Premier League 2011/2012 Thread

**beavis** · 21-10-2011 18:35

Manchester United vs Manchester City preview

Sunday's Manchester derby shapes as the most important in recent memory, with the two sides occupying the top spots in Premier League.

Roberto Mancini's men top the table by 2 points from their bitter rivals, with City, Manchester United and Newcastle the only teams left unbeaten 8 games into the 2011/2012 season.

Sunday's clash at Old Trafford is a crucial one for both teams. A win for Sir Alex Ferguson's men would propel them back to the top of the league, while a loss would hand City a handy 5-point buffer.

Both teams head into the fixture in good form, recording Champions League victories on Tuesday.

City had to do it tough, coming from behind to defeat Spanish side Villarreal 2-1 at Etihad Stadium thanks to a late winner from Sergio Aguero.

United posted a 2-0 win in Romania over Oţelul Galaţi, with Wayne Rooney scoring a double.

Last Saturday, in their most recent league games, City cruised to a 4-1 rout of Aston Villa at home as Ferguson's men acclimatised to the big-game atmosphere sure to accompany Sunday's fixture with a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool.

**beavis** · 23-10-2011 18:54

Walcott in contract talks at Arsenal

Theo Walcott is looking to open talks with the club over a new contract.

The England international, whose contract expires at the end of next season, has become a key member of the Gunners squad since joining as a 17-year-old from Southampton.

"I will listen to what Arsenal have to say", he told Sky Sports.

"Hopefully we will sit down with the club soon and talk things over."

Meanwhile, Walcott, 22-year-old, also believes the north Londoners' sluggish start to the season, which included an 8-2 loss against Manchester United, is firmly behind them.

"The team morale at Arsenal is great - the best it's ever been", he said.

"To be honest, we have forgotten about the first few games. There is no point in dwelling on it."

"All we can do now is look at what is coming up. And it is looking very positive at the moment. Everyone needs to be alive at what is going on during the game."

Pavlyuchenko ready to leave Spurs

Roman Pavlyuchenko says he will accept a move away from the club if it means more regular football.

After a tough first few years in England, the Russian has found chances in the first team hard to come by under Harry Redknapp this season, mainly featuring in the League Cup and Europa League.

Pavlyuchenko told The People: "If nothing changes I will agree to any loan deal".

"In fact, to any deal which gives me the chance to play permanently."

"I only make it into the starting line-up in the Carling Cup and Europa League matches. That's the reality. So my goal on Thursday is unlikely to influence my future at Spurs."

**beavis** · 24-10-2011 17:19

Premier League - Team of the Week 9

John Ruddy (Norwich City)

Richards (Man City) - Olsson (West Bromwich) - Ferdinand (QPR) - Clichy (Man City)

Milner (Man City) - Van der Vaart (Tottenham) - Drenthe (Everton) - Gervinho (Arsenal)

Silva (Man City)

Balotelli (Man City)

**beavis** · 27-10-2011 21:48

Chelsea vs Arsenal preview

Fresh from a derby defeat, Chelsea can atone against another of their local rivals when they meet Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Andre Villas-Boas' team finished with just 9 men in their 1-0 defeat to QPR on Sunday, but got back to winning ways when they beat Everton 2-1 in Carling Cup action in midweek.

The Portuguese boss said their extra-time victory over the Toffees was the perfect tonic to prepare to take on a rejuvenated Arsenal.

Arsenal have fought back from a slow start to the campaign with 4 straight wins in all competitions, including home league victories against Sunderland and Stoke City.

It is away from their Emirates Stadium that they suffer on the pitch, as Arsene Wenger's men have failed to win on the road in 8 Premier League trips - their worst run since 1992.

Both Chelsea and Arsenal have defensive queries on them this season, but Wenger will be relieved to have Thomas Vermaelen available - with the Belgian having his first start in more than 2 months in their 2-1 Carling Cup win over Bolton in midweek.

Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet at home in Premier League in their past 6 matches at Stamford Bridge - a record that extends back to last season.

In selection news, Ramires is likely to miss once more with a knee injury after not making the squad for their Cup win over Everton.

Michael Essien will also miss, continuing a long-term spell on the sidelines with a knee problem.

Unavailable for Arsenal are Jack Wilshere (ankle), Bacary Sagna (leg) and Carl Jenkinson (knee).

Everton vs Manchester United preview

After an embarrassing derby loss, Manchester United will be looking to bounce back in a big way when they travel to Goodison Park on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson is seething after bitter rivals Manchester City took a 5-point lead atop the Premier League table following their 6-1 annihilation of the title-holders.

Ferguson is likely to swing the axe on the XI that fronted up against Roberto Mancini's men, with the enforced suspension of defender Jonny Evans after his red card in the derby to be one guaranteed change.

Evans' fellow defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are also in the firing line, as Ferguson was publicly shocked post-match that they were relentless in continuing to attack despite being a man down at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick are chances to come in to boost the midfield stocks, after Anderson and Darren Fletcher were made to look pedestrian by the slick City movement - despite the latter scoring a quality consolation goal for the Red Devils.

Everton are on a high after their late rally to beat Fulham away 3-1 last weekend, but were ousted from the Carling Cup at the hands of Chelsea in midweek.

Striker Louis Saha continued his good form for the Toffees, scoring an 83rd-minute equaliser to make it 2 goals in as many games after his winner against Fulham in the league.

In injury news, Ryan Giggs, Rafael, Darren Gibson and Bebe are all unavailable for United, while Everton will be without Johnny Heitinga and Victor Anichebe.

**beavis** · 29-10-2011 15:03

Carling Cup quarter-finals

Arsenal vs Manchester City

Chelsea vs Liverpool

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace

Cardiff City vs Blackburn

The ties will take place in the week commencing 28 November 2011.

**beavis** · 30-10-2011 21:53

"Gunners can beat anyone"

Theo Walcott believes his side can beat anyone after their English Premier League victory over Chelsea.

The Gunners have recovered from a sluggish start to the season and crowned their recent revival with a 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

"We are not looking too far ahead", said Walcott, who scored Arsenal's third goal against their London rivals.

"We don't want to say where we're going to finish at the end of the season, but the way we're playing at this moment in time we believe we can beat anyone."

"We're enjoying our football, our run is great now and we're just going to keep on continuing that. Everyone is buzzing at the moment."

"We were disappointed to go 2-1 down just before half-time, but before that we were playing some great football."

"It seemed that every time we went forward it looked like we were going to score and it could have been 8-7. It was just one of those crazy games that I'll never forget."

**beavis** · 31-10-2011 08:00

Cech blames bad defending

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has bemoaned his side's defending following Saturday's 5-3 loss to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues had twice led through Frank Lampard and John Terry although goals from Andre Santos, Theo Walcott and a Robin van Persie hat-trick, despite Juan Mata's 80th-minute strike, ensured Arsenal would claim all 3 points.

The result means the Blues lost ground to both Manchester clubs in the title race and Cech has expressed his disappointment at the performance - and his side's defending in particular.

"I am extremely disappointed about the result", he said on his personal website.

"But there is nothing we can do about it now - the only response is to win the following games."

"If my memory works well, this is the first time I have conceded 5 goals in one game. Up till this the maximum had been 4."

"It was a result of bad defending of the entire team, outlined by individual errors. We certainly can't blame only the defenders for the goals, we played poorly as a team."

The Czech Republic goalkeeper has been criticised in some quarters for his own performance and the Chelsea number 1 concedes that he was at fault for the goal that sealed Van Persie's hat-trick.

"The last goal from Robin van Persie was from such a position I shouldn't concede goals", he added.

"The ball may have changed trajectory but I should have caught it. As for Arsenal's third goal, I had it difficult against Walcott's shot."

"He aimed it precisely between me and the post and, moreover, it was a hard shot."

**beavis** · 31-10-2011 18:05

Premier League - Team of the Week 10

Michael Vorm (Swansea City)

Rangel (Swansea City) - King (Tottenham) - Vidic (Man United) - Baines (Everton)

Walcott (Arsenal) - Parker (Tottenham) - Petrov (Aston Villa) - Van der Vaart (Tottenham)

Nathan Dyer (Swansea City)

Van Persie (Arsenal)

**beavis** · 04-11-2011 20:24

Van Persie & Mancini scoop awards

Robin van Persie was named the Premier League's Player of the Month for October, while Roberto Mancini won the Manager of the Month award.

Dutch forward Van Persie was also awarded the Golden Boot for being the first player to hit 10 goals this season.

Van Persie had an incredible October, scoring 7 times in three games including an outstanding hat-trick against Chelsea.

The 28-year-old has scored 28 goals in 27 games in 2011 and has helped his team climb to 7th in the table.

The Gunners captain scored two braces in October, against Sunderland and Stoke City, both at Emirates. He finished the month with the match-winning hat-tick in the 5-3 win over Chelsea.

Roberto Mancini scooped the Manager of the Month award after guiding City to 4 straight wins with an average of 4 goals per game in October.

City managed an impressive 17 goals in the month, with 4 in wins over Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa.

Those were followed by a 6-1 drubbing of Manchester United at Old Trafford and last weekend's 3-1 win against Wolverhampton.

Mancini, whose side are 5 points clear of Manchester United, last won the award back in December 2010.

**beavis** · 05-11-2011 15:56

Cine opreşte Premier League ?

Fotbalul englez este la 2 etape distanţă de o performanţă uluitoare în Europa. Toate cele 8 reprezentante care au început sezonul european au şanse foarte mari de a ajunge în primăvara.

Pare incredibil, dar Anglia poate să treacă de grupele Ligii Campionilor şi ale Europa League cu toate cele 8 echipe. În momentul de faţă, britanicii sunt singurii care n-au pierdut nici o echipă, deşi au avut cele mai multe la start. Franţa şi Italia, singurele cu 7 reprezentante, au pierdut deja unul, respectiv 2 cluburi.

Premier League domină autoritar clasamentul coeficienţilor în acest sezon, acumulând deja 9,5 puncte, cu aproape 2 peste Spania. Diferenţa este enormă pe ultimele 5 sezoane, aproape 8 puncte.

EUROPA LEAGUE

GRUPA A

1. PAOK 8 puncte
2. Rubin Kazan 7 puncte
3. TOTTENHAM 7 puncte
4. Shamrock Rovers 0 puncte

Mai sunt de jucat: Rubin - Shamrock, Tottenham - PAOK, PAOK - Rubin, Shamrock - Tottenham

Tottenham are nevoie doar de un egal cu PAOK şi apoi o victorie la Shamrock pentru a fi 100% sigură de calificare.

GRUPA E

1. STOKE CITY 10 puncte
2. Besiktas 6 puncte
3. Dinamo Kiev 5 puncte
4. Maccabi Tel-Aviv 1 punct

Mai sunt de jucat: Stoke - Dinamo, Maccabi - Besiktas, Dinamo - Maccabi, Besiktas - Stoke

Stoke este într-o postură ideală, având nevoie de un singur punct din ultimele două partide.

GRUPA H

1. FC Brugge 7 puncte
2. BIRMINGHAM CITY 7 puncte
3. Sporting Braga 7 puncte
4. Maribor 1 punct

Mai sunt de jucat: Maribor - FC Brugge, Braga - Birmingham, FC Brugge - Braga, Birmingham - Maribor

Luând în calcul victorii pentru FC Brugge şi Birmingham cu Maribor, englezii se pot califica şi în cazul unei înfrângeri cu Braga, dacă portughezii o înving şi pe FC Brugge. Un egal în Portugalia i-ar scuti însă de jocul rezultatelor.

GRUPA K

1. FC Twente 10 puncte
2. FULHAM 7 puncte
3. Odense 3 puncte
4. Wisla Cracovia 3 puncte

Mai sunt de jucat: Odense - Wisla, FC Twente - Fulham, Wisla - FC Twente, Fulham - Odense

Fulham are un program excelent în ultimele două meciuri, întâlnind-o pe FC Twente, echipă deja calificată, plus un meci pe teren propriu cu Odense. O victorie în oricare dintre meciuri îi asigură calificarea în primăvară.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

GRUPA A

1. Bayern Munchen 10 puncte
2. MANCHESTER CITY 7 puncte
3. Napoli 5 puncte
4. Villarreal 0 puncte

Mai sunt de jucat: Napoli - City, Bayern - Villarreal, City - Bayern, Villarreal - Napoli

Greul abia începe pentru City, care n-are voie să piardă cu Napoli, dacă vrea să se califice în optimile Ligii Campionilor. Primăvara europeană în Europa League e asigurată, englezii având 7 puncte avans faţă de Villarreal.

GRUPA C

1. MANCHESTER UNITED 8 puncte
2. Benfica 8 puncte
3. FC Basel 5 puncte
4. Oţelul Galaţi 0 puncte

Mai sunt de jucat: Oţelul - FC Basel, United - Benfica, FC Basel - United, Benfica - Oţelul

O victorie îi este suficientă lui Manchester United pentru a merge în optimi.

GRUPA E

1. CHELSEA 8 puncte
2. Bayer Leverkusen 6 puncte
3. Valencia 5 puncte
4. Genk 2 puncte

Mai sunt de jucat: Bayer - Chelsea, Valencia - Genk, Chelsea - Valencia, Genk - Bayer

Chelsea are nevoie de un egal cu puţine goluri cu Valencia pentru a merge în optimile Ligii (maximum 1-1).

GRUPA F

1. ARSENAL 8 puncte
2. Olympique Marseille 7 puncte
3. Borussia Dortmund 4 puncte
4. Olympiacos 3 puncte

Mai sunt de jucat: Marseille - Olympiacos, Arsenal - Dortmund, Olympiacos - Arsenal, Dortmund - Marseille

Londonezii trebuie să obţină o victorie în ultimele două partide rămase de jucat.

**FanStiintza** · 05-11-2011 16:59

deci EPL

**beavis** · 07-11-2011 20:48

Premier League - Team of the Week 11

Michel Vorm (Swansea City)

Riley (Bolton) - Vermaelen (Arsenal) - Williams (Swansea City) - Taylor (Newcastle)

Eagles (Bolton) - Arteta (Arsenal) - Lampard (Chelsea) - Silva (Man City)

Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) - Van Persie (Arsenal)

**beavis** · 08-11-2011 23:08

City give Toure huge fine

Manchester City have fined defender Kolo Toure £740.000 for the failed drugs test that saw him banned for 6 months.

Toure has accepted the fine of 6 weeks' wages in relation to his suspension for failing a drug test.

Toure was handed a 6-month ban by the Football Association in May, backdated to 2 March, after he tested positive for a prohibited substance.

The 30-year-old, who claimed the positive test came as a result of taking his wife's diet pills, made his playing comeback from the suspension in September, but last week had an internal disciplinary hearing at City, leading to the club's announcement.

Chelsea line-up stadium sponsor

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay hopes to reveal a naming rights sponsor for Stamford Bridge before next season.

Gourlay made the announcement on Monday when he also admitted the Blues needed to move to a bigger stadium if they were to fulfil their ambitions of being a European force.

Chelsea are exploring options regarding their future headquarters after shareholders in the Chelsea Pitch Owners company rejected a proposal to buy back the land upon which Stamford Bridge is built. That set back hopes of moving away from a stadium Gourlay believes they have "outgrown".

In the meantime the club are looking at extra revenue streams, including renaming the stadium they have called home for over a century, as they look to comply with UEFA's impending "financial fair play" rules.

**beavis** · 11-11-2011 08:31

Grygera out for 6 months

Fulham face 6 months without defender Zdenek Grygera after confirming he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

The Czech suffered the injury during Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.

A club statement said: "It is estimated that the recovery period for an injury of this nature is approximately 6 months".

Grygera is therefore unlikely to play again this season.

The 31-year-old had made a promising start to his career at Craven Cottage following his summer move from Juventus.

He signed a one-year contract with an option for a second year.

Newcastle rename St James' Park

Newcastle have announced St James' Park is to be renamed the Sports Direct Arena as part of a plan to sell the naming rights to their famous stadium.

The Magpies hope to follow fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City by licensing the naming rights to the ground which has been their home since 1886. St James' Park, which has a capacity of over 52.000, could join Emirates Stadium and Etihad Stadium in adopting the name of an external backer.

Until the club can find a sponsor to buy the naming rights the ground will be named after owner Mike Ashley's sports retail company. Newcastle originally planned to allow sponsors to link their brand to St James' Park but that idea, put forward in 2009, is now replaced by the offer to purchase full naming rights.

**beavis** · 14-11-2011 19:45

City set to post record loss

Manchester City are expected to post the biggest loss in English football history when they publish their accounts for the year ending 31 May 2011.

The Premier League leaders will post a deficit well in excess of £150 million, according to The Times, dwarfing the existing record set by Chelsea in the 2004/2005 season.

The period encompassed an epic spending spree from summer 2010, when City bought David Silva, Yaya Toure, James Milner, Mario Balotelli, Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov, plus the arrival of Edin Dzeko the following January.

Those signings cost the club £160 million in transfer fees, plus a significant rise in the wage bill. Over the same time they recouped around £35 million in player sales.

Though the figures risk falling foul of UEFA's regulations on Financial Fair Play, City are hopeful of reducing their deficit significantly in the year to 31 May 2012 thanks to Champions League revenue and a stadium-naming deal with Etihad Airways.

Although FFP rules notionally demand that clubs balance the books over a period of 3 years, UEFA has stated it will allow a degree of flexibility and has no intention of expelling clubs from its competitions.

Manchester City spending on players, year to 31 May 2011

Edin Dzeko - £32.5 million

Yaya Toure - £26.5 million

Mario Balotelli - £26 million

David Silva - £25 million

Aleksandar Kolarov - £20 million

James Milner - £19.5 million

Jerome Boateng - £11 million

**beavis** · 17-11-2011 19:15

Chelsea vs Liverpool preview

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since their 5-3 defeat to Arsenal, when they welcome Liverpool on Sunday.

The eagerly anticipated Premier League encounter is sure to be fascinating, with both sides playing second-fiddle to the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United in this season's title race so far.

But both possess the squad to seriously trouble the two teams from Manchester and a win in such a high-profile fixture could provide the platform for a title challenge in the second half of the season.

Chelsea manager Andres Villas-Boas has faced some pressure in recent times, in particular after that home defeat to Arsenal and things will not get easier in the next couple of months.

In addition to their match against Liverpool, in league action before Christmas, Chelsea face Manchester City (first in Premier League), Newcastle (third) and Tottenham Hotspur (fifth), while they will also meet Liverpool in Carling Cup, which is sandwiched between Champions League matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Valencia.

With such a tricky period ahead, a home win against Liverpool is essential to give the Blues some momentum.

Villas-Boas will be hoping for an inspired performance from former Reds favourite Fernando Torres, who is sure to be the subject of much criticism from the away supporters after his £50 million switch from Anfield in last season's January transfer window.

Torres - who has just 3 goals in 22 Premier League matches for Chelsea - scored in consecutive matches against Manchester United and Swansea City earlier this season, only to be suspended for almost a month after a red card which robbed him of any momentum.

But Sunday will give him the perfect chance to silence his critics and prove himself on the big stage, and with Chelsea averaging more than 2 goals per game, you would not bet against the Spaniard finding the back of the net.

Liverpool have been quite resolute in defence this season though, conceding just 10 goals in 11 Premier League fixtures, with goalkeeper Pepe Reina keeping 4 clean sheets this season.

This encounter ended 1-0 in Liverpool's favour in February courtesy of a Raul Meireles goal, in what was Torres' Chelsea debut.

Manchester City vs Newcastle preview

Newcastle face the biggest challenge to their undefeated start to the English Premier League season when they meet Manchester City.

Alan Pardew's men have surprised all-comers with their excellent start to the season, sitting third with 25 points from 11 matches.

While impressive, their start has seen them face just 3 teams who are currently sitting in the top half of the table.

A trip to Etihad Stadium on Saturday provides them with a perfect opportunity to silence those critics, but they will have to do so against a red-hot City outfit.

City are the only other undefeated team in Premier League and they have won 10 of 11 to open up a 5-point gap atop the table.

Silva and Nasri have 6 assists each this league campaign, but it is the Spaniard who has set the competition alight, creating 33 chances from open play for team-mates.

Newcastle have failed to beat City in their past 9 Premier League meetings and if they are to do so this time around, their defence will need to continue their excellent form.

Their back four has conceded just 8 goals this season, with half of those coming from set pieces.

Despite the form of Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor, Newcastle are up against a City side who have scored at least twice in all of their Premier League outings this campaign.

It means striker Demba Ba needs to be clinical and build on a form run that has seen him net 8 times in his last 6 league matches.

**beavis** · 18-11-2011 18:13

Fellaini signs new deal

Marouane Fellaini has signed a new 5-year deal at Goodison Park.

The Belgium international has been in talks over a new contract since April and the news that he has committed his future to the club will be warmly received at Goodison Park.

Everton paid a club record £15 million to bring Fellaini to the club from Standard Liege in 2008 and his previous contract was due to expire in 2013.

"We are all delighted we have secured the services of Marouane for the long term", chief executive Robert Elstone said on the club website.

"Marouane has been a hugely influential player for Everton since his arrival in 2008 and we hope that remains to be the case for the next 5 years."

City duo sign new deals

Manchester City have secured the long-term futures of key squad players Adam Johnson and Pablo Zabaleta.

Both have found themselves on the fringes of the starting line-up this season with just 5 Premier League starts between them, but manager Roberto Mancini is keen to maintain a strong squad with City competing in Champions League this term.

Johnson joined City from Middlesbrough in January 2010 and has since gone on to win 9 England caps, scoring 2 goals, and the 24-year-old believes he is in the right place to challenge for trophies and medals.

Zabaleta, who joined from Espanyol in 2008 just before the takeover by Sheikh Mansour, is also delighted to resolve his future, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.

**beavis** · 18-11-2011 21:14

"Taarabt is for sale"

Neil Warnock will sell his temperamental playmaker Adel Taarabt for the right price.

The 22-year-old has yet to score this season and was taken off at half-time during the loss at Tottenham Hotspur before being left out of the squad for the home defeat to Manchester City.

Taarabt has often found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons, in particular when leaving Craven Cottage at half-time after being substituted in the 6-0 defeat to Fulham in October.

He is again likely to be missing from QPR's starting line-up for Saturday's match at Stoke City having spent the week away on international duty with Morocco.

Warnock has now suggested he would be willing to listen to offers for the player, particularly with big spenders Paris Saint-Germain reportedly interested.

"I would drive him over if they offer £20 million", Warnock said.

"You are never going to change Adel and I don't think that we have ever been hunky-dory in our relationship."

"It is just a different culture that some players have."

While Taarabt was incredibly productive as QPR romped to the Championship title last season, scoring 19 goals and notching 16 assists, the former Spurs player has found things tougher in Premier League.

Marveaux needs an operation

Newcastle have confirmed that midfielder Sylvain Marveaux will undergo surgery to address hip and groin problems in America next week.

Manager Alan Pardew revealed on Thursday that the 25-year-old Frenchman was to have an operation within days and it is now known that he will travel to the renowned Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Marveaux joined Newcastle from Rennes during the summer after a proposed move to Liverpool broke down.

There were suggestions at the time that he had failed a medical on Merseyside because of a groin problem, although the player strenuously denied that after completing checks on Tyneside and insisted the deal fell through because he could not agree personal terms.