English Premier League 2011/2012 Thread.

[Dman90]

As with most Premier League clubs, Liverpool have their days, yes. They, however, also have their off-days, as seen against Norwich/Swansea/(insert EPL minnow here).

Also, United and Citeh have been conceding goals, and so have Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool, maybe not so much, but they've hardly been scoring as well as the other big teams, have they? 0-0s galore.

As per Foxy's comment on the Liverpool-United game, read about it here http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/02/...ound-spearing/ he's right, playing Spearing was quite pointless, as was Kenny's strange choice of playing Jamie Carragher as a holding midfielder in the FA Cup game against the same opponents. Andrea Pirlo he is not.

I haven't even heard of this Suso kid. Is it a nickname or sumfing? I doubt Sterling will get a game, even with Lucas out. For some reason or other, Henderson, Spearing, and even the prematurely-balding Shelvey are the back-ups for the DM role, when it isn't filled by Charlie Adam. Liverpool's youngsters aren't bad, but they've better players ahead of them. Would you pick Coady ahead of Coates? Or even Carragher? The best hope for young players is (as usual), the Carling Cup. Or as a late late sub against an EPL minnow.

Plenty of C's there in my last two sentences, huzzah!

[Dman90]

What up, hombres?

LET'S START SOME BANTERRRRRR #banta #bantz #bantasaurus #bantaclaus

[nicholas93]

even paul scholes can't stop this implosion. we need cantona! or failing that ronaldo.

[FoxyWoxy25]

Or, y'know, Vidic.

[nicholas93]

di matteo is a damn good manager. always liked his west brom. we hardly see anymore defensive masterclasses against barcelona anymore, so hats off to chelsea! like mourinho before him and fergie before him, rdm did a superb job of organising the defence and midfield to stay compact and stifle messi and co

[FoxyWoxy25]

I think it's rather amusing how Chelsea's performances seem to improve greatly under an interim manager. Aside from Mourinho and Ancelotti prior to Ray Wilkin's dismissal, no other permanent manager is able to coax the team into a winning side.

I believe it's due to the new managers trying to implement a completely new system into an already solid core. Mourinho is to blame - the core of the team has played under Mourinho and knows exactly how to win games. He basically set up the blueprints for a successful team, and tinkering with that system causes problems with the players. Even Ancelotti couldn't introduce his favourite 4-1-2-1-2, only getting good results, and winning the league and FA Cup double, after reverting back to the 4-3-3.

What Di Matteo, and Grant and Hiddink before him, did was to basically use Mourinho's tactics. There's no point getting the players to play in any other way. Against Barca, he basically employed the same tactics that Inter under Mourinho used a couple seasons ago to defeat Barca. 9 men behind the ball, 1 up top. Quick wingers and midfielders attempt to counter and hope Lady Luck shines. When we went a man down, it was Drogba on the wing, like Milito did. It's ugly tactics, but there's no point playing Barca any other way.

UP THE CHELS!

[nicholas93]

well it's official. this united team isn't good enough. at least not yet.

Originally Posted by FoxyWoxy25

I think it's rather amusing how Chelsea's performances seem to improve greatly under an interim manager. Aside from Mourinho and Ancelotti prior to Ray Wilkin's dismissal, no other permanent manager is able to coax the team into a winning side.

I believe it's due to the new managers trying to implement a completely new system into an already solid core. Mourinho is to blame - the core of the team has played under Mourinho and knows exactly how to win games. He basically set up the blueprints for a successful team, and tinkering with that system causes problems with the players. Even Ancelotti couldn't introduce his favourite 4-1-2-1-2, only getting good results, and winning the league and FA Cup double, after reverting back to the 4-3-3.

What Di Matteo, and Grant and Hiddink before him, did was to basically use Mourinho's tactics. There's no point getting the players to play in any other way. Against Barca, he basically employed the same tactics that Inter under Mourinho used a couple seasons ago to defeat Barca. 9 men behind the ball, 1 up top. Quick wingers and midfielders attempt to counter and hope Lady Luck shines. When we went a man down, it was Drogba on the wing, like Milito did. It's ugly tactics, but there's no point playing Barca any other way.

UP THE CHELS!

and so the shadow of mourinho's legacy still looms large. i think the reason why new systems brought in by different coaches don't work because it takes some time for the players to grown into their new roles, which is pretty hard with abramovich so trigger happy

[adele123]

but it's getting really exciting, 2 matches left and top 2 tied on points... awesome

[Dman90]

Picks for relegation?

[nicholas93]

Rangers and Rovers cause I like Roberto Martinez and Owen Coyle. But looking at the remaining fixtures I'd have to say Blackburn and QPR are getting the chop.

Man United's collapse is probably on par with Newcastle's in '96. Still crossing my fingers though!