2016-17 English Premier League Discussion Thread

Post #1 » by **Baphomet** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 2:56 pm

It is a sad when a football fan can't show his appreciation for some beautiful attacking football ...
- GMgoran, 2014

This year's Premier League season sports a new logo, and for the first time has no overt sponsorship in the title (for example Carling Premier League, and Barclays Premier League). There are some pretty huge talking points going into this season, chief of which is the arrival of rival managers Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho at the Manchester clubs. However, there's also the matter of reigning champions Leicester City: Will they be able to mount a title defence? How will they juggle the added pressure of a Champions League campaign? Will big clubs like United and Chelsea be able to reverse their recent fortunes under new managers?

The Premier League is proving to be a hotbed of managerial talent, with many of Europe's top managers coming to the league. In the past year alone, Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp have all found new homes in the Premier League. When you consider the massive reputation and history that clubs like Manchester City have, this is surely not at all motivated by money.

With Pep's arrival, he also brings with him a massive reputation. Primarily, in the field of turtlenecks, where he is something of a pioneer in managerial beatnik chic. Here, we can see the Premier League's expected turtleneck boom demonstrated in graph form, which I created using NCES 'Kids Zone' create-a-graph:

What can we gather from this graph? Frankly, not a lot, clearly the dense complexity of a child's simple line graph eludes me. But one thing is certain, the turtleneck is here. Does this mean we'll see Tony Pulis donning a turtleneck? Will Steve Bruce be seen emerging from a northern Jazz club, sporting a classy beret and turtleneck combo?

In less important news, a warm welcome to this season's newly promoted teams, Burnley, Middlesbrough and Hull City:

Finally, here are the teams representing the Premier League in Europe this season:

DD12 · Post #2 » by **DD12** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 4:02 pm

My favorite team is obvious for this year. All the way with the second best coach in the world Mourinho!

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No_20 · Post #3 » by **No_20** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 4:24 pm

Weird that Spurs were after Ibrahimovic. What's wrong with Harry Kane now?

HIF · Post #4 » by **HIF** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 4:26 pm

No_20 wrote:Weird that Spurs were after Ibrahimovic. What's wrong with Harry Kane now?

Were they really after him or is it more media click selling?

Post #5 » by **Baphomet** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 4:58 pm

I agree with HIF, I don't think there was any actual traction for Ibra to Spurs. Amazing player but doesn't fit Poch's philosophy, Spurs wouldn't pay his wage demands, plus he obviously wanted to play under Mourinho again. He said that United are the only PL team he wanted to join at a press conference last week. If I was to take a guess, I would wager that West Ham made an offer for him.

I do however believe reports of Spurs interest in Witsel, Wanyama and Batshuayi. They fit our profile a bit more. I think Ibra is above our station and isn't at the age where he wants to play for title outsiders.

No_20 · Post #6 » by **No_20** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 5:08 pm

HIF wrote:
No_20 wrote:Weird that Spurs were after Ibrahimovic. What's wrong with Harry Kane now?

Were they really after him or is it more media click selling?

No, very reliable papers reported that Spurs were after him.

HIF · Post #7 » by **HIF** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 5:31 pm

No_20 wrote:
HIF wrote:
No_20 wrote:Weird that Spurs were after Ibrahimovic. What's wrong with Harry Kane now?

Were they really after him or is it more media click selling?

No, very reliable papers reported that Spurs were after him.

I don't know because I don't really follow Spurs transfers unless Leicester is mentioned but I can promise you that the online versions of very respectable newspapers are all trying to get in with the rumours because they want click bait.

I've read hundreds of false reports/rumours on online newspapers in the last few days only. It's getting incredible bad.

No_20 · Post #8 » by **No_20** » Sat Jun 4, 2016 10:38 pm

HIF wrote:
No_20 wrote:
HIF wrote:
Were they really after him or is it more media click selling?

No, very reliable papers reported that Spurs were after him.

I don't know because I don't really follow Spurs transfers unless Leicester is mentioned but I can promise you that the online versions of very respectable newspapers are all trying to get in with the rumours because they want click bait.

I've read hundreds of false reports/rumours on online newspapers in the last few days only. It's getting incredible bad.

Guardian are usually right. They have some well-connected guys there.

No_20 · Post #9 » by **No_20** » Sun Jun 5, 2016 8:35 pm

https://www.docdroid.net/syClcJY/premier-league-fixture-list-2016-17.pdf.html

Leaked fixtures list for the 2016-17 season. Dont know how legit it is.

Very tough run-in for Arsenal.

Martin · Post #10 » by **Martin** » Mon Jun 6, 2016 9:16 am

United have a really easy start to the season compared to other big teams, only Liverpool may have a easier start.

Post #11 » by **Baphomet** » Tue Jun 7, 2016 2:01 pm

Arsenal having a tough run-in confirms the list is fake.

No_20 · Post #12 » by **No_20** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 2:02 pm

Fixtures for 2016-17 announced tomorrow.

Post #13 » by **Baphomet** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:17 pm

No_20 wrote:Fixtures for 2016-17 announced tomorrow.

In Spurs' last 5: Leicester away, Arsenal home, West Ham away, Man United home.

MaliBrah · Post #14 » by **MaliBrah** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:46 pm

Baphomet wrote:Arsenal having a tough run-in confirms the list is fake.

our run is pretttttty tough looking at the real schedule now. You Jinxed it

HIF · Post #15 » by **HIF** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 7:13 am

Baphomet wrote:
No_20 wrote:Fixtures for 2016-17 announced tomorrow.

In Spurs' last 5: Leicester away, Arsenal home, West Ham away, Man United home.

We all play each other home and away during the season. If the tun-in is difficult you should have a good lead before then. Then again the run-in wasn't difficult last season and it was your worst group of matches, perhaps this will help.

Post #16 » by **Baphomet** » Sun Jul 3, 2016 3:21 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/749605810888519684[/tweet]

This is all a bit cringey

The_Brecht · Post #17 » by **The_Brecht** » Sun Jul 3, 2016 7:26 pm

Did he say: "Not one, not two, not three, ..?"

Would be awesome

Ted Lasso · Post #18 » by **Ted Lasso** » Tue Jul 5, 2016 11:39 am

Mourinho says he'll never play Rooney in midfield. Gonna use him as a No 10.

It seems he's planning to use Mkh on the right wing then.

Post #19 » by **Baphomet** » Tue Jul 5, 2016 11:51 am

Makes sense. Mkhitaryan with Lingard backing him up is a pretty decent rotation on that right side. With Zlatan in the middle and Martial manning the other flank, that's a very potent front three.

Ted Lasso · Post #20 » by **Ted Lasso** » Tue Jul 5, 2016 12:01 pm

Baphomet wrote:Makes sense. Mkhitaryan with Lingard backing him up is a pretty decent rotation on that right side. With Zlatan in the middle and Martial manning the other flank, that's a very potent front three.

Yeah, i think we're looking at:

de Gea

Darmian, Smalling, Bailly, Shaw

Schneiderlin, Pogba?

Mkh, Rooney, Martial(Depay)

Ibrahimovic

----------------------------------------

Not too impressive but no one else is either so they could very well win the title.