# 2014-15 Barclays Premier League Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 10, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248 "2014-08-10T17:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/121 "2014-12-17T16:13:56Z")
Just popping in to see if anyone has seen a set of wheels, last seen falling off of Southampton… Also, if anyone has a spare striker, we could really use one here at City. Wilfried, we should note that we absolutely love dancing. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/122 "2014-12-17T21:24:56Z")
Things are looking up for Arsenal. We were convincing in moving forward in the Champion’s League, and did well against the Saints and Magpies. This weekend is a real test, we’ll see if we can kick Liverpool while they’re down. ETA: My 7000th post. Woo-hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/123 "2014-12-18T00:40:15Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Just popping in to see if anyone has seen a set of wheels, last seen falling off of Southampton… > > Also, if anyone has a spare striker, we could really use one here at City. Wilfried, we should note that we absolutely love dancing. Five straight losses now for Saints after last night’s loss to Sheffield United in cup play. And the previous one was to freaking Burnley. Tough run for those of us who follow them. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/124 "2014-12-18T02:16:58Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > Five straight losses now for Saints after last night’s loss to Sheffield United in cup play. And the previous one was to freaking Burnley. Tough run for those of us who follow them. So far as it goes, Burnley at this moment look the best bet of the newly promoted teams to stay up; they’ve hit a very nice run of form and are, unless my memory fails me, presently one step above the relegation zone. If I had to bet on the relegatees today, I’d pick Leicester (sigh–Foxes went a long way to capturing my heart by kicking the crap out of the rags, and they haven’t won since), Hull [del]City[/del] Tigers, and… I don’t know. QPR seems to be the other relegation favorite right now, but if they can get their away form into order they should have a fighting chance. Other than Burnley, we’ve got four teams within three points of the relegation zone. If I had to pick one… maybe it’d still be QPR. But it’s going to be an interesting fight on both ends of the table this season, looks like. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/125 "2014-12-18T13:17:58Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > So far as it goes, Burnley at this moment look the best bet of the newly promoted teams to stay up; they’ve hit a very nice run of form and are, unless my memory fails me, presently one step above the relegation zone. If I had to bet on the relegatees today, I’d pick Leicester (sigh–Foxes went a long way to capturing my heart by kicking the crap out of the rags, and they haven’t won since), Hull [del]City[/del] Tigers, and… I don’t know. QPR seems to be the other relegation favorite right now, but if they can get their away form into order they should have a fighting chance. Other than Burnley, we’ve got four teams within three points of the relegation zone. If I had to pick one… maybe it’d still be QPR. But it’s going to be an interesting fight on both ends of the table this season, looks like. My knowledge of PL is still in its infancy but didn’t Burnley take kind of a different approach to roster renovation after promotion? I think I read that they elected to pretty much stay with last year’s team instead of pursuing high priced guys, gambling that the cohesiveness would trump new firepower. Seems like a risky strategy to me but if it works, they’ll be in a stronger position next season (if they can stay up) with a second year’s top flight revenues on the books. Leicester’s slump is sort of disappointing to me, too, and they do indeed look like a sure bet to go back down. I don’t find QPR very attractive though I do love me some Charlie Austin. Villa and West Brom aren’t bringing very much to the table this year, maybe one of them will be the third team down? ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/126 "2014-12-18T13:30:13Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > My knowledge of PL is still in its infancy but didn’t Burnley take kind of a different approach to roster renovation after promotion? I think I read that they elected to pretty much stay with last year’s team instead of pursuing high priced guys, gambling that the cohesiveness would trump new firepower. I don’t think they believe that cohesiveness would trump new firepower, they will be well aware that their existing squad isn’t good enough to survive in the Premier league, barring a miracle. I think their decision was simply not to chase the dream. A lot of clubs get promoted when they aren’t quite ready for the top level, then spend millions they don’t have trying to avoid relegation back to the second tier. If they succeed, great, but if they fail they often find themselves back in a lower division but now million in debt and with Premier league wages and expensive mercenaries who don’t really want to be there. Instead of buying those overpriced mercenaries I think Burnley have decided to stick with what they have and happily take the £60/70 million they will get just for being there. If they relegated, then they get relegated with a nice payoff and can continue to grow the club organically. And if hard work and graft somehow keeps the team up then so much the better. I would say the board fully expect relegation though. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/127 "2014-12-18T15:25:14Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > I don’t think they believe that cohesiveness would trump new firepower, they will be well aware that their existing squad isn’t good enough to survive in the Premier league, barring a miracle. > > I think their decision was simply not to chase the dream. A lot of clubs get promoted when they aren’t quite ready for the top level, then spend millions they don’t have trying to avoid relegation back to the second tier. If they succeed, great, but if they fail they often find themselves back in a lower division but now million in debt and with Premier league wages and expensive mercenaries who don’t really want to be there. > > Instead of buying those overpriced mercenaries I think Burnley have decided to stick with what they have and happily take the £60/70 million they will get just for being there. If they relegated, then they get relegated with a nice payoff and can continue to grow the club organically. And if hard work and graft somehow keeps the team up then so much the better. I would say the board fully expect relegation though. This probably says it better than my effort to explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/128 "2014-12-28T17:09:15Z")
Arsenal take three points away at West Ham, and that combined with every team above us dropping points means the Gunners are moving up the table again! How did Burnley take a point away from Manchester City? I doubt anyone could have predicted that! ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/129 "2014-12-28T18:54:16Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > How did Burnley take a point away from Manchester City? I doubt anyone could have predicted that! A botched offside call, coupled with a generally poor second half from City. It was a disappointing day to be a City fan. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/130 "2014-12-29T20:24:43Z")
Spurs are looking up! The turn toward youth and the manic training schedule appear to be paying off, we definitely looked like the more energetic side in the second half against Man Ure after feeling lucky to get out of the first half still tied. Only a Championship side between us and the not-the-FA Cup Final, too. COYS!! ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/131 "2015-01-01T20:52:05Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Spurs are looking up! The turn toward youth and the manic training schedule appear to be paying off, we definitely looked like the more energetic side in the second half against Man Ure after feeling lucky to get out of the first half still tied. Only a Championship side between us and the not-the-FA Cup Final, too. COYS!! Earlier I speculated that being a Spurs fan right now must feel like having sex while eating chocolate with champagne in a solid gold Mercedes Benz on the moon in heaven. Do I have it more or less right? And City’s top of the league! Top of the league! Top of… what, we’re second? On… _alphabetical order_? What an odd rule. Assem Allam will probably change Hull City to “AAAA Tigers” to capitalize, just in case. Fat Frank saves our bacon (though he never should’ve needed to) yet again. That man is magic–it’s not just that he scores goals, it’s that he scores goals _when it matters_. Suck it, Chelsea; sorry about your luck NYCFC–I’d be livid if I were there still too. What a mad, wonderful day of football. The rags didn’t lose, so it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/132 "2015-01-01T21:10:55Z")
NBC sports network had a horrible experiment today. They jumped around in coverage from all the Premier League games, similar to the NFL RedZone. While that type of coverage might appeal to hard core fantasy NFL players, it is ridiculous for soccer. There’s no way to get into the rhythm of a particular game. I changed the tv to one of the Premier League Extra stations to watch Man. City, but Premier League Extra isn’t broadcast in HD. Bad, bad experiment from NBC which I hope will not be repeated. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/133 "2015-01-01T21:26:02Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > NBC sports network had a horrible experiment today. They jumped around in coverage from all the Premier League games, similar to the NFL RedZone. While that type of coverage might appeal to hard core fantasy NFL players, it is ridiculous for soccer. There’s no way to get into the rhythm of a particular game. I changed the tv to one of the Premier League Extra stations to watch Man. City, but Premier League Extra isn’t broadcast in HD. Bad, bad experiment from NBC which I hope will not be repeated. Weird. I was watching City, obviously, and it seemed to be in HD as far as I can tell. I was wondering what they were talking about when they kept calling it “Breakaway” when I popped over to NBCSN to get my dose of Rebecca Looah during halftime and before the glorious, wonderful, spectacular demolition of Chelsea by Spurs. Guess that was it. I’ve occasionally listened to talkSPORT when they’ve done an “around the grounds” on a Cup tie night or the like and they basically cut from match to match to match, following goals or action, and it’s not bad, but I’d not want it for TV. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/134 "2015-01-02T00:00:10Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Earlier I speculated that being a Spurs fan right now must feel like having sex while eating chocolate with champagne in a solid gold Mercedes Benz on the moon in heaven. Do I have it more or less right? > . Yeah, that’s pretty much it exactly. 😃 COYS! ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/135 "2015-01-02T07:43:21Z")
As a fan of both Tottenham and the Oregon Ducks, this is pretty much the best day of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/136 "2015-01-04T02:08:55Z")
Just when they thought their weekend couldn’t get any more embarassing… [Justin Bieber photographed in Chelsea kit](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=882487038438957&set=p.882487038438957&type=1&theater) In other news, I am thrilled that American prodigy DeAndre Yidlin, uh, Yedlin, has signed with Spurs! ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/137 "2015-01-04T18:50:42Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Just when they thought their weekend couldn’t get any more embarassing… > > [Justin Bieber photographed in Chelsea kit](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=882487038438957&set=p.882487038438957&type=1&theater) > > In other news, I am thrilled that American prodigy DeAndre Yidlin, uh, Yedlin, has signed with Spurs! Me too, but I don’t see how he gets any first team minutes. Davis, Walker, Rose and Chiriches are ahead of him at both fullback positions. Unless Vlad is moved in the transfer window I don’t see that changing. Playing him as a winger seems… not great, and he doesn’t fit centrally either. I suppose he could be a better defensive version of Lennon or a less offensively minded Townsend , but we have Lennon already and he isn’t starting as it is, same with Townsend. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/138 "2015-01-04T23:42:07Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Me too, but I don’t see how he gets any first team minutes. Davis, Walker, Rose and Chiriches are ahead of him at both fullback positions. Unless Vlad is moved in the transfer window I don’t see that changing. Playing him as a winger seems… not great, and he doesn’t fit centrally either. I suppose he could be a better defensive version of Lennon or a less offensively minded Townsend , but we have Lennon already and he isn’t starting as it is, same with Townsend. At first read I thought you were talking about Bieber. That would have been a funny post. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/139 "2015-01-05T00:39:12Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > At first read I thought you were talking about Bieber. That would have been a funny post. It is MUCH more fun to read the post that way, heh. ---
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248/140 "2015-01-05T00:50:02Z")
Also a Spurs fan (hi!). No idea what happened on NYD but we suddenly appear to be looking at a new paradigm - at least while the somewhat implausible Harry Kane remains fit … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-15-barclays-premier-league-thread/695248.md?page=8)