The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Read an interesting comment about Newcastle somewhere. Said that the reason they always look 10x better when they play a top team (especially Chelsea) is because Newcastle players these days just view the club as a stepping stone to a bigger club, and the games vs bigger clubs are more highly televised. So they play well as sort of an audition tape.

The funny part of course being that the majority of them don't get picked up by bigger clubs, specifically because they are seen as too inconsistent.

The theory makes a lot of sense to me at least, explains why they can look like world beaters against big teams and then play like my Sunday league team when facing lower placed teams.

Sissoko is one of those guys where you watch him, and sometimes I think "man, this dude could play for almost any club in the world", and then a few games later he looks like he's never even heard of soccer before.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Schweinsteiger has been charged with violent conduct for his forearm/elbow on Winston Reid.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Probably the right call, but Fellaini's was worse. If you were going to punish any action from that match, it should have been Fellaini's stomp.

[elprez98]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Lukaku is such a beast. Very unlucky not to score 3 or 4 against Palace.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Lukaku is such a beast

[cdawg44]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Must suck for Chelsea fans to see KDB, Lukaku, Bertrand all playing so well in the EPL... That would be a nice core to work with. Plus you add in those are all positions that could use some help for them. Assuming Azpilicueta moved back to RB where he is best suited.

[KG]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Must suck for Chelsea fans to see KDB, Lukaku, Bertrand all playing so well in the EPL... That would be a nice core to work with. Plus you add in those are all positions that could use some help for them. Assuming Azpilicueta moved back to RB where he is best suited.

It is BUT we used some of the sales of those guys to fund guys who won us the title last year in Cesc, Diego, etc... Even Willian was purchased using some of the funds from previous sales of Luiz/Mata

I'm not mad at any of those guys though, especially Betrand who put in his time and NEVER complained. Hell, a lot of people forget that he started at LM for us in the CL Final vs Bayern.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

KDB was one of those things that looks bad in hindsight. When he left; 1) he wanted to leave 2) he wanted a team built around him, but his playstyle didn't fit our system at the time, and 3) Oscar was the better of the two players at the time.

Selling KDB looks bad in hindsight, but it made sense at the time and plenty of clubs have sales like that.

Bertrand is probably the one that angers me the most. If I could go back in time and not sell only a few players (let's say 3) we let leave the club in the last few years, Bertrand would be one of them.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

KDB looks worse because he ended up at City. Everyone knew he was gonna be this good. You just hoped he didn't end up back in the EPL.

[fugazi]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Lukaku is such a beast. Very unlucky not to score 3 or 4 against Palace.

Was just saying the other day how I think about him every time I hear of Chelsea's troubles...

[cdawg44]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

It is BUT we used some of the sales of those guys to fund guys who won us the title last year in Cesc, Diego, etc... Even Willian was purchased using some of the funds from previous sales of Luiz/Mata

I'm not mad at any of those guys though, especially Betrand who put in his time and NEVER complained. Hell, a lot of people forget that he started at LM for us in the CL Final vs Bayern.

The Luiz and Mata sales were strokes of pure genius. The fact that you guys got £50 million and £38 million for two guys that were surplus requirements was amazing and some of the best transfer business I've ever seen. Plus Schurrle just didn't fit how you guys play as far as defensive positioning. Oh I get it, those sales funded some great business that led you guys to the title, but I'm sure those lads would be must appreciated to have as options with so much of the side struggling.

[Perceptor]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Yeah, when you guys sold off Luiz and Mata, I applauded the business and getting Costa and Cesc was masterclass stroke. As much as I dislike Costa, when he's fit and focused, he's deadly.

I admit I was surprised you guys let Bertrand, Lukaku, and KDB go. I realize you won the title so it makes a difference. Having said that, neither KDB nor Lukaku would have played as much if they'd stayed. They needed first team football to start realizing their potential and they weren't going to get it at Chelsea.

[KG]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

I actually miss Schurlle the most out of all those guys in terms of what they brought to us. We need/needed his direct style and ability to close down on defense. It's a shame his muscular disease robbed him of his form. He was an unheralded component of that German WC winning side


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[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Monk sacked by Swansea. Stupid decision imo. He guided them to 8th in the league and best ever 56 points last year. He really deserved more time. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Brendan Rodgers return.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Monk sacked by Swansea. Stupid decision imo. He guided them to 8th in the league and best ever 56 points last year. He really deserved more time. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Brendan Rodgers return.

Sad to see him go. This seems to another instance of just not knowing what they want, or expect.