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

Not sure City will miss his 12 touches in the game

Will be interesting to see how effective de Zerbi's set up is

I hope Arsenal will do it, but I'm doubtful with so few games left and City with nothing else to play for

Ah yeah, Man City, that famous one man team vs Brighton's sick bay.

Gonna be City by 4 tonight.

I listened to Five Live last night and there was an ex-Everton player on. He played last season, but I don't know who he was. He said that Everton have a set-piece analyst who actually goes onto the pitch and shows the players where exactly to stand for free-kicks, corners etc. They keep going over the routines until they get it right, so that the blockers know what they have to do and how, and that worked perfectly last night for the goal and for one missed header, although offside. Knowing about it made it easier to see it happening each time.

A lot of teams study the videos of previous games and then train their defenders to counteract this but as Liverpool do a zonal marking thing that won't work. Zonal marking is an absolute joke because a "zone" has yet to score in the EPL, even in this season where the goal-scoring record has already been broken, with a few more weeks action to come.

The ex-player (wish I knew who it was) also said that when Tarkowski wins the ball, his job, typically, isn't to get it on target, but rather to re-direct it so that Calvert-Lewin or someone is on hand to then score. I suppose it helps if you have a Dwight McNeil type to deliver consistently into the box too.

It was Conor Coady that was on

Thanks a million. I had early onset amnesia there and couldn't recall!!!!

I’m not sure being pedantic about a 30 minute difference is all that much of a ‘gotcha’ either…

We don’t actually know Virg’s position on it, but with just a bit of common sense I think it’s fair to say players probably don’t really like early fixtures, for obvious reasons. I’m not sure there’s anything in that concept for anyone to be upset about. 🤷

He seemed surprised and delighted to have scored a header.

It also wasn't a free.

Whatever about the financial cheating, Pep's ability to get this out of so many of these players year after year is immense.

Bernardo, Rodri, Walker and KDB in particular.

All-timers. Especially if 4 in a row happens.

GD is down to 9 now between city and Arsenal. One draw for city wins Arsenal the league presuming they both win out. If they could snag another few here and win another 4-0 it might go to final day - should they draw one

Whats this nonsense about 1 draw.....

A draw is no good, Forest need to go for a win at the weekend.😁

Stonewall penalty for Brighton not given, officials are determined to help City's GD , joke of a league, and it's so obvious.

VAR is truly pointless.

Stonewall peno that looks even worse when you see the non foul that city were awarded for their second goal.

The old adage that these things even themselves out over a season is complete rubbish. It never, ever happens to City.

I know people say it doesn't matter but I know a punter who was "heavy" into a penalty awarded tonight. Could easily have been 3, which won't console him much! His TV will probably suffer when "Ask The Ref" is on this Monday.

That’s the only one I can think of from this season, and it’s sort of in a different category I think because the intent behind the decision was to benefit City, Hooper just didn’t see Haaland.

I can think of all sorts of decisions in big games that went their way this season though. The Doku challenge at Anfield, Kovacic somehow staying on the pitch at the Emirates, the extremely soft penalty at OT.

It’s extremely rare to see stuff like this go the other way.

I know you say Arteta has won nothing, BUT, if Arsenal are to get to the last day while still in a fight for the title (unlikely, but still) I would give it to him. How many Times have we seen Arsenal collapse in March/April in all competitions and limp away? It would be some feat if he could stick the title challenge after being written off by so many after the Bayern and Villa defeats (including myself).

Only 4 games left, still a lot of football to play.

Saying all the above, I certainly wouldn't hold it against Emery if he was to win Manager of the Season.

As long as City don't poach Arteta (which is my daily nightmare)

His first in the PL