Gameweek 35: Money for nothing & relegation-free

67YAZ

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ManU have a crazy stretch here - @Villa on Sunday, Leicester on Tuesday, and the NW Derby on Thursday. Ole is already saying he will rotate heavily, floating the idea of totally different staring XIs. The European implications could be significant with Leicester 5pts up on West Ham and Liverpool 4points behind the Hammers. Heck, United are only 4pts ahead of Leicester anyway. Choices will have to be made.
 
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Zomp

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Playing 3 games in 5 days is insane in a normal season, nevermind this one where there has only been 1 midweek break for United.

I don't blame Ole for being upset.

I'm most interested to see what starting 11s play vs which teams. But he's right on in his press conference, either way some teams are not going to be happy.

As likely as second place looked, United are not gauranteed top 4 yet, so its a tough call for Ole.

For me the answer is easy, you play your best 11 vs Villa and Liverpool and punt vs Leicester. But we'll see.
 

Cellar-Door

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This might be the biggest weekend for 4th. Chelsea has City, which if they win they are likely in great shape, West Ham has Everton, their last top half opponent, Liverpool has Southampton.

Chelsea winning puts them in a strong position, if they lose though, West Ham and Liverpool have real chances to make up ground (and if WH loses that cushion on L'pool goes away).

My feeling is... if Chelsea win this week they are the favorites for 4th.
If West Ham wins and Chelsea loses, they take over as favorites (Soton, WBA, BHA is a pretty soft last 3).
Any other result is gonna make it a mess.
 

pedro1918

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I just don't see how Liverpool, in current form, make up the points. I have no confidence they can beat anyone. What a difference a year makes. They seem destined to give up goals and they haven't scored more than one in about a month.

Of course I will still be watching.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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I just don't see how Liverpool, in current form, make up the points. I have no confidence they can beat anyone. What a difference a year makes. They seem destined to give up goals and they haven't scored more than one in about a month.

Of course I will still be watching.
I can see them running the table as long as they keep the trainers at bay. Phillips is back and it’s a pretty easy argument to make that the two draws would have been wins with him on the pitch. That being said , top four is really unlikely.
 

tmracht

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I would not be shocked to see Chelsea drop points this week, which then puts everything up in the air for 4th. They too will probably need some sort of rotation with City tomorrow, then coming back to Arsenal on Wednesday and then the FA Cup final next weekend. It's not as hectic as United's schedule but they have 5 games in 15 days in the leadup to Istanbul.
 

Kliq

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Spurs are going to win out and make things interesting.
 

Section30

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Evans out due to warmup injury.

Newcastle up 2-0 beating the Foxes all over the field. 6-7 really good chances for Newcastle vs. 3-4 for Leicester.
 

coremiller

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Leicester losing today would be great news for West Ham, Liverpool, and Spurs.
 

Joe D Reid

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For all of my theatrical moaning, Newcastle's best XI isn't bad, especially with Willock and in a formation other than 9-0-1. They just haven't been able to run it out often this year.
 

Joe D Reid

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ARE YOU MORECAMBE IN DISGUISE?

(I actually feel a little bad. I'd rather Leicester get the CL spot than the big clubs.)
 

Tuff Ghost

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Leicester City are going to blow a top-4 finish again, aren't they?

2019-20, Leicester City place/points by matchweek:
MW 10. 3rd place, 20 points
MW 20. 2nd place, 42 points
MW 30. 3rd place, 54 points
MW 38. 5th place, 62 points

2020-21, Leicester City place/points by matchweek:
MW 10. 4th place, 18 points
MW 20. 3rd place, 39 points
MW 30. 3rd place, 56 points
 

67YAZ

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Leicester losing today would be great news for West Ham, Liverpool, and Spurs.
I think Zomp's suggestion becomes more likely after this match - United go full strength against Villa & Liverpool, send out the B-squad for the Foxes.
 

Tuff Ghost

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Leicester City are going to blow a top-4 finish again, aren't they?

2019-20, Leicester City place/points by matchweek:
MW 10. 3rd place, 20 points
MW 20. 2nd place, 42 points
MW 30. 3rd place, 54 points
MW 38. 5th place, 62 points

2020-21, Leicester City place/points by matchweek:
MW 10. 4th place, 18 points
MW 20. 3rd place, 39 points
MW 30. 3rd place, 56 points
Leicester 2019-20:
Matchweek 35: 4-1 loss to Bournemouth (!)
Matchweek 36: 2-0 win against Sheffield United
Matchweek 37: 3-0 loss to Tottenham
Matchweek 38: 2-0 loss to Manchester United

Leicester 2020-21:
Matchweek 35: 4-2 loss to Newcastle (!)
Matchweek 36: Manchester United (away)
Matchweek 37: Chelsea (away)
Matchweek 38: Tottenham (home)
 

Kliq

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Atletico so far have had the better of Barca, but ter Stegen has kept it 0-0. Messi almost scored an incredible goal though.
 

Kliq

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The camera work for this game is very poor. It's zoomed way out and with the sun shadows at Camp Nou, it's really hard to see the action.
 

Kliq

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Despite the stakes that was a pretty boring game. Neither team lacked the ruthlessness in the final third to get a goal. Stage is now set for Real Madrid to go to the top of the table if they can beat Sevilla.
 

Vinho Tinto

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Barca is technically still alive, but that killed their title hopes.

Reminded me of the the 1-1 draw when Atletico won the title in 2014. Some chances, but overall dull.
 

SocrManiac

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Just saw the Kane offside.

When this season is done and dusted, it will be interesting to compile a list of these decisions. The technology is not capable of making this call in its current form. That really shouldn’t be a debate. Blurry images, frame selection, frame rate, player speed... I can’t even make a devil’s advocate argument that this goal can be overturned based on evidence. Arbitrary decisions (pixel selection, frame selection, point of the body (the sleeve thing)) and incapable technology make this a farce.

I don’t understand why the painfully obvious error bar solution can’t be implemented. I never want to see the current system again.
 

teddykgb

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It was a crap penalty call and a crap penalty taken.

I know I’m a broken record at this point but I cannot handle watching this Chelsea side. They’re down 1-0 with a top 4 spot at stake and still sat deep in a back 5 not pressing. It has been supremely effective and it may win them a CL but it’s fucking dreadful to watch
 

Zomp

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It was a crap penalty call and a crap penalty taken.

I know I’m a broken record at this point but I cannot handle watching this Chelsea side. They’re down 1-0 with a top 4 spot at stake and still sat deep in a back 5 not pressing. It has been supremely effective and it may win them a CL but it’s fucking dreadful to watch

Not everyone can play Ole Ball
 

the1andonly3003

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Just saw the Kane offside.

When this season is done and dusted, it will be interesting to compile a list of these decisions. The technology is not capable of making this call in its current form. That really shouldn’t be a debate. Blurry images, frame selection, frame rate, player speed... I can’t even make a devil’s advocate argument that this goal can be overturned based on evidence. Arbitrary decisions (pixel selection, frame selection, point of the body (the sleeve thing)) and incapable technology make this a farce.

I don’t understand why the painfully obvious error bar solution can’t be implemented. I never want to see the current system again.
The Super League 6's punishment should be funding UHD cameras for all of football. Instead of getting a new striker or centre back, give the refs better tech
 

candylandriots

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Just watched the Sheffield United - Palace game and am thrilled that CP has clinched their 9th consecutive season in the Premier League. I was not confident of that before the start of the season, so am super happy about that.

Since Palace and Union Berlin can’t seem to win in the same week, Union lost 3-0 to Wolfsburg, making their slim hopes for Europe a bit slimmer. Though I just saw that Bayern pasted Mönchengladbach 6-0 tonight, which makes things competitive in the GD column. “Thank you Bayern” is a sentence I did not expect to be writing at the beginning of this season.
 

67YAZ

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Looks like Ole sent out a first choice attacking line up today.

Edit: also looks like ManU is losing a locally-based sponsor due to the fan backlash. Have to think a foreign brand will step up and pay for the same privilege.
 

67YAZ

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Stepped away for a few minutes and it appears some things happened.