Stellini was assistant manager and Mason was the first team coach under Conte. Although Stellini hadn’t managed in years, aside from 3 games when Conte was suspended at Inter, I guess they went for seniority instead of institutional knowledge?
2022-23 Premier League Thread
- Thread starter andyt
- Start date
I guess, but since Conte spent months burning every bridge in sight I thought it was strange that they went with his No. 2 for the interim job. Normally that guy gets the sack when the manager does.
Sheffield United beat West Brom and grabbed the 2nd automatic promotion spot from the Championship. Luton and Middlesbrough are locked in to the playoffs but below them is a giant cluster. Coventry sit 5th with 66 points, then Sunderland, Millwall and Blackburn at 65, West Brom and Preston at 63 and Norwich and Swansea at 62.
Coventry hasn’t been in the Premier League since 2001. Neither Millwall nor Luton have ever played in the Premier League, Millwall was relegated out of the First Division in 1990. Luton was one of the 22 clubs involved in creating the Premier League but they were relegated in the last season of the First Division in 1992
Coventry hasn’t been in the Premier League since 2001. Neither Millwall nor Luton have ever played in the Premier League, Millwall was relegated out of the First Division in 1990. Luton was one of the 22 clubs involved in creating the Premier League but they were relegated in the last season of the First Division in 1992
Yeah, but can you imagine the spectacle of Millwall v. West Ham at The Den? They haven’t played each other since the 2011-12 season.
I can, yes and it might even be worse for them to have regular games with real stakes against Palace. Probably best for everyone involved if that doesn't happen.
A world where it's possible to switch out the sports drink for a potion that makes you float. Otherwise, none worlds.
VinatieriDefinesClutch
Active member
I'm forgetting who it was, but a couple games ago a villa player (Digne maybe?) got cleared in the face and was bleeding and there wasn't even a foul called.
Separately, I'm curious your thoughts on Buendia. I'm a little biased as he's my favorite player on the team, but I've been seeing a lot of negative opinions toward him on the Villa subreddit recently and I don't get it. He wasn't great against Man U, but he didn't stick out more than anyone else to me and he was our only starter other than Martinez who wasn't a complete dumpster fire against Brentford. Watkins has been invisible the past three matches and the fans just seem to want to get on Emi for not, I don't know, sprinting through everyone and being a physical force when he's smaller and not that fast. The whole team looks tired and Emi's best skill is his passing obviously and I feel like a lot of times guys are just making tired runs and everyone's getting mad at Emi instead of the runners.
Buendia will always suffer from two things ... the simple act of not being Grealish and having had that dolt Gerrard for his initial manager. In truth, he's a tricky guy to rate. He's the kind of player who makes the pass or the run that unlocks chances for other people. He's more of a chance initiator than a chance creator and those guys tend to only earn their praise when you win something meaningful. If he'd have come in under Emery he would have been used correctly right away and fan expectations would have been geared to what he can actually do. Kind of the same with Luiz, who suffered through two managers who had no clue how to use him.
I agree that they look a bit spent right now, but I think that was inevitable with squad depth being what it is. Half the guys on the subs bench aren't really fit and they're leaning awfully hard on Young's old man legs. All of which is fine. Europe is a bridge too far, but they've managed to play with the quality that the roster should deliver for the first time in a very long time.
I agree that they look a bit spent right now, but I think that was inevitable with squad depth being what it is. Half the guys on the subs bench aren't really fit and they're leaning awfully hard on Young's old man legs. All of which is fine. Europe is a bridge too far, but they've managed to play with the quality that the roster should deliver for the first time in a very long time.
JJ and Kealia Watt are investing in Vincent Kompany’s Burnley
NFL legend JJ Watt and wife Kealia invest in Burnley
NFL hero JJ Watt and his wife - former United States international Kealia - have invested in English football team Burnley as they bid to usher in a new era of success at the club.
www.dailymail.co.uk
VinatieriDefinesClutch
Active member
The team looks wiped and the bench is so sad. My big hope is that if we end up in the Conference league that we bring back Martin O'Neill to manage the team for those games so Emery doesn't get any ideas of actually trying to perform in it rather than concentrating on the league next year.
I often feel like Buendia makes a lot of very creative passes to players who do not have nearly as creative of vision. I think it's a big reason that he and Moreno have linked up so well as both players are a little more creative than Ramsey or Dendoncker who received a brilliant pass from Buendia in the box and was too confused at how it got to him and did not know what to do with the ball. Kamara has been really missed and I would be okay with him resting the rest of the season especially since he was clearly rushed back earlier and then got injured worse. One day English soccer clubs might realize that it's not in their best interest long term to rush players back from injury EVERY DAMN TIME, but it doesn't appear like that realization is coming very soon. I'm still mad at Bolton for ruining Stuart Holden who should have been a star for the US team and instead was re-injured worse every time they returned him to play.
I often feel like Buendia makes a lot of very creative passes to players who do not have nearly as creative of vision. I think it's a big reason that he and Moreno have linked up so well as both players are a little more creative than Ramsey or Dendoncker who received a brilliant pass from Buendia in the box and was too confused at how it got to him and did not know what to do with the ball. Kamara has been really missed and I would be okay with him resting the rest of the season especially since he was clearly rushed back earlier and then got injured worse. One day English soccer clubs might realize that it's not in their best interest long term to rush players back from injury EVERY DAMN TIME, but it doesn't appear like that realization is coming very soon. I'm still mad at Bolton for ruining Stuart Holden who should have been a star for the US team and instead was re-injured worse every time they returned him to play.
Well, the depth HAS to improve and it feels like that's been a priority for going on two solid years without much to show for it. Vilaa have had a bad run of injury luck, but they're also stuck with some pretty big wage bills for guys who don't really do much ... most of whom were brought it to meet Gerrard's specs. That will likely change as they try to give Emery what he needs/wants to grow the program. Meanwhile they've spent millions on academy kids who never seem to either dent the first team or get sold on for a profit. The business model could use a bit of tweaking, I think. Either way ... beats the heck out of slumming it in the lower third of the table. I'd a heck of a lot rather be banging on the Top 6 glass ceiling than clawing it out with the zombies near the drop zone. We've reached the stage where patience is in order ... again.
With Javi Gracia supposedly on the outs at Leeds, and being out of the drop zone only on GD, there are reports that they may turn to Big Sam to rescue their season. Allardyce has been out of work since failing to save West Brom in the 2020-21 season. Gracia has only been there for 2 months after Jesse Marsch was sacked. They’ve picked up 11 points from his 12 games in charge but only 1 in their last 5.
Leeds has 4 matches left, at Man City, home to Newcastle, at West Ham and home to Spurs.
Leeds has 4 matches left, at Man City, home to Newcastle, at West Ham and home to Spurs.
First reaction ... spit take. Second reaction ... barely controlled laughter. Third reaction ... poor McKinney and Aaronson playing for Doctor "just hoof it up there"
VinatieriDefinesClutch
Active member
Please let this happen. I would like Leeds to go down in the most hilarious way possible.
It happened.
I would too if they didn't have 3 prominent USMNT players on their roster.
VinatieriDefinesClutch
Active member
I haven't forgotten the "let them score" incident. Plus as someone who very much enjoyed the movie "The Damn United," Leeds going down and Forest staying up would just be fun.
Oh, I can't freaking stand Leeds ... but they happen to be home to Adams and McKennie and I will swallow my preferences to protect those guys.