Premier League Discussion Thread 2013/14

[weasel]

The Europa League (EL) is a complete and utter waste of time for PL sides.
They would be better off finishing one place below an EL qualifying spot and not having the hassle of all that travelling and the Sunday games. Especially, given the pathetic (relative to CL) prize money they earn and the general low standard of the opposition.

UEFA really need to look at it. It's a shame because the old UEFA cup was a brilliant competition, but the EL is just a farce. Groups stages and knock out rounds, then all of a sudden a load for teams from the CL are parachuted in. Joke.

 

[PGowdy]

The Europa League (EL) is a complete and utter waste of time for PL sides.
They would be better off finishing one place below an EL qualifying spot and not having the hassle of all that travelling and the Sunday games. Especially, given the pathetic (relative to CL) prize money they earn and the general low standard of the opposition.

UEFA really need to look at it. It's a shame because the old UEFA cup was a brilliant competition, but the EL is just a farce. Groups stages and knock out rounds, then all of a sudden a load for teams from the CL are parachuted in. Joke.

Yeah, it's a joke competition and it's costing us this season. Not cos we're good enough to finish much higher, we're not! but we may finish lower than we are right now and that's not good.

 

[edd_jedi]

We are so far behind the top 4 now in terms of points and quality it's not even funny. I'm actually amazed we are as high as we are. We've become a very difficult and joyless team to watch. Pretty certain now we will finish behind Man Utd and we're not looking too hot for finishing above Everton tho they are also not looking too good at the moment.
Really want this season to end now. I'm done with it.

Definitely agree with that, the Newcastle game is the only comfortable win I can remember seeing this season, but I guess that's what makes them an interesting team to support. I don't really care about a top 4 finish to be honest, apart from City and maybe Chelsea no other PL teams have a chance of winning the UCL so it's pointless being in it. I do wish the Europa League would just go away. I usually enjoy the FA cup most, it's the only competition underdogs have a look in.

I think Soldado needs to go, surely it's beyond just bad luck that he can't score now?

 

[PGowdy]

We are so far behind the top 4 now in terms of points and quality it's not even funny. I'm actually amazed we are as high as we are. We've become a very difficult and joyless team to watch. Pretty certain now we will finish behind Man Utd and we're not looking too hot for finishing above Everton tho they are also not looking too good at the moment.
Really want this season to end now. I'm done with it.

Definitely agree with that, the Newcastle game is the only comfortable win I can remember seeing this season, but I guess that's what makes them an interesting team to support. I don't really care about a top 4 finish to be honest, apart from City and maybe Chelsea no other PL teams have a chance of winning the UCL so it's pointless being in it. I do wish the Europa League would just go away. I usually enjoy the FA cup most, it's the only competition underdogs have a look in.

I think Soldado needs to go, surely it's beyond just bad luck that he can't score now?

To me finishing in the top 4 is everything. It's the only way we will progress and ever truly be able to challenge with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Man Utd. Keeping finishing outside the top 4 is what has keep us a small club with a small club mentality to so long. It has nothing to do with winning the Champions league but it's everything else that comes with being a "champions league" team. It's everything. I said 3 years ago when we finished 4th and Chelsea finished 6th but Chelsea went to the Champions league instead of us that that would be devastating for our future as a potentially "big" european team. And i was right.
Right now we are further away from being a "top 4 team" that we've been in 4 years. Despite being 5th. This season there's 5th then an entire universe then 4th. It's sad because this was supposed to be our season. Everything we'd been working for for the last 4 or 5 years and it's gonna end up being a pointless, fruitless and forgettable season.

 

[edd_jedi]

Oh don't get me wrong, I know that it's the norm to think a top 4 finish is vital. I'm just challenging that mentality. There are 20 teams, and only one can win the league. It is almost always going to be the team that spends the most money. Apart from qualification to the UCL (eg money) why else does it REALLY matter to finish 2nd-4th? It doesn't, you still lost. What good has it done Arsenal for the last decade? They're just as much of a joke in my eyes, they haven't achieved anything. Most other teams are quite happy knowing they have no chance of ever winning anything, but their fans still show up every week because it's not about winning.

That's why it makes me laugh when every manager says "we need a top 4 finish" - I hate to break it to you, but there are only 4 spots and 20 teams. All 20 of you will not be in the top 4, that is a mathematical fact! :lol:

As for our best season potential, surely that was out of the window as soon as they sold Bale? He's pretty much the only player that scored last season, a few extra midfielders and one joke striker was never going to change that. In a way I'd prefer it if we just returned to mediocrity, this current form of complete inconsistency where we beat United away one week and then lose to bloody Norwich is even less fun to watch. Being the 5th place team is just bloody annoying.

Also you have to remember that success comes and goes. With the exception of Man Utd in recent years, none of the other teams you mention are historically successful. Spurs were, until the late 90s, one of the most successful clubs in history. Man City were a joke 5 years ago, they were barely a Premier League team, they were in Division 2 a little over a decade ago! It's actually good to see Liverpool having some long overdue success.

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

So lets have your predictions on how long Moyes has left in the United hotseat

I am going for 4 weeks or less

 

[jackabina]

end of next season, if they dont qualify for cl next year

 

[plantman]

he'll get the start of next season, unless he loses a lot of games that are left in diabolical fashion

 

[weasel]

End of the season.

No point in sacking him now as all the decent managers are in jobs and no club will want to let their manager go at this stage with trophies to be won.

Questions are,

1) Who will come in to replace him?
2) How much money will need to be spent to make that squad competitive? Ferdinand and Vidic are both gone in the summer. Evra and I think Young have contracts that run out very soon. Giggs is 57!
3) How much money will the Glazier's give the new guy?
4) How many big name players will Utd actually be able to attract, given they most likely wont be in the CL. It's not like there are a shortage of clubs out there who can pay mega bucks (chelsea, city, PSG, Monaco, a couple of Russian clubs, then there's Bayern, Barca and Real who will also be able to offer as near as you're going to get a guaranteed trophy win)

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

Personally there is one manager out there not in employment that Id like to see and thats Roberto di Matteo. Obviously he has strong Chelsea feelings so would he want to go to United? But he did a sterling job at Chelsea delivering Roman his beloved CL and then having it chucked back in his face.

As for how much money the glaziers will give him. I think judging by how much they spent on mata. Money isnt a problem but when as you say you are competing against the Citys, PSG and Chelsea of this world then it may not be enought

Quite clearly in excess of 100 million needs to be spent really! :shock: Their are some glaring holes in the squad none more so than that midfield!

We certainly we struggle to attract a certain caliber of player thats for sure. I mean we have been linked with the beast that is Mario Reus . Surely he wouldnt come if there was no CL? But our name and history still has an effect so this doesnt concern me

 

[plantman]

i think the fact moyes has picked up a winning team/squad and got them playing utter dross will put people off, he has no pedigree, and i think players might sit and wait before committing to joining united.

 

[weasel]

Personally there is one manager out there not in employment that Id like to see and thats Roberto di Matteo. Obviously he has strong Chelsea feelings so would he want to go to United? But he did a sterling job at Chelsea delivering Roman his beloved CL and then having it chucked back in his face.

Liam, have you been drinking!

Di Matteo!? He was average at WBA, no more. Then got the Chelsea job by default, they need a manager short term and he was ex-Chelsea. He FLUKED the CL. OKAY, that's one impressive fluke (and yes Liverpool's win in '05 and Utd's in '99 were similar flukes) but just look what happened the season after. In fact look at how well Chelsea did in the league under him that season. They finished 5th!

The man may be a good manager in years to come, and he does seem like a decent bloke, but he is NOT a good manager now. He may provide a short term boost, I suspect Ron bloody Manager would provide a short-term boost to Utd ATM because it's quite clear the players have no faith in Moyes. But, getting rid of Moyes and giving Di Matteo the job would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire after first going and getting some canisters of petrol.

I'd actually double the amount you reckon needs spent, but then it all depends on who you sign. Peter Schmeichel, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Sami Hyypia were all bought for a pittance and went on to be great players. We can all name big name and big price players who have flopped, Veron, Carroll, Torres, etc. So Price doesn't actually guarantee success.
But, Utd need two centre backs, two holding/deep lying midfielders and possibly a wide midfielder or two and a full back or two who aren't utterly dung/phoning their performances.
They can make do with Raphael and Evra as full backs for a while, but long term both need shipped out. You know better than me how good Ashley Young is!

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

Hey Weaz I see what your saying but I would still like to see him given a chance. :wink: Any manager who has a CL on his CV no matter how much of a fluke obviously has potential

 

[plantman]

at last he continued to run a good team well, moyes has taken man utd from champions to...long ball mediocrity, he may well come good but he needs a lot of time, he has no pedigree at this level, if man utd get/got madrid in the CL they would take a huge hammering playing like everton.

 

[weasel]

That's an insult to Everton! Last season's Everton were a dam sight better to watch than this season's Utd!

 

[Richard_H]

As an Arsenal fan I'd love to see DiMatteo in charge of Man U.

 

[weasel]

:lol: Sad thing is, he would actually be an improvement. FFS anyone would be!

 

[weasel]

Spurs, what the **** was that? I mean, really! What the **** was that!?

Very harsh penalty and the red made it a double boot in the balls. Away to Chelsea that's game over, but Vertongen for the second, Sandro for the third and Walker for the fourth, that's some of the worst/most comical defending i've seen since i last watched Kolo Toure!

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

Interesting cup Draw means that a smaller club will reach the final at least it someone different to Sunderland

 

[Dark Sith Lord]

Wigan are fast becoming my second favourite team