2016-2017 Soccer Thread: The Post Leicester City Apocalypse

[Talint]

How do you reckon Derby's chances on getting promoted?

Looking at the Championship table, surprised Villa are starting to rebound; but outside of Newcastle there's a good lineup of fresh-ish faces that could get into the Prem next season.

[FallingHigher]

Well we've certainly spent quite a bit the past two years to be able to give us the push up there, but it just hasn't happened. Had managerial problems with off the field drama which has derailed our progress past two seasons but this season is looking as if we may grab a play-off place.

Yeah Villa have failed to impress so far. Problem is with the Championship for the past few years is there's been a lot of teams that have come down from the prem with good squads and money to spend which have really amped up the competitiveness, although these same teams (i.e. QPR, Cardiff, Fulham, etc) haven't been able to get re-promoted again so it's made it tough for the other teams without having heavy investment put in.

[Talint]

So I was able to catch Leeds v Derby and two takeaways:

1. Leeds really do look ready for promotion.
2. Derby kind of unlucky that Green error was ruled handball. That having been said, Derby didn't look like they were in the match for most of the game. And I didn't realize Steve McClaren was the Derby manager. He's certainly a thing.

[FallingHigher]

We didn't turn up today at all, begrudgingly I'll say Leeds deserved the win. Gary Monk obviously had a game plan and it worked.

Yeah McClaren has a long history at the club. He served as understudy to Jim Smith 20 years ago during our first promotion to the prem, and is currently serving his second spell as first team manager.

[Roranora]

N'golo Kante returns to King Power today, and Leicester will have to find its way through a player it knows better than anyone.

Tot'num put 4 past West Brom but lose Vertonghen. Arsenal keep pace away to Swansea, who have conceded a league-leading 49 goals now, buoyed by two own goals today. What a mess at the bottom.

Conte told Costa to go to China, and Diego did not travel with the team. Mr Costa has quite the decision to make. What an insane dynamic having Chinese clubs offering 10-fold top European wages.

[Talint]

Fucking solid display from Tottenham versus one of their bogey teams. Really sad to see Verts so upset though.

And well done to Chelsea for not letting The Costa Problem affect them, and to West Ham for looking BETTER without Payet (granted it was Palace, still).

[Zetanio]

4-0 shoulda been 7-0.

[Talint]

Yeah, weird from Pulis to miscalculate that one. His smash-and-grabs usually pay off (particularly versus Spurs), but that team was set up all kinds of wrong in the first half. I don't keep up with West Brom a whole lot, but considering their table position, I thought for sure this was going to be a worry-some match.

[Talint]

Me watching the Everton v City game this morning

[Talint]

I feel like if a conference team knocks out of the FA Cup your championship team, that's almost assuredly a fireable offense.

[Roranora]

Well boys we've lost Plymouth, but we still have Sutton and Lincoln for one more round!

[Zetanio]

COME ON LINCOLN

[Roranora]

Liverpool let Swansea put in three 2nd half goals and lost 3-2 at Anfield. This is the result they get about every 5 or 6 matches, like away to Bournemouth a couple months ago.

Spurs are our best shot for a title race; please take all 3 points and send Pep down into 6th.

[Zetanio]

NBC Sports just cut away from the fucking match to golf.

[Zetanio]

I'll take the tie on that one.

[Talint]

I see Lloris having his yearly howler match. I always get concerned that he'll be swiped by a megaclub, but then he reminds everyone that, nah, Spurs is exactly where he belongs.

That having been said, Pep going 4-1-4-1 with four attacking mids and Aguero up front, fuck me silly that's rough. Walking away with a point is something I'll take. Egregious reffing. Spurs should have been down to ten and down 3-1.

Really needed to put City to the sword tho.

[Tyrath]

NBC Sports just cut away from the fucking match to golf.

I saw that. Wtf

[Talint]

Arsenal is very good at robbing games from Burnley.

[Talint]

That cup tie gave me a headache.

[Roranora]

COME ON LINCOLN

Onto the 5th round for the Imps!!1 First since 18871902, back before humans recreated the Pliocene, although we were well on our way.

They came from behind even, winning 3-1 home to Championship leaders Brighton.

Nothing else super exciting yet from the 4th round other than a heart attack for Spurs supporters. Arsenal and Chelsea laid waste, Burnley through, Oxford knocks out Newcastle, Leicester earn a replay with Derby, City win away to Palace, and Liverpool shit the bed in the early game crashing out to 2nd-tier Wolves.