Premier League 22/23 Thread

[weasel]

TBF Zaha is out of contract in the summer so Palace might take 10m now. The others are living in a dream world though, especially the first bloke.

 

[lejackal]

Hopefully we can strengthen a bit in Jan as our failure to make signings last season ultimately cost us 4th. Eddie should be decent leading the line with the rest of the starting squad fit though for a few weeks at least, although he'll find it tough to replicate what Jesus did for the team.

 

[weasel]

I'm still not sure on Jesus. He hasnt scored that many goals. He started on fire but he has dipped since. He could be a Firmino type whose contribution cant really be judged only on goals scored, but I cant help but feel he is getting more credit than he deserves. If Arsenal were 5th would he be getting as much praise?

If Arsenal's luck continues the way it did pre WC, they won't need any signings at all.

 

[lejackal]

I'm still not sure on Jesus. He hasnt scored that many goals. He started on fire but he has dipped since. He could be a Firmino type whose contribution cant really be judged only on goals scored, but I cant help but feel he is getting more credit than he deserves. If Arsenal were 5th would he be getting as much praise?

If Arsenal's luck continues the way it did pre WC, they won't need any signings at all.

He's not scored as many as I expected for sure, but his work rate and general making a nuisance of himself has lifted the team and given the opposition more to think about

 

[weasel]

Similar to Firminio then

 

[edd_jedi]

I can't think of many games that have ended 2-1 with the winning team scoring no goals absolute shocker for Faes! Especially as Leicester looked pretty good last night. Good result for United today as well, Wolves looked like they were going to hang on for the point.

 

[weasel]

Now now, I won't hear a bad word said against Faes! He's a superb player! That first one was pure comedy gold. I only saw bits of the game and Leicester did look good in the first half, from the highlights I saw Pool should have put it to bed in the second half, but then I guess Leicester were pushing on more than they might have had it been 1-1 or 0-1.

I saw chunks of the Utd game. It was a typical early kick off, a bit flat and both sides never quite got going. Utd probably just about deserved the win, but a draw wouldn't have been an unfair result. Utd didn't creat a huge amount. Wolves created ******* NOTHING. They have a solid keeper and back four, a decent midfield (for a non CL side) and a forward line that would need strengthened in League One.
Diego Costa is still good in the air, but ehh that is it. Raul Jimenez has never quite recovered from the head injury and Traore is world class once a season (probably in the FAC against Pool in a few weeks) but utter utter dog dirt the rest of the time. If that team goes down it is purely on their lack of anyone who can score goals (and run/control a ball).

 

[lejackal]

Well that was a pretty much perfect set of results for us. Brighton showed our second choice players are a drop in quality from the starting 11 as they gained confidence and we lost a bit of control following the substitutions. We were a bit lucky with a couple of decisions but I think we were good value for the points overall. And now we're 7 clear we can afford to lose both City games as long as we match them the rest of the season

 

[weasel]

BBC sport app makes it sound like Spuds were ***** today?
Chelsea continue to look ropey too. That'll obviously change when they come to Anfield in a few weeks.

 

[theforceuk]

If Arsenal are 7 points clear at the beginning of February they might do a Leicester and win the league! I actually want Arsenal to win the league, better than City or Liverpool.

 

[lejackal]

If Arsenal are 7 points clear at the beginning of February they might do a Leicester and win the league! I actually want Arsenal to win the league, better than City or Liverpool.

Kindly get your lot to roll over for us in a few weeks and it'll help

 

[theforceuk]

Probably will get smacked up by City we're due a whopping. @lejackal

 

[edd_jedi]

Yep Spurs are in real trouble at the moment, with both Kulusevski and Bentancur injured there is nobody else except Kane who can get the ball forward, and he can't pass it up to himself! Doesn't help having Richarlison out either. And for the tenth? season in a row, our defence and goalkeeper need changing, but apparently no manager can see that.
And yes, it's looking very likely that Leicester will lose their biggest title fluke award this season!

 

[weasel]

If Arsenal are 7 points clear at the beginning of February they might do a Leicester and win the league! I actually want Arsenal to win the league, better than City or Liverpool.

Tell me who you support, without telling me who you support! Lol
(And I would rather they won it than City or Utd, but there's ******* no chance of Utd winning it. He says hoping he hasn't just jinxed it)

I am amazed Arsenal are where they are. When I look at their team, there are no world beaters in it. TBH there is virtually no one I would take at Liverpool. Saka would be about it. I'm not saying the rest are *****, just they seem to be playing very well as a team and are as a collective much much better than the sum of their parts. Luck has played a part, but all title winners have games where they are fortunate. Certainly Ramsdale should be nowhere near a Championship winning team. Tiz early doors though. A few injuries and or a change in luck and who knows.

 

[edd_jedi]

Yep still not even half way through the season yet so plenty of time for things to shake up, hopefully Spurs can either make some signings or get some injurred players back because as it stands we're cruising for 7th. It would be nothing less than a miracle if a) Arsenal win the league and b) Newcastle finish in the top four, but it's hard to argue with either happening as it stands (especially based on recent performances by the teams that 'should' be up there - Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs etc)

 

[theforceuk]

The last time one of Liverpool, Chelsea or Spurs didn't finish in the top 4 was 95-96 season. So ever since top 4 qualified for CL at least one of those have finished in the top 4.

 

[edd_jedi]

And it looks like all three could miss out this season! Arsenal would have to try pretty hard not to qualify now, although saying that I can think of several seasons where one of the two North London clubs have been a dozen points better off than the other but get pipped to the post (usually on the last day)

 

[edd_jedi]

"Ronaldo has a clause in his Al Nassr contract allowing the Portugal forward, 37, to join Newcastle United on loan if they qualify for the Champions League this season"

yeah right, Eddie Howe is going to play Ronaldo in his team who are already third and playing really well as a unit. Seriously who does this guy think he is?

 

[theforceuk]

Yeah I can't see Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea missing out. Chelsea basically have to right this season off if they're going to give Potter a chance and the time he needs. Liverpool or Spurs will catch Newcastle or Man Utd, they both still may do it.

 

[lejackal]

"Ronaldo has a clause in his Al Nassr contract allowing the Portugal forward, 37, to join Newcastle United on loan if they qualify for the Champions League this season"

yeah right, Eddie Howe is going to play Ronaldo in his team who are already third and playing really well as a unit. Seriously who does this guy think he is?

I saw that- as you say there's no way EH would accept it under normal circumstances, do the Saudis just pay him to accept it though? Or order him to and sack him if he doesn't? It's not like the money matters to them.

 

[ferrett79]

"Ronaldo has a clause in his Al Nassr contract allowing the Portugal forward, 37, to join Newcastle United on loan if they qualify for the Champions League this season"

yeah right, Eddie Howe is going to play Ronaldo in his team who are already third and playing really well as a unit. Seriously who does this guy think he is?

Couldn't say that any better. Lol!

 

[lejackal]

Well that's it, the wheels are off, Arteta out etc. Can only be thankful that we're already pretty safe from relegation

 

[theforceuk]

Man Utd have just beaten the 3 sides that are going to get relegated without conceding. Title charge is on, I'm joking. Credit to Ten Hag, he's already looking like the best manager we've had since Fergie retired. That's not much of an achievement, but still. City and Arsenal next two league games.

 

[lejackal]

Oh, and on the penalty front, the handball could've been given, but if the teams were reversed I'd have been pissed at conceding it, however the shirt pull on Gabriel was a stonewall pen imo.

If Odegaard on Bruno is a free kick and a yellow, and Nketiahs much lighter touch shirt pull (can't find a pic) was a yellow, then surely Gabriel having his shirt pulled half way round his neck is a penalty?

 

[edd_jedi]

It does seem that different rules apply for penalties and free kicks which I agree is stupid, if it would have been a foul at the half way line it should be a penalty.

Great performance from Spurs last night (in the second half at least) although may be too little too late.

 

[weasel]

Yeah I can't see Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea missing out. Chelsea basically have to right this season off if they're going to give Potter a chance and the time he needs. Liverpool or Spurs will catch Newcastle or Man Utd, they both still may do it.

Did you see Brentford thumping Liverpool? It wasnt even close to being a contest. Since the season resumed Pool have beaten Villa and Leicester by a goal each, and been bloody unconvincing, lost to City and been thumped by the mighty Brentford. Granted, Brentford are a decent enough side, but they had two goals disallowed and looked like scoring every time they attacked. Liverpool DO NOT look like a side that is anywhere near the level required for CL qualification. And they haven't for most of this season.

Buying another attacker when your midfield is easier to play through than an under 7's side is….an interesting tactic. Jota and Diaz are both out for a few weeks but ehhh the midfield has been an obvious area of weakness for 2 windows now. Obviously Bellingham will fancy a Europa League campaign!

 

[weasel]

Oh, and on the penalty front, the handball could've been given, but if the teams were reversed I'd have been pissed at conceding it, however the shirt pull on Gabriel was a stonewall pen imo.

View attachment 179064
If Odegaard on Bruno is a free kick and a yellow, and Nketiahs much lighter touch shirt pull (can't find a pic) was a yellow, then surely Gabriel having his shirt pulled half way round his neck is a penalty?

I agree with @edd_jedi on the inconsistency between penalties and free kicks, but Arsenal have had a fair bit of luck so far this season, so they cant complain if they don't get a few decisions one week. (That Gabriel one does look bad though)

 

[lejackal]

https://www.sportbible.com/football...trich-rules-football-419462-20230104.amp.html
Some interesting ideas here, I like them all in principle but the tactical foul one is really quite a showstopper given the propensity of them in the modern game.

 

[weasel]

I have been saying for years that when a team surrounds a ref en masse, all he has to do is book every single one of them. The lino, 4th official and VAR can even help ID those who need booked, That stamps it out instantly. Especially if it's a 'big' side (the Utd and Chelsea teams of old were particularly bad for this) and two or three of them get sent off as a result. Suddenly you go from 11 vs 11 to playing with only 8 men and trying your best to avoid a thumping. No club is gonna risk that.

I think I have suggested the 'traffic light system' of cards that hockey has. Green is a slap on the wrist, yellow is 5-10 mins in a sin bin (depending on the offence) and a red is **** off you're done. The rule hockey has on swearing at a ref being a red card also instantly stamps out any foul mouth abuse.

None of it is rocket science, you just need a ref with balls who will say "that's enough, you're off." The problem is they all take the abuse and the hounding and the referees association seem more interested in the exact interpretation of rule 427A section B sub clause 4, than with actually stamping **** like this out.

I do think players who roll around on the floor, hello Neymar, should just be fair game for the rest of the match. 'You roll around after virtually no contact, or none at all, suddenly no one can be booked for fouling you.' See how Neymar likes the third knee high two footed lunge, and see how often he rolls about in future.

 

[weasel]

Well Liverpool were robbed last night! Lol

How that Salah goal was allowed, I will never know. The defender plays it, so fair enough he can't be offside. But ehhh the defender ONLY plays it cos Salah is there and he is thus gaining an advantage from being offside. If that isn't interfering with play I dunno what is.

The disallowed Wolves goal is too weird to even discuss properly. It looks like the lino gave it for the guy who took the corner being offside, but there are no camera angles that show it. How the **** can a multi million pound system like VAR NOT have enough cameras to pick up something like that? Fair enough if it is a lower league ground but the game was at Anfield FFS.
I guess it cancels out the Arsenal goal that was allowed to stand against Pool cos the Arsenal boy was so far offside he was out of shot. But both are a disgrace. You can't have VAR if **** like that is going to happen. There are something like 27 cameras at an average PL game, surely to christ ONE of them must have an angle that shows it.
Fair play to VAR they had no choice but to say we can't see so the on field decision stands. But if I was a Wolves fan I would be livid. Especially as the few fan videos and pictures I have seen, whilst not being great, do make it look like at best the corner taker was borderline. That ignores the fact that there was another touch before it was played to him.
******* shambles.