The Barclays Premier League Thread 2014/2015

[brenchill]

I'm sure a few seasons ago Chelsea used to lose half of their team to the Afcon.

I think at its peak it was still only four players - Drogba, Kalou, Essien, Mikel. The problem was that we tended to have only one striker and maybe two midfielders left after that.

I remember some pretty odd foreign names being drafted in as cover during those periods. It was like the old Chelsea of the 90's we all knew and loved at times with the likes of Boularouhz (yeah, I'm not checking the spelling) and Jiri Jirosik.

[Gazz]

And suddenly it becomes very obvious why no big club wants to sign Bony.

It does?

[Hobo]

Because top clubs don't sign players who play in the African Cup of Nations... Apparently?

[brenchill]

Yeah, that must be why losers like George Weah, Kanu, Eto'o, Yaya Toure, Adebayor, Drogba and Essien never made it at the big clubs.

[Baddar]

Eric Djemba-Djemba!

[Liam]

What I got from that graphic is that West Ham are going to struggle during that period of time.

[Ant]

Love how brenchill has taken my post regarding Bony completely out of context and completely ignored my post regarding why i think he is wasted at Swansea in terms of his ability and potential

EDIT: In response to his latest status update just in case people think i'm stirring.

I'm not btw

[Gazz]

He's not, he's mocking peteypiranha.

[Ant]

Oh.

My bad. Sorry brench!

[brenchill]

You probably think this status is about you, don't you? Don't you?

[Ant]

If you like it you should have put a ring on it

If you like it you should have put a ring on it

[Ant]

If you like it you should have put a ring on it

EDIT: That was weird..

[Nerf]

He's not, he's mocking peteypiranha.

A noble cause indeed.

[Gazz]

Mocking Nerf got boring.

[MDK]

It was too easy

[stokeriño]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30142871

This sort of thing comes up every so often and I just don't understand it. Wenger does it a lot, but he's not the only one - Redknapp immediately comes to mind, for example.

Why does Wenger (or whomever) *endlessly* namedrop massively-talented/successful players to say "we tried to sign them before they were famous"?

Do people hear him say this and think "wow, Wenger clearly knows his stuff"? Do they feel comforted and reassured about how well Arsenal's scouting will go in the future? Does the complete failure to actually land any of these players not make Wenger and/or Arsenal look utterly impotent? If they really did try to sign them, that is.

When told "I always knew that Messi kid was good", are they actually impressed? Rather than the more natural response of "yeah fuck off, anyone could say that"?

And if not, what reason does Wenger et al have to say this stuff?

Confused.

[Gazz]

I'm sure if Messi had signed for Arsenal he'd be scrubbing around with Fran Merida now, where ever he is.

[Szumi]

Or he would've been sold to Barca within 3 years of becoming a first team regular.

Or Man City. Arsenal players sure love Man City.

[brenchill]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30142871

This sort of thing comes up every so often and I just don't understand it. Wenger does it a lot, but he's not the only one - Redknapp immediately comes to mind, for example.

Why does Wenger (or whomever) *endlessly* namedrop massively-talented/successful players to say "we tried to sign them before they were famous"?

Do people hear him say this and think "wow, Wenger clearly knows his stuff"? Do they feel comforted and reassured about how well Arsenal's scouting will go in the future? Does the complete failure to actually land any of these players not make Wenger and/or Arsenal look utterly impotent? If they really did try to sign them, that is.

When told "I always knew that Messi kid was good", are they actually impressed? Rather than the more natural response of "yeah fuck off, anyone could say that"?

And if not, what reason does Wenger et al have to say this stuff?

Confused.

To be fair, if Wenger was scouting Fabregas it's only natural he would have seen Messi and enquired. I agree it's pointless bringing it up though. It probably just went something like this.

Wenger: So, er, what about that Messi kid?

Barca: lol fuck off

[The Lusophone]

Pfft, even Rangers were scouting Messi.