The 2021-22 Premier League Thread - Dem Thicc Lines

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

Opening Fixtures:

Brentford v Arsenal
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Everton v Southampton
Leicester City v Wolverhampton
Manchester United v Leeds United
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Norwich City v Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Watford v Aston Villa

[Duty281]

Zidane and Conte the most talked about, but Rodgers and Pochettino are also in single figures on the exchanges. Not sure Rodgers would be viable given his history!

I feel somewhat sorry for Ole. He's obviously out of his depth, and it's been apparent for quite a while, but he should never have been put in this situation. He came in as interim manager and should have departed in the summer of 2019 having steadied the club. Instead he carried on for two and a bit seasons, the result over PSG in 2019 leading some to believe that he was a managerial genius. His coaching, tactics and selection choices are not remotely near a top-level manager; he shouldn't be anywhere near managing a club like Manchester United long-term.

Anyway, he might not even depart. His post-match interview said something about not giving up.

[Duty281]

Sounds like Ole is getting the next three games - Tottenham away, Atalanta away, City at home. This falls into the category of cruel and unusual punishment.

[GSC]

I think in absolute fairness, Ole has stabilized United, and put them in a better position than he found them post Mourinho, despite navigating a club that is more interested in off field success than on field. But he has a limited ceiling that was hit a while ago, and he can't be allowed to go any further.

About to see how serious United are as a club in attaining more than Arsenals old top four trophy. Zidane or Conte won't come to navigate United's politics just to achieve CL qualification. Rodgers has the City job lined up I think.

[Guest]

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[GSC]

Athletic saying he'll get the spurs game at least while United hedge their bets

[Guest]

Palace 2-0 Manchester City. Zaha earlier goal and Gallagher closing out the win. Laporte was sent off just before half time.
Newcastle 0-3 Chelsea. Reece James scoring twice and Jorginho penalty. Chelsea looking like they be difficult to stop this year.
Liverpool 2-2 Brighton. Hosts blow a 2 goal lead against the very impressive Seagulls. Potter is an incredible manager.
Leicester 0-2 Arsenal. Ramsdale had an incredible game.

[Duty281]

Very odd day in the title race with City losing a banker game and Liverpool coughing up a 2-0 lead. Chelsea have some breathing room at the top. Potter is an incredible manager, certainly a future England one.

Intriguing game coming up in the battle for top four and the battle between two under-pressure managers, Ole more so. Seems as though Ole's gone for a complete tactical overhaul.

[Guest]

Manchester United 2-0 up against Tottenham. ‘Old timers’ Ronaldo and Cavani with the goals.
Spurs are a really woeful side.

[Guest]

United win 3-0, Rashford adds a third after coming off the bench. A rare clean sheet for the visitors.
Looks like Nuno will beat Ole in the race for the sack. Spurs absolutely terrible.

[Galted]

Someone on Tw*tter posted after the Liverpool defeat that United could do worse than give Steve Bruce a call. He might not be a world beater, but he's still quicker than Harry Maguire.

[Guest]

United look a better side playing 3-5-2/5-3-2. Does ponder the question why did they sign Sancho, when they could’ve used that money on a midfielder.

[Lowlandbrit]

Man Utd continue to look like either the best team in the league or a mid-table side from week to week.

Bit worried about Leeds, look like a classic second-season-syndrome side.

[Guest]

Leeds paying for a thin squad, and have had serious injuries this season. Phillips, Bamford, Firpo, Ayling & Koch have all been absent for a while

[GSC]

Think yesterday probably had more to do with where Spurs are as a club. Look completely broken

[Duty281]

Sounds like Nuno is getting the sack soon. No idea what manager will want to take over at the toxic car crash that is Tottenham football club.

[Soul Requiem]

Building new stadiums did for both North London clubs, the financial cost just doesn't seem worth it.

[Guest]

Nuno sacked from Spurs

Levy chasing Conte

[GSC]

Spurs managing to get Conte after the complete mess they've made of the last 6 months would be an incredible bailout

[Duty281]

It was always a doomed appointment, but I didn't think it would go up in flames this quickly. At least Nuno's reputation hasn't been too damaged by the whole affair.

Conte would be another turbulent appointment. Also would mean United have missed out if they still want to dispense with Ole.

[GSC]

If you're gonna appoint Mourinho, might as well get the one that still wins things

[JDizzle]

Conte at Spurs will certainly be spicy.

Can’t be far off the best four managers in the world in the PL.

[Guest]

Toon owners want Unai Emery. £6m compensation

Eddie Howe is the back-up option.

[Duty281]

No Emery for Newcastle. Newcastle should stay a million miles away from Eddie Howe, but he's the new odds-on favourite.

[Guest]

It’s no real surprise. Emery would of been wrong appointment, at the wrong time. Need a stabiliser right now, whereas an Emery type should of been targeted next summer, if we’d have survived.

As for the club, we’ve got no structure in place whatsoever, with the only attraction, being the lure of money. The new manager and players have a thankless task, because if we miraculously survive, the likelihood is, that they will all be replaced anyway. Can’t be much motivation for this squad to avoid relegation IMO.

Foundations and a structure need to be built and set in stone first, and we’re a million miles from that right now. Appointing Eddie Howe is early preparation for life in the Championship. Benitez suddenly becoming available could also be a tempting choice for the owners.

[Guest]

Eddie Howe coming in. Pretty much confirmed tonight. Preparing for the Championship

[Duty281]

That's Newcastle down then, along with Norwich. Newcastle will be very vulnerable in the Championship if the new owners pull out. Could be incredibly dark times.

[GSC]

I think if they were going to pull out if Newcastle were relegated they wouldn't have bought it to begin with. As it is, the gap between the haves and haves not below the PL is growing to an extent where Newcastle shouldn't have any issues

[Guest]

Manchester City 2-0 up at half time at Old Trafford in the derby. Could easily have been 4 or 5 had in not been for de Gea.
Ole has no clue what he’s doing.

[GSC]

Scoreline gives the impression that this is an improvement on Liverpool. But City have been in complete control since 2-0

[Guest]

Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City. The champions dominated their neighbours. City could won by 5 or 6 if they really wanted to.
United didn’t lay a glove on City. Embarrassing.
United had one shot on target.

[Duty281]

That was really embarrassing from United. 32% possession and one shot on target. All that money spent and they set up v City like a side battling relegation would do. Then no reaction in the second half and it was a training ground drill for City who, if they had been bothered, could have racked up the goals like Liverpool did.

Evident the players have given up on Ole. Surely he gets sacked now there's an international break?

[Guest]

United need to pay whatever it takes to land Ten Hag or Rodgers. Especially as they let Conte pass them by.

[GSC]

Despite recent form, top 4 is very much still a possibility. But United already lost out on one elite coach to a direct rival

[Guest]

Chelsea 1-1 Burnley. The league leaders left to rue fluffing many opportunities.

[Soul Requiem]

Tuchel is a classless tool then.

[GSC]

Norwich clearly worried United will beat them to Warnock

[Guest]

Brighton 1-1 Newcastle. The Toon rescued a point, could’ve won it but for Brighton’s keeper with a tactical foul on Wilson.
When do Newcastle get worried that they might not escape relegation?

[GSC]

Suspect they've been worried since before they paid for the club. Not much you can do outside of a window to improve a side beyond changing managers though

[Guest]

We’ve been worried for a long time. Rather we didn’t go down, as it delays the project, but if it happens, then so be it. Squad needs a complete overhaul anyway. It’s a long term project, and there will probably be a lot of pain, before some gain.

Unless we have a seriously productive window, and the new players hit the ground running, I think the three going down will be Toon, Watford & Norwich.

[Duty281]

Newcastle's fate will probably be known in the next four games: home to Brentford, away to Arsenal, home to Norwich, home to Burnley. If they take 7 or more points from that then their survival aims look realistic. If they scratch around for 3 points or fewer from that set of games they're going down.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Strange timing on the Farke sacking but it was needed - “won” yesterday but the performance wasn’t really much better, and he’s been historically bad in the PL unfortunately. And contrary to the “narrative” we spent a fair whack in the summer.

New manager has a hard task, but only 5 points off safety with 27 games left. Do-able if they hit the ground running

[GSC]

Farke sacking being preordained must mean they have someone lined up to take over sharpish?

[Duty281]

Super Frank odds-on favourite to take over at Norwich.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Farke sacking being preordained must mean they have someone lined up to take over sharpish?

Yes would be surprised if they don’t have someone in before the next game - would imagine it’ll be someone from the continent again, highly doubt it’ll be Lampard

[Guest]

Dean Smith gone

[Duty281]

At this rate Ole will be the last manager standing.

[Guest]

West Ham 3-2 Liverpool. The Hammers end Liverpool’s long unbeaten run. Poor day for Alisson whom made errors for all three of the Hammers goals.

[JDizzle]

Moyes to United.

[Lowlandbrit]

Gerrard to Villa done then. Seems like a good opportunity for both sides.
It'll be interesting to see who Rangers go for now, imagine a few people will fancy their chances of getting (back) to the PL from there now.

[Afro]

If Gerrard fancies the Liverpool job after Klopp, then he is taking a risk. He could have stayed at Rangers and carried on winning in the easier league. It won't be so easy at Villa and he is going to be losing many more games than he currently is.

Do a good job however and he probably becomes a shoe-in for the job.

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