EPL Discussion Thread 2008/9

[Bully]

What a cracking game at the Emirates tonight, I only caught the 2nd half (read the first via blog and had to come watch and see for myself) but it was BY FAR the best game I've seen all season!

El Nasri's 2nd was a corker of a finish, but then Man U ensured it went down to the wire by way of new youngster Raphael (this kid will be a seriously good player btw).

Surprised Fergie subbed Rooney (who is just great to watch - Note: when your team isnt the opposition lol) instead of Berbatov who for all his brilliance still displays some very ordinary body language.

Arsenal have as much natural ability as anyone and should only improve with a better injury run, but Man U can play better than they did, season is still well and truly alive for the big 4.

yes was a great game was one of the best i have seen for a while. long week in football as they say, past 10 days been pretty low but after last nights performance makes me proud to be an arsenal supporter. rooney seemed to be off his game last night. that youngster who scored for man united will be a great player when he matures!

[johntheclaret]

Any thoughts on this story ?

Thanks to The Mail (and others)

Chelsea ready to make £8m move for Barcelona star Henry

Chelsea were beaten to the signature of Real Madrid's Robinho in August and Scolari knows as the season progresses the Blues will need added firepower.
Henry, 31, is in his second season with Barcelona aftere leaving Arsenal. The Frenchman has constantly complained that he has been used in a wide left role rather than a central striker - a position filled by Samuel Eto'o.
Though Barcelona, under new coach Pep Guardiola, are top of La Liga Henry may welcome a return to London following his splt with wife Clare. Henry has made no secret that he misses his daughter Tea and said recently: 'Though I work in Barcelona my heart is in London.'

[JK]

$8m is chicken feed for the Chelks, and such a bargain to get a proven EPL player/scorer ... Henry is twice the player Anelka has ever been.

You'd think Arsenal would have the cash to spend and could do with some experience so I wouldn't rule them out if TH does want to return to the EPL.

[johntheclaret]

Agreed Connie.

I also heard that they are going to pull out of Stamford Bridge to an all new stadium costing in excess £500m. out Battersea way. My old man was born in Battersea famed for the Pink Floyd album cover, Animals (I think).

This is a shrewd move by Abramovich. Battersea is a pretty depressed area so land prices are going to be cheap in comparision to the goldmine at Chelski.

Sure brings a smile to your face though, the thought of all those noncy Chavski fans having to go across town to the Battersea junk yard.


Ah... Here's the story.

Thanks to The Observer

Chelsea in talks to move away from Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are planning a move away from Stamford Bridge - the stadium the club has occupied since its formation in 1905 - to a £500million ground situated next to Battersea Power Station.
Holding between 65,000 and 75,000 fans, the proposed new stadia has been designed by HOK Sports, the company responsible for building Wembley Stadium, the Emirates and the north stand at the Bridge.
Mirroring fellow London club Arsenal's move from Highbury in 2006, the move is likely to be partially funded by the redevelopment of the current Stamford Bridge site.
The north London club has made an estimated profit of £100m from the move, and Chelsea can expect to earn significantly more thanks to the paucity of available land in the plush borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Plans for the new ground have been presented to Chelsea senior executives by HOK architects, with an employee telling the Observer: 'The presentation was very impressive and was common knowledge around the place. Everyone was talking about it and the pictures of the new stadium were stuck up on the walls at the Putney office.'
Lying some three miles across the Thames from the club's current home in Putney, the site is situated in the borough of Wandsworth; details that could cause unrest with the club's faithful.
A Chelsea insider remarked that no decision had been made: 'Chelsea have been linked with countless sites away from Stamford Bridge, but the club is still evaluating options to develop the club's current stadium.

'Only when those options have been exhausted will we consider moving,' a club spokesman told the Observer.

[johntheclaret]

Found this typo in a story today. Thought it was very appropriate

ROVERS TRIAL FOR EGYPT INTERNATIONAL
Egypt midfielder Ahmed Al-Muhammadi is set to undergo a trial with lackburn.

How true

[Cheese Twisties]

Holding between 65,000 and 75,000 fans, the proposed new stadia has been designed by HOK Sports, the company responsible for building Wembley Stadium, the Emirates and the north stand at the Bridge.

How many times do Chavski even sell out Stamford Bridge?

[johntheclaret]

Holding between 65,000 and 75,000 fans, the proposed new stadia has been designed by HOK Sports, the company responsible for building Wembley Stadium, the Emirates and the north stand at the Bridge.

How many times do Chavski even sell out Stamford Bridge?

Most weeks I think Twistie. Their capacity os only 42,000 at the bridge. there was just under 42,000 there last Wednesday.

[RoosterMarty]

Found this typo in a story today. Thought it was very appropriate

ROVERS TRIAL FOR EGYPT INTERNATIONAL
Egypt midfielder Ahmed Al-Muhammadi is set to undergo a trial with lackburn.

How true

You never miss an opportunity do you?

[johntheclaret]

Found this typo in a story today. Thought it was very appropriate

ROVERS TRIAL FOR EGYPT INTERNATIONAL
Egypt midfielder Ahmed Al-Muhammadi is set to undergo a trial with lackburn.

How true

You never miss an opportunity do you?

I just can't help myself.

[JK]

nil-all at Anfield

To be fair the Hammers deserved at least a point out of that

[johntheclaret]

Geez, they don't arf talk some bollocks. What credentials does wInce have. Two lower league clubs and 3 wins in 15 at b4st4rds. the guy is in cloud cookoo land. I can't wait until we swap leagues with that rabble.

I thought they were talking about the vacant managers post at Cowdenbeath when I saw this headline

Thanks to Skysports

Ince has eyes on top job

Rovers boss fancies a crack at England

Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince has confirmed he would love to manage England one day. The former Macclesfield and Milton Keynes Dons manager is currently testing himself at Premier League level after being appointed Mark Hughes' successor at Ewood Park over the summer. Although it is early days in Ince's tenure at Rovers the pressure is already on the former England captain as he has won just three of 15 league games; form that sees the team just two points clear of rock-bottom West Brom. Regardless of Rovers' position, Ince is sad that England have made two foreign appointments from their last three head coaches, although he is enthused by the quality of emerging English managerial talent.

[devilsadvocate]

I'd love to manage Egland too one day (so I could kick a boot at John Terry right before I tell him to clean out his locker) , but it aint gonna happen.

The Gov'nor is kidding himself.

[JK]

34 mins in at Anfield and it's 2-2 v Hull, and just quietly, they've played the better football IMHO ... It's a sign of their system and belief that they haven't come visiting looking for a nil-nil as many do ... They went to Old Trafford earlier in the year and fair enough they lost, but anytime a team can score 3 goals there, they seriously have something going for them.

IMHO this mob is a breath of fresh air in the Premier League, regardless of whether they win tonight (which they look very capable of doing).

[johntheclaret]

Some good news for United ?

Thanks to Skysports News

Van der Sar signs Utd deal
Keeper signs one-year extension

Edwin Van der Sar has signed a new deal with Manchester United which will keep him at the club until 2010.

The Dutch keeper has agreed a one-year contract extension, an agreement which will see him clock up five years' service at Old Trafford.

[Bully]

could this be the begining of the end of blackburn for premier league footy?

[johntheclaret]

could this be the begining of the end of blackburn for premier league footy?

Bloody hope so Bulldog. How sweet would it be for the Clarets to get promoted this year and pass the b4st4rds on their way down.

Jack Walkers money has all but gone now (I think they get £5m a year from his trust fund but I heard that that was under review and the Trustees want to cut that too). they get crap all fans, averaging around 15 - 16 thousand home fans and if they did take the drop it is difficult to see them bouncinig straight back up this time even with the parachute payments.

Burnley on the other hand, we would be happy to steal £30m odd million for a season and be the powerhouse in East Lancashire for a while.

[johntheclaret]

Just a side note to the post above. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph, our local rag, ran a story a couple of weeks back, from the chairman of b4st4rd rovers, calling for fans to get behind the team and rock up to a game or two.

They made the BIG mistake of publishing his e-mail address, so we cheeky Claret fans have spent the last 2 weeks sending him e-mails under the guise of b4st4rd fans, urging him to give wInce a chance, a bit more time so he can turn it around, and wait until at least after the January window has closed.

[Bully]

could this be the begining of the end of blackburn for premier league footy?

Bloody hope so Bulldog. How sweet would it be for the Clarets to get promoted this year and pass the b4st4rds on their way down.

Jack Walkers money has all but gone now (I think they get £5m a year from his trust fund but I heard that that was under review and the Trustees want to cut that too). they get crap all fans, averaging around 15 - 16 thousand home fans and if they did take the drop it is difficult to see them bouncinig straight back up this time even with the parachute payments.

Burnley on the other hand, we would be happy to steal £30m odd million for a season and be the powerhouse in East Lancashire for a while.

not fussed if blackburn go down or not, but on the other hand Arsenal tend to have one of 'those' days when we visit blackburn so lets hope they do

[devilsadvocate]

Just a side note to the post above. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph, our local rag, ran a story a couple of weeks back, from the chairman of b4st4rd rovers, calling for fans to get behind the team and rock up to a game or two.

They made the BIG mistake of publishing his e-mail address, so we cheeky Claret fans have spent the last 2 weeks sending him e-mails under the guise of b4st4rd fans, urging him to give wInce a chance, a bit more time so he can turn it around, and wait until at least after the January window has closed.

Aaaaahhhhaaahahahahahaha, that's absolute gold mate.
I was chatting with a few boys in the pub the other week and we were saying that every game Ince even looks like getting a result is a death sentence for B4st4rds.

[devilsadvocate]

Can I just say what a dirty, pathetic sack of shit Ronaldo is. The way he lashed out in frustration after having been tackled beautifully by Dawson and trying to kick him while on the ground. What a disgrace. He should have seen a red card, but nooooooo, he's United and untouchable. Total joke.

He can stick the Ballon D'or up his probably large rear hole. Fag bag.