We Go Again! The Premier League thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

I'm shocked!

[GSC]

If you can't beat Villa when the chips are down, you don't deserve to stay in this division, and it looks like it will cost Newcastle big time.

Sunderland can relegate both them and Norwich by beating Everton or Watford. Might not even need to win either.

[hampo17]

Didn't take long then, superb cross.

[Guest]

1-0 Leicester. GSC's mate.

[Guest]

If Liverpool win the Europa League then I think there will only be three more places available for English teams for  the Champions League.  Which means fourth place in the Premiership is not guaranteed to provide Champions League football next season.  It means the Man City v Arsenal match takes on additional importance (not just important for the race to fourth place, but also the race to third place).

[hampo17]

Still think the top 4 get in mate, certainly what I've read over the last few weeks.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

From what Ive had explained to me it needed City and Liverpool to win their European competitions.

[Guest]

From what Ive had explained to me it needed City and Liverpool to win their European competitions.

This is correct. We can have no more than 5 teams in the CL.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I believe in that scenario the top 4 still get into the Champions but we lose a Europa League place.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Do we get an extra place in the Europa if Liverpool win it? Sadly I now want United to win the FA Cup to give us a cushion to finish in Europe

[hampo17]

No more than five clubs can enter the UEFA Champions League from one national association (this is an increase on the pre-2015 maximum of four). That means that that either Spain or England are ensured four group places with the team finishing fourth in both leagues entering the play-offs.

That's off the Uefa site, the way I read that is that the top 3 plus Liverpool go in to the group stage while 4th have to qualify.

[Guest]

Okay thanks.  I got confirmation from a Daily Mail article.

If Liverpool win the Europa League then the fourth placed team in the premiership will have to play a play-off to get into the Champions League - so it will still be in their hands and England will potentially have five English teams in the Champions League.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3541458/Liverpool-edge-closer-Europa-League-glory-happens-Manchester-City-win-Champions-League-finish-fifth-Sportsmail-assesses-permutations.html

[Guest]

Vardy scores only 5 mins into his return to football following his two match ban. Without Huth and Drinkwater and with Leicester players being in a delirium in having won the League, Everton had a chance here. But it required them to be well organised, disciplined and mentally strong. But they were 1-0 down after 5 minutes and 2-0 down at half time. I can't see the campaign to get rid of Martinez going away any time soon.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Do we get an extra place in the Europa if Liverpool win it? Sadly I now want United to win the FA Cup to give us a cushion to finish in Europe

If Liverpool win it then we'll only have two places in the Europa, a country can have no more than seven representatives in European football not including fair play.

[Adam D]

The pre match show at Leicester was amazing. Genuine goosebumps on my arms. Lovely stuff

[Guest]

Leicester reach 80 points with one game to go.  Leicester City's aim for the season was 40 points and premier league survival.  When Leicester reached the 40 point mark half way through the season - Ranieri said there next challenge was to get another 40 points - i.e. repeat what they had done in the first half of the season.

The Chairman of Leicester City says next seasons target is again to ensure Leicester city survival in the premier league, and to build further the team so that it can survive the extra rigours of playing in the Champions League.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36217713

[Dolphin Ziggler]

So Liverpool winning it doesnt actually help us? Thats a shame. So i'd now rather Liverpool focused all energy on the EL final, didnt win it, United won the FA Cup and Europa League went down to 7th.

[Guest]

Wes Morgan is such a dude and an absolute credit to his club and football. You couldn't begrudge that bloke a thing.

[Adam D]

Anyone who says that Leicester were gifted this title by others being crap are delusional.  Well deserved. They showed this form at the tale end of this season and deserve everything they achieved. 

Well done Leicester.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

John

#NorwichandNewcastlerelegationparty2016

[Hero]

Leicester had fortuitous moments but I certainly would not say they were gifted the title.

[Guest]

John

#NorwichandNewcastlerelegationparty2016

Yes, there's no cancelling those parties. Everton will roll over at the Stadium of Light, I'm already just imagining Pennington defending against Defoe on Wednesday night. Looking at our squad & the inevitable exodus of players, I think we're going to have a tough time next year, certainly no cake-walk, that Hughton enjoyed back in the day.

[Guest]

Leicester City's winning season may have a wider influence on the game in that they seem to have stumbled on a workable "guerrilla tactic" - that is primarily a survival tactic that has been turned into a potent winning tactic.  They are happy to concede the ball - their possession stats are low even at home - but work their socks off when they don't have the ball and have a disciplined defensive rigidity.  They tend to win the ball in their own half then they have a lightning well organised attack with about four or five players all running at pace towards the opponents goal.  Also they don't seem to pick up injuries and are incredibly fit - although this will be tested to the limit next season when they will be travelling around Europe.

I am sure other teams will start to employ their tactics but it requires good players prepared to work hard and with speed and / or strength and discipline.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Also, they havent started this. Simeone for one has been doing it for ages. Allardyce teams have long been happy to concede the ball. Everton's Moyes team were not controllers of possession

[GSC]

What a signing Defoe was for Sunderland last year. On the verge of keeping them up.

[GSC]

Its going to be amusing seeing the United fans supporting Arsenal against Citeh

[Hero]

In fairness, most recent years that'd be the case.

[NickisBHAFC]

If you draw 0-0 with villa at this stage of the season, you deserve to be playing championship football next season.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Would be peak Spurs if they somehow end up finishing 3rd behind Arsenal lol

[Fernando]

Not even Spurs can f**k it up that badly Olly

[Fernando]

Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Navas, De Bruyne, Iheanacho; Aguero. Subs: Caballero, Angelino, Demichelis, Delph, Toure, Sterling, Bony.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Ramsey; Welbeck, Iwobi, Sanchez; Giroud. Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Coquelin, Wilshere, Cazorla, Campbell, Walcott.

Only good thing about today is Santi is back

[Hero]

It's good for Utd that Spurs lost as it then gives Arsenal further impetus to win.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Brilliant, Spurs are reminding me further what a blight on the league they are. Gonna chuck away points and let Saints finish above us.

[Fernando]

Citeh 1-0 Arsenal - Aguero

Yeah we're not trying today so unlucky United fans

[Guest]

Humdinger of a match!

[Hero]

Citeh 1-0 Arsenal - Aguero

Yeah we're not trying today so unlucky United fans

Its okay, City aren't either it seems.

[Fernando]

1-1 after 10 mins Giroud walked away from Mangala at a corner

There are no defenders on the pitch.

Only got a corner cos Clichy nearly headed a back pass to Hart in the bottom corner

[Fernando]

Welbz off with a knee injury. Wilshere on.

#CrippleforCripple

[Guest]

De Bruyne 2-1

[Fernando]

Alexis 2-2

Arsenal looking more threatening with Theo on the pitch.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

2-0 Liverpool. We're gonna finish 8th

[hampo17]

Gomes has to save that really.

[Fernando]

Wilfried & Yaya on for Navas & Fernando

balls to the wall for Citeh now.

[Fernando]

Wilfried hits the bar with an epic volley.

[Fernando]

FT Citeh 2-2 Arsenal

£5 United bottle it vs West Ham

[hampo17]

Happy with that win, the youngsters we've given a chance to have looked good especially Kevin Stewart and Ojo.

[Atila]

FT Citeh 2-2 Arsenal

£5 United bottle it vs West Ham

West Ham are still in with a chance of finishing 5th and getting a Europa League place, and their game against Man U will be their last at home. The Hammers are going to be giving it all they have to win their last game at home. If Man U don't win, I doubt it will be because they bottled it.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Man United will win. We don't win the big games when it's about more than points.

[Hero]

Finish 4th and keep LVG for another season (at least)
Finish 5th and sack LVG

Which is best long term for Utd?

[Stella]

I don't think they'll sack him regardless, what with a cup win (probable) and a decent end to the season and with youthful promise for next season.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Keeping LVG might not be the worst thing in regards to the young talent at Utd

Mourinho would destroy quite a few of them

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