The 6th Place Trophy - The 2017/18 Premier League Thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

The fixtures have been released, players have been signed and summer is already a bit boring, so here's the Premier League 2017/18 season thread.

Opening fixtures:

Arsenal v Leicester City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City
Chelsea v Burnley
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town
Everton v Stoke City
Manchester United v West Ham United
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Swansea City
Watford v Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth

[GSC]

Fabulous game but same old story for both sides.

[No name Bertie]

Arsenal 3 Liverpool 3.

An entertaining game for the neutral but the most extraordinary part of the game was Liverpool's mini-collapse immediately after scoring their second goal to go 2-0 up.  In just 6 minutes after going two goals up they concede three goals to fall 3-2 behind.  

Any theories to explain this?  It seems like Liverpool must have relaxed thinking they had already won the game then were stung by Arsenal scoring a minute later and then suffered a mini-brainstorm / panicked / lost their shape (?).

[Ent]

They have a terrible defense and make no attempts to compensate via shape or tactics...

[No name Bertie]

Early in the season it looked like Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea would be finishing top three and nothing has changed to change that view with Man City the now odds on runaway winners.  Then it seems that it is one from three for the final top four spot: Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal.

The near future situation at Arsenal is very unclear with several key players running down their contracts so they can leave on a free at the end of the season (in particular Sanchez and Ozil) - losing at least 100 million pounds in todays transfer market.  

At the same time all the gossip seems to suggest Liverpool are going to lose key player Coutinho in the summer.  But at least they are expected to received oodles of money for him in which they might hope to get some sort of replacement (as well as in addition to this sorting out their defence).

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Arsenal 3 Liverpool 3.

An entertaining game for the neutral but the most extraordinary part of the game was Liverpool's mini-collapse immediately after scoring their second goal to go 2-0 up.  In just 6 minutes after going two goals up they concede three goals to fall 3-2 behind.  

Any theories to explain this?  It seems like Liverpool must have relaxed thinking they had already won the game then were stung by Arsenal scoring a minute later and then suffered a mini-brainstorm / panicked / lost their shape (?).

Yes the theory is Liverpool are serial bottlers with no leadership, an awful goalkeeper and awful defenders. Ragnar Klavan and Dejan Lovren isn’t a good enough starting CB pair for a team like West Brom let alone Liverpool

[Ent]

You're either a bottler or not good enough - not both.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

You're either a bottler or not good enough - not both.

Having watched Norwich play for the past ten years I can confirm you can be not good enough and a bottler.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

You're either a bottler or not good enough - not both.

Weird statement underlined by nothing

[Ent]

Except logic.

[Guest]

Yeah, John

Well deleted.

[Guest]

WHU 1-3 Newcastle

Saivet & Diame

[Guest]

Yeah, John

Well deleted.

Seriously, it's just an awful Toon line-up. Can't believe this score-line, we've got 1 point from the last 30 Wish we could play WHU every week

[Ent]

Lindelhof at right back could be interesting here , imagine Graf will be keen to go up against him.

[Ent]

Jones and lindelhof just don't bother running back, vardy ran past both of them.

Idiots.

This could get messy, Leicester will counter attack all night.

[Ent]

Well that's a red card, very lucky.

[GSC]

Lindelof won't be endearing himself to José like that

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

£40m Mourinho splashed out on Lindelof, he’s among way from being the end product Mourinho needs

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

That little man Mata to the fore again

[GSC]

Mata spares a United side looking slightly desperate.

[Ent]

£40m Mourinho splashed out on Lindelof, he’s among way from being the end product Mourinho needs

Know he's very young but he's a shockingnplayer, even from pre season looked very dodgy.

[Guest]

Lovely by Mata.

[Guest]

Leicester 2-2 Man Utd FT

[Guest]

The floor is yours, Ent!

[Ent]

I don't even have the energy.

Just a terrible squad of players.

[Guest]

Great feat by Harry Kane

[Ent]

Imagine if he could score in August.

[Fernando]

Imagine if United had a forward like that.

[Ent]

Don't think we'd set up enough chances for him.

United behind already...

[Ent]

God this united team are absolutely dire.

[No name Bertie]

I like watching the highlights of the Manchester City games - the football is mesmeric at times, and they can be used as a comparator to other sides.  What I like about Man City's attack is that they attack as a unit with fast passes to team mates into the penalty area.  It is like a well oiled machine.

Now when I saw the extended highlights of the Bristol City v Man Utd game, one thing that seemed clear with Man Utd was most shots were from outside the penalty area, they were attacking as individuals, and not attacking as units, not making passes to team-mates.  The match against Leicester was similar.  Man Utd had plenty of opportunities to bury Leicester but there were too many going it alone attacks, with individual mistakes (and an unlucky "penalty" that wasn't given).   It does seem that at the moment Man Utd are going through a sticky spell, with returning players from injury and returning players from suspension.  But the key thing with them at the moment seems to be they are not playing as a well oiled machine in the final third - not enough teamwork, too much "individual play".

As regards Burnley, Sean Dyche is performing "miracles".  His Burnley team are so solid and consistent and take their chances well - I hope they hold on to get a victory.

[Ent]

That's a difference between good players and lesser players, decision making. United have inferior players that make poor decisions.

[No name Bertie]

Burnley unable to hold on for what would have been a memorable victory at old Trafford. Man United's overwhelming pressure and determination finally saw them salvage something from the game. But Man Utd will consider this two points dropped and Burnley a hard earned point gained.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If e go down, I’ll look back to this Bournemouth game. Appalling refereeing and also some con artists performances by Bournemouth players.

[Ent]

If you go down it will be due to performance over 38 games, not refereeing decisions in one.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Of course, you plum, but when margins are tight, we’re now 1 point ahead of Bournemouth when it should be 4. Those things are problematic

[GSC]

Video replay would have sorted all this out nicely at the time but I guess refs getting things wrong is an essential tradition

[Ent]

Of course, you plum, but when margins are tight, we’re now 1 point ahead of Bournemouth when it should be 4. Those things are problematic

Decisions go for and against all teams over the course of a season, anyone missing on on anything by a point or two could sit and complain about decisions.

[Fernando]

The only reason West Ham got a point anyway was cos Begovic fell over

[GSC]

Must say I'm particularly enjoying Jose's latest whinge.

[Guest]

What is it, spent about £75m less than Pep so far? The squad was also in considerably worse shape, in comparison to City too, in all honesty.

Just going to have to bite the bullet for a season, or two. Problem is, unlike Ferguson, who had to deal with Jose/Abramovich's rise for two years at Chelsea (05'/06'), I don't think Jose has the patience to wait that long.

[Ent]

I think he will go to psg this summer.

Who would want to manage the absolute crap that is in that united squad. Now he bought a lot of them so he has to take the blame for that.

[Fernando]

Net Spend 2014/15-2017/18:
Man City - £482m
Man Utd - £442m
Arsenal - £205m
Liverpool - £112m
Spurs - £25m
Chelsea - £16m

[Guest]

Pep has spent £365m at City (Pep has signed 13)
Jose has spent £291m at United (Jose has signed 6)

Jose hasn't addressed the squad, and has failed to overhaul it.

[GSC]

Hard to argue Pep has gotten far more for his money than Jose though. As well as improving the players he's inherited.

Lukaku has stalled, Pogba shows glimpses of what he's capable of, Mkhitaryan and Lindelof are persona non grata. Bailly looks a player when fit. Matic is a solid rather than great player which is why Chelsea happily sent him to a rival. Rashford and Martial are in danger of stalling out. Really only Valencia, Jones, Herrera and Young have enhanced their stock under Jose of those he inherited.

[Guest]

We’re playing 10 at the back

[Duty281]

Try another jinx! 90% possession!

[GSC]

Liverpool have had a 75m bid for VVD accepted apparently

[No name Bertie]

Man City tired towards the end and began time wasting. Newcastle had two chances towards the end to equalise. It certainly seems the intense schedule and the intense manner in which Man City play is beginning to catch up with them. But the winning run continues. Man City have played 20 games in the premiership and have only dropped two points. But they are beginning to look tired.

[Guest]

Tired

As for us, only positive is the GD wasn’t damaged. Could prove vital.

Thoughts on Carragher claiming the PL is becoming an ‘embarrassment’, with the way teams are setting up against the likes of Man City. Money will do that.

[Ent]

Crazy amount of money for van dijk. World record fee for a defender who is good rather than great/excellent.

Mad times we live in.

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