The English Premier League Discussion Thread

[newbie original]

Brendan Rodgers has not really impressed me very much. This season has been down to Luis Suarez, Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge. If don't know if Rodgers has managed to guide the team the way that some people give him credit. The one thing we have is a mixture of veterans and younger players. Rodgers has used veteran leadership, on the field, to self-guide this team. He, himself, has just gotten lucky with his formation (the above-mentioned diamond) - I can assure you that THAT will not work next season.

Regarding the game, Skrtel's handball was missed. And we proved how nervous our leadership was on the field, in the second half. If Man City had a healthy Vincent Kompany and were leading 2-0, they would never have allowed it become 2-2. It will be a nervous end to the season.

As far as what is left, Liverpool faces a game with the following characteristics about it:
- not the final (title deciding) game
- at Anfield, with the home crowed carrying the team A LOT
- against a team competing on multiple fronts, for titles
- Red vs Blue - Good vs Evil

Just like old times. The question is whether we will get caught up in looking forward to that game and lose focus on the other opponents we face before then.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Newbie

 

[Seán D]

I've heard Diego Costa is after getting his leg broke. Hopefully not true.

 

[MaestroZidane]

He hit the post while going after the ball during a slide, He looked really hurt. He scored in the process, but let's see how bad the injury is.

So now if City win their games in hand, they will be a point behind Liverpool. It will a very tight race from here on out.

 

[Filipower]

Touré out for the season.


btw:
http://www1.skysports.com/football/...ty-boss-manuel-pellegrini-critical-of-chelsea


What a stupid opinion. Pellegrini should leave, City need a real fucking boss. I like a lot of their players and it's a shame to see them consistently managed by poor managers. Mancini wouldn't get off his high, Gabbana-dressed horse to manage all that talent and Pellegrini is an even worse manager than him.

 

[Arnau]

Yeah, Pellegrini is a weak leader. Jürgen Klopp fits very well into the EPL's football culture and City's players IMO.

 

[Filipower]

Let him go to Arsenal please.

 

[Mandieta6]

It's always a shame for good players to be get injured, but I'm kind of glad Yaya is injured. A Yaya-less midfield is much more likely to lose points to Everton than the alternative.

 

[Filipower]

Is Javi Garcia the direct alternative, like today against Liverpool? That is ridiculous for the supposed best squad in the league.

 

[Bobby]

Demichelis starts for City, that's ridiculous.

 

[Filipower]

Ha, touché.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

A consolation of Liverpool lifting the title instead of Chelsea will be watching Newbie lay into a "lucky" and "mediocre" season.

Yeah, Pellegrini is a weak leader. Jürgen Klopp fits very well into the EPL's football culture and City's players IMO.

Nah man, Klopp and Arsenal were meant to be together. The ultimate hipster, the ultimate hipster club, a squad full of Germans, a genuine managerial challenge.

 

[newbie original]

A consolation of Liverpool lifting the title instead of Chelsea will be watching Newbie lay into a "lucky" and "mediocre" season.

Nah man, Klopp and Arsenal were meant to be together. The ultimate hipster, the ultimate hipster club, a squad full of Germans, a genuine managerial challenge.

Oh I see. You want to go there? Okay - 2 can play that game:

Did you see the 2nd yellow card in the Chelsea game yesterday, that got the Swansea player sent off. It was a foul. A clear foul. I can't complain about the stoppage of play. But it was not intentional and it was outside the box. The Swansea player went for the ball - he did NOT aim his studs at the feet of the Chelsea player (whoever the hell that was).

Now, the camera swings over to the sideline, where Jose Mourinho is talking to the 4th official - why? Who knows! Has instant (TV) replay been introduced into the EPL for any and all decisions on the field? No! So why is he complaining to the 4th official? The play was called by the referee on the pitch - anyways, the camera then swings back over to the edge of the Swansea box where Captain Marvel John Terry has led a march of Chelsea players to the referee and they are complaining and demonstrating about the "non-2nd yellow" decision.

At this point, I knew what was coming. I was contemplating switching over to the Golf Channel, but decided to stay. Replays start - it was a clear foul, but the referee did NOT decide to give a 2nd yellow card. Do you want to take one guess as to what happens next, involving the referee? The next thing I hear from the play-by-play call is that the referee is reaching into his pocket and calling a player over - you know what that means. The Swansea player is sent off with approx. 75 minutes left.

Reasons for the change in referee's decision:
1. Demonstrating from Jose Mourinho - the referee should have been ready for that and likely was.
2. The icing on the cake - I remember so clearly, when the EPL put in a rule where only the captains would be called over by the referee to discuss important decisions. Here, the Chelsea captain - John Terry - marched over and complained. He was not spoken to first - he did the speaking, I mean he did the demonstrating. I mean he initiated the argument with the referee - this was EXACTLY what the EPL wanted to remove from the game. The play-by-play guy ALSO said that the feeling among Swansea supports in the stadium was that the demonstrating - on and off the pitch - caused the reversal of the referee's decision.

Result: Chelsea wins 1-0. Prior to this game, Chelsea had not won any of their 3 previous trips to South Wales. There is a good chance that this game would have ended in a draw - 1-1 or 0-0 - if it was 11 vs 11. The minute it became 11 vs 10, I switched to the golf and verified the result on www.bbc.com later in the day - I way verified, because I knew what was coming.

I got no real problem with Chelsea - you are what you are. Mourinho - everyone knows he is a donkey who wants to please the media.

But, we all got a reminder that John Terry is classless. And he is not a worthy captain.

 

[Seán D]

Do you mean like Liverpool v Everton where Mark Clattenburg sent Tony Hibbert off on the insistence of Steven Gerrard? Clattenburg didn't ref an Everton game for years after that.

Clattenburg also refused to send Dirk Kuyt off for what is the most blatant two footed knee high challenge the league has ever seen.

Just as well he doesn't ref Liverpool games anymore given his pro-Liverpool bias. Oh wait, he was in charge of the game on Sunday where he should have sent off Suarez, denied 2 clear penalties and another less clear penalty.

Clattenburg goes on holidays with Gerrard. He is not neutral. He is blatantly pro-Liverpool.

 

[Xifio]

Jürgen Klopp fits very well into the EPL's football culture and City's players IMO.

Nah man, Klopp and Arsenal were meant to be together. The ultimate hipster, the ultimate hipster club, a squad full of Germans, a genuine managerial challenge.

Klopp is clearly Interista:

 

[newbie original]

Do you mean like Liverpool v Everton where Mark Clattenburg sent Tony Hibbert off on the insistence of Steven Gerrard? Clattenburg didn't ref an Everton game for years after that.

Clattenburg also refused to send Dirk Kuyt off for what is the most blatant two footed knee high challenge the league has ever seen.

Just as well he doesn't ref Liverpool games anymore given his pro-Liverpool bias. Oh wait, he was in charge of the game on Sunday where he should have sent off Suarez, denied 2 clear penalties and another less clear penalty.

Clattenburg goes on holidays with Gerrard. He is not neutral. He is blatantly pro-Liverpool.

If you are planning to do that, then it is worth going back to day 1 of this season and reviewing everything.

Actually, given your reference to Dirk Kuyt, we should go back several years.

There are many referee mistakes.

However, a lack of class from PLAYERS has no direct implications on the referee, only indirect ones. The player is to blame here.

Blame John Terry.

 

[Seán D]

No, you blame the ref. If he's that easily influenced by a player then he shouldn't be allowed to ref at the top level. The need to crack down on these officials and hold them accountable for their awful performances. They are professionals now. They should act like professionals.

 

[Mus]

No, you blame the ref. If he's that easily influenced by a player then he shouldn't be allowed to ref at the top level. The need to crack down on these officials and hold them accountable for their awful performances. They are professionals now. They should act like professionals.

Very true. They are either easily influenced or aiming to make a big name of themself (Webb)

 

[Filipower]

People were so busy with Bale's goal that no one noticed Man City threw away the title against Sunderland.

And Palace helped Arsenal!

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Palace at home under Pulis have been like the Beefeaters at the tower of london, and Liverpool still have to go there.