5000-1 - The 2016/17 Premier League thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

The other thread is coming to an end and I think it's nice to have a new memory to take us through this year.

And with the new season starting today, what better time to refresh things and start again. The preamble of pre-season is over: 2016/17 LETS BE AVIN YA

[dyrewolfe]

Guidolin was a weird appointment in the first place and Swansea had a rubbish window because of it

Right decision to get rid imo

Well thats more a case of the board making a poor decision to start with. Funny how rarely the suits fall on their swords when they mess up, isn't it?

#SackTheBoard

[Breadvan]

Maybe harsh on FG given the run of tough games but you could see the players were low on confidence and we weren't exactly playing well. Decent first half's v City and Liverpool but the Swans were so predictable in the way they played and could've been thrashed at Leicester and Saints. The board could've made a statement in the window by freeing up funds from the Ayew and Williams sales but nothing. Don't know what to make of Bradley? Its a risk but so would've been Giggs.
Personally I'd approach Huddersfield for Wagner...

[Guest]

Bob Bradley

Yeah, good luck with that.

[Guest]

Seems the Swansea board were underwhelmed by Ryan Giggs' interview. Why doesn't that surprise me?

[Fernando]

@paddypower 2h2 hours ago
Swansea snubbed Ryan Giggs after an "underwhelming interview".

"So Ryan, what did you do as Man Utd asst manager?"
"Just sat there, mostly"

^ This seems about right.

[Ent]

Something for him to work on anyway.

[Guest]

What? Developing an engaging personality? Good luck with that!

[Fernando]

Can't be that unengaging Dave he managed to lure his own Brother's missus onto his todger.

[Ent]

Interview technique.

Mind you there isn't much hope for him if he couldn't beat out bob Bradley.

Nepotism is alive and well with regards Bradley's career.

[Ent]

Can't be that unengaging Dave he managed to lure his own Brother's missus onto his todger.

And a host of others. Maybe he should request an all female panel?

[Guest]

Can't be that unengaging Dave he managed to lure his own Brother's missus onto his todger.

...maybe she was just a f*cking sl*g

[hornbloweroafc]

Maybe they went for someone with managerial experience?

What makes people think Giggs deserves the job more than the other candidates? I think Giggs should start with a lower league team (like Oldham ) and build up some experience before jumping into a 'big' club.

Note: Yes I know he was caretaker manager at United but it was only for 4 games. And playing under a manager like Fergie doesn't guarantee being a good manager, Exhibit one being Paul Ince.

[Ent]

The lower league club seems to be a risky manoeuvre now for up and coming managers.

Unless you get them promoted and have a good stint in the EPL you're unlikely to get a pl job. Can't remember last person who managed that feat.

I can understand someone with a bit of a profile holding out for a pl job.

[MIG]

PL jobs are just as if not more risky though. You don't hit the ground running then you get sacked. You may have a little more time in the lower leagues to gain your experience, albeit probably not a great deal longer.
Just look at Gary Neville for taking a high profile job as his first for a decent example of how it can go wrong.

[Ent]

At least you've had a go in the pl then and can drop down to championship.

Current trend seems to be take a lower league job, do well get championship job then get promoted or sacked and have your stock damaged.

Valencia are a mess and have since sacked another manager.

Think it is more difficult than ever for new managers to get pl jobs, never mind too level jobs.

I mean Swansea have just sacked a guy with 30 years management experience in Italy, gained numerous promotions, qualified for Europe multiple times, cup winner for a guy who has no real pedigree aside from getting USA top of World Cup group in 2010.

[Fernando]

Anthony Taylor is refereeing the United/Liverpool game despite living 6 miles from Old Traffold. Yet Kevin Friend couldn't ref a Spurs game because of Leicester's title challenge.


Odd.

[Crimey]

The only hope is that with people thinking this, he'll be overly harsh to United... 

[Guest]

Chelsea sign mega kit deal with Nike, for £60m a year

[Ent]

Bookies have suspended betting on contract being sacked.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Chelsea walking over Leicester

[Hero]

Anthony Taylor is refereeing the United/Liverpool game despite living 6 miles from Old Traffold. Yet Kevin Friend couldn't ref a Spurs game because of Leicester's title challenge.


Odd.

Living that close to Old Trafford does though mean he clearly can't be a Utd fan.

[GSC]

There look to be worse teams to be honest, but Leicester could get dragged into the mix near the bottom. Still the same core of players that just escaped relegation 18 months ago despite the heroics of last season.

[Guest]

theo bangs them in against a woeful swansea side, media go to town, southgate creams himself & that's him starting vs scotland

[Guest]

Leicester (minus Konte) have lost away to Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool.  Was anyone expecting any different?  Leicester need to beat the mid and lower level teams.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Dier has come on at centre back for Spurs I think. Hope so, think he could be a step up for England in that position

[Jermaine2015]

City 0 - 1 Everton Lukaku. Pep must be wondering where's Messi...

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Nolito answered

[Jermaine2015]

Veteran Dutch keeper Stekelenburg is having the game of his life. Saving two penalties at the Etihad.

[Jermaine2015]

Arsenal trying to throw it away against Swansea. 3-2 up but Xhaha straight red

[TRUSSMAN66]

Can be frustrating being a City supporter at times.....Dominating games and being mugged...

But if you don't take your chances....Crap happens...

Take the bitter with the sweet..

[Ent]

Sunderland need to get rid of moyes asap.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Lovely to see Cresswell back.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Won't see a worst minute of reffing this season than that

[Born Slippy]

Shocking sending off for Cresswell. Neither was a booking. Amusing how bad a commentator Jonathan Pearce is though - even with replays he still called them both wrong.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Love me some Redderz

Should be in the England squad

[Nico the gman]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

Get it right Ramirez is a terrible diver, we need to change something or we'll end up like you lot back in the Championship after one season. Perhaps Karanka's like Neill out of his depth in the PL.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

Get it right Ramirez is a terrible diver, we need to change something or we'll end up like you lot back in the Championship after one season. Perhaps Karanka's like Neill out of his depth in the PL.

Certainly looks like he is so far

[Nico the gman]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

Get it right Ramirez is a terrible diver, we need to change something or we'll end up like you lot back in the Championship after one season. Perhaps Karanka's like Neill out of his depth in the PL.

Certainly looks like he is so far

No argument from me Olly, Karanka stated after the Watford game he won't be changing our style, so more boring defensive unentertaining football then, so we may see you next year unless you go up of course, only chance we have is if there's 3 worse than us and that's debatable, take a look at our 12 signings bet you'd struggle to pick one you'd have in the Norwich squad.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

Get it right Ramirez is a terrible diver, we need to change something or we'll end up like you lot back in the Championship after one season. Perhaps Karanka's like Neill out of his depth in the PL.

Certainly looks like he is so far

No argument from me Olly, Karanka stated after the Watford game he won't be changing our style, so more boring defensive unentertaining football then, so we may see you next year unless you go up of course, only chance we have is if there's 3 worse than us and that's debatable, take a look at our 12 signings bet you'd struggle to pick one you'd have in the Norwich squad.

Couldn't believe he didn't bring Rhodes on until the 88th minute - even the usuallly bland Sky commentators were slating him for it!

You did go a bit QPR in the transfer market and have ended up with an inexperienced CB pairing somehow in the mess resulting

[Fernando]

The problem is what got middlesbrough up was a strong defense but at PL level it's distinctly average.

[Nico the gman]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

Get it right Ramirez is a terrible diver, we need to change something or we'll end up like you lot back in the Championship after one season. Perhaps Karanka's like Neill out of his depth in the PL.

Certainly looks like he is so far

No argument from me Olly, Karanka stated after the Watford game he won't be changing our style, so more boring defensive unentertaining football then, so we may see you next year unless you go up of course, only chance we have is if there's 3 worse than us and that's debatable, take a look at our 12 signings bet you'd struggle to pick one you'd have in the Norwich squad.

Couldn't believe he didn't bring Rhodes on until the 88th minute - even the usuallly bland Sky commentators were slating him for it!

You did go a bit QPR in the transfer market and have ended up with an inexperienced CB pairing somehow in the mess resulting

We've brought in quantity rather than quality, when you got relegated your manager admitted he felt he hadn't brought in enough quality in to the squad an honest man, that's our problem, if Karanka bought Messi he'd play him right back, there's a lot of fans at the Riverside want a change already the least shots on target in PL, we're not nice to watch.
As you said the Rhodes sub was farcical, disappointed Rhodes couldn't bag a hat trick in the 2 minutes plus stoppage time he got:) .

[Nico the gman]

The problem is what got middlesbrough up was a strong defense but at PL level it's distinctly average.

100% correct,quality players break it down, prime example Friend was superb for us last season, been done quite out a few times this year, Gibson's adapted well, excellent player, big weight on young shoulders trying to keep this defense together.

[dyrewolfe]

The problem is what got middlesbrough up was a strong defense but at PL level it's distinctly average.

100% correct,quality players break it down, prime example Friend was superb for us last season, been done quite out a few times this year, Gibson's adapted well, excellent player, big weight on young shoulders trying to keep this defense together.

In fairness I think our defence in general has been decent. Over the season we haven't conceded too many - the 3 we shipped against Everton being the worst so far.

Our biggest problem IMHO is the midfield and forwards. We simply don't put enough pressure on teams, despite all our possession. We give the ball away too easily and are vulnerable to counter-attacks. Our midfield, as well as failing to provide in attack, don't break up opposition attacks, which puts more pressure on our defence. We also give away free kicks in dangerous positions.

Same story against Watford yesterday. Defence was generally okay - with the obvious exception of Barragan. It took a pretty special goal to beat us that Valdes had very little chance of saving.

Those are about the only positives though.

Over 60% possession and only 3 shots on target is simply unacceptable for a home side.

I described the first half on the Oneboro forum as "solid if uninspired". We held our own without causing Watford too many problems. Then after an hour or so, we get undone by a bit of individual brilliance. Yet do we start pushing forward with more urgency? Nope, we keep playing possession football and pose all the attacking threat of a sloth.

Yet again Karanka left his subs until it was way too late...bringing Rhodes on with 8 minutes left (you're having a laugh!) and refusing to change formation.

If Aitor STILL can't see that his methods simply aren't working then perhaps its time for a change of manager, because under his stewardship Boro's stay in the PL will be a 1-season wonder.

The majority of posters on Oneboro were less than impressed (putting it mildly) and more than a few were thinking AK is currently on borrowed time.

Perhaps we do need a bit more quality in the squad, but on paper we should have enough to finish comfortably mid table...or at least without looking over our shoulders at the drop zone.


It was so frustrating to watch I actually switched off for the last 5 minutes, but listened to the BBC 5 Live coverage...the commentators reckoned were as bad as (possibly worse) than Sunderland! The really sad thing is its hard to argue on the evidence of our games so far.


Furthermore I think there is evidence that the players are beginning to get frustrated with Karanka, in the number of bookings we picked up. They are losing patience, they know what they are being asked to do isn't working and our general impotence is causing them to lose their discipline.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Middlesbrough are not only really bad, they're also terrible divers too

Get it right Ramirez is a terrible diver, we need to change something or we'll end up like you lot back in the Championship after one season. Perhaps Karanka's like Neill out of his depth in the PL.

Certainly looks like he is so far

No argument from me Olly, Karanka stated after the Watford game he won't be changing our style, so more boring defensive unentertaining football then, so we may see you next year unless you go up of course, only chance we have is if there's 3 worse than us and that's debatable, take a look at our 12 signings bet you'd struggle to pick one you'd have in the Norwich squad.

Couldn't believe he didn't bring Rhodes on until the 88th minute - even the usuallly bland Sky commentators were slating him for it!

You did go a bit QPR in the transfer market and have ended up with an inexperienced CB pairing somehow in the mess resulting

We've brought in quantity rather than quality, when you got relegated your manager admitted he felt he hadn't brought in enough quality in to the squad an honest man, that's our problem, if Karanka bought Messi he'd play him right back, there's a lot of fans at the Riverside want a change already the least shots on target in PL, we're not nice to watch.
As you said the Rhodes sub was farcical, disappointed Rhodes couldn't bag a hat trick in the 2 minutes plus stoppage time he got:) .

Yep one thing Neil did do was admit he got things wrong last year - he changed his style two/three times to get something to work, when actually sticking to the original one probably would've been best (may not have stayed up mind)

I don't mind Karanka sticking to what got you there - but he has to be more adaptable in game

[Jermaine2015]

Jose Mourinho reverting to type at Anfield. Felliani and Young come in for Mata and Lingard. Mata a little stiff to be left out. Martial injured and a fully fit Mkhitaryan can't get make the bench...

[Jermaine2015]

Liverpool: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Coutinho, Firmino, Mane, Sturridge

Man Utd: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Pogba, Fellaini; Rashford, Ibrahimovic, Young

[Ent]

Fingers crossed but not expecting much with that side out.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Lies damn lies and statistics. Liverpool on 60% possession and being bossed around

[Ent]

Pogba may as well not be playing

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