Premier League 2021-22

Well I hate to start this thread off this way. Less than a year after Fulham opened their Premier League season with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal, Brentford went and opened their inaugural Premier League season with a 2-0 win against Arsenal. *sigh*

 

Not a Spuds fan whatsoever, but found myself pulling for them. One reason obviously because of Citeh and their budget. When you can overspend for a good but not great player like Grealish aka the British Neymar (who is a worse flopper in the Prem?) by double/triple what he's worth, it's a joke. The other reason is the new manager Nuno. He's a breath of fresh air compared to the Not So Special One. Nuno might have been the 5th or 6th choice, but his philosophy is it's about the players, while the last guy it was about him and him alone. Spuds were fortunate, but not unworthy of the 3 points.

 

Quite the beat down Citeh put on Leeds today at the Etihad. I thought Pep might come out and score one at some point. Lawd. 7-nil.

 

Once mighty ManUre are starting to at least hear the truth from somebody.

https://www.instagram.com/bewarmers/p/CY6ePayohI8/?utm_medium=share_sheet

 

Apparently Dan Burn was uber-keen to go home to Newcastle. He's busted out of the gate with back to back solid performances, including a MOTM shift today at Wet Spam. Good for him. https://www.footballfancast.com/new...n-performance-in-numbers-west-ham-premier-lea

 

Did anyone watch any of the Citeh-Spuds tilt? Conte played it pretty much the only way he could: defend and counter. In the end, it worked, kind of. Not gonna lie, was glad to see somebody slow down this year's edition of the Pep Train to the Trophy. Harry effin' Kane. He's pretty good. As an aside, Ryan Sessegnon started and essentially played the 90 plus, only giving way to Davinson Sanchez for defense in the 93rd minute. Can't say whether or not his contributions had any sway in the result, but it bodes well for him that he played that long, and that they won.

 

More good Dan Burn video.

 

Leeds United are in deep doo doo. After their latest shellacking, 3-1 to Aston Villa at Elland Road, they are 16th with a bullet…toward the wrong end of table. Personally, I like having a club with such a well known name in the upper tier with us. But it ain’t looking good. Their only saving grace is that the four teams below them are horrid as well. But they certainly can’t bank on that in the form they’re in. And of course the new Yank manager is the perfect scapegoat.

 

The most improved team in the Prem this season? Might be Crystal Palace. They moved into 9th with yesterday's 3-nil beat down of Gooners at Selhurst. Arsenal weren't that bad, Palace were just that much better, especially energy-wise. Arteta's men played as if they would win by default. Last season they finished 14th with 44 points. They've got 37 right now, and turned a few heads with a nil-nil draw against Citeh last month. Patrick Vieira deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround, but he and the club's hierarchy have finally gotten some help for Wilifried Zaha who, by the way, is still only 29. Seems like he's been around much longer. I've always liked Zaha for some reason. Always wondered what he'd do with an adequate supporting cast. Now we're finding out. Two of the additions, Connor Gallagher and our old buddy Joachim Andersen, have been impactful additions. Andersen deftly outplayed his man to win the assisting header on their first goal, and his ball to Jordan Ayew for their second was ballsy and brilliant. It's doubtful they'll be able to sustain their current form, given the demand already for Gallagher's services from wealthier clubs and Vieira's player pedigree and coaching success making him equally attractive, but, for now, they're fun to watch.

 

Burnley with a dramatic come from behind 3-2 win over Everton, taking advantage of a miss hit clearance late on. The Toffees have been dragged into a relegation scrap (Burnley now just a pt behind the 17th place Toffees). Never rooted against them, especially w/Howard between the sticks, but w/Lampard as their manager and the thought of not having to play at Goodison and Burnley being the weaker of the 2 Clubs, I’m totally cool w/them hitting the trap door.