The Barclays Premier League Thread 2013/14

[Lineker]

West Brom make four changes from the 1-1 draw with Fulham last time out. Right-back Steven Reid, midfielders Claudio Yacob and Zoltan Gera plus striker Victor Anichebe return in place of Billy Jones, James Morrison, Thievy Bifouma and Saido Berahino. Manchester United make five changes from the defeat by Olympiakos in the Champions League. Winger Juan Mata was cup-tied for that match and returns to the starting line-up along with right-back Rafael, centre-back Phil Jones, midfielder Marouane Fellaini and winger Adnan Januzaj. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Antonio Valencia, Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young make way. United, according to Opta, have now named a different starting XI in every one of their 42 competitive matches this season.

West Brom: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Yacob, Mulumbu, Amalfitano, Gera, Brunt, Anichebe. Subs: Morrison, Myhill, Vydra, Dawson, Sessegnon, Berahino, Thievy.

Man Utd: de Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, Januzaj, van Persie. Subs: Giggs, Lindegaard, Vidic, Young, Welbeck, Fletcher, Kagawa.

Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)

[Nerf]

Bundesliga is the best league in the world

Please explain what makes it the best. Bayern are 20 points clear. What's so great about that?

If you take Bayern out of that league, what do you have left apart from teams who wouldn't make the top 4 in the EPL?

You're kidding right? The team that absolutely destroyed Real Madrid less than a year ago wouldn't make top 4? Even taking Dortmund out of it, the league oozes class. It's not the other teams fault that they're in a league with the best team in the world. Bayern would be 20 points clear in England too.

[Lineker]

Bloody hell, Lawro's shirt on Football Focus.

[Liam]

Bundesliga is the best league in the world

Please explain what makes it the best. Bayern are 20 points clear. What's so great about that?

If you take Bayern out of that league, what do you have left apart from teams who wouldn't make the top 4 in the EPL?

You're kidding right? The team that absolutely destroyed Real Madrid less than a year ago wouldn't make top 4? Even taking Dortmund out of it, the league oozes class. It's not the other teams fault that they're in a league with the best team in the world. Bayern would be 20 points clear in England too.

Real Madrid would turn Dortmund over this season.

Also, Man United stuffed Bayern Leverkusen, who are currently 3rd in the Bundesliga.

[stokeriño]

Bundesliga is the best league in the world

Please explain what makes it the best. Bayern are 20 points clear. What's so great about that?

If you take Bayern out of that league, what do you have left apart from teams who wouldn't make the top 4 in the EPL?

You're kidding right? The team that absolutely destroyed Real Madrid less than a year ago wouldn't make top 4? Even taking Dortmund out of it, the league oozes class. It's not the other teams fault that they're in a league with the best team in the world. Bayern would be 20 points clear in England too.

Not sure what you mean by "oozes class"... Just comparing the current league tables from Germany and England, it's in the mid-table where the relative quality of the German league really falls away (having probably edged England at the very top, especially if I pretend that United recently beating Leverkusen 5-0 and Chelsea beating Schalke 6-0 over two games didn't happen ).

Arguments about the "best" leagues always seem to go the same way because the participants are always arguing different points - one will pick a league containing the very best few teams at the top, using their European successes as proof. Another will pick a league with most 'competition'(/entertainment), even if the overall quality might be lower, using results lowly teams score against the top teams as proof. And another still will just take some arbitrary judgement on the league's overall 'style' or its organisation and decide they like that ideal best.

It's not going to get anywhere.

[DavidMarrio]

Bloody hell, Lawro's shirt on Football Focus.

I'd like to believe all his shirts are from a charity shop because he's a stingey Bastard when it comes to money...but it's 99% more likely that he's a tool with no fashion sense.

[Lineker]

He was being even more of a tool than usual and all!

[Lineker]

1-0 Utd - Phil Jones heading in a van Persie free kick.

[Starvinho]

Nice header that. Unstoppable.

[Liam]

Usually I'd be hoping for Man United to win, but due to our predicament, have to be happy with that goal.

[Colly]

That replay of him post goal looked like he was concussed, but I think he's just gormless.

[Colly]

Fellaini in nasty challenge shocker.

[Starvinho]

Foster should've been off there.

[Cymbols]

Foster should've been off there.

So should Fellaini arguably.

[Starvinho]

Don't be silly. Fellaini's was a booking at worst.

Also, I like how people fail to comment on the awful tackles on Mata and Januzaj but are quick to speak up when Fellaini does something...

Edited March 8, 2014 by Starvinho

[Liam]

Because Fellaini has a well-earned reputation as being a guy who kicks lumps out of players with limited, if any, finesse.

[Colly]

First time ever I'd actually like to hear a referees view on that one, since that clearly isn't deliberate handball from Foster is it actually a handball? No idea what the rule is to be honest for keepers, a red card for massively missing a clearance doesn't seem appropriate.

[Lineker]

First time ever I'd actually like to hear a referees view on that one, since that clearly isn't deliberate handball from Foster is it actually a handball? No idea what the rule is to be honest for keepers, a red card for massively missing a clearance doesn't seem appropriate.

Good thing the game is on BT Sport then!

[Colly]

Is Halsey in the studio? He's not commentating anymore.

[stokeriño]

First time ever I'd actually like to hear a referees view on that one, since that clearly isn't deliberate handball from Foster is it actually a handball? No idea what the rule is to be honest for keepers, a red card for massively missing a clearance doesn't seem appropriate.

Referees' interpretations of the handball rule changes man to man, game to game. Asking any one referee how he would happen to interpret it this week would reveal nothing.