[Albion] Premier League 18-20/1/25

[Weststander]

Not bravely but I predicted the same thing. Leicester had the best chances but their economy stopped them from getting what they need to stay up.

Like I said a lot over the last year, the league is too big, England doesn't have 20 clubs capable of competing at top level. And non-competitive leagues aren't fun in the long run. In other big leagues like Serie A and La Liga, there are five-six-seven-eight teams involved in relegation battles... like it should be.

My “bravely” was sarcasm about myself.

Every mid season a load of folk including on nsc salivate about the pending relegation of Everton or CP or West Ham or Spurs. But you know that due to relative spending power (fees and wages) over sustained windows, over the 38 games they’ll have a clear edge in churning our sufficient clean sheets to chisel out wins and two or three expensive game changers at the other end of pitch. West Ham (this is not a dig about GP) are shockingly poor, but Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton don’t have Paquetá, Bowen and Kudus. Giving assorted West Ham managers a get out of jail card. Even if the other 8 players are sh1t most weeks.

 

[Han Solo]

My “bravely” was sarcasm about myself.

Every mid season a load of folk including on nsc salivate about the pending relegation of Everton or CP or West Ham or Spurs. But you know that due to relative spending power (fees and wages) over sustained windows, over the 38 games they’ll have a clear edge in churning our sufficient clean sheets to chisel out wins and two or three expensive game changers at the other end of pitch. West Ham (this is not a dig about GP) are shockingly poor, but Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton don’t have Paquetá, Bowen and Kudus. Giving assorted West Ham managers a get out of jail card. Even if the other 8 players are sh1t most weeks.

Yup. And same with us... failing to win 8 in a row just halfway through the middle and still be able to say "there's not a chance we go down" isn't how it should be. Or Wolves and Everton just running zombie teams with a bunch of old PL players they've scraped together over the years and still being better than the desperately fighting newcomers. Manchester United doing everything wrong for 15 years and still shrugging over the risk of relegation.

Covid increased that big gap between the leagues to a gigantic one.

 

[Weststander]

Yup. And same with us... failing to win 8 in a row just halfway through the middle and still be able to say "there's not a chance we go down" isn't how it should be. Or Wolves and Everton just running zombie teams with a bunch of old PL players they've scraped together over the years and still being better than the desperately fighting newcomers. Manchester United doing everything wrong for 15 years and still shrugging over the risk of relegation.

Covid increased that big gap between the leagues to a gigantic one.

A cynic might say it‘s designed to ensure the big commercial draws always stay part of the party. Villa were the last ‘bigger’ club to drop, but it took about 4 bites of the cherry. Their vast cheating spend propelled them back up, but it took the play off! I don’t count Leeds because they only had 4 windows and did not do a £££££ Forest.

Older than you I remember Manure and Spurs relegated. It was fkn marvellous.

 

[Weststander]

Ange on MOTD2 “A great way to start an interview” .

Miserable fck, it was a fair and politely asked question.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Ange on MOTD2 “A great way to start an interview” .

Miserable fck, it was a fair and politely asked question.

He just looks at his feet when he’s lost. Odd interview style.

 

[Han Solo]

Ange on MOTD2 “A great way to start an interview” .

Miserable fck, it was a fair and politely asked question.

Tbf he might have the most frustrating job in the league

 

[papachris]

Again now. His interview on motd. Just looking at his feet, starts a cough because he can't breathe properly.
Dreadful body language.

 

[Weststander]

MOTD2 doing the opposite of MOTD ….. leaving the Manure-Manc luvin until late. Chapman’s hurting.

 

[pasty]

Considering their position and who they were playing I’m impressed by Southampton supporter numbers at Forest

 

[BN41Albion]

MOTD2 doing the opposite of MOTD ….. leaving the Manure-Manc luvin until late. Chapman’s hurting.

To be fair two near comebacks were always going to be ahead of our run-of-the-mill victory at OT

 

[Weststander]

To be fair two near comebacks were always going to be ahead of our run-of-the-mill victory at OT

Pleased Spurs lost, but I just can‘t warm to Everton or Forest. Is it just me?

Watching a few minutes of The Shining just started on bbc2 for the stunning Oregon and Montana footage. Before the Onana horror show.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

A cynic might say it‘s designed to ensure the big commercial draws always stay part of the party. Villa were the last ‘bigger’ club to drop, but it took about 4 bites of the cherry. Their vast cheating spend propelled them back up, but it took the play off! I don’t count Leeds because they only had 4 windows and did not do a £££££ Forest.

Older than you I remember Manure and Spurs relegated. It was fkn marvellous.

Chelsea went down in the eighties, which was nice

 

[Weststander]

Chelsea went down in the eighties, which was nice

and 1975, 1979, the latter followed by 4 seasons in division 2.

 

[papachris]

Great goal line clearance from forest to keep the win

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Great goal line clearance from forest to keep the win

Meh, lucky

I don't like numbnuts aspirin santo or forest

 

[Bodian]

Ange on MOTD2 “A great way to start an interview” .

Miserable fck, it was a fair and politely asked question.

Oh - that's what he said. I couldn't make out a word!

 

[Han Solo]

Tiresome seeing Nottingham up there in the table. They are DIRE to watch (normally).

Sure, in the long run we win. They have a squad with full-grown players already in their peak years and little room for improvement through development, so they've gone all in on the "now is everything" kind of squad build that West Ham and Fulham had a lot of success with in recent years. Good for them now - problem is that these sides eventually turn into what West Ham (and other teams in the past) is now: full of decaying players that can't be sold.

Play now, suffer later. My annoyance with Nottingham is that they're not playing. They have the deepest backline in the Premier League, a pair of incredibly pacy wingers and a poacher up front. Its a team of scavengers that can't create shit by themselves and just sit and wait for opponents to slip up. There's a charm to it when one team does it but if every PL manager was as anti-football as Nuno, it would be utterly unwatchable.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Tiresome seeing Nottingham up there in the table. They are DIRE to watch (normally).

Sure, in the long run we win. They have a squad with full-grown players already in their peak years and little room for improvement through development, so they've gone all in on the "now is everything" kind of squad build that West Ham and Fulham had a lot of success with in recent years. Good for them now - problem is that these sides eventually turn into what West Ham (and other teams in the past) is now: full of decaying players that can't be sold.

Play now, suffer later. My annoyance with Nottingham is that they're not playing. They have the deepest backline in the Premier League, a pair of incredibly pacy wingers and a poacher up front. Its a team of scavengers that can't create shit by themselves and just sit and wait for opponents to slip up. There's a charm to it when one team does it but if every PL manager was as anti-football as Nuno, it would be utterly unwatchable.

How do we beat them then?

They seem set-up perfectly to counter our possession football. They take most of their chances and score whilst effectively stopping the opposition most of the time when they defend.

They suffer next to no injuries and have over half the team playing the best football of their careers.

Is there a master plan or do we play like we do normally and get a hammering next month?

 

[Han Solo]

How do we beat them then?

They seem set-up perfectly to counter our possession football. They take most of their chances and score whilst effectively stopping the opposition most of the time when they defend.

They suffer next to no injuries and have over half the team playing the best football of their careers.

Is there a master plan or do we play like we do normally and get a hammering next month?

Think more and more teams will be looking for a draw against Nottingham, which should be quite easily achievable. If we're going to be real pragmatic thats what we might go looking for as well. Play safe, be patient, force them to come forward, leave full backs in defense. If they get the first goal I think we would have a very difficult time breaking them down.

 

[Weststander]

Tiresome seeing Nottingham up there in the table. They are DIRE to watch (normally).

Sure, in the long run we win. They have a squad with full-grown players already in their peak years and little room for improvement through development, so they've gone all in on the "now is everything" kind of squad build that West Ham and Fulham had a lot of success with in recent years. Good for them now - problem is that these sides eventually turn into what West Ham (and other teams in the past) is now: full of decaying players that can't be sold.

Play now, suffer later. My annoyance with Nottingham is that they're not playing. They have the deepest backline in the Premier League, a pair of incredibly pacy wingers and a poacher up front. Its a team of scavengers that can't create shit by themselves and just sit and wait for opponents to slip up. There's a charm to it when one team does it but if every PL manager was as anti-football as Nuno, it would be utterly unwatchable.

Watching Nuno teams in the flesh, other than when he lucked out through the superagent …. delivering Jota etc, it’s not a great watch for opposition fans. Mass ranked defence for 90’, a couple of players, possibly 3, ready to nab a counter attack win.

Nothing against Nuno himself, he seems a gent and I felt sorry for his treatment at Spurs.

But this doesn’t have the feel of LCFC. Mahrez, Kante, Vardy, Albrighton and flying fullbacks coming at everyone, afraid of no one.