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View Full Version : Bit late, but time for an EPL (and other leagues) 2017/18 thread?



Gum do Mugu
09-30-2017, 01:17 AM
I've been waiting and waiting for Shin to start this thread like he did last season, but looks like I'll have to do it.

Early to say it, but looks like one of the Manchester clubs will be winning the league. United really look the better of the two. Pains me to say it as an Evertonian, but Lukaku is just phenomenal. But, I can find comfort in the fact that he has all the charisma of a wheelie bin. I can only love a player with at least some charm. And that's why he was never a favourite at Goodison. Well, that and he would tell any Belgian journalist who would listen that he wanted out! Still not sure why people call us bitters? >_>

Anyway, so that's good for you, Shin! I'm always a bit resentful about the inherent advantage London clubs have (attracting players, making money, etc), so a Manchester club winning the league is deffo preferable to bleedin' Spurs or Chelsea winning it. Sorry Boris!

I'm not really a football generalist like I used to be when I was younger. Nowadays I'm just an Everton specialist with mediocre knowledge of the rest of the game. So I'll stick to what I know and give my Everton summary so far.

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J/k! But no, I'm a bit frustrated with Ronald Koeman's obsession with shoehorning three of our bulging gaggle of "number 10s" into every single lineup. For the first season at Everton, Koeman really seemed like a pragmatist. Which was a refreshing change from Martinez and his obsessive adherence to tiki taka.

"Roberto, we're losing!"

"But our pass completion is 99%!"

...but yeah. It's frustrating to see Koeman persevere with the same formation when clearly we play better with wingers. Even bringing on unproven youngsters like Vlasic and Lookman makes us look infinitely better. And the same goes for the striker. When you play Rooney as your only centre forward then you're playing a system with no centre forward really, aren't you?

Having said all that, what do I, ya boy Gum, know about football compared to somebody like Ronald Koeman? So, I am still very much happy with him as manager and I am hoping that either he changes the formation or the players start to work out how to succeed in that system. I don't want to criticise him, because as I say, I'm not qualified to. I have faith that our form will pick up.

And the players... I'm loath to pick out underperformers, it's a cruel thing to do. Even if you are only adding your voice to an existing chorus of negativity and hate. Instead, I think it's better to accept that the system isn't clicking, and it's unfair to judge any players on their performances within that system. I'm still delighted with all the signings we made this summer and have absolute confidence they will become more effective over time.

Anyway, sorry to put everybody to sleep.

I know we have Premier League fans in Shin, GNR and Boris, and Fez of course is a Real Madrid fan. Also, we've got new members since last season. It'd nice to find out if any of them are football/soccer fans. I'd love to know how you guys are feeling about your seasons so far?