EPL 2024/2025

The new season is imminent so a new thread for EPL discussions and anything else football related this season.

Transfers of note completed so far (lots of rumours of big moves soon to happen)

Tim Ream - Fulham to Charlotte (that one is just for @dogmeat)
Fullkrug - Dortmund to West Ham
Summervile - Leeds to West Ham
Smith Rowe - Arsenal to Fulham
Sarr - Marseille to Palace (Watford before)
Gross - Brighton to Dortmund
Huijsen - Juve to Bournemouth
Calafiori - Bologna to Arsenal
Diaby - Villa to Saudi league
Onana - Everton to Villa
Yoro - Lille to Man United
Zirkzee - Bologna to Man United
Palhinha - Fulham to Bayern
Olise - Palace to Bayern
Kilman - Wolves to West Ham
Dewsbury-Hall - Leicester to Chelsea
Gray - Leeds to Spurs
Barkley - Luton to Villa
Hall - Chelsea to Newcastle
Minteh - Newcastle to Brighton
Anderson - Newcastle to Forest
Hutchinson - Chelsea to Ipswich
Luiz - Villa to Juve
Kellyman - Villa to Chelsea
Godfrey - Everton to Atalanta
Maatsen - Chelsea to Villa
Tosin - Fulham to Chelsea

That's most recent to oldest - a lot of those older transfers were home grown players moving for vastly inflated amounts to get around the FFP rules, anything before 1 July basically.

Julián Álvarez to Atlético Madrid will be great business for Man City with a 5-fold profit.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

Huijsen - Juve to Bournemouth

played on the weekend, 19 yo can play too, might see a bit of him. Unlike the other signing in Paulsen (not mentioned above) who will likely end up in Ligue 1 or Scotland.

Rumours getting louder about Ange getting Solanke too, but we shall see

Gallagher from Chelsea to Athletico as well.

@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

Huijsen - Juve to Bournemouth

played on the weekend, 19 yo can play too, might see a bit of him. Unlike the other signing in Paulsen (not mentioned above) who will likely end up in Ligue 1 or Scotland.

Rumours getting louder about Ange getting Solanke too, but we shall see

and Paulsen to Auckland FC

@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:

@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

Huijsen - Juve to Bournemouth

played on the weekend, 19 yo can play too, might see a bit of him. Unlike the other signing in Paulsen (not mentioned above) who will likely end up in Ligue 1 or Scotland.

Rumours getting louder about Ange getting Solanke too, but we shall see

and Paulsen to Auckland FC

That is seriously dodgy - interesting way to get a proven A League keeper for your new team.

The Phoenix will have questions to ask the APL.

I suspect this one isn't over yet - current rules prevent this (city have done it in the past) but they're trying to get a rules change through.

Stupid move from Paulsen too. He's already proved he's too good for the A League. This means he's just going to tread water in his career for a year rather than going on loan to an EFL Club or even a Scottish PL or Dutch Eredivisie club.

@Cyclops said in EPL 2024/2025:

I suspect this one isn't over yet - current rules prevent this (city have done it in the past) but they're trying to get a rules change through.

I suspect either they already know whats happening with the rule change or trying to pressure the change, lets see

Was hoping he would play at FC Lorient

Transfers that haven't yet but I understand are likely.

Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth to Tottenham
Anthony Gordon from Newcastle to Liverpool.

Lee Carsley, the England U21 coach, is likely to be named England manager on an interim basis.

@KiwiPie I thought it was pretty obvious as soon as the transfer happened, but then of course, there's a rule where that can't happen in the A League, as Man City used to abuse the rule a lot?

@Chiefy07 He's only doing what he's told tbf?

The only club that he probably could have been sent to is Hibs, as Bill Foley owns them too.

And also, other clubs have to actually want him for a move to be sanctioned, it's not as easy as just saying, go and play in the Eredivisie.

He's also not even the All Whites number 1 GK, Max Crocombe is.

Lee Carsley named as interim England Manager:

@African-Monkey said in EPL 2024/2025:

@Chiefy07 He's only doing what he's told tbf?

The only club that he probably could have been sent to is Hibs, as Bill Foley owns them too.

And also, other clubs have to actually want him for a move to be sanctioned, it's not as easy as just saying, go and play in the Eredivisie.

He's also not even the All Whites number 1 GK, Max Crocombe is.

Do you really think he doesn't get a say in what club he goes on loan to? Matt Dibley-Dias just chose Northampton to go on loan to out of 5 different clubs. After his season in the A League he would've been in demand in EFL if shopped around, plenty of clubs want a keeper that can play out from the back like him. He also isn't just limited to Foleys clubs. That would be the ideal, but if they have genuine hopes of him being a first teamer then finding the right club for his development would be more beneficial. Really all this is doing is helping AFC - not Bournemouth or Paulsen.

I don't think Auckland have done anything massively wrong here. Possibly slightly unethical but they're just doing the best to put a successful team out with the resources they have. I do wonder how much influence the $25 million license fee has earnt them - this rule has been around for a while. Auckland has been in the comp 2 mins, pays a big license fee, TV money has dried up and the rule miraculously changes. TBF the rule change seems widely supported but I guess it is the overall look of it that is a tad worrying.

From a fan point of view, I am happy Paulsen will be playing for AFC as I am planning on coming down for as many games as I can and I want them to be successful.

It was reported by ESPN that AFC announced the loan 30 minutes after the rule was officially changed. Something stinks

Dominic Solanke has joined Spurs.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Dominic Solanke has joined Spurs.

View embedded content

Hopefully we can use him well. But we have been missing a high yield striker since Kane left

65m most will go to Liverpool, but massive sale, EDIT 9.5 goes to Liverpool

Community Shield finished 1-1 and then Man City won the penalties.

Alvarez deal confirmed with a huge profit for City.
Neto to Chelsea (because they don't have enough wide players)
Emerson Royal to Milan (Spurs fans happy about that)
Carvalho to Brentford from Liverpool
Wan-Bissaka to West Ham (will be really interesting to see them this season with a new manager and lots of signings)
Aruajo to Bournemouth (whoever he is)

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

Aruajo to Bournemouth (whoever he is)

strong mexican right back

Man City's Oscar Bobb has broken a bone in his leg and will be out for at least three months.

Evanilson on board woohoo! Big signing for us, prolific scorer for Porto

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Man City's Oscar Bobb has broken a bone in his leg and will be out for at least three months.

They discovered it during the recovery swim when all he could do was bob

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Man City's Oscar Bobb has broken a bone in his leg and will be out for at least three months.

They discovered it during the recovery swim when all he could do was bob

The dad jokes have their own thread mate...

@KiwiPie Ha! Jokes like that are why I've spent 20 years on the Fern.

It all kicks off this evening with Man Utd- Fulham.

Anyway, my predictions of what the table will look like at the end of the season:

1. Arsenal
2. Man City
3. Spurs
4. Liverpool
5. Aston Villa
6. Newcastle (Sounds like they are in for Marc Guehi which might make them a top four club)
7. Man Utd
8. Chelsea
9. West Ham
10. Brentford
11. Crystal Palace
12. Brighton
13. Fulham
14. Wolves
15. Leicester (but might be lower if they get points deduction for overspending)
16. Notts Forest
17. Everton
18. Ipswich
19. Bournemouth
20. Southampton

Hard to bet against City really. I'd go:

City, Arsenal, Villa, United, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle, Liverpool ...... Ipswich, Brentford, Southampton.

Basically I think Villa are going to keep going, United to bounce a bit, Liverpool to struggle with an aging squad and a post-Fergie style post-Klopp. Chelsea will still be dogshit, but beat the lesser teams. Brentford golden run feels like it's done for me & as for mid-table, I have absolutely no idea.

Still feels too early to be back! Hell, it's 28 degrees here today & the kids still have 2.5 weeks of holidays to go!

What you can read into that is that Arsenal will walk the league, Brentford will do just fine Liverpool will be the closest challenger to the Arse.

Cameron Archer (former England U21) has joined Southampton from Aston Villa.

Right, off to Charlton v Leyton Orient this morning, then off to West Ham v Aston Villa for the late game, then off to Brentford v Crystal Palace tomorrow. My first time in England.

Up the Villa!

First 24 hours of results:

Man Utd 1 Fulham 0
Ipswich 0 Liverpool 2
Arsenal 2 Wolves 0
Everton 0 Brighton 3
Newcastle 1 Southampton 0
Notts Forest 1 Bournemouth 1
West Ham 1 Aston Villa 2

@sparky

I think he has 6 easy games so 6 wins will mean they will probably give him the job

@DaGrubster There's a lot of rumours going around that Pep Guardiola's already had talks with the FA about taking over when his Manchester City contract runs out in June.

Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Gary Neville have all said they've heard the rumours from good sources.

Lee Carsley will be a lot cheaper for the FA than Pep Guardiola's who is currently on £20 million a year with Man City.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

@DaGrubster There's a lot of rumours going around that Pep Guardiola's already had talks with the FA about taking over when his Manchester City contract runs out in June.

Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Gary Neville have all said they've heard the rumours from good sources.

Lee Carsley will be a lot cheaper for the FA than Pep Guardiola's who is currently on £20 million a year with Man City.

But they might actually win something with Pep...

UTV

Man Amadou Onana is some player for Villa! Gives me Yaya Toure vibes. Ian Maatsen and Jacob Ramsey also made a big difference coming on too, and a Great finish from Jhon Duran to win the game, ironically against the side that he was trying to force a move too only a week ago.

Onto Arsenal next week, another fixture I will be attending.

@African-Monkey

A very promising start. The strongest Villa bench I can remember and an awesome debut from Onana. I loved his description of AVFC as "a big family club." He'll fit in very well and become a fan favourite at Villa Park very quickly.

A great save by Emi Martinez and a brave goal line clearance by Ezri Konsa saw us secure the three points.

Arsenal at home will be a test.

I'm hoping for an upgrade on Diego Carlos at right Centre Back before the transfer window ends and one more attacking player. Otherwise the squad looks very strong.