The draw for the new style Champions League looks ridiculously rigged.
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.
- apart from Benda that's a fighting for 17th team
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.
Another comeback win for Aston Villa. 3rd in the table at the minute. Unai Emery has got this team absolutely flying.
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Another comeback win for Aston Villa. 3rd in the table at the minute. Unai Emery has got this team absolutely flying.
We were horrendous in the first half and were lucky to only be down by 1.
Barkley and Duran (of course) changed the game when they came on.
We need a right back. Konsa, despite his goal, isn't great there and isn't great going forward mainly due to being a centre back, and there's always mistakes in Carlos when he's out there when it would be better if Konsa was at centre back. Bogarde got given a go but doesn't look ready yet, and Cash, despite the fact that I feel we could upgrade on him, is still our best bet there.
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
What a fantastically eventful game between Man City and Arsenal. So many talking points!
Both teams feel hard done by - perfect! Arse will be kicking themselves as they almost made it but switched off with time almost up to allow a short corner and Kovacic a shot inside the area.
Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!
@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:
Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!
Which incident are you referring to?
@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:
@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:
Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!
Which incident are you referring to?
Doku in this game, and Joao Pedro for Brighton.
@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:
@KiwiPie said in EPL 2024/2025:
@Bovidae said in EPL 2024/2025:
Again, no consistency from the ref over giving a YC for kicking the ball away. It seems only Arsenal players are booked for that!
Which incident are you referring to?
Doku in this game, and Joao Pedro for Brighton.
Playing devil's advocate, Doku was kicking it back to where the free kick was given - very inaccurately - rather than kicking it away as they were ready to take it. For Trossard's 2nd booking, is it confirmed what it was given for?