EPL Talk - Latest Comments in Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Paul — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:26:57 -0000

Liverpool lost less games last year than Man U - defense must be good then aye?! and that was without Agger!

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Sam — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:32:27 -0000

Who do you support then? If Not Liverpool... let me guess... Man United or Arsenal.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Sam — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:31:58 -0000

You're an American who has been following the league what...4 years?

You should take it from me.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Paul Bestall — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:29:36 -0000

King and Woodgate on one leg each are better than any pairing that Liverpool have.
Cech is still a better goalkeeper than Reina, sure he had a bad game against Turkey, but pound for pound I'd still take Cech anytime.
:)

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Michael — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:33:16 -0000

No, Cech WAS better, he WAS the best in the world, but ever since the head injuries, he's gone down considerably.

Reina's won the last three Barclays Golden Glove awards, Cech won one.

By no means am I a Liverpool fan, believe me.

Terry and Carvalho are third in that list, just ahead of Toure and Gallas. Ferdinand and Vidic are second, then Carragher and Agger. Out of those eight, Vidic is the best individually, but Carragher and Agger are the best partnership.

Look, we can go around and around on this. I won't agree with you, you won't agree with me, so give it a rest.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Sam — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:28:32 -0000

Cech is far better. Find me a real expert who thinks Reina is better than he is.
"He's too scared." Simply untrue. I think your short-sightedness remembers the Euros only.
Since you're such a Liverpool fan, maybe you should watch the Champions League last year.

1.) Terry and Carvalho
2.) Ferdinand and Vidic
3.) Carragher and Agger

"I don't think you remember just how dominant Carragher and Agger were."

Since I do remember, that is why I have admitted, as anyone who actually follows the Premier League would, that they are a good defensive pairing but calling them the best is ludicrous, at best.

See the kind of awards Cech has won compared to Reina.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Michael — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:15:38 -0000

Sam, tell me, who's better than Reina? Not Cech anymore -- he's too scared to claim balls in the air. Not Van der Sar -- he's great at stopping PK's, but he can be scored on in open play. Certainly not Almunia. Reina has it all: good shot-stopper, good command in the area, good reflexes, good distribution.

Sam, I don't think you remember just how dominant Carragher and Agger can be because we didn't see Agger last season.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Sam — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:31:42 -0000

"Reina is the best goalie of any of the Big Four keepers."

"Carragher and Agger are just as good as any center back pairing in the Premiership."

I think you have just summarized how little you know about the Premier League.

Samueltstory@gmail.com

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Michael — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:28:19 -0000

My apologies on the mistake about Ivanovic.

Sean, you're forgetting that Liverpool also gets Daniel Agger back from injury, and Carragher and Agger are just as good as any center back pairing in the Premiership. Also, Pepe Reina is the best goalie of any of the "Big Four" keepers.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

sean — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:11:10 -0000

But my point micheal, is that sure it might be an upgrade to get defenders that are a bit better than Finnan and Rise, but that doesn't mean they'll have as good a defence as Chelsea or Man.U.

Also, they haven't made enough changes for a sudden jump to 2nd after finishing 4th last year.

A good point from Sam about your mistake with Ivanovic. Looks like you really don't know alot about the blues.

I also think that your comparison with Scolari to a flame dying out, is quite disgraceful. I really dont think a World Cup Winner and a manager of his caliber would "run out of fuel" in a Premiership season, although it is grueling, but im sure Mr. Scolari could handle.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Sam — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:41:27 -0000

There is so much wrong with this "article", if you dare call it that, that I can't even begin to get started.

Only a Liverpool supporter who is blinded by the fact they bought another striker, would think they have a better manager (who has a losing record v the top 3) than Chelsea.
More so, do your Ivanovic homework guy. "On loan the past few seasons." Are you sure? NO!

Look at our goalkeeper, defence, midfield and strike force (you highlighted it) and tell me you think Liverpool is better.

Unbelievable that this guy can be given an opinion for others to see, let alone at the hands of this seemingly impressive website.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Michael — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:55:35 -0000

Reo, thanks for the catch. "Preview" isn't one of the tags anymore for some reason so I'd forgotten to use it, but I'll add it for my last couple and go back and fix the rest at some point.

Sean, anything instead of Riise is a huge upgrade. Anything over Steve Finnan is an upgrade.

How will SWP start? There is no doubt that Ballack should start and is a better player, but does he fit the system Scolari will want to play? In a 4-3-3/4-5-1, the answer is no because of Lampard, Deco, and Essien. If you read my post again though, I said the formation won't be rigid, he'll change it around, and Ballack will start his share of games. I didn't say that that was Chelsea's strict lineup. Scolari has plenty of pieces to move around and he'll do so.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Reo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:27:16 -0000

You need to add "preview" to the tags. You stopped doing it awhile ago. However, at least the first ten were tagged with "preview." It's easier to find the whole table with "preview" tagged. Thank you! =)

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

sean — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:49:06 -0000

Liverpool haven't added a top quality defender, so really they haven't clearly upgraded. Instead, they have added some depth, but not the kind of quality depth needed for a top 2 finish. And can you explain again how SWP will start for Chelsea, i missed that one.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Michael — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:06:49 -0000

Sean, I'm not your mate. Liverpool has clearly upgraded in the back and up front, all while losing nothing of any consequence aside from Crouch.

Sliperypete, there has been an exodus of sorts, but you're right, I was a bit off on that one.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

sean — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:21:09 -0000

and how the heck can Liverpool finish in the top 2 this season. They buy one quality striker and a decent defender, and they'll finish in the top 2?!?!

Honestly, you dont know a thing mate.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

sean — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:18:31 -0000

you dont know what your talking about. SWP def. will not start.. and chelsea will surely not finish below 2nd. I sense a little bit of a dislike for chelsea,.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

slipereypete — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:42:17 -0000

Michael,

Where was that "mass exodus" you were claiming was coming???

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Chad — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:59:27 -0000

2 more possible formations:

4-3-1-2

4-2-2-2

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

chelseafc — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:03:49 -0000

so watever happened to one of the best players at the Euros: MICHAEL BALLACK

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

SamSpur — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:25:34 -0000

Michael, NO WAY Shaun Wright-Phillips is a first choice starter. They'll have a tough time leaving Ballack out...I know him with Essien, Lampard and Deco (all 4 starting) seems a bit too defensive, but Ballack and Deco are both great 2 way midfielders.

Just go back to last season, they'd have Kalou in SWP's spot every time, and it doesn't matter about left side/right side, because Cole and Kalou aren't really wingers, but interchangable behind the main striker.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

chelsea — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:56:18 -0000

more wishful thinking than fact in this article!

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

Michael — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:49:50 -0000

Where? Not over Lampard or Deco, who's a favorite of Scolari. Ballack could play on the right, but I think Scolari wants a little more pace on the flank.

Re: Premiership Preview–3. Chelsea

chelsea — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:33:18 -0000

ballack will start you are absolutely looney if you think swp is going to start