2017/2018 THE Premier League Thread

[devo22]

well that was easy.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Not sure what Mustafi was doing there. Easy as you'd like for United.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Not sure what Mustafi was doing there. Easy as you'd like for United.

now we know, he got hurt.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Spurs reading their press clippings and getting big heads in the lead up to the NLD, only to get destroyed by Arsenal, and they haven't been the same since. Losing Alderweireld hurts no doubt, but they've been very poor in the final third the past few games and that has nothing to do with him. Dele Alli in particular has basically disappeared.

They didn't get destroyed though. They played poorly and lost a game. That's not a lot different than what has happened since Toby went down in the other league games. I think that most people expected Spurs to beat West Brom, Leicester and Watford. Like I say, you might be just trying to get a rise out of me, or maybe you just like that storyline, but it's has little to do with it and more to do with a huge loss in Alderweireld.

When he's in the line up they can play that back three, and he's a rock back there. Without him it causes a few issues. First, Sanchez is good for what he is, but he's no Toby, so we allow more chances and other attacks cause problems. Second, the "solution" for cover is to drop Dier back, but this causes a problem in the midfield because Dembele isn't quite what he was a year ago,
Wanyama (who was an absolute monster for us last year) is out and we have to rely on Winks and Moussa Sissoko there. It turns from this rock solid back five when everyone is healthy to a fairly porous and shoddy one.

To go a little further, our style is possession and playing out as opposed to hoofing it down the field (Lloris has particularly poor distribution IMO). So you remove these key players and that turns into a problem. Toby has these great long passes for example that are just missing, and that hurts the attack as well. So we get pressured, turn the ball over and now have a lacklustre defensive line to handle this turnover. Not great times.

Offensively, Eriksen looks a bit tired, Lamela isn't quite able to start yet and we haven't got cover for him otherwise. Alli has a few flashes, but probably needs a game on the bench to get sorted. Kane is Kane. Llorente hasn't been what he was at Swansea, in part because the delivery has been great for him, but he ought to have scored a goal or two. And Son has been really good for me, albeit a little selfish at times.

So the issues are pretty evident. If you don't watch Spurs then you might rather concoct a story about egos or Poch writing a book or whatever. To me though, they need Toby and Big Vic back and that will make a significant impact.

[Senator Clay Davis]

How exactly did Arsenal not score there?

[devo22]

this game is crazy. Incredible pace, end to end, terrible defending on both sides.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Arsenal dominated that last 15 minutes and should probably be level. Should be a great second half.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'd say we have our game of the year.

[d_phaneuf]

Was worried this might slow down but 2nd half has been outstanding

Be shocked if goals don't come fast and furious

[Senator Clay Davis]

De Gea is having a mental game.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

De Gea is having a mental game.

United fans are used to his magic, but that double save was ridiculous even by his standards.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Slava

In a word, Alderweireld. I think he is such a big loss for them and along with Wanyama they just don't have that defensive fortitude. Once Sanchez took his red today (which was not only deserved, but ridiculous!) you just knew they had to hang on for the remainder.

More realistically though it's being unlucky

Xg isn't a perfect stat but in general it gives a good look at who created the 'better' chances and in that area spurs aren't getting outplayed and regression to the mean factoring in their results should turn soon and they start getting 'lucky'. Motd has started using it, which created an uproar amongst non-stats people, but they do a good job factoring it in to the show

Today they were 0.8 to 0.3
Vs Leicester 2.51 to 0.89
Vs West Brom 1.75 to 0.72
Badly outplayed by arsenal 2.24 to 0.59
Vs united 1.08 to 0.92

So what that shows is basically what the eye test does as well, the United game was even, arsenal crushed them, but the 3 since they win more often than not

Which is why I'm not too worried at this point, at some stage you do need results but the underlying numbers are there showing that they aren't playing poorly, they need the luck to turn around soon though, between now and January 31st the schedule is very favorable except the game vs city.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

De Gea is having a mental game.

Originally Posted by devo22

United fans are used to his magic, but that double save was ridiculous even by his standards.

Raising his foot on Sanchez doesn't look as incredible as some of the other flashier saves but it might have been the best so far

Reaction time was incredible

[d_phaneuf]

That hurts united massively

Pogba out of the city game now

[Senator Clay Davis]

Definitely a red for Pogba.

[devo22]

well done Pogba. I mean, who cares about the derby right?

[d_phaneuf]

Seemed more dumb than malicious

Seeing it live I thought yellow but slow motion was clearly red

He had no reason to put his foot in like that, it was unlucky Bellerin went to one knee like that, if he falls forward or stays standing pogbas foot misses him, but studs up you always risk that. 3-1 game too, unnecessary

[Senator Clay Davis]

That was a penalty. De Gea probably would have saved it with his head though.

[d_phaneuf]

Ha he may have tied his hands behind his back at this point just to raise his own degree of difficulty so he has a challenge

[The Big Chill]

What the hell happened? The stats look like Arsenal completely dominated the game.