English Premier League Thread 2015-2016

#26      

unimaroon

U
Baja Ontario
unimaroon
Opps, I forgot the :) in my post. So please assume this :) goes at the end of the comment, like this :).
 
#27      

IlliniDent

IlliniDent
Chicago, IL
IlliniDent
KBLEE said:
Spurs biggest issue last season was the back 4. Part of that was due to Walker being injured most of the year, which caused several guys to be played out of position. It remains to be seen whether Walker will ever be 100%, but he's at least playing. They brought in Trippier just in case and he's been shining in pre-season (had 2 assists yesterday vs. Milan). Also, they signed Toby Alderweireld, who is Vertonghen's CB partner on the Belgian national team.

If they can manage to sign Berahino and Werner (both are rumored to be very close) before the window closes, I wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a Champions League spot.
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Even those additions I dont think they have the right quality to take a top 4 spot. The top 4 are stacked and the next 3-4 spots are also stacked. Honestly could see spurs anywhere from 7th or 8th to 4th but that would be their max potential as of now and it would be a lot to oust one of the other 4 teams.
Top 4 will be a mix of arsenal, chelsea, man u, man city with the next 4 of liverpool, southampton, tottenham, and either everton or a surprise team (maybe West ham slips in here but its too hard to call right now)
 
#28      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
IlliniDent said:
Even those additions I dont think they have the right quality to take a top 4 spot. The top 4 are stacked and the next 3-4 spots are also stacked. Honestly could see spurs anywhere from 7th or 8th to 4th but that would be their max potential as of now and it would be a lot to oust one of the other 4 teams.
Top 4 will be a mix of arsenal, chelsea, man u, man city with the next 4 of liverpool, southampton, tottenham, and either everton or a surprise team (maybe West ham slips in here but its too hard to call right now)
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Tottenham finished last season in 5th, only 6 points out of 4th. They were closer to Arsenal in 3rd than Arsenal was to Chelsea in 1st.
 
#29      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
TV schedule for the opening weekend (all times central):

Saturday
6:45 AM, NBCSN: Manchester United vs. Spurs
9:00 AM, NBCSN: Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
9:00 AM, USA: Everton vs. Watford
11:30 AM, NBC: Chelsea vs. Swansea

Sunday
7:30 AM, NBCSN: Arsenal vs. West Ham
10:00 AM, NBCSN: Stoke City vs. Liverpool

Monday
2:00 PM, NBCSN: West Brom vs. Manchester City
 
#30      

unimaroon

U
Baja Ontario
unimaroon
A quick note - ATT/Uverse has the other 3 games on the ALT channels Sund v Leister (692) & CP v Norwich (693) @ 10 on Sat and Saints v Newcastle (692) at 10 on Sun
 
#31      

bdutts

bdutts
Houston, Texas
bdutts
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
TV schedule for the opening weekend (all times central):

Saturday
6:45 AM, NBCSN: Manchester United vs. Spurs
9:00 AM, NBCSN: Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa
9:00 AM, USA: Everton vs. Watford
11:30 AM, NBC: Chelsea vs. Swansea

Sunday
7:30 AM, NBCSN: Arsenal vs. West Ham
10:00 AM, NBCSN: Stoke City vs. Liverpool

Monday
2:00 PM, NBCSN: West Brom vs. Manchester City
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I'll have to see which games I will get but I think the US will get more games than I will in the UK.
 
#32      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
bdutts said:
I'll have to see which games I will get but I think the US will get more games than I will in the UK.
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Yeah - in the US every game is available. Most cable / satellite systems carry the overflow channels. And, if they don't, every game is available through the NBC Live Sports Extra app.
 
#33      

IlliniDent

IlliniDent
Chicago, IL
IlliniDent
KBLEE said:
Tottenham finished last season in 5th, only 6 points out of 4th. They were closer to Arsenal in 3rd than Arsenal was to Chelsea in 1st.
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Ok but they were 11 points from 3rd, 6 points off 4th, 4 points from 7th and 8 points from 8th. So if your logic is how close they were to 4th, they were even closer to 7th. Overall pretty much helps prove my point of the range they will probably be in. Yes they improved but so did everyone. Just have to see how well those players incorporate into the team.
 
#34      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
Not only are the top 4 stronger this year, but the mid table teams are pretty strong too. Swansea, Southampton, West Ham, and West Brom are doing good things. Plus Stoke, Crystal Palace, and Everton will be tough. That will make things really tight because as strong as the top 4 are, they will all drop points to those middle of the pack teams. I can't see there being any separation like last year.

And I'd watch out for Liverpool to take a Champions League spot from United or City. I think Benteke will be huge for them. He was dangerous on a West Ham team that didn't have any attacking punch. Imagine hat he could do with Coutinho, Sturridge, and Lallana feeding him ball after ball. Plus Clyne is a great buy.
 
#37      

bdutts

bdutts
Houston, Texas
bdutts
KBLEE said:
Yeah - in the US every game is available. Most cable / satellite systems carry the overflow channels. And, if they don't, every game is available through the NBC Live Sports Extra app.
Click to expand...

The way they televise sports here is strange. I don't think I have the option to purchase all of the games even if I wanted to. Not to mention, "local" teams are not always in TV. For example, all Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls and Hawks games are on TV in the Chicago area. Not all Aberdeen Scottish Premiership games are on. Not all Celtic or Ranger games are on either.
 
#39      

wettsten

wettsten
Chicago
wettsten
jrichisamazing said:
Not only are the top 4 stronger this year, but the mid table teams are pretty strong too. Swansea, Southampton, West Ham, and West Brom are doing good things. Plus Stoke, Crystal Palace, and Everton will be tough. That will make things really tight because as strong as the top 4 are, they will all drop points to those middle of the pack teams. I can't see there being any separation like last year.

And I'd watch out for Liverpool to take a Champions League spot from United or City. I think Benteke will be huge for them. He was dangerous on a West Ham team that didn't have any attacking punch. Imagine hat he could do with Coutinho, Sturridge, and Lallana feeding him ball after ball. Plus Clyne is a great buy.
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benteke played for aston villa. regardless, your point is still valid. at least they bought a proven premier league striker this time. balo was a bust.
 
#40      

wettsten

wettsten
Chicago
wettsten
love that tottenham scored the opening goal of the season...in the wrong net.
 
#41      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
wettsten said:
love that tottenham scored the opening goal of the season...in the wrong net.
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Yeah - well at least Spurs lost with a back-up goalie away at a team expected to be in the Top 4, and not at home with their new high-priced goalie against a mid-table team.
 
#42      

wettsten

wettsten
Chicago
wettsten
KBLEE said:
Yeah - well at least Spurs lost with a back-up goalie away at a team expected to be in the Top 4, and not at home with their new high-priced goalie against a mid-table team.
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excuses, excuses. it doesn't matter if you had the best goalie, it's hard to stop your own players from kicking the ball into your own net. :D

seriously though, we played terrible and did not deserve to win. two years ago, we lost the opener at home to aston villa 3-1 and then proceeded to top the table until january (at which point, our depth fell apart).
 
#43      

illinifaninaz

I
illinifaninaz
Watching Chelsea yesterday man all they do is whine and complain about every foul for or against. Diego Costa is the one especially throws his hands up. Not a fan of them at all. Was stunned to wake up to Arsenal losing to the Hammers. Being a Man City fan my hopes are very high this year. A top 3 finish is in my book!
 
#44      

unimaroon

U
Baja Ontario
unimaroon
At the 85' I was rationalizing a draw as a good showing at Stoke. Too many yellows, some apparent defensive lapses, and the attack seems overly deliberate (slow) but one beautiful long ranger from Coutinho and it's all good.
 
#45      

unimaroon

U
Baja Ontario
unimaroon
illinifaninaz said:
Watching Chelsea yesterday man all they do is whine and complain about every foul for or against. Diego Costa is the one especially throws his hands up. Not a fan of them at all. Was stunned to wake up to Arsenal losing to the Hammers. Being a Man City fan my hopes are very high this year. A top 3 finish is in my book!
Click to expand...

I have found it very easy to both dislike Chelsea generally and admire their skill specifically.
 
#46      

KBLEE

KBLEE
Montgomery, IL
KBLEE
illinifaninaz said:
Watching Chelsea yesterday man all they do is whine and complain about every foul for or against. Diego Costa is the one especially throws his hands up. Not a fan of them at all. Was stunned to wake up to Arsenal losing to the Hammers. Being a Man City fan my hopes are very high this year. A top 3 finish is in my book!
Click to expand...

Costa is one of the biggest douches in all of English football. He spends the entire match physically beating up on his opponent (often doing things that are yellow card worthy), and when one of them happens to look at him cross-eyed he flops on the ground as if he's been shot by a rifle.