The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

[KG]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

There are a lot of times I feel like Da Gea makes saves look much more dramatic than they really are. Great keeper no doubt though

[fearwhatnow]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

There are a lot of times I feel like Da Gea makes saves look much more dramatic than they really are. Great keeper no doubt though

Yes, 2 of his saves looked truly spectacular but after watching the replay it was quite obvious that he added some extra acrobatic bits!

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Undoubtedly, the only issue was being clinical. You do realise that many times the better team loses in football? Like Boxing Day, remember that? I've already admitted I was wrong about Leicester but you seem intent on making a compliment an insult and that's your problem.

And by poor cup performance I mean you didn't make it past the first hurdle. Not that you played poorly in the game, more that you didn't get any further.

I've never once said Leicester are poor. Most teams in the top two leagues have billionaire owners, it doesn't mean they use it. Leicester certainly don't. Isn't Okazaki their record signing at £9m? It's admirable more than anything but moneyball only works for so long. To keep this up they will have to take risks with their money.

Again, what exactly is the power of Leicester? All throughout this season you've been very quick to forget where you came from and treated this season not as an anomaly but something you'd expect. Treat it for what it is and enjoy it rather than feeling the need to defend the club (from nonexistent attacks you like to invent) but also acknowledge that Leicester aren't one of the best teams in the league and they've just had a season where a lot of things have gone in their favour.


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Your previous post made decent points but you are definitely headed in the wrong direction. The "better team" does occasionally lose, but that isn't what happened in your game vs Leicester. The whole notion of there being a "better team that loses" is pretty sketchy to begin with. Having more possession doesn't make you the better team. It would be one thing if Leicester had put 11 men behind the ball for 90 minutes and come out with a 1 shot 1 goal type of win, but they beat you 2-0 pretty comfortably while never really looking like they were going to lose (and equalling your shot count).

Leicester ARE one of the best teams in the league right now, as evidenced by the fact that they are top of the league in February, really not even debatable at this point. You can argue about the overall quality of their players, but you don't get to where Leicester is by simply having "a lot of things go your way".

[Zac]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Jermain Defoe: If Leicester can do it why can’t Sunderland?

[Perceptor]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Even Arsenal want a piece of the Leicester success. They just poached their head scout.

I agree. Leicester are a well managed solid team and they deserve to be where they are. It's no fluke and they have beaten good teams. City were destroyed and you can't tell me that the score line flattered Leicester. They beat Spurs and Chelsea as well as drawing United.

Moving forward it will be very interesting to see what happens. Leicester are relatively healthy while City have lost De Bruyne for the rest of the season basically. That's a huge loss for them.

Arsenal have been inconsistent but with Welbeck coming back as well as Alexis getting match fit could see them challenge. Spurs are going up and while I dislike them for rivalry reasons, they deserve all their success.

[PabloLFC]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Your previous post made decent points but you are definitely headed in the wrong direction. The "better team" does occasionally lose, but that isn't what happened in your game vs Leicester. The whole notion of there being a "better team that loses" is pretty sketchy to begin with. Having more possession doesn't make you the better team. It would be one thing if Leicester had put 11 men behind the ball for 90 minutes and come out with a 1 shot 1 goal type of win, but they beat you 2-0 pretty comfortably while never really looking like they were going to lose (and equalling your shot count).



Leicester ARE one of the best teams in the league right now, as evidenced by the fact that they are top of the league in February, really not even debatable at this point. You can argue about the overall quality of their players, but you don't get to where Leicester is by simply having "a lot of things go your way".

I haven't mentioned possession once, we were the better team. We were more comfortable on the ball, Leicester really didn't create much and both their goals came from clearances. On the other hand they were better on Boxing Day, they just didn't have the same fortune finishing their chances.

And of course they're a good team but this spell has coincided with Chelsea, United and Liverpool all having dreadful seasons. Even the other main contenders have been inconsistent and City are just in turmoil right now. Spurs are a good example of a team taking advantage, but they wouldn't be there if the others had shown anything like themselves this year. But having seen us almost win it we still needed a lot to go our way; Man United having a bad season, Arsenal collapsing and Chelsea readjusting to another new manager.


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[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

I haven't mentioned possession once, we were the better team. We were more comfortable on the ball, Leicester really didn't create much and both their goals came from clearances. On the other hand they were better on Boxing Day, they just didn't have the same fortune finishing their chances.

And of course they're a good team but this spell has coincided with Chelsea, United and Liverpool all having dreadful seasons. Even the other main contenders have been inconsistent and City are just in turmoil right now. Spurs are a good example of a team taking advantage, but they wouldn't be there if the others had shown anything like themselves this year. But having seen us almost win it we still needed a lot to go our way; Man United having a bad season, Arsenal collapsing and Chelsea readjusting to another new manager.


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We will just have to agree to disagree about the game then, because I think you might be a little too biased if you legitimately think you guys were the better team. You guys definitely played well, but not "clearly the better team" well.

The fact that you said they got two goals from clearances tells me you are more salty than anything else. A clearance is when you are booting the ball to safety, those goals were just regular long balls.

Hell that second goal came WAY after the long ball, just good old fashioned Sunday league defending.

[fearwhatnow]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

I haven't mentioned possession once, we were the better team. We were more comfortable on the ball, Leicester really didn't create much and both their goals came from clearances. On the other hand they were better on Boxing Day, they just didn't have the same fortune finishing their chances.

And of course they're a good team but this spell has coincided with Chelsea, United and Liverpool all having dreadful seasons. Even the other main contenders have been inconsistent and City are just in turmoil right now. Spurs are a good example of a team taking advantage, but they wouldn't be there if the others had shown anything like themselves this year. But having seen us almost win it we still needed a lot to go our way; Man United having a bad season, Arsenal collapsing and Chelsea readjusting to another new manager.


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Liverpool dominated the Boxing Day match for 75 minutes. Especially the 1st half they were unstoppable. It was Leicester's worse performance and only the last 15 minutes of the match was the typical Liverpool's panic defense. Maybe you don't remember well. I remember clearly Ranieri praising Liverpool after the final whistle. Liverpool was the worse "top" team Leicester played at home this season. ManU were terrible but this is their style of play this season with LVG...

[gopher_guy]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

And of course they're a good team but this spell has coincided with Chelsea, United and Liverpool all having dreadful seasons. Even the other main contenders have been inconsistent and City are just in turmoil right now. Spurs are a good example of a team taking advantage, but they wouldn't be there if the others had shown anything like themselves this year. But having seen us almost win it we still needed a lot to go our way; Man United having a bad season, Arsenal collapsing and Chelsea readjusting to another new manager.


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So, in summary, if the teams below them were better than them, Spurs and Leicester wouldn't be as good?

[Perceptor]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

I think in general, the teams overall are better because of increased revenues. This means that teams like Stoke, Watford, Bournemouth, and yes, Leicester, can sign solid players. The effect from that means they will give the good teams a game, especially with the right tactical setup.

I'm going to be honest - Liverpool look more like a mid table team talent wise and would there be anyone you would start in Liverpool's 1st 11 over Leicester's? I'm not trolling but it's a fair question to ask given how things have gone this season

[fearwhatnow]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

I think in general, the teams overall are better because of increased revenues. This means that teams like Stoke, Watford, Bournemouth, and yes, Leicester, can sign solid players. The effect from that means they will give the good teams a game, especially with the right tactical setup.

I'm going to be honest - Liverpool look more like a mid table team talent wise and would there be anyone you would start in Liverpool's 1st 11 over Leicester's? I'm not trolling but it's a fair question to ask given how things have gone this season

Let's see, starting from the GK... Nope! :tongue
I would sign Coutinho right away though.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Probably not considering the players that could probably walk into Leicester's team can't stay healthy.

But why would you want to break up that team right now anyway? They're playing great and have completely avoided any key injuries.

Let's see, starting from the GK... Nope! :tongue
I would sign Coutinho right away though.

You'd take healthy Sturridge over Vardy too. You look at the goals he scored in the 2nd place season, it's basically what Vardy's doing now. Except Sturridge has a next level of skills and finishing at his disposal. But healthy Sturridge doesn't exist, so yeah, you should keep Vardy.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

On the subject of Liverpool, saw this earlier today and got a good chuckle out of it: https://streamable.com/4o5x

[Perceptor]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Probably not considering the players that could probably walk into Leicester's team can't stay healthy.

But why would you want to break up that team right now anyway? They're playing great and have completely avoided any key injuries.



You'd take healthy Sturridge over Vardy too. You look at the goals he scored in the 2nd place season, it's basically what Vardy's doing now. Except Sturridge has a next level of skills and finishing at his disposal. But healthy Sturridge doesn't exist, so yeah, you should keep Vardy.

It was a question based on form, but I agree that you wouldn't want to break up that chemistry Leicester have right now.

I think if Sturridge and Coutinho could in fact stay healthy, they'd help a lot of teams. Just a shame.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2015-2016 EPL Discussion Thread

Let's see, starting from the GK... Nope! :tongue
I would sign Coutinho right away though.

Sturridge/Firmino over Okazaki surely?

Also, Kasper is comfortably the most overrated member of your team. He is a decent lower-midtable keeper who gets more credit than he deserves almost exclusively because of who his dad is. He is your weakest link for sure. He's your Mignolet/Sczezny; solid keeper but will hold the team back eventually.