The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

[Perceptor]

The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Fellas, fellas, let's focus on the most important thing, which is Arsenal (hopefully) smacking around City today.

Second versus third! Will the Arsenal midfield be the key? Or will it not matter as Giroud scores five headers, all while every single hair on his head stays in place?

Great prediction bud. 2 points back now.

I just wanted to say a few things about fearwhatnow's post that people have commented on.

1. Actually we do know our football. I never coached or played seriously enough but I read everything from silly transfer rumours to books on the economics on this game. I don't know everything nor do I claim to but the last thing I am is clueless.

2. Brahvacado is right. You have confused best and most important. Having said that, where would Leicester be without Mahrez and Vardy's performances this season? Probably not top of the table. While casual and pundits heap praise on them and rightfully so, you don't need to arrogantly name 3 other important players that we may or may not have heard of. Again, love seeing a new team do well, but I don't believe they can sustain a challenge unless they shore up their defence.

3. This is one of the best places to talk football. No one judges and we all like to get along regardless of who we support. I also don't think I've seen clueless posts from anyone. We all have our thoughts and opinions and we are wrong from time to time. I know this is a board and how things are written may not reflect what you're really trying to say. You're coming across as a little condescending especially when you tell us that you knew certain teams would win and lose. Great that you knew and we were wrong. That doesn't mean we know less than you.

Anyhow rant over. Great win by the Arsenal

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Andre Mariner before the game, apparently: "you know what? I think I'll call 3 fouls today"

The other refs: "like, the entire game? What if they start trying to commit physical assault against each other?"

Andre Mariner: "meh, I don't like either of these teams anyway. Let them kill each other. Besides, these are grown men they can control themselves without my help. What do you think is going to happen, Theo Walcott starts using his own body as a projectile weapon?"


Later in the game: "Andre, putting aside the fact that you were correct about that oddly specific Walcott prediction, I'm also concerned Otamendi is trying to separate Giroud's spinal column from his body"

Mariner: "HAH. I know right?! What a fun game this is to watch!"

[rsnomar05]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Great prediction bud. 2 points back now.

I just wanted to say a few things about fearwhatnow's post that people have commented on.

1. Actually we do know our football. I never coached or played seriously enough but I read everything from silly transfer rumours to books on the economics on this game. I don't know everything nor do I claim to but the last thing I am is clueless.

2. Brahvacado is right. You have confused best and most important. Having said that, where would Leicester be without Mahrez and Vardy's performances this season? Probably not top of the table. While casual and pundits heap praise on them and rightfully so, you don't need to arrogantly name 3 other important players that we may or may not have heard of. Again, love seeing a new team do well, but I don't believe they can sustain a challenge unless they shore up their defence.

3. This is one of the best places to talk football. No one judges and we all like to get along regardless of who we support. I also don't think I've seen clueless posts from anyone. We all have our thoughts and opinions and we are wrong from time to time. I know this is a board and how things are written may not reflect what you're really trying to say. You're coming across as a little condescending especially when you tell us that you knew certain teams would win and lose. Great that you knew and we were wrong. That doesn't mean we know less than you.

Anyhow rant over. Great win by the Arsenal

Well said, Perceptor. The fact that Gooners like me have "liked" posts from Spuds fans shows why this is one of the best places to talk football. I feel dirty every time I do it, but I still do it. And that includes "liking" screenshots posted in the FM thread about trophies won with Spuds. "Champions League win? That's great for him! I should like this. But he did it with Spuds. A 'hate' button would be appropriate. Why isn't there an 'I hope FM breaks your team' button? Fine, I'll 'like' it. But I won't like 'liking' it."

[fearwhatnow]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Good performance all around by Arsenal despite the last 10-15min panic. It could have been easily a 3-0 or even 4-0 earlier but there were some lazy options offensively.

[jb12780]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Boxing Day Fixtures:



Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

[PabloLFC]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

We're gonna get battered. But then again knowing how we've been under Klopp we'll probably end up winning 4-0.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Not much to do at work in the morning, so here is my quick[, and most likely awful predictions. Yes, I'm predicting a Leicester City loss—please prepare my crow to be well done.

Stoke City 1
Man United 1

Man City 3
Sunderland 0

Aston Villa 0
West Ham 2

Bournemouth 0
Crystal Palace 1

Newcastle 1
Everton 1

Chelsea 2
Watford 2

Liverpool 3
Leicester City 2

Swansea City 0
West Brom 2

Tottenham 2
Norwich City 1

Southampton 1
Arsenal 3

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Predicting a big win over a mid table team directly following a strong win over a top team? As a long time Arsenal supporter Kreb, you should know better than that.

[jb12780]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Yep. We're ****ed now.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Predicting a big win over a mid table team directly following a strong win over a top team? As a long time Arsenal supporter Kreb, you should know better than that.

My last prediction was that we'd quality for the CL knockout stages, so I'm on a bit of a roll...

But we could be just the win Southampton needs to get their season back on track...damn.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Oh no guys, it's happening. (maybe )

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Watford are also on the verge of getting Juan Iturbe on loan from Roma.

Sky is reporting that Bournemouth have leapfrogged them in the race for him.

"It seems as though there is a late twist in the transfer of Juan Iturbe, who now looks to be heading to Bournemouth rather than Watford.

It is understood that talks with Watford stalled and Bournemouth are now in pole position for a loan deal worth 1.5m euros with an option to buy for 22m euros (Watford offered 18m euros).

The deal apparently suits both player, agent and Roma while Bournemouth have also offered to pay the player’s salary."

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

You know a league has way too much money when clubs like Bournemouth and Watford are linked with players like Iturbe and Ighalo

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

So I was going to write a response to ZO in the Chelsea thread, but decided to post it here because some people are newer soccer fans, and others might find it interesting as they probably don't have much of a perspective on Jose:


Jose Mourinho was an absolute phenom in the beginning. He called himself The Special One because that is absolutely what he was. He helped to actually change the way people played the game at the highest level. His Porto team was basically the prototype, and it was glorious. People paint him as a defensive manager, but he was NEVER a defensive manager. Not until he went to Inter was that even remotely the case. He was thought of as a defensive manager in his early days because a lot of people didn't fully understand the way his teams played.

Most people think of a typical Mourinho team as having big, strong athletic workhorses, but he always had quite a few flair players on his teams. Jose's original style was highly attacking, but very organized, well-drilled and highly disciplined. Everybody had a job on defense, and you did your job 100 percent of the time without question. He had players utilizing things he called "pressure zones" to absolutely devastating and oppressive effect. Then once you got the ball, QUICK transition into a ruthless, clinical and highly efficient attack. He promoted massive freedom in the attack, and required all his players to be strong minded under pressure so they could always make the best decisions. In a simplistic way, think of a Mourinho team as a spring: without the ball the whole team contracts as one and absorbs all pressure applied to it, then once the ball is won the entire team explosively expands.

Porto was the prototype in the sense that they were fantastic, but the system was still slightly rough around the edges, slightly less disciplined etc.

Enter Chelsea, the finished product. Jose's Chelsea were utterly terrifying. One of the most dominant teams I've ever watched, and only behind United's treble winning squad on the list of best ever PL teams. People will probably argue the Invincibles were better but that's laughable, and I would still say that if it wasn't Arsenal. Jose's Chelsea took England by storm. They could attack and score at will, and they could shut you out and grind the game to a halt at will as well (a mind boggling 15 goals conceded the entire PL season). With a hearty mix of flair and workhorse players, this would be Jose's legacy.

So what happened? Well, Barcelona happened. Jose went to Inter, and eventually adopted the super defensive counter attacking style he is largely known for today. Barcelona forced him to change his system because he had no choice, but he never changed back again. If I'm being honest, I'm skeptical that we will ever see the Porto/Original Chelsea Mourinho ever again. He's become so set in his ways that he can't seem to get past himself.

People say that his siege mentality eventually wears on the players and they get sick of his defensive tactics. That is probably true, but would not happen if Jose had stayed Jose, because his Porto and Original Chelsea players had all the attacking freedom in the world.

Jose will always be Jose, he will always be a winner. But will we ever see Jose the revolution again? I don't know. I hope so, even if it's with another team, because he was magnificent. I'm just afraid he has lost himself permanently, but here's to hoping I'm wrong.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

LVG's press conference was as awkward as one might it expect it to be.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lH5jmsHXrgY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>