English Premier League 2013/14

[Macca]

Macca, I Hope it's a NO Pointer........

To think I was going to say such nice things about ur team this weekend

Go choke on a McVitie

[BobHelm]

Another good Saturday's viewing.

Early game.. Citi had a bad week after a poor start to the season. However they do not lose many at home in the Premiership & still have talent in abundance. The Toffees have exceeded expectations but this is a tough game for them where a draw would be a great result.

Of the 3pm kick offs...Just about every side playing needs a good result, so many are going to be disappointed come 5pm.

United v Sunderland... Moyes will come under huge pressure if this is anything less than a win. Good European result mid week but Sunderland need a miracle to survive after what has been seen so far...
Could today be the start for them????

[Zidane]

A crucial game for Martin Jol at Fulham,you might think.......if they lose at home to Stoke ??

[BobHelm]

I have noticed a lot of mutterings about Jol in the media. Largely, i think, because it seems to be generally believed that the new owner wants to appoint his 'own man'.
Fulham's results have been poor as well so it is a double whamy.
I would not be surprised if he was no longer Fulhams' manager come the New Year, whatever their results.
However you are right Zid a loss at home today could well be enough to see him go.
I am not a huge fan of his but I do think he has done probably as much as could be expected at the club with the given resources.

[mathusalah80]

Bob wrote: .....The Toffees have exceeded expectations....

Not mine Bob . Though light in numbers,(for which the club wil undoubtedly suffer later in the season), Martinez has inherited a talented and solid squad from DM and has made some shrewd additions, most notably Gareth Barry & Lukaku. Don't be surprised if the team exceeds your expectations again this week-end, and add to Pellegrina misery . I think both City, and Aquero, are already missing the Dynamo, aka Tevez.

I admit he is good, but is 'The Special One' as good as HE keeps telling us
a)So Bemba & Torres are both better strikers/players than Lukaku Really
b) Mata, not good enough to start; then good enough but doesn't work hard enough ( translation "I love changing thoroughbreds into drayhorses"); then, he has changed his style so now I will play him. In neither the Cup game nor in the game against Spurs did I detect any change at all in Matas' style of play or, put another way, he was his usual majestic self. In reinstating him, Jose has merely rectified a bad error footballing judgement pure & simple. If any further proof was needed of JM bad judgement take a look at Matas contribution in the midweek4-0 Champions League win. =D>
c) Post match, JM stated bluntly his team should have beaten Spurs and would have won, but the referee cost them the win, by sending off Torres. Someone should advise JM a team seldom, if ever, loses because it loses a player in the last 5/6 minutes of a game. Maybe he should look at the difference bringing on Mata made to his team performance, when it immediately looked capable of winning, and consider the possibility his ego affected selection process was at fault.

Fulham. Agree with the comments but begs the question " Who the hell would you select to relace him? McClaren already has a job , Sir Alex is already adding to his millions havingby entered the lucrative Guest Speaker Circuit and DeCanio is studying Communication Skills at an unspecified University. [-o< Before anyone suggests it, Bob & Zid are both unavailable having unselfishly decided to provide their full time support to MU, in its time of need =D>

[747man]

Macca, I Hope it's a NO Pointer........

To think I was going to say such nice things about ur team this weekend

Go choke on a McVitie

Nah !! Macca they are too expensive here.. Wait till I'm back in the U.K Next Week, & I Can get the PLAIN Choccy Ones......Ah !! Lubberley....

[Macca]

Macca, I Hope it's a NO Pointer........

To think I was going to say such nice things about ur team this weekend

Go choke on a McVitie

Nah !! Macca they are too expensive here.. Wait till I'm back in the U.K Next Week, & I Can get the PLAIN Choccy Ones......Ah !! Lubberley....

More of a Jaffa cake man myself.
Anyway back on topic. Hoped for better from Toffees but just finished City 3 Everton 1
Dodgy penalty settles the match. Lukaku getting a bit of a reputation as a 45 minute man. A reputation many of us would be proud of

[BobHelm]

FULL-TIME - Man City 3-1 Everton

Everton gave it a good shot, but just not good enough.
Citi up to second for now but with maybe defensive issues in the side & the Captain maybe missing again...

[747man]

Oh ! Well the last Unbeaten record gone in the prem....Everton beaten 1-3 at Man City,But the " Man of the Match " was the Referee John Moss who handed out 9 Yellow cards,5 for City & 4 for Everton for mostly Silly " Niggly " Fouls also awarded City a VERY Dubious penalty which Aguero hit the post with,But the ball went in off the back of Tim Howards head to make it 3-1......

[BobHelm]

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[magpie73]

just what us geordies needed after Monday's game much much better there was some fight in team remy from what I've seen is class someone that we need to keep us up toon toon black & white army

[BobHelm]

Sunderland 1-2 Man Utd

United win but it was a close call against the side bottom of the table.
The United defence (with different members) looked as fragile as it had last weekend.
The side who have spent seasons punishing teams who dared to attack them looked incapable of withstanding attacks from pretty mediocre opposition.
However they also have a new Belgium player in the side. This, currently seems essential for a Premiership club.
But it was not the expensively purchased Fellaini (who didn't make the squad) by the youngster Januza that provided the inspiration...

[BobHelm]

Very much Londons' day in the Premiership sun today.
In fact Chelsea, Spurs & The Gunners all look good favourites to win today.
That, to me, makes the only game not featuring a London club the one to watch.

Southampton have looked a mighty effective side to me this season & playing some nice attacking football. The Swans are also a side that are well worth a look for anyone who likes to see the game played to score goals.
Both sides now seen to have a great core of players, but a bit thin on the ground as far as numbers are concerned. It will take a lot of fortune for either of these sides to win anything this season but that doesn't mean that there won't be some classy games to watch along the way..

[Macca]

Sunderland 1-2 Man Utd

But it was not the expensively purchased Fellaini (who didn't make the squad) by the youngster Januza that provided the inspiration...

Couple of nice goals by Januzaj the Belgium with Kosovan parents who wants to play for Albania but could be eligible to play for England if he waits 5 years.
United were an improved side for the 2nd half but still a big concern. Not 1 player appears to be playing close to their potential. Even nani doesn't look out of place in the current team.
The normally reliable Vidic again provides an easy assist to the opponents.
A loss would have seen United 2 points off relegation and a mile off the top.

[Zidane]

Saying Nani doesnt look out of place in the current team is spot on but,unfortunately,I dont think its because he has improved its more like the rest have gone to pot ! I do exclude De Gea and Januzaj from that statement.
But a wins a win and now United have four home games on the bounce where,hopefully,they can start hitting a bit of form.....Southampton,Real Sociedad,Stoke and Norwich.
But at least I can go for a few days break in Songkhla tomorrow in a reasonably positive state of mind and not be concerned that Fulham will be contacting me about taking charge at Craven Cottage ! :-"

[BobHelm]

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Well the two early games went just about how I expected, except the scores made both look a bit too easy for the eventual winners as they were both close games for a long time.
Both later games came up with rather shock results.
A bit of a late blitz saw the Hammers get a huge result against Spurs. Leaps them out of the bottom 3 in some sort of style. Spurs have not scored many this season but have conceded less & this will be quite a blow to them.
I don't know why I should be surprised that the Gunners couldn't win at The Albion, but I was. The Baggies are off to a hell of a start & I don't think anyone will relish playing them at home at the moment. Arsenal can look back at this game & see it as a point won against a very good looking side...

[mathusalah80]

Bravely going where others fear to tread. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton & WBA to beat Newcastle, Norwich, Cardiff, Hull, Stoke tonight.
The individual player I am most looking forward to seeing again is WBAs' Berahino. The media & MU supporters hysteria over Januzzi's 45 minutes & 2 goals against currently the worst club in the EPL, has been well over the top. Hopefully the lad will receive the care and nurturing for which MU is justly famous. A progressive 'score' you might want to keep a watch on is Chelsea (4 strikers) 2goals v Sturridge & Lukaku 12goals :-" .
Whoever would have thought, even in the recent past, a home match against Southampton, would have been approached with such trepidation and uncertainty among the MU faithful. I think the so far unseen quality of several of the main players will finally shine through and, temporarily at least, ease their worries with a narrow win.
Swansea has both a team and a manager, of which I am an admirer, but the team has already shown some worrying inconsistencies and has not yet reached the levels of performance achieved last year. Laudrup will be aware a convincing win and performance against Sunderand will go a long way towards removing the spectre of involvement in a relegation battle. I expect him to be a happy little manager at afternoons end.
Maybe not on paper, but to me WHU v Man.City will not turn out to be the 'walk in the park' City and their fans will be confidently expecting. The homely little ground. the not so homely supporters, a team fresh up from the clawing and fighting for every minute and every point in the Championship, led by the legendary Big Sam whose EPL football experience, tactical knowhow, player management skills and 'infighting' ability are second to none, could prove just that bit too intimidating for the City team.. The environment, particularly being squeezed on a small pitch with less time to think and move, with doubts planted by a less than an outstanding seasons start, and with a manager still learning the special nuances of the EPL, suggest this will be the match of the weekend; or a burst balloon and no bubbles, for WHU. Ya pays yur money, and yur takes yur pick

[Macca]

Bravely going where others fear to tread. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton & WBA to beat Newcastle, Norwich, Cardiff, Hull, Stoke tonight.

I'm going to tread bravely as well and predict that none of your weekend predictions will be correct.
Try again in 7 days, might be more successful.

[mathusalah80]

Don't be so unkind Macca. Just bear in mind that it is just possible, although highly improbable if MU continue to give you so much stress, that one day you may become an octaganarian.

So, just to demonstrate I am still 'with it', I hereby forecast the defeat of England at its home/away match tonight/tomorrow/Monday by Poland/Ukraine/ UdonthFC. Also that Hart will mark the occasion by NOT making a mistake, always assuming he gets picked to play in goal ahead of DeFoe, and that the England Manager, Whatisname will come out of retirement and add to his previously unknown world goal scoring record. I further forecast that those lovers of all things English, Messrs. Blatter & Platini, will take over management of the England team, without requiring either payment or perks of any kind, thus absolutely ensuring the venue for the next World Cup will be changed to England, and will be won by the host country. Finally, despite finishing no higher than third, and embarassingly winning te EUFA Cup, Chelseas owner and JM will swear everlasting love for each other and get married, at seasons end, with JM asking Lukaku to be best man,in recognition of his being named Player of the Year.

So, beat THAT, if you can, Macca.

[Macca]

Don't be so unkind Macca. Just bear in mind that it is just possible, although highly improbable if MU continue to give you so much stress, that one day you may become an octaganarian.

So, beat THAT, if you can, Macca.

I wont even attempt to, always good to know when you're beaten

However a simple copy & paste of your previous post next weekend might be deemed more appropriate