Re: The Football Chat Thread : Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:32 am  

Is that seven first-teamers out now? How does Sir Alex do it?

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:44 pm  

Great cameo from Stevie G tonight. We looked awfully flat in midfield until he came on.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:01 pm  

richardviking wrote:

Great cameo from Stevie G tonight. We looked awfully flat in midfield until he came on.

Adam was poor, IMO. I don't really like his decision making, he often over dribbles and often makes the wrong decision. A good example was his long shot that flew over, a decent opening arose but he just blitzed a shot over.

Dunno when Gerrard will be ready to start, he looked class tonight, but I'd sooner have him come on at 1-1, than have to take him off at 1-1 to prevent injury. Couple of weeks I reckon.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:05 am  

Good news about Vidic, ready for start of next season. Still no return date for Cleverley though. Possible defence for next game Valencia, Carrick, Evra and Fryers.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:55 am  

As we're almost at halfway, who would you have in your team of the season so far?

1. Vorm

2. Richards
4. Kompany
5. Skrtel
3. Enrique

7.Nani
8.Modric
6.Ramires
11.Silva

9. Ba
10.Van persie

Think Ramires won't be in many teams, but has been outstanding for Chelsea this season, box to box player and full of energy. Enrique has really impressed, part of the league's 2nd best defence and great going forward. People like Clichy and Evra haven't been what they usually are this season. Silva is the player of the year and Van persie os the 2nd best striker in the league behind the Racist,.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:57 am  

richardviking wrote:

Great cameo from Stevie G tonight. We looked awfully flat in midfield until he came on.

And so it begins....

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:48 am  

Roddy B wrote:

Adam was poor, IMO. I don't really like his decision making, he often over dribbles and often makes the wrong decision. A good example was his long shot that flew over, a decent opening arose but he just blitzed a shot over.

Dunno when Gerrard will be ready to start, he looked class tonight, but I'd sooner have him come on at 1-1, than have to take him off at 1-1 to prevent injury. Couple of weeks I reckon.

Do you think Kenny has the bottle to admit defeat on some of his big-money signings and try to get some cash back on them?

I think its fair to say that Enrique and Suarez have been quality buys, but that is countered massively by Carroll, Henderson, Adam and Downing, who have had over £80 million spent on them and looked distinctly average.

Before I get the 'obsessed' tag chucked my way, I'd like to say that quite a few managers seem to have the problem of keeping hold of players simply so they aren't accused of wasting money or making bad buys....As an Evertonian, Moyes with Russian Billy is a classic example - The guy should have gone long ago, but holds on simply because of the money wasted on him.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:11 pm  

De Gea, Rafael, Carrick, Evra, Jones, Park, Nani, Valencia, Welbeck, Berbatov, Hernandez

one CM, in defence

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:26 pm  

flipper wrote:

De Gea, Rafael, Carrick, Evra, Jones, Park, Nani, Valencia, Welbeck, Berbatov, Hernandez

one CM, in defence

Whatever happened to Fergie's fledglings?....

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:16 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Do you think Kenny has the bottle to admit defeat on some of his big-money signings and try to get some cash back on them?

I think its fair to say that Enrique and Suarez have been quality buys, but that is countered massively by Carroll, Henderson, Adam and Downing, who have had over £80 million spent on them and looked distinctly average.

Before I get the 'obsessed' tag chucked my way, I'd like to say that quite a few managers seem to have the problem of keeping hold of players simply so they aren't accused of wasting money or making bad buys....As an Evertonian, Moyes with Russian Billy is a classic example - The guy should have gone long ago, but holds on simply because of the money wasted on him.

I dunno, it's hard to figure out, really. It doesn't seem like it to some, but Henderson and Adam have only been at the club for around six months, whilst they didn't have vast 'premier league experience' before they came to the club. Adjustments will have to be made on both sides, but I think it's too early to write them all off. Henderson, for example, has improved much upon his early season form; his biggest problem seems to be in his character, he's quite passive and he could probably do with watching Gerrard a little, who came on last night and steered us to victory.

Adam, similarly, has shown he has ability and there's been games where his play in midfield has been outstanding. It's only his second season in the PL, his first with us and his first where he's expected to adjust around other 'stars' and make them better. Besides, Adam didn't cost that much, so the expectations aren't too great and I can certainly be patient with him.

Downing is so so, I think we overspent on him, largely because of his nationality. He's predictable, inconsistent and not the greatest decision maker. But he can be a threat, he can put the odd ball in and he's always a willing runner and dribbler. Last night typified him, he had the beating of Newcastle's full back all night, but he didn't create all that much and probably passed up a couple of opportunities to shoot or stop.

As for Carroll, well, I can't see what he brings at the moment that Emile Heskey wouldn't bring. He's allegedly strong and an apparent aerial threat, I guess that's why the only attempt at a header he made last night hit the bar. There was a lot of talk last night about the service he got, which has, at times, been correct. However, it was pointed out by I think Alan Smith, the service he received was representative of the movement he made. How many times did he make a sprint to get into the six yard box and get his head on it? So often, a ball would come in and Carroll would be stood there, flat footed. I completely understand Kenny defending him, and whilst some say he hasn't lacked the effort, what he has lacked is the quality movement we've received from players like Torres and Suarez over recent years. I think we can still be patient with Carroll, we faced this problem with Crouch when he first came. Eventually he became our 'game changer', but Crouch never arrived with £35m on his head, and Crouch was never found wanting for a lack of effort.