Re: Rival Thread: 2014-15

[Curtinho]

There are so many good managers and good teams in the league right now that it's a bit scary.

Also, only ManU were a team that was coming to a declining point in their cycle and now that can be expected to change. Arsenal and Chelsea and perhaps Tottenham, too, can be expected to be only better this season. City are City. Out of the top-7 only Everton do not worry me, but even they've got Martinez for manager and there's still over a month of the window left.

All I can say that whoever wins the Premier League this season will be very, very deserving champions.

I agree. There are 6 teams this year that are 'legitimate' top 6 threats (Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Arsenal, United and Tottenham). I think 5 of those could challenge for the title (minus Tottenham). There are still outside shots too that can make things interesting like Everton, Stoke and even Newcastle I think will be better this year.

Fun time for the EPL.

[Helmer]

I know LVG is a great coach...you should know that he can flop too, it is really important that players follow him and not saying they wont but he is a very strict guy.

Also, I dont think he will play that 3-5-2 stupid thing for long, imo EPL teams will frrack all over the wings exploiting the space behind the wingbacks, with loads of crosses. Playing that formation in a short tournament is different to play it consistently for 38 PL games and I am sure if he plays 3-5-2, their team will be found out. I can already see them drawing lots of games. I am really sick of hearing LVG's miracle making scums title contender I mean wtf is dat!!!

[McAgger]

lol yeah we know how shit 3 at the back is

I'm very glad we ditched that garbage we used last season.

[Helmer]

I think it is not so easy to create quality number of chances with 3 at the back, specially in EPL. you really need good chemistry for the front two and if the teams are going to seat deep and defend, what will you do with 3-5-2 but who knows he might to do it to get Rooney and RVP up front together on the pitch.

[McAgger]

When we need a goal against park the bus sides late in matches I wouldn't mind Rodgers switching to 3 at the back but no wing backs. Play actual wingers/inside forwards for the width. Kind of like a 3-3-1-3

Lovren - Ilori - Sakho
Gerrard
Hendo - Coutinho
Lallana
Markovic - Sturridge - Sterling

Obviously not for the whole match because defensively we'll get destroyed but if we need a goal with 10 mins left. Bring on Ilori as a CB so we can use utilize his speed to cover at the back and bring on whichever one of Cou/Llama/Marko/Raheem didn't start and go on full throttle. Bring off our two fullbacks.

I don't want to do the same bs that every team does where they bring on a huge #9 (i.e. Lambert) and start lumping balls into the box. Some games that would be ok but not against the like of Stoke or West Ham where their defenders are huge anyways and giving em balls in the air is all they live for.

[Curtinho]

I think you're underestimating the 3-5-2. How many goals did the Netherlands concede in open play at the World cup with 'all the space' (2 in 7 games)? How many goals did they score (2nd most in the tournament 15 in 7 games)? If it's done with the right personnel who are willing to commit to the cause (and with Manchester United being completely embarrassed last year, I'm sure it won't be hard to get them up for it) it can be a very successful and difficult tactic to deal with. I think that ManU still need to add a real powerful/elite box to box guy and a really good centreback, but otherwise he could make good use of it there.

[Red Alert]

352 works if you have the right personnel. We simply don't.

[Curtinho]

352 works if you have the right personnel. We simply don't.

Well, we were talking about Manchester United, but I actually think Liverpool could use the 3-5-2 to great effect.

Dejan Lovren - Mamadou Sakho - Daniel Agger
Raheem Sterling - Jordan Henderson - Steven Gerrard - Philippe Coutinho - Emre Can
Daniel Sturridge - Loic Remy

It would work quite well and eliminate our sub-par fullbacks from the equation.

[Helmer]

Is Stephen our new marquee signing

[Curtinho]

Is Stephen our new marquee signing

Hehehehehehe yup. His younger cousin. =3

[McAgger]

Everyone underrating us again in the Gen section.

[mr-r34]

Did anyone else see the butt hurt reactions from gunners after what Stevie said about Luis a few days ago?

Didn't think a set of fans would come close to the hate i have for united fans, but the gunners been pushing it hard over the last few years.

[McAgger]

haha yeah I saw that.

I don't understand Arsenal fans reasoning behind this. They are still butthurt that they didn't win the PL last year because they didn't have Suarez.  

Does this mean I can be butthurt that we didn't have Messi last year to do a treble?

Anyways, everyone is predicting us out of the top 4 in the gen section just like last season.  Like they didn't learn anything this past season. Once we finalize the Moreno-Manquillo deals, we'll be only 2 forwards (1 ST, 1 SS/AM/inside forward) away from competing for the title again. Can't really go with only Sturridge as a capable starter at ST. And we're definitely signing one ST for sure.

[RedOranje]

Chris Bascombe Verified account ‏@_ChrisBascombe
Mourinho says Costa is £32m bargain. Certainly is. Doubt any other Premier League club would have been able to sign him at that price.


Chris Bascombe Verified account ‏@_ChrisBascombe
Chelsea are certainly the best around at securing cut price 'clauses' for top class overseas players they might want in future.


Chris Bascombe Verified account ‏@_ChrisBascombe
The fact those players are third party owned is clearly one of those lucky coincidences when Chelsea go 'bargain hunting'.

Not the first to make such claims, but it's apparent that Chelsea aren't doing anything illegal or there would already be actions taken against them. Not sure there's any real point in whinging about something that doesn't break current rules unless A) the rules are likely to be changed [they're not] or B) Chelsea are the only club that can benefit from this set-up [they're not].

I'm no fan of third party ownership or the way it's being abused by some (including Chelsea) but unless there's a concerted effort to bring about a change in the regulations this type of thing just comes across as a bit bitter.

[iftikhar]

I agree. Also coming from a journalist (he is one, right!) sounds a bit childish. It's ok if it was some poster in GL.

[Art Morte]

There was that Guardian report sometime during last season about "sports investment" companies relating directly to Chelsea, that those companies buy those third-party stakes in players in leagues where it's allowed, trying to look and make a profit or secure that those players are available cheaper for Chelsea (because they already own part of them).

A good example was Van Wolfsvinkel to Norwich where Chelsea got a sizeable portion of the fee.

[Helmer]

Abra is finally a businessman, so he must have found some loop holes in the system to work out the balance between his investment and return on chelsea.

[iftikhar]

I guess LvG will be aggressive in what remains of the transfer window.

[Art Morte]

I guess LvG will be aggressive in what remains of the transfer window.

If he can, he should. Could even be that him starting two young debutants was his way of saying "we need to buy".

In any case, what a great way to see the season kick off in.

[iftikhar]

What happened to Shaw! Young at LWB was a riddle.

[Helmer]

Spurs f**** , that Dier kid, scored one cool goal   
Btw, Spurs were completely wank, even before the red card, I would say we can once more get three points, playing them away at WHL

[Art Morte]

Spurs f**** , that Dier kid, scored one cool goal   
Btw, Spurs were completely wank, even before the red card, I would say we can once more get three points, playing them away at WHL

West Ham aren't that easy to play against at their home games, but Spurs' midfield looked pretty meh, which is good.

Still, a major bottling job by the Hammers to lose that one. But hey, Everton could only draw at Leicester even though they were leading twice, so that coupled with United's loss is a great start to our rivals' seasons

[Nishankly]

ffs Arsenal

[Red Alert]

@Robbie9Fowler:
2014-08-18 19:47:52 UTC
Chelsea fans singing about liverpools stevie g again... You'd think he's the only player that's ever slipped



  

[Helmer]

haha nice one from him.
Lets see where Chelsea goes from here, I predict if Fabregas gets injured, they are going to struggle

[Kick]

@Robbie9Fowler:
2014-08-18 19:47:52 UTC
Chelsea fans singing about liverpools stevie g again... You'd think he's the only player that's ever slipped



  

Difference is, we have since won the CL, you had yet to win the EPL.

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