2018/19 Premier League

[Senator Clay Davis]

Mustafi is amazingly awful.

[Senator Clay Davis]

LOL Arsenal were not giving up the banter title to United that easily. Does anyone want top four?

[Locke]

Its nice of Crystal Palace to cause problems for someone other than Liverpool for a change.

That being said, when was the last time the League had this many gaps?

Top 2 are far and away from 3-6 and it just drops from there.

And what is the lowest EPL point total? Because Huddersfield seem like they're after that record.

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's also gonna cost a ton of money for any of the 3-6 pack to get closer to the top two. And the worst part for the 3-6 pack is the top two are pretty young and will keep spending to keep up with the other.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

It's also gonna cost a ton of money for any of the 3-6 pack to get closer to the top two. And the worst part for the 3-6 pack is the top two are pretty young and will keep spending to keep up with the other.

Well, for most of them spending money isnt the problem, but getting those expensive pieces to play well together isnt as easy as just slapping them on the team sheet and calling it a day.

The title race continues.

[Slava]

I think Spurs are good enough to keep up with those top two though. Having an actual home stadium is important and provides a boost for sure. Of course they need to spend, but I feel like that gap between Spurs and City/Liverpool isn’t that enormous gulf of points.

But the fact is those two and United will spend a crazy amount of money this summer. The solution is always more money and that’s not likely to change.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think Spurs are good enough to keep up with those top two though. Having an actual home stadium is important and provides a boost for sure. Of course they need to spend, but I feel like that gap between Spurs and City/Liverpool isn’t that enormous gulf of points.

But the fact is those two and United will spend a crazy amount of money this summer. The solution is always more money and that’s not likely to change.

No. You are objectively incorrect.

Spurs' problem hasnt been the lack of a home stadium although it has been fun watching you guys be the EPL's Hobos just bumming around from place to place, eating other people's food, begging for spare change and engaging in manslaughter in the hopes of a cheese sandwich reward.

As entertaining as all of that has been however, the real issue is that Spurs dont have the depth.

Thats not really a scathing indictment on them though, most teams dont have the depth required to compete in all competitions. Its expensive and difficult.

The only team that really has that degree of depth is City and they've been competing on all fronts until just recently and even then its been a stretch for them.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

No. You are objectively incorrect.

Spurs' problem hasnt been the lack of a home stadium although it has been fun watching you guys be the EPL's Hobos just bumming around from place to place, eating other people's food, begging for spare change and engaging in manslaughter in the hopes of a cheese sandwich reward.

As entertaining as all of that has been however, the real issue is that Spurs dont have the depth.

Thats not really a scathing indictment on them though, most teams dont have the depth required to compete in all competitions. Its expensive and difficult.

The only team that really has that degree of depth is City and they've been competing on all fronts until just recently and even then its been a stretch for them.

Spurs might not have the depth, but the stadium has been an issue in that front as well. Everyone knew they weren’t spending with the stadium, so that obviously didn’t help. But I do think that Wembley was brutal. The atmosphere was non-existent and that does impact players.

Depth is a problem for all of the PL teams though. Competing in Europe (which fans expect), along with the FA Cup, League Cup and more likely than not a pile of international games thrown in just wears down these teams. Look no further than the semi finals that we’re facing now. You have meaningful games in the PL and then tough matches midweek for the semi-finals. But my point is, unless you have the backing of a country, having a healthy squad that can compete across four competitions through the season is just about impossible.

And of course Spurs bought no one, which is basically insane, but it’s hard to see how 2-3 players bought in the last couple windows make things that much better. I mean we lost Kane and Alli for weeks and replacing top end players from your bench is not easy. Not many upper echelon players are willing to sit on the bench week in and week out until they get a shot.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

Spurs might not have the depth, but the stadium has been an issue in that front as well. Everyone knew they weren’t spending with the stadium, so that obviously didn’t help. But I do think that Wembley was brutal. The atmosphere was non-existent and that does impact players.

Depth is a problem for all of the PL teams though. Competing in Europe (which fans expect), along with the FA Cup, League Cup and more likely than not a pile of international games thrown in just wears down these teams. Look no further than the semi finals that we’re facing now. You have meaningful games in the PL and then tough matches midweek for the semi-finals. But my point is, unless you have the backing of a country, having a healthy squad that can compete across four competitions through the season is just about impossible.

And of course Spurs bought no one, which is basically insane, but it’s hard to see how 2-3 players bought in the last couple windows make things that much better. I mean we lost Kane and Alli for weeks and replacing top end players from your bench is not easy. Not many upper echelon players are willing to sit on the bench week in and week out until they get a shot.

Thats why you need a good Manager and not a Diving coach.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats why you need a good Manager and not a Diving coach.

Given that Salah goes down easier than a cheap hooker, I can only assume you think Klopp needs replacing.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

LOL Arsenal were not giving up the banter title to United that easily. Does anyone want top four?

Ya very good week for spurs, this was the week that was expected to lose ground on arsenal and chelsea for sure, united was a toss up

But to still be 3rd, have the best gd so likely win any tie breakers, and have the easiest run in imo, worked out surprisingly so well that something wrong is surely coming

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

No. You are objectively incorrect.

Spurs' problem hasnt been the lack of a home stadium although it has been fun watching you guys be the EPL's Hobos just bumming around from place to place, eating other people's food, begging for spare change and engaging in manslaughter in the hopes of a cheese sandwich reward.

As entertaining as all of that has been however, the real issue is that Spurs dont have the depth.

Thats not really a scathing indictment on them though, most teams dont have the depth required to compete in all competitions. Its expensive and difficult.

The only team that really has that degree of depth is City and they've been competing on all fronts until just recently and even then its been a stretch for them.

Ya depth is the big issue, they need to spend this summer to have a chance to keep up with top 2, first xi I would say they are pretty close, which is why the one offs or over two legs vs man city are even games imo

But no depth is the reason why, and unless they add a forward, and at least 2 central midfielders, and a rb may be tight with them again into the new year, but after will likely fade

On top of replacing any outs of say the starting xi and core 4 or 5 subs

City have 2 teams plus 4 or 5 extras

[d_phaneuf]

So for top 4, since everyone is at 34gp right now

Vegas odds have spurs as -700 to make it, chelsea and arsenal both even money, united +500

Spurs and arsenal have easiest run ins imo, all but united have two semi final legs starting week of the 29th so no big advantage there. The league was nice enough to move spurs game vs bournemouth up 2 days so they get 3 days rest, not cancel the whole week of games nice.... but we cant all be in the eredivisie

Spurs have

Brighton
West ham
Bournemouth away
Everton

Arsenal have

Wolves away
Leicester away
Brighton
Burnley away

Chelsea have

Burnley
United away
Watford
Leicester away

United have

City
Chelsea
At huddersfield
Cardiff

[d_phaneuf]

United have it tough, they need to either beat city or chelsea, win the other 2 and even then hope, since that gets them to 73 or 74 if they can get 4 points this week somehow, if they lose both they are toast

Arsenal schedule looks favorable on the teams, but just look at today, and also 3 away games is tough, they have 6 wins in 16 away games and a -1 GD

Chelsea have Burnley as the one should be clear win, watford and Leicester both still have Europe to play for, and the united game will be fascinating, they cant really play for a draw, that result screws both teams

I do think it's coming down to that last sunday, which should be great, both the title, top 4, and maybe even relegation if cardiff can gain a point on brighton in the next 3 games

[Bagor]

Yeah, United are effed. Even if they get 9/12 that only gives them 73 which isn't getting them past Spurs.

Their only hope is beating Chelsea and hoping they drop more points and Arsenal lose two of their last four.

Also no hope of 5th place working for them as should either Liverpool or Spus win the CL AND finish in the top four or Arsenal and Chelsea win the EL AND finish in the top four, England doesn't get an extra place.

Only way they get five spots is if the CL and/or the EL winner finishes outside the top four.

Austrian champions are the winners if an English team wins the CL and finishes top four as they get the last automatic group place.

French are the winners is an English team wins the EL and finishes in the top four with their third placed team getting an automatic group spot.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47806720/comments

[devo22]

nobody wants to make top 4, it seems.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

nobody wants to make top 4, it seems.

Its a shame about the points gaps though because it would be nice to see some new teams get into the Euro spots.

[nixon45]

Hudson-Odoi done for the season with a ruptured Achilles.

####

[devo22]

lol

https://twitter.com/user/status/1120762167740063750

[Locke]

Are United going to do us a solid today or are they going to get their asses handed to them by their City Rivals?