Domestic football - spam version

[Барбоса]

Evans had a better season last year than he had previously but I would not put it in the "good" category.

 

[MCMG]

I don't get the whole Evans thing. SAF said he was the best defender in the league yet I think he is awful and would struggle to get into any other premiership team.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

In what world did Johnny Evans have a good season?

At the start he was quite shaky, but he was more consistent in the 2nd half of the season when Vidic was ruled out. He's still to hit his prime as a central defender but his form was much improved from the 2 seasons before.

Still keen to see how much more Phil 'the beast' Jones will improve too.

 

[Captain Morgan Freeman]

[YOUTUBE]_NovyMoRRCg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Gelgarin]

It's interesting how United can concede so few goals, and still have people insisting that their keeper and centerbacks are dodgy.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

It's interesting how United can concede so few goals, and still have people insisting that their keeper and centerbacks are dodgy.

My guess would be because
a) it's United, and
b) the mistakes/bad games ultimately cost them the league and were hugely significant - both City games, 4-4 Everton, 1-0 Wigan, European campaign(s)

 

[Loveless]

It's interesting how United can concede so few goals, and still have people insisting that their keeper and centerbacks are dodgy.

It might be because, in the first half of last season, no team in the entire league had conceded more shots on goal.

And because they're *****

 

[Барбоса]

I found it difficult to suppress a chuckle at DiMatteo's latest pronouncement that he will not pay over the odds in transfer market.

Like he didn't already pay a king's ransom for Hazard

 

[a0161613]

And Oscar. It's the cool thing to do because Fergie paid so much for RVP, City aren't able to spend a lot because of FFP and Liverpool have already come out and repeatedly said they won't be looking to overpay anymore. Hence the Assaidi signing (over Ramirez who like Siggurdsson seems to be following the cash) and us walking away from the Dempsey deal too.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Though perhaps I'm reading too much into it, maybe he's intimating at Roman buying up players he wants rather than what Roberto wants. Or he's just being silly.

I had to laugh at SAF earlier in the press conference when he was having a few cheap shots at Arsenal/the price of RVP's transfer, while Robin's sitting right next to him. I get the feeling his mind-games might be a little more erratic this year than normal, can't wait!

 

[Ming]

Very good business on Arsenal's behalf. RVP wanted to go, had a year left on his contract, has history with injuries, is 29 years old, and they got £24M for him. Exceptional. They also have replacements ready in Giroud and Podolski. The worst passed for Arsenal when Fabregas was sold.

 

[Brilliant Human Being]

Seeing as today is the start of the new season, thought I'd get the ball rolling on a few predictions.

1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City
3. Arsenal
4. Spurs
5. Chelsea
6. Newcastle
7. Everton
8. Liverpool
9. Sunderland
10. Fulham
11. QPR
12. Aston Villa
13. Swansea
14. WBA
15. Stoke City
16. Southampton
17. West Ham
18. Reading
19. Norwich
20. Wigan

First manager to leave their job: Roberto Di Matteo
Top Goalscorer: Either Aguero or Rooney
Player of the Season: Shinji Kagawa
Young Player of the Season: Oxlaide-Chamberlain


Also, seeing Van Persie training with United looks very weird. Will take a bit of time to get used to.

 

[Барбоса]

If it true that Dempsey has gone on strike at Fulham, that means I want him at Liverpool even less.

And I didn't want him in the first place.

 

[Gelgarin]

Spurs will have a shit season and fall back into mediocrity. Chelsea will bomb for a few months then finally get their shit together towards the end of the season but will still finish well off the pace. Arsenal will turn a comfortable profit which I think is all they're asking for. United will definitely win the league if City don't, and who the fuck knows what City are going to do.

[/SPOILERS]

 

[Tastycles]

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
7. Newcastle
8. Everton
9. QPR
10. Sunderland
11. Aston Villa
12. West Ham
13. Swansea
14. Fulham
15. Stoke City
16. West Brom
17. Wigan
18. Reading
19. Southampton
20. Norwich

First manager to leave their job: Roberto Di Matteo
Top Goalscorer: Fernando Torres (Seriously)
Player of the Season: Santi Cazorla
Young Player of the Season: Sterling

FA Cup: Arsenal
League Cup: Newcastle

 

[Gelgarin]

1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
5. Newcastle
6. Spurs
7. Liverpool
8. Everton
9. Fulham
10. Sunderland
11. Southampton
12. West Ham
13. Swansea
14. QPR
15. Stoke City
16. Aston Villa
17. Norwich
18. Wigan
19. West Brom
20. Reading

First manager to leave their job: Brian McDermott
Top Goalscorer: Fernando Torres (Tasty is correct, as long as Hulk doesn't arrive)
Player of the Season: Silva
Young Player of the Season: I have no idea. Hazard because I can't think of an alternative.

 

[MCMG]

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
7. Newcastle
8. Everton
9. Sunderland
10. Aston Villa
11. Fulham
12. West Ham
13. Stoke
14. QPR
15. Swansea
16. West Brom
17. Wigan
18. Reading
19. Southampton
20. Norwich

First manager to leave their job: Steve Clarke
Top Goalscorer: Aguero
Player of the Season: Samir Nasri
Young Player of the Season: Oxlade-Chamberlain

 

[Ming]

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester Utd
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Newcastle
6. Liverpool
7. Spurs
8. Everton
9. Fulham
10. Sunderland
11. Swansea
12. Stoke City
13. QPR
14. Southampton
15. West Ham
16. Aston Villa
17. Norwich
18. Wigan
19. Reading
20. West Brom

First manager to leave their job: Andre Villas-Boas
Top Goalscorer: Fernando Torres (obviously)
Player of the Season: Vincent Kompany
Young Player of the Season: Eden Hazard

 

[Ming]

Not sure at all about who'll go down.

 

[Tastycles]

Having watched Norwich today, I can't see how they are going to stay up. Truly, truly dog shit.

Now I'm going to talk about Fulham. Diarra looked class today, and the new signings all settled pretty well and Bryan looks like he's learned some basic football skills to go with the flair. As ever, the Schwarzer, Hangleand and Hughes trio did the business, and Dembele looks to be settled as a centre midfielder. Probably could do with depth in central midfield, up front and particularly at centre half - Halliche's principle contribution (as an unused sub, admittedly) today was to move a ball that was part of a half-time competition to win a car. He genuinely nearly cost a man a car.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

3 - 0 was not what I was expecting from the Brendan Rodgers era, team didn't even play poorly, mostly unlucky, but the same issue as last year was evident today. Luis Suarez is a great attacking player, he can get the ball past anyone, he has speed, skill, flair; but my God is shot to goal ratio must be horrendous. Last year despite him being so lauded for parts of the season as a great striker, even as a Liverpool fan I find him overrated.

Borini looked alright, Joe Allen being brought in to a squad which already holds several talented midfielders confuses me but I guess he knows the Rodgers style of play better than anyone right about now. At least Martin Kelly played, despite not being a great attacking full back, I still rate him better defensively than Glen Johnson.

 

[¡Roján!]

Arsenal were good today. Far more positives than negatives to take out of the game despite Piers Morgan's incessant whining. Cazorla, Gervinho (FOREHEAD), Giroud, Arteta and Poldi all looked fantastic today, as did the defence surprisingly. Sunderland were just stubborn as fuck.

 

[a0161613]

3 - 0 was not what I was expecting from the Brendan Rodgers era, team didn't even play poorly, mostly unlucky, but the same issue as last year was evident today. Luis Suarez is a great attacking player, he can get the ball past anyone, he has speed, skill, flair; but my God is shot to goal ratio must be horrendous. Last year despite him being so lauded for parts of the season as a great striker, even as a Liverpool fan I find him overrated.

Borini looked alright, Joe Allen being brought in to a squad which already holds several talented midfielders confuses me but I guess he knows the Rodgers style of play better than anyone right about now. At least Martin Kelly played, despite not being a great attacking full back, I still rate him better defensively than Glen Johnson.

From the sounds of it, we lacked any semblance of defensive composure in the second half. We need the defenders to be composed to move the ball to the players who can play. It sounds like we were playing some great stuff in the first half but couldn't score (typically) and then relied on Pepe to keep us in it.

When we get going, I think we will be really good but I'm dreading the first few games now. We started badly last season but at least we got a point in the first match.

 

[Ming]

Suarez is shit. What good is getting the ball through on goal if you're not going to score? No good.

Skrtel was awful too, worst I've seen him play in ages. Liverpool were unlucky with the decisions though, particularly the first.

 

[Lee]

Great goal from Ba.