The lack of quality in the Premier League this season

[Ragatino]

Just watched the Manc Derby. Hoping for a City demolition of Carrick's rotten reds.

Sadly it wasn't to be.

City had just 1 shot on target all match.
The Filth parked a fleet of buses and hit City on the break to great effect - Anti-football.

The death of creativity celebrated like a performance from Peak '04 Barcelona. Shameful to see the swamp dwellers all singing and crowing like they just won the league.

The filth go up to 4th before the Bin dippers play with a +6 GD on 35 points. It's tight at the top.

City lost some ground on the Gooners today. I still have them as favourites over the North London bottle jobs but that performance certainly wasn't good enough for team with Title aspirations.

[Jammy89]

IF we win by 2 goals tomorrow we go up to 5th.

Shame that Wolves seem to have turned a bit of a corner.

[Ragatino]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cx2wl93178zt

Check out the head-to-head tab.

Last 8 against Wolves = 6wins, 2draws.

They've picked up a few points but they are still terrible and even with the Teams poor away form this is a match that they should win.

All the head-to-head info is positive NUFC.

I'm cautiously confident. HWtLs!

[Jammy89]

What would be great, is if we could really put down a marker and batter them 4 or 5 nil.

However, obviously, I'll take a 1-0 victory now.

[Ragatino]

What would be great, is if we could really put down a marker and batter them 4 or 5 nil.

However, obviously, I'll take a 1-0 victory now.

Absolutely. Dream scenario is a Wissa Hatrick with Elanga 2 assists and a goal to make it 0-4.

Woltemade on to complete the rout 0-5.

[toptoon]

This season is weird. PSV do the dippers 1-4 then we stuff PSV. We lose at Marseille then the dippers beat them 0-3. City (imo) completely outplay us in the semi final, then lose to Bodo.
Seems noone (apart from the woolich) is consistent.

[Ragatino]

This season is weird. PSV do the dippers 1-4 then we stuff PSV. We lose at Marseille then the dippers beat them 0-3. City (imo) completely outplay us in the semi final, then lose to Bodo.
Seems noone (apart from the woolich) is consistent.

Shows how inconsistent everyone is.

Woolwich are yet to have their annual choking event. It's in the post.

[toptoon]

Shows how inconsistent everyone is.

Woolwich are yet to have their annual choking event. It's in the post.

History would certainly suggest you are right!

[toptoon]

Spurs are hilarious as usual. I really thought that with Levy gone, Frank would turn them around but theyve reverted to form in double quick time.

[Ragatino]

Spurs are hilarious as usual. I really thought that with Levy gone, Frank would turn them around but theyve reverted to form in double quick time.

There is a loser culture, the also ran of north London, the chip on the shoulder that they will never be able to change.

The difference with NUFC is that we've always been the big club of the true North, the sleeping Giant.

Now we have awakened and we are hungry to feast on the trophies our forefathers dined out on as a matter of fact.

4 league titles, 6 FA Cups, 1 League up & 1 European Cup.

The owners have hired the greatest chefs, the meals are being prepared... it's time to feast!

[HughieG]

Spurs is a manager's graveyard now.

Regarding tactics, even Pep said that the game has changed now. What used to work, doesn't work now. But isn't it kind of similar to old school British football in that sense - you've never really been famous for a technical, possession-based game over there. Masters of the physical game, yes!

[Ragatino]

Spurs is a manager's graveyard now.

Regarding tactics, even Pep said that the game has changed now. What used to work, doesn't work now. But isn't it kind of similar to old school British football in that sense - you've never really been famous for a technical, possession-based game over there. Masters of the physical game, yes!

Spurs are a nowhere club.

They aren't Arsenal or Chelsea, they're the club players go to who aren't good enough for those two.

The stadium debt is massive, good interest rates but still a massive black hole in their finances which means the owners will spend but not at the levels to compete with the bigger clubs in London.

They're a money making machine in terms of revenue streams for the owners, like the filth of Old Trafford in that football is a bi-product of the commercial activities but without the museum of trophies attached.

The fans demands are laughable, they call us deluded haha ridiculous, and can never be met. The owners don't care so long as the turnstiles keep spinning and money keeps rolling in.

Chelsea is a different model of the same thing. Venture Capitalist/hedgefund owners don't care about trophies more than profits.

[toptoon]

I see Robertson is linked to Spurs. That is the perfect signing for them - I think hell do nothing there.

[Guybrush]

I?d 100% take Robertson here, I would have liked to have seen him move as part of the Is.. nope, that deal 😆

[OwdBillCook]

I'm not sure that there's a lack of quality in the Prem this season. At least not a lack of quality players.
For me, there is a lack of quality intent. Styles, tactics, strategies tend to come and go. We now seem to be in phase where "don't lose" is more important for a lot of teams than "want to win".
The game against PSV was a great example of what's wrong in the Prem. The best footy match I've watched in ages. Both teams went out to win. It was unlikely that PSV would, but by no means impossible. Both teams went for it - PSV died by the sword. But they offered up entertainment. And, fundamentally, that is what sport is. Obviously, compared to Gaza, or Trump possibly invading Greenland, sport has no absolute importance whatsoever. Therefore, it has to be entertaining.
NUFC v PSV was very entertaining, and it would have been even had we lost.
"Parking the bus" and hoping you might possibly get a goal on the break is the opposite of entertaining. Total crap to watch.
If you keep offering up total crap, and charge people a lot to watch it, then they will walk away. Might take a while, might happen very slowly, but I reckon they will. I already know quite a few blokes my age (mid 70s) who were into footy, but now think it's crap and don't even follow it any more.
An interesting suggestion I read this week - can't remember who came up with it, but it made a lot of sense to me.
Don't tinker with the playing rules, offside etc. Just make a 0-0 draw zero points. A 1-1 or more draw still gets you a point. But you're guaranteed no points unless you score.
Seems very sensible to me.