And he is. Many a times better. Nevertheless RVP starts and plays ahead of him in the NT always.

They're all pissers. At least Wayne could say he was making a step up.

In defense of Ashley Cole, loyalty works both ways. He was on a relatively small deal at Arsenal and wanted a new contract. Wenger and the club promised him he'd be offered a new deal at the end of the year to match the highest earners at the club. They then offered him a £55k a week contract which was quite clearly below his worth and far less than others were getting. Arsenal lied to him so it's understandable he would leave.

Campbell is the worst of the lot. Saying you'll sign a new deal, then leaving on a free to the clubs biggest rivals. Just sad.

Loving Birmingham's new kits.

NVM

NVM?

My god, every season one team decides for the pink shirts...and well...ends up this way. Looks like they're ready for a Pride festival.

Nevermind!:P

I wanted to post something..then I noticed I was replying to something a few pages back.

Agreed. I don't mind pink that's graceful, this shade of pink is downright embarrassing!

Villa lose 1-0. Offside flag went up but ref overturned it. Will be very pissed off if he got thy wrong. We made over 250 complete passes first half, probably more than the entirety of last season!

Liverpool, QPR and Norwhich all got battered.

arsenal 0-0 against sunderland... i hope spurs-newcastle will be better

Stunning start for the Rodgers revolution.

Liverpool will never return to the days of glory.

The Manchester clubs are so far ahead of them it's untrue.

Yep. It's a two horse race all the way.

Look at Liverpool's squad. They have simply so much less quality than Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and especially Manchester City.

You can't expect Liverpool to compete with that squad.

Even Arsenal looked very average to me out there. And without RVP to save their @sses I simply can't see where the goals will be coming from this season...

Anyone know when Jack will be back?

Now that's a real star, someone who could make them look infinately better

I should be more precise; as Fillipo said, the EPL is a 2 horse race. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle will never get close to them. Only Chelsea stand a chance, but it's only a chance.

Arsenal have been in terminal decline for half a decade, with their biggest assets realising that under their current regime they will never grow, hence they all depart. Now they struggle to draw at home with Sunderland. I don't know why they just won't spend big, but they won't. Song on his way out as well.

Liverpool have been in deterioration for decades. Since the great 80s. They desperately yearn to be the old Liverpool, but that club's great history is behind it and apart from 2 CL finals including one win, they just can't get close to where they were. Mainly because Utd overtook them as have other clubs.

Newcastle aren't at the level of Keegan's 90s side, but they're solid. They've recovered fantastically from relegation and are a solid top 6 team, but I can't see anything beyond that for them.

Chelsea have bought a couple of top players, Hazard and Oscar, but without a genuine in form world class striker they won't be able to compete consistently. They are the closest to breaching the top 2 but I think they're still some way off it.

And Spurs - well they've appointed a terrible manager who doesn't understand English football - they've had to sell their best player to a club who'll rarely play him, and now their prize assets are the aging RVV and Bale. They got off to a woeful start today - didn't look great at all. They peaked under 'Arry but this season will be awful for them.

Even then - RVP only really bloomed last season. Prior to it he was regarded as one of the better players in England and Arsenal's best striker - but last season he peaked, got his big move, and now will struggle at Man U to recreate that form.

But without last season's RVP and as it appears, Song, Arsenal are going backwards.

So great start for the Toon. Genuine European competition we just beat. Anyone saw the match? How did we look?

So Petrić scored twice and also made an assist in his Premier League debut. Could be a good deal for Fulham.

We?? We???? We = Milan, no one else can be "we" Capt'n!!

I have split personality. One of me is Geordie.

Decent. I saw it, and you were pretty solid. Defence seemed smart (the pass back from Taylor to Krul was outstanding) and you took your chances. But it was NEVER a penalty. Arfa I think it was was already falling and then got felled in the box. Fortuitous at best.

Still, I'd take it if it was for my side.

So what is going on at Nottingham Forrest? Any of you guys a regular FL Championship follower?

I think it was a penalty personally. As for defending, it was very good, though what Danny Simpson was doing for the goal I'll never know, why did he leave Lennon in acres of space like that?

Gera with goal of the day. Michu, Petric with very good debuts.

Hence TV replays will never work. Two people disagree having seen it in replay.



Alan Shearer in 'let's find something to praise AVB with' shocker. He opted to choose the notion of Spurs pressing opposition up the pitch. I have to say it's hardly rocket science to pressure opponents! If you win it's great, but you're more likely to lose given the amount of work it takes.

Chelsea 2-0 up in 6 minutes.

Great stuff from Hazard on the first goal. He looks good.

Chelsea's defence is a mess though. I don't know who's the real problem though, Terry or Luiz. Terry is not even half the player he was a few years ago, while Luiz is too irratic. I'd personally play him as a DM, I think Chelsea would get a lot more out of him there, he's not very trusth worthy as a defender imo

He's nowhere near disciplined enough to play DM. I don't know where he fits in really.

I think Luiz is one of the best CB's in the world, at least from what I saw from him in Chelsea's CL games against Benfica, Barcelona and Bayern.

He's surely not 'one of the best CB's in the world' IMO. Too unstable. Can be great in one game but can make really stupid mistakes in another.

I wouldn't say it's a two horse race just yet. I think Chelsea can pose a threat to Manchester teams.

Yeah, pretty much. He isn't even a great CB, just a pretty good one, when he wants to be. There's a reason why he's mostly benched in Brazil NT games. Far too inconsistent and prone to mistakes.

City get a cheap penalty.

Southampton player gets taken out in the box, nothing given.

Tevez offside, goal allowed.

Amazing how quickly this happens.

We disagree on much but I'm going to go out on a limb and back you up here.

I rate Luiz highly - reason he can't get a game for Brazil is they have Alves, Lucio, Juan, Silva and Marcelo at the back!

He makes errors - but all defenders do. He is also magnificently gifted with the ball, looks like he has more time than he really has, and is a goal threat.

Very good player.

Did you SEE 'the world's best defender' in the Olympics? Silva was quite, quite shite! Especially in the final. Some horrible errors.

AKA even the best can have off days.

Although I say Kompany is the world's best now.

Terry - as you clearly say, he's not what he was. The damage he's taken to his personal life and the court appearances and the racism charge.

Not what he once was and never will be again.

No one is perfect but Silva's bad days are rare, surely compared to Luiz. Like acid said - too inconsistent to be called world's best. Maybe if he can have more stable EPL season...

You criticize Menezes for almost everything but back him up for this? Now now, acid...

Oh look Lambert is doing it in the Premiership now against Man City. Guess the doubters are getting pushed back - AGAIN.

Lambert who?

A guy who has scored in every league, pretty much since he was at Bristol Rovers in League 2 people have been saying he's not good enough each time he has made the step up. In each league he has now scored (league 2 & up), to score against $iteh moments after coming off the bench just puts the icing on the cake.

Not saying he's going to be a sure fire success in the league just yet but not a bad way to start, for someone who wouldn't be able to do it in League 1 for Southampton a few years ago!

Say, what?! That's probably ZD, not me. I've always liked and supported Mano Menezes, ever since he took the job. And my respect grew when he offered and played Ronaldo (R99) in a farewell match. He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to coaching football teams, but he's pretty alright.

A country mile (or two) better than the travesty that was Dunga. Sure I'd like it if Menezes always started Pato. But while Brazil NT is still only national team I follow, let it not be said that I criticize the coach. I've seen far worse people at the helm with ego issues. Mano is a saint when compared to them.

He benches Luiz? Great. He doesn't start Pato in every match? Not great. But overall, he's an okay guy.

btw I effin' love the Brazil national side.

Cesar, Oscar, Hulk, Neymar, Pato, Sandro, Lucio, Alves, Silva, Juan, Luiz, Romulo, Ramires, Lucas, Damiao.

Yum yum.

God knows what happened in the final in London.

Speaking of that match there was an outcry on my Twitter TL when an ex-Pat Rangers fan wished spinal injury on ex Rangers midfielder Steven Davis.

Let's just say I unfollowed him.

Over £500m spent, you'd think City could put together some players who can actually defend.

Oh, I see. Thanks for clarifying the story. Now that you brought it to my mind, I'll pay more attention regarding Lambert. I like those against all odds/critics guys.


Couldn't agree with you more on all accounts. I've heard that Brazil could sack Menezes and bring back Felipao. Would sure be a step closer to the good times.

Aguero gonna miss about 6 month? Big blow for City if so.

Injury?

Yep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUnGo09T8Js

He won't return till at least 2013 according to some reports.

Good thing they didn't sell Tevez then.

Very true. Big Phil would be a step in the right direction, he is a man for the tournaments, just like Carlo Ancelotti. Although I am pretty sure the Brazil of 2002 isn't returning anytime soon, I agree it could be a step closer to success, come the World Cup 2014.

But the thing with good, humble and down-to-earth coaches is that they always have my support. An arrogant (successful or not) football coach can fend for himself, every which way they can.

Be interested to see RVP & Kagawa tonight if they play.