File :-(, x, )
Premier League Thread Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
45 mins to go until most of today's Premier League games kick-off. Predictions, comments and other stuff in here please!

1500 GMT KICK-OFFS
Chelsea v Newcastle
Liverpool v Fulham
Man City v Arsenal
Middlesbrough v Bolton
Portsmouth v Hull
Stoke v West Brom

1730 GMT KICK-OFF
Aston Villa v Man Utd
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
IMPORTANT KICKOFFS
(2) Texas Tech at (5) Oklahoma 2000 EDT
(14) BYU at (7) Utah 1800 EDT
(15) MSU at (8) Penn St
(20) Pitt at (19) Cincinnati
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482082
Fuck off with your shit.

Team news:
Liverpool v Fulham: Torres starts for Liverpool, Lucas replaces Alonso in central midfield, Arbeloa returns after suspension to right back, Carragher back at centre back. Fulham are unchanged from their last game.

Chelsea: Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole all start.
Arsenal: Gallas dropped, Almunia captains Arsenal in his place.
>> More Team News: Portsmouth v Hull Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
Portsmouth manager Tony Adams makes two changes to the side that drew at West Ham last time out, the injured Jermain Defoe replaced by John Utaka while midfielder Richard Hughes comes in for the injured Lassana Diarra. Hull are unchanged from their draw with Manchester City, boss Phil Brown sticking with the forward pairing of Marlon King and Daniel Cousin.
>> Anonymous
>>482084
typical eurotroll response

then later watch him bitch because this thread turns into a football vs soccer thread
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482087
Keep your college gridiron in its own thread and you won't get that response foolish Amerifag troll. I made a thread for the Premier League, you want to discuss college gridiron then make your own thread for it.
>> Team News: Chelsea v Newcastle Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
Chelsea call upon Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard - who missed England's game in midweek through injury - while Petr Cech returns in place of Carlo Cudicini in goal. Newcastle start England misfit Michael Owen in place of Shola Ameobi and Danny Guthrie comes in for the injured Joey Barton.
>> Team News: Middlesbrough v Bolton Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
David Wheater starts for Boro who are five games unbeaten, while Gretar Steinsson gets in the starting line-up for Bolton, who are otherwise unchanged from last week's defeat to Liverpool.
>> Team News: Stoke v West Brom Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
The two newly promoted teams battle in what will surely be an important game by the end of the season. Survival is more about beating the teams likely to finish near you.

Non-scoring striker Dave Kitson returns to the Stoke side in place of the suspended Ricardo Fuller. Kitson, who hasn't scored in 14 appearances, partners Mamady Sidibe up front while Tom Soares starts in midfield. Birthday boy Tony Mowbray also makes two changes to the West Brom line-up, with Chris Brunt and Do-Heon Kim replacing Roman Bednar and the injured James Morrison.
>> Anonymous
>>482096
get this gay shit off the front page
>> Team News: Man City v Arsenal Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
Game of the day for many, two teams who can attack beautifully and defend horribly.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger leaves skipper William Gallas out of the squad after the player made derogatory comments about his team-mates this week, and Emmanuel Adebayor is also excluded. Keeper Manuel Almunia is handed the captain's armband. The exclusion of Gallas is one of four changes (Adebayor was on the bench last time out), with Cesc Fabregas (suspension), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Bacary Sagna (ankle) out. In come Gavin Hoyte, Johan Djourou, Alex Song and Robin van Persie. Manchester City make just the one change with Richard Dunne replacing Tal Ben-Haim.
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482100
LOL @ the eijit who has no idea that sage-ing does nothing.
>> Anonymous
Chelsea 3-1 Newcaste
Liverpool 2-0 Fulham
Man City 1-2 Arsenal
Middlesboro 3-0 Bolton
Portsmouth 0-0 Hull
Stoke 2-1 WBA
>> Anonymous
>>482102
lol@ one lonely soccer faggot trying to make people care
>> e l i t e !!hN3cVk7VMv6
Bump for football

Villa 0-5 United
>> Anonymous
>>482105
lol @ american faggot on his jays trying to force cancer.
>> Anonymous
fuck yeah, football!!
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
chelseafag here, but if they give up a point to newcastle i won't mind. such loveable losers they are!
>> Anonymous
FUCK YEAH CITY
>> Anonymous
can we sell robbie keane now? his shittiness is increasing exponentially
>> Anonymous
>>482121


i thought Liverpool were the loveable losers. Newcastle is the hilarious team of EFGs.
>> Anonymous
>>482129
no we can't. I do want Alonso in. Lucas isn't cutting it in the center
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
Been a really dull load of 1st halves all around really, with Bolton being the top entertainers so far.

I've been watching the Liverpool game and it's been awful, Liverpool looking really disjointed and off the pace. Fulham have threatened but haven't had the quality to score. Much improvement needed.
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482134
This anon speaks the truth. Lucas has looked slow, though he has won several headers. His passing has been the poorest of the team so far, though that isn't really saying much when all of them have been passing it back to Fulham within seconds of winning it.
>> Anonymous
>>482137
Definitely. Lucas I think is the main reason why Liverpool look disjointed. No one to distribute the ball to the wingers. Everytime Lucas tries to make a pass, it either comes off short, or ends up at the feet of a Fulham player.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Man City 1-0 Arsenal

lol'd
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>482137

I've seen it's always the case after friendlies that teams look a bit jaded and out of touch. Lot's of players coming back from travels, needed rest, etc

I mean United have 3 players coming back from Brazil for fucks sake (Nani, Ronaldo & Anderson), while Tevez was probably playing for Argentina somewhere, and Berbatov got injured too. damn friendlies, damn them to hell, FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
>> Anonymous
lol offside
>> Anonymous
>>482142
2-0 Man city
>> Anonymous
in b4 90th minute kuyt goal

just thought i'd get that out of the way now
>> e l i t e !!hN3cVk7VMv6
Glen Johnson = God Tier
>> Anonymous
>>482162
It's inevitable, unfortunately. Glad you mentioned it so it didn't come as a shock when it does actually happen.
>> Anonymous
>>482162
>Liverpool replace Dirk Kuyt with Nabil El Zhar, with less than 10 minutes remaining.

lol
>> Anonymous
City 3 - 0 Arsenal

Fuck you southern pussies
>> Anonymous
>>482153
3-0
>> Anonymous
We drew level with Fulham...argh. Lucas was horrible, but improved in the last 20 min. We played a shit match, a very shit match. Bad touches everywhere, no one attacking the ball, no one coming to the ball.
>> Anonymous
>>482179
the good news is that Chelsea also drew level as well
>> Anonymous
more like NILverpool amirite
>> Anonymous
Arsenal is a goddamn trainwreck
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482179
Agreed. Lucas was awful, Mascherano looked half dead and Keane looked like he'd never score if you gave him an open goal, passed square all the time rather than driving at the defence when he got the ball. Fulham just parked the bus in the 2nd half and Liverpool were ineffective throughout. Alonso improved the passing, but there was just that post-friendly jaded look about Liverpool today. No urgency, no pace, no goals. Ugh. This leaves me praying for a Villa draw/win later. At least Chelsea were the same as us.

Fucking international friendlies...what a load of bollocks they are. Glad there are no more for 4 months now.
>> Dirk Kuyt
     File :-(, x)
Haha! Another glowing performance!
>> Anonymous
HAHA I win $50, I bet Chelsea to have a comedy draw with Newcastle FUCK YEAH.

In other news, wtf, Liverpool, wtf. Why can't you beat fucking Fulham? :(
>> Anonymous
>>482185
I agree with you on internationals. Waste of time and ruins club play.
>> Anonymous
>>482192
same reason Chelsea couldn't beat Newcastle.

Internationals+shit teams=shit teams park 11 men behind the ball +bad touches from players due to fatigue.
>> DAFTcrunk !!qzeUh5NZAVO
Hmmm, if all the SOT's yahoo's gametracker is showing are legit, I'm glad I held onto Given then in fantasy footie.

Cheap keeper is cheap, clean sheet is clean, assload of saves was so cash.
>> Anonymous
Oh lawd, I hope United don't play the same as the Liverfags and Chelski. This is a really good chance to close the gap, plus if we win the game in hand, we'll be only three point behind.

The team selection from Ferg is going to interesting.
>> Anonymous
Sell Lucas! Sell Keane! Keane cant' score in a whorehouse full of drunks.. and he's IRISH!

Lucas = not good enough, end of.
>> Anonymous
>>482193

I dunno... as it is national teams barely get enough time to practice with each other. Without friendlies and the like tournaments like the World Cup would be a joke. National should always come before club, imo.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
TEAM NEWS Aston Villa v Man Utd
Aston Villa make just one, expected, change from their victory over Arsenal with Nigel Reo-Coker replacing the injured Carlos Cuellar. Manchester United welcome back Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, Ferdinand recovering from a back problem to partner Nemanja Vidic and Rooney overcoming a calf strain to replace Dimitar Berbatov and join Carlos Tevez in attack. Ryan Giggs comes in for Darren Fletcher.
>> Anonymous
>>482209
well that's a dumb opinion in my book. Football started out with clubs, clubs pay the players, have to take care of them when they get injured, etc. Club football is also more exciting than internationals. Internationals for the most part are boring.
>> Anonymous
>>482181
By the way, wanna know what's funny every time Chelsea slip we slip. We've both tied the same amount of matches at the same time. We beat Chelsea, then a week later (2 matches later, but a week later none-the-less) we lose
>> Anonymous
>>482219

I suppose, but nowadays the best clubs are mainly about money and snatching up talented foreign players rather producing their own local talent. There is no "big 4" in world play. Things just seem a lot more... unpredictable, I guess.
>> Anonymous
seems like every single player that missed the England game is back playing today, hmmmm
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>482224nowadays the best clubs are mainly about money and snatching up talented foreign players rather producing their own local talent
>> Anonymous
>>482229
hmm...yet Gerrard was the bench.
>> Anonymous
>>482214
>>Ryan Giggs comes in for Darren Fletcher.

oh ffs
>> Anonymous
>>482229
Rooney and Ferdinand missed the game before the England one. But as was pointed out on here before, that could well be because Ferguson knew he could beat Stoke without them
>> Anonymous
>>482232

Every rule has its exceptions. As a Barcafag, I'm well aware of their recent success (and the toll international duties can have on a club). I still stand by my point.
>> GrimaH
>>482237
Giggs isn't doing bad in center midfield. Plus he's a better attacking player than Fletch.
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482224
The problem is the scheduling of internationals, and frequency of meaningless friendlies. If they were in more solid groups (excuse for January break here!) of games instead of one here, one there constantly interrupting club football, then they wouldn't be as annoying.
>>482229
Gerrard wasn't. And the Mancs that missed the England game didn't play in the previous game.

Also, not that anyone cares, but this 'Confederations Cup' thing next year has to be the most pointless thing I've ever heard of. A better idea I've had is to allow the fans of each confederation to pick an 'All-Star' team and have them compete in the cup. Would make it much more fun IMO.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>482250
Someone say my name?
>> Anonymous
>>482250
Would be fun, as long as you could only have 2 or 3 from the same team. Otherwise it'd just end up being a hybrid of the top 3 or 4 teams,
>> Anonymous
>>482232
How many of the La Masia kids won your title in 2006? Oh yes, two. Two as in two less than Man U in 1999, hardly known as being youth-heavy, and one less than Man U in 2008.

And Barca buying players? Damn, I never heard of that. Henry, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Abidal, Toure, Marquez, Alves, Hleb, or any player not from Barcelona playing for them, EVER.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>nowadays the best clubs are mainly about money and snatching up talented foreign players rather producing their own local talent
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482255
Well. They'd come from the teams that competed in the regional international championship. Fans usually pick 2-3 max from each team anyway. maybe 4 would come from the winning team.
>> Anonymous
>>482250

I'm actually rather interested in the coming Confederations Cup, as we'll finally find out whether or not South Africa can handle the World Cup.
>> Anonymous
Ronaldo already divan all over the place
>> Anonymous
>>482270

No it can't.

There will be too much rape, murder and AIDS...
>> Anonymous
>>482266
i hope you're a troll
>> Iniesta Is God
>>482259
Two? As far as I remember, there were 5-6 La Masia players in that final.
>> Iniesta Is God
>>482291
Just looked it up: Valdes, Puyol, Oleguer, Iniesta, Xavi, Jorquera and Motta. That makes 7.
>> Anonymous
United starting to take control now, but half time in 5 minutes
>> Anonymous
I don't care who wins, I just don't want another nil-nil
>> Anonymous
I want United to win to silence the "well it's just after an international" from Chelsea and Liverpool fans.

Although it would be funny as shit if none of the top four won.
>> Anonymous
Man how weird would it be if Messi actually went around chesting things into other things
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482296
Half-Time: Aston Villa 0-0 Man Utd
>> e l i t e !!hN3cVk7VMv6
     File :-(, x)
>>482232
You serious?
>> Anonymous
I'm a liverpoolfag, but Scolari is such a good manager (by that i mean a good person.) Unlike SAF who blames everyone but himself, Scolari didn't bemoan the ref for the offsides.
>> e l i t e !!hN3cVk7VMv6
>>482307
You do realise that SAF does that to empower his players. If you believe you have been cheated you feel much better about yourself than if someone tells you your shit and made a mistake.
>> Anonymous
>>482313

Yeah but then mistakes don't get corrected and you soon run out of excuses
>> e l i t e !!hN3cVk7VMv6
>>482316
>you soon run out of excuses
The ref is shit is a timeless one, unlimited uses.
>> Anonymous
Villa looking kind of dangerous
>> Anonymous
ryan giggs is shit
discuss
>> Anonymous
>>482292
I like your logic.

Oleguer? La Masia? He started playing with Gramenet, and only joined Barca when he was 21... He's as much a product of Barca's youth sides as Wayne Rooney is of Man U's.

Motta and Xavi didn't play. So why you're counting them I don't know.

Iniesta played one half. So make that three "La Masia-ites".

Neville, Butt, Beckham and Giggs had come through Man U's youth sides and were in the 1999 starting XI. For your Xavi and Motta, P. Neville and Brown were also on the bench... And Scholes was suspended for the final. Where's the bandwagon of people claiming that Man U have a great youth setup? I mean, they're beating Barca on every count there...

2008 : Brown and Scholes starters, Giggs came on as a sub, O'Shea and Fletcher were non-used subs. And Rooney/Oleguer if you want to go all the way (born about the same distance from Camp Nou/Old Trafford, only joined Barca/Man U after having played competitively for another team...). Just as good as Barca. Damn!
>> Anonymous
>>482325
Aye, getting good crosses in but Vidic and Ferdinand are coping
>> Anonymous
god Man U are a bunch of wusses
>> Anonymous
Villa should've had a penalty
>> Anonymous
>>482337
no
>> Anonymous
RONALDO IS THE BEST FREE KICK TAKER EVAR
>> Anonymous
lolrooney
>> Anonymous
>>482337
>>482338
I hate scumchester, but I agree. Villa should not have had a penalty.
>> Anonymous
Rooney blundered that ball
>> Anonymous
This match is suddenly a lot more interesting
>> Anonymous
lol @ linesman not allowing shoulder barges
>> Anonymous
>>482346

I think it was more for the elbow to the face
>> Anonymous
BAWWWWWWWW
>> Anonymous
Ronaldo is a fucking cheat
>> Anonymous
>>482359
You're a fucking idiot
>> Anonymous
>>482360

lol
>> Anonymous
No Man U match is complete without delicious Cronaldo tears
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
lol. Villa should've scored there...
>> Anonymous
0-0 a fair result, decent game i guess
>> Anonymous
haha Ronaldo
>> Anonymous
nil-nil... Aside from Arsenal, this matchday sucked
>> Anonymous
>>482379
How come Kuyt not score? Doesn't he have a contract with the devil that makes him the best player in the universe between the 89th and the 91st minutes?
>> Anonymous
>>482379
Makes the Liverpool result a moot point.

Britannian Anonymous, in the end Liverpool's tie is not a big deal. I'm getting sick of people on my facebook group acting like the world is over because we tied, neglecting the fact that Chelsea and Scum tied 0-0 today as well
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
Well, Man U fail to take advantage of poor results for Liverpool and Chelsea today, whilst Arsenal's troubles grow larger with a 3-0 defeat. They'll consider themselves fortunate the teams around them also had bad days.

Results:
Aston Villa 0-0 Man Utd
Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
Man City 3-0 Arsenal
Middlesbrough 1-3 Bolton
Portsmouth 2-2 Hull
Stoke 1-0 West Brom

Games still to played:

Sunday, 23 November 2008
Sunderland v West Ham, 16:00
Tottenham v Blackburn, 13:30

Monday, 24 November 2008
Wigan v Everton, 20:00
(All times GMT)
>> Anonymous
>>482383

Dirk Kuyt works in mysterious ways.
>> Anonymous
>>482383
he was subbed out...
>> Anonymous
The league is looking pretty good value for money this season... Aston Villa look like they can take that mythical "4th place" from Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are taking a large lead, but Man U are only 5 points behind if they win their game in hand, and Derby are in the Championship...

I wonder how City's money will affect the league in January. If they go on a spending frenzy that pays off or not, things like that.
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482385
Agreed, the world is not over and I am with you in hating people who suddenly yell "RAFA OUT!" or "It's all over for us now!" after a draw or defeat. It's a bit embarrassing to draw with Fulham who have the worst away record in the league this season, but that made them all the more determined whilst Liverpool clearly suffered from fatigue (Keane had been injured as well). Chelsea suffered the same fate, United too. The race is still on and despite everything Arsenal are still in it thanks to the results today.
>> Anonymous
>>482395
RAFA OUT!
It's all over for us now!

After our draw with Fulham we're joint league leaders! He knows nothing!

:P
>> Anonymous
>>482395
most definitely. Most of these people that scream the world is over because we missed a chance to one up on Chelsea, forget that Liverpool were top of the Premier League by far in the 96-97 season by January and then ended up in 4th. November wins nothing.
>> Anonymous
>>482401
that pretty much sums them up
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
United were shite tonight. Baaawwww comencing, Rooney didn't look fit, and rarely made a telling contribution, plus he missed that chance, oh wow. Ronaldo was at this worst in terms of petulance and disinterest, he did not look up for this one at all. Tevez didn't help his cause any either, Park was industrious yet was terrible with his passing. Giggs was solid yet wasn't really that influential, same goes for Carrick.

I was also shocked at the slow pace of the game, from Villa as well, no real zip or fluency to the play. Blame this on internationals if you like (and I do) but both teams looked very lax and apathetic.

Although I have to say well done Villa, you look a decent team, and this is going to contribute to one of toughest and most intriguing Premier leagues i've seen, and indeed in it's history (so far). Most of the teams look really difficult to beat, and can also play some good stuff, as was evidence today.

A good thing to take from this for United is that we've visited all the tough away fixtures thus far this season and got them out of the way.

Although we have to travel to Spain on Tuesday. Great, i'm looking forward to that one.
>> Anonymous
Meanwhile, in Madrid, Bernd Schuster may still have a job
>> Anonymous
>>482401
Except you drew at home to FULHAM. Chelsea and United drew with better teams, with Utd getting a very tricky fixture out of the way.
>> Britannian Anonymous !4bbKDTSEQc
>>482584
Liverpool already drew away to Villa as well. First game of the season I think...not sure, was an early one though.

And NEWCASTLE? NEWCASTLE? Nearly bottom, leaky defence, can't win fuck all NEWCASTLE? Better than Fulham this season? I LOL'd. Fulham couldn't win away and as soon as Liverpool began to put some passes together (or as soon as Alonso came on) they retreated to the edge of their box and camped there. Fair play to them, they wanted it more really on the day.