The 2021-22 Premier League Thread - Dem Thicc Lines

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Wed 16 Jun 2021, 2:02 pm

First topic message reminder :

Opening Fixtures:

Brentford v Arsenal
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Everton v Southampton
Leicester City v Wolverhampton
Manchester United v Leeds United
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Norwich City v Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Watford v Aston Villa

by GSC Sat 18 Dec 2021, 12:53 pm

Just the one PL game today at 5.30

by westisbest Sun 19 Dec 2021, 8:57 am

Maybe cancel fixtures till mid jan?

by GSC Sun 19 Dec 2021, 11:51 am

Problem is where to put them. World cup in the winter so not exactly a lot of free room in the calendar.

Also is this going to get better in the near future

by Duty281 Sun 19 Dec 2021, 2:17 pm

Should get better in the near-future, you'd expect Omicron cases to peak soon and things should start settling down around mid-January. Until then it's a make-do-and-mend league with postponements all over the place.

Can't understand why Chelsea, with only two outfield substitutes available, couldn't get their game postponed but others have managed it.

by Guest Sun 19 Dec 2021, 6:10 pm

Newcastle 0-4 Manchester City - the champions looking a class apart at present.
Wolves 0-0 Chelsea - Chelsea looking a bit toothless but covid hindering them.

by GSC Sun 19 Dec 2021, 6:35 pm

Quality game of Barclays that

by **Afro** Tue 21 Dec 2021, 4:06 pm

Reading Tuchel saying that playing Kante was close to irresponsible, but he felt he had no choice because of availability.

Looking at their bench he had 4 outfield players on the bench including 3 midfielders.

Could he not have played one of them from the start instead, or is he conveniently forgetting that it was still a choice that came down to tactics.

I see the Liverpool assistant is also complaining about having a few games close together. I have some sympathy in the current plight, but also feel that all these teams complaining have plenty of players to choose from and rotates if you include the youngsters on their books, but it doesn't suit them to play them as it means they have a greater chance of losing.

Or am I missing something?

by Lowlandbrit Sat 25 Dec 2021, 8:44 am

Afro wrote:I have some sympathy in the current plight, but also feel that all these teams complaining have plenty of players to choose from and rotates if you include the youngsters on their books, but it doesn't suit them to play them as it means they have a greater chance of losing.

Or am I missing something?

Completely agree. Not sure if they're still doing it, but Chelsea sent a full PL squad worth of players out on loan every season for years, and all the big clubs recruit highly rated youth players from all over Europe (if not the world) so there's no reason they shouldn't be able to fill their bench. It's also always a little funny to hear PL managers complain about the amount of games they have to play when you compare it to the EFL schedules.

by Duty281 Sun 26 Dec 2021, 8:04 pm

Bonkers win for City over Leicester. 4-0 became 4-3, ended up 6-3. Not sure what the second set score was.

And Chelsea, badly affected in recent weeks by Covid and injury, came away with an absolutely huge three points v Villa to keep them in the title race. Lukaku turning the game with his monstrous presence.

by Guest Wed 29 Dec 2021, 8:52 am

Leicester 1-0 Liverpool. A quite brilliant game at the King Power and rather ridiculous it was only 1-0. Salah missed a first half penalty and his rebound also hit the crossbar. Lookman made Liverpool pay with a beautiful goal.

City 6pts clear...

by Guest Wed 29 Dec 2021, 10:15 pm

Brentford 0-1 Manchester City - Foden with the only goal.
Chelsea 1-1 Brighton - injury time equaliser by Welbeck cancelled out Lukaku’s first half goal. Tuchel might not last the season at this rate…

City 8pts clear

by Duty281 Thu 30 Dec 2021, 11:18 am

In fairness to Tuchel, Chelsea have struggled massively with injury problems. Again last night they lost another player, James, to a probable torn hamstring and a few months on the sidelines. It's been a makeshift Chelsea side for the past few weeks and will continue to be. Though they're tough to beat, they're just not getting enough wins and that's costing them. Plus they've got a congested fixture calendar coming up with all these absentees.

At the moment Chelsea are probably more concerned about staying in the top four than winning the league. Their next three fixtures are Liverpool, City and Tottenham, and they may only be a couple of losses away from falling out of the top four.

Will take quite a collapse from City for them to cede their grip on the league.

by JDizzle Thu 30 Dec 2021, 7:42 pm

Think Chelsea have had 8 or 9 games in December - and it’s caught up with them. A lot of the players out there (particularly Jorginho/Mount/CHO) we’re running on empty. Kante is proper injury prone now - it’s been 2.5 seasons of it.

It’s probably a blessing they had no games off for covid, as they still have to fit in the CWC…

by JDizzle Sun 02 Jan 2022, 5:17 pm

45 minutes of pure Barclays at Stamford Bridge. What a half.

by Duty281 Sun 02 Jan 2022, 6:27 pm

Great game for the neutral. Ideal result for City.

by Duty281 Tue 11 Jan 2022, 9:00 pm

Newcastle signing Chris Wood isn't quite what I expected.

by **Afro** Wed 12 Jan 2022, 9:55 am

Duty281 wrote:Newcastle signing Chris Wood isn't quite what I expected.

You can see what he is trying to do.

It looks like the traditional Newcastle style with wingers, overlapping fullbacks and a good target man.

Thinking of Newcastle, anyone see the two disallowed Andy Carroll goals from last night. Two great "goals", the second a worldie!!

by GSC Wed 12 Jan 2022, 1:38 pm

Wood on a 2 and a half year contract is also a decent backstop if Newcastle do go down. Money is excessive but Newcastle aren't getting any discounts this window

by Duty281 Sat 15 Jan 2022, 2:27 pm

City end the title race with a 1-0 win over Chelsea.

by JDizzle Sat 15 Jan 2022, 5:00 pm

City too good. Azpilicueta and Alonso at WB is painful to watch - Reece and Chilwell are huge, huge losses.

by westisbest Sun 16 Jan 2022, 3:18 pm

Rafa gone.
Odds on Rooney v Gerrard next Saturday?

by **JuliusHMarx** Sun 16 Jan 2022, 5:23 pm

Everton might bring in Bruce.
Or Wayne.
Or even better - Bruce Wayne.

by Duty281 Sun 16 Jan 2022, 5:28 pm

Was always a doomed appointment. Benitez seems to have a habit of going to clubs where he's not liked from the off (Chelsea, Real, Everton).

Rooney back in the Prem will be interesting, but Martinez is the bookies favourite. Would he want to leave Belgium with the World Cup just ten months away? Lampard, Potter and Ferguson also in the running. Doubt Potter wants to take a sideways step to Everton.

by westisbest Sun 16 Jan 2022, 6:22 pm

Ferguson on a temporary basis maybe

by **Afro** Mon 17 Jan 2022, 9:51 am

I'm just a little bit apathetic about it.

I would go for Big Dunc. the only time I remember us playing with passion recently was the period where he was in charge. If the other options were Rooney or Martinez, then why not give Dunc a try.

The other one I would like is Potter, but I can't see him wanting to leave Brighton to join us. Why would he, when he could get a better job at a more stable club in a year or so's time.

by Duty281 Wed 19 Jan 2022, 9:39 pm

Tottenham with the finest, quickest comeback of the season to take an iron grip on 4th spot. Spurned chance after chance in normal time, then manage to take two in 90 seconds right at the end. Football, bloody hell.

by Guest Thu 20 Jan 2022, 12:04 am

Brentford 1-3 Manchester United - three academy graduates secure a vital win for Rangnick. Elanga, Greenwood and Rashford all getting in the goal column.
Brentford will be bitterly disappointed they played Manchester off the pitch in the first half. Some woeful finishing and de Gea with a vintage performance saving them.

You’ve still got to question the squad at Old Trafford. Why in earth did they spend £73m on Sancho and £37m on Amad. They’ve got good academy players in Rashford, Greenwood and Elanga. They just need the right coach to hone the abilities.

Manchester should’ve spent the £110m spent on Sancho and Amad on Rice and Kounde.

by Guest Sat 22 Jan 2022, 4:54 pm

Manchester United 1-0 West Ham - Rashford scoring with the last kick of the game. Another atrocious performance by the home side but Rangnick rolled the dice with Martial and Cavani and the winning number came in.

by Guest Sat 22 Jan 2022, 7:28 pm

Southampton 1-1 Manchester City - a really good game for Southampton they dominated the champions for long periods. Laporte earning City a point.
Lead is 12pts, Liverpool can half that if they win both games in hand.

by JDizzle Sun 23 Jan 2022, 1:19 pm

Broja looks like another big talent off the Cobham pipeline. Looking forward to him being sold for £20m next summer.

by GSC Sun 23 Jan 2022, 5:55 pm

No idea how we're so bad at VAR compared to everyone else

by GSC Mon 24 Jan 2022, 4:47 pm

Quarterly Watford sack a manager alert

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jan 2022, 5:11 pm

Watford's owners are insane. 15 permanent managers sacked in nine and a half years.

And World Cup winner Cannavaro is favourite to be the new one. He's managed a handful of clubs in the Far East and also managed China for one game (lost 1-0 to Thailand).

by GSC Mon 24 Jan 2022, 10:44 pm

Roy Hodgson apparently

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jan 2022, 10:55 pm

What the bloody hell? I thought, in the nicest possible way, that Roy had packed his bags and was in the retirement home. I don't think Roy was even on the bookmakers list.

by BlueCoverman Sun 30 Jan 2022, 6:55 pm

Man Utd suspend Mason Greenwood and man held on suspicion of r*** and assault. Anyone check their Instagram this morning?

by Guest Sun 30 Jan 2022, 6:57 pm

Frank Lampard to be named Everton manager and Donny van de Beek is also joining on loan.

by Duty281 Tue 08 Feb 2022, 10:18 pm

Newcastle beat Everton 3-1.

The relegation race is extended to five teams, with Everton sliding into it. If Lampard leads Everton to relegation it would be a savage blow to his already ailing managerial career. Apparently the last time Everton were relegated was 1951.

Burnley can stay up if they can just score a few more goals - they've only lost 8 all season which is the same as West Ham!

Race for top four is interesting. United faltering, Arsenal having a terrible window, can West Ham keep the pace? Or will Tottenham surge ahead?

by Guest Wed 09 Feb 2022, 11:00 am

Harry Maguire once again cost Manchester United then bizarrely comes out slating his teammates. Arguably one of the worst CBS I’ve ever seen.

by Duty281 Wed 09 Feb 2022, 12:06 pm

I never rated Maguire as a top four defender, but my opinion towards him was improving at the end of last season and during the Euros. I was starting to think I misjudged him. But this season he has reverted to being the usual average defender, with some glaring weaknesses, who belongs in a mid table side.

80 million? Good grief.

by Guest Wed 16 Feb 2022, 9:48 am

The race for fourth place is really hotting up after Manchester United beat Brighton 2-0. Another lacklustre and disjointed performance from Manchester but a moment CR7 magic inspired the win.

4. Manchester United 43pts (25 games)
5. West Ham 41pts (25 games)
6. Arsenal 39pts - 3 games in hand
7. Wolverhampton 37pts - 2 games in hand
8. Tottenham 36pts - 3 games in hand

by Duty281 Sat 19 Feb 2022, 5:27 pm

Rare wins for Watford and Burnley, plus a six-game unbeaten run for Newcastle, mean Brentford, Leeds and Everton have all been dragged into the relegation scrap.

Brentford's current form and number of games played means they're in real trouble, however their next three games are home to Newcastle and Burnley, with an away game v Norwich in between. Couple of wins and they'll be safe...couple of losses and relegation will start looking probable.

Everton's next three games are tough (City, Spurs and Wolves) and could see them slip even further. Leeds are just drifting aimlessly and have possibly the hardest fixture list of any of the seven remaining teams.

Always fun at the bottom of the table. Still time for Palace and Villa to get dragged in as well.

by **Galted** Sat 19 Feb 2022, 7:02 pm

Duty281 wrote:Rare wins for Watford and Burnley, plus a six-game unbeaten run for Newcastle, mean Brentford, Leeds and Everton have all been dragged into the relegation scrap.

Brentford's current form and number of games played means they're in real trouble, however their next three games are home to Newcastle and Burnley, with an away game v Norwich in between. Couple of wins and they'll be safe...couple of losses and relegation will start looking probable.

Everton's next three games are tough (City, Spurs and Wolves) and could see them slip even further. Leeds are just drifting aimlessly and have possibly the hardest fixture list of any of the seven remaining teams.

Always fun at the bottom of the table. Still time for Palace and Villa to get dragged in as well.

Villa are currently running a very generous scheme to donate points to teams in relegation bother.

by Guest Sat 19 Feb 2022, 7:32 pm

Manchester City 2-3 Tottenham - a quite brilliant game as the North Londoners compete the double over the champions.
The game reached the 100 minute mark with Kane scoring the winner deep into injury time.

by Duty281 Sat 19 Feb 2022, 9:55 pm

That's just 100% Tottenham. Lose to Southampton and Wolves at home, then turn up and beat City at the Etihad. Spurs will probably fail to beat Burnley in midweek.

by Guest Sun 20 Feb 2022, 4:04 pm

Leeds United 2-4 Manchester United. The old rivals dished up a great game in quite frankly awful conditions. Manchester 2-0 at half time with goals from Maguire and Fernándes. Leeds scored twice in a minute soon after half time. Rangnick’s changes finally sealed the deal. Fred and Elanga settling the discussion.
Jason Sancho really looks to be coming into his own now.

by **Galted** Sun 20 Feb 2022, 9:03 pm

Apparently each of Watford's last 6 away wins has come under a different manager.

by GSC Mon 21 Feb 2022, 3:55 pm

All of their last 6 away games have come under different managers

by Guest Wed 23 Feb 2022, 9:25 pm

Burnley 1-0 Tottenham. Massive win for Sean Dyche’s men. They move within 2pts off safety and they have a game in hand over Newcastle.
Tottenham seems to have blown their hopes for CL qualification.

by Duty281 Wed 23 Feb 2022, 10:53 pm

Fantastic for Burnley, only one win all season, now they've won two in the space of a few days.

Liverpool within three points after smashing Leeds and, importantly, now have a superior GD to City. Leeds look devoid of life and energy and may be sinking back to the Championship but, in truth, you can make a valid case for all seven teams in the relegation spots finishing in the bottom three.

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