Barclays Premier League 2015/2016-and other Euro League talk

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:52 pm

howard wrote:
degenerasian wrote:Top of the table Leicester City!
I was wondering if there are any Leicester City supporters in the swamp. But they must be busy, 'aving a laugh.

I won't pretend to be a big supporter or a big follower of the EPL, but they have always been my favorite team, owing to the fact that a good friend is a Leicester native and he gave me a Foxes cap years ago that I think I still have.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:55 pm

NBC has been advertising the hell out of this Saturday's match. Leicester City v Manchester United @ 12:30pm ET

The next 6 matches for the Foxes

11/28 Manchester United
12/5 @Swansea
12/14 Chelsea
12/19 @ Everton
12/26 @ Liverpool
12/29 Manchester City

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 1:04 pm

Just one lay-up on that list...

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 1:37 pm

tennbengal wrote:Just one lay-up on that list...

Nah, Chelsea may be playing better by then.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 1:42 pm

Pruitt wrote:
tennbengal wrote:Just one lay-up on that list...
Nah, Chelsea may be playing better by then.

Maybe.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:43 am

Pruitt wrote:
tennbengal wrote:Just one lay-up on that list...
Nah, Chelsea may be playing better by then.

Yeah, they have climbed all the way to 15th!

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:47 am

The Sybian wrote:
Pruitt wrote:
tennbengal wrote:Just one lay-up on that list...
Nah, Chelsea may be playing better by then.
Yeah, they have climbed all the way to 15th!

No manager other than Mourinho and maybe Wenger would have gotten this much rope, no?

Post by **Shirley** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:11 pm

I would hope that any manager who dominated the league just the year before (not to mention a career full of winning) would get the benefit of the doubt.

Kentucky didn't fire Cal a few years ago when they missed the NCAA tourney.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:18 pm

Shirley wrote:I would hope that any manager who dominated the league just the year before (not to mention a career full of winning) would get the benefit of the doubt.

Kentucky didn't fire Cal a few years ago when they missed the NCAA tourney.

The EPL makes colleges look like the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, when it comes to firing coaches.

Post by **Shirley** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:25 pm

A_B wrote:
Shirley wrote:I would hope that any manager who dominated the league just the year before (not to mention a career full of winning) would get the benefit of the doubt.

Kentucky didn't fire Cal a few years ago when they missed the NCAA tourney.
The EPL makes colleges look like the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, when it comes to firing coaches.

Yeah, I've noticed that. I'm new to it, but I find it a bit baffling. Soccer isn't like basketball or football where coaches control every play. Coaches set the lineups and formations, but everything is more or less up to the players. Soccer coaches (OK, managers) get too much blame and too much credit.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:27 pm

Well, Managers are also the GM in most cases. Sure, there are people who "approve" the buys, but usually managers get guys for their schemes. Which is doubly bad when you fire the guy because then the next guy has players who might not fit his philosophy at all.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:34 pm

A_B wrote:
Shirley wrote:I would hope that any manager who dominated the league just the year before (not to mention a career full of winning) would get the benefit of the doubt.

Kentucky didn't fire Cal a few years ago when they missed the NCAA tourney.
The EPL makes colleges look like the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, when it comes to firing coaches.

Just saw a chart that showed that in an average EPL season 8 managers are fired. 40% turnover each season!

Average time at a club is 1.5 seasons!

No points for guessing that Wenger at 17 years is the longest serving Manager in his current stint at a club.

#2? Eddie Howe of Bournemouth who as of October was in the job for three (yes, three) seasons!

Spurs have had 21 Managerial changes in 24 years.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 12:40 pm

yeah soccer is crazy

In the lower divisions the double promotion is the kiss of death.

Year 1: midtable
Year 2: upper table
Year 3: promoted
Year 4: promoted
Year 5: relegated and fired.

what does the team expect?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 4:54 pm

A_B wrote:Well, Managers are also the GM in most cases. Sure, there are people who "approve" the buys, but usually managers get guys for their schemes. Which is doubly bad when you fire the guy because then the next guy has players who might not fit his philosophy at all.

The managers are also like a college coach recruiting HS kids. They often have to sit down with a transfer target and talk him into signing with the club. The manager is also responsible for player training, molding a team to fit a strategy, finding the right balance of players to fit together. Look at teams like the Galacticos, where a group of the best players in the world just couldn't gel. Team selection and in-game changes and substitutions make a big difference, too. Oh, and developing youth academy players.

What I find funny, is the way so many coaches get circulated around the league. It seems less prevalent now with more foreign coaches brought in, but not too long ago, a fired EPL manager would be with another EPL team in less than 12 months.

As for Wenger getting a lot of rope, the guy has never finished below the top 4, and only failed to make it out of the Group Stage in the Champions League (NO SPOILER, I RECORDED TODAY'S GAME). 3 league titles, 6 FA Cups, some minor trophies and twice runner up in Champions League. The 10 year dry spell was in large part to the plan to pay off the Emirates Stadium debt. That is why Arsenal sold so many damned stars. Arsene's plan was to buy young and cheap, develop them into stars, then sell. OTOH, I blame Arsene for the insanely high number of injuries over his reign. I have no idea how he hasn't corrected the training issues. I have always thought he waits too long to make substitutions or change tactics during a game.

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:04 am

Jurgen Klopp is given a lesson how to speak scouse.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:07 pm

Russian teams told they can no longer sign Turkish players.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport news agency that clubs had "already got the message".

"If anyone wants [to sign a Turkish player] during the break, there will not be such a possibility," he said.

Mutko said the sports sanctions would not affect Turkish players currently playing for Russian soccer clubs, such as Rubin Kazan's midfielder Gokdeniz Karadeniz, who joined the Tatarstan outfit in 2008.

"Everyone who has an existing contract will carry on working," Mutko said.

"They won't be here in the future but at the moment they have contracts and these will not be looked into."

Political interference in football is not allowed. Be interesting how FIFA responds to this.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:08 pm

Putin is one step ahead of you.

Post by **Shirley** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 2:32 pm

Holy shit, Chelsea. Holy shit.

I've defended Mourinho all year, but this might be it. Something drastic has to happen to this team and the only thing that makes sense is a new manager.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 2:51 pm

if not this week Chelsea go to Leicester next. That will definitely do it.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 3:34 pm

Hugo Lloris is the best.

And there is a chance that Porto can knock Chelsea out of the Champions League this week. THAT would be something else.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 5:40 pm

I've tried for years to give a crap about a team in the Premier League, but alas I can't love the laundry across the pond.

Until Bournemouth got promoted for the first time in 117 years.

They beat Chelsea today, too.

Lovable losers won today, those Cherries.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:43 pm

EnochRoot wrote:I've tried for years to give a crap about a team in the Premier League, but alas I can't love the laundry across the pond.

Until Bournemouth got promoted for the first time in 117 years.

They beat Chelsea today, too.

Lovable losers won today, those Cherries.

Like the way they play, but they have one of the worst logos in all of sports.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:36 am

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34670192

Chelsea looking for a new millionaire manager.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:37 am

Man U should fire LVG immediately and hire Jose.

Post by **Shirley** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:56 am

A_B wrote:Man U should fire LVG immediately and hire Jose.

That would be pretty funny, actually.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:56 am

A_B wrote:Man U should fire LVG immediately and hire Jose.

Not a bad idea, but I don't see Jose taking on a team that isn't "his." They are, afterall, Louis van Gall's Army. (I've had that in my head all day). But seriously, I don't see Jose taking a team midseason and risking the embarrassment of failing with 2 EPL giants in the same season.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 12:56 pm

Leicester's magical run continues, but the road gets hard, now.

Maybe Chelsea might go after Claudio Ranieri? (and Jaimie Vardy or Riyad Mahrez?)

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 12:57 pm

A_B wrote:Man U should fire LVG immediately and hire Jose.

How bout the 49ers hire Jose?

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:46 am

Reports out that AB is on to something. I can't decide if I'd want him or not. That third year is a doozy. Also, I'm a little tempted to see what Giggsy can do.

Post by **Sabo** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 8:56 am

Guus Hiddink hired to replace Mourinho until the end of the season.

I also read a rumor on Twitter that Carlo Ancelotti will replace Guardiola at Bayern at the end of this season. So, let the Guardiola to Chelsea rumors commence (assuming Chelsea doesn't get relegated).

Post by **Shirley** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 11:38 am

Chelsea looking much better this morning. Granted, Sunderland sucks, but still.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 12:12 pm

What a lovely, stress-free Spurs game.

I am all in on Pochettino - he has found a way to bring out consistent performances from players who in the past were either hot and cold or just plain awful - guys like Vertonghen, Lamela and especially Moussa Dembele (man of the match today).

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 3:56 pm

A_B wrote:Man U should fire LVG immediately and hire Jose.

Never seen ManU look as disinterested as they did today.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:58 pm

So...this Leicester thing is kinda for real now, then?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:13 pm

tennbengal wrote:So...this Leicester thing is kinda for real now, then?

I still think their lack of depth catches up to them at some point. If not injury, then they'll wear down. Between Leicester and Bournemoth, it's been a fun season.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:47 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote:
A_B wrote:Man U should fire LVG immediately and hire Jose.
Never seen ManU look as disinterested as they did today.

The whole season has been that way. Their tactics seem to require it.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 8:48 am

The Sybian wrote:
tennbengal wrote:So...this Leicester thing is kinda for real now, then?
I still think their lack of depth catches up to them at some point. If not injury, then they'll wear down. Between Leicester and Bournemoth, it's been a fun season.

True but not having to deal with European play helps. Depth is important when you are in Europa League on Thursday and back in the UK on Saturday/Sunday.

cerrano · Post by **cerrano** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 9:54 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:
The Sybian wrote:
tennbengal wrote:So...this Leicester thing is kinda for real now, then?
I still think their lack of depth catches up to them at some point. If not injury, then they'll wear down. Between Leicester and Bournemoth, it's been a fun season.
True but not having to deal with European play helps. Depth is important when you are in Europa League on Thursday and back in the UK on Saturday/Sunday.

wherer are they getting their goals if vardy and mahrez are out? nobody but ranieri has any idea what leicester's real depth is, and since vardy tweaked a hammy yesterday, we might be on the cusp of discovering that.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 11:32 am

I guess they have no real money to bring on additional help in the January transfer window? Seems to me a chance to finish top 4 could be franchise altering for Leicester.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 12:11 pm

tennbengal wrote:I guess they have no real money to bring on additional help in the January transfer window? Seems to me a chance to finish top 4 could be franchise altering for Leicester.

Men in Blazers had an interesting discussion on whether Leicester should sell high on Vardy or Mahrez. They could bring in an astronomical fee compared to their budget, and build off of that for years to come. OTOH, they could push for a Top 4 finish and build off of their success. Possibly attract a biggish name who otherwise wouldn't go to Leicester. I don't know how much money a Champions League entry makes, especially if you have to play into the group stage, but it might be worth holding onto the Vardy and Mahrez and make up some of the potential transfer money that way. for the sake of their fans, I'd like to see them try to make a run at the League of a top 4 finish. Such a great story. As an Arsenal fan, I'd like to see LC drop out of the race, but I'm really curious to see what happens if they keep their team intact. The biggest factor is the TV deal windfall all EPL teams will rake in, I think LC is better off keeping their players and buying next year with the TV money.