Meanwhile, all the way down in the National League, Wrexham and Notts County played an absolute thriller. Newly un-retired Ben Foster saved a County penalty at the death to preserve a hugely consequential victory for Wrexham.
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The 2022-2023 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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I swear this morning Rafa was favourite to get Leicester City job and now they talking to Dean Smith lol.
Well done. Usually not too thrilled having them back up in the top flight, but Kompany gets them playing good football.
Burnley have done very well, and congrats to them.
WOW! Look at that point total !
WOW! Look at that point total !
Michael Carrick has done an incredible job guiding Middlesbrough that far up in the table. They were really in dire straits when he came on board.
There's a chance that Millwall could be playing in the Prem next season. God forbid.
I regret to have to report that Manchester City appear to be leading Bayern by three goals to nil.
The last thing anyone needs is the thugs back in the Prem. The Lions' Den is a scary place to be if you're part of the opposition...
Especially if you are a West Ham fan.
1-1 in the end. I guess I’d have taken that away from home. Now the simple matter of Arsenal at the weekend before the return leg.
I am not so sure that any games can be described as "simple" at this end of the season, with so much riding on the outcome for the respective teams.
How Man Utd pissed away such a huge advantage in the Europa tie, I have no idea. The Curse of Sevilla, I guess. Looked untouchable for 30 minutes and bumbling idiots the remaining 60, plus worrying injuries to Varane and Licha. Not looking great or feeling good.
Delighted to see Newcastle thrashed by a deserving Villa, who could have scored more.
And, yes, agreed, well done Bournemouth (who defeat Spurs by three goals to two).
Chelsea go down to Brighton by two goals to one, while Everton lose to Fulham by three goals to one.
And Wolves beat Brentford by two goals to nil.
Agree that neither Lampard (whom I have never rated as a manager and dislike as a man) nor Gerrard have yet managed to bridge the gap between having been a good player, indeed a good captain, a leader on the pitch - and a good manager.
In fact, most of the truly great managers had been mediocre players, at best; few outstanding players, or excellent players have succeeded in making the transition to management with success.
Unfortunately, and most depressingly, Manchester City - after 25 minutes - lead struggling Leicester by three goals to nil.
When examining possible reasons for Leicester's general loss of form (over the past few seasons), while one can look at the impact of wider changes to the game (such as nation states, or entities linked with nation states, buying football clubs), there has been - to my mind - an over-emphasis on the general decline of Vardy as a force.
While Vardy was of vital importance in the title winning team (a title win that took place all of seven years ago, and Vardy, who wasn't in the first flush of youth at the time, is now seven years older, thus, a loss of speed is inevitable), so, also were Mahrez, and - to my mind,even more so - N'Golo Kanté, who were both sold subsequently, shortly after the team secured the title.
Now, although I think that Leicester have missed Kanté, (and his departure - to my mind - meant that mounting a successful challenge to retain the title had become much more difficult, and this is entirely apart from the significant transformations since undergone by other teams), I would argue that an even more recent departure, at the beginning of this season - that of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel - has been hugely detrimental to their chances of remaining in the Premier League.
When examining possible reasons for Leicester's general loss of form (over the past few seasons), while one can look at the impact of wider changes to the game (such as nation states, or entities linked with nation states, buying football clubs), there has been - to my mind - an over-emphasis on the general decline of Vardy as a force.
While Vardy was of vital importance in the title winning team (a title win that took place all of seven years ago, and Vardy, who wasn't in the first flush of youth at the time, is now seven years older, thus, a loss of speed is inevitable), so, also were Mahrez, and - to my mind,even more so - N'Golo Kanté, who were both sold subsequently, shortly after the team secured the title.
Now, although I think that Leicester have missed Kanté, (and his departure - to my mind - meant that mounting a successful challenge to retain the title had become much more difficult, and this is entirely apart from the significant transformations since undergone by other teams), I would argue that an even more recent departure, at the beginning of this season - that of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel - has been hugely detrimental to their chances of remaining in the Premier League.
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I like Leicester as a team, but you’ll understand why I’m less disappointed in the current score line.
Agree selling Schmeichel was a big mistake. A good GK gives your defence a lot more confidence.
But selling your best players is not a good strategy. Especially if you can’t reinvest those funds in other players.
I think that Schmeichel wanted to leave Leicester, but his departure has really hurt them.
A good goalkeeper is essential to - not just a team's success - but to reducing the threat of failure (or defeat) when margins are tight.
Anyway, Leicester have pulled a goal back, and seem to be actually (if belatedly) fighting; would love to see (and not just for partisan reasons) Manchester City challenged a bit.
You are still in the driving seat. As long as you beat City the title is yours.
Sadly it will be many years until we see a club like Leicester win the PL. I fear they won’t even be in it come May.