English Premier League 2016/17

[stattointhailand]

What are the odds on Garry Monk ?
He's done quite well at Belland Road, and might feel ready to have another crack at the Prem.
He knows the set up (and vitually all the backroom staff), so would not take time settling in, and having worked with the Leeds players he could probably bring 1 or 2 of them with him if he felt they were ready to try their luck in the top flight.

No way they would be stupid enough to employ Giggs. ........ out of the frying pan scenario
Pardew ......... Scraping the barrel if they do
Nigel Pearson ......... short term contract as he will antagonise someone or do something to get sacked for by next season, but could be the man to keep them up.
Gary Rowlett couldn't be faulted for results at Birmingham and was really unlucky to get the sack, but is untried at the higher level.
Chris Coleman may be interested now ....... he may want to get out before the Wales bubble finally bursts (Ditto the guy at Scunthorpe )
Brenda? He must have realised by now that the Scottish prem is League One level at best (that's where their players go when they come south now :-" ) and he knows the set up at Swansea.

[mathusalah80]

"BobHelm"] wrote Liverpool 4 Stoke 1.[quote]

One man's opinion!
Watford 1 Crystal Palace 1. Awful! The only justification for asserting these two teams will miss the dreaded drop, is the presence of Hull, Swansea & Defoe FC.
Arsenal 1 WBA 0. After worthily being lauded as the exponents of all that is beautiful about our game, sad indeed to now witness Arsenal being reduced so often to grinding out undeserved favourable results. Further, to put forward Arsenal as possible EPL Champion, is to be living in dreamland! As to Sam Pullis, I marvel at, and admire, his ability to motivate and organize his hotch potch squad of over the hill has beens, or yet to be proved youngsters and under EPL standard players, to produce the level of performances they have, on a regular basis, this season. Clearly the club will not win any trophies these season, but could upset the ambitions of one or more of their more illustrious opponents. Judged upon his use of the resources at his disposal and his team's results, I consider Pullis by far the best performing EPL Manager to date.
Manchester Utd. 3 Sunderland 1. The second of the two games I was able to watch only intermittently; they being played in the same time slot. A run of the mill performance to be expected, indeed demanded, when the most expensively assembled club squad of players in the League, (in the world?), are pitted against a near bankrupt club, bound for relegation. Given the identity of Utd's last two opponents, and the club's next four, not to mention that I fully expect Mr. parasitic-cheque book Mourinho to spend between $1-2M in January, Zidane, Statts & Bob Helm should really try not to get carried away on waves of ecstasy ,and unreasonable expectations, should Utd remain unbeaten during the course of the next four games, and move into fourth spot.
Liverpool 4 Stoke 1. The game I most enjoyed watching, over the weekend. The rapport between Klopp and his players, and between him and the 'pool supporters is fun to see. Brought back memories of Keegan at Newcastle. That is not the only similarity, of course. Keegan's love of open, attacking and entertaining football not only nearly resulted in Newcastle winning the Premiership, but also resulted in his eventual demise, as Manager. Currently Klopp is demonstrating the naiveté as regards the defensive strategy know-how's required in the EPL, but already this Liverpool squad has improved vastly; Klopp is clearly a fast learner, and I forecast Liverpool will once again be a real force in the EPL next season; BUT essential the club manages to retain Coutinho and strengthens the defensive personnel.
Summary: By my reckoning, to overtake Chelsea & thus win the Premiership, City would have to win three more games than Chelsea, and such wins would have to include beating Chelsea.
Similarly Liverpool would have to win three more games than Chelsea and City, and such wins would have to include wins over both Chelsea & City.
So, is there anybody out there who is of the opinion Chelsea will not win the Premiership?

A Happy and prosperous New Year to all our Members, and to all the staff at Udon Immigration, (who have given so many of our members a reason to live =D> ).

[stattointhailand]

While I totally agree with what you say about Guidolin Zid, I rather feel that the new American owners have used the excuse to get rid of someone who they didn't know to get in a fellow American who they feel more comfortable with.
Season end will tell weather it was a good decision I think.
If Guidolin really had to go (&, like you I am not sure that was the case) then Giggs would have been far less of a gamble & more in tune with the fans..

Season end will probably be light rain and warm in most places Bob ...... as for appointing Bradley we didn't need to wait that long Being Welsh I suppose Swansea could now be "Wether" (castrated sheep or sheep with no balls )

[mathusalah80]

[quote="mathusalah80"] wrote

"Mourinho to spend between $1-2M in January"
Sorry, this should, of course, have read $100-200M

[stattointhailand]

Blimey Mat ...... with a transfer kitty like that in January he may be able to tempt Rafa into letting "teeth" go.

Then he would be able to let that lazy waste of space resume his proper career as the Swedish Chef on the muppet show :-"

[mathusalah80]

[quote="stattointhailand"]Blimey Mat ...... with a transfer kitty like that in January he may be able to tempt Rafa into letting "teeth" go.

Seems already too late, Statts; strong rumours that he is already "J" League bound. Can't understand why , no reports whatsoever of any "J" League interest in Rooney ; probably much to Mourinho's chagrin, whose time is running out within which to solve, with the utmost diplomacy & sensitivity, ( the possession of neither of does he have an abundance! :-" ), Utd's "Rooney problem". On this same topic, I am anticipating some highly surprising, even shock, transfers out of the EPL to the "J" league, maybe in January, but certainly at season's end, given the obscene amounts of money being thrown around by the latter.

[stattointhailand]

I take it you are referring to the Chinese Superleague as opposed to the Japanese "J" League Mat, but regardless of where the money is coming from, and what wonderful gifts (wages) are on offer, there is still the problem of players having to be able to live there (and their families also). There have already been several "Big Name" players and managers who have been tempted to sell their soul for a few renminbi, and have crawled back to civilization after a few weeks and at most months. There also seems to be a large number of "good" as opposed to "great" players that are turning the big bucks down now, which would seem to indicate that the info passed on from those initial "pilgrims" is enough to frighten many off. I think the Chinese revolution is heading along the same trail as the Yankee one and will only be able to attract the aged and crocked players who have nothing left to offer apart from their name ..... Lampard/Gerard/Rooney/Sturridge/Ibro/Kompany etc etc

[Earnest]

Liverpool 4-1 Stoke City.

Yeah, I got that score wrong but I came away with a few pennies as I bet on a Herr Klopp win.

So Gary Neville is saying Liverpool could win the league and here we are, half way through, with Liverpool 3 points behind Chelsea.

[stattointhailand]

errr 3 GOALS in the GD Column, but SIX POINTS behind as well dear boy

[mathusalah80]

[quote="stattointhailand"]I take it you are referring to the Chinese Super league as opposed to the Japanese "J" League Mat
By golly, I think you are right! Whatever; the latest names are Tevez & , ( I really was surprised by this one), Oscar. There still aren't many better strikers than Tevez, or better playmakers than Oscar, in the EL's current top seven teams; begs the question why no rumours of interest surfacing?

[stattointhailand]

Would have thought that the money grabbers and journeymen would be obvious targets for the Chinese after all most have already proved they are more interested in the money than the football.

Loic Remy
Sami Nasri
Wilf Bony
Bacary Sagna
Robin Van Persil
Darren Bent
Roberto Firmino (he's heard that the Saki is nice and the drink/drive penalties aren't so tough :-" )

Virtually everyone else at City and Man Utd

[Earnest]

errr 3 GOALS in the GD Column, but SIX POINTS behind as well dear boy

Oh yes, should've gone to Spec Savers.

[747man]

errr 3 GOALS in the GD Column, but SIX POINTS behind as well dear boy

Well He Follows Coventry So what Do yer expect, Statts ??

[stattointhailand]

Earnest's brother comes out of retirement aged 41 ..........Juan Sebastian Verondeslideoutoftheleague.

perhaps he just wants to get fit in case some Chinese team want him Mat

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38454035

[stattointhailand]

From the BEEB

"Everton expect to complete a £10m deal for Charlton's 19-year-old forward Ademola Lookman early in the January transfer window.

Director of Football Steve Walsh has made the signing a priority and the move is likely to go through quickly as manager Ronald Koeman starts what is expected to be a busy January.

Lookman scored his seventh goal of the season in Charlton's 1-0 win at MK Dons on Boxing Day."

That one could shake the very foundations of the football world .......... might just hang on a few days before I start to put the name on the back of box loads of shirts to be sent to UK

[stattointhailand]

Juande Ramos to the Swans ?? stranger things have happened

[BobHelm]

Wednesday 28th December 2016
Premier League

Southampton 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur

[747man]

From the BEEB

"Everton expect to complete a £10m deal for Charlton's 19-year-old forward Ademola Lookman early in the January transfer window.

Director of Football Steve Walsh has made the signing a priority and the move is likely to go through quickly as manager Ronald Koeman starts what is expected to be a busy January.

Lookman scored his seventh goal of the season in Charlton's 1-0 win at MK Dons on Boxing Day."

That one could shake the very foundations of the football world .......... might just hang on a few days before I start to put the name on the back of box loads of shirts to be sent to UK

Maybe Get A Box of Shirts for Depay & Schneiderlin ??

[stattointhailand]

Are the done deals 747? :-" oh it doesn't mata

[747man]

Are the done deals 747? :-" oh it doesn't mata

.555 !! Don't YOU Start.... =D> =D>