The English Football Thread

[robsblubot 3,595]

9 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Emerson is playing as well I have ever seen him

Looks like he found his level.

Keeping an eye on Joao Pedro ... he was highly rated at Fluminense and Brazil U23 level. 

[TheHulk 2,679]

Remember Rice being wanked here last week, what a shite player.

[TheHulk 2,679]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Kudus is a beast at both ends

we missed a trick big time I fear

he is even playing as a CF in terms of hold up play at times

If we got him it would be instead of Palmer, so not much of a loss, if it was instead of Madueke or Mudryk would be great.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Good players have poor games. Every single player we've got has had a stinker since the beginning of the season.

Liverpool must be laughing right now.

Arsenal is still short of goal scorers; Gabriel Jesus ain't one and Martinelli's form dipped after the injury.

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by robsblubot

[Vesper 31,180]

lol

Rice with a pen on Emerson

game over

[Vesper 31,180]

4 minutes ago, TheHulk said:

If we got him it would be instead of Palmer, so not much of a loss, if it was instead of Madueke or Mudryk would be great.

I always have maintained we could have easily worked both into the team

look at what West Ham does with Kudus and Bowen

[Vesper 31,180]

I am sticking to my Citeh wins the league prediction

Pool pushing them hard for 2nd

[Vesper 31,180]

Alvarez has surprised me, how quickly he has adapted to the EPL

great buy for the Hammers

makes up A LOT for losing Rice

Edited December 28, 2023 by Vesper

[OneMoSalah 9,122]

1 hour ago, LAM09 said:

Ange's stubbornness is something else. Brighton could easily be up by double figures considering how easy it's been for them to bypass Spurs' defence. 

But again Spurs could have probably got the 4-4 or even won too the last 15-20 mins.

Considering the players they are missing, the commitment and results based off of the style and the performances with so called inferior players filling in positions they don’t usually play (Royal & Davies at CB in particular) and new younger players with next to no exposure at this level (Udogie and Sarr) has to be applauded lets be honest.

With a few more good additions, similarly like he did at Celtic in his first season in the January, they will get the results to justify playing that way, although you could already argue they have done that. Said it before when we were linked to him and also when Spurs appointed him, he will die by his philosophy but he will improve most players and their team as a whole - as he has done everywhere he has been from Australia to Japan to Scotland and now in England. It’s so clear they are better coached than we are and than Man United are. Irrespective of results - look at the style the patterns etc. Do you think anyone would achieve that by changing their beliefs? Is it really that stubborn? Did Pep change his philosophy that much after an unsuccessful first season? No. Did Klopp? No. Did Mourinho after he came back the second time round? No. 

Edited December 28, 2023 by OneMoSalah

[Vesper 31,180]

1 minute ago, OneMoSalah said:

Do you think anyone would achieve that by changing their beliefs? Is it really that stubborn? Did Pep change his philosophy that much after an unsuccessful first season? No. Did Klopp? No. Did Mourinho after he came back the second time round? No. 

valid points

[OneMoSalah 9,122]

Just now, Vesper said:

valid points

I think this is also why perhaps we have to keep Poch although results have been incredibly mixed/poor. But we haven’t seen any signs yet of what a Poch team usually is which is why I am dubious about how long he should get.

[Vesper 31,180]

12 minutes ago, robsblubot said:

Martinelli's form dipped after the injury.

off a cliff

he is a shadow atm

[Vesper 31,180]

1 minute ago, OneMoSalah said:

I think this is also why perhaps we have to keep Poch although results have been incredibly mixed/poor. But we haven’t seen any signs yet of what a Poch team usually is which is why I am dubious about how long he should get.

he enrages me playing a potentially WC (in a couple years) left footed CB (Colwill) at LB

drives me bonkers

[Vesper 31,180]

I want to see European teams put the foot down and ban players from trotting off to these fucking African cups (on shit pitches with poor support resources, and potential violence as well) midseason

[OneMoSalah 9,122]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

he enrages me playing a potentially WC (in a couple years) left footed CB (Colwill) at LB

drives me bonkers

Honestly feel he needs to take Colwill out of the team full stop for now as he has really struggled I think but he cannot as we have no fit LBs. 

When Cucurella and Ben are back, Levi should be dropped just to get a bit of a rest and also get himself right as he has been a mixed bag. Got the feeling Cucurella was turning a corner performance wise but still has more to offer.

[LAM09 7,100]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

that young Argie CF I included in my targets scored

Alejo Véliz

 

It was odd seeing him celebrate with such passion considering they were down by 4.

  

40 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

But again Spurs could have probably got the 4-4 or even won too the last 15-20 mins.

Considering the players they are missing, the commitment and results based off of the style and the performances with so called inferior players filling in positions they don’t usually play (Royal & Davies at CB in particular) and new younger players with next to no exposure at this level (Udogie and Sarr) has to be applauded lets be honest.

With a few more good additions, similarly like he did at Celtic in his first season in the January, they will get the results to justify playing that way, although you could already argue they have done that. Said it before when we were linked to him and also when Spurs appointed him, he will die by his philosophy but he will improve most players and their team as a whole - as he has done everywhere he has been from Australia to Japan to Scotland and now in England. It’s so clear they are better coached than we are and than Man United are. Irrespective of results - look at the style the patterns etc. Do you think anyone would achieve that by changing their beliefs? Is it really that stubborn? Did Pep change his philosophy that much after an unsuccessful first season? No. Did Klopp? No. Did Mourinho after he came back the second time round? No. 

I'm certainly not dismissing the work he's done so far with lesser players or players hampered by injuries. However, by the same token, he's showing naivety at this level by not changing his setup when it's clearly not working. There's a time to adapt rather than get wipped for ninety minutes.

The fact that you're comparing him to managers who won a fair bit before coming to the EPL is questionable in itself. What might work for the Socceroos or Celtic won't fly in the Premiership or CL.

Edited December 28, 2023 by LAM09

[LAM09 7,100]

44 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Honestly feel he needs to take Colwill out of the team full stop for now as he has really struggled I think but he cannot as we have no fit LBs. 

When Cucurella and Ben are back, Levi should be dropped just to get a bit of a rest and also get himself right as he has been a mixed bag. Got the feeling Cucurella was turning a corner performance wise but still has more to offer.

Is Maatsen not an LB by trade?

[robsblubot 3,595]

46 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Honestly feel he needs to take Colwill out of the team full stop for now as he has really struggled I think but he cannot as we have no fit LBs. 

When Cucurella and Ben are back, Levi should be dropped just to get a bit of a rest and also get himself right as he has been a mixed bag. Got the feeling Cucurella was turning a corner performance wise but still has more to offer.

Yeah I'm going to be the dissident opinion here: club above player always.

Until we find an adequate solution to LB Colwill it is. If Cuccu can put in decent performances, problem solved, but really not a whole lot else to do from the Manager's pov.

Edited December 28, 2023 by robsblubot

[robsblubot 3,595]

4 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

Is Maatsen not an LB by trade?

yes, but not by characteristics. It's not what the manager wants to balance the lack of defending up front, so what is he to do?

Not an opinion, but fact: between an attacking FB and a defender, Poch picks the defender. It's his prerogative. Chelsea hired him for his "way to play" not ours.

Edited December 28, 2023 by robsblubot

[LAM09 7,100]

Just now, robsblubot said:

yes, but not by characteristics. It's not what the manager wants to balance the lack of defending up front, so what is he to do?

I was going to comment on a recent post you made about him; he's a player that might have a future further up the pitch, but he certainly doesn't have the ability to defend at this level.

At some point, Poch is going to have to realise (if he remains) that we don't have the personnel to fit whatever he's looking forward AND get results.