

A team looking for cover or more depth has nothing to do with the quality of one player that already is in their lineup.

Barcelona went out and signed Neymar, I guess Messi must be #### then.

Madrid has been chasing Gareth Bale all summer, I guess that means Ronaldo is not top class.

That was my whole point - they can't win the title with Carrick as the fulcrum of their midfield.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

What an excellent, well thought out, and intelligent rebuttal. If Carrick is the second coming of Jesus Christ, then why was Moyes chasing Cesc Fabregas for most the of the summer?

you know, I understand that you're pissed because of his reaction, but what do you honestly expect if you come in here and declare that Carrick isn't as good as Scotty freaking Parker? I mean - I have read and heard a fair share of football-related nonsense, but that has to be in the top 5 for me. Carrick is not the second coming of Jesus Christ, but he's a darn good central midfielder and behind RvP, he was probably the most important player for United last season. The lad is seriously underrated for what he brings every single game.

And of course United went for Fabregas. Carrick is not the problem, it's the position in midfield beside him. United need a box-to-box midfielder in addition to Carrick, it's as simple as that.

Oh, and by the way - if you think that Paul Scholes was better than Carrick last season, I have to doubt that you watched a single United game in 2012-13.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

That was my whole point - they can't win the title with Carrick as the fulcrum of their midfield.

They won the title with Carrick as the fulcrum of their midfield last year so that is a B.S argument. Scholes only played in 16 appearances in the PL and was not the driving force in the midfield like you had stated previously.

They can't play Carrick in every CL and EPL game and ride him into the ground. The issue isn't Carrick. It's that Cleverly and Anderson are not good enough to be everyday starters for a team with PL and CL aspirations.

[Fusebox]

Originally Posted by devo22

you know, I understand that you're pissed because of his reaction, but what do you honestly expect if you come in here and declare that Carrick isn't as good as Scotty freaking Parker? I mean - I have read and heard a fair share of football-related nonsense, but that has to be in the top 5 for me. Carrick is not the second coming of Jesus Christ, but he's a darn good central midfielder and behind RvP, he was probably the most important player for United last season. The lad is seriously underrated for what he brings every single game.

And of course United went for Fabregas. Carrick is not the problem, it's the position in midfield beside him. United need a box-to-box midfielder in addition to Carrick, it's as simple as that.

Oh, and by the way - if you think that Paul Scholes was better than Carrick last season, I have to doubt that you watched a single United game in 2012-13.

Scott Parker was the footballer of the year in England in 2011, so I don't think I'm that out to lunch. When was the last time Michael Carrick was footballer of the year?

I love when people who only follow a big club get upset when you dare to compare one of their team's players to a good player on a smaller team. For example, the best midfielder in England this year is going to be a guy named Victor Wanyama, but how many of you could even tell me who he plays for without looking it up?