2018/19 Premier League Thread - Jose’s Difficult Third Year

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And we start off with news Conte has been sacked by Chelsea, with Sarri and Jorginho's arrivals imminent

[Guest]

Sarri confirmed, with Zola as assistant

[Luke]

Anyone seen Everton's pre season score today. They won 22-0.

[Duty281]

Anyone seen Everton's pre season score today. They won 22-0.

Absolute joke of a fixture. To think bookmakers were taking bets on it (pre-game and in-running) is really something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gvSBMIfQ2I

[Guest]

Oxlade-Chamberlain ruled out for the entire season

[Duty281]

Another promising English player whose career has been wrecked by injury.

[Luke]

Whilst I agree it's a shame.

Would he have got much game time next year? If you look at Liverpool's midfield and wide players, it's was hard to see him in there top 11.

[gazzyD]

reporter: do you think you can win the league title with this group of players

Jose: I choose not to answer that question

Gone by Christmas this bloke

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Matic out for season opener (and, as he’s had/having surgery, you’d assume a little longer), Valencia out, Young back late, Lukaku back late, Pogba back late, Martial missing some pre season and agitating for a move.

All that, plus Jose is being full on “sack me soon” Jose.

[gazzyD]

Leicester are 13/2 to win at Old Trafford opening game

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Jose has gone off in the post match presser, but his points are valid - it’s a waste of a tour, it’s impossible to prepare with this pre-season if you’re a team with better players going deep into the World Cup, let alone the fact it’s been short for normal players.

But they’re baffling me in this window, United. They’ve signed a couple good players, but nothing that’s really transforming the weaknesses

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Mahrez leaves tour on crutches

[Atila]

Got a feeling that Jose will not last the season at United and I'm thinking he'll be gone by Christmas.

As a United fan since 1977 I can take United not winning the league but at least in the days of Docherty and Atkinson, they were decent to watch. Now they're boring and Mourinho doesn't seem to be inspiring the players and he's certainly not inspiring the fans. Think it would be best if United and he parted ways. Problem is, who replaces him? Looking back, they might as well have tried Giggs. I'm sure Ferguson would have given Giggs advice.

[Hero]

He appears to be in self destruct mode and taking as many casualties with him. Whilst Martial has only shown glimpses of talent there's clearly a very gifted player there that could easily become the next one that Mourinho let go ala De Bruyne. I understand why Ed Woodward is being hesitant to sign off cheques when it's Willian at 66m and 65m for Slabhead.

[gazzyD]

I can kind of understand his frustrations, when we offered him a new contract there must have been some promises made to him RE squad and we're similar to last season with his comments that he'd given his list to Ed months ago. I guess when he does go he'll be making digs and not being backed (despite the £300m already spent). Having said that my personal opinion is that United are reluctant to spend big this summer because Jose has comfortably finished top four last season, the Glazers and Woodward aren't really bothered about anything over and above that as top 4 means bank for them

His other comments are ridiculous

calls out his captain for having 'too much' of a holiday
questions a player not being committed because his partner gave birth a few days ago (See Klopp of the correct way to manage this situation)
basically shows zero interest in the youth we have coming through (see Pep for the correct way to manage this situation)
basically says the tour is pointless (sure the United money men would have loved that)

Certainly does appear like this could be the beginning of the end for Jose, he might not leave mid way through a season (we'd have to be Liverpool under Hodgson bad for that), but I would be very surprised if Jose was stilling charge for the season after this

[Duty281]

Mourinho - managed Porto for 127 games. Chelsea for 185. Inter for 108. Madrid for 178. Chelsea for 136. United currently for 120.

History seems to indicate that he'll have a maximum of one season left with United.

[Guest]

Bit of a non-event the window so far. Envisage a bit of deja vu this season, to last. I think the owners look unwilling to be mugged off purchasing average names for premium prices, and it's all a bit of a ceasefire. City won't mind, as they had the gap already. United have stagnated, while Spurs & Chelsea have shown little ambition, having to pay for a stadium, and the loss of CL football, respectively. Liverpool have spent early, but I still don't think they've closed the gap to City, and Ox/Can will be missed. Arsenal are still in the distance.

[Marky]

The PL window closing earlier has given the power to European sides, who can just hold out for more money knowing that if the PL side won't buy, they'll still have a few more weeks to sell players elsewhere. I expect it will be eerily quiet for a bit longer before a glut of deals nearer the deadline

[BamBam]

Yeah there's no incentive for European teams to sell for anything other than top dollar especially if its not a player that they want to sell - wait till the end of the window, assume the English clubs get desperate and pay the asking price, then spend the next couple of weeks spending as you choose

Seems like moving to an earlier deadline without the rest of Europe doing the same has been a massive error at this stage

[LivinginItaly]

Bit of a non-event the window so far. Envisage a bit of deja vu this season, to last. I think the owners look unwilling to be mugged off purchasing average names for premium prices, and it's all a bit of a ceasefire. City won't mind, as they had the gap already. United have stagnated,  while Spurs & Chelsea have shown little ambition, having to pay for a stadium, and the loss of CL football, respectively. Liverpool have spent early, but I still don't think they've closed the gap to City, and Ox/Can will be missed. Arsenal are still in the distance.

To be honest I think Liverpool are a much stronger team this year compared to the start of last season. Will it be enough to overcome Man city? For me no. Have they overspent on some players? Probably, but show me someone who hasn't this year.

Ultimately, I agree, I can't see beyond another title for City but I think (hope) Liverpool will finish much closer to them this year in second position.

As for missing Can, to be honest I don't really see it. A few years ago I had really high hopes for him. A very athletic player with the ability to play in a few different positions. However, having watched him on many different occasions he seems to have very poor decision making abilities often making the wrong choices.

I agree with your comments about the ox. However , it's worth noting that not many people would have shared the same opinion 12 months ago.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Liverpool look the second best side to me.

Chelsea it’s mainly about manager, system and also Jorginho being a lot better than anyone they had next to Kante before.

Arsenal’s problems haven’t been personnel for a while, although I like their signings. If Emery gets it right on the training ground, they could be a huge improver.

Spurs have yet to do anything and had s lot of players at the World Cup. A slow start looks possible.

City have added a little but you’d slate them to improve based on even more time with Pep.

Man United have added an inexperienced full back, a midfielder you’d question whether they needed and Hose has whined. Grinding out top four.

[Guest]

Man U 1-0 Leicester - Pogba (p)

Leicester dictating much of the play. Nothing much has changed for United. Totally disjointed, especially in the final third

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Told you fellas Maddison was a baller

[Guest]

Man U 2-1 Leicester FT

[Dolphin Ziggler]

A real Old Trafford penalty

[Guest]

Newcastle 1-2 Spurs - Vertonghen & Alli - Joselu

Given Spurs a real good game, Diame & Rondon hitting the woodwork too. Plenty of positives

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Bournemouth 1-0 Cardiff (Fraser)
Fulham 0-1 Palace (Schlupp)
Huddersfield 0-2 Chelsea (Kante, Jorginho [pen])
Watford 1-0 Brighton (Pereyra)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Callum Wilson penalty saved with Bournemouth 1 up

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Second half:

Bournemouth 2-0 Cardiff (Fraser, Wilson)
Fulham 0-2 Palace (Schlupp, Zaha)
Huddersfield 0-3 Chelsea (Kante, Jorginho [pen], Pedro)
Watford 2-0 Brighton (Pereyra, Pereyra)

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Hazard has come on and been a joy to watch

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Wolves’s defence is not premier league ready

[Duty281]

Danny Welbeck starting at left-back wasn't something I was expecting to happen this season. Or any season.

[Lowlandbrit]

Pretty sure they said on MOTD that Richarlison cost 40m, while their transfer banner had him at 35m and the BBC website says 50m. I know there's different ways of looking at it with clauses and whatever, but it seems like something you'd have a policy for to keep it roughly consistent.

[Fernando]

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Fabinho, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Shaqiri.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Rice, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Anderson, Noble, Wilshere, Masuaku, Antonio, Arnautovic.

Subs: Adrian, Zabaleta, Snodgrass, Obiang, Hernandez, Yarmolenko, Diop.

[Guest]

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham - Salah

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Klopp's bunch of losers take the lead

[Guest]

Liverpool 2-0 West Ham - Mane

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Can’t keep up with them in midfield, they just drift in and out of there with nearly every player at pace.

I’d already written this one off, so it’s not exactly a barometer. Happy that Anderson is working hard and also running at players. Balbuena ar least looks like he’s gone in to take charge.

Otherwise, they’re too good

[Guest]

Liverpool 3-0 West Ham - Mane

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

How did the linesman miss Mane being miles outside for the third goal? FA trying the best to make out that Klopp is something other than a choker

[Dolphin Ziggler]

How did the linesman miss Mane being miles outside for the third goal? FA trying the best to make out that Klopp is something other than a choker

Yeah, I think we had that won otherwise...

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

How did the linesman miss Mane being miles outside for the third goal? FA trying the best to make out that Klopp is something other than a choker

Yeah, I think we had that won otherwise...

Goal difference could decide the title later in the season

[Dolphin Ziggler]

How did the linesman miss Mane being miles outside for the third goal? FA trying the best to make out that Klopp is something other than a choker

Yeah, I think we had that won otherwise...

Goal difference could decide the title later in the season

If they didn’t win the league because of one less goal, is that choking?

[Guest]

Arsenal 0-1 Man City - The City Raheem Sterling

Arsenal getting bent over

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Cech is rubbish yet he starts in place of Leno. Same old same old

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

How did the linesman miss Mane being miles outside for the third goal? FA trying the best to make out that Klopp is something other than a choker

Yeah, I think we had that won otherwise...

Goal difference could decide the title later in the season

If they didn’t win the league because of one less goal, is that choking?

Ask klopp he's the king of choking

[Duty281]

Arsenal 0-1 Man City - The City Raheem Sterling

Arsenal getting bent over

Their defence is utterly clueless. Cech nearly scored a bizarre own goal. Guendouzi has given the ball away about half a dozen times already.

Going to be a very long season for them.

[Guest]

Arsenal 0-2 Man City - Bernardo Silva

[GSC]

Too early to really make a definitive call on Arsenal but a statement of intent nonetheless from City

[Guest]

Early days, but it just looks like last season continued. Chelsea probably the biggest unknown out of the top six. Depends entirely upon whether this is just what this Chelsea squad does, and plays for the first season of a new manager, and then goes AWOL.

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