Premier League 2019/2020 Thread

[theforceuk]

Don't worry Man Utd will slip up at hame to Watford after beating Chelsea the players can put their feet up for the rest of February.

If OGS insists on playing a 3-5-2 again then we will be for the taking.

 

[edd_jedi]

I think news of City's potential European ban next year is going to make a few teams up their game for this last quarter of the season. MU, SFU, Wolves and Spurs all have a decent shot at 5th. It's also entirely possible Arsenal could sneak in there if a few results go their way, we're only talking 6 points separating 5th to 10th at the moment.

 

[weasel]

I suspect whoever finishes 5th will be disappointed when City win their appeal.

 

[theforceuk]

A lot of what I've seen and read is saying City will get the ban reduced but not overturned. A lot are saying City have better Lawyers than UEFA as well, its hard to say.

 

[edd_jedi]

Well considering Spurs were playing with 10 midfielders, can't complain about the scoreline. Ironic that Chelsea scored our only goal. Seriously f***ed without Kane or Son fit.

 

[weasel]

A lot of what I've seen and read is saying City will get the ban reduced but not overturned. A lot are saying City have better Lawyers than UEFA as well, its hard to say.

Yeap, City have almost limitless funds, UEFA have billions hidden in various Swiss bank accounts but that is for Presidents and big wigs to embezzle. They won't want to waste it sticking up for their principles.

Well considering Spurs were playing with 10 midfielders, can't complain about the scoreline. Ironic that Chelsea scored our only goal. Seriously f***ed without Kane or Son fit.

I see VAR apologised and said yer man (Lo Celso?) should actually have been sent off and they got it wrong. To make it worse, because it was seen by an official, he can't face retrospective punishment so he gets away with it. ****ing genius.

I have seen a few angles of it and I think a red is harsh. There was no intent. He is going for the ball. From one angle it does look bad, but from another u can see it's all part of his step as he sort of over balances/falls over Aszp.

I watched City Leicester. That was crap. Quite how KDB got away with that hand ball i will never know. He's in the wall, he lifts his hands to his face (cos he's a wimp and doesn't want a wee soft football to hit him) and the ball smacks into them. That's hand ball. Penalty.
The penalty City missed was probably fair enough, if a little harsh. Players can't charge down or throw themselves in the way of a shot and make their arms disappear. But given the state of the handball law and the decisions we see, that one was probably fair enough.

 

[edd_jedi]

I see VAR apologised and said yer man (Lo Celso?) should actually have been sent off and they got it wrong. To make it worse, because it was seen by an official, he can't face retrospective punishment so he gets away with it. ****ing genius.

Even with my Spurs glasses on, I don't see how it's a clear red card. He's not looking down, how does he know he's stamping on the guy's leg? Looks to me that he was just landing/balancing and the other players leg happened to be there. For me a straight red has to be clearly intentional.

 

[weasel]

I have seen a few angles of it and I think a red is harsh. There was no intent. He is going for the ball. From one angle it does look bad, but from another u can see it's all part of his step as he sort of over balances/falls over Aszp.

Agreed. Although, there is one angle that does make it look bad. In real time it just looked like he fell over yer man. Slow mo makes everything look worse.
I was more frustrated at the FA for the stupid rule whereby even though VAr admitted it got it wrong, because they looked at it, it can't be retrospectively punished. That's just daft

 

[theforceuk]

That's Arsenal out of the CL for another year unless they Liverpool, Leicester and Chelsea get banned as well. Ajax out as well, Inter Milan look like the best team left?

 

[lejackal]

Yep, Aubameyang not getting that last gasp chance has all but sorted his contract situation, no CL, no Aubameyang

Not that I'm blaming him, collectively we weren't good enough on the night, 4 games in 11 days won't have helped so perhaps a better rotation would have seen fresh legs do better in the first 70 minutes and then bring on a couple of senior subs for the last 20?

On the bright side we should be able to beat Pompey in the FA Cup on Monday

 

[lejackal]

Arsenal really do have some of the worst fans, Arteta Out?!?!?! Are you ****ing kidding?

 

[edd_jedi]

It's far from over for the final CL spot IMO (potentially two if City's ban is upheld.) Arsenal have just as much chance of sneaking in there as Spurs, Wolves, SFU or MU if Chelsea or Leicester slip up. Both Chelsea and Leicester are punching way above their weight at the moment, they're only in the top four because of how diabolical the usual challengers have been all season (Spurs had TWENTY more points atfter 27 games last season, which would put them second!)

I quite like Frank Lampard and he's doing well, but in his own words this week's CL defeat was a reality check - you don't walk in to the PL with one season's Championship management experience and get top 4 other than through blind luck, it just doesn't happen.

 

[theforceuk]

Yeah I agree Arsenal are still in with a chance of a CL spot, especially if 5th will do it. I also think Leicester are catchable for Spurs and Man Utd. Long way to go still and a lot will happen.

 

[edd_jedi]

Yeah, this is the point last season where the CL chasing teams were all doing well but then went to ****, and most only got about 10 points from their last 10 games, it was like a race to not qualify! As most teams outside the top three have been so far poor this season, hopefully the end of this season will be a bit more interesting.

 

[weasel]

I didn't see the Arsenal or Utd games, I was forced to watch Celtic by the wife. **** they are shite!
Piss poor result by Arsenal, and it was a full strength side too.

Race for the last 1 or 2, depending on City's ban, CL spots will be close. Still enough games left for some to put together a decent run and cruise it. Or choke and finish 10th.
That Arsenal defeat does have the feel of a make or break result. Either they all pull their fingers out and the league form improves or they give up and plod along to a mid table finish outside of European places. Either way I would say Aubamayang is gone. He has a year left on his contract, he is 30 ish and wants to play in CL. Arsenal don't look like making that any time soon so why would he sign an extension? Even ignoring the fact the club is a shambles and the team is full of deadwood.
I sensible Board would realise he is gone next summer and sell this summer, especially given Arsenal need the money rebuild the squad. But this is Arsenal......

 

[theforceuk]

That's Leicester cracking right on cue! :lol:

 

[Snaketibe]

Well, I certainly didn't see that Watford vs Liverpool result coming! :shock:

 

[theforceuk]

I did, they have been jammy all season!!!!

Still ridiculous run/start to a league campaigne, that will surely never be matched?

 

[edd_jedi]

The chances of Liverpool going an entire season without an off day was pretty much zero, in fact I'm sure most Pool fans will even agree they've been fortunate on a few occasions this season and ran out of luck this time. They'll still walk the league title, and nothing for Klopp to worry about.

 

[edd_jedi]

If Jose wants to understand why Spurs are 7th this season, all he needs to do is watch this game back. Eric Dier should not be playing in the PL, let alone for a big six club. He is slow, lazy, clumsy, lacks any kind of skill, and was arguably responsible for all three goals today. Why Jose keeps playing him is beyond me, we can score goals even without our two best strikers, but with comedians like Dier the only thing between a striker and the goal, the striker is going to score every time.