EPL Talk - Latest Comments in Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:11:00 -0000

A quick note on Tottenham. Yes, their defense is attrocious, but their midfield is the big problem. Zokora and Jenas lack the creativity to feed Berbo and Bent/Keana up top. For me, this is the Spurs' big problem: a bad bad midfield.

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

MJ — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:54:00 -0000

Yes, goalies can play longer than field players, not arguing that.

But why would you bring in a 35-year old to replace a 37-year old or a 38-year old, even if it's for the short-term? Edwin van der Sar is, at the very least, as good a goalkeeper (if not better) than Hahnemann, and Foster will be Manchester United's starting keeper next season if he's healthy. Sir Alex Ferguson would turn to Kuszczak this year if something goes wrong with van der Sar as he did last season.

In Arsenal's case, Lehmann's doing his best to give the goalkeeping job away. Do you really think Arsene Wenger, who loves playing the young kids and has no problem doing it, would bring in a 35-year old who, once again, is no better than the keeper he has now? There are more quality young keepers who Wenger could turn to to replace Lehmann.

"Top flight" experience is less important for a goalie than for a regular field player because stopping shots is the same no matter where you go, but the pace of the game and style of play is difficult to adjust to for a field player.

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

riocharlie — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:33:00 -0000

No offense to Hanneman, hes a very good keeper, but hes rated below Howard for the national team. I would think Arsenal and Man Utd would aim a bit higher. I know the arse just brought in Fabianski who looked very commanding int he preseason, but he is very young, and they have been linked to boruc from celtic.

as far as fff, it is what it is, i must say the production value has greatly improved. it was horrific last year,

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

The Gaffer — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:24:00 -0000

I don't see Foster and Almunia being adequate replacements. Foster eventually will be ready to take the reigns but he still needs more top flight experience, I believe (Watford doesn't count).

Sure, Hahnemann is 35 but I'm not envisioning him as a longterm replacement for van der Sar or Lehmann.

Lehmann will be 38 in November and van der Sar will be 37 in October.

With goalkeepers, remember that many of them go on to play until they're 41 with little affect on their performance, so Hahnemann may still have another 6 years in top flight football.

Peter Schmeichel was 37 when he joined Aston Villa and 39 when he joined Manchester City.

Andi, I didn't say that Steven and Nick don't know anything. I just said their show was boring this week and the choice of topics was poor.

Cheers,

The Gaffer

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

andisayhey — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 01:14:00 -0000

Uh, sorry but please stop acting like you know everything about soccer/football. please. first.....hahnemann is 35!!...Arsenal has Almunia and Fabianski now to replace Lehmann. Sorry. and please stop criticizing every other person, besides you, that talks about soccer. other people are proven to be very knowledgable. steven cohen and nick webster know alot. maybe you're not happy, but please stop thinking about just yourself. thank you.

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:43:00 -0000

I was wondering why you said that West Ham would score less now that Tevez is gone (um, he had 7 goals last year, and they broke West Ham records in futility), then you talked about Hanneman moving to Man U or Arsenal. So I stopped being concerned about your opinion.

Re: Same As It Ever Was: Premier League Teams

MJ — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:50:00 -0000

Manchester United already have their goalkeeper of the future in Ben Foster, who's injured right now. This probably will be Edwin van der Sar's last year with the Red Devils; Foster was ready to take over this year before he tore a ligament in his knee in June. He's only 24 years old, (Hahnemann is 35), and Sir Alex Ferguson has already stated repeatedly that Foster will be the one to succeed van der Sar.

Gaffer, I don't think Hahnemann is the choice to replace anyone's goalkeeper. You don't bring in a 35-year old as your goalie of the future, that makes no sense.

Personally, I thought Fulham's Tony Warner played a much better game than Hahnemann this weekend. All Marcus did was make the saves he was expected to make and should've made; Warner stood on his head to keep Fulham in the game.