The English Football Thread

[Billy. 2,742]

Rio and Piers Morgan having ago at each other lol

Piers Morgan ‏@piersmorgan 37m
Stick a cork in it, Sicknote > RT @rioferdy5 Can we get #tears4piers trending people??!! Just for our friend @piersmorgan

Rio Ferdinand ‏@rioferdy5 8m
"@piersmorgan: Stick a cork in it, Sicknote > poor from u fella! We just racked up #20 with ya 1 time hero RVP, thanks!

[Strike 7,492]

To be quite fair, only one season out of UCL would not have that kind of impact on players. Money is still what rules the world and if Roman offers big time money for Falcao, Modric, Sanchez, etc, they would all come despite of UCL football. Specially if Mourinho comes!

The distraction of UCL football is benefical for SAF aspirations of winning one more league title...

P.S: RVP equalized!

That is true. We won't turn into f****in Liverpool but it slows our transition period down. In the case of Falcao, Modric etc, I don't think ALL of the big players will come tempted by money. A few might view the PL as a step-up while others might be aiming for first-team football but I don't think ALL the big-name players can be tempted by money

if we don't qualify for CL, we will be in the Thursday night freakshow again and that is worse because Thursday-Sunday is a lesser gap than Tuesday-Saturday or Wednesday-Sunday. Plus, EL is a bunch of meaningless games compared to CL.

In the view of our players; Out in CL groups this year. No CL next year and some star players will be thinking of moving if we don't win anything next year as well - *cough**Eden Hazard**cough*

I get your wider point. We won't slip down to midtable or anything but Fergie will be around 2-3 years and he'll be looking to keep winning league titles till then

btw; ignore the conspiracy theory. I was clearly on something

[Spike 12,049]

Who is Diego Alves?

[Rmpr 8,977]

That is true. We won't turn into f****in Liverpool but it slows our transition period down. In the case of Falcao, Modric etc, I don't think ALL of the big players will come tempted by money. A few might view the PL as a step-up while others might be aiming for first-team football but I don't think ALL the big-name players can be tempted by money

if we don't qualify for CL, we will be in the Thursday night freakshow again and that is worse because Thursday-Sunday is a lesser gap than Tuesday-Saturday or Wednesday-Sunday. Plus, EL is a bunch of meaningless games compared to CL.

In the view of our players; Out in CL groups this year. No CL next year and some star players will be thinking of moving if we don't win anything next year as well - *cough**Eden Hazard**cough*

I get your wider point. We won't slip down to midtable or anything but Fergie will be around 2-3 years and he'll be looking to keep winning league titles till then

btw; ignore the conspiracy theory. I was clearly on something

I see where you are coming from, but when you say that Thursday nights are meaningless (specially if we win UEL this year already), dont you think that you are exactly making my point? (that we will be super focused in EPL and that might be threatening to SAF?)

For instance...Suppose that we can't get the players you are suggesting, we would still be able to recall some loanees (Chalobah, KDB and Lukaku) and buy lesser known names (Benat, Garay, Schurrle, etc). This would already be a very good improvement from what we currently have and I am not even touching the fact Ba, Hazard and Oscar will be much better next year. Add to all of this a top manager as Mourinho, with no UCL to worry about, and we might just be able to win the title again.

The Only Place To Be wants us to only buy Schurrle and rely on unexperienced promisses such as Chalobah and Lukaku to go onto a full season, which I personally disagree (I dont think we can reach 80+ points with this). However, if we add to that some other players (a big time transfer would be amazing, but even if that doesnt happen, there are enough low cost players that can help), we could very well fight head-to-head with the Manchester teams.

Dont get me wrong, I am against the notion that no UCL football will be benefical (I have discussed this over and over already), but I am also against the notion we wont be able to attract big players and we wouldnt be able to fight for nexts year's title because of it.

Also, I dont even have to touch the fucking Liverpool and Arsenal comparisons, just like you said!

P.S: Relax, I have them sometimes!

[Strike 7,492]

I get what you are saying, but when you say that Thursday nights are meaningless (specially if we win UEL this year already), dont you think that you are exactly making my point? (that we will be super focused in EPL and that might be threatening to SAF?)

For instance...Suppose that we can't get the players you are suggesting, we still would be able to recall some loanees (Chalobah, KDB and Lukaku) and buy lesser known names (Benat, Garay, Schurrle, etc). This would already be a very good improvement and I am not even touching the fact Ba, Hazard and Oscar will be much better next year. Add to all of this a top manager as Mourinho with no UCL to worry and we might just be able to win the title again.

The Only Place To Be wants us to only buy Schurrle and rely on unexperienced promisses such as Chalobah and Lukaku to go onto a full season, which I personally disagree (I dont think we can reach 80+ points with this). However, if we add to that some other players (a big time transfer would be amazing, but even if that doesnt happen, there are enough low cost players that could improve the team), we could very well fight head-to-head with the Manchester teams.

Dont get me wrong, I am against the notion that no UCL football will be benefical (I have discussed this over and over already), but I am also against the notion we wont be able to attract big players and we wouldnt be able to fight for nexts year's title because of it.

I also dont even have to touch the fucking Liverpool and Arsenal comparisons, just like you said!

P.S: Relax, I have them sometimes!

It's not competitive football doesn't mean that we will play Ake, Piazon, Feruz in it. Some of the seniors will be indulged in it and it will become a nuisance to the team.

Regarding your points - All true but look at the degree to which we have to improve we are what 20+ points off the top now? there's a lot of work to be done to the squad to challenge for the title. That kind of work, unless Mourinho does come, is near impossible imo but we will progress.

[blu35_army 551]

[Rmpr 8,977]

It's not competitive football doesn't mean that we will play Ake, Piazon, Feruz in it. Some of the seniors will be indulged in it and it will become a nuisance to the team.

Regarding your points - All true but look at the degree to which we have to improve we are what 20+ points off the top now? there's a lot of work to be done to the squad to challenge for the title. That kind of work, unless Mourinho does come, is near impossible imo but we will progress.

Well, if we indeed finish 5th (which seems unlikely now), UEL will be less important than League Cup. Meaning most of the times we will play a mixed lineup. You cant really compare the level of focus we would be giving to UEL in comparison with UCL. The players would be thinking 100% of the time about the league...

The fact we have to improve 20+ points is the exact reason I am against the notion we don't need to be active on the transfer window. I don't believe our loaned players will all of a sudden lift us up to the point we would be making 85-90 points/season. However, like I said, with Mourinho and a couple of more players, we can very well get there. This season is a bellow average one, our current team is capable of more than 65 points. If Chelsea didnt have such a troubled and full season, we would not be that far apart from the Manchester teams. Things will take its natural course next season, the gap wont be so big.

Anyways, all I am saying is that with UCL or not, we can push for next year's title. Also, we need to be active on the transfer window, no more dreaming that some 18 yo players will save our asses...

I dont think it is such an utopic scenario to picture us buying a few important players, signing Mourinho and chanting "We Are The Champions" in May 2014.

EDIT: I reeeeaaaallly like debating with you!

[Strike 7,492]

Well, if we indeed finish 5th (which seems unlikely now), UEL will be just as important as League Cup. Meaning most of the times we will play a mixed lineup. You cant really compare the level of focus we would be giving to UEL in comparison with UCL. The players would be thinking 100% of the time about the league...

The fact we have to improve 20+ points is the exact reason I am against the notion we don't need to be active on the transfer window. I don't believe our loaned players will all of a sudden lift us up to the point we would be making 85-90 points/season. However, like I said, with Mourinho and a couple of more players, we can very well get there. This season is a bellow average one, our current team is capable of more than 65 points. If we didnt have such a troubled and full season, Chelsea would not be that far apart from the Manchester teams. If things take its natural course next season, the gap wont be so big.

Anyways, all I am saying is that with UCL or not, we can push for next year's title. Also, we do need to be active on the transfer window, no more dreaming that some 18 yo players will save our asses...

I dont think it is such an utopic scenario to picture us buying a few important players, signing Mourinho and chanting "We Are The Champions" in May 2014.

EDIT: I reeeeaaaallly like debating with you!

Yes. I agree. Adding Lukaku and de Bruyne will not drastically improve our squad. I will focus on Lukaku. He will add that bit of power and depth up-front but I really think we need another striker, one who can take half-chances and drag us out of tricky situations. Chelsea have always relied on a bulk of the goals from midfield but it was no coincidence we won the league when Drogba got 29 league goals in 09/10. he scored 6 goals vs Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal that season and we didn't drop a single point vs those 3 teams.

as for who we bring in; Falcao will be a big statement of intent but I would have Lukaku and Lewandowski sharing striker duties with Ba as the impact sub. That would be a dream

[communicate 2,703]

Well, at least someone is intelligent enough to make football points and explain them!

Coutinho is more prolific at dribbling and running past defenders because that is his style, a bit like Lucas Moura. Oscar, on the other hand, is more like a Pirlo or Modric (or even Lampard) type of player, they can all do fancy tricks, but it is just not part of their game. You will always see Coutinho making more headlines (if they were actually at the same level) than Oscar because that is just his thing.

Oscar did not have a very good season, like almost all our team, but this is his first ever season in a super different league. If the style of football in Brazilian to Italian Series A is already very apart, imagine Brazilian Serie A to EPL. He actually adapted very well, IMO. Remember he is the first real talented player to that direct transition in history...

I guess that Liverpool's current form and the love the media has for them make the minds of highly influenced kids (not that you are one, but you understand), but Oscar has been much better throughout all of his career and this shows in the NT. Have you never asked yourself why Coutinho doesnt even make the cut? That is because managers have seen a lot of him at Vasco and Inter and they werent impressed, it is not 2-3 good months that would change their minds!

Overall, Coutinho has been a good surprise to all of us (specially who have seen him failing at Italy), but he cant be put in the same sentence as Oscar. Our little number 10 is considered one of the very best promisses of football and this is no joke. I have no doubt he will have a great next season and Coutinho will start to have inconsistency (specially at big games). At the long run, Oscar will be by far the best player!

I think oscar game is more european than brazilian whereas coutinho is typicall brazillian. One is more flashy the other is more technical

[Rmpr 8,977]

I think oscar game is more european than brazilian whereas coutinho is typicall brazillian. One is more flashy the other is more technical

Yeah, I guess you could say that!

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

[Thomas Williams 166]

I kind of have a good feeling that Arsenal and Tottenham are going to choke here in the final few games, and Chelsea will take third easily. Let's hope I'm right (I definitely can't see Tottenham edging us out).

On the other hand, they should better rested, as they don't have this Europa nonsense to worry about.

[NiclasCFC 2,582]

[Milan 17,959]

I am laughing as well!

:lol:

[Leif 6,006]

I know it's unlikely, but if Newcastle really trip up now and Aston Villa overtake them, thus sending Newcastle into relegation, they have a plethora of players we could really use and probably get on the cheap.

Cabaye as our new playmaker (Which'd make me cream myself), Sissoko/Tiote to be a back-up option for defensive midfield, Santon (can play left and right side of defence; good squad player and also had success under Mourinho who may be coming back), Ben Arfa (could be handy for the right side; a more flair-version of Moses who can also play behind the striker), even Coloccini or Mbiwa

[Milan 17,959]

Hopefully, they will have everything to play for in the last game against Arsenal.

[Jase 43,479]

I know it's unlikely, but if Newcastle really trip up now and Aston Villa overtake them, thus sending Newcastle into relegation, they have a plethora of players we could really use and probably get on the cheap.

Cabaye as our new playmaker (Which'd make me cream myself), Sissoko/Tiote to be a back-up option for defensive midfield, Santon (can play left and right side of defence; good squad player and also had success under Mourinho who may be coming back), Ben Arfa (could be handy for the right side; a more flair-version of Moses who can also play behind the striker), even Coloccini or Mbiwa

Ben Arfa? No thanks. Has the flair and ability but still pretty inconsistent really. Blows hot and cold and is rather injury prone.

[Ankit 3,176]

[Ankit 3,176]

[Rmpr 8,977]

To be fair, Webb did a good job the last time we played Manure...