Premier League 2012/13 general thread

[Adrock]

Redknapp's punditry and command of the English language are shocking. Talking up Suarez and his brilliant performances so far this season he told the world he is running out of superbatives.

I think he runs out of just about anything new to say after 10 minutes on screen. I dont know why the hell he is still on Sky, they need to look for pundits who are happy talking about the more technical, tactical side of the game as opposed to dinosaurs like Reid and Redknapp.

[EJG1980]

For some reason, when it comes to domestic football coverage, the broadcasters seem to think they have to go for lowest common denominator pundits. It's as though they think a more thoughtful and technical analysis would turn the average football fan off. I don't think it'd make any difference to their viewing figures and those of us who want better analysis would get a better product.

One of the good things about coverage of foreign football is that you often get a better class of pundit, people who actually analyse the game rather than trotting out Shearer style "He'll be unhappy with that miss," banalities. It's a shame they don't do likewise for the domestic game.

[Kit]

Tell you who I thought was pretty decent last year (and put the regular pundits to shame) Roberto Martinez. Excellent analyse of the game and gave some really good insight into the tactics on display.

Looks like Balotelli will be shown the door after having a training ground bust up with Mancini:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20901006

Do admire how he managed to keep his cool for that penalty against united last year but he's not exactly set the world alight since then. Sure City have already got someone else lined up.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Looks like Balotelli will be shown the door after having a training ground bust up with Mancini:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20901006

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Given Balotelli's salary, transfer fee and "baggage", who'd seriously touch him?

And this is Roberto Mancini we're talking about - the guy who swore that Tevez wouldn't play for him again after the Bayern Munich incident, only to recall him to the team when City needed the goals.

A truly abysmal man-manager.

[VR46]

It was only what six or seven months ago that everyone was raving about him and how fantastic he was playing etc etc.

You're right, another PL club wouldn't touch him, he'll be back in Italy by the summer I'm sure, and Mancini does seem to bring out the worst in him.

[PaTaito]

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Given Balotelli's salary, transfer fee and "baggage", who'd seriously touch him?

And this is Roberto Mancini we're talking about - the guy who swore that Tevez wouldn't play for him again after the Bayern Munich incident, only to recall him to the team when City needed the goals.

A truly abysmal man-manager.

We dont know what was happened behind the scenes with the tevez situation.

One thing is for sure though, tevez has been a different player since...performing well and behaving well.

Having said that i dont rate mancini at all, he has no passion which translates to the stagnant first half displays that city regularly display, and i seriously think its more having fantastic players which got the title for them. Well that and UTD completely capitulating.

You shudder to think how good they could be with an actual decent manager.

[EJG1980]

Spurs sort of make a January signing: German Under 21 captain Lewis Holtby from Schalke. His contract with Schalke only has six months to run so he will be joining on a free in the summer.

I don't know a huge amount about him aside from the fact that he plays in midfield, has three full caps for the national side and is half English. From what I've read he seems to be highly rated so it looks like a promising signing (can't go too far wrong for ?0 anyway!).

[Nu-Eclipse]

Spurs sort of make a January signing: German Under 21 captain Lewis Holtby from Schalke. His contract with Schalke only has six months to run so he will be joining on a free in the summer.

I don't know a huge amount about him aside from the fact that he plays in midfield, has three full caps for the national side and is half English. From what I've read he seems to be highly rated so it looks like a promising signing (can't go too far wrong for ?0 anyway!).

Looks like a very shrewd bit of business, I must say.

[Kit]

The Thomas Ince back to liverpool deal has still not gone through. The price liverpool are willing to pay seems to be somewhere in the region of ?5 million and Blackpool want ?7 mil.

A couple of days ago I saw a story where AVB was quoted as saying that he doesn't really think we need anyone in January as the squad is pretty well stocked. Then today I saw a story quoting AVB as saying we were still interested in signing Willian and Leandro Damiao... so I have no idea

Just had a look at those two.

Surely the big european clubs (your Real Madrid, Inters) will be after their signatures? stunning skills on show. If Spurs can sign both that's a huge statement regarding where they intend to be in the future.

[EJG1980]

Surely the big european clubs (your Real Madrid, Inters) will be after their signatures? stunning skills on show. If Spurs can sign both that's a huge statement regarding where they intend to be in the future.

According to AVB we were definitely trying to get Willian in the summer but couldn't afford the fee Shakhtar Donetsk wanted. Leandro Damiao is a bit of a mythical figure now for Spurs fans, I think we've been heavily linked with him every transfer window for a good three years now!

Both would be great signings but I won't be holding my breath. If we did get them (or other players of that calibre) I think realistically we'd get 3-4 years out of them before a giant club came in and took them off our hands (a la Modric). We need to get the new stadium built and qualify for the Champions League more regularly to move beyond that level as a club.

Of course, getting players like that would definitely help with the latter objective

[NW2013]

Leandro Damiao is a bit of a mythical figure now for Spurs fans, I think we've been heavily linked with him every transfer window for a good three years now!

Him and Loic Remy.

[Nu-Eclipse]

The Thomas Ince back to liverpool deal has still not gone through. The price liverpool are willing to pay seems to be somewhere in the region of ?5 million and Blackpool want ?7 mil.

If that's the case, then Liverpool need to walk away (even ?5m is over the odds). A left-back and defensive midfield cover for Lucas Leiva are more important right now.

[nakamura]

It pains me to say but I'm really warming to Suarez. Guy has been immense to watch this season.

[Adrock]

Nakamura, he has always been immense to watch. The goals are obviously of paramount importance to his being successful but the skill, drive, determination and work rate have always been on display whilst he has played for Liverpool.

Looks like he is warming to how the Premier League works now and his Liverpool team mates are beginning to look for his movements. Even last season when he squandered so many chances the way he created a fair few was delightful to watch.

[bwi]

I see ferguson is throwing a hissy over a spurs signing http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20915309

Never done anything underhanded this guy <shakes head>