EPL 2024/2025

@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.

@Cyclops Yes.

I wonder if he will have to sing the terrace anthem ‘2 world wars and one world cup’ as part of his initiation!?

I sense it is likely to end badly with Tuchel - he's a cantakerous sod and I'm not sure how his tactical style will work when he doesn't have the players day to day. Seems like the best thing England can do is fix on a formation and stick to it even when the personnel changes. If the wide left player is a right footer then pick the best available left-footed left back, don't try to shoe-horn in the players you deem most talented.

Relegation in the Nations League was pretty disastrous for England - qualifying for tournaments is only getting easier as the tournaments get bigger so the top division of nations league would at least have them playing against quality teams. And England's recent tournament record will be Tuchel's worst enemy - it would have been better for him if they had been knocked out by Slovakia in the round of 16 as that would have reflected how poor they were.

Really good win from Aston Villa against Fulham on Saturday. Awesome to have no injuries and the full squad available for the first time in 18 months. Great to be in the top 4 again and putting pressure on Arsenal for 3rd place. I'm looking forward to Bologna on Wednesday in the UCL.

Fulham look a quality side this season and will easily finishing in the top 9 this season.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Really good win from Aston Villa against Fulham on Saturday. Awesome to have no injuries and the full squad available for the first time in 18 months. Great to be in the top 4 again and putting pressure on Arsenal for 3rd place. I'm looking forward to Bologna on Wednesday in the UCL.

Fulham look a quality side this season and will easily finishing in the top 9 this season.

The only let down right now is Bailey. I'd assume that Philogene will start against Bologna or McGinn depending on what formation Emery wants to play.

Cash also worries me at times but is our only experienced RB right now, so he gets in automatically.

Story is crap but get a load of the photoshop pic! What a melon on Jose!

Chris Wood has as many goals this season as Man United. 7. He just keeps getting better with age.

@KiwiMurph said in EPL 2024/2025:

Chris Wood has as many goals this season as Man United. 7. He just keeps getting better with age.

Seems to suit middle of the table clubs, didn't get much of a run when he went to Newcastle

Seems to be a season for journeymen strikers who have been written off. Wood, Welbeck, Jimenez. It's good to see

How does he compare to Rufer now? On the one hand, Rufer won titles and was one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga when he played, but I current standard of the EPL is probably much higher than the 90s Bundesliga.

On balance I'd still go Rufer, but whereas a couple of years ago that was a no brainer, I think it's now a genuine decision.

@Cyclops said in EPL 2024/2025:

How does he compare to Rufer now? On the one hand, Rufer won titles and was one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga when he played, but I current standard of the EPL is probably much higher than the 90s Bundesliga.

On balance I'd still go Rufer, but whereas a couple of years ago that was a no brainer, I think it's now a genuine decision.

Rufer's still better.

Wood's decent, but as @canefan said, at a mid/lower table side.

@canefan said in EPL 2024/2025:

@KiwiMurph said in EPL 2024/2025:

Chris Wood has as many goals this season as Man United. 7. He just keeps getting better with age.

Seems to suit middle of the table clubs, didn't get much of a run when he went to Newcastle

Define middle of the table. Forrest are 5th!

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2024/2025:

@canefan said in EPL 2024/2025:

@KiwiMurph said in EPL 2024/2025:

Chris Wood has as many goals this season as Man United. 7. He just keeps getting better with age.

Seems to suit middle of the table clubs, didn't get much of a run when he went to Newcastle

Define middle of the table. Forrest are 5th!

It's early mate

Bournemouth snatch one at the death. I wish we'd find someone better than Matty Cash. He's the only reason why Bournemouth had a chance at coming back. He's fucken hopeless.

To be fair to Bournemouth, they fought hard all day and can't begrudge them for getting something out of the game. Travers did well between the sticks.

@African-Monkey A tough one to take. Conceding the result to a goal from the last kick of the game reminds us of the Old Aston Villa.

That said, it's the first time I can remember that happening in two years under Emery. And we are still third in the Premier League and top of the Champions League.

Lessons to learn and lots to work on, then onwards.

@African-Monkey said in EPL 2024/2025:

Bournemouth snatch one at the death. I wish we'd find someone better than Matty Cash. He's the only reason why Bournemouth had a chance at coming back. He's fucken hopeless.

To be fair to Bournemouth, they fought hard all day and can't begrudge them for getting something out of the game. Travers did well between the sticks.

While you were subbing Watkins, we were bringing on every attacking option possible and snatched one at the death. Hopefully Evanilson kicks on from here for us.

Think you were better team but loving our fight and taking four points from Villa and Arsenal combined in last two games is also massively pleasing although unexpected

@bayimports The return of Tyler Adams could be massive for you. If he can recapture the form he had pre-injury, that's a £50 million midfielder right there.