Premier League Discussion 3rd/4th March

Hunter >>> RVP

Reus is the next big superstar. BVB

christmasborocooper wrote:

COTR wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:Has Van Gaal taken many teams to the next level or has he just managed clubs already there?

Rafa couldn't get Liverpool to the level that Spurs are really looking for now.either....

CL winners ?

I believe Spurs thought they could win the title. Rafa couldn't manage to take you there. So I don't see why he could do it with them.

Spurs never had a chance of winning the league this season,their starting 11 is good enough but their squad is nowhere near as good as Uniteds or Citys.Look at yesterdays game,Bale gets injured so Modric has to play out wide ffs! Valencia was injured but United could call on Ashely Young who even though I have criticized is still a good squad player to have.

Rafa built a better team than the current Tottenham team with I'm guessing roughly the same net spend,that team actually performed against the top 4 teams as well.In 08/09 we got 86 points lets see how many points Arry gets.....

Tottenham need to win every one of their remaining games to get exactly 86 points so it's not looking likely is it

Moussa Dembele is such a player

Can't believe he played in a 2 man midfield with Murphy yesterday

Shows how poor Wolves are

The Blackest Lie wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:

COTR wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:Has Van Gaal taken many teams to the next level or has he just managed clubs already there?

Rafa couldn't get Liverpool to the level that Spurs are really looking for now.either....

CL winners ?

I believe Spurs thought they could win the title. Rafa couldn't manage to take you there. So I don't see why he could do it with them.

Spurs never had a chance of winning the league this season,their starting 11 is good enough but their squad is nowhere near as good as Uniteds or Citys.Look at yesterdays game,Bale gets injured so Modric has to play out wide ffs! Valencia was injured but United could call on Ashely Young who even though I have criticized is still a good squad player to have.

Rafa built a better team than the current Tottenham team with I'm guessing roughly the same net spend,that team actually performed against the top 4 teams as well.In 08/09 we got 86 points lets see how many points Arry gets.....

Tottenham need to win every one of their remaining games to get exactly 86 points so it's not looking likely is it

Don't forget 30% more of the wages

Deluded F*ck wrote:

The Blackest Lie wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:

COTR wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:Has Van Gaal taken many teams to the next level or has he just managed clubs already there?

Rafa couldn't get Liverpool to the level that Spurs are really looking for now.either....

CL winners ?

I believe Spurs thought they could win the title. Rafa couldn't manage to take you there. So I don't see why he could do it with them.

Spurs never had a chance of winning the league this season,their starting 11 is good enough but their squad is nowhere near as good as Uniteds or Citys.Look at yesterdays game,Bale gets injured so Modric has to play out wide ffs! Valencia was injured but United could call on Ashely Young who even though I have criticized is still a good squad player to have.

Rafa built a better team than the current Tottenham team with I'm guessing roughly the same net spend,that team actually performed against the top 4 teams as well.In 08/09 we got 86 points lets see how many points Arry gets.....

Tottenham need to win every one of their remaining games to get exactly 86 points so it's not looking likely is it

Don't forget 30% more of the wages

That's countered by the fact that Rafa had to sell players for transfer funds more than Arry has.I would love to see some statistics comparing both their net spends.

Benitez/G&H/Parry had a net spend of £81mil over 12 transfer windows

Redknapp/Levy have a net spend of approx £51mil over 7 transfer windows.

Still not enough to combat the Andy Carroll per year that you've been outspending on wages.

Romford Pele wrote:Moussa Dembele is such a player

Can't believe he played in a 2 man midfield with Murphy yesterday

Shows how poor Wolves are

One of those players who get you off your seat. Technical joy to watch. Not sure yet about his consistency, but if you look at POTENTIAL, he and the Fulham team in general that Jol is building is an exciting one.

I would love to see big Marty back at White Hart Lane, he has unfinished business there in my opinion.

As for Worms' view on Spurs' title chances - of course they were always slim at best, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Easy to say now that we were never in contention, but up until two games ago there wasn't much evidence to suggest we weren't worthy contenders.

We've been the closest side to beating City at home all season. Nobody else has come close to drawing to City at the Emirates, let alone beating them.

We've been smashed in one derby game and - if we're being honest - didn't really "deserve" to lose yesterday on the basis of general play (although the defending for their goals is pretty hard to, err, defend)

So this season, we've been schooled just three times: twice (Man United / Man City) when we hadn't even got to the end of the transfer window and had a game called off, Modric issue etc. And once away to Arsenal in Arsene Wenger's make or break game of the season.

On that basis, 3rd is about right. Until we can do a United and play like shit and yet still eek out wins against other top 4 clubs, then we'll probably never win the title. That much is certainly true.

Unlike Worms, I don't need hindsight, called it ages ago that Spurs would do Spurs.

Fulham have a lot of good technical players. Dembele, Ruiz, Dempsey and even Duff is showing some of his old school Chelsea form. Murphy is still the instigator though.

Pogrebnyak is a real brute upfront and him and Johnson looked to have formed a decent partnership.

If they can get a decent box-to-box/DM with playmaking abilities and improve their toothlessness away from home, they could cause a lot of teams trouble next season

christmasborocooper wrote:Has Van Gaal taken many teams to the next level or has he just managed clubs already there?

Rafa couldn't get Liverpool to the level that Spurs are really looking for now.either....

Sorry Coops, I missed this.

By next Level, I don't necessarily mean winning trophies, even if that's the final goal. I mean a mentality change in that we believe that we are equal to the likes of Man United. Our Inferiority complex was evident throughout the match yesterday. Everybody watching just knew we'd lose, regardless of territory, possession, attempts at goal etc.

Van Gaal Won the Eridivisie 3 times in a row with Ajax after they had a 4 year drought, won their sole UEFA cup and their 1st European Cup in 22 years.

Won Barca their 1st La Liga in 4 years.

AZ became the 1st team in 30 years outside the Dutch big 3 to win the Eriedivisie.

Gave Bayern their respect back in Europe (1st CL final appearance in 9 years), nearly won a treble, 1st Dutch coach to win the Bundesliga.

I just feel Benitez gets a poor rep on here and elsewhere. He massively overachieved with Liverpool in my eyes.

Got them to 2 CL finals, and his 2008-09 Liverpool side came very, very close to winning it all. Just my take on it.

Ancelotti was my 1st choice, but we know what happened there. Oil money

Chelsea should sign Dempsey next season as Lumpard replacement.

Fade out wrote:Unlike Worms, I don't need hindsight, called it ages ago that Spurs would do Spurs.

You predicted they wouldn't finish in the top 4 if I remember rightly. Let's just see before you start to feel "vindicated" in any way

Oh yeah, Newcastle will need to finish above us too

Metta World Peace wrote:

Fade out wrote:Unlike Worms, I don't need hindsight, called it ages ago that Spurs would do Spurs.

You predicted they wouldn't finish in the top 4 if I remember rightly. Let's just see before you start to feel "vindicated" in any way

Oh yeah, Newcastle will need to finish above us too

I said they'd scrape through to finish 4th.

I said CL wud be a bit short for Newcastle.

Fade out wrote:Unlike Worms, I don't need hindsight, called it ages ago that Spurs would do Spurs.

What does this shit mean People have been saying "Spurs are Spurs" for the last two years!

"You can't make the top 4"

"You won't qualify for the CL"

"You'll embarrass yourselves in the CL"

"You had a good run, now back to mid table"


It's getting a bit old. Sure we've by and large sucked in top 7 games this season, but we're still in a good position. We we're never really in the tiltle hunt, and much as we were hyped at the turn of the year.

We've only got Chelsea away left out of the title/CL chasing teams, and after that I fancy our chances to get back on track.

Arsenal still have to play Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City + Stoke Away.

Chelsea still have to Play Tottenham, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Newcastle + Fulham away

Newcastle have still got Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, and Swansea away.

Liverpool are 14 pts back with 11/12 games to go. That would take an epic collapse.

Spurs being Spurs is when they look ever so close to top 2, but keep dropping points to be mired into battle for 4th spot.

Fade out wrote:Spurs being Spurs is when they look ever so close to top 2, but keep dropping points to be mired into battle for 4th spot.

Has this ever happened before though

Surely should be Spurs being Newcastle 1996, as in when Newcastle were chasing for the title but kept dropping point on the run in, including a loss to a smash n grab United performance at home

that Newcastle side was the real deal

Compared to how Spurs are made out to be the 'real deal', but they rarely are, are they?

Fade out wrote:Shola, what a legend !

Ba, unlucky to hit the crossbar & then the penalty.

Barfa, slowly getting there, skinned 2/3 players for fun!

There's no dearth of team spirit.

They didn't show a clear penalty on MOTD, it was bizarre. Turner stuck his hand in front of Ba's forehead, this is not volleyball ffs. Also Ben Arfa seemed to get barged over by Turner after he had skinned him, also not shown on MOTD.

They also didn't show Henderson knocking out Arteta #convenient

Fade out wrote: that Newcastle side was the real deal

Compared to how Spurs are made out to be the 'real deal', but they rarely are, are they?

Well I'd understand if you just told me that Man United were the real deal...

But, in your typically warped way, you're telling me that a side that blew a 12 point lead in the Championship representing a club who have not won a single trophy in over 60 years, is the "real deal", whilst Spurs "rarely are".... ??

Now I like Newcastle, and unlike you, have no agenda against them in the way you do Spurs just because they happen to be liked in the media for whatever contrived reason you appear to believe (southern club, 'Arry etc) - infact for all of Newcastle's lack of success they are rarely a "boring" side in the same way Spurs aren't so I have a lot of time for them, but that is quite ridiculous to claim any side that chokes THAT heavily is the real deal. That 1996 choke makes the current Spurs one look positively small change in comparison. So try again

Deluded F*ck wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:Has Van Gaal taken many teams to the next level or has he just managed clubs already there?

Rafa couldn't get Liverpool to the level that Spurs are really looking for now.either....

Sorry Coops, I missed this.

By next Level, I don't necessarily mean winning trophies, even if that's the final goal. I mean a mentality change in that we believe that we are equal to the likes of Man United. Our Inferiority complex was evident throughout the match yesterday. Everybody watching just knew we'd lose, regardless of territory, possession, attempts at goal etc.

Van Gaal Won the Eridivisie 3 times in a row with Ajax after they had a 4 year drought, won their sole UEFA cup and their 1st European Cup in 22 years.

Won Barca their 1st La Liga in 4 years.

AZ became the 1st team in 30 years outside the Dutch big 3 to win the Eriedivisie.

Gave Bayern their respect back in Europe (1st CL final appearance in 9 years), nearly won a treble, 1st Dutch coach to win the Bundesliga.

I just feel Benitez gets a poor rep on here and elsewhere. He massively overachieved with Liverpool in my eyes.

Got them to 2 CL finals, and his 2008-09 Liverpool side came very, very close to winning it all. Just my take on it.

Ancelotti was my 1st choice, but we know what happened there. Oil money

Fair enough

I do agree Rafa does get a bit of a bad rep..he did well with 'pool..but was a bit(very) dodgy towards the end and the Inter period was worse.

Was a genuine question about Van Gaal though, i've never really known much about his history.

Metta World Peace wrote:

Fey wrote:Typical Tottenham

You knew, they would blow it. Bernd&co should have stayed more down to earth, and take a look at the fixture list next time. Though I doubt they will lose 3th place.

Also, expected Newcastle to win the derby, the mackems in the pub were rather happy with a draw.

Haha shut the hell up. Even Feyenoord managed to finally beat the Jews, but before that I doubt you sat at home refusing to hope and believe it may one day happen... We completely dominated the midfield battle today, and against most teams that's usually enough to win the game. United are masters of the the smash and grab, doth my skull cap to them.

The alternative I suppose would be to just support a shit load of other teams better than United the Fey way, sure that must be a lot more fun. Tchusssssssss

HOLY SHIT!

Check out the sheer size of this indigenous Bernd Carp I caugt!

You look like a right miserable Jew in that photo though. Feyenoord lose on the weekend AGAIN?!

Metta World Peace wrote:

Romford Pele wrote:Moussa Dembele is such a player

Can't believe he played in a 2 man midfield with Murphy yesterday

Shows how poor Wolves are

One of those players who get you off your seat. Technical joy to watch. Not sure yet about his consistency, but if you look at POTENTIAL, he and the Fulham team in general that Jol is building is an exciting one.

Oh FFS, I was wanting to get a Moussa Dembele bandwagon rolling, only to find its already off.

Moving him deeper seems to be a masterstroke by Jol. Always lacked the ability to score goals, but outside of the box, he's a gloriously capable player, both in his footwork and passing.

Deluded F*ck wrote:

christmasborocooper wrote:Has Van Gaal taken many teams to the next level or has he just managed clubs already there?

Rafa couldn't get Liverpool to the level that Spurs are really looking for now.either....

Sorry Coops, I missed this.

By next Level, I don't necessarily mean winning trophies, even if that's the final goal. I mean a mentality change in that we believe that we are equal to the likes of Man United. Our Inferiority complex was evident throughout the match yesterday. Everybody watching just knew we'd lose, regardless of territory, possession, attempts at goal etc.

Van Gaal Won the Eridivisie 3 times in a row with Ajax after they had a 4 year drought, won their sole UEFA cup and their 1st European Cup in 22 years.

Won Barca their 1st La Liga in 4 years.

AZ became the 1st team in 30 years outside the Dutch big 3 to win the Eriedivisie.

Gave Bayern their respect back in Europe (1st CL final appearance in 9 years), nearly won a treble, 1st Dutch coach to win the Bundesliga.

I just feel Benitez gets a poor rep on here and elsewhere. He massively overachieved with Liverpool in my eyes.

Got them to 2 CL finals, and his 2008-09 Liverpool side came very, very close to winning it all. Just my take on it.

Ancelotti was my 1st choice, but we know what happened there. Oil money

What about AVB ?

He showed his footballing nous at Porto and he showed his strength of character at Chelsea and he'd have a point to prove + best years ahead of him.

Romford Pele wrote:They also didn't show Henderson knocking out Arteta #convenient

Henderson is a legend #legend

http://newsthump.com/2012/03/05/bendtner-and-ameobi-criticised-over-mindless-acts-of-football/

Sunderland’s Nicklas Bendtner and Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi have been slammed by fans, players and managers after the pair blighted yesterday’s Tyne-Wear derby with a goal apiece.

An otherwise enjoyable ninety minutes of mild violence was marred by a goal in each half, and pundits have been quick to criticise the pair.

“It was a great game between the two sides, full of passion, commitment, and people running around kicking each other.” said Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

“Lee Cattermole set the tone for a classic as only he can; by trying to end Tiote’s career in the first minute. And it just got better and better from there.”

“There were a number of tackles bordering on assault, a pretty weak punch to the face and some terrible play-acting, everything you want from a modern premier league derby.”

“But then Bendtner went and scored a goal, Shola retaliated with one of his own and that really let everybody down and put a dampener on the whole thing.”
North-east Derby

Bendtner, on loan from Arsenal, could face sanctions after replays appeared to show that his goal may have been deliberate, while Ameobi’s at least looked like he didn’t know what he was doing.

Shearer was very critical of the pair in his analysis, telling viewers, “The only thing you can say for Shola is that Bendtner scored first, but he should know better than to react like that and he’ll be disappointed with himself.”

“To be fair to the pair of them though, neither really has a history of doing this sort of thing, it’s a bit out of character and I don’t see either of them making a habit of scoring goals.”

that's a pretty funny site.

I liked this one:
http://newsthump.com/2012/02/27/dalglish-%E2%80%9Cthis-will-be-the-first-of-many-meaningless-trophies%E2%80%9D/

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

What about AVB ?

He showed his footballing nous at Porto and he showed his strength of character at Chelsea and he'd have a point to prove + best years ahead of him.

Not to sure on his transfer policy, and he'll need 2-3 years away from English football, because the press devoured him a bit.

Benitez did the right thing in taking a break.

My belated reflections on Sunday's game are, first and foremost, that Shola's goals are my favourite goals of all - it helps that he scores some relatively significant ones, and has scored a couple of late equalisers this season, but generally the I suppose sentimental feeling for him after twelve years makes his goals particularly meaningful and happy; and elsewhere we didn't perform and have not been performing well. Our football has regressed through the course of this season, we have stopped playing through the midfield, any successes feel fortuitous as a result, and I'm not sure quite who our style of play benefits - perhaps some of our defenders who aren't so comfortable on the ball, but it doesn't get the best out of any of our very capable central midfielders or out of two forwards who are quick, who move really well and who have good feet, but who are by no means dominant in the air nor even especially strong.

Ben Arfa must start games: he played well on Sunday, his movement is excellent, and I think with his close control and the threat he provides he makes us more coherent both offensively and defensively. I don't think Guthrie deserved to be dropped a couple of games ago, and at the moment I'd play him before Cabaye, who for me isn't being demanding enough nor using the ball with the same urgency.

I actually thought Sessegnon's sending off was a little harsh - he didn't catch Tiote particularly strongly or fully in the face and I'd have been aggrieved, I think, if one of our players had been sent off for the same even if that is the law - but I thought Cattermole perhaps could have gone for his early foul on Tiote. Certainly I think it is right that an early challenge like that almost irrevocably sets the tone for a fractious game. Meanwhile Pardew went up in my estimation for goading O'Neill.

Apparently our crowd was the biggest at St James' since 1976. Shola is now our third highest all-time scorer of goals against Sunderland.