English Premier League 2013/14

[Zidane]

Looks like Moyes is settling on Smalling and Evans as his main centre back partnership with Vidic and Ferdinand being gradually phased out.When he returns from injury,Jones is another option in that position also.
A shame Kagawa is not getting a game.The likes of Nani and Young should be shifted out long before him.

Macca,Merry Xmas to you.....I take your point about Rooney who is playing out of his skin,at the moment.
But I think the reason many wanted him gone before the start of this season was because he has not played like this for three seasons.

Very interesting at the bottom with Palace,Fulham and Sunderland all winning.Looking decidedly dodgy for the likes of West Ham and Cardiff who are right in the mix now along with West Brom.I would say any team from Stoke in 10th downwards will have to be very careful they dont go on a bad run.
Cant believe Everton lost at home to Sunderland.Did it coincide with 747mans return to Nong Khai ?

[Macca]

Macca,Merry Xmas to you.....I take your point about Rooney who is playing out of his skin,at the moment.
But I think the reason many wanted him gone before the start of this season was because he has not played like this for three seasons.

Mery Xmas to you also Khun Zid.
Sorry but can not agree. I feel many fickle fans were caught up in media sensationalism and Rooney was gullible to listening to bad advice.
He had to adjust last season after RVP arrived but still did ok with 16 goals
The season before he had 34 goals all in and never let us down

This was all about Fergies last stand. The man was without doubt the greatest thing to ever happen to United and quite possibly the greatest football manager ever BUT there seems to be some bitter after taste ( IMHO his book was a disgrace) from him and some question his decision in the last yr or 2 at OT (perhaps preparing for his retirement).
Regardless of Rooneys form his commitment could never be questioned.

[BobHelm]

I will agree with Matt on the Rooney question...

It is to Mr. Moyes' credit that he is playing Rooney where he should have been playing for both United & England.
In attacking midfield where he can influence a game.
He is not a natural centre forward & the team loses a great deal if you play him there. He is a natural replacement for Paul Scholes at United & once the boy wonder returns there is no reason why they should not both play every game.

There is little doubt that Sir A bought VanP just to rub Rooney's nose in it & to show him that he was not indispensable to United. Sir A was right to buy Robin but wrong not to then drop Rooney back in behind him.

I hope our Woy has been watching this season.
With an inform Sturridge playing in front of Rooney with the assistance of some of The Gunners youngsters England could ruffle a few feathers in attack in the World Cup..

[Zidane]

I will agree with Matt...

Oh dear,I think that is one of the most disturbing posts ever made on Udon Map ! Very sinister !
Bob,I can only assume you are being held hostage by mat80 who is fuelled and crazy on Pedro Ximenez sherry and vodka after numerous attempts to make home made Xmas puddings !

[Macca]

I will agree with Matt...

Oh dear,I think that is one of the most disturbing posts ever made on Udon Map ! Very sinister !

Are there no rules against this kind of behavior.

[BobHelm]

Don't worry Zid I am confident that rescue is imminent, or at least in time to watch tomorrows' cricket antics..

It was a point he made over a coffee on Christmas Eve & one that I agreed with, but would not like to be accused of plagiarism by repeating it on the Forum, without reference..

[Zidane]

Bob,
You have to be very careful who you agree with dont tell me he tried to flog you his Andre Villas-Boas 2014 calendar that he had already pre-purchased ?

[stattointhailand]

Bob, I know this is supposed to be the season of Goodwill to ALL men, but don't you think that you may be taking it a bit toooooooo far

There is a limit to the amount of MERITS you can acrue during one season

[BobHelm]

I know that some people object to the number of foreign players in English football & to a small degree I agree.
However it can just result in some just unbelievable names that I think it could be worth it for that alone.
van Wolfswinkel who plays for Norwich takes some beating, but my personal favourite took part in the early game today..
Razvan Rat could be a Bond villain & I am pretty sure that there is a Sci Fi series dedicated to him..

It was a strange game though as the home side went ahead from Joe Cole - yes he is still playing.
However before half time The Baggies were ahead as Nicolas Anelka (I kid you not) scored twice.
Second half & to keep up with the pensioner approach Kevin Nolan put The Hammers ahead after some foreigner (no, not The Rat) had equalised.
The young England whipper-snapper Saido Berahino (yes that IS an English name ) didn't realise his place & scored for the visitors.

& so it ended three all. The Hammers remain 2nd. from bottom but if Sunderland managed a late kick off win in managerless Cardiff they would go bottom...

Fact actack
In recent seasons, Mick McCarthy, Chris Hughton, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo and Paolo Di Canio all played their last Premier League match against the Baggies before being shown the door at their respective clubs.

Have a Happy New Year Sam...

[BobHelm]

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Villa achieved something right at the death of the year that they hadn't managed all season - they scored a first half goal,
They also stopped a run of 4 loses on the trot with a draw, That was about as good as it got for the home fans though as The Swans dominated the match & should have run out fairly easy winners, Neither side seems to be setting the league on fire this season, Swansea at least have the excuse of the strains of the European competition on a small squad.

It was going OK for Fulham until Hull scored their first goal after 50 minutes. The wheels came off very quickly then as the home side almost scored at will. Conceding 6 without having a man sent off is a thrashing, conceding 6 in a half is bewildering. Hull have shown all season that they are not to be taken lightly by anyone at home. This was a disaster for the visitors who were looking like a new manager had done the trick.

Citi started the game without many of its stars. Some were on the bench to come on in an emergency though. They were needed as the visitors put up a very spirited show that threatened to upset the Citi home record. As it was the visitors got nothing out of a game where a point would have been a fair reflection of what happened on the pitch. Little comes your way from Lady Luck when you are at the bottom of the table though. They do stay out of the zone on goal difference thanks to the Fulham thrashing & can take something away with them.

No Boy Wonder & no Rooney looked a bit ominous for United in attack. They did have Vidic back in defence though & he put in the sort of comforting performance of old. United had early chances but couldn't convert (see no Rooney/Persie) & Norwich had probably the best of the game without looking especially threatening. Half time saw Welbeck come on for Giggs & he took a chance well enough. United then rather ran the clock down without too much alarm. Not their best performance of the season, but a comfortable 3 points as Moyles learns how to win matches like this.

Cardiff were sailing to a needed 3 points, 2 nil up with 7 minutes to go. Gus gets his lads to work till the end though & they rescued a point. You have to feel that if Poyet had been at the club at the start of the season they wouldn't be in this mess. I am not sure that they can gain enough points to pull themselves out of the mire as time runs out. There are certainly sides above them who are not playing as well though.
Cardiff remain firmly in the mix for Championship football next season...

[mathusalah80]

Bob wrote, (presumably very much with tongue in cheek ):.....Citi started the game without many of its stars...
As they do EVERY GAME, since the are not permitted to play all 30+ of their international stars at the same time :-" Very difficult indeed for City to be forced to start the game with RESERVES ( ),of such inferior standard as Fernandhino, Silver & Milner Most creditable of them , with such a depleted team, to manage to scrape a win against such high calibre opponents. :-" =D> =D>

PS.Bob, you are to be commended in ignoring the ill informed criticism of the peasantry, regarding your recent honourable behaviour towards me =D> =D> . With so few of us left, we people of high moral standards must continue to set an example to those less blessed mortals. :-" [-o<

[BobHelm]

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Everton revert to their rightful place above Pool??
This has been the best season for either of them for a long time, so far,,
Traditionally Everton have 'come good' in the second half of the season. If that happens then they are serious European place challengers. Although that usually proves a very mixed blessing for sides with small squads.
Pool, in reverse, have often gone off the boil once winning the whole things looks to have started to look unlikely. They have looked a good side this year against everybody except the very best.

[goodison]

Plenty of PL fixtures on New Years Day with Toffees travelling to Stoke and 'Pool entertaining the Tigers, Steve Bruce looking for a double at Anfield as are a few of us in this neck o' the woods!

[BobHelm]

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[Galee]

Looks like someone at United forgot to renew Howard Webb's contract.

[Prenders88]

Looks like someone at United forgot to renew Howard Webb's contract.

Indeed Sir, especially as Moyes (Out with the Christmas tree on the 6th of Jan) was furious that Manure's number 10 Howard Webb, did not award a penalty.

[Zidane]

Ah well,not such a great start to the New Year......and with the 5th Test starting tomorrow
But nice to see you Chelsea guys back posting with such glee.....was it Fernando Torres being the first Chelsea striker in 13 months to score an away goal that inspired you ?

[Galee]

Looks as though Mata is on borrowed time at Chelsea.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... mpton.html

Rooney is stalling on a new contract, playing in midfield again and no European football next season. Seems to me a straight swop suits everybody.

[stattointhailand]

Zid it may have something to do with the fact that Chelsea have just moved onto the "PLUS" side of the rankings when compared to last years results ......... first time this season that they have had MORE points than last season

Not too sure why everyone is going on about the Gooners being so "improved" this season ..... they have scored 3 LESS points than in the corresponding fixtures last season.

After 20 matches:-

Arsenal 3 LESS points
Man Utd 13 LESS
Chelsea 3 MORE
Everton 1 MORE
Spurs 1 MORE
Man City 10 MORE
Liverpool 9 MORE
West Brom 7 LESS
West Ham 12 LESS
Newcastle 6 MORE
Swansea 4 LESS
Aston Villa 1 MORE
Norwich 1 LESS
Southampton 8 MORE
Sunderland 4 LESS
Fulham 1 MORE
Stoke 6 MORE
Palace (compared to QPR) 1 LESS
Hull (compared to Reading) 8 MORE
Cardiff (compared to Wigan) 3 MORE

[patriot]

Question; if you'd be so good as to help.
I read on this or another thread that there is a english speaking EPL pundit programme on CTH every night?
If it does actually exist; what time is it and which Stadium.
Thanks Chaps