2015/2016 Barclays Premier League Thread

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[d_phaneuf]

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.

Originally Posted by Locke

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.

in their only games against the current top 6 they have 2 points

draws at home vs United and Spurs, loss at home to Arsenal

they have at Everton, at Liverpool, vs Man City, vs Bournemouth, at Spurs as their next 5 games

the 5 after that includes at Arsenal, at Man City, and Home to Liverpool as well (plus at Villa and home to Stoke)

so its pretty much going to make or break their season

they are the worst passing team in the league, and they are 18th in possession, it's going to end, teams are going to stop letting them play on the counter, the lower half teams will start sitting back and the top teams will outplay them on the ball

I see them taking a big drop, less than 10 points in the next 10 games wouldnt surprise me

[d_phaneuf]

Local council just gave final approval to Spurs redevelopment plan for the area, they have approval to demolish buildings and go ahead with it

will definitely have to go back to WHL one more time but can't wait to attend a game here, especially in the single tier stand which they are modelling after Dortmunds

[Senator Clay Davis]

Mourinho has reportedly been fired.

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Bbc just said he left

[cam_wmh]

Yup, fired. I wonder if Roman is putting in a last ditch for Pep now.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Rumour are it's gonna cost £40 million to fire him. That's a staggering golden parachute.

[Imported_Aussie]

Same day that Pep says he is leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season...
And Guus Hiddink appointed as caretaker manager at Chelsea until the end of the season...

Can we say Pep to Chelsea?


Mutual consent between Mourinho and Chelsea is the latest - likely he got a golden parachute closer to the lower end of expectations, still a quite healthy 10 million.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Same day that Pep says he is leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season...
And Guus Hiddink appointed as caretaker manager at Chelsea until the end of the season...

Can we say Pep to Chelsea?

I don't think it's his style. While City isn't a model club doing it the 'right' way, they provide much more stability than Chelsea.

[nik-]

yeah, I don't see Pep going to Chelsea over either of the Manchester clubs.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by nik-

yeah, I don't see Pep going to Chelsea over either of the Manchester clubs.

Me neither, but there is a chance. I mean, its an improved team from the one that won the league last season without breaking a sweat, its possible that Pep thinks he could turn that around.

City still looks likeliest.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Pep and his agent have to be over the moon now though. Bidding war between three extremely rich (and in two cases kind of desperate) owners? The man is going to cash in big time.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Locke

Me neither, but there is a chance. I mean, its an improved team from the one that won the league last season without breaking a sweat, its possible that Pep thinks he could turn that around.

City still looks likeliest.

Yeah, there are some positives for him to move there, but it's obvious the guy wants a higher level of glory in his winning. Desires to coach Brazil, Barca, Bayern ... Chelsea? One of those things is not like the others. If he's going for the glory trifecta, it's United. If he wants the best PL team and money, it's City. I just don't see how Chelsea rates there.

[Slava]

^ I wonder if some of the draw is to live in London as opposed to Manchester?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ I wonder if some of the draw is to live in London as opposed to Manchester?

Possibly, but it's not like Munich is a cosmopolitan paradise. Prestige is going to beat lifestyle with Guardiola I'm pretty sure.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ I wonder if some of the draw is to live in London as opposed to Manchester?

That was something I considered but I think it is less of a concern for managers. They spend much more time in the office and their wives tend to be more mature.

[d_phaneuf]

the one bonus Chelsea has is they do have time, because their domestic season is effectively over they don't need to rush bringing in a new manager

get Hiddink as caretaker like they did in the past and leave the team to him for the next 5 months

[d_phaneuf]

http://www.espnfc.us/club/bayern-mun...utd-or-arsenal

Sources close to the 42-year-old believe that living in London would be hugely appealing to Guardiola and his family

[nik-]

haha the caption on the picture in that article

"Would Arsenal part ways with Arsene Wenger for Pep Guardiola?"

... uhh, yeah?

[d_phaneuf]

It also points out most important though that Pep doesn't like a rebuild, and I don't think he wants to spend a year trying to get Chelsea back to the CL

Same reason why Man United would fall behind City, chance they miss top 4 this year plus if Pep is rebuilding that side how many of the current squad would he want to keep as key players? DDG/Shaw/Smalling is all I can think of