The Barclays Premier League Thread 2014/2015

[Gazz]

I'd imagine every high profile manager gets offered 'the next wonderkid' by agents on a daily basis, so they're bound to cross paths at some point. It's probably akin to finding a 5 star rated regen on FM, attempting to sign him only to find they want £40m for some 15 year old sprog and then being surprised seven years later when he murders you in the Champions League.

[Lineker]

Fran Merida, unemployed.

[stokeriño]

Paddy Power have paid out on Chelsea winning the Premier League. :/

I suppose they expect people to simply reinvest their winnings into more bets. Bit of a publicity stunt, in that regard.

[Ant]

Villa were offered Falcao for less than a million I believe back when MON was in charge.

We signed Heskey instead

[Nerf]

Paddy Power have paid out on Chelsea winning the Premier League. :/

I suppose they expect people to simply reinvest their winnings into more bets. Bit of a publicity stunt, in that regard.

So... what happens if Chelsea don't win the league now?

[Baddar]

Paddy Power have paid out on Chelsea winning the Premier League. :/

I suppose they expect people to simply reinvest their winnings into more bets. Bit of a publicity stunt, in that regard.

So... what happens if Chelsea don't win the league now?

People who bet on the actual winners would still get paid.

This just stops more bets being placed on Chelsea, or on City at decent odds, who could still turn things around if Chelsea magically shit the bed.

[Lineker]

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hands starts to both Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas after the two Spain internationals shrugged off recent injury niggles. Willian's inclusion ahead of Ramires in the sole alteration from the win at Liverpool. West Bromwich Albion make four changes from the home defeat to Newcastle United, Claudio Yacob, Chris Baird, Craig Gardner and Stephane Sessegnon coming in.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Foster, Wisdom, Dawson, Lescott, Baird, Dorrans, Gardner, Brunt, Yacob, Sessegnon, Berahino.

Captain Vincent Kompany returns in the centre of Manchester City's defence after missing the draw at QPR through injury. Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov remain out with with calf injuries. Striker Sergio Aguero is hoping to continue his run of 13 goals in as many Premier League games. Swansea's Nathan Dyer is back after injury, while midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has to settle for a place on the bench after a one-match ban. Defender Federico Fernandez misses out again with a calf problem, while Wayne Routledge remains out.

Man City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Nasri, Jovetic, Aguero.

Swansea XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Bartley, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Carroll, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Montero, Bony.

Newcastle midfielder Ryan Taylor starts a Premier League fixture for the first time in 32 months. Both he and central defender Mike Williamson come in for the injured Mehdi Abeid and Fabricio Coloccini. QPR have made two changes. Winger Eduardo Vargas is unavailable following the birth of his daughter, while Chilean team-mate Mauricio Isla is rested following international duty. Defender Nedum Onuoha and ex-Magpies midfielder Joey Barton come into the starting XI.

Newcastle XI: Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, R.Taylor, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, Perez, Ameobi

QPR XI: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Yun, Barton, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Zamora, Austin.

Everton make four changes to the team that drew at Sunderland before the international break. It looks Tony Hibbert will play at left-back as Leighton Baines misses out. Leon Osman, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith come in for Gareth Barry, Aiden McGeady and Samuel Eto'o. It will be Osman's 400th Premier League appearance. Striker Andy Carroll makes his first start of the season for West Ham after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season. It is one of five changes by manager Sam Allardyce to the team that drew 0-0 with Aston Villa on 8 November. Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole, Morgan Amalfitano and James Tomkins come into the starting line up, Stewart Downing, Enner Valencia, Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate are out.

Everton XI: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Hibbert, McCarthy, Osman, Barkley, Mirallas, Naismith, Lukaku.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Collins, Cresswell, Nolan, Noble, Amalfitano, Cole, Carroll.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson makes two changes, with Riyad Mahrez and Paul Konchesky in for Andy King and Danny Drinkwater. Captain Wes Morgan starts despite missing international duty with Jamacia because of injury. Lee Cattermole returns after suspension for Sunderland, with Liam Bridcutt dropping to the bench. Sebastian Larsson makes his 300th English league appearance while Steven Fletcher starts up front after recovering from the ankle injury which kept him out of Scotland's midweek friendly with England.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, de Laet, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky, Schlupp, Cambiasso, James, Mahrez, Vardy, Ulloa.

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, O'Shea, Brown, Vergini, Reveillere, Cattermole, Gomez, Larsson, Wickham, Johnson, Fletcher.

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes will be hoping Bojan can continue his good form after his first goal for the club in the 2-1 win at Spurs last time out. Burnley won their first match of the season against Hull City before the international break and make one change with Scott Arfield dropping out for ex-Potters man Michael Kightly.

Stoke XI: Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Cameron, Muniesa, N'Zonzi, Sidwell, Walters, Bojan, Moses, Diouf.

Burnley XI: Heaton, Ward, Shackell, Duff, Trippier, Boyd, Jones, Marney, Kightly, Barnes, Ings.

[Liam]

Paddy Power have paid out on Chelsea winning the Premier League. :/

I suppose they expect people to simply reinvest their winnings into more bets. Bit of a publicity stunt, in that regard.

So... what happens if Chelsea don't win the league now?

They'd rather people had money in their hands to spunk on other bets rather than that money (and potentially winnings) wrapped up in a bet that won't conclude for another 6 months.

[Thrilla]

Swansea 1-0 up, Bony.

[Gorka]

Never leave, Bony. Please.

[Lineker]

Shocking defending from City though. Like a hot knife through butter.

[Cheeky Hughes]

Suddenly the new GTA car horn seems even more fitting.

We're a bit shit.

[Thrilla]

Burnley 0-2 up, Ings with both.

Chelsea 1-0, Costa. Apparently offside.

The Dingles have already screwed up my Super6.

[Thrilla]

Jovetic equalises for City. I've taken that as 4-2 to City so glad to see some early goals.

[Cheeky Hughes]

I really do prefer Jovetic to Dzeko, so hopefully this spell out for Edin will give him a real chance to shine.

[Thrilla]

Dzeko is one of my favourite strikers in the Premier League but it is good to see Jovetic getting a chance as I don't think he has had a fair shake of things so far.

West Brom now two nil down and down to ten men, may be on for a spanking.

[Nerf]

Clichy hits the post, what a hit, son.

[Lineker]

Ryan Taylor has done his knee again and has been stretchered off.

[Gazz]

I'm watching the Newcastle game in Arabic and you'd think by how excited the commentator is, you were watching an end to end 7-6 thriller.

[brenchill]

Man Utd are going back to their awful 3-5-2 wing back formation. Young and Valencia as WB's.

Back 3 of McNair, Blackett and Smalling.