GWT: EPL - Matchweek 17

JeffreyLFC

Registered User
Sep 29, 2017
10,859
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I am very unimpressed by Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota lack of effort. Also Robertson need a replacement ASAP. He is getting targeted and exposed more and more.

My MOTM is Szoboszlai. What an effort from him quite the opposite from Curtis Jones lazy cameo, this guy is not serious.
 
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Paulie Gualtieri

R.I.P. Tony Sirico
May 18, 2016
12,892
3,379
Without hyperbole, Tottenham is the least impressive team I’ve seen this year
Their current XI is completely run to the ground due to injuries. They usually don't start an 18 y/o midfielder in central defense, but have been forced to do that for a number of games now.
 

Chimaera

same ol' Caps
Feb 4, 2004
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La Plata, Maryland
Their current XI is completely run to the ground due to injuries. They usually don't start an 18 y/o midfielder in central defense, but have been forced to do that for a number of games now.
“If you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back — or any team other than Liverpool — they’d find it tough going as well.”

I mean, I guess. Liverpool have had Konate, Alisson and Trent out for big chunks. Every team has injuries. Ange is playing his way, but if he decides to give no support to that back line with the midfield or not bombing on, then yes, it’s something he should get grief for
 

Paulie Gualtieri

R.I.P. Tony Sirico
May 18, 2016
12,892
3,379
“If you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back — or any team other than Liverpool — they’d find it tough going as well.”

I mean, I guess. Liverpool have had Konate, Alisson and Trent out for big chunks. Every team has injuries. Ange is playing his way, but if he decides to give no support to that back line with the midfield or not bombing on, then yes, it’s something he should get grief for
Trust me, I know. I've questioned the sustainability of Ange's system over a full season plenty of times. His poor man-management only makes it worse.
 

JeffreyLFC

Registered User
Sep 29, 2017
10,859
8,024
“If you took out Liverpool’s goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back — or any team other than Liverpool — they’d find it tough going as well.”

I mean, I guess. Liverpool have had Konate, Alisson and Trent out for big chunks. Every team has injuries. Ange is playing his way, but if he decides to give no support to that back line with the midfield or not bombing on, then yes, it’s something he should get grief for
I do think injury is a concern but Tottenham have nothing but themselves to blame. Last year they were in a similar spot. They have injury prone CB and they used all their money to improve their attacks during the summer.
 

hatterson

Registered User
Apr 12, 2010
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North Tonawanda, NY
There were people around the club who could have sounded the alarm or made bones about it but didn’t. Looting the club was fine as long as the results were good
That's been happening for years. The Glazers didn't care and then as soon as that stadium maintenance debt came due they looked to sell the team and have someone else pay for it.

It's not like the stadium crumbling was a secret.
 

maclean

Registered User
Jan 4, 2014
9,079
2,980
Manchester United is a weird case study. As soon as one of their player hit a purple patch they start making immense hyperbole about that player. First was Rashford, then Greenwood, then Garnacho, then Mainoo and now it is Amad. I appreciate their excitement but IMO this not good on them on creating a narrative about them that add significantly more pressure on them.

I know Manchester United pay their players tremendlously well but all players joining them must feel a lot of ridiculous additional weight on their shoulders.

Leafs comparisons never fail

That’s a good half. LFC see this out unless they are sloppy

So did that qualify as sloppy or
 

Wee Baby Seamus

Yo, Goober, where's the meat?
Mar 15, 2011
16,454
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Halifax/Toronto
Idk, Spurs are a mess but I also think their goal difference is more revealing of their quality than their table placement. There’s a reason why they’re one of only four teams with a half decent goal difference. I’ve watched a lot of them this year and they’re definitely better than 10th.
 

hatterson

Registered User
Apr 12, 2010
37,061
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North Tonawanda, NY
Idk, Spurs are a mess but I also think their goal difference is more revealing of their quality than their table placement. There’s a reason why they’re one of only four teams with a half decent goal difference. I’ve watched a lot of them this year and they’re definitely better than 10th.
I think their GD is so good primarily because of the way they play.

They absolutely steadfastly refuse to adjust what they’re doing based on game situation and just calmly see games out so those 1-0 and 2-1 wins that move the standings well but don’t stock the GD don’t happen. Instead they go up 2-0 and instead of seeing the game out will either win 5-1 or lose 3-2 or something.

Even a game like today that would normally destroy their GD is made less because they just kept attacking over and over despite most teams likely having just packed it in in the middle of the second half.
 

Wee Baby Seamus

Yo, Goober, where's the meat?
Mar 15, 2011
16,454
7,512
Halifax/Toronto
I think their GD is so good primarily because of the way they play.

They absolutely steadfastly refuse to adjust what they’re doing based on game situation and just calmly see games out so those 1-0 and 2-1 wins that move the standings well but don’t stock the GD don’t happen. Instead they go up 2-0 and instead of seeing the game out will either win 5-1 or lose 3-2 or something.

Even a game like today that would normally destroy their GD is made less because they just kept attacking over and over despite most teams likely having just packed it in in the middle of the second half.
Oh I agree with it all, they’re a shitshow. But they’re a “should be in 6th” shitshow, not a “correctly in 10th” shitshow
 

bluesfan94

Registered User
Jan 7, 2008
31,793
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St. Louis
Ah yes what have you done for me lately. You either win the league every year or you’re a fraud. I’m guessing everyone else is a fraud because no one can compete with his resume. The post is incredibly stupid to argue otherwise is to live in an alternate reality.
Huge gap between having to win the league and not going 1 in 12
 

bluesfan94

Registered User
Jan 7, 2008
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I'm not saying he's small, he's just smaller than the guys he's going up against. he gives a good 5-10 cm to the opponents. And it comes down to there being not much help from defense on them. United are just shit in the air at both ends. It doesn't matter who they bring in as a set piece coach, results don't change.
5-10 cm is nothing when you’re a goalkeeper and can use your hands. David Raya is significantly shorter and much much better at claiming crosses.
 

Duchene2MacKinnon

In the hands of Genius
Aug 8, 2006
46,951
10,149
Their biggest strength was the ridiculous depth that they had. That depth was only possible due to financial doping.

Many years where they won the title, teams like Liverpool and Arsenal were able to keep up up to a certain point but ultimately failed most years because their teams got too injured and tired down the stretch.

City loses their depth and suddenly they can't keep up at all because of an aging squad and injuries. This just makes what Liverpool and Arsenal did more impressive considering they were able to keep up until the final weeks.

Given how Pep doesn't rotate all that often this is a false narrative. City and Pep won because they are better than the competition not because they are more fit.

Another great win for Forest, blanking Brentford and handing them their first home defeat of the season


This is a rough breakdown of the charges and the span they cover, so roughly 50% of the charges are covering his time at city

ChargeNumber of chargesSeasons
Failure to provide accurate financial information542009/10 - 2017/18
Failure to provide accurate player and manager payments142009/10 - 2017/18
Failure to comply with EUFA rules52013/14 - 2017/18
Breaching EPL PSR rules72015/16 - 2017/18
Failure to cooperate with investigations352018/19 - 2022/23
So the charges are from his first year, the rest is failure to cooperate during his tenure.

Huge gap between having to win the league and not going 1 in 12
So we are judging people based on their worst run of games... bold strategy.

Unrelated but Onana has always been ass never worth the money, united just play FM. There's no real squad building scouting. There's plenty of keepers better than him for cheaper.
 

PeteWorrell

[...]
Aug 31, 2006
5,247
2,293
Given how Pep doesn't rotate all that often this is a false narrative. City and Pep won because they are better than the competition not because they are more fit.


So the charges are from his first year, the rest is failure to cooperate during his tenure.


So we are judging people based on their worst run of games... bold strategy.

Unrelated but Onana has always been ass never worth the money, united just play FM. There's no real squad building scouting. There's plenty of keepers better than him for cheaper.
It's not a false narrative. He had the luxury of having all-stars as super subs which saved the team many times over the years. Superior squad depth also meant that he could overcome injuries more easily.

Other teams had to play kids at times because they needed warm bodies on the pitch. City never had to do that because they had an incredible amount of senior players. There is a reason that City's academy players have left over the year so that they could get playing time elsewhere.
 

Duchene2MacKinnon

In the hands of Genius
Aug 8, 2006
46,951
10,149
It's not a false narrative. He had the luxury of having all-stars as super subs which saved the team many times over the years. Superior squad depth also meant that he could overcome injuries more easily.

Other teams had to play kids at times because they needed warm bodies on the pitch. City never had to do that because they had an incredible amount of senior players. There is a reason that City's academy players have left over the year so that they could get playing time elsewhere.
Took a random year to compare liverpool and City, LFC had 18 players over 1000 minutes played in the league. City had 16 players. One of which is the all star Zincehnko and another was Chelsea cast off Sterling.

To say this is THE reason why City has been wining is nonsense and completely untrue. Pep doesnt like to rotate neither does Clop. In fact both got roasted for complaining about games and scheduling when they just kept playing the same lineup. You aren't paying attention.


 

PeteWorrell

[...]
Aug 31, 2006
5,247
2,293
Took a random year to compare liverpool and City, LFC had 18 players over 1000 minutes played in the league. City had 16 players. One of which is the all star Zincehnko and another was Chelsea cast off Sterling.

To say this is THE reason why City has been wining is nonsense and completely untrue.
THE reason is financial doping. City were a small team before being bought by a petro state and getting money pumped into the team.

You are acting like City had a natural growth like those Barcelona teams he managed that were filled with academy players. Pep would have never won so many titles with City without the financial backing provided to him to buy whoever he wanted.
 

Duchene2MacKinnon

In the hands of Genius
Aug 8, 2006
46,951
10,149
THE reason is financial doping. City were a small team before being bought by a petro state and getting money pumped into the team.

You are acting like City had a natural growth like those Barcelona teams he managed that were filled with academy players. Pep would have never won so many titles with City without the financial backing provided to him to buy whoever he wanted.
This is a different argument. You’re moving the goal posts. You said it was the depth they had from being able to buy “all stars bench players” and keep them fresh.

Yes city before their gulf owners had a small team and yes they pump money in the team to buy players. Like I give a shit how slave owners spend their money or how other poor billionaires can’t compete. Boohoo.

Pep won’t pre city and clubs like Chelsea and united spent boat loads yet can’t come close to what pep is doing. So spare me.
 
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Chimaera

same ol' Caps
Feb 4, 2004
31,410
1,947
La Plata, Maryland
That's been happening for years. The Glazers didn't care and then as soon as that stadium maintenance debt came due they looked to sell the team and have someone else pay for it.

It's not like the stadium crumbling was a secret.
People don’t want to hear it, but SAF could have spoken against them. He knew what was going on. I know company man and all, but it should’ve been him.
 

bluesfan94

Registered User
Jan 7, 2008
31,793
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St. Louis
So we are judging people based on their worst run of games... bold strategy.
Right, that's why I think the Oilers should still be starting Gretzky. Sure, he might not be playing well anymore, but it doesn't make sense to judge him only on his bad games.

Now that you mention it, I think if you only judge players and managers by their good games, that's probably the most fair.

At some point you have to actually look at current results. And 12 games is a big sample size within a season. Managers have been fired for much less.
 

Duchene2MacKinnon

In the hands of Genius
Aug 8, 2006
46,951
10,149
Right, that's why I think the Oilers should still be starting Gretzky. Sure, he might not be playing well anymore, but it doesn't make sense to judge him only on his bad games.

Now that you mention it, I think if you only judge players and managers by their good games, that's probably the most fair.

At some point you have to actually look at current results. And 12 games is a big sample size within a season. Managers have been fired for much less.
You can’t be serious lol. Yes totally the same a guy coming off winning the league. 6 out of 7 leagues and 2 seasons removed from a double. But ya that’s the same as asking a 60 year old to play again.

What world are you in?

Sure thing most managers aren’t pep. You would know that if your team ever won anything post iPhone.
 

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