Soldato
I reserve the right to re-evaluate my rankings if that happens this window
Of those players even vaguely realistic, who would you like to see? Cavani? Di Maria?
**2014/15 Predictions thread**
- Thread starter No1newts
- Start date
I reserve the right to re-evaluate my rankings if that happens this window
Of those players even vaguely realistic, who would you like to see? Cavani? Di Maria?
I reserve the right to re-evaluate my rankings if that happens this window
Of those players even vaguely realistic, who would you like to see? Cavani? Di Maria?
Its about this time..when someone asks me that question, that traditionally upon these forums.. I say .. Keisuke Honda
However..despite several years now of begging, it appears the gods of football have declined to fulfil my request, so ...
yeah, I'd be content with Cavani, I'd even be quite content with a pop at Jackson Martinez. Not so sure that Di Maria would be the right fit though.
it wont be Cavani or di Maria - as PSG are after di Maria themselves but need to flog before they can buy it will be someone in their squad that he will replace - Moura or Pastore would be my 'choices' and both would fit into our style of play quite niceyl.
The only time our midfield didn't compete in those games was Arsenal away where we played a dire formation with Suarez just back.
We comfortably controlled midfield for the majority of those games at home and competed well if not won them away too
EDIT: Chelsea away we struggled a bit, **** got kicked out of our players leaving Allen out injured and eto trying to end Hendo's career but we still did well especially without Steve
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Caporegime
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1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool
-----------------
5. Man Utd
6. Everton
7. Spurs
I think that Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and Utd will all be fighting over 4th this season, unless United sign a few more players I don't think they'll be able to keep pace with Everton or 'Pool though, and could see themselves finishing only just above their position from last season.
Arsenal wise I'm really optimistic, I've only got us down for third there but if we have luck with injuries and if we manage to keep going past Christmas we have the potential in the squad to add another trophy again this season. Aside from the pass leading to the first goal I think Sanchez' end product has been poor, but his movement and pace are something that are going to cause huge problems for the rest of the league this season and I'm really excited to see how he fares and what he brings to the side. I think Ozil is poised to flourish from the return of Walcott and obviously the added pace of Sanchez on the wing too. Slightly concerned that The Ox might not get much playing time but hopefully Wenger will rotate responsibly and everybody will have a chance.
I'm not sure on Debuchy's defensive input but he looked to link up well going forward and his passing caused Kolarov some problems the other day too. Overall we're a much better squad than last season, I think we do need a strong presence in the centre of the pitch but if one doesn't arrive before the window closes then I do think we can make do with what we have. I think the FA Cup last season, couple with the win on Sunday against City will give the team a new found belief that they may not have had in previous years.
2. Man City
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool
-----------------
5. Man Utd
6. Everton
7. Spurs
I think that Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and Utd will all be fighting over 4th this season, unless United sign a few more players I don't think they'll be able to keep pace with Everton or 'Pool though, and could see themselves finishing only just above their position from last season.
Arsenal wise I'm really optimistic, I've only got us down for third there but if we have luck with injuries and if we manage to keep going past Christmas we have the potential in the squad to add another trophy again this season. Aside from the pass leading to the first goal I think Sanchez' end product has been poor, but his movement and pace are something that are going to cause huge problems for the rest of the league this season and I'm really excited to see how he fares and what he brings to the side. I think Ozil is poised to flourish from the return of Walcott and obviously the added pace of Sanchez on the wing too. Slightly concerned that The Ox might not get much playing time but hopefully Wenger will rotate responsibly and everybody will have a chance.
I'm not sure on Debuchy's defensive input but he looked to link up well going forward and his passing caused Kolarov some problems the other day too. Overall we're a much better squad than last season, I think we do need a strong presence in the centre of the pitch but if one doesn't arrive before the window closes then I do think we can make do with what we have. I think the FA Cup last season, couple with the win on Sunday against City will give the team a new found belief that they may not have had in previous years.
Seems pointless to predict anything till the transfer window closes. Chelsea & City are really the only two who I'd say are nailed on for a top 2 finish.
Arsenal need a striker to really go the distance, Man Utd's position depends entirely on getting a experienced CB and CM to go along with what they already have.
Liverpool for me are the biggest losers, lost the best player in the league by some margin last year. Did nothing to really replace him with equal quality, A bit like what Tottenham did after selling Bale. Quantity > Quality.
Arsenal need a striker to really go the distance, Man Utd's position depends entirely on getting a experienced CB and CM to go along with what they already have.
Liverpool for me are the biggest losers, lost the best player in the league by some margin last year. Did nothing to really replace him with equal quality, A bit like what Tottenham did after selling Bale. Quantity > Quality.
Caporegime
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A lot of people suggesting Chelsea unless Costa gets injured/fails to adapt, the latter is frankly silly, the former very possible.
However Fabregas is also fully capable of playing upfront, his movement is excellent, very good scoring record and without constantly looking for Messi/team actually looking to pass him in more he'd easily score over 20 played as a striker. I think this is something people are overlooking, Fabregas adds incredible versatility. Can anyone name another midfielder who played upfront (without previously doing so for a significant number of games) for a team that goes on to win a european cup? Of course he could get injured also but, it's still more squad depth for upfront. I think he could end up scoring 20 even as a midfielder this year.
Arsenal, Sanchez being somewhat over rated like Ozil was. He's very good at certain things, if we use him right I can see him being great for us and it's hard to judge in preseason where Wenger will start him consistently given the players out/late back. Where does Wenger see Walcott when he's back. Are we going to ask Sanchez to get used to wide right, then switch him to wide left when Walcott is fit?
Sanchez had a 60% pass completion rate against a poor City, it was worse than any other player on the field including both keepers(whose pass completely is often much lower than anyone elses). He gave the ball away via poor touch or being dispossessed more than any other player in the world cup. This is often how he plays, it's not new or different. I said at the time(and got randomly shouted down despite stats supporting it completely) that he was incredibly wasteful and poor on the ball in the world cup. He frequently held on to it too long and then lost it when he finally passed way way too late. He did the same in his first 4 or 5 touches in his first preseason game. We're currently playing him too deep, we need him to be passing with first touch, bursting down the wing dragging players out of position to track his run then passing him in to a one or two touch before shooting position. At that, he is fantastic, if we play to that strength it's a huge strength. If we play to his creative/playmaking game, it's a waste.
We need someone very fast in midfield, someone who picks up the ball turns and passes instantly forward to take advantage of his pace and runs in behind. Currently our midfield doesn't instantly look for that pass in behind. Ozil should help with that, we've basically got to see how the team shakes out with everyone back and fit and what Wenger does. It's why Sanchez was at his best without Messi in the team and with Fabregas feeding him such passes. Fabregas attempted more direct football than the rest of the team would and tried those early balls in behind and with messi not playing the team was a bit faster and more fluid(because they were more varied in their play and choice of who to play in). Fabregas + Sanchez bought this summer and I think Arsenal had the title this year.
Ultimately Chelsea were strong and improved more than anyone else, I can't see past them for the league unless they have several serious injuries, even then they might do it.
1st Chelsea
2nd City
3rd Arsenal... Utd if they buy better than they have done so far
4th Utd or as above, Arsenal if Utd strengthen better than they have so far.
Relegation, don't really know, going with who I want to go down. QPR, Sunderland, QPR.
However Fabregas is also fully capable of playing upfront, his movement is excellent, very good scoring record and without constantly looking for Messi/team actually looking to pass him in more he'd easily score over 20 played as a striker. I think this is something people are overlooking, Fabregas adds incredible versatility. Can anyone name another midfielder who played upfront (without previously doing so for a significant number of games) for a team that goes on to win a european cup? Of course he could get injured also but, it's still more squad depth for upfront. I think he could end up scoring 20 even as a midfielder this year.
Arsenal, Sanchez being somewhat over rated like Ozil was. He's very good at certain things, if we use him right I can see him being great for us and it's hard to judge in preseason where Wenger will start him consistently given the players out/late back. Where does Wenger see Walcott when he's back. Are we going to ask Sanchez to get used to wide right, then switch him to wide left when Walcott is fit?
Sanchez had a 60% pass completion rate against a poor City, it was worse than any other player on the field including both keepers(whose pass completely is often much lower than anyone elses). He gave the ball away via poor touch or being dispossessed more than any other player in the world cup. This is often how he plays, it's not new or different. I said at the time(and got randomly shouted down despite stats supporting it completely) that he was incredibly wasteful and poor on the ball in the world cup. He frequently held on to it too long and then lost it when he finally passed way way too late. He did the same in his first 4 or 5 touches in his first preseason game. We're currently playing him too deep, we need him to be passing with first touch, bursting down the wing dragging players out of position to track his run then passing him in to a one or two touch before shooting position. At that, he is fantastic, if we play to that strength it's a huge strength. If we play to his creative/playmaking game, it's a waste.
We need someone very fast in midfield, someone who picks up the ball turns and passes instantly forward to take advantage of his pace and runs in behind. Currently our midfield doesn't instantly look for that pass in behind. Ozil should help with that, we've basically got to see how the team shakes out with everyone back and fit and what Wenger does. It's why Sanchez was at his best without Messi in the team and with Fabregas feeding him such passes. Fabregas attempted more direct football than the rest of the team would and tried those early balls in behind and with messi not playing the team was a bit faster and more fluid(because they were more varied in their play and choice of who to play in). Fabregas + Sanchez bought this summer and I think Arsenal had the title this year.
Ultimately Chelsea were strong and improved more than anyone else, I can't see past them for the league unless they have several serious injuries, even then they might do it.
1st Chelsea
2nd City
3rd Arsenal... Utd if they buy better than they have done so far
4th Utd or as above, Arsenal if Utd strengthen better than they have so far.
Relegation, don't really know, going with who I want to go down. QPR, Sunderland, QPR.
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Associate
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- 13 Mar 2006
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- 143
It's a really lazy comparison that is being trotted out in the media and regurgitated.
Rodgers set the team up around Suarez because you'd be stupid not to with a player like that, but he can't be replaced like-for-like as we don't have a bottomless pit of cash to throw at ready-made stars with little resale value.
Instead you try and get good young players in who have the right attitude and can slot in to your established system of play. You make sure you at least fix the things that were weak last season that you can throw money at - the defence and the bench. Then you trust in your young squad to step up, and judging by yesterday's game they are doing exactly that.
Spurs on the other hand went out and bought a load of random good foreign players and hoped they would instantly settle and make a great team.
Totally different situations, and I think Rodgers has dealt with it brilliantly aside from the Sanchez and Remy deals not panning out.
I must admit, its a bit of a dilemma really, we've now got Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho, Sturridge , and lets not forget...Markovic. And that's if we don't buy another forward player.
In midfield, theres Can, Henderson, Allen, Gerrard and Lucas.
Frankly, I really have no idea at this point what our best 11 will be.
The defence I can see fairly clearly, Mignolet, Skrtel/Sakho, Lovren, Manquillo and Moreno/Flanagan. That seems fairly set to me.
Of course Gerrard and Sturridge go in...which just leaves 4 to be picked out of :
Can
Henderson
Allen
Lucas
Markovic
Sterling
Coutinho
Lallana
Its actually a more difficult choice than I realised
As a Liverpool fan I don't rate Allen at all he should be sold. Lucas should also be sold and Mignolet is a disaster. Ricky Lambert shouldn't be near the first team at all.
So like Spurs we'll finish with 3 less points? Okay
I didn't really want to come out and say it but there is some massively wishful thinking from the Liverpool fans in here. Sturridge is a good player but he's going to look a lot more ordinary without Suarez alongside him. He also seems to pick up a lot of injuries nowadays, which for such a young player who hasn't really been in a lot of battles is worrying.
Just been reading that we are looking at signing Samual Eto'o
All I can say is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ&app=desktop
All I can say is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ&app=desktop
Caporegime
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Caporegime
You are most welcome good sir!
That was funny. I was thinking exactly the same as purdy, then I read his post and smiled.
That said I do agree with what you said. Can't see Liverpool finishing any higher than 4th. I would imagine 5th as I see Man U finishing above them. But you never know