uzzmaan

Joined!

brianmp007

Anybody else have the feeling that anything could happen in the Premier league this year? I mean Chelsea drawing with Everton, Man U losing to sunderland a couple weeks ago and villa this week. This would be Liverpools only chance at winning the league IMO. They need to learn how to finish games off before they start to get back atop the league.

brianmp007

PS anyone know why there are games this week? trying to get them in before christmas?

JediMindTricks

i think chelsea are still the favorites. despite the recent losses, united are still in fair position behind chelsea. we have a reputation of finishing strongly, so hopefully, we'll still be within striking distance in the spring.

i think liverpool should be more concerned with finishing in the top 4 than winning the league.

i suppose it's only a matter of time before villa, tottenham, and city fall apart towards the end of the season.

as for the premier league, they don't have a winter break. in fact, it's the opposite for them. the christmas season is a very busy time for the league, and there will be lots of fixtures over the next several weeks. so look for a lot of midweek games.

the rest of the leagues should finish up their fixtures for the year this weekend if they're not on break already.

imo, the premier league should go on break too, but what fun is that for us fans?

brianmp007

Yea I agree that they should be focused on the top 4, which I think they will finish in. I feel that Liverpool is in a bridge year this year, like my other teams the pats and red sox. They lost too much last year and need to make some moves and shake things up a bit. Maybe next year (really tired of hearing that being a red sox fan)

JediMindTricks

did they really lose too much?

(playing devil's advocate)

but really, the only key player they lost was alonso. at the time, i did believe and say that his departure will really change things for them because he was so crucial to their formation and tactics. having him initiate the attack and change play from defense to offense let gerrard move up and essentially be a second striker.

the jury's still out on aquilani, though i wonder why rafa spent so much money on a player that's always injured. lucas has played well, surprisingly, but can you rely on him to help compete for a title?

but other than alonso, did they really make a lot of changes? arbeloa, i suppose.

imo, rafa should have taken owen on a free. sure he's not the same player he was 5 years ago, but as proven this season, he can still score when given chances and time.

rafa's made too many questionably buys and sells over the years. granted, he's made some good ones too, but the majority of them are

brianmp007

yea I guess your right about that. The alonso move was definitly huge tho. Like you said the combination of alonso and gerrad was almost unstoppable. Now that gerrard has more of true midfielders role, there losing alot of the pop in the attacking third.

their real issue tho is the defense. I really like Skrtel, Charreger and Johnson, but agger has just fallen off. They need to make some sort of move to improve there.

I really hope that Rafa figures it out, because I think that he is a really good manager. Very bellichekien (if that makes any sense lol).

JediMindTricks

i think the idea was that if aquilani can take alonso's place, gerrard will keep playing up front. imagine if mascherano had left too.

glen johnson's been a good signing (though expensive), but in my opinion, he still exposes the defense on the right side. he's great in attack but still has a lot to learn on defense.

dunno what the deal is with agger. he looked solid 2-3 years ago.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I think Chelsea are still favorites and ManU and Arsenal will all finish in the top 4. Question is will Liverpool even make the top 4... they have been playing like shyte and like Jedi said, they only really lost one player - Alonso.

Villa doesn't have a lot of key players but as a team they are solid, just beat ManU and always put up a good fight vs the top 4. I honestly think Liverpool might not make the top 4 this year.

I have a feeling Manshitty will fall out of the top 6 or so but Tot might have a chance to remain up there.

JediMindTricks

agree with you imj about chelsea being the favorites, followed by united and arsenal.

so it'll be 4 teams fighting for that 4th spot.

city are weird. they've played well against the big 4 but keep dropping points against the other teams. didn't they have like 7 draws in a row until beating chelsea?

like a lot of pundits suggested, their defense is going to be their shortcoming. it's ironic because they have really good players in defense.

if not this season, i can see city really competing for a top 4 spot next year. too many players and resources not to.

of those 4, i think tottenham have the best chance too.

jangkai

With City's money, there won't be much stopping them in the near future.

I feel like Liverpool needs to splurge in special players like they did for Torres. They've always been among the League's top spenders but haven't spent their money in the smartest way.

I wonder how the English powerhouses will fare against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Right now, the Premiership is the most competitive league in the world but the top 2 teams are Real and Barca.

Only Chelsea look strong enough to compete and from Italy... no one right now. Been a huge Inter fan but their football is not attractive as when Recoba and Vieri were playing together.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Chelsea and ManU can beat Real Madrid and Barcelona, I think you are giving too much props to those two teams...

JediMindTricks

i don't think man united or chelsea will have a problem with madrid. barca may be tougher just because if they score first, it's near impossible to get the ball back from them...like what we saw in the CL final last season.

but with madrid's defense and now with pepe out, i don't think either club will have a problem with them. remember how liverpool dismantled them last year?

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Liverpool keeps on conceding goals at the end of matches this season....and they lost several (key) players early on, and Alonso left the club....and Aquilani still spends much of his time sitting on the bench....I guess those are some of the reasons why Liverpool isn't doing too well so far.

JediMindTricks

and they have a manager that's lost the plot.

jangkai

Players who look more natural in a hospital: Rosicky, Aquilani, Van Persie, Robben, Recoba to name a few.

I'm a huge fan of Rosicky but it's a shame he's rarely on the field now.

uzzmaan

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW

Stuttgart v Barcelona
Olympiakos v Bordeaux
Inter Milan v CHELSEA
Bayern Munich v Fiorentina
CSKA Moscow v Seville
Lyon v Real Madrid
FC Porto v ARSENAL
AC Milan v MAN UTD

My picks in bold. Looks to be an exciting start to the knockout stage!

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Stuttgart v Barcelona
Olympiakos v Bordeaux
Inter Milan v Chelsea
Bayern Munich v Fiorentina ...tough call since Ribery is back...
CSKA Moscow v Sevilla
Lyon v Real Madrid
FC Porto v Arsenal
AC Milan v ManU

Barca and Bordeaux got easy ones. Becks vs his old club should be interesting. Chelsea will beat Inter just like last year.

jangkai

Wow Chelsea Inter and Milan Man U!! Looks like Inter won't make it out of the second round again..

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

Sucks to be a Liverpool fan as they lost again.....

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

and ManU lost!

JediMindTricks

at losing 3-0. doesn't matter it's fulham. the scoreline...

and welcome back to old trafford, david beckham. i hope he gets a huge ovation.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I bet he will get a HUGE ovation

JediMindTricks

agree. he's united through and through. despite the celebrity he's become, he still absolutely loves the club.

i remember seeing him watch the man united/arsenal CL game last year. when it was apparent that united were going to advance to the final, he was clapping and being all giddy.

he deserves it.

and mourinho deserves an ovation too from the chelsea supporters.

Lister00169

Haven't posted in a while, but need to chime in on my Liverpool lads.

JediMindTricks

patrick vieira joins mancini at city.

he says he wanted to leave inter to get regular playing time. thing is, in terms of production, i don't see how he'll be any better than barry, kompany, and/or de jong. especially the last two. maybe his familiarity with mancini will help.

a bit disappointed. i'm not even an arsenal supporter, but i hate to see him wearing another EPL shirt than arsenal's.

jangkai

^ his reported salary is 100,000pounds/week, which could be the reason for his departure.

If Vieira can perform around 60/70% of what he used to, none of those midfielders would have a chance.
The problem is, the last time he played well was.. uh... Juventus? He was never in form with Inter.

JediMindTricks

yea i assumed it was about the money.

i dunno. i think de jong and kompany are very good players and have done well this year.

jangkai

Didn't Kompany start off as a defender?

He was a must buy when I used to play FM a few years back.. I hope he settles down in one position and reaches his full potential.

JediMindTricks

yea his natural position is as a CD, which he's very good at. but he's been playing as a DM too since toure (how he's fallen over the years) and lescott (the second most expensive defender in the world!) are the starting central defenders.

i know what you mean about kompany a few years ago. i picked him up on the cheap too!

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8449319.stm

Gunmen have fired on a bus carrying Togo's football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, wounding players and reportedly killing the driver.

The attackers machine-gunned the vehicle after it crossed from the Republic of Congo into Angola's oil-rich territory of Cabinda.

The government called the incident an "act of terrorism".

Rebels who have been fighting for the region's independence later said they had carried out the attack.

The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec) has fought for independence for several decades, but entered a ceasefire in 2006.

There are reports of serious injuries.

Togo is due to play its first cup game in Cabinda on Monday.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was on the bus but is unhurt. In a statement, Manchester City said Adebayor had been "shaken by the terrible events" but was "unharmed".

JediMindTricks

i just read that.

too sad and unfortunate. to the bus driver.

Lister00169

I find it hilarious how the PM of Angola said that the rebels who fired upon the bus come from an Angolan rebel group that no longer exists because his country stamped them out ages ago.

Way to help out PM...

jangkai

So Togo withdraws from the tournament. to the driver.. I heard the keeper is in danger as well.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

3 dead.

I hope no more violence goes down. There are already 'conerns' over people getting AIDS this summer in South Africa during the World Cup lol... prostitutes...

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

viva la france!

JediMindTricks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnul...r_benitez.html

good article on benitez and france.

iforyou

iTrader: (1)

damn it they lost again....

JediMindTricks

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Yea Liverpool are fucked... They need to get their shit together but I don't see it happening. They surely aren't making the top 4 this year.

Btw Ivory Coast vs Ghana in the African Cup of Nations today... probably THE game of the tournament