2023/2024 English Premier League Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

Man City being an oil club caused Arsenal to choke? Fascinating theory, although short of force feeding them oil directly I really don't see it. Arsenal just had to do things like beat a relegated Southampton, beat a terrible Everton team, not drop two goal leads to West Ham and Liverpool etc...genuinely curious how that's Man City's fault.

[devo22]

interesting table after 15 games, feels pretty crowded up there. Not as crazy as 20/21, but still, 9 teams within 12 points feels closer than most years. Chelsea trailing the top 9 by 5 again is the funniest #### after spending a billion under Boehly already.

[Locke]

Lol @ Pedro Porro.

I am sorry, if you fire a free kick at the wall and it hits a guy in the bicep who has his arms at his side that is not 'handball.'

Oh Spurs...you had this one in the bag.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Man City being an oil club caused Arsenal to choke? Fascinating theory, although short of force feeding them oil directly I really don't see it. Arsenal just had to do things like beat a relegated Southampton, beat a terrible Everton team, not drop two goal leads to West Ham and Liverpool etc...genuinely curious how that's Man City's fault.

That isn’t City’s fault. But I never believed Arsenal had the legs to do it until the first half against Liverpool.

Arsenal had a terrible end to the season, but it was complemented by an incredible run by City.

And it is City’s fault that they can put that kind of run together as well as have the resources to win the Champions League without breaking sweat.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Man City being an oil club caused Arsenal to choke?

...

genuinely curious how that's Man City's fault.

Claiming a team has bottled-it/choked is almost nothing more than cheap banter these days. Nevertheless, City's state-backed dominance is nearly impossible to overcome. In order to do so, successful competitors need to be near perfect if City come close to their best. Last season, we simply didn't have the depth to be near perfect for an entire season.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Yeah the thing is if I replace Arsenal with Spurs, what are Arsenal fans saying? "Tough luck, overcoming the oil club is brutally difficult?" Or "LOL Bottleham, it's the history of the Tottenham!". I think we know the answer. Arsenal didn't exactly have a brutal run in, Man City applied the pressure and Arsenal folded, it is what it is.

[Locke]

Lets all just agree that West Ham's winning goal today was a thing of pure Spurs beauty.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Yeah the thing is if I replace Arsenal with Spurs, what are Arsenal fans saying? "Tough luck, overcoming the oil club is brutally difficult?" Or "LOL Bottleham, it's the history of the Tottenham!". I think we know the answer. Arsenal didn't exactly have a brutal run in, Man City applied the pressure and Arsenal folded, it is what it is.

Arsenal’s biggest lead over Man City was five points after 29 games. When they had that five point lead, one of the games was against each other. Which City won. Five points with three points for a win is hardly a lead of epic proportions.

As for what I’d say about Tottenham? I barely mention them at all.

In fact looking at what I’ve recently had to say about Spurs here, has been more about how stupidly pessimistic one of their supporters has been on this board and how hard done by they have been with injuries.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Yeah the thing is if I replace Arsenal with Spurs, what are Arsenal fans saying? "Tough luck, overcoming the oil club is brutally difficult?" Or "LOL Bottleham, it's the history of the Tottenham!". I think we know the answer. Arsenal didn't exactly have a brutal run in, Man City applied the pressure and Arsenal folded, it is what it is.

We lost Saliba and tried to hold on with Rob Holding holding the fort. Squad depth was weak & it went as expected.

We'd be saying the same thing Spurs fans are saying now; injuries to key players sure can suck.
We'd also be congratulating them for finishing 2nd; as that would tie their best season ever & be a huge accomplishment for them.

[Locke]

In case anyone hadnt heard, Liverpool have lost Joel Matip for the rest of the season with a ruptured ACL.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Locke

In case anyone hadnt heard, Liverpool have lost Joel Matip for the rest of the season with a ruptured ACL.

Is that a positive or negative? I feel I can never tell with him.

If it means more Joe Gomez probably not good, if it forces Liverpool to buy someone in January might help them to the title.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Yeah the thing is if I replace Arsenal with Spurs, what are Arsenal fans saying? "Tough luck, overcoming the oil club is brutally difficult?" Or "LOL Bottleham, it's the history of the Tottenham!". I think we know the answer. Arsenal didn't exactly have a brutal run in, Man City applied the pressure and Arsenal folded, it is what it is.

Am I laughing my head off at Spurs this evening? Yes.

Can I also empathise with their situation and understand their struggle? Yes.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Spurs

Is that a positive or negative? I feel I can never tell with him.

If it means more Joe Gomez probably not good, if it forces Liverpool to buy someone in January might help them to the title.

I'm a huge fan of Matip, as well as a big fan of Konate, but I would say its a negative.

I really like Matip, I'm always disappointed with how fragile he is though, Matip at his best is easily this team's 2nd best CB option and since his injury VVD has lost a step and cant cover as well as he used to. Although I think he's bounced back admirably.

Gomez is a coin toss. He can either be solid or a complete liability depending on the day. Look at the last match and he was essentially a lost player on the pitch.

Maybe they buy someone for cover, I dont know, I also dont know who is out there worth buying.

But unfortunately they may have to move on from Matip. It depends, not everyone bounces back from ACL injuries like VVD.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

We lost Saliba and tried to hold on with Rob Holding holding the fort. Squad depth was weak & it went as expected.

We'd be saying the same thing Spurs fans are saying now; injuries to key players sure can suck.
We'd also be congratulating them for finishing 2nd; as that would tie their best season ever & be a huge accomplishment for them.

Now you’re trying your hand at comedy? There’s a lot of Gunners fans who can’t wait to celebrate “St. Totteringhams Day” or whenever they call it (which is so incredibly lame, I can hardly believe it). There’s zero percent chance Arsenal fans are congratulating Tottenham for a good finish, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Rivalry is what makes sports great.

And I can’t wait for the annual crumble we’ll see from you guys. You needed 98 minutes to scrape a win against Luton. They’re horrible, and had you on the ropes! This might not be leading for 90% of the season and that epic collapse. Or maybe not having CL in the bag, only to fold up and lose the position us the year before. But you better believe it’s going to fun to the watch and enjoyable for us all!

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Slava

There’s zero percent chance Arsenal fans are congratulating Tottenham for a good finish, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Rivalry is what makes sports great.

One of the great things about sports is the possibility for harmless tribalism. However, I think being able to do things like acknowledge the accomplishments of rivals at the end of the day helps prevent harmless tribalism from descending into harmful tribalism. That being said, another great thing about sports is there are so many ways for different people to consume/enjoy it. Each to their own I guess.

[Barnet Flame]

A five point lead with a game against the best team in the world that walked their way to the ECL in the process, is not an ‘epic’ collapse.

It was disappointing for me personally at the time it was clear City would pass us, but on reflection, the surprising progress and the return of anticipating rather then dreading performances ahead of games, made last season one of the most enjoyable in my 40+ years following Arsenal.

[devo22]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1733090821015023873

he hasn't always done himself a favour, but it was still crazy how he was ridiculed and reduced to a meme online. Honestly happy for him.

Football is crazy. In hindsight, West Ham look like idiots for not increasing their bids for Maguire and McTominay ... and every United fan is happy they didn't. Wild.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Spurs

Is that a positive or negative? I feel I can never tell with him.

If it means more Joe Gomez probably not good, if it forces Liverpool to buy someone in January might help them to the title.

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool are unlikely to get another defender in January to replace Joël Matip after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in their 4-3 win over Fulham last weekend.

Despite his importance in the team, the Liverpool manager said it won't be easy to replace Matip in the January transfer window, as they don't live in a "wonderland."

"In eight years here, I just never understand this. You always talk about transfers as if they would be the easiest thing in the world," Klopp told reporters at a news conference on Friday.

"Just bring in a player, find the money for it, as if we have endless money. I really don't understand it. Everybody, you, the fans, everyone talks about it.

"They all cost money. It has to be the right player. Tell me a club who wants to sell a top, top centre-half who could play for Liverpool?

Matip's Liverpool contract also finishes at the end of the season, meaning he may have played his last game for the club depending on his recovery time.

But Klopp said there could be a possibility of a contract extension for Matip.

"I would say so but it's not my decision. I can't sign the papers," Klopp said.

"I'm pretty sure the club will show their class. We have to make decisions together with Joel. He deserves all the support and he will get it."

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/...-january-klopp

[Barnet Flame]

Liverpool living in the real world.

A world with finite resources.

[Slava]

What a farce. How far back did they go to review that?