EPL 2024/2025

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

Soooo what happens now with Sterling and Chilwell? I can see them both spending considerable amounts of time twiddling their thumbs.

Ilkay Gundogan has moved back to Man City from Barcelona.

What a miss by Watkins. What a save by Raya.

@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:

What a miss by Watkins. What a save by Raya.

Watkins had a shocker out there. He's had an awful start to the season.

Liverpool have bought the Georgina keeper, Mamardashvili from Valencia. Not sure he'll play ahead of Allison though.

@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:

Liverpool have bought the Georgina keeper, Mamardashvili from Valencia. Not sure he'll play ahead of Allison though.

View embedded content

was meant to come to Bournemouth on loan via Liverpool when this transfer was mooted months ago but problems with his manager meant that didn't happen..so as they do, Bournemouth have pivoted

and will announce Kepa on loan officially from today, probably would have preferred Mamardashvili, but its still a big name get for a smaller club. Neto will certainly be challenged for number 1 spot now

@bayimports There is something not quite right about bringing in a goalkeeper on loan when they have Alex Paulsen, one of their own contracted keepers, out on loan at Auckland FC.

@Higgins said in EPL 2024/2025:

@bayimports There is something not quite right about bringing in a goalkeeper on loan when they have Alex Paulsen, one of their own contracted keepers, out on loan at Auckland FC.

It's looking more and more like a scam to take one of the Nix's best players and move him to Auckland

Federico Chiesa is joining Liverpool from Juventus.

@Higgins said in EPL 2024/2025:

@bayimports There is something not quite right about bringing in a goalkeeper on loan when they have Alex Paulsen, one of their own contracted keepers, out on loan at Auckland FC.

Paulsen was never a chance at keeper 1 or 2 this year, longer term possibly. EPL, La Liga and Champions League experience is considered a little higher.. Who would have thought a business would ever consider that?

The new champions league model strikes me as a load of crap. Not at all interested. Will watch once we are down to a small number of teams in knockout stages. Think this will not prove popular but we see.

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2024/2025:

The new champions league model strikes me as a load of crap. Not at all interested. Will watch once we are down to a small number of teams in knockout stages. Think this will not prove popular but we see.

I'll give it a chance but it looks like just an excuse to shoehorn more games in. 8 group games instead of 6 and then the climax to the group is at the end of January so weather could be a factor. Then another 2 extra games if you finish in positions 9-24 just to get to a last 16. At least the 8 groups of 4 led to a little drama for qualification.