Just a few days after his United side was involved in a predictably turgid affair in Anfield that made the Serie A look like Cirque du Soleil in comparison, Jose Mourinho faces a dauting return to the grounds that made him into the figure he is today. Manchester United are currently 7th with 1 win in their last 5, against a Chelsea side which only has 2 more points but is on a 2 game-winning streak. With the Blues playing at home and Antonio Conte perhaps feeling like a big win would put a major stamp on his season, one might expect them to play forward attacking football. But based on prior history it is tough to imagine the Italian throwing all caution to the win, and with if United rely on Herrera and Fellaini to solidify their midfield as against Liverpool, we could be headed for another cagey encounter, similar to last season's fixtures between them (1-1 and 0-0). It won't make the game uninteresting, but try to adjust your expectations accordingly. John Terry is expected to be back, boosting what has been a point of concern for Conte, unused to having to worry about his defense during his time in Italy.

Arsenal hosting a promoted side would normally promise a pleasant afternoon at the Emirates, particularly in light of the Gunners' form. Boro's defense has been stingier than their record would indicate (11 goals allowed in 8), but if Ozil keeps up his scoring prowess, there's not much they might be able to do. Spurs go to a renewed Bournemouth, who have won 3 straight at home and have a full week of rest. I'm sure Pochettino wouldn't mind if Janssen chose this game to start contributing to the team's scoring. The other Sunday game has City hosting Southampton, which seems to be taking well to Claude Puel after some initial hiccups. So, basically the opposite of City if you want to be obtuse. More seriously Aguero should be rested and unless Fraser Forster stands on his head all game, City should have their first win in nearly a month.

In France there's the Paris-Marseille game which seems like an intriguing way for new OM owner Frank McCourt (yes, the ex-Dodgers dude) to start his regime. In Serie A Milan-Juve is looking a lot tastier than it has in recent memory.

EPL
Sat 22 Oct 2016
07:30a Bournemouth - Tottenham
10:00a Arsenal FC - Middlesbrough
10:00a Burnley FC - Everton FC
10:00a Hull City - Stoke City
10:00a Leicester City - Crystal Palace
10:00a Swansea - Watford FC
10:00a West Ham - Sunderland AFC
12:30p Liverpool FC - West Bromwich
Sun 23 Oct 2016
08:30a Manchester City - Southampton
11:00a Chelsea FC - Manchester United

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

I'm past the point of caring about much else with him. Oooo, great, he's good with possession. The possession that he gets in inevitably with his back to goal at least 20 yards from the net. Dudes swarm him as soon as he gets the ball, and he can't make anything happen. He can neither dribble nor pass nor shoot out of it.

As a consequence, his possession leads to zero chances for Spurs. It's pretty telling that we had 57 percent (I believe) possession but 1/3 the chances against Bayer. That's Janssen in a nutshell.

----
bshelly

"You (Fisher) could get fired, Les Snead could get fired, Kevin Demoff could get fired, but I will always be Eric Dickerson.” (c) The God

still seems like he's struggling massively to adjust to the EPL, but when you see how solid Lamela has become, there's probably hope yet. Kane's absence is going to be more a lot more glaring if Son goes cold and Ali doesn't take over the scoring though.

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

my anger is somewhat motivated by cartilege free captain continuing to pretend this guy's been great, but he's not a bad player at all. and i don't know if i agree on lamela's development--he's another guy who drives me nuts--but I recognize both are young and are still developing. I am giving up on neither.

luckily, it sounds like sir harry is very soon to return, because I doubt son can stay quite so torried, and dele needs help.

----
bshelly

"You (Fisher) could get fired, Les Snead could get fired, Kevin Demoff could get fired, but I will always be Eric Dickerson.” (c) The God

just caused a PK, been looking good so far

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

https://img.youtube.com/vi/N53-LxbIizA/0.jpg

His dad had been advocating in the press, saying his boy wasn't happy. Glad he showed up when Jardim gave him his first opportunity. PK drawn, goal, assist, not a bad day at the office, gonna give coach some food for thought. But that squad is stacked offensively.

his Pops sounds like a handful from what I've read, but yeah he definitely made the most of his opportunity yesterday. Hoping JK Augustin gets a similar shot but I'm not super convinced Emery wants to do that, at least for a league game

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

Credit to Bournemouth, especially for the first 30 minutes, but we were flat and never really threatened. Defenses are flooding Alli and no one else is creating.

Also, Sissoko will and should be suspended,

----
bshelly

"You (Fisher) could get fired, Les Snead could get fired, Kevin Demoff could get fired, but I will always be Eric Dickerson.” (c) The God

pretty good runs too, not just headless chicken stuff. Put Koscielny in trouble a couple times already

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

He let off the gas thinking there's no way Traore can get to the ball 1st

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

https://my.mixtape.moe/zezruj.mp4

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

It's the exact type of game and set you'd expect...we're dominating possession and borough is playing in a very defensive shell hoping to catch us on a counter. They have executed to a tee and we're having a lot of trouble down our flanks particularly with Traore...he's created 2 clear cut chances whereas we've had a couple halfs highlighted by a great diagonal long ball to Walcott who squares to Ozil but just a little too much pace on it.

2nd half...I've seen this script too many times to know that we have to get some more width to our attacking play bc Boro was more than content playing narrow and we were trying to force the triangle into a square. Defensively, we really should be on alert, doesn't look like our back 4 realized how quick and incisive Boro can be.

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

this game reminds me a bit of PSG-Basel on Wednesday, where they had a ton of chances (hit the woodwork 3 times) but couldn't convert. We won 3-0 but really it felt that we just as well could've lost 2-0

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

Boro are sitting too low for Alexis to have any serious chances of making his devastating runs, while not being a real threat on the many crosses Arsenal have hit into the box.

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

I do think he would have came on instead of Perez and occupied the box (against, as you said, a team in Boro who were playing so deep defensively) with Alexis shifting out wide for the final 20.

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

Albeit in different ways...Boro couldn't get the quality they needed on final shots whereas we missed multiple what would essentially be tap-in goals by lacking the required precision on the pass.

Outside of minutes 25-45, we pretty much dominated the game but give credit to Boro who were extremely disciplined defensively and worked their tails off...it really affected them in the final 10 minutes as the team was running on empty but we just couldn't get the ball or touches we needed to break the draw.

Exactly the game I expected in terms of style, but Boro's defensive execution and Traore's pace put this game on the knife's edge...Cech made some great saves to keep it there but we just didn't have the precision needed to come away w 3 points.

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

Arguably our most consistent of the back 4 last season to very obviously the weak link...he's getting eaten up defensively especially vs pace (and no coincidence, we have seen 3 straight teams deploy their paciest winger almost exclusively on his side) and his service as we saw again today has been overall pretty dang poor.

LB is clearly the next position we need to address but I have a feeling this is going to be another Arsene special when it comes to putting too much trust in players who are clearly declining and hurting the team (that trust is great for the young players, imo what really sets our talent development apart from other BPL teams, but it becomes a double edged sword with our over the hill players).

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

but yeah, that's a position that needs to be addressed next in the transfer window, be it over the winter or next summer

Last kick of a 2-2 game, in the 93rd minute of stoppage time, against DIEGO ALVES. Wow.

really played out of sorts after Iniesta went down. injuries are really piling up and that injury on iniesta looks bad. early reports are 3-4 months out.
-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

3 months tops.

WHAT'S GOOD *****? What's REALLY good?!?!????!!! Ha HA!
http://40.media.tumblr.com/d8e2daf9f3f37244cd05436bcdf05973/tumblr_mt4qibKq4c1rgam01o1_1280.png

who has stopped 50% of the penalties he's faced.

stop hating.

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

He has figure out that players are either going to target left or right 90% of the time & dives accordingly but players refuse to attempt the easiest shot in the game (a straight line power shot) b/c that's the equivalent of an underhand shot in basketball.

WHAT'S GOOD *****? What's REALLY good?!?!????!!! Ha HA!
http://40.media.tumblr.com/d8e2daf9f3f37244cd05436bcdf05973/tumblr_mt4qibKq4c1rgam01o1_1280.png

some season this kid's having

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

Get well soon, happy cloud.

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

Arsenal, Spurs, and now City all look flat.

----
bshelly

"You (Fisher) could get fired, Les Snead could get fired, Kevin Demoff could get fired, but I will always be Eric Dickerson.” (c) The God

Had to travel, and lost too

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

Absolute brain dead play right there.

<--- Big Baller World Order

<--- Big Baller World Order

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

WHAT'S GOOD *****? What's REALLY good?!?!????!!! Ha HA!
http://40.media.tumblr.com/d8e2daf9f3f37244cd05436bcdf05973/tumblr_mt4qibKq4c1rgam01o1_1280.png

Pass and move, receives the return pass in the box, chinks to his right so quickly with a drop of his shoulder and then fires to the far post.

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

Smalling for his obviously shit defending.

Mou for fucking with too many lineups.

We have zero chemistry.

to the moon
https://twitter.com/7amkickoff/status/790237126373756928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

at every turn just trash. sluggish and indecisive
unfortunately we cant go back to Bailly/Blind CB because Bailly is dead for 6 months.

<--- Big Baller World Order

...shit he was arguably the best EPL defender a year or two ago.

but he has quickly reverted to the ways of his youth.

i don't get it. either way, he is TRASH right now.

I dont buy all the "best league in the world" PR but entertainment-wise it's definitely a cut above

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

5 within 2, possibly 6 depending on the real/bilbao result (currently 1-1). sevilla on top, thanks to their W over atletico madrid.

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

Actual question, no snark

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

and not noticing la liga is practically identically even at the top.

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

I def should've made it clear I was talking about the PL, which I've come to think of as being the Marvel movies of soccer (lots of flashy action, not always a ton of substance. Entertaining to watch tho). No agenda-posting here, as I care about as much about convincing people to watch other leagues as Ibra cares about tracking back on defense, but I don't think anyone really believes the EPL is head and shoulders above la Liga or the Bundesliga. Heck, tactically Serie A is still up there, but that's where the movie analogy I used comes in. Some people enjoy that, some don't

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

it gets worlds better coverage. and you posted after barca dismantled man city (while not playing that well) and i had to listen to fox sports one have an inane conversation about how the EPL was either more "intense" or more "physical" which is absurd.

i only generally watch EPL and La Liga. I think la liga recently was a little underwhelming tactically as it was pretty much barca vs. buses and real madrid's tactics were pretty bland. but right today, la liga's tactical versatility (comparing teams) is really fascinating and i think the only thing that makes people think EPL games are more entertaining is that we all know the players + team histories a lot better because of histories of coverage.

i may still be bitter over arguments from previous years in which the EPL was supposedly better and more entertaining. It's clearly not better. I don't think it's more entertaining, except that we all already know and love Tony Stark in the EPL, to extend your analogy too far.

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

of course every person understands something different by the word and a dirty elitist like myself might actually get more enjoyment from well-paced but less frantic action, however the EPL with its constant action and like you said very familiar history, does lead to intriguing storylines that are easy to market.

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

if people knew about the stars + rivalries of second tier teams in the bundesliga or la liga and the coaches of those teams like they do their EPL equivalents, i think the EPL would lose its entertainment edge. the on-field product is no better and (arguably) worse than other leagues. it's not really more competitive a title...people just don't know who the fuck is on Sevilla (current top of la liga table) except Sami Nasri who i'd say is their 3rd or 4th best forward, for example.


-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

dude's taken to Sevilla well, but I hope their fans aren't taking anything for granted with him

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

-----------
you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia

(not so) fat sam's doing great. I'm bracing for an onslaught of triumphant calminvasion posts.

doesn't get much better than seeing that prick humiliated.

___

it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

His skill-set has always been so impressive...we had the chance to steal him away but never made the definitive offer needed.

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

+ 10 bullshit ones. He really needs to clean up.

Cavani a fucking flopper.

-----------Ibra
Martial-----Mata----Mickytargaryen
------Pogba-----Herrera
Shaw--Blind----jesus/basedgod/???----Valencia
------------DDG

tell the front six to run for the team until they fucking drop or they can be sold next summer for all i care. attacking/creative players can still give respectable defensive effort.

no more fellaini ever. sell him in january. he makes us play a man down basically.
since bailly is out i'd honestly rather start rojo or jones next than smalling. smalling needs to get acquainted with the bench for a bit.

<--- Big Baller World Order

>tell the front six to run for the team until they fucking drop
>or they can be sold next summer for all i care.

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

Because it strikes me as odd that Mou wouldn't play something more like the 4-3-3 that worked so well at Chelsea. Pogba and Henrik would work better as a forward two in a three-man midfield.

---------------------------------
Photo zine(some images NSFW): http://bit.ly/USaSPhoto

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - Walleye

that might be the hardest thing to ask anyone in this set of midfielders to do. a complete re-education.

<--- Big Baller World Order

---------------------------------
Photo zine(some images NSFW): http://bit.ly/USaSPhoto

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - Walleye

<--- Big Baller World Order

in all of 2016.

<--- Big Baller World Order

So no real excuses on the personnel front...What did he envision his ideal starting 11 like? Because right now he keeps changing things up without any clear indication of who or how he really wants to play.

as currently constucted i can't actually imagine what he could imprint on this squad. right now he's basically playing a more functional version of LVG ball since that's what most of them are accustomed to. at least Pep and Conte inherited something with a semblance of continuity. they were just underperforming (Chelsea divas flat quit on Jose).

it's an interesting predicament considering we're trying to integrate a bunch of mismatched/old players and poor signings from the remnants of SAF and 2 different managers with half of our midfielders (Fellaini, Schneiderlin and Schweisteiger) being useless.

obviously we got the 4 cornerstone players (I say 3 since Zlatan is a bandaid) but i'd honestly have parted ways with about 30-40% of the squad if it was possible. I think Jose would've too since we were still working the market up until about the last week of the window. it's clear he maybe underestimated how bad the squad was. plus we still havent seen Mkhitaryan proper since he's been injured most of the year and then he shit the bed vs City. given his rep for being soft and lacking in confidence back at Dortmund it might be a while before we see him get rolling. i'm hoping we buy someone in January to do all the dirty work Pogba doesn't need to do. that isn't his game and you don't pay a world record fee on a player to make them play a role that doesn't suit them. given our lack of options though, here we are.

i'd actually like to see him give a Pogba/FosuMensah/Herrera midfield. in my mind it's probably the best mix of attributes (destroyer, ballplayer and dynamo all with good ball playing skills, physicality and passion) that we could run in midfield. real life is not FIFA though so that probably wouldn't work

i'll be very interested to see who the January exits are.
whether it's old age or just being generally shit (both in Rooney's case) i'd expect all of these players to be gone by the summer: Jones, Rojo*, Memphis***, Carrick, Rooney, Fellaini, Schneiderlin**, Schweinsteiger and Darmian
* I don't think if Rojo is a lost cause. he looks the part but he plays so dumb. i'd like to see if Jose can iron out some of those mental lapses.
** Schneiderlin's been horrible since arriving. I don't think he's terrible though. Probably just needs to take a step back down or out to another league. if he cant get minutes w/ our midfield he must be tragic in training
*** Memphis has been downright appalling since arriving. everything he does looks heavy, laboured and uncoordinated.

<--- Big Baller World Order

<--- Big Baller World Order

winner of multiple pl titles
only person to win a league title off pep
winner of 2 champions leagues

it's like they wanted us to mire in the muck w/ lvg forever.

<--- Big Baller World Order

>it's like they wanted us to mire in the muck w/ lvg forever.

The legend of the club was built on long-term stability and building from within. Busby's boys. The class of '92. 1500 matches under SAF.

Mourinho, by contrast, is slash and burn. He may win, once, but it will end swiftly and badly, like it always does. United used to build clubs to compete every season; Mourinho is a manager to compete for one season.

It's cheap. Chelsea-like. A classless hire.

It almost makes too much sense, but Im guessing Emery is waiting until the 85th as usual..,

------------------------------
For the record, my teams:
MLB: Mets / Soccer: PSG
NCAA BB: Arizona / NCAA FB: Michigan
NBA: Spurs / NFL: Jets

https://streamable.com/l5zg

https://streamable.com/jnfv

--

"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."

An intentional outside of the foot reverse flick into the box while jumping. Wow

---------------------------------
<--The drought is over

"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS

"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left."
-Kobe speaking to investigators

L D E A

Those passes were phenomenal. I don't know what you do to do with that on defense.

You're such pests...now, what is it you want? In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want? Well, whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. - Orson Welles


Never Tired, Always Sleepy

----
bshelly

"You (Fisher) could get fired, Les Snead could get fired, Kevin Demoff could get fired, but I will always be Eric Dickerson.” (c) The God

and the goal

forever remembered as the scorer of a definitely top 3, maybe GOAT world cup goal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZkR5Wb2KQs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5HbmeNKino

'dat crowd anticipation roar on the Pele pass

LMAO

http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-united/story/2981559/jose-mourinho-says-paul-pogba-struggles-at-manchester-united-not-tactical-and-could-be-phenomenal-centre-back

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/englands-elite-demonstrating-true-value-collectivism-over-stars-all-except-mourinho

___

it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes