Premier League Thread

I wonder how Van Spoonface is gonna explain this away at the post match interview?

 

So City beat West Ham and Villa, whilst Utd lose to Chelsea and Everton. If only some of us foresaw this a few weeks back, when Utd came up against City and we were debating who we would rather lose that game...

(Not that it matters now, given our dropped points during the same period)

 

Yes, but Villa put up a big fight as I thought, and would have got at least a point if not 3 but for a **** offside call. I still stand by what I said.

 

Looking forward to Van Gaal's post match interview...

 

I totally agree that it was an awful offside call. But don't ignore the penalty calls involving Aguero and Silva. City could have been 4-0 up.

 

Well done Everton. Cracking form since going out of the EL. Look nailed on for top ten now. Might even grab 8th.

They'll be back to being a top six threat next season.

 

Next season we might just switch roles with Everton.

 

Just been introduced to a new word for me: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32371018

You don't often see coruscating in a match report. I never had. Well done Everton.

 

Anyone know why Mirallas gets so little playing time ..............?

 

Perhaps he'd like a move..........?

 

I'd put money on it, yes (if we qualify for the EL).

But as I've said a few times recently, I think the alternative is to accept 8th - 11th (roughly) each season. I think I'd rather yo-yo between playing in Europe and finishing top 7 each season.

 

There is a way of making sure the EL doesn't knock a club back each season. Make adequate provision for it. It should be seen as a stepping stone/rehearsal for the CL rather than a ceiling in itself. Whether Saints approach it properly, or whether they do as plenty of other PL teams have done, is the question.

As to the question of tiredness, CL playing squads play Tues/Wed - Sat/Sun and EL squads play Thurs/Sun or Monday. What's the difference..? Only making inadequate provision for the task. However, if they don't, I'm with you. One season good, one season not so good.

 

Without Carrick they look lost. They have only lost twice in the league when he has started - once when he was at centre back against Man City and their 1-0 defeat to us. Whereas for the 15 games he has not started the have won five, drawn five and lost five.

 

Arsenal got away with a penalty then....but it's okay because it is only Chelsea

 

Agreed, I don't think there's too much difference at all - except for maybe slightly further journey's in the EL (more games in eastern Europe), and one extra round of KO games.

It is, ultimately, down to having adequate provisions for the task, as you say. But inevitably, if you're a CL club then you will have more money available to you to help make the adequate provisions. Not to mention the fact that for you to have got into the CL in the first place, you probably already have quite a large squad. I think it's generally accepted by many of us that the small size of our squad is a large reason why we're not going to finish top four. We can't really get by without our first XI all available and on form.

To date, the Everton's, Swansea's, Newcastle's haven't had squad sizes capable of dealing with playing in the EL. Spurs however have.

 

Fabregas booked for diving again. This time justified.

 

Unjustified. Cazorla caught him. Penalty. Unless you can show me the page in the book that tells you how hard you need to be kicked?

 

Justified? Wow Tom.

 

Fabregas made a complete meal of minimal contact. He dived.

 

Unwritten rule that Chelsea players deserve it, so evidence of fractures are needed.