2023/2024 English Premier League Thread

[Locke]

One of the few things that I really like about modern Refereeing.

That Spurs shot that skipped across goal looked for all intents and purposes over the line, but the defender clears it.

Of course the Spurs players protest, I can't blame them, that looked in as hell to me too. But the Ref just taps the watch and shrugs his shoulders.

"Goal-Line Tech says it wasnt over the line."

[devo22]

Sheffield throwing away a 3-1 lead against Fulham, Luton also losing to Spurs after being up 1-0. Killer results in the relegation battle.

maybe Burnley can hold on to a draw at Chelsea (lol), but even that doesn't really help them.

[Swift]

Damn this is an exciting Matchday Live. Lots of back and forths.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Cole Palmer is one of the most important signings in recent history, because without him Chelsea would be getting relegated. Absolute clown shoe club.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

if anyone is looking for a horseshoe, they are all up Leverkusen's collective asses this season

another 2-1 win thanks to goals after 88 and 91 minutes respectively. Really can't make this up lol

Again, people are saying that Bayern are bottling it, but Leverkusen are just untouchable this season.

Luck, skill, whatever you want to call it. Thats just an amazing team to watch.

Boo for a Spuds lead. But yay! For an Everton loss on an own-goal!

Pickford is just so unlikeable. One of the most punchable faces on the planet.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

One of the few things that I really like about modern Refereeing.

That Spurs shot that skipped across goal looked for all intents and purposes over the line, but the defender clears it.

Of course the Spurs players protest, I can't blame them, that looked in as hell to me too. But the Ref just taps the watch and shrugs his shoulders.

"Goal-Line Tech says it wasnt over the line."

The goal line tech is so good. It’s not something you can argue, basically immediate and seems like it’s accepted by everyone.

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Cole Palmer is one of the most important signings in recent history, because without him Chelsea would be getting relegated. Absolute clown shoe club.

Love to see it though. Palmer aside, it’s been great to see them sign all these guys and have almost nothing to show for it. I also love that they’ve got no easy way out. Like they can’t sell guys and fix their FFP conundrum easily, unless it’s homegrown players.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

The goal line tech is so good. It’s not something you can argue, basically immediate and seems like it’s accepted by everyone.

Thats the kind of reffing we want. That is glorious.

No muss, no fuss, no debate and almost immediate and universally accepted. The watch says it didnt go in. Keep playing.

Again, I'm not going to rag on the Spurs players, in the heat of the moment I'd have probably been the same because that looked like it was in.

But the Ref's watch didnt go off which means it wasnt completely over the line and everyone just got on with the game. Perfect.

We need that kind of fast, linear simplicity for off-side. But they have to figure off-side out.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats the kind of reffing we want. That is glorious.

No muss, no fuss, no debate and almost immediate and universally accepted. The watch says it didnt go in. Keep playing.

Again, I'm not going to rag on the Spurs players, in the heat of the moment I'd have probably been the same because that looked like it was in.

But the Ref's watch didnt go off which means it wasnt completely over the line and everyone just got on with the game. Perfect.

We need that kind of fast, linear simplicity for off-side. But they have to figure off-side out.

We used to have it. A guy would raise a flag if you were offside and that was that.

[Locke]

Wow, this City/Gunners game has been scrappy. Its actually been a lot of fun.

[Locke]

Just keep firing blanks for a few more minutes.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Good day for Liverpool

[Senator Clay Davis]

As a Liverpool fan it was obviously the ideal result, but only an accountant could find that game "fun" lol. But both games this season between these two were pretty bad, hopefully we don't get these two in the UCL semis if that is the quality we can expect. Although to be fair to them it's more or less the standard in big games these days, teams play timid to avoid making mistakes, which usually makes for a drab affair.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

As a Liverpool fan it was obviously the ideal result, but only an accountant could find that game "fun" lol. But both games this season between these two were pretty bad, hopefully we don't get these two in the UCL semis if that is the quality we can expect. Although to be fair to them it's more or less the standard in big games these days, teams play timid to avoid making mistakes, which usually makes for a drab affair.

Well here goes your Helicopter Ride invitation.

It was scrappy at times, but kind of in that hilarious 'middle-school' way? You want to be involved and provoke...but just only a little bit so you dont get in trouble?

There were moments where each team got into it but not many.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Arsenal came to not lose, which is the be expected, so I'm somewhat inclined to give them a pass. Although what does it say about their mental fragility that avoiding losing trumped winning? They've lost control of their destiny now by not winning. But Man City really needed that win and they were at home, they should have been the more willing side to lose this, but really didn't generate much. Dominated possession, but so what?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Arsenal came to not lose, which is the be expected, so I'm somewhat inclined to give them a pass. Although what does it say about their mental fragility that avoiding losing trumped winning? They've lost control of their destiny now by not winning. But Man City really needed that win and they were at home, they should have been the more willing side to lose this, but really didn't generate much. Dominated possession, but so what?

"Senator, meet Pep....Pep, meet Mr. Clay Davis."

Possession is all Pep cares about.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Yeah they usually generate an xG over 2 with all that possession and not the 0.8 they did today. Today wasn't even like a lot of their games this year where they generate a ton, but didn't convert with poor finishing. It was just a bad game that we should all try and forget ASAP.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Yeah they usually generate an xG over 2 with all that possession and not the 0.8 they did today. Today wasn't even like a lot of their games this year where they generate a ton, but didn't convert with poor finishing. It was just a bad game that we should all try and forget ASAP.

Except...Liverpool remain in 1st.

And the race continues.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Arsenal came to not lose, which is the be expected, so I'm somewhat inclined to give them a pass. Although what does it say about their mental fragility that avoiding losing trumped winning? They've lost control of their destiny now by not winning. But Man City really needed that win and they were at home, they should have been the more willing side to lose this, but really didn't generate much. Dominated possession, but so what?

Arsenal has 8/12 points vs the top 3 this season.
City have 3/12
Liverpool have 3/12

The only club to pull off a win(2) in these fixtures has been Arsenal.

City do not even have a win vs the top 5 this season; but it's Arsenal who are too mentally fragile to avoid losing and play for wins?

Laughable take

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Arsenal has 8/12 points vs the top 3 this season.
City have 3/12
Liverpool have 3/12

The only club to pull off a win(2) in these fixtures has been Arsenal.

City do not even have a win vs the top 5 this season; but it's Arsenal who are too mentally fragile to avoid losing and play for wins?

Laughable take

I disagree on the mental fragility part, but they didnt play for the win

Average positioning shows that, everyone was behind the half line, brought me back to conte's spurs

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

I disagree on the mental fragility part, but they didnt play for the win

Average positioning shows that, everyone was behind the half line, brought me back to conte's spurs

I agree they didn't play to win today. Even the subs were defensive.
They likely started wanting to, but adjusted to the match and tactically did what made sense. The wingers had to support and drop off, and everyone bought in because City were controlling.

For a team that always plays on the front foot, that in itself is mentally mature to adapt and play that way with discipline for 90+ minutes.
A clean sheet against the best club in a world who hasn't been held scoreless at home in 3 years is good.

If Arsenal opened up and lost 4-1, the same people criticizing would be saying same old Arsenal, defensively weak. Then if City won the league by a point, they'd look back at this match and say Arsenal should have defended better. You can't win with Arsenal haters.

Sometimes playing Conte football against City at the Etihad is ok; just don't give me Conte every match