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

[westisbest]

Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. City dominated the match. Chelsea couldn’t live with them. City are the PL benchmark. Had City got a striker they’d ran away with the league.

Aston Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Villa made United look a mediocre side. Fernándes missed an injury time penalty, which bizarrely CR7 let him take.
Solskjaer is a championship level manager. I can’t imagine any top manager ever considering Fred or McTomminay as starters for a top 4 club. Yet the Norwegian clown picks both.
Solskjaer’s management style of ‘vibes and luck’ has run out.

Yes we did baby. Yes we did.

Woooooooooooooooooooo

[Galted]

Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. City dominated the match. Chelsea couldn’t live with them. City are the PL benchmark. Had City got a striker they’d ran away with the league.

Aston Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Villa made United look a mediocre side. Fernándes missed an injury time penalty, which bizarrely CR7 let him take.
Solskjaer is a championship level manager. I can’t imagine any top manager ever considering Fred or McTomminay as starters for a top 4 club. Yet the Norwegian clown picks both.
Solskjaer’s management style of ‘vibes and luck’ has run out.

Yes we did baby. Yes we did.

Woooooooooooooooooooo

Haha, 2 out of 47 now - though no surprise with the amount of penalties they get against us - think it's 4 in a row when they've been level or a goal down. Martinez's sh*thousery in trying to get Ronaldo to take it was superb.

[Guest]

Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. City dominated the match. Chelsea couldn’t live with them. City are the PL benchmark. Had City got a striker they’d ran away with the league.

Aston Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Villa made United look a mediocre side. Fernándes missed an injury time penalty, which bizarrely CR7 let him take.
Solskjaer is a championship level manager. I can’t imagine any top manager ever considering Fred or McTomminay as starters for a top 4 club. Yet the Norwegian clown picks both.
Solskjaer’s management style of ‘vibes and luck’ has run out.

Solskjaer probably picks them as starters because he feels that they are his best options. If he thought DVB was better or had other players that he thought would be better I'm sure he would pick them.

Solskjaer has one of the great midfielder, when not playing for Manchester United, in Paul Pogba. Only a moron with no footballing intelligence would play Pogba as a left winger.

Fred and McTomminay are two of the worst midfielders I’ve ever seen. If Solskjaer can’t see what van de Beek can do in the limited matches the Dutchman has actually played, then he’s an even bigger idiot than I thought.

[Soul Requiem]

There is the fact Pogba has played better on the left than he has in midfield for Man Utd, there is that.

[Guest]

There is the fact Pogba has played better on the left than he has in midfield for Man Utd,  there is that.

That’s on United’s poor recruitment in the past. Can you genuinely justify £50m+ on Fred? Imagine if that money was invested on a midfielder that could compliment Pogba.

[Guest]

Brentford and Liverpool share 6 goals in a highly entertaining draw. Brentford are very enjoyable to watch. Liverpool very much over hyped and defensively are woeful. Konate should be a starter over Matip.

[Soul Requiem]

There is the fact Pogba has played better on the left than he has in midfield for Man Utd,  there is that.

That’s on United’s poor recruitment in the past. Can you genuinely justify £50m+ on Fred? Imagine if that money was invested on a midfielder that could compliment Pogba.

It's on Pogba picking and choosing when he can be bothered to put the effort in.

[GSC]

Pogba has been poor at CM, can't play him in a two. Van de Beek wants to be a 10. Not sure Ole has better options. Though that is on recruitment

[Guest]

There is the fact Pogba has played better on the left than he has in midfield for Man Utd,  there is that.

That’s on United’s poor recruitment in the past. Can you genuinely justify £50m+ on Fred? Imagine if that money was invested on a midfielder that could compliment Pogba.

It's on Pogba picking and choosing when he can be bothered to put the effort in.

But is that Pogba’s fault or Solskjaer not playing to the Frenchman’s strengths?
As GSC says Pogba isn’t someone you can play in a two man midfield. And during his time in Manchester his best moments in the midfield came when he played with Matic and Herrera.
For whatever reason Matic rarely plays. And Solskjaer never bothered replacing Herrera.

[Soul Requiem]

If you're a supposed world class central midfielder and you can only perform in a three you have some glaring weaknesses. If he was good enough he'd perform regardless of the team set up.

[Duty281]

It was a rare bit of tactical hopelessness from Tuchel, set Chelsea up way too conservatively and they paid the price.  Leaves the title race well balanced early on with the three title contenders of Liverpool, City and Chelsea all on 13 points - though Liverpool have a game in hand v Brentford later today.

Sorry, but you have forgotten Man Utd in your list of contenders. I know you don't rate them as you picked them to finish 6th or 7th last season while they finished 2nd, and this season you didn't even pick them to finish in the top 4 this season but I think they're genuine contenders.

They're short of being realistic title contenders as they're a clear couple of levels below City and Chelsea, but if they get rid of Ole and replace with a better manager, and can bring in a quality defensive midfielder as an upgrade on the current options they have, they might be at that level. Certainly not title contenders yet.

For now 4th would be a good season for them. Yes they finished second last season, but mainly through Liverpool (injury-wrecked) and Chelsea (Lampard-wrecked) underachieving; can't expect the same thing to happen again this year.

(And I had United as 5th in my prediction from last year. Pretty much the same this year in that I wouldn't be surprised if any of United/Tottenham/Leicester finish fourth).

[Guest]

Well you look at the teams that are ahead of Manchester United - City, Chelsea and Liverpool. All have world class defensive midfielders. It’s not like Pogba can’t play as in a two men midfield. He does it with Kante for the French. It’s on United for wasting money on below average players. You put Rodri, Fabinho or Kante in that United squad and arguably they could be champions.

[Atila]

It was a rare bit of tactical hopelessness from Tuchel, set Chelsea up way too conservatively and they paid the price.  Leaves the title race well balanced early on with the three title contenders of Liverpool, City and Chelsea all on 13 points - though Liverpool have a game in hand v Brentford later today.

Sorry, but you have forgotten Man Utd in your list of contenders. I know you don't rate them as you picked them to finish 6th or 7th last season while they finished 2nd, and this season you didn't even pick them to finish in the top 4 this season but I think they're genuine contenders.

They're short of being realistic title contenders as they're a clear couple of levels below City and Chelsea, but if they get rid of Ole and replace with a better manager, and can bring in a quality defensive midfielder as an upgrade on the current options they have, they might be at that level. Certainly not title contenders yet.

For now 4th would be a good season for them. Yes they finished second last season, but mainly through Liverpool (injury-wrecked) and Chelsea (Lampard-wrecked) underachieving; can't expect the same thing to happen again this year.

(And I had United as 5th in my prediction from last year. Pretty much the same this year in that I wouldn't be surprised if any of United/Tottenham/Leicester finish fourth).

I looked back at your predictions and you're correct. You did pick United to finish 5th at the start of last season, but by December you said you would be highly surprised if United finished in the top 4. You then thought they would finish 6th or 7th.
https://www.606v2.com/t69686p200-2020-21-premier-league-thread-var-check-complete-no-cough#3943526

United clearly a level below City and Chelsea? City I can take but Chelsea?

[Atila]

Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. City dominated the match. Chelsea couldn’t live with them. City are the PL benchmark. Had City got a striker they’d ran away with the league.

Aston Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Villa made United look a mediocre side. Fernándes missed an injury time penalty, which bizarrely CR7 let him take.
Solskjaer is a championship level manager. I can’t imagine any top manager ever considering Fred or McTomminay as starters for a top 4 club. Yet the Norwegian clown picks both.
Solskjaer’s management style of ‘vibes and luck’ has run out.

Solskjaer probably picks them as starters because he feels that they are his best options. If he thought DVB was better or had other players that he thought would be better I'm sure he would pick them.

Solskjaer has one of the great midfielder, when not playing for Manchester United, in Paul Pogba. Only a moron with no footballing intelligence would play Pogba as a left winger.

Fred and McTomminay are two of the worst midfielders I’ve ever seen. If Solskjaer can’t see what van de Beek can do in the limited matches the Dutchman has actually played, then he’s an even bigger idiot than I thought.

I've read good things about McTominay and Fred has made 8 appearances for Brazil this year alone. Sorry you don't like them but some people obviously do.

[Guest]

Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. City dominated the match. Chelsea couldn’t live with them. City are the PL benchmark. Had City got a striker they’d ran away with the league.

Aston Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Villa made United look a mediocre side. Fernándes missed an injury time penalty, which bizarrely CR7 let him take.
Solskjaer is a championship level manager. I can’t imagine any top manager ever considering Fred or McTomminay as starters for a top 4 club. Yet the Norwegian clown picks both.
Solskjaer’s management style of ‘vibes and luck’ has run out.

Solskjaer probably picks them as starters because he feels that they are his best options. If he thought DVB was better or had other players that he thought would be better I'm sure he would pick them.

Solskjaer has one of the great midfielder, when not playing for Manchester United, in Paul Pogba. Only a moron with no footballing intelligence would play Pogba as a left winger.

Fred and McTomminay are two of the worst midfielders I’ve ever seen. If Solskjaer can’t see what van de Beek can do in the limited matches the Dutchman has actually played, then he’s an even bigger idiot than I thought.

I've read good things about McTominay and Fred has made 8 appearances for Brazil this year alone. Sorry you don't like them but some people obviously do.

I don’t dislike Fred or McTomminay, I’m not at Manchester United fan so I don’t need to like them either. But that’s a mute point.

Mourinho signed Fred as Woodward wasn’t capable of getting any of the players the Portuguese requested. It’s not really a glowing endorsement is it?

Former United captain Roy Keane rips into the Brazilian basically every match. Keane by all accounts is worthy of an opinion. He’s United royalty.

As for McTomminay, he’s an average homegrown player. Might sound harsh. But aside from strength he’s got nothing else.

Whilst Solskjaer is manager and he keeps picking Fred and McTomminay, United will never win a trophy.

[GSC]

Fred and McTominay in a league winning squad is fine, but the two of them playing 30+ games together as a two just won't cut it.

[Duty281]

It was a rare bit of tactical hopelessness from Tuchel, set Chelsea up way too conservatively and they paid the price.  Leaves the title race well balanced early on with the three title contenders of Liverpool, City and Chelsea all on 13 points - though Liverpool have a game in hand v Brentford later today.

Sorry, but you have forgotten Man Utd in your list of contenders. I know you don't rate them as you picked them to finish 6th or 7th last season while they finished 2nd, and this season you didn't even pick them to finish in the top 4 this season but I think they're genuine contenders.

They're short of being realistic title contenders as they're a clear couple of levels below City and Chelsea, but if they get rid of Ole and replace with a better manager, and can bring in a quality defensive midfielder as an upgrade on the current options they have, they might be at that level. Certainly not title contenders yet.

For now 4th would be a good season for them. Yes they finished second last season, but mainly through Liverpool (injury-wrecked) and Chelsea (Lampard-wrecked) underachieving; can't expect the same thing to happen again this year.

(And I had United as 5th in my prediction from last year. Pretty much the same this year in that I wouldn't be surprised if any of United/Tottenham/Leicester finish fourth).

I looked back at your predictions and you're correct. You did pick United to finish 5th at the start of last season, but by December you said you would be highly surprised if United finished in the top 4. You then thought they would finish 6th or 7th.
https://www.606v2.com/t69686p200-2020-21-premier-league-thread-var-check-complete-no-cough#3943526

United clearly a level below City and Chelsea? City I can take but Chelsea?

Yes, City and Chelsea are the frontrunners this season. Liverpool possibly up there with them, maybe a little below. They're the three title contenders. Then you have to drop down a bit for United but, like I say, get rid of Ole and improve on the garbage Fred/McTominay/Matic choices in the defensive midfielder position and then United may be title contenders.

Not sure why you wouldn't think Chelsea are above United, they clearly are and have been since Tuchel took over and started getting the best out of the Chelsea squad.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Totally agree Duty - Utd can’t be taken seriously as title contenders until they appoint a manager worthy of taking on the Pep/Klopp/Tuchel’s over a season. It’s been clear as day Solskjaer is out of his depth at the top level, he’s done a decent job of steadying the ship post Mourinho but if Utd are to reach the next level, they need a serious upgrade at manager

[Duty281]

Watford's manager wins the first-to-be-sacked race. Five managers in two years, apparently. Embarrassing ownership.

[Guest]

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City. Thrilling match at Anfield, the home side fortunate to get a point. Mane put the hosts ahead. Foden equaliser was a brilliant finish. Salah put Liverpool ahead again with some crazy ass goal. KdB equaliser again was a fantastic finish.
City can feel aggrieved as Milner lucky not to be sent off when it was 1-1.

[Duty281]

Newcastle are now minted.

[Guest]

Ole the clown getting shredded by Leicester missing two of their best players. If that clown had self respect he would step down.
Leicester 4-2 Manchester United. Maguire is average at best. £80m who they kidding?
Watford 0-5 Liverpool, Firmino hat trick miserable debut for Ranieri.
Manchester City 2-0 Burnley a pretty entertaining match

[GSC]

Every time Ole has his back to the wall he pulls out a result to save himself, Liverpool next in the PL...

[Duty281]

Game of the season contender between Leicester and United. Thrilling attacking football from both, plenty of drama, and two world-class strikes - one for Greenwood, one for Tielemans. Might be the catalyst to ignite Leicester's season after a sluggish start. United in a bit of bother - they haven't won in the last three PL games and have got Tottenham/Liverpool/City coming up, plus they are probably without Varane for all of those.

Salah was top quality earlier, albeit against a dismal Watford defence.

[JDizzle]

Another bad Chelsea performance. Been a few in a row now which is a concern. It’s either all going to collapse in a heap or they will start playing properly and be right in the title mix after the tough run of games to start the year.

Mendy though - what a signing he has been.

[westisbest]

Poor from Villa today in the end. 2-0 and we fkd it up.

Got to be seeing those kind of games out.

Onto Friday night and Arsenal.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

We need to change manager if we're going to have any shot - don't think changing would ensure survival by any means, but might give us a shot

[Guest]

Newcastle 2-3 Spurs. Entertaining game, the Londoners good value for their win
Newcastle I guessing will sack Steve Bruce?

[Guest]

No surprise with the result today. Bruce will be gone ASAP. I think they just gave him the 1,000th game in charge, as a parting gift.

Long process ahead for the new owners now. It’s a mess, but this was never going to be an easy fix. Hard position to be in, given the diabolical squad/league position, and the difficulty of a January window. Bar, ASM/Wilson, everyone in the squad is expendable.

[Duty281]

Newcastle - without a win in the first eight games and have still got Liverpool/City/Chelsea to play this side of Christmas - could get relegated which would put their new owners in an uncomfortable position.

[guildfordbat]

We need to change manager if we're going to have any shot - don't think changing would ensure survival by any means, but might give us a shot

Steve Bruce then, mate?

[GSC]

He's now available..

[Duty281]

I felt some sympathy for Steve Bruce. Then I learned he was getting a pay-off in the region of £7 million, so it's not exactly a hard-luck story.

Wonder who Newcastle have lined up? The odds-on favourite is currently Fonseca, who is best known for winning the Ukrainian league thrice in succession, then doing little of note at Roma.

[Guest]

Fonseca being linked. It will be a hold the fort, and try and avoid relegation job. Whoever comes in now, I can’t envisage still being there in 12-18 month time. Top managers only become interested once the groundwork has been done, and that will take two years +

[JDizzle]

Norwich are abysmal. Chelsea’s front three seemed more balanced today - but yeah, it was Norwich.

[Guest]

Liverpool 2-0 up at Old Trafford after 13 minutes. Maguire and Shaw are pathetic.

[Guest]

OGS gone tonight

[GSC]

Ole has pulled off many escapes just when it look bleak but this might be one too many.

[Guest]

United are so bad they are making Naby look like prime Zidane

[Duty281]

This is the difference between title contenders and those a level below.

[Guest]

This is the difference between title contenders and those a level below.

Difference between a real manager vs a PE teacher.

[Soul Requiem]

Ole has to go now, he's managed to make defenders who have excelled under Southgate for England look worse than average.

[JDizzle]

Ole’s done his job. Steadied the ship and most of the pieces are there. Time to shuffle him aside. Not sure if Conte is the answer though…

[GSC]

Idk, but if nothing else Conte gives you what Mourinho hasn't for a while in transforming the attitude

[Guest]

Conte is a proven winner as is Zidane. Ole is clueless. No tactics. The obsesseion with McFred has cost him his job.

[Soul Requiem]

It highlights the massive downside of hiring a club legend as manager, it's a lot harder to get rid of them.

[Guest]

Pogba sent off, but he’s already eyeing PSG or Madrid on a free this summer.

[Guest]

Leg breaking foul from Pogba SMH

[Guest]

Certain United fans embarrassing themselves, Lingard coping abuse when he's not even playing

[Guest]

Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool, Keita, Jota and Salahx3. Pogba red card 15 minutes after coming on at half time.
United look clueless and timid. Liverpool hardly got out off second gear.

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