General Premier League Thread - 2016/2017

764dak

1. Bayer Leverkusen eliminated them in the group stage of the UCL.
2. Gent immediately eliminated them from the UEL.
3. They finish 2nd and trophyless.

If Arsenal, Manchester City or Manchester United did these things people criticize them. People would say their managers should get fired.

~Rebel~

GavRedKing wrote: »

Thats some brilliant moving of goal posts, I'll give ya that.

I've no problem people saying Spurs were the better side, they still finished 2nd over 38 games whcih is the most important stat.

I'd happily be considered the 2nd best side but actually 1st in the league every year, I'm sure everyone would.

I don't even think they were to be honest. Perception in the premier league always favors strong finishers, with the mainstream media (and fans, often) seemingly only having a memory of a few weeks most of the time.

Spurs may have been better for the final run (and they definitely have been brilliant), but all in all Chelsea spent a larger chunk of the season being the best. I mean, that's why they won the thing. Recency bias just goes against them a wee bit.

Gbear

764dak wrote: »

1. Bayer Leverkusen eliminated them in the group stage of the UCL.
2. Gent immediately eliminated them from the UEL.
3. They finish 2nd and trophyless.

If Arsenal, Manchester City or Manchester United did these things people criticize them. People would say their managers should get fired.

The differences are of resources and trajectory.

Spurs are obviously making progress.

Having said that, they didn't improve the squad that much last summer and it'll be even harder next time around.

Their biggest problem now is that they've an excellent, balanced squad, but not that many absolutely top class players.

Need a couple more worldies on the level of Kane to really take the next step and they need to hold on to them long enough to gain momentum to not sink back down again.

That'll be tricky having to juggle new grounds both next season and the one after.
If they're plunedered of Alli and Kane in that time then they could well drop again without really having acheived anything.

ERG89

764dak wrote:

If Arsenal, Manchester City or Manchester United did these things people criticize them. People would say their managers should get fired.

If Spurs performed as bad as them in the league I'd be more critical but unlike them Spurs actually improved this year. For the money spent at City they never challenged in the league beyond October.
Arsenal could end up without a manager anyway, losing their best player, winning no trophy & being in the Europa league.
United spent a lot & changed their manager but focused on the Europa League as it was far easier than the league for them.
Spurs didn't have to focus on the Europa League as the prize is essentially a CL group stage spot first & a trophy second. They lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup but it's hardly something I'd lose sleep over. Van gaal won it last year & still got sacked before that Arsenal won 2 which brought them absolutely zero success to build on.

764dak

ERG89 wrote: »

If Spurs performed as bad as them in the league I'd be more critical but unlike them Spurs actually improved this year. For the money spent at City they never challenged in the league beyond October.
Arsenal could end up without a manager anyway, losing their best player, winning no trophy & being in the Europa league.
United spent a lot & changed their manager but focused on the Europa League as it was far easier than the league for them.
Spurs didn't have to focus on the Europa League as the prize is essentially a CL group stage spot first & a trophy second. They lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup but it's hardly something I'd lose sleep over. Van gaal won it last year & still got sacked before that Arsenal won 2 which brought them absolutely zero success to build on.

Arsenal finished second last season which was an improvement over the previous season.

ERG89

764dak wrote:

Arsenal finished second last season which was an improvement over the previous season.

Were they in the title race despite being second? No.
Even Ty would say it was a false position. Opposition fans are joking calling for Wenger to stay for a reason as they know the direction they've gone in the last few years.

5starpool

Manchester United

764dak wrote: »

Arsenal finished second last season which was an improvement over the previous season.

It's not all about position, although it is the most important thing. Second on 71 points is very much the exception in recent years.

marno21

5starpool wrote: »

It's not all about position, although it is the most important thing. Second on 71 points is very much the exception in recent years.

Would get you a Jose finish in 6th year. Last year was a bit of an outlier for being a poor season in general to be fair.

764dak

5starpool wrote: »

It's not all about position, although it is the most important thing. Second on 71 points is very much the exception in recent years.

So Arsenal improved from last year then?

~Rebel~

764dak wrote: »

So Arsenal improved from last year then?

As 5Star said, "It's not all about position, although it is the most important thing"

Certainly wouldn't say they've improved, but neither would I say they've particularly regressed since last season. They're just doing what they do these days... drifting along without ever looking like pushing on. Both have been disappointing seasons - I don't think too many Arsenal fans would say they were happy with 2nd 12 months ago given the weakness of the league last year. I think they'd have been happy about the actual position, but annoyed about the team and the lack of progression over a number of years.

5starpool

Manchester United

764dak wrote: »

So Arsenal improved from last year then?

They have more points. Last year they were the best of a very poor rest.

The Talking Bread

5starpool wrote: »

764dak wrote: »

So Arsenal improved from last year then?

They have more points. Last year they were the best of a very poor rest.

The reason they have more points, like most "top" clubs is because the quality of the lower half of the league clubs has degenerated from last season, not that Arsenal have generally improved.
Arsenal most definitely haven't improved, especially relatively to the top clubs in the league.

Guy:Incognito

Blast from the (relatively recent) past, Julio Arca playing for South Shields in the FA Vast final at Wembley at the min.

Harry Palmr

Guardian have an article about him.

GreNoLi

Manchester United

Can't say I'll miss this season, good riddance to bad rubbish.

GreNoLi

Manchester United

Arsenal ahead, guaranteed to nick top four no doubt.

Johner

Kane with another two already. Monster.

The Talking Bread

Kane, two goal already!!!

Better than Shearerl!

Turtwig

Assuming he stays, Aguero and Jesus could be quite a combination next season. Correct me if I'm wrong but are Liverpool going out as things stand?

The Talking Bread

Brilliant goal by Harrop.

davycc

Manchester United

Jaysus hard to keep track of Kane.
I feel he would have had 30 in the but for his couple of months out injured

Burial.

Kompany has been some loss to City.

NomadicGray

davycc wrote: »

Jaysus hard to keep track of Kane.
I feel he would have had 30 in the but for his couple of months out injured

He might just do it today

Burial.

Another assist for KDB

The Talking Bread

Nothing to play for bar this Arsenal/Liverpool scenario but lots of goals! I am enjoying it!

Guy:Incognito

Presumably if Sunderland were fighting for survival this 5 minute circus wouldn't have been entertained?

If Terry had picked squad number 89 all those years ago he could have played pretty much the whole game

The Talking Bread

Terry coming off in the 26th minute (his jersey number) is the most pathetic, cringeworthy thing I have ever seen! As much as I dislike the guy, I thought he would have had a bit more in him than that nonsense!

Turtwig

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Terry coming off in the 26th minute (his jersey number) is the most pathetic, cringeworthy thing I have ever seen! As much as I dislike the guy, I thought he would have had a bit more in him than that nonsense!

You do remember the whole meme thing he created at that UCL final right?

Liamalone

It's a shambles that Terry played 26mins for no reason, messed my bet right up.

Turtwig

Watford have taken an early season break it seems.

Mars Bar

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Terry coming off in the 26th minute (his jersey number) is the most pathetic, cringeworthy thing I have ever seen! As much as I dislike the guy, I thought he would have had a bit more in him than that nonsense!

The guard of honour was laughable. I hope they cleared that with Sunderland first.

Guy:Incognito

Turtwig wrote: »

Watford have taken an early season break it seems.

I keep flicking back to check and missing the goals. Only for I've seen him I'd have thought they were trying a new formation that doesn't use a keeper.

GreNoLi

Manchester United

Liverpool are through now.

davycc

Manchester United

Great goal Liverpool up

Turtwig

Pool deserved that tbh.

davycc

Manchester United

Spurs 3 up missed the scorer

Lukker-

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Turtwig wrote: »

You do remember the whole meme thing he created at that UCL final right?

Of course, he seems like such a twat. And that is forgetting all the off the pitch c*ntishness. Good thing he was such a top player as a guy like that with such a strange narcissistic attitude wouldn't last too well in the real world!

26................More like his IQ, it seems.

That sh*t is anti-football!

I hope the official stats say he was subbed in the 27th minute!!

Cool story bro

Lukker-

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Lukker- wrote: »

Cool story bro

Hilarious reply "bro"....

Not as hilarious as your last post

Lukker-

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Lukker- wrote: »

Not as hilarious as your last post

It was the cringiest, most pathetic way to finish your last game. Maybe it had you in tears, "bro", so, as a Chelsea fan, that is all that matters!

Want referring to that post 'bruh'

Turtwig

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Hilarious reply "bro"....

Lukker- wrote: »

Cool story bro

Lukker- wrote: »

Not as hilarious as your last post

The Talking Bread wrote: »

It was the cringiest, most pathetic way to finish your last game. Maybe it had you in tears, "bro", so, as a Chelsea fan, that is all that matters!

Mod: This by far is even cringier. Please stop.

Guy:Incognito

Give it a rest pals.

LuckyLloyd

And finally the day has come - the defeat of Wengerball. The decision to make stagnation acceptable and somehow posit it as success year after year was bound to catch up eventually. The best thing Arsenal can do now is to make a break and force the end of this period.

Lukker-

Hazard 2-1.

Lovely goal

LuckyLloyd

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

And finally the day has come - the defeat of Wengerball. The decision to make stagnation acceptable and somehow posit it as success year after year was bound to catch up eventually. The best thing Arsenal can do now is to make a break and force the end of this period.

What's this "Arsenal" you speak of? The club is still running perfectly within their aims and goals.

LuckyLloyd

Deleted User wrote: »

What's this "Arsenal" you speak of? The club is still running perfectly within their aims and goals.

Believe me, I feel and understand your frustration. Business before competition is a terrible thing within sport.

Guy:Incognito

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

And finally the day has come - the defeat of Wengerball. The decision to make stagnation acceptable and somehow posit it as success year after year was bound to catch up eventually. The best thing Arsenal can do now is to make a break and force the end of this period.

Stagnation of 20 years qualifying for the cl and winning the league a few times sounds good to me ...........

You saying you'd rather have Liverpools last 20 years of pl finishes?

LuckyLloyd

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Stagnation of 20 years qualifying for the cl and winning the league a few times sounds good to me ...........

You saying you'd rather have Liverpools last 20 years of pl finishes?

The first ten years of his reign was tremendous. The last ten years have brought no league titles and no ability to push on and scale the mountaintop. Liverpool, for all their failings, have come closer to the league twice in the last ten years than Wenger did.

WoollyRedHat

Nearly didn't win the race, but almost did.

davycc

Manchester United

Spurs 5 nil up Kane hatrick

Guy:Incognito

When are the fixtures out?