Sportsbet.io's English Premier League Football Pool Discussion Thread

[casperBGD]

while neighbors are celebrating Salah staying, we let go Richarlison to Tottenham, and that is a sign that next season could be as bad as this one
and there is no Burnley to save us this year, but hopefully Fulham will be there to relegate instead

nevertheless, for me it seems that City will dominate next season in Premier, but CL will be their headache again

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[Welsh]

while neighbors are celebrating Salah staying, we let go Richarlison to Tottenham, and that is a sign that next season could be as bad as this one
and there is no Burnley to save us this year, but hopefully Fulham will be there to relegate instead

nevertheless, for me it seems that City will dominate next season in Premier, but CL will be their headache again

Damn. That's a tough pill to swallow, while I don't like how the man plays, and his attitude when he plays against us. He was your best player I'd say. At least, what was left after Rafa. That's unfortunate, that he'll still be in the Premier League though, I expect more of the same shithousery that he did in Everton against us.

I don't think City will dominate, we have strengthened, and while City will be favourites I do expect us to be up there somewhere making it at least competitive.

[Harkorede]

while neighbors are celebrating Salah staying, we let go Richarlison to Tottenham, and that is a sign that next season could be as bad as this one
and there is no Burnley to save us this year, but hopefully Fulham will be there to relegate instead

nevertheless, for me it seems that City will dominate next season in Premier, but CL will be their headache again

Damn. That's a tough pill to swallow, while I don't like how the man plays, and his attitude when he plays against us. He was your best player I'd say. At least, what was left after Rafa. That's unfortunate, that he'll still be in the Premier League though, I expect more of the same shithousery that he did in Everton against us.

I don't think City will dominate, we have strengthened, and while City will be favourites I do expect us to be up there somewhere making it at least competitive.

I doubt Man City will be dominating too, but that will be up to how competitive the others too, it would have been a runaway since ending of march or thereabout if Liverpool weren't in the picture, it might be a case similar come the new season if Chelsea aren't able to keep up with the pace too, I've already ruled out Man United, Tottenham and Arsenal.

[Franctoshi]

while neighbors are celebrating Salah staying, we let go Richarlison to Tottenham, and that is a sign that next season could be as bad as this one
and there is no Burnley to save us this year, but hopefully Fulham will be there to relegate instead

nevertheless, for me it seems that City will dominate next season in Premier, but CL will be their headache again

I don't think so about Fulham, I Think it is too early to really guess how bad this season may become, a new season will come with its own new things and surprises. Op, this season could be better, you forgot that this is a new season that many clubs are trying to tighten up their team to prevent their previous flaws. Hopefully, with the kind of players switching clubs right now I see an amazing premier league season ahead.

For now I still see Manchester City very much ahead of every other premier league team to lift the trophy.

[Welsh]

The thing is, yeah Man City are stronger, but the only real signing of note is Haaland who is known to have injury problems. So, he could be another Aguero where when he plays he delivers, but for much of the year is out injured. I actually think Haaland is a bit of a risk because of that.

I'm not buying into the idea that City is this unstoppable force. They dropped a lot of points last season when they got quite a good lead on us. One big signing doesn't make a difference in my opinion. Sure, more goals. However, I actually think their defence isn't exactly the best. Think they could improve there. Nah, I think Liverpool, and Chelsea are going to challenge this year. Arsenal, outside chance.

[examplens]

while neighbors are celebrating Salah staying, we let go Richarlison to Tottenham, and that is a sign that next season could be as bad as this one
and there is no Burnley to save us this year, but hopefully Fulham will be there to relegate instead

nevertheless, for me it seems that City will dominate next season in Premier, but CL will be their headache again

I think Man City will still have a chance to get into the final but to talk about this club's defeat I think it's still too early to decide because they still have professional players who I think can surprise the crowd and fans of Man City. Mason Greenwood and Cristiano Ronaldo are professional players who still remain a very important hope.

What are you talking about?
Greenwood and Christiano are Manchester United players, not City. Plus, Mason Greenwood is probably done with his professional football career in PL, at least at the highest level, due to a private rambunctious scandal. it's been like this for more than half a year.

[swogerino]

The thing is, yeah Man City are stronger, but the only real signing of note is Haaland who is known to have injury problems. So, he could be another Aguero where when he plays he delivers, but for much of the year is out injured. I actually think Haaland is a bit of a risk because of that.

I'm not buying into the idea that City is this unstoppable force. They dropped a lot of points last season when they got quite a good lead on us. One big signing doesn't make a difference in my opinion. Sure, more goals. However, I actually think their defence isn't exactly the best. Think they could improve there. Nah, I think Liverpool, and Chelsea are going to challenge this year. Arsenal, outside chance.

It depends more on Liverpool than City I would say.It was Liverpool losing points with weaker teams,more points than City lost with those teams that made a difference.I know Liverpool let Mane go to Bayern but I think Liverpool is still as strong as it was with Mane,they have the same other great players.It depends exclusively on them,if they not lose points during the upcoming season with weaker teams they have the same probability to win the Premier League as City has.The signing of Haaland is a great move for City but I think they were strong enough even without him,I doubt he will make a big difference in Premier League but that is to be seen.

[buwaytress]

@LFC_Bitcoin Think we might even be playing an entirely new formation? So many question marks, but excited. Saw they Anfield new sections also already coming up!

Are you guys celebrating somewhere? Just read that Salah signed a new deal with Liverpool and since you guys aren't writing about it I guess you must be celebrating.

Good move from LFC to secure Salah, especially now that Mane left. New guys shiuld bring plenty of pace and explosivness to the attack as well. Should be another neck to neck battle with City for first spot. Don't see anybody else challenging them.

Haha nah I tend to be a bit conservative celebrating new players (or even extensions). For sure a huge boost, I really was prepared to say goodbye to Salah as well and this turned out from nowhere. I was hinting at it in my post you quoted though. Salah's staying so we've got a nice headache with formations, Nunez at the speartip and Salah, Firmino, Jota, Diaz, crowding behind him? Haha.

I agree with Welsh though, City have Haaland but they've lost a few key players as well, not sure if 1-man Haaland can replace the outgoings. I know Pep's different too but I'll remember what happened to Bundesliga stars coming to EPL just in past 2 seasons alone. I don't like using the world flop but...

It’s certainly a relief, Salah might be 30 but how much would it cost in a transfer fee to sign somebody else who can replicate his goals & assists numbers? A lot I would imagine. I still think we need a top class midfielder but we will see, lots of time left in the transfer window.

Hopefully good things for LFC this season.

More than we could ever or would ever want to pay. Salah's the highest paid player now, but LFC breaking the bank's still not going to put us into the wealth stratosphere, and for good reason.

[Welsh]

I agree with Welsh though, City have Haaland but they've lost a few key players as well, not sure if 1-man Haaland can replace the outgoings. I know Pep's different too but I'll remember what happened to Bundesliga stars coming to EPL just in past 2 seasons alone. I don't like using the world flop but...

Right, and to be honest I'm not even convinced he will do well. Hear me out before you get the pitch forks out, but most of his highlight reels are amazing, running with the ball, and using his pace. However, in reality most of his goals come in from tap ins. Now, that's a skill in its own right, don't get me wrong. However, is Haaland going to get as much space in the Premier League as the Bundesliga?

I don't know the answer to that, but we'll soon find out. I'm a little worried since I've watched a fair bit of City games now, and they tend to hit the byline, and cross it quite effectively. However, up until this point they haven't really had the players in the right positions. If Haaland can still get in the right positions, he could be the difference between City drawing or losing.

However, I'm definitely not cacking my pants because he has joined city. I'm quietly confident about Nunes, and we've got Diaz who is arguably the best signing of last season.

[Trofo]

I agree with Welsh though, City have Haaland but they've lost a few key players as well, not sure if 1-man Haaland can replace the outgoings. I know Pep's different too but I'll remember what happened to Bundesliga stars coming to EPL just in past 2 seasons alone. I don't like using the world flop but...

What outgoings? I am not aware City lost anybody except for Fernadinho who was far from key player last season, his age caught up with him and it was time to move.

Haaland is probably at least a bit better than those players you mentioned and he is in perfect condition. I am not concerned for his adaption on Premier League but I am bit concerned cause he is going to play for Pep. We all know Pep doesn't really like proper strikers, hell Aguero and Ibrahimović in their prime were not good enough for him.  I can see problems in their relationship arising very soon when Haaland realizes he will be just one cog in the machine and not the spearhead of all attacks.

Pep is perfect coach for players like Bernardo Silva, players that can play all 6 forward positions, but if you are a star wanting to build your own stats, that is almost doomed to fail.

[buwaytress]

Right, and to be honest I'm not even convinced he will do well. Hear me out before you get the pitch forks out, but most of his highlight reels are amazing, running with the ball, and using his pace. However, in reality most of his goals come in from tap ins. Now, that's a skill in its own right, don't get me wrong. However, is Haaland going to get as much space in the Premier League as the Bundesliga?

I don't know the answer to that, but we'll soon find out. I'm a little worried since I've watched a fair bit of City games now, and they tend to hit the byline, and cross it quite effectively. However, up until this point they haven't really had the players in the right positions. If Haaland can still get in the right positions, he could be the difference between City drawing or losing.

However, I'm definitely not cacking my pants because he has joined city. I'm quietly confident about Nunes, and we've got Diaz who is arguably the best signing of last season.

No pitch forks from me, I had my doubts about Pulisic, Werner, Havertz (and at least 2 of them seemed destined for Liverpool too), Bundesliga is tough, but EPL is just different.

Haaland, I like the guy, actually! A bit of a showboat, but actually with a dash of humility and fun so I know he's just enjoying himself as a young lad, nothing more. See, Haaland made sense when you had City doing the same old "spray passes up and down the wing until there's space, cutback to centre, someone scores". He'd be getting goals served up to him over and over.

And I think he'll do well, but as Trofo says, I'm just not sure Pep's the right coach to do that.

Happy to be proven wrong and see him thrive, cause I really like him.

But absolutely, I'm not worried about him. And actually a lot less worried about City this season than the past few. That's not arrogance in Liverpool's superiority (City are still the better overall team at collecting points), just a lingering memory of how badly they played a lot of games last season.

What outgoings? I am not aware City lost anybody except for Fernadinho who was far from key player last season, his age caught up with him and it was time to move.

Sterling, Jesus (they're leaving, just don't know the details as of yet). And if they somehow end up staying, then we know we have unhappy players and Pep, if I know him, refuses to play unhappy players. He'll want them out because they want out. He won't play them if they're stuck around, so he can force them out by January.

You're right about Pep and strikers, but I feel like Pep/Klopp want to change things around this season.

Crazy that 2 top teams who play the most modern styles now both went for all-out strikers each huh?

Klopp also hasn't had one in a long time and doesn't seem to like them since coming to Liverpool (admittedly I don't know much about his Mainz or BVB days but Lewie was probably the last striker Klopp formed a squad around to my recent memory? After Auba?). I actually can't name any striker Klopp brought in to Liverpool apart from Nunez... Firmino was already there when he arrived and he turned him into something of a shadow striker haha.

[Igebotz]

Haaland is probably at least a bit better than those players you mentioned and he is in perfect condition. I am not concerned for his adaption on Premier League but I am bit concerned cause he is going to play for Pep. We all know Pep doesn't really like proper strikers, hell Aguero and Ibrahimović in their prime were not good enough for him.  I can see problems in their relationship arising very soon when Haaland realizes he will be just one cog in the machine and not the spearhead of all attacks.

Pep prefers to have a CF striker and a ST striker in his squad; at Bayern Munich, he had Muller as ST and Lewandowski as CF; when he arrived at Manchester City, they only had Aguero as a CF, so he brought G. Jesus as ST, and now that Aguero and G. Jesus (who is leaving for Arsenal) are gone, I can see why he bought Haaland, who is more of a CF, and Julian Alvarez, who is more of a ST, as perfect replacements for the upcoming season.


Haaland may face difficulties because he is more of a target striker than a ball-playing striker; he was never Pep's first choice striker, but they needed to fill in for Aguero. Harry Kane was his first choice.

When will the next pool begin? I missed it last season because I was not properly informed; this season promises to be exciting and entertaining. Guys, let me in, this is where I belong.. 

hilariousetc posted this about the beginning date of the pool the last time. Don't worry, I'm following the topic closely. If you'd like I can send a PM to you when the pool starts to accept participants. 

Sure. Thank you.

[NotATether]

Well, I had one heck of an abysmal performance in the pool. I think I'll take a break from it next year to focus on other things I need to clear out in 2022.

Its certainly a relief, Salah might be 30 but how much would it cost in a transfer fee to sign somebody else who can replicate his goals & assists numbers? A lot I would imagine. I still think we need a top class midfielder but we will see, lots of time left in the transfer window.

Exactly! The midfield is the big reason why we did not get enough points to beat City to the title (we kept leaking goals).

I am actually not so sure who they should sign for that, but they really should sign a left midfielder right now. Hendo is starting to get rusty, and Ox is not trusted enough to start there. (I wouldn't be surprised if he is sold this year).

I have no clue honestly. Any guesses here?

[Welsh]

I am actually not so sure who they should sign for that, but they really should sign a left midfielder right now. Hendo is starting to get rusty, and Ox is not trusted enough to start there. (I wouldn't be surprised if he is sold this year).

I have no clue honestly. Any guesses here?

Hate to say it, but Gini was brilliant for breaking up play, and holding onto the ball when needed. Obviously, that meant at times we weren't as attacking, but there's a balance. We leak goals because of our high line. I don't think its the quality of the midfield per say, its just that high line can get caught out from time to time. However, it works most of the time.

City, are especially good at breaking our high line, and anyone with a decent play maker. I actually think that's partly the reason we lost so heavily against Aston Villa. There was obviously other reasons at play there too.

As for a new signing. I'm not sure. Bellingham would be the one for the future, but he's a little bit raw at the moment.

[SATWAT]

@hilarious

Yeah jeremypwr said they were busy but I'd like to get the thread going ASAP so we've got at least a month to promote it and get as many sign ups as possible.

]
As I already posted few days back I also want to be informed about this, but I need few more updates what is this superbru and is this paid service or free and is this working for all countries because if they have not allowed me then I can't join this pool for next season so please if anyone able to give all updates this could be appreciated, thanks.

Superbru is free to use worldwide. It's just a site we use to input our predictions and keep track of the leaderboard.
It's a great site and very easy to use. Sign up now and check it out if you want.

I read all details about superbru and feeling comfortable with this now waiting for your announcement about fees and happy for my first season in this entertaining competition good luck.

[Trofo]

@all you Liverpool supporters here

What do you say about Klopp contradictory statements? I am now writing from my head so I am sorry if I misquoted but the gist should be correct.

Klopp when Pep buys Grealish, "We will never pay 100M for the player", buys Nunez for 100M  

Klopp about contract wage, "We will never break our wage structure ", Salah signs new deal and breaks it with something to spare  

Don't get me wrong, I still think they did the right thing and it is difficult, if not impossible, to fight with City without spending those amounts but it is funny how much he changed narrative in one year.

[swogerino]

@all you Liverpool supporters here

What do you say about Klopp contradictory statements? I am now writing from my head so I am sorry if I misquoted but the gist should be correct.

Klopp when Pep buys Grealish, "We will never pay 100M for the player", buys Nunez for 100M 

Klopp about contract wage, "We will never break our wage structure ", Salah signs new deal and breaks it with something to spare 

Don't get me wrong, I still think they did the right thing and it is difficult, if not impossible, to fight with City without spending those amounts but it is funny how much je changed narrative in one year.

If they let Salah go by not offering that wage he wanted then Liverpool would have been in big trouble fighting for the title,Salah is one of the key players and yes they absolutely did the right thing to offer that kind of wage about 400.000 Sterlings weekly for Salah,something never done before at Liverpool if I recall correctly.

That is the only way they can keep hopes up to fight for the title,their overall structure is still great and a Championship winning one even with the move of Mane to Bayern Munchen.They need to just do one thing better this upcoming season and that is to not lose points with weaker teams.

[casperBGD]

-snip

Don't get me wrong, I still think they did the right thing and it is difficult, if not impossible, to fight with City without spending those amounts but it is funny how much he changed narrative in one year.

he is probably counting on fan approval, and not remembering every word that he is saying, and that would certainly work until there are results
but will probably fall apart when results are bad

nevertheless, it is good to see any team that can fight with City, but it will much harder without Mane, now it will be seen what Salah can do on his own, he is much more prominent star than Mane, but Mane got him twice on National team level, where they were not together, maybe he will take him in Bayern clash too

[buwaytress]

@Trofo: Haha I think Klopp is just like most managers, absolutely human and absolutely some people and teams get to him (Pep and City, Simeone and Atletico, come to mind).

What he says isn't as solid as what club policy will evolve to be (FSG are hard to read really) -- and yeah personally I didn't think we'd ever pay for Salah, but there's a slew of data and experts club's hired to eke out cost-efficiency and I guess the numbers must tally.

The big buys and the big wages will run through those data again end of season and if they don't work out, we go back to the drawing board.

Oh and Jesus is a Gunner. Next Sterling I thought but suddenly Silva wants away too. Trouble in paradise?

Well, I had one heck of an abysmal performance in the pool. I think I'll take a break from it next year to focus on other things I need to clear out in 2022.

That's a shame! Consider putting in picks way early, like I did for several rounds. Gut's pretty reliable if you're following the games enough, and you can always just follow bookmaker odds for 2/3 games ahead. I might even do like others have in the past and "sponsor" some free slots.

I have been in a self-imposed gambling slowdown (not break, just a lot less frequent and a lot lower amounts) for the past couple of months or so. Also not sure I'll resume "normal" levels in the new season. Real life also getting hectic and while I don't necessarily spend a lot of collective hours paining over my bets, they're still a sort of distraction that eats into my real life. Which has never been an issue until recently, taking on more responsibilities.

Hate to say it, but Gini was brilliant for breaking up play, and holding onto the ball when needed. Obviously, that meant at times we weren't as attacking, but there's a balance.

I really enjoyed his games for us too, he and Henderson (though latter not so much last season I felt), great at breaking up, setting rhythm, calming influence. Hendo's legs are clearly going though so our midfield is actually most problematic area now. The youngins trying to break through, none have really convinced me, Elliott maybe, Jones not so much, but you know they're young still.

[cryptofrka]

@all you Liverpool supporters here

What do you say about Klopp contradictory statements? I am now writing from my head so I am sorry if I misquoted but the gist should be correct.

Klopp when Pep buys Grealish, "We will never pay 100M for the player", buys Nunez for 100M  

Klopp about contract wage, "We will never break our wage structure ", Salah signs new deal and breaks it with something to spare  

Don't get me wrong, I still think they did the right thing and it is difficult, if not impossible, to fight with City without spending those amounts but it is funny how much he changed narrative in one year.

He's quite smart with it. He knows what to say and when and he always has enough room to wiggle out of some of it. He'll say that Nunez has way lower salary and agent fees and that the deal is nowhere near Haaland's, although we all know it is close.
He's been doing it for a while but he's so charismatic that he gets away with it. A great trait to have - a lot can be done through the media if you know how to play that game.