@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.
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Federico Chiesa is joining Liverpool from Juventus.
Thought he was gonna be one of the best players in the world when I first saw him play for Fiorentina. Now he's just always injured.
@Billy-Tell The main arguments for the change seem to be more games between big teams from the start and more teams involved.
The down side is that the new format is confusing and there will be lots of games between teams well down the league.
I suspect we will see a version of the old format restored in a year or two.
These are the pots for the CL 2023-4 draw. Teams from the same country won't be drawn against each other.
Slovan Bratislava have already played 8 games to get into the draw beginning on 9 July which was before the Euros had even finished.
Every team plays against 2 random teams from each of the 4 pots and we get one massive league table at the end of it.
@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:
Slovan Bratislava have already played 8 games to get into the draw beginning on 9 July which was before the Euros had even finished.
Every team plays against 2 random teams from each of the 4 pots and we get one massive league table at the end of it.
I attended one of those Slovan Bratislava games too.
Not used to Villa being here. Hope we get drawn with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich coming to Villa Park. A chance for the Holte End to remind them who won conquered all of Europe in 1982.
Classy from Mr Klopp
at the risk of being 'that guy' I am so done with football at the 'top level'. The CL draw is a joke, the League cup fixing it for the big boys, the FA Cup removing replays, the financial situation of the likes of City and Chelsea not being punished, whilst others are pinned to the wall, the constant Sky Sports et al lauding of what is actually pretty dull football with pretty dull outcomes, the prioritisation of overseas TV fans over local match attending fans, the fact that most of the big stadiums are full of tourists and have lost all atmosphere and the sheer dominance of coverage of the biggest teams over every other sport and story has meant i just can't be arsed. I feel like I'm watching a different game to everyone else.
The PL can fuck off, the European elite clubs can fuck off. I'm done. If it wasn't for rugby i'd be cancelling my Sky Sports and TNT contracts.
Curious how much of Stirling's salary Arsenal will cover, it sounds like that was where most of the negotiation was. Could be yet another savvy move by arsenal, who are really starting to look like a competent organisation again. On the other hand, one of the other new signings (Merino) is injured already so some things stay the same.
Man U loan out Sancho again, this time to Chelsea with a sale clause so that disaster is over.
It seemed to be a domino effect in the last few hours for Arsenal as Reiss Nelson would only be going on loan to Fulham once the Raheem Sterling was sorted. As to Sterling's salary, I hope it's nowhere close to what he was earning at Chelsea.
@Dodge said in EPL 2024/2025:
at the risk of being 'that guy' I am so done with football at the 'top level'. The CL draw is a joke, the League cup fixing it for the big boys, the FA Cup removing replays, the financial situation of the likes of City and Chelsea not being punished, whilst others are pinned to the wall, the constant Sky Sports et al lauding of what is actually pretty dull football with pretty dull outcomes, the prioritisation of overseas TV fans over local match attending fans, the fact that most of the big stadiums are full of tourists and have lost all atmosphere and the sheer dominance of coverage of the biggest teams over every other sport and story has meant i just can't be arsed. I feel like I'm watching a different game to everyone else.
The PL can fuck off, the European elite clubs can fuck off. I'm done. If it wasn't for rugby i'd be cancelling my Sky Sports and TNT contracts.
Just watch the lower leagues mate or even go abroad fir some games, good fun watching games there.
Great result for the cherries 
, 3 goals in 9 mins, should never have been allowed to get back into this match, but didn’t give up.
After 2 dubious hand ball decisions in 2 matches, the result comes.
It’s early days but I reckon Everton might risk the drop this season.
Haaland is deadly with a chance. Just lethal. A real striker.
@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2024/2025:
It’s early days but I reckon Everton might risk the drop this season.
Haaland is deadly with a chance. Just lethal. A real striker.
Everton in real trouble already in my view, last year although they didn’t score many their miserly defence was awesome, leaky already and -8 goal difference is going to hurt.
Haaland nicknamed the robot for a reason, when on is clinical.
@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2024/2025:
It’s early days but I reckon Everton might risk the drop this season.
Their new waterside stadium right by the Mersey is going to be a beauty, but I fear Everton are going to be a Championship side by the time to play at Bramley Moore dock.
Liverpool leading 3-0 at Old Trafford against Man Utd with 30 minutes to go. Ten Hag running out of lives.
Ten Hag with about zehn Tage to go in my opinion. Swatted aside by Liverpool. Chrome dome with a dream start as Liverpool manager.
Pep is a nasty man letting Man U win the FA Cup and making Man U fans and hierarchy think the Ten Hag is up to the job.
Ten Hag was bold to play Liverpool in that way, building from the back and having the full backs advanced ready for attack. Trouble is that Liverpool just swarmed the midfield and nearly every Liverpool chance was a from a turnover of possession, sometimes forced, sometimes unforced. Realistically United aren't good enough to play like that, their main hope was to crowd the midfield and play on the break - the FA Cup final model.
@dogmeat said in EPL 2024/2025:
@Cyclops Apparently Chelsea are paying 200K / week of Raheem's salary and the Sanch sale clause is if they finish 14th or above.
the circus that is Chelsea continues to entertain.
It may be a genius move but letting a guy go who is 20th all time in goals scored in the EPL and bringing in a guy who has no track record at all in the EPL is ...... strange. Canny for Arsenal, not sure if he will start in their first team but Sterling is handy off the bench and to start cup games.
Interesting to see the difference in Slot to Klopp so far, they seemed to be playing Sloppball or Klotball - he wants them to be as dynamic in attack but not to be as reckless - I think Slot has seen that they have been too loose at times and if you give your opposition too many chances, you'll lose a few games.
@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2024/2025:
Haaland is deadly with a chance. Just lethal. A real striker.
Pffft, still behind Chris Wood in EPL goals. 
9 days later
I'm about to kick off my TSL competition which I have been running for nearly 30 years - some of the people here are either entering or have entered in the past. If you fancy joining, drop me a PM and I will email the details - you will have to pick a team of 11 players before the weekend and you score a point if one of your players scores a goal.
And to bridge the gap before the EPL returns, please list all of the teams that have finished in the top 6 of the EPL since the Premier League started - there are 21 clubs in all. 8 clubs have done only 1 season in the top 6, 7 clubs have 10 or more.
I think I can get 20 - Oops no I realise who I had forgotten. I will PM you so as not to spoil the fun
Aston Villa smack Young Boys in the Wankdorf stadium to go top of the fucking Champions League.
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Aston Villa smack Young Boys in the Wankdorf stadium to go top of the fucking Champions League.
That gag never gets old
@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:
I'm about to kick off my TSL competition which I have been running for nearly 30 years - some of the people here are either entering or have entered in the past. If you fancy joining, drop me a PM and I will email the details - you will have to pick a team of 11 players before the weekend and you score a point if one of your players scores a goal.
And to bridge the gap before the EPL returns, please list all of the teams that have finished in the top 6 of the EPL since the Premier League started - there are 21 clubs in all. 8 clubs have done only 1 season in the top 6, 7 clubs have 10 or more.
And to answer this question (@dogmeat got them all)
Man U Man City Arsenal Liverpool Leicester Leeds Chelsea Blackburn Villa Everton Spurs West Ham Brighton Bolton Newcastle Forest Ipswich Wimbledon QPR Norwich Southampton
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Aston Villa smack Young Boys in the Wankdorf stadium to go top of the fucking Champions League.
I still can't believe Watkins had his goal disallowed
@KiwiPie the Athletic ranked every EPL's first and second team in order (plus CXhelseas third) Meaning 41 teams in total.
Man City were first and fourth!!
There wasn't much difference between the two Fulham squads 8 places I think - with both squads ahead of this season promoted sides first XI's.
That's fine in theory but there's clearly quite a gulf between them although sadly both seem unable to score goals.
At least it wasn't Crawley as it was two years ago but this game told Silva nothing.
