2014/15 Barclay's Premier League Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Sadly those are still 10 times better than Liverpool's third kit last year.

[Imported_Aussie]

If Liverpool sell Suarez and bring in all these new guys, this could be Spurs after Bale mk2.
If anything has been proven in terms of elite teams, it is that you need a star who can rise above to win in Europe. Also, with that much change, they will end up spending a lot of time trying to find their best XI

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

If Liverpool sell Suarez and bring in all these new guys, this could be Spurs after Bale mk2.
If anything has been proven in terms of elite teams, it is that you need a star who can rise above to win in Europe. Also, with that much change, they will end up spending a lot of time trying to find their best XI

Decent analogy. I think the time to sell him is now. His brand is tarnished (again), he's commanding a very healthy fee (75m quid), & they can bring in the acquisitions to work with the new guard, and develop together.

I think they have the manager to evolve with too.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

If Liverpool sell Suarez and bring in all these new guys, this could be Spurs after Bale mk2.
If anything has been proven in terms of elite teams, it is that you need a star who can rise above to win in Europe. Also, with that much change, they will end up spending a lot of time trying to find their best XI

I agree. They have already brought in Lallana, Lambert and Can, plus deals for Markovic and Origi are all but agreed ... and Lovren wants to come as well. Fitting in all these new players will be a challenge.

No doubt that the time to sell Suarez is now though.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

If Liverpool sell Suarez and bring in all these new guys, this could be Spurs after Bale mk2.
If anything has been proven in terms of elite teams, it is that you need a star who can rise above to win in Europe. Also, with that much change, they will end up spending a lot of time trying to find their best XI

Could be, but probably won't. Rodgers isn't Sherwood (or Villas-Boas for that matter). He's so far shown to be a great manager. Henderson, Sterling and Sturridge have all been immense. The defense leaves something to improve on, but I doubt he's oblivious to that. The question is whether the style has room to adapt to improved defending which I think it does. Losing Suarez will reduce goals and chances on net, but I think last year wasn't some magical aberration. Even the latter half of last season showed similar quality.

Either way, exciting season to come. United won't be a doormat as that was an aberration since Moyes is awful (in a Hodgsonian way). Van Gaal has shown he knows what he's doing with his incredible Dutch team. The rest should be fairly similar to last year, especially if Everton can repeat that year they had.

[cam_wmh]

and maybe Di Maria too..

-------- Sturridge
Di Maria Lallana Sterling
--- Henderson Gerrard

That's class, and not much of a step back. The new depth isn't that level though.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Could be, but probably won't. Rodgers isn't Sherwood (or Villas-Boas for that matter).

Hmmm, He's a decent manager, no doubt about that. But he is hasn't really set the world on fire when it comes to big buys.

Sure Sturridge was a hit but then again Aspas was a complete miss. Jury is still out. I'll wait and see.

But credit where credit is due, he's looking like a genius in the way he's managed Suarez. I thought he should have got rid of him last year, but he held on, managed to get a CL spot out of him and a lot of extra coin.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Hmmm, He's a decent manager, no doubt about that. But he is hasn't really set the world on fire when it comes to big buys.

Sure Sturridge was a hit but then again Aspas was a complete miss. Jury is still out. I'll wait and see.

But credit where credit is due, he's looking like a genius in the way he's managed Suarez. I thought he should have got rid of him last year, but he held on, managed to get a CL spot out of him and a lot of extra coin.

True about Aspas. But he made a hell of a player out of Henderson. Sterling has improved greatly under his watch as well. Coutinho was a solid buy. Allen looked to be a bust initially and is now playing great as well. Aspas is about the only player I can think of that fits into the list of "ineffective buys and players who declined on Rodgers' watch". Sure it's only two years in, but the adjustment period took half a season, and we see nothing but great consistent performance now. I see no reason to think that this trend reverses.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Losing Suarez will reduce goals and chances on net, but I think last year wasn't some magical aberration.

One of the things I warned Spurs supporters of when they lost Modric and then Bale was the intangible that players like Modric, Bale, and Saurez provide. Three 10-goal a season players can help replace a 30-goal scorer but might find it difficult producing the moment of magic needed in certain games.

[Nuje]

I'm certainly not saying it can't go wrong but I'm relatively confident. Latest rumours today suggest it's straight cash though (no Sanchez). That's unfortunate.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

United releases their new Chevrolet kit,

And on a similar note, this will be their last Nike year.

U.S. sportswear company Nike will not renew a long-running kit supply deal with English soccer club Manchester United because of the cost of a new contract, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said. Nike has been supplying United's famous red shirts since 2002 but the current agreement expires next year. Its withdrawal is expected to clear the way for the club to sign a lucrative new deal with German sportswear company Adidas.
"Clearly Nike's football business is booming and they could easily afford to do this (deal). They had the right to match any other offer but looking at the deal on the table, they will walk away as it doesn't make commercial sense," the source said.
United got around 38 million pounds ($64.7 million) from the Nike deal in 2012-13, including its share of profit from the sale of merchandise around the world.
Media reports had suggested the club was looking for a new deal worth around 60 million pounds per season.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ticle/11430335

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Decent analogy. I think the time to sell him is now. His brand is tarnished (again), he's commanding a very healthy fee (75m quid), & they can bring in the acquisitions to work with the new guard, and develop together.

I think they have the manager to evolve with too.

Yep if I'm a Liverpool fan I've had enough of this weirdo. I'd say thanks for the goals and the boost up the standings, CL etc. and adios. Even if it's a step back next year getting rid of him is the right move. Guy is mentally unstable / who knows what the heck he does next.

Take the dough/retool/carry on.

[Winsor_Pilates]

That Chevy logo looks horrendous. Sponsors with a big image logo are always much worse than letters/words.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Addick

One of the things I warned Spurs supporters of when they lost Modric and then Bale was the intangible that players like Modric, Bale, and Saurez provide. Three 10-goal a season players can help replace a 30-goal scorer but might find it difficult producing the moment of magic needed in certain games.

they signed a very young team too, was always going to need a year to acclimate in the league

Eriksen was the only one to really flourish, it's rare for even world class players let alone young one's to come in and get off to a great start right away

Sanchez' first year at Barca, Modric's at Madrid etc.

I think Liverpool drop quite a bit next year, they are going to have the extra games, which for a squad that even with the signings isn't very deep will be cause issues on European weeks

Suarez gone is a huge miss obviously, and I don't know if Gerrard can be relied upon to have the same quality of a season

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

That Chevy logo looks horrendous. Sponsors with a big image logo are always much worse than letters/words.

Gonna have to agree. Ironically though, the gunners O2 kit, looked like a huge target. Or a hole, for where their heart should be.

But maybe, I'm a bit biased about that era lol.

[The Big Chill]

A regression for Liverpool is certainly possible, especially when you consider that their success last year was considered an overachievement even with Suarez.

I don't think the dropoff will be as severe as Spur's was when Bale left though because Liverpool have more continuity then Spurs had. Most of the starting 11 will stay the same unless a new signing pushes their way through with a strong preseason. Plus with Lambert and Lallana you have two experienced players who played in the same league for a side that played a very similar style to Liverpool. The transition for them should be a little easier then it is for most players making a switch.

Any additional signings from here won't have to be depended on right from day one. The current squad is good enough to compete for top 4 as long as the defending tightens up a little bit, and that will buy some time for the new signings to find their feet.

The goal for this season should be to secure a top 4 spot again. That could be very tough though with how much the other top teams are improving.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Bagor

And on a similar note, this will be their last Nike year.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ticle/11430335

seeing the reported numbers of the Adidas deal with United, I get why Nike pulled the plug ... ESPN and the Times report it's a 10 year deal worth £75m per year, while other outlets say it's "only" £60m per year. Either way it's absolutely crazy money ... right now, the adidas deal with Real Madrid is the most expensive deal ever, worth around £30m per year. Hats off to Ed Woodward if he closes that deal, simply ridiculous money. I guess being debt free is no longer an utopia for United, but a realistic scenario within a couple years.

Times Sport ✔ @TimesSport Adidas ready to sign £750m ten-year kit deal with Manchester United http://thetim.es/1tkEFCs

[d_phaneuf]

Sanchez deal looks done for Arsenal, I wonder what it means for Walcott or Ox

they now have Ozil/Cazorla/Sanchez/Walcott/Ox/Ramsey for really only 3 positions, and all guys who want to be starting the majority of games

even Wilshere and Podolski usually play in one of those 3 spots too, although I imagine they start playing Wilshere deeper this year

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Sanchez deal looks done for Arsenal, I wonder what it means for Walcott or Ox

they now have Ozil/Cazorla/Sanchez/Walcott/Ox/Ramsey for really only 3 positions, and all guys who want to be starting the majority of games

even Wilshere and Podolski usually play in one of those 3 spots too, although I imagine they start playing Wilshere deeper this year

I think you're right with them playing Wilshere deeper this year. Honestly I don't think you can count on Walcott/Ox staying healthy at all. I guess you can move Walcott to striker like he wants to be and then there is some cover for Giroud but I'm not sure how well that would work.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Sanchez deal looks done for Arsenal, I wonder what it means for Walcott or Ox

they now have Ozil/Cazorla/Sanchez/Walcott/Ox/Ramsey for really only 3 positions, and all guys who want to be starting the majority of games

If we get Sanchez (See: Higuian), I can see him being deployed as a Striker. He has played there before, Wenger has a history of converting players and his skills could be utilized in a striking position.