The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

The assistant ref really screwed that offside call on Balotelli.

Villa were the better team, but that wasn't even close. Robbed.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

If y'all win just do it convincingly enough so Jose thinks it just "Same ol Arsenal" so he'll sell us Petr Cech in the summer and not pull the Demba Ba stunt like last year... 😀

It will mostly be up to Cech where he ends up, he can pretty much do whatever he wants

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Now....now I know how Xavi feels.

The philosophy can’t be lost. Our fans wouldn’t understand a team that sat back and played on the break.

Also, we have already sent the tape of that De Gea handball and that easy goal Hazard scored on him to Real Madrid. No way should that guy play for the most prestigious club in the world.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Have you just not been a United fan very long? SAF was the freaking king at grinding out 1-0 wins in boring fashion to close out title challenges, he was doing this way before Jose got here.

It's hilarious how revisionist United fans have gotten after just one season under Moyes, calling for a return to the "oold United way" of playing beautiful flowing soccer. United was never known for beautiful soccer lol, they were known for winning. Ruthless, efficient and intimidating. United's trademark is playing like garbage for 75 minutes and then mercilessly gunning their opponents down at the end of the game. Hell, their most famous victory was a come-from-behind victory after getting dominated most of the game.

United fans should be the ONE set of PL fans that can actually appreciate what Jose does, because their manager incredibly similar.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Have you just not been a United fan very long? SAF was the freaking king at grinding out 1-0 wins in boring fashion to close out title challenges, he was doing this way before Jose got here.

It's hilarious how revisionist United fans have gotten after just one season under Moyes, calling for a return to the "oold United way" of playing beautiful flowing soccer. United was never known for beautiful soccer lol, they were known for winning. Ruthless, efficient and intimidating. United's trademark is playing like garbage for 75 minutes and then mercilessly gunning their opponents down at the end of the game. Hell, their most famous victory was a come-from-behind victory after getting dominated most of the game.

United fans should be the ONE set of PL fans that can actually appreciate what Jose does, because their manager incredibly similar.

It's just banter. Settle down.

And I know very well how we played under SAF. Plus a bit under Busby and Atkinson.

PS. The United Way is attacking football. And win at all costs of course.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Sorry, two of my good friends are United fans who were pretty salty after the game. I had just finished arguing with them when I read your post.

Chelsea also wins with attacking football, it's only a few games a season that we don't.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Sorry, two of my good friends are United fans who were pretty salty after the game. I had just finished arguing with them when I read your post.

Chelsea also wins with attacking football, it's only a few games a season that we don't.

Tell your United friends to not be salty. We'll win it next year.

Just to go into small talk about the match though - everyone knew Mourinho would most likely play the way he did. The onus was on us to break them down and though we did a few times, we weren't clinical with those few chances. Rooney scoring in his first attempt would've made it a different ballgame but that's neither here nor there.

Besides, Mourinho usually reserves those tactics for teams such as Barca. We should be honored he busted them out for us.

Considering Chelsea's attacking talent though, wouldn't you love for Mourinho to actually match attack for attack and entertain everyone?

[KG]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Tell your United friends to not be salty. We'll win it next year.

Just to go into small talk about the match though - everyone knew Mourinho would most likely play the way he did. The onus was on us to break them down and though we did a few times, we weren't clinical with those few chances. Rooney scoring in his first attempt would've made it a different ballgame but that's neither here nor there.

Besides, Mourinho usually reserves those tactics for teams such as Barca. We should be honored he busted them out for us.

Considering Chelsea's attacking talent though, wouldn't you love for Mourinho to actually match attack for attack and entertain everyone?

You mean like we did for the first 20+ games. We still have the 2nd most goals for with a game in-hand.

We primarily set up like that because of the circumstances although United ' s form had to be taken into account much like Arsenal ' s will be this weekend. Mou specifically said that "we" will not lose this one. Until they start awarding more points for style he's just gonna keep winning ugly of necessary. Some people (Xavi) hate it but as a fan all I care about is success and a plan and you can't deny him those 2.

[OneDrop]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Can't see you winning here unless we screw it up like how we did against United at home. You've been grinding out games and certainly don't look like beating us at our place. If we can keep Hazard out the game, we're safe. The way he's carried you through the last part of the season is world class, hate to admit it but he definitely deserves POTY.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Props to Mourinho for playing Zouma in midfield. He was tasked with marking Fellaini and he really did a great job staying close to him.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Tell your United friends to not be salty. We'll win it next year.

Just to go into small talk about the match though - everyone knew Mourinho would most likely play the way he did. The onus was on us to break them down and though we did a few times, we weren't clinical with those few chances. Rooney scoring in his first attempt would've made it a different ballgame but that's neither here nor there.

Besides, Mourinho usually reserves those tactics for teams such as Barca. We should be honored he busted them out for us.

Considering Chelsea's attacking talent though, wouldn't you love for Mourinho to actually match attack for attack and entertain everyone?

We were matching attack for attack in the first half of the season. Thing is, it's not always that simple. Chelsea is largely out of form right now, so we are having to rely on the only aspect of our game that is never out of form, which is our defense. United on the other hand, were the form team in the league heading into this game. Additionally, United play a heavy possession passing game, going toe to toe with them plays directly into their hands. When people say Mourinho is afraid and should "just go at them", most of the time what they are really saying is "my team has a better chance of winning if Chelsea starts attacking aggressively".

Something interesting to think about also: United only had 24 touches inside the Chelsea box that game. For a team with 71% possession, that is very low. Chelsea, despite only 29% of the ball, had 17 touches inside United's box. I don't even remember Courtois having to make any huge saves, whereas De Gea had to make several, and Hazard almost scored a second goal. Also, the possession stat is slightly misleading in the sense that our passing in the final third was actually pretty horrific. There were a good 5-6 counterattacks where we had a numbers advantage, only to break down solely due to some comically bad pass. If our passing was as clinical as our finishing that game, we'd have legitimately had 3 or 4 goals.

[KG]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

We were matching attack for attack in the first half of the season. Thing is, it's not always that simple. Chelsea is largely out of form right now, so we are having to rely on the only aspect of our game that is never out of form, which is our defense. United on the other hand, were the form team in the league heading into this game. Additionally, United play a heavy possession passing game, going toe to toe with them plays directly into their hands. When people say Mourinho is afraid and should "just go at them", most of the time what they are really saying is "my team has a better chance of winning if Chelsea starts attacking aggressively".

Something interesting to think about also: United only had 24 touches inside the Chelsea box that game. For a team with 71% possession, that is very low. Chelsea, despite only 29% of the ball, had 17 touches inside United's box. I don't even remember Courtois having to make any huge saves, whereas De Gea had to make several, and Hazard almost scored a second goal. Also, the possession stat is slightly misleading in the sense that our passing in the final third was actually pretty horrific. There were a good 5-6 counterattacks where we had a numbers advantage, only to break down solely due to some comically bad pass. If our passing was as clinical as our finishing that game, we'd have legitimately had 3 or 4 goals.

If Drogba had any pace left he would have finished that shot that Hazard touched onto the bar.

2 things give me hope against Arsenal:

1) They're Arsenal. I truly believe they have an inferiority complex stemming from Wenger vs Mou.

2) The last counter-attacking team/style they played they were picked apart on the counter by lesser players (Monaco 1st leg). Arsenal HAS to win this game in order to have any chance, we don't. We'll be packing it in and playing on the counter again.


Don't get me wrong. I think Arsenal is fully capable of beating us since they have players better suited to pick apart a sitting defense and several players in-form. Santi, Giroud, and Alexis have all been stellar in the 2nd half of the year.

Hopefully Remy or Costa will be fit to start but I'd doubt they can go the 90.

I'm looking forward to it.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

1) They're Arsenal. I truly believe they have an inferiority complex stemming from Wenger vs Mou.

If neither manager were in those positions next year the Arsenal squad would still have an interiority complex the first time they meet.

It's definitely an issue, and will be until we take three points from a match. Not too confident that will be this weekend.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Honestly, I don't really see a reason not to use Brown or Solanke against Arsenal

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Something interesting to think about also: United only had 24 touches inside the Chelsea box that game. For a team with 71% possession, that is very low. Chelsea, despite only 29% of the ball, had 17 touches inside United's box. I don't even remember Courtois having to make any huge saves, whereas De Gea had to make several, and Hazard almost scored a second goal. Also, the possession stat is slightly misleading in the sense that our passing in the final third was actually pretty horrific. There were a good 5-6 counterattacks where we had a numbers advantage, only to break down solely due to some comically bad pass. If our passing was as clinical as our finishing that game, we'd have legitimately had 3 or 4 goals.

When 11 men are defending their own half, touches inside the box are tough to come by. That's not really an interesting stat, no matter how much possession one has.