EPL 2024/2025

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Another comeback win for Aston Villa. 3rd in the table at the minute. Unai Emery has got this team absolutely flying.

We were horrendous in the first half and were lucky to only be down by 1.

Barkley and Duran (of course) changed the game when they came on.

We need a right back. Konsa, despite his goal, isn't great there and isn't great going forward mainly due to being a centre back, and there's always mistakes in Carlos when he's out there when it would be better if Konsa was at centre back. Bogarde got given a go but doesn't look ready yet, and Cash, despite the fact that I feel we could upgrade on him, is still our best bet there.

What a fantastically eventful game between Man City and Arsenal. So many talking points!

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

What a fantastically eventful game between Man City and Arsenal. So many talking points!

Both teams feel hard done by - perfect! Arse will be kicking themselves as they almost made it but switched off with time almost up to allow a short corner and Kovacic a shot inside the area.

Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!

@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:

Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!

Which incident are you referring to?

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:

Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!

Which incident are you referring to?

Doku in this game, and Joao Pedro for Brighton.

@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:

Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!

Which incident are you referring to?

Doku in this game, and Joao Pedro for Brighton.

Playing devil's advocate, Doku was kicking it back to where the free kick was given - very inaccurately - rather than kicking it away as they were ready to take it. For Trossard's 2nd booking, is it confirmed what it was given for?

@KiwiPie For kicking the ball, which happened while Oliver was still blowing his whistle.

It will be interesting to see if anything happens to Walker for his exchanges with Oliver at HT. I doubt it.

Looks like Ten Hag is set to stay despite seeing over the worst Man United team I can remember seeing.

Truly abysmal yesterday.

@MajorRage said in EPL 2024/2025:

Looks like Ten Hag is set to stay despite seeing over the worst Man United team I can remember seeing.

Truly abysmal yesterday.

Oh, I didn't think the game was that bad....

@MajorRage said in EPL 2024/2025:

Looks like Ten Hag is set to stay despite seeing over the worst Man United team I can remember seeing.

Truly abysmal yesterday.

He should have been gone last season. A genius move from Pep to fool people into believeing the Man U had achieved something great last year by winning the FA Cup.

Like, don't get me wrong, winning domestic cups are handy, but for big clubs, league position is more important. Solksjaer was right, all these managers that go to Man U are more focused on winning cups and improving their CVs instead of pushing to get up the ladder in the prem.

Have to give ten Hag credit for making Spurs look like world beaters without their best striker - with Son instead of Werner it could have been 6. Meanwhile Fulham sit in 6th and if Bournemouth beats Southampton tonight, they will be 11th and above Man U.

And Brentford have scored in the 1st minute of 3 EPL games in a row - good for them - except they haven't scored another goal in minutes 2-90!

@KiwiPie what do you mean if? Bournemouth result never in doubt. Saints punished and cherries 11th

@KiwiPie Tech support how do I upvote this post a gazillion times?

Of course Fulham will slide down the table pretty quickly over the next two rounds....

(City away - Villa home )

Of the 3 relegated teams, Ipswich seem to have something about them, Leicester have a bit of talent and Southampton already look doomed. I can't see Leicester getting enough wins so that means Ipswich will be battling the likes of Everton, Palace and Wolves for the final spot - of these Wolves look on the biggest slide although they've had a tough run of fixtures.

Back-to-back promotions and then survival would be an unprecedented achievement for Ipswich.

it wouldn't be good to see all three promoted sides slide straight back down for a second consecutive season. Despite all three promoted surviving two years ago and currently sitting 6th, 10th and 11th.

Ipswich have taken a point in their last four I think, definitely have fighting quality about them, as do Leicester. Saints just not aggressive enough. Palace should be doing a lot better with that line up. Everton should have had a few wins, but choked when in front. Wolves though seem to be in a bit of trouble. Losing Pedro Neto to just sit on Chelseas bench doesn't help. Still too early though to write them off, but they do need a change in luck

@dogmeat The fact that they all went down last season makes it more likely it will happen again this season - the 17 are able to build some depth and cope with the pressure of injuries.

What is up with Tottenham’s away strips? Last year was black caps 80s brown now it’s sniper camouflage green.

That Brighton v Spurs game was a lot of fun - although maybe not so much for Spurs fans.

Fulham v unlucky against City and showed the reasons why Adama Traore never made it to a top club. He never really looked like scoring in his one on ones (skinned Kyle Walker though - impressive) - once you get that close to the keeper you have to lift or take it round him. And ballooned one over. If you haven't seen the Jimenez assist for Fulham's first, you have to check it out - fantastic.

At the 2nd international break, it looks like the 3 title favourites are already breaking clear, there will be a massive battle for 4th, 5th, 6th and relegation might already be 3 from 5.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

That Brighton v Spurs game was a lot of fun - although maybe not so much for Spurs fans.

Fulham v unlucky against City and showed the reasons why Adama Traore never made it to a top club. He never really looked like scoring in his one on ones (skinned Kyle Walker though - impressive) - once you get that close to the keeper you have to lift or take it round him. And ballooned one over. If you haven't seen the Jimenez assist for Fulham's first, you have to check it out - fantastic.

At the 2nd international break, it looks like the 3 title favourites are already breaking clear, there will be a massive battle for 4th, 5th, 6th and relegation might already be 3 from 5.

Yup, fantastic watch the Brighton Tottenham game, made up for the absolute dross served up by Aston Villa and Man U in the early kickoff.

@KiwiPie Traore is so frustrating, however he creates chances no one else could and also opens up space elsewhere because teams even City can't cope.

As lots of commentators have said if he could finish he wouldn't be playing for Fulham.

But a curates egg of a game from a Fulham perspective. We competed, restricted City to unleashing shots from outside the area and had the better opportunities. However, we still dropped three points, they scored with three of those long-range efforts but probably our best performance of the season.

That Marco Silva's a shit coach though aye. Totally over-rated. No decent club would give him a second glance.

Joao who?

Dogmeat I have argued with mates repeatedly that Fulham should have gone hard for a top notch striker last year or earlier this. That is all ( and perhaps more consistency) that we are missing to be a real top 6 contender. I have always liked Traore but he really can’t hit a cow in the arse with a banjo. Keep him for beating people and then feeding in a decent cross
Not long ago on the Fulham forum ,which I am banned from
for some reason , there were many calling for Silva to go. He’s a very good manager with enough mongrel to take this ream a long way. Was so pleased to see them have a real go at 115 and counting. Much better to go down trying to win it rather than just damage limitation..

@dogmeat It was pretty much the perfect game plan for Fulham. Block up the channels, pounce upon any mistake and hurtle up field using the pace of Traore. There is always a risk with allowing teams to have possession around your box though and both the Kovacic goals were after crosses into the box - it can happen. Palhinha hasn't been starting for Bayern ....

@middleman FFP issues I guess We spent a fair bit last summer Decent strikers don't come cheap I mean Spurs spent 64 mill on Solanke

we got Anderson and ESR for that

Nah Silva's rubbish. No other team in their right mind would want to poach him

@dogmeat said in EPL 2024/2025:

we got Anderson and ESR for that

I would argue that is better value, but you're right strikers dont come cheap

@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:

I would argue that is better value

That was sorta my point

I know the current Burnley Manager said Solanke was better than Mitrovic but he is (to date) the very definition of a one season wonder.

9 goals in 75 games across 4 seasons then 19 in 38 last year. You guys must have been laughing all the way to the bank.

I'd rather stick with Muniz/Raul and invest the money elsewhere in the team.

In Marco we trust

@dogmeat said in EPL 2024/2025:

You guys must have been laughing all the way to the bank.

we invested 40 of it into a guy who has scored 1 goal, so Solanke still ahead of that this year, so not sure that was good although happy for the massive sale. As long as the big guys stay away from Semenyo Im fine

@dogmeat Are you having a laugh about Silva. I thought you were being sarcastic about him. I hope so. We did buy well and i certainly would not have paid that much for Solanke. What we need is to discover another Vardy.
Would be interested in your opinion of Castagne. Thought he looked good last year but obviously not in favour this year.

welcome back Ole Gunner Solskjaer, well that is the rumour as interim ha ha

@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:

welcome back Ole Gunner Solskjaer, well that is the rumour as interim ha ha

Surely not .... love the ongoing circus at Old Trafford

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:

welcome back Ole Gunner Solskjaer, well that is the rumour as interim ha ha

Surely not .... love the ongoing circus at Old Trafford

im guessing its a joke doing the rounds but would be kind of funny

Thomas Tuchel (ex-Dormund, PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich) will be the new England football manager.

Well at least that will put a stop to the over the top of every word Carsley mutters.

Interesting choice. Can't see it ending well.

@dogmeat He's an excellent tactician and coach.

But I do worry a bit about him and man-management with the England job. He could be another Fabio Capello.

If the FA are sensible they will team him with a "good bloke" Englishman like Scott Parker as his assistant.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

a "good bloke" Englishman like Scott Parker as his assistant.

Given Tuchel's history of pissing players off teaming him up with a loose cannon like Parker would be a disaster and quite FA-like.

I get Tuchel's strengths - just can't see him prospering in an environment where he gets the players for a week at a time a few times a year. As the Carsley interregnum has reminded us that a vital part of an England manager's role is managing the messaging. Another area I think will be a challenge for Tuchel.

Honestly, I'm increasingly convinced that international managers are pretty irrelevant. Well, a bad manager can blow up a squad and kill a tournament but a great manager still has a limited influence. Tuchel seems like he could be o good bet; tactically astutely and short doses of his intensity when England goes into comp could be quite effective.

Is this the first time a German has managed England?

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

@dogmeat He's an excellent tactician and coach.

But I do worry a bit about him and man-management with the England job. He could be another Fabio Capello.

If the FA are sensible they will team him with a "good bloke" Englishman like Scott Parker as his assistant.

Good comparison with Capello.