EPL 2014-15 Season

[Uncle Si]

Hes not the only united fan on here...hes just the only one who is a prick to you scousers on the regular.

Back to the game. I knoe lallana got hurt but i still didnt like the gerrard sub. While it had its tactical merrits i think Rodgers should have gone a different direction.

Hindsight... like i said, it worked brilliantly against Swansea when the Swans were doing the same thing to Liverpool's midfield.

It does point that the Gerrard replacement is not currently on the roster

 

[Smurf]

Thats a great point Si. Any idea who youll sign to replace him?

 

[Uncle Si]

Thats a great point Si. Any idea who youll sign to replace him?

No idea. Some say it may be Emre Can. I see him as a very good player, but more of a Lucas Leiva replacement. The club needs an exciting CM to come in. Not Pogba (because he is unattainable for Liverpool) but a player of his make up (not his level of skill, obviously. He is special. But there are players who can become him and may be available)

 

[Smurf]

Allen seems to be a nice passer of the ball and ive noticed his defensive skills have improved. Im assuming you dont fancy him a replacement? He doesnt have the high level of skill as Pogba, but hes a good midfielder.

 

[Uncle Si]

Allen seems to be a nice passer of the ball and ive noticed his defensive skills have improved. Im assuming you dont fancy him a replacement? He doesnt have the high level of skill as Pogba, but hes a good midfielder.

Allen, Henderson, Leiva are squad players on CL teams, which is the ultimate goal of any of Chelsea, Liverpool, United, Arsenal and City. Allen has improved his game and is helpful, but he's not turning a game on its head with his play. Neither would Henderson or Lucas. They are good, not great.

Liverpool had one of, if not arguably the best, midfield in the world not but 8 years ago (Masch, Alonso, Gerrard) but has since struggled to find both a balance and a consistency from the players its rolled out since.

They've never amply "replaced" either Alonso or Masch (in the same way they haven't "replaced" Suarez, or United have not "replaced" Beckham or Giggs), and now have to replace Gerrard.

 

[Smurf]

Fair point. At what point do you have to turn blame on the academies?

And i would argue united brought up Pogba but mis managed him as he was ready to go to the 1st team. Fergie messed up.

 

[Uncle Si]

Fair point. At what point do you have to turn blame on the academies?

And i would argue united brought up Pogba but mis managed him as he was ready to go to the 1st team. Fergie messed up.

The Academy brought Liverpool Gerrard and Carragher, and most recently Sterling and Ibe. Not sure many Academies produce more than a couple first 11 players on top of the table teams more than every 5-10 years?

Liverpool have supplemented that with buying young to mix with their up and comers: Henderson is 23, Coutinho 21, Can, 20, Sturridge (now 25), Sterling 20, Ibe 19, Markovich 19, Moreno 19, Origi 19...

Hard to say if it will work, but the Academies suffer the same issue the Prem as a whole is having... the English players are struggling to make their marks as World Class players.

Conversation for another time. There are a handful of up and coming attacking players in Liverpool's system, but no "next Gerrard"

 

[Smurf]

I guess that's a good point about Ibe and Sterling. Will be interesting if they can develop a Gerrard type of player.

I'm honestly afraid arsenal is going to blow past the league in a few years. That academy is Gooooooood right now.

 

[Uncle Si]

I guess that's a good point about Ibe and Sterling. Will be interesting if they can develop a Gerrard type of player.

I'm honestly afraid arsenal is going to blow past the league in a few years. That academy is Gooooooood right now.

Two things with the Academies...

only a player or two will ever emerge as World Class. A couple others will help the first team. The rest will end up in the Championship or elsewhere.

Chelsea, United and Liverpool have the strongest academies (in terms of players) over all at the moment. Chelsea and Liverpool do an excellent job of getting their young players out on loan to Championship clubs, vastly improving their development. Not sure on United, but I've seen some of their U21 matches and there are some players in that squad. I think two have already been promoted.

 

[NJSeahawk]

Glad I gave it a few days before I came here.

What can I say?

I'm feeling half-satisfied. Ah well. On to the next one.

 

[Smurf]

I guess that's a good point about Ibe and Sterling. Will be interesting if they can develop a Gerrard type of player.

I'm honestly afraid arsenal is going to blow past the league in a few years. That academy is Gooooooood right now.

Two things with the Academies...

only a player or two will ever emerge as World Class. A couple others will help the first team. The rest will end up in the Championship or elsewhere.

Chelsea, United and Liverpool have the strongest academies (in terms of players) over all at the moment. Chelsea and Liverpool do an excellent job of getting their young players out on loan to Championship clubs, vastly improving their development. Not sure on United, but I've seen some of their U21 matches and there are some players in that squad. I think two have already been promoted.

Current United Academy products with the first team:

Paddy McNair, Tom Thorpe, Tyler Blackett, and James Wilson.

McNair and Wilson seem to be quality players.

I've seen high levels of Hype about Blackett's future.

 

[Uncle Si]

Again, those are the best of the products, and maybe two will be an impactful first 11. Such is the Academy.

Liverpool have done exceedingly well recently with Sterling, then Ibe and soon Jerome Sinclair. Shiney Ojo, Jack Dunn, Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams are all in line to fill in the midfield. Texiera is much closer to a first team call up, however. All have some first team experience with cup call ups. Luis Alberto is also a name to watch, currently on loan in Spain.

On Defense, Andre Wisdom, Lloyd Jones and Brad Smith all have been given first team experience in the past and may fill a role in the future. Tiago Illori is currently on loan and may fill a departure of Toure or Lovren in the Summer.

As long (and strong) as that list is, its hard to imagine outside the first two any really bringing more than depth to the first 11. Hopefully, but it's rare in the modern game.

 

[Seabhac]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/580715851730587648[/tweet]

 

[NJSeahawk]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/580715851730587648[/tweet]

Where's the ban on Man Poo for this?

 

[Uncle Si]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/580715851730587648[/tweet]

Where's the ban on Man Poo for this?

you two should get a room and get it over with.

 

[NJSeahawk]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/580715851730587648[/tweet]

Where's the ban on Man Poo for this?

you two should get a room and get it over with.

[youtube]pusZXECS0mM[/youtube]

 

[Uncle Si]

 

[Smurf]

I love that the go-to Gif's in this thread are archer based...That just makes my day.

 

[Seabhac]

As a United Fan - Here are the Priorities entering April

1: Win the Premier League
2: Qualify for the European Cup
3: Finish Above Liverpool
4: Finish above City

Two of these are likely, one is possible, and one is very unlikely.

 

[Uncle Si]

As a United Fan - Here are the Priorities entering April

1: Win the Premier League
2: Qualify for the European Cup
3: Finish Above Liverpool
4: Finish above City

Two of these are likely, one is possible, and one is very unlikely.

(but seriously, 3 of 4 are very realistic for either United, Arsenal or Liverpool... well, I mean Liverpool cant finish above themselves, but you get my Tokyo drift)