General Premier League Thread 2023-24 Mod Note in op 27/6/23 And 21/05/24

McFly85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553584#Comment_121553584

I think in this case the rot goes far deeper than the manager though, and simply changing who that is will result in a similar situation down the line. We’ve seen multiple managers go through the same routine, comes in, does well for a while, then it goes downhill, players stop playing, new manager comes in and goes through the same cycle.

Wholesale structural and procedural changes are required at United for real improvement, and considering there are new people coming in to manage the football side it makes no sense to get rid of him until they’ve at least reviewed what needs to change, otherwise they could end up changing again next year.

rob316

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553705#Comment_121553705

That's all fanciful stuff, the buck stops with the manager, it always has. If results don't change he's gone. He's achieved nothing to earn this faith in him.

IMO ineos will want a clean slate

rob316

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553470#Comment_121553470

He's a consistent safe pair of hands and in this league that's valuable. It's not long ago west ham were in regular relegation battles.

McFly85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553758#Comment_121553758

United have been sacking managers when results go badly to get someone else in and by and large it always goes the same way.

The way they deal with player recruitment makes it incredibly difficult for managers to succeed there. Sancho is a prime example. Signed at huge expense to ridiculous wages by a previous manager. He doesn’t get on with ETH so the solution would usually be to move him on, but because of his contract that’s practically impossible. So now instead of selling a player and getting funds in they just have dead weight there that they’ll probably have to end up paying off to get rid.

In addition they’ve been very happy to reward short term success with big money, so there’s a core of players there who just can’t be moved on without a big financial hit - I’d probably include at least Antony from ETHs signings in that too.

Anyone who comes in is going to have to deal with a mishmash of different managers players that they simply can’t ask to get rid of, while wanting to bring in new players to play the way they want, which is a massive ask.

Without changing that model any manager coming in will have the same challenges, especially when the core of this team has shown over multiple managers that they’re happy to down tools and wait for a new person to come in.

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121552712#Comment_121552712

It's a pretty long bust cycle. They've been genuinely crap all season, maybe 2-3 good performances

Weepsie

.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553026#Comment_121553026

I just can't take him seriously with the baseball hat

theoneeyedman

Identical incident to the Aston Villa one in the Arsenal game just now, what was a penalty yesterday is not today.

To be clear, neither should be penalties in my view, but the inconsistencies and lack of accountability for the referees is laughable.

TitianGerm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553919#Comment_121553919

I was just thinking the same. There's been a few of those given this season, Newcastle got one and Brighton I think. Probably a few more.

Saka looked offside in the still I saw but no replay along the line shown yet. I actually thought he'd put it over the bar at first.

TitianGerm

Arsenal cut open. Raul with the goal.

noodler

Maybe some Arsenal fans feel the same about Liverpool, let's see, but I find myself always hoping arsenal keep winning so there is additional pressure on city.

Know what happens when you are near flawless for a season and City still pip you by a point (twice).

Will two teams applying pressure change the dynamic at all? Maybe fewer teams that are already beaten by city before the game starts.

El Gato De Negocios

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553802#Comment_121553802

Stop talking sense, it has no place in here when it comes to United.

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553609#Comment_121553609

Why would West Ham be inferior to Spurs or (post Roman) Chelsea? It's down to the owners I guess, but they have a bigger and newer stadium than Chelsea, and should offer a nice option to players coming to England (London based etc).

Apart from the financially doped clubs like Newcastle and City, they have all the raw material to compete with anyone else - they should be behind United, Liverpool and probably Arsenal in the shirt term based on those clubs historic sizes and support bases, but they should be next in line if/when the likes of United or Arsenal go through a bad patch.

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554057#Comment_121554057

Down to the owners and money yes, nailed it in one.

doc_17

If Radcliffe decides to keep Ten Hag, and I don’t think he should, he needs to remove Ten Hag from the process of deciding who they should sign.

theoneeyedman

Arsenal have a funny set up. They have a lot of players that offer nothing when they have the ball. 4 more or less central defenders, plus Rice. Rely on the lads up top to pull rabbits out of a hat, but no real structure or natural width to them.

There is a lot to be said for conventional full backs that provide a bit of natural width.

Dave0301

Saka having a very poor run of form.

SlickRic

Spurs just a point behind Arsenal if it stays like this.

SlickRic

Gabriel spent that entire corner shoving Reid, then lost him as he scored.

Love seeing that sort of thing happen to defenders who try to defend like that.

TitianGerm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554182#Comment_121554182

Odengard was flying last year. He's dropped off this year and so have Arsenal. I was expecting Havertz to add more creativity to the midfield but he hasn't so far.

Robson99

City will win league in a canter

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554210#Comment_121554210

Such sinctilating insight.

AdamD

Arsenal subs haven't worked at all. This change in formation is horrible, no width.

AllGunsBlazing

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554208#Comment_121554208

Rice has been getting rave individual reviews but truth be told Odegaard and Xhaka were a better combo than Rice and Odegaard.

AdamD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554292#Comment_121554292

Rice is playing where Partey played last season, not Xhaka.

The Moist Buddha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554246#Comment_121554246

not wrong tho

Nice one Fulham.

Arsenal 1 point from 9 over Christmas.

y0ssar1an22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554378#Comment_121554378

1st at xmas to 4th at new years 😬

giveitholly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554318#Comment_121554318

Doesn't matter where Rice is playing tbh,Arsenal had a better balanced midfield with Partey,Xhaha and Odegaard in it last season

SlickRic

Utd were 3rd last year, and most seem to think it was somewhat of an anomaly amid a season where a couple of teams were off it.

Was Arsenal's second place a bit misleading?

Or is it just a case of the Premier League being super competitive this season?

LuckyLloyd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553261#Comment_121553261

I am full of reason; you don't like the emphasis or conclusion.

People can discuss the state of the club and the squad, and all of the points are valid. The way in which the club identifies, recruits, and rewards players has to change. But the first step of that change is to sign good players who can contribute at the club's desired level. ETH has not done that since he joined, and if fixing the playing squad is a priority, then retaining ETH's input during this immediate window seems hugely problematic.

In terms of the expense of letting him go, it pales in comparison to the expense of missing out on CL football.

In the end, the aspect that makes all of the 'running of the club' excuses ring hollow is that - irrespective of how deficient the front office may be in their approach - the biggest influence on performances and results on the pitch is wielded by the manager. ETH is overwhelmingly likely not the guy, based on performances and results to date. When Utd have won this year, they have generally played poorly. When they lose, it rarely tends to be unlucky. In the CL, ETH was caught seriously short against Copenhagen and Galatasary.

You all wish it was some other way, and everyone got their willies out too quickly after one top-four finish (in the midst of down seasons for direct competitors for those slots) and a League Cup. I get it; it's more comfortable to hope the new owners can sort everything out, and psychologically, going all-in on ETH can still come good. Tough, it is what it is.

Going to be an exciting league this year for once. Cmon villa!!! Make it happen.

The Moist Buddha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121552811#Comment_121552811

Happy New Year to you also #YNWA 🥳🥳🥳

doc_17

Arsenal really miss Partey.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554595#Comment_121554595

Agree. He has more to his game than Rice. But is injury prone

doc_17

Rice seems to want to try and do it all and the media love him for it. I really don’t think the English football media or fans will ever truly appreciate the likes of a Fabinho, Makelele, Busquets, etc. Just do one job and do it well. And Rice doesn’t have to be scoring, assisting, “driving forward”….

Kiith

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554196#Comment_121554196

Given how we've been "found out" according to lots of people, that's pretty hilarious 🤣

Seriously though, great to see us keeping up that neck of the woods after a really bad spell of injuries. Get Maddison, VDV and Romero back, strengthen our CB position in Jan, and top 4 is definitely within our reach.

Will be very tight this season though.

doc_17

No Trippier tonight, wonder if it’s all about to go belly up for him.

sligeach

VAR is taking too long for obvious decisions.

Salah misses the ensuing penalty. Well saved by Dubravka, but it was a really poor effort.

Mushy

Awful penalty and just as bad a follow up

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121558678#Comment_121558678

It was a weird looking fall. Can see why Neville said it was a dive.

tom1ie

Brutal peno but a goal for pool looks like it’s coming.

sligeach

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121558700#Comment_121558700

The penalty was given but then there was a delay for some administrative reason. The Nunez offside for the Diaz disallowed goal took too long as well, it was obvious he was offside.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121558722#Comment_121558722

That's VAR for ye. Can see Liverpool winning this comfortably

klose

Standard offside and goal on a plate missed by Nunez and it’s not even half time.

tom1ie

Oh that looks close.

DellyBelly

Nunez is poor in front of goal. He seems to panic

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121558786#Comment_121558786

it's like Liverpool re-signed Andy Carroll

tom1ie

Joel Linton should’ve probably been booked there no?

AdamD

Joelinton and Bruno are at it every single game

klose

Those Castore kits sure do fall apart