Premier League 2023/2024

[Styopa]

The difference in GD (-2 vs 16) is potentially worth another point too.

GD is often the really telling stat in the PL table. It shows you really just how far some clubs are from others.

Agree. The fact we’ve scored eighteen more than Man U, and conceded the same number, reveals a lot, especially when apparently we have all these big defensive problems under Ange’s system.

Also the fact they’ve lost nearly twice as many league matches as us this season.

I think the fact they are just one position below us masks some of the differences between where the clubs are at this moment. Our issues just feel so much more tractable than theirs. You can see where and how we can improve whereas it feels like they are drifting again.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Foden is ruining my FPL rank

 

[Styopa]

Seems to me that a lot of head coaches bring in their choice of backroom staff as well. So while there are other more important factors in the success of a club, the head coach is still a very important one.

City have huge money and have all the tools to dominate, but it's only under Pep that they have. Liverpool have had a lot of success in the cups but before Klopp we'd finished above them something like 8 in 9 times in the league.

Ange might not be getting us immediate overall improvement in results but the quality of the football and general feeling around the club is certainly a lot more optimistic than under the 3 managers that came before him.

Yeah Klopp and Pep helped transform their respective clubs. There are obviously other factors too but those two are clearly central to the success of those clubs during the last few seasons.

I think some Spurs fans have become cynical about the scope of impact a head coach can have since we thought we had hit the “cheat code” when we appointed Mourinho, and then Conte.

But in my time, appointing the right coach has often made a considerable difference: from Santini to Jol, from Ramos to Redknapp, from AVB to Pochettino. The change in coach was often marked by a sustained improvement in performance.

 

[spurs mental]

Foden is ruining my FPL rank

I sold him for Madders this week

 

[Marty]

 

[Misfit]

He's not from the Ajax machine to be fair.

I'd be pissed off if I was a United fan though. Sold the football Ajax played under him but now he's saying he didn't come to play that way.

Hidls Ajax team were genuinely fantastic and a lot of that was down to him but I am wondering if he is one of those coaches (like AVB) who struggles to keep principles and changes the minute there is pressure.

His teams played the Ajax way, stock full of Ajax academy grads. Many others like FDB was crap outside of that club's system too. Funnily enough, not many of those players have set the world alight since their Ajax days either. Maybe it was just lightening in a bottle which made a good group even better than the sum of its parts?

He did well at Utrecht I believe and his exploits in Europe singled him out at Ajax, and credit to him for that, but removed from the Dutch league or a domestic juggetnaut with a long history and strong identity and he looks lost.

As you suggest, he's clearly ditched any principles he might have had (at Utrecht for example) to keep his head above water. It's ugly to witness.

I was probably harsh on him, most managers aren't all time or revolutionary after all. Doesn't make him hot garbage but does show his limitations IMO. Especially as many expensive signings were made at his specific request.

 

[talkshowhost86]

His teams played the Ajax way, stock full of Ajax academy grads. Many others like FDB was crap outside of that club's system too. Funnily enough, not many of those players have set the world alight since their Ajax days either. Maybe it was just lightening in a bottle which made a good group even better than the sum of its parts?

He did well at Utrecht I believe and his exploits in Europe singled him out at Ajax, and credit to him for that, but removed from the Dutch league or a domestic juggetnaut with a long history and strong identity and he looks lost.

As you suggest, he's clearly ditched any principles he might have had (at Utrecht for example) to keep his head above water. It's ugly to witness.

I was probably harsh on him, most managers aren't all time or revolutionary after all. Doesn't make him hot garbage but does show his limitations IMO. Especially as many expensive signings were made at his specific request.

Good points

But also it might be that the Dutch league is just absolute pap

 

[Misfit]

Good points

But also it might be that the Dutch league is just absolute pap

Haha, straight to the point.

Certainly no guarantee of player success these days, why should managers/coaches be any different I guess.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Haha, straight to the point.

Certainly no guarantee of player success these days, why should managers/coaches be any different I guess.

Yeah I was being a bit facetious but being a good manager in the Dutch league really doesn't prove anything.

And obviously I'm aware that our current manager made his name in an even more ridiculous league

 

[g_harry]

Hopefully that howler sees Tierney reffing championship games from now on. Unacceptable from a so called top ref.

Yes but we have seen it before during Ferguson era whether it intended or not from ref, the constant pressure from managers ie Klopp - it pays off as they get the majority of decisions to go their way.

 

[spurs9]

His teams played the Ajax way, stock full of Ajax academy grads. Many others like FDB was crap outside of that club's system too. Funnily enough, not many of those players have set the world alight since their Ajax days either. Maybe it was just lightening in a bottle which made a good group even better than the sum of its parts?

He did well at Utrecht I believe and his exploits in Europe singled him out at Ajax, and credit to him for that, but removed from the Dutch league or a domestic juggetnaut with a long history and strong identity and he looks lost.

As you suggest, he's clearly ditched any principles he might have had (at Utrecht for example) to keep his head above water. It's ugly to witness.

I was probably harsh on him, most managers aren't all time or revolutionary after all. Doesn't make him hot garbage but does show his limitations IMO. Especially as many expensive signings were made at his specific request.

They didn't play "the Ajax way" under ETH. The Ajax way was a slow, patient build up possession style, 433 prior and he changed to a more direct, quick, transitional, high intense 4231 with much more off the ball movement. Pochettino was closer in style to AVB than ETH was to the recent Ajax before him.

 

[allatsea]

This is the thing for me. In the last 2 seasons Utd have spent very big on Hojlund, Mount, Onana, Antony, Casemiro and Martinez. £50m+ on each player. Aside from Mount, I've no idea, I'm firmly of the understanding these were all ETH's players of choice.

But despite that there is no sign of a playing style being developed.

Outside of hoping a star player emerges, I don't see where the hope is for Utd in getting to the top with the current setup.

What has happened to Mount ? Has he retired ?

 

[SlotBadger]

Nicolas Jackson is mightily cocky for someone so crap; shushing the Brentford fans

@Archibald&Crooks assuming your WTF rating was intentional, this is what I'm on about:

 

[Westmorlandspur]

I think Eric is gone at the end of the season. Ratcliffe has stolen a top exec from City, in the process of taking a top sporting director from Newcastle. Eric isn’t a top anything. Conte is available , now that would be fun.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

Yes but we have seen it before during Ferguson era whether it intended or not from ref, the constant pressure from managers ie Klopp - it pays off as they get the majority of decisions to go their way.

A similar thing happened in the first half. Except it was against Liverpool. No one bothered at the time. They are only bothering now because a goal was scored a full 2 minutes later . Forest had 2 opportunities to clear it.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

@Archibald&Crooks assuming your WTF rating was intentional

Accidental…….sorry

 

[Nerine]

@Archibald&Crooks assuming your WTF rating was intentional, this is what I'm on about:

View attachment 138381

Definitely one of the least self aware players this season.

Blinded by his own shitness.

 

[hughy]

Honestly don't know what the most painful option is for this evening, watching Sheffield United vs. Arsenal on my own, or watching the new Celebrity Big Brother with my wife.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Honestly don't know what the most painful option is for this evening, watching Sheffield United vs. Arsenal on my own, or watching the new Celebrity Big Brother with my wife.

Pub.

 

[hughy]

Pub.

Pub will have the football on, and my local is usually full of Gooners.

5-a-side starts again next Monday, shame it isn't a week sooner.