English Premier League

[kevin_kyle]

Any thoughts on the Premier League at the moment?

As much as i hate him as his team, I find it really courageous how many were calling for Ryan Giggs' head saying that he should be sold or not offered a new contract and he has come out in the last few games and has ripped everyone. He has been incredibe as have Scholes and Keane, the other 'veterans' of the team. They are in great form, setting an example to the younger ones of the squad that Ferguson will be ecstatic about. United have 22 points from the last 24 possible, the only blemish being the 1-1 draw against Fulham, which took a moment of brilliance to take the full points off them.

Any thoughts on wheteher United can sustain this form to blow Everton away, catch Arsenal, and whisper it, possibly even Chelsea? Or do you have any thoughts on how the other teams are going? Post them all here.

[Stargazer]

I have been rapt with Chelsea this season. My favourite player is Frank Lampard, and I really LOVE watching Roben from the Netherlands play and Duff from Ireland amongst many others. At last we have a coach who knows what he's doing and he is very anxious for Chelsea to keep their heads down, work hard, and take nothing for granted. The Arsenal/Chelsea game was just mesmerizing - a fantastic contest.
I find it amusing when Man-U supporters complain about how much money Chelsea has spent on their team. For years Man-U had a huge advantage over all the other clubs, being able to buy and sell at will. No one could compete with them. Now they have some competition and they don't like it.
It's been a long time since Chelsea won the premiership, so I'm hoping we can break the drought this season.

[kevin_kyle]

Well so far you are looking very good for winning the title.
Robben is an amazing talent, and the way he has been playing as well as Lampard, Terry and the others, Chelsea have a very good chance to win the treble United won, and maybe even the Quadruple including all of the competitions.
I doubt that will happen but so far Chelsea have looked the goods.
Should have lost at Arsenal though, Henry should have slotted that last chance, but you always need breaks to win competitions.

[atlas]

It is good to see someone different (Chelsea) at the top of the EPL. Not since Blackburn Rovers won the title in 1995, has another team other than Man Utd or Arsenal won the EPL title.

[kevin_kyle]

It makes for a good standard of competition.
Feel sorry for Blackburn, they are having a hell of a bad couple of seasons for a club of previous glory. After their title win, Blackburn got relegated a few seasons later.
Hopefully that could be an omen for Chelski....although not a realistic one.

[kevin_kyle]

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3284418
What do you think about this?
Morientes would be brilliant for Liverpool I tihnk.
They are doing alright at the moment without Cisse.
Playing Sinama-Pongolle and Mellor. I think Morientes could revolutionise them.
Would he be cup-tied?

[kevin_kyle]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-1421636,00.html
Boumsong is a good player.
I will be interested to see if Boumsong and Babayaro will turn Newcastles season. Because their defending has been shameful.
Babayaro is a left back, He wont be getting a game over Bernard will he?
Bernard has been the only quality in the back 4 for the Toon this year.
They desperately need another good Centre Back.
Thoughts?

[kevin_kyle]

Quick review of the English transfer action.
Couple of decent signings here.
Looking forward to seeing if Savage can make an impact at Blackburn and Beattie at Everton.
If Jarosik will get much gametime, and to see where Mourinho decides to play him.
Any thoughts.
This was taken from:
http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=767864&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsSpecialFeatures&breadcrumb=sfsub_breadcrumb

BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP TRANSFERS

The transfer window is a pivotal time in the Barclays Premiership season.
Title contenders can enhance their squads for the final push in the spring, while teams at the other end of the table can find the missing piece and turn their season around.

Here, premierleague.com lists all the ins and outs in the Barclays Premiership in January.

Arsenal

In: Emmanuel Eboue, (Beveren, undisclosed)

Out: Jermaine Pennant (Birmingham City, loan)

Birmingham City

In: Njazi Kuqi (FC Lahti, £400,000), Robbie Blake (Burnley, £1.5million), Salif Diao (Liverpool, loan), Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal, loan)

Out: Mikael Forssell (Chelsea, loan return), Robbie Savage (Blackburn Rovers, £3million)

Blackburn Rovers

In: Aaron Mokoena (Racing Club Genk, £300,000), Ryan Nelson (DC United, free), Robbie Savage (Birmingham City, £3million)

Charlton Athletic

Out: Simon Royce (Queens Park Rangers, loan)

Chelsea

In: Jiri Jarosik (CSKA Moscow, undisclosed), Mikael Forssell (Birmingham City, loan return)

Out: Celestine Babayaro (Newcastle United, £1.5million)

Everton

In: James Beattie (Southampton, £6million)

Out: Kevin Campbell (West Bromwich Albion, free), Thomas Gravesen (Real Madrid, £2.45million)

Liverpool

In: Mauricio Pellegrino (Valencia, free), Fernando Morientes (Real Madrid, £6.3million), Scott Carson (Leeds United, £1million)

Out: Salif Diao (Birmingham City, loan)

Middlesbrough

Out: Andrew Davies (Queen's Park Rangers, loan)

Newcastle United

In: Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea, £1.5million), Jean Alain Boumsong (Rangers, £8million)

Norwich City

In: Dean Ashton (Crewe Alexandra, £3million)

Portsmouth

Out: Harald Wapenaar (Vitesse Arnhem, free), Nigel Quashie (Southampton, £2.1million)

Southampton

In: Jamie Redknapp (Tottenham Hotspur, free), Calum Davenport (Tottenham Hotspur, loan), Nigel Quashie (Portsmouth, £2.1million)

Out: James Beattie (Everton, £6million), Leandre Griffit (Leeds United, loan), Yoann Folly (Nottingham Forest, loan), Alan Blayney (Rushden, loan)

Tottenham Hotspur

In: Emil Hallfredsson (FH Hafnarfjordur, undisclosed), David Limbersky (Viktoria Plzen, loan)

Out: Jamie Redknapp (Southampton, free), Calum Davenport (Southampton, loan), Kasey Keller (Borussia Monchengladbach, free)

West Bromwich Albion

In: Kevin Campbell (Everton, free)

Out: Bernt Haas (released)

[kevin_kyle]

Any thoughts now?
Chelsea looking a little dodgy but i tihnk will do enough to secure the title.
Don't know about the rest of the cups though.
They are looking at doing what Arsenal did last year...very solid league campaign...fail everywhere else.
And Arsenal are really bad I have decided.
Everton still on target for Champions League spot.
Damn i hope they make it.

Any thoughts?

[kevin_kyle]

You have a damn huge job to do at Milan.
Arsenal are almost equally placed i'd say.
Back you guys in more than Arsenal though.
Shopping needs to be done.
And Campbell needs to be fit.
Andy Johnson has been my stand out...pure awesome.
Chelsea will win the title by 3 points i think.

[Clint]

Everton - It would be awesome to see us qualify for the CL and I think we will. Piss off Liverpool.

[Rooneymad]

Fulham did as expected. I whish we could've held on for 12 more minutes though to get a point from White Hart Lane.
I'd say we'll hold on this season. Hopefully we can hold on and launch some sort of move to the top in 05/06.

[kevin_kyle]

I have a big soft spot for Fulham.
I think it is Van Der Sar....I love that guy.
As for Everton, I feel (and hope) that we will be seeing you guys in the Champions League. Awesome considering how many financial problems you have been in recently.
Amazing season you are having.

[kevin_kyle]

Thats what I thought.
It was good for all parties.
Rooney has been devastating all season (except for the start)
And so he should be considering he has funded Evertons entire season.

[kevin_kyle]

Does anyone still think that Chelsea could lose.
THe FA are the only ones who can stop them now me thinks.

[Kieran]

It's definitely Chelsea's title :( Ends the reign of Manchester United/Arsenal dominance

[kevin_kyle]

Since Blackburn......that is such a long time...
Probably good for the game...the first year...

[kevin_kyle]

I know that this article cannot be taken seriously because of its source:
http://www.tribalfootball.com/april/englishnews8030405.html

But do you think that the Arse and Manure should even care about young Owen?
Is he any good anyway?

[Kieran]

Yeah and now every other year it can come back to United :D....and no im not selfish

[Kieran]

I know that this article cannot be taken seriously because of its source:
http://www.tribalfootball.com/april/englishnews8030405.html

But do you think that the Arse and Manure should even care about young Owen?
Is he any good anyway?
:p you know better than to post Tribal bullshit in front of me. Simple answers to your questions regardless. He is Tottenham standard at best and no he is not good. I honestly dont know how he is still getting caps for England. Someone liek Gareth Barry is much more deserving

[kevin_kyle]

I think we can all safely say it is going to the other end of the country...Southampton

[kevin_kyle]

Gareth Barry is somewhat underrated.
Solid player.

[Kieran]

Yeah. Solid. Not spectacular. Needs to take the next step and up his consistency

[kevin_kyle]

The youth has to be good enough though.
United's youth is not good enough at the moment.
I would like to see young Rossi get some more game time though...from what i see that man could be a potential star.

[kevin_kyle]

Edit that post.
You have either cut and pasted it from another site or it has gone horribly wrong somewhere.
Lots of good points in there.
For some reason i think of Ronaldo as a Trent Croad. Loves himself but isnt really that intelligent.

[Popos]

As a huge Ruud fan it pains me to say it, but he seems to have disrupted the shape of the side since is return. This could all be coincidence, which I hope it is, but you have to wonder, our football was beginning to look free-flowing, which we haven't seen since 2003.

Most of the youngsters aforementioned are not ready, plus they are progressing well in the reserves Rossi especially. But I predict Spector to be on the fringes of the side by next season. Fletch's injury was a cruel blow to a man who had been doing nicely as Keane's leg man, hopefully he'll be back as a sub against Norwich.
People underestimate how much we've missed Ole too, only 'cause before hand he was renowned as a bench fixture, but he was seen as the permanent Beckham replacement with merit.

Giggs needs to go, as predicted he's gone back to mediocrity since his contract was resolved, so lets move Ronaldo to the left and place Solskjaer back to RM! We can afford one or two seasons without a proper midfield enforcer, Keane is still great on his day and Pip Neville is a good stopgap.

Overall things look good for next season IMO, we won't have a nightmare start. Chances are our injury problem won't be as severe, and we won't have to wait until Christmas until Queiroz's influence becomes apparent.

[Kieran]

Edit that post.
You have either cut and pasted it from another site or it has gone horribly wrong somewhere.
Lots of good points in there.
For some reason i think of Ronaldo as a Trent Croad. Loves himself but isnt really that intelligent.
Had to delete it. Computer won't let me type more than 50 lines without it multiplying itself :o In summary it said:
-I dont agree with Simon
-Giggs,Scholes,Rooney = Inconsistent but capable of brilliance
-Ronaldo is only midfield matchwinner
-Keane doesnt have the engine anymore
-I wouldnt mind Howard starting next year
-Ruud either lost the plot or badly out of form
-Youngsters need to be blooded this year (Martin,Blake,Rossi,Jones,Pique)
-Future currently looks bleak but squad and system tinkering may fix

[kevin_kyle]

Funny what you say about Ruud.
You guys looked like Gold when he was gone...didnt you go for like 4 months without losing (every other season i think that would have put you on top)...
But he has disrupted you.
Despite being a world class striker...he isnt good news for you at the moment.
But if United can all click...the quality is still there..as Arsenal is when they click.
Chelsea are not above both teams by as far as the table suggests.

[Popos]

Chelsea are not above both teams by as far as the table suggests.Of course not, table statistics are misleading every season, because things change so swiftly in footabll.

[Kieran]

Funny what you say about Ruud.
You guys looked like Gold when he was gone...didnt you go for like 4 months without losing (every other season i think that would have put you on top)...
But he has disrupted you.
Despite being a world class striker...he isnt good news for you at the moment.
But if United can all click...the quality is still there..as Arsenal is when they click.
Chelsea are not above both teams by as far as the table suggests.
Still haven't lost in league. Since October we have gone unbeaten in every game except:
-UEFA Champs League vs Fenerbache 0-3 (dead rubber, played weak squad)
-League Cup Semi vs Chelsea 1-2 (played very well against full strength chelski)
-Champs League vs AC Milan 0-1 (beaten by a better unit)
-Champs League (second leg) vs AC Milan 0-1 (beaten again by a better unit)

But we still havent lost in League since a 2-0 loss at Portsmouth in October :D Pity we are 458 points behind :(

[Da-Ethsta]

For some reason i think of Ronaldo as a Trent Croad. Loves himself but isnt really that intelligent.
lol, i agree

[Aaron]

Funny what you say about Ruud.
You guys looked like Gold when he was gone...didnt you go for like 4 months without losing (every other season i think that would have put you on top)...
But he has disrupted you.
Despite being a world class striker...he isnt good news for you at the moment.
But if United can all click...the quality is still there..as Arsenal is when they click.
Chelsea are not above both teams by as far as the table suggests.
you can't say that dude. If Liverpool 'click' they'd be top 3 for sure, same with newcastle and the likes.

If all clubs click then they would all be top 6. But it simply doesn't happen that way.

If liverpool played in the league like they did in europe they'd be top and would have won the league by now to be honest.

[Kieran]

you can't say that dude. If Liverpool 'click' they'd be top 3 for sure, same with newcastle and the likes.

If all clubs click then they would all be top 6. But it simply doesn't happen that way.

If liverpool played in the league like they did in europe they'd be top and would have won the league by now to be honest.
Huge call there. I'd have to say i disagree with you. And theres no way of ever knowing either. They have scraped many results in CL and i think they have just defended slightly better in CL

[kevin_kyle]

you can't say that dude. If Liverpool 'click' they'd be top 3 for sure, same with newcastle and the likes.

If all clubs click then they would all be top 6. But it simply doesn't happen that way.

If liverpool played in the league like they did in europe they'd be top and would have won the league by now to be honest.Don't agree.
Chelsea are about to break the Premiership record for amount of points.
Liverpool even at ECL form would NOT have achieved this.
Don't underestimate Chelsea's EPL achievement...

[Rob]

Yeah, true.

Also look out for 17-year-old Lee Martin. Aparently he has the crossing of Beckham, the tackling of Keane, the shooting of Scholes and the dribbling skills of Giggs :cool:

United have a pleothra of kids comming though.

Martin, Jones, Rossi, Spector, Eagles come to mind.

[Kieran]

United have a pleothra of kids comming though.

Martin, Jones, Rossi, Spector, Eagles come to mind.
You like that word dont ya? :p You have used it a plethora of times :D

[Rob]

You like that word dont ya? :p You have used it a plethora of times :D

Im getting too predictable :(

: exorbitance, overabundance, superfluousness,

:)

[dechamp]

Bentleigh you forgot Pique. He will be better than the rest of the youngsters coming through.

[Kieran]

Bentleigh you forgot Pique. He will be better than the rest of the youngsters coming through.
Excuse me? :eek: Pique will be a good player but no youngster will be better than the "future of Manchester" (see above)