Epl 2013/14

[BonnieShels]

Saw Moyes on TV following the League Cup Final defeat. Usual stuff blaming the referee and it's got to "the stage now where we are laughing at the decisions". The penalty given looked like a peno to me and the free kick leading up to the first goal also seemed to be the correct decision. Trying to keep in with the fans by saying how great they were. No chance of him being sacked so long as the supporters keep the faith. They are also in the Champions League and who knows what might happen.

If anything emphasised that the League Cup is a dead competition was the empty seats in Sunderland in a cup-semi final against Man U. Unbelievable.

For me over the past few seasons the League Cup has been far and away the better competition over say the FA Cup.

I think United not being a particularly attractive prospect at the minute would have driven the crowds down. Fans are that fickle as you know.

Also temperatures of about 6-7 degrees on a Tuesday in early January may not have helped either.

[OwlsFan]

Only caught the extra time in the game last night. Man U leading 1-0 and ready to go through on away goal rule when in the last minute Man U keeper makes a terrrible gaff and Sunderland are through but are they? United go back up the pitch and score. Incredible stuff. 3-3 on agggregate and so to penalties. Momentum with United you would thhink as Sunderland miss their first penalty and.....ends up 2-1 to Sunderland on penalties (3 scored out of 10). Next time I hear Moyes grumbling about not being awarded a penalty he might reflect on the fact that they can only score 1 out of 5.

Delighted for Sunderland (and O'Shea) despite the apathy of their fans in the first leg. United fans brought up on an expectation of winning games and trophies now have to see how the other half lives.

Great entertainment that extra time and penalties. As Chris Kamara would say "Unbelievable Jeff".

[Sleepingpartner]

Reasonably amusing. Audio version.
http://balls.ie/football/drunk-man-u...alex-ferguson/

[OwlsFan]

Did anyone else who was watching the most one sided EPL game I have ever seen between Man U and Fulham last weekend hear both Martin Tyler and Gary Neville groan as Fulham equalised. Whatever about Neville, I was surprised by Tyler who in the Sky way of things should have been screaming at the top of his voice. In the game Man U had 84 crosses in to the box compared to Fulham's 4. The latter couldn't hold on to the ball for more than 4 passes and yet they scored twice. A really bizarre game.

[OwlsFan]

Is football no longer about trying to win trophies? Southampton - they won't be relegated and the best they can do is qualify for the Europa League in which they will play their reserve side. They had a great chance to get through to the last 8 of the FA Cup by winning against a reserve Sunderland team. So what do they do? They change about half the side from their strongest 11. I just don't understand it. Gubu (apart from the last u).

[Stuttgart88]

It's been like that for years now, sadly.

[OwlsFan]

While still not recovered from losing at home to Charlton and thus miss out on a last 8 clash with Sheff Utd, I have to congratulate Wigan for winning away at Manchester City. That game just shows that if the better sides are "not up for it", there is always the chance of a surprise result (Ireland please note for our trip to Germany). In the rugby, Ireland were focused for the game against Italy and wanted to win and win well which they did but any we just have to turn up to win mentality often backfires in sport.

I liked Myler's goal celebration against Sunderland - head butting the corner flag. He obviously has a sense of humour. Wonder what the odds were on Hull, Sheff U and Wigan making the cup semi-final? Must be Arsenal's year or......

[Stuttgart88]

Well said.

I don't have faith in Arsenal's ability not to presume they have one foot in the final. They have a habit of getting ambushed by lesser teams on big occasions. If they field their strongest XI (almost a definite) and play from the start I think they'll be too strong. But that's a big if for them.

[Stuttgart88]

United's decline is remarkable. They were a disorganised rabble today and even their experienced players looked lost. Liverpool played well but I still don't think they're that good. They got gifted their lead without having to really work for it.

United's game against Olympiakos will be interesting. Are they beyond salvaging?

[CraftyToePoke]

United's decline is remarkable. They were a disorganised rabble today and even their experienced players looked lost. Liverpool played well but I still don't think they're that good. They got gifted their lead without having to really work for it.

United's game against Olympiakos will be interesting. Are they beyond salvaging?

It's certainly fascinating to watch alright, I was 10 when Ferguson took over there in '86, all before Gary McKay's goal and Euro '88 when I really caught the soccer bug so I don't really remember a time in my life when they were not dominant, it doesn't compute somehow, seeing them in what increasingly looks like a decline and not just a transition. There are so many voices saying they didn't strengthen, but equally those players were champions at a canter last season, so they need to decide if the man in charge can be trusted to spend or not. Another change too soon, and they will be just another club on the lucky dip managerial lottery circuit.

[NeverFeltBetter]

There are weak elements in that squad, whether through age or lack of merit, but the extraordinary managerial talent that was Alex Ferguson got them points and titles that other men wouldn't have. I'd say that having a man like Moyes, with his own new way of doing things, in charge has been a big shock for the likes of Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Carrick, even Rooney after all this time. A lot of the current squad seem completely unmotivated to play to their best under Moyes and will be gone in a few months (unless Moyes is).

Moyes' transfer history so far has been real hit and miss - Fellaini looks like a flop but I can see Mata adding more and more as time goes on - and I can see him doing the usual World Cup summer thing and splurging on a few tournament stars with little long term return. But he could also make a team to his liking and get them moving again. United do have some huge kit sponsor deal going through soon, so the money will be available.

But for this season, the United squad have checked out. I'd say they'll lose every difficult game still to come, including this Wednesday. Too many of them aren't interested.

[bennocelt]

Thirty Seven million on an unproven player that has yet to shine. Could have at least built a decent central defence with that money. Would you trust Moyes in the summer to buy correctly?

[KK77]

United's decline is remarkable. They were a disorganised rabble today and even their experienced players looked lost. Liverpool played well but I still don't think they're that good. They got gifted their lead without having to really work for it.

United's game against Olympiakos will be interesting. Are they beyond salvaging?

Liverpool have certainly played a lot better than Sunday but they got the job done. Sturridge and Suarez weren't as good as normal.

[DeLorean]

That was the worrying thing from a United point of view. I would have feared for them had the Liverpool that played at Eastlands turned up, or even reproductions of the home wins against Everton & Arsenal. The sad thing is Liverpool didn't need to be anything near their best to win the game comfortably.

Fellaini seems to be a bit of a scapegoat, I'm not saying that he is good enough but it's like it was decided in advance that he wasn't/isn't. He looked a very good player in a more advanced role at Everton, the least he deserves is to spend some time in that position before the claws come out. He's an ever present on a Belgium side that are many people's dark horses for the WC... how bad can he be?

The game tomorrow night is interesting alright though... the fact is that United are going to have to play to a level that they have got nowhere near at any occassion this season. Hard to see them turning is on just like that and I'm definitely not convinced that they have the stomach for it seeing as they couldn't raise it for a Liverpool side pushing for the title at OT. In fairness, even though he should have been sent off a couple of times over, Rafael looked like a player giving it everything on Sunday... Fellaini was another but the rest looked disinterested or just not at the races.

[NeverFeltBetter]

They've had their brief moments under Moyes. The CPL group stages were bypassed pretty smoothly, including a hiding handed out to Bayer. But that was a long time ago. The Greeks are a decent outfit. I'd say they'll win comfortably enough at Old Trafford.

[Charlie Darwin]

Liverpool are collapsing against City. 2-0 to 2-2 in the space of 5 minutes.

[DannyInvincible]

Back in front now after a suspect spell there. They had the City defence all over the place in the first half and were playing lovely stuff with great intensity, but City did well to being it back to 2-2. Should be an exciting last ten.

Suarez is lucky to still be on the pitch. He must be a total idiot diving around on a yellow card. Speaking of Suarez, how is it only now that I've noticed how unusual his ear lobes look?

[Charlie Darwin]

At least one of those dives should have been a penalty though. Still, he'd do himself more favours if he stood up and hung on to the ball.

[Stuttgart88]

Back in front now after a suspect spell there. They had the City defence all over the place in the first half and were playing lovely stuff with great intensity, but City did well to being it back to 2-2. Should be an exciting last ten.

Suarez is lucky to still be on the pitch. He must be a total idiot diving around on a yellow card. Speaking of Suarez, how is it only now that I've noticed how unusual his ear lobes look?

was he on a yellow when he took that blatant late dive? I couldn't believe Clattenberg didn't book him.

[DeLorean]

He was booked after five minutes. I only heard the game on the radio, went pretty much as I expected to be honest. Mourinho will have more of a plan for Liverpool's strengths i.e. pace and incredible ability to storm out of the blocks. It really is crucial to stop them getting a good start... foul, time waste, do whatever it takes.