EPL 2020/2021

MajorStokes5 years ago

@junior said in EPL 2020/2021:

@kiwipie said in EPL 2020/2021:

Pep cocked up big time in team selection - and they looked lost for most the game. He finally found his top 11 for Europe, then decided that the attacking midfielder with most goals should play in a holding role rather than the 2 guys who can actually do the job well. Picked Sterling despite him always looking ineffectual against a decent defence and Chelsea just put 5 across the pitch and compressed the space. Very, very strange. Chelsea didn't even have to do that much, just grab a goal and sit back. And should still have sealed it with a second.

Have to say, Kante is an absolute machine. The number of times he gets a foot in to nick the ball away is uncanny yet he still finds time to drive his team forward. Well done Chelsea and Tuchel, a well deserved win.

Pep's downfall in this competition is and always has been his overthinking things and departing from what's been proven to work. I am no fan of City, but have today felt quite sorry for them as they've been the best team in the CL this year by some margin and that's why they managed finally to make it to the final (in other years, they've not been the best and that's why they've regularly been beaten over two legs in the earlier knockout stages). Again, however, Pep has guilded the lily and in doing so has probably cost his club a CL trophy.

They've been the best team in the CL apart from the other team which beat them and became champions.

But yes, lets make it all about Pep & City. It was so nice of them to let that other team, whoever they are, have their day.

#568

Rapido5 years ago

#568

Heard stat that Brentford, on promotion, are now the 50th team to play in the Premier League.

Quite an amazing stat really, almost 30 seasons, 50 teams rotating through a 20 team league.

Of my generation. I can think of a few 1980s First Division teams from that decade that haven't played Premier League yet; Oxford, Luton, Wimbledon, Millwall, Swindon.

I think some of it is that some of the yo-yo teams have to go so far out on a limb to get promoted, that if they come straight back down they can plummet even right out of the 2nd tier as well for a few years. Opening up space for the next challengers.

But, 10 to 15 years ago. If you'd told me a team like Blackpool , a quaint team of yesteryear, Stanley Mathews, maximum wages etc etc, would make the Premier League ... I would have scoffed.

#569

dogmeat5 years ago

#569

@rapido Wimbledon played in the first eight seasons of EPL with a best finish of 6th

#570

canefan5 years ago

#570

@rapido said in EPL 2020/2021:

Of my generation. I can think of a few 1980s First Division teams from that decade that haven't played Premier League yet; Oxford, Luton, Wimbledon, Millwall, Swindon.

Ipswich Town also comes to mind

#571

Bovidae5 years ago

#571

@canefan I wondered about them too, but Ipswich was in the Premiership as recently as 2000 before being relegated again.

#572

KiwiPie5 years ago

#572

The first EPL season (92-93) has QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon, Coventry, Ipswich and Oldham who all seem a long way from it these days. And Blackburn who were soon to win it. Barnsley and Bradford had top flight spells in those first few years and Coventry weren't relegated until 2001 having been in the top division for over 30 years.

There aren't many teams left in the Championship who haven't been in the EPL. Luton, Bristol City, Preston and Peterborough from next season I reckon now that Blackpool are back in.

#573

Rapido5 years ago

#573

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@canefan I wondered about them too, but Ipswich was in the Premiership as recently as 2000 before being relegated again.

And they a had a great start to the season, may have been leading (or maybe second to runaway Man Utd) pre-xmas. George Burley manager. Came about top 4 I would guess, at time I don't think all top 4 qualified for champions league.

All from memory. First year living in London, remember that season quite well. Can't remember a single Ipswich player though ....

Edit. Looked it up. Was 2000/2001. They came 5th. Wiki tells me "pipped by Liverpool on the last day of the season for a place in the Champions League."

Getting my 99/00 and 00/01 seasons a little blurred.

Both had a similar them of a promoted club going great guns before fading.

Sunderland in 99/00
Ipswich in 00/01

Ispwich relegated the year after.

#574

Rapido5 years ago

#574

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

@rapido Wimbledon played in the first eight seasons of EPL with a best finish of 6th

Ah. I get them and Millwall mixed up in my head sometimes.

#575

Kiwiwomble5 years ago

#575

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

@rapido Wimbledon played in the first eight seasons of EPL with a best finish of 6th

damn right we did! and now we're coming back! (one day)

@rapido said in EPL 2020/2021:

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

@rapido Wimbledon played in the first eight seasons of EPL with a best finish of 6th

Ah. I get them and Millwall mixed up in my head sometimes.

ouch

#576

dogmeat5 years ago

#576

Very trainspotterish table of EPL finishes this century.

Red - First time relegated
Brown - Promoted that year
Green - Highest Ever Finish
Safety - 1 point above 18th
Seasons - Total no. in EPL

#577

KiwiPie5 years ago

#577

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

View image

Very trainspotterish table of EPL finishes this century.

Red - First time relegated
Brown - Promoted that year
Green - Highest Ever Finish
Safety - 1 point above 18th
Seasons - Total no. in EPL

If this is your work, did you not have enough time to go back to Season 1? Meaning of course 1888-89!

#578

KiwiPie5 years ago

#578

Notts County were relegated the season before EPL started so we are not one of the 50 - but we are in the National League playoffs (just 3 teams to beat to gain promotion) at the start of our long journey back to the summit.