*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Uppercut]

My problem with Pulis is that he spent huge amounts of money at Stoke but still managed to pass them off as a plucky underdog playing above their means. I don't really mind physical, defensive or direct football. I'm not a huge fan, but it's good to have a team or two like that around to see how everyone else copes with it. It just annoyed me that he managed to sell himself as "ugly but effective" when in reality he was only effective at outspending almost everyone and still only finishing 16th.

He's also just so classless as a person. All tracksuits and ref-blaming.

 

[Ikki]

I was thinking this too, but then you'd think Suarez-Sturridge would be even worse and in practice they link really well.

Yeh, on the face of it that is probably what most Liverpool fans would have thought too. It was more of a discussion about who would play up front and who wide, or just behind the forward, between Sturridge and Suarez. Thankfully, Rodgers starting playing his 3-5-2 and let those guys actually have a run of games together and it worked brilliantly. They command so much attention just on their own that when paired together it really overloads the opposition's defence. They're both less selfish than the neutrals tend to believe.

I think Aguero would just be a much better version of Sturridge. He'd play off the last man, mostly, because of his speed; and Suarez would drop in, around and between the opposition's midfield and defence. They're also smart/good enough to swap those roles and confuse the opposition.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I don't disagree that Aguero could play that role, but he doesn't play as the last man for club or country, so why would he do it if Suarez was there.

 

[Ikki]

I think when you look at them both Suarez is a much better chance creator and he thrives seeing a lot of the ball. Whereas Aguero is similar, he probably doesn't fashion as much chances, although he is a much more clinical player IMO. Ultimately though, not even Sturridge just plays as the last man...he comes deep a lot - about as much as Aguero does. The distinction was that I think if he were in our team he'd be asked to take the Sturridge role, than the Suarez one.

Anyway, the pairing is probably never likely to happen.

 

[Jarquis]

This Arsenal team is just absurd. Hull were/are abject bit it was basically a training game last night. Just so easy. The quality on the ball in midfield was ridiculous. The build up for Bendtners goal was great. Most of the second half was just 'ole' stuff. Ramsey's touch and pass for the second. Just so good.
The Cardiff game and last night have been an absolute joy to watch. I don't see why it should stop either.
We're not being carried by a single superstar or a random streak of good form.
We've been this good for basically all of 2013.
Our entire bench last night would've started games together last season as our first choice eleven. Not sure how many times you could say that about us in recent times, so it's a promising sign that we're finally getting players back fit. Still have the Ox and Podolski to come back too. Besides Bendtner as a second choice striker I genuinely don't see what criticism can be made of the squad.
If we don't win it, we'll go ****ing close

 

[Tom Halsey]

I can't believe this thread went on for a page about best players in the league and no one ****ing mentioned Aguero do you even watch football? Christ.

I still don't think Aguero is particularly near to Suarez at the moment. Had a better season than RvP and Ozil though undoubtedly, probably only Ramsey who has had a better season than him other than Suarez.

 

[Uppercut]

Ozil doesn't belong in the discussion. He's been maybe the fifth or sixth best player at Arsenal this season.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Can't agree with that really. He's not been their best player but he's been better than their fifth or sixth best.

I agree he doesn't really belong in the discussion though but then I don't really think anyone other than Suarez does because it's that clear cut at the moment.

 

[sledger]

Ozil's influence has been telling imo. 3 goals and 6 assists in 11 Prem games this season is more than a decent return for a player new to the league. His presence has undoubtedly had an effect on the rest of the squad as well. Not only have several players looked a great deal more confident since his arrival, but his movement and range of passing has made the team's use of the ball even more slick. If he were to become injured the performance of the team would undoubtedly take a turn for the worse I suspect.

 

[Uppercut]

I'm not skeptical about Ozil at all but I do think the CBs, Ramsey and Giroud have been better this season. Given we all agree Suarez is awesome it makes sense to credit Koscielny for shutting him down completely.

 

[GIMH]

Our entire bench last night would've started games together last season as our first choice eleven.

Have the rules changed or would you have just cloned a few?

 

[sledger]

Yeah, I suppose you're right, but it's hard to say how much of Giroud's improvement, for instance, is down to Ozil providing the assists etc... (I'm not actually sure how many of his goals have been assisted by Ozil though).

It's kind of surreal to be talking about Arsenal and saying with some certainty that Ozil is only the 5th or 6th best player in the side. Would have sounded like complete fantasy talk just a few months back.

Edit: @ uppercut

 

[BoyBrumby]

My problem with Pulis is that he spent huge amounts of money at Stoke but still managed to pass them off as a plucky underdog playing above their means. I don't really mind physical, defensive or direct football. I'm not a huge fan, but it's good to have a team or two like that around to see how everyone else copes with it. It just annoyed me that he managed to sell himself as "ugly but effective" when in reality he was only effective at outspending almost everyone and still only finishing 16th.

He's also just so classless as a person. All tracksuits and ref-blaming.

Or "Welsh" as we call it.

Ozil doesn't belong in the discussion. He's been maybe the fifth or sixth best player at Arsenal this season.

Think that's a bit of a stretch.

He's definitely been the catalyst for improvements beyond the hopes of the most optimistic Gooner. Ramsey may've improved to the extent that I'd frankly be worried if the WADA piss testers turned up and Flamini and Giroud more indespensible, but the wee fella has shown some wonderful touches and, crucially, has given Arsenal their pride back.

Losing our captain and best player to Man U (and for him to say "the little boy inside him" told him to sign for them) really hurt. Ozil's arrival has shown we may have turned a corner.

Mind you six years ago we were five points ahead with twelve to go and Ramsey gets murdered and we all know what happened there...

 

[sledger]

BBC Sport - Uwe Rosler set for Wigan Athletic after Brentford 'accept approach'

One suspects Pothas will not be too pleased about this.

 

[BoyBrumby]

His granddad bombed Old Trafford, as one understands.

 

[grecian]

Bizarre from Uppercut, I'm not one to **** off over Mezut, but he clearly is ****ing quality and many of the players he names ahead of him for Arse are better because he's in the side.

Not sure who I'd rank as best player, I still prefer Mata over all of them, Hazard has been pretty ****ing good this season though. I actually thing Yaya is better than Aguero, but they're both ****ing brilliant, and should be in the discussion.

 

[Cabinet96]

Bizarre from Uppercut, I'm not one to **** off over Mezut, but he clearly is ****ing quality and many of the players he names ahead of him for Arse are better because he's in the side.

Nah, I tend to agree. He's not saying he thinks Ozil is only the fifth best player at the club, just that he's not quite been as good this season, as a few others. Obviously that's a major mark against him if we want to say he's the best player in the league.

I don't quite get the whole "Ozil has made everyone better" thing either. He's helped the team play better as a whole, which has probably meant a better output for some fellow players, but the idea someone like Ramsey only became good because Ozil arrived, despite the fact he was brilliant for months before the German arrived, is surely complete nonsense. Yet I hear pundits throw it out all the time - usually because they're the ones that wanted some hack that Tottenham paid loads for to replace the players who have since improved. Certainly the reasons Koscienly and Mertesacker are brilliant and Chesney has improved aren't to do with Ozil.

 

[sledger]

Nah, I tend to agree. He's not saying he thinks Ozil is only the fifth best player at the club, just that he's not quite been as good this season, as a few others. Obviously that's a major mark against him if we want to say he's the best player in the league.

I don't quite get the whole "Ozil has made everyone better" thing either. He's helped the team play better as a whole, which has probably meant a better output for some fellow players, but the idea someone like Ramsey only became good because Ozil arrived, despite the fact he was brilliant for months before the German arrived, is surely complete nonsense. Yet I hear pundits throw it out all the time - usually because they're the ones that wanted some hack that Tottenham paid loads for to replace the players who have since improved. Certainly the reasons Koscienly and Mertesacker are brilliant and Chesney has improved aren't to do with Ozil.

I don't think anyone's really suggesting that tbh.

 

[Furball]

Nah, I tend to agree. He's not saying he thinks Ozil is only the fifth best player at the club, just that he's not quite been as good this season, as a few others. Obviously that's a major mark against him if we want to say he's the best player in the league.

I don't quite get the whole "Ozil has made everyone better" thing either. He's helped the team play better as a whole, which has probably meant a better output for some fellow players, but the idea someone like Ramsey only became good because Ozil arrived, despite the fact he was brilliant for months before the German arrived, is surely complete nonsense. Yet I hear pundits throw it out all the time - usually because they're the ones that wanted some hack that Tottenham paid loads for to replace the players who have since improved. Certainly the reasons Koscienly and Mertesacker are brilliant and Chesney has improved aren't to do with Ozil.

Signing a player like Özil gives everyone an extra edge though. You don't sign a player like Özil to finish 4th, you sign him to win trophies. Which means that the guys you've got, by and large, are good enough as well.

Özil himself doesn't make the likes of Ramsey have the season of their careers. But what he does do is give players like Ramsey confidence in themselves, which can be the difference between a good and a great player.

I fully agree with Uppercut about Özil only being 4th at best. Ramsey, Mertesacker and Koscielny have been better. Doesn't mean Özil hasn't been class though. And worryingly for the rest of the league, Arsenal's midfield is properly starting to click, and it's the best in the division on paper.

 

[grecian]

Nah, I tend to agree. He's not saying he thinks Ozil is only the fifth best player at the club, just that he's not quite been as good this season, as a few others. Obviously that's a major mark against him if we want to say he's the best player in the league.

I don't quite get the whole "Ozil has made everyone better" thing either. He's helped the team play better as a whole, which has probably meant a better output for some fellow players, but the idea someone like Ramsey only became good because Ozil arrived, despite the fact he was brilliant for months before the German arrived, is surely complete nonsense. Yet I hear pundits throw it out all the time - usually because they're the ones that wanted some hack that Tottenham paid loads for to replace the players who have since improved. Certainly the reasons Koscienly and Mertesacker are brilliant and Chesney has improved aren't to do with Ozil.

Not sure I said that at all, I was in convos with Sledger saying that I really liked Ramsey not sure when Ramsey was brilliant for months before that, you talking the off-season?, yet Ozil just moves everything on.

Defenders will always improve if the ball ahead of them is being used well, and unnecessary pressure isn't piled on them, pretty much basic football lore.