Thread: Barclays Premier League

I thought somebody else would have started a BPL thread now the league has got going, so I'll start one

Post here about any team you like news, info about up and coming games also your thoughts on games and players and the refs also.

This year has already seen some good games with lots of exciting new players lets see how they stand up to playing in England with the amount of games and the weather.

My first contribution,
Rooney and Aguero inspire easy wins

Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero hit hat-tricks as Manchester United and Manchester City once again set the standard in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.


Aguero fired Manchester City to the top of the table for couple of hours as they beat Wigan 3-0 in a 3pm kick-off at the Etihad Stadium.


But Manchester United responded in typically belligerent fashion in the teatime game, outscoring their city rivals with a Rooney-inspired 5-0 thumping of Bolton at the Reebok.
Having scored three in the 8-2 hammering of Arsenal in his last club game, the England striker made it back-to-back hat-tricks in another comfortable victory.


Rooney follows Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright and Didier Drogba in becoming only the fourth player in Premier League history to achieve the feat, part of an overall 18-goal tally for the Red Devils so far this season.


Indeed, Rooney has now scored eight goals this term, more than any top-flight side, with the exception of City, have managed between them, with Javier Hernandez adding two more at the Reebok on his first start of the campaign.


Aguero, meanwhile, has had no trouble adapting to life in England and his latest three goals mean he has scored six times in four games since his move from Atletico Madrid.


His effort contrasted with Carlos Tevez, who missed a penalty to add to being stripped of the captaincy this week.
Aguero scored his first to give City the lead in the 13th minute. David Silva was instrumental, selling his marker a dummy and passing to Aguero who shot low across the keeper and into the net for his fourth goal in three games.


City missed a chance to double their lead six minutes later when Tevez missed a penalty given for an Adrian Lopez foul on Silva. Ali Al Habsi dived to his right to save.


Aguero, though, got his second in the second half when he finished a slick passing move, slotting home first-time from Samir Nasri's inch-perfect low ball and he took little time to complete his hat-trick, converting Silva's pass.


Daniel Sturridge was a key figure as Chelsea won 2-1 at Sunderland to keep up the pressure on the leading two.
John Terry put the Blues ahead in the 18th minute when he gathered a cross on the left of the area from Sturridge and sent in a ball across the six-yard box.


The Black Cats failed to clear and when the ball came back to the England captain, he fired into the back of the net.
The Blues doubled their lead five minutes after the break, this time Sturridge turning scorer as he ran on to a long ball and back-heeled into the net despite the best efforts of Wes Brown to stop the ball crossing the line.


Sunderland pulled one back through Ji Dong-won in the final minute after he was left unmarked in the area but it was too little, too late.


Liverpool went 1-0 down through a penalty at Stoke when Jamie Carragher was adjudged to have fouled Jon Walters.


The Stoke forward appeared to go down a little easily after the former England defender put his arm around his waist. However, Walters got up to fire down the middle .


Liverpool responded, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam peppering the goal with Luiz Suarez then missing a great chance in stoppage time as the Potters held on.


Arsenal lifted the gloom with a 1-0 win against Swansea, who have still yet to score this season.


The Gunners, who fielded all five of their deadline-day signings, won thanks to an awful error five minutes before half-time by Michel Vorm.


The Dutchman gathered the ball and rolled it out but it hit the heel of team-mate Angel Rangel and Andrey Arshavin slid the ball home from a tight angle.


The Swans came within inches of equalising when Scott Sinclair's 25-yard free-kick hit the bar and went out.


Tottenham won 2-0 at Wolves, going ahead halfway through the second half when two recent arrivals combined.
Scott Parker, who joined last week from West Ham, poked the ball through for Emmanuel Adebayor who ran on to the ball and slotted home.


Harry Redknapp's side doubled their lead 10 minutes from time, Jermain Defoe firing home from close range.


Everton and Aston Villa drew 2-2 at Goodison Park.
Leon Osman put the Toffees ahead after being played in by Tim Cahill, only for Villa to equalise in the 63rd minute through Stiliyan Petrov's long-range shot.


The hosts regained the lead when Fabian Delph was penalised for a foul on Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines fired home the spot-kick, but the visitors levelled when Gabriel Agbonlahor headed home Marc Albrighton's cross seven minutes from time.

bitter sweet the Everton result. We were abject against Blackburn even if we got the points. But we played with purpose and battered Villa for 60 minutes. Should have had another penalty for a foul on Baines at 1-0. Drenthe looked like he'll be decent when he came on and Vellios looked sharp. Barkley will be a very very good player. Good performance and Villa deserve a shout for not giving up even though they were second best for much of the match.

Honours were even at Goodison Park as Everton and Aston Villa played out a draw.


Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor struck as Villa twice came from behind at Everton to preserve their unbeaten Barclays Premier League start.
Everton hardly looked like a team in crisis after the sale of Mikel Arteta as they claimed a deserved half-time lead through the outstanding Leon Osman.

Petrov hit a superb equaliser as Villa finally showed some endeavour after the break but it needed Agbonlahor's late header to earn a draw at Goodison Park after a Leighton Baines penalty. For an in-depth match report, click here

Liverpool slipped to their first Barclays Premier League defeat of the season as they lost at Stoke City.

Jon Walters' 20th-minute penalty after he was fouled by Jamie Carragher proved to be the decider in a match which the visitors dominated but failed to break down the Potters.
The Britannia Stadium is not a happy hunting ground for the Reds, who have taken just two points from their last four visits.
For an in-depth match report, click here.

How sweet to do the thieving scallys up the arse again.

Stoke out-robbed the scouse twats to nick all three points in a hard fought, and very entertaining match at fortress Britannia yesterday.
It was a fucking joy to watch, as a mate from Stoke come rind me hise, accompanied by a scally who put a brave face on the result by thieving no fewer than five of my lighters, a ginger cat, and at least three hubcaps off the next-doors caravan.
Fair swap i reckon.

Originally Posted by alwarner

Barkley will be a very very good player

Agreed, unfortunately for any Everton fans out there he will most probably be playing for Utd by then.

Saturday 17th September 2011

Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal12:45Ewood Park

Aston Villa v Newcastle United15:00Villa Park

Bolton Wanderers v Norwich City15:00Reebok Stadium

Everton v Wigan Athletic15:00Goodison Park

Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion15:00Liberty Stadium

Wolverhampton Wanderers v QPR15:00Molineux


Sunday 18th September 2011

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool13:30White Hart Lane
Fulham v Manchester City15:00Craven Cottage
Sunderland v Stoke City15:00Stadium of Light
Manchester United v Chelsea16:00Old Trafford

SATURDAY
All kick-offs 1500 BST unless stated
Blackburn v Arsenal (1245 BST)
Arsenal got a great result in Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, despite conceding a late equaliser, but defensively they were all over the place for the first half-hour.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger says we should know in a couple of months what sort of team they have got and they are clearly still trying to find their feet, and finding the best way to get the best out of new players like Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun.
Blackburn sat with two banks of four players against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday and pinched a point, but I think they have to be more ambitious here.
If I were Blackburn boss Steve Kean, I would be thinking that Arsenal have got three or four new players so get amongst them, and get in their faces.
Rovers have not won a point at Ewood Park so far this season, and Saturday would be a good time to start. They need to give their fans a lift.
Prediction: 1-1
Aston Villa v Newcastle
The owners of both these clubs, Randy Lerner and Mike Ashley, have clearly decided to stop paying out mad money for players and balance the books instead.
I think they have both realised that if they spent £50m it wouldn't bring them success, and they might not get much more than they have already got.
Both sides have made good starts to the season though, even if Villa were a little fortunate to get a point out of Everton. Boss Alex McLeish is a great man-manager and will get the best out of the squad he has got - his players will certainly want to play for him.
Newcastle are unbeaten but the big issue for them is that they don't really look like scoring goals, which is an issue their fans know all about.
Prediction: 2-0
Bolton v Norwich
Norwich were a bit unlucky with some of the decisions that went against them in their home defeat by West Brom on Sunday, but I think the Baggies had a little bit too much nous for them anyway.
Bolton were taken apart by Manchester United in their last game but that is going to happen to a few teams this season and they just need to forget about that defeat as quickly as possible.
Wanderers are usually pretty good at getting back on the rails after suffering a setback, and this is probably a good time for them to be playing Norwich.
Prediction: 2-1
Everton v Wigan
Wigan are not great on the road and they have not had a fantastic week, getting thumped by Manchester City then being beaten in the Carling Cup by Crystal Palace.
Everton might be licking their wounds a bit too, because they played really well against Aston Villa and should have won that game rather than just having to settle for a point.
One of the big pluses for me from that game was seeing their new signing Royston Drenthe for the first time. He is lightning quick and, if he can stay fit, looks like he could be another find by Toffees boss David Moyes.
Prediction: 2-0
Swansea v West Brom
Swansea still haven't scored in the Premier League, which tells its own story. They are creating enough chances but their new striker Danny Graham looks like he needs a goal and the whole team do too, clearly.
West Brom, especially now they have got Peter Odemwingie back, look very dangerous up front. Their boss Roy Hodgson will have them playing on the counter-attack and the pace of Odemwingie and Shane Long will be a real handful for the Swans defence.
The Baggies had lost their first three Premier League games of the season before beating Norwich at the weekend, but it was never going to be panic-stations for them. Hodgson is far too shrewd for that.
Prediction: 1-1
Wolverhampton v QPR
I was impressed by QPR in their draw with Newcastle on Monday night. I'm still not totally sure about Rangers defensively but they have made lots of new signings so it is going to take time for them all to bed in.
There wasn't a great deal of difference between Wolves and Tottenham last Saturday until Spurs scored with about 20 minutes to go, but Mick McCarthy need to get back on their horse quickly if they are going to continue their bright start to the season.
I remember Wolves steaming into Joey Barton last time he came to Molineux with Newcastle in August last year. Four of their players were booked for tackles on him, and I am sure he will get another warm welcome this time as well.
Prediction: 2-1
SUNDAY
Tottenham v Liverpool (1330 BST)
I don't blame Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp for fielding a virtual reserve team against PAOK Salonika in the Europa League on Thursday. This game was always going to be his main focus.
If Spurs had not beaten Wolves last week, then Redknapp might be under a bit of pressure - the Premier League has to be his priority at the moment.
Besides, Tottenham could lose a couple of European games and still get out of their group. It means they can find out one or two things about their younger players too.
Liverpool complained about some of the decisions which went against them in their defeat by Stoke last weekend, but they just need to get on with it now.
I cannot see Reds boss Kenny Dalglish trying to take Tottenham on too much in this game. I think they will go there trying not to get beat.
Prediction: 1-1
Fulham v Man City
Wednesday's draw with Napoli was a difficult welcome to the Champions League for Manchester City, but it was not a bad result in the end.
Returning to Premier League action after their European exploits is something else City need to get used to and they will be hoping for a repeat of their last visit to Craven Cottage, when they won 4-1 and Yaya Toure caused the home side massive problems.
The strength of City's squad should mean they are fine and I am backing them to see off Fulham easily enough again.
Fulham looked short of ideas in their draw with Blackburn last week despite having a lot of possession, and they did not look like scoring.
Their manager Martin Jol needs a win, so what he doesn't need is to be playing City at home.
Prediction: 0-2
Sunderland v Stoke
The situation with Asamoah Gyan leaving Sunderland for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates last weekend was very strange and sums up the modern footballer in some ways.
The standard of football over there is very low so Gyan could not have done much more to advertise himself as a money-grabber. Steve Bruce was no doubt tearing his hair out over the whole thing.
It does leave the Black Cats looking a bit short of goals, and Bruce is already under a bit of pressure, but I can see them getting their first win of the season here.
Stoke are just getting used to the whole Thursday-Sunday thing of playing in the Europa League and, although you can bank on them at the Britannia, they are not always the same force away from home.
Prediction: 2-1
Man Utd v Chelsea (1600 BST)
I like the look of Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas. I like his demeanour and his freshness, and I think his players will too. He looks an easy manager to deal with.
People are saying this is United's first test of the season after their superb start but it is a really big test for Villas-Boas too.
It will be fascinating to see how he sets up his team at Old Trafford because we will find out his mindset - will he be happy with a point, or look to turn them over?
He has left a couple of players like John Terry and Frank Lampard out of their midweek Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen because he knows his team have to be ready for this game.
United just seem able to find their opponents' weakest link at the moment and the way they look when they come forward means they will be too much for most teams.
Villas-Boas is slowly but surely turning Chelsea into his team, but it might take him a while and I cannot see Chelsea ending United's 100% winning start to the season.
Prediction: 2-1

Wenger doesn't seem to have a fucking clue about defending. And neither do his coaching staff. Has Don Howe left the club?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Wenger doesn't seem to have a fucking clue about defending. And neither do his coaching staff. Has Don Howe left the club?

Yes, but ordinarily if a team scores more goals than its opponents they they would be expected to win.

Perhaps Arsenal are going for the "fair play" award this year.

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Wenger doesn't seem to have a fucking clue about defending. And neither do his coaching staff. Has Don Howe left the club?

Perhaps Arsenal are going for the "fair play" award this year.

Running away with it,

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Wenger doesn't seem to have a fucking clue about defending. And neither do his coaching staff. Has Don Howe left the club?

It was always said at the beginning that we'll see how good he is when he loses the defensive unit he inherited. tbf he did okay with the likes of Campbell, Cole and Lehmann leading.

The former defensive greats must be cringing with the absolute shambles that exists there today.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Has Don Howe left the club?

About 10 years ago.

Got to feel sorry for Wenger.
He's had to deal with all the 8-2 wordplay jokes four three weeks already.

"We had so many chances in the game and we scored two own goals so it is unbelievable to understand. At the moment defensively we are fragile because our confidence is gone due what happened at Old Trafford [an 8-2 defeat]. The spirit in the team is quite willing but if you look at the number of goals we have conceded it is just not good enough."- Arsene Wenger

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

Perhaps Arsenal are going for the "fair play" award this year.

Check the link to the fair play table. The dirty bastards.

Barclays Premier League Fair Play Statistics - 2011-12 - ESPN Soccernet

Swansea and Norwich earned their first wins of the Premier League season on Saturday, while QPR thumped Wolves and Everton saw off Wigan.
Swansea earned their first ever Premier League win with a convincing 3-0 victory over West Brom on home soil.
The Swans led 2-0 at half-time, with Scott Sinclair scoring their first league goal from the penalty spot after Paul Scharner brought down Joe Allen. Sinclair then set up Leroy Lita, who doubled Swansea's advantage by heading home from Sinclair's corner.
Nathan Dyer added a third shortly after the break when goalkeeper Michael Vorm's long punt was nodded on by Lita, Dyer firing his shot through Ben Foster's legs to give the Swans a comfortable win.
The result lifted Swansea into 13th place, pushing West Brom into the bottom three.
Blackburn also got their first league win of the season as they came from behind to beat Arsenal 4-3 at Ewood Park.
Gervinho put Arsenal ahead early on before Ayegbeni Yakubu levelled after 25 minutes.
Mikel Arteta fired Arsenal back ahead nine minutes later but an own goal by Alex Song levelled the scores again early in the second half, before Blackburn's Steven Nzonzi drove the ball across goal from a corner and Yakubu, who looked to be offside, turned it home from close range.
Arsenal's defensive woes - in the wake of their 8-2 defeat to Manchester United - continued when an own goal by Laurent Koscielny in the 68th minute gave Rovers a two-goal cushion.
A late header by Marouane Chamakh gave Arsenal hope in the final minutes but Arsene Wenger's side could not claw their way back.
Elsewhere, Norwich beat Bolton 2-1 at The Reebok thanks to two first-half goals, securing their first league win of the campaign.
Anthony Pilkington prodded in from close range in the 37th minute before a Bradley Johnson strike three minutes before half-time doubled the Canaries' lead.
Bolton were reduced to 10 men just before the break when Ivan Klasnic was sent off for an apparent head-butt on Marc Tierney, but they fought back and won a penalty when Leon Barnett barged David Ngog.
Martin Petrov scored from the spot but it wasn't enough for Owen Coyle's men.
QPR beat Wolves 3-0 thanks to early goals from Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin and a late strike by DJ Campbell at Molineux.
Barton's shot from Shaun Wright-Phillips' scuffed cross did enough to beat Wayne Hennessey before Faurlin directed an effort past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
Campbell then struck home from 12 yards with just three minutes left on the clock to seal the win.
Everton beat Wigan 3-1 at Goodison Park thanks to late goals from substitutes Apostolos Vellios and Royston Drenthe.
Teenage Greek striker Vellios met Tony Hibbert's inch-perfect cross with a header from 14 yards out before Drenthe scored his debut goal for the Toffees to give Everton their second league win of the season.
Earlier, Phil Jagielka's header cancelled out Franco di Santo's goal, one minute after the Argentinian had opened the scoring for the visitors.
The spoils were shared by Aston Villa and Newcastle in a tight 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Gabriel Agbonlahor put the home side in front in the 13th minute after holding off Fabricio Coloccini and sweeping the ball into the net.
However Leon Best levelled things for the Magpies 10 minutes into the second half to leave both sides still unbeaten in the league this season.

Personally I think if you make a striker captain, you're asking for trouble anyway.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Personally I think if you make a striker captain, you're asking for trouble anyway.

Have to agree there Harry, as an Arsenal supporter, i think i will be a quiet observer of this thread, i get enough stick in the pub !

Originally Posted by Bower

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Personally I think if you make a striker captain, you're asking for trouble anyway.

Have to agree there Harry, as an Arsenal supporter, i think i will be a quiet observer of this thread, i get enough stick in the pub !

No worries give us your views on what it's like being an Arsenal fan

Originally Posted by FarangRed

Originally Posted by Bower

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Personally I think if you make a striker captain, you're asking for trouble anyway.

Have to agree there Harry, as an Arsenal supporter, i think i will be a quiet observer of this thread, i get enough stick in the pub !

No worries give us your views on what it's like being an Arsenal fan

At the moment? Painful.

But having spent years going to watch Arsenal when you had to be drunk before you got in the ground, and goals were a rarity, I can deal with this current spell. We'll climb out of it eventually.

Although that's why I actually rue the loss of Don Howe. No "fancy dan" defending for him!

^Harry I've said this for a few years now amongst mates (non of whom support Arsenal) that defenders signed by Wenger tend to go backwards as players. Almost as though defensive coaching is an afterthought. Do you get the same impression watching them week in week out?

Originally Posted by alwarner

^Harry I've said this for a few years now amongst mates (non of whom support Arsenal) that defenders signed by Wenger tend to go backwards as players. Almost as though defensive coaching is an afterthought. Do you get the same impression watching them week in week out?

No doubt. It needs someone like Keown to come in as a defensive specialist coach.

Mind you, it appears to be the Mickey Mousers' turn to implode today.

3-0 down already, down to nine men.