2016-2017 English Premier League

[Andalublue]

You're joking right? It was a great goal but "the best counter attack goal in many years"? Real Madrid alone has ten goals in the last 5 years that were more deserving of that title than that goal.

Quite. It was terrific, but not "the best counter-attack goal in many years". How about this one from earlier this year...?

 

[Apocalypse]

Quite. It was terrific, but not "the best counter-attack goal in many years". How about this one from earlier this year...?

That one is awesome, but this one is on a level of its own:

 

[Higgins86]

Quite. It was terrific, but not "the best counter-attack goal in many years". How about this one from earlier this year...?

It's probably because Barca so rarely counter that quickly which got Pete all excited.

 

[Andalublue]

You know Pete is at it when he claims a player should have gotten two yellow cards. :2razz:

Well, especially when he says that Sterling was lucky not to have received a second yellow card, having just admitted that the first was unjust.

He's never been Mr Consistent, hasn't our Peter.

 

[PeteEU]

What a bitter and graceless concession. I haven't seen the game yet, working, but from all the reports I've read so far City were by far the superior team apart from the first 20 minutes.

Hell no. City were looking like a Championship team the first 39 minutes.. then an error in the Barca defense lead to the City equalizer and from then on it was another matter.

It certainly sounds like a more comprehensive victory than the 4-0 at the Camp Nou.

Nope.

No wonder you're bleating like a half-slaughtered lamb. I've just been answering a whole load of congratulations msgs from Barca-supporting mates, y'know, real Barca supporters who know how to lose gracefully as well as win with humility.

Since you did not see the game, then I will let that pass. City deserved to win, but they were poor the first 39 minutes (with exception of the opening minute or so when Sterling should have had a penalty).

Pep's clearly doing a great job with our team and in Sterling, De Bruyne, Gundoğan, Silva and Agüero we have the finest attack in current world football, I think.

You would not say that, if you saw the Barca goal. Your attack is good, but not that good.

You can gloat all you want that City won, but they were not that good. They played well, while Barcas defense looked like City´s in the first game.

 

[PeteEU]

You're joking right? It was a great goal but "the best counter attack goal in many years"? Real Madrid alone has ten goals in the last 5 years that were more deserving of that title than that goal.

I am just quoting pundits on twitter to Sky Sports News to other media. But I agree with them. The fact that Messi gets the ball just outside his own penalty box, passes it to Neymar and then ends up scoring 10 or so seconds later shows the quality in the counter attack.

 

[PeteEU]

Barca didn't have any time to breath in the second half, city were pressing them all over the park.

Yes, and Barca was doing that to City in the first half (until the equalizer). Why focus on one half only? As I said, it was a game of two halfs, and two great teams. Before the equalizer I was thinking this could be a blood bath with another 4-0 considering how poor City were defending and how Barca were picking them apart. That changed with Barca mistakes at the back and put Barca on the defense. But dont forget that Suarez missed sitters and Gomez hit the crossbar in the second half. Dont make it sound like City dominated the whole game.. they did not.

 

[Apocalypse]

I am just quoting pundits on twitter to Sky Sports News to other media. But I agree with them. The fact that Messi gets the ball just outside his own penalty box, passes it to Neymar and then ends up scoring 10 or so seconds later shows the quality in the counter attack.

If true then those so-called pundits should look for another job, it's a quality goal but not something extraordinary certainly not something that wasn't seen "in many years", that's just a bad joke.

 

[PeteEU]

If true then those so-called pundits should look for another job, it's a quality goal but not something extraordinary certainly not something that wasn't seen "in many years", that's just a bad joke.

LOL nice contradicting there... quality goal, but nothing extraordinary.. err okay. Show me a similar goal where the person starting the counter attack from their own third of the pitch, and ends up scoring within say 15 seconds? Not many of those around.

 

[Apocalypse]

LOL nice contradicting there... quality goal, but nothing extraordinary.. err okay. Show me a similar goal where the person starting the counter attack from their own third of the pitch, and ends up scoring within say 15 seconds? Not many of those around.

It can be quality yet not extraordinary, there's nothing contradicting here.
You claimed it was "the best counter attack in many years", I found that to be quite a laughable remark and truly it is - it's not in the top 50 counter attacks of the last 5 years, let alone the best.
Now I know what you're going to do, you're going to change the wording of your claim and start getting more and more specific and into details so to remove as many contradicting examples as possible so you can continue to hold that bizarre assertion of yours. You've already begun doing so with the demand now for the player scoring to be startng the counter attack from his own third of the pitch and scoring within 15 seconds, now just off the top of my head I can give this as an example:



...And it was within 9 seconds, but you'll just change the wording yet again to something like "a player who passes the ball and then gets it back during that counter attack to score". And so on and so on. It's obvious.
I've given the example of Real Madrid against Ajax in 2011 as the best goal scored in a counter attack in the last several years, this one isn't even in the same league.
Sorry but that goal was nothing extraordinary Pete, even if the player's name was Messi. :shrug:

 

[PeteEU]

Liverpool on top... who would have thought that at the start of the season. But now it is that silly international break...

 

[Apocalypse]

Liverpool on top... who would have thought that at the start of the season. But now it is that silly international break...

Top 6 of the EPL table are Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Tottenham and United.
How awesome is that.

 

[PeteEU]

Top 6 of the EPL table are Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Tottenham and United.
How awesome is that.

No shocker there... that is the same teams that have been top 6 for over a decade for the most part.

 

[Apocalypse]

No shocker there... that is the same teams that have been top 6 for over a decade for the most part.

Yeah though last year it wasn't so with Liverpool and Chelsea.
Personally I always hope for the big teams to all run together for the title throughout the entire season, makes things much more interesting IMO than Leicester taking a title out of nowhere.

 

[PeteEU]

Yeah though last year it wasn't so with Liverpool and Chelsea.

Hence the "most part". Also remember Everton mixing in at one point during the last decade.. but all in all it is the same 6 teams that have been in the top 4-6 for the last 10+ years.

 

[Apocalypse]

Hence the "most part". Also remember Everton mixing in at one point during the last decade.. but all in all it is the same 6 teams that have been in the top 4-6 for the last 10+ years.

In the last 10 years Everton were at the top-6 five times, Aston Villa three times, Southampton once and Leicester once.

 

[PeteEU]

In the last 10 years Everton were at the top-6 five times, Aston Villa three times, Southampton once and Leicester once.

You missed Bolton in 2006-7. Also have to remember that in the last 10 years you have the nouveau riche Manchester City getting into the mix, basically meaning the usual 4 became the usual 5 and leaving only 1 team of unknown status being able to go into the top 6. And even this is up for grabs now days, as Tottenham have become a real force again along with Liverpool, basically cementing the "usual 6" yet again.

However if you look at the top 4 only.. then well a familiar picture is exposed. It is the same teams over and over again. Man U, Chealski, Arsenal, with Man City joining recently and Liverpool and Tottenham being a tad more consistent than most. Everton, Southhampton, Liecester .. all "one time wonders" basically and all because one of the listed teams screwed up. For example in 2011-12 Newcastle got in top 6-7.. why? Because Liverpool failed massively that year. Same with 2009-10, when Villa were in the top 6-7.

But as I said, the top 4 rarely changes with a "Leicester" type team. One can claim that one of the reasons that Leicester won last year, was because Chealski failed so badly, and the other teams had a bad year. Had they been even remotely at their best, then Leicester would not have stood a chance.

Every country has X number of teams competing for the title, and in most countries you can pretty early call out who is in the run for the title.. and yes that goes for the EPL. Man U are pretty much out of it and Tottenham are fading fast as they continue to throw away points in games they should have won. That leaves Arsenal, City, Liverpool and Chealski. Arsenal will do the usual March madness and get 3rd or 4th as usual, leaving Liverpool, Chealski and City. City are hot and cold at the moment (typical City one could say), and have European football as a priority I suspect. That means Liverpool and Chealski are going to have an advantage in the title race over City and well then it is a crap shoot.

We shall see. At the moment I think we are seeing the top 4 or 5 who will fight for the title and of those the top 3 are the most likely candidates for the title... only Liverpool being "unusual" based on the last 10 years, but hardly unusual based on their history.

One thing that is for sure.. Sunderland will go down, with Swansea.. 11 games in and they are already 5 points behind 18th spot.. Hell I could see West Ham going down as well the way they are playing..

 

[Higgins86]

Some amazing gestures coming from the world of football today. PSG donating 40 mill, players going to be loaned out by other Brazilian teams and immunity from relegation for several years. Just the start I imagine.

 

[PeteEU]

Man City vs Chealski.. great game, but a disgusting ending. What in the hell was Augero thinking? and Fernandiho? Idiots. Man City deserved a draw at least, and were best, but Chealski out-tacticed them. One could also claim that the ref had a poor game, but then again most of the issues it was one of those "could be given but could also not be given" situations.

Oh just saw in the replays Fabregas gave Fernadinho a slap in the face... hope they give him a ban for that.

Next game .. El Classico.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

City couldn't even score a goal on us, had to do it for them . Fabregas even assisting Fernandinho with a red card, what a player. Aguero and Fernandinho will miss the clash with Arsenal. Absolutely deserved. Oh well, three points, top of the table, and on to face WBA. COYB.

Forgot to add, :lol: at De Bruyne missing the tap in.

 

[Higgins86]

Liverpool blew a 3-1 lead

 

[Higgins86]

Bravo is awful.

 

[PeteEU]

Bravo is awful.

How on earth are the goals Bravos fault? It is the 3 defenders fault each time. Goal 1. Poor marking. Goal 2. Poor marking and Goal 3. how on earth can you blame the goalkeeper for that? Again bad defensive work.

 

[PeteEU]

God John Stones is poor. He needs more training from an experienced player at his side.. he is making school boy mistakes over and over.

 

[Higgins86]

How on earth are the goals Bravos fault? It is the 3 defenders fault each time. Goal 1. Poor marking. Goal 2. Poor marking and Goal 3. how on earth can you blame the goalkeeper for that? Again bad defensive work.

He doesn't make any saves, ever it's like he's afraid of the ball. I'm not the only one either, he's getting ripped apart for those first 2 goals.