The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

[CR7]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Pogba having an extra year in the league and having Matic at his side seems to have really helped him settle and go back to the dominating player he was at Juve. I am interested with United to see what they do against a tougher midfield and if Jose changes his tactics when they come up against top 6 teams.

I don't foresee a big tactical shift unless United are routed. Other than a winger, Jose has close to his first choice side. Lukaku has the pace Zlatan lacked and Matic is the ideal guy to play with Pogba. Their physicality is what will help them in the tougher games. I think midfield will be fine.

I like how we stack up now against top teams with Matic and Pogba. They're not pushovers and Pogba can roam around more like he's done so far.

Honestly, I'd like to see more of Martial. As much as I like Rashford, Martial can do more damage right now. His finishing is also better

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Diego Costa has obviously proven to be a pretty good finisher at a high level, but his antics certainly aren't missed like you said. I was thinking yesterday how it's actually kind of tough to hate Chelsea with him being out of the mix. Haha. Of course every time I thought that, David Luiz would be shown flopping around on the ground.

David Luiz flopping around really urks me. Here's an amazing player but I can't stand players like that, in any sport. I think he's too good for those antics.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

People always seem to forget that defenders are the reason diving emerged in the first place. Players would get regularly chopped down without a whistle, so they started going down more easily and more frequently to force the referee's hand. Luiz goes down easily, but he also spends half the game getting hammered. Just in that game alone there were several times Kane went right into Luiz's back without getting the ball, which didn't even get whistled.

If you are getting hacked to pieces and the ref isn't calling it, you are going to start falling over with less and less contact until the ref starts giving you calls.

Diving is a complicated problem that requires a nuanced solution, but the problem is people only really want to punish attacking players. With the Prem's new retroactive bans on diving, I can pretty much guarantee you they are just going to be banning a bunch of attackers for going down in the box. This absolutely will not solve the diving problem.

How many times per game have we seen this:

a defender gets cornered near his own box with the ball, turns his back on the attacker and backs into him, lets the attacker bumps the defender VERY slightly, defender falls forward onto the ball and just grabs it. Ref blows the whistle.

This is a dive. It happens multiple times every single game, and defenders ALWAYS get the call. It's literally a player throwing themselves on the ground to get a call, and I hardly ever see it brought up when people are talking about diving.

The biggest problem with diving is that there has never been a serious, productive discussion on the problem. What causes it? Is it too subjective to punish? What legitimate steps would have to be taken to properly combat it, and not just paper over the cracks? Most importantly: what precisely constitutes a dive?

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I don't think diving will ever go away. The only solution I can think of is going the opposite way and letting them be more physical and play. If players dive but the ref does not call it and this allows a goal, that players teammates will let him hear about it.

I know this will lead to other issues but that's how complicated diving is. There really is no great answer to it.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I agree with you, but I also think there is probably too much money involved in the game nowadays to just "let them play".

Start getting star players, especially from the big teams, injured because opposition is just hacking them down every game, you will see some major backlash from the big teams. Not only that, eventually big players will stop wanting to come to the Prem because they know they are going to get trashed and eventually injured.

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I agree with you, but I also think there is probably too much money involved in the game nowadays to just "let them play".

Start getting star players, especially from the big teams, injured because opposition is just hacking them down every game, you will see some major backlash from the big teams. Not only that, eventually big players will stop wanting to come to the Prem because they know they are going to get trashed and eventually injured.

Same problem other sports are having too. They are afraid to let stars get hit.

It's not even the diving that really bugs me with guys like Luiz. It's the rolling around and acting hurt for 2 minutes that stops the flow of the game. Nothing the ref can do to stop it, it's just something we all have to deal with.

I do think if diving became something that was reviewable with VAR that might put a stop to some of it.

[dubcity]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Walker needs to work on his Jedi skills. Can't be peeking like that.

[KG]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

David Luiz flop??????



In all seriousness he's taken some pretty harsh tackles in his Chelsea career.

Dier's yesterday was red, no doubt about it in my book.

Aguero on Luiz TWICE.

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

David Luiz flop??????



In all seriousness he's taken some pretty harsh tackles in his Chelsea career.

Dier's yesterday was red, no doubt about it in my book.

Aguero on Luiz TWICE.

I think Dier would have been a red in a normal match. But the match was very physical with tackles going in all over. I think the ref was being very lenient for most of the match.

35 fouls yet only 7 yellow cards total with how physical the game was. Ref could have given a lot more cards I think.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Look at that face, it's the face of an angel.

[Krebstar]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Walker needs to work on his Jedi skills. Can't be peeking like that.

I only saw a few quick replays, but it seemed like a shoulder connected if anything, not an elbow. Is a quick glance proof of intended malice, and not just wanting to know who is behind you? Seems that Calvert-Lewin going down like he was shot is what brought the card out.

[dubcity]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I feel like Pep hates the Premier League.

[dubcity]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Random question: if you swapped Man City for Barca, which team would finish higher in their new league's standings?

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

I only saw a few quick replays, but it seemed like a shoulder connected if anything, not an elbow. Is a quick glance proof of intended malice, and not just wanting to know who is behind you? Seems that Calvert-Lewin going down like he was shot is what brought the card out.

Pretty harsh second yellow I think. The announcer said the ref saw Walker look back and that is what he used to determine it was a planned foul basically. Not sure if that is true or just announcer talk but either way it was pretty soft for a 2nd yellow..


As a Spurs fan, I don't hate or blame Walker for leaving but I did get a hint of excitement when I saw he was sent off.

[KG]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Random question: if you swapped Man City for Barca, which team would finish higher in their new league's standings?

Hmmm...City would finish 2nd in La Liga.

This Barca team, not very deep, would probably finish 3/4ish.


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