General Premier League Thread 2022-23 - mod note in OP 12/03/23

yourdeadwright · 14-11-2022 12:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872636#Comment_119872636

Konate has had 1 injury since he joined Liverpool , In the same time frame Varane has had 7 different reasons for missing out,

We will say 6 because Corna not really an injury ,

Decuc500 · 14-11-2022 01:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872361#Comment_119872361

They finished second, but like the rest of the league, were far behind City. I don't think any United fans expected them to be title challengers the next season, particularly with the manager at the time.

I'm not sure why you have mentioned Liverpool here? Maybe in the context that Klopp needed a few seasons to get it right and now so does Ten Hag. Or do you expect a new manager to get it right within 6 months? Do you expect United to be challengers this season with a new manager trying to build a new team? Completely different scenarios and stages of development between the two clubs.

pjohnson · 14-11-2022 01:23PM

Some things will just never add up for some. The ever moving goalposts arent generally known for improving math.

14-11-2022 01:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872361#Comment_119872361

It’s not that difficult really, they have had three very poor performance against Villa, Brentford and city letting in a combined 13 goals,

on the flip side they have conceded 7 in the other 11 games.

New manager, new defence, they have good games and bad games so it probably adds up quite well to be honest.

doc_17 · 14-11-2022 01:59PM

Martinez might be world class in some position, but it isn’t CB

jacool · 14-11-2022 02:56PM

So, back to the football.

Anyone agree with me that 3 of the top 4 places are already reserved - Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle?

The relegation battle this season will be massive - could be between 6-8 managerial casualties before that's resolved.

14-11-2022 03:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119872330#Comment_119872330

Ah now, United had finished second and proceeded to sign Ronaldo, Sancho and Varane. That was absolutely a situation where they expected to challenge for the league. Sancho is particular seems to have gotten off lightly in terms of media scrutiny (maybe United specific media is different).

~Rebel~ · 14-11-2022 03:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873229#Comment_119873229

Don't think I'd quite consider Newcastle as guaranteed top 4 just yet - would just have Man City and Arsenal as absolute dead certs. Still a lot of football to play, and might be interesting to see what happens if Newcastle hit a bump. Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to see them spend another 100+ million in January to cover any depth issues.

Decuc500 · 14-11-2022 03:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873229#Comment_119873229

Newcastle will drop out. They are still punching above their weight.

I would expect United and Liverpool to be the other two teams to finish in the top 4.

Azatadine · 14-11-2022 03:33PM

I'd put Utd ahead of Liverpool in terms of the 4th place. Could well be City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Utd.

Quazzie · 14-11-2022 03:47PM

I don't understand how anyone can write off Spurs for top 4. By their own fans admission they are playing absolutely sh1t, but they're still getting results. If the turn their form around at all they're a cert for top 4.

~Rebel~ · 14-11-2022 04:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873459#Comment_119873459

I didn't see anyone writing them off, but as you say it's their performances that would have people perhaps omit them from their top 4. It can go one of two ways, they start playing better, or, their results start matching their performances and they fall away. Sounds like there's a bit of unrest over there, and Conte isn't exactly the most affable fella when things go a bit wrong, so the latter maybe seems a bit more likely. They've gotten some very lucky calls in the league over the past while to rescue some of those points, but luck doesn't always last forever.

I could see Chelsea come into the reckoning after the gap too, as it gives Potter some time to work with the squad. He's very much a systems guy, so having some time on the training ground will be huge. Wouldn't be surprised to see them buy in January too, and likely in a more focused way than they went for last summer.

Necro · 14-11-2022 07:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873459#Comment_119873459

Wouldn't necessarily write them off given it's the best start to a league they've ever had but if Conte doesn't get another 100 mill or more chucked at him in January we might see him sulk and moan his way to the end of his contract which won't be good for their chances...

citytillidie · 14-11-2022 08:18PM

Game week 16 (Christmas Table)

Infoseeker1975 · 14-11-2022 08:44PM

Neither Utd nor Liverpool will win the league this year, that should be their goal rather then the excitement of top 4. There is a strong possibility that after this year, both City & Newcastle will be in the top 4 every year and then it becomes difficult. Will Newcastle spend 100M+ in January because of their unexpected current position.

Fitz* · 14-11-2022 08:59PM

I'd love to know what Ronaldo's train of thought was.

Hes being extremely unprofessional to his current club, and that's supposed to make a potential suitor pay millions to him so that he will play for them. But only play for them in his own style and be a passenger off of the ball, hampering the team.

Not exactly the best sales pitch.

theoneeyedman · 14-11-2022 09:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119874825#Comment_119874825

Pretty much worked the last time, when he went to United.

Most sensible people knew he was past his best, not suited to a top EPL side nowadays, and his character hasn't changed - he's always been an 'ego maniac', it's always been about him, and he only tolerated being in a team that was built around getting the best out of him individually. The only difference now is that he physically isn't at the level he's been at for the last 10 or 15 years, and the goals have dried up. The club and fans turned a blind eye eye when he was scoring regularly, but now he's not they want to drop him, and he hasn't the temperament to handle it.

doc_17 · 14-11-2022 10:27PM

Ronaldo sounded like Trump in parts that were released. “I’m not saying I’m better looking than he is, even though I am”.

What a joke of an interview. Saying Utd are only a commercial club these days and all their decisions are based on that…..eh, isn’t that why they signed you Ronaldo?

14-11-2022 11:14PM

The quip about Rooney is something you'd hear from a ten year old.

I'd be questionong his well being after that interview tbh. It was pretty weird.

Necro · 14-11-2022 11:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119874825#Comment_119874825

Chelsea will probably sign him. Tuchel was the only reason they didn't in the summer. Boehly will swing his billy big balls around especially if United sack him (unlikely). They're crazy enough and desperate enough to do it given their current form!

15-11-2022 08:57AM

Ronaldo should have just bit a player that would have been an easier way out than doing that interview and he would have kept his legend status.

yourdeadwright · 15-11-2022 09:38AM

All the botox has finally gone to Ronaldo's head,

Lots of people said how good it would be for the young lads to learn off him at United but Ronaldo has always been about Ronaldo end of story ,

Has there ever been a young forward who came good because he had Ronaldo at his club to learn off ?

The greats are the greats because they are so self obsessed & self driven ,

It's a sad way to see him go out, Without question one of the greatest to ever kick a ball

Drumpot · 15-11-2022 09:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119876118#Comment_119876118

It’s funny that some people are gobbling up his bullsh*t. So United didn’t support him and reacted badly to his family situation. The same United that gave Mata time off when he was having family issues. Ronaldo didn’t come to the pre season training camp and was “disrespected” by getting immediately into the starting lineup on match day one , does that suggest United were putting him under pressure for not going to pre season?

All the words out from all sources in the summer were that Ronaldo was pushing for a move away from the club long before pre season. In the athletic they talked about how United and Ronaldos representatives talked early summer, United were under the impression they were figuring things out amicably and barely an hour after one meeting Ronaldos side are leaking crap to the press that United weren’t even trying to manage the players concerns.

I mean , forget his awful form and other terrible attitude actions , He walks out on the team, ETH tries to smooth things over by making him vice captain. He has basically spit back anything the club or manager has done to try and massage that bruised ego of his and he’s talking absolute pony with regards to his grievances. There is some truths to things he says, but they are just smokescreens to try and validate his subjective sense of being wronged that doesn’t hold up under the most basic scrutiny.

There’s what Ronaldo says and personally thinks and there’s things we can all see that don’t really correlate with his PR stunt.

Lastly , Ronaldo is implying he’s not getting the respect he deserves, so he uses the sun newspaper and Piers Morgan to communicate that he deserves more respect

Agent Coulson · 15-11-2022 01:09PM

Some of the rags in the last hour going with Man U ready to spend £150m on Mbappe in January to replace Ronnie.

Get Ronnie's £500k a week off the payroll and they might just be able to afford Mbappe £1m a week he gets at PSG.

Drumpot · 15-11-2022 01:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119877103#Comment_119877103

Some of the rags.. Indeed.

Esse85 · 15-11-2022 01:51PM

The Ronaldo comment on looking better than Rooney is taken way out of context I think.

I think what Ronaldo means is that Rooney is jealous as it makes Ronaldo look better that he's still playing at a high level while Rooney has been finished for a number of years.

Whereas many people interpret the comment as Ronaldo saying he physically looks better than Rooney. Comparing the two looks wise, is night and day, beauty and the beast stuff, hence why I don't think that's what he was referring to at all.

rob316 · 15-11-2022 05:16PM

I hadn't seen the clips just the quotes, oh man the man needs a psychologist. In total denial that his career is wrapping up, he should know better than anyone there is no room for sentimentality in football.

doc_17 · 15-11-2022 09:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119877103#Comment_119877103

All in, Mbappe is on about €4m per week according to reports. No way any club other than a sports-washing club could afford him.

https://talksport.com/football/1227226/kylian-mbappe-paris-saint-germain-contract-wages-salary/amp/

Mitch Connor · 16-11-2022 04:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119879320#Comment_119879320

Yeah, I've no idea what United would brief or a paper would make it up. No chance of it happening.

United should be looking at Toney, and even then I reckon United would struggle to afford him

Fitz* · 16-11-2022 06:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119882309#Comment_119882309

While I do think there would be question marks about Toney making the step up, I do think that he can make the step up. He was playing League One in 2020 and should have been playing international football in 2022, such is his progression up the ranks. He has scored goals at all levels he has played at so far.

The main obstacle of him playing at the World Cup is that gambling charge, and that might also be his biggest obstacle to a big transfer. It could bring down his transfer fee.

I do like him as a player though. Think he has lots of good qualities.

EDIT: just on the betting charges. Sturridge was banned for 6 months for 2 bets. Trippier was banned for 10 games for giving his friends info and Barton was banned for 18 months after 35 bets. Toney placed 232 bets.

General Premier League Thread 2022-23 - mod note in OP 12/03/23

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