# 2015-16 Barclays Premier League Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 3, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837 "2015-08-03T01:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/382 "2016-03-13T18:55:16Z")
What I never understand is why teams like Spurs bother going as deep in the Europa league as they do only to then play the reserves and get knocked out. If they don’t care about the trophy then it would have been far beneficial to get knocked out in round one, which is why the likes of West Ham played weak teams and got knocked out immediately. Playing a dozen games before throwing the quarter finals seems like a waste of time. Anyway, I don’t blame the clubs for the state of the Europa, I blame Uefa. Its a balls of a competition with stupid group stages and completely devalued by the CL losers jumping in halfway, so who gives a toss about such an afterthought of a competition. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/383 "2016-03-13T19:51:42Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > What I never understand is why teams like Spurs bother going as deep in the Europa league as they do only to then play the reserves and get knocked out. If they don’t care about the trophy then it would have been far beneficial to get knocked out in round one, which is why the likes of West Ham played weak teams and got knocked out immediately. Playing a dozen games before throwing the quarter finals seems like a waste of time. > > Anyway, I don’t blame the clubs for the state of the Europa, I blame Uefa. Its a balls of a competition with stupid group stages and completely devalued by the CL losers jumping in halfway, so who gives a toss about such an afterthought of a competition. They played reserves for the whole competition. Their reserves are just good. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/384 "2016-03-13T22:46:13Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Anyway, I don’t blame the clubs for the state of the Europa, I blame Uefa. Its a balls of a competition with stupid group stages and completely devalued by the CL losers jumping in halfway, so who gives a toss about such an afterthought of a competition. Well said. The European Cup used to to be only for the champions of European leagues and the holders. The Italian and Spanish clubs, who were a bit pissed off about the Liverpool/Forest monopoly weren’t happy about being knocked out in the First Round and, after the Heysel, blamed, unfairly, solely on Liverpool fans, England had five years without English teams in European competition. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/385 "2016-03-13T23:54:56Z")
[QUOTE Anyone know if Elton John still owns Watford?[/QUOTE Oi! Don’t knock Elton - his cousin Roy scored a goal for Forest in tne 1959 F.A. Cup final. Against Luton as well - the friendly rivals back in the day… ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/386 "2016-03-20T05:06:17Z")
It is amazing to think Leicester are 8 points clear at the top of the table when exactly one year ago they were 3 points adrift at the bottom of the table. If you’d said this was going to happen last year you’d have been put in a straightjacket and confined to a cell with rubber walls- and rightly so. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2016, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/387 "2016-03-20T11:38:33Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > It is amazing to think Leicester are 8 points clear at the top of the table when exactly one year ago they were 3 points adrift at the bottom of the table. If you’d said this was going to happen last year you’d have been put in a straightjacket and confined to a cell with rubber walls- and rightly so. Yeah, it’s pretty nuts. They also seem to be getting better as the season is going on. A couple of months ago I was wondering why teams weren’t scoring more against them given their sloppy defense. But that looks like it has pulled itself together, and goals are starting to come in from all sides. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/388 "2016-03-20T12:49:31Z")
[quote=“mascaroni, post:385, topic:726837”] [QUOTE Anyone know if Elton John still owns Watford?[/QUOTE Oi! Don’t knock Elton - his cousin Roy scored a goal for Forest in tne 1959 F.A. Cup final. Against Luton as well - the friendly rivals back in the day…[/QUOTE] Nottingham or Green? ---
**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:** [March 20, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/389 "2016-03-20T18:41:14Z")
Harry Kane becomes one of only a small handful of players to score 20+ times in back to back Premier League seasons. A golden god I tells ya. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/390 "2016-03-20T19:00:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Nottingham or Green? I don’t think Forest Green were about in those days. Certainly not F.A. Cup contenders. They’re doing alright this season and could well get promotion to the league. If they do, they may well be the smallest town to have a league club. They’re one of the clubs that I always keep tabs on. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/391 "2016-03-20T19:05:03Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Harry Kane becomes one of only a small handful of players to score 20+ times in back to back Premier League seasons. > > A golden god I tells ya. There was always fears of him being a One Season Wonder, but he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of stopping. I still wouldn’t let him play in goal, though… ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/392 "2016-03-20T19:34:32Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > I don’t think Forest Green were about in those days. Certainly not F.A. Cup contenders. They’re doing alright this season and could well get promotion to the league. If they do, they may well be the smallest town to have a league club. > > They’re one of the clubs that I always keep tabs on. Thanks to FM I think I know more tiny northern English towns than most. 😉 I resurrect Leigh RMI/Genesis and start in the NIN in level 8 of the pyramid. Forrest Green is like Chelsea to me. I love lower league football. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/393 "2016-03-20T20:46:05Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Thanks to FM I think I know more tiny northern English towns than most. 😉 > > I resurrect Leigh RMI/Genesis and start in the NIN in level 8 of the pyramid. Forrest Green is like Chelsea to me. I love lower league football. Do you cheat and play as Real Madrid manager as well and get them to buy all your reserves at vastly inflated prices? That’s the sort of thing I do… 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 20, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/394 "2016-03-20T23:07:12Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > I still wouldn’t let him play in goal, though… I badly want a Purple Keeper shirt that says Kane on it. Don’t think they exist though. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/395 "2016-03-21T12:37:14Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I badly want a Purple Keeper shirt that says Kane on it. Don’t think they exist though. > > ☹ Er, you can buy the shirt and ask them to put any letters you like on the back, can’t you? What am I missing? Cracking result yesterday for the red side of Manchester. A friend put together an amusing post on Facebook basically saying City were getting all the breaks United are classically accused of getting, e.g. 6 minutes of added time when behind, the away side somewhat controversially not being awarded a penalty… Anyway, a good result for the neutrals, all of whom will be hoping for West Ham to squeeze both of them out of the top 4. I wonder if the pre-season odds of Leicester and WHU both making next year’s CL would have been even longer than Leicester’s title odds? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/396 "2016-03-21T13:49:51Z")
You must respect [Rafa’s authoritah](http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/rafa-benitez-pictured-wearing-south-park-eric-cartman-socks-during-newcastle-11-draw-with-sunderland-34556780.html) (and hopefully keep NUFC in the PL). ---
**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:** [March 21, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/397 "2016-03-21T14:40:48Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Er, you can buy the shirt and ask them to put any letters you like on the back, can’t you? What am I missing? My own insanity. I would know it was just something I made up, not the same. Also, that’s a year old third team Jersey and would require lot of legwork to track down. It’s possible I overstated my desire for one. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/398 "2016-03-21T15:21:27Z")
Tim Howard announced he will be returning to the US next season, playing for Colorado. Fine player and ambassador for the game, who has unfortunately finished up his time here in a real nadir - he has been dreadful all season. To the point where he’s been getting sarcastic applause for catching simple balls - from the home fans. Bad way to finish, but he’s been a good Blue. Don’t know where this leaves him for the national team - New environment will put a smile back on his face and might put him in contention for a couple more seasons. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/399 "2016-03-21T16:24:48Z")
What a fucking disastrous performance by Liverpool. Up 2-0 with less than half an hour to play, and they lose 3-2. If they had won yesterday, they would be three points behind fifth place, and four points behind fourth place, with a game in hand over all the teams ahead of them. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/400 "2016-03-21T16:57:40Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Harry Kane becomes one of only a small handful of players to score 20+ times in back to back Premier League seasons. > > A golden god I tells ya. How long before he is taken by a major club like Chelsea, ManU/Sheikhy or the Euro giants. Or Vardy, Mahrez or Drinkwater, Kante? ---
**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:** [March 21, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837/401 "2016-03-21T18:15:42Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > How long before he is taken by a major club like Chelsea, ManU/Sheikhy or the Euro giants. > > Or Vardy, Mahrez or Drinkwater, Kante? Don’t know why he, or anyone, would leave for Chelsea or ManU right now. Tottenham isn’t a small club, and they are going to be in Champions League next year. He’ll be paid. He has indicated that he wants to stay in England, but I don’t know how you turn down Bayern, Barca or Madrid. Anything less though and I three stays until Tottenham do something stupid like letting Poche go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-16-barclays-premier-league-thread/726837.md?page=21)