2013/2014 English Premier League Thread

[cam_wmh]

fata

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Igottago

As much as Van Persie irritates me, as an Arsenal supporter, I don't know if I can direct too much of my anger at him anymore.

If Arsenal don't like they way he celebrates, its up to Arsenal to stop him from scoring. If Arsenal don't like losing their big players to other clubs, its up to Arsenal to keep them.

And if Arsenal don't like losing to United, its up to Arsenal to beat them.

Trust me, I was irritated to no end after the game on Sunday...but Arsenal needs to figure out an answer for United. They have simply dominated us over the last few seasons, even before the RVP transfer. Not good enough, and a big reason Arsenal hasn't won trophies for a while.

This obviously hasn't broken Arsenal's season, or even rescued United's, but if the gunners want to truly be at the top of the league in the end, they will need to win these games, and be merciless against their biggest rivals. Overall a great week but the United loss reminds us that there is some work to be done.

I'm not angry - I haven't wasted an ounce of breath on him at matches. Just commenting here on what I think.

As for the match - this is one time I don't think it is an attitude thing. We got hit with a bug that affected key players and Arteta and Ozil who did play have subsequently succumbed to it. In a game of fine margins this proved decisive. Had BFG been there, perhaps the ball would not have bounced off Van Persie's shoulder into the net - who knows.

Yeah I wanted this win pretty badly, but I can't be angry and pin it on a team that have come very far in a short space of time.

As for players leaving, I think there has been a seismic shift in the Club's strategy - it now looks we have turned the corner following a period where we undertook the largest capital infrastructure project any soccer team has ever undertaken.

We'll see whether the Club's new transfer policy is the start of something or a false dawn soon enough. But for the first time in many years, I'm optimistic.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Yeah I wanted this win pretty badly, but I can't be angry and pin it on a team that have come very far in a short space of time.

As for players leaving, I think there has been a seismic shift in the Club's strategy - it now looks we have turned the corner following a period where we undertook the largest capital infrastructure project any soccer team has ever undertaken.

I think this is why some people, even many Arsenal supporters, are approaching this very gingerly and might be quick to think, "OMG, it's happening again!", at the first sign of trouble.

[Fusebox]

Carrick out for six weeks. John Giles thinks that Wayne Rooney has the potential to be the best midfield player in England if he drops deeper during Carrick's absence. Good news for Kagawa anyway.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Carrick out for six weeks. John Giles thinks that Wayne Rooney has the potential to be the best midfield player in England if he drops deeper during Carrick's absence. Good news for Kagawa anyway.

Where did you read that? I only heard he's going to rest up during the international break.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Where did you read that? I only heard he's going to rest up during the international break.

Telegraph says so. Nothing official though

Michael Carrick is facing an extended spell on the sidelines at Manchester United that could rule out the midfielder until Christmas after undergoing a procedure to resolve a persistent Achilles injury.

The 32-year-old, who has withdrawn from the England squad for the Wembley friendlies against Chile and Germany as a result of the problem, is understood to have received an injection on Tuesday aimed at reducing the inflammation that has troubled the player in recent weeks.

While the club were initially hopeful that the injection could see Carrick recover in time to face Cardiff City in 10 days’ time, senior figures at Old Trafford confirmed last night to the Telegraph that the player would be sidelined for at least a month and potentially as long as six weeks.

Carrick has now been given permission by manager David Moyes to leave the country to undertake a short break before he begins his rehabilitation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...spell-out.html

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

He honoured his contract.

What a jerk.

C'mon, I think you know yourself that there's all sorts of fail in that statement.

The two aren't even close. One stated intent not to sign a new contract and was sold, the other led his club to believe he was signing a new one only to run it out and walk down Seven Sisters to their biggest rival for free.

[devo22]

United confirms that Carrick is out 4 to 6 weeks.

Manchester United ‏@ManUtd
We can confirm that Michael Carrick (@carras16) will be out for 4 to 6 weeks with an Achilles injury. #mufc

I guess we'll see more of Jones in midfield as a result ... I doubt that Rooney will drop deeper. Lots of options with Jones, Fellaini, Cleverley, Giggs and Anderson ... schedule until Christmas:

Nov 23 - at Cardiff
Nov 27 - at Leverkusen (CL)
Nov 30 - at Tottenham
Dec 03 - vs Everton
Dec 07 - vs Newcastle
Dec 10 - vs Donezk (CL)
Dec 14 - at Aston Villa
Dec 18 - at Stoke (League Cup)
Dec 21 - vs West Ham

busy schedule with Tuesday/Wednesday games every week ... will be a tough test without Carrick.

[devo22]

Rene Meulensteen joins Fulham as head coach

surely a "do or die"-message to Martin Jol at this point

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Bagor

C'mon, I think you know yourself that there's all sorts of fail in that statement.

The two aren't even close. One stated intent not to sign a new contract and was sold, the other led his club to believe he was signing a new one only to run it out and walk down Seven Sisters to their biggest rival for free.

I think you need to look further into the Van Persie saga.

Anyway, I'm not extolling the virtues of Sol Campbell. You (or somebody else) brought him up.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by devo22

Rene Meulensteen joins Fulham as head coach

surely a "do or die"-message to Martin Jol at this point

supposedly Jol is the one who pushed for him to join and the owners are still fully behind him, seems a strange situation, I think he probably has until January at least

if they need to strengthen then might as well bring in someone new to do it

[GirlySports]

"I would have put my mortgage on that"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...-loses-2787666

Arsenal fan Henry Dhabasani staked his house on a bet with a Manchester United fan, who offered his wife and Toyota car in return

[Locke]

That must have been one helluva a craphole he lived in....

[The Big Chill]

Got to love Hodgson. He says Sturridge has picked up a knock, says he won't play him a full game, and then proceeds to play him 90 minutes in a friendly a few days before the Everton derby. Thanks Roy.

[Fusebox]

Hey, Liverpool sacked him, what do you expect?

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Got to love Hodgson. He says Sturridge has picked up a knock, says he won't play him a full game, and then proceeds to play him 90 minutes in a friendly a few days before the Everton derby. Thanks Roy.

Agreed that he went against his word on playing the full 90 but he didn't "pick up a knock", it was a pre-existing condition.

On Sturridge, Hodgson said: “It [the injury] has not been a great problem for Liverpool. The injury occurred two and a half weeks ago and he played the full game last week. He didn’t play on Friday for us because he was complaining about the injury but I’m entitled to think and believe that the injury is no worse than it was when he last played for Liverpool against Fulham.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...n-8947936.html

[The Big Chill]

That doesn't really change much, injured players shouldn't play 90 minutes in a friendly.

Edit: especially when he didn't play a full 90 against Fulham.

[Bagor]

Injured players should play zero minutes in a friendly suggesting his injury is pretty insignificant. That changes a lot.

Also, you could say that injured players don't play the second half of a game when they're 3-0 up nevermind stay on the pitch 20 minutes after going 4-0 up.

He obviously isn't that bad or Rodgers wouldn't have released him.

[cam_wmh]

Carrick re-signed for 2 more years today. Couldn't see Fergie giving him that extra year.

[devo22]

sooo ... Diane, you still alive?