5000-1 - The 2016/17 Premier League thread

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

The other thread is coming to an end and I think it's nice to have a new memory to take us through this year.

And with the new season starting today, what better time to refresh things and start again. The preamble of pre-season is over: 2016/17 LETS BE AVIN YA

[Ent]

Lol.

[Fernando]

Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool - Theo Walcott

Moreno so far up the pitch could of been in Spain.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Theo 1-0 #Mignoletsin

[Duty281]

Relief for (nearly) everyone who has taken advantage of BET365's generosity.

Tidy finish from gorgeous, gorgeous Theo.

[Duty281]

The awful standard of PL defending seems set to continue for another season.

[Ent]

Any half decent fullback could make themselves a lot of money over the next few seasons.

[Fernando]

It's why im always so happy to see Monreal on the team sheet, He might not the most exciting but he's always consistently solid

[Ent]

Some dive that.

[Fernando]

Wasn't quite as good as Rooney's earlier.

[Ent]

Mata's was the worst.

Great freekick.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

What a freekick Coutinho! 1-1

[Fernando]

Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool - Coutinho

Quality Free Kick

[Duty281]

Inch-perfect from Coutinho.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Lallana 2-1

[Duty281]

Liverpool starting to take the p!ss now, which is probably the greatest humiliation in football for an opposing side.

1-3.

[Ent]

Same old arsenal.

[Ent]

Should have been 4, not looking good for arsenal this.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Chambers lost at sea

[Duty281]

And now Aaron Ramsey hobbling off. Horrific opening day for Arsenal.

[Ent]

You could have predicted this though, only Sanchez and Cech are any use in this 11.

4-1.

Embarrassing.

[Ent]

That great full back Monreal doing a super job of protecting his flank.

[Duty281]

3-4.

This shucks, I had £50 on it finishing 3-3!

[Ent]

Xhaka could have had 2 yellows and he's only been on 25 minutes.

[Guest]

I've not got SKY at the minute. Did I miss anything?

[Crimey]

Good result.

Team was all over the place in first half, don't think Klopp can play Wjinaldum, Lallana and Henderson as a three, gives no protection to the back four. NEED to sign a new left back. Moreno isn't a lost cause but he's actually getting worse, think teams targeting him is affecting his confidence.

Coutinho turned the game around completely, he was fantastic. Unfortunate that he went down, was in for a hat-trick and feel like he would have been able to keep the performance going. Mane looked very good, his pace was much needed, really good goal and his general demeanour was great. Was impressed with Klavan as well, supposedly brought in as fourth choice, I think he'll probably end up being starting centre back by the end of the season. Wijanldum was disappointing, he's going to need a lot of work if he's going to play in centre midfield, not quick enough to react, passing wasn't good enough and didn't press as well as I expected.

Overall think we can be very pleased, Arsenal were the better team in the first half, but managed to come away with a draw and then in the second half took them apart. Obviously ended up taking foot off of the gas, but getting the win was the most important thing.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Mental game, two teams who couldnt defend, although I would be worried that one team had its first choice defence out.

Mane a perfect signing for Liverpool

[Ent]

Had coutinho not gone off it would have been a rout.

Arsenal need to get rid of wenger, cut the chaff from their squad and sign some good players.

[Crimey]

Mental game, two teams who couldnt defend, although I would be worried that one team had its first choice defence out.

Mane a perfect signing for Liverpool

Neither team had their first choice defence playing.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Matip may or may not be. One way or another, it was a weirdly unimpressive performance mixed in with some wonderful ones

[Ent]

Liverpool pretty close to theirs, no?

[Crimey]

I'd have thought it will take a little bit of time before first choice centre back pairing will be decided. If you'd asked at the end of last season, Sakho-Matip would be favourite, favourite now is probably Matip-Lovren, but Klavan has been giving a good account of himself and Sakho can't be discounted just because of pre-season shenanigans. 

I think Milner will likely be first choice left back going forward, make of that what you will, but that is what has been indicated. Sky seemed to think so too. 

The only person I'd say who is nailed on to start is Clyne. 

Arsenal had their first choice full backs today, just their fourth and fifth choice centre backs obviously.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Milner first choice left back?

What a time to be alive

[Crimey]

Milner first choice left back?

What a time to be alive

Unfortunately so. I'd have more confidence in him than Moreno at this point personally.

I'm hoping Liverpool will go all out and sign a new left back in the next two weeks but not holding out too much hope.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

May be the only positive of Cresswell being injured, Liverpool seemed to be sniffing around

[Mat]

Stick a centre half at left back, works for us.

[Crimey]

May be the only positive of Cresswell being injured, Liverpool seemed to be sniffing around

I'd love him.

I just want another Clyne, somebody solid who is confident going forward but knows not too push too hard. 

In my life-time Liverpool haven't had a solid left back, but have had quite a few good solid right backs. Riise was similar to Moreno and ended up being played a lot in midfield, Traore was a mess, Aurelio was good but injured, Enrique was a bit like Moreno. Compared to Finnan who was unbelievably consistent, Arbeloa who was really underrated and now Clyne. It's really frustrating.

[Crimey]

Stick a centre half at left back, works for us.

I'd agree and play Klavan there who has done in the past. Unfortunately Klopp's system heavily relies on the full backs to provide width.

[Crimey]

Xhaka is going to have a terrible disciplinary record by the end of this season I think, he came on and was hacking down everything he could see.

[Ent]

Was his debut, need to see what he's like when he gets up to match pace.

Could have been sent off though.

[Crimey]

He was sent off three times last year as well to be fair.

[GSC]

Xhaka routinely has one of the worst disciplinary records yearly so it's not really a bold prediction.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Arsenal need bite, and a player good at passing in between the lines from deep.

Mostly they need Lacazette (who got a hat trick this weekend)

[Ent]

They need a new manager and squad.

[GSC]

The squad part no. It needs additions badly and a few shipping out but it's certainly competitive enough in this PL.

The manager yes. I respect a lot of Wengers principles especially in contrast to the rest of the big sides in England's lack of them, but he has no idea how to build a title winning side in this PL era. Arsenal continually move laterally, any forward step will inevitably end in another backwards.

[Guest]

Managed to avoid the match yesterday whilst at the in-laws. Sat twitching like a cokehead dying to know what was going on so ended up watching the match at 9pm last night. Agree with the planet that Moreno needs to go, has learned absolutely nothing and does indeed appear to be getting worse. Was hoping Joe Gomez would have recovered sufficiently but then again the last thing I remember him doing was hacking down a Utd player to give away a penalty last year so maybe I shouldn't be wishing him a speedy recovery.

Thought we improved once Lallana started pushing forward and he, Henderson and Wijnaldum stopped getting in each other's way. Also thought Firmino grew into the game and had much more influence but he needs more big performances.

Mane was excellent, just hope he can be consistent. Looks good with the likes of him, Origi and of course Sturridge to rotate.

Cracking game, great result and hopefully a sign of things to come, but like I said to my wife, looks like Liverpool may be one of the few teams who need to score five to make sure of the victory.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If Wenger could just sacrifice about 10% of his pride and splash the cash on two signings, top notch centre back and a top notch forward, the Arsenal fans would get off his back a bit and he'd have a team capable of winning the league.

Fonte, who I keep seeing linked with Man United, would slot in lovely.

[GSC]

He needs some proven winners. He can't provide that mentality that title winners have so needs to buy in some that already have it.

[Ent]

Needs better players, they are t good enough - not a question of bottling it.

Also needs new physios or something, no coincidence arsenal have recurring injuries- they are doing something wrong.

[Crimey]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/e856bd5d-64ca-417f-aa0f-ff9d68c57c2d

[GSC]

It's amazing what a change of manager and mentality can do. Look at United post Fergie.

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