5000-1 - The 2016/17 Premier League thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Liverpool have given Lovren a new 100k a week long term deal

Lol

[GSC]

All over at SB, Boro are relegated, Chelsea one win away from the title

[NickisBHAFC]

No sympathy for boro at all.

[GSC]

Karanka just as negative in the Champ as he was in the PL. Might regret selling Rhodes.

[lfc91]

Liverpool were just poor again on Sunday. Yet another example of a team deciding they only want a point before kick off and us being completely incapable of doing anything about it. Arsenal obviously done us a favour (although a draw would have been more ideal!). United clearly focusing on Europa league and who can blame them. Had this conversation last night with the GFs dad (Salford man), that I would far rather have the league cup and Europa League than finish 3rd or 4th. Also automatic entrance to the group stages where as if we manage to get 4th we will still have that potential banana skin!(Would be devastating if we got 4th then pulled an Everton).

On a related note, think if liverpool manage to get 76 points (not confident they will) it will be their 5th best points return in their premier league history (If I read the table right). Can't really argue with that for a first full season in charge with a relatively poor squad.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

No sympathy for boro at all.

Awful summer recruitment, awful tactics, awful leadership to not have anything lined up to replace the sacked manager, awful to watch. Just awful

[NickisBHAFC]

Indeed. I also didn't realise how bad there January signings were as well!

[Hammersmith harrier]

It's been a pretty awful season overall, whilst effective the new fashion of playing 3-5-2 doesn't result in particularly entertaining games.

[Guest]

Is Karanka given any credit for his attempt to keep his newly promoted side, Middlesbrough, in the Premiership?  It seems that his focus was to make Middlesbrough a difficult side to score against - and he seems to have succeeded with that.  But he didn't succeed in getting them to score sufficiently enough to move them away from the relegation zone.  Also the style of play didn't seem to enamour him to many of the fans - so he failed in that regard too.

My own view is that newly promoted teams should have a greater expectation that they could be a yo-yo club while they gain knowledge of the upper level, and while they build up infrastructure to help them maintain the upper level status.  A lot of this is down to the ownership - having the correct strategy and investment.  It is easier for a "bigger club" than a "smaller club" (in terms of support base) to do this and to keep it going.

[westisbest]

Bournemouth have done well in their first 2 seasons in the prem.
Think they could be a prem side for a while.

Well done to the cherries.

[GSC]

I think they need a big summer or they could be dragged further into it next year

[dyrewolfe]

Is Karanka given any credit for his attempt to keep his newly promoted side, Middlesbrough, in the Premiership?  It seems that his focus was to make Middlesbrough a difficult side to score against - and he seems to have succeeded with that.  But he didn't succeed in getting them to score sufficiently enough to move them away from the relegation zone.  Also the style of play didn't seem to enamour him to many of the fans - so he failed in that regard too.

My own view is that newly promoted teams should have a greater expectation that they could be a yo-yo club while they gain knowledge of the upper level, and while they build up infrastructure to help them maintain the upper level status.  A lot of this is down to the ownership - having the correct strategy and investment.  It is easier for a "bigger club" than a "smaller club" (in terms of support base) to do this and to keep it going.

Hard to argue with any of that.

Karanka certainly didn't do himself any favours with his style of play, making players perform in roles they weren't accustomed to and his general authoritarian approach...which is fine if you're winning, but less palatable when the club is clearly struggling.

However a lot of Boro fans are also wondering how much he had his hands tied. Getting promoted to the Premier League is supposedly worth in the region of £150 million, so why wasn't more of that made available to strengthen the squad?

Why did we have just 3 PL quality players in the first team, (Negredo, Ramirez and Valdes), along with a bunch of Championship standard journeymen?

Why did we continue to make free and loan signings and only spend over £10 million on one player (while also spending £7 million on a bloke who can run very fast and dribble a bit but not much else)?

How much say in Boro's transfer dealings did Karanka have (if any)?

Why did the chairman leave it so long to sack him, when it had been blatantly obvious all season that we weren't performing well enough to stay up?

Why did the chairman then replace him with the first team coach who had no previous managerial experience?

Boro still had a slim chance of staying up, despite the fact we had to play Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea in our last 10 games. Realistically, we had to beat Swansea, Hull, Burnley and Sunderland to stay up. We managed just one win out of those 4...


This season has been an unmitigated shambles, one way or another. I just hope the board has an actual plan of some sort for next season, because it seems pretty obvious to me they didn't have a clue this season.

[GSC]

Fifa investigating the Pogba deal after his agent reportedly pocketed 41m

[Fernando]

I wonder if Jose would walk away if ended up with a transfer ban

[GSC]

Issue would be with tbe agent I assume. Reportedly he ended up representing all 3 sides somehow

[compelling and rich]

yeah i heard a lot about pogbas agent during the deal. always thought it was strange that pogba wanted to leave juve and come back to us

[Dolphin Ziggler]

He was the talk of the deal, the whole thing seemed to be an argument about how much he'd get paid

[GSC]

$$$

Juve aren't poor but United are mega rich and desperate.

[Crimey]

More importantly, it comes the same day the ethics chief at FIFA was sacked, wonder why the investigation into Pogba deal was announced today....

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Antonio signed a new deal. Now if we keep Lanzini then life is fine

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Chelsea and Man United have Lukaku as top target. Another problem for Everton, as Koeman says Barkley must decide his future by the last game of the season, and if he doesn't sign a contract then he's sold.

Everton will have a lot of money to spend, but the more players you integrate, the harder things are

[GSC]

Chelsea make most sense once Costa heads to China I think. Big summer for Everton. Could tip either way based on the result

[Guest]

Chelsea and Man United have Lukaku as top target. Another problem for Everton, as Koeman says Barkley must decide his future by the last game of the season, and if he doesn't sign a contract then he's sold.

Everton will have a lot of money to spend, but the more players you integrate, the harder things are

It looks like Everton will be forced to sell Lukaku because he has been refusing to sign a new contract. Everton could negotiate a part exchange deal with Man Utd for Wayne Rooney - which I think they are interested in resigning. But Rooney will have to cut his wage demands - if he doesn't he will probably end up in China which will end his international playing days for certain.

[Guest]

Congrats to Chelsea and their fans. Happy for Conte.

[Guest]

Congrats, easily been the best & most consistent side this season.

Interesting to see how ruthless Conte is this summer, if he stays. Can't afford to stagnate + always the issue of motivation to regain, something that this squad didn't have last season. You'd imagine he's going to need upgrades on Moses, Cahill & finding Costa's replacement.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Mahrez penalty disallowed for double touch. Never happens, Man City completely off the hook

[GSC]

Mahrez penalty disallowed for double hitting the ball.

Don't see that everyday

[Guest]

The Leicester goal was a beauty. There's been some belters this season.

Yeah, great spot by the ref.

[GSC]

Swansea 2 up against Sunderland.

Over to you Hull

[Guest]

Hull are gone. They need all six points now, which they won't get. Swansea will probably beat WBA at home anyway. Can probably see Watford finishing 17th by next Sunday.

[Guest]

Hull have a dreadful away record - can't see them getting more than a draw away to Crystal Palace - which will effectively relegate them on goal difference.

[Guest]

I think if Paul Clement can stabilise Swansea for a couple of seasons then he'll surely be in the "Next England Manager" conversation. If he's not already, that is. The bar is not exactly high these days.

His coaching CV might be enough as it is.

[Guest]

To be fair Hull have done well to get this far in with a chance of survival.

Did anybody really give them a chance from the outset.

[GSC]

Their owner didnt

[GSC]

Arsenal take the lead over Stoke.

Suddenly Liverpool are under big pressure tomorrow if they hold it.

[GSC]

Crouch has done a hand of God

[Guest]

Arsenal hitting form at the end of the season as they always seem to do.  They are currently one point behind Liverpool and now equal on goal difference.  They have two home games - against Sunderland and Everton ... and wouldn't Everton supporters be happy to see Liverpool miss out on fourth place.  Liverpool have two matches to play - away to West Ham and home to Middlesbrough.  They should roll over Middlesbrough but West Ham away looks to be the crucial match.

[GSC]

Liverpool will have a fun time breaking down Boro

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Crouch has done a hand of God

Listening to David Pleat as co-commentator there's no way Crouch used his hand and on that basis maradona clearly used his head.

[GSC]

Finishing 4th would make this the most Arsenal season ever.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well, tomorrow we add Kouyate and Noble to the injured list, both out for the last games. Noble has been playing with a double-hernia for a few weeks, and now is off to surgery. Kouyate has had a wrist injury that he will now get surgery on. Intrigued to see the team, suspect it will be Fernandes and Nordtveit in their places. With no Ogbonna, Obiang, Kouyate, Noble, Antonio, Sakho or Carroll, we are really running on fumes.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Liverpool should still get 4th, but they've not exactly been great against the so called "lesser" teams this year...you would think a win tomorrow and that'll be it tho

[Guest]

Still a banana skin for Liverpool - who need nothing less than a win.

I'm starting to get that "write off" feeling. Again.

[GSC]

Palace 2 up now, Hull sinking towards the exit door

[GSC]

4-0 to Palace and it's all over for Hull

[GSC]

FT and Hull follow Boro right back into the 2nd tier.

[Guest]

It was a disastrous start for Hull, going 1-0 down after 3 minutes after an awful defensive mistake.  Crystal Palace allowed Hull all the possession (70%) and sat back (knowing a draw would be good for them) and played counter-attacking football.  The goal after 3 minute was a complete bonus for them.  They ended up winning 4-0 with two goals in the last five minutes.

Next questions for Hull - what is the owner going to do - is he still looking to sell the club?  I get the feeling that Hull could slide down the divisions if the ownership issues aren't resolved (and depending on the new owner if sold).   Also what is de Silva going to do?  He has show-cased his managerial talents in the Premiership with what looked to be a mission impossible - and should get good offers elsewhere in Europe if he decides to leave.

So out of Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull - who are best placed to return?  It seems to me that they all have ownership issues (Sunderland and Hull for certain - not sure about Middlesbrough) and / or managerial issues  (Moyes should be fine but needs to refind his mojo, Middlesbrough?, Hull will probably lose de Silva) .  Maybe Sunderland are potentially in the best position to bounce back depending on how the owner re-organises and invests.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

It was a disastrous start for Hull, going 1-0 down after 3 minutes after an awful defensive mistake.  Crystal Palace allowed Hull all the possession (70%) and sat back (knowing a draw would be good for them) and played counter-attacking football.  The goal after 3 minute was a complete bonus for them.  They ended up winning 4-0 with two goals in the last five minutes.

Next questions for Hull - what is the owner going to do - is he still looking to sell the club?  I get the feeling that Hull could slide down the divisions if the ownership issues aren't resolved (and depending on the new owner if sold).   Also what is de Silva going to do?  He has show-cased his managerial talents in the Premiership with what looked to be a mission impossible - and should get good offers elsewhere in Europe if he decides to leave.

So out of Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull - who are best placed to return?  It seems to me that they all have ownership issues (Sunderland and Hull for certain - not sure about Middlesbrough) and / or managerial issues  (Moyes should be fine but needs to refind his mojo, Middlesbrough?, Hull will probably lose de Silva) .  Maybe Sunderland are potentially in the best position to bounce back depending on how the owner re-organises and invests.

Sunderland are definitely not best placed to come straight back - they have a crap manager and a god awful squad (likely to lose their two best players in Defoe and Pickford) - barely any have championship experience. They weren't up for the fight in the PL, they definitely won't be up for the championship fight

[GSC]

Spurs immediately out doing West Ham in the "wankiest stadium farewell ceremony" by announcing Peter Crouch as a special guest.

[Crimey]

Great win yesterday and shows what we're missing with Sturridge's inability to stay fit.

[Beer]

West Ham were awful, wouldn't be crowing about how good Liverpool were.

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