EPL 2024/2025

@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.

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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.

Ivan Toney not involved for Brentford. Raheem Sterling and Romelu involved for Chelsea. It looks like all of them will be on the move before 31st August.

Comfortable 2-0 win for Manchester City at Chelsea to open their season. Earlier in the day Brentford beat Crystal Palace 2-1.

@African-Monkey said in EPL 2024/2025:

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.

Sounds like a great trip you're on - how was the Brentford Community Stadium? Not as good as the old ground with a pub on each corner.

When Duran was pointing down to the ground after his goal, did he mean he belongs in the Villa team or that he expects to be playing for West Ham in their next home game? Onana is a top player, was impressed with him for Belgium, held the team together and Everton looked very fragile in his absence.

Already last season's top 4 look likely to be this season's top 4 (points deductions aside) although to be fair, Spurs haven't played yet. Chelsea need chaos to upset City and a baking hot day meant they couldn't harass them enough. Kovacic played the Rodri role really well and even managed a rare goal.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

@African-Monkey said in EPL 2024/2025:

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.

Sounds like a great trip you're on - how was the Brentford Community Stadium? Not as good as the old ground with a pub on each corner.

When Duran was pointing down to the ground after his goal, did he mean he belongs in the Villa team or that he expects to be playing for West Ham in their next home game? Onana is a top player, was impressed with him for Belgium, held the team together and Everton looked very fragile in his absence.

Already last season's top 4 look likely to be this season's top 4 (points deductions aside) although to be fair, Spurs haven't played yet. Chelsea need chaos to upset City and a baking hot day meant they couldn't harass them enough. Kovacic played the Rodri role really well and even managed a rare goal.

Very nice little stadium. Right size too, as opposed to West Ham's Olympic stadium which can lack a bit in atmosphere (still a nice venue however). Some people are even lucky enough to watch the game from up in their apartments depending on how high uk they are. Sadly I couldn't attend a pub due to being with my wife haha but there's a few around near the bridge across the rd from the stadium.

Haha yeah, I think it's more of an apology after trying to force his way to West Ham only a week ago. I can understand his frustration in some ways as he is a talented young striker who doesn't see a lot of minutes due to being stuck behind Watkins, bit he certainly helped change things when he came on.

Pep Guardiola shock hands yesterday with the 9th different Chelsea boss while he's been Manager of Manchester City.

Constantly chopping and changing Managers is insanity by a big club.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Pep Guardiola shock hands yesterday with the 9th different Chelsea boss while he's been Manager of Manchester City.

Constantly chopping and changing Managers is insanity by a big club.

I still shake my head at them getting rid of Poch.

The BBC have produced a list of players who are probably on the move before the end of the month:

In terms of Aston Villa, it seems almost certain that Alex Moreno is leaving.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

The BBC have produced a list of players who are probably on the move before the end of the month:

View embedded content

In terms of Aston Villa, it seems almost certain that Alex Moreno is leaving.

I thought Moreno had already joined Como to join their set of veterans (Varane, Belotti, Pepe Reina). The coach is Fabregas so will be interesting to see how they get on back in Serie A.

Now it looks like Joao Felix back to Chelsea (why?) and Gallagher out. Maresca is on a hiding to nothing with this mob of players and I wonder whether he was recruited for just looking like a young Pep.

@KiwiPie Joao Felix to Chelsea and Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid looks confirmed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0jp78g449qo

Leicester 1 Tottenham 1

Spurs dominated possession but were only able to come away from the King Power Stadium with a point.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

The BBC have produced a list of players who are probably on the move before the end of the month:

View embedded content

In terms of Aston Villa, it seems almost certain that Alex Moreno is leaving.

Moreno is a good player, really attacks they byline and I prefer him over Digne who is good at what he does, but he doesn't dribble with the ball. He either gives and goes, or crosses from deep, Moreno does more, but sadly, injuries have held him back, and with Ian Maatsen joining, it looks like he'll be the one to make way. Rumours are that he is homesick as well?

@African-Monkey Alex Moreno got married in the summer which I think helped with the home sickness. He has said he's happy to stay in England. Notts Forest looks like the favourite to sign him if Villa decide to sell which I think is likely if Digne and Maatsen stay fit for the next week.

Lucas Digne is the better defender and has lots of Champions League experience from his time at PSG and Barcelona.

Yes Digne does. Emery seemed keen to get rid of Digne last season, but to Digne's credit, he's impressed Emery enough. Some real competition at left back for us, same can't be said at right back currently.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

The BBC have produced a list of players who are probably on the move before the end of the month:

View embedded content

In terms of Aston Villa, it seems almost certain that Alex Moreno is leaving.

I thought Moreno had already joined Como to join their set of veterans (Varane, Belotti, Pepe Reina). The coach is Fabregas so will be interesting to see how they get on back in Serie A.

OK I got the wrong Moreno! The Como Moreno is Alberto who used to play for Liverpool