English Premier League 2017-18 | Discussion Thread

[MenInG]

Manchester City dominate PFA Premier League team of the year

Five Manchester City players have been named in the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League Team of the Year.



Having been confirmed as champions on Sunday after second-placed Manchester United lost 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion, the Etihad celebrations continue with the choice, by their fellow professionals, of defenders Nicolás Otamendi and Kyle Walker, midfielders Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva and forward Sergio Agüero as part of a three-man attack.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, currently leading the Premier League scoring chart on 30 goals, accompanies Agüero and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who has scored 26 league goals, in that attacking line-up.

Only the goalkeeper David de Gea was named from United, while fourth-placed Tottenham boast three selections in Kane, playmaker Christian Eriksen and central defender Jan Verthongen.

Completing the line-up, and despite last season’s champions’ disappointing title defence, Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso was named in a team he failed to make last year when losing out to Tottenham’s Danny Rose. Alonso held off strong competition from left-backs such as Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Tottenham’s Ben Davies.

On Sunday, the overall winner of the PFA Player of the Year award will be unveiled, with De Bruyne, De Gea, Kane, Silva and Salah all nominated, along with City winger Leroy Sané, surprisingly omitted from the Team of the Year.

Wolves will be playing Premier League football next season after securing promotion, and have three players in the PFA’s Championship team of the year. Goalkeeper John Ruddy, defender Willy Boly and midfielder Ruben Neves, who scored a memorable goal in the recent win over Derby, all make the XI.

The battle to join them in the top-flight next season looks set to go down to the wire. Fulham head into the weekend’s matches in third place, just a point behind Cardiff, on the back of an impressive 21-match unbeaten Championship run.

Wolves’ hunger to restore lost glory puts them back at the top table | Ben Fisher

The Cottagers see defender Ryan Fredericks and wing-back Ryan Sessegnon, who has scored 14 goals so far, named in the PFA Championship team of the year, along with midfielder Tom Cairney.

Cardiff centre-half Sol Bamba, Norwich midfielder James Maddison, Bristol City forward Bobby Reid, Sheffield United striker Leon Clarke and Derby frontman Matej Vydra are all acknowledged for their impressive campaigns.

Exciting Fulham prospect Sessegnon, 17, is also included on the shortlist for the PFA young player of the year award.

Championship Team of the Year

GK John Ruddy (Wolves); RB Ryan Fredericks (Fulham), CB Sol Bamba (Cardiff), CB Willy Boly (Wolves), LB Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham); MID James Maddison (Norwich), MID Rúben Neves (Wolves), MID Tom Cairney (Fulham); FWD Bobby Reid (Bristol City), FWD Leon Clarke (Sheffield United), FWD, Matěj Vydra (Derby County)

League One Team of the Year

GK Dean Henderson, (Shrewsbury); RB Nathan Byrne (Wigan), CB Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn), CB Dan Burn (Wigan), LB Amari’i Bell (Blackburn); MID Bradley Dack (Blackburn), MID Erhun Oztumer (Walsall), MID Nick Powell (Wigan); FWD Danny Graham (Blackburn), FWD Jack Marriott (Peterborough), FWD Will Grigg (Wigan)

League Two Team of the Year

GK Marek Stech, (Luton); RB Jack Grimmer (Coventry), CB Alan Sheehan (Luton), CB Mark Hughes (Accrington), LB Dan Potts (Luton); MID Jorge Grant (Notts County), MID Luke Berry (Luton), MID Sean McConville (Accrington); FW Adebayo Akinfenwa (Wycombe), FW Billy Kee (Accrington), Danny Hylton (Luton)


https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-dominate-pfa-premier-league-team-of-the-year

 

[hadi123]

No surprises.

 

[Hasan123]

Alonso inclusion is a surprise and can't believe Fernandiinho didn't make the team. Other than that no real surprises. Sane or Sterling could have been included.

 

[hadi123]

What a comeback by West Brom! 4 points from their last two games away at Manchester United and home to Liverpool. Their fans must be wondering why couldn't they play like this earlier!

 

[PakLFC]

Liverpool seemed to have one eye on the CL seem on Tuesday. The referee was baffling denying Liverpool a stone wall penalty.

 

[MenInG]

Manchester City cruising along as they lead Swansea City 2-0

 

[UN talkz]

 

[MenInG]

5-0 now to Man City - awesome performance by the Champions!

 

[PakLFC]

Arsenal won 4-1. Wenger's farewell party has started!

 

[s28]

Muslim footballers have now won PFA Player of the Year 3 years running

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LFC</a>'s Mo Salah, crowned the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year &#55357;&#56399;&#55356;&#57286; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PFAAwards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PFAAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/fpvxwZgfdP">pic.twitter.com/fpvxwZgfdP</a></p>— PFA (@PFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFA/status/988179952418938881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">22 April 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[PakLFC]

I am sure Muslim haters are burning in their rage and jealousy! Salah has been amazing all season, must also thank Mourinho for letting him go otherwise most likely he wouldn't be at Liverpool now. A humble and spiritual man makes him even more likeable. Muslim Footballers in the EPL are only going to increase, insha Allah. I am surprised that Harry Kane didn't lay some sort of weird claim to the award by saying his name is Harry Salah! De Bruyne who Chelsea also released has also been amazing this season.

 

[MenInG]

Stoke’s 10-year existence in the Premier League is over, their fate confirmed after a match which served as a microcosm of their sorry season.

The post-mortem will be lengthy into Stoke’s drop into the Championship, with the fatal blow coming after a mistake from captain Ryan Shawcross, a player synonymous with the club’s rise over the last decade.

Stoke have previously been a model of stability for any promoted club, providing us with those stirring early years back in the big time under Tony Pulis, bloodying the noses of many illustrious managers.

They have been on European excursions, competed in an FA Cup Final and finished ninth three times under Mark Hughes with a squad that chairman Peter Coates once described as the best in their history.

But this campaign will sadly be remembered for a litany of mistakes - poor recruitment, shocking defending, ill discipline and a glaring lack of goalscorers.


Patrick van Aanholt
✔
@pvanaanholt
Normally I like to celebrate when I score but I’d like to apologise to Stoke City and their fans, I wish my goal didn’t relegate you, but you’ll be back soon! Great club with great fans

Stoke’s decline can arguably be traced back to the final months of last season and one can only wonder if this season would have been different had the decision to jettison Hughes been made earlier. He was eventually sacked in January, but alarm bells were clanging well before then.

The Stoke fans who remained to the end chanted “City ‘til we die” in defiance, the club returning to the second tier for the first time since 2008.

Paul Lambert, the manager, has failed to win since January 20 but the problems go far deeper than him. He said: “The emotions are up and down at the moment. It’s a sad day and I’m gutted for everybody connected with the club

“We’ve fallen short and lacked a quality up top, that’s haunted us. When teams don’t get results and you sleepwalk into places you never thought you would be then it is tough to come back from that.

“It’s tough now, but the club is in a good position to rebuild. Planning for next season starts now, it has to because this is a great club and one that should aspire to be back in the Premier League immediately.”

This defeat was Stoke’s 19th of the season and finally secured Crystal Palace’s survival, though in truth it has not looked in doubt for weeks.

Roy Hodgson is now threatening a top-10 finish, a remarkable achievement for the former England manager after inheriting a team which had lost their opening seven league games.

You would have had longer odds on Stoke being relegated at the start of the season.

Lambert had described the game as “all or nothing” and there was a tangible air of desperation around the place even before kick-off. After 10 years in the top flight of relative comfort, it had all come down to this.

Palace’s safety was virtually assured last weekend after the 5-0 thrashing of Leicester and they were far from willing stooges.

With the pace and movement of Wilfried Zaha, and guile of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Palace produced the early scares and increased the agony for Lambert, who was like a cat on hot bricks in his technical area.

When Mame Diouf headed wide from Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross in the 23rd minute, it appeared the lack of attacking options were going to prove costly for Stoke again.

But three minutes before the break came the moment of magic Lambert, and Stoke, were desperately craving. Shaqiri was fouled 25 yards from goal and there was a nervous hush as he stepped up to take the free-kick.

Seconds later the bet365 Stadium erupted with a combination of joy and relief, as the £12 million signing bent the ball into the top corner, with a deflection off Loftus-Cheek.

Such a slim lead was always going to make the second half excruciating and Stoke were initially resilient, inspired by the brilliant defending of Erik Pieters and Kurt Zouma.

Yet the equaliser had a whiff of inevitability about it and finally came in the 68th minute. Palace broke quickly, exploiting the gaps, and James McArthur slid the ball past Jack Butland after being played in by Loftus-Cheek.

Stoke were now frantic. Rookie striker Tyrese Campbell, 18, was brought on in a final throw of the dice.

Zaha and Christian Benteke, a Palace substitute, could have killed the game earlier but it was a mistake from Shawcross that sparked the exodus of home supporters.

In attempting to cut out a through ball from Zaha, Shawcross could not stretch far enough and only succeeded in presenting Patrick Van Aanholt with a simple chance, which he was not going to waste.


Stoke’s slim hopes of survival were over. Butland, and other players, wept at the final whistle. The lap of appreciation felt almost funereal.

Hodgson was typically dignified after the game, refusing to focus too much on his own team’s success. "I'm proud of the team, not just today but all season but I feel a lot of sympathy and empathy for Stoke,” he said.

“Any joy I feel is measured by looking at the faces of the Stoke players who gave everything, but they came up against a team that wasn't prepared to lie down.

"After seven games, or after 11 games with four points, I never saw it coming. It’s one of my proudest achievements and I’m quite happy to take the praise but it’s certainly more than a one-man job.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/05/05/stoke-vs-crystal-palace-premier-league-live-updates/

 

[Hasan123]

Stoke relegated and Tottenham messing up their top 4 chances. What a day.

 

[PakLFC]

Poor performance by Liverpool again against Chelsea who we mostly struggle against. Must win the final match versus Brighton to secure a place in next years CL. Winning the tournament in 3 weeks will do as well.

 

[Kroll]

Swansea 0-1 Southampton

meaning West Brom are relegated.

 

[DeadBall]

Man City - 3
Brighton - 1

Tottenham - 1
Newcastle - 0

Chelsea - 1
Huddersfield - 1

 

[UN talkz]

There are two major issues left to be resolved in the final round of Premier League fixtures on Sunday.

Liverpool and Chelsea are hoping to claim the last of the four Champions League qualification spots.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool currently hold the position, with a two-point advantage over Antonio Conte's side.

Swansea or Southampton will fill the final relegation place, with it likely to be the Swans, who are three points and nine goals worse off than the Saints.

There are 10 top-flight matches in total, all starting at 15:00 BST.

Sunday's Premier League fixtures

Burnley v Bournemouth Newcastle United v Chelsea
Crystal Palace v West Brom Southampton v Manchester City
Huddersfield Town v Arsenal Swansea v Stoke
Liverpool v Brighton Tottenham v Leicester City
Manchester United v Watford West Ham v Everton

With victory at Southampton, Manchester City will cap their superb title-winning season by becoming the first team in Premier League history to win 100 points.

Burnley are assured of seventh place and Europa League football next season, meaning that the majority of Sunday's games represent a tussle for league positioning and the extra prize money that comes with a higher position.

Each place is worth about an extra £2m to clubs, with champions Manchester City taking away £38.8m and whichever club finishes bottom claiming £1.9m.


Premier League prize money table

Team Pts GD Prize Pssble final pos.
1. Man City 97 78 £38.8m 1
2. Man Utd 78 39 £36.9m 2
3. Tottenham 74 37 £35m 3-4
4. Liverpool 72 42 £33m 3-5
5. Chelsea 70 27 £31.2m 4-5
6. Arsenal 60 22 £29.1m 6
7. Burnley 54 -2 £27.2m 7
8. Everton 49 -12 £25.2m 8-9
9. Leicester 47 -3 £23.3m 8-9
10. Newcastle 41 -11 £21.4m 10-15
11. Crystal Palace 41 -12 £19.4m 10-15
12. Bournemouth 41 -17 £17.5m 10-15
13. Watford 41 -19 £15.5m 10-15
14. Brighton 40 -16 £13.6m 10-16
15. West Ham 39 -22 £11.6m 10-17
16. Huddersfield 37 -29 £9.7m 14-17
17. Southampton 36 -18 £7.7m 15-17
18. Swansea 33 -27 £5.8m 17-18
19. West Brom 31 -23 £3.8m 18-20
20. Stoke 30 -34 £1.9m 18-20

Liverpool almost over the line

Liverpool are in pole position to finish in fourth place.

Chelsea's failure to beat Huddersfield at home on Wednesday and the Reds' vastly superior goal difference means Klopp's side need only a point at home to Brighton to ensure a place in next season's Champions League.

Liverpool can even finish third - if they win and Tottenham fail to beat Leicester at home.

If Chelsea are to finish fourth, they must beat Newcastle at St James' Park and hope Liverpool lose. Anything else means Europa League football for the Blues.



Swansea on the way out?

Swansea are almost certain to be playing Championship football in 2018-19.

Their 1-0 home defeat by relegation rivals Southampton on Tuesday means they occupy 18th place in the table heading into the final day, three points and nine goals worse off than the Saints.

The only glimmer of hope for the Swans is that they face relegated Stoke at home, while Southampton travel to Manchester City, who have scored a record 105 goals this season.



https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44082621

 

[MenInG]

Your English Premier League team of 2018?

 

[hadi123]

Sam Allardyce has left his position as Everton boss, the club have announced.

The 63-year-old only joined the Merseysiders in November, replacing Ronald Koeman on a contract until 2019.

The Toffees were 13th in the Premier League at the time of his appointment and finished the season in eighth place.

But supporters were far from enamoured with the team's style of play under the ex-England boss, and the atmosphere grew toxic at Goodison Park towards the end of the campaign.

His departure appeared inevitable after he blasted the club on Tuesday night for making sweeping boardroom changes without informing him.

And Allardyce was duly informed by Everton's majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri on Wednesday morning that his contract would be terminated.

Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale, the club's new CEO, said: “On behalf of the Chairman, Board of Directors and Mr Moshiri, I’d like to thank Sam for the job he has done at Everton over the last seven months.

"Sam was brought in at a challenging time last season to provide us with some stability and we are grateful to him for doing that.

“However, we have made the decision that, as part of our longer-term plan, we will be appointing a new manager this summer and will be commencing this process immediately.

"Again, we’d like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sam for his work with us over the last few months and wish him well for the future.”

Former Watford boss Marco Silva is the frontrunner to replace Allardyce, although there are issues to overcome for them to appoint the 40-year-old.

Silva was Moshiri's first choice to succeed Koeman, and Everton offered to pay a £12 million compensation fee to their Premier League rivals.

Watford refused to let Silva speak to the Merseysiders, and a drastic tailing off in form ensued – with the club winning just one of the next 11 games and Silva was subsequently sacked.

The two clubs remain in dispute over Everton's approach for Silva, with Watford making an official complaint to the Premier League over the alleged tapping up and seeking a compensation fee.

https://talksport.com/football/sam-...rm-180516282918?amp&__twitter_impression=true

 

[hadi123]

Manager David Moyes has left West Ham after just over six months in charge despite guiding the club to Premier League survival.

Moyes, 55, took over from Slaven Bilic on a short-term contract in November with the club in the relegation zone.

West Ham secured safety with two games to spare and finished 13th. Moyes met senior figures at the club on Monday.

The former Everton and Manchester United boss recorded nine wins and 10 draws from 31 games as West Ham boss.

"When David and his team arrived, it was the wish of both parties that the focus be only on the six months until the end of the season, at which point a decision would be made with regards to the future," said West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan.

"We feel that it is right to move in a different direction. We aim to appoint a high-calibre figure who we feel will lead the club into an exciting future for our loyal supporters within the next 10 days."

Moyes' assistants Alan Irvine, Stuart Pearce and Billy McKinlay have also left with immediate effect.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44140002

 

[MenInG]

Manager Paul Lambert has left relegated Stoke City four months after joining the club to replace Mark Hughes.

Despite ending their decade in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Swansea on Sunday, Lambert managed just two wins from his 15 games in charge.

Last week, the club's owners said they would continue to give managers time "to prove themselves".

However, departure of the former Aston Villa and Norwich boss leaves Stoke looking for a third boss in a year.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44109888