English Premier League 2011/2012 Thread.

[Dman90]

Hey hey, apparently we haven't had one of these in a while. So, this'll be (well, hopefully) the unofficial thread for the EPL on ReCom this season.

Feel free to post links, videos, news, and opinions here. As long as they're not incendiary or offensive. Let's keep it civil, guys.

To get the ball rolling, reflections on the opening day's games?

[FoxyWoxy25]

Just watched Chelsea's match against Stoke at the Brittania Stadium. Chelsea dominated, as expected, but failed to score any goals. Lack of creativity in the midfield may have been a problem, along with some dodgy referee decisions. One was to deny Lampard a clear penalty. Meanwhile, Torres looks more fired up than he did last season, which is good to see. First time Chelsea has dropped points in the first game of the season for 9 years, but the display cannot be faulted.

[Dman90]

Haha how does Torres "look more fired up"? More spirit? Granted, Stoke's Britannia Stadium is one of the toughest places to go in the Premier League. Hell, they're one of the hardest to play against.

Heard that Rory Delap added some variations to his play. Now not only can he put throw-ins to the near post, but far post as well!

[Dman90]

Now this is quite disappointing.

*bump*

[FoxyWoxy25]

Haha sorry mate, haven't been around these parts for awhile. Looking forward to the Chelsea match this weekend. Would like to see Mata and Lukaku.

[Dman90]

WELL HARROW EVERYBODEH! Anyone watched the football yesterday? Cracking games, no?

[FoxyWoxy25]

Nooooooooo

[Dman90]

Condolences.

[jessica9310]

Seriously, 6-1 is damn humiliating.. MU has to improve but I think they will get better as long as they get the top form again by April! GO GO MU!!! :)

[Dman90]

Yay! Finally a response from someone other than Foxy or me!


6-1 seems to be a one-off, like Spurs 4 Liverpool 0, Arsenal's 5-3 or Arsenal's 2-8, unlikely to happen any time soon, since there were a bunch of other circumstances in it. Though City have yet to meet any of the other top teams, so it'd be interesting to see how that pans out.

[kaze]

Yay! Finally a response from someone other than Foxy or me!



FYI, I was lurking on this thread for a while :P But I haven't watch any football matches since..... a few years ago? So, I don't really have anything to say but it's still good to be able to know what happened this season thru your posts.

[jessica9310]

Yay! Finally a response from someone other than Foxy or me!


6-1 seems to be a one-off, like Spurs 4 Liverpool 0, Arsenal's 5-3 or Arsenal's 2-8, unlikely to happen any time soon, since there were a bunch of other circumstances in it. Though City have yet to meet any of the other top teams, so it'd be interesting to see how that pans out.

LOL! I think it's because most of us are having finals now!:laugh

Yea, it's true but I just feel that they should perform better than that. hahaha MC is still 5 points ahead of MU! :cry *fingers crossed*

[nicholas93]

united are in transition i think, it may take a season to really get the team to gel completely and be capable of the Barca-esque play seen at the start of the season, though its no coincidence that the teamsheet was almost completely devoid of the senior figures for the first few matches. the older players seem to play with a bit of baggage, maybe its the hangover from the successive Barcelona defeats? with a team of rooney hernandez park/carrick/fletcher/anderson/giggs valencia evra vidic ferdinand rafael/fabio, united seem to play route one football without nearly as much swagger as in the years of the tevez-rooney-ronaldo trinity. its usually get the ball out wide to valencia or giggs and whip a cross in. kinda frustrating to watch at times

[Dman90]

Talking points:

1) Chelsea's uhh... "defending".

2) CAN NOBODY STOP MAN CITY?!?!?!

3) Who do you think will be the first managerial casualty this season?

[FoxyWoxy25]

Hello, we stopped Man City :P

[Dman90]

Congratulations! That win BLEW THE TITLE RACE WIDE OPEN and LIFTED THE PLAYER'S SPIRITS. Football cliches, bah. Did they run to AVB to celebrate when they scored? If they didn't, did he burst into tears?

[jessica9310]

Ohh yeaaa, what should I say now?!! THANKS A LOT Sunderland, you did a great job! LOL!! :P

[senksiang90]

everyone gets upbeat everytime a big team loses.to stay big, you have to win and not just win matches, but win cups. Man city only won 1 and everyone are already talking about how great a team this is.

True they are great but they are not unbeatable. teams can go for an unbeaten run of 10, 20, 50 matches but in the end, they will have to lose.

ok, just for the record,

Man City came close to winning 2 cups in 2011.

FA Cup and the Community Shield.

They lost the Community Shield, only qualified for UEFA cup, still number 1 in EPL(barely) and everyone is already talking about how they will be the team to beat. Im just sayin'.. this team is only good for another 1-2 years before the young devils hatch from their eggs and beat the world with their aggressive and fast play movement. You can make up the future of United by now :

De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Fabio, Nani, Cleverly, Young, Macheda, Rooney, Welbeck

they still have Gibson, Valencia, de Laet, Chicharito, Lindegaard.. etc on the bench.

Should United not win anything this season, they will only bounce back stronger next year.

Becuz that's what champions do. PLUS, Fergie says he has 3 more years left in him.
The lads will surely want to give Fergie something special at the end of his tenure.

[Dman90]

I know it's a figure of speech, but the "devils hatch from eggs" bit made me chuckle.


Errr-thang's gone topsy-turvy as smaller teams are beating them bigger ones.

As for Man City being referred to as a great team, I believe it's more to do with their personnel, rather than their title-winning prowess or... history (like Liverpool). They're "the team to beat" for the simple reason that they're top of the league and lost the fewest matches (before Sunderland). If Arsenal were top, City wouldn't be the team to beat anymore, would they?

United's young players are good but so, so fragile. Sort out those Brazilian twins first. The rest are pretty much fluke injuries. Still, can't over-hype them. Tom Cleverley is not the saviour.


So how 'bout Spurs, y'all?

[senksiang90]

I know it's a figure of speech, but the "devils hatch from eggs" bit made me chuckle.


Errr-thang's gone topsy-turvy as smaller teams are beating them bigger ones.

As for Man City being referred to as a great team, I believe it's more to do with their personnel, rather than their title-winning prowess or... history (like Liverpool). They're "the team to beat" for the simple reason that they're top of the league and lost the fewest matches (before Sunderland). If Arsenal were top, City wouldn't be the team to beat anymore, would they?

United's young players are good but so, so fragile. Sort out those Brazilian twins first. The rest are pretty much fluke injuries. Still, can't over-hype them. Tom Cleverley is not the saviour.


So how 'bout Spurs, y'all?

Spurs are having just 'one of those runs' like Newcastle did...

Cleverly is easily spotted as the 'Clever' one. He will make the headlines soon. As for Rafa and Fabio, they tend to give away silly fouls during crucial moments and if that isn't silly enough, i dunno what is.

Anyway, you can say all you want about United youngsters but the results they are getting is just an indicator of what this team can do in a season. Imagine, this season alone, so many youngsters were given a premier league debut have been a quite a regular eleven, yet they are second just to Man City.

If this young team can finish second in their debut season, who knows what they can go and achieve for the next few.

All i can say is just stay tune and find out..

As for man city, nah.. they are never the team to beat unless they win the premier league. if arsenal were top, they are also not the team to beat until they become champions once more. Man United is the real team to beat. They are still the champions, still in contention and still running strong despite the departure of G. Neville and Scholes.

Waddya think?

Dont you agree that every other clubs supporters just HATES man united? hahhahaa..

[Dman90]

Spurs are having just 'one of those runs' like Newcastle did...

Cleverly is easily spotted as the 'Clever' one. He will make the headlines soon. As for Rafa and Fabio, they tend to give away silly fouls during crucial moments and if that isn't silly enough, i dunno what is.

Anyway, you can say all you want about United youngsters but the results they are getting is just an indicator of what this team can do in a season. Imagine, this season alone, so many youngsters were given a premier league debut have been a quite a regular eleven, yet they are second just to Man City.

If this young team can finish second in their debut season, who knows what they can go and achieve for the next few.

All i can say is just stay tune and find out..

As for man city, nah.. they are never the team to beat unless they win the premier league. if arsenal were top, they are also not the team to beat until they become champions once more. Man United is the real team to beat. They are still the champions, still in contention and still running strong despite the departure of G. Neville and Scholes.

Waddya think?

Dont you agree that every other clubs supporters just HATES man united? hahhahaa..


No.


Not really.


Nawh.

[Archangel]

I'm a Liverpool fan (yes, Man Utd fans can hate me now) for life. I just want your opinion on Craig Bellamy. Do you think he's a good replacement for Carroll? I think the Reds should sell Carroll, maybe buy Hazard/Podolski this January.

Your thoughts?

[Dman90]

Oh boy I LOVE Craig Bellamy! Sure, he's a little firebrand but those are sorely lacking in the game these days. He's also a little nutty but that's what makes him so passionate I guess. He used to be even better when he had the pace but he hasn't lost much of it. He's a bit too similar to Suarez in terms of style of play, so I can't really see them playing together up front (though Bellamy could be on the wing). I'd be interested in seeing Gerrard playing off Suarez, like he used to do behind an in-form Torres.

As for Carroll - flop. I know he's got potential and all that but the bottom line is that he cost ?35million. A bit unfair on him for LFC to plaster such a big price tag onto his ponytail, but what can you do. Even buying Stewart Downing didn't help. Jury's still out on Henderson and though I do like Adam at times, he's no Lucas. No doubt, Kenny's biggest gaffe was letting Meireles go.

Hazard? Sorry, but no chance. With all due respect to LFC, the Reds aren't exactly at the top of Eden Hazard's wishlist. Unless he turns out to be a childhood fan, or if LFC can somehow leverage on Joe Cole's loan deal at Lille. Hazard can take his pick of Real Madrid, Inter, Arsenal, and maybe even PSG as well.

Podolski's been linked with Arsenal, that may happen since Gervinho and his forehead are leaving for Cup o' Nations duty, but I doubt it. Liverpool need a striker, and you couldn't do much worse than Jordan Rhodes. 21 years old, 22 goals in 22 games for Huddersfield this season. If they want someone more high profile, Olivier Giroud at Montpellier in Ligue Un also has a great scoring record.


Who do you think your team should sign this January Transfer Window?

[FoxyWoxy25]

Gary Cahill is enough for now. Don't want to rock an already unstable boat with additional signings. As for the summer, I would like to see a couple of wing-backs come in, as well as a winger to complement Mata. Another creative midfielder wouldn't hurt either.

Jose Bosingwa has proved to be unreliable in defence, and someone has to replace him; Ashley Cole is getting older and he appears to be fading, but Bertrand and van Aanholt don't have enough match practice and the quality required to replace him.

Meanwhile with Mata on board, it would be nice to see another flying winger to recreate the Duff/Robben partnership. Sturridge is simply too wasteful with his crossing, passing and finishing.

I'm not gonna talk about Hazard/de Bruyne because enough has been said about them, we'll just have to wait and see. With Meireles finally settling in the team, Lampard continuing to be Mr. Consistent, and Essien coming back from injury, we don't need another midfielder for now.

[Dman90]

Gary Cahill is enough for now. Don't want to rock an already unstable boat with additional signings. As for the summer, I would like to see a couple of wing-backs come in, as well as a winger to complement Mata. Another creative midfielder wouldn't hurt either.

Meanwhile with Mata on board, it would be nice to see another flying winger to recreate the Duff/Robben partnership. Sturridge is simply too wasteful with his crossing, passing and finishing.

I'm not gonna talk about Hazard/de Bruyne because enough has been said about them, we'll just have to wait and see. With Meireles finally settling in the team, Lampard continuing to be Mr. Consistent, and Essien coming back from injury, we don't need another midfielder for now.

So Chelsea need another creative midfielder, but not another midfielder? :P I'd prefer if Sturridge got a chance up front, especially now since Drogba and Kalou are away and Anelka's buggered off to China. Not much point playing him on the wing, unless it's as part of a 4-3-3.

Again, as with Liverpool, I don't really see why Hazard would want to join Chelsea. Unless they're the only club to match his transfer fee/release clause.

Gary Cahill is alright, but pair him with David Luiz and you have some potential LOLs. At least Cahill scores goals.

[FoxyWoxy25]

Haha I didn't really make myself clear with that one there. I don't think need another midfielder now, but the need may arise again in the summer. Hope that is a better explanation.

Sturridge is perhaps Chelsea's version of Walcott. I'd rather see LuLu get a chance up front and develop into Drogba V2.0. We play with a form of 4-3-3, but with the wingers drifting in, wing-backs bombing forwards, and Romeu dropping back into defence, it turns into a 3-4-3/3-3-4. Having Sturridge play as more of an inside-forward works well with the system since he has the pace and instinct.

I can't remember with whom I had a discussion about David Luiz. Anyway, as I mentioned before, Bosingwa is a liability in defence. So has Luiz, but he has been marginally better. Luiz also has this tendency to roam forwards to create chances and be the extra man. So, why not push him out wide, while our pair of English centrebacks get on the the job of not conceding soft goals.

[nicholas93]

Paul Scholes is going to win the Ballon D'or this season! =D

No.


Not really.


Nawh.
Is that line from Jar Jar Binks?!

[Dman90]

Paul Scholes is going to win the Ballon D'or this season! =D


Is that line from Jar Jar Binks?!


Uhm... Paul Scholes isn't going to win any international individual awards by playing in just the Premier League. Unless he scores more than Robin van Persie does, which (although likely, as it's THE Paul Scholes) isn't very likely.


JAR JAR BINKS?! Oh no, brotha. I made that up meself.

[Archangel]

Liverpool beating both Manchester clubs does prove that the Reds do have their days, huh? As a Reds fan, I'm also quite disappointed that the goal scorers are always the veterans like Bellamy, Kuyt and so on. Where are the young boys? Probably Kenny needs to play the young ones like Suso, Coady and Sterling.

And Man Utd and Man City need to buck up in terms of defence. I mean, come on, leaking goals doesn't really show the strength of the team. Where was the Man City we knew towards the start of the season?

From a Liverpool fan.

[FoxyWoxy25]

Both teams have been hit by injuries to key players in defence. Man City's defence also wasn't helped by Kompany being banned, and the Toure brothers going off to Africa.

Also, Liverpool recently played against ManUtd last weekend and lost. Jay Sterling was largely absent from the game, despite playing, and I didn't even realise Henderson was on the pitch until late in the match. The Reds certainly have their days and can up their game against arguably better opponents, but it didn't happen at Old Trafford.

As for playing young players, it is probably because of Liverpool's system that they can't get a game. Suso is definitely behind Suarez and even Carroll in the pecking order. In midfield, Sterling will probably get a game or two while Lucas is out, but I don't see Coady getting into the team any time soon. That's the issue with the EPL being a fiercely competitive league and it's hard for youngsters (barring Oxlande-Chamberlain) to break into teams if the first XI are fit.

And what's your problem with veterans scoring? A goal's a goal, doesn't matter who it comes from.

[Dman90]

As with most Premier League clubs, Liverpool have their days, yes. They, however, also have their off-days, as seen against Norwich/Swansea/(insert EPL minnow here).

Also, United and Citeh have been conceding goals, and so have Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool, maybe not so much, but they've hardly been scoring as well as the other big teams, have they? 0-0s galore.

As per Foxy's comment on the Liverpool-United game, read about it here http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/02/11/manchester-united-2-1-liverpool-united-exploit-the-space-around-spearing/ he's right, playing Spearing was quite pointless, as was Kenny's strange choice of playing Jamie Carragher as a holding midfielder in the FA Cup game against the same opponents. Andrea Pirlo he is not.

I haven't even heard of this Suso kid. Is it a nickname or sumfing? I doubt Sterling will get a game, even with Lucas out. For some reason or other, Henderson, Spearing, and even the prematurely-balding Shelvey are the back-ups for the DM role, when it isn't filled by Charlie Adam. Liverpool's youngsters aren't bad, but they've better players ahead of them. Would you pick Coady ahead of Coates? Or even Carragher? The best hope for young players is (as usual), the Carling Cup. Or as a late late sub against an EPL minnow.

Plenty of C's there in my last two sentences, huzzah!

[Dman90]

What up, hombres?

LET'S START SOME BANTERRRRRR #banta #bantz #bantasaurus #bantaclaus

[nicholas93]

even paul scholes can't stop this implosion. we need cantona! or failing that ronaldo.

[FoxyWoxy25]

Or, y'know, Vidic.

[nicholas93]

di matteo is a damn good manager. always liked his west brom. we hardly see anymore defensive masterclasses against barcelona anymore, so hats off to chelsea! like mourinho before him and fergie before him, rdm did a superb job of organising the defence and midfield to stay compact and stifle messi and co

[FoxyWoxy25]

I think it's rather amusing how Chelsea's performances seem to improve greatly under an interim manager. Aside from Mourinho and Ancelotti prior to Ray Wilkin's dismissal, no other permanent manager is able to coax the team into a winning side.

I believe it's due to the new managers trying to implement a completely new system into an already solid core. Mourinho is to blame - the core of the team has played under Mourinho and knows exactly how to win games. He basically set up the blueprints for a successful team, and tinkering with that system causes problems with the players. Even Ancelotti couldn't introduce his favourite 4-1-2-1-2, only getting good results, and winning the league and FA Cup double, after reverting back to the 4-3-3.

What Di Matteo, and Grant and Hiddink before him, did was to basically use Mourinho's tactics. There's no point getting the players to play in any other way. Against Barca, he basically employed the same tactics that Inter under Mourinho used a couple seasons ago to defeat Barca. 9 men behind the ball, 1 up top. Quick wingers and midfielders attempt to counter and hope Lady Luck shines. When we went a man down, it was Drogba on the wing, like Milito did. It's ugly tactics, but there's no point playing Barca any other way.

UP THE CHELS!

[nicholas93]

well it's official. this united team isn't good enough. at least not yet.

I think it's rather amusing how Chelsea's performances seem to improve greatly under an interim manager. Aside from Mourinho and Ancelotti prior to Ray Wilkin's dismissal, no other permanent manager is able to coax the team into a winning side.

I believe it's due to the new managers trying to implement a completely new system into an already solid core. Mourinho is to blame - the core of the team has played under Mourinho and knows exactly how to win games. He basically set up the blueprints for a successful team, and tinkering with that system causes problems with the players. Even Ancelotti couldn't introduce his favourite 4-1-2-1-2, only getting good results, and winning the league and FA Cup double, after reverting back to the 4-3-3.

What Di Matteo, and Grant and Hiddink before him, did was to basically use Mourinho's tactics. There's no point getting the players to play in any other way. Against Barca, he basically employed the same tactics that Inter under Mourinho used a couple seasons ago to defeat Barca. 9 men behind the ball, 1 up top. Quick wingers and midfielders attempt to counter and hope Lady Luck shines. When we went a man down, it was Drogba on the wing, like Milito did. It's ugly tactics, but there's no point playing Barca any other way.

UP THE CHELS!

and so the shadow of mourinho's legacy still looms large. i think the reason why new systems brought in by different coaches don't work because it takes some time for the players to grown into their new roles, which is pretty hard with abramovich so trigger happy

[adele123]

but it's getting really exciting, 2 matches left and top 2 tied on points... awesome

[Dman90]

Picks for relegation?

[nicholas93]

Rangers and Rovers cause I like Roberto Martinez and Owen Coyle. But looking at the remaining fixtures I'd have to say Blackburn and QPR are getting the chop.

Man United's collapse is probably on par with Newcastle's in '96. Still crossing my fingers though!

[nicholas93]

Feels a bit scripted, no?

[Dman90]

No?








I'd have posted just that but the forum wouldn't let me submit a two-character response.