2013-14 EPL Season

[Gatehawk]

Lukaku, Barry are easily two of Evertons 5 best players. Delafou has helped at times. Be interesting if they are able to make go for them

Lukaku obviously made his feelings known about who his coach was when he ran the length to embrace Martinez after his goal vs. Arsenal.

Whether Mourinho would deal him I guess is to be seen

He's Chelsea's best striker and he's apart of Everton right now.

 

[Uncle Si]

Lukaku, Barry are easily two of Evertons 5 best players. Delafou has helped at times. Be interesting if they are able to make go for them

Lukaku obviously made his feelings known about who his coach was when he ran the length to embrace Martinez after his goal vs. Arsenal.

Whether Mourinho would deal him I guess is to be seen

He's Chelsea's best striker and he's apart of Everton right now.

He doesn't want to be back at Chelsea was the point.

 

[Uncle Si]

Shut up, Gate.

Anyway, MASSIVE weekend coming up for obvious reasons. Arsenal are out of it now, so Sunday has the important matches. Liverpool/City then Chelsea/Swansea. If Chelsea drop more points against the Swans, I think it's just about over for them, unless maybe Liverpool and City play to a draw. Even then, it'll be difficult.

Obviously, I have to fancy liverpool here. they're still the form team at the minute, and that crowd will be fired up and emotional, as will the team. I'll be intersted to see what kind of formation Buck rolls out this week. Diamond gives us some interesting options, Maybe with Lucas, Gerrard and Hendo, with Sterling at the top. Or Coutinho. I'd like to see Sakho and Skrtel together again at the back, with Johnson and Flanno on each side.

you have to cut Gate some slack, he's still rolling over rocks trying to find Arsena's season. (and is apparently unaware when someone is agreeing with him). Seriously , Arsenal may be one of the poorest representatives of the top 4 in recent memory. Does anyone even want to see them in the Champions League next year, from an entertainment standpoint?

I've stayed away talking about the game. but what a fixture this will be. Biggest game of the season (thus far) by a far shout, and probably the biggest game at Anfield since the 2nd leg vs Chelsea in 2005. Easily the biggest league game at Anfield since the 2-1 loss to end the season in 1988.

I think you're spot on with the tactics and the lineup. I imagine Lucas will be there to handle Toure and let Gerrard run a bit more free. Sakho and Skrtel will do double duty in the middle, the biggest call of the night will be Coutinho or Sterling.

6:37am here in the Midwest. cannot wait

 

[Uncle Si]

Shut up, Gate.

Anyway, MASSIVE weekend coming up for obvious reasons. Arsenal are out of it now, so Sunday has the important matches. Liverpool/City then Chelsea/Swansea. If Chelsea drop more points against the Swans, I think it's just about over for them, unless maybe Liverpool and City play to a draw. Even then, it'll be difficult.

Obviously, I have to fancy liverpool here. they're still the form team at the minute, and that crowd will be fired up and emotional, as will the team. I'll be intersted to see what kind of formation Buck rolls out this week. Diamond gives us some interesting options, Maybe with Lucas, Gerrard and Hendo, with Sterling at the top. Or Coutinho. I'd like to see Sakho and Skrtel together again at the back, with Johnson and Flanno on each side.

you have to cut Gate some slack, he's still rolling over rocks trying to find Arsena's season. (and is apparently unaware when someone is agreeing with him)

I've stayed away talking about the game. but what a fixture this will be. Biggest game of the season (thus far) by a far shout, and probably the biggest game at Anfield since the 2nd leg vs Chelsea in 2005. Easily the biggest league game at Anfield since the 2-1 loss to end the season in 1988.

I think you're spot on with the tactics and the lineup. I imagine Lucas will be there to handle Toure and let Gerrard run a bit more free. Sakho and Skrtel will do double duty in the middle, the biggest call of the night will be Coutinho or Sterling.

6:37am here in the Midwest. cannot wait

6:37? If you're on CDT, it should be 7:37. Don't want you getting up too early :thirishdrinkers:

Ahh... big help. Thanks

 

[InSuarezWeTrust]

Let's get weird.

 

[Uncle Si]

Let's get weird.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ttZsstAB8

 

[InSuarezWeTrust]

Let's get weird.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ttZsstAB8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdIDS_Lu3Os

 

[Gatehawk]

Shut up, Gate.

Anyway, MASSIVE weekend coming up for obvious reasons. Arsenal are out of it now, so Sunday has the important matches. Liverpool/City then Chelsea/Swansea. If Chelsea drop more points against the Swans, I think it's just about over for them, unless maybe Liverpool and City play to a draw. Even then, it'll be difficult.

Obviously, I have to fancy liverpool here. they're still the form team at the minute, and that crowd will be fired up and emotional, as will the team. I'll be intersted to see what kind of formation Buck rolls out this week. Diamond gives us some interesting options, Maybe with Lucas, Gerrard and Hendo, with Sterling at the top. Or Coutinho. I'd like to see Sakho and Skrtel together again at the back, with Johnson and Flanno on each side.

you have to cut Gate some slack, he's still rolling over rocks trying to find Arsena's season. (and is apparently unaware when someone is agreeing with him). Seriously , Arsenal may be one of the poorest representatives of the top 4 in recent memory. Does anyone even want to see them in the Champions League next year, from an entertainment standpoint?

I've stayed away talking about the game. but what a fixture this will be. Biggest game of the season (thus far) by a far shout, and probably the biggest game at Anfield since the 2nd leg vs Chelsea in 2005. Easily the biggest league game at Anfield since the 2-1 loss to end the season in 1988.

I think you're spot on with the tactics and the lineup. I imagine Lucas will be there to handle Toure and let Gerrard run a bit more free. Sakho and Skrtel will do double duty in the middle, the biggest call of the night will be Coutinho or Sterling.

6:37am here in the Midwest. cannot wait

First off, I was aware, I simply added that out of the "4" strikers Chelsea have, Lukaku's their best one and his services are being lent to Everton.

Secondly, I think you may have neglected a certain season finale that occurred on May 26th 1989, Si.

Thirdly, I will agree with you Peach about Sunday having the bigger games... definitely in the Premier League. But we can't ignore the matches outside of the big games in the title race. It's a big weekend all over England, no matter where you look. Saturday does have a massive match in Wigan vs Arsenal in the 1st FA Cup semifinal. And Sunday will see the other remaining EPL side, Hull City, face the surprise of the competition, Sheffield United.

By the way, I hear tickets for Liverpool vs City are going for as much as 100,000, not sure if it's dollars or pounds.

 

[Uncle Si]

Nope, not neglected, just got the year wrong (and the score for that matter). I wonder how many Arsenal fans knew about that game before Alan Smith famously refers to it as a commentator in FIFA14?

The FA Cup semi final is not "massive".... sorry.

the games in the Championship and concerning lower table teams are more intriguing at this point. Fulham-Norwich may be the last chance for either of those clubs to get any points. I think most people assume Arsenal will win and will only watch to see if they can actually play enough good football or blow it as usual, like watching a drunk stumble home "Will he make it? he's got the direction, he seems well positio....oh, nope, he's fallen into some shrubs".

Back to Everton, hard to say where Lukaku is in Chelsea's pecking order. Its easy to assume he's their top striker because of his form with Everton, but these are different clubs, different systems, different managers and with different players. Chelsea's strikers, much like Giroud, need to move off the center of the pitch to allow the midfielders room to run, basically setting off on their own and waiting for distribution. Without looking it up I'd say most of Ba's goals have been within 8 yards of the goal. Lukaku at Everton gets service in the middle of the pitch (although he was geniously employed out wide against Arsenal) where he can use his size to turn and run at the defense. This requires the mids to give him the ball. Its not unreasonable to suggest Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Lampard, Shurrle, Luiz have little interest in giving the ball up when there's little chance they will get it back. (similar situation as to why Liverpool dealt Andy Carrol, although Lukaku is far better with the ball at this feet)

Anyways, point being Lukaku is special at Everton for alot of reasons. how/if that translates to Chelsea or another club (Mourinho already has his eyes on a handful of strikers, including Diego Costa) is yet to be seen.

we could see Everton in 4th by the end of Sunday.

 

[Gatehawk]

The FA Cup semi final is not "massive".... sorry.

So to Sheffield United, Hull City, Wigan and Arsenal, this weekend isn't massive for them? That's a bit cruel Si.

 

[Uncle Si]

The FA Cup semi final is not "massive".... sorry.

So to Sheffield United, Hull City, Wigan and Arsenal, this weekend isn't massive for them? That's a bit cruel Si.

When we say "massive" I think it refers to the overall interest in the game, not just the sides involved.

You are right though. These are truly massive games for Sheffield, Wigan and Hull. Wimbledon is a pinnacle for those clubs.

I'm sure Arsenal fans just want to get on with it, no?

 

[Uncle Si]

Wimbledon? Surely you mean Wembley? This isn't tennis, Simon....

:thirishdrinkers:

Auto correct...I didn't spell either one correct to be honest

What a day for Arsenal....slip into the FA cup final and slip down to 5th

 

[Gatehawk]

Hey Si and Peach,



ARSENAL ARE IN THE FA CUP FINALS! SUCK IT HATERS!

 

[Uncle Si]

I don't even....

Speechless...

Its real now

"4 World Cup finals left"- Steven Gerrard

 

[Uncle Si]

Dodgy from the Swans on the goal...no matter.

I'm still in a state of recovery from this morning. The roller coaster of the game matches the season. 4 to go and I couldn't enjoy it more. The spirit at Anfield converted some of my 14 Academy boys who all got up to watch the game as a team this morning.

Apparently a 5th place team is in thr FA Cup final and im supposed to care about it? Gate...you're the only Arsenal fan I know even remotely satisfied with yesterday. Wenger truly has his grip on you.

 

[Smurf]

So how about those Liverpool fellas.


12 points lads. Go get them. Go get your championship.


I'm rootin for you fellas.

 

[Smurf]

Thank you, Robert. The Henderson suspension and possible Sturridge injury will make things interesting, for sure.

Chelsea just look so uninspiring to me. Even without Hendo and Sturridge, I reckon we beat them comfortably at Anfield. Naturally, Mourinho will set up for the draw and hope to catch us on the break. Arsehole that he is.

You have enough quality midfielders that I don't think missing Hendo will be that big a loss.

If Sturridge is out for a while that could hurt. You guys need him to get the job done.

 

[Uncle Si]

Henderson is the bigger kids at the moment. His energy allows Gerrard more leeway. I'd imagine if both are out we will see a more traditional 433 vs Norwich with Sterling and Coutinho wide but tucked in...Gerrard Allen and Lucas in the triangle.

Could do a diamond 442 like today with Sterling up top and Coutinho as a CAM. Aspas and Moses need to stay in their recliners until Norwich is done and dusted.

Back to today....I'm still trying to soak it all in...from the Memorial to the meaning of the game, images and video od the team bus ride in, the atmosphere before the game, YNWA, Sterlings goal and that SOUND, Coutinhos goal, Gerrard's tears, "Don't let this f---ing slip!"

Is there a football club that epitomizes what the Seahawks fans and team are any better than Liverpool? Kindred clubs they are

 

[Gatehawk]

Just in case you haven't heard, on Tuesday ESPN will be airing a special on the Hillsborough tragedy.

 

[Uncle Si]

Just in case you haven't heard, on Tuesday ESPN will be airing a special on the Hillsborough tragedy.

That's good to know. Thanks Gate

Class shown by the City fans at Anfield, as well as both sets of supporters at Wembley on Saturday

Chelsea c--ts heard singing during the moment of silence