Barclays Premier League 2013/14

No thanks.

There shouldn't be a "right way/wrong way" to play football. Too much emphasise is placed upon "attractive football", yet the reality of the game is results. You play to win, if you can do it in a fashion that's also deemed attractive it's a bonus. Some of the best games I've seen over the years have been some low scoring tactical battles. That's what makes football so brilliant in my opinion. There's so many approaches that can be taken to get a result required. A club shouldn't be effectively punished for taking an approach that opts to priorities defensive play over attacking.

I agree, it would punish smaller clubs too.

For being shit though, right? There have been plenty of times where equally small clubs have dealt out massive scorelines. Hull beat Fulham 6-0 earlier this season, didn't they?

Better teams score more goals. It would seperate the top 6-7 away from the rest of the league even more.

It's not 'being shit' - it's playing more defensively.

You'd have teams like Cardiff playing ultra defensive just to keep the scoreline down. Wouldn't work in any league.

That's gonna go down well

Surely if it was a private phone call then that is the correct decision, regardless of how out of date his views are.

Aye, but the reaction from "sexism" groups will be amazing

Reckon Sunderland and West Brom look in some real trouble for next season.

Sunderland's current squad for next year;

Mannone
Pickford

Brown
O'Shea
Roberge
Diakite

Cattemole
Bridcutt
N'Diaye
Cabral
Vaughan
Ba

Johnson
Giaccherini
Mavrias
Watmore
Karlsson

Fletcher
Altidore
Wickham
Scocco
Graham

Diakite, N'Diaye, Karlsson, Cabral, Watmore, Vaughan and Graham all returning from loans, and possibly/probably unwanted.

Currently contracts expiring are; Ustari, Westwood, Bardsley, Cuellar, Celustska, Dossena, Vergini, Alonso, Colback, Gardner (WBA), Larsson, Ki, Borini

Sunderland are attempting to retain Larsson, Bardsley and Colback, and I think the Vergini deal is happening. But still a lot of players need replacing, and if they are to sign Alonso, Ki, Vergini and Borini, they will probably be using up most of there transfer budget on keeping the squad at its current standard. - I don't think Sunderland will have too much money available. Suspect Giaccherini may try and go back to Italy, and Cattemole may go to Stoke as well

2015 contract expirations are: Brown, O'Shea, Wickham, Mannone. - Not exactly ideal that they may need to give Wickham and Mannone big pay increases this summer as well.

West Brom look even worse than Sunderland at the minute;

Ben Foster
Boaz Myhill
Luke Daniels

Jonas Olsson
Gareth McAuley
Craig Dawson

Youssef Mulumbu
Claudio Yacob
George Thorne
Graeme Dorrans
Craig Gardner
Chris Brunt
James Morrison
Stephane Sessegnon

Victor Anichebe
Saido Berahino

Outgoing: Liam Ridgewell, Steven Reid, Billy Jones, Diego Lugano, Goran Popov, Zoltan Gera, Scott Sinclair, Morgan Amalfitano, Thievy Bifouma, Nicolas Anelka, Matej Vydra

Very thin at the back and upfront, no full backs. Only silver lining is the midfield looks competent enough, but with very little goal threat and a shaky looking defence. Need to sign a lot of players.

They also don't have a manager yet, do they?

Nope, and whoever that is can make a difference, regardless of the squad quality. Palace and Pulis being this season's main example.

Matthew Upson has signed for Leicester.

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/may/premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html

Retained and release lists for all Premier League Clubs.

Chelseas looks very Interesting.....

Evra retained and Ogden on MUTV saying Shaw 'is a matter of time'.

At least we look to have 1 of the 2 most serious area covered.

Chelsea's is only interesting because those players aren't contacted for next season, thus cannot be included in their squad lists at present.

None of those players have actually been released. Though, it's unlikely Eto'o and A.Cole will be returning.

I was in London for a gig last night and on the backpage of the Evening Standard on my way home, it said the West Ham board want a top six finish in 2014/15.

Fucking hell. They'd be lucky to finish top 10 with their squad.

Like I've said before, long gone are the times around 2005, 2006 where teams like Rovers, Bolton and even Villa could finish, and were finishing, in the top 6. There's basically a top 7 in place nowadays so even when a really good team like Southampton come along playing good football, the highest they can realistically finish is 8th. Shame really, and then they'll probably lose a couple of their stars this summer.

So yeah, top 10 would be strong from West Ham, expecting more would be daft.

Liverpool win 2013/14 Fair Play League

Only 1 red card... ffs Henderson

http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2012/4/18/2956873/sunderland-safc-academy-players-premier-league

Sunderland top 10 Premier League era youth graduates;

10. Martyn Waghotn
9. Kevin Kyle
8. Darren Holloway
7. Ben Alnwick
6. Grant Leadbitter
5. George McCartney
4. Jack Colback
3. Michael Bridges
2. Michael Gray
1. Jordan Henderson

I used to love Bridges. He was pretty good before his injuries

That is a poor list for a PL side tbh.

Finishing 20 on CM 00/01. Classic.

Everton have signed a new five-year deal with manager Roberto Martinez.

West Brom have appointed Alan Irvine as their new manager, with Sherwood reportedly rejecting the role after WBA wouldn't give him the transfer budget he wanted.

1. ... who saw that coming?
2. Is it too early to say they're going down?

I'm not ashamed to say hat I had too Google him.

It's not like Sherwood would have done well there though, don't think his ego would fit in well.

They should go for Allardyce when he inevitably gets sacked, they need a pragmatic manager.

Ronald Koeman confirmed as Southampton manager. Could be a decent move.

Interesting.

Bet none of those happen in reality though.

Cracking opening ties though if real