Epl 2013/14

I couldn't help thinking of the very very late penalty Chelsea got to save a draw at home to WBA in the winter. Tough luck Jose.

I think the full back got lucky with the first part of his tackle but then it looked to me like he was stretching to block a cross rather than make a tackle. Altidore put his leg into his though, rather than the other way around, in order to make sure it looked like a foul.

Anyway, unfortunately football is primarily a soap opera these days so Jose is given the publicity he craves. The FA should seriously put pressure on the EPL and the TV people not to make post-match manager interviews mandatory.

I think what has generally been a very good and generally very sporting season has been marred by high profile nobbishness from some players and managers of late. I'm still livid with Clattenberg for not giving Suarez a second yellow last week. I really do think the authorities and the press should be tougher on these things.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

He's completely shameless but he'll do anything to take the heat off his players and put it entirely on himself.

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I actually think this is a load of codology. Really, it just gives him licence to say whatever crap he wants and sell it as some kind of management strategy because he's taking pressure off the players. I can't understand why so many people believe it.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

I actually think this is a load of codology. Really, it just gives him licence to say whatever crap he wants and sell it as some kind of management strategy because he's taking pressure off the players. I can't understand why so many people believe it.

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Mainly because it's true.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Mainly because it's true.

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I just don't think so, the only media attention devoted to him is that which he creates.

Mourinho is a media hoor, pure and simple. It's all about him when they win. Late goals against City and PSG - he made it all about him. He's a pathetic moaner and sore loser when things go against him. He's not alone but he's the worst, especially now Ferguson has gone.

At least the media has been unanimously critical of Chelsea this week. I wish football's authorities were firmer on this nonsense and firmer on people like Suarez and the others who have been caught cheating. It can't be that hard, surely?

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Originally Posted by osarusan

I just don't think so, the only media attention devoted to him is that which he creates.

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And everybody's talking about him and largely ignoring the team who just lost 2-1 at home to the bottom side in the league.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

As I said before on this thread, if a team goes in to a game expecting to win and rests players, then they sometimes end up like Chelsea today. They never really looked like winning that game and I think Alan Smith half way through the game predicted a Sunderland win. The winning penalty was dubious ok but I can understand why it was given. Chelsea were lucky to have 11 men on the pitch but all managers ever see are the decisions which go against them - apparently the first penalty awarded against Chelsea all season. The rant of the assistant manager was pathetic and Mourinho's after match conference, bizarre. Talk about damning someone with praise or sarcasm, whichever you prefer. He hinted there was a conspiracy to make sure everything went down to the wire. He may be a great manager but it will never outweigh his human frailties but then I am not a Chelsea supporter, and certainly not after today's soap opera.

Well done John O'Shea and Sunderland.

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Chelsea didn't rest players though, bar Cech and I think he was carrying a knock. They might have been fresher if they did.

And Moyes has gone...

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

And Moyes has gone...

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Expected but i think he should have been given next season minimum but as many have said it's a business now.

Not surprising really, still think he is a good manager but perhaps not suited to the pressure and egos of managing a top European club.

I'd see Van Gaal as the best replacement at present, get him in on a 2-3 year contract. Get the ship steadied and look at other options then. Guardiola, Simone, Klopp, Montella, Martinez etc

Man U fans spelling is really poor today, even for twitter.

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Originally Posted by Neish

Not surprising really, still think he is a good manager but perhaps not suited to the pressure and egos of managing a top European club.

I'd see Van Gaal as the best replacement at present, get him in on a 2-3 year contract. Get the ship steadied and look at other options then. Guardiola, Simone, Klopp, Montella, Martinez etc

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Marco Simone? He didn't really set the world alight at Monaco...

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

Marco Simone? He didn't really set the world alight at Monaco...

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Not sure if you're being serious here.

Oh he means Diego Simeone?

Yes. Marco Simone would almost as strange an appointment as Ryan Giggs.

Giggs in charge for real would have great potential for a Staunton-esque comedy season.

Simone was a brilliant player in Italy in the mid/late 90s at Milan, where he was known as Peter Pan, winning loads of domestic trophies and a few European Cups. He flunked it a bit as a manager (at Monaco) but didnt really enjoy all the financing that Ranieri got.

Any truth in the rumor that Giggs's first team talk started with the phrase, "I want us to be equals, I want us to treat each other as brothers"?

Ancelloti for me seems like the most sensible and "United-esque" appt.

Though, stealing Mourinho would be gas craic.

Moyes had to go.

I feel a bit sorry for him because he was so out of his depth. The leaks from the press about the reaction from some of the players during the reign was disappointing to read but what you do expect from a load of prima Donna millionaires. I think he lost the dressing room from the very start with the intense pre-season training.

In hindsight maybe he should have tried to clear out some of the bad eggs early on like Ferdinand but United's poor display in the transfer market during the squad meant he had to rely on the squad he inherited.

If he had managed to bring in Baines, Fabrages and the lad from Bilbao who knows how he would have fared?

Result at Anfield yesterday blows it open again.

i thought it was a great performance by Chelsea. Brilliantly set up and they executed it to perfection. Can't remember Liverpool (who had won...11?...in a row) creating even one chance.

The bitching that I saw today re Chelsea's performance was something else.

I wish I saw the game but I can only imagine it was a typical Mourinho suffocation masterclass.

I will laugh if Man City or Chelsea win the league now.

I can see them now running riot against Atletico.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

I wish I saw the game but I can only imagine it was a typical Mourinho suffocation masterclass.

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Basically this.

Kept it incredibly narrow down the middle, let the fullbacks have the ball for aimless crosses. Liverpool never looked likely to break them down at all.

Yeah, loads of bitching about it - how dare they go to the home of the free-scoring league leaders and play defensively, etc.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

Basically this.

Kept it incredibly narrow down the middle, let the fullbacks have the ball for aimless crosses. Liverpool never looked likely to break them down at all.

Yeah, loads of bitching about it - how dare they go to the home of the free-scoring league leaders and play defensively, etc.

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I would agree Liverpool didn't do enough on the day and never really looked like making the break through. They have been on some run but it shows how hard it is to win the league. I wonder is there another twist to allow Chelsea back in?

There have to be at least two twists to allow Chelsea back in... and it would involve City and Liverpool both losing as opposed to just drawing. Not going to happen really I would say but who knows? Sunderland took four points from trips to City and Chelsea so anything's possible.

That said, I can’t help feeling it all comes down to Everton v City. City are well capable of blowing it there but they couldn’t be playing them at a better time. Everton are pretty much out of the running for 4^th and will more than likely be without their two first choice centre backs... Distin has a hamstring injury and it will probably come too soon for Jagielka. Baines also picked up a knock on Saturday and his best replacement, Oviedo, is already injured. Gareth Barry is ineligible and Mirallas is out for the season. They’ll still be able to field a decent side but there are some key guys there.

City might have Silva back also... and with Toure and Aguero having games under their belt could be at full strength for the first time in ages (bar maybe Nastasic).

I have to say I almost felt sorry for Stevie G... but there was too long left to really pity him. I was envisaging a Liverpool comeback and all of the players going on about “doing it for Stevie!!”. Anyway, he deserved it for helping to cheat United out of a title in 2009/10....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GprcTAFLQCw

Luckily for Liverpool, I’m sure Everton will be more professional on Saturday.

Yeah, Mourinho is incredible. To make that many changes and to give a 20 year old his debut in a game of that stature, and still go nearly 100 minutes without coughing up a significant chance (Sakho and Suarez had half chances I suppose) was amazing. The funny thing is that a draw would have been a great result for Liverpool, yet Mourinho seemed to get inside their heads with all their timing wasting. If Liverpool had any sense they would have started rolling around time wasting themselves instead of getting visibly frustrated. Chelsea were the ones who needed to win the game! Obviously I'm talking about the first 45 minutes here. I get the impression Liverpool feel they have to start well to win games. They usually do but winning leagues and big games usually requires more patience than that.

Mourinho really covered every angle, as to be fair Rodgers is usually well able to adapt to different opponents. Chelsea were always going to get a chance or two and it was just a case of taking it when it came. In truth, they could have won by more despite their ultra defensive set up and Ba's inability to hold up play up front. Kalas should have scored and they could easily have had a penalty for Flanagan's handball. Even Cole and Schurrle's long range efforts were as good as anything Liverpool managed.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

There have to be at least two twists to allow Chelsea back in... and it would involve City and Liverpool both losing as opposed to just drawing. Not going to happen really I would say but who knows? Sunderland took four points from trips to City and Chelsea so anything's possible.

That said, I can’t help feeling it all comes down to Everton v City. City are well capable of blowing it there but they couldn’t be playing them at a better time. Everton are pretty much out of the running for 4^th and will more than likely be without their two first choice centre backs... Distin has a hamstring injury and it will probably come too soon for Jagielka. Baines also picked up a knock on Saturday and his best replacement, Oviedo, is already injured. Gareth Barry is ineligible and Mirallas is out for the season. They’ll still be able to field a decent side but there are some key guys there.

City might have Silva back also... and with Toure and Aguero having games under their belt could be at full strength for the first time in ages (bar maybe Nastasic).

I have to say I almost felt sorry for Stevie G... but there was too long left to really pity him. I was envisaging a Liverpool comeback and all of the players going on about “doing it for Stevie!!”. Anyway, he deserved it for helping to cheat United out of a title in 2009/10....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GprcTAFLQCw

Luckily for Liverpool, I’m sure Everton will be more professional on Saturday.

Yeah, Mourinho is incredible. To make that many changes and to give a 20 year old his debut in a game of that stature, and still go nearly 100 minutes without coughing up a significant chance (Sakho and Suarez had half chances I suppose) was amazing. The funny thing is that a draw would have been a great result for Liverpool, yet Mourinho seemed to get inside their heads with all their timing wasting. If Liverpool had any sense they would have started rolling around time wasting themselves instead of getting visibly frustrated. Chelsea were the ones who needed to win the game! Obviously I'm talking about the first 45 minutes here. I get the impression Liverpool feel they have to start well to win games. They usually do but winning leagues and big games usually requires more patience than that.

Mourinho really covered every angle, as to be fair Rodgers is usually well able to adapt to different opponents. Chelsea were always going to get a chance or two and it was just a case of taking it when it came. In truth, they could have won by more despite their ultra defensive set up and Ba's inability to hold up play up front. Kalas should have scored and they could easily have had a penalty for Flanagan's handball. Even Cole and Schurrle's long range efforts were as good as anything Liverpool managed.

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I think City will roll over Everton myself. I was listening to Gary Neville earlier getting stuck into Chelsea over the dropped points to Villa, Sunderland and Palace.

In fairness, they should be going there and winning reasonably comfortably. I'm just not sure I trust them to do so.

Obviously Neville is right, but you could say that about any of the teams up there. Liverpool have dropped points to Hull, Southampton and Villa to name a few. City have dropped points to Cardiff, Norwich, Sunderland, etc. That's football.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

In fairness, they should be going there and winning reasonably comfortably. I'm just not sure I trust them to do so.

Obviously Neville is right, but you could say that about any of the teams up there. Liverpool have dropped points to Hull, Southampton and Villa to name a few. City have dropped points to Cardiff, Norwich, Sunderland, etc. That's football.

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Very true but i suppose he was more thinking of the fact they had only lost to Sunderland last week as opposed to the other two results but as you say happens to all sides.

Yeah but they should have rotated the team for the Sunderland game as I suggested, right OwlsFan? :)

The football headline in The Sun today was quite funny.

Over a picture of Gerrard on all fours: "They think it's fall over...it's not now"

Basically I want Liverpool to win it but I want them to suffer on the way!

They're not doing much to mend bridges so!

I have to say I enjoyed Jamie Carragher's analysis of Liverpool v Chelsea on MNF last night. Accurate, non-partisan and very honest.

Jagielka and Baines sould be fit for Saturday. Distin is rated 50/50.

Everton Team News

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Yeah but they should have rotated the team for the Sunderland game as I suggested, right OwlsFan? :)

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Atletico Madrid with their small squad are a case in point that all is rotation business is a load of bo****ks. It wasn't required up to the 1990s when the teams played on far worse pitches and the same side was played week in, week out. I think it was "the Tinkerman" who first introduced it in to the UK and all the rest of the managers followed like sheep. God, we even had Southampton rotating for a quarter final of the FA Cup.

The RTE Panel last night as usual chose a subject and talked it to death. Mourinho is a good manager but not a great manager. Next year he'll be a great manager. More about the game please. More reasoned stuff from Sky with Neville suggesting that Mourinho brought on Eto too soon to chase the game. Sky's experts (Neville and Carragher) are not streets ahead and talk about the game rather than controversy for the sake of it. Boy, does Brady not like Mourinho.

Back to the EPL - really tough game for City against Everton. If Toure is on his game, then City should do it but they are notoriously fragile away from home. Not a done deal yet.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Atletico Madrid with their small squad are a case in point that all is rotation business is a load of bo****ks.

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Not really, they're an example of it being possible to do well with a small squad if you're a well drilled, decent side and are relatively fortunate with injuries. There must be a million examples of how heavily rotated squads have also being successful, and that proves nothing either.

Liverpool have a small squad and had to resort to bringing on an unfit Sturridge and barely used Aspas to try to salvage the game, while Chelsea could afford to make wholesale changes with little or no impact on performance and introduce the likes of Torres and Cahill late on.

Ferguson was rotating Yorke/Cole/Solskjaer/Sheringham and the likes of Blomqvist for Giggs, Butt for Scholes/Keane, Phil Neville/Brown for Gary Neville/Irwin, May/Berg for Stam/Johnsen, etc etc in the 1999 Treble winning season. I think it's highly doubtful they would have achieved that without such a big squad, and possibly a reason why it was never achieved by a club in any of Europe's major leagues previously. That was also before 'The Tinkerman' came to the UK.

I was seriously unimpressed by City in that second half today.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I was seriously unimpressed by City in that second half today.

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Did white line fever get to them or did Everton let them have it too easy in the first half?

I think Stones is over rated myself. For such a hyped up player he does the basics wrong so many times.

As 19 year old Premier League centre backs go, I think he's doing pretty well! I'm sure Martinez would have preferred to have phased him in gradually but with the Jagielka situation he had to be fast-tracked. He's done very well for the most part, contributed to a lot of clean sheets. He looks great on the ball I think, although he had a couple of poor moments yesterday. Was recalling Duffy an option? You're not just a tad bitter that Everton didn't do ye a favour yesterday by any chance? :)

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Did white line fever get to them or did Everton let them have it too easy in the first half?

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Neither really, I think. They just looked short of leadership in midfield once Toure went off. Nobody wanted to take responsibility. They lacked tempo and direction and I started to question Pellegrini's ability to inspire and organise the team for the next two games.

They were poor the whole game really but I agree Toure kept them ticking over, and maybe an honourable mention also to Milner from around twenty minutes on. I think a normal Goodison with the crowd really behind Everton would have done for them. They could fall over the line at this stage without upping their game significantly but it'll have been handed to them really. Then again, a league is over 38 games and it's easy to forget them steamrolling teams earlier in the season like Liverpool have done after Christmas.

Hard to see Villa being as much of a threat now without Benteke and Agbonlahor and with safety assured. They are a strange side though. I'd always give a better chance to the side who can defend a bit and West Ham, at full strength, fall into that category. Liverpool could easily slip up tomorrow as well though.