The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

[msuduo]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Top 4 now separated by only 4 points. Going to be an exciting finish.

Thought Liverpool was done. If they can get within 3 of Chelsea by April 26, they'll have a shot.

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[Kai Flame]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Newcastle......and Fulham.......smh can never depend on them to make things a little easier -_-

Think United played well today, both teams deserved a point a piece

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

More like driven off a cliff with Mr. Ashley at the wheel.

We're in contention for Europe...hey, let's sell our best player instead of trying to strengthen the squad.

Oh...to be a fan of the Toon. Why can't we get some rich Middle Eastern oil baron to buy the team?

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Do you really want that right now though? Most Newcastle fans seem to be in agreement that they don't have anywhere close to enough squad depth to compete in Europe and still have a good league campaign.

I mean look at last season, Newcastle are definitely not a relegation team but a deep Europa run almost relegated them.

Retaining Cabaye wouldn't have been nearly enough, they would need to have kept Cabaye and also bought another 6 players.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Do you really want that right now though? Most Newcastle fans seem to be in agreement that they don't have anywhere close to enough squad depth to compete in Europe and still have a good league campaign.

I mean look at last season, Newcastle are definitely not a relegation team but a deep Europa run almost relegated them.

Retaining Cabaye wouldn't have been nearly enough, they would need to have kept Cabaye and also bought another 6 players.

That's why Mike Ashley needs to turn some funds loose and strengthen the squad.

Unfortunately, it seems all he cares about is staying in the Premier League and turning a profit.

My question is will Allen Pardew survive? The team just looks so listless right now and that's on the manager.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

The problem is, how many good managers would want to work for Mike Ashley?

[Dogslax41]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Problem is that Newcastle will never compete for top of the table. Ashley doesn't own the team for that. It's a straight cash grab for him now to try and recoup his investment.

He wants to
1. Avoid relegation
2. Finish #10 to get the extra tv money
3. Sell off any player worth a large sum and pocket the money
4. Only bring players in on loan to avoid paying heavy transfer fees
5. Exploit free advertising for his business, Sports Direct, when those rights could actually be sold for additional funds

Europa or god forbid champions league would be an unmitigated disaster and both lead to embarrassment and relegation because there is no continuity or depth because Ashley just wants the profit. It's just sad to watch a team even when it's gotten on a roll and did some great things to have it ripped apart and sold for scraps for now reason other than profit. If he could have made the deals Cisse, HBA and Colo were going to be out the door as well It's actually kind of disgusting how exploitive it is of such a historically supporter rich club. The only reason Pardew is still there is because Ashley doesn't want to buy out the rest of his deal. Pardew is miserable and Ashley knows it. He is just hoping that it becomes such a train wreck that he walks on his own. Hiring JK was as blatant as he could be that he was trying to get Pardew to leave on his own.

Maybe when he bleeds us dry and gets his money back he'll sell the team. Hopefully we aren't in league 2 by that point.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Fulham appoint Felix Magath as new manager. The Fulham circus continues.

[jesmith29]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Rumor is,

http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/77086448510/vince-mcmahon-interested-in-newcastle-takeover

[Dogslax41]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

Rumor is,

http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/77086...astle-takeover

Honestly I think that would be fantastic. He would throw money at the team and get real football intelligence in to run the program. But that same rumor was leaked 10 years ago and Ashley is not done squeezing the money out of the club yet.

I think more likely is that we drop another embarrassment this weekend against Villa and he finally sacks Pardew and brings back Llambias. Then bans all media from all future contact with the club because we can't very well have people documenting his mistakes now can we.

[fugazi]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I'm sure it's been asked before...

...but...if SAF was still at United, where would they be on the table?

Did he sense that the players/team were past their expiration date and about to take a serious downward turn?

While Moyes definitely owns some resonsibility, it can't all be him...

Would SAF have them in the top 3?

[KG]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I'm sure it's been asked before...

...but...if SAF was still at United, where would they be on the table?

Did he sense that the players/team were past their expiration date and about to take a serious downward turn?

While Moyes definitely owns some resonsibility, it can't all be him...

Would SAF have them in the top 3?

IMO, Yes & No. Sir Alex definitely got out at the right time and his lack of addressing the midfield for years has led to this. I do believe that the players would have had more confidence in SAF when they stumbled out of the blocks. That being said, United have been hit with a ton of injuries this year. RVP, Fellaini, Jones, and the backline have all had injuries. Last year RVP & Rooney's goal-scoring masked a lot of defensive liabilities.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

IMO, Yes & No. Sir Alex definitely got out at the right time and his lack of addressing the midfield for years has led to this. I do believe that the players would have had more confidence in SAF when they stumbled out of the blocks. That being said, United have been hit with a ton of injuries this year. RVP, Fellaini, Jones, and the backline have all had injuries. Last year RVP & Rooney's goal-scoring masked a lot of defensive liabilities.

As a Liverpool fan, I don't buy the injury excuse. At all.

[jt45]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

I tend to believe United would have added several players had SAF stayed around. I feel like several transfer targets turned them down due to Moyes' presence rather than the iconic manager.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2013-14 EPL Discussion Thread

As a Liverpool fan, I don't buy the injury excuse. At all.

No?

Just curious, how many games would you guys win if BOTH Suarez and Sturridge were unavailable huge stretches of the season.

If you lost those two right now for two months, your season would turn into a bloodbath.