EPL 16/17
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@MajorRage said in EPL 16/17:
Managed to catch most of the Liverpool match (they could have won it 4-0, and in the end should have drawn 2-2)
Swansea missed 3 sitters, including one right at the end. Liverpool still seem to have a soft centre at the back.
I was, and still am, amazed at the odds for the winner so early on. Man City still only $1.82, then Liverpool $5, Arse $7, Tottenham $8.50 and Chelsea/Man U both at $15. I reckon all 6 of those have a chance - Chelsea have stumbled but as Conte works out how to defend with that mob they will get better. Man U have a fantastic squad, eventually Jose will work out how they can play together.
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@KiwiPie Liverpool at 2nd favourite? That's a joke. As the weather gets worse, and set pieces become more important, we'll leak like a sieve.
I watched the first half of the Swansea game, and they were all over us, had one, should have had a second, and were harrying us off the ball, basically turning our style back on us. However this team seems to be the first Liverpool side in a while to be able to turn around bad days, and get results.
Spurs result was a surprise from both angles, how good Spurs really are, and how bad a week City had. This season looks very very open, and i don't think any slump will be terminal, as i reckon every top side will have one.
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I think this may be the most excitingly contested prem in year and also the dullest relegation battle to boot
Maybe for relegation but can't agree with the first one ... Man City / Spurs / Man U will be exciting for sure, but nothing will beat the excitement (and hope) of Leicester City!
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jesus, the manager killing season seems to come earlier every year. Guidolin the first out of the job as Swansea sack him and replace him with an American.
And the Aston Villa shit heap gets worse, with Roberto Di Matteo sacked after only 12 matches. Spent a shitload to get them straight back up, and instead is 2 points off the relegation spots. Goooorn.
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@mariner4life Harsh by Swansea, they had tough opponents and generally looked OK but not great - from being the model of overachieving while losing players, they've handed that title onto Southampton and firing managers instead.
As for Villa, any fool could have told them that the way to go was not to expect immediate promotion back to Premier League but to sort out the rot in the club and make it function properly. Serves them right if they slide straight through to the next level down.
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@Rocky-Rockbottom That Spurs game showed that a game plan is one thing (Pep's playing from the back) but you need the skillful personnel to do it as well as it being second nature to the team (as per Barcelona). Otherwise if over half the Spurs team is buzzing around your penalty area, maybe the right option is to lump it long where they must be lacking personnel.
Issue for both Spurs and Liverpool is the impossibility of playing like demented bees every game and being able to grind out results when the players are knackered. Spurs have built some more depth which should help them but they hit the wall late last season and they have UCL this time.
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Loving this season as each team takes it in turn to "lurch into crisis". Both Manchester teams are currently residing there, Chelsea are now prospective champions again after being written off - seems like all pundits love to draw huge conclusions game by game.
That being said, MU look a rabble right now and Jose is heading the same way he did with Chelsea last season. So far, he has no idea of his best team or formation and their defending was just inept v Chelsea. When Kante waltzes you through to score a solo goal, you know you've got problems.
MC once more gave a goal away with a defensive error although Southampton were good value for the draw.
Tottenham are unbeaten but not winning enough games without Hurri Kane. Liverpool took WBA apart but still managed to be hanging on at the end. Just a point separates 5 clubs - it could be a great season.
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@Bovidae And Reid scored the winner for WHU with a last minute goal from a corner - not as you would expect with a header, but with a short corner routine that ended with him sliding it into the corner from outside the box. Moyes gone in November?
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It's pleasing to see Mourinho can still get the best out of Chelsea.
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So Tottenham are the only unbeaten team left in the EPL - and nestling down in 5th place. Mourinho looks to be losing it, sent off for berating the officials about what was a marginal non-penalty at best, already 8 ppints behind the leaders and that's a big gap to make up already - not such a big gap when one team races clear but you can't see all of those teams coming back to MU so they will need to string long winning runs together.
All the top 4 with convincing wins away from home.
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There seems to be real problems at Man U, they are struggling. Not enough goals, and Jose is feeling the pressure. Could be facing two charges in the space of a week!
Liverpool in 3rd on goal difference (which happens when your strategy is attack always, defend sometimes). City are not infallible. Dare anyone say it, but maybe Arsenal are in the best position? Nah, let's wait until winter.
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A better line will be had after we play Spurs at Emirates and then Man U away (Our next two Prem games)
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LIverpool and Chelsea have no European distractions so that has to be an advantage.
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@Bovidae definitely an advantage. Chelsea are looking pretty strong under Conte now that he has worked out the best system for his players.
It's a great looking competition this year, 3-way tie for first, Spurs, Chelsea and Everton very close behind and playing well.
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@antipodean Watched this game live yesterday. Ozil can look disinterested and then does something like this!
His hat-trick in the first game vs Ludogorets was classy too. The first 2 goals where with his right foot before getting the 3rd with his favoured left foot.
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So how long has Mourinho got? He seems to be moving rapidly towards meltdown which usually takes him a couple of seasons at a club.
3 spectacular goals in the game in the Europa though - the overhead kick was something special.
Plenty of time I think. The team looked good against Burnley - just need to start scoring some goals.
