Premier League (Official Thread)

[Merih]

Bale's late goal made my stomach turn....until Chelsea picked up three points at Old Trafford.

:pirate1:

Spurs fans were crying that we got lucky, as if scoring from their ONE shot on target all match wasn't luck itself

 

[jlb1705]

Spurs fans were crying that we got lucky, as if scoring from their ONE shot on target all match wasn't luck itself

Meh. Spurs were poor most of the match and they were lucky to get a result. I'm not afraid to admit it. There are question marks all over the place with the team. Moving Bale to a more central role has been a blessing and a curse. You certainly can't argue with the goals he has been scoring and the points he has been earning for the club. It has caused a couple problems tactically though. There is a vacuum on the left side. When Bale is not there. The team is far too narrow, making them easier to defend. The guys who end up trying to play on the left wing (Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Holtby) are all naturally right-footed and accustomed to playing centrally so they drift in that direction. LB has been a revolving door... Assou-Ekotto has been hurt and inconsistent because of trouble re-integrating himself with the side - specifically as it concerns working with the new rotating cast on the left wing. Vertonghen has played in that spot some, but he is accustomed to playing centrally. Naughton is shit and is a natural right back, so again, another player who wants to drift inside to get on his preferred foot. The decision to loan Andros Townsend to QPR looks worse with each day that passes.

Despite all of that, the Chelsea goal against United didn't change much as far as Spurs are concerned. They were probably always going to need all three points at Stamford Bridge 12 out of the last 12 points anyway. For as much of a longshot as it is, at least Spurs control their own destiny at the moment.

Wednesday's match is going to be huge. Probably a huge Spursy letdown to be frank, but whatever.

 

[Merih]

Meh. Spurs were poor most of the match and they were lucky to get a result. I'm not afraid to admit it. There are question marks all over the place with the team. Moving Bale to a more central role has been a blessing and a curse. You certainly can't argue with the goals he has been scoring and the points he has been earning for the club. It has caused a couple problems tactically though. There is a vacuum on the left side. When Bale is not there. The team is far too narrow, making them easier to defend. The guys who end up trying to play on the left wing (Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Holtby) are all naturally right-footed and accustomed to playing centrally so they drift in that direction. LB has been a revolving door... Assou-Ekotto has been hurt and inconsistent because of trouble re-integrating himself with the side - specifically as it concerns working with the new rotating cast on the left wing. Vertonghen has played in that spot some, but he is accustomed to playing centrally. Naughton is [Mark May] and is a natural right back, so again, another player who wants to drift inside to get on his preferred foot. The decision to loan Andros Townsend to QPR looks worse with each day that passes.

Despite all of that, the Chelsea goal against United didn't change much as far as Spurs are concerned. They were probably always going to need all three points at Stamford Bridge 12 out of the last 12 points anyway. For as much of a longshot as it is, at least Spurs control their own destiny at the moment.

Wednesday's match is going to be huge. Probably a huge Spursy letdown to be frank, but whatever.

In my opinion Spurs early in the season played some of the most attractive football in England precisely because of all of the square pegs in round holes. They had an unpredictability about them on which players will pop up where and all seemed to have goals in them.

Teams now are just flat out stopping them from dictating tempo. There's no midfield "pinger" as I like to call it. A player who just recycles the ball to teammates with a quick tempo and establishes their rhythm. So pretty much Luka Modric.

Dembele can at times be that type of player but he loves to have his touches. Huddleston can certainly pick a pass but it takes a while for the genius thought to register to his feet.

I like the way they try and play, it's a shame they're always battling Chelsea for CL spots because when they're on their game they really are fun to watch.

I think Chelsea bosses this coming match, however. Especially of Hazard is back in the team and at 100%.

 

[jlb1705]

In my opinion Spurs early in the season played some of the most attractive football in England precisely because of all of the square pegs in round holes. They had an unpredictability about them on which players will pop up where and all seemed to have goals in them.

Teams now are just flat out stopping them from dictating tempo. There's no midfield "pinger" as I like to call it. A player who just recycles the ball to teammates with a quick tempo and establishes their rhythm. So pretty much Luka Modric.

Dembele can at times be that type of player but he loves to have his touches. Huddleston can certainly pick a pass but it takes a while for the genius thought to register to his feet.

I like the way they try and play, it's a shame they're always battling Chelsea for CL spots because when they're on their game they really are fun to watch.

I think Chelsea bosses this coming match, however. Especially of Hazard is back in the team and at 100%.

Yep, that's a big part of it too. Tom Carroll can be that player. Problem is he's young, he's green, and lacks the size to keep from getting pushed around too much, but he's exactly the type of facilitator that you describe. He has been on the pitch here and there throughout the season and has come on to positively change the tempo a few times. I wish we had seen more of him in recent weeks. I would have liked to have him brought on in more matches and brought on a bit earlier. Usually he gets no more than 10-15 minutes when he comes on but every time he does he changes the way the team plays.

I think you're right about Wednesday. Mata absolutely destroyed Spurs in the reverse fixture, and I think the story will be close to the same in this one. At least Chelsea won't be able to count on two brilliant assists from William Gallas this time.

 

[OSU_D/]

OhioStateMen'sSoccer ‏@OhioState_MSOC 1m
Video of the Roger Espinoza goal from @FOXSoccer:
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video/premier-league/?vid=d66d2aff-0cf3-4475-962b-e8a6d8f10d6e

OhioStateMen'sSoccer ‏@OhioState_MSOC15m
Congrats Roger Espinoza on 1st premier league goal w/ @LaticsOfficial! Not only 1st Buckeye, but 1st B1G player in premier league #GoBucks

Grant Wahl ‏@GrantWahl27m
Roger Espinoza with a huge goal for Wigan before halftime against Swansea. 1-0. Win would be big in relegation battle.

 

[jlb1705]

Surprised I'm the first one to post something about Sir Alex Ferguson retiring. I won't be mistaken for a United or an SAF fan, but you can't help but respect what he has accomplished. End of an era.

Should be interesting to see who they pick as the replacement. It would seem that if they want to maintain stability they might go for David Moyes, but it also has to be tempting to go out and grab The Special One. I had read that Abramovich had considered swallowing his pride and asking Mourinho to come back, and it would be funny if he went to the trouble only to have United swoop in and take him instead.

 

[OH10]

I can't help but respect Sir Alex, but a part of me feels the same way I felt when I heard Urban was retiring from Florida: Relief.

 

[jlb1705]

LOL @ Judge Red

 

[ochre]

Looks like they are going with David Moyes.

 

[JackBauer]

They've done the right thing in not going for Mourinho. Sure, he'd have won another league or two, and maybe even another European Cup, but as always after 2-3 years the wheels would fall off and off he would flounce, leaving (as he always does in his scorched earth way) an expensively assembled but ageing squad in need of an overhaul, no long-term structure in place and a trail of self-centred mayhem in his wake.

That said, Moyes? Wow. This is going to be brilliant. He's a safety first, long ball pragmatist, a slightly better version of Fat Sam Allardyce, he does defensive, preservation football, aimed at keeping Everton mired in mediocrity. He has never competed or realistically challenged for anything. And don't start with the "no money" excuse either; smaller clubs have won cups during Moyes's reign and he's ballsed it up when success has been in striking distance. When it comes to the crunch in cup matches, he has completely bottled it every time.

The press conferences are going to be interesting too, now that he can't whinge about having no money. Every time he sits down with the gentlemen of the press I expect an hour of silence.

 

[jlb1705]

They've done the right thing in not going for Mourinho. Sure, he'd have won another league or two, and maybe even another European Cup, but as always after 2-3 years the wheels would fall off and off he would flounce, leaving (as he always does in his scorched earth way) an expensively assembled but ageing squad in need of an overhaul, no long-term structure in place and a trail of self-centred mayhem in his wake.

That said, Moyes? Wow. This is going to be brilliant. He's a safety first, long ball pragmatist, a slightly better version of Fat Sam Allardyce, he does defensive, preservation football, aimed at keeping Everton mired in mediocrity. He has never competed or realistically challenged for anything. And don't start with the "no money" excuse either; smaller clubs have won cups during Moyes's reign and he's ballsed it up when success has been in striking distance. When it comes to the crunch in cup matches, he has completely bottled it every time.

The press conferences are going to be interesting too, now that he can't whinge about having no money. Every time he sits down with the gentlemen of the press I expect an hour of silence.

Yep, I thought Manchester United could do better than Moyes. Hell, a year ago when Moyes was talked about for the Spurs job I though Spurs could do better. He has done more with less in the transfer market it's true. But as you said, once he has that "more" at the club, he does nothing with it in terms of results.

 

[jlb1705]

Well, those of us hoping against hope that Ian Darke would find his way to NBC for next year's EPL season got our answer... Darke tweeted recently that he has signed on with BT sport for next season to provide commentary for EPL matches in the UK. BT is the new network that one the EPL contract in the previous round of bidding - ESPN losing out in the bidding led to their collapse in the UK. Darke said he will continue to call USNMT matches for ESPN here in America.

Sort of off-topic, but I thought it was interesting... Darke also mentioned that BT Sport will broadcast MLS matches in live in the UK for the first time. Can't imagine there's much of a market there - especially with the times many of the games will air - but it's still interesting to see that MLS will be getting the exposure.

 

[VBSJ]

Well, those of us hoping against hope that Ian Darke would find his way to NBC for next year's EPL season got our answer... Darke tweeted recently that he has signed on with BT sport for next season to provide commentary for EPL matches in the UK.

I'm glad he found a landing spot. He's too good of a commentator not to have a place to do Barclays Premier League matches.

I'm glad all those ex-ESPN (UK) commentators found homes, like Rebecca Lowe and Steve McManaman.

I still believe someone would still watch some of those MLS matches, even though the time difference may make some night games (U.S. night) hard for viewing. It's about two months of an offseason, so those needing a fix may still watch.

The one thing I don't know about is, what happens to Sky Sports News on FSC over here when it turns into FX2 (or whatever). I like looking at the women presenters (kidding).

 

[Smudger]

Yeah, I can't imagine there's a lot of demand for L.A. Galaxy games in the UK with kickoffs at 4am there time. It's basically what we had to do here for the '02 WC.

Really disappointed to lose Mr. Darke for EPL games. He was probably the best we were fortunate enough to hear call those games. I really liked the combo of him & Macca. He's been doing the USMNT games for long enough that travel shouldn't be that big of an issue now, which is a good thing. Anybody is better than Marcelo Balboa & John Harkes. Still could do without Twellman, but hey, you can't win them all.

 

[VBSJ]

Well, Roberto Mancini can now get sacked on Monday and Roberto Martinez can now go to Everton (after having gotten the Latics a trophy).

Regardless if Wigan stay up, it may be time to move clubs for Martinez.

It would be something if he helped Wigan stay up again (this season).