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2013/2014 English Premier League

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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
[URL=http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/jhorton1020/media/premier4381.jpg.html]Click for larger image[/URL]


Well here we go again. The season begins August 18th, but there's still plenty going on in the meantime!


Transfer season is in full swing, with various sources reporting everything under the sun with absolutely no basis.

And seemingly every team is going on tour of somewhere, because evidently teams like Norwich need to bolster their support in places like southern California and Malaysia.


Will Manchester United keep the title?
Will Manchester City not be a mess?
Will Chelsea's Jose Mourinho get himself sacked by Christmas?
Will Arsenal be stuck waiting another season to win a trophy?
Will Tottenham finally get a champions league spot?

Here's to a hopefully entertaining season with plenty of great action leading up the BRAZIL 2014!
Jun 24 2013 11:37PM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
Since money really does run the entire international "football" (sorry I'm American) scene, if the MLS did drop all of the restrictions, do you think MLS "football" could catch up to the rest of the world? I could see billionaires (Mark Cuban type) getting behind a team and dumping boatloads of money into them if it was allowed. I also don't see some great players not wanting to play in the US if they were getting paid enough to do so.
Mar 26 2014 11:19PM
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Chunter
Posts: 2050 - Karma: 1,894
A bit off topic but does Bayern Munich and the bundesliga disgust anyone? They are simply my most hated club as they seemingly only enjoy buying players from their direct competition within the league. They just won the fastest ever title with a 27 game record of 25 wins and 2 draws...without Lewandoski.


They are single-handedly ruining that league and all its competition.
Mar 27 2014 12:51AM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
No. There's no real prestigious international competitions for such teams to win, so even if MLS dropped its pursuit of parity (which it sure as fuck won't) and let one or two teams dominate and win the league every year, it wouldn't grow football in America. There would be absolutely no drive for players to come over here to mop the floor with poor MLS teams and then do what? Win Concacaf Champions League? Not if they have the opportunity to play in Europe and win something more prestigious.

In my opinion, it would kill the game in America. America is not like Scotland, where people who don't support the Old Firm basically have accept the fact that they probably won't ever win anything important. Americans need winning. Baseball is the only sport in America with anything approaching that level of inequality, and it's been around so long, and there's not too much dominance anymore that people tolerate it. Not with a growing, fragile sport like soccer.
Mar 27 2014 12:56AM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
Perfect answer. I have really only been paying attention to the international football scene for the last couple of years so I don't really understand a lot of the complexities. Thanks for breaking it down. There goes my dream of getting rich and creating a dominant American football club....
Mar 27 2014 1:28AM
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*SNO*
Posts: 2575 - Karma: 925
Crazy day in the bottom half today!
Palace beat Chelsea and a 3-3 draw between West Brom and Cardiff

I think an Arsenal win later could put us right back in the title race too...

Mar 29 2014 12:56PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,627
Yeah the West Brom Cardiff game sounded ridiculous

Also I love Chelsea dropping points, I support city and it take a ton of pressure off us to beat Arsenal tonight....

Tbh I don't really care who wins the title as long as it's not Chelsea. Arsenal and Liverpool have played some quality football this season and I've really enjoyed watching both of them.
Mar 29 2014 1:02PM
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*SNO*
Posts: 2575 - Karma: 925
Amalfitano scored the craziest goal I've seen

Definitely hard to figure out who's going down, predictions anyone?

Mar 29 2014 1:05PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,627
Fulham Scumderland and Palace
Mar 29 2014 1:07PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
Arsenal absolutely have to win today if they want to legitimately keep themselves in the title race.
Mar 29 2014 1:12PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Huge result for Arsenal needed especially with Chelseas loss.
Mar 29 2014 1:26PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,627
So if we beat arsenal, we go top with two games in hand. I like the way this is coming together, but I still don't think city are gonna win the title haha
Mar 29 2014 1:38PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
great game going on right now. really wish giroud would be a little more active in the box. he should have gone for the cross from sagna. woulda been 2-1
Mar 29 2014 3:03PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Giroud needs to be more active in general off the ball. City had an easy time with him because he plays with his back to the goal primarily.
Mar 29 2014 5:33PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
Arsenal were about good enough for that draw. Really need a world class striker to round off the squad.

With that said, the draw wasn't enough. Arsenal's title hopes are pretty much dead. But still a good result, given the past performances against top sides this season.

And it's just enough to really mess things up going into the last few weeks. I still see city winning the title. I'd prefer either CFC or MCFC over Liverpool...
Mar 29 2014 6:48PM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
I agree city will win it. Really would rather Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea to win it though
Mar 29 2014 9:40PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,627
Liverpool have been fucking beautiful to watch at times this year, it's been incredible. Arsenal as well, they've scored some ridiculously sick goals.

Since I support city I don't really tend to think about how we play, more "are we winning" hahaha

I fucking hate chelsea though.
Mar 29 2014 10:46PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Spurs are a mess at the back. Liverpool could be up 3. I do see Spurs scoring though, the Reds midfield and defense are a little lazy at times.
Mar 30 2014 11:50AM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
I just hope Liverpool does not win the league.
Mar 30 2014 1:11PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
I would love for Stevie-G to win a league title. I hate MCFC and Mourinho, and there is no way Arsenal will win it. Only leaves Liverpool
Mar 30 2014 4:48PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,627
A much as I love them, I can completely understand why anyone who doesn't support city would hate them. Same reason I hate Chelsea really, buying the league.

That's why I don't care if Liverpool win. It's quite a statement when the two main contenders spend megafucktonnes on building a squad year after year and Liverpool are doing so well without that.
Mar 30 2014 5:40PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
That's conveniently forgetting the mountain of debt that the new ownership group brought Liverpool out of...
Mar 30 2014 8:55PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
I mean I am very hypocritical because my favorite team is Real Madrid, but that was more of a false assumption about my younger years than because they win. My aunts both live in Spain, and when I was 5 or 6, they bought me a Atletico Madrid kit and my brother got a Barca kit. However, I remembered it as an RM kit when I was 9, and since then I have followed RM.

But Liverpool is just a joy to watch. Their leaky defense always means there is a possibility for a shit ton of goals when combined with SAS.
Mar 30 2014 9:46PM
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Chunter
Posts: 2050 - Karma: 1,894
Ahahaha I lost hard

Click for larger image

Here comes the Champions League folks! Lets see if Man United can do the impossible, if Atletico Madrid are as legit as they seem, if Real can get over that German hump and how Chelsea will fare with Ibra and PSG.
Mar 31 2014 11:48PM
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shocker611
Posts: 2599 - Karma: 423
how the fuck did united pull a draw out their ass?
Apr 1 2014 7:57PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
Yeah I bet the whole world thought Man U was going to get smashed (myself included). Bayern's football is lot's of sideways passing though, lots of useless possession. United actually had the better scoring chances, and actually had the ball in the net twice and that second maybe should have stood. Bayern have been found out by a few teams this year including City and Chelsea. They're still obvious favourites heading back to Germany but today was a good result. Nice for United that they're without Javi, Schweinsteiger and Thiago for the next leg.

Also pretty huge that Atletico tied at the Camp Nou. That gives them a real chance going back home although Barca is very capable of winning that game.
Apr 1 2014 9:36PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Heard they played pesky football.

Bummer Schweinsteiger is out.
Apr 1 2014 9:37PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
There is no such thing as useless possession. Anytime your team has the ball, it means the other team cannot score, meaning that having the ball is always useful.

Didn't see the Bayern United game as I was watching Barca vs Atletico, but based on the stats and common sense I'm going to guess United packed 9 or 10 guys around the box whenever Bayern had the ball and then countered when they had a chance. In such situations it's hard, if you're the team who isn't putting 9 guys within 30 yards of their own goal at all times, not to just pass the ball sideways looking for space to appear. It's not exactly easy to create scoring chances with that many guys playing nothing but defense. Patience is a virtue rarely appreciated in soccer anymore.
Apr 1 2014 10:03PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
i only watched the first half of man u v. bayern but bayern completely dominated. if welbeck had put one of those in i would have been so disappointed. man u did not deserve to win that game, they didnt even deserve a tie. bayern looked really good, honestly so surprised they didnt get one. man u could barely get 5 passes strung together before they gave it back.
Apr 1 2014 11:08PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
You know what I mean dude stop being so pedantic. I could find you countless gifs of Real Madrid clearing a corner only for Ronaldo to bust a gut and smash the ball into the opposing net ten seconds later; Chelsea, Dortmund and Liverpool too.
Apr 2 2014 12:30AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
The ball is round though. Anything can happen
Apr 2 2014 8:21AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
Okay, but, again, with United packing their box full of defenders all the time, how many chances did Bayern really have to counter? I'm guessing not many. Since that is the case, there is nothing wrong with passing the ball sideways for a while, looking or space to create a chance. Again, patience is a virtue that is not prized highly enough in soccer anymore.
Apr 2 2014 9:29AM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
I saw most of the second half and United looked just as dangerous as Bayern. And in the first Welbeck missed a sitter on a clear break away, he also scored a goal that was (wrongly) called back.

All I'm saying is that the 70% possession numbers Bayern and Barca regularly put up don't really tell the whole story.
Apr 2 2014 10:53AM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
i mean imo the team that has the capability to keep the ball that much is the better team. you think man u wanted to run their butts around all day chasing bayern? for man u it's tactical, i get it. theyre a much worse team and they wanna make the game ugly in hopes of getting a scoreline like they did.
Apr 2 2014 12:35PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
That strategy rarely works over 2 legs though. We've only seen it successful in the second leg when it's balls to the wall defense holding onto a small lead, or away goals margin.

Moyes was smart to use it, but he was about 1 match early.

Pumped for PSG-Chelsea though. Only annoying part is how most of the lead up to it has been just about ibra and why he hasn't played in England.

Leave it to three English to criticize a player who's won a title in almost every major league, except theirs
Apr 2 2014 12:43PM
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Chunter
Posts: 2050 - Karma: 1,894
Click for larger image
Apr 2 2014 12:45PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
woah, what a start. im watching both games and they scored almost simultaneously.
Apr 2 2014 2:50PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
Chelsea were found out tonight. Told you...don't doubt psg
Apr 2 2014 4:35PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
again i didnt watch much of the second half, but after the goal psg kinda stopped playing. dont know why they backed off so much. psg really didnt look like anything special.

real on the other hand looked crazy dangerous.
Apr 2 2014 5:10PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
No, but it's also stupid to call possession numbers like that "useless," especially when the team they are playing against are terrified of getting scored against and so put 9 guys in the box at all times.
Apr 2 2014 5:31PM
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PowPirate
Posts: 437 - Karma: 621
chelsea never really looked like scoring from open play tbh. Torres did fuck all and lampard is passed it. both teams were playing counter attacking football which made it pretty dull
Apr 2 2014 6:00PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
Whelp I'm not sure they were 3-1 better but we never looked like much of a threat. That was one of the few games this year where you can say Mourinho probably got his tactics wrong, there were some poor individual performances too.

That last goal was absolutely killer. Going home at 2-1 is very manageable but 3-1 is basically impossible - the only score that will work is 2-0. You have to play whistle to whistle, no excuses for that last one or overall poor display.
Apr 3 2014 12:22AM
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Chunter
Posts: 2050 - Karma: 1,894
Pastore's last goal was a beauty and well as Lavezzi's volley but overall the game just felt a little awkward. Can't really name why, just didn't feel very smooth and almost a little dull besides the two glimmers of excitement. PSG losing Ibra is a huge loss, even if everything is all sealed up domestically and in this round of CL.
Apr 3 2014 12:33AM
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PowPirate
Posts: 437 - Karma: 621
yeah i lost it when the last goal went in! like you said 2-1 thats manageable, a classic mourinho 1-0 win at home see us go through but a 2-0 win is just that bit more difficult.
Apr 3 2014 4:23AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Not really, they can easily play without Ibra, they have done it multiple times this season.

PSG is ridiculously stacked up, most teams would be happy with just a Lavezzi, Cavani or Ibra and they have all three, not to mention the midfielders.

Click for larger image

Click for larger image
Apr 3 2014 10:51AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
That goal is just poor defending
Apr 3 2014 11:31AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
First or last?

First goal indeed, all of Chelsea sort of stuck like glue to Zlatan and they left Cavani and Lavezzi open. But boy did Lavezzi shot it in nicely and controlled.

Second goal was just a moment of pure class by Pastore.
Apr 3 2014 11:35AM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Both to be frank

The first was a really poor clearance and then the second had a lot of skill, but a team with the quality of Chelsea should not allow him to waltz in there. And Cech should have done a little better.
Apr 3 2014 11:54AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
Props to those Chelsea fans who went on a little rampage in Paris. Destroyed a shop, have Nazi salutes, and chanted EDL shit while trying to fight everyone in sight. Definitely improving their image...

They've won this competition, and yet the players and fans acted as if this was their first time abroad for a big match
Apr 3 2014 6:00PM
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PowPirate
Posts: 437 - Karma: 621
as a chelsea fan i find it embarrassing when fans act like this. unfortunately there will always be the group of old school fans that remember the chelsea headhunter days of the 70s and 80s and want to bring it back.

last year i was at london bridge station going home when it was flooded with bayern munich and dortmund fans after the CL final. there were hundreds of them and was no sign of trouble. they would all sing together, chat and just all get along. it was a true testament to how football fans should act and behave.
Apr 3 2014 6:25PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
shut up and stop believing the bullshit media. none of that actually happened.
Apr 4 2014 4:13PM
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