*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[cpr]

I think we lack a tough no-**** midfielder who can break up a team who attack from the middle. We're lucky there isnt that many in the Prem (theres Arsenal, but we've managed to counteract them by hitting their weak defence on the break the last few times).... But a stubborn opposition, be in domestic or european, can pick our defence from infront and make us look silly. This is why we've missedd Hargreaves and Fletcher in key matches over the last few years.

Whereas Fletch can do it, its not his natural role, and doesnt do it all the time its needed. Carrick and Anderson arn't the tough midfielders we need. Theres not many out there at a decent price who are..... Joey, for all his many, many faults, is one of the few.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Okay, so 15 minutes in and it's 0-0.

Aside from the fact that we still have no fit strikers, are playing one half fit striker on the left wing, an attacking midfielder up front, a left wing back at right back, a centre back in midfield, a Conference player at left back, and a liability in goal, it's not too bad.

Goals to come from set pieces or wide balls as (i) the full backs are horribly out of place, (ii) the wide midfielders are not wide midfielders and certainly haven't played ahead of these full backs, and (iii) Krysiak makes me wince any time a ball goes in the air into the box, so god knows how Coles and Duffy feel about things...

EDIT: Let's also make it clear that the Meireles injury there is in no way Danny Coles' fault... although it's now Carroll-Suarez up front, so this defence is certainly going to get a work out!

EDIT 2: **** off back to Poland, you useless ****.

 

[Scaly piscine]

CDMs would have to conjure up something special to **** it up from here.

 

[cpr]

Loved Sir Clive's commentary

'This would be a fantastic result given their recent troubles'

Troubles??? Selling a player isnt a trouble, going into administration would be a trouble..

Image eh, having your star player tapped up all summer by Barcelona, then losing him to them.... Imagine how bad Udinese would be if they had to suffer that eh Clive...

 

[BoyBrumby]

Aaaanyway, now we're in the "Champions" League proper let's hope a few of our mooted targets come over to the side of righteousness.

Obviously it says a huge amount that I was not worried even vaguely that we'd have enough to beat the fourth placed Eyetie team but knew we'd lose to the Scousers. EPL > Serie A. Fact.

 

[grecian]

I've never been so humiliated, Andy Carroll scored against us

 

[duffer]

M'Vila, Marvin Martin and Cahill would be a really good outcome. Put us back above Spurs and miles above Liverpool. Less than a week to make it happen though.

 

[duffer]

What a ****ing save by Wojciech though. Fmd, was a moment.

 

[cpr]

It was a good save, and did well to make his hand strong enough to get it over the bar. Seen better though (the penalty wasn't exactly brilliant TBH)

Reckon you might be solving your keeper problem though. Which is a worry for the rest of us. Thank **** your midfields been decimated to balance it out. Think your like us in that you lack the defensive midfielder to pin the team... Sure Wiltshire can do it, but why waste his talent in that role when hes better pushed up (the old Gerrard argument......)

 

[Cevno]

Arsenal fail with Kaka loan move as Real Madrid insist on permanent deal for Brazilian | Mail Online

Interesting....

 

[Nate]

M'Vila, Marvin Martin and Cahill would be a really good outcome. Put us back above Spurs and miles above Liverpool. Less than a week to make it happen though.

Whaaaaaaat. We'd be very level imo.

As it stands atm -

Man United
Man City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Arsenal
Tottenham

imo. But the next week could change that, obvs.

 

[duffer]

Dunno, along with Hazard, M'Vila and Martin are the three best talents in Ligue 1. To nab two of them would be seriously good business. Imo, better than any Liverpool summer additions.

 

[Jarquis]

Haha yeah, don't know how much you've actually seen of any of those players Nath but you're not fully appreciating how much they'd improve our side if you don't think it'd make is better than you.

 

[Nate]

Haha yeah, don't know how much you've actually seen of any of those players Nath but you're not fully appreciating how much they'd improve our side if you don't think it'd make is better than you.

Nah I live in a bubble where only the Premier League exists. Maye try reading the posts again? I don't disagree that you may be the better side with those additions, but not "miles ahead".

EDIT: Besides, we were very level in the second half of the season, if not better, when you had Cesc and Nasri. Are you saying your new players would be better than those two?

 

[Uppercut]

Difficult to say how they'd go in England though, especially in their first year with no pre-season to find a place in the team. Wasn't Squillaci one of the best talents in Ligue 1 not so long ago?

I'd probably still be backing Liverpool to finish above Arsenal this season regardless.

 

[Jarquis]

Yeah, because that's what I've said Nath. Hell having the knowledge the missing league exists or that these players are 'talents' isn't a lot. what I doubted was how much you've actually seen them play. and tbf you did disagree, you went on to rank Liverpool ahead regardless.

as for the Cesc/Nasri comment.. Cesc missed a few games before coming back right at the end and Madrid was pretty anonymous post Feb bar a few moments compared to how he started the season. but yeah, I'd argue losing two players in positions were best equipped at replacing and strengthening two positions we are traditionally weak in PLUS bringing in a replacement for one of those we've let go would qualify as strengthening..

 

[Jarquis]

Difficult to say how they'd go in England though, especially in their first year with no pre-season to find a place in the team. Wasn't Squillaci one of the best talents in Ligue 1 not so long ago?

I'd probably still be backing Liverpool to finish above Arsenal this season regardless.

Not that I'm aware if. Impressed at Monaco back when he was decent but the only reason we bought him was because he was relatively experienced, cheap and we urgently needed a cb. Was never under the pretence if him coming over and pulling up trees. Like I reckon M'Villa would.

 

[Nate]

I ranked Liverpool ahead based on our squads as it stands now! Read the posts!

It's nice to think that whe all imports come to the Prem, they rip it up. But you're placing a lot of faith in unproven players.

Whatever, this is a stupid discussion. Score a goal (not in your own net), or win a game, and we can start chatting.

 

[marc71178]

I ranked Liverpool ahead based on our squads as it stands now! Read the posts!

It's nice to think that whe all imports come to the Prem, they rip it up. But you're placing a lot of faith in unproven players.

Whereas £35m for Carroll, £20m for Henderson and £8m for Coates is sound business sense.

 

[Jarquis]

Jesus, that's why it helps to watch players. its pretty ****ing easy to sit there and go "herpy derpy" and mention buzzwords like 'new' 'inexperienced' 'bedding in period' blah blah. But to be rank, while a small period of adjusting maybe needed due to playing alongside new players, I see no reason why M'Villa wouldn't be a success. He's got all the attributes people have been asking for the the midfield they want us to sign and if he does flop it will be for reasons other than not being suited to the league which is why I think he will the a success.

But yeah, arsenals performance in the first two games obviously renders this a pointless discussion because all my opinions are invalid due to is having 1 point from 2 games. Get the **** off your high horse.