EPL 2022 / 2023

@dogmeat said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

Man U and West Ham propping up the table.

Forest win at home to West Ham and celebrate by making their 15th signing of the summer. Manager Cooper says still looking for a couple more players to join before deadline day.

Lampard still looking favourite to be sacked but Ten Hag must have sweaty palms 9 days into the season. Fortunately their next opposition doesn't start with a "B" Unfortunately it does start with a 'L" and isn't Leeds or Leicester. Although on current form both those sides would fancy Utd at this stage of the season.

It is already looming as crunch time for Ten Hag and the board. Do they back him for the long term overhaul that is needed and write off this season as necessary pain? Does Ten Hag become pragmatic and make United hard to beat and dangerous on the break? Playing all of CR7, Sancho, Rashford, Bruno, Eriksen is almost like playing 5-0-5 as none of them really want to do their defensive duties.

@sparky said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

Dickish behaviour by Thomas Tuchel after Chelsea's 2-2 with Spurs. Does he have a substance abuse problem?

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There's something about ethnics and roundball that they get super excited about the smallest shit.

@KiwiPie Not backing him would be such an admission of total stupidity... Still Glazers....

They're probably more worried that the fas don't like the new kit than they are the results.

I see your Manager was also a little put out by the refs decisions and also partly blamed the drinks breaks for your draw with Boreham Wood

@dogmeat said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@KiwiPie Not backing him would be such an admission of total stupidity... Still Glazers....

They're probably more worried that the fas don't like the new kit than they are the results.

I see your Manager was also a little put out by the refs decisions and also partly blamed the drinks breaks for your draw with Boreham Wood

They are still doing ok, what with leading the points table and an away game against 16th placed Gateshead on Tuesday night (UK Time).

@KiwiPie has every right to be feeling confident of promotion this season, just 44 games to go!

@Higgins Just so long as they remember that It Ain't What You Do - It's The Way That You Do It.

It looks @dogmeat & @Higgins are following the Notts season more closely than I am! Welcome aboard - here's the song that the fans sing

I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off.
ad infinitum

@KiwiPie To the tune of Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights?

@dogmeat said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@KiwiPie To the tune of Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights?

It would be great but unfortunately it is On Top of Old Smokey

@KiwiPie Note to Self

NEVER go to Meadow Lane

@dogmeat You would be joining in before you know it. (right now we are losing 1-0 to Gateshead)

Forest are a fascinating story - it looks like they will actually thrive in EPL or go down and go bankrupt, they seem to be spending massively and no doubt paying big wages as well. So far they have bought

Awoniyi 22m
Henderson (loan) 100K per week
Biancone 11m
Niakhate 11m
Richards 9m
Hennessey
O'Brien 6.5m
Toffolo 6.5m
Lingard 200k per week
Mangala 14m
Williams 22m
Kouyate
Dennis 16m
Freuler 8.5m

and are close to getting Aouar who was meant to be going to a Champions League club.

@KiwiPie Yeah the big spending would have me worried.

I get Forest had to replace all their loan players but they now seem to have been swept up by all the hysteria and are buying like someone caught up in a shopping frenzy. Such things usually end in tears. Derby Fulham, Villa just scraped through with a similar strategy.

If it doesn't work you are fucked for years. People go on about Fulham's splurge in 2018 and then say we over-reacted by only getting loan players in 2020 but they don't realise that under FFP we couldn't really sign anyone until this year when we could release most of the class of 2018.

Even the purchase of Harry Wilson had to be done as a loan and then pay off in installments to stay the right side of FFP.

As a neutral I'd hope Forest do well. With skin in the relegation battle I hope like hell they crash and burn.

At this stage it looks like we will be fighting with Liverpool for 17th spot!

We need some fucking luck though. Games all bout getting service to Mitro up front from the wings. Cue all our wide men start going down with long term injuries....

@dogmeat said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@KiwiPie Yeah the big spending would have me worried.

I get Forest had to replace all their loan players but they now seem to have been swept up by all the hysteria and are buying like someone caught up in a shopping frenzy. Such things usually end in tears. Derby Fulham, Villa just scraped through with a similar strategy.

If it doesn't work you are fucked for years. People go on about Fulham's splurge in 2018 and then say we over-reacted by only getting loan players in 2020 but they don't realise that under FFP we couldn't really sign anyone until this year when we could release most of the class of 2018.

Even the purchase of Harry Wilson had to be done as a loan and then pay off in installments to stay the right side of FFP.

As a neutral I'd hope Forest do well. With skin in the relegation battle I hope like hell they crash and burn.

At this stage it looks like we will be fighting with Liverpool for 17th spot!

We need some fucking luck though. Games all bout getting service to Mitro up front from the wings. Cue all our wide men start going down with long term injuries....

Thought Mitrovic lucky not to get a red card at the weekend. And if Forest get the same amount of luck they had against West Ham, they'll be just fine.

Meanwhile in the championship, this is the way to come back from 2-0 down with 90 minutes up.

@KiwiPie Agree Two bookable offences for Mitro.

He was an angry Serb after missing his pen.

Sport eh.

Gave United zero chance tonight. There you go.

Liverpool look way off the pace.

@MajorRage said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

Sport eh.

Gave United zero chance tonight. There you go.

Liverpool look way off the pace.

Missing Mane big time. And Yanited didn't play the way they were supposed to, Klopp will be most disappointed

@MajorRage when we got an opening day draw against Liverpool I didn't realise that was a minimal performance.

Always knew it would be tight at the bottom involving 8-9 teams. Just didn't think it would b4e this bunch

Crazy to think for a team that were considered one of the big 4 (and even title challengers), this is the first time in about 2 decades that Arsenal have started with three straight wins.

@dogmeat Can't believe you haven't mentioned Fulham taking down Brentford in their first ever clash in the top flight.

Best to ignore the Carabao Cup result though!

@KiwiPie I figured I was in danger of turning this thread into "Look at Little Fulham"

Plus next four fixtures are Arsenal (A), Brighton, Spurs (A) and Chelsea. Anything more than 3 points from that lot is a bonus and can easily see us getting zilch.

Still it was nice to stick it to the Hounslow Town supporters. The rivalry with Brentford has really only surfaced over the last decade but while Chelsea are the west London team I'd most like to beat, I have to admit their fans wouldn't even consider us a derby. So Brentford are the team I least want to lose to.

As a club there is a lot to admire about them, really good manager, superb recruitment strategy, tactically aware of the pattern they play to, make the most of their strengths, shiny new Lego stadium. Gob shite fans but.

@Bovidae Yeah that was a shocker Most worryingly it wasn't the kids who played poorly but the new recruits Mbabu and Diop. Apparently it's Joe Bryan's last game for Fulham. Not a great way to go out.

Still it will have strengthened Silva's argument that we have to strengthen the squad. Our run on team is good enough to stay up, but the bench ... We've already picked up three long term injuries, desperately need reinforcements particularly out wide to keep feeding Mitro.

We can make the thread about Bournemouth instead? Blatantly copying their South Coast neighbours to match the "heaviest ever EPL defeat" record.

It must be hard to keep morale up after 3 consecutive pumpings but on the bright side they are outside the relegation zone having already ticked off 3 games against likely top 5 teams. Still unlikely to survive on goal difference at season's end.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

We can make the thread about Bournemouth instead? Blatantly copying their South Coast neighbours to match the "heaviest ever EPL defeat" record.

It must be hard to keep morale up after 3 consecutive pumpings but on the bright side they are outside the relegation zone having already ticked off 3 games against likely top 5 teams. Still unlikely to survive on goal difference at season's end.

we have brought two new defenders this year..ironically none have been able to get on the pitch yet, no squad depth is posing a real challenge. 16 goals conceded in three games though is a tough watch

@bayimports said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

We can make the thread about Bournemouth instead? Blatantly copying their South Coast neighbours to match the "heaviest ever EPL defeat" record.

It must be hard to keep morale up after 3 consecutive pumpings but on the bright side they are outside the relegation zone having already ticked off 3 games against likely top 5 teams. Still unlikely to survive on goal difference at season's end.

we have brought two new defenders this year..ironically none have been able to get on the pitch yet, no squad depth is posing a real challenge. 16 goals conceded in three games though is a tough watch

At least on Saturday the hope didn't last long - going down 2-0 in 6 minutes saw to that.

Personally I'm wanting these teams to go down (and presuming Man U won't).

Forest - obviously
Villa/Everton - Stevie G, Lampard - shame they will both be fired before they get relegated.
Leicester - for cocking up their superb few years and especially for their goal celebration music.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

Blatantly copying their South Coast neighbours to match the "heaviest ever EPL defeat" record

That was my immediate thought. They still have time to do a Wigan and suffer another similar defeat in the same season. As do Fulham.

The relegation dogfight is going to be a doozy. It looks like sides which would have comfortably avoided the drop in previous season are going to drop back down in May.

@KiwiPie Villa could be in trouble if they go down what with the way they have spent. Forest too I guess.

I think realistically only one promoted team survive most years so sorry @bayimports I hope the Cherries go down too.

I'll take any three clubs finishing below us. Everton and Villa for similar reasons would be 'nice' So too IMO Leeds, Southampton and Wolves.

Although Fulham aren't supposed to like Brentford that's a younger fans thing. To my vintage they were an irrelevance and I think they are an extremely well run club, on and off the pitch. I quite like Palace and West Ham (last 2nd tier club to win FA Cup) and that's exhausted the list of those who can realistically ever be expected to go down.

The days of the likes of the Manchester clubs spending a season out of the top division have sadly gone

@dogmeat said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

So too IMO Leeds, Southampton and Wolves.

Leeds I like to watch play so happy for them to stick around - and the manager is entertaining as well even though he looks like he may combust if they go on a bad run.

Southampton was my late father's club so I have a soft spot for them.

Wolves - the Portuguese unemployment rate will increase if they go down.

The TAB has Bournemouth favourites for the drop then Forest and Everton and Southampton level as the other one to go down. Fulham paying $3.30 if you fancy an insurance investment!

@KiwiPie And in the National League Notts County's undefeated run continues with a thumping 1 - 4 towelling of Halifax Town. Just the three unbeaten teams remaining.

The first managerial casualty of the season - Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth.

@Bovidae said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

The first managerial casualty of the season - Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth.

Equal biggest premier League defeat ever, fair enough!

@Machpants said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@Bovidae said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

The first managerial casualty of the season - Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth.

Equal biggest premier League defeat ever, fair enough!

nah more about how vocal he was about the owners/management and the squad lacking depth. The people paying him didn't like that at all.

@Bovidae said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

The first managerial casualty of the season - Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth.

Scott Parker is highly rated as an Assistant Coach. I expect to see him back at Spurs straightaway or part of Southgate's set-up with the England team.

@bayimports said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@Machpants said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@Bovidae said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

The first managerial casualty of the season - Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth.

Equal biggest premier League defeat ever, fair enough!

nah more about how vocal he was about the owners/management and the squad lacking depth. The people paying him didn't like that at all.

Ok, I don't follow, but certainly noticed the score!

@sparky said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

@Bovidae said in EPL 2021 / 2022:

The first managerial casualty of the season - Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth.

Scott Parker is highly rated as an Assistant Coach. I expect to see him back at Spurs straightaway or part of Southgate's set-up with the England team.

By who? Nice line in cardigan's but...

He might be a good skills coach, but tactically and as a man manager he's a long way from the finished article.

Just the latest example of good players don't make good coaches. How long before Lampard (almost certainly) and Gerard (possibly) join him?

I think @bayimports is spot on. Surely the Bournemouth owners didn't expect more than the 3 points delivered from an opening four matches of Villa, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool. But Parker has form he tried the same trick at Fulham and lost the dressing room with his constant criticising of his own players when arguably in March we were more favoured to stay up than go down. Just as the owners should have known the reality so should have Parker. Karma really for the way he tried to exit Fulham with a severance payout when he was the one courting Bournemouth.

The Fulham side that got promoted last year and the current side are in the main the same players Parker had, just playing to a better system and made better players by a Manager they trust and who gets the best out of them.

Meanwhile a 2-1 win for Fulham over top 4 giants Brighton, Southampton take down Chelsea 2-1 and 1-1 draws between Palace/Brentford & Leeds/Everton.

On Parker, what did Bournemouth expect from those first 4 fixtures? Away to the 2 best teams and 3 points is about the best they could expect. Looks like a job for Big Sam or Tony Pulis.

In bigger news, another win for Notts has them sitting 5th and still unbeaten - they plus Chesterfield, Wrexham, Oldham, York, Southend are the big clubs in the league as can clearly be seen in the average attendances.

@KiwiPie Chesterfield are sitting pretty. Sorry that was a pretty poor bench mark. I'll seat to it that it doesn't happen again.

I had to go into a meeting with Fulham 0-0. Nice to come out and see we held on for the 3. That Mitrovich is shit eh?

Parker to Sunderland?

@KiwiPie Some of those attendance figures are rather impressive.

As a comparison these are the home attendances of the top few in LEague 2
Bradford 17538
Strockport 8690
Swindon 8670
Wimbledon 7216
Orient 7173
Grimsby 6697
Mansfield 6587
Doncaster 6029
Whilst the bottom five clubs do not even crack 3000 average home attendance.

@Higgins Bradford higher than Brentford and Bournemouth's capacity.

Based on club size, Bradford, Derby, Ipswich, Sheff Wed, Bolton, Portsmouth (Notts County) should be Championship clubs while Plymouth have always been lower than they should be given the size of the city.

It was all going so well for Fulham and then

@KiwiPie Been reading this for ten days or so. He's been training at Motspur Park for a week.

Surely if we were going to sign him it would already have been announced.

Unless he has to prove he can get his fitness back - or, like, I dunno - play football.