EPL Discussion Thread Season 2009/2010

[Bully]

No surprise there but sounds like it was a stupid foul anyway.

DA will be quite pleased after Spurs beat City 3-0. Man City are in a spot of bother, I can't see them qualifying for CL football.

Liverpool won 2-1 over Wigan and Burnley held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. Sounds like Burnley were robbed of the win, maybe JTC can shed some light on that.

burnley scored to go 2-1 up and was given offside so goal not given. was iff offside tho camera angle showed it was but i didnt think it was.

FFS we need a new keeper!!!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

Arsene Wenger frustrated by Premier League fixture list

Wenger believes his side have been hard done by
Arsene Wenger has hit out at the Premier League fixture list after his side's 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Arsenal play Hull, who have not played since 12 December, on Saturday after away games on Sunday and Wednesday.

"The guy who organised the fixtures this season must have come from a special school, because he's more intelligent than I am," said Wenger.

"I think the Premier League has a basic promise to organise the fixtures in a normal way."

Hull's week without a game was a result of Everton's Europa League commitments, and Wenger believes his side have been unfairly treated.

606: DEBATE
Are Wenger's comments justified?
Arsenal won 2-1 at Liverpool on 13 December before taking on Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday, during which they lost Cesc Fabregas to a hamstring injury that will keep him out of the next match at least.

"For sure, (the fixture organisers) have never played football, organising midweek games in a week when you have a Europa League programme," said Wenger.

"We have some teams who do not play at all. We play Sunday and Wednesday away and at home on Saturday against Hull, who have not played all week."

But the Premier League has insisted that unavoidable fixture congestion affects different clubs at different times.

PAUL FLETCHER'S BLOG
The man who owns the Premier League and Football League fixture computer answers your questions (June 2009)
"It is part and parcel of the ebbs and flows of the league," said a spokesperson.

"It is impossible to have it sat so that everybody plays at the same time all throughout the season because of policing reasons and other competitions."

Wenger also criticised Wolves boss Mick McCarthy's decision to field a weakened side against Manchester United.

McCarthy - with one eye on Sunday's game against fellow newly promoted side Burnley - made 10 changes to his side at Old Trafford, and saw his side fall to a 3-0 defeat.

"We will have to compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38," said Wenger.

"I believe it is a problem for the international credibility of the Premier League, but it is not my problem, it is a Premier League problem."

But Burnley boss Owen Coyle refused to condemn McCarthy's decision, despite the fact his side will now face a relatively fresh Wolves team at the weekend.

"If that is the motivation for Wolves, to galvanise them, then so be it," said Coyle.

"Mick McCarthy is an outstanding manager and fantastic man, somebody I have a lot of time for.

"He has done a fantastic job at Wolves and does what he sees fit for Wolverhampton."

[cossi11]

Looks like Lescott is out for a couple of months! Toure is leaving for the African Nations Cup in January and with Lescott missing that whole period City are going to be in some strife, the article mentions Hughes is going to be dipping into the transfer market come January, who will it be this time and how much more $$

Being an Everton supporter i think City and Lescott deserved this for their unprofessional activity in the last transfer window

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headl ... 44,00.html

[devilsadvocate]

Looks like Lescott is out for a couple of months! Toure is leaving for the African Nations Cup in January and with Lescott missing that whole period City are going to be in some strife, the article mentions Hughes is going to be dipping into the transfer market come January, who will it be this time and how much more $$

Being an Everton supporter i think City and Lescott deserved this for their unprofessional activity in the last transfer window

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headl ... 44,00.html

There are rumors Citeh are after Upson from Wet Spam. However, Spurs are too apparently and Upson's preference is to stay in London with family.

When push comes to shove though, the quid talks and when Citeh offer him a HUGE sign on fee and STUPID wages, he'll happily relocate to Manchester.

[JK]

Just a lazy 5 goals in the 1st half of Man City v Sunderland

[Bully]

yes i was watching viewers choice with my mate and he wanted to watch villa vs stoke as he reckoned that there was goals in that game, i flicked it over just before half time and it was 3-2, was not happy!

[johntheclaret]

Two points concerning McCarthy fielding a reserve team.

1) Bunley never complained once about it, even though it affected them the most, whislt Wenger squeeled like a stuck pig.

2) Despite all powerful Sky and it's pundits pronouncing that there is nothing to stop McCarthy doing what he wants with his team selections, Wolves are in clear breach of rule 24, which states that a club must field it's strongest team for a league match.

[devilsadvocate]

Two points concerning McCarthy fielding a reserve team.

1) Bunley never complained once about it, even though it affected them the most, whislt Wenger squeeled like a stuck pig.

2) Despite all powerful Sky and it's pundits pronouncing that there is nothing to stop McCarthy doing what he wants with his team selections, Wolves are in clear breach of rule 24, which states that a club must field it's strongest team for a league match.

On point 1 - wenger would complain about getting to shag Megan Fox I reckon. He needs a good old slap or a Glasgow Kiss to knock some sense into him.

Point 2 - Rule 24 is too subjective to be enforced though, as Mick could just say he was choosing horses for courses and he believed the 11 he selected were the strongest for that match. That and the FA would never grow a pair and challenge a club on the matter.

[mighty hounds]

No surprise there but sounds like it was a stupid foul anyway.

DA will be quite pleased after Spurs beat City 3-0. Man City are in a spot of bother, I can't see them qualifying for CL football.

Liverpool won 2-1 over Wigan and Burnley held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. Sounds like Burnley were robbed of the win, maybe JTC can shed some light on that.

burnley scored to go 2-1 up and was given offside so goal not given. was iff offside tho camera angle showed it was but i didnt think it was.

FFS we need a new keeper!!!!

i totally agree with keeper. have not been a fan since he let in two near post goal in the champions league final. i disagree with the offside i think he was offside you could tell as soon as the ball was played to him

[westozfalcon]

Two points concerning McCarthy fielding a reserve team.

1) Bunley never complained once about it, even though it affected them the most, whislt Wenger squeeled like a stuck pig.

2) Despite all powerful Sky and it's pundits pronouncing that there is nothing to stop McCarthy doing what he wants with his team selections, Wolves are in clear breach of rule 24, which states that a club must field it's strongest team for a league match.

On point 1 - wenger would complain about getting to shag Megan Fox I reckon. He needs a good old slap or a Glasgow Kiss to knock some sense into him.

Point 2 - Rule 24 is too subjective to be enforced though, as Mick could just say he was choosing horses for courses and he believed the 11 he selected were the strongest for that match. That and the FA would never grow a pair and challenge a club on the matter.

The thing about Wolves is that even if they'd put their supposed best team on the park for the game against United they'd have still lost. I don't know what all the brouhaha is about.

As for Wenger's complaints about the glut of games last week, those fixtures were set at the start of the season so why didn't he complain about it then?
I know why, he was just dirty on the fact that his team only managed a draw against Burnley in a game he would have arrogantly pencilled in for 3 points.

[RoosterMarty]

Just saw footage of Lampard's 3 penalties... pretty comical stuff seeing him turn away to celebrate twice before being asked to take it again.

But really, why would a Chelsea player encroach a second time?? I think it was DA who also mentioned that Drogba encroached a 3rd time and that's what I think I saw too....

[fish]

Latest odds for the title:

CHELSEA 73/100
MANCHESTER UNITED 2/1
ARSENAL 4/1
MANCHESTER CITY 25/1
ASTON VILLA 40/1
LIVERPOOL 50/1
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 50/1
THE REST 2000/1 OR 2500/1

Looks like it's down to a three horse race...

[mighty hounds]

Just saw footage of Lampard's 3 penalties... pretty comical stuff seeing him turn away to celebrate twice before being asked to take it again.

But really, why would a Chelsea player encroach a second time?? I think it was DA who also mentioned that Drogba encroached a 3rd time and that's what I think I saw too....

if u have a a look at the 3rd penalty theres a west ham player that enrouchs. it happens all the time the goalies are always off there line aswell. i think its a stupid rule. if he scores it should count coz the enrouched player hasnt determined the outcome of the penalty

[fish]

Latest odds for relegation from the Premier League in 2009/10:

Hull 4/9
Portsmouth 8/11
Burnley 11/10
Wolves 5/4
West Ham 15/8
Bolton 3/1
Wigan 5/1
Blackburn 7/1
Stoke 8/1
Birmingham 10/1
Sunderland 14/1
Everton 20/1
Fulham 33/1

[shoe boy]

Penaltie kicks have been seen to win world cups/Euros/Champ League and so on and we still have players at the top level hit them on the ground eather side of the keeper!!!!

I know Lampard scored 3 in a row the other night ALL on the ground but to me that gives the keeper a 50/50 chance.

At this level you should be able to put them in the top corner and with the world cup coming up I am sure penalties will decide a game or 2.

Over the years 2 sides stand out with superb penalties Germany and Russia and England would be the worst and watching Lampard I feel they have learnt nothing.

Just my thoughts

[devilsadvocate]

Penaltie kicks have been seen to win world cups/Euros/Champ League and so on and we still have players at the top level hit them on the ground eather side of the keeper!!!!

I know Lampard scored 3 in a row the other night ALL on the ground but to me that gives the keeper a 50/50 chance.

At this level you should be able to put them in the top corner and with the world cup coming up I am sure penalties will decide a game or 2.

Over the years 2 sides stand out with superb penalties Germany and Russia and England would be the worst and watching Lampard I feel they have learnt nothing.

Just my thoughts

Believe it or not, but hitting a penalty along the ground into the bottom corner is one of the best ways of scoring.

When the ball is hit just inside the upright along the ground, the keep not only has to dive a long way to reach the ball, but they also have to get down. Most keepers are big units these days - 6'4 +, so to get down that low quickly is a tough ask.

Obviously the best place to hit a pen is just inside the top corner on either side, but that's also the hardest and riskiest of the lot (Just as Roberto Baggio, John Terry and MANY others).

The easiest penalties to save are those hit about 2 feet off the ground and 2-3 feet inside the upright because that gives a diving keeper every chance of getting something on it.

Needless to say, if Lampard takes a pen at the world cup and hits it into the bottom corner like he did against the spammers, he'd be odds on to score.

[johntheclaret]

Or if they are taken by Defoe

[devilsadvocate]

Or if they are taken by Defoe

Love the little man, but NOT WHEN HE TAKES A PEN

[Bully]

looks like the weekend of draws

[Bully]

games are coming thick and fast at the moment, wont get any sleep this week