2/12 - 2/15 Gameweek (PL Week 25)

[OCST]

Utd-Soton with the early game.

Massive inflection point for the Toffees today, hosting Leeds. Win, and look good doing it, and we'll all feel that the ship has been steadied. Lose, and that will be 4 points in 11 games. That's not just relegation form,. that's all time worst, Sunderland relegation form. Unfortunately, the defense is a shambles. Godfrey and Mina both out, leaving the putrid Keane and Holgate and the rookie Branthwaite as the only CBs. New LB Mikolenko also out, so there are literally 0 natural LBs. At Newcastle, we tried a back three with Townsend as a left wing-back. He put in a shift but he had no idea where to be or what to do. Expect one of newbie Nathan Patterson, with 0 PL starts, or wraith RB Seamus Coleman to try to make do on the left. The thought of either trying to keep up with Raphinha for 90 minutes already has me hiding behind the couch.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

That goal was coming. Soton playing a bit suicidally in the early going.

 

[Zomp]

Every time I'm at peace with Pogba leaving he starts playing like this...

 

[OCST]

Every time I'm at peace with Pogba leaving he starts playing like this...

So many players like this.

 

[OCST]

Utd getting frisky now but Saints have been the better side in second half.

 

[the1andonly3003]

luke shaw definitely scrubbed off that white marker and gave himself a couple of inches on that free kick

 

[OCST]

luke shaw definitely scrubbed off that white marker and gave himself a couple of inches on that free kick

As a Utd fan I’d be happy to see it. They need a little more snide.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

As a Utd fan I’d be happy to see it. They need a little more snide.

They have tons of it. They need more of it pointed towards football matches.

 

[Pesky Pole]

It’s like watching a Serie A game here. 5 guys surround the ref after every whistle.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

United sure are a whiny bunch

 

[OCST]

They have tons of it. They need more of it pointed towards football matches.

I meant “in the spirit of gamesmanship” but you’re right

 

[teddykgb]

I have a bottomless pit of appetite for shots of disappointed United fans in the stands

You can save yourself the quip about empty seats at City

 

[Pesky Pole]

I have a bottomless pit of appetite for shots of disappointed United fans in the stands

You can save yourself the quip about empty seats at City

The guy with the Patriots hat took some of the luster off this for me. I still enjoyed it but slightly less.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

So what’s the future for Rangnick? Is he headed upstairs (as previously reported) or has this underwhelming display doomed his United future?

I’d guess there’s no chance he’s back as the manager . Has to be Poch doesn’t it?

 

[Zomp]

Rangnick will move upstairs I'm guessing. I don't think he's doing a bad job. They just aren't finishing the chances. Suddenly Ronaldo looks old and worryingly Rashford has lost everything that made him such a threat the past few years. Sancho has looked a lot sharper over the past month but they just aren't gelling.

I don't know.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

So what’s the future for Rangnick? Is he headed upstairs (as previously reported) or has this underwhelming display doomed his United future?

I’d guess there’s no chance he’s back as the manager . Has to be Poch doesn’t it?

Probably, but jeez, at this point if you are having a bad time in Paris managing a club that makes team deforming decisions based on commercial considerations, won’t commit to your pressing schemes and has an entrenched culture of too much player power and constant media leaks that makes your job more annoying, Man United doesn’t seem like much of a breath of fresh air.

 

[the1andonly3003]

I meant “in the spirit of gamesmanship” but you’re right

James Ward Prowse was quite honorable in kicking his free kick next to the white line!

 

[SocrManiac]

Lampard is aging like a US president.

 

[SocrManiac]

is Richarlison hurt? He looks like he’s running underwater.

 

[the1andonly3003]

leeds should have sacked their medical staff

 

[OCST]

Dallas off with sn injury at 7’. Goodison electric, Toffees outrunning Leeds(!!) but can they keep it up for 90?

 

[OCST]

GOAL!!! Coleman header off a DCL rebound

 

[the1andonly3003]

breathless start...can we get a 5-5 draw please?

Dallas off with sn injury at 7’. Goodison electric, Toffees outrunning Leeds(!!) but can they keep it up for 90?

 

[OCST]

So what’s the future for Rangnick? Is he headed upstairs (as previously reported) or has this underwhelming display doomed his United future?

I’d guess there’s no chance he’s back as the manager . Has to be Poch doesn’t it?

Ralph looked like he was consoling Ralf when they shook hands- quite something if you think about it

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Everton look rejuvenated.

 

[the1andonly3003]

this Coleman guy...

 

[OCST]

2-0! Keane off a corner

 

[OCST]

Everton look rejuvenated.

Yes

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Congratulations OCST. I know how much you needed this. Only as much as we want to give it away. Leeds are a shambles.

 

[OCST]

Congratulations OCST. I know how much you needed this. Only as much as we want to give it away. Leeds are a shambles.

Still 50’ left. Never count Leeds out.

Gsme has predictably slowed. Both teams a little gassed

 

[Stanley Steamer]

I looked back, and Leeds have 3 clean sheets this season. I was shocked it was that many.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Wow. Rodrigo looks up for it, but can't buy a goal.

 

[OCST]

Wow. Rodrigo looks up for it, but can't buy a goal.

Hits the crossbar, for the second time. First time Pickford was off his line and would have stopped it if in place, this was just a worldie and he was off by a hair

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Good on Everton and Super Frank. I think the relegation battle is going down to the wire this year, which is good considering Man City takes all the fun out of football.

 

[dirtynine]

Brighton up 0-1 at Watford. Watford made 2 changes at halftime and were bossing the game for a good stretch to start the second half. Now it’s back to back-and-forth.

 

[OCST]

Richarlison at 79’ makes it 3-0. Raphinha off at halftime. Leeds have been flat. Best Everton effort and Goodison crowd I can remember. MOTM performance from perennial underachiever and scapegoat Iwobi, crowd chanting his name.

 

[OCST]

Goal credited to Gordon, it hit his calf on the way in.

 

[kobayashis bail bonds]

That Dele cross was beautiful. Such a shame it was Rondon on the receiving end of it.

This season has beaten any remaining optimism out of me, but I'm happy to have had fun watching Everton play. I'd almost forgotten what that was like.

 

[coremiller]

Good on Everton and Super Frank. I think the relegation battle is going down to the wire this year, which is good considering Man City takes all the fun out of football.

I don't think so. Everton will ultimately be fine. It's pretty hard to see anyone besides Burnley, Watford, Norwich going down at this point. They are currently in the relegation spots and are also 3 of the 4 worst by xG, along with Newcastle. Newcastle, while still tied for 18th, have two games in hand and bought some useful players in January, and so will probably scrape enough points to stay up.

 

[fletcherpost]

I don't think so. Everton will ultimately be fine. It's pretty hard to see anyone besides Burnley, Watford, Norwich going down at this point. They are currently in the relegation spots and are also 3 of the 4 worst by xG, along with Newcastle. Newcastle, while still tied for 18th, have two games in hand and bought some useful players in January, and so will probably scrape enough points to stay up.

I think Brentford might get sucked into the relegation scrap. They might run out of steam. Burnley have five games in hand on Brentford and are ten points behind. Burely aren't going to get ten-15 points from those games but 5-6 is reasonable. They have four fit strikers for the first time in ages. And they've been here before. I hold out no hope for Watford and Norwich but Burnley ain't sunk yet.

 

[teddykgb]

City taking care of Norwich allowed 3 youngsters to get 15 minutes. Delap (son of Rory) has been a beast in the youth teams but had a terrible time with injury over last year.

The one who I’m most excited by is an AM named McAtee. He’s got a breathtaking touch and could be skilled enough to play at City. He stalled signing a contract and I thought for sure some Prem team was going to poach him but he recently resigned and is making the bench regularly. Really one to watch he could be special if he can play that free 8 position

 

[Royal Reader]

I think Brentford might get sucked into the relegation scrap. They might run out of steam. Burnley have five games in hand on Brentford and are ten points behind. Burely aren't going to get ten-15 points from those games but 5-6 is reasonable. They have four fit strikers for the first time in ages. And they've been here before. I hold out no hope for Watford and Norwich but Burnley ain't sunk yet.

Eh, two games in hand is good, five games in hand says "Small squad will be too tired to win any of them."

I was dearly hoping for anything but the Norwich/Watford/Burnley trifecta going down, since that's an incredibly boring outcome. I guess all three promoted sides down might be nearly as bad.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Eh, two games in hand is good, five games in hand says "Small squad will be too tired to win any of them."

I was dearly hoping for anything but the Norwich/Watford/Burnley trifecta going down, since that's an incredibly boring outcome. I guess all three promoted sides down might be nearly as bad.

Yep, playing twice a week for a change. Im sure they‘l be helped by the five subs rule … oh wait …

 

[OCST]

That Deli cross was beautiful. Such a shame it was Rondon on the receiving end of it.

This season has beaten any remaining optimism out of me, but I'm happy to have had fun watching Everton play. I'd almost forgotten what that was like.

Rondo hit a one touch screamer. Nothing wrong with that strike. Highlight reel save.

Rondon looks much trimmer.” FWIW.

 

[67YAZ]

Klopp rolling out how classic line up…well, plus Kieta…for this tilt at Turf Moor.

 

[SocrManiac]

I expect Burnley to debut a defense featuring all 11 in their six yard box.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Klopp indicated Mane wasn’t expected to start but Jota picked up a minor knock in training.

The weather looks abysmal

 

[pedro1918]

As the Brits would say, “Nice weather.”

 

[SocrManiac]

Keeping up my ofer-life on predictions, Burnley are advanced and trying to play. Good on ‘em.

 

[Kliq]

Spurs starting the game exactly as they left off against Southampton.