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

by Ent Sat 07 Apr 2018, 7:02 pm

Good bit to go but like I said tremendous effort and pride in Thais second half. Doing the right things.

Be good to spoil the party. Next year we have to be the team with a season/party to spoil though.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 07 Apr 2018, 7:09 pm

I mean how Atkinson hasn’t given that as a penalty I will never ever know - clear pen and a red!

by Ent Sat 07 Apr 2018, 7:11 pm

it was a penalty but a red would've been harsh. He hits the ball plumb middle and the force of the 2 of them on the ball made his slide over the ball and clean out aguero.

Understand agueros reaction as he's just got hit a fair whack mid shin by someone's studs.

by Lowlandbrit Sat 07 Apr 2018, 7:21 pm

What did Ashley Young have on Atkinson today?

by Guest Sat 07 Apr 2018, 7:24 pm

Really enjoyable game of football, that.

by Ent Sat 07 Apr 2018, 7:24 pm

Yeah a contrast to some of these big games that end up being a bore fest.

by Duty281 Sun 08 Apr 2018, 12:41 am

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I mean how Atkinson hasn’t given that as a penalty I will never ever know - clear pen and a red!

Astonishing decision. Clearest penalty and the most obvious red all season.

by Nathaniel Jacobs Sun 08 Apr 2018, 11:39 am

When you have an outstanding coach and outstanding teammates that doesn't mean you become a decent player. Raheem Sterling has scored many tap ins this season mainly dished up by KdB and Silva. Yesterday showed that Sterling is still rubbish. Just as Suarez carried him at Liverpool, City's best players allow an also ran like Sterling to pretend he can play football

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 08 Apr 2018, 2:21 pm

Hahahahaha

by guildfordbat Sun 08 Apr 2018, 3:58 pm

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:When you have an outstanding coach and outstanding teammates that doesn't mean you become a decent player. Raheem Sterling has scored many tap ins this season mainly dished up by KdB and Silva. Yesterday showed that Sterling is still rubbish. Just as Suarez carried him at Liverpool, City's best players allow an also ran like Sterling to pretend he can play football

A characteristically thoughtful and incisive post there, Nathaniel.

I don't actually think Sterling is an outstanding player. However, he's generally done what has been required of him by his coach and teammates and sometimes even more. That's what matters. To be an outstanding team, you don't need everyone to be an outstanding player - you need some outstanding players and everyone else to be doing their job.

by Ent Sun 08 Apr 2018, 4:13 pm

Thought Southampton were unlucky.

Can't be many players as dislikable as Wiltshire.

by Duty281 Sat 14 Apr 2018, 4:53 pm

Huddersfield are staying up, as they squeeze a precious 1-0 win at home to Watford.

by sirfredperry Sun 15 Apr 2018, 8:04 am

Was at Wembley for the Spurs-Man City match. Having seen all the top clubs at Wembley this season, I can say that City were streets ahead of all the others. Not sure the standard in the PL has been that high this season and that's why one outstanding team is so far ahead.

by No name Bertie Sun 15 Apr 2018, 11:51 am

Hi SFP, what did you think of Raheem Sterling's performance? My view of him is that he is amazing to watch in terms of his movement, change of direction and speed. His link up play looks exceptional, he has good dribbling and short passing skills. Where he has to improve is his ability to score. As yet he does not have natural striking ability - he seems to have difficulty setting up a body position when running quickly onto balls to strike the ball accurately. He seems to need a bit more time to set himself up - resulting in momentary indecision, being tackled or misdirection. Listening to Guardiola he describes Sterling as an excellent talent that needs to improve his striking ability. He hopes that will be improved upon next year and if he gets it right he will become a world talent. However the suggestion is he does need to improve otherwise he might not be selected so often.

by Guest Sun 15 Apr 2018, 3:23 pm

Newcastle 2-1 Arsenal Yahoo

Man U 0-1 WBA Laugh

by Ent Sun 15 Apr 2018, 5:58 pm

Forget the title, city were always going to win the title.

Ineptly losing at home to the team bottom of the league is outrageous, I expect a huge clear out this summer - a lot of these players don't care and don't try.

by Duty281 Sun 15 Apr 2018, 6:18 pm

When Pep won La Liga with Barcelona, Spain won the World Cup.

When Pep won the Bundesliga with Bayern, Germany won the World Cup.

Pep has won the Premier League with Man City…

(Thanks to BET365 on Twitter)

Well now...

by No name Bertie Sun 15 Apr 2018, 6:27 pm

Update: This season WBA Premiership Performance
Tony Pulis: ...... Played 12: Points 10: Points/game = 0.83: Goals scored/game = 0.75: Goals conceded/game = 1.50
Gary Megson: .. Played 02: Points 02: Points/game = 1.00: Goals scored/game = 1.50: Goals conceded/game = 1.50
Alan Pardew: ... Played 18: Points 08: Points/game = 0.44: Goals scored/game = 0.72: Goals conceded/game = 1.67
Darren Moore: . Played 02: Points 04: Points/game = 2.00: Goals scored/game = 1.00: Goals conceded/game = 0.50

So in two games caretaker manager Darren Moore is not too far away matching the number of points Pardew gained in 18 matches.

It looks like Darren Moore is a natural as a manager. Brief career details: professional footballer from 1992 to 2012. In summer of 2012 he was appointed youth coach for WBA. 2 April 2018 he was appointed caretaker manager of WBA following the dismissal of Alan Pardew.

BBC Commentators of the Man Utd vs WBA game noted that WBA played with an organisation and discipline not seen with Pardew, and that Moore was very active organising / directing his team from the touchline.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 15 Apr 2018, 8:57 pm

Jesus forking Christ

by Fernando Sun 15 Apr 2018, 9:04 pm

Send Nudes Nore

by Atila Sun 15 Apr 2018, 10:33 pm

First of all, let me congratulate Man City. Regardless of United's result today the title was theirs.

Secondly, let me just say as a United supporter, I wasn't totally surprised by their result today. Mourinho is going to have to improve the way United play next season.

Yes, if he finishes second and wins the FA Cup it's an improvement on last season and a season that most teams would like, but at no point have I really enjoyed a United performance this season. True, I liked the results against Chelsea, Liverpool and City last week, but they just aren't exciting, they are methodical/dour most of the time.

by Ent Sun 15 Apr 2018, 11:26 pm

Think the football this season is the best since Ferguson.

Best of a bad bunch springs to mind though.

by GSC Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:27 am

Eh there have been some crap seasons for quality lately but this City is right up there over a single season

by sirfredperry Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:42 am

No name Bertie wrote:Hi SFP, what did you think of Raheem Sterling's performance? My view of him is that he is amazing to watch in terms of his movement, change of direction and speed. His link up play looks exceptional, he has good dribbling and short passing skills. Where he has to improve is his ability to score. As yet he does not have natural striking ability - he seems to have difficulty setting up a body position when running quickly onto balls to strike the ball accurately. He seems to need a bit more time to set himself up - resulting in momentary indecision, being tackled or misdirection. Listening to Guardiola he describes Sterling as an excellent talent that needs to improve his striking ability. He hopes that will be improved upon next year and if he gets it right he will become a world talent. However the suggestion is he does need to improve otherwise he might not be selected so often.

Sterling is an immense talent. He seems to get a lot of stick for not scoring enough but just as you have to be in a position to score them you also have to be in a position to miss them. He certainly is in the thick of the action.
There's also been talk of his being made to look a good player only cos he's in an outstanding team. It's possible that's a valid argument, but it could be seen as being a bit harsh on him.
Time is on his side. As you say he's quick and can run well with the ball. Big-transfer players who move to a ultra-high-paying club will always attract the knockers. A good World Cup will go a long way to silencing the detractors.

by Ent Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:44 am

GSC wrote:Eh there have been some crap seasons for quality lately but this City is right up there over a single season

Meant united.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:46 am

Hasn’t Sterling scored more this season than Hazard has in any single season?

by Guest Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:58 am

(17) league goals, to Hazard's (16) career best at Chelsea. Given the amount of chances created at that club though, that's no surprise. If Sterling could finish, he'd have banged around 35 goals in all competitions this season.

by Duty281 Mon 16 Apr 2018, 9:53 pm

West Ham have three goals ruled out for various offences.

Doesn't stop a fine, fine finish from Andy Carroll, though. Oh how different his career could have been were it not for injury.

by JDizzle Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:11 pm

Just John wrote:(17) league goals, to Hazard's (16) career best at Chelsea. Given the amount of chances created at that club though, that's no surprise. If Sterling could finish, he'd have banged around 35 goals in all competitions this season.

I'd love to see Hazard get the chance to play in an attacking side, a la City or Liverpool. Mourinho and Conte haven't got close to getting the most out of him.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Mon 16 Apr 2018, 10:17 pm

Andy scares Moyes’s blushes. Should be enough to not be terrified but not enough to see Dave in our dugout next year.

by Guest Wed 18 Apr 2018, 1:02 pm

PFA Team of the year

David de Gea (Man United)
Kyle Walker (Man City)
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
Nicolas Otamendi (Man City)
Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
David Silva (Man City)
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Sergio Aguero (Man City)
Mo Salah (Liverpool)

by Guest Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:11 am

Wenger to leave at the end of the season.

I hope he goes out with the Europa League

by No name Bertie Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:38 am

Johan Cruyff nurtured Guardiola and others, Bobby Robson nurtured Mourinho, Van Gaal nurtured Ryan Giggs, Klopp is nurturing Gerrard ... who has Wenger nurtured in their managerial careers (same applies to Mourinho)? Wenger is reported as saying Patrick Vieira might be a potential successor - but Vieira had to learn his managerial craft at Man City. Great leaders nurture leaders that will continue their legacy. It seems to me that Wenger is not one of those people. However - maybe I am being too harsh - it is said that the new Arsenal stadium was his idea, or at least they wouldn't have got the investment without him, and he has changed Arsenal institutionally.

by **Hero** Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:40 am

Who did Fergie nurture?

by No name Bertie Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:43 am

Hero wrote:Who did Fergie nurture?

No-one as far as I can tell - except apparently he would offer advice freely when contacted - but only as an external consultant (non-charging).

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 20 Apr 2018, 10:58 am

I think you might be overegging the nurturing of some people. Influence is key, and both Wenger and Fergie’s influence has been widespread

by No name Bertie Fri 20 Apr 2018, 11:02 am

Influence by example? Yes, that's a fair point.

by Ent Fri 20 Apr 2018, 11:04 am

Van gaal did some great nurturing of giggs by just ignoring everything he said...

Wenger was a great coach, hung around too long though and him leaving all feels a bit flat now.

by Guest Fri 20 Apr 2018, 11:07 am

The new Arsenal stadium plans were drawn up long before Wenger arrived.

That legend has really grown some legs in the last few years.

by Duty281 Fri 20 Apr 2018, 11:32 am

'End of an era' then. A good manager, but not a great one. Sadly, Wenger stayed on for far too long, and the past decade or so has harmed his reputation. I'm guessing he is retiring, but I don't think it's explicitly stated as such.

Surely not Vieira to be next manager? Rodgers probably, or maybe even Benitez.

by Guest Fri 20 Apr 2018, 11:37 am

I'd be amazed if they went with Rodgers. And Benitez.

I wonder if Sol Campbell's applied yet?

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 20 Apr 2018, 12:19 pm

I’d call Arsene a great of the English game. There was a period where every club in the world would have wanted him. And his changes at Arsenal heralded a change in attitude for the whole country.

He’s had a few really good sides as well, always a hard task. The invincibles, different styles, it was only him seemingly wanting his own challenge and being stubborn that changed things.

I hope he goes on to someone else with a fire under him.

by **Hero** Fri 20 Apr 2018, 1:21 pm

I could see him having a run with the French national side after the World Cup.

by No name Bertie Fri 20 Apr 2018, 3:33 pm

Should Arsenal pursue Diego Simone of Atletico Madrid? He is one of the most exciting young managers in world football that might be persuaded to test himself in what is considered to be the best league, in terms of its competitiveness, in the world. Otherwise perhaps go for someone like Patrick Vieira.

by No name Bertie Fri 20 Apr 2018, 3:41 pm

Eddie Howe's name has been mentioned. He has demonstrated his ability in the Premier League with Bournemouth, who are probably punching well above their weight. It would be a shame for Bournemouth, but an opportunity for Howe.

by dummy_half Fri 20 Apr 2018, 3:44 pm

Duty
You are under-rating Wenger to call him good rather than great - the first half of his Arsenal career he was undoubtedly a great manager and had a fantastic side, two doubles and the Invincibles season rather demonstrate that. The last decade he's been fighting something of a losing battle on the financial front when confronted with the almost unlimited spending power of the likes of Chelsea then Man City domestically (and never being quite on Man U's level of spending power) and the Spanish giants and now PSG in Europe.

Also, he was attributed with introducing better control of diet/nutrition and conditioning, but these are things that spread through the game fairly quickly once introduced, especially with the ever greater influence of foreign coaches in the upper levels of the English game.

As an aside, I just had a look at who was managing in the Premiership when Wenger started at Arsenal, and the only other non GB&I manager was Ruud Gullitt, who had taken over at Chelsea a few months earlier. While there were some excellent British managers around at the time (Fergie, George Graham, Martin O'Neill), there were also such luminaries as Colin Todd, Jim Smith and Frank Clark...

by Duty281 Sat 21 Apr 2018, 10:25 am

Great up to and including the Champions League run to Paris. Rarely exceeded mediocre after that.

by GSC Sat 21 Apr 2018, 10:37 am

Pretty complicated legacy. I think he largely failed to evolve with the direction the games gone starting with probably the Abramovitch era, but at the same time he was handicapped by Arsenal financing a stadium while tv money became a bigger factor. As much ridicule as it received, other cubs have shown that maintaining a CL place is far from a given. He remains one of the greats of the PL era regardless.

Suspect the example of Moyes following SAF and Arsenal being a pretty conservative club will push them down the Carlo path of an experienced manager with PL experience. Don't think Howe is remotely ready for this job. No thanks to Brendan.

by Lowlandbrit Sat 21 Apr 2018, 10:52 am

Spent the first half of his time at Arsenal changing everyone's view of how to approach the game, and the other half as possibly the only person in the world that didn't understand what was wrong with his team. Will be interesting to see how people end up looking back on him in a few years.

by No name Bertie Sat 21 Apr 2018, 11:07 am

Lowlandbrit wrote:Spent the first half of his time at Arsenal changing everyone's view of how to approach the game, and the other half as possibly the only person in the world that didn't understand what was wrong with his team. Will be interesting to see how people end up looking back on him in a few years.

Yes, agree. But how can we match the first part with the second part?

Some analysts have suggested luck played a large part in Wenger's early success at Arsenal. He inherited the defensive line of Arsenal from George Graham. And Wenger brought with him a knowledge of a new crop of talented French players which he was able to bring in young and cheap - part of a generation of French players that would go on to win the world cup. He also added in a new diet and health regime - but I am not sure if that was his idea or he was copying someone else's idea - that has now been replicated throughout the Premier League.

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