English Premier League Thread 2015-2016

jrichisamazing · Dec 9, 2015

Joel Goodson said:
Everyone hates Olivier! Sounds like a sitcom.

He's a 6' 4" monster (in a sport chock full of sub 6 footers) and he's pretty darn good. The real problem, is that he's not at the top of the pyramid (e.g., Neymar, Ronaldo, Bale, Aguero, Lewandowski, et al). And that's largely why fans hate him.

Agreed. His movement inside the box is about as good as it gets IMO. So many of Arsenal's goals come from him fading to the back post or darting toward the near post. If you have players who can get him the ball, he's going to succeed.

wettsten · Dec 9, 2015

Joel Goodson said:
Everyone hates Olivier! Sounds like a sitcom.

He's a 6' 4" monster (in a sport chock full of sub 6 footers) and he's pretty darn good. The real problem, is that he's not at the top of the pyramid (e.g., Neymar, Ronaldo, Bale, Aguero, Lewandowski, et al). And that's largely why fans hate him.

so many pundits and critics don't think he's the "world class" striker arsenal needs to win the title. you'd still have to go back to 2007 and his second professional year to find a time when he scored fewer than 10 goals. i personally like him. he does great at the hold-up, back-to-the-goal type of play which is different from our other options (walcott, welbeck). i was actually hoping he'd take that penalty today with his right boot in order to get the perfect hat-trick.

IlliniDent · Dec 9, 2015

wettsten said:
so many pundits and critics don't think he's the "world class" striker arsenal needs to win the title. you'd still have to go back to 2007 and his second professional year to find a time when he scored fewer than 10 goals. i personally like him. he does great at the hold-up, back-to-the-goal type of play which is different from our other options (walcott, welbeck). i was actually hoping he'd take that penalty today with his right boot in order to get the perfect hat-trick.

It goes down to the fact that Arsenal is spoiled by having some of the best strikers in the game at any point. We have now gone a few years without one and Giroud doesn't fit their mold either. The combo is that people don't have a lot of patience for him when he goes on a cold streak. Honestly tho, he is a critical piece but we do need another striker to bring on and change games or have a different look to be able to put out on the pitch.

IlliniFaninHoosierLand · Dec 9, 2015

Garry Monk sacked as Swansea manager. Team is currently sitting at 15th in the Premier League table, just a point ahead of the relegation zone.

TheFlyingIllini1317 · Dec 10, 2015

Rumors the Brodge may return to Wales too!

TheFlyingIllini1317 · Dec 10, 2015

Now it looks like he has bigger options lined up. For future reference anything I speculate is probably not going to happen

Joel Goodson · Dec 11, 2015

Chelsea v LC on Monday. Stoke v West Ham and Southampton v CP look to be the top matches. Can Newcastle keep it up? (I think not) Hoping for another Bournemouth win.

IlliniFaninHoosierLand · Dec 12, 2015

This weekend's Premier League schedule (all times Central):

Saturday
6:45 AM, NBCSN: Norwich vs. Everton
9:00 AM, NBCSN: Manchester City vs. Swansea
9:00 AM, USA: Crystal Palace vs. Southampton
11:30 AM, NBC: Bournemouth vs. Manchester United

Sunday
7:30 AM, NBCSN: Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
10:00 AM, NBCSN: Liverpool vs. West Brom

Monday
2:00 PM, NBCSN: Leicester vs. Chelsea

Joel Goodson · Dec 12, 2015

Swansea City! What a strike!

And Tuorre with the deflected dagger.

wettsten · Dec 12, 2015

Joel Goodson said:
Chelsea v LC on Monday. Stoke v West Ham and Southampton v CP look to be the top matches. Can Newcastle keep it up? (I think not) Hoping for another Bournemouth win.

bournemouth scores 2 minutes in! can manchester united figure out how to score? vardy could finish the season with more goals than man united.

TheFlyingIllini1317 · Dec 12, 2015

Up the Cherries! Gutsy performance by Harry Arter and a well deserved three points for Bournemouth. Also, the Palace game was thrilling and we are in fifth!

TheFlyingIllini1317 · Dec 12, 2015

edit: sixth place

wettsten · Dec 13, 2015

and gunners go top!

sounds like james wants out of real madrid and they want ozil back. nope, sorry.

Joel Goodson · Dec 14, 2015

Tough draw for the Gunners. Chelsea too. Great draw for City.

217sports · Dec 14, 2015

Gent v Wolfsburg
Roma v Real Madrid
PSG v Chelsea
Arsenal v Barcelona
Juventus v Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v Zenit
Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City

Champions league draw

I'll take Wolfsburg, Madrid, Chelsea, Barca, Bayern, Atletico, Benfica, ManCity

Joel Goodson · Dec 14, 2015

Fastest I've seen Costa get back up from a tackle.

Mahrez!

TheFlyingIllini1317 · Dec 14, 2015

My god that was a fantastic game

wettsten · Dec 17, 2015

secret agent fabregas's mission is successful: mourinho is gone.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34670192

wettsten · Dec 17, 2015

those blues fans still have a nice sense of humor about their dire situation:

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2015/12/16/10287758/how-chelsea-got-relegated-from-the-premier-league

Joel Goodson · Dec 17, 2015

What a flameout. Spectacular. I wonder if he'll gain some humility from this.

Will the Blues revert to their winning ways? I don't see an instant turnaround. Although with their immense warchest and new manager, they should upgrade the team a lot come January.

wettsten · Dec 17, 2015

Joel Goodson said:
What a flameout. Spectacular. I wonder if he'll gain some humility from this.

Will the Blues revert to their winning ways? I don't see an instant turnaround. Although with their immense warchest and new manager, they should upgrade the team a lot come January.

i suppose it's better for them to fire him now because roman wasn't going to let jose buy his way out of the situation in january.

Joel Goodson · Dec 17, 2015

wettsten said:
i suppose it's better for them to fire him now because roman wasn't going to let jose buy his way out of the situation in january.

He lost the team. Some of the players dropping off the table was predictable (in hindsight, anyway). But the younger guys? Disinterested. Disengaged. Joyless. Never seen such a rapid, complete decline in one season in any sport.

IlliniFaninHoosierLand · Dec 18, 2015

This weekend's Premier League schedule (all times Central):

Saturday
9:00 AM, NBCSN: Chelsea vs. Sunderland
9:00 AM, USA: Manchester United vs. Norwich
11:30 AM, NBC: Newcastle vs. Aston Villa

Sunday
7:30 AM, NBCSN: Watford vs. Liverpool
10:00 AM, NBCSN: Swansea vs. West Ham

Monday
2:00 PM, NBCSN: Arsenal vs. Manchester City

Joel Goodson · Dec 18, 2015

Best match of the weekend (Stoke v CP) is streamed @ 9 tomorrow.

Joel Goodson · Dec 19, 2015

Mourinho to ManU? Could happen.