Other Games 2014-15

[brontebilly]

Barclays Premier League has fallen a long way back. Peak was probably 2008/9. Look at that Liverpool side who finished second then Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres. United had Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Ferdinand, Vidic. Chelsea had the likes of Cech, Terry, Drogba, Essien and Lampard. It's been falling steadily for a while, last three winners were no world beaters but this year has been really poor.

James Milner is the epitome of the league. Runs around a lot, crashes into tackles and the fans love that he puts in a shift. Woefully out of his depth at the top levels at club and international football though where technique and tactics are far more important.

To be fair at least Milner has heart, something seriously wrong when charlatans like Toure and Nasri are allowed get away with their efforts tonight.

[andrew08]

I listen to talksport occasionally when I pick the kids up from school. The Chelsea one of Hawkesby and Jacobs was moaning how English clubs have no chance when the Saturday before CL ties Citeh are playing Burnley in a proper competive game while Barcelona are playing their reserves in a routine 5-0 away win. Monaco had their game moved forward to Friday to help out as well.

And?

Citeh and Chelsea could buy any player they want to on the planet ( except one), have players out on loan that as a team would finish mid table. Having got their lottery win owners in place they then support the ladder puller uppers with FFP.

The rest of the PL help them out? How does fxxx off and form your Super League sound ?

And well done Burnley, you're in good company this week... Now go and lose a few!

[Ads]

Considering Chelsea have 26 out on loan, I am not sure how credible it is for them to moan about fixture pile up.

[Dr Butler]

Joe Hart's performance last night was excellent, England's number 1 ?  definitely !

UTV
The Doc

[Chris Jameson]

Dear God how do you turn Savage off when he is "commentating"?
Before the match he was asked a tactical question and he laughed nervously, stammered a bit and said "a very good question, what do you think?" - he has no fookin idea! He's not even opinionated any more because you have to know something about football to have an opinion...

I saw Savage described as a 'football expert' today, granted it was on the BBC ceefax or whatever it's called these days.

It was Joey Barton the other night, had to turn that off too. Why do the BBC pick such utter un-listenable idiots.

Excellent quote fail Jameson, you've still got it...

[VILLA MOLE]

I listen to talksport occasionally when I pick the kids up from school. The Chelsea one of Hawkesby and Jacobs was moaning how English clubs have no chance when the Saturday before CL ties Citeh are playing Burnley in a proper competive game while Barcelona are playing their reserves in a routine 5-0 away win. Monaco had their game moved forward to Friday to help out as well.

And?

Citeh and Chelsea could buy any player they want to on the planet ( except one), have players out on loan that as a team would finish mid table. Having got their lottery win owners in place they then support the ladder puller uppers with FFP.

The rest of the PL help them out? How does fxxx off and form your Super League sound ?

And well done Burnley, you're in good company this week... Now go and lose a few!

I heard a bit of that .  I quite like those 2 best on talk sport. But I think the point is that the EPL  the teams are  all a much of a muchness and anyone can beat anyone. Where as Barca and Real are head and shoulders above anything in their League and the Premiership! . which I do not think is going down to well in some quarters

[Comrade Blitz]

Despite Messi's Cosmic Superstar status, the thing that stands out for me is that the clubs left in the ECL all consistently play well as a team.

The EPL is still far too focused on individual (alleged) superstars.

[Des Little]

Any claims made by Chelsea or Man City regarding how tough it is playing Saturday-Weds-Saturday are completely undone by their decision to play the same teams in most games.  They have a squad of 25 players to choose from, every single one would get into any Prem team.  Not an ounce of sympathy from me.

[paul_e]

I think what they're trying to say is that the comparative strength on the leagues means that other teams can afford to rest their best players but English sides can't.  I don't agree with them on that, I think the reason they can't rest their better players is because they rely on individual excellence rather than structured team performances so they have little to fall back on when that excellence isn't there.

As much as I don't like them Man U under Fergie were one of the few clubs who didn't do that, there was generally always someone who could do a job for a few games.

[OCD]

Busquets was missing yesterday. They were talking about his importance before the game but you wouldn't have noticed he was missing watching the game. In a big game, Messi's probably the only player Barca would miss and showed the other year when he came on for a cameo appearance having been injured and his mere presence changed the game.

[PeterWithesShin]

Tom Ince has shocked Gareth Southgate by informing him that he does not want to play for England’s Under-21s.

The winger, the son of the former England captain Paul Ince, has played 18 times for the Under-21s and had been expected to feature in this summer’s European Championship in the Czech Republic. But Ince, who is on loan at Derby County from Hull City, has withdrawn from contention.

“I have had discussions with Tom and his dad over the last week or so and he has decided he does not want to be considered for the Under-21s,” Southgate said. “I have to say I was surprised. He has obviously been a regular for us all the way through the campaign.

“But he feels at this moment in time he has got some priorities at club level. There is some uncertainty about where he is going to be at club level next season.”

[paul_e]

Busquets was missing yesterday. They were talking about his importance before the game but you wouldn't have noticed he was missing watching the game. In a big game, Messi's probably the only player Barca would miss and showed the other year when he came on for a cameo appearance having been injured and his mere presence changed the game.

I think Messi has adapted his game a lot in the last year/18months because for a long time he had Xavi feeding him with such regularity he just had to get into the right positions and he'd get chances.  That's not to say he didn't do brilliant things (he obviously did) just that he didn't have to, at least not as often.  Now he's much more involved in the play and is doing a lot more to create gaps.  Having Neymar the other side which forces teams to defend right across the pitch helps as well.

[Damo70]

Dear God how do you turn Savage off when he is "commentating"?
Before the match he was asked a tactical question and he laughed nervously, stammered a bit and said "a very good question, what do you think?" - he has no fookin idea! He's not even opinionated any more because you have to know something about football to have an opinion...

I saw Savage described as a 'football expert' today, granted it was on the BBC ceefax or whatever it's called these days.

It was Joey Barton the other night, had to turn that off too. Why do the BBC pick such utter un-listenable idiots.

Excellent quote fail Jameson, you've still got it...

The quality on the BBC is poor. Murphy and Keown are the best. Dixon and Keane are decent on ITV. BT sport have the worst bunch.  Sky leave them all standing with the likes of Hoddle, Souness, Carragher, Redknapp and in particular Gary Neville, who is the best pundit for me.

[Damo70]

Tom Ince has shocked Gareth Southgate by informing him that he does not want to play for England’s Under-21s.

The winger, the son of the former England captain Paul Ince, has played 18 times for the Under-21s and had been expected to feature in this summer’s European Championship in the Czech Republic. But Ince, who is on loan at Derby County from Hull City, has withdrawn from contention.

“I have had discussions with Tom and his dad over the last week or so and he has decided he does not want to be considered for the Under-21s,” Southgate said. “I have to say I was surprised. He has obviously been a regular for us all the way through the campaign.

“But he feels at this moment in time he has got some priorities at club level. There is some uncertainty about where he is going to be at club level next season.”

He really stood out for me at Blackpool. But he wouldn't be the first player to never fully recover from one wrong career move.

[PeterWithesShin]

Shit, did you see that? He's got a foot like a traction engine.

Kiev 1-0 Everton