2014/15 Barclay's Premier League Thread

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Going to be tough for Spurs to make top four I think. Basically need a minimum of seven wins and I'm not sure I see that in the cards. They're not facing a murderer's row of opponents by any means, but you'd have to think they'll probably lose at Old Trafford and be lucky to nick a point at home against City, same with travelling to Newcastle and Southampton. It doesn't help that they're also going against five teams who are going to be fighting hard against relegation.

I haven't watched a whole lot of Spurs this season, but of the games I have watched I thought they looked very good. I think they'll be in the battle for 4th right down to the last few weeks.

United got away with one again today. Newcastle had a stonewall penalty turned away and then gifted them the game in the last minutes. Its amazing how they've been able to get so many points out of these poor performances. They have a tough schedule coming up though, so it'll be a good test for them.

[d_phaneuf]

If Spurs beat QPR this weekend (and it's the only PL Game as rest are off for FA Cup), it would be

Arsenal 54
Man U 53
Liverpool 51
Spurs 50

I think Saints are done, and I also almost dont want to include Arsenal for reasons Ill list below

Spurs

@Utd
vs Leicester
@Burnley
vs Villa
@Newcastle
@Saints
vs Man City
@Stoke
vs Hull
@Everton

Arsenal

West Ham
@Newcastle
Liverpool
@Burnley
Sunderland
Chelsea
@Hull
Swansea
@Utd
West Brom

United

Spurs
@Liverpool
Villa
Man City
@Chelsea
@Everton
West Brom
@Palace
Arsenal
@Hull

Liverpool

@Swansea
United
@Arsenal
Newcastle
@Hull
@WBA
QPR
@Chelsea
Palace
@Stoke

[d_phaneuf]

that extra 2 points thanks to Tim Krul were huge because United have by far the toughest schedule

they play every other one of the 'top 6'

Arsenal have 3 tough games but otherwise cupcake city, 6 home games left too

Spurs and Liverpool are relatively even schedules, both have United and then City or Chelsea, Liverpool also have Arsenal

[d_phaneuf]

also, and this was less of an indictment on LVG after he scored the winner

but if anyone said last August that in a game this March their attack was going to run through Ashley Young would anyone have believed it?

[Bagor]

Even Giggs appears sick of him. Nearly as if LvG is feeling justified by something by that goal whilst Giggs sees it for what it was (a fluke) and the bigger picture.

https://vine.co/v/O0FupLgbZ22

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Even Giggs appears sick of him. Nearly as if LvG is feeling justified by something by that goal whilst Giggs sees it for what it was (a fluke) and the bigger picture.

https://vine.co/v/O0FupLgbZ22

That is really weird. They've clearly disagreed on something there. Giggs almost looks disappointed that United have scored.

[cam_wmh]

With LVG finally playing an 11 formation that's conducive to this squad, and with Carrick returning to the 11 next weekend, United should be able to beat Totts at home.

But who know's what he'll do. Play out of form RVP & Falcao up top with Rooney in mid?

I'd like to see another 4-2-3-1

----------- Rooney
---Young - Mata - Di Maria
----- Herreira Carrick
Rojo - Evans - Smalling - Valencia

[The Big Chill]

Well I don't think Evans will be in there. I imagine he'll get banned for spitting at Cisse.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Well I don't think Evans will be in there. I imagine he'll get banned for spitting at Cisse.

Oh yeah, that nonsense. Both of them should sit a game.

[devo22]

Good, don't want to see Evans anyway. Also no way Carrick displaces Blind ... and the only position I want to see di Maria in right now is next to Falcao on the bench. Rather see Januzaj.

[devo22]

Also, that Giggs reaction is just fantastic. It's like a two seconds snapshot of the season - van Gaal being happy with the results and the points accumulated, while literally everybody else (fans, media, former players and so on) is disappointed, saying "really, you're happy with that crap? That's your standard?". Giggs was the poster boy of the Ferguson era, I'm sure he's aiming for higher standards and he's disappointed with the way the club's been playing since Fergies retirement.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

[b]that extra 2 points thanks to Tim Krul were huge because United have by far the toughest schedule[b]

they play every other one of the 'top 6'

Arsenal have 3 tough games but otherwise cupcake city, 6 home games left too

Spurs and Liverpool are relatively even schedules, both have United and then City or Chelsea, Liverpool also have Arsenal

I missed this. That giveaway is all on Abeid. He shouldn't be firing that laser "pass?" back to Krul, but instead just getting it clear.

Abeid is the goat.

Originally Posted by devo22

Good, don't want to see Evans anyway. Also no way
Carrick displaces Blind ... and the only position I want to see di Maria in right now is next to Falcao on the bench. Rather see Januzaj.

Blind over Carrick? He passes back & lateral, way too much. So boring, and non-threatening. So yeah, you're probably right, LVG will start him.
(with Evans out, Jones injured/playing like spastic sh!!yite, put Rojo CB, and Blind LB or vice versa)

I think LVG etc; are being overly harsh on di Maria. He looked good with Valencia on a number of runs, and had some decent crosses that just missed Fellaini.

[devo22]

well I think you're way harsh on Blind and I don't really get the "he always passes back" argument. In fact, according to squawka, about 31 per cent of his passes are backward ... that's less than Toure (34 %), Matic or Schneiderlin (33 % each), for example.

also that's really more a van Gaal thing than anything. Just look at Ander Herrera, who was lively and creative at the beginning of the season and was stapled to the bench as a result. Now he's a lot more cautious and "boring", yet suddenly he plays every game.

and no, I don't think anybody is too harsh on di Maria. He has been shambolic lately.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

well I think you're way harsh on Blind and I don't really get the "he always passes back" argument. In fact, according to squawka, about 31 per cent of his passes are backward ... that's less than Toure (34 %), Matic or Schneiderlin (33 % each), for example.

also that's really more a van Gaal thing than anything. Just look at Ander Herrera, who was lively and creative at the beginning of the season and was stapled to the bench as a result. Now he's a lot more cautious and "boring", yet suddenly he plays every game.

and no, I don't think anybody is too harsh on di Maria. He has been shambolic lately.

I'm basing both players accounts on just the Newcastle game.

Rarely was Blind advancing the ball forward; in contrast to Herreira. Their pass stats show as much too.

[The Big Chill]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...ting-fa-charge

Looks like Cisse is getting a 7 game ban. 6 for spitting and 1 more for violent conduct earlier in the season.

That means Evans will likely get 6 games too, although he denies spitting despite being on camera doing it.

"It is not in my character or in my nature to spit at anybody, nor is it something I have ever done or would ever do. It is certainly not something that I did last night." - Evans

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...ting-fa-charge

Looks like Cisse is getting a 7 game ban. 6 for spitting and 1 more for violent conduct earlier in the season.

That means Evans will likely get 6 games too, although he denies spitting despite being on camera doing it.

"It is not in my character or in my nature to spit at anybody, nor is it something I have ever done or would ever do. It is certainly not something that I did last night." - Evans

6 games for spitting on someone? Holy crap, I mean, its awful and you shouldnt do it but that seems pretty steep.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Locke

6 games for spitting on someone? Holy crap, I mean, its awful and you shouldnt do it but that seems pretty steep.

You kidding? It's absolutely disgusting and deserves every game it gets. But I get your point if you are talking about it in context of what Suarez got for biting (8) and Terry (4) for racial abuse

I have no issues with both getting 6 games. You can't throw 6 at Cisse and take Evans at his word. Throw 6 at both and a benchmark is set. I didn't mean to do it is not an excuse.

I have a hard time believing Evans based on the footage.

[d_phaneuf]

ya I dont mind 6 at all, just nip it in the bud completely

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Also, that Giggs reaction is just fantastic. It's like a two seconds snapshot of the season - van Gaal being happy with the results and the points accumulated, while literally everybody else (fans, media, former players and so on) is disappointed, saying "really, you're happy with that crap? That's your standard?". Giggs was the poster boy of the Ferguson era, I'm sure he's aiming for higher standards and he's disappointed with the way the club's been playing since Fergies retirement.

Oh yeah, theres something there if theres a reason to deny it....

Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs has played down talk of a rift with Louis van Gaal and hailed their "great working relationship."

Suggestions of a problem between the pair emerged when former midfielder Giggs was cool in his celebrations after Ashley Young's winning goal against Newcastle on Wednesday.

http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-uni...chester-united

[devo22]

Evans now banned for 6 games, according to the BBC. I'm almost pissed that he got less than Cisse ... at least Cisse had the balls to admit it and apologize.