Elerion
N00b
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Soccer 2014 - 2015
- Thread starter PKS
- Start date
Elerion
N00b
- 735
- 46
Guardian has started their team previews.
Premier League 2014-15 previews | Football | The Guardian
Arsenal and Chelsea are the first of the top teams to be previewed as they move alphabetically.
Premier League 2014-15 preview No1: Arsenal | Football | theguardian.com
Premier League 2014-15 preview No4: Chelsea | Football | theguardian.com
Guardian is in my opinion the best UK newspaper when it comes to football, as they have slightly less tunnel vision on the EPL than the bigger newspapers and focus on the football rather than the tabloid stories. It helps that some of their writers are really funny too, some of the gameday reports are a joy to read. I highly recommend their podcastFootball Weekly. It was renamed World Cup Daily this summer, and they are currently on holiday, but should return in its weekly format sometime over the next couple of weeks. The podcast is funny and informative, with experienced hosts and regular interviews with correspondents across Europe.
Note: That does not mean their predictions are any more likely to come true than whatever other source you read.
Premier League 2014-15 previews | Football | The Guardian
Arsenal and Chelsea are the first of the top teams to be previewed as they move alphabetically.
Premier League 2014-15 preview No1: Arsenal | Football | theguardian.com
Premier League 2014-15 preview No4: Chelsea | Football | theguardian.com
Guardian is in my opinion the best UK newspaper when it comes to football, as they have slightly less tunnel vision on the EPL than the bigger newspapers and focus on the football rather than the tabloid stories. It helps that some of their writers are really funny too, some of the gameday reports are a joy to read. I highly recommend their podcastFootball Weekly. It was renamed World Cup Daily this summer, and they are currently on holiday, but should return in its weekly format sometime over the next couple of weeks. The podcast is funny and informative, with experienced hosts and regular interviews with correspondents across Europe.
Note: That does not mean their predictions are any more likely to come true than whatever other source you read.
Szlia
Member
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I notice this went unanswered: it's not about overturning the call, it's about making the ref' doubt he took the right decision in hope you will get a more lenient call the next time around or a harsher call for the opponents. Since they do it all the time on every call, it might not have much of an impact though (other than being carded for complaining). Or you could argue that if a team never complained, the other team would get an advantage (squeaky wheel gets the grease), so you have to complain to even things out.
Asshat Brando
Potato del Grande
- 5,346
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I get that it gives Fat Frank something to do until NYCFC start playing but I can't really see him getting any actual minutes with the team they have now. The whole thing is quite wierd.
The season is coming up so quickly. Should be good seeing us playing Dortmund on Sunday, shame that Lallana will still be out until September but it looks like everybody will be ready to go.
The season is coming up so quickly. Should be good seeing us playing Dortmund on Sunday, shame that Lallana will still be out until September but it looks like everybody will be ready to go.
Whidon
Blackwing Lair Raider
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The guardian is easily the top paper/website for EPL. Maybe the best news site all around if you don't mind the leftist viewpoint. Overall football journalism is really bad compared to the big american sports however.
I love how people go "X team had injuries, and players under performing! surely this will never happen again". LFC was hit by injuries and under performance as basically everyone was.
As to underestimating Suarez. Suarez was not some super upgrade over his 2012-13 form. He was better but most of the improvement was from elsewhere.
For me the biggest reasons for pools improvement were.
1. Sturridge and Couthino playing an almost full year. DS has a world class scoring record since coming to LFC. Pool is very reliant on Sturridge now. For me this is the biggest thing since LFC immediately improved upon acquiring them, and they have only got better since.
2. Sterling going from squad player to one of the best wing/AM in the league from late December onward. If he plays like that for a full year it will help considerably.
3. Gerrard doing much better in the new roles BR has given him. His ability to play a holding mf really unlocked the team.
4. Henderson Improving greatly since BR came on. Becoming one of the best box to box mids in the pl.
5. Little things, like Joe Allen turning into a very useful squad player, Jon Flanagan becoming a solid LB/RB.
Lets say pessimistically Suarez leaving is worth 21 epl goals that don't get replaced. Lets also assume the defense only allows a few less goals. In this scenario your still scoring 80 league goals and having a +30-35 GD. That should still make you a favorite for the top4 and even a possible title winner with good fortune.
I love how people go "X team had injuries, and players under performing! surely this will never happen again". LFC was hit by injuries and under performance as basically everyone was.
As to underestimating Suarez. Suarez was not some super upgrade over his 2012-13 form. He was better but most of the improvement was from elsewhere.
For me the biggest reasons for pools improvement were.
1. Sturridge and Couthino playing an almost full year. DS has a world class scoring record since coming to LFC. Pool is very reliant on Sturridge now. For me this is the biggest thing since LFC immediately improved upon acquiring them, and they have only got better since.
2. Sterling going from squad player to one of the best wing/AM in the league from late December onward. If he plays like that for a full year it will help considerably.
3. Gerrard doing much better in the new roles BR has given him. His ability to play a holding mf really unlocked the team.
4. Henderson Improving greatly since BR came on. Becoming one of the best box to box mids in the pl.
5. Little things, like Joe Allen turning into a very useful squad player, Jon Flanagan becoming a solid LB/RB.
Lets say pessimistically Suarez leaving is worth 21 epl goals that don't get replaced. Lets also assume the defense only allows a few less goals. In this scenario your still scoring 80 league goals and having a +30-35 GD. That should still make you a favorite for the top4 and even a possible title winner with good fortune.
Asshat Brando
Potato del Grande
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I've given up on explaining to people why LFC won't fall off a cliff. My brother-in-law is a die hard ManUre fan and acts like last year never happened, talking to him about it is laughable and I can only imagine what its like for people in the UK. Guess we're going to have to prove it all over again.
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But at the same time the squad is arguably stronger. And that was the problem last year, outside of a core 14-15 players, the rest just were not good enough. I mean, you're fighting for the title and you're 1-0 down at home to Chelsea and you have to bring on Iago Aspas, his most notable contribution from that game was taking the worst corner ever seen at Anfield. Also, Henderson getting sent off and receiving a 3 match ban end of season didn't help, because it meant Lucas had to play instead. Same in defence, instead of bringing on Kolo Toure he's now 5th choice CB and if Agger gets sold will be 4th choice CB. Then there were the likes of Victor Moses and Luis Alberto.
Everyone seems to rate Lovren highly, so hopefully him and Sakho, who was decent at the World Cup, can fix the defensive problems of last year.
Also the hope would be that Sterling continues his progression and delivers a better season than last year. Hopefully Coutinho can also step up to someone that starts every PL game.
Dyvim
Bronze Knight of the Realm
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LFC wont fall of a cliff cause BR manages similar to Klopp when he took reigns over at Dortmund.
They might not win the championship as the capitol (capital? lol) clubs are bolstering up their ranks, but they are def in for the cl spots again.
Still i somehow cant see how United will finish considerably better this season though.
They might not win the championship as the capitol (capital? lol) clubs are bolstering up their ranks, but they are def in for the cl spots again.
Still i somehow cant see how United will finish considerably better this season though.
United will finish better, very simply because it would be near impossible to do otherwise with someone who knows what he is doing in charge of the club.
Here were some terrible results:
Home form: West Brom (L), Southampton (D), Everton (L), Newcastle (L), Tottenham (L), Fulham (D), Sunderland (L).
Away: Cardiff [D], Stoke [L], Southampton [D].
Then they only managed to take a criminal 6 points from the top 6 clubs, I don't see any repeat of losing twice again to Everton, Liverpool whilst hopefully able to take something out of City/Chelsea this year.
Tidying up the home form will mean United can easily be in the mix up at the top.
Here were some terrible results:
Home form: West Brom (L), Southampton (D), Everton (L), Newcastle (L), Tottenham (L), Fulham (D), Sunderland (L).
Away: Cardiff [D], Stoke [L], Southampton [D].
Then they only managed to take a criminal 6 points from the top 6 clubs, I don't see any repeat of losing twice again to Everton, Liverpool whilst hopefully able to take something out of City/Chelsea this year.
Tidying up the home form will mean United can easily be in the mix up at the top.
Maul
Dental Dammer
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Seems this is only stateside then, 9/10 United fans I know have known the team is hilariously weak in defence and midfield for at least 5 years+ now (even before Ronaldo left), it was only Fergies force of will that won the trophys. Moyes was expected to fuck the team up, no one thought they would challenge for the title, however a non top 4 finish was pretty unexpected.
Chelsea
Man City
Arsenal/Liverpool/Manchester United.
Tottenham/Everton
Is my prediction as the teams stand today. However if United sign Vidal, which it seems they have done by some reports today (who knows) and strengthen defence then they will definatly be top 3 this year.
Asshat Brando
Potato del Grande
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But you don't know that. On average 50% of transfers fail. Even when ManU was winning the title every year you could list big money spent by Rednose that didn't work out. We don't know how any of the new signings will actually do in the Prem aside from Fabregas which then again I'd say we don't know how he'll fit in with Mourinho's tactics.
Ossoi just mentioned Luis Alberto, the guy is looking fucking boss for Malaga even though it's only pre-season. Change of league, role, and tactics and the player can be completely different that what you thought he was.
Chris
Potato del Grande
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New manager who spent the entire season saying that they were not ready and missed a few key players in certain positions?
Are you saying that you know more about the Chelsea team than Jose Mourinho... hahaha.
Asshat Brando
Potato del Grande
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Why do you think Mourinho was saying that? Did he not want to win the CL or Prem? Go re-watch MOTD starting in January when they were first and everybody was saying Mourinho had done it again. The only thing I can figure is you Brits love chugging on some Mourinho man meat. Not to say he wasn't and possibly still isn't a great manager, but the guy is almost a parody of himself at this point which I guess makes for good paper.
How did Chelsea rebuild Chris? By adding 1 striker and Fabregas who until we see I'm of the opinion will be eventually shuntered off to the side in big games? That's quite the rebuild......
How did Chelsea rebuild Chris? By adding 1 striker and Fabregas who until we see I'm of the opinion will be eventually shuntered off to the side in big games? That's quite the rebuild......
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Maul
Dental Dammer
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Is this a serious post? Mourinho is all about the drama, even if he won the league he would still say he lacked a few key players in certain positions. He is the sour grapes king.
Liverpool have also been a few key players short of a title for the last 20 years as well.
