Premier League

[Alsacs]

Frank Lampard scores the tying goal against Chelsea and refused to celebrate. That was shocking. I mean why ruin your post playing days relationship with Chelsea for one last payday with NYCFC and being loaned to Man City.

 

[cmr27]

Frank Lampard scores the tying goal against Chelsea and refused to celebrate. That was shocking. I mean why ruin your post playing days relationship with Chelsea for one last payday with NYCFC and being loaned to Man City.

As a life-long Chelsea fan, I'm torn. I really hope those two points don't decide the league so I don't have to think about it for the rest of my life. I thought Chelsea was just OK today. It was a classic Mourinho game plan -- Keep it tight and try to burn them on the counter. But Willian didn't give us much and Schurrle is a love him/hate him type as evidence by the fact he scored the first goal and created the conditions for the second one. Realistically, it was a fair result. Two draws in a row. I think it's really important we win the next Premier league game.

 

[CuseCPT]

Most Chelsea fans would have gladly taken a point before the match started, especially two days ago with all the news of Costa's injury. Funny how bitter that point tastes after 79 minutes, a goal and a red card, but that's football.

Fact of the matter is Chelsea are undefeated with 4 wins out of the first 5, not too shabby. As for Lampard, both his muted reaction to the goal and not so muted love fest between the Chelsea supporters and him was pure goosebumps. You could see how hard he was trying not to cry after he saluted the Chelsea end, it was a beautiful sport moment.

 

[cmr27]

Funny how bitter that point tastes after 79 minutes, a goal and a red card, but that's football.

All good points. Feels like a loss.

I'm going to amuse myself now by reading the game stories from the ManU match. I have no idea how they lost 5-3 but this has to make for good reading.

 

[PoppyHart]

If we dropped two points at the Bridge I'd be pissed. But I'm fine with an away draw and happy for Super Frank.

This season is going to be one of the least competitive in history, thankfully.

 

[PeteCalvin]

What, noone wants to comment on Man U's collapse?

 

[IthacaMatt]

It would have to be Lampard to score the equalizer on Chelsea Oh Lord

Unbelievable. But of course it had to be that way.

 

[IthacaMatt]

What, noone wants to comment on Man U's collapse?

It doesn't matter if you buy all the attacking talent in the world if you don't have workhorses in midfield and a solid back line. They have neither, injuries or not. The Falcao purchase can only be seen as surplus. That money could have bought 2 or 3 defenders - real defenders, not these wing backs they've bought.

 

[IthacaMatt]

All good points. Feels like a loss.

I'm going to amuse myself now by reading the game stories from the ManU match. I have no idea how they lost 5-3 but this has to make for good reading.

Leiceister City had a 4 goals-in-20 minutes response to going down 3-1. Their stadium was bouncing up and down. You could see the cameras bouncing and jiggling. Manchester United players seem to have forgotten how to win.

 

[ImperialOrange]

What, noone wants to comment on Man U's collapse?

I want to, I really do... but we sucked as well. I can't decide if their loss was worse than ours or not. They gave up 4 goals in ~20 mins while up 2, we were down 2 after 7 minutes and despite a Sterling connaon shot, never really looked a threat to win the match.

 

[Bortukal]

I want to, I really do... but we sucked as well. I can't decide if their loss was worse than ours or not. They gave up 4 goals in ~20 mins while up 2, we were down 2 after 7 minutes and despite a Sterling connaon shot, never really looked a threat to win the match.

Cheer up. Liverpool will be ok when they get healthy and Balotelli settles in. Man U are a steaming dumpster fire.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Cheer up. Liverpool will be ok when they get healthy and Balotelli settles in. Man U are a steaming dumpster fire.

I realize it's only 5 games into a 38 game campaign. Truthfully, I'm more miffed about the Cuse game but combining the two results happening at the same time was miserable to my fanhood.

 

[Alsacs]

Holy Moly that shootout between Middlesbrough and Liverpool was Bananas. It was the greatest penalty shootout ever IMO passing the England-Portugal Euro 2004 for me.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Merseyside derby this weekend

 

[ImperialOrange]

Fun facts about the last year Everton won anything

-The OJ Simpson murder trial opened and closed
-Nebraska football was relevant
-Academy Award, Best Picture:Forrest Gump
-Record of the Year: "All I Wanna Do," Sheryl Crow
-Album of the Year:MTV Unplugged, Tony Bennett
-Song of the Year: "Streets of Philadelphia" (Theme from Philadelphia), Bruce Springsteen
-Russian space station Mir greets first Americans
-Drs. Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell (UK) create the world's first cloned sheep, Megan and Morag, from embryo cells.

 

[General20]

Fun facts about the last year Everton won anything

-The OJ Simpson murder trial opened and closed
-Nebraska football was relevant
-Academy Award, Best Picture:Forrest Gump
-Record of the Year: "All I Wanna Do," Sheryl Crow
-Album of the Year:MTV Unplugged, Tony Bennett
-Song of the Year: "Streets of Philadelphia" (Theme from Philadelphia), Bruce Springsteen
-Russian space station Mir greets first Americans
-Drs. Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell (UK) create the world's first cloned sheep, Megan and Morag, from embryo cells.

That was a crap year all around, lol.

 

[ImperialOrange]

That was a crap year all around, lol.

Some really aweful music In the 90s

 

[Bortukal]

Good heavens, Imperial. Liverpool can't buy an ounce of good luck these days. :-(

 

[cmr27]

Good heavens, Imperial. Liverpool can't buy an ounce of good luck these days. :-(

I'm not sure it's only luck. They don't look that good. More expectations. More matches this year too.

 

[CanadianSU]

http://www.squawka.com/news/spurs-a...a-but-face-competition-for-inter-milan/187194

 

[IthacaMatt]

OK, the weekend games are fast approaching.

On Saturday, Swansea should keep up their good start to the season home against winless Newcastle (maybe Alan Pardew's last game?).

Liverpool home vs. West Brom ordinarily should be a solid win, but West Brom is not playing badly this season. Huge game for Brendan Rogers.

Manchester City away to Aston Villa will be a measure of whether Villa is really that much improved this year. I'm very much hoping that City stub their toes away.

On Sunday, you've got Man United home to Everton is what is a must-win match for both teams. That one will be compelling. Tim Howard has been pretty poor in goal so far; it's not all on his defenders.

Chelsea home to Arsenal is the big game among contenders. Chelsea win over Wenger will really put some distance between them (9 point margin with a Chelsea victory). Arsenal looked very good against Galatasaray, but they have 9 guys injured right now and one less day's rest.

The final Sunday game to get excited about is Spurs hosting Southampton. We'll see if Pochittino can continue getting them going in the right direction. This game is a big game for Southampton, to show whether they will be contenders for a top 4 spot and have staying power.

 

[cmr27]

Tim Howard has been pretty poor in goal so far; it's not all on his defenders.
Chelsea home to Arsenal is the big game among contenders.

Good point about Howard. I wonder if the World Cup was his last hurrah. He doesn't seem to have much left in the tank.

Chelsea are heavy favourites this weekend against Arsenal, and properly so. Mourinho really has The Specialist In Failure's number, but I have a feeling Arsenal is gonna show up. They got drubbed 6-0 at the Bridge last season and have no expectations coming into this game. Pride gets them a hard-fought draw. I have a feeling there will be fireworks between coaches too, the kind that makes the PL so much fun.

Spurs match is really interesting too and it's basically now or never for Liverpool.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Good point about Howard. I wonder if the World Cup was his last hurrah. He doesn't seem to have much left in the tank.

Chelsea are heavy favourites this weekend against Arsenal, and properly so. Mourinho really has The Specialist In Failure's number, but I have a feeling Arsenal is gonna show up. They got drubbed 6-0 at the Bridge last season and have no expectations coming into this game. Pride gets them a hard-fought draw. I have a feeling there will be fireworks between coaches too, the kind that makes the PL so much fun.

Spurs match is really interesting too and it's basically now or never for Liverpool.

Yes, Howard could use a break. I think with Brad Guzan playing so well for Villa, if he can keep it up for the entire season (and Villa finishes top 6 or so - this year's Everton), he may take over the top spot. He's not as vocal as Howard with his back line, but it seems like Howard is going down too soon on shots these days, and is not as composed in goal as he used to be. He always seems a bit agitated.

Chelsea has a chance to put away Arsenal this weekend. So far, they have gotten up for big games. Man City should have been a win, but for Schurrle turning off defensively after getting what he thought was the winning goal. I don't foresee a similar slip up this Sunday. I wish that Mourinho would begin using Loic Remy in some of these lesser matches to give Costa some rest, but Mourinho doesn't want to risk a bad result until he has things more solidly in hand.

 

[General20]

Has Mario Balotelli been the worst player in the EPL so far this year?

I read an article that said he's taken the most shots (20) of any EPL player who is yet to score a goal. It also mentioned that he missed 3 clear cut chances, which I think is generous, I would have said 5. Those 5 goals are the difference between Liverpool contending and Liverpool being mid-table. Balotelli has really hurt them thus far.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Has Mario Balotelli been the worst player in the EPL so far this year?

I read an article that said he's taken the most shots (20) of any EPL player who is yet to score a goal. It also mentioned that he missed 3 clear cut chances, which I think is generous, I would have said 5. Those 5 goals are the difference between Liverpool contending and Liverpool being mid-table. Balotelli has really hurt them thus far.

I think Balotelli has been fine so far. Sure, he has missed a handful of chances, but every striker does. What I see when I watch is Balotelli working hard, for the most part, chasing the ball on defense. I see quality hold-up play to allow other Liverpool players to get into the offense, and I see a guy who has been a threat in the box. I think it's only a matter of time before the goals start to flow. It's not like we're talking about Fernando Torres here.