PL Week 1: A 20 Way Tie at the Top

SoxFanInCali

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Mignolet didn't get into a single EPL game last season, so of course Adrian is playing the majority of game 1.
 

67YAZ

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Klopp on Norwich: “We played an opponent who will cause problems, the way they play is really good. They are cheeky as hell.”
 

67YAZ

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I hope they hold a caring, respectful funeral for Aaron Creswell during the half. He played bravely, but was ruthlessly slaughtered by Walker & Mahrez.
 

Cellar-Door

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City are amazing

Also.... Rodri is going to be one of the most hated players in the league quickly, he's super dirty. So dirty even the BBC text commentators noted he should have at least 1 yellow by now.
 

Cellar-Door

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VAR again, and again Sterling was indeed offside. Big difference, last year this is 4-0 vs 2-0

Edit= never mind, this time they call him on, despite him being more clearly off than the last one?
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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The current incarnation of VAR sucks. They need to find some middle ground in which there is a system for overturning egregiously wrong decisions but you can still actually celebrate a goal or penalty save.

They should implement a challenge system more similar to the NFL. Managers get 1-2 challenges per match, decisions only overruled when there is clear and incontrovertible evidence of a missed call.
 

SocrManiac

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VAR isn’t addressing the problems we wanted it to. I think if it corrected offside and simulation, the majority of people would feel an improvement. Looking for a blade of grass between a keeper’s heel and the goal line isn’t what anybody was looking for.

I think a reimagining of the offside rule itself may provide relief as well. The intent wasn’t to look for forwards to shave their heads to prevent a hair from being further than a defender’s last stud. I don’t have a great way of wording the legislation to match the intent (hello, catch rule), but if we’re going to be millimeter perfect we need to make sure the rule is accomplishing what it’s setting out to do.
 

Kliq

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A bit cruel for Villa, who defended really well before that unfortunate deflection to set up Kane’s goal.
 

Kliq

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The third goal from Tottenham, was just pure skill from Sissoko and Kane.

Kane bailed a lot of fantasy premier league owners in the final ten minutes.
 

PedroSpecialK

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That's a really solid summary, and Brighton really looked the part today against what I expect to be a top-half Watford side.

I am bummed that Jahanbakhsh doesn't seem to have a spot in Potter's plans initially - I feel he was horribly misused by Hughton's tactics (or lack thereof) and didn't take his chances when he got them. With Murray aging and Potter's philosophy seeming to move away from a big target man at striker, I'm hopeful that Jahanbakhsh can get a shot in one of the striker spots in Potter's 3-5-2 setup, but he'll have to contest Andone / Maupay / Locadia to get that shot.

That being said, I wouldn't be shocked if he gets a loan out before the rest of Europe's window closes, most likely to Eredivisie; with the aforementioned 4 strikers, as well as March, Trossard, Groß, and now Mooy in the mix, minutes in attacking roles are going to be pretty sparse.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I cannot express to you my continued amazement at what Billy Sharp is doing. Dude is 33, and last year had 10 goals from the 60th minute on, including 5 from the 80th on. He's not fast, he doesn't have a great shot, and he looked to be washed up with Leeds in 14/15 (although he did have 3 75th minute + goals). If I wasn't so horrifically biased against the Pigs, I'd love the guy. His story is remarkable- overcoming the loss of his infant son to join his boyhood club and then scoring 87 goals over 4 seasons (16 from the 75th on?!) to launch the club from League One to the Premiership? Fuck. They'll name a stand after him someday.
 

Mighty Joe Young

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VAR isn’t addressing the problems we wanted it to. I think if it corrected offside and simulation, the majority of people would feel an improvement. Looking for a blade of grass between a keeper’s heel and the goal line isn’t what anybody was looking for.

I think a reimagining of the offside rule itself may provide relief as well. The intent wasn’t to look for forwards to shave their heads to prevent a hair from being further than a defender’s last stud. I don’t have a great way of wording the legislation to match the intent (hello, catch rule), but if we’re going to be millimeter perfect we need to make sure the rule is accomplishing what it’s setting out to do.
It seems to me the PL is at cross purposes with regard to their stated intent - reversals have to clear and obvious - and the offside rule where the officials are instructed to err on the side of the attackers. (VAR will fix any mistakes)

Once it goes to a VAR check it seems they still are using the letter of the law .. and the tech allows them to measure things down to the millimetre.. but how can they not ? “Well , VAR says it’s offside but the linesman ruled onside so we will go with the call on the field” .. but the call on the field didn’t reflect what the linesman thought .. merely that he thought it was close enough to continue play. You can’t have it both ways.
 

teddykgb

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Chelsea really need Pulisic because their attack looks absolutely wretched. A few promising scenarios that have unraveled in comical relegation fodder ways
 

Kliq

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Chelsea relying on Ross Barkley and Tammy Abraham to be their key attacking players is working out about the way one would expect.
 

Zomp

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Either Pogba’s back is worse than reported or he’s purposely tanking to be sold. Him and Rashford (penalty aside) have looked terrible.

I’ll start a thread soon but my biggest fear was United’s midfield just getting overrun. Nothing has calmed that fear.
 

teddykgb

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Chelsea relying on Ross Barkley and Tammy Abraham to be their key attacking players is working out about the way one would expect.
I’m exchanging texts with a Chelsea fan friend and he thinks they’ve looked good. I thought these two in particular looked dreadful so I’m glad someone else saw it the same
 

Kliq

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I’m exchanging texts with a Chelsea fan friend and he thinks they’ve looked good. I thought these two in particular looked dreadful so I’m glad someone else saw it the same
There have been some chances so I could believe if I was a Chelsea fan I could convince myself that they look good, but I see a lot of pointless giveaways and wasted chances.

Pedro has worked hard and kind of kept Chelsea afloat.
 

fletcherpost

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I rarely root for United, but it's hard not to be a wee bit happy for Ole here. Proper tough opening fixture; a loss would have heaped some added pressure onto the manager, who last time i checked was bookies favourite to get the sack. He needs a chance to build his team, any manager does.

Now it's 4-0 James is chuffed with his first goal for his new club.
 

Zososoxfan

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Bissaka also looked very good at RB. Maguire was also incredibly solid and cleaned up tons of messes. I think Martial is grossly overrated and Lingaard is a nice rotation player, but nothing more. Problem is United don't have any better attacking players to bring on. Perhaps they can use their bevy of RBs to push one into a RM role. I've also thought the game passed Mata by the past couple of seasons, but he should absolutely be used more (in 30-60 minute increments) to stir the drink on offense.
 

OCST

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I’m still leery of Utd. Can’t help but think that a Pogba vs Ole feud is going to poison the locker room.

Bias warning- I wouldn’t mind this at all.
 

Zomp

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I’m still leery of Utd. Can’t help but think that a Pogba vs Ole feud is going to poison the locker room.

Bias warning- I wouldn’t mind this at all.
You mentioned this in your predictions as well but I don't see it. Ole has managed Pogba since he was a kid and goes to great lengths to protect him from criticism (that he rightly should get sometimes). It reminds me of SAF and Cristiano. He babied him every season he was there because he knew it would get the best out of him. I'm not saying Pogba will turn into Ronaldo but I see a lot of that in Ole. Even in criticism he never singles a player out.
 

coremiller

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You mentioned this in your predictions as well but I don't see it. Ole has managed Pogba since he was a kid and goes to great lengths to protect him from criticism (that he rightly should get sometimes). It reminds me of SAF and Cristiano. He babied him every season he was there because he knew it would get the best out of him. I'm not saying Pogba will turn into Ronaldo but I see a lot of that in Ole. Even in criticism he never singles a player out.
I think the risk with Ole/Pogba is the opposite -- something like Ole gives Pogba too much latitude, Pogba gets lazy and doesn't put in the necessary defensive work for a central midfielder, that causes a rift in the dressing room where other players get annoyed at Pogba getting a free ride, Pogba responds by sulking and demanding a transfer, etc. It was one thing for Cristiano to get special treatment when he was scoring 30 goals a season. Pogba has never consistently produced at that level at United (or what the midfielder's equivalent would be).
 

Zososoxfan

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Klopp on Norwich: “We played an opponent who will cause problems, the way they play is really good. They are cheeky as hell.”
I thought Norwich looked like a Championship side for the most part, other than the LM/LW, I think it was Cantwell(?). Every time he touched the ball he made a positive touch under pressure and generally provided an outlet and a threat while the rest of the team looked slow or unskilled. Granted, it was week 1 and there's a lot more to see, but that was my initial impression.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I thought Norwich looked like a Championship side for the most part, other than the LM/LW, I think it was Cantwell(?). Every time he touched the ball he made a positive touch under pressure and generally provided an outlet and a threat while the rest of the team looked slow or unskilled. Granted, it was week 1 and there's a lot more to see, but that was my initial impression.
Agree here...I think the Farke project is a year or two away. I'd love to be wrong, because they do try to play good footy, but I think the lack of skill catches up.
 

67YAZ

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I thought Norwich looked like a Championship side for the most part, other than the LM/LW, I think it was Cantwell(?). Every time he touched the ball he made a positive touch under pressure and generally provided an outlet and a threat while the rest of the team looked slow or unskilled. Granted, it was week 1 and there's a lot more to see, but that was my initial impression.
Don't disagree, but think Klopp meant that they were a side who didn't sit back and wait for chance to break forward. Norwich actively looked to play on the front foot...at Anfield...on opening day...while Liverpool celebrated a Champions League cup...that is cheeky as hell.
 

Zososoxfan

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Don't disagree, but think Klopp meant that they were a side who didn't sit back and wait for chance to break forward. Norwich actively looked to play on the front foot...at Anfield...on opening day...while Liverpool celebrated a Champions League cup...that is cheeky as hell.
Also cheeky of him to say that knowing damn well the Gegenpress pretty much requires the opposition to play that way or get slaughtered even worse.