My thoughts on the Premiership so far

I've missed the first few matchdays (Manchester derby right now and first half of Newcastle-Villa yesterday is my only English football of the season), so I thought I'd post a collection of my thoughts on the Premiership so far, based on highlights/match reports.


- Man. Utd.'s tough opening schedule may put the psychological pressure on them if they fall a few points behind, esp. with Liverpool having an easy schedule after Chelsea and Chelsea grinding out wins as always...Ferguson needs to make sure his players suddenly don't start thinking something is wrong, and the fans need to wait out this opening spell and not find too many problems where there are none. The team does look a bit lacking in ideas though.


- Wigan will get enough wins at home to stay up, esp. if Bolton and Boro continue their poor form. Boro especially will struggle IMO, unless their strikers can start making goals out of nothing. Yakubu to Everton won't help. So right now my relegation 3 are Boro, Bolton, and Derby.


- Man. City will go on to great things under Sven, especially in cup competitions. He's making them into a unit that's difficult to beat. Hamann looks like a different player, is it just today that he's playing well?
And Geovanni's good form/motivation won't last the whole season IMO.


- I don't like the look of Allardyce's Newcastle. Having 3 in the midfield, esp. when 2 of them are an out of position Smith and a past-it Butt makes the team too narrow at times. And the long ball approach bypasses the midfield anyway, which then leaves the front 3 with too much to do. But maybe it's a bit early to draw conclusions, since O'Neill plays similar $h!t hoofball, so the teams just cancelled each other out yesterday.


My latest Premiership prediction:

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Man. Utd.
4. Arsenal
5. Man. City
6. Spurs
7. Portsmouth
8. Newcastle
9. Everton
10. Blackburn
11. Villa
12. Fulham
13. West Ham
14. Reading
15. Sunderland
16. Wigan
17. Birmingham
18. Boro
19. Bolton
20. Derby

Man Unied is 1 down.

For me Newcastle still need to make a couple more signings. Butt is decent but if Newcastle want to be serious about the UEFA cup then I think they need someone more accomplished and as you say, Smith in midfield isn't good - although its because N'Zogbia had to be a makeshift left back in the last game. When Enrique gets fit he'll fill in on the left sided midfield berth

Tweedle wrote:For me Newcastle still need to make a couple more signings. Butt is decent but if Newcastle want to be serious about the UEFA cup then I think they need someone more accomplished and as you say, Smith in midfield isn't good - although its because N'Zogbia had to be a makeshift left back in the last game. When Enrique gets fit he'll fill in on the left sided midfield berth

The rumour of Belletti has picked up again, and though I don't see why Allardyce needs a wingback, anything would be better than Carr. Faye from Bolton will be a huge improvement over Butt. And I just remembered that Barton is injured, so he'll come in for Smith and be more comfortable in that attacking midfield position.

Are you going to make a prediction after every result

We've played 2 games and have won 1. We also have 6/7 injuries...and you have us in 13th

Deano Ashton wrote:Are you going to make a prediction after every result

We've played 2 games and have won 1. We also have 6/7 injuries...and you have us in 13th

13th isn't so bad Deano

Personally though I see you finishing about 10th

kas wrote:

Tweedle wrote:For me Newcastle still need to make a couple more signings. Butt is decent but if Newcastle want to be serious about the UEFA cup then I think they need someone more accomplished and as you say, Smith in midfield isn't good - although its because N'Zogbia had to be a makeshift left back in the last game. When Enrique gets fit he'll fill in on the left sided midfield berth

The rumour of Belletti has picked up again, and though I don't see why Allardyce needs a wingback, anything would be better than Carr. Faye from Bolton will be a huge improvement over Butt. And I just remembered that Barton is injured, so he'll come in for Smith and be more comfortable in that attacking midfield position.

I think we'll buy Faye and Belletti and that will be us done(maybe a back up left back aswell). Although there were a couple of Deco rumours knocking about today.

--------------------Given---------------------

Belletti--Taylor/Rozehnal/Cacapa--Enrique

----------------------Faye----------------------
----------Geremi------------Barton----------

-----Martins------Viduka------N'Zogbia-----


That wouldn't be too shabby at all. Smith will fill in for fatty and Barton when they're not fit and Owen will never play more than 2 games in a row before getting crocked, so i think that will beour first team most of the time.

Deano Ashton wrote:Are you going to make a prediction after every result

We've played 2 games and have won 1. We also have 6/7 injuries...and you have us in 13th

Yes

As for West Ham, I've already posted my thoughts on Curbishley. Don't forget that one of the benchmarks of his Charlton teams was a strong top half position till March, then a terrible collapse into nothing.

Yeh I saw the Deco rumours - We all know that's bullshit but maybe its linked to the Belletti rumour - a scout may have been spotted at their training ground or something

Deco rumours won't stop till the transfer window closes. Italian papers currently claim that Inter have already made plans to sign him (with a 75 million euro buyout clause, etc.) and will offer 12 million euros soon.

kas wrote:Deco rumours won't stop till the transfer window closes. Italian papers currently claim that Inter have already made plans to sign him (with a 75 million euro buyout clause, etc.) and will offer 12 million euros soon.

A bit like Owen. He's already said he's 100% sure he's staying, and we know that the deadline on his clause has passed, yet the press still want him to go to Liverpool. The annoying thing is that we get a fucking update on him in articles that have nothing to do with it, there might be one about Geremi being made captain then it will say "Michael Owen meanwhile has taken a $h!t" or whatever. Get rid of him, he's irritating me!

Personally, I do think Newcastle will be solid this season if nothing else, and I think that could be enough to get sixth or seventh. Looking at what may be our rivals for those positions, Portsmouth dont quite have the same class in attack as we do and are usually a bit inconsistent; City have started wonderfully though it still wouldnt be a surprise if they did hit a rocky patch just because of all the new faces; whilst Everton dont have the best strength in depth.

Generally, I dont like a 4-3-3 in that I dont think it gives great fluidity or width. As it is, considering our squad, I think we do have players who suit that formation, and I hold on to the 4-3-3 in particular because I worry that, if we switch to a 4-4-2 in the main, it means goodbye to Martins, who will leave in January if not being played. All else being fair, if Martins was likely to start ahead of Owen in a 4-4-2 - which I think he should - then Id prefer us to go with that formation.

I think Allardyces 4-3-3 is especially limited in that he plays strong men or thugs rather than footballers in the midfield, and tends to go with defensive full backs. That leads to no width whatsoever. And yesterday, like I said in the match thread, all of our midfield three were very poor. Geremi was static on the right and uninvolved in the game; Smith ran about in no real position whilst still giving no real support to the attack; and Butt, who is vital as a pivot, as the starting point of our attacks in such a 4-3-3 where he lies deep, showed again that he cannot pass and also doesnt defend properly.

I still dont think we were terrible yesterday. I thought Viduka battled well in difficult circumstances, Martins did the same, though the fact he had to cut in and help out again did nothing for our width, whilst Milner was excellent as the only player able and suited to stay out wide. We used the long ball too much. But I hope, with N'Zogbia in the middle and any improvement over Butt in the holding role, we will pass the ball better and show more creativity. Like Ive said numerous times, I think Geremi is well suited to the holding role in that he is strong and athletic and can spread the play well. Whilst N'Zogbia is vital in a three man midfield because he gives something more - some pace, dribbling ability, drive, creativity - than the likes of Barton and Smith can offer.

Basically, I think we already have the players to compete for the top six and really push on this season. Allardyce will also have our fitness levels up. But it all depends on the actual eleven we pick, and on the style of football we play. With N'Zogbia in the middle and a playmaker lying deep, we can excel, be good to watch, and remain solid. If we end up sticking with Carr at right back and a midfield of Butt then two from Smith, Barton and Geremi, and if we further restrict our width by playing Owen as part of the front three, we will be hard to beat but wont rise above average and people will get pretty disgruntled.

kas wrote:

Deano Ashton wrote:Are you going to make a prediction after every result

We've played 2 games and have won 1. We also have 6/7 injuries...and you have us in 13th

Yes

As for West Ham, I've already posted my thoughts on Curbishley. Don't forget that one of the benchmarks of his Charlton teams was a strong top half position till March, then a terrible collapse into nothing.

We aren't Charlton...they had players like Bryan Hughes and Matt Holland. You even have Fulham above us FFS

Why do you always take to things this biased when it comes to WestHam deano?

so what happens to owen in the newcastle team?

Since 1888 wrote:Why do you always take to things this biased when it comes to WestHam deano?

Perhaps because I support them might be a clue?

Kas is entitled to think what he wants...I just said I think we'll finish higher...what's wrong with that?

Why do you Dutchies always be so biased when it comes to Dutch players?

Mexicanbecks wrote:so what happens to owen in the newcastle team?

He sits in the physio's room reading about how he's going to Liverpool in the next window.

I have Fulham high because of Healy. He's a goal machine under Lawrie Sanchez. I even made him captain of my fantasy team, but apparently he had a goal wrongly disallowed

Deano Ashton wrote:

Since 1888 wrote:Why do you always take to things this biased when it comes to WestHam deano?

Perhaps because I support them might be a clue?

Kas is entitled to think what he wants...I just said I think we'll finish higher...what's wrong with that?

Why do you Dutchies always be so biased when it comes to Dutch players?

although i think west ham are a solid squad, i dont see you finishing better than everton, but i do believe you will do better than blackburn/fulham/villa

You just take things way to far. Every tiny bit what is only slightly negative you always need to go over and over that again. Just chill a bit and recognise that not everybody rate WestHam as good as you do.

I mean some people think Sparta will finish 16th, I just laugh at them.

Kimbo wrote:

Mexicanbecks wrote:so what happens to owen in the newcastle team?

He sits in the physio's room reading about how he's going to Liverpool in the next window.

a big waste of money, although your strike force is clearly better without him

Since 1888 wrote:You just take things way to far. Every tiny bit what is only slightly negative you always need to go over and over that again. Just chill a bit and recognise that not everybody rate WestHam as good as you do.

I mean some people think Sparta will finish 16th, I just laugh at them.

I think you are making something out of nothing here. I said I don't think we'll finish that far down. Kas thinks differently. He gave a reason for this and I gave a reason against that. What is your problem here?

Of course I'll be biased like everyone else is biased to their own club. Kas hasn't taken offence to anything as there has been nothing there to be offended by.

Oh, and I forgot to mention this - overall, the Premiership has been quite unpredictable so far, and we've seen a real mixed bag of results. Maybe it'll make for a closer league this year

Mexicanbecks wrote:so what happens to owen in the newcastle team?

I think its tricky. Especially with the midfield Allardyce tends to like, which emphasises strength rather than pace or creativity, I think its essential we keep Martins in the team to add flair and who is able to win a game out of nothing. For me, Martins would start ahead of Owen certainly in a 4-3-3, and also along with Viduka in a 4-4-2 (personally, Id go with Owen and Martins before Viduka and Owen, but thats unlikely to happen - though all else aside, I think Viduka and Martins may be our best combination). Owen relies on service and it becomes a problem with him in the team that there arent enough people to create something for him.

We could go with Owen on the right and Martins on the left in a 4-3-3, which is where I personally would be tempted to play him. But hes not suited for that role and its arguable that Milner can play it better and give the team more balance. That problem may be overcome somewhat if we do play N'Zogbia in the midfield, because he can improve our balance there and add creativity.

Mexicanbecks wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Mexicanbecks wrote:so what happens to owen in the newcastle team?

He sits in the physio's room reading about how he's going to Liverpool in the next window.

a big waste of money, although your strike force is clearly better without him

Agreed, Martins is better. I mean, could Owen do this?

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/771166/martins/

I could watch that all day.

kas wrote:Oh, and I forgot to mention this - overall, the Premiership has been quite unpredictable so far, and we've seen a real mixed bag of results. Maybe it'll make for a closer league this year

If Chelsea beat Liverpool this afternoon I fear they could run away with it.

Out of the top 4 so far its only Utd that have been especially unpredictable