Football 2013-2014

[kaosmark2]

So tight at the top, you can see Arsenal down to 4th come 10pm Monday.

[Bobs]

So tight at the top, you can see Arsenal down to 4th come 10pm Monday.

[pink_triangle]

Cannot believe we've sacked Clarke! Must've been fans pressure, we're looking at offering him a new deal in the new year..

Can't think of any managers is like (within our range)..

These idiots are expecting us to push for Europe! EUROPE!!!!!

We finished eighth last season which is, realistically, as high as we can finish in this league.. The top seven are so far ahead financially & with these 'fair play' rules coming in, even a benefactor couldn't propel us as they've no power anymore..

, ..

[strummer77]

Excellent today. The best we've been in years and we should have been 3/4 up when it was still 11 v 11. We really needed that as Chelsea and City are very tough away fixtures

Brendan Rogers may bang transexuals, but he did today, get his tactics spot on today.

[pink_triangle]

Starting off with how poor Spurs were. They were dire. None of this 'Let them gel' crap, they were awful. That though is 100% down to Liverpool being 100% class act today, from start to finish, they had players snapping at Tottenham heels from the start, the Spurs players didn't know what to do with the ball, in the end, they decided giving it to Liverpool worked well for everyone.

Liverpool, made it look like they were playing boys, and Suaréz is a class player. At the moment he's simply unplayable (Unless you're Hull), and Henderson was excellent going forward.

That result well, that's just a unkind reminder to Daniel Levy, that he let this chump spent £125m this summer (Albeit largely Bale money), for a player who can't get in the team (Lamela), a Striker who really isn't cut out for the prem (Soldado), and a lot more for players who are yet to make an impact. I'd like to think £55m could rebuild a squad for most teams in the premiership, yet Spurs find themselves, on the end of a 5-0 spanking at home, to a team who duly deserved everything they got.

Brendan Rogers may bang transexuals, but he did today, get his tactics spot on today.

[kaosmark2]

I don't think the "time to gel" argument is crap, you take people from different countries/cultures/languages and there is often a period of adaptation. I think we often underestimate how difficult a move is in this county, because so few British player have the balls to do it. I think if your going to give AVB that money to spend you have to give in 2 years or they should have trusted someone else with the money. Regarding the transfers its a difficult one, are they poor transfers or ones that are logical on paper but haven't worked out like Veron at Man Utd. I think theres an argument that they haven't strengthened in the right position, I haven't really seen much of spurs this season but was amazed how weak the defence is, with Kaboul and Vertonghen out it had an "England B" feel about it. Walker, Caulker and Dawson are not top 4 players, I haven't seen enough of Capoue to make a judgement.

Liverpools midfield was as good as I have seen them. Henderson flourished without Gerrard, Lucas played the best I have seen him for a long time, Allen is looking more confident by the game. I felt the midfield had so much more energy in Gerrards absence and looked much more in control. Sometimes in football things end up going in your favour and I think it was the perfect month to be without Gerrard, but Im not sure Rodgers could have left him out if fit. If Liverpool play that midfield against Chelsea, I honestly think they could get something.

With Cardiff a gimmee Liverpool are guaranteed at least 6 points out of 12 which means it cant be a disaster. Good win for Man Utd today, however the Liverpool win will slightly lower their mood. I think when they saw the fixture lists for December they would have felt they could get that 8 point gap fron 4th to 3 or 4 but it looks like teams aren't going to make it easy for them.

[pink_triangle]

Do we even know if the transfer choices were AVB's?

I agree though, I think their defence is vulnerable, and that has partially led to AVB's conservative midfield selections. I never understood why they bought quite so many midfielders - particularly after adding Holtby in January - I feel they needed another defender and another striker rather than 2 or 3 of the midfielders they've signed. I can't believe they were in for Willian as well.

I think the big problem Liverpool have is that Henderson - arguably their best midfielder this season - plays best in Gerrard's traditional role, but he isn't free to do that with Gerrard in the team.

I don't think you can call anything guaranteed in football. I know they're easy games, but Christmas throws up major surprises, particularly with how quickly the games come. I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool get a result against Chelsea and then drop points against Hull.

[kaosmark2]

Im not sure who is in charge of transfer policy at spurs, was going to ask the same thing. Also agree about Henderson being better in that position, however also appreciate how its easy for me to say that Liverpool should leave Gerrard out for big away games, but its a huge call for a Liverpool manager to make considering Gerrards status at the club.

[pink_triangle]

I also feel it's important to remember that Gerrard earned that status. It's not as if he's playing badly either, and Henderson has been improving rather than is blatantly better. He's probably benefited from playing alongside Gerrard and learning from him.

[kaosmark2]

I would play gerrard all home games and use him a bit more sparingly away. I think in a squad game, the best team for one game isn't always the best for the next. Most big clubs don't play 34 year old every game particularly in a high pace league. A midfield job is not only to support the attack, but protect the defence and I think gerrards high risk/high reward style doesn't always help in this respect.

[Bobs]

Excellent today. The best we've been in years and we should have been 3/4 up when it was still 11 v 11. We really needed that as Chelsea and City are very tough away fixtures

Just clearing this up that she confirmed this didn't happen as much as I know the blues love a good rumour to latch on to

[eFestivals]

Henderson's been excellent today.

he's played very well in the past when Gerrard hasn't been part of the match-day squad. I'd guess that there's some sort of deference to him going on by Henderson.

I said last week that Sterling and Allen had both looked much sharper than they had done recently, and so it proved yesterday.

I'd absolutely love the same Liverpool that destroyed Spurs yesterday to be the Liverpool that turns up at the Etihad, as that might well better the City/Arsenal game ... but it won't be, will it? It'll probably be the same Liverpool that lost to Hull.

[eFestivals]

I think Liverpool will really struggle for goals this season

[eFestivals]

So tight at the top, you can see Arsenal down to 4th come 10pm Monday.

You didn't see the Chelsea/Palace game I see.

There's not much about that Chelsea team should be scaring the likes of Arsenal. Yes, Chelsea might beat them - it depends which Chelsea turns up - but they're a long way short of being scarey in lots of games.

[eFestivals]

That result well, that's just a unkind reminder to Daniel Levy, that he let this chump spent £125m this summer

AVB yesterday, when asked if they were his players: "I'm not sure if I can tell the truth.... (lots of umm-ing).... We think we have some very good players".

Those words are probably more likely to get him sacked than yesterday's result, I reckon.

I'd like to think £55m could rebuild a squad for most teams in the premiership

Nah ... it about £100M now, but then only if you actually buy good players.

For AVB, see Kenny.

[Essex_George]

I'd absolutely love the same Liverpool that destroyed Spurs yesterday to be the Liverpool that turns up at the Etihad, as that might well better the City/Arsenal game ... but it won't be, will it? It'll probably be the same Liverpool that lost to Hull.

[eFestivals]

I don't think the "time to gel" argument is crap

For Spurs, this season, it is.

They're a busted flush. As I said a week or two back, they're going knowhere under AVB.

With Cardiff a gimmee Liverpool are guaranteed at least 6 points out of 12 which means it cant be a disaster.

Spot on. If they lose to City there'll be no shame in that (depends exactly on the result tho), and it's much the same with Chelsea too - they're both teams that could reasonably be expected to finish above Liverpool this season anyway.

Getting points at Spurs was much more important for the target of finishing top 4. Job done.

Good win for Man Utd today

against a very bad Villa side. The points are good, obviously, but anyone who thinks that showed much improvement is kidding themselves.

[pink_triangle]

I'd absolutely love the same Liverpool that destroyed Spurs yesterday to be the Liverpool that turns up at the Etihad, as that might well better the City/Arsenal game ... but it won't be, will it? It'll probably be the same Liverpool that lost to Hull.

[pink_triangle]

against a very bad Villa side. The points are good, obviously, but anyone who thinks that showed much improvement is kidding themselves.

[pink_triangle]

You didn't see the Chelsea/Palace game I see.

There's not much about that Chelsea team should be scaring the likes of Arsenal. Yes, Chelsea might beat them - it depends which Chelsea turns up - but they're a long way short of being scarey in lots of games.

[eFestivals]

The thing is that if that liverpool team from yesterday turned up against city they could still lose, thats how good city are.

I don't disagree - which is precisely why I didn't say they'd win, only that it would be a fantastic game.

If Liverpool play like that at the Bridge tho, that's bye-bye to Moaniho's unbeaten record.

But anyway, as long as Liverpool collect the points against Cardiff next weekend I don't think they need to be too concerned about the City and Chelsea results for their primary aim of getting top 4, tho of course getting some points in either of those games would help with that.

[eFestivals]

Go on say a good thing about Man Utd once! A 3-0 away win is a very good result against anyone in the premiership. I may be in the minority but I still think Man Utd will be in the mix for a top 4 position.

A 0-3 win is good, and Utd can rightly take it as a positive. Utd still weren't very good tho, that's the truth of things - they defo won't make top 4 if they're satisfied with that performance.

And anyway, I'll disagree .... just as I've been disagreeing with you for quite a few weeks now about Spurs.

[eFestivals]

Agreed, although Arsenal have at times seemed to lack belief against the big boys, so i think its a big test.

True. I guess it'll be how they feel about the City result - wiped out, or competitive - for how their mental state will be against Chelsea.

would love it if the top 4 ended up as Man C, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton.

yep, that's the top 4 I'm hoping for too .... I'd prefer City not to be in there either really, cos I'd enjoy their big-spending to fail as much as I would Chelsea's. But there's no chance that City will miss out, they're just too good.

[pink_triangle]

Championship league draw later, cant remember a year when the difference between the first and second positions was so obvious. Man City and Arsenal guaranteed a tough game, but I suppose you have to beat the good teams eventually. Chelsea and Man Utd are both lucky that the best best 2 teams in pot 2 (Arsenal and City) they cant play. Milan are a big name but I dont think they are particularly good.

[Bobs]

Championship league draw later, cant remember a year when the difference between the first and second positions was so obvious. Man City and Arsenal guaranteed a tough game, but I suppose you have to beat the good teams eventually. Chelsea and Man Utd are both lucky that the best best 2 teams in pot 2 (Arsenal and City) they cant play. Milan are a big name but I dont think they are particularly good.