Premier League Gameweek 14-16

[Markolan]

Manchester United only 3 points behind Manchester City at MD15..
If City are still considered a title contender by most of the people I can't see why United shouldn't be as well especially if they get eliminated from the UCL next week and can concentrate on the league only.

 

[Hammondo]

Rodri is so important to them.

 

[henrysquire]

Well, well... we're still in this season. Only three points behind the oiled up neighbours. Bit further to the summit but it's Arsenal.

 

[Offside]

Looking at City’s fixtures until March a 6 point gap isn’t bad for them.

 

[MackRobinson]

Give McTominay his flowers. Scottish Bellingham

 

[WeePat]

Thoroughly, thoroughly outplayed. Pathetic effort. A more confident team probably slaps us by 5-1.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

Give McTominay his flowers. Scottish Bellingham

don't forget Maguire.

 

[RedPed]

Our worst season and yet only 3 points behind Shitty. Can't rely on Spurs so now praying for a Villa League title.

 

[TsuWave]

Don Emery

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[wr8_utd]

Don Emery

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Would be nice if they could keep this up at the weekend but you just know they'll choose to collapse that day.

 

[bosskeano]

fecking City got absolutely outplayed by Villa....how the feck are we only 3 points back of them with how poor our form has been this season????

funny enough though looking at the form guide over the last 5 matches, we've picked up the same points as Arsenal and more than City or Liverpool

 

[Chipper]

City have 2 shots all game? Wtf

Just saw that now. 22 for Villa!

 

[Daydreamer]

City dropped points last year while Pep was tweaking his system for his perennial 10-15 match winning streak. But they were never actually playing poorly. Whereas the stats seems to indicate Villa well and truly dominated them tonight. If nothing else, it definitely dents their aura of invulnerability.

 

[Dansk]

There’s clearly promise in Chelsea’s team and you’ve had some encouraging performances this season.

I still find it hilarious how the narratives around United and Chelsea have played out.

United are this weak, highly-disappointing group of chancers whereas Chelsea are this emerging force who will undoubtably succeed in the not too distance future.

In reality, both are midtable mediocrity.

And yet United are within 3 points of City and 4th place.

 

[GoonerGirly]

City hung over after winning everything last season. Hope we can capitalise!

 

[Real Name]

There’s clearly promise in Chelsea’s team and you’ve had some encouraging performances this season.

I still find it hilarious how the narratives around United and Chelsea have played out.

United are this weak, highly-disappointing group of chancers whereas Chelsea are this emerging force who will undoubtably succeed in the not too distance future.

In reality, both are midtable mediocrity.

What does that make City at the moment?

 

[troylocker]

Rodri is so important to them.

They're like a car without an engine without him. Can't do the simplest things or patch 3 passes together.

 

[RobinLFC]

What does that make City at the moment?

Still a title contender. They have proven over and over again that they can go on a huge winning streak if needed. Dropped points in their last four games but they were against Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Villa, and they are still only 6 points behind first place. Don't tell me you feel as confident about Utd going on such a streak especially when the tough opponents come around. Actually, looking at your results, you haven't managed a win in a game I'd label as a tough one beforehand. Last night might be the toughest one on paper but looking at the comments on here and the highlights Chelsea put in a pathetic display.

I don't know what to tell anyone who thinks Utd and City have an equal(ish) shot at the title because the difference is just 3 points at this point.

 

[PoTMS]

Still a title contender. They have proven over and over again that they can go on a huge winning streak if needed. Dropped points in their last four games but they were against Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Villa, and they are still only 6 points behind first place. Don't tell me you feel as confident about Utd going on such a streak especially when the tough opponents come around. Actually, looking at your results, you haven't managed a win in a game I'd label as a tough one beforehand. Last night might be the toughest one on paper but looking at the comments on here and the highlights Chelsea put in a pathetic display.

I don't know what to tell anyone who thinks Utd and City have an equal(ish) shot at the title because the difference is just 3 points at this point.

Literally no one thinks that.

 

[RobinLFC]

Literally no one thinks that.

Manchester United only 3 points behind Manchester City at MD15..
If City are still considered a title contender by most of the people I can't see why United shouldn't be as well especially if they get eliminated from the UCL next week and can concentrate on the league only.

 

[Real Name]

Still a title contender. They have proven over and over again that they can go on a huge winning streak if needed. Dropped points in their last four games but they were against Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Villa, and they are still only 6 points behind first place. Don't tell me you feel as confident about Utd going on such a streak especially when the tough opponents come around. Actually, looking at your results, you haven't managed a win in a game I'd label as a tough one beforehand. Last night might be the toughest one on paper but looking at the comments on here and the highlights Chelsea put in a pathetic display.

I don't know what to tell anyone who thinks Utd and City have an equal(ish) shot at the title because the difference is just 3 points at this point.

That's not what I meant at all. My point is United's results are portrayed like we're some midtable club despite the fact, results in the league have been very good recently, especially when you count in all the circumstances. Comparisons with Chelsea are so strange and daft. Just recently they were portrayed as being on the up after they drew 4:4 with City only to fall without a whisper yesterday. Yet they're the same as United apparently.

 

[RobinLFC]

That's not what I meant at all. My point is United's results are portrayed like we're some midtable club despite the fact, results in the league have been very good recently, especially when you count in all the circumstances. Comparisons with Chelsea are so strange and daft. Just recently they were portrayed as being on the up after they drew 4:4 with City only to fall without a whisper yesterday. Yet they're the same as United apparently.

Ah yeah sorry, the last sentence wasn't meant towards you, just in general since I saw another poster insinuating that. Don't know what you mean by circumstances but obviously you're doing much better than Chelsea this season yes.

 

[DJ_21]

I asked my city friend in work if he was drinking BAIlEYS for Christmas. Don’t think he was to impressed

 

[Real Name]

Ah yeah sorry, the last sentence wasn't meant towards you, just in general since I saw another poster insinuating that. Don't know what you mean by circumstances but obviously you're doing much better than Chelsea this season yes.

Ah ok, got it.

Its the usual doom and gloom here. Every week there's a new club which is flavour of the month. One week is Brighton who invented football, then Spurs who were in a title fight, then Newcastle with whom Howe is doing wonders, then Chelsea which is on the up cause they drew with City. All the while comparing them to United which if of course trash.

Circumstances are we're not playing really good generally, ETH is still finding himself among the chaos, pwnership story, still a shit club structure, a ton of injuries all the stories about dissent, Rashford and some other players not giving a f and so on.

 

[Rob]

Regarding Liverpool, we've been far from impressive the last two games v Fulham and Sheffield. Still got the wins of course, but definately not through dominating performances.

I'm also starting to lose faith in Darwin Nunez, tbh. Since he joined, I've been telling myself that he's a 30 goal a season striker once he's acclimatized, but with every missed chance the hope evaporates. To the point where now I just don't see it happening.

On a more positive note, Van Dijk is looking more and more like a world class defender again, and those ugly wins count just as much as the pretty one's. That game at Anfield vs Arsenal on Dec 23 will give us an indication as to where the team is.

 

[adexkola]

I asked my city friend in work if he was drinking BAIlEYS for Christmas. Don’t think he was to impressed

That's a great line. Hope you used a deadpan delivery

 

[padr81]

City dropped points last year while Pep was tweaking his system for his perennial 10-15 match winning streak. But they were never actually playing poorly. Whereas the stats seems to indicate Villa well and truly dominated them tonight. If nothing else, it definitely dents their aura of invulnerability.

Yesterday was the only day we've played poorly in this bad run though. We should have beaten Liverpool (16 shots (1.8xg) to Liverpools 8 (0.8xg)) and Spurs (17 shots 2.91xg to 8, 0.43 xg). We have one or two like the Villa game every season. Yesterday aside performances haven't been nearly as poor as results. The Rodri problem though is a big one, no Rodri no party.

 

[Hammondo]

They're like a car without an engine without him. Can't do the simplest things or patch 3 passes together.

Like us without Carrick.

 

[DJ_21]

That's a great line. Hope you used a deadpan delivery

I literally thought of it in a split second

 

[jadajos]

Yesterday was the only day we've played poorly in this bad run though. We should have beaten Liverpool (16 shots (1.8xg) to Liverpools 8 (0.8xg)) and Spurs (17 shots 2.91xg to 8, 0.43 xg). We have one or two like the Villa game every season. Yesterday aside performances haven't been nearly as poor as results. The Rodri problem though is a big one, no Rodri no party.

How is it a problem, he was just missing due to suspension and never seems to be injured and unphased playing 24322 games in a row.

 

[RobinLFC]

How is it a problem, he was just missing due to suspension and never seems to be injured and unphased playing 24322 games in a row.

Their 4 losses (including League Cup against Newcastle) this season were games without him, and with him they are unbeaten for 43 successive games. Even if he can play most if not all games, it's definitely a problem that a team is seemingly so dependant on one player.

 

[padr81]

How is it a problem, he was just missing due to suspension and never seems to be injured and unphased playing 24322 games in a row.

The problem is we consistently lose when he doesn't play, like 30% of games, 100% this season.

When he does play we've a crazy win rate. He's already missed 4 games this season.

I hate to say one man team, but Peps requirements are so unique that very few players in the world can play as a 6 for him.

Of our last 60 matches.
With rodri 0 losses in 43
Without rodri 5 losses in 17

 

[padr81]

Their 4 losses (including League Cup against Newcastle) this season were games without him, and with him they are unbeaten for 43 successive games. Even if he can play most if not all games, it's definitely a problem that a team is seemingly so dependant on one player.

Absolutely, all he has to do is miss the wrong game at the wrong time and we're out of a cup. Likewise if the odd game he misses is Anfield or as happened the Emirates, that's pretty much a guaranteed L in a 6 pointer.

 

[IRN-BRUno]

I see that Hodgson was a little critical of Palace's fans after they were booed off saying they've been spoiled in recent times. The BBC report mentions that an object was thrown at him at the end of the game so understandable he wasn't in the greatest mood but it's never a good idea to go down the 'just be grateful for what you have' route.

 

[jeff gurr]

I see that Hodgson was a little critical of Palace's fans after they were booed off saying they've been spoiled in recent times. The BBC report mentions that an object was thrown at him at the end of the game so understandable he wasn't in the greatest mood but it's never a good idea to go down the 'just be grateful for what you have' route.

The fans had a right to boo after that awful display by Palace... Roy really needs to call it a day !!!

 

[lysglimt]

That tackle by Tarkowski...DAMN

 

[One Night Only]

This game isn't great.

 

[Snow]

That tackle by Tarkowski...DAMN

Wish football was more like that.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

That should have been the first goal for Newcastle.

 

[Catt]

How??