We Go Again! The Premier League thread

[Crimey]

First topic message reminder :

This would be a huge day for Leicester if it stays like it is.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Sorry John but you're being ridiculous. A good manager he no doubt has proven to be, but so is Pellegrini yet i wouldn't want him in a dogfight either. 

And who is to say Ashley will open the wallet like Rafa needs if Newcastle do survive? 

This is a challenge for him, and sometimes challenges are failed. I think he's an astute appointment IF there is a long term.

[Guest]

I'm ridiculous

Have no idea what you're on about. I've never said Benitez was the ideal man or a scrapper type manager, I even stated that Pearson would of been a good appointment & more suited to the job in hand. I only posted about Rafa being a good manager & a step up from McClaren, then a whole host of negativity was sprouted on here, pinpointing his issues or weaknesses. Sorry for defending him or being allowed to post an opinion. Sorry I'm not allowed to hype up a managerial appointment, we have to endure you hyping on about Payet this, Payet that, Bilic this, Bilic that, do I complain? No. What's the point in bringing up the summer financials & what Ashley will be willing to spend, we're not even safe yet, so it's another pointless comment, trying to stir up a reaction about Rafa & his supposed historical falling outs with owners over money

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Never mind then, I tried

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Gonna be funny when Sunderland with allardyce survive over the toon ain't it

Anyways fully expecting citeh to give us a pasting today - 3 at least I'd say

[Ent]

Rafa does fall out with owners to be fair.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Just when it can't get worse Redmond gets injured

[Guest]

Gotta be happy with that, Olly?

That's City done for.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Excellent point, although city were poo

[guildfordbat]

Excellent point, although city were poo

Yeah, cracking point for the Canaries. Beat Newcastle and you're rolling again.

Meanwhile, arguably 2 points gained by Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal as well.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Why I couldn't put them in a bet today and definitely couldn't see them mounting a late challenge; no desire and they have a habit of cracking to teams like Norwich. With comments like Aguero saying it's weird knowing your manager is leaving in months and Pellegrini surely interesting in only the CL we might see the drop off continue.

Wilfried Bony looks nothing like the player Swansea had

[Hammersmith harrier]

Wilfried Bony looks nothing like the player Swansea had

The usual big fish in a small pond situation.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Excellent point, although city were poo

Yeah, cracking point for the Canaries. Beat Newcastle and you're rolling again.

Meanwhile, arguably 2 points gained by Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal as well.

WBA away, Toon home, Palace away, Sunderland home and Watford away our next five games. Need at least three wins from them if we're to stay up imo

Hoping Utd/Everton in our final two games of the season are out of everything too

[guildfordbat]

Excellent point, although city were poo

Yeah, cracking point for the Canaries. Beat Newcastle and you're rolling again.

Meanwhile, arguably 2 points gained by Leicester, Spurs and Arsenal as well.

WBA away, Toon home, Palace away, Sunderland home and Watford away our next five games. Need at least three wins from them if we're to stay up imo

Hoping Utd/Everton in our final two games of the season are out of everything too

Olly - think you should be happy enough to settle for 7 points from those 5 games but provided you beat Toon and Sunderland.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Leicester must be loving it - another mediocre result from one of their main rivals. I hope that Leicester win the title, and it will be a massive achievement if they do, but they are certainly benefiting from considerable generosity from sides like Man City and Arsenal who really ought to be pushing them hard.  

Seems incredible this late on in the season that a club with the resources of Man City is currently only 2 points ahead of the Hammers.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Norwich do have some winnable fixtures - they just need to find a way of scoring some goals.

[NickisBHAFC]

One season wonder Harry Kane adds another 2, to his second season tally.

[Marky]

Wilfried Bony looks nothing like the player Swansea had

The usual big fish in a small pond situation.

I think it's more the usual "big club signs a player who performs best with a run of games and plays him sporadically".

[Guest]

Can't complain with that opening 20 mins

[Fernando]

You can now

Leicester 1-0 Newcastle - Okazaki 

Overhead kick was quality.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Steven Taylor retreating like a Frenchman there

[Fernando]

inches away from 2-0

the crumbling begins.

[Fernando]

Sissoko takes down Mitrovic when in on goal 

#ClassicNewcastle

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Sissoko managing to thread the ball into the one spot where non of his three teammates could get it

[Fernando]

So Rafa has figured out Newcastle's best side in 60 mins Sissoko/Townsend out wide with Ayoze behind Mitrovic. McClaren couldn't do it in 9 months...

[Guest]

To be honest, good improvement in the side. Leicester done nothing really, only look threatening from set pieces. If only we could score.....

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

How's he given drinkwater MOTM over Kante?

[Guest]

Another frustrating offensive performance, just can't shoot. Leicester were very average, their main man Mahrez was in Colback's pocket all night really, so they couldn't get going. Sunderland game is huge

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Good signs though if Rafa has shown he has plans for defensive aspects of the game. Anything from this would have been a bonus and they nearly got it, thats the message for the dressing room

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Another frustrating offensive performance, just can't shoot. Leicester were very average, their main man Mahrez was in Colback's pocket all night really, so they couldn't get going. Sunderland game is huge

Bit like our game against Leicester - frustrated them defensively, couldn't score our chances. Sissoko the most guilty party. Where are the goals going to come from?

[NickisBHAFC]

What an evening again for Leciester, there such a joy to watch.

Class goal as well.

[Azzy]

How's he given drinkwater MOTM over Kante?

I watched the first half hour of the second half and didn't see a single Drinkwater pass reach its intended target. I thought he was dreadful in that spell, the worst player on the pitch by a mile. Kante was a monster though.

So happy for Leicester - but with their last three games being so tough, they are going to need at least 4 wins out of their next 5 games to take the pressure off. Last thing you want is to have to get three points out of games at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.

[Crimey]

I think Drinkwater is being slightly overrated this season, Kante is the real star of the midfield and I think calls for Drinkwater to be called up to England wouldn't be a good idea, he'd be found out without the immense running of Kante around him, nobody in the England set-up who can perform that kind of role. I think Mark Noble is the real underappreciated central midfielder.

[Crimey]

Antonio Conte is stepping down as Italy boss after Euro 2016, meaning he'll almost definitely end up at Chelsea in the summer. A good appointment, it'll all depend on his ability to adapt to the Premier League. His biggest strength is probably his tactical flexibility, he used to switch between a back three and back four often at Juventus and turned them into a dominant force.

Yaya Toure has said he wants to stay in the Premier League if he leaves Manchester City. I'm not sure where he'd go though? Most teams can't afford him and those that can, I'm not sure they'd want him. His lack of running makes him a bad fit for Liverpool and Tottenham, I'm not sure he's got the right attitude for Arsenal and Manchester United are unlikely to be able to sign a City legend. Chelsea are a possibility, but they've generally started focusing on younger signings.

[Azzy]

I think Drinkwater is being slightly overrated this season, Kante is the real star of the midfield and I think calls for Drinkwater to be called up to England wouldn't be a good idea, he'd be found out without the immense running of Kante around him, nobody in the England set-up who can perform that kind of role. I think Mark Noble is the real underappreciated central midfielder.

Delle Alli would do the running, but the only way Drinkwater gets a call up is if Carrick dies, Wilshere is in a wheelchair (let's face it, if he's on crutches he's in the squad), Henderson needs eye surgery after putting too much gel in his hair and its runs into his eyes and causes an acidic burn, or James Milner breaks his pinky toe.

I honestly think Lampard and Gerrard would get called up before Danny Drinkwater.

[Azzy]

£300k a week for a 33 year old Yaya Toure? Not even PSG would be that daft. He's going to have to go to China or Qatar.

[guildfordbat]

How's he given drinkwater MOTM over Kante?

I watched the first half hour of the second half and didn't see a single Drinkwater pass reach its intended target. I thought he was dreadful in that spell, the worst player on the pitch by a mile. Kante was a monster though.

So happy for Leicester - but with their last three games being so tough, they are going to need at least 4 wins out of their next 5 games to take the pressure off. Last thing you want is to have to get three points out of games at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.

Azzy - that's right about those games at Old Trafford and the Bridge. I also thought Koeman was right in his remarks on Sky that last night's result almost certainly now makes it a two horse race between Leicester and Spurs for the title. Just too much ground to be made up in too few remaining games by Arsenal and Man City. Thought Koeman generally came over well.

[President Trump]

....that last night's result almost certainly now makes it a two horse race between Leicester and Spurs for the title

Never thought I'd ever hear those words

[Azzy]

I still think Spurs will win it. I just can't see Leicester winning 5 of 8, regardless of the astonishing season they've had. Teams are fighting for their lives at this stage of the season, and I do think they'll come unstuck against West Ham (for example).

[Crimey]

....that last night's result almost certainly now makes it a two horse race between Leicester and Spurs for the title

Never thought I'd ever hear those words

If you told me that in a couple years ago, I'd have assumed Tottenham had been relegated.

[Azzy]

....that last night's result almost certainly now makes it a two horse race between Leicester and Spurs for the title

Never thought I'd ever hear those words

If you told me that in a couple years ago, I'd have assumed Tottenham had been relegated.

Or it was the Fair Play League.

[Marky]

How's he given drinkwater MOTM over Kante?

I watched the first half hour of the second half and didn't see a single Drinkwater pass reach its intended target. I thought he was dreadful in that spell, the worst player on the pitch by a mile. Kante was a monster though.

So happy for Leicester - but with their last three games being so tough, they are going to need at least 4 wins out of their next 5 games to take the pressure off. Last thing you want is to have to get three points out of games at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.

Azzy - that's right about those games at Old Trafford and the Bridge. I also thought Koeman was right in his remarks on Sky that last night's result almost certainly now makes it a two horse race between Leicester and Spurs for the title. Just too much ground to be made up in too few remaining games by Arsenal and Man City. Thought Koeman generally came over well.

Not quite ruling Arsenal and City out of it as both still have a game in hand.

Also Spurs have some tough games in the run in as well as Leicester, if Leicester might drop points to Palace, Southampton and West Ham (next 3 games), then Spurs in the same period can drop points against Bournemouth, Liverpool and Man U.

[Azzy]

Not quite ruling Arsenal and City out of it as both still have a game in hand.

Also Spurs have some tough games in the run in as well as Leicester, if Leicester might drop points to Palace, Southampton and West Ham (next 3 games), then Spurs in the same period can drop points against Bournemouth, Liverpool and Man U.

Even if Leicester and Spurs lose all three games, can you see Arsenal or City winning three in a row? They've both been diabolical since Christmas.

[guildfordbat]

Not quite ruling Arsenal and City out of it as both still have a game in hand.

Also Spurs have some tough games in the run in as well as Leicester, if Leicester might drop points to Palace, Southampton and West Ham (next 3 games), then Spurs in the same period can drop points against Bournemouth, Liverpool and Man U.

Even if Leicester and Spurs lose all three games, can you see Arsenal or City winning three in a row? They've both been diabolical since Christmas.

Yep, I accept Arsenal and Man City aren't out it mathematically but, to persist with my horse racing analogies, neither are exactly coming up fast on the rails.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I think Drinkwater is being slightly overrated this season, Kante is the real star of the midfield and I think calls for Drinkwater to be called up to England wouldn't be a good idea, he'd be found out without the immense running of Kante around him, nobody in the England set-up who can perform that kind of role. I think Mark Noble is the real underappreciated central midfielder.

Delle Alli would do the running, but the only way Drinkwater gets a call up is if Carrick dies, Wilshere is in a wheelchair (let's face it, if he's on crutches he's in the squad), Henderson needs eye surgery after putting too much gel in his hair and its runs into his eyes and causes an acidic burn, or James Milner breaks his pinky toe.

I honestly think Lampard and Gerrard would get called up before Danny Drinkwater.

Not sure Delle Alli is suited to doing a Kante role. Closest we have to that is Delph, but hes stopped playing football since buying his season ticket at City. Both Noble and Drinkwater deserve call ups before the Euros, but from there its up to the manager to go with how he has seen them with the squad.

If Milner goes I give up

[Crimey]

I think Drinkwater is being slightly overrated this season, Kante is the real star of the midfield and I think calls for Drinkwater to be called up to England wouldn't be a good idea, he'd be found out without the immense running of Kante around him, nobody in the England set-up who can perform that kind of role. I think Mark Noble is the real underappreciated central midfielder.

Delle Alli would do the running, but the only way Drinkwater gets a call up is if Carrick dies, Wilshere is in a wheelchair (let's face it, if he's on crutches he's in the squad), Henderson needs eye surgery after putting too much gel in his hair and its runs into his eyes and causes an acidic burn, or James Milner breaks his pinky toe.

I honestly think Lampard and Gerrard would get called up before Danny Drinkwater.

Not sure Delle Alli is suited to doing a Kante role. Closest we have to that is Delph, but hes stopped playing football since buying his season ticket at City. Both Noble and Drinkwater deserve call ups before the Euros, but from there its up to the manager to go with how he has seen them with the squad.

If Milner goes I give up

I do think there are better central midfield and wide options than Milner, but he has had a pretty good year, he's experienced and the main positive is that by bringing him you cover like 4 or 5 positions with just one slot. That's always going to be useful if you're considering bench options, which he and both Drinkwater or Noble would be.

[Stella]

Milner would be in my squad, because of the reason Crimey gave. He covers a few positions. Jack of all trades sort of thing.

[Azzy]

Milner would be in my squad, because of the reason Crimey gave. He covers a few positions. Jack of all trades sort of thing.

I'd rather have Phil Jones - CB, RB, DM. Eric Dier, even better. Milner can play many positions but none well enough to give England an advantage over the opposition - pick the best players for each position and you'll have a good enough squad to go deep in the tournament. Pick players because they're versatile, it's a group stage exit.

[Hero]

Milner would be in my squad, because of the reason Crimey gave. He covers a few positions. Jack of all trades sort of thing.

I'd rather have Phil Jones - CB, RB, DM. Eric Dier, even better. Milner can play many positions but none well enough to give England an advantage over the opposition - pick the best players for each position and you'll have a good enough squad to go deep in the tournament. Pick players because they're versatile, it's a group stage exit.

You lost me at 'I'd rather have Phil Jones'.

[MIG]

I really hope Roy has the balls to play Barkley, Alli, Kane and Vardy all in the same team.

[Azzy]

Milner would be in my squad, because of the reason Crimey gave. He covers a few positions. Jack of all trades sort of thing.

I'd rather have Phil Jones - CB, RB, DM. Eric Dier, even better. Milner can play many positions but none well enough to give England an advantage over the opposition - pick the best players for each position and you'll have a good enough squad to go deep in the tournament. Pick players because they're versatile, it's a group stage exit.

You lost me at 'I'd rather have Phil Jones'.

I should have had you back at 'Eric Dier, even better'. Milner isn't a patch on either, but Dier is streets ahead of Milner in terms of ability, and is almost as versatile.

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