Premier Lg EPL Matchday 16 - On Optus Sport

[Magma]

Almost like they've downed tools a bit. Foden with 0 goals and 1 assist in 11 games is quite surprising.

nah cos you can still see them trying. the club has tried to eek out an extra season with these players and havent freshened the squad up enough over the last few seasons. guys like phillips, doku, nunes havent taken that next step after joining and over the last few season we've sold a lot of players, especially younger guys. the club has definitely prioritised balance sheets over the squad the last few seasons, which has been covered by winning a lot.

foden is just out of form and has had injury and illness since pre season. he has a few mates in that sense

 

[glenferry23]

The Manchester derby, wtf was that from City. So rare and unusual to see them so all over the shop and chaotic, that was a ridiculous implosion really. Against United at home of all teams. Bizarre stuff.

Huge result for United.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Almost like they've downed tools a bit. Foden with 0 goals and 1 assist in 11 games is quite surprising.

The cliff has come

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Question for neutrals, are Chelsea a title challenger yet?

Definite yes. Especially this season where City have dropped off a cliff. Arsenal not playing as well as last season. Very open season and think Chelsea’s depth will hold them in good stead

 

[Zidane98]

Just seen the derby highlights. Certainly an eye opener. Two defensive abominations in two minutes suggests more than just burnout. Especially in a derby at home.

 

[SM]

nah cos you can still see them trying. the club has tried to eek out an extra season with these players and havent freshened the squad up enough over the last few seasons. guys like phillips, doku, nunes havent taken that next step after joining and over the last few season we've sold a lot of players, especially younger guys. the club has definitely prioritised balance sheets over the squad the last few seasons, which has been covered by winning a lot.

foden is just out of form and has had injury and illness since pre season. he has a few mates in that sense

In hindsight selling Delap was a bad call, but also hard at the time to justify him stepping up to replace Alvarez.

 

[QuietB]

It doesn’t matter now as he’s gone, but how didn’t ETH see the talent that Amad possesses. Such a weird manager/player relationship that one.

How did he not see the effort? No one else played with any intent under ETH. Amad should have been playing just for his energy

 

[Magma]

In hindsight selling Delap was a bad call, but also hard at the time to justify him stepping up to replace Alvarez.

i think if he had stayed he would be struggling for game time like mcatee has. it feels like we've preferred to get the money in for our youngsters rather than give them a shot, and the players we did bring in to replace some seniors havent fired.

 

[chef]

i think if he had stayed he would be struggling for game time like mcatee has. it feels like we've preferred to get the money in for our youngsters rather than give them a shot, and the players we did bring in to replace some seniors havent fired.

I guess thats FFP at work and how it's turned academy kids into pure profit for clubs. Needs to change.

 

[FreoRicci]

Southampton needs a manager. Pep would be suitable.

 

[Zidane98]

i think if he had stayed he would be struggling for game time like mcatee has. it feels like we've preferred to get the money in for our youngsters rather than give them a shot, and the players we did bring in to replace some seniors havent fired.

Don't you have a buyback to activate?

 

[And_ROOS]

Just seen the derby highlights. Certainly an eye opener. Two defensive abominations in two minutes suggests more than just burnout. Especially in a derby at home.

And ignores that just before the penalty that Bruno missed a gimme goal, especially for someone with his skill set.

 

[QuietB]

Question for neutrals, are Chelsea a title challenger yet?

They’d want to be because City aren’t and Corner Kick FC cant handle a bus.

 

[And_ROOS]

Apparently Bournemouth and WHU have never had a 0-0 draw, which I was hopeful for a goal fest this morning instead its been a largely nothing match thats still 0-0 in the 66th.

 

[Frank Bunn]

Apparently Bournemouth and WHU have never had a 0-0 draw, which I was hopeful for a goal fest this morning instead its been a largely nothing match thats still 0-0 in the 66th.

Boy, does this game need a goal! So many chances pinging around but blocked and saved.

 

[And_ROOS]

Question for neutrals, are Chelsea a title challenger yet?

2 points behind Pool, albeit with a game in hand, but I assume Chelsea aren't because your players keep saying they aren't

Seriously though, Pool still have a lot of difficult away games so there is still a big opportunity for them to drop points and as we have seen this year all it really takes is an injury or two to key players for teams to struggle.
A Salah injury or a VvD injury brings them back to the pack, just as losing Odegaard ****ed Arsenal and how losing Rodri ****ed City (yes both teams had other injuries, but they were "straw that broke the camels back" injuries).

I still think its Pools title to lose, but Chelsea have the squad depth to keep pace. For a team with Chelseas younger players its about staying in form more than anything.

Boy, does this game need a goal! So many chances pinging around but blocked and saved.

Penalty and WHU take the lead from a Paqueta penalty.

Also stutter penalties can **** off.

 

[DBAH0]

Wouldn't say we deserve that for our 2nd half performance, but I'll take it.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Yeah technically a penalty but gees that’s tough to lose from that

 

[DBAH0]

Mavropanos why the **** did you give away that free kick for.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Lovely taken fk..they deserved that

 

[Frank Bunn]

Penalty and WHU take the lead from a Paqueta penalty.

Also stutter penalties can **** off.

Geez. That's a harsh penalty.

Brilliant hit by Unal.

 

[DBAH0]

Lucky to get a point, second half Bournemouth upped the pressure and we couldn't cope, Fabianski was excellent.

Iraola should be who we target for our next manager.

 

[chef]

Iraola should be who we target for our next manager.

No offence but are Hammers a step up from Bournemouth nowadays, they are such a well run club.

 

[And_ROOS]

Yeah technically a penalty but gees that’s tough to lose from that

Its harsh because while the hand was unnaturally away from the body in a sense it was while lunging and is natural for the movement. Doesn't feel like it goes against the spirit of the game as in he did it deliberately to make it harder for the WHU player to put in a cross.

That said, the rules are if you use your arms to make yourself bigger, either deliberately or not, then if it hits the arm its a penalty. At least they are consistent with this call.

 

[DBAH0]

No offence but are Hammers a step up from Bournemouth nowadays, they are such a well run club.

It's a good question to ask, I would still say yes in terms of the club size etc., but I would agree that at the owner level, Bournemouth are a step above.

I get a lot of Pochettino vibes about Iraola, in a good way, not the PSG / Chelsea version.