Premiership 2015/2016

[Gingerfinch]

It could be fire Garde

Sorry I claimed that one a while back!

I knew I'd seen it.

[Aidan11]

The Villa boss is no Pep Garde-iola.


It's alright I'm already wearing my coat.

[braveneutral]

Hope Leicester win.

[st_brendy]

In all seriousness though, Leicester in that second half played like a Division 2 side away in an FA Cup game. Hoofed it up every opportunity, fouled Arsenal to pieces, and thankfully the last disgraceful attempt at a tackle is what ended them

Arsenal looked a world away in terms of quality

They could have easily finished that match with eight men. Given that the referee didn't even give a foul for Drinkwater's challenge, I can only presume he missed it altogether - which in a sense is good, because it means he can still get the three match ban which he deserves.

Mahrez aside (who, similar to Payet, is a bit of a little pocket genius), Leicester aren't really anything special. They just have a very effective plan (defend for their lives, and then hit teams on the break whilst they're throwing extra men forward to try and get through), which very few sides have managed to work out a way of countering yet. (Don't get me wrong, their work rate is fantastic. But work rate should only get you so far).

That said, if any sides are going to find a way of countering it, it might well be the likes of Norwich and WBA who Leicester have coming up. Give Leicester a bit of respect, sit deep yourselves, and force Leicester to have to play like a "proper" big team - ie force Leicester to try and play through you to score, rather than just a smash a ball 50 yards and do you on the counter. The way City played against them last week, like defending wasn't actually a requirement, was horrific. Leicester aren't Villa!

[sussexpob]

They could have easily finished that match with eight men. Given that the referee didn't even give a foul for Drinkwater's challenge, I can only presume he missed it altogether - which in a sense is good, because it means he can still get the three match ban which he deserves.

I lost count of the times that Arsenal moved the ball about, got an overlap or some space, only for a Leicester player to commit a professional foul. Referees are giving them a lot of leeway though, because how they didnt have all their team booked in the first half is a mystery. But then in the second half he clearly got to the point where he could not ignore it, and Arsenal could have scored 5 or 6 had they had more composure as their superior technique kicked in then. By the end they missed several chances that would have haunted their season had they not scored right at the end.

One of the huge differences was when Kante was booked. Straight after he had to watch Sanchez leave him for dead without being able to challenge, and they should have scored. It was funny because Kante attempted to hack him down, thought better of it, and kind of just fell over onto his face.

That said, if any sides are going to find a way of countering it, it might well be the likes of Norwich and WBA who Leicester have coming up. Give Leicester a bit of respect, sit deep yourselves, and force Leicester to have to play like a "proper" big team - ie force Leicester to try and play through you to score, rather than just a smash a ball 50 yards and do you on the counter. The way City played against them last week, like defending wasn't actually a requirement, was horrific. Leicester aren't Villa!

Indeed. I think it helps Leicester in a way to play the big boys who given them no respect, but in games where they have to battle a bit more to score, it will be interesting to see how they fare. I believe in the last few matches they have played against the relegation lot, Villa and Bournemouth took points away from them

[Gingerfinch]

Harry Kane strikes again!

[st_brendy]

My order of title race favourites:

Spurs
Arsenal
Leicester
City

City are very fortunate that Utd have only picked up one point from their last two games.

[sussexpob]

City were picking up momentum before essentially told their manager he was sacked at the end of the year

[yuppie]

City were picking up momentum before essentially told their manager he was sacked at the end of the year

Yep since then their season seems to have stalled.

Well it looks like Pep wont be taking over a championship winning team.....

[budgetmeansbudget]

Leicester have no other distractions, the other three all have the FA cup and Europe to worry about, while City have the League Cup final as well.

Not sure why Brendy and Sussex are so anti Leicester, f**k the way they play, its effective, they're top of the League, and good luck to them. They aren't a dirty side from what I've seen, just press and harry and hunt in packs, which may lead to the odd late tackle. Third in the fair play league suggests they are one of the cleaner teams in the Premier League.

I'd like them to win the title and if not them then Spurs. Get a new name on the trophy.

[sussexpob]

Third in the fair play league suggests they are one of the cleaner teams in the Premier League

They have the highest number of fouls per card rate, which as I suggested above, means the referee's are giving them more leeway than other teams. That has certainly been prevalent in the last few games I have seen them play, foul guys outside the last third of the pitch when space opens up, get away with no card. In terms of yesterday's game, they could of had several players in the book after 45 minutes, but the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

I don't think its hard to see in the amount of very debatable penalties and referee calls, that referee's are affected by the whole fairytale ending too.

[budgetmeansbudget]

All sides get away with fouls worthy of yellow cards in the first half of games, it isn't favoritism it's just the way it is.

Stoke hacked us to pieces in the first 20 minutes on Saturday, probably should have had four yellow cards but ended up with one which was one of those continual team infringement yellow cards.

I will never subscribe to referees siding with certain teams for whatever reason, its utter nonsense.

I actually enjoy watching Leicester play, their brand of football is more pleasing on the eye than Man U and West Brom.

[The Professor]

Liverpool's signing of Matip is a bit of a coup

[The Professor]

Wonder how much Man City will come to regret their decision to announce Pep so early.

[Gingerfinch]

Wonder how much Man City will come to regret their decision to announce Pep so early.

It could have worked the other way, with the players knowing a new boss is coming in.

It may still do, if City do win the title.