2007-08 EPL Thread

[Jobu]

Arsenal's defence is going to have a harder time dealing with Tevez and Rooney. Toure can keep the pressure on them, Gallas has some pace to keep up with them, but past that I don't think they will cope. I expect some pessimistic tackles from Eboue and/or Sagne.

I don't think United's defense will have as much problems with Arsenal's attack, especially with Adebayour playing up front alone most of the time. They can match their speed in midfield and the wings pretty well, and their buildup is just as creative, albeit with less flair. It will be all about the forwards, IMO.

[HaemishM]

I'm still more bothered about the front line. Kuyt is off form, and while I respect the effort Voronin puts in, he's never been on form when it has mattered. Crouch needs to start or not play - he is not and never will be an impact substitute, meanwhile Babel looks better up front than on the wing.

Voronin has been off the boil the whole season. I think he's just not being used in the right spots or with the right set of players providing service. He sure as fuck isn't a wide player like Rafa tried to use him on Sunday. Same with Kuyt, he can do the wide thing better than Voronin, but it's not his strength. He needs to work on his finishing.

Crouch just needs to start. With Torres out, he SHOULD be starting, with either Voronin or Kuyt playing just behind. Crouch was the Reds' best player when he came on Sunday, getting more chances than all 3 strikers had previously. He really needs to be starting in the Champions League games, because he shines in Europe or at least did last year. And yeah, without Xabi, Liverpool is going to struggle to challenge for the title.

[Hoax]

What fucking channel and what time is the Arsenal v United game on Saturday?  I see its not on FSC which means I'm borderline fucked but someone help me out?

[HaemishM]

It's on Setanta Sports at 8:30 a.m. EST. if you have Directv or Dish. If you don't, I think you're fucked.

If you have broadband and want to see it on the computer, Setanta Broadband has a monthly subscription fee, or pay per view packages.

[Jobu]

What fucking channel and what time is the Arsenal v United game on Saturday?  I see its not on FSC which means I'm borderline fucked but someone help me out?

Did you check PPV? Last year, you had to pay for the Arsenal - Utd matches.

[lamaros]

Here's hoping it's the best game ever, and Utd wins! 

[rk47]

:(
was so close. darn it.

[HaemishM]

The Arsenal-United game was a great game to watch, with the best possible result for me. Fabregas scores a goal (for my fantay team) and neither team won.

Of course, then Liverpool comes out and Rafa again tries to prove he's the smartest fucker in the world. I just don't understand him. Crouch is left on the bench, he uses 2 holding midfielders with Gerrard playing up and surprise, they can't get behind Blackburn's defense. Then for subs, he takes off all the pacey players and puts in Kewell and Crouch. Yet somehow, despite having the slowest fucking team on the planet, they actually start making progress. Why is Crouch not fucking starting? Every time he's come in the games, he's made a difference. He should have taken Sissoko off, put Crouch up front and used Babel and Benayoun down the wings to get service into Crouch from the get go. Sissoko still hasn't proven he's worth a starting spot anymore.

[eldaec]

I'm aware that there are people reading this thread who won't see tonight's matches till later in the week.

So all I'm going to say is 'Champion's league - lol'.

[rk47]

there are 8 reasons to be happy about it in Anfield I guess. but fuck, About time Crouch. Good man.

[HaemishM]

there are 8 reasons to be happy about it in Anfield I guess. but fuck, About time Crouch. Good man.

Yeah, amazing what can be done when you start the motherfucker, ain't it?

I'm all for Torres and Voronin and Kuyt getting playing time, but Crouch REALLY needs some Premier League love.

[lamaros]

To be fair though, we must state just how awful the opposition was. Every time their goalie touched the ball he knocked it out in front of an attacker. Two more comfortable winning performances will go a long way to remove doubt this was just a good day against a bad team. And this might sound a bit much, but I found their attacking play rather simple, it certainly wasn't as good as the scoreline would make you think.

Which is possibly why he doesn't play Crouch that much, despite him being a more effective player.

[HaemishM]

Well, Besiktas DID beat them in Turkey, so they aren't that bad a side. It didn't help them that they had their star player out with an injury.

I think Liverpool could benefit from focusing on some more simple play with Crouch. More complicated play like that fucking 4-3-3 against Arsenal sure as fuck isn't working.

[eldaec]

Question is what you do when Torres is back.

I don't think Torres/Crouch really feels right.

Torres/Voronin or Crouch/Babel seem the partnerships of the moment.

[HaemishM]

Torres/Kuyt, or Crouch/Voronin or Kuyt/Crouch for my money. Voronin's regular season form really hasn't shown up at all, and I can't quite figure out where or when his skills are going to start to work with the side. Babel definitely needs to get more starts, preferably on the right wing, with Benayoun on the left. Riise really does need to be at left back and not in the midfield.

[eldaec]

I don't buy Babel on the wing.

His crossing isn't that great and he doesn't seem willing or able to run down the line or work with a full back.

[lamaros]

Torres, Kyut  or maybe / Kyut, Crouch / Torres, Babel
Kewell, Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard
Riise Agger Carragher Arbeloa

If they had that team on the park I might be bothered watching.

[HaemishM]

Gerrard on the wing is a no go, or at least, it fucking should be.

Babel's actually decent on the right wing, as he seems more willing and able to run at people. On the left, he seems a lot more timid, or just plain uncomfortable. His crossing may never be great, but if he can shake people at the edge of the box and either get a shot himself or pass it off to the feet of a striker, I think he'll do fine.

Kewell has shown he should definitely be starting, provided he is match fit for 60 minutes or more. But so has Crouch, and we see what Rafa's done with that.

[lamaros]

I'd play Gerrard on the right with Babel in the same area and try and get them interchanging with Arbeloa, not playing as out and out wingers. Not sure if they're are strong defensively though, so it might be trouble that way.

A decent weekend of games. I'm very happy with the win over Blackburn. Utd should now get the next three after the break and put the pressure on the Gunners, and then Rooney should be back. Chelsea has got to be close to being written off as a contender at this stage, so many points down with Liverpool Arsenal and Utd ahead of them makes it pretty impossible.

Bolton and Wigan... who'd have thought hiring shit managers would prove useless!

[HaemishM]

Liverpool won convincingly at Newcastle, but really it should have been 6-0. Torres just kept missing. Newcastle were completely lost the whole game.

Also, BOLTON? BOLTON??? WTF? Le awesome.      And that's who Liverpool has to play next week, at Anfield. I guess I shouldn't take Bolton for granted.

I still can't figure out what's wrong with Reading. Or why Steve Bruce would want to leave Birmingham for WIGAN of all places. And another one bites the dust in Derby. What a strange season.

[sigil]

Spurs are going to finish fifth or sixth again, just to fuck with people.

[Jobu]

Spurs are going to finish fifth or sixth again, just to fuck with people.

And wait until the end of the season just to twist the knife into their fans some more.

[lamaros]

Bolton was an away game with Tevez tired, Ronaldo rested, Rooney injured, and Vidic out. I guess in hindsight the upset is not the biggest shock in the world. But I was surprised, I admit. I wonder if we'll try to buy Anelka in jan.

I'd expect Liverpool to take them easily.

[HaemishM]

I'd expect Liverpool to take them easily.

We can only hope.

Though I heard that Ronaldo and Vidic are coming back soon, so if they are playing, things will be much harder. I hope that while Alonso is gone, Liverpool play Lucas more, as that kid seems to have some nice passing skills. Just please stop playing Sissoko, his confidence is completely shot and he needs to be shipped off somewhere in January. He's not getting enough playing time in Liverpool these days, so when he does, he looks like he's never stepped foot on a pitch before.

[sigil]

Spurs are going to finish fifth or sixth again, just to fuck with people.

And wait until the end of the season just to twist the knife into their fans some more.

I didn't know real pain until I adopted Spurs.

[sigil]

Um, this doesn't look so good for Harry at Pompey.

[HaemishM]

Woops. 

[sigil]

I say again: fucking Spurs. *cries bitter tears of angst*

[HaemishM]

Liverpool looked good against Bolton. Granted, it's Bolton, who looked pretty terrible. Anelka missed an EASY shot at an open goal. But Liverpool were better with Crouch and Torres up front than they were against Newscastle. They didn't miss as many easy chances as they did last week. Now if Fulham can just beat Man. U., I'll be quite happy.

[lamaros]

Liverpool looked good against Bolton. Granted, it's Bolton, who looked pretty terrible. Anelka missed an EASY shot at an open goal. But Liverpool were better with Crouch and Torres up front than they were against Newscastle. They didn't miss as many easy chances as they did last week. Now if Fulham can just beat Man. U., I'll be quite happy.

Goals scored while Kewell has been on in the last two matches: 6

Goals scored when he was off: 2 (and one against)

Utd wins, Ronaldo scores twice.

[HaemishM]

Kewell definitely needs to stay in the side. With Benayoun on the other wing if possible. I've also been impressed with Lucas as the holding midfielder. He's got a bit more passing skill than Mascherano, though probably not quite as good defensively. I think Rafa needs to sell Momo Sissoko in January, as he's got 3 guys ahead of him in the depth chart.

[lamaros]

C'mon Newcastle, beat the Gunners!

[Hoax]

C'mon Newcastle, beat the Gunners!

Fuck that.  Only someone who hates good football would want a pos side that wastes the careers of quality players to beat the best looking EPL team for partisan reasons.  If anyone besides Arsenal or Utd win the league this year I'll be annoyed.

[HaemishM]

I want Newcastle to beat Arsenal, but the Gunners would have to have a rash of broken legs before I'd believe it's even possible. Newcastle has looked rubbish the last month or two.

[Jobu]

Newcastle has looked rubbish the last month year or two.

Fixed.