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EPL Prediction time

Not a fan of either team, but the match between Man City and Tottenham up in Manchester has been one heck of a game to watch. 2-2 at 70 minutes.

and then VAR (or more accurately VAR in combination with a reinvention of the accidental handball rule) ruined a MC goal in the 92' that wiped out a go ahead 3rd goal.

This clinical use of VAR acting on things not initially observed by the officials and not correcting a blatant error is maddening.
 
Could prove to be a massive point for Tottenham when all is said and done. They didn't deserve one but I'll take it
 
and then VAR (or more accurately VAR in combination with a reinvention of the accidental handball rule) ruined a MC goal in the 92' that wiped out a go ahead 3rd goal.

This clinical use of VAR acting on things not initially observed by the officials and not correcting a blatant error is maddening.

I missed it initially, too, and I don't fault the referee and linesmen for missing it either. There was a lot of traffic in the middle of the box.

As a defender, I actually like the new rule as it evens the playing field. On defense, we've always been taught when in the box to keep our arms as close to our body as possible because any contact off an arm that is not on a natural position, i.e. being used for balance or protection, is still a PK even if it was an accident. Basically, this is enforcing the same rule on the offensive players in the box. Of course, I maybe a bit biased, LOL.
 
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Ok. Pulisic starting. Do us proud. :D
 
Chelsea is going to have a tough year. Forget about top 4, they may not finish top half of the table. Other than their frenetic opening 15 minutes where they dominated (and only scored off of a sloppy play from LC, and credit to Mason for the hustle) they were checked and managed the bulk of the better right the ship @ Norwich next week.
 
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Either Leicester is good or Chelsea is a dumpster fire in the making. Pulisic spent more time on the ground than on his feet in the 2nd half
 
Either Leicester is good or Chelsea is a dumpster fire in the making. Pulisic spent more time on the ground than on his feet in the 2nd half

Chelsea looks like they might be a dumpster fire.
 
and then VAR (or more accurately VAR in combination with a reinvention of the accidental handball rule) ruined a MC goal in the 92' that wiped out a go ahead 3rd goal.

This clinical use of VAR acting on things not initially observed by the officials and not correcting a blatant error is maddening.
Well can't blame VAR. They are going to review all goals. And VAR got this correct, did exactly what it was supposed to. The change in the law did exactly what it was intended to also. The idea was to get rid of the gaining an advantage from even an inadvertent handling. People have been complaining about that forever. FIBA fixed it, at least for advantages that lead directly to goals.

I think this goes into the "be careful what you ask for" basket.
 
The sample size is small; but, I see Man U and Liverpool far ahead of the rest. Tottenham will be in in between the top 2 and the rest if they keep Eriksen. If the Dane bolts, they will join Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man U as 'big' teams with glaring holes. I can easily see a team(s) like Everton, Leichester City and Wolverhampton pushing their way into the top 6 this season.
 
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I should have put $100 down in Norwich beating Man City, who am I kidding, just crazy...
 
But we already knew that
Maybe, maybe, it'll get better when Holding, Bellerin and Tierney get back. Hoping anyway, 3 should be starters will improve the defense. :confused:
 
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1. Man City
2. Spurs
3. Liverpool
4. Man U
4.5 Wolves
How is Trippier playing for Atleti?

Still don't understand why Spurs sold him. Aurier and/or Walker-Peters are really going to have to get better.
 
Could not watch any games this weekend; but, in reading the recaps -
  • Man U is sinking fast
  • One way of the other, Tottenham needs to settle the Erikson saga soon
  • Whatever Pep said to Man City this week in practice really worked, poor Watford
  • Chelsea is also struggling as I am not sure what identity Lampard is going for
  • Liverpool has proven it can win big games even when they don't play well
  • Arsenal's offense will not be able to bail-out their defense every game; but, did today.
 
Tottenham needs to settle the Toby/Jan/Eriksen thing now.

I saw Leicester-Tottenham play live last year and I was blown away by Leicester's team speed. Not that speed alone is an indication of performance, but they have athletes all over the field, and guys who are getting run in under-X & Sr. national team duty. Not the biggest surprise this early. Wolves are my biggest surprise
 
Tottenham needs to settle the Toby/Jan/Eriksen thing now.

I saw Leicester-Tottenham play live last year and I was blown away by Leicester's team speed. Not that speed alone is an indication of performance, but they have athletes all over the field, and guys who are getting run in under-X & Sr. national team duty. Not the biggest surprise this early. Wolves are my biggest surprise
Spurs will need to replace all three and Pochetino next season. Poch will either be on the sidelines in Madrid, Barcelona, or Manchester next season, bank on it.
 
Could not watch any games this weekend; but, in reading the recaps -
  • Man U is sinking fast
  • One way of the other, Tottenham needs to settle the Erikson saga soon
  • Whatever Pep said to Man City this week in practice really worked, poor Watford
  • Chelsea is also struggling as I am not sure what identity Lampard is going for
  • Liverpool has proven it can win big games even when they don't play well
  • Arsenal's offense will not be able to bail-out their defense every game; but, did today.
- Agree on point 1
- Eriksen is not returning, but I don’t get why Poch isn’t getting as much out of him as possible while he’s still there. Spurs will sort their stuff out, but wow are they frustrating to root for.
- City played angry. Pep needs to play DeBruyne, period. He is the best player in the Premiere League, and maybe the world right now.
- agree 100% on Lampard. He’ll get a pass this season due to transfer ban, but a very short leash next season. Pulisic is in a tough spot. Mount played for Lampard at Derby, and is off to a nice start. Could be a tough year for CP.
- Liverpool can make room in the trophy case now. Barring mass injuries, no one is touching them this season. They are ridiculously good right now.
- Agree on Arsenal, they’ll score a bunch, but their D is brutal. Nice comeback, a man down, yesterday tho.
 
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- Agree on point 1
- Eriksen is not returning, but I don’t get why Poch isn’t getting as much out of him as possible while he’s still there. Spurs will sort their stuff out, but wow are they frustrating to root for.

One question for Tottenham is if they finally get Eriksen on the field, will he play like Ramsey did last year for Arsenal last season or will he play like Sanchez did when he left the season before?
 
Wolves are not playing well. They're sloppy and there is no crispness to their play. They seemed like they were just going through the motions defensively against Chelsea and should not have lost to Braga. On Sunday a 95' goal salvaged a 1-1 draw vs. Palace. Players claim that Europa has nothing to do with their sub-par performance, but they've played 10 games in 5 weeks.
 
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It's uncanny how qualifying for Europa knocks these overachievers for a loop. It happened to Burnley and they were out of Europa before the EPL even started, iirc.
 
My how the mighty have fallen. ManU-Arsenal ends 1-1, in a pretty dull sloppy, lifeless match.

Keane and Viera used to captain these teams. Now we have Young and Xhaka. :(
 
Man City and Liverpool have taken over and play some of the best soccer I have ever seen. More onball skills, less 50 yard crosses into the box and more European aspects to the game. :D :D
 
My how the mighty have fallen. ManU-Arsenal ends 1-1, in a pretty dull sloppy, lifeless match.

Keane and Viera used to captain these teams. Now we have Young and Xhaka. :(

It was an ugly came that came down tow Arsenal having Aubameyang and Man U not. I also thought Man U was lucky to be playing with 11 men at the end of the game. Tuanzebe in particular was lucky not to collect at least 2 Yellow Cards. On to Europa...
 
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