The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

[OneDrop]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Haha Lampard of all people.

[ROABS]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I thought Lampard didn't want to play against Chelsea?

I bet Chelsea would have liked him to stay on the bench also....

[gopher_guy]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Maybe I'm imagining it, but I thought he had requested not to play vs. Chelsea

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I bet Chelsea would have liked him to stay on the bench also....

That's not so bad.

It's not like Denis Law scoring the goal for City against United that sent us to Div. 2 in the 70s.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Rafael gets blatantly fouled = no-call. Rafael recovers to defend and hardly, barely makes shoulder contact on Vardy's back = penalty and immediately swings everything. Frustrating match this. De Laet shouldn't have even been on the pitch considering the number of yellow card fouls he committed.

I want Phil Jones back badly. Rojo should be CB next match considering Blackett's red and I expect to see Shaw on the left. I also want RVP to start on the bench next game. Yes, he got a goal but he still hasn't offered much in the whole phase of play in all the matches he's played in. I would've rather today's subs after Evans went like this: RVP -> Mata; Rooney-Falcao top; Januzaj/Fletcher -> Di Maria. The way Mata got simply overpowered which led to one of their goals is why you don't play Mata as a CM (yes, I know this happened further up the pitch).

This defense is going to increase every fan's BP until January.

Edit: said turning point

Spoiler

Saw a United fan on reddit that said say what you want about the refs, we conceded 4 goals in 20 minutes.

Top teams take bad calls and roll with them, your team hasn't really done that since SAF.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Side stories aside, the City / Chelsea game was sort of disappointing.

Both teams played like garbage for large stretches of the game, I think neither team really deserved the win. Pretty crazy how well drilled City is though, you could hardly tell they were down to 10 men.

Also, I refuse to be upset at Frank. He can do whatever he wants.

Pelligrini however, is just the worst person for making Lamps play.

[rsnomar05]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Pelligrini however, is just the worst person for making Lamps play.

So Pelligrini is supposed to avoid doing what he feels is his best chance of leveling the scoreline and not losing the match, all so Lampard doesn't have to play against his former club?

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

So Pelligrini is supposed to avoid doing what he feels is his best chance of leveling the scoreline and not losing the match, all so Lampard doesn't have to play against his former club?

Subbing Frank in was clearly the right choice, for multiple reasons.

All I'm saying is Pelligrini is the worst, I'm well aware it's not rational. I've been a supporter of the club since I was a kid, and that's our Frank, and Pelligrini can blow me.

[tv25man]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I'm not a fan of City or Chelsea, but my gut didn't like seeing Super Frank in that position. You could tell he had absolutely no desire to be there.

His post-match interview he said "This Club" over and over when referring to City and mentioned Chelsea directly by name. He even mentioned that he was 'being professional' and 'doing his job'. Clearly, there was no joy in him playing or scoring.

After the match, when he went to the Chelsea supporters and had that moment, I got choked up. It was a group of supporters being in a position they don't want to be in (taking 1 point when they should have had 3) and a player who was just as gutted to take points away from 'his' club and personal supporters. But, there is so much love from Chelsea fans to Frank, and Frank back to Chelsea fans that there was no hard feelings. It was a truly sad, yet beautiful sight.

As a West Ham supporter, I know I'm supposed to curse Lampard. I know I'm supposed to piss and moan about his 3 penalties in one game. I'm supposed to talk about his 200th goal and sing terrible songs. I can't do it. Lampard, despite the abuse he receives from some moronic Hammer fans, has even said "West Ham made me." ... From one Hammer that enjoys class, skill and grit ... go on, Super Frank. I can't wait to see you in MLS.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Saw a United fan on reddit that said say what you want about the refs, we conceded 4 goals in 20 minutes.

Top teams take bad calls and roll with them, your team hasn't really done that since SAF.

I'm not blaming the ref for the loss, I'm merely pointing out his bad decisions. Would we have gone on to win if he reffed a better game? Probably. But that game was lost when we allowed ourselves to get bullied and didn't bully them back. Perfect example of this was when Blackett got nudged/pushed off for a header very softly that led to one of Leicester's goals. Another learning experience for him.

A great characteristic of SAF's teams was their ability to play physical when needed. See their defeat of Arsenal's invincibles as an example. Our back-line and midfield didn't have that yesterday.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I'm not blaming the ref for the loss, I'm merely pointing out his bad decisions. Would we have gone on to win if he reffed a better game? Probably. But that game was lost when we allowed ourselves to get bullied and didn't bully them back. Perfect example of this was when Blackett got nudged/pushed off for a header very softly that led to one of Leicester's goals. Another learning experience for him.

A great characteristic of SAF's teams was their ability to play physical when needed. See their defeat of Arsenal's invincibles as an example. Our back-line and midfield didn't have that yesterday.

I think a lot of it is just that teams don't seem to be afraid of you guys anymore. That sequence late in the game where Leicester players were in your final third going for multiple consecutive nutmegs is crazy. Top teams, let alone recently promoted sides, would never have been that bold vs SAF's United.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I think a lot of it is just that teams don't seem to be afraid of you guys anymore. That sequence late in the game where Leicester players were in your final third going for multiple consecutive nutmegs is crazy. Top teams, let alone recently promoted sides, would never have been that bold vs SAF's United.

That would be because of the Moyes era. That fear factor will come back.

[Bezzey]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

So Pelligrini is supposed to avoid doing what he feels is his best chance of leveling the scoreline and not losing the match, all so Lampard doesn't have to play against his former club?

City are in trouble if their best chance of leveling games is a 36 year old Frank Lampard. Granted, it worked out, but Pelligrini doesn't like Mourinho or Chelsea and I see him bringing Frank on as an "f you" to us. There was no tactical genius on his part. Seeing what Frank did after the game where he went straight to the Chelsea fans and kind of ignore the City fans and then his postgame comments of "they" really showed that he is Chelsea and I can't hate or be mad at that.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I obviously wouldn't take back the end result but seeing Lampard out there was weird as hell.

[gopher_guy]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Merseyside and North London Derbies this weekend!