The Premier League Thread

It is quite a stark comparison between Newcastle abd Burnely with regard to the players being listed as potential targets. The world and his wife seem to be linked to the former whereas the appears to be a distinct lack of activity planned at Burnley. I have quite a lot of admiration for what Dyche has achieved yet I am starting to feel the clock is running out for them this season. They still need 1.29 points per match to get to 38 points which is marginally less than Newcastle (1.44 points per game) whereas Watford still need 1.26 points. Despite the win at thre weekend, Norwich are on 1.47 points. If you look at the points per game needed to read safety at 38 points, I am wondering if the fourth from bottom place and safety is likely to be secured for less than this total this season. Effectively, every drawn match worsens the average for all of these teams

 

I think safety again will be 31-33 points this season. The other slight issue with Burnley is that games in hand do not mean points on the board. I seem to remember the year Swansea went down at one point they had 2-3 games in hand?

 

This. Points on the board far outweigh games in hand. You really don't want to be playing 3 games in the space of 7 days over 3 or 4 weeks.

 

I wonder if Everton might try and poach Dyche.

 

That’s an interesting one! Wonder if he’d be tempted?

 

Ah the Newcastle playbook of weakening your rivals

 

Wasn’t it 30 last season? Fulham got 29?

 

Just looked at an odd checker as it is 33/1.

Others at that price : Hassenhuttl, Moyes, Hughton and Roberto Mancini

So they don’t think it is very likely

 

It would actually be the right type of appointment to arrest the slide, but I can't see the fans would go for it. Plus Moshiri is pretty showy, so will want a 'name'.

 

The meltdown would be amazing if they did, be bigger than if we were to appoint him

 

Yesterday I read that Van de Beek had rejected a loan move to Newcastle, because of their league position.

Today I took this from the BBC website. Things not going too well, and long may it continue.

• Belgium forward Eden Hazard wants to leave Real Madrid, but is not interested in joining Newcastle, who have had a £41.3m bid for the 31-year-old accepted by the Spanish club. (El Nacional - in Catalan..

 

Mourinho being considered for the Everton job.

 

That may be so but is Mourinho considering Everton?

 

Has Jose ever had to save a club from relegation?

 

I listened to a high performance podcast with Duchess few weeks ago. There’s a lot more to him than you might presume from watching Burnley. He is what I would call a pragmatist. Works with what is available to him, it’d be interesting to see what he could do at a club with more talented individuals.

(edit: damn auto correct but that's a cool nickname for Sean Dyche, I'm using it.)

 

Can we go back to whoever was posting in the Ralph Out? thread saying that we should bring in Rafa Benitez as an upgrade on Ralph? I heard he’s available now.

 

Pole barge touch not.

 

All is clearly not well at Chelsea. I took an early dislike to Tuchel just from his manner he has the appearance of a toxic personality to me. Ziyech scores a belter and reacts like someone pee'd on his cornflakes. Lukaku is pining for last seasons team and they are bickering and niggling each other constantly. Doesn't look anything like a harmonious, league winning team.

 

Out of interest what suggestions are there that he has a toxic personality? I don’t like him and can’t put my finger on why

And what do you mean “pining for last season’s team”? Did they play significantly differently ?

 

I was refering to Lukaku's comments about returning to SerieA. Def not the words of someone who is enjoying the environment.

95% of a football club happens away from the matchday pitch and I feel like Tuchel has created an unpleasant environment for the players. The early thing for me was his subbing of Hudson Odoi for no good reason after bringing him on for 15 minutes (cant remember the specifics.). Its not the fault of the player if the demands havent been communicated properly. Expectations should be high with all their quality but if there's no enjoyment of the sport and the game then there is a big problem ie, scoring and taking the lead but nobody on the pitch is pleased.