The imaginatively titled Premier League 21/22 Thread

[weasel]

Agreed.

I dunno what Harry is doing. The pass to him was fine he shouldn't have needed 3 touches to control it. It looks more like he has no clue what they are doing and given they are up to 40 odd first time passes the penny should really have dropped by then. It's not as if it's some revolutionary new drill.

 

[edd_jedi]

Bit quiet in here recently! Some big results over the weekend, things went Spurs' way for a change. I'll moan again that Chelsea can apparently beat Spurs 3 times in a fortnight and then lose to Brentford, amazing what a bit of animocity can do for a team. And the tables have turned for Spurs and Arsenal, it wasn't long ago we were behind them with games in hand and we screwed it up, can the Gunners hold their nerve. I think they're still in pole position for fourth but the derby will be massive (if it ever gets rescheduled!)

 

[weasel]

Yeah good weekend for Spurs. Lloris having another shocker mind.
I did not see that Chelsea result coming, they may well end up with a fight on their hands for a CL spot, and I owuld love to see that horrible hateful club (and its fans) trapsing round Europe in the EL nxt season.

Utd doing their best to avoid CL as well. I saw chunks of the game and they were very ponderous. It was a game they needed to win and it had a distinct 'last game of the season' feel to it. Whoever comes in there has a lot of work ahead of them.

Everton stinking the place out too. They are in real trouble as their run in is horrible and they have no form to speak of. The game with Burnley on Wed nite is massive. Lose that and they are staring down the barrel. Win and it's a massive step to safety. Cue a draw.

Which is also what I expect next Sunday at the Etihad when City and Pool play, but if I had to pick a winner, it would be City. Not quite a title decider but dam close.

 

[edd_jedi]

Well Pool have the better form so who knows! It's wide open anyway.

 

[lejackal]

12th of May for the return of St Tots day @edd_jedi

 

[edd_jedi]

12th of May for the return of St Tots day @edd_jedi

As we're playing Liverpool a few days before that you are probably right!

 

[lejackal]

As we're playing Liverpool a few days before that you are probably right!

If we play like we are now you'll be fine

 

[edd_jedi]

If we play like we are now you'll be fine

Well you did say a few weeks ago that points on the board are better than games in hand!

 

[weasel]

It's gonna be tight between Spuds and Arsenal.

I would expect both to win their next two games, or at least to do broadly as well as each other in them. Both sides have an inconsistent streak and those games are not gimmes, but I don't think one side has an easier pair of fixtures than the other. After that we get the period that decides it for me. I would expect Chelsea to have too much for Arsenal, but that is their game in hand so assuming it's not 15-0 that's irrelevant.
Then Arsenal have Utd, WH, Leeds and Spurs, while Spurs have Brentford, Leicester, Liverpool and Arsenal. A lot could ride on that North London derby.
I would expect whoever is in 4th after that run to have enough about them to win their last 2 games, so that four game period is when it's gonna be decided. Hard to say which side I would fancy. On paper Pool (Spurs toughest game) is a harder game than WH (Arsenal's toughest, going by league position) but both are still in Europe and may or may not be distracted by that, or in Pool's case may, or may not, be in a race for the title . Utd are probably slightly tougher than Leicester but again both of those sides are very flaky. Leeds and Brentford are much of a muchness and neither have anything to play for, both are safe baring a massive change in form from the bottom 4. Then it's the derby.
Really hard to call.
Obviously if Arsenal play like they did last night then it's irrelevant, Spurs will walk it as Arsenal won't win a game. Yer boy Tavares was woeful, I only saw bits of it but WTF was he doing for the first goal? The ball is coming straight onto his head and he ducks out of the way. Claiming a foul for a very slight push. Pathetic defending. I heard he was, at least partly to blame for the second goal too. Arsenal fans better hope Tierney's knee injury inst that bad!

 

[weasel]

Ps, Come on Atleti, don't roll over. Boot the **** outta City. Injure half their team and at least leave it so the second leg isn't a formality for them!

Cue that useless shower of diving GBH merchants rolling over and losing 4-0 and having 3 guys sent off.

 

[lejackal]

It's gonna be tight between Spuds and Arsenal.

View attachment 174195
I would expect both to win their next two games, or at least to do broadly as well as each other in them. Both sides have an inconsistent streak and those games are not gimmes, but I don't think one side has an easier pair of fixtures than the other. After that we get the period that decides it for me. I would expect Chelsea to have too much for Arsenal, but that is their game in hand so assuming it's not 15-0 that's irrelevant.
Then Arsenal have Utd, WH, Leeds and Spurs, while Spurs have Brentford, Leicester, Liverpool and Arsenal. A lot could ride on that North London derby.
I would expect whoever is in 4th after that run to have enough about them to win their last 2 games, so that four game period is when it's gonna be decided. Hard to say which side I would fancy. On paper Pool (Spurs toughest game) is a harder game than WH (Arsenal's toughest, going by league position) but both are still in Europe and may or may not be distracted by that, or in Pool's case may, or may not, be in a race for the title . Utd are probably slightly tougher than Leicester but again both of those sides are very flaky. Leeds and Brentford are much of a muchness and neither have anything to play for, both are safe baring a massive change in form from the bottom 4. Then it's the derby.
Really hard to call.
Obviously if Arsenal play like they did last night then it's irrelevant, Spurs will walk it as Arsenal won't win a game. Yer boy Tavares was woeful, I only saw bits of it but WTF was he doing for the first goal? The ball is coming straight onto his head and he ducks out of the way. Claiming a foul for a very slight push. Pathetic defending. I heard he was, at least partly to blame for the second goal too. Arsenal fans better hope Tierney's knee injury inst that bad!

KT is likely out for the rest tomorrow f the season (thanks to 180 minutes in two pointless friendlies)
Tavares was decent the first time he deputised but had a shocker at Forest and again last night. I'd rather have Saka at LB, Tomiyasu at RB (assuming he's ready to return) two of Martinelli/Pepe/ESR on the wings and the other in the Lackofthreat position, Lakonga in place of Partey if he's not able to return with Odegaard and Xhaka as they are now.

 

[weasel]

That's right Partey went off injured too. Stinking night for Arsenal all round.

 

[lejackal]

That's right Partey went off injured too. Stinking night for Arsenal all round.

Not the best but we made our bed, now it's time to lie in it

 

[edd_jedi]

I reckon it will come down to the last day of the season, and could go either way. Very hard to call as there are so many variables, not least inconsistency so going on recent history Arsenal will beat Chelsea and Spurs will lose to Norwich. But it's definitely going to be a scrap for fourth, and I agree the NLD could decide it (which itself is because it should already have been played when Arsenal were struggling)

 

[lejackal]

I reckon it will come down to the last day of the season, and could go either way. Very hard to call as there are so many variables, not least inconsistency so going on recent history Arsenal will beat Chelsea and Spurs will lose to Norwich. But it's definitely going to be a scrap for fourth, and I agree the NLD could decide it (which itself is because it should already have been played when Arsenal were struggling)

I mean we weren't the only ones getting games postponed in line with the rules and we were depleted at the start of the season. Everton or Southampton could complain if they go down because they lost to Newcastle as they bought half a new team

 

[weasel]

It was getting to the stage where teams were taking the piss with covid postponements though. Arsenal weren't the only ones and probably weren't the worst. From memory they did get a game called off for Covid after having Xhaka sent off (which should surely be assumed to happen at least twice a season?) and loaning AMN. That was a tad cheeky. They weren't alone in pushing the rules to the limit, and the PL should have grown a set, but I can see why Edd is annoyed.

Leeds got a game called off against Pool a day after fielding a side, and getting humped, by City. And the following weekend they fielded in the FAC. Yet they couldn't field against Pool. Hhhmmm.
Granted, the FAC has 'field or forfeit' as a rule, but still, they managed to find a team for City and a week later in the FAC, but couldn't find one for Pool.

I don't blame the club's, and you're right about Newcastle, I blame the PL for agreeing so easily and so often to postponements.

Ohhh and Tierney out for the season. Scotland must be glad they played him for the full 90 in those two meaningless friendlies now, not like they have any big games coming up that he'll miss. Arsenal will no doubt be telling the SFA he has an injury next time they call him up, and fair ***** if they do. I would.

 

[lejackal]

Not to mention no other postponement got the same level of coverage, not even those called off with only hours to go. And Spurs main complaint is that they couldn't play us when we were weakened? And aren't saying squat about them having new players thus in theory a stronger side for the rearranged fixture. It's laughable really.

 

[edd_jedi]

Well that's two hours of my life I won't get back, Christ Atletico are soul destroying to watch. How can anyone call Jose "park the bus" yet watch that dross? And the cheating is just next level, I don't understand how they're allowed to get away with it.

 

[edd_jedi]

Not to mention no other postponement got the same level of coverage, not even those called off with only hours to go. And Spurs main complaint is that they couldn't play us when we were weakened? And aren't saying squat about them having new players thus in theory a stronger side for the rearranged fixture. It's laughable really.

I don't remember any complaints about sportsmanship from Arsenal fans when Spurs had lasagnegate sometimes you've just got to play even if not at full strength.

 

[lejackal]

I don't remember any complaints about sportsmanship from Arsenal fans when Spurs had lasagnegate sometimes you've just got to play even if not at full strength.

Then every team should've played as we had to before covid protocols were put in place

 

[edd_jedi]

Yes I agree Arsenal were hard done by having to play Brentford in their first game with a few players out. But it's just typical the game they got out of was the one against Spurs, that's all.

 

[theforceuk]

Everyone knocks Athletico Madrid for there style of play and rightly so, I do. But DS has won 8 trophies for Athletico, that's not bad for a club with a fraction of the resources Barcelona and Real have. The Athletico fans absolutely adore DS like a god because of what he's done. I'd like to see Pep be as successful at a club like Athletico, not sure he would tho. It takes some coaching to get a group of players to act and play like that for 90 minutes.

 

[weasel]

Well that's two hours of my life I won't get back, Christ Atletico are soul destroying to watch. How can anyone call Jose "park the bus" yet watch that dross? And the cheating is just next level, I don't understand how they're allowed to get away with it.

I'm glad someone other than me hates Atleti as well. On the one hand you do have to admire how well drilled they are. BUT it is eye gougingly bad to watch and the diving, time wasting, calling for the other team to be booked every time they come within 10 feet of you, and general 'being a wankstain' that that club exude, really does piss you off…..after about 10minutes.

I'd sooner watch a Fat Sam or Tony Pulis side and that says it all.

 

[theforceuk]

Ten Hag deal done, very happy with that. It's the first of about 100 steps Man Utd need to make to rebuild the club. Obviously not getting carried away, apparently half the squad are not sure about him, so they can piss of hopefully.

 

[lejackal]

I saw an interesting stat the other day that the last two Ajax managers to make be leagues didn't see the year out, never mind the season. He looks a good manager but unless you recruit properly with an actual plan you'll still be clutching at straws

 

[theforceuk]

Agreed and none of those things are in place, he will need a 5 year plan IMO. The big thing for me is he plays exciting football, which we haven't had for 10 years. Watch out Arsenal we're coming for you. It's certainly the first appointment that I'm genuinely excited about.

 

[lejackal]

You've got a really talented squad of players but I don't think you have a balanced team. Some of the quality you have is right up there though

 

[theforceuk]

I'm not sure, a lot of over paid England stars that have never won anything of note, Rashford for example, he's 24 and hasn't really improved since he made his debut, but he's still living of the young Man Utd academy player that burst onto the scene reputation. Not sure he's good enough, first touch let's him down to often, runs into blind ally's, shoots when he should pass. That's just one player. I feel a lot of the squad has suffered from 3 years of poor/none coaching from Ole's regime.

 

[edd_jedi]

Surely Frank's days are numbered now, or are the Everton owners going to let him take them down!?

 

[theforceuk]

Yeah have you seen Everton's remaining fixtures, can't really see where 5 wins are coming from? Shocking if they go down.