2015-16 English Premier League Discussion Thread

[magik9113]

I agree with No_20, it cycles. Allegri ain't goin nowhere though till his contract ends or we win CL

[magik9113]

Welbeck should play more

He's just come back from like 10 months out that was his first action in ages. He'll see more time. It's good to have another option again. We literally had nothing on the bench for 2 months lol

yea yall have been hit pretty bad with injuries...as usual. my post was a response to whoever said Wenger is a genius for putting him in. I'd play him every game he's healthy he's my favorite player on Arsenal lol

[Baphomet]

using wide open title challenge or multiple contenders as a criteria for best league is a weird concept to me. why not call norwegian or danish leagues the best? they seem to have a different champion every other year. at the end main reason tottenham is doing so well is because traditional powers like manchester teams and chelsea looks alot worse, not because tottenham has gotten a lot better. so games have gotten more competitive because top teams have gotten worse, yet somehow that ascends the league to a better position?

it is one thing to enjoy type of football played in a certain league over other but calling epl the best league(BY FAR) is utterly asinine by every objective measure.

I know you were trying to make a point, but it's a false equivalence to compare the level of title challenges in the Norwegian and Danish leagues to any of the major leagues. They don't have any clubs of the massive stature of Man United and Chelsea to upend in the first place. There is a certain dynamism and belief about some clubs in the PL this season that has elevated their level of football, and while I agree that this is partially down to the regression of certain superpowers, lower teams have stepped up their game considerably in terms of both results and the level of football. The fact is, PL aside, none of the other three major leagues have undergone much of a change to the status quo. Hertha and Mainz are doing well in the BuLi, but that's about it.

I don't agree with your assessment about Spurs, and I've watched every match we've played. I really don't mean to sound like a fanboy, but this Spurs team is simply better in just about every aspect. You could probably make that claim about this year's Arsenal, but not Spurs. If what you claim is true, why haven't previous pretenders like Liverpool or Everton jumped up a notch? Or have they regressed too along with near everyone else in the top half? I get where you're coming from, and while Chelsea & United have undoubtedly been ****, I think it's more likely that these teams are having a harder time picking up points because of a big improvement among some lower level teams (Villa aside), rather than some kind of mass regression.

I agree that mercgold's comment was probably too ambitious in breadth, but it was also said at an emotional peak after two intense title showdowns, the likes of which none of the other leagues have seen in a while. This is an interesting discussion though and I'm glad we're having it.

[magik9113]

Spurs are the best they've been in years

[El Turco]

tottenham has 51 points after 26 games, last 5 years after 26 games tottenham had 44pts-50pts-48pts-53pts-47pts. seems to be marginal improvement at best compared to their recent history. difference is this year 51 points puts you second place and in the thick of the title race, while almost same point total put them in 5th place two years ago. that tells me the story of other top teams dropping off, not some meteoric improvement by tottenham. roster quality is around the same as they always had recent years, maybe even tad worse than modric/bale days, they have better coaching for sure but that only gets you so far.

and yes liverpool and everton certainly had major regression compared to their so called contending years, i think that's pretty obvious. really leicester is the only epl club that had major improvement but we dont even know if they'll be able to sustain it, they might very well be back to relegation fight next season.

[Baphomet]

Nobody suggested a meteoric rise from Spurs, that would be Leicester like you said. Everything on and off the pitch suggests a solid improvement, though. You only need to watch them routinely to know that. I'd wager this is probably the second best Spurs team of the Premier League era, behind 2011-12 (and better than the team that made the CL quarters). 51 points at this point in the season is our second highest total behind that 2011-12 team, where we only failed to compete thanks to a choke of epic proportions, but honestly the points total doesn't tell the whole story.

West Ham, Southampton and Stoke have also improved a good deal. I know Stoke's results don't always convey that, but the quality of football is lightyears ahead of the neanderthal nonsense they were playing a little while back. Same with West Ham.

[No_20]

I agree with No_20, it cycles. Allegri ain't goin nowhere though till his contract ends or we win CL

He wants a new challenge. New country, new league, more money.

Conte would also be a good fit. They arent playing CL next season.

[magik9113]

I agree with No_20, it cycles. Allegri ain't goin nowhere though till his contract ends or we win CL

He wants a new challenge. New country, new league, more money.

Conte would also be a good fit. They arent playing CL next season.

He isn't going to leave a team that has the best defense in Europe and the best two young players--Pogba and Dybala--to coach a team that might miss out on Europa League

[and1GS]

Late to the conversation, but saw this match live and went mental for a solid 48 hours. Spurs goin all the way **** all y'all and COYS. What a **** game god damn. Harsh call on Sterling, but this shot shows a pretty clear handball...



...also, it's Sterling. He's like the new Nasri - everyone should hate him.

What a **** effort. It's like everyone is playing with bale's never-say-die attitude in his last season with us. Beautiful football to watch.

I was fully torqued on that Lamela to Eriksen breakway.

[and1GS]

HOLY **** LAMELA TO ERIKSEN

UNCE UNCE UNCE UNCE

[No_20]

I agree with No_20, it cycles. Allegri ain't goin nowhere though till his contract ends or we win CL

He wants a new challenge. New country, new league, more money.

Conte would also be a good fit. They arent playing CL next season.

He isn't going to leave a team that has the best defense in Europe and the best two young players--Pogba and Dybala--to coach a team that might miss out on Europa League

How can you say that Pogba and Dybala are the best young players when Neymar are around the same age. Pogba will leave in the summer after the Euros anyway.

Chelsea is a bigger club(not historically, but in terms of money, location, worldwide interest) than Juventus and Premier League is way bigger than Serie A.

[Cactus Jack]

Impressed by Spurs play. That Sterling Penalty was a true gift though. Villa's performance might be the worst I've seen in a while. Having a healthy Sturridge along with Coutinho makes a night & day difference in the squad. But, again due to the opponent I can't get too excited.

[DD12]

What a rat Eden Hazard is. He is complete liability this season, all he accomplished was to get Mourinho fired, he is the most important player in the team yet his team is in relegation zone and now they are about to face PSG tomorrow and he comes out to say 'it is hard to refuse PSG when it comes they make an offer for him'

What an awful piece of **** he is.

[Cactus Jack]

What a rat Eden Hazard is. He is complete liability this season, all he accomplished was to get Mourinho fired, he is the most important player in the team yet his team is in relegation zone and now they are about to face PSG tomorrow and he comes out to say 'it is hard to refuse PSG when it comes they make an offer for him'

What an awful piece of **** he is.

Funny.

[magik9113]

He wants a new challenge. New country, new league, more money.

Conte would also be a good fit. They arent playing CL next season.

He isn't going to leave a team that has the best defense in Europe and the best two young players--Pogba and Dybala--to coach a team that might miss out on Europa League

How can you say that Pogba and Dybala are the best young players when Neymar are around the same age. Pogba will leave in the summer after the Euros anyway.

Chelsea is a bigger club(not historically, but in terms of money, location, worldwide interest) than Juventus and Premier League is way bigger than Serie A.

Neymar is in a class of his own.


This is the same argument as to why you said Pogba will go to Chelsea which will never happen.
Conte, though, is more than possible.
If Pogba goes it will be to Real for enough money to replace him.

[Foye]

What a rat Eden Hazard is. He is complete liability this season, all he accomplished was to get Mourinho fired, he is the most important player in the team yet his team is in relegation zone and now they are about to face PSG tomorrow and he comes out to say 'it is hard to refuse PSG when it comes they make an offer for him'

What an awful piece of **** he is.

Watch him disappear again today.

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[WorldBeFree]

First of all: that guy welbz!!!
I am scared from tottenham. They have a nice team, fun to watch and some young talents (alli is something special imo). Arsenal need to find net (i am looking at you sanchez and rambo) in order to give us a chance to win the league.
Really fun season. Hopefully swansea and norwich will relegate and aston villa find a way out!

[Baphomet]

Jack Rodwell is awful, good lord

[Baphomet]

Damnit Southampton...

In unrelated news, Sanogo's scored a hat-trick for Charlton

[Merc_Porto]

Chelsea take the lead 1-2