Premier League Discussion 20th-22nd Dec

Ince leaves and Rovers win 3-0? You can tell the players hated his guts.

Sunderland jump about 6 spots and City in the bottom 3 after that.

Eek. Young shoulda scored.

VILLA VILLA VILLA

forza_rossi wrote:VILLA VILLA VILLA

ZOLA ZOLA ZOLA

I am surprised that this game is still without any goals, it's an open and entertaining match. Hopefully somebody (preferably WHU's player and I am not thinking about OG here) will score in 2nd half...

Very lucky goal for Villa. West Ham have been the better side in the second half, but Villa are just getting the rub of the green in the league at the moment.

4 points the difference between Villa and Arsenal at the moment.

Must win game for Arsenal tomorrow.

Indeed. No one has ever come back from 4 points down.

stinger wrote:I am surprised that this game is still without any goals, it's an open and entertaining match. Hopefully somebody (preferably WHU's player and I am not thinking about OG here) will score in 2nd half...

If you speak about the DEVIL....

AVilla is riding their luck recently and I don't really like their playing style at the moment - they are still playing like Carew would be there, but he's not. But they keep winning, so at least they are effective.
The way they scored a goal today really summarized my opinion on them at the moment - goal after a heavy deflection, after a cross by worst player of AVilla today (and not only today).

Still - if Everton can't break into TOP4 (and I don't think we have any real chance), I hope that at least AVilla will be able to do it.

On the other side - I really, really enjoy watching WHU in recent weeks. This season first I liked watching Boro's games, now it's West Ham playing the most fluid ball out of all middle level teams. Too bad Carlton Cole is such a poor finisher

I am wondering how West Ham will be looking when Ashton will be back, he can score, but I doubt his link-up work will be anywhere as good as Cole's. But he will score, if he won't be injured...

I don't like this new Villa.

They were a lot more fun when Doug Ellis was owner.

Great match for us. We were excellent. Third goal was class. I don't know what game the Setanta reporter was watching but whilst Bullard was good our best players were Dempsey, Murphy and Zamora. So whilst I would love to keep him we can live wihout.

Boro were woeful. Bar a few corners I can't remember a single moment I was worried they would score.

Aliadiere had a decent chance when Downing put him through on goal..Schwarzer was out quick though.

You must admit it was never a penalty though?

Jimmy Bullard, what a legend

Zamora is underrated very good foil for his partner or midfield ,Boro Aliadere upfront at times doesnt work as he doesnt have the physique to play as a targetman.
Emnes sp? looked lively , Digard was a big miss for Boro.

About BB Stoke , surely you cant play SAM game against him.

Digard was indeed a big miss, he's been solid for us. EMnes still hasnt had enough time to impress for me, always looks lively though.

Aliadiere is always best used on the right wing, I think Gareth is just trying to give Alves a rest, im sure we'll see things back the way they were soon enough.

I think its time to bring in a new creative midfielder though, if he thinks he can keep passing Arca off as the man in our midfield to make things happen then he needs a good look at himself..Arca has his good games but most of the time he's painfully average.

sacking your manager seems to be a great idea this season, hopefully we'll wait until the final title push before we sack Rafa

borocooper wrote:Aliadiere had a decent chance when Downing put him through on goal..Schwarzer was out quick though.

You must admit it was never a penalty though?

Couldn't see it though I've heard it was harsh. However you were never really in it.

Apart from Sunderland and Aston Villa I don't think any team we have played has played well against us and I would argue our style stops teams playing well.

You definitely miss a more forward thinking midfielder, I think you should consider bringing Tuncay into midfield (well Southgate should). Funnily enough Bullard would fit perfectly.

FULHAM

Khadmas wrote:

borocooper wrote:Aliadiere had a decent chance when Downing put him through on goal..Schwarzer was out quick though.

You must admit it was never a penalty though?

Couldn't see it though I've heard it was harsh. However you were never really in it.

Apart from Sunderland and Aston Villa I don't think any team we have played has played well against us and I would argue our style stops teams playing well.

You definitely miss a more forward thinking midfielder, I think you should consider bringing Tuncay into midfield (well Southgate should). Funnily enough Bullard would fit perfectly.

Yeah been saying that myself for a while, would love to see Tuncay drop into midfield behind Alves and Mido/Aliadiere. I agree though, we werent in it today.

-----------O'Neill-------Digard---------Downing----------


------------------------Tuncay--------------------

---------------Aliadiere----------Alves

Have doubts about Downing in that role

stinger wrote:AVilla is riding their luck recently and I don't really like their playing style at the moment - they are still playing like Carew would be there, but he's not. But they keep winning, so at least they are effective.
The way they scored a goal today really summarized my opinion on them at the moment - goal after a heavy deflection, after a cross by worst player of AVilla today (and not only today).

Still - if Everton can't break into TOP4 (and I don't think we have any real chance), I hope that at least AVilla will be able to do it.

On the other side - I really, really enjoy watching WHU in recent weeks. This season first I liked watching Boro's games, now it's West Ham playing the most fluid ball out of all middle level teams. Too bad Carlton Cole is such a poor finisher

I am wondering how West Ham will be looking when Ashton will be back, he can score, but I doubt his link-up work will be anywhere as good as Cole's. But he will score, if he won't be injured...

Went to watch this game and WHam are playing some brilliant football, they however put themself under pressure from the back as they just try to pass it around to much. In games like this Parker is the complete wrong player to have on, he really stifled the attacking play as he kept playing the simple ball or knocking it back to his defence. C Cole was unlucky today Friedal (sp) was on fire today and made at-least 3 quality saves from Cole alone. Also Bellamy was looking really good today, he was the main attacking threat for West Ham, a great dribbler who chased everything today and could have had 5 assists if West Ham had a finisher.

Villa were very poor imo, they had hardly any control over the game and never looked like winning. Their goal was from no-where, not sure if it was an OG or a deflection but it was totally undeserved, Young and A bong 4 a Hore was terrible, Villa's defence was awesome today tho Cuella (sp) got injured as-well, could be bad news as he was holding his back when he came off.

Ray Parlour wrote:-----------O'Neill-------Digard---------Downing----------


------------------------Tuncay--------------------

---------------Aliadiere----------Alves

Have doubts about Downing in that role

I think he's mature enough to handle it now..but whether or not it gets the best out of him is another question. He can definitely pick out a pass from a central area these days though, and Oneil and Digard should be able to handle to dirty work. Lack of width would be a problem I think.

Strange how Hansen is raving about West Ham. I wasn't that impressed. They've got pace in the side but no creativity. I saw them against Tottenham and they had a lot of the ball without doing anything. Similarly the chances against Villa just looked like long balls over the top to Bellamy and some late pressure due to weight of numbers. I can see why they struggle at home. Away where teams come on to them they are much better suited. Thats how they beat us.

On MOTD they were saying how teams are doing better away from home. Does anyone else think this might be due to a lack of creativity throughout the league and a reliance on pace and power?

I only saw the first 25 mins. Sounds like we weren't very good but got a lucky goal and managed to keep a clean sheet. Surprisingly enough, I'll take that

I really didn't think we'd win today so it's a great start to the xmas fixtures. A chance to really get an edge on Arsenal if we beat them boxing day.

debaubler wrote:I only saw the first 25 mins. Sounds like we weren't very good but got a lucky goal and managed to keep a clean sheet. Surprisingly enough, I'll take that

I really didn't think we'd win today so it's a great start to the xmas fixtures. A chance to really get an edge on Arsenal if we beat them boxing day.

If Arsenal draw or lose to Liverpool and you beat them Boxing day, that'll be a 6-7 point gap.

Parks lives wrote:

debaubler wrote:I only saw the first 25 mins. Sounds like we weren't very good but got a lucky goal and managed to keep a clean sheet. Surprisingly enough, I'll take that

I really didn't think we'd win today so it's a great start to the xmas fixtures. A chance to really get an edge on Arsenal if we beat them boxing day.

If Arsenal draw or lose to Liverpool and you beat them Boxing day, that'll be a 6-7 point gap.

and if you lose the next two games, and they win there's. there will be a 8 point game


hypothetical situations

Except one's alot more likely than the other.

Parks lives wrote:Except one's alot more likely than the other.

I know, i can really see you losing to stoke and teh game raising c**ts.