The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

This is all that matters.

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Pretty mind boggling because it doesn’t even seem like he’s had any kind of bad form since joining.

Your record signing striker and he’s regularly benched for [insert player that ISN’T your record signing here].

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Perfect time for the international break for Tottenham. Alli, Lloris, Vorm, Aldy and Winks all hurt and the NLD coming up.

Only hope for the rest of the league is that City drop points once the schedule gets crazy in December.

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[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Perfect time for the international break for Tottenham. Alli, Lloris, Vorm, Aldy and Winks all hurt and the NLD coming up.

Only hope for the rest of the league is that City drop points once the schedule gets crazy in December.

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Excited for Lacazette to be on the bench for that one!

[stlducks]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Excited for Lacazette to be on the bench for that one!

He might actually considering Giroud always scores against Spurs.

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[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Yeah, I just don't get this or even the "well, once we have Pogba back" excuses (because that's what they are, right?).

It is an excuse and not a particularly good one when you are as rich as United. Missing one single player shouldn’t cause your midfield to play like a relegation side. Watford’s midfield came to the Bridge and passed the ball around better than United did today.

To be fair, I have seen plenty of United fans point out that missing Pogba shouldn’t be a valid excuse and they should have better rotational options. Some of the missing Pogba stuff is thanks to the media.

Also, just like to point out that Pogba’s biggest weakness is that he is not good in big games, so exactly how much help he would have been today I’m not sure. I guess we will find out in the return fixture.

[Leon]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

TBH, 1-0 was flattering to United. Bakayoko missed a few good opportunities, as did Morata, Hazard, and AC.

Leon,

If you need a 36yr old Carrick to unlock your offense than I don’t know what to say.


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Well, for one thing, Matic and Herrera aren't exactly setup by Jose to do that. Another, and this is something I've been repeating over and over -- our midfield keeps being overrun because Jose has only been playing a 2-man midfield.

When we finally switched to 4-3-3, we looked better, but hey, I'm not Jose, maybe he saw something else in this match for sticking with the 3-5-2 for so long even though it wasn't working after the 20th minute.

I think what I want most for next season is for Jose to hire an attacking coach. He needs ideas; SAF wasn't afraid to get one in Quieroz when he knew he had to be less naive in Europe -- heck, it's the reason he became more pragmatic in his later years.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Well, for one thing, Matic and Herrera aren't exactly setup by Jose to do that. Another, and this is something I've been repeating over and over -- our midfield keeps being overrun because Jose has only been playing a 2-man midfield.

When we finally switched to 4-3-3, we looked better, but hey, I'm not Jose, maybe he saw something else in this match for sticking with the 3-5-2 for so long even though it wasn't working after the 20th minute.

I think what I want most for next season is for Jose to hire an attacking coach. He needs ideas; SAF wasn't afraid to get one in Quieroz when he knew he had to be less naive in Europe -- heck, it's the reason he became more pragmatic in his later years.

It just depends on your players and which ones Jose feels he can trust.

Chelsea fans were all begging for Jose to try a 4-3-3 with the players we had available and he never did because the ones he trusted most didn’t fit in that system.

Like I said, it will be interesting seeing how he deals with being in the same league as Pep again. Last time around it brought out the worst in him and ultimately aided in his exit from Madrid.

[Leon]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

It just depends on your players and which ones Jose feels he can trust.

Chelsea fans were all begging for Jose to try a 4-3-3 with the players we had available and he never did because the ones he trusted most didn’t fit in that system.

Like I said, it will be interesting seeing how he deals with being in the same league as Pep again. Last time around it brought out the worst in him and ultimately aided in his exit from Madrid.

The only other midfielder we have available is McTominay, who I don't think Jose trusts enough because he's still very young. Pereira would've been good, but he's on loan (though he may be recalled in January). Fellaini ain't exactly a 4-3-3 player.

Jose figured Pep out eventually, but I'd rather he figure United out first.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Jose figured Pep out eventually, but I'd rather he figure United out first.

Depends what you mean by figured out. His head-to-head record vs Pep is almost Wenger vs Jose levels of bad, and the one season he finished ahead of Pep he still lost at home to Barca.

Anyway, I still back Jose to win something this season, but taking into account their history and personalities, like I said it will be interesting to watch again.

[Leon]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Depends what you mean by figured out. His head-to-head record vs Pep is almost Wenger vs Jose levels of bad, and the one season he finished ahead of Pep he still lost at home to Barca.

Anyway, I still back Jose to win something this season, but taking into account their history and personalities, like I said it will be interesting to watch again.

Figured out meaning he knew how to setup against him. At the end of the day, Pep/City is just twice a year at the least. Jose figuring out how to fully utilise our attacking talent against everyone else is much more important.

[Schrankwand]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Bilic out, Moyes in. Couple of months to late if you ask me.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

it's never too late to change your manager to Moyes

[KG]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Depends what you mean by figured out. His head-to-head record vs Pep is almost Wenger vs Jose levels of bad, and the one season he finished ahead of Pep he still lost at home to Barca.



Anyway, I still back Jose to win something this season, but taking into account their history and personalities, like I said it will be interesting to watch again.

Lol...it’s not Arsene levels bad but it’s still heavily skewed towards Pep. I think I saw 9-6-4 in favor of Pep.

I’m still a firm believer that Jose’s setup at United has a better chance in Europe as opposed to Pep’s current City team. I just don’t think that you can beat the likes of Barca, PSG, Real, and possibly Bayern/Juve without a stalwart defense and City’s backline is far from convincing at this point.






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[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Lol...it’s not Arsene levels bad but it’s still heavily skewed towards Pep. I think I saw 9-6-4 in favor of Pep.

I’m still a firm believer that Jose’s setup at United has a better chance in Europe as opposed to Pep’s current City team. I just don’t think that you can beat the likes of Barca, PSG, Real, and possibly Bayern/Juve without a stalwart defense and City’s backline is far from convincing at this point.

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Pretty sure Jose only has 3 wins vs Pep.

Anyway, City’s defense being unconvincing vs Jose’s locked down defense is quite a bit overblown, it’s not like they are Brendan’s Liverpool.

City in league only has 2 more goals conceded than United, level with Spurs (who are generally considered to have a good defense) for second best defense in the league. I think City would contend just fine with the big boys.

Also, that tie with PSG showed us that Jose’s setups are far from perfect in Europe.

[KG]

Re: The 2017-2018 EPL Discussion Thread

Pretty sure Jose only has 3 wins vs Pep.

Anyway, City’s defense being unconvincing vs Jose’s locked down defense is quite a bit overblown, it’s not like they are Brendan’s Liverpool.

City in league only has 2 more goals conceded than United, level with Spurs (who are generally considered to have a good defense) for second best defense in the league. I think City would contend just fine with the big boys.

Also, that tie with PSG showed us that Jose’s setups are far from perfect in Europe.

Here's the 4 I saw:

Last year in the League Cup
Inter 2009/10 UCL Semi 2nd leg
2011 Copa delRey Final
2012 La Liga

They're far from Brendan Rodgers'esque but considering how much possession City dominates and United concedes it's more impressive IMO that United has something like 10 clean sheets already in the league.

Oh you don't have to remind me about that PSG match or the Atletico SF where we were depending on Eden to cover a flank defensively.



On a side note...

I've been wondering about who's the most integral piece to City. As in, they cannot afford to lose "Player X". We saw how vulnerable we were w/o Kante but for Citeh am I crazy thinking that it's Fernandinho.

If/when Aguero/Jesus go down they have the counterpart.
They've proven that Kompany/Stones/Otamendi can survive w/o one or more.
Delph has been transformed into a competent LWB/LB
Bravo isn't the worse replacement for Ederson
Danilo for Walker
Sane/Sterling/the Silvas/KDB/Gundojan....as good as they are can all cover for each other

The only other holding/defensive minded mids City has are:

Delph, who's currently slotting in for the injured Mendy
Yaya on his last legs
Gundojan who's always injured

Am I crazy?