The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

[Leon]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Decent win; decent because we won and played well for 55ish minutes. The first 25 though was ughhhh. Having two holding midfield players didn't help quicken the attack -- which is a recurring theme in the league so far -- and I've no idea when that switch will be turned on. Often times I'd see Carrick and Schneiderlin just a few yards away from the CBs while there would be nobody in the middle and Rooney/Mata would have to drop in order to get the ball moving forward.

Capital One Cup should be a nice look at the rest of the squad and hopefully, a much better showing than last year's embarrassment.

King Dave though!
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Also, what a great waste of money Martial is at the moment. Keep it up, fella!

[Keirik]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Thinking he's already done that is in itself, a bit silly.

- - - - -

Yes, I know he got a second—still too early.

Well he is making the doubters look silly. That's a fact. Not saying it makes him worth the price tag but to score 3 within 2 EPL matches at 19 is a start most of the haters would never have dreamed of.

I for one am loving it.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

De Gea is going to get United in the top 4 again.

If that was Romero, United probably loses that game.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Well he is making the doubters look silly. That's a fact. Not saying it makes him worth the price tag but to score 3 within 2 EPL matches at 19 is a start most of the haters would never have dreamed of.

I for one am loving it.

How is it a fact? I consider "the doubters" those who think his value will be judged by his impact and his form in the long-term, considering how much the club is paying for him. Nobody has been proven wrong as of yet, and that's the point.

I think we can all agree that in this case, doubt is one true and logical thought to have on the matter, when the price is taken into consideration.

For the lack of experience and exposure he has, and the price he went for, it's doubtful as of now, that he'll live up to the price, considering there isn't much to judge him by. It's not as if pundits everywhere were rating him highly before the switch, and there were long conversations about where this future superstar would land.

He hasn't proven anything yet, therefore he hasn't proven anyone wrong yet, and that's perfectly fine.

[Keirik]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

How is it a fact? I consider "the doubters" those who think his value will be judged by his impact and his form in the long-term, considering how much the club is paying for him. Nobody has been proven wrong as of yet, and that's the point.

I think we can all agree that in this case, doubt is one true and logical thought to have on the matter, when the price is taken into consideration.

For the lack of experience and exposure he has, and the price he went for, it's doubtful as of now, that he'll live up to the price, considering there isn't much to judge him by. It's not as if pundits everywhere were rating him highly before the switch, and there were long conversations about where this future superstar would land.

He hasn't proven anything yet, therefore he hasn't proven anyone wrong yet, and that's perfectly fine.

Because he was talked about as not even having the talent to be successful in the EPL, which he already is proving wrong. What he has proved is that he is ready for the EPL, and has the talent, even at such a young age, to score goals here. Will it continue? I don't see why not but that will be determined early on. It's just pretty funny how so early even with this pressure he has opened some eyes.

His price is very overblown. That was the market right now. John Stones almost went for a very inflated price tag as well. It's the market right now. Far too much is being paid attention to that by "expert pundits" It was a move to secure a very promising 19 year old that has a higher ceiling that apparently most people even know. He's proving them wrong. Fact. There are tweets/posts/opinions going on saying he isn't worth the money United paid. Well, so far he is proving them dead wrong.

Big difference between someone saying "we shall see if he was worth it" and "he's not worth the transfer fee"

[KG]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Gabriel cost us points by having a pair and sticking up for his teammate, something our squad has had issues with for years.

In the long run, I'll take missed points here and there if it means having a player on our squad who doesn't back down. It's something we've been sorely lacking. Flamini has no business being on the pitch right now, but if he was playing yesterday, he too would've been there for his teammate.

What's so frustrating is that for years we've been told we need to be harder, tougher, to not back down—yet when we do just that, then the issue becomes we fell for the games, the cheating, and the disgraceful.

Regardless of how Zouma's goal came, you can't deny that a red card changes a game. Maybe he scores that goal still, but maybe it was to make it 1-1. The fact is that Mike Dean heavily influenced the result of the match, and that's a damn shame.

I have no issue seeing Arsenal lose to Chelsea, as I've become quite used to it. But to lose like that? To those type of players, and that type influencing the referee—I have an issue with that.

There's being tough during the course of play and being stupid. I'm sorry Kreb but what Gabriel did was stupid. Maybe he earns some cool points in your locker room but what he did wasn't what I was describing as being tough. Being tough to me is a mentality. Viera had it for Arsenal and everyone knew that he was going to play physical and command the midfield.

To me, that's what Arsenal lacks when people say they need toughness.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

There's being tough during the course of play and being stupid. I'm sorry Kreb but what Gabriel did was stupid. Maybe he earns some cool points in your locker room but what he did wasn't what I was describing as being tough. Being tough to me is a mentality. Viera had it for Arsenal and everyone knew that he was going to play physical and command the midfield.

To me, that's what Arsenal lacks when people say they need toughness.

Gabriel's "kick", step, or whatever got him the red was highly stupid, but I don't think his defending of Koscielny was.

That reaction is the kind of reaction our team has lacked for far too long. The mentality of being a team, and not letting anyone physically push us around, and that goes for whether it's before or after the whistle.

Nobody can argue what Gabriel eventually did wasn't stupid. He'll hopefully learn a lesson from this.

However, the instigator of the entire situation who himself committed a red card offense on Koscielny (the push to the face and the blatant swinging of the arm) went unpunished. And in some circles (some on this forum) he's applauded and even appreciated for his antics, and that is what is the most angering and disappointing.

[OneDrop]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

However, the instigator of the entire situation who himself committed a red card offense on Koscielny (the push to the face and the blatant swinging of the arm) went unpunished. And in some circles (some on this forum) he's applauded and even appreciated for his antics, and that is what is the most angering and disappointing.

Yup. No idea how swinging and pushing someone's face is, according to some, a smart way to get under your opponent's skin. I wish everyone who encourages this type of behaviour and applauds him for it would stop watching the sport that I grew up with and that I love. It's sickening to see how far we've come with people actually not minding Costa swinging at people. And even after the whole incident and getting people sent off this ****ing wasteman goes outof his way to square up to Oxlade. Ridiculous. I wouldn't even blame Costa if this was a one-off but he's been a chav in damn near every game.

[KG]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

You guys act like he's out there committing crimes. Or like he hasn't done this since bursting on to the scene with Atletico. Hell, this isn't even the first time they've gotten into it.

I agree he should have been red carded but retaliating is stupid because we all the 2nd man gets caught. Tim Howard said it perfectly today. Last year they allowed themselves to get mixed up, Howard himself squared up to Costa and it egged him and we put 5 past them. This year they focused on not falling for his antics and they handled us easily and shut Diego down.

Don't feed the beast.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Because he was talked about as not even having the talent to be successful in the EPL, which he already is proving wrong. What he has proved is that he is ready for the EPL, and has the talent, even at such a young age, to score goals here. Will it continue? I don't see why not but that will be determined early on. It's just pretty funny how so early even with this pressure he has opened some eyes.

His price is very overblown. That was the market right now. John Stones almost went for a very inflated price tag as well. It's the market right now. Far too much is being paid attention to that by "expert pundits" It was a move to secure a very promising 19 year old that has a higher ceiling that apparently most people even know. He's proving them wrong. Fact. There are tweets/posts/opinions going on saying he isn't worth the money United paid. Well, so far he is proving them dead wrong.

Big difference between someone saying "we shall see if he was worth it" and "he's not worth the transfer fee"

Just so we're clear, 2 games is what it takes to be PL-quality, or is it 3 goals? I feel like sample size is relevant here, and the "haters" or doubters or whatever probably don't feel silly unless they don't understand sample size.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Yup. No idea how swinging and pushing someone's face is, according to some, a smart way to get under your opponent's skin. I wish everyone who encourages this type of behaviour and applauds him for it would stop watching the sport that I grew up with and that I love. It's sickening to see how far we've come with people actually not minding Costa swinging at people. And even after the whole incident and getting people sent off this ****ing wasteman goes outof his way to square up to Oxlade. Ridiculous. I wouldn't even blame Costa if this was a one-off but he's been a chav in damn near every game.

https://gfycat.com/AshamedCreepyHuman

Curious how you felt about this, which is WAY worse than Diego slapping Koscielny in the face

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

https://gfycat.com/AshamedCreepyHuman

Curious how you felt about this, which is WAY worse than Diego slapping Koscielny in the face

i think alexis just became steelerfan's favorite player, i mean that kind of play is truly what this game is all about according to him, poty stuff right there.

[OneDrop]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

https://gfycat.com/AshamedCreepyHuman

Curious how you felt about this, which is WAY worse than Diego slapping Koscielny in the face

I can understand someone getting caught up in the moment. I've played football myself on a fairly high level and I remember getting lost in the moment a few times. The difference is most players aren't looking for it and lose their cool for a very brief moment like Alexis in that video. Should he have been punished for that last year? Yes, but mildly, definitely red card worthy. The main point I'm trying to make is Costa is out there picking fights every week and let's face it, there are smarter ways to get under your opponent's skin, look at how Neymar does it.

[Leon]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

The Anti-Costa

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Although part of me was hoping United would manage to get the ball then play a ball forward for Martial, who suddenly stops helping him out -- making him onside -- and goes on to score. Would've made a great heel turn.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

I can understand someone getting caught up in the moment. I've played football myself on a fairly high level and I remember getting lost in the moment a few times. The difference is most players aren't looking for it and lose their cool for a very brief moment like Alexis in that video. Should he have been punished for that last year? Yes, but mildly, definitely red card worthy. The main point I'm trying to make is Costa is out there picking fights every week and let's face it, there are smarter ways to get under your opponent's skin, look at how Neymar does it.

Lol, I'm sorry dude but that is absolute garbage. Plenty of players get caught up in the heat of the moment, they don't all throw wild haymaker punches at the backs of people's heads. The best part is, Alexis actually had a history of stuff like that, he's a hothead. But because he is liked, stuff he does gets swept under the rug.

Punished, but mildly? Dude that's a punch to the back of the head. Like, he really winds up too. That has zero place in professional sport and way more chance of resulting in an injury than lightly slapping somebody in the face, scratching their neck and calling them names.

My point is, plenty of other players do ****ty things too. The fact that people can excuse Alexis's behavior while calling for Costa to be banned from the game, to me, is very very silly.