2015/2016 Premier League
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="543680" data-time="1448180601">
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<p>Just over a third of the season gone and City are top!<br><br><br><br>
Leicester City that is! Madness!<br><br>
Watched the scousers smoke Man City this morning. Great football!</p>
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<p>About time we started this topic with the long summer approaching!</p>
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<p>This must be the first time this century that a team from outside the big "pick a number" has been top this far into the season. It is really good that all of the big clubs are having crises of varying sizes. At this stage, the title is wide open and even Chelsea aren't as far behind as they should be.</p>
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<p>It was great to have a top game in the prime NZ timeslot of 6.30am - the first signs of the Kop Klopp revolution as Liverpool hustled City in the midfield and gave them no time on the ball and up front, it was all passing and movement with Coutinho outstanding. Sterling looks what he actually is - a young quick lad with promise but without the skills to play in confined spaces. City really miss Silva and what he can do.</p> -
<p>And the Mighty Spurs slap 4 past Whessammmm, while the Scum lose to WBA - marvelous.</p>
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<p>Citeh's defending against the Miserysiders was comical at times. You have to wonder at how much these mokes get paid.</p>
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<p>The table is topsy turvy all right, but we're not even half way so anything can still happen.</p> -
<p>I keep waiting for the correction, but every week, something else unforeseen happens.</p>
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<p>I can, somehow, actually see Spurs winning this. They have a very good defense, and they score heaps. And they are on a great run of form. Of course, it being Spurs, they'll throw it away, but right now they are as big a chance as anybody.</p>
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<p>Fucking Man U are going to stumble to it aren't they? fluffybunnies. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="543733" data-time="1448232187">
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<p>I keep waiting for the correction, but every week, something else unforeseen happens.</p>
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<p>I can, somehow, actually see Spurs winning this. They have a very good defense, and they score heaps. And they are on a great run of form. Of course, it being Spurs, they'll throw it away, but right now they are as big a chance as anybody.</p>
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<p>Fucking Man U are going to stumble to it aren't they? fluffybunnies. </p>
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<p>Well somebody has to win it and every contender has some serious flaws in their squad.</p>
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<p>Leicester - They are Leicester. (and if Vardy gets injured, I can't see Ulloa scoring the goals).</p>
<p>Man Utd - Goals. They won't lose many this season but may get caught out by not winning enough. Sure to be in the race.</p>
<p>Man C - Something weird in the setup there - when they're on, they are easily the best team, but the likes of Yaya Toure can appear to lose interest from game to game. If Aguero is fit until season's end and Silva comes back, sure to be contenders.</p>
<p>Arsenal - Frailty. Sure to be around the race but always a disaster waiting to happen.</p>
<p>Spurs - Have looked solid all season and suddenly the goals have started going in. Not sure they are good enough to win it but will surely hope to crack the top 4.</p>
<p>West Ham - Will fade.</p>
<p>Everton - Not good enough but could upset some contenders along the way.</p>
<p>Southampton - Not good enough.</p>
<p>Liverpool - Probably not this season as I don't think they are good enough yet.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>Chelsea - Too far back already and will surely lose more games given their current problems.</p>
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<p>Would be interesting for everyone to pick a top 4 right now and check back at season's end.</p>
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<p>I'll go</p>
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<p>Man C</p>
<p>Man U</p>
<p>Arsenal</p>
<p>Spurs</p> -
<p>The Xmas period is usually when we start to see some movement as the games are played so close together, and squad depth/injuries become an issue. How teams cope with Champions League and the distraction that is the Europa League are also a factor.</p>
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<p>I'm just hoping we see a new EPL champion so that removes 3 teams from my list. :)</p> -
<p>Liverpool will play beautifully like on Saturday, and then lose 1-0 at home to Sunderland the next week. </p>
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<p>Lacking a but of bite in midfield, and a defense that will be good for 89 minutes, but make one glaring error that invariably results in a goal. 5th at best i think. </p>
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<p>Word is Klopp will do his buying in summer anyway, not January, so not expecting too much change for this year. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiPie" data-cid="543749" data-time="1448236259">
<div>Would be interesting for everyone to pick a top 4 right now and check back at season's end.<br><p> </p>
<p>I'll go</p>
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<p>Man C</p>
<p>Man U</p>
<p>Arsenal</p>
<p><strong>Spurs</strong></p>
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<p>I'd buy that for a dollar :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="543956" data-time="1448321291">
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<p>Spurs will finish 5th. It is a law of physics.</p>
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<p>ManC</p>
<p>Arse</p>
<p>ManU</p>
<p>someone who isn't Spurs</p>
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<p>Hard to fault your logic there DM. Regardless of 4th or 5th, I'm happy with direction we are heading. We eill get even better as long as Levy doesn't fire sale our best talent as usual</p> -
<p>So this is the current top of the table</p>
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<p>Leicester 25 53</p>
<p>Spurs 25 48</p>
<p>Arsenal 25 48</p>
<p>City 25 47</p>
<p>Man U 25 41</p>
<p>West Ham 25 39</p>
<p>Soton 25 37</p>
<p>The Rest = Nowhere.</p>
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<p>So just 13 games left and there is now a serious possibility that Leicester can win the league. Surely not you may think but they just won 3-1 at City and travel to Arsenal this weekend and another win will take them 8 clear of the Arse.</p>
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<p>The rise of Leicester is a remarkable one, and one that appeared to be impossible once the money took over. Bear in mind that with 9 games left last season, they had just 19 points and were 7 away from safety. Since then they have taken 75 points in 34 games and have lost only 3 games in that time - having lost 18 of their first 29 last season. They haven't spent appreciable cash - and they sacked their manager at the end of last season.</p> -
Paying 1/5000 to win as well, wonder how many placed a lazy £5 on that..
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<p>Their entire squad cost less than $20M. And they play great footy, they're disciplined at the back, and have pace to burn up front. They just hammer teams on the counter. Add in a couple of guys who can't stop scoring, and it's a winning combo. I hope they do it, i really hope the reality doesn't get to them like it got to Liverpool a couple of years ago. The mentality of the squad seem really good though, they didn't bring big names in over the transfer window, keeping faith with the spirit in the team. And it's working. </p>
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<p>And in an even bigger shock, their biggest threat seem to be Spurs. Fucking Spurs!</p>
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<p>This is the best season ever, the money available to the mid-table sides means there is a better spread of talent, and you get more "shocks". </p>
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<p>Liverpool have firmly ensconced themselves in their rightful place in mid-table, and going on cup runs. It's a shit squad of ordinary players bought by a guy with no fucking clue. Fuck you Rodgers, you got lucky with Suarez, and having Sturridge for the 3 months he was actually fit. But you filled the squad with over-priced junk. I feel for Klopp, he's a dude, but this job might be the death of him. He needs to burn the place to the ground, and start again.</p>
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<p>Go Leicester!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Virgil" data-cid="557486" data-time="1454976223">
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<p>Paying 1/5000 to win as well, wonder how many placed a lazy £5 on that..</p>
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<p>I didn't realise they were so short! I wouldn't have had them certain favourites at the beginning of the season.... :)</p> -
No one likes sarcasm ;)<br><br>
Everyone keeps expecting them to hit the wall and start losing, with Man U bombing I'm mor than happy to see them keep going -
<p>Spot on Mariner - Leicester's 2 gems are obviously Vardy (who wasn't even played as a central striker last season) and Mahrez who they bought for a song from a lower league French club and is phenomenally gifted, pace, a superb shot and some of the best feet you'll ever see, he really does beat players for fun sometimes. Add to that the sheer hard work of the likes of Drinkwater and Konte, the resurgence of Albrighton and a very solid defence and they look a really tough team to beat.</p>
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<p>I like Claudio Ranieri as well, he got hammered in the press during his time at Chelsea, but always seemed to keep a sense of humour. Was widely tipped to be a disaster at Leicester, and first out of the job, and here he is, top of the table. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="557488" data-time="1454976311">
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<p>Liverpool have firmly ensconced themselves in their rightful place in mid-table, and going on cup runs. It's a shit squad of ordinary players bought by a guy with no fucking clue. Fuck you Rodgers, you got lucky with Suarez, and having Sturridge for the 3 months he was actually fit. But you filled the squad with over-priced junk. I feel for Klopp, he's a dude, but this job might be the death of him. He needs to burn the place to the ground, and start again.</p>
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<p>And get rid of Mignolet ffs.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="557494" data-time="1454977459">
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<p>I like Claudio Ranieri as well, he got hammered in the press during his time at Chelsea, but always seemed to keep a sense of humour. Was widely tipped to be a disaster at Leicester, and first out of the job, and here he is, top of the table. </p>
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<p>Yeah agree, massive fan of Ranieri here. Really stoked for the guy and what he's achieved so far this season.</p>
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<p>Still don't think LC will win it though.</p>
