2015/2016 Barclays Premier League Thread

[devo22]

Conte to Chelsea is official.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Salty United fan is salty.

Touchy Spurs fan is touchy. Hit a nerve, did I? Because I'm bang on the money and you know it. Missed opportunity.

Let's clear something up for you first so you can avoid the deflection in future responses. YES, United have been brutal this year. YES, they have been boring and brutal and uninspiring. YES, it is probably one of the most difficult and frustrating seasons to follow them. YES, I, personally can't wait for it to be over and a change in management. We clear on that? Good.

But! My post wasn't about United. It was about Spurs. Just clearing that up.

So, here's the simple question. Given that United AND Arsenal AND City AND Chelsea collectively crapped the bed this season do you view this season as a missed opportunity to finally win a trophy of significance? If not, why not? Is it because you accept mediocrity as acceptable?

Missed opportunity. Yes or No?

[devo22]

I don't even think it's a missed opportunity for Spurs. They're just a young team on the upward swing. There's another team that has to kick themselves for not taking advantage this year. United has been dull and unsuccessful all season, Chelsea completely imploded under Mourinho and City has been crappy against top opposition and is still hanging on to a lame duck manager. So, which top team should have been there to pounce on the title, but instead bottled it as usual? ...

[cam_wmh]

I think we can say with certainty, that the answer is a club from North London.

[Locke]

Its definitely been a nightmare of a season, if any of the major teams had put together a decent run of form the title was there for the taking.

The fact of the matter remains though that City, United and Chelsea will all have new managers who will be given tons of money to revamp their squads and those teams will look wildly different next season while teams like Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool will likely look largely the same.

So yeah, definite opportunity missed on a lot of fronts.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Touchy Spurs fan is touchy. Hit a nerve, did I? Because I'm bang on the money and you know it. Missed opportunity.

Let's clear something up for you first so you can avoid the deflection in future responses. YES, United have been brutal this year. YES, they have been boring and brutal and uninspiring. YES, it is probably one of the most difficult and frustrating seasons to follow them. YES, I, personally can't wait for it to be over and a change in management. We clear on that? Good.

But! My post wasn't about United. It was about Spurs. Just clearing that up.

So, here's the simple question. Given that United AND Arsenal AND City AND Chelsea collectively crapped the bed this season do you view this season as a missed opportunity to finally win a trophy of significance? If not, why not? Is it because you accept mediocrity as acceptable?

Missed opportunity. Yes or No?

With perfect hindsight some might look back and say it was a missed opportunity. The fact is though that Spurs weren't supposed to be in a CL spot, never mind near the title. I know you can go back through this thread and see numerous examples of posters awaiting their collapse through the months.

Thing is I think Spurs will be in the mix next year and beyond as well. Not so sure about United though. Does a change in management and Europa League cause the changes needed? Some of the quotes from their Vice Chairman seem to imply that they're not going after any youth and aren't too interested in development. That gets problematic in a league where everyone can make an offer for top talent. I know they have Rashford and he looks like the real deal, but there are some pretty big issues there.

I just think that the discussion of whether Spurs screwed this up is (a) premature and (b) hilarious in light of the other clubs screwing things up even worse.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its definitely been a nightmare of a season, if any of the major teams had put together a decent run of form the title was there for the taking.

The fact of the matter remains though that City, United and Chelsea will all have new managers who will be given tons of money to revamp their squads and those teams will look wildly different next season while teams like Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool will likely look largely the same.

So yeah, definite opportunity missed on a lot of fronts.

Well Liverpool will certainly be spending big this summer I would think. Surely Klopp wants to bring in a few guys at least. But what did spending huge last summer get United and City? Heavy spending usually means taking time for the pieces to gel, so even if the Manchester clubs and Chelsea spend like drunken sailors it might be translate to results. Next season in theory could be just as wide open as this one.

I think Spurs are actually in quite a good spot in that they're bringing back a team that is young, but has experience playing together. Fill in a few of the holes and they should be in a good spot to challenge again next year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Well Liverpool will certainly be spending big this summer I would think. Surely Klopp wants to bring in a few guys at least. But what did spending huge last summer get United and City? Heavy spending usually means taking time for the pieces to gel, so even if the Manchester clubs and Chelsea spend like drunken sailors it might be translate to results. Next season in theory could be just as wide open as this one.

I think Spurs are actually in quite a good spot in that they're bringing back a team that is young, but has experience playing together. Fill in a few of the holes and they should be in a good spot to challenge again next year.

Liverpool will spend, but I doubt they'll be spending 'big.' We're just not in the same Revenue Arena as any of those clubs. We dont have a Middle Eastern Sheik or Russian Oligarch or huge lines of credit to sign the cheques.

And I'm not disputing that Spurs are in a good place going into next season, I'd just expect to see significant improvement at the top next season as well as the 'new manager bump' and its going to be a lot harder.

Spurs will also have to deal with competing in the Champion's League at the same time as the PL, its no Europa, you cant just throw out the Reserves and call it a day.

So while there will likely still be flux and Spurs and Arsenal can do some damage and make some noise, this season the title was easily there for the taking so I dont think it as too much of a stretch to call it a missed opportunity for North London.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Well Liverpool will certainly be spending big this summer I would think. Surely Klopp wants to bring in a few guys at least. But what did spending huge last summer get United and City? Heavy spending usually means taking time for the pieces to gel, so even if the Manchester clubs and Chelsea spend like drunken sailors it might be translate to results. Next season in theory could be just as wide open as this one.

I think Spurs are actually in quite a good spot in that they're bringing back a team that is young, but has experience playing together. Fill in a few of the holes and they should be in a good spot to challenge again next year.

My arbitrary review.
Depay, has been inconsistent, but when he's good, he's damn good. 7/10
Martial, a success. 8/10
Schweinsteiger, disappointment. Injury, and loss of step. 4/10

Of the three, who anticipated Bastian being the worst of them?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

My arbitrary review.
Depay, has been inconsistent, but when he's good, he's damn good. 7/10
Martial, a success. 8/10
Schweinsteiger, disappointment. Injury, and loss of step. 4/10

Of the three, who anticipated Bastian being the worst of them?

you might go back and read how "happy" I was when they bought Schweinsteiger. Partly that was because I thought that would nix the Schneiderlin deal, which luckily didn't happen.

[cam_wmh]

Spurs need a leader.
I like Lloris, but having your leader in the center of the pitch with his mates, lifts them. Maybe it's old school mentality, but imho, that's the last big piece for them.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

you might go back and read how "happy" I was when they bought Schweinsteiger. Partly that was because I thought that would nix the Schneiderlin deal, which luckily didn't happen.

But in comparison with the flashy new toys? I can understand the fear for sure though.

Schneiderlin, was a great buy. He needs to be the new Carrick. But I don't think his season was amazing to his standards (saints).. a 7
The Italian, hasn't blown my socks off. A 5.

I feel assigning these arbitrary numbers is awfully 'TheScorpion' of me.

[devo22]

Martial - 8
Schneiderlin - 7
Darmian - 5
Depay - 4
Schweinsteiger - 4

maybe I'm overly harsh on Depay, but I haven't seen any consistency yet. What has disappointed me most is his free kick taking - he had a reputation of being deadly with set pieces, but he's been horrible in that regard. I agree with the "when he's good then he's damn good" sentiment ... but when he's bad, then he's REALLY bad. But he's still young and has potential, hopefully he'll "get it" next season.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Slava

It will be interesting to see how things go next year.

A judgement of this season will be dependent on the outcome of next season. If Spurs are able to contend for the league next season, it won't make this season "the single missed opportunity".

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just think that the discussion of whether Spurs screwed this up is (a) premature and (b) hilarious in light of the other clubs screwing things up even worse.

Agreed with (a). It is premature and far from over.
Regarding (b). Yes, ALL the other clubs screwed up worse which is exactly my point. Missed opportunity. Yes their season is more successful than United and City and Chelsea but that is not what I am arguing against.

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I think Spurs are actually in quite a good spot in that they're bringing back a team that is young, but has experience playing together. Fill in a few of the holes and they should be in a good spot to challenge again next year.

Before worrying about filling in a few holes, first order of business is retaining who they have.
They are going to have to start by paying Kane what the market dictates he is worth and that is north of 200k. Alli will be looking for a significant raise also.

[d_phaneuf]

Alli just got a 5 and a half year deal in January

Kane will have a new contract soon it's already been reported, Eriksen as well

[d_phaneuf]

Also I just don't agree with the belief that no matter what happens these other clubs will suddenly return to former glory because of money because every PL side has money now, moreso than every club in Europe outside 3 maybe 4

Also the clubs that have struggled are doing so not just because of on the field issues but backroom issues as well, which don't look likely to be fixed

Chelsea are still going to fire managers on a whim, and SAF isn't walking through that door anymore at United

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Alli just got a 5 and a half year deal in January

Kane will have a new contract soon it's already been reported, Eriksen as well

Seriously?

You think Alli is going to want to stick around for 25k/week
And I've heard the reports of this new Kane contract. 70k/week is what I'm reading. You seriously think he's going to sign that when Lukaku is reportedly looking for 150k + When Sterling is earning 180k, Depay 90k?

This is my very point and part of Spurs problem. They need to start paying big wages or risk losing the big players.

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Also I just don't agree with the belief that no matter what happens these other clubs will suddenly return to former glory because of money because every PL side has money now, moreso than every club in Europe outside 3 maybe 4

Also the clubs that have struggled are doing so not just because of on the field issues but backroom issues as well, which don't look likely to be fixed

Chelsea are still going to fire managers on a whim, and SAF isn't walking through that door anymore at United

Agreed. But my point is that there is a teeny likelihood that they ALL will be as bad at the same time again.

Sure United probably won't win the title next year but I find it hard to believe that they will be anywhere near as terrible as this year. Same for Chelsea.

And your money argument applies to everyone. Gap remains the same. Rich can simply afford to pay more.

[Slava]

^ Sure those guys get paid more, but what if you also want to play CL football?

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ Sure those guys get paid more, but what if you also want to play CL football?

What do you think Harry Kane would prefer?

CL football with Spurs next year @ 70k/year or go to either City or United with no CL football next season for 200k/week knowing that the club will be throwing resources for CL football the following season.

Spurs need to start paying.

Besides, it's not as if he's guaranteed constant CL football at WHL.