2023/2024 English Premier League Thread

[Locke]

I'm just watching highlights now.

Bournemouth's 3rd goal? Not a single United player attacks the ball, not a single one even leaves their feet to attempt to attack that ball.

Not even 'Premier League Play of the Month.'

They all just stand around and watch.

[Slava]

They got rid of Rangnick, which was probably a mistake because he seemed like a guy who could right the ship.

[Locke]

So who wears United's Captain's armband against Liverpool? Since Bruno is going to be watching from home.

[d_phaneuf]

Harry maguire won player of the month?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

That was chore to sit through.

It has been a while since Arsenal managed a solid 90 minute performance this season. Flashes of brilliance in some games, but nowhere near the composure or intensity needed over the full 90.

Is odegard carrying an injury? Seems that creative spark he was providing has been missing most of the season

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I think there's matches like today where a quality finisher will come in and get a goal or 2. Arsenal controlled enough of this match to win it, probably by 2 or 3.

I think Jesus' atypical striker abilities are crucial to the way we build-up and defend. Finding a striker with those atypical skills and the typical clinical finishing skills is a difficult task. In the meantime, I think Arteta is comfortable using Jesus to get teams on the ropes and rely on scoring by committee with an all-out attack toward the end of matches if we're not winning.

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Is odegard carrying an injury? Seems that creative spark he was providing has been missing most of the season

He did have hip and concussion issues prior to the last international break. He looks close to full health now as, before the last round of internationals, he wasn't even getting opportunities like the two he missed last night.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Man City losing to Luton...

[Senator Clay Davis]

Dammit Luton.

[Slava]

Luton couldn’t hang on, but in a battle of FFP violators Everton came through!

[The Big Chill]

Everton are going to pass Chelsea soon, even with the deduction.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Needed those two Luton wins this week to make the Chelsea relegation dream a possibility again. But holy do Chelsea suck, you wonder how much rope Poch will actually get.

[AndyM]

Being a Chelsea fan is painful these days.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I feel bad for Luton getting zero points from the last 2 matches

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I feel bad for Luton getting zero points from the last 2 matches

They also gave up a last second equalizer to Liverpool just a couple weeks back. They are putting up a really good fight, but don’t have much to show for it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Harry maguire won player of the month?

He must have a good agent with a decent...'slush' fund.

Considering how many times McTominay hauled United's asses out of the fire? Maguire winning it is almost an insult.

[Locke]

And Liverpool are being ridiculous this season.

"Oh...you're up by 1 on us. Cool. Lets see how that works out for you..."

[d_phaneuf]

Happy for Richarlison

[Locke]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Happy for Richarlison

No love for Joelinton?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Addick

There is undoubtedly a significant lack of respect towards officials in this country. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that there is also an issue with the quality and, likely, integrity of officiating. We can't allow the former to be used as a screen for the latter.

Am curious - feel free to ignore if you'd rather not get into it - are you Charlton? I agree that the officiating is not good this season (and the VAR is a whole other issue I won't touch here), but I think that will always be the case in every sport that imperfect decisions will be made. The NHL is worse as far as the consistent application of the penalty rules, 2 minute minors are dramatically different from game to game.

If anything in the UK it is going to worse before it gets better because of the histrionics going on right now.

What high achieving kid with options in their right mind wants to be an official watching these people get crapped on, threatened with their families in airports, etc? The pool of capable people willing to do it is only going to go down in the next few years.

It's a part of sport, and it's not that you as a fan don't have a right to call it out and discuss it when a decision is wrong, that's part of the opera of sport for fans to do that and fun for some, but different when it's someone in the league, and the same two guys who are public figures every week they lose who are spewing bile and blaming the refs, it just gets to be too much, especially when their clubs have huge natural advantages over their competitors to begin with.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Am curious - feel free to ignore if you'd rather not get into it - are you Charlton? I agree that the officiating is not good this season (and the VAR is a whole other issue I won't touch here), but I think that will always be the case in every sport that imperfect decisions will be made. The NHL is worse as far as the consistent application of the penalty rules, 2 minute minors are dramatically different from game to game.

If anything in the UK it is going to worse before it gets better because of the histrionics going on right now.

What high achieving kid with options in their right mind wants to be an official watching these people get crapped on, threatened with their families in airports, etc? The pool of capable people willing to do it is only going to go down in the next few years.

It's a part of sport, and it's not that you as a fan don't have a right to call it out and discuss it when a decision is wrong, that's part of the opera of sport for fans to do that and fun for some, but different when it's someone in the league, and the same two guys who are public figures every week they lose who are spewing bile and blaming the refs, it just gets to be too much, especially when their clubs have huge natural advantages over their competitors to begin with.

Well the counterpoint, is that it doesn't have to be like this. Honestly, the PGMOL should enact a few things that would make enormous changes to how the relationship between officials, players and fans works:

1. Immediate yellow cards and ensuing red cards for harassment of the official after a call. They have to be hardline on this and it should be for players and managers alike. In rugby, disrespect of the officials is not tolerated and teams will be marched back 10m at a time for continually badgering a referee.

2. In line with the first, retroactive yellows and ensuring reds for diving. Rooting that out of the game will make life easier for the officials, and there's really no reason to let it fester and "trick" officials into these calls.

3. Transparency and openness in the VAR process. Just tell everyone what you're looking for and what you need help with. Have the VAR official and match officials have a quick conversation and move along. Stop reviewing every scoring play. Only have VAR intervene when the ref feels like they need the added eyes. Again, in rugby, the ref might ask for help in determining whether something is a penalty, or if a player touched the ball down. There's no reason that the ref couldn't ask for similar assistance.

By making things more transparent, and forcing respect of the officials, you could clean things up pretty fast.