EPL 2020/2021

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

weren't Liverpool top at Xmas and I seem to remember people were writing Pep's obituaries in about October.

i wouldn't have thought so, Liverpool had fallen apart well before then

But yes, at the start of the season City were mid-table and everyone was calling them finished. They then went on one of those long strings of winning they tend to do and just moved past everyone

kinda surprised by the result this morning. Changes absolutely nothing for either team though.

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

weren't Liverpool top at Xmas and I seem to remember people were writing Pep's obituaries in about October.

Vity won because they had the best squad which became crucial in such a busy year wih no off season. Pep seemed to have lost the dressing room earlkier in the season but relaxed and allowed the rest of the coaching team to have more say and the players found their mojo.

Plus Fulham were robbed

I think Spurs were on top at Xmas, then we fell apart

It does make the Chelsea-Leicester City game very important now. A contrived 0-0 draw.

@mariner4life Found it Liverpool were 4 points clear at Xmas

Hilarious article with hindsight - Liverpool looking ominous - who can stop them - best depth in league

Article does say that only 3 times in 12 seasons had the team that was top at Xmas not won the league and that on all three occasions it was Liverpool. Make that 4/13 now. Not a record you'd want!

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life Found it Liverpool were 4 points clear at Xmas

Hilarious article with hindsight - Liverpool looking ominous - who can stop them - best depth in league

View embedded content

Article does say that only 3 times in 12 seasons had the team that was top at Xmas not won the league and that on all three occasions it was Liverpool. Make that 4/13 now. Not a record you'd want!

well how about that! 2021 must have sucked!

@dogmeat said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life Found it Liverpool were 4 points clear at Xmas

Hilarious article with hindsight - Liverpool looking ominous - who can stop them - best depth in league

View embedded content

Article does say that only 3 times in 12 seasons had the team that was top at Xmas not won the league and that on all three occasions it was Liverpool. Make that 4/13 now. Not a record you'd want!

The whole season was skewed because of the late start so being top at Christmas was not the same as being top at halfway which it usually is.

This article from 22 Dec https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/12/22/premier-league-festive-season-table-liverpool-tottenham-man-united didn't even mention City. And this article https://www.givemesport.com/1631326-premier-league-supercomputer-has-predicted-the-final-league-table-based-on-christmas-standings has an outstanding "SUPERCOMPUTER" prediction.

@kiwipie I would love to know what variables they tried creating the supposed algorythm, although they did pick they did pick Fulham to go down

@bayimports I think they assumed that form up to that point would continue afterwards!

@bayimports

Prediction is on the right hand side so they've actually picked them to finish ahead of arsenal

@cyclops said in EPL 2020/2021:

@bayimports

Prediction is on the right hand side so they've actually picked them to finish ahead of arsenal

ha ha my bad.. good spotting its clearly farked

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

Kane needs to move somewhere. City is as good a place as any if Pep doesn't stick with playing a false 9.

I think he would be perfect for City because he isn't just a goal hanger. They would be able to play off him and his passing is good enough to put players in.

So given that Champion's League qualification is worth so much cash and both Leicester and Chelsea have Liverpool breathing down their necks, is there a chance they will both play the FA Cup final with an eye to having their strongest side fresh for their EPL clash 3 days later?

@kiwipie
Yeah, I think they have to. Liverpool look like favourites to finish top 4 if they can win out (which isn't a gimme, but all their games are winnable and none of their opponents have relegation or European implications), with Leicester better off with a draw.

I guess Chelsea also have the champions league to hope for. Would be a bitter pill to win FA cup but then lose top 4 and champions league final and be in Europa next year.

Gee. I know he was an offside but it’s an inch. In terms of football I don’t think we need that level of accuracy.

Stoked for Leicester all the same.

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

Gee. I know he was an offside but it’s an inch. In terms of football I don’t think we need that level of accuracy.

Stoked for Leicester all the same.

I think VAR needs to give some leniency to the attacker. Harry Kane got one disallowed last week because his toe might have been over the line

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

Stoked for Leicester all the same.

Me too. A couple of great saves from Schmeichel at the end.

I always like to see a team win a trophy for the first time. They had lost in the FA Cup final four times previously.

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

Stoked for Leicester all the same.

Me too. A couple of great saves from Schmeichel at the end.

I always like to see a team win a trophy for the first time. They had lost in the FA Cup final four times previously.

Fully and you can see it still means something. I forgot it was on and just happened to catch it while channel surfing. Thank fuck.

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

Stoked for Leicester all the same.

Me too. A couple of great saves from Schmeichel at the end.

I always like to see a team win a trophy for the first time. They had lost in the FA Cup final four times previously.

Fully and you can see it still means something. I forgot it was on and just happened to catch it while channel surfing. Thank fuck.

It's been an emotional day. Watching the basketball HoF induction ceremony had me misty eyed for ages, there were some feel good stories on the news including a former con who ran an ultramarathon to raise money for kids in Huntly who has now inspired some of the kids to run events, and a guy on the spectrum who has developed people skills and personal growth after starting as the waterboy for the Hutt Valley High first 15 who is now the full time manager and an inspiration to the school. And finally they showed an old guy Leicester supporter being interviewed outside Wembley before the final who couldn't even get words out without breaking down

Five massive talking points after that final.

1. A great goal from Tielemans. Almost the perfect shot from that distance.

2. Superb save by Kasper Schmeichel. One of great FA Cup final saves.

3. A very controversial VAR decision to deny Chelsea an equaliser. Surely the technology should only intervene if there is a clear and obvious mistake by the on-field officials? Harsh decision IMHO.

4. First time winners after 4 losing finals. Leicester City fans clearly felt an enormous monkey had come off their backs. Interesting to see where their club goes from here.

5. Brendan Rogers has established himself as one of the very best managers in the game. Still only 48. I think a lot of big clubs will chasing his services.

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@hooroo said in EPL 2020/2021:

Stoked for Leicester all the same.

Me too. A couple of great saves from Schmeichel at the end.

I always like to see a team win a trophy for the first time. They had lost in the FA Cup final four times previously.

Fully and you can see it still means something. I forgot it was on and just happened to catch it while channel surfing. Thank fuck.

Yeah, it's nice to see that "The Magic of the Cup" still exists for some teams.

@sparky said in EPL 2020/2021:

3. A very controversial VAR decision to deny Chelsea an equaliser. Surely the technology should only intervene if there is a clear and obvious mistake by the on-field officials? Harsh decision IMHO.

As controversial VAR decisions go this season, that one was a but ho hum, first time they showed it, you knew it would be given. Offside has not had clear and obvious applied to it - just coloured lines. I think there are too many inaccuracies in play for them to be measuring to that level - for example, it is impossible to select the exact moment the pass was played. You are actually selecting the frame closest to the pass. Switch it one frame and the offside can look very different. As such they should have a "too close to call" rule on any decision within a certain range rather than measuring some guy's armpit against another guy's testicles.

Having said that, great to see Leicester win the game. Chelsea totally dominated the first half without ever looking like scoring - that is their main problem right now, toothless unless playing against a high line.

For the famous save, you have to see it in real time to get the full effect. Mount connected with it so well and to get down to it and push it away was amazing.

@kiwipie said in EPL 2020/2021:

As controversial VAR decisions go this season, that one was a but ho hum, first time they showed it, you knew it would be given. Offside has not had clear and obvious applied to it - just coloured lines. I think there are too many inaccuracies in play for them to be measuring to that level - for example, it is impossible to select the exact moment the pass was played. You are actually selecting the frame closest to the pass. Switch it one frame and the offside can look very different. As such they should have a "too close to call" rule on any decision within a certain range rather than measuring some guy's armpit against another guy's testicles.

Absolutely the tolerance levels they apply to the decisions are far too strict. You shouldn't give an offside on the evidence that the tip of a player's foot or hand crossed the line

What a weekend for Chelsea.

• Lose the FA Cup Final 1-0

• Lose the Womens Champions League Final 4-0

• Their main rival for a top 4 place score a winning goal by their goalkeeper when time is up.

I love it when a keeper comes up for a late corner. Decent header too, maybe Liverpool could use him more often.

Piss poor defending by WBA though. A player on the far post stops that.

@bovidae defenders on the posts seem to have gone out of style. I don't really understand why.

@cyclops Moreso in England as they try zonal marking and use the extra man to launch counter attacks. In serie a, the man on the far post is used more often as there's a lot less focus on playing on the counter there.

First round of playoffs in championship overnight

Bournemouth 1- 0 Brentford
Barnsley 0-1 Swansea

Reverse legs this weekend. Still all are very open and the nerves are certainly there.

the latest LOL is the chat that Brendan Rdogers' succesful season with Leicester means he is ready to once again join a big club

a big club like Spurs or Arsenal....

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

the latest LOL is the chat that Brendan Rdogers' succesful season with Leicester means he is ready to once again join a big club

a big club like Spurs or Arsenal....

View image

The Leicester owners have money, and seem very supportive. And the two London clubs are not very settled right now, and I would not want to work for Daniel Levy unless I got a pretty strong guarantee that I had a big say in transfers

@canefan said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

the latest LOL is the chat that Brendan Rdogers' succesful season with Leicester means he is ready to once again join a big club

a big club like Spurs or Arsenal....

View image

The Leicester owners have money, and seem very supportive. And the two London clubs are not very settled right now, and I would not want to work for Daniel Levy unless I got a pretty strong guarantee that I had a big say in transfers

the joke is in thinking that either or those clubs are actually bigger than Leicester.

Leicester in things.

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

@canefan said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

the latest LOL is the chat that Brendan Rdogers' succesful season with Leicester means he is ready to once again join a big club

a big club like Spurs or Arsenal....

View image

The Leicester owners have money, and seem very supportive. And the two London clubs are not very settled right now, and I would not want to work for Daniel Levy unless I got a pretty strong guarantee that I had a big say in transfers

the joke is in thinking that either or those clubs are actually bigger than Leicester.

Leicester in things.

Well they've certainly won more trophies than Spurs in the last 20 years....

No way Rodgers leaves.

However, Kane has indicated he wants out. But who can afford him?

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

No way Rodgers leaves.

However, Kane has indicated he wants out. But who can afford him?

Heresay at the moment. But if he does want to go I couldn't blame him

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

@canefan said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

the latest LOL is the chat that Brendan Rdogers' succesful season with Leicester means he is ready to once again join a big club

a big club like Spurs or Arsenal....

View image

The Leicester owners have money, and seem very supportive. And the two London clubs are not very settled right now, and I would not want to work for Daniel Levy unless I got a pretty strong guarantee that I had a big say in transfers

the joke is in thinking that either or those clubs are actually bigger than Leicester.

Leicester in things.

Depends on how you define big. Bigger stadiums, bigger fan base - indeed.

Bigger trophy cabinet. Perhaps not.

@canefan said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

the latest LOL is the chat that Brendan Rdogers' succesful season with Leicester means he is ready to once again join a big club

a big club like Spurs or Arsenal....

View image

The Leicester owners have money, and seem very supportive. And the two London clubs are not very settled right now, and I would not want to work for Daniel Levy unless I got a pretty strong guarantee that I had a big say in transfers

He would be mad to join Spurs given the latest murmurings that Kane is off elsewhere (probably one of the Manchester clubs).

Chelsea get the revenge match win and if Liverpool and Leicester both win out it will go to goal difference for the final spot (unless Chelsea drop points).

Liverpool have the slightly better run in of the two so you'd think they're favourites, although they have an extra game and therefore an extra chance to slip up.

Spurs champions league hopes are dead now.

In non epl news, my favourite little football club, Eibar in la Liga are also guaranteed to be relegated from la Liga. They lasted many seasons more than anyone expected, being based in town with a population of about 28,000 and a home ground with a capacity of about 8000.

@cyclops said in EPL 2020/2021:

Chelsea get the revenge match win and if Liverpool and Leicester both win out it will go to goal difference for the final spot (unless Chelsea drop points).

Liverpool have the slightly better run in of the two so you'd think they're favourites, although they have an extra game and therefore an extra chance to slip up.

Spurs champions league hopes are dead now.

In non epl news, my favourite little football club, Eibar in la Liga are also guaranteed to be relegated from la Liga. They lasted many seasons more than anyone expected, being based in town with a population of about 28,000 and a home ground with a capacity of about 8000.

It could be a pretty crazy Sunday. If Liverpool win tonight (away to Burnley), then they will nudge out Leicester and on Saturday it'll be Chelsea 67, Liverpool & Leicster on 66 with superior goal diff (1+winning margin tonight)

If they lose tonight, then Chelsea are in, and Leicester are in the box seat needing only point on Sunday.

Sunday matches are Leicster home to Spurs, Chelsea away to Villa & Liverpool home to Palace. Chelsea in control of their destiny, Liverpool & Leicester not!