PL 2015-16 Chat

[theforceuk]

I disagree completely on the whole LVG thing, you have to give him time. Yes he's spent a lot, but if you look at Man Utd's net spend over the last 5 seasons it's less than Chelsea by half and only a third of City's. It's more of a long term investment problem for me. Fergie was able to paper over the cracks from the lack of investment. If you look at City they were bought in 2008, but didn't win the league until 2012. You don't just spend 200 million and then win the league the next season automatically.

Here's another thought as well, Man Utd have only won 2 trophies since the 10/11 season and haven't been to a major final since 2011.

 

[weasel]

I don't disagre that auld **** face papered over the cracks. Utd haven't been able to spend as they used to ever since the take over. Probably because the Glazier's very kindly bought Utd using Utd's own money.

I still don't think LVG is doing anything other than a mediocre job though. That Utd team don't look like they know what way he wants them to play. He's been there a year now. That's long enough for the first shoots of a new style of play to be showing. Nameone occasion when Utd played well in the last year? I'm gonna rule out any game against Spurs, using that old Fergy quote "boys, it's Spurs." Even their victory over a very mediocre Liverpool was pretty far from convincing. They are grinding results out and winning by being less bad than the other team. Granted, you can't be brilliant every week and to win a title you need to be able to grind out results but a club like Utd shouldn't be reduced to grinding out results every week, they should be beating the teams in the lower reaches comfortably.

If Moyesy had presided over that spend and produced football of the "quality" Utd are producing atm the media would be having a field day. Just cos LVG had a great track record and comes across as a right prickly bastard doesn't mean he should be immune from pressure.

 

[theforceuk]

Bottom line is LVG got Man Utd in Champions League in first season, Moyes would have kept his job if he had done the same. Man Utd haven't played well consistently since Ronaldo was sold. Infact the last 3 or 4 seasons under Fergie it became the normal way to win, grinding out a result. Moyes was always under pressure because Man Utd never looked like finshing in the top 4 while he was in charge.

 

[weasel]

I think LVG was very lucky in getting Utd into CL. Liverpool had sold Suarez, lost sturridge for most of the season (50 goals gone right there) and had the genius idea of buying mario ballotelli. So they were half the team they had been the season before. Cit were doing their alternating between brilliant league winners and mediocre also rans. Last year it was the latter. Arsenal were, well, arsenal. Fancy footy but always coming up short against the big boys. And Spurs did what they always do. In a way Utd had a fairly easy run at getting back into the CL. They were miles better (maybe "less bad" is a more appropriate phrase) than Pool and spuds, yet they only finished 6pts ahead of Pool. If memory serves. Thats the 6 pts they picked up in games between the two sides. One dodgy penalty decision, or stevie G not being an idiot, and it could have been very different. I wonder what the Board's reaction would have been then?

Don't get me wrong, Utd deserved CL over spurs and Pool last season. I'm just saying the fates conspired to hand LVG an easier run than he would have had in previous years. Plus he benefited from the ehhh not being david "how did I land this job" moyes effect.

 

[Cazza]

First win at Anfield in over 50 years! Was hoping for 6 points after the first for games, but certainly wasn't expecting THOSE 6 points! :lol:

Don't think we've had enough plaudits for our two away wins (even though we have loads of injuries). Yes, some very poor defending was evident, but we played really, really well in both games, with some very astute tactics. Most of the media coverage has put the results down to Arsenal and Liverpool playing poorly. Lawro was totally condescending and insulting in his Mirror article today. Seems to be the only way the big clubs loose is when they play badly. Nothing to do with the other team's tactics and performance :roll:

Shame about our home games :lol: Need to get that sorted ASAP!

Shaping up to be an interesting season all round...

 

[edd_jedi]

Yes great win against Liverpool. This is one of the craziest starts to a season I can remember, I know it doesn't really mean anything until 10 or so games in but all the points the 'top 5' have dropped so far could be make or break at the end of the season. Spurs seem to be back to their old ways of having lots of possession and shots but no goals. Probably should have beaten both Leicester and Everton.

 

[edd_jedi]

Oh, I watched Villa Real's first game with Soldado while on holiday last week. The **** scored in his first game :lol:

 

[theforceuk]

Certainly some suprising results, probably still boil down to Man City or Chelsea for the title. Typical form for Man Utd so far won 2, drawn 1, lost 1. :roll:

Long way to go still, I always find this international break annoying just as the league is getting interesting you have to sit through 2 weeks of England internationals.

 

[weasel]

Lawro was totally condescending and insulting in his Mirror article today. Seems to be the only way the big clubs loose is when they play badly. Nothing to do with the other team's tactics and performance :roll.

The guy's a muppet. I try to avoid anything he commentates on or discusses.

I always find this international break annoying just as the league is getting interesting you have to sit through 2 weeks of England internationals.

At least you get to watch your country win. Imagine being a Norn Iron fan. For most of the last 30 years i've had to watch as we struggle to draw with the mighty Faeroe Islands and lose to Iceland. Bar a 2-3 year period when Lawrie Sanchez go us winning games against some seriously good sides (and England lol) we've been utter utter shite.

As for the weekends results. I haven't seen all of MOTD yet, but on first first two viewings of Noble's red, I actually thought it was a red. Then the third angle shows it's nothin at all, a foul, no more. I dunno what angle the ref had, and he only gets 1 look at it, so I can understamd him giving the red, but I expect it will be over turned (and rightly so) on appeal.
I havent seen Coutinho's first booking yet, but the second one looked like he face butted yer man's arse. Clearly warranting a red. That sort of behaviour has no place on a football pitch, that could totally ruin someone's career lol.

Arsenal looked like Arsenal. Tonnes of possession and no cutting edge in the final third.
Utd looked blunt against Swansea. i missed bits of the game but if Utd are relying on Rooney as their lone striker this season they are going to struggle.

Dejan Lovren WHAT IN THE NAME OF GOOD **** WAS THAT????

 

[weasel]

Apparently Spurs offered Southampton "significantly" LESS than they paid for Wanyama two years ago. WTF, is the logic in that?
I've also seen rumours that their opening two offers for Berahino were four and seven million. Four and Seven million!? Is Levy losing it? You don't even get a mediocre squad player for that these days, yet he thinks West Brom will sell a young, reasonably talented, English striker for what is in footballing terms, pocket change.

Either he's trying to take his reputation as a wheeler dealer to a ridiculous level, or he needs a slap. Not even as if Berahino was in the last few months of his contract or West Brom were going through a Leeds/Portsmouth style financial melt down. What was he expecting them to do!?

Idiot.

Not only that but the only striker they did manage to sign is a Korean bloke I've never heard of. Now, he may well be a decent signing (the cycnic in me doubts it) but the track record of Korean players in the PL is poor. Regardless, Spurs now have Harry Kane, an unproven newbie and the un-give-away-able Adebayor. They better keep Harry Kane wrapped up in cotton wool.

United are no better with their lack of striker options, exacerbated by selling Hernandez. Arsenal need another striker and probably a DCM, but no one really thought Wenger would spend money, did they!?

Ohh and Liverpool need a new team.

 

[theforceuk]

Another poor transfer window from Man Utd, Real Madrid pulled out of that De Gea deal on purpose so they get him free at the end of season. Monday morning Van Gaal say's their wont be any panick buys and three hours later we sign a 19 year old that I've never heard of. :lol:

 

[weasel]

Utd really have gone to the dogs when it comes to transfer dealings since **** face and Gill left.

Between the Fellaini farce of paying 4 million more than his buy out clause that expired a few weeks earlier, to sending representatives to negotiate the signing of Herrera before a price had been agreed and then denying all knowledge of said representatives. Then there's the dreamland signings of/helping the following get nice fat new contracts, Ronaldo, Bale and Ramos. Then the 3 month humming and ha-ing on the Pedro deal only for Chelsea to sign him inside 3 days. Finally the signing and freezing out of Victor Valdez for no discernable reason.

I've nothing but hatred for Utd, but even a Liverpool fan like me has to admit that for years (about twenty of them) Utd were bloody good at getting their transfer business done. Now it's a proper farce.

 

[Bootyhunter]

Another poor transfer window from Man Utd, Real Madrid pulled out of that De Gea deal on purpose so they get him free at the end of season. Monday morning Van Gaal say's their wont be any panick buys and three hours later we sign a 19 year old that I've never heard of. :lol:

Yeah, I definitely think Madrid did that on purpose most likely because they've been messed about for the last two months by United, Chelsea didn't do much better.. Some 26 year old defender for 2 million? I bet he's amazing :lol: :lol: :roll:

 

[theforceuk]

Another poor transfer window from Man Utd, Real Madrid pulled out of that De Gea deal on purpose so they get him free at the end of season. Monday morning Van Gaal say's their wont be any panick buys and three hours later we sign a 19 year old that I've never heard of. :lol:

Yeah, I definitely think Madrid did that on purpose most likely because they've been messed about for the last two months by United, Chelsea didn't do much better.. Some 26 year old defender for 2 million? I bet he's amazing :lol: :lol: :roll:

Yeah Real can get lost though, they should have paid the money 3 months ago. The whole thing does my head in were becoming Real's feader club for top players. They would never have given De Gea the chance we did and stuck by him. He was well dodgy at first, same thing happened with Ronaldo.

We should never sign a young spanish/Portuguese player again. :lol:

 

[lejackal]

Arsenal need another striker and probably a DCM, but no one really thought Wenger would spend money, did they!?

Well I was hopeful /delusional for a few weeks and have slipped through abject disappointment into morbid acceptance of same old Wenger via a spot of white hot rage that surely, despite his obvious talents as a manager, he cannot possibly be stupid enough to think a goalkeeper, even a great one, is any more than papering over the cracks when those around us have added so much!

 

[weasel]

Even more in need a striker now given weell-kack is out till next year. Still, not like Wenger knew that before the wimdow shut and hushed it up until after it had closed. :roll:

 

[lejackal]

I live in hope that he's just leaving a massive war chest for Guardiola to take over with......
And back down to earth

 

[weasel]

Guardiola...... :lol:

More chance of Liverpool winning the PL

 

[theforceuk]

Guardiola he's overated anyway.

 

[lejackal]

TBH something needs to change, I know not many other teams would've got top for and champions league every year guaranteed but that cannot be all we should be aiming for surely?