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The Lions' Pride

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The Lions' Pride

Black shoes, basic blues. No names, all game

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OT: Soccer guys...

  • Wait a second. Didn't Hazard just come out like two days and say that England is the best possible location for him b/c his style of play matches the EPL? Or did I just make that up?

    Pac_Lion

  • Pac_Lion said...

    Wait a second. Didn't Hazard just come out like two days and say that England is the best possible location for him b/c his style of play matches the EPL? Or did I just make that up?

    No you're right he said he wasn't going to move until this summer and all clubs mentioned were English (Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and both Manchester teams)

    Penn State 7x National Champs, home of the winningest college football coach to ever grace a sideline.

    NittanyEagles

  • Roma MF Pizarro in Manchester supposedly working on a deal to City.

    Marseille chairman admitting that they turned down a big bid from Spurs for Remy. Can't say they didn't try. I think 'Arry is showing through his actions that he's not confident in the squad's ability to hold on to a top 4 spot without a lot of moves.

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    tdiddy

  • Saw the same on Pizarro.

    Agreed on Spurs. I'm ok on Saha coming, if Pienaar goes the opposite direction. Still holding out hope for Samba and Hoilett. Whisperings on Marin and Krasic. Honestly, I don't see any of it happening. If it does, it won't be until the 11 pm deadline.

    mugatu11

  • Is Pizarro decent? I do not know much about him that is why I am asking. Guess he has to be to be going to City

    Pac_Lion

  • Pac_Lion said...

    Is Pizarro decent? I do not know much about him that is why I am asking. Guess he has to be to be going to City

    He's OK. He's not in the same stratosphere as De Rossi, and that's who City really wanted.

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    tdiddy

  • January transfer window is a time to correct your mistakes or make new ones. Only knuckleheads make big splashes in the winter. Liverpool did it because they were desperate for strikers last year. The prices are high and no one wants to leave during the season.

    Its mostly just the clubs trading scraps back and forth. I'll give you an out of favor winger for your out of favor striker. I do like what QPR did with picking up Cisse though.

    dwillforpres

  • Please turn on the City Everton match. A dude just handcuffed himself to the goal. I'm not joking.

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    tdiddy

  • tdiddy said...

    Please turn on the City Everton match. A dude just handcuffed himself to the goal. I'm not joking.

    Occupier? lol

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    pwpitch

  • What in the hell is going on in this Chelsea game? They look lost and Luiz doesn't seem to have a friggen clue. Ughhh

    Pac_Lion

  • If spurs truly got anywhere close to 11M for "Super" Pav, I'll take 2 of Luis Saha.

    Been watching United/Stoke simply for some HD futbol. Should probably watch Donovan and Howard try to survive against City.

    mugatu11

  • Why is Cahill not playing? Terry is out and Luiz is NOT a CB

    Pac_Lion

  • Fingers crossed that Everton holds on here...

    mugatu11

  • Wow. Bosingwa with a stoppage time equalizer to save the Blues a point. Was a low cross that got deflected in. May have been an own goal actually. Swansea are heartbroken they really did deserve this one. Guess I'll take it

    Pac_Lion

  • Pac_Lion said...

    Wow. Bosingwa with a stoppage time equalizer to save the Blues a point. Was a low cross that got deflected in. May have been an own goal actually. Swansea are heartbroken they really did deserve this one. Guess I'll take it

    Huge Chelsea fan here living in Birmingham, England. We were clearly outplayed today by Swansea (Brendan Rodgers is one heckuva coach keep an eye on this guy) but i'll gladly take a point to help in the race for 4th.

    BTW as long as the shot is headed towards goal it will count as Bosingwa's goal regardless of how much the deflection changed the direction of the ball. Havent seen it yet though.

    This post was edited by Doc PSU on 1/31/2012 at 4:05 PM

    Doc PSU

  • Can't believe I forgot about the Everton game today banghead.

    PSUfan28

  • PSUfan28 said...

    Can't believe I forgot about the Everton game today banghead.

    Some Everton fan handcuffed himself to the post...

    Play

    Everton Fan Handcuffs Himself To Post At G...

    Everton Fan Handcuffs Himself To Post At Goodison Park Against Manchester City

    http://www.youtube.com/v/Lzk9CKQSq4o

    Andrew Dzurita ●

  • - move Luiz to RB and start Cahill
    - my wife can provide better quality crosses and corners than Malouda
    - Essien needs to start on Sunday
    - Coles pointless challenge to get himself DQed for Sunday? Way to go douche.
    - We lucked out on Bos's goal.
    -Lukaku needs more minutes.

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    tdiddy

  • tdiddy said...

    - move Luiz to RB and start Cahill - my wife can provide better quality crosses and corners than Malouda - Essien needs to start on Sunday - Coles pointless challenge to get himself DQed for Sunday? Way to go douche. - We lucked out on Bos's goal. -Lukaku needs more minutes.


    Agree more or less. I'd prefer Ivanovic at right back to Luiz (I wouldnt even trust Luiz's defending at RB) but Cahill needs to be given his chance and soon since our defense is just downright awful at the moment.

    Malouda shouldnt start another game for Chelsea. Matter of fact i'd be happy if neither Malouda, Kalou or Mikel play another game for us.

    Having seen the match highlights now It seem Cole was agitated the whole game and just couldnt stand Dyer constantly charging at him and it only seemed a matter of time before he would get himself sent off.

    I would give Lukaku the start in the FA cup tie and give him a lot more minutes when we are either leading by a few goals (not that has happened much this year) or are chasing the game in which case i'd go with two strikers up top early.

    Doc PSU

  • Andrew Dzurita said...

    Some Everton fan handcuffed himself to the post...

    I saw that on twitter. That's really funny and strange.

    PSUfan28

  • Doc PSU said...

    Agree more or less. I'd prefer Ivanovic at right back to Luiz (I wouldnt even trust Luiz's defending at RB) but Cahill needs to be given his chance and soon since our defense is just downright awful at the moment.

    Malouda shouldnt start another game for Chelsea. Matter of fact i'd be happy if neither Malouda, Kalou or Mikel play another game for us.

    Having seen the match highlights now It seem Cole was agitated the whole game and just couldnt stand Dyer constantly charging at him and it only seemed a matter of time before he would get himself sent off.

    I would give Lukaku the start in the FA cup tie and give him a lot more minutes when we are either leading by a few goals (not that has happened much this year) or are chasing the game in which case i'd go with two strikers up top early.

    Totally agree on Malouda, Mikel, and Kalou. I don't mind Ivan at right back, but that's the side which AVB allows more forward movement since Mata and Malouda/Lampard float so liberally on the left. Luiz isnt a holding defensive midfielder line Romeu or Mikel. Give him a role where he's allowed to drift forward often or make long runs where he can't relinquish the ball in exposed areas of the field. He's either a wing back or a winger, but he definitely doesn't belong in the middle of the pitch.

    I think there's a good chance that we'll see Ivan, Cahill, Luiz, w Bos at LB on Sunday. Will be quite a debut for Cahill. SAF is going to be licking his chops. I'd start both Romeu and Essien in supportive midfield and go 4-2-3-1. But I'd put Ivan in CD and allow Luiz to drift at RB. Downside is that Luiz can't cross either.

    Luiz--Ivan--Cahill--Bos
    ---Essien----Romeu---
    Sturridge--Mata--Mierles
    ----------Torres-----------

    Pray that you muster a goal somewhere and determine yourselves to keep a clean sheet.

    signature image signature image signature image

    tdiddy

  • tdiddy said...

    Totally agree on Malouda, Mikel, and Kalou. I don't mind Ivan at right back, but that's the side which AVB allows more forward movement since Mata and Malouda/Lampard float so liberally on the left. Luiz isnt a holding defensive midfielder line Romeu or Mikel. Give him a role where he's allowed to drift forward often or make long runs where he can't relinquish the ball in exposed areas of the field. He's either a wing back or a winger, but he definitely doesn't belong in the middle of the pitch.

    I think there's a good chance that we'll see Ivan, Cahill, Luiz, w Bos at LB on Sunday. Will be quite a debut for Cahill. SAF is going to be licking his chops. I'd start both Romeu and Essien in supportive midfield and go 4-2-3-1. But I'd put Ivan in CD and allow Luiz to drift at RB. Downside is that Luiz can't cross either.

    Luiz--Ivan--Cahill--Bos ---Essien----Romeu--- Sturridge--Mata--Mierles ----------Torres-----------

    Pray that you muster a goal somewhere and determine yourselves to keep a clean sheet.


    I can see the reasoning behind wanting to give Luiz a role in terms of the type of type investment we made in him and also that he has very good going forward. I think playing at RB would be fine against most teams that dont have a true winger but against those the likes of Man U (Valencia/Nani), Man City (Silva) and even Swansea (Sinclair) I would be fearful of putting him at RB as that would give the opposing team an easy target all day long.

    At the weekend I would be all for your strategy of having two holding midfielders protecting the centre backs (whichever combo of Ivanovic, Cahill or Luiz we have at centre back) but that would be such a negative strategy at home that I dont think AVB's pride will allow him to instill. I can see him going with Romeu holding, Essien on the right and Lampard on the left which in essence would give the right side of the midfield good protection as Essien is a smart player that will back up the defense on that side and barge forward when momentum allows it.

    The key to the United game for me is the defensive life. If we are not stupid enough to play a ridicolously high line all game that exposes our defensive weaknesses, we can play deeper and largely focus on soaking up man utd pressure and hopefully have guys like Essien and Lampard (if fit of course) charging forward in support of Mata, Torres and Sturridge on counter attacks.

    I really think we'll struggle to get anything out of this game. i'd take a point right now if you offered to me.

    Doc PSU

  • Doc PSU said...

    I can see the reasoning behind wanting to give Luiz a role in terms of the type of type investment we made in him and also that he has very good going forward. I think playing at RB would be fine against most teams that dont have a true winger but against those the likes of Man U (Valencia/Nani), Man City (Silva) and even Swansea (Sinclair) I would be fearful of putting him at RB as that would give the opposing team an easy target all day long.

    At the weekend I would be all for your strategy of having two holding midfielders protecting the centre backs (whichever combo of Ivanovic, Cahill or Luiz we have at centre back) but that would be such a negative strategy at home that I dont think AVB's pride will allow him to instill. I can see him going with Romeu holding, Essien on the right and Lampard on the left which in essence would give the right side of the midfield good protection as Essien is a smart player that will back up the defense on that side and barge forward when momentum allows it.

    The key to the United game for me is the defensive life. If we are not stupid enough to play a ridicolously high line all game that exposes our defensive weaknesses, we can play deeper and largely focus on soaking up man utd pressure and hopefully have guys like Essien and Lampard (if fit of course) charging forward in support of Mata, Torres and Sturridge on counter attacks.

    I really think we'll struggle to get anything out of this game. i'd take a point right now if you offered to me.

    The difference is very clear in our first 5 performances against the big squads. 3 games, high line...3 losses. 2 games, regular line...1 win and 1 impressive draw. If AVB is too prideful to play it conservatively, then we're in trouble for the rest of the season. He must realize that he doesn't yet have the pieces implemented to play that type of football. This is still a team designed to grind out ugly goals and play defense. Until we get better wingers inserted, allow Mata to play creatively in the middle, and discover a confident front man; that's going to be the recipe for success. I'm optimistic for next season, but this year is going to be a real battle to finish 4th.

    On another note, is Lamps healthy for the weekend?

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    tdiddy

  • While not a Chelsea fan, I've watched them a decent bit this year.

    I think Essien is huge for them. I am a big fan of his, and have always been impressed with his ability as a box to box player. In a game like this, after his layoff, I think he and the D can hang back as you stated and absorb some of the pressure. I don't think you worry too much about having Bosingwa or the other back get forward too much in this matchup. The way Rooney floats around, Essien will be huge towards the outcome.

    That said, maybe a 4-1-4-1, with the caveat that the righ and left backs stay deep to defend. Either Essien or Romeu deep lying defensive mid position, the other partnered with Lampard a bit more advanced (super frank for some creativity through the middle), Mata and Sturridge a bit wider (with the option of floating into the middle) and Torres up front.

    One of the things I've seen Torres do relatively well this year is come back away from the box and create chances going forward - finishing is another story, but this set up allows for on the fly change to 4-2-3-1 while also giving them the ability to get forward a bit more aggresively.

    mugatu11

  • On a Spurs note, they looked good again last night. 7 points clear of fourth place...I think they should start feeling confident about CL next year.

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    tdiddy

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