2015/2016 Barclays Premier League Thread

[Slava]

I guess this will be more for the 2016-2017 thread, but Burnley, Middlesborough and Hull City get promoted for next season.

[devo22]

have to feel for Brighton & Hove. Missed automatic promotion because of a slightly worse goal differential than Middlesbrough, then lost four (!!!) players to injury in the first 50 minutes of their first playoff game. Would have prefered them (or Sheffield) to a team like Hull which seem to go up, down, up, down ...

[devo22]

new long-term contracts for Rashford and Borthwick-Jackson, according to the Telegraph. Rejoice!

Marcus Rashford, England’s newest teenage sensation, has signed a lucrative new, long-term contract with Manchester United, Telegraph Sport understands.

In another boost for United fans excited by Jose Mourinho’s appointment as manager on Friday, United are expected to announce before the Euros start on June 10 that Rashford has signed a new deal following weeks of negotiations between the club and the player’s representatives. The exact detail of Rashford's contract is unclear but it is thought he has agreed at least a four-year deal that will led to a dramatic increase in his wages.

Defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, another youngster to have broken into the first team this season, is also on the verge of signing of new contract.

[devo22]

Another German goalkeeper: Leicester City have triggered Ron-Robert Zielers release clause (only €4m). Will be interesting to see what Schmeichels plans are, I just don't think Zieler will go to Leicester just to sit on the bench. Especially since German teams like Hertha, Mainz or Leipzig could have used a guy like him.

Probably 3 United academy graduates in Leicesters first XI next season - Zieler, Simpson and Drinkwater. And they also have Matty James.

[devo22]

Both AS and Marca report that Monchi, Sevillas director of football, will leave Sevilla this summer and probably team up with Mourinho at United. Would be extremely interesting to see what Monchi could do at a big club with a lot of money, given that he worked wonders at Sevilla in terms of scouting and finding hidden gems.

Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo is running through the team written on the paper in front of him, smoke rising slowly from the cigarette in his right hand, a Coke bottle on the table. Andrés Palop in goal; a back four of Dani Alves, Federico Fazio, Martin Cáceres and Adriano; Ivan Rakitic, Júlio Baptista, Seydou Keita and Christian Poulsen in midfield; Luís Fabiano and Carlos Bacca up front. All men he signed, for little over €25m (£23.5m). All men he sold too, for around €170m. Then there’s Sergio Ramos, Jesús Navas, Alberto Moreno, Luis Alberto and José Antonio Reyes: players he didn’t need to buy but did need to sell, youth products who raised almost €100m.

In his office is a photograph in which he stands alongside Diego Maradona with whom he became close even though he says he was pretty much the least important person at Sevilla in 1992, “the last monkey: a 23-year-old sub goalkeeper”. These days he’s pretty much the most important person at Sevilla. This morning he has mundane tasks to attend to – the logistics of players’ luggage for Basel – but the man they call Monchi is the sporting director and the architect who transformed the club.

When Monchi took over in 2000, Sevilla faced a financial crisis and had just been relegated. Sixteen years on, they play Liverpool in the Europa League final seeking their third title in a row, their fifth in a decade. Four days later they play Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. Fourteen finals in 10 years while making the profit their model demands, selling players such as Baptista for a €24m profit or making €17.5m on Rakitic. Until Monchi arrived they had won four trophies ever, none in 52 years and success is what most satisfies: Monchi’s personal perfect XI would include Fredi Kanouté, who made them no money but scored in five finals.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...a-league-final

[afc wimbledon]

AFC Wimbledon promoted to first Division, that's six promotions in 14 years, that's league play against Minton Keynes next year

Bring on the weasel #######s!!!

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

Both AS and Marca report that Monchi, Sevillas director of football, will leave Sevilla this summer and probably team up with Mourinho at United. Would be extremely interesting to see what Monchi could do at a big club with a lot of money, given that he worked wonders at Sevilla in terms of scouting and finding hidden gems.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...a-league-final

Read United won't do a director and instead leave that responsibility with Jose.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon promoted to first Division, that's six promotions in 14 years, that's league play against Minton Keynes next year

Bring on the weasel #######s!!!

If my parent hadn't left England, the original Dons would have been my local. Can only imagine what I would have been feeling this week.

[cam_wmh]

Oh you have got to me kidding me.

Gundogan is going to City for £20m.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36430721

Woodford? Jose? If he recovers fully from his kneecap dislocation, which he should, this is a sound purchase.

[devo22]

lol dude relax. That guy is always injured. He'll get hammered in England.

[SuperMatt18]

Oh look Guardiola buying another central midfielder as his top priority.

Not like the backline was City's biggest problem this season or anything.

United should have been in on this one for that price though - has injury issues in the past but the cost shows that a little. Would have actually filled a need for that team.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Oh look Guardiola buying another central midfielder.

Not like the backline was City's biggest problem this season or anything.

well they are also buying Aymeric Laporte. Who, like Gündogan, is recovering from a serious injury (broken leg). But that one could turn out great for them, seems like a typical Guardiola CB and has been great in La Liga. But then again everybody thought Mangala and Otamendi would be great too ...

[cam_wmh]

Toure was awful last season, and Gundogan is an upgrade.

[Locke]

No worries, Pep will play Gundogan as a CB and move Kompany into Midfield.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Toure was awful last season, and Gundogan is an upgrade.

he is. Gündogan is potentially world-class, but he's suffered quite a few back and knee injuries already in his career and is generally extremely injury-prone. If he can stay healthy then this is a great piece of business, but honestly, that's a colossal IF. I'm not worried about him going to City at all.

hate the rumour though that they are after John Stones and Leroy Sane too. Seeing those amazing talents end up at City would really piss me off.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

he is. Gündogan is potentially world-class, but he's suffered quite a few back and knee injuries already in his career and is generally extremely injury-prone. If he can stay healthy then this is a great piece of business, but honestly, that's a colossal IF. I'm not worried about him going to City at all.

hate the rumour though that they are after John Stones and Leroy Sane too. Seeing those amazing talents end up at City would really piss me off.

That would piss me off. Stones? I'm not sold on Stones yet.

[cam_wmh]

So the "always injured" puzzled me, as I only recall a serious injury once which caused him to miss most of his 2013 season with back problems.

With that single season removed, he still averages 38 games a season.
Last 5, of 35, 45, 3*, 33 & most recently 40 games played.

Little knocks occur, we should know with Schwein, Schneid, and Carrick. I imagine he'll be fit for mid-November, and he can still get in 30 games.

Like I said, an excellent piece of business, with not a big, albeit "colossal" risk.

[devo22]

and still, between missing a full season (13/14) because of his back problems and being out for half a year with a knee injury (end of 15/16), he still missed 18 additional games because of different ailments (adductor, hamstring, foot, ankle, shin bone). Look, there's a chance he stays healthy in England and flourishes under Guardiola, then my comments will look really silly. But given his injury record and the physicality of the league, I'm not too worried.

Pretty sure United will buy another CM this summer too. If they can get someone like Miralem Pjanic, I couldn't care less about Gündogan going to City. Will probably spend a ####load on a Mendes client like Andre Gomes though instead to keep him happy.

[d_phaneuf]

Laporte is excellent, will be world class

[devo22]

looks like Ronald Koeman is about to leave Southampton and become Evertons new manager. Money talks I guess.