Epl 2015/2016

[pineapple stu]

Tee hee! Unintentional; I meant "only other player"

But maybe deep down, I meant what I said. :)

[KK77]

Shaping up to be a very good finish to the season. I think Spurs might win it now myself.

[BonnieShels]

Even more amazing that they're producing football like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4bdCdiKGto

That's the first time I've seen that. Wow.

[CraftyToePoke]

Well after Leicester were a little deflated by the WBA equalizer and point at home last night, which could have seen them overhauled, Spurs, Arsenal & Man City all go and manage to lose 24 hours later. Ten games to go now .....

[OwlsFan]

Who knows? Even Man U could get in the mix the way things are going. Some very average sides there. Would be great to see Leicester do it but 10 matches are a lot. Good thing is that Spurs and Arsenal play each other so points dropped there for one or both.

Have to laugh whenever Alan McInally is presenting a report. Whenever he is giving an update and referring to a header, he can't resist making a movement with his head mimicking a header. Every time, without fail. :)

[geysir]

I think Leicester will do it, Ranieri's playing a blinder.
They could do a Blackburn, have a topple and wobble before totally bottling it in the last game but still fall over the line in first place.

[DeLorean]

Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is their last game actually. I wonder how motivated Chelsea would be if they've nothing to play for and winning means assisting Arsenal or Tottenham in winning the league. It could be very similar to the situation at Anfield in 95! Fair play to that Liverpool side for their professionalism.

[CraftyToePoke]

Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is their last game actually. I wonder how motivated Chelsea would be if they've nothing to play for and winning means assisting Arsenal or Tottenham in winning the league.

This is an angle which requires careful watching, definitely :)

[OwlsFan]

I see that there is talk of a Super League again in Europe. Personally, I think that would be great so that the big clubs who dominate the the domestic games in various league could p'off and play each other and make even more money and let the also rans have a chance of winning their domestic leagues and other cups. I am not sure that the fans of those big clubs (Man U, Bayern, Barca, Real Madrid etc) would particularly want it as they would miss their local rivalries but when do owners ever particularly worry about fans, especially since many of them are not nationals of the countries, when there's money at stake. This would be what my super league (20) should look like - I think the two Scottish clubs should be included as they have the potential to compete with the best:

Arsenal Chelsea Man U Liverpool Celtic Rangers PSG Marseilles (?) Real M Barca Juve, AC Milan Inter Milan Bayern M Dortmund Ajax Porto Liege (two others: Basel, Russian Club, Turkish club, Polish, Serbian etc?) or would they just keep it as 4 each from among the big 5 leagues (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) ?

[OwlsFan]

From Real Madrid to relegation threatened Newcastle United....strange one for Benitez.

[DeLorean]

It really wouldn't take a lot to keep them up with the form of the teams around them. Damn Norwich anyway and their near total collapse this year.

[OwlsFan]

Disappointed that he's taking over just before they play Leicester. Would have been a sure 3 points for Leicester. Now....

[geysir]

The sudden appearance of Rafa on the scene had a spanish inquisition feel about it, as in a routine home win was now a different proposition altogether. It took a special goal (though routine for a player of Mick Leech's ilk) to win it for Leicester and a stonewall penalty for Newcastle was denied.

[OwlsFan]

I don't remember too many overheads by Mick Leech. He was more the right man in the right place type of striker.

Amazed to hear the pundits say that it's now a 2 horse race. It would be very easy for Leicester to lose 3 in a row while Arsenal have a game in hand. Leicester have struggled in the last few games. I fear for them but wouldn't it be great for football if they won it.

[KK77]

I don't think Leicester have struggled myself to be honest.

[Stuttgart88]

You've got to admire any manner of win by any inexperienced title challenger at this stage of the season. arsenal haven't got the bottle that's for sure. If winning was that easy week in, weekj out City would be doing it. I think so far Leicester are holding up fine. Despite only one point from 6 in 2 London derbies last week Spurs look like the type of team who find winning games quite easy and who aren't scrambling for points. My money would be on Spurs - though maybe they'll start getting nervous now? - to win it but every win for Leicester now is a huge step to the finishing line. I hope they do it.

First posts on this thread are how Ranieri will struggle :) Much credit to him.

As for the Super League, I take Owls fan's point but I fear that if it happens it'll be the near death of the international game.

[geysir]

it's only par for the course that a game against a team in desperation is going to be harder than against the same team when they were desperate. And Leicester are doing better than the other 3 teams they have to worry about, they beat Norwich when Man City could only draw and their 3 rivals have lost ground.
Perhaps Spurs will offer a challenge now that they have sacrificed EL ambitions, but they have a prohibitive run-in.

[OwlsFan]

First posts on this thread are how Ranieri will struggle :) Much credit to him.

Yes, I did say "Ranieri to Leicester - Will be surprised if that works out" and I am more than surprised! I am shocked. Just keep waiting for it to implode but no sign yet but the great thing is that even if they do, it will be another dark-horse Spurs who more than likely will win it. And Newcastle (managed by no less than Benitez), Sunderland and Villa in the relegation spots and 2 of the promoted sides looking safe and Norwich evens money. Even Sky couldn't couldn't hype up a better script than that.

[DeLorean]

Good read on Pochettino (http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35739244)

[DeLorean]

So Adam Johnson got six years. Not making little of it exactly, but if the victim was a few months older (i.e. turned 16) would the whole thing have been fair game from a legal point of view?

[DeLorean]

Haha was thinking the same thing.

[Stuttgart88]

So Adam Johnson got six years. Not making little of it exactly, but if the victim was a few months older (i.e. turned 16) would the whole thing have been fair game from a legal point of view?
David Walsh in The Sunday Times compared it to the case of a female schoolteacher who had a long affair with a 15 year-old boy she was teaching, including a pregnancy 7 termination. The teacher got 250 hours of community service or something like that.

[Charlie Darwin]

David Walsh in The Sunday Times compared it to the case of a female schoolteacher who had a long affair with a 15 year-old boy she was teaching, including a pregnancy 7 termination. The teacher got 250 hours of community service or something like that.
She admitted guilt immediately and got two years suspended, which was later changed to two years custodial on appeal. I'm not saying that was right, just her admission of guilt clearly resulted in a more lenient sentence.

[CraftyToePoke]

Chelsea just demolished manager-less Aston Villa. They let Remi Garde go without a replacement in mind.

Well, maybe not lined up or announced, but its not a certainty they don't have someone in their sights, I think Garde had pretty much given up, some of his public statements about the players, having to select players he didn't want to due to no backing in the window etc, made this inevitable. This way he leaves without a relegation on his CV which probably it the best he could emerge with, they way it played out. It also means most prospective managers may well hold off till the relegation is official to avoid it on theirs though, but we wait & see on that.

[CraftyToePoke]

Leicester, now needing a maximum of 12 points from 6 games I believe in order to be champions of England.

Only Forest & Derby did ever managed something similar, which has always left Leicester in their near neighbours shadow, there must be something rare and unique in the East Midlands water if Leicester do get over the line.

[OwlsFan]

No specific thread for EPL clubs, right?

Chelsea just demolished manager-less Aston Villa. They let Remi Garde go without a replacement in mind.

There is a Liverpool/Everton thread someplace but you would have to dig back a bit. EPL not well regarded in some quarters here as it is regarded as the nemesis of the League of Ireland. As someone who has followed all football from LoI to IL to Scottish Football and English football, I wouldn't necessarily hold that viewpoint but I can understand the argument as well.

Villa were doomed no matter who their manager is so they are really looking at next season in the Championship. They should go for either Mick McCarthy or Nigel Pearson.

Still fearful that Leicester might blow it but finger crossed for them and football.

[Stuttgart88]

Were they any worse?

[CraftyToePoke]

Were they any worse?

Who are they and what were they maybe worse than Stutts ?

[geysir]

It's as if Paul has just hacked Stutts' account.
Though that would be crediting Paul with some degree of guile, therefore it's probably not realistic.

Stutts, we are worried, a blip perhaps?

[Stuttgart88]

Who are they and what were they maybe worse than Stutts ?Duh, my bad. I hit the quick reply button to RedBench's comment on the previous page about Garde being fired with no replacement lined up. My point was (meant to be) that manager or no manager, they're awful. RedBench's comment was the last on the page and I hurriedly assumed it was the last comment in the thread.

Thanks for Geysir's concern though. I'm fine.

[Stuttgart88]

Look at Leicester 52 weeks ago.

[CraftyToePoke]

Look at Leicester 52 weeks ago.

Yes, but throughout last season, Leicester were playing well, never lost their crowd, manager had the support of the natives and were in most games despite being edged most weeks till near the end. This is not the case down the road at Villa Park, that, as a rule unhappy place at the best of times, has never been unhappier :) which in itself is some kind of unwanted horrific achievement considering they have the most restless natives in the country for most of my life. Past glories make big ghosts.

[geysir]

That manager Leicester got rid of, gave me the creeps.

[OwlsFan]

That manager Leicester got rid of, gave me the creeps.

Nigel Pearson ? Great guy. The sort of man you'd like to be in the trenches with. Great centre-half for Wednesday and would put his head where few would risk their feet. Why did he give you the creeps or was that a wind up?

[geysir]

Nigel Pearson ? Great guy. The sort of man you'd like to be in the trenches with. Great centre-half for Wednesday and would put his head where few would risk their feet. Why did he give you the creeps or was that a wind up?
No, not a wind up and if he was in the trenches with me, i'd shoot him first. An ugly thuggish personality.
The Thai owners of Leicester were quite correct to give him the boot.

[DeLorean]

I'd have to know a bit more about the fan before condemning that. :)

[Stuttgart88]

Leicester and Spurs both delivering when it counts, Arsenal total and utter wimps. Wenger leaves Mertesacker on the bench when playing Andy Carroll. That's beyond strange.

Chelsea might be kingmakers yet. Both Spurs and Leicester play them at Stamford Bridge. Leicester's last 3 games are United (a), Everton (h) and Chelsea (a). West Ham at home won't be easy. If they don't win their next two (WHU at home, Swansea at home) then it get could all go badly wrong.

I can see Spurs winning at least 4 of their next 5. Stoke (a), WBA (h), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h) and Newcastle (a).

Very interesting.

[KK77]

Lots of people pointing to the last three games Leicester have to play. Not like any of the three are on fire never mind Leicester have proved they can beat all three.

[geysir]

I'd say, considering their consistent form and run in, Leicester @ 1/5 for the title is about right.

[Stuttgart88]

Lots of people pointing to the last three games Leicester have to play. Not like any of the three are on fire never mind Leicester have proved they can beat all three.
If they have slipped up before then, I can think of several easier teams to be playing. If it's still alive on the final day it's a no brainer who has the easier fixture.

[geysir]

Stutts, i'd say though, much of your concern about Leicester slipping up, has more to do with anxiety around the chance that Spurs might win the title.

[DeLorean]

I could see Leicester slipping up enough times to allow Spurs a chance, I can't really see Spurs not slipping up at all themselves though, especially with Stamford Bridge to come. In theory that should be a tougher fixture for Spurs than Leicester.

[geysir]

I don't have the benefit of the use of a crystal ball but there is no current football form evidence saying that Leicester will slip up, not even a sliver.
It might happen but so can a lot of things 'might happen'. 8 tides a day could happen but not based on current habits.

[DeLorean]

Define current? This season they've 'slipped up' twelve times, over a third of their matches. You'd hardly need a crystal ball to suggest they might slip up a couple of more times, especially when you consider the fact that their fixtures look fairly tough. And to be fair their recent games could have went either way, Newcastle, Southampton and even Sunderland could have easily nicked something, it's not like they've been coasting.

[OwlsFan]

Yes, far from over because once the media says it is, then it is not and we'll then hear "who could have believed this turnaround?". The 3-0 for Spurs was very important because Man U over the years have had the Indian sign over them - that's one of their banana skins gone. As Stutts says, Spurs should get a minimum 12 points from their last 5 games so Leicester need 2 wins (Everton (h) and Swansea (h) would be the best hopes). The fat lady may only start rehearsing but the opera is a bit off yet.

[geysir]

Define current? This season they've 'slipped up' twelve times, over a third of their matches. You'd hardly need a crystal ball to suggest they might slip up a couple of more times, especially when you consider the fact that their fixtures look fairly tough. And to be fair their recent games could have went either way, Newcastle, Southampton and even Sunderland could have easily nicked something, it's not like they've been coasting.No they have not been coasting. Current refers to the recent run in the pressure games where they have show to be a strong title winning unit even when just a solitary goal ahead.
Under other circumstances, a point against a well drilled team like Sunderland, fighting for their survival, playing home with that support, would be considered a good point, but they got all 3 in that pressure cauldron. They are not getting enough credit for winning a game like that.

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, that and the memory of Arsenal's title run-in in 1989 when they couldn't buy a win in the last few games. Lost 0-1 at home to Derby and then ex-Bohs Paul McGee (Magee?) scored twice for Wimbledon in a 2-2 draw. I was absolutely planking it when Ireland went to Malta in 1989 too, and also Cyprus at home in 2001. Even at home to Bosnia I didn't relax until about 92 minutes (and after Bosnia had hit the bar with about 2 mins left). It's the way I am.

[DeLorean]

No they have not been coasting.

"there is no current football form evidence saying that Leicester will slip up, not even a sliver."

To me this reads like something that would have been said about Barcelona (pre-Villarreal) when they were winning games consistently by four or five goal margins. The very fact that they've been winning games narrowly is evidence enough for me that they're more likely to slip up than if they've been coasting through games and winning comfortably. The fact is that they were a referee's interpretation of a couple of handballs away from drawing with Southampton and at the mercy of Jack Rodwell late in the game on Sunday. This isn't a criticism, they may even have deserved to win the games despite the let-offs, but it shows that the margins have been pretty fine, which I think gives at least a "sliver" of hope that they might slip up, from Tottenham's point of view.


Current refers to the recent run in the pressure games where they have show to be a strong title winning unit even when just a solitary goal ahead.

Fair enough, but I wasn't even talking about current form really, despite my comments above. I'm just looking at each game they have remaining on an individual basis. Man Utd and Chelsea will probably start the games favourites against them, rightly or wrongly, and Everton have been pretty good away from home this season and we know they're a lot better than they've looked at times. West Ham have proved to be a very dangerous team as well and have won at some big venues themselves. Of course Leicester won't fear anybody and rightly so, and have beaten some big teams this season but these games look far tougher than the ones during their recent run of clean sheets. I think there's a better chance of a slip up against Chelsea or Man Utd than against Newcastle or Sunderland, that's all.


Under other circumstances, a point against a well drilled team like Sunderland, fighting for their survival, playing home with that support, would be considered a good point, but they got all 3 in that pressure cauldron. They are not getting enough credit for winning a game like that.

Who isn't giving them enough credit? They've been phenomenal and I don't think it's possible to rate their achievements so far highly enough. Jamie Carragher was saying it could be the biggest story in football history, I'd agree that it would have to be in the conversation anyway and possibly the biggest that I know of alright. If you're just talking about not getting enough credit for winning the Sunderland game itself, okay, I'm not sure how much credit they haven't got. It was a very professional performance which belied their lack of experience in a PL title chasing run-in situation.

[OwlsFan]

Yes, that and the memory of Arsenal's title run-in in 1989 when they couldn't buy a win in the last few games. Lost 0-1 at home to Derby and then ex-Bohs Paul McGee (Magee?) scored twice for Wimbledon in a 2-2 draw. I was absolutely planking it when Ireland went to Malta in 1989 too, and also Cyprus at home in 2001. Even at home to Bosnia I didn't relax until about 92 minutes (and after Bosnia had hit the bar with about 2 mins left). It's the way I am.

I wasn't even totally relaxed after the play off win in Estonia. I am sure Milan were relaxed when they were 3-0 up against Liverpool in 2005. Anything can happen in football that's why I NEVER join in on "you're not signing any more".

[Charlie Darwin]

I wasn't even totally relaxed after the play off win in Estonia. I am sure Milan were relaxed when they were 3-0 up against Liverpool in 2005. Anything can happen in football that's why I NEVER join in on "you're not signing any more".
Agreed, taunting deaf fans isn't acceptable in this day and age.