The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

[cdawg44]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

That and the West Ham display was the worse I've seen the midfield play in 2015. Debuchy didn't play no where near as bad like at Sheffield and Bayern. But the communication between the CBs on the Kane goal was embarrassing.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Your defensive positioning has just been all off since the Bayern game. A hungrier team would have taken you guys to the cleaners I think.

Agreed. We did not look nearly as solid as we have in defense previous times this season. The interlull once again might be a good thing for us.

That and the West Ham display was the worse I've seen the midfield play in 2015. Debuchy didn't play no where near as bad like at Sheffield and Bayern. But the communication between the CBs on the Kane goal was embarrassing.

Neville pointed it out on the broadcast and was exactly right, if Koscielny doesn't step up and instead just goes with Kane, there's no way Kane is getting away from him.

[KG]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

West Ham's Dimitri Payet out for 3 months with an ankle injury. He's been one of the best players in the league this far


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[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

West Ham's Dimitri Payet out for 3 months with an ankle injury. He's been one of the best players in the league this far


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There goes West Ham's good start to the season! Sakho is also injured and Valencia went off on a stretcher yet again at the weekend.

[elprez98]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

West Ham's Dimitri Payet out for 3 months with an ankle injury. He's been one of the best players in the league this far


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Both he and Ayew have played well moving from OM to the EPL.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

So many unfortunate injuries this season. First the entire Chelsea first team and now Payet.

Such a bummer when these things happen

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

So many unfortunate injuries this season. First the entire Chelsea first team and now Payet.

Such a bummer when these things happen

The collective spirit of the Chelsea squad breaking certainly is a devastating and tough to overcome.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

The collective spirit of the Chelsea squad breaking certainly is a devastating and tough to overcome.

You're a heartless monster

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

This keeps getting better and better.

Eva Carneiro row: Chelsea winger Eden Hazard could be called upon as witness in ex-team doctor's case against club

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eva-carneiro-row-chelsea-winger-eden-hazard-to-be-called-upon-as-witness-in-ex-team-doctors-case-a6729646.html

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

[Leon]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Chelsea having their worst first half in the Roman era: 16 goals scored

Title challenging Manchester United: 15 goals scored

Super curious to see what Leon has to say, because people like him are the ones who have always repeated that "boring boring Chelsea" nonsense, and balked at us when we said defense wins you championships.

LVG has literally turned United into Chelsea, I'm actually kind of enjoying this. He's bulldozed Fergie's legacy and turned them into another generic, short passing, possession obsessed, money spending big dog.

He's turned United into everything they have claimed to hate for the last 10 years, and the best part is he has even got United fans to defend it.

Reviving this semi old post to respond:

Of course defence wins you championships, but to label United a defensive team is outright wrong. The reason we have the best defence in the league (statistically speaking) is because we dominate possession and because of what LVG started last year to build the club's foundation back up. There hasn't been a game this season where we parked the bus, which is what you would usually call a defensive side. The reason you guys were "boring, boring Chelsea" is because -- bar most of last year -- for all the attacking talent you guys had, Chelsea would still resort to parking the bus. That bus finally broke down and, well, you're entertaining for relegation reasons.

United are boring because for all our ball hogging, we still can't seem to create chances consistently despite some pretty great passers in our midfield. I don't like possession without chance creation but I really can't be too mad when results are being achieved. Would I prefer a more gung-ho style? Hell yes. Our manager isn't that though, so I'd think fans would meet him halfway. LVG says he'll get it right, then I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Historically speaking though, it is whose who succeed him that reap the benefits of the foundation he lays.

And just to add to the Eva/Hazard news, this has surely got to be the reveal as to who betrayed Mourinho. PLEASE!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cNgxyL5zEAk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[dubcity]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Chelsea will have to choose between Hazard and Mourinho. Mourinho will sell him in Jan for sure. Then again, he may want to leave regardless of who is charge, at this point.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Reviving this semi old post to respond:

Of course defence wins you championships, but to label United a defensive team is outright wrong. The reason we have the best defence in the league (statistically speaking) is because we dominate possession and because of what LVG started last year to build the club's foundation back up. There hasn't been a game this season where we parked the bus, which is what you would usually call a defensive side. The reason you guys were "boring, boring Chelsea" is because -- bar most of last year -- for all the attacking talent you guys had, Chelsea would still resort to parking the bus. That bus finally broke down and, well, you're entertaining for relegation reasons.

United are boring because for all our ball hogging, we still can't seem to create chances consistently despite some pretty great passers in our midfield. I don't like possession without chance creation but I really can't be too mad when results are being achieved. Would I prefer a more gung-ho style? Hell yes. Our manager isn't that though, so I'd think fans would meet him halfway. LVG says he'll get it right, then I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Historically speaking though, it is whose who succeed him that reap the benefits of the foundation he lays.

And just to add to the Eva/Hazard news, this has surely got to be the reveal as to who betrayed Mourinho. PLEASE!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cNgxyL5zEAk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Actually don't disagree too much with anything you said. However, you absolutely do not need to park the bus to be a defensive side. Spain doesn't park the bus, and they are 100% a defensive team. It's just defense via ball possession rather than defense via bus parking.

Anyway, like you said, LVG's successors are usually the ones that reap all the benefits. It's been quite a long time since his last personal success.

I was more just relishing the fact that United have (even if it ends up being temporary), abandoned everything that made them United in favor of getting results, and have largely become the thing they have hated.

[Leon]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Actually don't disagree too much with anything you said. However, you absolutely do not need to park the bus to be a defensive side. Spain doesn't park the bus, and they are 100% a defensive team. It's just defense via ball possession rather than defense via bus parking.

Anyway, like you said, LVG's successors are usually the ones that reap all the benefits. It's been quite a long time since his last personal success.

I was more just relishing the fact that United have (even if it ends up being temporary), abandoned everything that made them United in favor of getting results, and have largely become the thing they have hated.

It's basically semantics if that were the case. Best form of defence is attack, or in this case, keeping the ball from the opposition etc etc.

LVG won the league, what, 5 years ago? It's not THAT long.

It's a stretch to say United have abandoned their identity, since everything else is still distinctly United (academy player in match day squad; promoting youth; supplementing with "world class" players). Attacking football is still what the club requires -- we're just not doing a very good job at the moment.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

5 years is a long time for a manager of his stature.

The youth aspect is obviously important, but you can't say after 25 years of SAF that exciting, attacking football isn't a major cornerstone of your club. It's not just that you guys aren't doing a good job of attacking, you're clearly being coached to be conservative first, everything else second.

Also, my cat could manage Bayern Munich to a league title, and he's an idiot even by cat standards.