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

[Harkorede]

I'm only telling you that his managerial career has been easy; he started from the top

Wrong. Because you coach a team like Barcelona doesn't mean you start from the top, Barcelona wasn't a team at their best when Guardiola came to the club and nothing was giving to him on a platter of gold, he built his own team in dynamic name and made Barcelona a force to reckon with in Europe, the worse place to start your career is a team with high expectations and very demanding, we all saw how Neville, Giggs and Lampard all fared when they were handed such job, Man City was never considered as top contender for the league before Guardiola arrived, and let alone considered high favorites in UCL, even in years which they got eliminated early. Coaching a team that demands winning the league, cup and getting to Champions league final is never an easy task, so it shouldn't be tag "started from the top", how many coaches having came and gone after Sir Alex Fergusson tenure at Man United ? where are they now, if they should be considered as starting from the top.

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[slaman29]

Brighton is very frustrating, early seasons make you think they can go for Top 4 then they play like shit. Wolves opposite. You think they'll relegate but they win big games and then you bet on them then they also play like shit.

They are really struggling with coping with the matches this season. Luckily there are still a couple of matches to be played in the league before they join the Europa league qualifications, so they could build some momentum in the league.

Losing their top midfielders, Caicido and McAlister, is giving them a lot of trouble; they thought they'd be fine with Gilmore and Old Miner in the midfield.

They were never a top 6 team; they had a strong two seasons, sold off their best players, and brought in a slew of academy graduates. The Brighton project is falling apart.

Brighton supposedly are like Ajax. They can keep selling off players, reinvest and slowly build stronger but I guess academy players aren't always yet a good level, although maybe the idea is to keep developing training/systems/academies to keep producing stronger talent. It works in Football Manager but real life, you have to buy a certain amount of talent to compete with the top.

Definitely falling apart, unless their aim is forever midtable?

the worse place to start your career is a team with high expectations and very demanding, we all saw how Neville, Giggs and Lampard all fared when they were handed such job, Man City was never considered as top contender for the league before Guardiola arrived, and let alone considered high favorites in UCL, even in years which they got eliminated early.

The top also means able to demand players and budget. Lampard, Giggs etc do not have these same ability, same as most young managers. Pep may not have started at City with great team but he asked any player and City got it. They didn't even have to worry about debt because they were funded by sovereign fund not with loans. So no pressure to deliver player trading profit. Just purely to win. I like Pep for what he did with Barca but I think he had the right ability of demands that others don't have. Even Klopp when he came needed to make sure he was able to have same demand but in the end he couldn't afford a lot of players he really wanted. Pep will never have this issue at City

[LFC_Bitcoin]

A statement win against a team in decent form. We did not play as good as the result is saying, but I think all LFC fans will be extremely satisfied today.
Just to write who's missing: Trent, Robbo, Tsimikas, Matip, Szoboszlai, Endo, Thiago, Salah. That's 5 first team players.

Now we have 2 Cup games, followed by Chelsea and Arsenal. I hope some of the above mentioned return/recover.

Klopp 2.0 is ready to cook.

I’ve been impressed at how well we are doing this season when we are supposed to be in transition. I am not expecting to win the title but whilst we are still in the mix, will I continue to dream, yes of course.

Trent, Szoboszlai and Robertson should be back for our next PL game. I hope we make wholesale changes for the FA Cup game vs Norwich though. We need to be in top shape for massive games against Chelsea and Arsenal after. If we can get at least 4 points from those games we will be in a great position. Man City still have to come to Anfield.

[cryptofrka]

Klopp 2.0 is ready to cook.

Yup, we all thought that this season would be a transitional one.
To be fair, if City was on their standard level, they'd be on 55 points so far - but they have missed KDB and aren't looking as strong as usual.

It's for the taking, I love that we're in a position in which we can mount a real title challenge.
Even if we don't make it, it will help to speed up the process of the new team gelling together and being mentally stronger for the future.

It's quite remarkable how easy these transitions are under Klopp. United is transitioning for 10 years, Chelsea as well. It's quite hard to do properly, especially on a small(ish) budget.

[Harkorede]

The top also means able to demand players and budget. Lampard, Giggs etc do not have these same ability, same as most young managers. Pep may not have started at City with great team but he asked any player and City got it. They didn't even have to worry about debt because they were funded by sovereign fund not with loans. So no pressure to deliver player trading profit. Just purely to win. I like Pep for what he did with Barca but I think he had the right ability of demands that others don't have. Even Klopp when he came needed to make sure he was able to have same demand but in the end he couldn't afford a lot of players he really wanted. Pep will never have this issue at City

Pep never had this issue because he was able to win trophies right from his second season and never looked backed, how many coaches have had a blank cheque book at PSG and what have become of them, the order of the day is to whom much is given, much more is expected, you speak as though the likes of Man United and other didn't spend a whole lot of money too, despite the fact that Guardiola have every accolades to show for the money spent, Guardiola spend 203 million, while Man United also spent 185m, both Arsenal and Chelsea also spent over 100m that year, only Liverpool spent below 100m for that season. I think it's very unfair to judge Guardiola success and Man City dominance to how much he's spent, when other teams are spending significantly lesser, Chelsea for instance, what have become of their extraordinary spending, what about PSG ? Man City would have been wrecked if Guardiola haven't been delivering trophies season in season out after his maiden season at the club.

And Man City didn't have to worry about any debt because Man City have made the most revenue off players sales than any of the top 5 teams in England, Man City have become not just a buying club but also a selling one too, below are the spending and revenue off players by Man City since Guardiola arrival at City.


source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/pep-guardiola/spielertransfers/trainer/5672/station_id/128184


source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/pep-guardiola/spielerverkaeufe/trainer/5672/plus/0?station_id=128184

You could have the whole money in the world, but without a good manager you'd still remain an average club, both Chelsea and PSG can relate properly!

[un_rank]

Losing their top midfielders, Caicido and McAlister, is giving them a lot of trouble; they thought they'd be fine with Gilmore and Old Miner in the midfield.

They have been managing their departures well for a very long time, losing top players like Trossard, Ben White and Dan Burn, but still replacing them expertly.
This season has been completely different for them, sure Caicedo and McAlister were much more pivotal players but they should ave been able to manage it better if not for the number of matches and injuries.

Brighton supposedly are like Ajax. They can keep selling off players, reinvest and slowly build stronger but I guess academy players aren't always yet a good level, although maybe the idea is to keep developing training/systems/academies to keep producing stronger talent. It works in Football Manager but real life, you have to buy a certain amount of talent to compete with the top.

The aim is probably mid table and have a good financial sheet. The funding needed to become a top table team is a ridiculous amount that the club does not have.

- Jay -

[Igebotz]

I'm only telling you that his managerial career has been easy; he started from the top

Wrong. Because you coach a team like Barcelona doesn't mean you start from the top, Barcelona wasn't a team at their best when Guardiola came to the club and nothing was giving to him on a platter of gold.

I disagree on this one; Pep inherited players like Puyol, Abidal, Pique, Xavi, Inesta, and D. Villa who were all in their primes; he inherited Europe's best squad in a two-horse league. He also met and managed Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and Febragas, all of whom were in their primes. He had the easiest team ever at Barcelona. He began his managing career at the top. Not every manager had the opportunity.

Man City was never considered as top contender for the league before Guardiola arrived, and let alone considered high favorites in UCL, even in years which they got eliminated early.

Without Pep, Manchester City had two EPL titles, one FA Cup, and the Double League Cup. The only trophy missing was the UCL, which Pep took over 7 years to get despite spending more than £800m+ on transfers alone. Pellegrini was doing an excellent job before Pep arrived; stop acting as if he brought the club from the bottom; City was already competing for trophies before Pep.

Pep is one of the greatest manager in the 21st century but let not forget the fact that he spent the most money on transfer too.

They have been managing their departures well for a very long time, losing top players like Trossard, Ben White and Dan Burn, but still replacing them expertly.

Brighton are a mid-table team, so fans should not expect too much from them. The Caicido deal took a long time, and there was little time to find a replacement after he left. He was the heart of the midfield, and it is difficult to replace players like him.

[Harkorede]

I'm only telling you that his managerial career has been easy; he started from the top

Wrong. Because you coach a team like Barcelona doesn't mean you start from the top, Barcelona wasn't a team at their best when Guardiola came to the club and nothing was giving to him on a platter of gold.

I disagree on this one; Pep inherited players like Puyol, Abidal, Pique, Xavi, Inesta, and D. Villa who were all in their primes; he inherited Europe's best squad in a two-horse league. He also met and managed Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and Febragas, all of whom were in their primes. He had the easiest team ever at Barcelona. He began his managing career at the top. Not every manager had the opportunity.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!!!
You are not a fan of Barcelona and wrong knowledge or ignorance ≠ facts, That said, Guardiola signed the following players for Barcelona; Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves, David Villa, Fabregas and Ibrahimovic, meanwhile Samuel Eto'o only played for one season at Barcelona under Guardiola before being traded for Ibrahimovic (every football noob knows of this trade), Eto'o and Ibrahimovic never played together at Barcelona , as a matter of fact neither of them played beyond a season under Guardiola (prime my arse!), Guardiola also brought about Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Dos Santos from his promotion winning Barcelona B side to the senior team...

Man City was never considered as top contender for the league before Guardiola arrived, and let alone considered high favorites in UCL, even in years which they got eliminated early.

Without Pep, Manchester City had two EPL titles, one FA Cup, and the Double League Cup. The only trophy missing was the UCL, which Pep took over 7 years to get despite spending more than £800m+ on transfers alone. Pellegrini was doing an excellent job before Pep arrived; stop acting as if he brought the club from the bottom; City was already competing for trophies before Pep.

Pep is one of the greatest manager in the 21st century but let not forget the fact that he spent the most money on transfer too.

1. Man City spent €115.50m in 2013/14 season (3 years before Guardiola's arrival) below is their record for the said season;

https://www.transfermarkt.com/manchester-city/transfers/verein/281/plus/?saison_id=2013&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=

2. Man City spent €102.80m in 2014/15 season (2 years before Guardiola's arrival) below is their record for the said season;

https://www.transfermarkt.com/manchester-city/transfers/verein/281/plus/?saison_id=2014&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=

3. Man City spent €208.47m in 2015/16 season (1 year before Guardiola's arrival) below is their record for the said season;

https://www.transfermarkt.com/manchester-city/transfers/verein/281/plus/?saison_id=2015&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=

That's a total of over €420m spent in 3 years before Guardiola arrived at Man City and all they achieved was a league title and 2 league cup (known as Carling cup then) in those 3 years.

Man City have been spending enormously before Guardiola's arrival the only thing they lack is consistency at winning trophies, which Guardiola mastered upon his arrival, there are a lot of hearsays and assumptions, but there are facts and numbers the latter two doesn't lie!

[slaman29]

Pep never had this issue because he was able to win trophies right from his second season and never looked backed, how many coaches have had a blank cheque book at PSG and what have become of them, the order of the day is to whom much is given, much more is expected, you speak as though the likes of Man United and other didn't spend a whole lot of money too, despite the fact that Guardiola have every accolades to show for the money spent, Guardiola spend 203 million, while Man United also spent 185m, both Arsenal and Chelsea also spent over 100m that year, only Liverpool spent below 100m for that season. I think it's very unfair to judge Guardiola success and Man City dominance to how much he's spent, when other teams are spending significantly lesser, Chelsea for instance, what have become of their extraordinary spending, what about PSG ? Man City would have been wrecked if Guardiola haven't been delivering trophies season in season out after his maiden season at the club.

And Man City didn't have to worry about any debt because Man City have made the most revenue off players sales than any of the top 5 teams in England, Man City have become not just a buying club but also a selling one too, below are the spending and revenue off players by Man City since Guardiola arrival at City.

Yes you are right and I'm not arguing about what Pep did but I still am saying the truth that he came into City without the pressure, with all the players he could have.

And yes they made money with transfers but they also did a lot of naughty things with legal side of things. And they're the only club there who has the lawyers to handle all that.

Again I'm saying access plus protection, no other club manager comes in and can demand all that (one). Two, City give it total freedom. PSG? Tuchel + Pochetinno had not the same control, why Pep wouldn't go to PSG either.

[Igebotz]

I disagree on this one; Pep inherited players like Puyol, Abidal, Pique, Xavi, Inesta, and D. Villa who were all in their primes; he inherited Europe's best squad in a two-horse league. He also met and managed Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and Febragas, all of whom were in their primes. He had the easiest team ever at Barcelona. He began his managing career at the top. Not every manager had the opportunity.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!!!
You are not a fan of Barcelona and wrong knowledge or ignorance ≠ facts, That said, Guardiola signed the following players for Barcelona; Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves, David Villa, Fabregas and Ibrahimovic, meanwhile Samuel Eto'o only played for one season at Barcelona under Guardiola before being traded for Ibrahimovic (every football noob knows of this trade), Eto'o and Ibrahimovic never played together at Barcelona , as a matter of fact neither of them played beyond a season under Guardiola (prime my arse!), Guardiola also brought about Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Dos Santos from his promotion winning Barcelona B side to the senior team...

You should have pay more attention to the bolded part of my post before ranting. "He met and managed" (meaning he met some and purchased some), yet the same Eto'o you're labelling an ass won Inter Milan the 2010 UCL trophy. I don't have to a Bacelona fan to know that Pep had the biggest football stars under his wings at Bacelona + the referee £6.5m subscriptions.

That's a total of over €420m spent in 3 years before Guardiola arrived at Man City and all they achieved was a league title and 2 league cup (known as Carling cup then) in those 3 years.

This merely proves my previous point: Manchester City was already a top team and had won everything in England before Pep. Since the Mancini era, the club has never gone without a trophy. Pep was merely the icing on the cake--to improve the overall process, get more sponsorships, and tie A players to the club.

Pep is the face of modern football, and he delivers more than simply wonderful attacking play, which Manchester City lacked, not because they were doing poorly. Pellegrini was doing an excellent job, but they wanted someone like Pep to lead the club, so they let him go on a mutual agreement.

[casperBGD]

Klopp just announced that he will leave Liverpool at the season end
not sure that this was expected, maybe by fans that follow Liverpool closely, but does come as surprise to me

will be interesting who will take over the club, do you have any expectations @cryptofrka @buwaytress, not sure who else is Liverpool fan as well

[arallmuus]

Klopp just announced that he will leave Liverpool at the season end
not sure that this was expected, maybe by fans that follow Liverpool closely, but does come as surprise to me

Saw this as well, it was pretty surprising. I mean he is doing pretty well with Liverpool, yeah Manchester City dominated the EPL but for real Liverpool is so much better after Klopp came. I guess now with Klopp going to leave at the end of the season, this means Pep is going to dominate the league even more huh unless someone better come along or Arteta step up his game

will be interesting who will take over the club, do you have any expectations @cryptofrka @buwaytress, not sure who else is Liverpool fan as well

Not a Liverpool fan but if they are going to get someone as good as Klopp then I guess Xabi Alonso could be a candidate ?

[buwaytress]

Oh man I jd to come on and say something here. He did want to leave earlier then signed that extension... now the dream comes to an end.

Liverpool 2.0 better give him a good sendoff. Change his mind maybe? Still processing... LFC_Bitcoin oh, the memories.

[cryptofrka]

Klopp just announced that he will leave Liverpool at the season end
not sure that this was expected, maybe by fans that follow Liverpool closely, but does come as surprise to me

will be interesting who will take over the club, do you have any expectations @cryptofrka @buwaytress, not sure who else is Liverpool fan as well

Shit, this really came as a surprise for me. Just read about it, Lijnders apparently going as well (he had a shot at the position in my opinion).

Here's Klopp's message to the fans. Fair enough if he can't be at 100% anymore, the problem is that he at 40% is the 2nd best manager in the league and he'll be extremely hard to replace.

Full interview is here, for those that want it in more detail.

Who I hope we get? Well, tricky, Xabi Alonso would probably be the first name on my list though. Just no Gerrard please.

___________________

Klopp could endure everything but Darwin Nunez, eh?

[Harkorede]

That's a total of over €420m spent in 3 years before Guardiola arrived at Man City and all they achieved was a league title and 2 league cup (known as Carling cup then) in those 3 years.

This merely proves my previous point: Manchester City was already a top team and had won everything in England before Pep. Since the Mancini era, the club has never gone without a trophy. Pep was merely the icing on the cake--to improve the overall process, get more sponsorships, and tie A players to the club.

I guess we can agree to disagree, but your point is just a matter of opinion from my point of view, Man City weren't a top team England before the arrival of Guardiola, they were never a among the top 3 favorites to win the league those years, and there was a supposedly known term the big "Big Four" as far as the premier league is concerned on general terms and Man City wasn't one of them, I standard to be corrected by PL enthusiasts who were more familiar with league in the last decade before Guardiola's arrival meaning 2006/07 to 2014/15 season, I guess this could be debatable and just a matter of opinion, perhaps too.

Klopp just announced that he will leave Liverpool at the season end
not sure that this was expected, maybe by fans that follow Liverpool closely, but does come as surprise to me

will be interesting who will take over the club, do you have any expectations @cryptofrka @buwaytress, not sure who else is Liverpool fan as well

Trouble in paradise, Liverpool could do well with temporary fix before going for a long term manager that could fill the void Klopp would leave behind, maybe Brendan Rodgers ?

EDIT:

Not only Jurgen Klopp but also assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz and development coach Vitor Matos will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Lijnders, keen to pursue his own career in management.

I think there might be more to this decision and development than meets the eye.

[Igebotz]

Klopp just announced that he will leave Liverpool at the season end
not sure that this was expected, maybe by fans that follow Liverpool closely, but does come as surprise to me

will be interesting who will take over the club, do you have any expectations @cryptofrka @buwaytress, not sure who else is Liverpool fan as well

Man is going into an early retirement - what's his age again?

Klopp is the man! I've never seen a manager turn a bad season into a title contending season repeatedly with little resources. He'll be missed not only by Liverpool fans, but by all EPL fans, who will miss his ridiculous pre-match conference excuses and passion on the sidelines. A better coach than Pep in my opinion.

Speaking on behalf of Liverpool fans, we all want Steven Gerard don't we? We do not want Xabi Alonso anywhere around our club.

I guess we can agree to disagree, but your point is just a matter of opinion from my point of view, Man City weren't a top team England before the arrival of Guardiola, they were never a among the top 3 favorites to win the league those years, and there was a supposedly known term the big "Big Four" as far as the premier league is concerned on general terms and Man City wasn't one of them, I standard to be corrected by PL enthusiasts who were more familiar with league in the last decade before Guardiola's arrival meaning 2006/07 to 2014/15 season, I guess this could be debatable and just a matter of opinion, perhaps too.

Man just disrespected Robinho, Nedredo, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Tevez, Nasri, Aguero, Barry, Joe Hart era just like that! Manchester city were already the best in England before Pep under SAF watch. Man stop it already 

[Harkorede]

Man just disrespected Robinho, Nedredo, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Tevez, Nasri, Aguero, Barry, Joe Hart era just like that!

Oh my days! Just quit it mate, you're utterly mixing things up yet again!

Did you even follow football well enough from this said decade ?

Robinho joined City in 2008, spent less than 2 seasons and played 41 games in total, Carlos Tevez joined City in 2009/10 and Man City finished 5th in the league, their best league finish inside the top 10 after a long while.

Negredo didn't join Man City until 2013 and played only 32 games for Man City in EPL (one season era ?)

Between 2005/06 - 2009/10, Man City best finish in the PL was 5th position, other years the finished 9th and outside the top 10, except your saying Man City became a solid part of the supposed big four between 2011 and 2013, because SAF retired from Man United at the end of the 2012-13 and Man City had only won the league once then, a season prior, and that was the only season they finished above Man United in the said decade before Sir Alex Fergusson retirement. Note; Pellegrini joined Man City after Sir Alex had left Man United.

Manchester city were already the best in England before Pep under SAF watch. Man stop it already  

I don't know where you get your information from but if you're relying on your photographic memory, then you're mixing a lot of things up and might need to cross check in on number of things before you say them.

Man City have only won the league twice between the said decade, one was 2011/2012 which they won the final day of the league finishing with equal points as Man United, only one of the league was during Sir Alex tenure at Man United, and it was Robert Mancini as City manager, and that was the only league Man City won during Sir Alex tenure at Man United, the other league was won by Pellegrini in 2013/14, and that was post Ferguson era.

[un_rank]

We mentioning Guardiola again *rubs palm*

A better coach than Pep in my opinion.

I cannot argue with your opinion, but they are worlds apart in reality. The media make it look like there is or was a rivalry between them, but 5 titles in the last 6 seasons says otherwise.

Man just disrespected Robinho, Nedredo, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Tevez, Nasri, Aguero, Barry, Joe Hart era just like that! Manchester city were already the best in England before Pep under SAF watch. Man stop it already  

City only won 1 league title under SAF watch, and Ferguson won 5/7 before bowing out.

- Jay -

[Harkorede]

We mentioning Guardiola again *rubs palm*

A better coach than Pep in my opinion.

I cannot argue with your opinion, but they are worlds apart in reality. The media make it look like there is or was a rivalry between them, but 5 titles in the last 6 seasons says otherwise.

Klopp is a world class coach no iota of doubt, and so is Pep Guardiola, these are two managers with different ideologies but very good at what they do best, however, what @Igebotz meant by "little resources" is a terminology I still can't fathom.

Liverpool spending under Jurgen Klopp: Transfer expenditure: €1,133,615,000

Man City spending under Guardiola: Transfer expenditure: €1,492,058,181

Chelsea spending since 2015/16: Transfer expenditure: €1.936 Billion 

Information source: Transfermarkt.

[Hhampuz]

Liverpool won't be the same without Klopp, sad to hear the news today.