How does he compare to Rufer now? On the one hand, Rufer won titles and was one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga when he played, but I current standard of the EPL is probably much higher than the 90s Bundesliga.
On balance I'd still go Rufer, but whereas a couple of years ago that was a no brainer, I think it's now a genuine decision.
@Cyclops said in EPL 2024/2025:
How does he compare to Rufer now? On the one hand, Rufer won titles and was one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga when he played, but I current standard of the EPL is probably much higher than the 90s Bundesliga.
On balance I'd still go Rufer, but whereas a couple of years ago that was a no brainer, I think it's now a genuine decision.
Rufer's still better.
Wood's decent, but as @canefan said, at a mid/lower table side.
@canefan said in EPL 2024/2025:
@KiwiMurph said in EPL 2024/2025:
Chris Wood has as many goals this season as Man United. 7. He just keeps getting better with age.
Seems to suit middle of the table clubs, didn't get much of a run when he went to Newcastle
Define middle of the table. Forrest are 5th!
@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2024/2025:
@canefan said in EPL 2024/2025:
@KiwiMurph said in EPL 2024/2025:
Chris Wood has as many goals this season as Man United. 7. He just keeps getting better with age.
Seems to suit middle of the table clubs, didn't get much of a run when he went to Newcastle
Define middle of the table. Forrest are 5th!
It's early mate 
Bournemouth snatch one at the death. I wish we'd find someone better than Matty Cash. He's the only reason why Bournemouth had a chance at coming back. He's fucken hopeless.
To be fair to Bournemouth, they fought hard all day and can't begrudge them for getting something out of the game. Travers did well between the sticks.
@African-Monkey A tough one to take. Conceding the result to a goal from the last kick of the game reminds us of the Old Aston Villa.
That said, it's the first time I can remember that happening in two years under Emery. And we are still third in the Premier League and top of the Champions League.
Lessons to learn and lots to work on, then onwards.
@African-Monkey said in EPL 2024/2025:
Bournemouth snatch one at the death. I wish we'd find someone better than Matty Cash. He's the only reason why Bournemouth had a chance at coming back. He's fucken hopeless.
To be fair to Bournemouth, they fought hard all day and can't begrudge them for getting something out of the game. Travers did well between the sticks.
While you were subbing Watkins, we were bringing on every attacking option possible and snatched one at the death. Hopefully Evanilson kicks on from here for us.
Think you were better team but loving our fight and taking four points from Villa and Arsenal combined in last two games is also massively pleasing although unexpected
@bayimports The return of Tyler Adams could be massive for you. If he can recapture the form he had pre-injury, that's a £50 million midfielder right there.
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
@African-Monkey A tough one to take. Conceding the result to a goal from the last kick of the game reminds us of the Old Aston Villa.
That said, it's the first time I can remember that happening in two years under Emery. And we are still third in the Premier League and top of the Champions League.
Lessons to learn and lots to work on, then onwards.
Our right side in general on defence was hopeless. Bailey continues to struggle to recapture last years form and isn't working hard enough in transition, an yeah, need I say more on Matty Cash.
2 points we didn't need to drop going into Tottenham and Liverpool away.
@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:
@African-Monkey said in EPL 2024/2025:
Bournemouth snatch one at the death. I wish we'd find someone better than Matty Cash. He's the only reason why Bournemouth had a chance at coming back. He's fucken hopeless.
To be fair to Bournemouth, they fought hard all day and can't begrudge them for getting something out of the game. Travers did well between the sticks.
While you were subbing Watkins, we were bringing on every attacking option possible and snatched one at the death. Hopefully Evanilson kicks on from here for us.
Think you were better team but loving our fight and taking four points from Villa and Arsenal combined in last two games is also massively pleasing although unexpected
He looked good when he came on. We should have seen the warning from the previous free kick when he made a free run into the box unmarked. We didn't learn our lesson and let him run unmarked again for the winner, putting a striker on him when he should have swapped with Cash for the free kick (from a Villa point of view of course).
I think Evanilson has looked good so far, just has been wayward/unlucky in front of goal - but then Solanke's numbers last season were a bit of an outlier and 10+ is an OK season for a "mid-table striker".
Arse v Liverpool was intense, pretty even game and a draw was fair. Arse had to retreat a little in the second half when Gabriel went off and then Timber went off so without Saliba they looked shaky.
@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:
I think Evanilson has looked good so far, just has been wayward/unlucky in front of goal - but then Solanke's numbers last season were a bit of an outlier and 10+ is an OK season for a "mid-table striker".
Arse v Liverpool was intense, pretty even game and a draw was fair. Arse had to retreat a little in the second half when Gabriel went off and then Timber went off so without Saliba they looked shaky.
Arsenal did well to hold on for a point with all the injuries to their backline. A backline of Partey at RB, White and Kiwior in the middle and the baby Lewis-Skelly was always gonna make things difficult.
Manchester United have sacked Ten Hag:
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Manchester United have sacked Ten Hag:
The rest of the Premier League is saddened by the news.
I notice they sacked him before they League Cup fixture with Leicester as well, which would puth the in the Quarter Finals should they win that tie, a big chance at winning another trophy, whilst struggling everywhere else.
Sadly for non Man U supporters, the owners saw right through that.
Erik Ten Million+ Compensation
Was beginning to seem inevitable and ironic it came after a game they actually played OK in and still lost.
If anyone cares the top 10 in the Ballon D'Or was as below
Women's
This is the most Real Madrid thing ever. Win 3 awards, but as they don't get the big one, they have a sulk and act like they are bigger than the award.
Rodri won player of the tournament in Euro, with his team winning the tournament.
Vini Jnr didn't make the QF in Copa America due to yellow cards, which Brazil lost.
Vini certainly lit up the Champs League, but does that outshine the Euros?
There's an argument, but it's not open and shut.
Absolutely pathetic.
Well the ABs might be playing averagely but the cherries are on a roll. City beaten…and Arsenal two weeks ago also at home. Big result
@bayimports said in EPL 2024/2025:
Well the ABs might be playing averagely but the cherries are on a roll. City beaten…and Arsenal two weeks ago also at home. Big result
It makes me a bit less gutted about Villa conceding that last minute goal last week.
Liverpool looking the real deal.
we talking all english football in here?
2-0 win at their soulless bowl, thats three wins in a row and a 6-0 aggregate...and CLE (who was with us last year and backed out of a deal to return on the last day to go to them) gets a red....perfect day
I hear the new MK owners tried to reach out and clear the air but were rebuffed? They sort of miss the point if that's the case. Hating MK is your raison d'etre
@dogmeat said in EPL 2024/2025:
I hear the new MK owners tried to reach out and clear the air but were rebuffed? They sort of miss the point if that's the case. Hating MK is your raison d'etre
they offered hospitality to our board which is the norm between clubs but their new manager and owners just dont get it. There was actually a resolution passed by our board just before we first played them that they wont accept anything like hospitality until they at least drop the "dons" (but probably never). the team do the bare minimum and take everything they need so as to not interact with MK unless needed
there is still this divide in the fan base whether we should be boycotting the game of we we should turn up in numbers to put them to shame, at very least those that go never buy anything in the ground, eat and drink before or after
19 days later
Man City's worst home defeat since 2003 and the worst home defeat of Pep Guardiola's whole managerial career.
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Man City's worst home defeat since 2003 and the worst home defeat of Pep Guardiola's whole managerial career.
Delicious. But we will go and lose to one of the lower lights in the near future
@canefan said in EPL 2024/2025:
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Man City's worst home defeat since 2003 and the worst home defeat of Pep Guardiola's whole managerial career.
Delicious. But we will go and lose to one of the lower lights in the near future
Better not be next week as I’m going.
Liverpool will be sitting very pretty shoukd they win today.
7 days later
So only Villa, Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton have picked up fewer points than Man City over the last 6 games. All of them have done better over the last four.
11 points behind Liverpool now after losing 2-0 at Anfield and have dropped out of the Top 4.
@dogmeat said in EPL 2024/2025:
So only Villa, Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton have picked up fewer points than Man City over the last 6 games. All of them have done better over the last four.
11 points behind Liverpool now after losing 2-0 at Anfield and have dropped out of the Top 4.
middle of the table is very even, 2 points separate 7th to 13th
