Barclays Premier League

[Mike]

I doubt Spurs will get relegated, and I hope they don't.

There is no way they can play as badly as they are now for the rest of the season, everyone knows the potential they have.

Although, I hope Spurs form continues until after we play them ;)

thats why i didnt like us playing newcastle first game, they had some confidence with it being a new season and keegan in charge, they didn't have time to turn crap :p

[Kralik]

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso says he is still tempted by a potential switch to Italian giants Juventus.

Juventus pulled out of a move for Alonso in the summer with coach Claudio Ranieri later revealing it was because the Spaniard was "too slow".

But that has not stopped Alonso, 26, reigniting the possibility of a transfer away from Anfield.

"To be honest, for my part, the attraction (to Juventus) has remained intact," said Alonso.

Instead of moving for Alonso, Juventus signed Christian Poulsen from Sevilla.

"One thing I can say is that I personally appreciated the honesty of the club executives," Alonso told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"They told me their tactics on the pitch were different and that is why they chose Poulsen and not me.

"These are things that happen in football and it's fine. I could have gone but I didn't because, in the end, they chose someone else."

He added: "Juventus are Juventus, the most prestigious club in Italy, but you cannot be disappointed when you play for Liverpool."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/...ool/7667146.stm

[nothuman]

It's really great to see Rooney back in form. Not that he wasn't before, but scoring two goals in the last two games with the national team has giving him the confidence he maybe needed at Man Utd.

Can't wait for saturday.

[Martyn]

I'm going to Liverpool v Wigan on Sat :-)

[rajputwarrior]

I'm going to Liverpool v Wigan on Sat :-)

too bad el nino wont be playing... :(

[Kralik]

:s

?Unfortunately we have lost some players over the 10 days ? William Gallas (hamstring), Bacary Sagna (knee) and Nicklas Bendtner (ankle),? said Wenger.

?These are heavy losses and we have to compensate them.

?Fortunately the three of them don?t look to be out for a long, long time but they will be out for the weekend game and I think the game on Tuesday.

?As well as them, Djourou got concussion during his game with Swizterland and will be assessed tomorrow to see if he is available. He does not look too bad and he could have a good chance to play.

?I am still waiting for Robin to come back [after international duty] so I don?t know about him. However he should be OK. He went with a muscle problem but he came on after 56 minutes last night and, from the reports I got, he should be alright. Both of them will be assessed.

?Also I am told Cesc has a broken nose. It should not stop him playing. He is here now [at the training ground] and is being assessed.

?At least Abou Diaby is back in the squad again,? the manager added. ?Even though he has not played games he will be used, at the least in the squad, because we have lost those three players.?

http://soccerlens.com/man-in-a-corner-shop...ressions/13685/

lol... Ch:Dk this out!!! :D

[nothuman]

http://soccerlens.com/man-in-a-corner-shop...ressions/13685/

lol... Check this out!!! :D

Brilliant! :D

[rajputwarrior]

^ ^ thats awesome... they were all spot on.

[Martyn]

lol... Check this out!!! :D

Ha ha!! He got Gerrard's spot on.

Sounded nothing like Benitez, and a bit like Carra, Owen and Crouchy.

[nothuman]

Tremendous game from Wayne Rooney. He was everywhere on the pitch, always calling for the ball, and of course he managed to scores and gave a great passe for Ronaldo. He's really on top of form at the moment. It's really amazing to see him played like that.

Can't wait for tuesday's Champions League game against Celtic Glasgow.

[Crompee]

Watched the Villa game today, was a fun match just a shame we couldnt secure the win.. especially at the end when it almost seemed certain.

[rajputwarrior]

liverpool is soo good :)

[Martyn]

The Liverpool game was amazing today. We never played well, but still got the result.

The atmosphere in Anfield when the third went in was amazing!!

Cracking goals from Zaki and Kuyt as well.

[tom01]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA SCUM! WHEN THEY SAID TOP FOUR THEY MEANT FOUR POINTS :D

[rajputwarrior]

The Liverpool game was amazing today. We never played well, but still got the result.

The atmosphere in Anfield when the third went in was amazing!!

Cracking goals from Zaki and Kuyt as well.

kuyts was good, but zaki was brilliant, goal of the year so far for me.

[Kralik]

:pacifier: and Spurs lose AGAIN!!!! I wish we play them soon while they are in this kind of form.

:D

[Kralik]

"I am no longer Chelsea manager and I don't have to defend them so I think it's correct if I say [Didier] Drogba is a diver," stated Mourinho.

"[Cristiano] Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Robin van Persie are the divers who won more penalties during the last four or five years.

"English football criticises divers. In England, coaches teach the kids how to play a game of football but in Italy, Spain and Portugal, coaches teach the kids how to win a game.

"When players go England they need to adapt. Drogba today is better than he was before. Ronaldo is better than he was. And Torres will be better too."

Yet Mourinho feels players are right to go to ground in certain circumstances, believing it is "naive" if they try to stay on their feet when they are fouled.

"I hate diving, but I'm not happy if a player is kicked by somebody in the box and he tries to remain standing," he added on FeelFootball.com.

"It's very, very rare a referee gives a decision if the player doesn't go down so I tell players not to be naive, but to be fair."

In another interview he said..

Mourinho told Sky Italia: "I am happy at Inter, I like tough challenges and, although I will one day return to the Premier League after the Nerazzurri, I want to stay here and respect my contract.

"After Inter I will return to England, but I want to win here first.

"I have a contract with Inter, but when that finishes I will definitely return to the Premier League, I like it a lot."

Mourinho to Man U after Fergie?

[tom01]

Van Persie a diver? Doubt it, he's made of biscuits.

[FaRSightxc2]

:pacifier: and Spurs lose AGAIN!!!! I wish we play them soon while they are in this kind of form.

:D

Not got long to wait pal. And it's at ur gaf.

To be fair though, got more chance of putting in a performance against you lot and the pool than other teams, like we did against Chelsea.

Very worried.

[NightCrawler.]

Lol I miss Mourinho...

[Mike]

i kinda agree with mourinho, there is diving and proper diving. Getting kicked and going down easily isn't really diving as there was contact, you're simply highlighting the contact and requesting a free kick as opposed to advantage :p It is then up to the ref to give a free kick or not. It is rare to get a free kick/penalty unless you go down and that doesn't help things.

One other thing i dont get is, when an english player says to the ref something like 'is that not a yellow card', jamie redknapp and the like label this as clever and being subtle into getting others booked, but how is that different to a foreigner, who may not speak the best english and aren't always next to the ref, signalling it with their hand? :unsure:

[Guyro]

any hull city fans here?

[Martyn]

They'd be singing loudly if there where!

[AdzzzUK]

Didn't know this thread existed, but yep, best form of their history, come on the Tigers (how many of you didn't expect us to be 3rd in the table, eh??)

:D

[Kralik]

?We will not rule anything out,? Wenger said. ?We want to win at the end of the season and if we feel that signings are needed in January to accomplish this we will do so.

?What is more important until then is to deliver as much as we can. If, in January, it is needed then we will do something.

?But what makes me unhappy is that we got beaten by Hull. If we had won then we would only be one point behind the leaders and in a very strong position.?

?I am big time in favour of video,? said Wenger at Thursday?s AGM. ?I want to see the number of unjust decisions reduced as quickly as possible.

?I think there should be a possibility to challenge a decision like in tennis for example. Perhaps each manager gets two opportunities per half to test a decision. It would add something to the tactical input of a manager during the game because you would have to use these decisions at the right moment."

"Eduardo is three weeks away from playing competitive football,? he (Wenger) said.

However, it appears Tomas Rosicky?s return will take a little longer.

?He should be back after Christmas,? said Wenger.

The Czech midfielder has been out since January 29 with a hamstring problem.