2024-25 English Premier League Discussion Thread

[MetalFingaz]

Nwaneri - Trossard - Sterling.

Our attacking options at the moment...
We've been so unlucky with injuries this season.

Injury luck happen to everyone but i think the the people above Arteta is a joke. How can't you have a sport director or better one the last one who didn't make one smart signing for Arteta in years? Do you need 11 center backs really?
You need backup in the frontline, wingers. Arsenal should have 5 versions of Trossard, better versions of Havertz, Jesus. It is about poor work in the transfer market and the injuries are just an excuse. If you can't win games without Martinelli and Havertz you don't belong in the hunt for the title imho.

It's more like, if you can't win games without Saka, Martinelli, and Havertz (which we don't actually have evidence yet that they can't). Liverpool might win games without Diaz and Gakpo, but probably wouldn't win a lot of games without Salah, Diaz, and Gakpo, and Liverpool's depth in attack is a strength. Arsenal have had some transfer misses, sure, but it's hard to say it's a poorly constructed squad given they're in 2nd with injuries, in particular, to Saka and Ben White (and Odegaard for part of the season).

[KG Leonard]

Nwaneri - Trossard - Sterling.

Our attacking options at the moment...
We've been so unlucky with injuries this season.

Injury luck happen to everyone but i think the the people above Arteta is a joke. How can't you have a sport director or better one the last one who didn't make one smart signing for Arteta in years? Do you need 11 center backs really?
You need backup in the frontline, wingers. Arsenal should have 5 versions of Trossard, better versions of Havertz, Jesus. It is about poor work in the transfer market and the injuries are just an excuse. If you can't win games without Martinelli and Havertz you don't belong in the hunt for the title imho.

It's more like, if you can't win games without Saka, Martinelli, and Havertz (which we don't actually have evidence yet that they can't). Liverpool might win games without Diaz and Gakpo, but probably wouldn't win a lot of games without Salah, Diaz, and Gakpo, and Liverpool's depth in attack is a strength. Arsenal have had some transfer misses, sure, but it's hard to say it's a poorly constructed squad given they're in 2nd with injuries, in particular, to Saka and Ben White (and Odegaard for part of the season).

Saka is great talent, world class level talent and he will be missed by every team the same with Odegaard. Arsenal was 9 points behind before his injury....
Martinelli and Havertz isn't like missing Saka or Salah.
You have to limit the injuries and not count on 17 year old wonderkid to be the best winger on the bench imo.

IF Liverpool win the title, Arsenal can't come up short the third season in a row and blame on unlucky injuries.
Is it Arteta who can't win or the level of the squad? I think Arsenal have too many quality players in first eleven to be happy with second place every year. Some of the better football podcasts is maybe correct about Arteta, this isn't 2019 after years of 8th place finishes, it is win now or he might not reach that level ever.

[wco81]

Absolute scenes at Goddison Park , that finish from Tarkowski was quality.

The scenes after though were unsavoury, don’t know why Curtis Jones went to go after Doucoure - I need to see the replays again but looked like Doucoure went to shh the Liverpool fans and he got jumped sort of?

Ayy, a class finish from Tarkowski.

Curtis went to tell Doucoure he shouldn't do that, fair enough, gave him a push, and then was swarmed by Ashley Young and I think Alcaraz. Not much in it overall. A 2nd yellow for each is fine. Slot got a red for a bit of an aggressive handshake with Oliver after. Oliver shouldn't be doing PL matches.

Dang I stopped watching around like the 80th minute, because it seemed like Everton struggled to go forward, needing to equlize.

Crazy, 14 minutes of injury time with two reds that late in the game?

Gotta go look for the highlights.

[Baseline81]

What is going on with Michael Oliver?

Late in the Everton-Liverpool match there's this:

Read on Twitter

How does he not give that as a foul? Of course, somehow/someway Liverpool finish with 20 fouls vs. Everton's 9, despite both being just as aggressive.

And then there's the red card to Slot. From the PL website:

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of the Merseyside derby for using offensive, insulting, or abusive language. He is handed a two-match touchline ban as a result.

However, that has since been removed, and the FA are reviewing.

Please note I am in no way insinuating a conspiracy but rather point out how incompetent he is. And supposedly, he's the PL's best ref?

[AK47MVP]

What is going on with Michael Oliver?

Please note I am in no way insinuating a conspiracy but rather point out how incompetent he is. And supposedly, he's the PL's best ref?

He is the worst by far ( maybe Taylor can rival him ) and been involved in multiple scandalous decisions.

[MetalFingaz]

Brighton cruising through Chelsea's midfield like it's not there.

[wco81]

Brighton cruising through Chelsea's midfield like it's not there.

I guess staying in the top 4 isn't sufficient motivation for Chelsea.

[MetalFingaz]

Brighton cruising through Chelsea's midfield like it's not there.

I guess staying in the top 4 isn't sufficient motivation for Chelsea.

I'm sure we'll hear their players say "we're not in a top 4 race" in their upcoming press appearances.

[Baseline81]

I guess staying in the top 4 isn't sufficient motivation for Chelsea.

Too bad stormi has posted in awhile. I'd love to read his take on the current Chelsea iteration.

[wco81]

I would think the Chelsea players would want to play in the UCL.

As well as Forest have played, it would be surprising if Forest finishes above Chelsea, though expectations for Chelsea weren't probably that high coming into the season.

[KG Leonard]

I wonder didn't Leicester defenders watch Spain in the Euros? Merino is the last midfielder in the world to leave open after a cross for a free header. Nwaneri's skill and Merino movement saved Arsenal from a terrible game.

[LDNMagic90]

Another good cameo from Rashford and Asensio, but the rest of the team underperformed. Since we’ve had Dean Smith as a manager we’ve struggled to beat any team that goes 10 men down.

To be fair Palmer had a game of his life against us. Made some incredible stops, but we should’ve scored a few.

[wco81]

Ipswich salvages a point after going down to 10 men in the first half.

Forest loses at Fulham.

City may be perking up.

[Wisky4life]

Anytime Casimiro has to play 90 mins, we are doomed. So many injuries. We should have played all Academy players.

Sent from my SM-S921U using RealGM mobile app

[wco81]

Ho hum matches today.

Villa is now in 9th place with a -3 GD and a underwhelming performance vs. 10-men Ipswich.

Can they redeem themselves on Tuesday when they host Liverpool and regain their form as giant killers? If not make a concerted march to preserve their UCL spot for next season?

Pool is still winning but doing just enough. Second half vs. Wolves was also underwhelming for them.

[Baseline81]

Ho hum matches today.

Villa is now in 9th place with a -3 GD and a underwhelming performance vs. 10-men Ipswich.

Can they redeem themselves on Tuesday when they host Liverpool and regain their form as giant killers? If not make a concerted march to preserve their UCL spot for next season?

Pool is still winning but doing just enough. Second half vs. Wolves was also underwhelming for them.

Match is actually Wednesday.

EDIT: Does anyone know if this is true? Today's Tottenham win marked the first double over Manchester United in the league for 35 years (as well as their first home win in 105 days).

[Baphomet]

I will take the 3 points, but it was a bit of a dirge of a game. I've said it before but Spurs vs. United is the depression derby. Spurs fans in the stadium were anxious due to our atrocious home record among other things, both teams felt disjointed in attack, both giving the ball away cheaply. The goal comes from Onana parrying the ball out into a dangerous area, allowing Maddison to pounce and score. Relieved to see Vicario back. Thought Djed Spence was outstanding, he's one small bright point of this miserable season.

Yeah, it's Spurs and United. Two crap injured sides duking it out.

[wco81]

So did Vicario make some big saves?

His return alone can't explain the better defensive result?

Or is it that United has no offense?

Have a feeling Amorim a year from now may be fearing for his job, because they probably expect this promising younger manager to work miracles in one summer transfer season.

I mean, Potter was also seen as a upcoming star manager when Chelsea hired him and he lasted only about a year too?

[Baphomet]

So did Vicario make some big saves?

His return alone can't explain the better defensive result?

Or is it that United has no offense?

Have a feeling Amorim a year from now may be fearing for his job, because they probably expect this promising younger manager to work miracles in one summer transfer season.

I mean, Potter was also seen as a upcoming star manager when Chelsea hired him and he lasted only about a year too?

It wasn't because of anything specific he did in that game, though he did make one or two good saves. It's just a relief to have our starting goalkeeper back after a long absence.

[MetalFingaz]

Garnacho skied like a .7xg chance, which I personally put down to Vicario's tremendous vibes.