Football 2013-2014

[The Nal]

Just saw Ashley Young's dive there. Christ on a bike!

Edited September 16, 2013 by The Nal

[5co77ie]

Just saw Ashley Young's dive there. Christ on a bike!

[strummer77]

Moyes hates divers and cheats - he's been big on it since Dunce, Gascoigne and Ginola (and more recently Fellaini which culminated in that headbutt last year - where Moyes asked for Fellainin to be retrospectively banned and that started Fellaini saying he wanted away from Everton - ironic he's still with Moyes)

[eFestivals]

loved the Shelvey Show last night.

[strummer77]

loved the Shelvey Show last night.

[pink_triangle]

Was the career of him in 90 minutes. Good point for us really, especially as we had a few starters out.

[eFestivals]

So anyway, Liverpool have the most lethal striker of last season in Suarez (most goals per game), and the hottest striker currently in Sturridge (17 in 20 games, a better average than Suarez got last season).

Anyone else think they'll have trouble scoring goals this season?

[TheGayTent]

So anyway, Liverpool have the most lethal striker of last season in Suarez (most goals per game), and the hottest striker currently in Sturridge (17 in 20 games, a better average than Suarez got last season).

Anyone else think they'll have trouble scoring goals this season?

[eFestivals]

This is the same team that would have scored NIL last night but for Shelvey...?

... says the man who once spent several days argueing that when the opposition gifts a goal it is to be classed only as excellent skill by the scoring team.

Or does that only apply when it's WHU that are gifted the goal?

[The Nal]

Just got tickets for Fergies autobiography tour!

[TheGayTent]

... says the man who once spent several days argueing that when the opposition gifts a goal it is to be classed only as excellent skill by the scoring team.

Or does that only apply when it's WHU that are gifted the goal?

[TheGayTent]

Just got tickets for Fergies autobiography tour!

[kaosmark2]

So anyway, Liverpool have the most lethal striker of last season in Suarez (most goals per game), and the hottest striker currently in Sturridge (17 in 20 games, a better average than Suarez got last season).

Anyone else think they'll have trouble scoring goals this season?

[eFestivals]

A team that has scored 5 in 4 games, with almost all of them being scrappy goals?

You can find stats about scoring records to suggest whatever you like. I don't think the problems will be as bad as a couple of years ago, but neither do I think they've suddenly turned into a team that have no difficulty with it.

Mostly, I was taking the piss out of TGT's post from yesterday.

But yep, Sturridge's goals have been scrappy so far, tho he's been injured and there's also new players to get used to. He won't keep scoring at the rate he's been doing so far, but all the same the signs are very good for him to be one of the bigger scorers in the Prem this season.

Liverpool were the 4th top-scorers over the whole of last season, a season that started with them being labelled the sort of deadline day disasters which has gone Utd's way this year - because they'd stupidly left themselves with just the one striker from Sept til January.

I don't see them as the strongest team in the league but they've also had a backline upgrade since last season, and that combined with the better front line since January should see them in the mix for the top 4 this season (which they weren't last season).

(just to be clear, by 'in the mix' I don't mean they'll definitely get in the top 4, but they won't be well short of being in the top 4 as they were last season).

[kaosmark2]

I agree that Liverpool will be in the mix for top 4, I don't think they'll get it though, Man U (and possibly Spurs depending on gel speed) aside, all the other teams look stronger than last season, and I don't think Liverpool have improved enough to catch any of them up.

[strummer77]

I don't think we'll get 4th. But it took 9 games to get 10 points last season so things are a little better. Good point last night considering Agger, Johnson and Suarez were out and Coutinho got injured midway. Key players for us so bodes well really.

Edited September 17, 2013 by strummer77

[pink_triangle]

So anyway, Liverpool have the most lethal striker of last season in Suarez (most goals per game), and the hottest striker currently in Sturridge (17 in 20 games, a better average than Suarez got last season).

Anyone else think they'll have trouble scoring goals this season?

[kaosmark2]

A lot think sturridge run of scrappy goals won't continue, but if he continues to be in the right place, at the right time, then who knows. As for total goals it will depend how Suarez and sturridge fit together and how the midfield contribute.

[thetime]

It's all very interesting as most of the top sides are still missing something to go to the next level.

I'm convinced Chelsea won't win the league with that strike force, united still missing a play maker, arsenal strike force is light, spurs will need this season to gel and will Liverpool continue the 2 DM'S when Suarez comes back.

City should be walking it really but motivation and no doubt a desire to do well in the champions league may be there problem.

So very open this season and hopefully sides will attack more for the viewer. Seems teams are very defensive to me this season, do teams play with 2 strikers anymore?

[TheGayTent]

I see though Ferguson has gone, Moyes and Manchester United are still getting 'homers' in Europe as well as the Premier League.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

[Bobs]

The question i'd ask is, Will Suarez return disrupt Sturridge, there is absolute no doubting that Sturridge is in fantastic form, but Suarez is THE key player for Liverpool, will he take well to having the attenton taken off him? Having to play in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3?

Either way, again totally unbias, whilst Liverpool have been truly wonderful in first halfs this season, they have been woeful in the second half, i believe a more callous team infront of goal, will stick them to the slaughter defensively.

Either way, that's a COULD, and if you ask a United fan would they take 10 points from 4 games they'd bite your hand off, and considering 70pts could get you a CL place in most of the last 10 seasons, it's 14% of the way there with 34 games to go.

[kaosmark2]

After Man U's performance tonight I'm starting to revise my opinion about them as title contenders. Obviously you can't predict a season off one game, but I've not seen them control a game that completely against decent opposition in a long while. Yes, their first goal shouldn't have counted, yes Leverkusen scored twice, but with Fellaini and Kagawa on the pitch they looked a top team, and Rooney was unplayable. I haven't seen him go past players and take people on like that in years.

I've still got my doubts about how much Moyes can get out of Cleverley/Evans/Young/etc. but that game showed very positive signs for the club. Damn it.

[eFestivals]

I've still got my doubts about how much Moyes can get out of Cleverley

Like Fergie did, Moyes won't get much and he knows it.

With Felleni in the squad, Cleverley is now a bit-part player - which is all he ever should have been anyway.

I caught the last 20 minutes of the match last night and there was some wonderful play from Utd ... but against a clearly tiring side, and Utd still managed to concede a goal. I'm not sure that too much can be read from that game.

Edited September 18, 2013 by eFestivals

[thetime]

Have to say very impressed with fellaini last night, breakng up play and starting attacks although his distribution was a bit of on occasions.

Still got my doubts on kagawa though, still can't see him as a regular in the team.

[TheGayTent]

Fellaini's attributes and Cleverley's attributes are totally different. They're chosen or not chosen for completely different reasons.