2013-14 EPL Season

[razgriz737]

Finally was able to watch the match. Very solid win by the Toffees today. :mrgreen:

 

[Gatehawk]

Fantastic performance by Arsenal today, best one in a EPL game in months and best one since Everton in the FA Cup quarterfinals. I knew from the onset Hull was gonna come at them without fear and the Gunners dealt with the pressure well. Ramsey and Ozil's individual performances today also showed how much we missed them both being on the field at the same time, though it also left us wondering about what could've been had it not been for their injuries. If Arsenal play this way next month in the FA Cup final, with Jelavic and Long(Hull's 2 biggest threats today) cup tied as an added bonus, that 9 year drought is as good as over with.

 

[Uncle Si]

Finally was able to watch the match. Very solid win by the Toffees today. :mrgreen:

So impressed with Everton. Despite their (albeit diminishing) rivalry with their Merseyside neighbors I am pulling for them to get the last Champions League place.

They deserve it. Well coached, hungry and exciting. The only thing holding them back is a bit more depth. Martinez is a fantastic manager. Innovative and true to an appealing style if football. No excuses on his end when it doesn't work

 

[Uncle Si]

Woah!

Oh well, it was a fun ride while it lasted. Hopefully the bring in someone who is equally as incompetent. Love how United were all "We give managers time", and now they're all "Did we say that?". Lovely.

He really was a bad fit. They've been awful this season. Not all his fault. United (and Ferguson) had plenty of understanding as to who David Moyes was a manager. His players tossed in the towel a month or so ago on him.

I think they had to do it though. They had to get in the queue. I think its safe to say we could be looking at some very big job openings this summer: Barcelona, United and possibly Dortmund (if Klopp takes a bigger job), Arsenal (if Wenger hangs it up or moves to France), Everton (i feel like Martinez may be in line for Barca), Atleti (I also feel like Simeone will be highly courted), Bayern (Pep has made no apologies for his style of play there. if they dont win the CL I could see him asked to move on), City (does Pelligrini get another year if they dont win the Prem) and even Chelsea (same with Mourinho, if they dont win the Prem or CL does the mad Russian have the patience for his embarrassing antics)

Anyways, I feel for Moyes. such a tough position to walk into. he was never the right manager for it.

 

[InSuarezWeTrust]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9276770/sky-sources-david-moyes-facing-sack-as-manchester-united-manager-in-next-24-hours

Well, there you go. Looks like he won't last the day.

Moyes has cost them so much money it's staggering. Just the buyout clause alone is in the range of 10million plus the absence of UCL money as well.

I don't watch a ton of UTD, but to me it seems they need a vast squad overhaul if they want to be taken seriously next year.

Don't the owners of this club already operate in the red?

 

[InSuarezWeTrust]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9276770/sky-sources-david-moyes-facing-sack-as-manchester-united-manager-in-next-24-hours

Well, there you go. Looks like he won't last the day.

Moyes has cost them so much money it's staggering. Just the buyout clause alone is in the range of 10million plus the absence of UCL money as well.

I don't watch a ton of UTD, but to me it seems they need a vast squad overhaul if they want to be taken seriously next year.

Don't the owners of this club already operate in the red?

It's the Glazers - of TB Bucs fame - so yeah. the squad is really bad. RVP will go in the summer, Rooney's on 300k a week and is shite, the midfield is a joke, the defense is a joke. De Gea's not bad, I suppose....

I mean who if we were playing fantasy league manager with the UTD squad, who would stay?

I think De Gea is quite good, Januzaj could become good, and you're stuck with Rooney one way or another. Fellaini maybe?

 

[Uncle Si]

agree on the squad limitation. It really hampered Moyes ability to develop his team. Their are massive holes everywhere. I can see RvP, Hernandez AND Rooney all moving on to be honest. Vidic is obviously gone already, and what new manager wants to take on Fellaini. Mata has shown why Mourinho was so glad to see him move on.

Its going to take 2-3 very good windows to rebuild the team, and thats with keeping on the likes of Evra, Jones, Young, Welbeck, etc, none of whom I rate as CL material as players.

one thing is for sure, they should hold off on building any Ferguson statues. he left them in this mess.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

agree on the squad limitation. It really hampered Moyes ability to develop his team. Their are massive holes everywhere. I can see RvP, Hernandez AND Rooney all moving on to be honest. Vidic is obviously gone already, and what new manager wants to take on Fellaini. Mata has shown why Mourinho was so glad to see him move on.

Its going to take 2-3 very good windows to rebuild the team, and thats with keeping on the likes of Evra, Jones, Young, Welbeck, etc, none of whom I rate as CL material as players.

one thing is for sure, they should hold off on building any Ferguson statues. he left them in this mess.

Pish. He won them the league last year with the same squad of players. The team needed rebuilding this summer and there should have been whole changes. That didn't happen but that isn't on Ferguson. Moyes got left out to dry when Gill quit the same time as Ferguson and they arsed about in the transfer window over the summer. If Gill had stayed they would have got a couple of their signings. The owners messed up by letting them leave at the same time, if anything keep Gill to January. Moyes made a mistake sacking the background staff there. I understand he wanted his own guys but his Assistant looks useless. During the summer he signed Felliani for pretty big bucks with no one leaving. Even last season Man Utd's defence was suspect when Evra went out. Scholes and Giggs have needed replaced as well. There should have been a clear out last summer which didn't happen.

In January the only players that left was Anderson. Guys like Ferdinand, Evra are done. Rooney and Van Persie have been injured/inconsistent. Mata is a good player but he hasn't been great and they probably overpaid.

I have no idea who they go for as coach. Klopp said he is staying in Germany. Van Gaal can be a good coach but doesn't seem to last long at places. I'd bet Blanc or Ancelotti. This team needs major investment. They need quality players but it's going to be difficult to get rid of players who are overpaid and no one wants. Giving Nani a 5 year deal for example.

In the last 20 years, Man United have never really signed world class players at their peak. Usually only talented young guys coming into their peak like Ronaldo who they can get a good 5 years out of experienced veterans- Yorke, Sheringham. Veron maybe Ferdinand are the exceptions to that.

I wonder if the Glazers will be up to the challenge and cough up the money.

 

[Uncle Si]

No disagreement on the issues that plague them Glasgow... I just feel like Ferguson should shoulder dome of the responsibility as well. He knew the condition of his team when he resigned. There was little transfer movement in place prior to Moyes appointment which didn't help the cause.

In the end its organizational... But since Ferguson was THE organization prior to his retirement he deserves some blame for its inability to sustain itself without him.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

No disagreement on the issues that plague them Glasgow... I just feel like Ferguson should shoulder dome of the responsibility as well. He knew the condition of his team when he resigned. There was little transfer movement in place prior to Moyes appointment which didn't help the cause.

In the end its organizational... But since Ferguson was THE organization prior to his retirement he deserves some blame for its inability to sustain itself without him.

How could he have done that though? I could understand maybe if he hadn't won the league but he got everything he could out of that team last year. It makes me think there wasn't much money available to spend for the rebuild. If he rebuilt that squad and they flopped there would also be criticism that he spent the money that Moyes would have needed to sign his own players.

It's a luxury for most managers to come into a job and not have to rebuild. Probably Barcelona after Pep left, Real Madrid after Mourinho and Bayern last year are teams recently who's new managers wouldn't have to, although Barcelona are coming to that time where they need a new defence, goal keeper and Xavi replacement.

If there was one criticism of Ferguson, it would be that he left behind a culture of expectation from the fans. No manager could meet those expectations with that squad in under a year. Man Utd fans have been spoiled with success and are now spitting the dummy out. Can you imagine Brendan Rodgers at Man Utd instead of Liverpool last year, he'd be gone now.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Also weren't the Glazers relying on Champions League money to keep up debt repayments? I wonder if they'll sell up now? The sponsors can't be happy about it.

 

[InSuarezWeTrust]

On another note, ISWT, did you know we might win the league this year?[/quote]

Nothing I want more, sir!

 

[Uncle Si]

Well, that answers that...

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... -liverpool

not buying it... classic Mourinho at his most desperate

 

[Uncle Si]

Oh, no doubt, Simon. I'm sure Buck is falling for nothing. Still, they'll be without Cech and Terry for sure, no word on Ramires, Hazard is still not match fit, and they'll be fatigued from that match last night. Not that I think Liverpool need all of those advantages, but I think it plays into our hands for the weekend.

If Mourinho were smart, he really WOULD rest his first team, since they have a MUCH higher chance of winning the CL than they do the league.

Oh I agree... and if he does I think most would understand it.

I just don't buy into his PR machine protecting himself. No need to spell it all out in the press. The fact he said he had to check with the club was interesting. I'd be surprised to see Schurrle, Luiz, Oscar, Ba/Torres or Hazard for much if any of the game. Maybe Hazard for a run in at the end to test his fitness. The turnound is 3 days to get a result against a good Atleti side. Lampard will play Sunday as he's ruled out of the return leg.

Interesting dilemma he has on his hands for use.

 

[Gatehawk]

That might be it for the Top 4 race. As harsh as it is, Everton May have kicked, I mean headed, themselves out of the running with that loss. All Arsenal have to do is beat Newcastle and West Brom and May 11th will be the most comfortable season finale for Arsenal fans in quite a while.

 

[Uncle Si]

Bummer for Everton. Their lack if depth (and experience) reared itself again.

 

[Gatehawk]

It was a really tall task for Everton in the end. Now the match against City is must win if they want any hope of Top 4 that's still remaining.

 

[Gatehawk]

Can't see Everton getting 4th now. Newcastle are about the closest thing to a guaranteed 3 points you can get these days. Arsenal will finish at least 4th, maybe higher if Chelsea or City just collapse from here on out. Doubtful, but you never know.

Expecting a Liverpool win tomorrow. I'm recording it, as I'll not get to see it live. Not sure how the City/Palace match will go. Palace don't really have anything to play for anymore. They can't get into Europe, and they can't get relegated. Having said that, if Liverpool win, City might feel that they have no chance to win the league, so they might not care anymore. Things could get weird...

All it takes is one domino to fall for total chaos to ensue.

 

[InSuarezWeTrust]

12 hours 35 minutes…...

 

[Uncle Si]

12 hours 35 minutes…...

Biggest game since Norwich...

Biggest game until Palace...

(But f*** all I want to destroy the Plastics)