EPL 2020/2021

@cyclops said in EPL 2020/2021:

Big win for Liverpool gives the a bit of a buffer on goal difference meaning they're all but guaranteed if they can beat Crystal Palace. If they both win, Leicester need to win by 4 goals more than Liverpool do. That puts them level on goal difference but ahead on goals scored (unless you have some Micky mouse Liverpool win 5-4 and Leicester win 5-0 in which case they stay level on goals scored and the tie breaker is head to head record which Liverpool win).

Leicester have Spurs. A win there means spurs likely miss out on Europe and potentially finish as low as 9th. Don't say it too loud, but an Arsenal win and a Spurs loss mean the first St Totteringham's day in I don't know how long.

Spurs could easily roll over again. We have lost our heart and soul, and now we will lose Harry. Major rebuild time

Bournemouth are out after second leg last night. The red card after about 20 minutes changed the game significantly and we were really just hanging in there at that point. Not debating the foul, just changed the game. Good luck the Bees

@bayimports said in EPL 2020/2021:

Bournemouth are out after second leg last night. The red card after about 20 minutes changed the game significantly and we were really just hanging in there at that point. Not debating the foul, just changed the game. Good luck the Bees

They will be hoping it's second time lucky

@bayimports said in EPL 2020/2021:

Bournemouth are out after second leg last night. The red card after about 20 minutes changed the game significantly and we were really just hanging in there at that point. Not debating the foul, just changed the game. Good luck the Bees

When I saw the red in real time I thought "hmm, harsh" then the replay showed he had basically tap tackled and changed my mind - red all day. And stupid as well so early in the game and after an early goal.

Remarkably similar table at season end to last year. Only six teams moved more than two places from their 19/20 finishing position. Leeds as a promoted side, West Ham who jumped nine places to their best finish this century and Villa up six after just averting relegation last year were the positives.

Sheffield down 11 were the obvious losers but Burnley down 7 and Wolves six also lost ground.

The theoretical safety number (i.e. one point above the drop zones) was 29 the lowest ever.

Stupid fucking Fulham took 8 points off the top 5 but only 5 from the five teams immediately above them!

Liverpool sneak to 3rd thanks to the teams around them completely shitting the bed.

It speaks volumes about the quality on display that City finished that far in front despite only having a points total that would have seen them smashed in to 2nd over the past few years.

Flawed teams everywhere.

Second year in a row that Leicester City have a late-season meltdown to miss out on a CL place. While they will be disappointed I think the fans will prefer the FA Cup and EL to only the CL.

have to say, as a bit of a premier league neutral its cool to see Leicester (and west ham) up there, shows they can be semi sustainable, in leicester's case they didn't win and then plummet quickly

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

Liverpool sneak to 3rd thanks to the teams around them completely shitting the bed.

It speaks volumes about the quality on display that City finished that far in front despite only having a points total that would have seen them smashed in to 2nd over the past few years.

Flawed teams everywhere.

Function of the season than any inherent lack of quality across the league, IMO. It's no surprise that Man City and Man U finished in second and third given the quality in their squads - much better able than anyone else, including Liverpool, to deal with the injuries that would inevitably come from such a tight schedule. Had Chelski had Tuchel from the start of the season, I am sure they would have finished above 'Pool based on that fact alone.

It will be interesting to see what happens next season, which is expected to be more "normal". Even then, a lot of guys will not get a decent break because of the Euros and Copa America.

Klopp can whine as much as he wants about injuries, but the main reason his squad didn't challenge is because his front 3 completely forgot how to score goals for about two months. Goals for / against went from 85 / 33 to 68 / 42, VVD loss definitely contributed the 42 to 33, but the 85 to 62 is all on the strikers.

@majorrage said in EPL 2020/2021:

Klopp can whine as much as he wants about injuries, but the main reason his squad didn't challenge is because his front 3 completely forgot how to score goals for about two months. Goals for / against went from 85 / 33 to 68 / 42, VVD loss definitely contributed the 42 to 33, but the 85 to 62 is all on the strikers.

A bit simplistic though. They did lose Jota on attack and having to play Henderson at CB affected their attack. Also TAA and Robertson both had more defensive duties.

Injuries are injuries though. They happen and other teams just have to deal with them.

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

Liverpool sneak to 3rd thanks to the teams around them completely shitting the bed.

It speaks volumes about the quality on display that City finished that far in front despite only having a points total that would have seen them smashed in to 2nd over the past few years.

Flawed teams everywhere.

Teams have won the league with a lot less points. United once won it with 75 points, only one more than they got this season. I think it was just a better league this season, with many more competitive teams.

@majorrage said in EPL 2020/2021:

Klopp can whine as much as he wants about injuries, but the main reason his squad didn't challenge is because his front 3 completely forgot how to score goals for about two months. Goals for / against went from 85 / 33 to 68 / 42, VVD loss definitely contributed the 42 to 33, but the 85 to 62 is all on the strikers.

It's a bit simplistic to blame a lack of goals solely on the strikers - Klopp made the call to disrupt the midfield to bolster the defence and the general lack of confidence in the defence led to the full backs not bombing forward so much. Much of T-A-A's "return to form" has been because he is a great attacker but a poor defender but the structure of the midfield recently has given him more licence to attack. I wonder also whether teams have worked Liverpool out a bit, especially when the volume of games meant the press couldn't be used full on, all the time.

@kiwipie I’d flip thst on its head honestly. It’s far too simplistic that they conceded many more because they lost VVD. I watched most of their games jan/feb (Covid bubble eith in laws, only person could beer with massive Liverpool fan) and in front of goal they were appalling. Miskicks, off target, complete lack of killer instinct.

Their season comparison stats (shots, chances etc) are pretty similar. I watched them lose/draw at least 5 matches they had chances to win. But no killer goals.

@hydro11 said in EPL 2020/2021:

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

Liverpool sneak to 3rd thanks to the teams around them completely shitting the bed.

It speaks volumes about the quality on display that City finished that far in front despite only having a points total that would have seen them smashed in to 2nd over the past few years.

Flawed teams everywhere.

Teams have won the league with a lot less points. United once won it with 75 points, only one more than they got this season. I think it was just a better league this season, with many more competitive teams.

it's not the 90s any more mate

86 points was enough for the total a grand total of 5 times out of the last 20 years.

And the reason the total was that low was not a more competitive league, it's that City started the year playing dogshit. They then reeled off an incredible number of wins in a row. They dropped points again at the end because the job was done and now it's all about the Champs league.

@majorrage said in EPL 2020/2021:

@kiwipie I’d flip thst on its head honestly. It’s far too simplistic that they conceded many more because they lost VVD. I watched most of their games jan/feb (Covid bubble eith in laws, only person could beer with massive Liverpool fan) and in front of goal they were appalling. Miskicks, off target, complete lack of killer instinct.

Their season comparison stats (shots, chances etc) are pretty similar. I watched them lose/draw at least 5 matches they had chances to win. But no killer goals.

i didn't watch any of it bar highlights, but i read a lot about exactly this. Yes, there was disruptions in the supply as midfielders moved back, and fullbacks played more defensive to cover inexperienced centre backs but

Mane was very up and down, Salah the same, and Firmino has never been a big scorer. Add in the injury to the guy who was supposed to come in and score more, and the simple fact is they misfired up front when in previous years they would have found the extra goals they needed.

Some random facts:

It's not how you start, but how you finish
Despite finishing third and second respectively, Liverpool (139 days) and Manchester United (155) both spent more time in the top four than eventual champions Manchester City (130).

Leaving in style
He left it late, but Sergio Aguero managed to bow out by breaking Wayne Rooney's Premier League record for the most goals scored with one club. Aguero netted twice against Everton on the final day of the season to take his tally to 184 league goals for City in his final appearance for the club, thus overtaking Rooney.

Caught slipping... again
Leicester City suffered a disappointing end to the 2020-21 campaign, missing out on Champions League qualification by a single point on the final day.
Just to compound matters, Brendan Rodgers' side comfortably ended more days inside the top four (242) that any other club this season, only to see it slip away at the very end. The Foxes have spent 93% of the past two seasons (567 days in total) inside the top four, only to finish fifth on both occasions.

On the daily
Perhaps Leicester can take some solace in the fact that striker Kelechi Iheanacho became the first Premier League player ever to score on every day of the week in the same season.

Wood you believe it?
He may not be the most fashionable player, but Burnley target man Chris Wood must now be ranked among most consistent strikers in the Premier League.
Wood is one of only seven players to have reached the 10-goal mark in each of the past four top-flight seasons, joining Kane, Salah, Jamie Vardy, Alexandre Lacazette, Son Heung-Min and Sadio Mane in the club.

And why this season was so different with no crowds...

No place like home?
The 2020-21 Premier League season is the first in the history of England's top-four divisions to see more away wins (153) than home wins (144). The lack of fans in stadiums certainly seems to have had an effect on the notion of "home advantage."

I know some people hate penalties, and as a fan I generally agree (too random) but as a neutral is there any better drama in sport?

Europa final going down to the keepers was great. I'd love to see that become the standard rather than best of 5.

@cyclops Looking forward to Emery's press conference. Good ebening. He owns the Europa League.

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@cyclops Looking forward to Emery's press conference. Good ebening. He owns the Europa League.

Yet even he couldn't take Arsenal to that title.

I haven't seen the game yet but from updates it seemed Man U ran out of steam late the 2nd half/start of extra time and yet Ole didn't make any subs?

@kiwipie said in EPL 2020/2021:

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@cyclops Looking forward to Emery's press conference. Good ebening. He owns the Europa League.

Yet even he couldn't take Arsenal to that title.

Only works with Spanish teams.

Another interesting fact. The entire population of Villarreal could fit inside Old Trafford.

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

Another interesting fact. The entire population of Villarreal could fit inside Old Trafford.

Yeah I read that as well. Sort of ignores the fact that there's a couple of 100K just across the river in Castellon....

Bit like the population of the City of London could comfortably fit inside Spark Arena

@kiwipie said in EPL 2020/2021:

@bovidae said in EPL 2020/2021:

@cyclops Looking forward to Emery's press conference. Good ebening. He owns the Europa League.

Yet even he couldn't take Arsenal to that title.

I haven't seen the game yet but from updates it seemed Man U ran out of steam late the 2nd half/start of extra time and yet Ole didn't make any subs?

It was a funny old game. I think both teams only had one shot on target each. First half was pretty drab apart from the goal. Second half, United came to life and pressed for most of it. Shaw, McTominey were very dangerous and Cavani never stopped pressing. On the flip side Rashford was horrific and should have been pulled off early. Absolute 0/10 performance, didn't look interested at all.

United basically quit playing in XT and just sort of mucked around. Villareal had a few opportunities, but their striker never even looked like hitting the target. I think there was literally one save in the match, which was De Gea's penalty.

VR had clearly been working on a shootout strategy. Their defence was rock solid & when it came to the shootout they more or less hit 11 perfect penalties. Even the keepers was unstoppable. Although to be fair, De Gea must be the worst penalty saver in the game, he never even looked close.

An interesting game to watch.

As for Villareal being a small town ... well, that doesn't really make any sort of a point. It's not like all 11 players came from there. I think 1 did.

Brentford (the Bees) beat Swansea (the Swans) 2-0 in the playoff final. They are promoted to the Premier League for 2021-2. They will be the 50th team to take part in the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

Chelsea 1-0 up in the Champions League final at half time. Man City not very threatening in that first half.

Chelsea win. Man City bottled it big time.

Chelsea's second Champions League win. They will be partying in the streets of St Petersburg tonight.

Kante. Some player.

Proper hammered. Awesome day.

@rancid-schnitzel Like every coach he has his strengths and weaknesses. His teams pass the ball and maintain possession superbly and Man City are brilliant at hammering weaker teams 7-0 and have monopolised the League Cup in recent years.

Problem for them has been repeatedly when they come up against the best defences in Europe, they can't unlock them.

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.

Kiss of death for Tuchel. Last Chelsea manager to win the champions league didn't make it to the end of the calendar year...

More seriously, Tuchel's had a funny old career. Was Klopp's successor at Dortmund and massively hyped only be pretty disappointing. Didn't really set the world alight with PSG given the talent available but seems to have landed on his feet at Chelsea. Mid season hires can sometimes produce a dead cat bounce so will be interesting to see how they start the season. They pumped money into than squad, so no real excuses if they don't have a fast start next season.

Right, can post a proper update now.

I'm a proper proper half assed / plastic Chelsea fan. Although in the opposite vain to many, I think I was a bigger fan before Roman (Raneiri, Hasselbaink, Zola days)and as time goes on, I become less and less interested. The sacking of Frank in January, was pretty much so the nail in the coffin for me.

Anyway, I still followed them and as they made their way through, was quite happy ... and then they made the Champions League final against City. An all-EPL affair. Or so it was supposed to be.

Honest to god, you wouldn't have even known Chelsea are a UK / London club given the build up. It was pretty much so all about City, Pep, Aguero. Yesterday, listening to Virgin radio (a London station), they had interviews with Pep, and comments from a Gallagher. Once the game started, it was pretty much so the same. McManaman and co commentated about one team. What they were doing, what they needed to be doing, the mistake they made which led to the opposition goal.

So it was so god damned satisfying to take the victory and the trophy. Woke up this morning with a genuine smile on my face (and a thumping headache). Cracking result. Up the famous CFC! Might even pop up if there's a parade ....

@rancid-schnitzel said in EPL 2020/2021:

Is it unfair to say that guy is overrated? Every team he’s coached at the top level has been absolutely stacked.

Yeah it is. Pep's an incredible manager.

Congratulations Chelsea good win. They are a fucking good team with a good manager that will give next year a real shake

Pep fucked that up at the selection table, God knows why.

If Chelsea want to win the EPL title next year, they either need Tino Werner to score more goals or get a better lead striker. Looks like Ronaldo, Harland, Mbappe and Harry Kane are all on the move this summer. I'm sure Roman Abramovich will be shaking a few of his roubles at some of those gentlemen.

Harry Kane would be perfect for Chelsea.

@mariner4life said in EPL 2020/2021:

Congratulations Chelsea good win. They are a fucking good team with a good manager that will give next year a real shake

Pep fucked that up at the selection table, God knows why.

Tuchel won the 2 previous meetings. Rolled the dice.

@majorrage Why on earth would you play an 11 for the major final of the year that you'd never played together before?

@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.

I found Chelsea's defensive formation very interesting and it seemed to throw City completely. They defended 5 across the back but relatively high leaving space behind. Then 3 midfielders in front with hardly any gap between the midfield and defence. It meant that James and Chilwell were right on top of Sterling and Mahrez whenever they got the ball.

Most teams who play a block against City use 2 blocks of 4 and defend narrow meaning there are always spaces on the flanks and City try to overload those areas to get in behind. With 5 across, the flanks were congested and with the midfield and defence of Chelsea so close together they was no space for de Bruyne and Foden to exploit between the lines.

When Chelsea broke up play, their full backs and Mount/Kante all sprinted to support Havertz and Werner meaning that often they were outnumbering City who ended up playing 3-2-5 with Zhinchenko often getting caught upfield.

That formation may well have foxed City even if they had picked their usual team and left out Sterling. As it was City had 3 defenders and 7 attacking midfielders on the pitch and used their top scorer for the season as a holding midfielder .

Werner is a conundrum for Chelsea, this game was a perfect summary of his season. Working like a dog, making great runs and dragging the City centre backs all over the pitch. And never looking like scoring a goal when he got a chance.