2015/2016 Barclays Premier League Thread

[devo22]

Giggs obviously can't be a serious long-term solution unless the United board are completely out to lunch. They have just witnessed a proven PL manager with 11 years of experience at a decent club (Everton) crumble under the job and fail miserably, so how could somebody in the right mind then give it to someone without ANY experience (unless you count 4 games as caretaker without any pressure)? It just makes zero sense. Following Ferguson and rebuilding the squad was always going to be a tough gig, but if a proven PL manager like Moyes and a very experienced manager like van Gaal falter like that, somebody like Giggs has no chance.

Appointing club legends as managers often goes horribly wrong. Just look at Milan, they tried this twice last year (first Seedorf, then Inzaghi) and both times the experiment failed miserably. It amazes me that big clubs like United and Real are even thinking about the possibility of giving the jobs to Giggs and Zidane without them going to manage a club somewhere else.

If United are as ambitious as I expect them to be, there are only two realistic options next season: Guardiola and Ancelotti. Trying to get Guardiola absolutely has to be a priority, especially because you don't want that guy to go to City instead. I think the project would interest Guardiola - history and tradition at the club, tough league, open cheque book. If Guardiola can't be convinced, personally I'd also be very happy with Ancelotti, who has proven that he is a very good and flexible manager. He's also publicly declared interest in managing United just a few days ago (http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...nited-interest).

It's going to be interesting to see what happens until then. I believe United can only sign one of those two if they finish top 4, so form has to improve quickly and drastically. The last few weeks were supposed to be a relatively easy part of the schedule, yet they dropped a lot of points and if they continue their bad run, a top 4 finish is all but a sure thing. So, do you trust van Gaal to pick it up? Do you trust Giggs as caretaker? Do you think Ancelotti could be convinced to take over midseason despite him saying otherwise, and if so, do you do it if it kills your chance of getting Guardiola? Tough situation.

In a perfect world, SAF comes out of retirement, leads the club to another PL title and then Guardiola takes over next summer. Never going to happen, but hey, a frustrated fan can dream, right?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Being a Spurs or Liverpool fan must suck, sorry to those fans.

[Slava]

That was a disaster. Obviously Spurs should've had at least a second if not more. Then they sat back and were outplayed. What a time to drop a game, and against Newcastle of all teams. Pretty much between this week and last it has to quell talk of a top four finish. This was a string of games they needed to win. Not just draw, never mind lose.

[Barnet Flame]

A great set of results for Arsenal and City this week-end. And tomorrow will be good whatever the result between Leicester and Chelsea.

[Locke]

Vardy you beautiful basterd!

[devo22]

what a goal by Mahrez!

Vardy/Mahrez are simply incredible. I keep expecting them to falter at some point and they just keep proving me wrong.

[Senator Clay Davis]

So at what point do we start taking Leicester winning the league seriously? I know everyone keeps dismissing them and saying they won't win it, but while they lack the talent of Arsenal and City, they are playing much better as a team and have been all year. I'd certainly say they deserve to be a top 3 contender and a real threat to win it all.

[Slava]

I know its only December, but how hilarious would it be to see Chelsea make it to relegation by virtue of goal differential!

[d_phaneuf]

Leicester wont finish in the top 6

[d_phaneuf]

‏@OliverKayTimes
Mourinho claims Leicester's ball boys were "a disgrace to the Premier League" (!!) but he doesn't want this to overshadow Leicester win

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

‏@OliverKayTimes
Mourinho claims Leicester's ball boys were "a disgrace to the Premier League" (!!) but he doesn't want this to overshadow Leicester win

He should have kicked one in the face. Its what Joey Barton would do.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

‏@OliverKayTimes
Mourinho claims Leicester's ball boys were "a disgrace to the Premier League" (!!) but he doesn't want this to overshadow Leicester win

But for medical staff, the FA, the players, the crowd, the media, the refs, other teams scoring more goals and now the ball boys, Mourinho would have Chelsea top of the league.

It is literally everyone else's fault.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

It is literally everyone else's fault.

Of course. After all, last year's title was all because of him.

‏@OliverKayTimes
Extraordinary interview from Mourinho, saying his players aren't as good as HE made them look last season. Claims he felt "betrayed" tonight

[d_phaneuf]

this is exactly like the last few months at Madrid

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Locke

He should have kicked one in the face. Its what Joey Barton Fernando Torres would do.

Fixed?

[devo22]

wasn't that Hazard back then?

[The Big Chill]

Ya I think it was Hazard

[devo22]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Leicester wont finish in the top 6

[SuperMatt18]

The one thing Leicester will have to be careful of is they haven't really played any of the big teams away yet.

If I am looking right they haven't played Liverpool, Arsenal, City, United, or Chelsea away yet. That could be a big lift in the remaining games.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The one thing Leicester will have to be careful of is they haven't really played any of the big teams away yet.

If I am looking right they haven't played Liverpool, Arsenal, City, United, or Chelsea away yet. That could be a big lift in the remaining games.

The thing is they dont have to win those. If they harvest the lower-end teams for points with wins they can take away draws from those games.

The key to winning the PL has always been in winning against the lower-end teams rather than drawing and then its okay to draw the big teams away and maybe taking a win or two at home.