General Premier League Thread 2020-21 - Mod Notes in 1st post. [Updated 17/12/20]

Gretas Gonna Get Ya! wrote: »

It must be infuriating being a man city fan, watching them pass the ball sideways for most of that match!

That's not intelligent football. Passing for the sake of it with little or no penetration - even when Leicester gave them opportunities to break forward quickly, they still usually chose to slow the game down and play the easy safe pass!

Rodri was a mis-step for them imo. Total crab.

Fernandinho is normally associated with putting the foot in, but when he was the pivot in 18/19 he actually played more penetrating passes between the lines than Rodri did as the pivot in 19/20, despite less touches overall. And he's now 35, so it's not like they can just slot him back in for 90 minutes every week.

Jamie Vardy.

Elite.

Doesn't get the credit he deserves.

ziggyman17 wrote: »

can the rules be changed mid season ?

They really shouldn't be, but I don't know if there's anything saying the can't.

I don't know if its Pep or something else at City but they have really struggled bleeding in replacements for the established names at the end of their careers.

Maybe i'm being harsh on some, but other than Laporte, none of the defenders they bought seem to have much confidence in themselves. Its almost like they don't believe they are good enough.

Same with Rodri, he should have established himself as Fernandinho's replacement by now, but he still seems to be trying to figure out where he fits in. And he seems very unsure of himself in that CDM role. Hence why 35 (will be 36 by the end of the season) Fernandinho is still required.

Another player that seemed to have gone backwards last year was Bernardo Silva. I thought he was set to replace David Silva last season, but instead he barely got in the starting 11.

I can't explain it properly and I'm not sure if it comes from Pep or if there is a lack of togetherness in the dressing room, but the whole squad bar a handful of players seems to lack confidence in themselves and the game they are playing. Its hard to believe its the same group by and large that got 100 points

Has there been a worse signing pound for pound in Premier League history than Benjamin Mendy? I'd probably considering him worse than the likes of Kepa, Carroll and Torres

StringerBell wrote: »

Been a few, yer man bakayako for Chelsea in the running

Drinkwater as well.

Plasandrunt wrote: »

Has there been a worse signing pound for pound in Premier League history than Benjamin Mendy? I'd probably considering him worse than the likes of Kepa, Carroll and Torres

Hard to know, Angelino looked useless in that side and is doing great as a wing back for Leipzig.

West Ham 3 up, I know they played well at Arsenal but this is poor by Wolves.

City were similar last season. They either hammered a team or when the other team got into a game with them, they drop points. Flat track bullies.

City had 72% Possession today. They got absolutely Leicestered.

FF gave the assist to Andy Carroll for the Newcastle goal, sign of things to come.

https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-reactions-funny-what-happens-if-you-type-in-bruno-fernandes-on-google-20200928

bad rep to have
this happened Salah and he couldn't win a penalty for 18 months

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Match of the Day had an interesting stat last night.
There were 8 penalties awarded in the first 30 games of last season. None for handball.
20 penalties awarded in the first 26 games this season. 6 for handball.

New directives this year, to bring EPL into line with the Laws about handball that are being used in Europe .

Still a sore point for me, but look back to the Champ League final - Pool Vs Spurs and the penalty awarded against Sissoko in that !
A ricochet hit his arm and it was given, in line with the European laws , but not the EPL laws being used.

We better get used to diplomacy ruling on Laws of the Game.
Whether they make sense or not.